10/27/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Tasted alongside '08, '09, '15, '16 and '18 at a Ch. La Conseillante dinner at restaurant BOCA in Hickory NC with vineyard managing director & winemaker Marielle Cazaux in attendance - clearly the best of the younger vintages and in 10-12 years with more softening, balance and maturation this wine will easily be a 96-97 point wine. A I'lllready drinking terrifically but so much more to come and give. Along with the '09 this was the only other vintage we purchased and will cellar it for the long haul. Rare frost hit that year and they used a helicopter and on site fires with smoke to mitigate the damage and were one of the few to essentially save almost the entire crop. A master class in R bank merlot-based Bdx wines and La Conseillante in particular was had that night. This vintage is 85% merlot / 15% CF and the percentages vary slightly vintage to vintage with the merlot being roughly ~ 80-85% and CF making up the rest. Already somewhat drinkable and approachable but at this point of maturation definitely hold not drink - this will be truly ready no sooner then another 8-10 years and will then have an easy 3 decades to go under proper cellaring conditions. I think this wine will eventually be a true show case / show stopper R bank Bdx wine bordering on a cellar collection crown jewel. Paired very well with duck. Almost inky black, no peripheral bricking, big bold and intense right now in need of further maturation and balance but all the right ingredients there. Right now very fruit forward with pronounced tannins but oak not dominant in any way (we found out this is on purpose, very much their style and intent) and a super long aftertaste. Nose bold, intense and aromatic with plum, black pepper, coffee, vanilla and kirsch. Flavor profile of dark stone fruit, blackberries, espresso and kitchen spices with truffle and smoke developing on the finish. Highly recommend despite the price point with the caveat that right now this just needs to be forgotten about for about a decade.

10/27/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Tasted alongside '08, '15, '16, '17 and '18 at a Ch. La Conseillante dinner at restaurant BOCA in Hickory NC with vineyard managing director & winemaker Marielle Cazaux in attendance - at this point of maturation clearly the WOTN, certainly the best R bank Bdx we have ever had (and we have had several vintages of neighbor Petrus...), one of the best Bdx wines from any locale that we have ever had and one of the best wines we have had this year - bought a 3-pack and that is all I could get allocated. A master class in R bank merlot-based Bdx wines and La Conseillante in particular was had that night. This vintage is 81% merlot / 19% CF and the percentages vary slightly vintage to vintage with the merlot being roughly ~ 80-85% and CF making up the rest. Entering a perfect drinking window and thus drink or hold. If drunk now would recommend at least 3 hours open in bottle or 90 minutes in decanter or in poured glass. With proper cellaring this has a good 3+ decades left so strongly leaning on the hold. A show case / show stopper R bank Bdx wine. Paired beautifully with braised short ribs and mushrooms. Very deep purple with some peripheral bricking starting to develop, mature, balanced, soft mouth feel but very full bodied, fruit forward with well integrated tannins and oak but not dominant in any way (we found out this is on purpose, very much their style and intent) and a lovely almost eternally long lingering aftertaste. Nose bold, intense and almost explosive with dark stone fruit up front followed by a complex melangue of coffee, garrigue, vanilla, a hint of orange and black pepper. Flavor profile of dark stone fruit, crushed blue- and blackberries and a vegetal note up front with coffee, leather, sage and black pepper with truffle and dirt on the finish. Highly recommend despite the price point - well worth the money if high end Bdx is your thing. This is almost to the level of a cellar collection crown jewel.

10/27/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Tasted alongside '09, '15, '16, '17 and '18 at a Ch. La Conseillante dinner at restaurant BOCA in Hickory NC with vineyard managing director & winemaker Marielle Cazaux in attendance - at this point of maturation rated #3 for me out of that group behind the '09 and '17. A master class in R bank merlot-based Bdx wines and La Conseillante in particular was had that night. This vintage is 86% merlot / 14% CF and the percentages vary slightly vintage to vintage with the merlot being roughly ~ 80-85% and CF making up the rest. Entering a mature drinking window and thus drink or hold. If drunk now would recommend at least 2-3 hours open in bottle or a 60-90 minute decant in decanter or glass. With proper cellaring this has at least 2+ decades left so leaning on the hold. A "classic" cooler year R bank Bdx wine. Paired beautifully with braised short ribs and mushrooms. Dark reddish purple with some peripheral bricking starting to develop, mature, balanced, softening mouth feel but very full bodied, fruit forward but not to the same level as the younger wines, tannins integrating with oak present but hardly noticeable (we found out this is on purpose, very much their style and intent) and a lovely long lingering aftertaste. Nose dark and soft with dark stone fruit, garrigue, vanilla and enough of a hint of white pepper on the tail to make your nose itch a bit. Flavor profile evolving into a classic R bank Bdx profile with dark stone fruit, crushed blue- and blackberries, coffee, leather, black pepper, truffle and a hint of smoke on the finish. Ridiculously good, highly recommend despite the price point - well worth the money if high end Bdx is your thing and I can't believe this was my #3 given how truly excellent it is.

10/18/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Interesting pinot rosè from a very good producer. Definitely a cut above an entry level wine, recommend for what it is and given the price point not a particularly good QPR wine at the avg CT price. Drank as part of the starter wines at our October wine club tasting. Clear, reddish pink, slightly effervescent mouth feel, light - medium bodied, pleasantly acidic and with a medium length aftertaste. Nose floral with lilac and rose petal with a slightly more citrusy finish. Flavor profile slightly saline and a bit darker with crushed red berries, red cherry and a spicier mulling spices finish.

10/18/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Highly recommend and at this point of maturation a very good QPR wine. Drank as part of the starter wines at our October wine club tasting. Clear straw yellow, smooth, well integrated, good mouth feel, medium bodied, pleasantly acidic and softening with beautiful balance and a lovely medium length aftertaste. Nose bright and floral with lilac, peach and a more sweet honeyed note on the finish. Flavor profile a bit heavier and more serious then the nose would suggest with a hint of caramel, hazelnut and ripe pear and peach. A classic and now well aged CDP blanc. Drink or hold but leaning heavily on the drink - no further upside expected to additional cellaring but this does have a few more years to go with proper cellaring.

10/24/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Highly recommend if you can find it with the caveat that it is time to drink up any remaining holdings over the next 3-5 years. At this point of maturation a very good QPR wine at the original release price and still a reasonable QPR at the current avg CT price. Drink or hold but as noted above am leaning heavily on the drink - no further upside to additional cellaring and although fully mature and at peak my feeling is that the wine will start slowly degrading over the next few years. 2 bottles recently acquired as part of a much larger cellar contents purchase. Popped and poured and a little went into the cooking as well and it took a bit to come around - recommend 2-3 hours open in bottle or a short 30-45 minute decant. Reddish purple, peripheral bricking present, completely integrated with well preserved fruit and fading oak & tannins, soft mouth feel and at this point medium - full bodied but no longer a bold wine. Medium length aftertaste. Nose initially somewhat tart and funky but this blew off quickly to reveal tar, lilac, blueberry and plum. Fkavor profile as expected - largely secandary and tertiary flavors of cedar, leather, tar, stone, graphite and a hint of black tea on a somewhat smokey finish. Just a beautiful well aged well made Medoc classic.

10/18/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Highly recommend. Excellent solidly reliable NV champagne enjoyed as a starter wine at our wine club tasting. There probably is some way to determine which vintages are blended in and this is the current release. A reasonably good consistent QPR wine. Pale yellow, clustered small bubbles, clean, crisp, nicely acidic and well balanced with a lovely medium length finish. Nose intense, bright and effervescent with lees up front developing into citrusy notes. Flavor profile warmer with lees and baked bread up front with banana, mango, lychee, yellow apple and a green tea finish. Just lovely.

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 !!

10/21/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

100% cabernet from the Weinbau and Wallula vineyards, 22 months in 90% new French oak. Superb Randy Dunn wine that is now approaching full maturity, popped and poured tableside at the Fig Tree restaurant in Charlotte NC (highly recommend) but if possible would recommend 2-3 hours opened in bottle or a 60 minute decant at this point. Drink or hold but heavily leaning on the hold, under proper cellaring conditions this will go 2 decades+. At this point of maturation too expensive to be a good QPR wine but with the anticipated improvement with age I think this wine will get there. Deep purple - almost inky black, no bricking, full bodied, oak & tannins very present but controlled, good mouth feel and starting to integrate - this is where the improvement with age will happen. Nose dark and bold with dark stone fruit, anise, coffee and black pepper. Flavor profile a bit softer then the nose would suggest with oak more prominent up front then later on the palate, dark stone fruit, cassis and blueberry up front yielding to cocoa, leather and graphite. Highly recommend with the caveat that the best days are still ahead.

10/21/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Lovely young Willamette Valley pinot from a very good winemaking team already drinking very well just popped and poured tableside with a couple years to go until full maturation. Highly recommend and quite a good WPR wine even at this stage of maturation. Enjoyed at the Fig Tree restaurant in Charlotte NC (highly recommend) and paired perfectly with heavier seafood. Reddish purple, medium bodied, soft mouth feel, integrating well, pleasantly acidic and with a really lovely long lingering aftertaste. Explosive nose of red cherry, strawberry, lilac and a black pepper finish. Flavor profile slightly lighter then expected based on the nose with dark cherry, raspberry, rose petal, a hint of coffee and a smokier finish.

10/21/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Superb but young - highly recommend it with the caveat that although drinking superbly now in 2-3 years when this reaches full maturity it will be yet another step above where it currently is and at that point with proper cellaring it will have an easy 8-10 years+ at the top. Enjoyed tableside at the Fig Tree restaurant in Charlotte NC (highly recommend btw) and paired beautifully with tuna & octopus apps. A very interesting, successful and somewhat rare blend of 50% garnacha blanca and 50% lesser known local white varietals with limited annual production from one of the premier priorat wineries. A darker shade of yellow then the age would suggest, full bodied with definite texture and a distinct mouth feel - slightly oily and unctious, well balanced and with a lovely long lingering aftertaste. Nose floral and somewhat herbacious and spicy rather then fruity - just lovely. Flavor profile with a hint of oak up front, pleasantly acidic and with white peach, lemon curd, lychee, quince, a hint of honeyed sweetness and a green tea finish. Despite the price point still a good QPR wine, it's just that good.

10/14/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

100% cabernet - 58% Napa / 42% Sonoma fruit. Drinking superbly, highly recommend and the above CT drinking window is WAY off - with proper cellaring this has everything in place to go out to the 2028-2030+ range. At our acquisition price quite a good QPR wine at this point of maturation. Unfortunately our last bottle. Drink or hold but definitely leaning on the drink, probably not much further upside to cellaring and at peak / fully mature. Dark reddish purple, peripheral bricking present, good mouth feel, bold and fruitforward, very full bodied and well balanced with still very present but now well controlled oak & tannins. Long lingering aftertaste. Nose dark and aromatic - dark stone fruit, black pepper, coffee. Flavor profile classic Napa cab with controlled oak through out, dark stone fruit, cassis, crushed blackberry, stone and graphite. Just an outstanding wine, another great effort from a great winery.

10/14/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

100% cabernet sauvignon. Amazing wine drinking perfectly. Drink or hold, leaning on the drink but with proper cellaring this still has years to go. 1st of 6 bottles recently acquired as part of a larger cellar contents purchase and anticipate drinking them over the next 2-3 years. Opened for over 2 hours and this worked well - a short 30 minute decant would also do. Despite how good it is this is not a particularly good QPR wine - you are paying for the quality. Deep purple, peripheral bricking present, soft, supple, well balanced, complex and integrated and overall very Bdx-like albeit with a muscular fruity core and slight sweetness that gives away the origin. Oak & tannins resolved. Lovely long lingering aftertaste. Initially a hint of barnyard funk on the nose which blew away quickly replaced by lavendar and plum. Flavor profile lovely with dark fruit, cassis and vanilla up front giving way to leaner earthier secondary notes of blueberry, leather, mocha and a grilled meat smokier finish. This wine and how well it has held up for 23 years is a testament to the terroir, vintage and the skill of the winemaking team and is a perfect example of the ageability and quality of the higher end Napa cabs when everything falls into place.

10/14/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Highly recommend - in a perfect drinking window right now. A reasonable but not great QPR wine given the price point. Drink or hold and leaning heavily on the drink - no further anticipated upside with further cellaring although under proper cellaring conditions this probably has a good 2-3 years left at a very high level. Clear, dark yellow, mature and integrated, good mouth feel, full bodied, not particularly buttery, oak well controlled and could use a little more acidity at this stage. Nose intense with a hint of salinity, honey, brioche, yellow melon and peach. Flavor profile of a hint of yeast up front, well integrated controlled butter & oak, lemon curd, banana and a green tea finish. Just a beautiful Sonoma Coast chardonnay.

10/12/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Definitely recommend for what it is - a good QPR and now fully mature and well balanced modern style barolo. Drink or hold - if drunk now recommend aeration in bottle for 2-3 hours or a 60-90 minute decant and do not expect significant further upside with further cellaring but on the other hand under proper cellaring circumstances this has an easy decade+ to go. Dark reddish purple, peripheral bricking starting to occur, medium bodied, spicy and fruit forward but integrating nicely with good balance, oak & tannins still present but controlled and lovely medium length aftertaste. Nose bright and fruit forward with dark stone fruit, black pepper and licorice. Flavor profile of dark stone fruit, oak and blueberry up front with more graphite, coffee and black olive on the finish. Not as dark, complex and full bodied as the best of the more traditional barolos, a lighter more approachable style but a very nice wine none the less.

10/9/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Not that often do I get to write the 1st CT TN on a wine. Definitely recommend with the caveat that this wine is still quite young with the best days yet to come - drink or hold, if drunk now recommend a 60-90 minute decant but definitely leaning on the hold. Anticipated maturity is in 2-3 years followed by a decade+ of high level drinking if cellared appropriately. A reasonable QPR wine at this point and will eventually mature into quite a good QPR wine. A biodynamically farmed and produced interesting syrah / mourvedre blend from the La Clape AOP of the Languedoc region in southern France from a top producer. Medium bodied, dark purple, no bricking, fragrant and somewhat spicy and at this point still somewhat disjointed - balance, complexity and depth along with an improvement in the score will come with time. Right now very syrah dominant. Nose bright, sharp and fragrant with dark stone fruit, cedar and garrigue. Flavor profile lean and dark fruit dominant with hints of black pepper, leather and stone.

10/9/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Highly recommend but given price point not a particularly good QPR - delivers at both a very high level and high price point as expected. An absolutely fantastic and fully mature high end Sonoma Valley merlot & cab franc dominant elegant Bdx blend of 50% merlot, 40% CF, 9% cab sauv and 1% malbec. Generally regarded as the softest, most supple and most complex of the 3 primary Verite wines which are the best Sonoma wines we have had. Drink or hold but leaning on the drink - no further upside expected to further cellaring but on the other hand has a few more years left with proper cellaring conditions. Opened in bottle for 3-4 hours prior to consumption and this worked perfectly - if decanted would not go much beyond a 60 minute decant. 2 bottles recently acquired as part of a much larger cellar contents purchase and 1 more bottle left - anticipate drinking it within the next year. Completely mature, well balanced, complex, soft mouth feel, full bodied, fruit well preserved with fading oak and tannins and a lovely lingering aftertaste. Nose initially surprisingly muted but once wine opened up in glass the nose was marvelous with dark fruit, red cherry, more cedar then oak, vanilla (? from the oak ?) and black pepper. Flavor profile classic aged merlot dominant with dark stone fruit, blueberry and black currant fading into more raspberry, leather and graphite with a smokier finish. The quality of this wine at this point of maturation speaks to both the quality of the terroir of the vineyards, the vintage and to the skill of the wine making team.

10/7/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Definitely recommend for what it is and quite a good QPR wine. A very pleasant well made entry level single vineyard Central Coast Monterey AVA sauvignon blanc. Versatile with food pairings. Drink not hold - not made for longer term storage. Pale yellow, clear, fresh, off dry and crisp with a nice medium length aftertaste. A little went into the poached halibut packets on the grill, most of the rest of it into the chef and there was a little left to chase the fish down with. Nose bright and crisp with a slight saline note and both pear and green apple present. Flavor profile slightly sweeter and off-dry with green apple, citrus and lemongrass notes.

10/7/2022 - ikkaariainen wrote:

Neutral on recommending this. A reasonable QPR wine at around $20 / bottle. A light daily drinker / entry level Sonoma coast pinot that is reasonably well made and drinks reasonably well but nothing particularly good, special or memorable about this wine. Drink now, will cellar a few years but not made for lengthy storage. Light purple, no bricking, medium bodied, fresh and acidic with minimal oak and no tannins detected. Nose bright and acidic with red cherry and raspberry. Flavor profile simple with cherry, more straw- then raspberry, a slight saline note and a darker note of tar.

10/7/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Definitely recommend. Quite a good QPR wine. Well made Umpqua Valley OR dry riesling, a definite cut above an entry level wine. Drink or hold - ready to drink and with proper cellaring has a few good years left but not really intended for lengthy cellaring. Pale yellow, nice crispy acidity, fresh and quite dry with good mouth feel and a nice medium long finish. Versatile with food pairing options. Bright almost sharp acidic nose with a hint of kerosene, white peach and a hint of white pepper. Flavor profile dry and acidic with definite kerosene, green grapes, a hint of cedar and graphite.

10/7/2022 - ikkaariainen wrote:

Not that often do I get to write the 1st CT TN on a wine. A pleasant enough entry level semi-sweet and reasonably well made Italian moscato with pleasant acidity and slight effervescence with pear and yellow apple dominant. A crowd pleaser. Not our style and I cannot recommend.

10/7/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Quite good but very young - hold not drink for a few more years and the pieces will come together. Definitely recommend with the caveat that this is not quite ready to drink yet. Dark, bright smand a bit disjointed but with all the pieces in place for an eventual ~ 91 point score. Nose bright and intense with dark cherry, plum and tar. Flavor profile of oak, dark stone fruit, black pepper and anise.

10/7/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

A big fruity crowd pleaser of a wine, a cabernet drinker's pinot not a true pinophile's pinot. Drink or hold but leaning heavily on the drink - this does have a few years with proper cellaring with some softening expected but this wine is not made for serious aging. Very dark, minimal tannins present, very fruit forward to point of being almost unctious and jammy, oak is controlled and at this point of maturation somewhat monolithic. Nose of plum and tar and flavor profile very fuity and slightly sweet. A reasonably well made wine and fits a certain niche but not our style at all and I find this hard to recommend.

10/7/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

100% Rutherford AVA cabernet sauvignon, 28 months in French oak 50% new / 50% neutral. Highly recommend and at this point of maturation an outstanding QPR wine for those of us that got this at the release price. Among the best of the CT coop project wines. Drink or hold but leaning heavily on the drink, no further upside to further cellaring is anticipated. Fully mature but no drop off noted - witj proper cellaring anticipate at least another 2-3 good years. Deep purple, peripheral bricking present, very smooth and totally integrated, oak and tannins resolved with good fruit persisting, good mouth feel and full bodied. Lovely long lingering aftertaste. Popped and poured and with some swirling opened up nicely - if decanted a short 30 minute decant is adequate. Nose dark with dark stone fruit, tar and smoke with a hint of the famed Rutherford dust present. Flavor profile a beautiful mix of classic Napa cabernet stone fruit and cassis overlayed with more secondary flavors of cedar, wet stone, leather and a smokier cigar box finish with the Rutherford pixie dust more prominently present on the finish then on the nose. 4 bottles left, will be consumed by end of 2023 if not sooner.

10/3/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Not that often do I get to write the 1st CT TN on a wine. Highly recommend this with the caveat that although at this point already approachable and drinkable this is really too young and has a long bright future ahead of it starting mid-decade with an easy decade+ to go after that given proper cellaring conditions so hold not drink at this point - I think an appropriate drinking window is ~ 2025-2040. I see this eventually as a 92-93 point wine. A reasonable QPR wine right now and will mature into a good QPR wine at our acquisition cost. Dark purple, no bricking, bright, acidic, fruit forward and really requires food. Medium long aftertaste. Nose bright and almost effervescent with dark fruit, black pepper and an herbal note most closely resembling probably tarragon. Flavor profile lighter then expected even for a young barbaresco and with further maturation this will improve - dark stone fruit, tar and garrigue.

10/2/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

64% cab sauv / 22% sangiovese / 14% petit sirah. Highly recommend with the caveat that it is time to drink up any remaining holdings but no real hurry - this will hold for a bit longer. From a magnum opened at the Gamekeeper restaurant in the NC High Country for a S. African themed Chaine dinner. This magnum and 10 750 cc bottles were recently acquired as part of a much larger cellar contents purchase and the smaller bottles also holding up very well - will drink these up through 2023 if not a bit faster since wife Kim absolutely loves these wines. Dark red, peripheral bricking present, soft mouth feel, full bodied, cab dominant, fruit still very present, surprisingly complex and very well balanced with oak gone and tannins velvety. Long luscious aftertaste. Nose initially muted then dark and bold after opening up with aeration with dark stone fruit, a hint of green pepper, licorice and a more floral almost lilac or lavendar finish. Flavor profile with dark stone fruit, cassis and raspberry up front with leather and spice developing and a smokier cigar box finish. This is REALLY drinking well given how old it is.

10/2/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Definitely recommend with the caveat that although already drinking quite well this is still very young, will probably hit full stride 2024-2025 with a 1-2 point improvement in the score as it balances out and develops more complexity and at that point this will have an easy 8-10 years to go in top form thus drink or hold but heavily leaning on the hold. Enjoyed at the Gamekeeper restaurant in the NC High Country for a Chaine dinner with a S. African theme. Clear, yellow, good mouth feel with a lovely slightly oily / buttery mouth feel and well structured but a bit disjointed and oak well balanced. Nose warm and bright with ripe peach, mango and a hint of caramel. Flavor profile off-dry and tropical with a hint of petrol which adds to the layers with superimposed apricot, peach, yellow melon and a hint of honey.

10/2/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

75% merlot / 25% sangiovese, the entry level Luce red. Definitely recommend this with the caveat that this is still young with the best days to come. 89+ points and with further maturation expect improvement of 1-2 points. Approaching a reasonable drinking window so drink or hold but leaning on the hold - if drunk now definitely recommend a 60-90 minute decant and with proper cellaring this has an easy decade to go. Dark reddish purple, no bricking, full bodied, complexity developing but further complexity and balance is what time will provide. Acidic and very food friendly at this point. Pleasant medium long aftertaste. Nose sharp and bright with dark cherry, plumb and a sweeter vanilla finish. Flavor profile acidic through out with red cherry, raspberry, tar and a floral lilac finish.

9/29/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Highly recommend for amarone lovers and at this point of maturation developing into a very good QPR wine. Stylistically a bit softer, more controlled, more muted and more refined then some amarones - not quite as intense, raisiney and almost port-like as some especially younger amarones we have had in the past and this may speak as much to the maturation as to the specific wine making style. A very food friendly wine but unlike a lot of Italians also a decent sipper. In a fully mature drinking window so drink or hold but no hurry, this has an easy decade+ if not 2 decades with proper cellaring. Popped and poured tableside at restaurant Forchetta downtown Charlotte NC (btw HIGHLY RECOMMEND) and this worked with a pre-dinner drink and some swirling in the glass but ideally would recomnend a ~ 60 minute decant. Full bodied, oak and tannins present but well controlled, acid very well controlled, almost inky black, no peripheral bricking, lovely mouth feel, developing complexity and with a lovely long lingering aftertaste. Nose initially muted but once it opened up it was almost explosive with dark stone fruit, hint of caramel, sweet spices and lavendar. Flavor profile of dark stone fruit, stewed prunes, a hint of burnt sugar, wet forest floor and finishing with a smokier cigar box note. 6 bottles left and will drink them over the next decade if we can wait that long - amarones are one of wife Kim's weaknesses and this lot may not make it out to a decade.

9/27/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

A very interesting, well made and delicious CA super Tuscan blend of 66% cab sauv, 19% sangiovese and 15% petit sirah. Definitely recommend and a very reasonable QPR wine at the average CT price. Holding up well but definitely tine to drink not hold with no further upside to cellaring but also no real hurry, with proper cellaring this still has a bit of time. 4 more bottles left and anticipate working through them by next summer - bottles recently acquired as part of a much larger cellar contents purchase. Very dark purple, bricking present, soft mouth feel, full bodied and completely integrated with a lovely lingering aftetaste. Aromatic nose of dark fruit, a hint of nutmeg, mocha and black pepper. Flavor profile cab dominsnt with mostly secandary flavors including more cedar then oak, cassis, black pepper, tar, coffee and lesther. Dinking super well and no need for a decant.

9/26/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Not that often do I get to write the 1st CT TN on a wine. Being North Carolinian I am always interested in the development of local wineries and as broad statement right now the whites pretty easily outshine the reds with their being several quite decent NC (non-Muscadine) whites in production but overall the success with the reds has been modest when compared to benchmark wines of the same grape varietal from elsewhere. This N.V. 100% PV from a beautiful High Country vineyard was a bit of a pleasant surprise - young with easily several years of ageability and already drinking quite reasonably. Inky black, oak and tannins present but controlled, full bodied, good mouth feel and with a medium length aftertaste. Nose dark with dark stone fruit, tar and a hint of caramel. Flavor profile somewhat simple and monolithic with dark stone fruit, a lighter note of mint vs eucalyptus (makes one wonder about what is growing surrounding the vineyards), earthy forest floor and leather.

9/25/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

A very interesting "super Campanian" blend of 50% cab sauv, 30% native aglianico and 20% merlot. Slower to mature then the '09 and '07 but this may eventually end up being the best of the 3 vintages. Perfect pairing with spaghetti and a classic meat sauce tonight. Definitely recommend and quite a QPR wine at the average CT cost. In a mature drinking window right now but still youthful, with proper cellaring this has an easy decade+ to go so drink or hold - further improvement, balance and complexity expected with further cellaring. Opened in bottle for about 3 hours before pouring and this worked or could do a 60-90 minute decant. Very deep purple, no peripheral bricking, mature, full bodied, oak and tannins now well controlled, softening, complexity will continue to improve with additional aging and lovely long aftertaste. Nose dark and slightly muted with dark stone fruit, tar, licorice and black pepper. Flavor profile cab dominant with dark stone fruit, blackberry, licorice, tar and forest floor.

9/24/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

This vintage is 50% cab sauv / 50% sangiovese. Enjoyed in Charlotte NC at restaurant Forchetta at a combined Charlotte NC chapter Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and Opera Carolina dinner. Highly recommend, a good QPR wine at the average CT price and drink or hold - entering a reasonable drinking window but currently will benefit from an at least 60-90 minute decant and with proper cellaring this has an easy decade++ to go. Paired perfectly with slow braised wagyu short ribs. Deep purple - almost black, no bricking, aromatic, full bodied, developing complex and depth which is where additional aging will really show and with a long aftertaste. Nose dark and initially somewhat muted but with aeration and swirling in glass became very aromatic and almost explosive with dark cherry, plum, licorice and black pepper present. Oak and tannins quite present at this point of maturation. Flavor profile of dark stone fruit, cassis and blueberry up front with earthier leather, tar and graphite notes developing mid-palate with a smokier grilled meat finish.

9/24/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

The above drinking window is way off and this is consistently really the only weak spot that CT has as the drinking window is an aggregate of the guesses of people who have entered drinking window information - with further proper cellaring this wine has years more to go. Enjoyed in Charlotte NC at restaurant Forchetta at a combined Charlotte NC chapter Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and Opera Carolina dinner. Paired perfectly with slow braised wagyu short ribs. Good QPR wine at the average CT price and highly recommend - drink or hold, fully mature, will benefit from a short decant and as already mentioned above with proper cellaring has years more to go. Dark red, peripheral bricking present, aromatic, full bodied, complex and with a lovely lingering aftertaste - an excellent example of a well made properly aged Corvina. Nose dark, aromatic and almost explosive with dark fruit, tar and black pepper present. Oak and tannins present but well integrated. Flavor profile of dark stone fruit, smoke, tar, wet stone and coffee with a smokier cigar finish.

9/24/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Not that often do I get to write the 1st CT TN on a wine. Lovely white Sicilian Nero d'Avola, our 1st such wine, rendered white by not allowing any skin contact with the juice following maceration and initial press. Enjoyed in Charlotte NC at restaurant Forchetta at a combined Charlotte NC chapter Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and Opera Carolina dinner. Paired perfectly with scallops and eggplant capinata. Good QPR wine and definitely recommend - drink or hold, young but approachable and with proper cellaring will have years to go. Crisp, clean, refreshing, slightly acidic with a dark yellow color, medium - full bodied, good mouth feel and a lovely medium length aftertaste. Nose darker then expected with peach, banana and kitchen spices. Flavor profile surprisingly terroir driven which speaks to the underlying grape varietal despite this being a white wine - stone fruit, wet stone and minerally graphite present.

9/24/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Enjoyed in Charlotte NC at restaurant Forchetta at a combined Charlotte NC chapter Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and Opera Carolina dinner. Paired well with a fennel, radish and grilled octopus salad. Good QPR and definitely recommend - drink or hold, young but approachable and with proper cellaring will have years to go. Crisp, clean, refreshing and slightly acidic with a pale yellow color, medium bodied and good mouth feel. Nose bright, slightly acidic and with pear and peach. Flavor profile slightly acidic through out with green grapes, apple, lychee and a hint of green tea.

9/24/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Enjoyed in Charlotte NC at restaurant Forchetta at a combined Charlotte NC chapter Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and Opera Carolina dinner. Very enjoyable bubbly starter. Good QPR and definitely recommend - drink not hold. Crisp, clean, refreshing and slightly but not overly sweet. Clear salmon color, medium bodied, nicely effervescent with lovely clustered bubbles and good mouth feel. Nose bright, effervescent, slightly acidic and with strawberry the primary note. Flavor profile semi-sweet with strawberry, raspberry and a hint of burnt sugar.

9/14/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Not that often do I get to write the 1st CT TN on a wine. Served recently at Restaurant BOCA in Hickory NC with Guy Davis himself in attendance for a for a combined suicide awareness and prevention fund raiser dinner and celebration of life for a good friend of ours. Paired beautifully with filet mignon. Highly recommend with the caveat that this is still young. At this point of maturation a reasonable QPR wine - once fully mature I think this will be quite good QPR wine. Drink with a 60-90 minute decant now or hold and given how young this wine is am definitely leaning on the hold - probably another 2-3 years away from full maturation with definite further upside expected with further cellaring and under proper cellaring conditions this has a decade++ left. A young but already beautiful true Bdx blend of all 5 grapes from a single Sonoma vineyard (this vintage 41% cab sauv, 26% CF, 21% malbec and at this point of maturation the malbec shines through along with the cab sauv, 8% merlot and 4% PV) from an excellent wine making team. Dark purple, no bricking, full bodied, at this point of maturation somewhat monolithic with more balance and complexity anticipated with further aging, controlled oak and tannins and with a lovely long lingering aftertaste. Nose bold with black stone fruit, black pepper, dark cherry and a hint of tobacco. Flavor profile dark and bold with well controlled tannins through out - oak, dark stone fruit and cassis up front with a green pepper vegetal note present probably courtesy of the CF component with an earthier mid-palate of stone, forest floor and grilled meat with a smokier finish. This is the best Davis family bottling we have tried and I will definitely be looking to get some for aging.

9/14/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Not that often do I get to write the 1st CT TN on a wine. Served recently at Restaurant BOCA in Hickory NC with Guy Davis himself in attendance for a for a combined suicide awareness and prevention fund raiser dinner and celebration of life for a good friend of ours. Paired beautifully with gla duck quiche. Highly recommend and at this point of maturation a reasonable QPR wine - once fully mature I think this will be a good QPR wine. Drink with a decant now or hold and given how young this wine is am leaning on the hold - probably another 1-2 years away from maturation with definite further upside expected with cellaring and under proper cellaring conditions and this a decade left. A still relatively light somewhat spicy lovely RRV single vineyard pinot from an excellent wine making team. Light purple, no bricking, medium bodied, spicy, oak & tannins controlled and some complexity already setting in - increased complexity and balance is what will be gained with more time and I see an additional 1-2 points added to the score. Nose bold with black pepper, plum, red cherry and rose petal. Flavor profile of strawberry, raspberry, kitchen spuces and a smokier peppery finish.

9/14/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Not that often do I get to write the 1st CT TN on a wine. Served recently at Restaurant BOCA in Hickory NC with Guy Davis himself in attendance for a for a combined suicide awareness and prevention fund raiser dinner and celebration of life for a good friend of ours. Paired beautifully with grilled halibut and sides. Highly recommend and quite a good QPR wine. Drink now or hold with some further upside expected to further cellaring with proper cellaring conditions and this has years of life left. A really lovely Sonoma white Rhone blend (18% viognier, 35% marsanne, 48% roussanne) from an excellent wine making tram. Pale yelloe, clear, slightly creamy, well balanced, clean and minerally with ever so slight salinity present and very refreshing. Nose bold with white peach, pear, lilac and a hint of pepper. Flavor profile really nice with pear, citrus notes and green tea finish.

9/14/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Not that often do I get to write the 1st CT TN on a wine. Served recently at Restaurant BOCA in Hickory NC with Guy Davis himself in attendance for a for a combined suicide awareness and prevention fund raiser dinner and celebration of life for a good friend of ours. Paired beautifully with seared sea scallops. Highly recommend and quite a good QPR wine. Drink or hold - probably no further upside to cellaring but with proper cellaring has years to go. Dark salmon, lovely lively tightly clustered bubbles, clean, crisp, effervescent, minerally, ever so slightly saline and very refreshing. Nose effervescent and darker then expected with the pinot really coming through - yeast, rose petal, red cherry and a whiff of white pepper. Flavor profile with a surprising amount of lees and baked bread evolving into red cherry, red currant and strawberry.

9/23/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Easily 92+. A very interesting CA "super Tuscan" blend of 65% cab sauv, 24% sangiovese and 11% petit sirah by an excellent wine making team out of Calistoga that has held up super well. 1st of 16 bottles recently acquired as part of a much larger older wines cellar contents purchase. Highly recommend and quite a good QPR at the current average CT cost. Drink rather then hold but no real hurry - this is completely mature with no further upside expected to cellaring but at least this bottle was not fading at all and with proper cellaring should hold at a high level for at least a couple more years. I see us finishing these end of '23 maybe into beginning of '24 if not a bit sooner - wife Kim REALLY loves these wines so perhaps a bit sooner. Opened in bottle for about 90 minutes with a bit more time in glass before consumption and this worked well - a short 30 minute decant would also be good. Dark purple, peripheral bricking present, very smooth, good smooth mouth feel, full bodied, completely mature and layered and integrated with fruit strong, no tannins present and a hint of oak still present. Lovely long lingering aftertaste. Nose initially muted but opened up nicely with aeration and swirling in glass with dark stone fruit, cedar, blackberry and a sweeter hint of caramel. Flavor profile just lovely and cab dominant - a hint of oak up front but through out the palate the dominant wood note was cedar not oak. Cassis, blueberry, black cherry, black pepper, wet stone, leather and a hint of cigar smoke on the end.

9/22/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

97% cab sauv / 3% CF. Before writing this note I reviewed my previous note on this wine from '09 and note ongoing evolution and maturation but no actual revolution. Recently acquired 12 of these bottles as part of a much larger cellar contents purchase. Highly recommend despite the price point and despite the price point at this point of maturation this wine is actually quite a good QPR wine, simply that good. Mature and totally ready to drink, could do with a short 30-60 minute decant but not needed - opened up good with an hour or two open in the bottle and some additional air in the glass. Drink or hold - completely mature but still structured enough that no hurry to drink, no further upside expected with further cellaring but with proper cellaring this still has years to go. Cork pristine when tonged out. Dark purple, peripheral bricking, soft with good mouth feel, oak and tannins still present but well controlled, good fruit present, complex and balanced with secondsry flavors coming through and still quite full bodied. Lovely long lingering aftertaste. Bouquet of balanced oak up front with red cherry, coffee, lilac and a smokier finish. Flavor profile of well balanced oak, cassis, blueberry and cedar up front developing into earthier graphite, stone, forest floor and anise with smoke and black pepper on the finish. An exceptional wine which shows why the QC reputation is what it is.

9/21/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

First of 8 bottles recently acquired as part of a much larger cellar contents purchase. Very impressed and highly recommed with the caveat that at this point these wines are definitely drink not hold - will finish these bottles by end of 2023 if not sooner (very likely much sooner given how good this wine is). A very good QPR wine at the average CT price. Has held up amazingly well which is a tribute to the Rutherford terroir, the legendary '97 Napa vintage, the wine making team and pristine storage. Enjoyed in Hickory NC at the Vintage House restaurant. Cork was tonged out and absolutely pristine. Reddish purple with peripheral bricking, very smooth, good mouth feel, oak & tannins completely resolved, fruit still very much present along with development of secondary notes, complex, medium - full bodied and now very Bdx-like including some initial barnyard funk on the nose which blew off quickly. Lovely lingering aftertaste. Nose initially muted with the above mentioned barnyard funk which blew off quickly with aeration and swirling followed by plum, black cherry, coffee and a hint of smoke On the palate the Rutherford "dust" was very much present through out with dark stone fruit, cassis and blackberry up front with an earthier finish of stone, leather, cedar and cigar box at the end.

9/18/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

1st of 3 N.V. bottles recently acquired as part of a much larger cellar contents purchase with the vintages likely from the mid-'90's (accompanying Opus One bottle vintages '93 - '96). Highly recommend this Overture time period and despite the average CT price point this is now actually a very good QPR wine. Drink now not hold. Completely mature and soft - drink now not hold. Reddish purple, peripheral bricking, soft oak, tannins completely resolved, soft mouth feel, very well balanced and layered and overall quite Bordeaux like. Lovely long lingering soft aftertaste. Nose soft with initial barnyard which blew off quickly revealing dark cherry, plum, mulling spices and lilac. Primary flavors now secondary with blueberry, cedar, coffee, stone and a tobacco box finish.

9/18/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

A very interesting wine - the oldest non-SS Caymus we have had, the 1st of 11 just acquired bottles as part of a much larger cellar contents purchase. Definitely recommend with the caveat that it is time to drink these up - definitely DRINK not hold - and with the barnyard funk it has developed it benefits from a short 30-60 minute decant. Readonable 2nd day with refrigeration overnight but better 1st day. Tonged cork absolutely pristine which speaks to the high provenance of these wines. Definitely "over the hill" in terms of what it once was and what the wine making team originally intended it to be but it's evolved into a very different interesting much more Bdx like older cab. Reddish purple, peripheral bricking, soft and with a lovely lightly sedimented mouth feel and oak and tannins completely integrated. Some fruit still present but smoky secondary flavors dominate. Nose with more barnyard funk then I have probably ever encountered in a CA cab but this blew off quickly (this is where the short decant id helpful) and initially muted but once it opened notes of cedar rather then oak, a whiff of sandalwood and coffee dominated with a surprising more floral rose petal finish. Flavor profile very dry with cedar, coffee, blueberry with a more bloody and grilled meat finish.

9/15/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Before writing this note I re-read my last note on this wine from about a year ago and note slow ongoing evolution and improvement but no revolution. Really an excellent wine if you like dark, intense and big wines but not nearly as fruit forward now - fruit integrating and wine starting to soften. Completely in a mature drinking window now, will benefit from 1-2 hours of decanting but drinking well enough with out it and can easily be aerated in the glass for a bit. Drink or hold but leaning on the hold, absolutely no hurry - this will improve with additional bottle age and and this has an easy decade+ to go. Intense dark purple color, good mouth feel, smooth, starting to soften and balance and has a lovely long lingering aftertaste. Nose of dark stone fruit and coffee with a violatious floral note on the finish. On the flavor profile oak, dark stone fruit and a hint of sweet vanilla up front with garrigue, lead pencil and leather on the finish. Highly recommend and becoming quite a good QPR wine at the average CT price.

9/5/2022 - ikkaariainen wrote:

Not that often do I get to write the 1st CT TN on a wine. Definitely recommend. Enjoyed at Capperi pizzeria in Helsinki - a very good pizza wine. A well priced, still quite young, reasonably priced and good QPR Nero d'Avola - a cut above an entry level wine. Dark purple, good structure, medium bodied, acidic and fruit forward. With proper cellaring this has years to go so drink or hold but leaning on the hold. Nose bright and fruit forward with dark stone fruit, cola, coffee and black pepper. Flavor profile shows black cherry, plum and licorice up front with a softer red cherry, blackberry and garrigue mid-palate and a smokier finish.

9/7/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Organically grown blend of 95% Nerello Mascalese and 5% Nerello Cappuccio on the slopes of Mt. Etna in Sicily - our 1st exposure to these native Sicilian grapes. Definitely recommend with the caveat that right now this is quite young and ideally needs at least 2-3 more years to really enter a proper drinking window at which point this will have an easy 8-10 years to go - hold not drink at this point, if drunk now needs a 1-2 hour decant. When fully mature this will be a very reasonable QPR wine. Enjoyed in Helsinki at restaurant OLO with their higher end tasting and wine pairing menu. Medium bodied, softening mouth feel, light purple, mildly acidic with no oak / softening tannins and with a pleasant medium length aftertaste. Nose bright and fruit forward with cherry, cola and rose petal. Flavor profile of cherry, raspberry, lavendar, a darker coffee note mid-palate and a smokier finish noted. Very pleasant and at this point of maturation very food friendly.

9/7/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Superb but still quite young. With proper cellaring will age well over the next 20+ years with further balance, integration and deepening expected so drink or hold but leaning strongly on the hold - if drunk now would recommend a lengthy 2-3 hour decant. I see this eventually as a 93-94 point wine. Highly recommend and this is already quite a reasonable QPR wine at the average CT cost. Enjoyed in Helsinki at restaurant OLO with their higher end tasting and wine pairing menu. Full bodied, at this point of maturation bright and fruit forward, oak and tannins present but controlled, acidic, very dark purple and with a lengthy aftertaste. Nose bright and fruit forward with dark cherry, slight oak and a hint of vanilla up front and developing plum and black pepper on the finish. Flavor profile of cherry, plum and raspberry up front with a darker earthier finish of stone, leather, grilled meat and tobacco.