10/22/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Before writing this note I reviewed my 2 other notes on this wine from '16 and '18 and note marginal evolution. Remains in a great drinking window, mature and soft with likely 2-3 more years left with proper cellaring but definitely time to be drinking any remaining holdings. 7/16 bottles left and they will be consumed through 2023. This was opened for a couple hours prior to consumption and it worked well as would a short 30 minute decant. Highly recommend this with the caveat that it is time to drink up. A very good QPR wine for those of us that got in on the initial release. Deep reddish purple with peripheral bricking present, soft mouth feel, remains quite full bodied with well preserved fruit, oak & tannins fading and very balanced with a lovely long lingering aftertaste. Nose softer and more muted then previously noted with dark fruit, coffee, plum and cola. On the palate the front palate remains fruit forward with dark stone fruit, cassis and blueberry with the mid-palate of violet, leather and earth with a smokey grilled meat finish. Hats off again to the wine making team at Rasa for yet another really great co-op effort !!

8/22/2018 - BillyT wrote:

Won't rate this wine until I try the second bottle. For me the wine seemed off putting but others said no. It seemed to have a great deal of petrol on the nose and pallete. Several aromatic experiences but nothing persistent to warrant the accolades. Time will tell.

5/29/2020 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:

Aerated in decanter 2 hours. Promising nose of bitter chocolate, tree bark, some cassis fruit, and soil. Palate under performs the nose. Good, linear over 2 hours; not great. NR

https://www.ItalianWine.blog

10/22/2009 - MindMuse wrote:

Very Gewurtz-like. Lychee fruit, nectarines, blossoms, tangerine. Lush and likeable. Good with our Thai dinner.

4/8/2021 - rmcnees Likes this wine:

This exceeded my expectations for this label and indeed was one of the best drinking Affinity's in memory. Mini-vertical tasting alongside 2000.

Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, elegant, polished and smoothly balanced, black berry and black currant fruits with notes of mocha chocolate and spice, hints of cassis, smoke and cedar with smooth silky tannins on a lingering cloying finish.

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2021/04/tomahawk-rib-eye-dinner-features-robert.html

12/26/2020 - Bob in NC Likes this wine:

One of our project wines from the 2011 vintage. This one named after our eldest son. It is also drinking great, very smooth. The fruit and spice not quite as bold as the Rutherford, but still tasty. The tannins were lighter on this wine. While it was tasty with our beef stew, it was not quite as good as the Rutherford.

3/15/2021 - bestdamncab Likes this wine:

This is an example of losing a bottle in the cellar and it becomes a real winner. Nose of cigar box, black cherry, spring flowers, barnyard, and forest floor, same on the palate, big body, delicious, very tasty, 3 points less the second night so time to enjoy is right now, almost juicy, rich, complex, and a flavorful finish and aftertaste. Photo uploaded shows sediment coating the bottle due to long time storage.

9/10/2017 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:

opened two bottles, cork crumbled in both. Bottle one undrinkable, bottle two glorious.

7/14/2019 - Willi Vinotti Likes this wine:

This is now becoming awesome. An outstanding smoothness, velvety tannins, still ambitious fruit and wonderful plush length, a st Emilion far beyond expectations. The length and expression is just a tribute to the exceptional vintage. Smokiness and fruit, earthiness and minerality are just so spot on right now! Marvelous.

1/8/2017 - Rob-Rah wrote:

Beautiful presentation!

However the wine was lacking in concentration and depth, rather ordinary. Very disappointing.

4/11/2022 - alohashirt wrote:

Lots of vanilla on the nose, some bright red fruit notes. On the palate it went downhill - not enough fruit - it tasted a bit "mean." There's something missing here and I'm not certain what. On a hunch, I went to my cellar and looked for something else to open as a comparable. A 2018 Mollydooker Boxer shiraz - a different varietal - but another concentrated red with plenty of vanilla - and it tastes much, much better.

So what's up here? It's not flawed. It's not badly made. It's just not satisfying. Clearly many people disagree with me. I'm unsure about this. Is it just a matter of taste? Or do I need to spend more money to find a Napa Merlot that is satisfying?

7/21/2016 - DavilaDC wrote:

Smooth and round in the mouth with tannins that were soft. Medium bodied that was dark garnet in the glass. The nose was full of black cherries, blackberry, vanilla and toasted oak.

This wine is absolutely brilliant now.

11/18/2021 - Cablover1982 Likes this wine:

Spectacular, dark, opaque, rich merlot from Spring Mountain. Mesmerizing aromas of raspberry preserve, dark cherries, plum sauce, menthol and cinnamon.
Silken on the palate, adding some cherry cola vibes, floral notes, milk chocolate, nutmeg and herbs. Sweet resolved tannins, low-med acidity, nice finish. Cheers and happy drinking 🍷

10/3/2020 - grafstrb wrote:

-- decanted 30 min. before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over 2 to 3 hours --
-- 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot --

NOSE: tight; "dark" -- stony/pencil shavings; hint of mesquite.

BODY: violet-garnet color of medium-deep to deep depth; medium to medium-full bodied.

TASTE: decent acidity -- surprising; red-fruited a bit, but mostly a dark presentation --- it must be the Merlot lending the red-fruited facet to this wine; 14.8% alc. is a little warming in the belly; quite young; good; Drink or Hold --- I will wait 5 years before checking-in again. Gut impression score: 90 - 91.

9/17/2015 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

From Bern's cellar so maybe not representative of normal ageing times. This bottle was outstanding. No formal notes, but lots of depth under the heavy floral nose.

1/8/2022 - Sookin1 Likes this wine:

With snails and then cheese fondue. Excellent wine. Hints of minimality. Citrusy flavours. Too often forgotten for the red. Recommended.

12/12/2020 - grayfont Likes this wine:

Probably the best CT Barrel Project bottle we’ve had. Showed really well. Soft fruits more blue than red. Really smooth - no rough edges. Delightful. We are down to one last bottle of this. Had previously thought 2020 might be as far as it could go, but now I’m not afraid to hold the last bottle for a few more years to save for a vertical tasting.

4/24/2017 - CWilliam wrote:

Drank over 2 nights - better on night 2.

Dark red color. Earth, black raspberry, dark fruits & glycerin on nose. Similar palate profile. with Full body, medium+ acidity and long finish. 91+ on night 1 and 92+ on night 2 - this should age well.

11/25/2017 - Missus T wrote:

Very unremarkable rose but a killer decanter!!!

Nose of vomitus and grapefruit, this was a bit of a turn-off!

Delightful color: coppery sunset, like a Monet painting.

When I saw that Target was selling this, I jumped on it. I can't remember exactly, but I think they had it retailing for about $5 a bottle this past summer. I'd had (and enjoyed) the Gerard Bertrand RED Cotes des Roses the year before while cycling through France's Minervois, and it was dynamite! I mean, the grocery stores there sell it for a couple of euros, the way you see plonk like Barefoot being pushed in the US; and you get that exquisite bottle and glass stopper as a bonus. That red was a delight with cheeses and deli meats on a picnic by the Canal du Midi. I rode six more nights with the damn empty bottle in my rucksack, it was so beautiful.

But back to the rose. Oh, man. Just a disappointment. Slightly pomelo in taste, smoother than the nose might indicate, but just average overall.

If anyone works for Target, or has the ear of the purchasing manager in food and bev there, would you please tell that person to order the red instead. It is out of this world for the price.

OK, so the rose: suitable in my pairing with grilled ham steak, braised brussel sprouts and mint tea dessert. Matches west coast sunset.

9/8/2016 - Schwarzer Hund wrote:

The 1999 is still a decent wine. Dark red color, dark berry fruit aromas, medium weight but the fruit seems to be fading out now. It may be just this bottle since it is unusual for a Paloma merlot. The 1996 vintage is great shape still.

11/2/2010 - BillyT wrote:

Drank with French wine rep and local WS owner over lunch of Foie Gras, Veal liver, etc. GREAT wine that stood up against all the French wines brought by the French wine rep. Too busy visiting, talking wine, drinking wine and eating foie gras in order to take notes. Next time. I will say that Drmarg's comments are spot on.

11/27/2014 - winemaker Likes this wine:

Slow O'd for four hours and then double decanted. Wow! This wine is excellent and way better than the more recent notes indicate. It smells a bit pruney, but tastes much better. Big wine, tons of spice, very long finish.

9/15/2013 - AMC Eagle wrote:

Deep gold in colour. Sweet nose of quince, caramel, honey, and cheesecake(yes, cheesecake). Sweet but balanced on the palate where I am getting liquid honeyed apricots, candied pears, and white raisins. The finish goes on and on and on....

Night 2: A bit more complex from Night 1 where I am also getting some sugar covered mangoes on the palate to add to the above. 98+ Wow.

5/9/2016 - BillyT wrote:

Both JNOCERA and KBCADEPONEI notes MORE than adequately express my thoughts as well. Another note suggested in moved from Bordeaux to Tuscan. Well I find it very hard to identify the difference in some of the more notable Tuscan wines. Often there is that slight extra hint of Sangiovese but wasn't feeling it. I will emphasize its you and it to a couple of hours in the decanter to open but then smooth as silk, expressive dark red fruit and well integrated tannins for its youth.