87 / C+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Dec 2008
Medium purple core with a lighter rim. Brambly fruit aromas with brown sugar, a hint of fresh herbs and a pop of black pepper. Juicy entry on the palate with an herbal edge. Well balanced, but not overtly fruity as one might expect from old vine Zinfandel. Lots of acidity with nice tannic structure and chocolate on the finish.
90 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Dec 2008
Dark ruby core with a ruby rim. The nose is somewhat muted at first, but opens up as the glass sat implying continuing development in the bottle if you have the patience to let it evolve. Aromas of violets and earth are backed by black cherry and cassis with a touch of sweet vanilla. A hint of green pepper on the front palate is quickly followed by dark fruits - black cherry, blackberry, plum - and accented by hints of toasty vanilla. Fairly tannic with body and acid to match making this a well balanced wine that should age for many years.
89 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Dec 2008
Medium gold core with a clear rim. Toasty oak aromas flow over baked yellow apples, brown sugar and light hints of pear. Nice and round on the front palate with great balance acidity in the middle. Medium-to-full bodied. This is rich yet well balanced with a nice roasted apple and pear finish.
90 / A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Dec 2008
Bright pale yellow core with a clear rim. Very floral and tropical aromas jump out of the glass: mango, candied flowers, ripe peach and wet stone with a touch of golden delicious apple. Fresh, crisp apples on the front of the palate followed by a touch of orange and tons of mango, all supported by light flint. Medium acidity with a long, lingering finish. This is incredibly easy to drink, yet impressively balanced and complex.
I highly recommend this one for drinking before a meal, with any type of fish or cream sauce dish, or just hanging outside on a warm spring or summer day. Throw a bottle in a cooler, drag to a park and just people watch.
89 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Dec 2008
Pale gold core with a clear rim. Light aromas of honeydew, yellow pear and a touch of stone. Nice entry into the mouth - round and fuller than expected from a Pinot Grigio. Flint and melon flavors with a nice concentration of lemon, peach and a touch of cream. Round and lush through the finish.
90 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 20 Nov 2008
Dark purple and ruby core with a lighter, bright rim. Rich aromas of plum, black cherry and raspberry with wild, raw honeycomb accents. Very fruit forward with plum and raspberry dominating the flavors. Full bodied with very nice acid keeps it from getting too heavy. The finish lingers with lighter touches of violets and vanilla spice.
The intense flavors are a result of the grapes growing on 125 year old vines. Older vines produce smaller berries with more concentrated juice.
89 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Dec 2008
Dark core with a garnet and ruby rim. Very ripe fruit aromas of blueberry and cassis. Fresh and lively, backed by a touch of nutmeg and cream. Juicy in the mouth with tons of blueberry up front. Lots of tannins making it a well structured wine. A hint of tobacco and burnt coffee come in on the back, with a lingering cherry finish.
It’s worth mentioning that this is 100% Merlot (all of the Saddleback wines that are listed as specific varietals are 100%). Wineries can legally blend in up to 25% of something else without mentioning it on the label. I have nothing against blends, I just like to know what I’m drinking!
88 / B-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 10 Jan 2008
Thick purple with ruby notes. The bold blackberry and black cherry aromas are surrounded by a nice gamy brown sugar ham quality, followed by spicy white pepper. Red currants and blackberries on the front palate are followed by the brown sugar ham in the middle. Black licorice swarms around the fruit. Medium-full bodied with very ripe tannins and a thick, dark, sweet lingering finish. 14.6% ABV.
90 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 10 Jan 2008
Black core with a fuchsia rim with blue-violet highlights. Dark blueberry and huckleberry aromas flow over darker wet earth, dried herbs and sweet caramel. Very dark on the palate with cinnamon spice over the top of thick blueberry. Round and full bodied. Although this is an intense inky wine, the fruit and acidity stay in very good balance with each other. Long, dark finish. 14.7% ABV.
88 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 10 Jan 2008
Medium purple core with a bright ruby-flecked pink rim. Dried currant and prunes fruit aromas are accented by fresh herbs with an underlying note of sweet tea and tobacco, followed by warm brown sugar and raspberries. The flavors follow suit, with tea and prunes up front and rich black currant on the mid-palate. Fairly bold acid keeps the wine from getting too heavy, and the finish has a nice spicy hit of black pepper. 15.6% ABV.
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