11/10/2023 - elise Likes this wine:

Definitely in the window with great balance and secondary flavors coming through strong. Popped and poured yet anticipate improvement throughout the evening given the structure.

9/29/2023 - elise wrote:

Popped and poured.

Fruit and acidity is good up front but tapers off rather quickly. Awkward balance at the moment and with a relatively short finish. I am interested to see how this develops over the course of the evening and will report back.

Most definitely better at cellar temp than straight from the fridge.

9/30/2022 - elise Likes this wine:

Definitely in decline but still a beautiful wine. Pop and pour notes don't reflect what I think it will evolve to as it warms and opens up:

Nose of faint flowers, leather, earth, red fruit
Palate has initial attack of faint red fruit and flowers evolving to a mid palate of earth, mushrooms, cranberries, and finishes with significant tannin. It really needs some food, maybe a mushroom risotto with lots of parm.

Overall, still decent but pushing the boundaries of balance as a pop and pour without food. You'll want to check-in on this if you still have some over the next couple years.

5/19/2019 - elise Likes this wine:

Wonderful nose and palate, very honest and straight-forward. Not a ton of complexity or structure which makes me think this might be a really good short term wine? Maybe 5 to 10 years?

4/18/2019 - elise Likes this wine:

In the window now.

12/21/2018 - elise wrote:

Time to drink, color is bricking and fruit is turning towards prune. Not bad, but past it’s peak.

12/21/2018 - elise Likes this wine:

Drinking really well. Needs some air time to fully develop to its potential.

9/27/2018 - elise wrote:

Good QPR, lemon curd for days, good balance

3/9/2016 - elise wrote:

Floral, rose pedal nose, some berries hiding in the background, missing the barnyard or forest floor that I get from Burgundy, mouth has a heavy-ish feel for an OR Pinot, backbone of solid tannins, dark verry fruit, fairly simple, finish is long-ish with maybe 15 seconds or longer

4/26/2015 - elise Likes this wine:

well made, tastses good, not for me though since it has a serious floral component on the palate

2/21/2015 - elise Likes this wine:

This wine appears to be to be at a crossroads, its just about where I like it but still has too much "baby fat". I will give it a try again in 6months

2/17/2015 - elise Likes this wine:

Smells slightly of Bordeaux, tastes like Loire

2/15/2015 - elise Likes this wine:

Still a very big sparkling wine at close to 19 years old, wine of the night for some

2/14/2015 - elise Likes this wine:

very well balanced for a port

12/25/2014 - elise wrote:

In decline after a 2-hour decant - this wine is somewhat simple at this point with little to no tannins left with diminished fruit acid too. Fruit is there but muted. Dominant flavors are of vanilla and oak with cherries poking thru a bit.

Generally speaking, this is not my favorite flavor profile to start with; I would check your cellar to see how your bottles have fared if you have more than one.

9/19/2014 - elise Likes this wine:

Needs quite a bit of time to open, until then it is significantly less complex with dark, weighty fruit. After breathing for 2 hours plus you are treated to brighter fruit, higher fruit acid levels, and a discernible, yet very pleasant backbone of tannins, wet earth, and some Oregon funkiness.

6/15/2014 - elise Likes this wine:

Good now and could handle 2-5 more years. Taste again in 2016.

5/31/2014 - elise wrote:

Very earthy for a rose', cab franc comes thru with some spice on the palate, fruit leans toward raspberry and cranberry. Quite a bit of funk and barnyard on the nose. Not your regular rose' but still enjoyable. Recommend drinking warmer than fridge temp since it opens up quite a bit more and tones-down the earthiness.

1/10/2014 - elise Likes this wine:

Nose seems somewhat older, almost Bordeaux-like with cedar, mustiness
Palate with good balance, relatively subdued compared to other ports tasted at the same time, relatively simple (dumb phase?) red fruit, eucalyptus

1/10/2014 - elise Likes this wine:

Nose with sea spray, eucalyptus, tangerine zest, somewhat alcoholic
Palate is complex with road tar, citrus, brandied fruit, high acidity

tasted in a formal setting with little to no breathing time

1/10/2014 - elise wrote:

Spicy nose, somewhat reserved, balanced palate yet not taking my breath away

1/10/2014 - elise Likes this wine:

nose of bright citrus, spice
relatively high acid palate with good backbone and structure, citrus, brandied fruit, somewhat rough around the edges

Tasted in a formal setting with little to no breathing time

1/10/2014 - elise Likes this wine:

Nose of vanilla, sea spray, candied fruit, some alcohol showing thru
Very complex palate, relatively sweet, brandied fruit, wow, not completely consistent with the nose

1/12/2014 - elise wrote:

Musty, somewhat bretty nose
Smooth, well balanced, good tannin and acid, brandy showing thru

Tasted in a formal setting

1/12/2014 - elise wrote:

somewhat vegetal, cotton candy nose
good palate, not hot, good acidity, super silky, well balanced

1/12/2014 - elise wrote:

Nose of Candy, somewhat chemical from fortification
Palate is somewhat hot, tons of acid, good backbone, slightly rough around the edges

Tasted in a formal setting with little to no breathing time

1/10/2014 - elise Likes this wine:

good balance, relatively light, new "beach ball" nose, more wood than expected

1/12/2014 - elise Likes this wine:

Seemed better as it warmed up than just out of the fridge

11/16/2013 - elise wrote:

Herbal, menthol, earthy, pamagranite, sour cherry, round but firm tannins, nice older Chianti.

Needs to breath for 30-60 minutes, then drinks nicely for 2-3 hours at which point it starts to go down hill becoming much simpler and less enjoyable. Nicely balanced while it's "in the zone"

10/24/2013 - elise wrote:

This wine starts off great and becomes more simple over time. After about three hours it's relatively two dimensional. For this reason, I recommend pop & pour, not so common with my Barbarescos.

10/13/2013 - elise wrote:

Drink up if you have any left, vegetal components are quite prevalent.

9/14/2013 - elise wrote:

Good fruit and minerality that faded throughout the evening resulting in forest floor, fruit acid, and minerality. Maybe five more years left in it? Not a long term collaring wine IMHO

9/9/2013 - elise Likes this wine:

Light yellow color with a slight tinge of peach peaking thru

Nose fairly complex with white flowers, honeydew melon, sea spray, apples, and pears.

Palate comes on strong with bright acidity, Granny Smith apples, pears, maybe lychee fruit? and a slight apricot note on the transition to finish. Notable for it's clean, fresh palate. Finish lingers for 20-40 seconds.

8/11/2013 - elise wrote:

Started opening up after 2 hours

7/27/2013 - elise wrote:

Let it breath for 2 hours and its much better

7/16/2013 - elise Likes this wine:

Bright yellow - almost fluorescent, thick oily texture, relatively complex, medium to high acid, tons of fruit and floral components like citrus, honeysuckle, mango or peaches?, pineapple, orange blossom, maybe even pears. Balanced? kinda but weighted toward fruit. Wispy lingering finish that lasts for what seems like a minute or two.

Generally a great heavy-weight white for mid-summer and probably a great pairing with foie gras, Copper River salmon (pick one), or some combo cheese/ light charcuterie plate (does that exist?)

Price-wise, it's up there with value white 1'ers from Burgundy so that's something to consider although it's really an apples to oranges comparison.

7/14/2013 - elise wrote:

Green stems and dark fruit, good acidity, sour cherries, finish that lasts quite a while, some minerality.

5/28/2013 - elise wrote:

Decant for 2+ hours or leave it in the cellar for 3 or more years

5/26/2013 - elise wrote:

Very slight rose color With the right eyeglasses, fresh bread, oaky nose, sea spray minerality, lightly spiced pear, palate with bright acidity, toasty oak, spiced pears, fully dry, full body, good QPR.

5/25/2013 - elise wrote:

Big on fruit, Somewhat lacking acid, Delightful but a bit simple for my palate

5/7/2013 - elise wrote:

wow, what a great summer wine and a QPR to boot.

5/11/2013 - elise wrote:

Lots of dark fruit compared to what I was expecting yet retained traditional Bordeaux profile beyond that.

5/8/2013 - elise Likes this wine:

Consider this a relatively inexpensive Syrah from WA state that strives to be like Cayuse yet is a bit simple. It hit the right notes on parts of the nose, and basic Walla Walla flavor profile yet lacks complexity.

4/30/2013 - elise Likes this wine:

Light colored, as a Pinot Noir should be

Nose with floral notes, smoky red fruit

Palate has white flowers, fresh yet savory strawberries, light body and tannins, medium fruit acid, finish is somewhat savory with dark red fruit, and lasts for 10-20 seconds

Overall - the wine evolves quite a bit throughout the evening losing some of its freshness and becoming more Burgundian with forest floor funk coming thru.

Very enjoyable to my palate and a recommended purchase at $42'ish

3/18/2013 - elise Likes this wine:

very dark purple color bordering on blue at the edge of the glass

Nose: smoke, wet earth, violets, warm spices, red fruit, slight barnyard lurking in the background

Palate: bright red fruit on the attack bringing fresh acidity to the party, medium tannin, leather, relatively short finish of plums and tannin

Very enjoyable

3/13/2013 - elise wrote:

great nose, relatively thin palate, good structure

3/4/2013 - elise wrote:

Golden yellow color, much darker than I was expecting, almost Sauternes-like.

White flowers on the nose, maybe honey and citrus too but it's a bit cold and not giving up much at the moment.

Completely dry palate with firm acid, citrus and tropical notes, mid-palate comes on strong with an under-ripe pineapple sorta thing for days that continues through the finish which seems to last for 30+ seconds. This wine is ready for food and probably not good for those that have an acid-sensitive stomach (like my wife); it's got ripping-good acid.

This is my first wine from the Jurançon so this is a new experience for me. A great wine if you're looking for a relatively big white that brings something different to the party. I may have rated it higher if it was warmer.

I will be interested to see how this wine ages. It seems like it might go for a few years without any problem.

3/2/2013 - elise Likes this wine:

Reminded me of a cross between a lighter Barolo and a preier cru Burgundy - sour cherry, forrest floor, bright acidity, leather, beautiful garnet red color.

2/24/2013 - elise wrote:

Popped, poured, and enjoyed over 2 hours. Flavored continued to develop until finished; seemed too young, balance toward fruit bright red fruit.

Nose: violets, leafy vegetables, black pepper, blueberries, mushrooms

Palate: medium body, black cherry, plum, noticeable tannins, bright acidity, forrest floor

Finish: red fruit, moderate sweet tannin, medium length

2/20/2013 - elise wrote:

Nose: Mushrooms, red berries, funky loamy earth

Palate: red berries, apples, light body with moderate tannic backbone, chalk, tart red berry finish

Overall, an enjoyable Beaujolais with some aging potential.