5/8/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Remarkably good. Right now, at 4 years, it's already drinking very well, despite a bit of youthful edginess. The edges will soften over the next coupe of years. Excellent QPR. The 2020 is up there with some of the best previous Stolpman Originals, which were also excellent. I accidentally bought more of this than I meant to, and now I'm glad I did.

5/2/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Remarkably good for the price. While similar to some other SLH pinots, this one is better. It may be at its peak for enjoyment now. Not anywhere near the end of its drinking window. Still has quite an intense youthfulness. Perhaps drink up by 2027?

4/29/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Remarkably good pinot. It was already good in 2022 and significantly better now in 2024. Nowhere near the end of its drinking window now. Oddly, there are no CT tasting notes before this one, but 14 user opinions saying the drinking window ends in 2025. If I had more - I wish I did - I would keep some for at least a few more years.

Not sure how to describe why I like it so much... my words and wine don't mix well. Definitely new world style, with a little bit of sweetness and a lot of fruit, but that doesn't do it justice.

3/4/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Quite dark, pure, balanced. Still quite young. Opened up somewhat after an hour or so. Well-liked. I think it will be better in about 2 or 3 more years.

6/10/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

On the first day it was good but not as good as I remember earlier vintages of Granit 60. A matter of preference. Slightly sharper and less fruit than I was hoping for. Still very good.

After a few days it was AWESOME! Opened up - much more fruit, a bit of sweetness, very nice. Similar to what I remember from other vintages of the same.

3/21/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Very good indeed! After opening this one I got some more.

2/24/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Deep, dark, intense. Seems a bit young, at least shortly after decant. Somewhat reminiscent of an Hermitage. I expect it will turn out great in a few years. Hard to give it a number now.

4/18/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

The 2010 Il Poggione has consistently improved every year starting 2021. Now, in 2024, it has really opened up and balanced, and it's wonderful. In contrast to earlier years, when it was overly astringent, now it is well integrated and a real treat. Hard to put it down!

4/15/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

93 or 94. Very nice! At a perfect age now.

4/12/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Very nice indeed, particularly on the pleasure to drink axis. Even better than in 2023.

4/8/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Quite decent, not remarkable. Many other Hartford pinots are better. At a very good age now.

4/6/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Much improved with two more years of age after the previous tasting notes. Really good now.

8/21/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Really good! Mature enough to drink now, will likely develop over years. Exciting freshness. Reminds of Courbis Cornas I had in Lyon in 1997.

3/31/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

This has developed remarkably over the 2 years since the previous bottle. Very interesting flavors now. Could be described as various types of peppercorns.

3/29/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Much better than in April 2021, with 3 more years of age. Now it's quite a good pinot for the low price. Enjoyable, fairly well balanced.

3/27/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Vastly improved with age. Now the fruit is well integrated and in balance with the acid and tannins. If I had known this years ago I would have said that the best drinking window starts in 2023.

3/24/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Very nice for the price. Notes of cranberry, perhaps a little rhubarb and mushroom powder. Good fruit in proper balance.

3/10/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Very good, ready to enjoy now. Deep in a way that's different from most, hard to describe. I think RBHAN12 describes it well - rhubarb, etc. Extracted, intense fruit has evolved with a wonderful balance. Different style from their North Slope, yet approximately as good. This might deserve 94.

2/15/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Very nice indeed. Still a little young, should improve for a few more years. Consistent with other vintages of Zépherine, all have been very good. Much easier to like than Burgundies. More fruit, less astringent, better balanced.

2/7/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Still - again - very good

1/12/2024 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Very good, even better than in 2019. I agree with BH on this.

11/25/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Very good. Still young. Will improve with a few more years.

12/7/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Amazingly good pinot. Great even right after decanting. I don't know the words to describe it. But I have tried a LOT of good pinots and this is special. You wouldn't know it from the cork, which didn't show a of color or aroma, and the wine itself looks a little light. But the flavor profile is wonderfully balanced. Pinots like this remind me of why I prefer the best new world pinots over the vast majority of Bourgognes.

12/5/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Really good, a treat. Hitting its sweet spot now. Should have bought more.

11/23/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Decent syrah. Some forward sharpness with significant pepper. Fruit is second to those. Tannins already softened after 7 years. Not much sediment. Overall, good, but I don't understand why some famous reviewers liked it so much. I'll see what happens after a day or two of air.

11/15/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Quite good. Compared to the DuMol Highland Divide, this one is somewhat similar but a bit thinner.

11/14/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Awesome. My first thought was "Nectar of the gods."

10/30/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Much improved since the bottle I opened in 2019. Very enjoyable — hard to put it down! Subtle yet distinct Amador palette. Still somewhat tannic yet very well balanced. Mouthfeel has a bit of thinness, which in this case adds to its appeal, as it is not heavy. It may have years to go. But for those with more in the cellar — currently 35% of bottles on CT are still in the cellar — now is a good time to pop it open and enjoy it.

10/26/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Very pleasant to drink. I discovered this at the one really good restaurant in Bodega Bay, California. Since then, this is my third bottle over the last couple of years. It is consistently good. Quaffable, well balanced and smooth. While it's of course not the most complex of pinots, it's a reliably good one.

10/3/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Improved significantly with 3 more years of age after my last review. Quite decent now. Seems a bit hot with alcohol compared to the fruit, but otherwise pretty well balanced. Certainly good QPR.

10/1/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Really hits the spot when your body chemistry is in tune with this blend.

9/12/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

94 or 95. Really good.

8/7/2022 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

94 or 95. Could be my favorite if I had enough of it.

9/21/2023 - mac-eye wrote:

This opens up nicely with some time with air. At least 30 minutes, preferably more. And it shouldn't be too cool or cold. It's subtle. Unlike new world chards, which can be in your face.

9/18/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Very good. Light color is deceiving. Excellent balance.

9/9/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Much better than the bottles I opened 1/27/2021 and 5/2/2022. In contrast with the younger bottles, the excessive dried blueberry flavor has evolved and largely integrated.

I note that some reviewers have described the unusual flavor as being like mandarins or lychees. Perhaps, but that seems like a stretch. Not sure what it is. Compared to earlier bottles, more like those two fruits and less like dried blueberries. But I can say that it is quite a pleasure now. Note that it took 8 years of age before it got there.

9/1/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Very good, even immediately after decanting. Great balance of red fruit and acid. Very enjoyable.

8/19/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Same notes as last year. I really like this.
Very nice! Ready now. Prominent fruit, acid backbone, soft tannins, all perfectly balanced. I should have bought more! Very good QPR.

8/17/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Really good now! Wish I had more. Better than many of the more expensive or single-vineyard zins out there. And awesome QPR on top of that.

8/8/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Quite decent pinot, excellent QPR.

8/5/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Very good. Another great Roll Ranch syrah. Always a great vineyard for syrah.

7/31/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Wow! Really good. Seems to be at its peak now.

7/31/2023 - mac-eye wrote:

Corked

7/3/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Really good in absolute terms, not scaled up because it's inexpensive. Hits all the right syrah notes. Best with a decant and a short time with air.

6/16/2023 - mac-eye wrote:

At best, 90. Decent. But too light, astringent and acidic, even after decanting and a couple of hours. The fruit does not keep up. Perhaps it will revive after a couple of days of air, TBD.

I opened one last Thanksgiving and it seemed to go well with ham etc. but no detailed notes.

5/21/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Very decent syrah. A fairly pure expression of syrah - not flashy nor overly anything. Very well balanced. At a good spot now, certainly ready to drink. I expect it will develop some more interesting characteristics over the following few years.

5/8/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Very nice. Typical of Roll Ranch, which is one of my favorite syrah vineyards. I have no idea why there are so few reviews of this vintage here, nor why one has a very low score.

1/2/2022 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Very nice classic Cornas. Just now entering its drinking window. Cork is very firm and tight, infiltration < 1mm. Wine is dark purple-black, no signs of age. Very little sediment. Tastes young still. Very good balance. If anything, slightly sour, characteristic of the type. Good immediately upon decanting.

10/9/2022 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Very nice. Amazing QPR. Still young with notable tannins. Long way to go.

5/7/2023 - mac-eye Likes this wine:

Intense mature dark plummy fruit notes, yet not particularly sweet. Fruit is in balance with acid and softened, fine tannins. Goes well even with foods you might have thought to be too light for it.