Wines Tasted in November

2005 Basel Cellars Cabernet Franc Reserve Chelle Den Millie USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Roasted coffee all over the nose. Lots of green vegetal aromas (in a good way) along with a background of blackberry. Smoothe, but punctuated tannic structure. On the palate there are lots of veggie flavors. A bit like drinking a sodium free V8. Flavor doesn't last terribly long, but the tannins are sticking with me for a couple of minutes. Would purchase again.

2004 Pomum Cellars Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills Decanted, not much sediment. Tooth staining color. The aroma of red bloody meat that was so heavy on this wine when I first tried it has subsided into the background. This has been replaced with what I would call a scorched earth smell, smokey and dirty (a good thing). I wasn't getting much on the palate in the beginning, though the mouthfeel was thick and there was plenty of sweet tannins. After about two hours the flavor shifted over to an intense blueberry tart. Finish lasted a while. Based on the structure and how it opened up over time I would say this can last a few more years. Would purchase again.

2002 Stevens Merlot Tiki USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Not one of the strongest offerings from Stevens. Still a very good drink, but the other wines I have had are more in the WoW range. Fruit was very restrained but did start to show up after a couple of hours in the decanter. Tannins were nicely resolved and smoothe. The second day the oak has started to dominate and the acid level has stepped up a notch. Nose of vanilla and black raspberries.

2003 Boudreaux Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon USA, Washington Let me caveat this with the fact that I have a slight head cold. Buttered corn on the nose. The palate had a little alcohol twinge up front that smoothed out once the wine was in the glass a few minutes. Great fruit flavors that sat behind some strong but fine grained tannins. A little bit of smoke to round it out. Wine still has a lot of upside as it comes together. Would purchase again.

2004 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay USA, California, Sonoma County Consistent with prior bottles. Would purchase again

2003 Edge Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley Somewhat one dimensional. Sweet fruit right in the front of the tongue, but then the wine just gets flat. Prefer a more complex wine. Wouldn't purchase again.

2002 Penny's Hill Shiraz Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale Very nice. Decanted for sediment and then let sit two hours to breathe. Wonderful mouthfeel, silky yet substantial. Nose of dark fruits. No alcohol burn. Tannins were still grippy without being overpowering. Could use more time in the bottle to settle down more, but is drinking fine right now. Saved a glass for the next day and the wine picked up a nose of scotch, what I would describe as a light peaty smoke. Would purchase again.

2003 SYZYGY Red Wine Columbia Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Slight hint of VA. Mouthfeel is kind of thin. Flavors of sour cherries. Wine just didn't come together like I was hoping for. Would not purchase again.

2001 Domaine Coteau Pinot Noir USA, Oregon, Yamhill County DOA. Oh well, was hoping that the last few bottles were just an abberation.

Non Vintage Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Blancs USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Pulled this out to either celebrate(we did) or drown our sorrows. Simple, yeasty apple cider. Kind of a harsh metalic undertone. Decent for what it is and the price point it sits at. Good to have on hand for informal celebrations. Would purchase again.

2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines Sémillon-Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Nothing wrong, nothing great. Drank half the bottle, used part for cooking and will see if the rest can last one more night.

2003 Inniskillin Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Series Dark Horse Estate Vineyard Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA Decent drink. Not alot of complexity, but was very enjoyable. Muted cherry nose, none of the earthiness that I typically like. For the price it is a good midweek pinot to go with salmon. Probably wouldn't break it out for a dinner party. Would purchase again.

2001 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Not exactly a syrah, but it fit in nicely with the other two bottles. Softer than the 2002 Rulo Syrah and more complexity on the nose. I had a hard time deciding which was from Washington and which was from France. Very similar wines.

2002 Rulo Syrah Columbia Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Very nice bottle. Nothing remarkable about this wine, but if were put in front of me on a nightly basis I would drink it. Drinks easily right out of the bottle, no need to decant. Medium length finish. Goes well with duck.

2002 Wolf Blass Shiraz Presidents Selection Australia, South Australia Somewhat green at first and highly volitile. I picked up notes of mint. After about two hours in the decanter it opened up and softened quite a bit. I would decant this wine a day ahead next time to soften it up.

2005 Stevens Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Nice merlot with a good structure. Typically I find 100% merlot a little too soft and mushy. This has a nice backbone of acidity and is not too fruit forward. Drank over two days. Was still holding up very nicely after 24 hours. The oak only made one appearance about four hours into the first night and then went back to an accompanying role. Nose wasn't giving up a lot, but the palate had plenty of black cherries and blackberries. Finish could have been a bit longer. Would purchase again.

1999 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Dedication Series USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Decanted, not too much sediment. Really well balanced wine. Color was not showing it's age, but the dustiness on the mouthfeel showed that this was starting to mature. One the nose there was a huge amount of cedar cigar box with an underlying note of black cherry and oak. On the palate there was a strong element of mintiness. Finish didn't last as long as I would have preferred. The wine was so good, I was hoping it would stick around a bit longer. Definitely need to start adding some of the Old Vines to the cellar. Would purchase again.

2001 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes Paired with an apricot tart. Was worried about the nose as soon as I poured into the glass. At first thought that it might be corked(it wasn't). The nose was somewhat closed with a bit of a mustiness. Didn't find that the nose opened up even with time and air. In total contrast, the palate was lively and lush all at the same time. Flavors of peach, apricot and fig. The mouthfeel was pure heavy cream. Plenty of acidity to keep the back of the palate clean. Would purchase again.

2007 Stevens Sauvignon Blanc ASecondThought USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Didn't pre chill the bottle, so first glass was a little warm. Mouthfeel was a bit fatter than I typically like with my Sauv blanc. Hints of grass and stone fruits. Second glass was more in line with what I was expecting (once it was chilled). Acidity was much more in the fore front and crisp. Flavor profile turned tropical. Paired well with an arugula blue cheese salad with vinagrette. Would purchase again.

2007 Sleight of Hand Cabernet Franc Magician's Assistant Rosé Frenchtown Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Bright pink strawberry bubblegum. Paired well with spicy pork stir fry. Very refreshing. Really just a solid effort. Would purchase again.

2004 Robert Karl Cellars Claret USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Really wish that I had purchase a couple more cases of this wine. Did not decant. Such a great mouthfeel. Very balanced, this wine has a good combination of dark fruits, oak, smoke and sweet tannins. Would purchase again.

2006 Bodegas Ochoa Navarra Spain, Navarra Had a bottle at Andaluca in Seattle. Nose and palate started off with tart raspberries and then the palate moved on to sweet cherries. Towards the end of the meal the wine picked up a distinct chocolate covered espresso bean flavor. Tasty wine. Would purchase again.

2001 Fattoria Selvapiana Chianti Rufina Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Rufina Nice. Lots of dried flowers. Has a nice balance of acid to cut through the food. Would purchase again.

2004 Gallagher U Brew Zinfandel USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi Has the homemade funk. Just not coming into it's own. Kind of dissapointing. Guess that we will have plenty of cooking wine unless this start to come around.

2003 Hedges Family Estate CMS USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Haven't been a fan of this in the past but it was drinking nicely tonight. Smokey dark fruits. Would purchase again.

2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines Sémillon-Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Consistent with prior bottles. Good wine to open when you need multiple bottles. Would purchase again.

2004 Avery Lane Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Good QPR bottle. Somewhat of a band-aid scent that blew off after a while. Good dose of sweet fruit flavors. The tannins were a bit lacking and so the back palate was somewhat flabby. Would purchase again.

2001 Terra Blanca Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain Decanted. Inky black. Loads of dark fruit. On the back palate there is a hint of mint. Nicely complex. Would purchase again.

2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines Sémillon-Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Another solid bottle of wine. Bit of apple, oak and pear. Decent amount of acidity. Would purchase again.

2003 Bergevin Lane Calico Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Still a good idea to decant. Wine is slowly starting to mellow. Was still a bit harsh, but there are some really good things going on just below the surface. Would purchase again.

2004 Waving Tree Sangiovese Estate USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Nice, light sangiovese. Needs food. By itself it was a little flat, but with red pasta sauce the floral elements came to life. Not as complex as chianti, but definitely good for a midweek pasta night. Would purchase again.

2002 Columbia Crest Merlot Two Vines USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Kept getting recommendations to try this wine. Was very impressed for the price. Going to go out and buy a bunch more for an everyday kind of wine. Needs to be decanted because of lots of sediment. Had a nose that reminded me of vintage port. Will purchase again.

2004 Latitude 46 The Power and the Glory USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Popped and poured. Probably should have done a decant just for the sediment. Nose was like a smore with blackberries instead of chocolate. Elements of graham cracker and burnt sugar along with huge blackberry. Mouthfeel was very full with nicely resolved tannin structure. Palate was mostly oak with a little bit of black fruit. Finish was medium length. Would purchase again.

2005 Rulo Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Only got a couple of tastes from this bottle as I brought it to a tasting. Double decanted 3 hours before the tasting. Initial aroma was packed with smoke. Maybe 5 hours after initial opening it really settled down and was lush and smoothe. Really enjoyed this wine and I think it is a great QPR in the state of WA. Would purchase again.

2004 Stevens Cabernet Sauvignon XY USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Only had a little bit of this at a tasting tonight. Double decanted 3 hours before the tasting. I was not feeling this wine tonight. Way to sharp on the nose and the mouthfeel was thinner than I remember. However, I may have been smoking something as it was the wine of the night for a number of other people at the tasting. As I can say it was just an off bottle for me (others I have had have been consistantly great) I would purchase again.

2004 Patrick M. Paul Cabernet Franc USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Cork was soaked all the way through to the top. Nose wasn't giving much up right away. Opened up a little while later with a little bit of sharp red fruits. On the palate it tasted like a sweet tart dusted in cinnamon. Finish was short. Ok bottle of wine, but nothing special. Probably would not purchase again.

2004 San Juan Vineyards Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Drank rather than studied the wine. Didn't seem to be overly oaked or buttery. That being said it was not a steely beast either. Good fruit flavor, but can't for the life of me remember what flavors they were??? Nice wine, would purchase again.

2004 Waters Interlude USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Really solid effort. Color of this wine was a little odd, reminded me of triaminic cough syrup. It was a light pomegranate. Nose had good amounts of dark fruit and a bit of smoke. Nice fruit forward flavor profile with light tannic bite. Medium length finish. After about three hours the wine became a bit dumb and one dimensional. Oak flavor started to dominate. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Meriwether Pinot Noir Discovery USA, Oregon Dry dry dry. Not much fruit or anything else for that matter. Just dry sparkling wine. Fit the bill for what I wanted it for. Going to use the rest of it this morning in momosas. Would not purchase again.

2000 Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir Willamette Valley USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley Did not decant, but opened and let breathe for 2 hours before drinking. Heavy candy element. My wife pinned it as twizzlers. Not really my style of Pinot, prefer to have some mushroom or forest floor. After about 4 hours being opened the acidity took over and the wine fell apart. Decent drink, but didn't get me excited. Would not purchase again.

2006 El Mirador Counoise USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Can't say that I crave this wine, but it is very interesting. Very light coloring, kind of similar to a Pinot Noir. On the nose there are elements of blueberry and strawberry with a strong aroma of green peppercorns. Flavors were similar to the nose. Bit of sourness. Short finish. Was worth it one time, but would not purchase again.

Non Vintage Prager Winery and Port Works Petite Sirah Port USA, California, Napa Valley Very nice young port. Aromas of chocolate covered raisins. Flavor was dominated by the fortification. The wine was somewhat of an aftertaste. Goes nicely as an after dinner drink. Don't think that this would last more than a few years in a cellar.

2004 Vin du Lac Cabernet Franc USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Nice dark color. Notes of green vegetables and mulling spiceson the nose. More green notes on the palate. Too much of a tannic bite on the tongue. Short finish. Wife really likes this wine, I find it a little too harsh. Would not purchase again.

2002 Dunham Cellars Three Legged Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Fruit forward. Very nice early out of the bottle. Heavy on the oak as the wine sits. After 20 minutes in the glass you lose almost all of the fruit and have oak left. Nice wine to "drink", not the best to taste.

2003 Owen Sullivan M Klipsun Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain Decanted. Still a bit young, could use a couple of years in the cellar. Really opened up when it was paired with a rare tenderloin steak. Good fruit flavors, balanced and a thick but smoothe mouthfeel. After a couple of hours the oak component started to show it's face. Reminded me a lot of the first time I tasted Cedergreen Cellars Thuja. Going to purchase more of this and let it age a bit. Will purchase again.

2004 Robert Karl Cellars Claret USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Not much of a nose right out of the bottle. After an hour there was a bit of baking spices and then a sweet berry flavor really popped. Oak started to come through and then really started to dominate. Finish was very short. Not the wine it once was, but still tasty. Would purchase again.

2005 Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros Big Chardonnay bordering on obese. Huge nose of vanilla creamsicle. One of the best mouthfeels I have had in a wine. Felt like I was drinking cream on the front palate, without that gummy part of the cream in the throat. Flavors of creme brulee and cooked honey. Oak was present but not dominating. Acid structure in the beginning was enough to pair with dinner (lemon basil chicken) but the wine started to get tiring by the end of the evening. Really enjoyed this wine, but may have been a little over the top. Think of Holloween as a kid, you start off the night looking forward to all of the candy and it is very satisfying when you dig into the first few pieces. But by the end of the night your stomach hurts and the idea of stuffing one more item in your mouth doesn't sound so good anymore. Would I drink this with a bunch of friends? Yes. Would I split a whole bottle with my wife again? Not likely. Worth purchasing for the right scenario.

2005 Mannina Cellars Sangiovese USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Very light color with a little touch of cloudiness. Color reminded me of unfiltered cranberry juice. Aromas of earth, flowers and a touch of orange peel. Oak was present on the palate with more elements of earth. Notes of sour cherry and lots of chewy tannins. Very pleasent drinker. Would purchase again.

2005 Guardian Cellars Gun Metal Conner Lee USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Needed some air. Unfortunately I forgot to enter my note right away and don't remember specifics. I did enjoy the wine and thought that it was a good value for the money. Give it a good hour decant. Would purchase again.

2006 Hence Cellars Riesling USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Brought the magnum to Thanksgiving dinner at my parents house tonight. Figured, how often do you have the need to open up a magnum of Riesling. I really enjoy this wine. Very little residual sugar. Nice crisp acidity. The wine was served slightly too warm which brought out more of the oak profile. Was only picking up the slightest bit of the petrol aroma that I got off of the last bottle. Notes of pear and apple. Would purchase again.

2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines Sémillon-Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Brought to Thanksgiving dinner at my parents house tonight. I know I had a glass or two of this wine, but it left no lasting impression on me. I am going to have to say that it was probably consistent with prior bottles, as it didn't leave any new thoughts. Would purchase again.

2003 Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot-Cabernet USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Consistent notes from other bottle drank tonight. Would not purchase again.

2003 Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot-Cabernet USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Brought this over for Thanksgiving dinner at my parents house. Nose was a bit closed and there was a very strong green stemmy element on the palate. The fruit seemed over the top fake, almost like cheap candy. Would not purchase again.

2004 Columbia Crest Shiraz Two Vines USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Brought over to my parents for Thanksgiving dinner. Did not get to try any of this wine. My cousin consumed one whole bottle of this so I figure it probably tasted decent. Would purchase again for a party.

2004 Columbia Crest Shiraz Two Vines USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Brought over to my parents for Thanksgiving dinner. Did not get to try any of this wine. My cousin consumed one whole bottle of this so I figure it probably tasted decent. Would purchase again for a party.

2002 Woodward Canyon Red Table Wine USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Would buy again only if I was planning on drinking the whole bottle quickly. This was two wines in three hours. Right after the bottle was opened, the nose had charcoal and black pepper with a faint hint of the 93 WC cabernet I had recently. The taste was somewhat flat, lacking any distinctive character. Came back to the wine three hours later and the nose had completly closed up. The palate had become bitter and sour, like sucking on a lemon.

2004 Seven Hills Riesling USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Had with Thanksgiving dinner. A little too sweet for my liking. Nice complexity on the finish. Would purchase again.

2006 Georges Dubœuf Beaujolais Nouveau France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Beaujolais Nouveau Had with Thanksgiving dinner. It was about what I expected. Light color, high on the fruitiness level on the tongue. Not much on the nose. It reminded me of home brew wine. It was a interesting experience, but I don't think that I will do it again.

2003 M. Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône Belleruche France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Had with Thanksgiving dinner. Nice quaffable wine. A little light in both color and aromas. Paired nicely with the dark meat of the turkey. Would purchase again.

2005 O'Reilly's Pinot Noir USA, Oregon Drank at Thanksgiving dinner. None of the earthiness that I like in pinots, but had a nice strawberry candy flavor. At the price it was a pleasent wine. Would purchace again.

2004 L'Ecole No. 41 Sémillon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Corked

2005 Cline Cellars Zinfandel California USA, California Had with thanksgiving dinner. Unfortunately it was all gone before I got to it. Others said it was tasty.

2006 Masi Valpolicella Classico Bonacosta Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Valpolicella Classico Kick you in the teeth bright cherry flavor profile. Not much on the nose. Singular dimensional wine, but was great for the large group at the Italian restaurant. Would purchase again.

2005 Michele Chiarlo Barbera d'Asti Superiore Le Orme Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti Superiore PUrchased two bottles to go with a family style meal at Maggianos. Little bit of oak on the nose. Lots of ripe plum flavors on the palate. Decent finish. Paired nicely with the cream based pastas, but not so much with the salmon. Would purchase again.

1997 Shafer Merlot USA, California, Napa Valley Lots of sediment, left about an inch and a half of wine in the bottom. Bright color. Was on the downside, but still had a hints of tasty wine. Finish was clipped.

2005 L'Ecole No. 41 Sémillon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Very tasty. This wine is my Chardonnay alternative. Good amount of butter, oak and tropical fruit flavors. Nice mouthfeel with a crisp acidity on the finish. Nose has a slightly offputting aroma, but can't put my finger on it. All in all, a good bottle of wine. Would purchase again.

2002 Stevens Cabernet Sauvignon Big Easy USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Yummy. Tim does some wonderful wines. Great nose right after the bottle was opened, lots of black fruits. Fruit forward palate, decent mouthfeel and medium finish. Decent amount of acidity that paired wonderfully with a rare slice of prime rib. Not sure if this will get much better, so will probably drink the rest of mine in the near term.

2004 Stevens 424 USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley BOOM!...Goes the fruit bomb. Was just crazy over the top fruitiness tonight. Aroma just jumped from the bottle and filled the kitchen as soon as I popped the cork. Copious amounts of raspberries, plums, cherries and blackberries on the palate. Good dose of acidity to round it out a bit. Tannins were "grippy" but not overpowering. Can't wait to see how this developes over a few years. Would purchase again.

1996 Opus One USA, California, Napa Valley Young and fresh. Popped out at you.

1995 Northstar Merlot Walla Walla Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Past it's prime.

1981 Château Cheval Blanc France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru Incredibly balanced. Smooth and supple.

2003 Stevens 424 USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Wonderful stuff. Tim puts out good wine one after another. Decanted for one hour before pouring. Fruit forward with a good dose of smooth tannic bite on the back end. Enjoyable now, but should improve with a year or two in the bottle. Would purchase again.

2002 L'Ecole No. 41 Syrah Seven Hills Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Good bottle of Syrah. I usually prefer them with at least 5 years on them, but this is hitting on all cylinders right now. Dark and brooding, lots of meaty aromas with plenty of fruit. Double decanted, then let sit for an hour before pouring. Would purchase again.

2004 Nefarious Cellars Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope Second bottle of this young wine where the wine was soaked more than half way up the cork. Right off the bat there was a huge nose of alcohol. This blew off with about 10 minutes of air. Mouthfeel on this is just a bit too thin. Flavors of dark fruits. The wine is nice enough, but doesn't really fit the style of syrah that I enjoy. Would not purchase again.

2002 Rulo Syrah Columbia Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Smokey! Would purchase cases if I could. Rulo does such consistently good wines.

2000 Terra Blanca Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain Wonderful wine, especially for the price. Tannins are still a bit in the forefront, could use a bit more time in the cellar. Would purchase again.

2003 Gallagher U Brew Italy, Sicily Good, Needs some air before it comes to life.

2005 Tsillan Cellars Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley More of a california profile than Washington. Good dose of vanilla and oak. Aromas of nectarines, peaches and white pepper. Good balanced acidity and a thick mouthfeel. Finish lasted a good 30 seconds. Would purchase again.

2004 Boudreaux Cellars Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley This wine evolved over a couple of hours. Decanted, not much sediment. Nose of black currant, green peppers and tart cherries. Very feminine mouthfeel up front with grippy tannins on the back end. Nice finish. Would purchase again.

2004 Estampa Assemblage Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley Hoping that this is just an off bottle. Can't imagine that the wine would have gone down hill this badly in the span of 5 months. Fruit smelled stewed and there was a heavy aroma and flavor of vinegar. Poured half of it down the drain.

2003 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County Not quite as impressive as past vintages. Fruit was hidden by excessive tannins. A bit one dimensional. Would not purchase this vintage again.

2001 Covey Run Merlot Barrel Select USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Kept thinking that this was just an off vintage as most of the bottles I have had so far were a little too green. Opened one up last night to try and start getting rid of my stash and was a bit better than the last couple of bottles I have had. Got called away to do something else and left the open bottle on the table. Came back four hours later and the wine had opened up and was tasting very good. The green element was gone and there was plenty of dark fruit aromas and flavors. The mouthfeel was still a little thin, but what do you expect from a $5 wine? Next time I open one I will definitely let it sit out for a couple of hours before I start drinking. Would purchase again.

2006 Stevens Viognier Divio USA, Washington, Columbia Valley A little bit of jasmine on the nose. On the palate there was a mix of citrus elements and plenty of mouthwatering acidity. Age is starting to show through a bit as the mouthfeel is not as big as past bottles. Would purchase again but only for near term drinking.