2013 O'Brien Estate Merlot Reserve

Wine: 2013 O'Brien Estate Merlot Reserve
Estate: O'Brien Estate
Region: Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, California

Location: Drank at home on 2/20/2016

Tasting Note:
Thanks Steve from O'Brien Estate for rushing this out to us! We decided to save it for the weekend after Valentine's Day when we could sit back, watch some netflix and really enjoy this beauty. After reading the reviews online from the likes of Parker etc, we decided that this needed a big decant. We popped it open right before lunch and came back to try it out 8 hours. Deep and dark purple, almost black. Insanely thick and coats the sides of the glass. Fruit bomb on the attack! Tons of fruit, creme de cassis, blackberries, and baking spices like cinnamon. Was still very tight initially, after another two hours started to show some earthy undertones, and mesquite smoked wood. Heavy tannins (8.5/10) and full bodied. This baby is a powerhouse. Heavily extracted, voluptuous, plush and silky with a kick. As soon as you take a sip it coats your throat with cassis and even more dark berries. Long and dark finish, carries the dark fruits throughout. A little heat in the finish most probably just due to age. This wine definitely needs more time in the bottle. If we had anymore we wouldn't touch this until 2017 with a long long decant. A ton of potential! This wine is made from 100% Merlot, and aged 75% new French oak. Only 100 cases produced.

Rating: 94+

Price: $$$ - $125.00 from the Estate.

2012 Bodegas Volver Monastrell Tarima Hill Old Vines

Wine: 2012 Bodega Volver Monastrell Tarima Hill Old Vines
Estate: Bodega Volver
Region: Alicante, Valencia, Spain

Location: Drank at home on 2/23/2016

Tasting Note:
This note is compiled from two days of tasting this wine. Color was an intense crimson red, with a deep and dark core. Nose started off very savory, with some animal leather and meaty notes. Definitely had some floral notes of lavender, clean and fresh. Some light undertones of dark berries. Creamy attack followed by hints of black cherry. Very earthy with some greenery too. Moderate tannins (6/10) and moderate body that grips the sides of your mouth and dries it out. Some heat in the finish that should wear off given a year or two more in the bottle, making this extremely balanced and smooth. Dry long and lingering finish. Excellent QPR that could easily make it to a 90 - 91 with time. Made of 100% Monastrell (commonly known as Mourvedre) aged in French oak for 14 months. 15% alcohol and 4,000 cases produced. Drink from 2017 till 2022.

Rating: 89+

Price: $ - $12.71 from Costco

2009 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine: 2009 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon
Estate: Vasse Felix Wines
Region: Wilyabrup, Margaret River, South West Australia

Location: Drank at Eno Wine Bar on 2/19/2016

Tasting Note:
This wine was a deep garnet red. Loved the nose from the start. As some of you might know, we love a slightly stinky nose. It is not off putting to us at all. Nose started off dirty with a slight barnyard nose and moldy/smoked cheese. It developed into charred wood, smoke and a few vegetal notes such as green bell peppers. Heavy tannins (7/10), such a beautiful bite to it that we were not expecting. Solid acidity complemented the tannins and moderate plus body. Slightly savory on the palate with some light vegetal notes. Long and lingering dry finish. Would love to find some of this to buy. If this retailed for the price at Eno Wine Bar, it is still worth that, great QPR! Drink till 2027.

Rating: 93

Price: $$ - Purchases at Eno's Wine Bar for $67.00 but you can find the 2012 at Pearson's Wines for $39.99

2009 Vital Vineyards California Syrah

Wine: 2009 Vital Vineyards California Syrah
Estate: Vital Vineyards
Region: Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California

Location: Drank at home on 2/18/2016

Tasting Note:
Very hard to find details about this estate online. From the limited information found online about Vital Vineyards we discovered a few things. Firstly the grapes for this wine come from Santa Barbara County in California but is made by Vital Vineyards which is located in Dundee, Oregon. Secondly it is made by the winemaker of Lillian Wine Estate, Maggie Harrison. Thirdly, this is a killer QPR!

Wine was bright ruby red. Initially started off very tight and closed off with just a few notes of boysenberries and plums. Once it started to open up the complexity grew. A few earthy and vegetal notes started to appear, like herbs (oregano and thyme) and red bell peppers. Finished off with a little bit of red cherries. Moderate tannins (5/10) with a moderate body. Lots of red cherries and grilling herbs. As it opened up the heat turned into a light and soft cherry liquor. Undertones of vegetal notes like dried up jalapenos and light dark fruits. Slightly dry and moderate finish. Tried twice (day one and day two). Definitely more complex on day two with a vinturi aerator. Definitely worth the price and a great QPR wine! Drink now till 2022.

Rating: 91

Price: $ and $$ - $23.23 from Garagiste can be found for $25.99 from GetWineOnline.com

2013 Frisinger Family Vineyards Malbec

Wine: 2013 Frisinger Family Vineyards Malbec
Estate: Frisinger Family Vineyards
Region: Diamond Mountain District AVA, Napa Valley, California

Location: Drank at home on 1/22/2016

Tasting Note:
Frisinger Family vineyards is located in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley and was purchased back in 1981. Initially the Frisinger Family started off with selling off their grapes to major producers such as Beringer and Chateau Montelana. Since then Karl Frisinger, the son of the first generation owners (Jim and Karen), has turned this estate into a small production/boutique winery that produces a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and a specialty red, which at the moment is a Malbec. The winemaker is Karl Frisinger and for the 2013 Malbec they used all French Oak barrels for 24 months.

Decanted for around four hours. Deep and intense dark purpleish ruby. Powerful nose with a ton of dark fruits and baking spices, like blackberries and cinnamon. Whenever we smell a think caramel, it reminds us of an Aussie Shiraz. A little heat and something slightly medicinal underneath all the pleasantries. Moderate plus tannins (6.5/10) and moderate body. Heavily extracted and rich. Slightly savory long finish. Honestly we were not expecting much after the disappointing experience with the Frisinger Cab a couple months ago, (must have been an off bottle, it was splendid at the estate in October) but this Malbec is why we ordered a shipment from them!

Rating: 91

Price: $$ - $57.50 from the Allocation List, email Karl Frisinger in order to get on the allocation list.

2012 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Indian Wells

Wine: 2012 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Indian Wells
Estate: Chateau Ste. Michelle
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State

Location: Drank at home on 2/10/2016

Tasting Note:
Chateau Ste. Michelle is one of the oldest wine estates out of Washington State. One venture that Chateau Ste. Michelle is known for is forming winery partnerships, such as with the Piero Antinori from Tuscany with the Col Solare Estate and with Ernst Loosen from Mosel with Eroica. Additionally, they are specifically known for two things. 1. Riesling and 2. several vineyards in Eastern Washington. The Eastern Washington vineyards include Canoe Ridge, Indian Wells and Cold Creek. 

This specific bottling contains 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah. These grapes came from all three of the Eastern Washington vineyards, 67% from Indian Wells vineyard, 26% from Cold Creek vineyard and 7% from the Canoe Ridge Estate. Aged in 51% new American and French oak for 16 months. The winemaker is Bob Bertheau.

Wine was light violet with a deep core. Lovely nose with quite a few different notes. Slightly savory, broken tree branches and blackberry notes. Solid acidity (6/10) and light tannins (4.5/10). Acidity gives the medium body a little bit of a bite or spiciness. Lots of darker fruits notes like blackberries and black cherries. Moderate finish that lingers for around 5 to 6 seconds. Slightly vegetal and earthy in the finish with some green peppers and dry slate rock. Drink till 2019.

Rating: 88

Price: $ - $16.95 from Total Wine & More.

2012 Domaine Guerrin et Fils Pouilly-Fuissé La Maréchande

Wine: 2012 Domaine Guerrin et Fils Pouilly-Fuissé La Maréchande
Estate: Domaine Guerrin et Fils
Region: Pouilly-Fuissé, Maconnais, Burgundy, France

Location: Drank at S&E Wine Club Burgundy on 2/12/2016

Tasting Note:
We wanted to introduce some white wines to the quarterly tastings. This bottling from Domaine Guerrin et Fils is from La Maréchande in the Pouilly-Fuissé sub-region of Burgundy, France. This vineyard is south-ward facing with a soil composition mixed of clay and limestone. Made of 100% Chardonnay.

Aged in 15% new oak for 10 to 12 months with the remaining barrels having been used for up to five years. Prior to aging this wine is extracted using a pneumatic press. A pneumatic press uses air pressure to extract juice from fresh grapes. 

Decanted for 2.5 hours and left open in the bottle, this was set up for a blind tasting. Wine was clear and light yellow. A little tight to start on the nose with slight tropical notes and light green apples too. Low to moderate acidity (4.5/10), and is really smooth. On the palate there were notes of light green apples like granny smith apples, tropical and citrus notes. Undertones of nuts, some white peach and a touch buttery. Moderate body with a moderate plus finish. Acidity and body were beautifully balanced. Smooth and refreshing. absolutely beautiful to drink. Can easily develop secondary notes with a few years in the bottle. Drink now till 2025.
Rating: 92

Price: $$ - $34.46 from Weygandt Wines in Washington, DC.