8/25/2022 - David_T Does not like this wine:

As others have said, a TJs purchase based on age. Plenty of cherries but too sweet overall and lacks any meaningful structural elements.

7/24/2022 - David_T Likes this wine:

A very nice syrah. Drinking well now with a bit of air. Fresh red/black cherries, raspberries, licorice, some pepper, hints of earth and grilled meat. The medium acid/tannins are integrated. The oak is there but balanced, and I agree with others the viognier adds a nice lift.

7/15/2022 - David_T Likes this wine:

No formal notes but drinking very well now. Everything is very well balanced and the mixed fruit flavors delicious. May open my Expositions soon given how good this is.

7/1/2022 - David_T Likes this wine:

Fresh fruit- cherry, pomegranate, red raspberry up front. The midpalate is somewhat acidic but adds some earth & graphite. Medium acid, light tannins, drinking very well now and while I don’t see it improving with age, no rush given the freshness.

6/27/2022 - David_T Likes this wine:

Delicious, drinking well now but good for several more years. My notes match shadowiii’s below.

5/31/2021 - David_T Likes this wine:

An oxidative tropical fruit bomb. That may not sound delicious but it is. The Prince is notably here but also so much more, as always a lot that’s tough to put into words. Tons of mango, a hint of lime, light acid/minerals to flush a few out. In this bottle it all works incredibly well together. My only bottle, certainly drinking well now but I would also love to be able to follow it as it gets older.

5/7/2021 - David_T wrote:

Delicious. My notes are actually unchanged. Still fresh and still with aging potential.

5/1/2021 - David_T wrote:

Matches my previous note, drink sooner not later.

4/23/2021 - David_T wrote:

I’m not going to try to beat winegeek’s excellent note which matches my impressions of this wine.

4/23/2021 - David_T wrote:

Strawberry, herbal, a bit of olive and a bit of cocoa. Soft mouthfeel, light tannins, medium acid. Drinking well now and should for several more years.

4/12/2021 - David_T Likes this wine:

Just a pure, lovely wine drinking very well now. Fresh lingonberry & red raspberry with just enough earth/funk underneath to keep it interesting. Light acidity and smooth tannins lead to a plush mouthfeel.

4/8/2021 - David_T Likes this wine:

It’s been a while. All of the structural notes are fully integrated, otherwise the flavors match my last note: complex and delicious. Drink now.

3/30/2021 - David_T wrote:

Mostly blue fruits, some red/dark, a bit of grilled meat/smoke, earth. Medium tannins/acid/finish. Drinking well now, nice also on day two but no rush.

1/31/2021 - David_T Likes this wine:

Fresh cherries, white flowers and rose for days on the nose. The palate adds red raspberry, spice, a medium body with medium acid and tannins. Immediately makes me think Willamette, OR. Balanced, well made, drinking well now but this will last a while.

1/31/2021 - David_T wrote:

Dark red & blue fruit, green olive and light pepper on both the nose and palate. Medium acidity/light-medium tannins. Entering a good drinking window, should last through its 10th birthday though I wouldn’t hold it long term.

12/16/2020 - David_T wrote:

I’ll second the note/score below. Unique blend (roupeiro & antão vaz), unique/tasty wine.

12/4/2020 - David_T Likes this wine:

What’s with the drinking window? 2015?! This bottle is absolutely singing. The fruit has morphed far less dark since my last bottle. Mostly fresh red cherry. Pleasant earth/mushroom underneath that, some fresh herbs and just the lightest vanilla/oak touch to round it out. Fully integrated medium acid/tannins. Truly a gem and the most enjoyable flx red I’ve had. Drinking beautifully now though I hope to keep my hands off my last bottle for a few years to see where it goes.

11/27/2020 - David_T wrote:

Last bottle, at peak/drinking well, notes as before, should still last several more years tho no improvement anticipated.

10/30/2020 - David_T wrote:

Simple. Cherry and some dried leaves. Fairly dry with light tannins/acid and a short finish. Enjoy the bottle but inside better can be found even for the low price.

8/30/2020 - David_T wrote:

Drinking well. A nice & balanced mix of fruits, earth and structure; great qpr.

8/22/2020 - David_T Likes this wine:

Notes from day three. It was bright on day one, a bit lost on day two and beautiful day three. Drinking well already with air but no rush. One of the most feminine vintages, florals throughout. Mixed red fruits that trend dark. Leather, earth and pepper. Medium acid/tannins that already feel integrated but are sure to evolve. A lovely cool climate syrah.

7/26/2020 - David_T wrote:

Yellow apple, pear and lemon. Oak is there but balanced. Malo makes it smooth but it still has light acid/minerals. I personally prefer crisper chards but this shows the Cali style well, is quite balanced and one many will enjoy. Drinking well now and should last several more years though I don’t see it improving much with time.

7/25/2020 - David_T Likes this wine:

Tart, pear, mixed citrus esp tangerine, some tropical fruit, hints of floral, stone and cherry. Nice acidity, light sweetness & mineral notes. Young but tasty, I hope I can hold my other bottle at least a decade. Great qpr.

7/16/2020 - David_T wrote:

In a good spot. Tons of savory notes balanced by dark fruits, integrating medium acid/tannins. One of the more balanced/structured Nicora wines I’ve had.

7/8/2020 - David_T wrote:

Five years later this is fully mature. Smoky/earthy notes up front then the fruit/potpourri I described before. Structural elements fully integrated.

7/7/2020 - David_T wrote:

I didn’t take formal notes on my bottle but as usual Isaac’s perfectly match my reflections.

7/7/2020 - David_T wrote:

This is fully mature with all of the structural elements fully integrated. The flavors completely match my note from five years ago.

6/28/2020 - David_T wrote:

Matches my previous note. Aging very nicely, no rush.

6/27/2020 - David_T wrote:

Definitely Burgundian in style. Tart cherry, hints of balsamic and earth. Light integrated tannins, fairly strong acidity. This has aged well.

6/26/2020 - David_T wrote:

Smoky, dark fruit, olive and black pepper. Light-medium acid/tannins. Lovely syrah flavors just feels a bit disjointed.

6/26/2020 - David_T wrote:

This is aging and drinking very well. A bit less freshness but the notes match my prior.

6/25/2020 - David_T wrote:

At peak, flavor notes as before, structural elements fully integrated.

6/8/2020 - David_T wrote:

Mixed stone fruits, citrus and stone, notably nectarine and mandarin. Dry but fresh and fruit-forward. Pleasant minerals/acid. Certainly drinking well now but much potential.

6/5/2020 - David_T wrote:

Tons of dried cherry, plenty of herbs, a bit of balsamic. Definitely moving towards a tertiary phase. Integrated light tannins/medium acid.

6/5/2020 - David_T wrote:

Likely at or just past peak. Some petrol in this bottle I hadn’t tasted before. Otherwise stone fruit and citrus consistent with previous notes.

5/16/2020 - David_T Likes this wine:

Bright red fruit, some grilled meat, earth/herbs and florals. Quite complex, medium acid/tannins, young & should drink quite nicely for a while. This is definitely an under appreciated grape that shows quite well in this AVA.

5/16/2020 - David_T wrote:

Light oak/butter up front then some yellow fruit and white flowers. Light acid, no minerals. A decent chard just not my preferred style.

5/16/2020 - David_T wrote:

Similar to the ‘13 but slightly more fruit forward. Herbal/floral, cherries and earth. Light/medium tannins, medium acid and should drink well through its 10th birthday.

5/15/2020 - David_T wrote:

Very herbal, pleasant cherry and earth. The nose and palate match. Medium tannins/acid. Drinking well now through its 10th birthday.

5/9/2020 - David_T wrote:

Fruit forward but not jammy, mixed red fruits and black cherry. Hints of herbs/earth. Light-medium acid/tannins that are integrating well. Drinking well now and should for several more years.

5/2/2020 - David_T wrote:

The aromas and flavors match with earth up front, mixed red & black cherries, pepper/herbs/earth, hints of cocoa and oak. Well balanced, fully integrated and drinking well/likely at peak now but it should last a few more years.

5/2/2020 - David_T wrote:

Peaking & fully integrated, matches my previous notes.

5/2/2020 - David_T wrote:

Light-bodied but packed with raspberry, pepper, olive, graphite, earth and oak. Light-medium acid/tannins, drinking well not and should through its 10th birthday.

5/2/2020 - David_T wrote:

As others mention little fruit. Various tough to pinpoint fresh & dried plants, a mix of floral and forest. Perhaps some stone, earth, light tannins. I didn’t try this when young and will be curious where it is around its 10th birthday.

5/1/2020 - David_T wrote:

At peak. Flavors unchanged from my previous notes and all of the structural elements fully integrated.

5/1/2020 - David_T wrote:

The aromas and flavors match with mixed red/black fruit, cocoa and a hint of earth. Light tannins & acid, fruit forward but by no means jammy despite the abv clocking in at 14.8. Drinking well now & should continue to do so through its 10th birthday.

4/28/2020 - David_T Likes this wine:

Complex and delicious. Cranberry, barnyard, some bacon, raspberry, currant, herbs, florals, earth, just a hint of oak. Light but well structured with medium tannins/acid that are still integrating. Drinking very well now but no rush at all.

3/28/2020 - David_T wrote:

Likely peaking. Notes unchanged.

3/28/2020 - David_T wrote:

Notes unchanged. At peak, structural elements fully integrated.

3/23/2020 - David_T Likes this wine:

Papaya, nectarine, mandarin orange, light florals. Slightly sweet balanced by light minerals/acid. Quite flavorful and should age nicely for some time.