1/28/2023 - gripNsip wrote:

She swept into the room, nice body, great legs. She smelled of hints of cranberry, beef jerky and cheerios. Mostly beef jerky and Cheerios. As the evening progressed, I found her to be one-dimensional but enjoyable. More cranberry and sour cherry, but then again, she is a tart. Somewhat dry but not unenjoyable, definitely leaner than what I normally prefer. One evening together was all I needed, tonight I sleep alone.

1/27/2023 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

This is in a really nice place currently, showing some age but also still showing some youth. Tannins are light and resolved, acidity still intact and balanced. It's very good. Not great, but very good. Some complexity of age showing through but it's still fruity and easy to drink.

1/8/2023 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Popped one of these a week ago at a friend's place and it's still beautiful. Shoot at will, friends!

1/8/2023 - gripNsip wrote:

Note was written after the fact, but entire bottle was consumed. Initially tight, but mellowed slightly over the course of a couple hours. Slightly sour, but paired well with red meat and grilled vegetables. Not the best showing of this bottling, possible issue with this particular bottle. The reason I say that is the tannins are very pretty and refined which is typical of this vineyard, but the acidity is all out of whack in the finish. I'd suspect it's heat damaged but the fruit is still really pretty on the palate, so who knows. We drank a 2017 La Boheme a few weeks ago that absolutely blew the doors off of this wine.

1/8/2023 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Really nice nose, almond, a hint of brioche and lightly floral. In the mouth it initially presents like a NV house Champagne that quickly changes to sour lemon and bitter almond. The finish closes with nice acidity that ends faintly aspirin-y. I really dig this wine at the price point and will continue to buy it. Pairs nicely with chocolate cake.

1/7/2023 - gripNsip wrote:

Smells of teriyaki beef jerky, sour berry fruit and nail polish remover. It's ok to drink although the VA issues are still very present on the palate. The fruit is kinda nice, but this huge wash of volatile acidity is just messing up the entire thing. The finish is somewhat tannic with some drying tannins that settle in the gums. This is still not enjoyable to drink without food. Will it ever get better? I have three more so I'll let you know what it's like in 3-5 years.

5/11/2020 - gripNsip Does not like this wine:

Not good. Opened for a 2013 tasting we had over video chat, immediately you could see something was up as this wine was already bricked. Aroma was muted, giving off some fruit and mushroom. The palate was super weird, initial attack was nice but quickly gave way to tart/sourness with virtually no finish besides strong, disjointed acid. Tastes again liked dried mushroom, one of the people in the tasting pointed out the botrytis issues we had in 2013. Either way, this wine was bad, drinkable but bad. 60 points? I had the one glass then switched to beer....

12/17/2018 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

I remember really not liking this wine when I first got it years ago in a club shipment. I got to taste it at the importer's shop, I can still remember how primary and massively acidic it was. So, it was forgotten in the back of my collection and after a recent pick-up from my off-site storage, it ended up at home. Very pale in glass, no bricking. It smells good. Aromas of roses, earth and red berry fruit, medium-low intensity. In the mouth, this in a much more balanced place then it was years ago, yet still with a bright overtone of acid. This time, it's not too much for me to handle. The fruit flavors here are very, very low intensity, like the mouthfeel, which gives the wine an almost watered-down feel. That doesn't sound good at all now that I read it, but it's not bad, and as a weekday wine, I find this quite enjoyable. At least, it's far more enjoyable than it was before. Acid, intact. Tannins, mild but still intact. Palate, fading, or was it ever there?

10/28/2018 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Drinking nicely! Deeper red color then you expect from a wine from 2011, more body and intensity as well. Tannins are still present but very relaxed. Not showing any age so far, just relaxed structure. Overall drinking really well, enjoyed over two nights with pizza and mushroom pasta.

10/23/2018 - gripNsip wrote:

Drinking ok. As a PnP, not really showing much on the nose, a bit angular and off-balance in the mouth. (toward acidity) Left open 24 hours, more interesting nose, smells like nice Pinot Noir. On the palate, still leans toward acidity. Decent bright fruit profile, less earth or mineral. Tannins are gentle and nearly resolved. It's ok. I liked the 2010 Mercurey VV we had last night better.

10/22/2018 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

This is drinking really nicely right now. Smells really nice, showing those earthy and fruity flavors that make Pinot Noir wonderful. In the mouth, soft edges, light tart finish. No real tannic edge left. Delicious, not much depth. Age has done this well, it seems.

1/11/2018 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Very pale red in color. Light, tart aromas. On the palate, light bodied, lean and edgy initially. A really nice combination of red berry fruit and racy acidity in the finish that leaves a light tart flavor. The nose and palate improved with air, I actually enjoyed this more on day two as it was softer. Showcases the interesting characteristics of the 2011 vintage well.

1/2/2018 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Wow, this sure has changed from what I remember. This is a really nice bottle of Walla Walla Syrah, the terroir of the region shows through. In a nice place now, nicely balanced. Killer with pizza.

1/1/2018 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Light, pretty wine with medium acidity. I decided to eat some Havarti cheese with this and it was terrible. The wine smelled like feet, tasted ok but was not a good pairing. I moved on to some heavily peppered bbq'd pork and the wine is wonderful with it. Light, fruity, pear and light citrus fruited, nice crisp acid. Cool that this wine stands right up to this dish. Pretty straight forward overall, just a really nice, easily drinkable white wine.

11/15/2017 - gripNsip wrote:

Doesn't smell very good. Cranberries, pie cherries. Smells ripe. On the palate, dried cherries and cranberry, red tea. Structurally still holding well, however the acid is a bit strong. Blind I'd probably call this a 2009 which is weird because it's 13.2% on the label, but still tastes ripe and somewhat alcoholic, or perhaps the acid is making me think it's more alcoholic than it is. Overall, it's ok. Maybe I'm being too critical. This wine was quite good on release and each bottle I've opened has been really underwhelming as I've been aging it.

11/15/2017 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully now. Took an hour to open up. Bright fruit with a tart edge, a light savoryness throughout. Well balanced structure, gentle. After enjoying a 2010 Cuvee J a few weeks ago, I'm going to start checking in on the single vineyard bottles. The Cuvee J still had many years left and honestly wasn't even close to peak, this wine has a bit less depth and structure but is still absolutely delicious. No rush, this should continue to age beautifully.

11/8/2017 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Cherry fruit, some earthy and savory notes on the nose. Really nice light mouthfeel. Cherry, earth, roses. Lightly savory. Nice acidity, only lightly tannic. Not any age showing, but the tannins are pretty light. If you're sitting on some, it's worth checking this out now, I think it's drinking really well.

10/15/2017 - gripNsip wrote:

Drinking ok, the problem here is that it's just not that interesting of a wine. It's perfectly serviceable red wine, decently structure at this point, good body and weight. It's better with a meal, a nice accompaniment as it's not a loud wine and the flavors pair well with seemingly many foods. As a weekday wine, something to have a glass of on it's own, I can't recommend it.

9/9/2017 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Just starting to enter it's drinking window IMO. Beautiful wine that barely shows signs of age, the structure is well balanced and starting to show polish. Ill check back in a few years.

9/9/2017 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

I opened a bottle that was pre-ox'd, reminding me of white Burgundy when that sort of thing happens. I made sure to check in on another bottle and it was absolutely wonderful, no signs of pre-ox. This is starting to show signs of age but still has all the powerful acidity and texture of it's youth. Worth checking in on if you have some, it's in a fun place right now.

9/9/2017 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Just opened two bottles, both were absolutely amazing. Both had wet corks, one had leaked. Very clear and pale in glass, the color is intact with just the faintest hint of bricked edges. The first bottle, as a PnP, very pretty wine, delicate, no edges. Silk. Unfortunately we consumed the entire thing before it even got to room temperature. The next bottle was opened 4-5 hours before I consumed it. Stunning nose of red berries, earth, tobacco. Slightly savory, smelled freaking delicious. Similar flavors on the palate, but what is so striking about this wine is the integration and mouthfeel. Silky smooth texture. Perfect integration of structural elements, the acid here is so soft yet has great intensity. Perfect balance in that regard. The tannins are nearly fully resolved, on multiple sips you get the faintest hint of a grip in the gums but even so, its so gentle. Long finish. This wine is really, really, really good. Two bottles, both were stunning. If you have a bottle of this, check in on it. I bought mine on release, and they've spent their life in proper cellaring conditions. That the corks were completely wet was worrying. That said, drink up, because this wine is entering it's peak, in my opinion. This was one of the best Oregon Pinots I've tasted in recent memory, definitely my wine of the year so far. I would score it in the high 90's if I was still doing the scoring thing. For my palate, wine does not get much better than this. I opened this blind for a friend and he thought it was a 2007 from Dundee Hills.

9/4/2017 - gripNsip wrote:

Savory, easy drinking, but really not to interesting on day 1. Never improved when trying a glass the next two days.

5/8/2017 - gripNsip wrote:

Drinking pretty good with some air. Hot finish. It's a big red wine. (50% mourvedre, 25% grenache, 25% syrah)

4/29/2017 - gripNsip wrote:

Open 2 hours: Dark fruited nose, blackberry preserves or pie filling, licorice and cedar wood. Smells nice. The aroma really came alive as it got some air, as a PnP this seemed dead. Nice mouthfeel and initial attack, dusty tannins, some dark fruit, tobacco, leather. Where I start to wonder about this bottle is there is practically no finish. It's there in the mid-palate but just disappears in the finish. Cleanly and nicely, mind you, it's just weird it falls off so quickly. Good with a meal as the wine really gets out of the way of the other flavors and compliments them decently. A gift bottle from a friend, so I don't know the provenance or source for this bottle.

3/28/2017 - gripNsip wrote:

Still holding up well. Showing just a hint of age, the fruit is dark and at times a bit toward the dried fruit side, but structurally this is all there and drinking nicely. Best as a PnP and up to 24 hours open, I did not enjoy it at 48 hours open.

3/16/2017 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Smells of flowers and honeydew melon, smells quite nice. Bright fruit and minerality on the palate, with a strong acid backbone that keeps the freshness and brightness of the palate going. Almost refreshing. Might be to acidic for some, I however find this really tasty.

3/15/2017 - gripNsip wrote:

I consumed a glass out of a 750 mL each day over five days. This was not very good on day 1. Thin, tart fruit, structure. Day 2 this was definitely more interesting, youthful fruit, better balance but still not great overall. Day 3 was similar. Day 4 and 5 this showed more muted with acid and structure rising up. Overall, really boring. Needs a meal to be truly enjoyed, this is a disappointing quaff.

2/16/2017 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Pretty color, golden. Really light aroma, J says it smells like cold butter and crappy riesling. It's got faint hints of Chardonnay on the nose but at cold temperature it really doesn't smell like much. On the palate it tastes green grapes, green apple, lemon citrus and has a distinct minerality in the finish that is quite nice. It ends a bit short but the acid and mineral character in the finish provides a really interesting textural thing that I really like. Overall not a great wine but it's drinking pretty good. I would not age this wine any longer, drink up.

2/9/2017 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Mega dank Mosel Riesling nose. Smells awesome. Ripe fresh apple flavors, light citrus and petrol aromas. Killer flavor intensity and acid here, well balanced with it's sugar level. Almost refreshing. Ripe apples, stone fruit, orange citrus. Drinking really well right now. Fantastic pairing with some spicy Chinese food.

1/26/2017 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

From half-bottle, cork came out thin and wet: smells like sweet, freshly baked sourdough. It reminds J of the currant morning buns the bakery makes just up the street. Smells super good. This is really, really easy drinking. Angel food cake, baked apple, white frosting. The acid is really nicely balanced on this bottle, just enough to keep things fresh but not enough to be at all distracting. No edges. J says this is tied for the second best bottle of Champagne she's ever had, real talk. I will totally agree this little split was drinking really freaking well. 394 points from J

1/26/2017 - gripNsip wrote:

Nose shows citrus notes, grapefruit, lemon and hints of candied ginger. Straight-forward on the palate with good intensity. Gives off a big burst of citrus flavors, light stone fruit, and under-ripe pineapple. Good acid keeps everything framed up. Overall it's an easy drinking white, albeit a bit more intense than I remember this bottling. 34567 points

1/25/2017 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

This drinks likes a BA, texturally. Sticky sweet but dances on the tongue. Killer acid. Extremely complex flavors and aroma. Unbelievable value here.

1/18/2017 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

(From 375mL) This is drinking really nicely right now. It smells like rich fruit, dark cherries, plums, blackberry preserves, dark chocolate. Smells really good. Dark fruited initially, dark cherry, blackberries. The structure is in a great place right now, nicely balanced acid and tannins that are present but provide only enough grip to suggest flavors of dark chocolate and red tea as the wine finishes. Really good with dry salami. 1,254,991 points

1/13/2017 - gripNsip wrote:

Smells like cherry and strawberry jolly ranchers. Sweet aromas. Tastes pretty good, albeit a bit sweet. Red berry fruit, cherries, a bit of oak. No tannin, good enough acid. Really generic Pinot Noir. It's ok, nothing that wrong with it but nothing interesting about it either. Easy drinking. 700/400 points.

1/13/2017 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Decanting definitely helped this wine. Initially this was really muted and it tasted over the hill. Olive juice, mineral, very little fruit. I poured a glass and sat there swirling it for about 30 minutes, eventually I got hints of cranberry and dried red fruit. 2 hours after decanting it's got a nice aroma. Dried cranberry, black olives, graphite, herbs. Tastes pretty good, nice mouthfeel, relaxed but present structure. Plums, cherries, bitter chocolate. This is way more alive now than 2 hours ago, if you open a bottle give it time in a decanter before consuming. Really tasty with vegetable soup and chicken salad sandwiches. 423.2 points

1/12/2017 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Smells like dried cherries, cranberries and cassis. Tastes like fruit! Fruit-forward palate of cherries, blackberries and red currants. Has a neat dusty mineral note to it, a bit like a gravel road. Slightly warm in the finish but not distracting. Pairs really well with pasta carbonara. Nice bottle of wine at the price honestly. 750+ points.

12/7/2016 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Still a rich, very new world version of Bordeaux. I like it though. It's got some of that minerality paired with rich pie cherry, dried cranberry and red tea. It's somewhat balanced at this point, good acid, good tannin, good intensity of flavor. Not complex, but I'm finding it really tasty tonight.

12/7/2016 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Light and bright. Low intensity aroma and flavor intensity. Traditionally delicious Mosel Riesling nose, just very light and delicate. Open 2 hours, somewhat sappy stone fruit, satsuma citrus, mineral. Acid peaks high in the finish. Really nice initially but a bit zippy in the finish. Delicate palate, I'm not sure you could pair this with food and not lose the flavors in the wine. Really nice on it's own.

12/7/2016 - gripNsip Does not like this wine:

Day 1, this was tart, thin, and really, really austere. High acid. Tart fruit. Day 2, developed a bit more cherry flavor, spice. Enjoyable but not great. Day 3, terrible. Only tart fruited, high acid, blah. Day 4, down the drain. Really weird bottle of wine.

11/29/2016 - gripNsip wrote:

Awesome nose, honey, baked apples, stone fruit, caramel, apricot, prune. It's a dessert wine no doubt, and it smells damn good. Holy wow, the texture and weight on the palate is fantastic. It's almost gelatinous, sticky sweet, very sweet. Honeyed apples, stone fruit, dried citrus, juicy citrus, crazy. Great acid, easily enough to deal with the initial attack, but the finish is left super sweet. Lingers for a very long time. Super good. Really, really freaking good.

11/22/2016 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Still drinking nicely. Less fruit on both nose and palate as a PnP this time. Showing nicely after 24 hours open. A decent little Bordeaux wine for the price.

11/14/2016 - gripNsip wrote:

Two bottles into my six-pack and both were nearly undrinkable. The nose has a strong aroma of nail polish remover and pretty red fruit. As a combination it's almost floral smelling. The palate is rough. I'm trying to place the acid on the palate, it's got a sharp edge similar to a really under ripe something.... I just can't place it. It zaps you each time you drink it. It kind of tastes like under ripe cherries. I don't know. It takes effort to drink.

11/14/2016 - gripNsip wrote:

The oak is so strong on the nose of this wine, it's got a big whack of vanilla and oak that takes a bit of work to get through on the nose. Some ashy aroma, dark, baked cherries, blackberries. On the palate starts off with nice dark fruit, dried cranberries. It ends with a tart edge, ok acid and firm, somewhat gritty tannin. This bottle is not in a great place right now. It's a bit hollow in the mid-palate, lacks finish, and is overall pretty meh. Decent weekday wine. Purchased for $20 at costco on release and properly stored, I don't feel it was a bad purchase but I'm glad I don't have any more.

11/6/2016 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

This has been open 3 days and still has some sulfur in the nose. It's not as distracting as when I initially opened it but it's there. The nose isn't jumping out the glass. Pears, yellow apples. When you taste this however, wow. It's dense and has great intensity of flavor. Focused flavors here, honeycrisp apple, orange citrus, young peach. Really nicely balanced acid, great length. Very nice texture and mouthfeel. Dang, this is pretty good. It wasn't showing great when I opened it, after being open 3 days the palate is killer, the nose is still a bit subdued. Overall I struggle with wines like this, it's really delicious, but there is a lot of competition at this price point. This shows balance and intensity and should age gracefully.

9/24/2016 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Smells really good. Berry fruit, anise, and earthy aromas. Smells somewhat savory today. (2 days open) Drinking the wine, absolutely killer texture and weight. Ripe berry fruit, red licorice, red tea, floral flavors. A well balanced wine, absolutely no edges. Has an almost creamy texture but with light weight and great acid. Tannins are present and provide minimal grip in the gums, and the acid is bright and present throughout. Killer. I like that this shows the vintage with it's fruit and flavor profile, imo, but somehow balances an incredibly well built structure.

9/20/2016 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Smells really good, white pears, green grapes, lemon creme, toast, acid. I really like the smell of toasted wood on the nose, it's very light and under the other aromas but present. The winemaker used very little new oak on this so I wonder if that aroma is just a figment of my imagination, it doesn't feel so. Good flavor intensity on the palate, pears, apples, a touch of richness from the malo, nicely balanced acid as the wine finishes. Good length in the finish, ripe apple, citrus and stone fruit flavors linger far into the finish. This is the first wine from this winemaker and it's a damn good first effort. On the pricy side at $50 but worth it if you're serious about good Oregon Chardonnay.

9/20/2016 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Smells like good Chardonnay, some of the richness of malolactic fermentation, lemon and lime creme, white pear. The oak aromas are reserved but present. Nice flavors on the palate, tart apples, green pear, limes. Nice texture and length in the finish, the acid has good texture and almost gives the feeling and flavor of minerality. Oak again is nicely in balance. The finish has good length with it's acids but doesn't carry much in way of flavor other than tart fruit. Overall it's very nice wine, a little overpriced at $45, and could be really beautiful in a few years. I feel like it needs time to integrate further. I have a couple more bottles so I'll let you know in a couple of years.

9/13/2016 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Open 30 min: cedar wood dominates the nose, dried cherry/cranberries, cocoa powder. Nice richness in the aromas, smells really delicious. This is in a damn good place now, structural elements are all fully integrated and balanced. Dried cherries, plum, dried roses, tobacco, dark chocolate, wood. Medium bodied, decent length, definitely tales off quickly in the finish leaving behind dusty tannin and acid. Overall this has aged really nicely and is drinking really well. It's intensity accompanies food very well.

9/13/2016 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Still a bit of SO2 showing in the nose after 4 days open... Nose shows yellow apples, pear, melon. Not a lot going on in the nose. Nice intensity on the palate, stone fruit, asian pear, leading into some tart acids and chalky minerality in the finish. Overall it's nice wine but, and I rarely say this about German Riesling, it's to young and could stand with some time in bottle to fully integrate. 87 today with upside.

9/13/2016 - gripNsip Likes this wine:

Took a day or two to blow off some sulfur. A few days after opening, great aromatics, stone fruit, apple, melon. Nicely weighted on the palate, dense flavors similar to the nose, stone fruit, green apple, kiwi. Sweetness is definitely showing stronger today, good acids but seems like it could handle more given the sweetness. Overall I love the texture and density, this tastes great now but should age beautifully. 90 today with upside.