8/29/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

A hard wine to classify at a young age. Plenty of upside based on the acid, tannin, and texture profile. Currently ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle so far. It smells like dust, forest floor, black fruit and clove/baking spices. The body is medium. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has high acidity. Over delivers for $120 Grand Cru burgundy

4/17/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Pale yellow color. Lemons and butterscotch on the nose. Very rich and full mouthfeel - classic Ritchie Chardonnay. Big. But very good!

4/17/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

No formal tasting note. Tasted side-by-side with a 2011 Jean-Marc Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chaumes at Atlas in Atlanta. Both were quite good (though young) great acidity and mouthfeel. I'd give a slight edge to the Champlots.

4/6/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Complex nose of black fruit and briars. If it were Burgundy, I would say it had sauvage. A hint of oak that still needs to resolve, but at a really good spot right now. Unfortunately, this was my last bottle!

4/6/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

This wine is proof that Eric Jensen is wrong in that his wines do not age well. Very youthful in color, on the nose, and on the palate. A bit jammy on the nose - blackberry compote, with a hint of vanillan oak. Sumptuous mouthfeel. Great balance (big wine), but plenty of acid to balance the tannins and fruit. I like this wine!

4/3/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Tasted at pH Wine Merchant. Great velvety mouthfeel. No detail notes, but a great Burgundy!

4/6/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Crisp minerality. Otherwise, not much going on. Pleasant enough.

4/5/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

I liked it. My wife did not. Pretty heavy texture and plenty of oak. What got my wife was the jammy character. To her, it was stewed (which I get, but I don't think it went that far). To me it was jammy.

4/6/2015 - WestJohnson wrote:

First time I've ever had a premox'ed non-Burgundy white. Terrible!

4/6/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Great mouthfeel. Oily (in a good way) viscous texture. Notes of citrus and lychee nuts. Great acidity. Not for the long haul, but will be good for a few more years.

4/2/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Very restrained style, but I like it. Great acidity. White orchard fruits and white flowers. Very delicate oak treatment. Great minerality.

3/31/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

One of my "go to" Sav Blancs every year - very consistent. Big fan of the musque clone for its roundness and tropical fruit. This version has great lemon peel and citrus. Very rich texture. Solid wine

3/29/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Very pretty wine. Don't know the percentage, but clearly a lot of whole cluster fermentation - it adds that woody, sappy complexity on the nose. Smoky on the nose and palate as well - along with red fruits and rose petals. Only medium acidity, so something that needs be consumed near term - fruit is hanging in, though.

3/29/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

This is a style of wine that you either like or you do not. As my wine drinking ark expands, I'm finding my tolerance for over extracted, big wines is going down. That said, I really like this wine. Loads of vanillan oak (in a good way), nice acidity and a cigar box finish. Drink now through 2020.

3/24/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Big aromas of tropical fruit and white orchard fruit. Pretty pale gold color. Very full and rich mouthfeel. Bursting with flavor - lovely acidity and length. Saline character on the finish. Complete wine. Plenty of life ahead, too.

3/23/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Tremendous nose of guava and grapefruit. Mouth filing and racy acidity. Very lively on the palate. Sad that this will not be made anymore.

3/23/2015 - WestJohnson wrote:

Dark fruit and brambles on the nose - hints of cola as well. Dark color. A bit of tobacco and smoke on the palate with nice acidity. Good, not outstanding wine.

3/22/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Dark color; basically opaque. Mix of red and black fruit on the nose with a hint of licorice. A bit of heat on the nose as well. More red fruit on the palate with a great tartness balanced by sweet fruit. Full mouthfeel. All-in-all, a very well-made wine.

3/22/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

No formal tasting note. Basically popped and poured for a group of wine drinking friends. Without out a doubt, one of the best wines I have every had. Simply mind-blowing - big, without being heavy. Balanced but powerful - truly a reason to drink wine.

3/17/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Big and robust. A bit rustic. Black fruit and cola dominate. Decent acidity, but a bit horizontal on the palate. In the vernacular, smoke 'em if you've got 'em (aka Drink Now).

3/17/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Pretty pale gold color. Very thick long legs. White orchard fruit aromas, along with white flowers. Not a powerful nose. Very lively on the palate - great acidity - powerful yet balanced. Round mouthfeel. Strong wine.

3/16/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Very pale ruby color - looks light. Smoky meat and spicy red fruit. Nice acidity, smoke continues to the palate. A bit wild, but good

3/15/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Pale straw color. Long slow legs. Tropical fruits and citrus - grapefruit and guava. Linear mouthfeel. Starting to show some age, but in a good way. Nice acidity, but not enough for this wine to age much longer. Drink now.

3/15/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Somewhat muted nose. Beautiful yellow/gold color. Very full, round mouthfeel - great texture. Orchard fruits with great acidity. Tame oak. Very good wine.

3/14/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Dark color...beyond ruby. Mostly clear...perhaps a bit cloudy. Long legs. Aromas of cherries and baking spices...also a bit beefy. Great texture. Bright acidity and still some tannin grip. Needs more time. Great wine with upside.

3/13/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Clear ruby color. Nice nose of cola, red fruits, and nuts. A bit briny on the palate with more dark fruit character. Nice acidity, nice balance. Good wine.

3/13/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Dark purple color. Almost, but not quite, opaque. Nose brimming with black fruits and vanillan spice. Roasted meat and plums on the palate. Nice acidity.

3/13/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Very big wine. Somewhat advanced for its age. Started off tasting over extracted, but settled down. Dominated by dark fruit. Very good; not great.

3/12/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Sadly, my last bottle. Incredible wine - depth of flavor, color, aroma...yet impeccably balanced for what is clearly a big wine.

3/11/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Clear ruby color. Fairly muted nose - some dried herbs and espresso with a hint of sour cherry. Very lively on the palate - great acidity. Long finish with fine grain tannins. Needs more time. Try again in a couple of years.

3/10/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Pale gold. Generous nose of lychee nuts, tropical fruits, and white flowers. Incredibly full and pleasing on the palate. Very long finish and even a hint of minerals. Power without weight. Truly a great expression of California Chardonnay. Or Chardonnay anywhere.

3/9/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Drinking this wine in Cancun, Mexico after a flight from Atlanta from really sub-par glass. Even so, the wine reveals a dark ruby color and a wild, black fruit nose. Coco and roasted meat on the palate. Nice acidity. Was likely better before the 800+ mile journey. Grading a bit on a curve...

3/8/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Screw cap closure. Deep ruby color. Red cherry nose with a bit of Burgundian sauvage character. Smells like red fruit jam and compote - in a good way. Lively on the palate. Racy acidity. Cola and red fruit dominates the palate. Great QPR wine.

3/8/2015 - WestJohnson wrote:

Pale straw color. Somewhat muted nose. Citrus with hints of oak. Rich, full mouthfeel. A bit flabby. Somewhat linear. Oak on the palate as well. No one will confuse this with a great Burgundy.

3/7/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Dark purple color. Almost opaque. Brambly, almost wild nose. Loads of black fruit - plum and black currant. Bright acidity - lighter on its feet than the color would indicate. Long, complex finish. Only complaint is that the tannins are a bit rough and drying. I'll hold on to my last two bottles for a bit. Still very primary.

3/7/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Clear, pale gold in color. Very thick, slow legs. Aromas of hazelnut and citrus. Very rich and full mouthfeel. A bit heavy, actually. Aging nicely, but really probably at its peak.

3/2/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Clear ruby - almost brilliant. Complex briary, brambly nose. Stems, red fruit on the nose - with a hint of heat. Big burst of red berry flavor on the palate. Great acidity. Long, complex finish. Very, very pretty wine.

3/2/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Dark ruby color. Borders on opaque. Spicy nose with plenty of vanillin oak (you either like the style or you do not - I do). Also cola and hint of espresso. On the palate, there is a clear bit of smoke taint from the fires that year. Not as bad as the 2008 Morlet Pinots, but there. Some sour cherry on the back palate.

3/2/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Very pale color; almost clear. Minerals and white flowers on the nose. Pretty delicate. Linear, pleasing mouthfeel with racy acidity. Nice texture. Crazy QPR wine.

3/1/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Deep, dark purple - opaque, but not cloudy. Very jammy, brambly, somewhat wild nose - blackberry tart. Surprisingly lively on the palate for what looks like a brooding wine. Classic Grenache kirsch flavors. Still has some grippy tannins...needs more time. Fruit seems to be holding, so wait a bit on this.

3/1/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Clear light gold color. Nose is lemon and white flowers with a hint of oak. Very round mouthfeel - great acidity. Finish drops quickly, but then lingers. Minerality comes through on the palate as well. Drinking nice right now and holding.

3/1/2015 - WestJohnson wrote:

Corked.

2/27/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Clear ruby color. Brambly, complex nose. Red fruit dominates - strawberry and cherry stones. Still some tannin that needs to resolve. Nice acidity. Still needs time.

2/27/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Beautiful straw color. Lemon oil and orange peel. Great texture, mouthwatering acidity. Hints of oak, but nicely integrated. Incredible wine.

2/26/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Very dark, almost black, deep purple color. Nose is a bit hot. Vanilla and spice box. Espresso and dark fruits - blackberry jam. Nice acidity. Velvety mouthfeel with some grip. Good finish, but a bit hot. Not for the faint of heart. Big wine.

2/26/2015 - WestJohnson wrote:

Corked...

2/25/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Cloudy, ruby color. Clear rim. Brambly nose. Red fruits - strawberry and cherry on the nose. Okay acid. Horizontal texture - side to side, not up and down. Nice finish. This wine is at its peak and moving down. Drink now.

2/25/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Pale gold color. Citrus aromas - lemon peel. Racy acidity and rich mouthfeel. Decent minerality. Have not had this wine in quite some time. It is holding well. Drinking beautifully at the moment.

2/20/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Clear ruby color. Medium concentration and medium viscosity. Floral, earthy, spicy nose with red fruits (cherry, strawberry) with tasty minerals and stones. Red fruit gives way to sour cherry on the palate with fine tannins. Medium body and medium acidity - nicely balanced. Linear finish. Youthful wine - has plenty of life ahead of it.

2/22/2015 - WestJohnson Likes this wine:

Great QPR. Classic kirsch Grenache nose. Loads of vanillan oak on the nose - so you are either going to love it or hate it based on the wood. Oak translates to baking spice on the palate. Nice acidity. Long finish...great complexity...particularly considering the price point. At a great spot now.