Ruby in color. The nose has cherries/cherry juice. On the palate, this is a bit one dimenstional. More feminine in nature. Cherries. Actually, in the world of Pinot Noir and especially from RRV, this is a pretty good value. It lacks the depth of some but also the price tag. Great for parties.
This is certainly a step up from the 2014. The question is whether it is the vintage or just the extra year in bottle. I suspect both but mostly the later. The nose has cassis and spice but none of the bell pepper of the 2014. On the palate, this has just a bit more precision and a bit more ripeness. Both are young and it will be very interesting to follow them. There is still room for this to improves as well.
Nice wine. It seems young and has a chance to come together and score higher. Right now, its more pieces parts. The nose is cassis, and some green bell pepper along with baking spices. On the palate, there are strong tannins. Plenty of cassis with some depth. Tight finish. I would hold or give this a long decant right now.
Excellent wine. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, chocolate and spice. On the palate, slight tannins. Really delicious. Deep. Plenty of cassis fruit, some dark cherries and a bit of milk chocolate. Nice finish. Has a decade or two of life left.
Revisited on 10/26/18. This is singing along. Notes consistent with a year ago. Still tannic and tight but with a lot of potential.
Purple in color. The nose shows cassis and chocolate but also some green bell pepper. On the palate, it comes across as a Bordeaux. If that bell pepper quality is an issue, then you will not like this. For me, however, I don't mind it if there is still good fruit and depth. This has that. Medium tannins. 14.5% on the label. This wine seems like it will improve with a few years in the cellar.
A blend of Syrah, Carignane and Grenache. I could find no vintage designation on the label (so its probably there in extra large font ;-) ) A very nice value wine. Purple in color. Black raspberries, pepper, cherries and plums. Also some spice. On the palate, this is medium bodied. Very tasty. Easy drinking. Some complexity as well. Good finish. Nice value but more than that.
Purple/ruby in color. The nose has dark cherries. On the palate, more like black raspberries. Slight tannins. Tart acidity. Should be great with food. Good value.
Light salmon pink in color. The nose is nice with strawberries. On the palate, this is very refreshing. Lively strawberry fruit. Good texture. Fresh. Easy drinking but even a bit more.
This is a step up from most MdA's. Very good. it is ripe and there is a slight ripe/sweetness to it. It is delicious. Purple in color. The nose has plums and sandalwood. On the palate, ripe plums and dark cherries. Enough acidity. Good finish. At $30, it is pricier, but worth it. At 8 years from vintage, it seems to be just closing in on peak but not quite.
Ruby/purple in color. The nose has plums and spice. Tannic. Plums on the palate. The finish is nice but there is some char on it. Good acidity. A nice MdA.
