Decanted for approximately 2+ hours. Vibrant and flavorful, if just a little one-note, full of high-toned red berry fruits; strawberry, raspberry tart, and a bit of alcohol. Went down very smoothly,…
Similar to my previous CT notes on this wine, except that it really took quite a while before it opened up into anything worth gaining any interest. On initial PnP, it came across flat and muted,…
Brought over by a friend and decanted over the course of two hours. One of the best domestic Merlots I've ever had (and I typically do not care for most stand-alone Merlots). Beautiful, deep texture…
Specific tasting notes were the same as my previous CT notes on this wine last week. Filled out even more magnificantly with some time in the decanter. After about two hours, it was singing with…
Drank alongside a 2012 Kosta Browne RRV Pinot, the EK Sascha Marie was much better, with a vibrancy and energy that helped to elevate the red berry flavors. Similar to my CT notes from 8/10/15 on…
Essentially the same as my previous CT notes on this wine from 11/21/15, except that some time in the decanter allowed for a little more fruit to emerge. However, this wine still came off as flat and…
PnP with tight, cool notes of purple and black berry fruits, with additional flavors of black licorice and slate. Fairly monolithic, with only the QPR really making up for it. As a stand-alone wine,…
PnP was initially similar to my notes last week on this wine. I then allowed it to breathe at cellar temperature for an hour in a wide-bottomed decanter. This certainly brought out more of a deeper…
The only 2011 Kosta Browne in the whole lineup that survived to become a worthy Pinot from the 2011 vintage, the Gap's Crown displayed up-front flavors of black cherry, pomegranate, strawberry,…
As others have mentioned, the Optimus is clearly not in the same league as the Estate Cuvée, but at only $45, the Optimus delivers way above its price point. What a great QPR!
Consumed with friends (otherwise I had planned on waiting until later in 2016 before reassessing this wine). Definitely glad I opened this bottle, as it has improved quite a bit. Similar to my prior…
Similar to my prior CT note (but obviously I couldn't wait until 2017 as I had previously recommended). This time around, I gave the 2008 Rudd an extra point (from 95 to 96), as it certainly…
With all due respect to Venge's homage to his dog "Scout," this wine was unfortunately disjointed and confusing. Flabby plum flavors dominate, with additional notes of muddled raspberry and…
A pleasantly surprising example of a Napa Merlot. Notes of plump blackberry, raspberry, plum, chocolate, and baking spices. Beautifully crafted with more complexity than I often find in this varietal.
As noted by the Millennials, this Syrah starts off with a push that coaxes you into thinking it is going to go the distance, but then falls off almost immediately mid-palate. Initial notes of purple…
A lot going on here, with in-your-face flavors of black and blue berries, black raspberry, blackberry, black licorice, dark cacao, white chocolate, chocolate covered blueberry, cassis, asphalt/tar,…
Nearly identical to the 2008 WVH. A meaty and saline-driven syrah, with notes of stewed plum, salami, bologna, red currant, spice, sea salt, and bouquet garni. Some tannic clamp on the initial PnP,…
An absolutely phenomenal example of Mike Officer's ability to extract the very best PS juice from the coveted Palisades site. Deep, inky black and purple fruits, with specific notes of ripe…
Similar to my CT notes 5 months ago. PnP with a chalky bite surrounding the red plum and black raspberry notes. 45 minutes in the decanter shed this wine of the chalky clamp on the finish, leaving…
