Total Wine — 10 days ago
Light ruby color, beautiful shine. Nose: bright red fruits (strawberry, cherry), peppery, and mineral. Lively mouth with a slamming acidity, constituting the red thread of this tasting, balanced by gourmet notes of juicy fruit, and a beautiful chew in the mouth, with very fine tannins, as expected. Served at 12/13 degrees in summer, it is a perfect treat. 2018 is beginning to reveal welcome evolution notes, supporting a discreet oak aging. To be tasted absolutely within 1/2 years.
Robe rubis claire, belle éclat. Nez fruits rouges éclatants (fraise, cerise), poivrée, et minérale.
Bouche vive avec une acidité claquante, constituant le fil rouge de cette dégustation équilibré par des notes gourmandes de fruits juteux, et une belle matière en bouche, avec des tanins très fins, comme attendu. Servi à 12/13 degrés en été, c’est une parfaite friandise. 2018 commence à laisser poindre des notes d’évolution bienvenues, soutenant un boisé d’élevage discret. A regoûter absolument d’ici 1/2 ans. — 6 days ago
Really crisp and easy drinking! — a month ago
Nice smooth wine - even good on day 3. — 18 days ago
My 2016 Rivers Marie Pinots are about gone…SummaOV is left. Occidental, Silver Eagle and SummaOV are always my favorites. I’m between a 93-94 here.
Great example of a Pinot that has a lot of power but plenty of balance. Deep black cherry colored in the glass but the aromatics are much more savory than expected. There’s an animalistic/feral quality to this initially (that I love) showing a smoked meat flair alongside dark blood orange and ripe black cherries. Commanding mouthfeel and great acidity. Continual back and forth of dark berry fruit and savory/herbal notes. The use of whole cluster is noticeable but it does a good job complimenting the wine (more high toned) and not taking center stage (as in, not overly stemmy/green). Wonderful lengthy finish. More brooding and savory than Silver Eagle but certainly not in the vein of a “cab lovers pinot” style. This was delicious and likely hangs in this window for at least 5+yrs. — 4 days ago
From magnum - perfect cork. A great sign. Decanted for 4 hours at cellar temp. Served with a grilled grass fed wagyu tenderloin from First Light.
Wine was nice and medium body. Smooth tannins very well integrated. Some fruit was left and good complexity. Great balance and old school Napa. — a month ago
Smooth and mild. Very enjoyable. — a month ago
Daniel P. Drake
Last night I opened this 2019 Juan Gil Silver Label Monastrell. This is from the Bodegas Juan Gil Jumilla, Spain, 100% Monastrell (Mourvèdre).
On the nose there is black plum, blackberry, blueberry, black pepper, violet, gravel and earth.
On the palate there is blackberry, blueberry, plum, black cherry, black pepper, spice, soft oak, gravel and earth.
This is a full bodied wine with a smooth sweet juicy mouthfeel medium + acidity and medium supple tannins that move smoothly into a long black & red fruit earthy finish. We are on another weekend and I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend planned. Please stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 14 days ago