“E11even 2021 Curtis Vineyard Petit Verdot (Santa Ynez Valley). The nose on this bottling starts with simple and tart red-fruit aromas. The palate is where things get interesting, offering dried fruit, cracked pepper, and wild-herb flavors that float across a vivid acidity.” -M.K.
Our Petit Verdot is 100% Estate grown, which lies within the borders of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA and sits at a slightly higher elevation, above the fog layer. The Santa Ynez AVA is a long, east-west corridor with very cool temperatures on the coast that become progressively warmer inland, which allows for a wide variety of grapes and styles to flourish. Petit Verdot is one of our favorites to craft each vintage, despite it being misunderstood as a blending grape. While it does improve a variety of blends, we prefer it all by itself. The name Petit Verdot translates to “little green one” due to its tendency to ripen late in the season. We love it for its robust tannin structure, dark color, and a lush flavor profile, and believe it shows a strong enough presence to stand on its own! The 2021 growing season was another long one, largely a function of fine weather—with some wonderful warmth that adds ripeness and richness to this vintage. We are already seeing the benefit of longer hangtime in this wine: mature sweet tannins, outstanding color and brightness, depth of fruit, and beautiful balance.
Specs
Varietal: Petit Verdot
Appellation: Santa Ynez Valley
Barrel Regime: We aged this wine for 21 months in 20% new French Oak as well as an additional 6-month aging in bottle before release.
Alcohol: 14.5%
2021 E11even Remix Blend, Santa Ynez Valley
Tasting Notes
“Remix” is a barrel selection blend crafted from our favorite barrels in each lot. This wine is made with incredible intention and attention to detail. The idea of adding this wine to our portfolio came about in 2015. The quality of fruit in that vintage was high and gave us a lot of inspiration to be playful and to try some new blending concepts. We lovingly called our first go round with this wine “Mixtape”. Just like a mix tape is a compilation of favorite songs from varying musical genres, the blend was bringing together a mix of different varietals, with each one adding unique characteristics and layers to the final wine. As we continue to learn from prior vintages and blending sessions, we decided to branch out with this wine and now call it “Remix”. The 2021 Vintage is impossibly dark and supremely complex and concentrated. The final blend is nearly equal parts each of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Petite Sirah. In additional steps to making this blend extra special, we aged this wine in 20% New French Oak for 21 months and held it back in bottle for an additional 6 months before release. This wine will improve with time in the bottle. If you plan on drinking soon, try giving it a few hours of extra oxygen in a decanter to make this wine really sing!
Specs
Varietal Blend: 25% each of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah
Appellation: Santa Ynez Valley
Alcohol: 14.5%
2021 E11even Cabernet Franc, Santa Ynez Valley
94 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
“E11even 2021 Curtis Vineyard Cabernet Franc (Santa Ynez Valley). This is a densely layered and compelling style of darker Cab Franc, starting with woody aromas of porcini, rose potpourri, fresh red fruit, and a hint of leather. That leathery spice is evident but well integrated on the palate, where juicy boysenberry, cherry, and cracked pepper flavors align.” -M.K.
We are proud to grow amazing Cabernet Franc grapes on our very own Estate Vineyard, on an uplifted bench with sandy and gravelly soils, just above the winery in Los Olivos. 2021 provided a nearly picture-perfect vintage for our vineyard with a long growing season that allowed for even ripening and amazing flavor development. In addition, cold, crisp evenings allowed for grapes to hang on the vine well into November. The 2021 vintage expresses rich flavors of fresh summer plum, blackberries, crushed gravel, and lilac with a cooling herbaceous undernote. We balance the tannin structure of this wine by fermenting in tank and pumping over twice a day. This promotes a softer, more gentle extraction. We complement this by aging for 20+ months in 30% New French oak to really allow this wine enough time for the tannins to soften before bottling.
Specs
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Appellation: Santa Ynez Valley
Alcohol: 14.5%
2021 E11even Petite Sirah, Santa Ynez Valley
91 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
“E11even 2021 Rock Hollow Vineyard Petite Sirah (Los Olivos District). Cassis fruit is rich yet stays very fresh on the nose of this bottling, thanks to a lilac influence. The palate is lively with dark fruit that pops atop an electric acidity.” -M.K.
Our vineyard site for our E11even Petite Sirah is located within the Los Olivos District AVA. It shares a common boundary with Ballard Canyon AVA on the west side, and a boundary with the Happy Canyon AVA on the east side, distinguished by its uniform topography, geology, and soil type. Petite Sirah is a very thick-skinned grape, with intense depth of color and full tannic structure. We ferment in large, open-top tanks for a gentler, softer level of extraction. After fermentation is finished, we leave the wines on skins for another week, which allows the tannins to soften and integrate. We then transfer the wine to barrels for 20+ months of aging in 25% New French oak. We then allow the wine to slowly develop in bottle for nearly a year before finally releasing it. The 2021 Petite Sirah explodes with aromas of fresh blackberry, plum, dark chocolate, vanilla, and lavender. On the palate, you will taste mouthwatering tart summer berries, espresso, and mocha wrapped in dense velvety tannins. Don’t be afraid to hide this bottle from yourself for a year or two, as it has aging potential for 10 years and beyond!
Specs
Varietal: Petite Sirah
Appellation: Santa Ynez Valley
Alcohol: 14.5%
What’s Included
4-bottles:
1x 2021 E11even Petit Verdot, Santa Ynez Valley
1x 2021 E11even Remix Blend, Santa Ynez Valley
1x 2021 E11even Cabernet Franc, Santa Ynez Valley
1x 2021 E11even Petite Sirah, Santa Ynez Valley Case:
3x 2021 E11even Petit Verdot, Santa Ynez Valley
3x 2021 E11even Petite Sirah, Santa Ynez Valley
3x 2021 E11even Cabernet Franc, Santa Ynez Valley
3x 2021 E11even Remix Blend, Santa Ynez Valley
Price Comparison
Not all wines for sale on winery website, $480/case MSRP
This is a very personal project for me. You see, I adore music about as much as I love wine. I am also nostalgic for an era when music did not come on a chip, an era before auto-tune, before hi-def, when scratches and skips were a sign of a beloved album played over and over again. Informed by this all-consuming passion, my E11even label is inspired by a vintage concert ticket that I found.
It got me thinking and dreaming and scheming. It got me to here and now. The E11even wines are all estate-grown and crafted with the utmost care and precision. They truly represent the best that we can do here, on the Curtis Estate in the heart of Los Olivos.
Perhaps the most important thing that I really want you all to understand about our E11even Wines is that they are NOT some kind of second label, or declassified Andrew Murray wines. I think of our E11even wines as an amazing opportunity to show off and share the bounty of our diverse vineyard sites. These are our first wines, not copies or imitations of anything else. These wines are informed by my 30 years of wine growing in Los Olivos and represent the VERY best barrels that we craft each year.
Some may ask, “Why E11even?” We think we are one better than “10”, always pushing the envelope in order to grow and craft the best wine possible. While others may settle to be a “10”, we strive to be better, we yearn to be an “11”! Oh, and Yes, the name is also inspired by one of my favorite movies, “Spinal Tap”.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
E11even Wines Mixed Reds from Andrew Murray
4 bottles for $64.99 $16.25/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $159.99 $13.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
@drgonzo99 Sorry, missed seeing this earlier. Harvest brain. Unfortunately, we don’t have licensing in Vermont. I just checked our bevvy of DTC licenses and that one is missing. Thank you so much for interest and I sure wish could ship to you.
@AndrewMurray Well, thanks for the reply…I didn’t have too much hope for a direct sale. You’re making me work for this!! Went ahead on a case, sent to my brother in Massachusetts, which I’ll get one of these days. Now, I would definitely make that trip for some of your Syrah
2021 e11even Remix Bordeaux Blend, Santa Ynez Valley.
Or at least the bottle said Bordeaux varieties!
It’s always delightful to get the “you’re a lab rat” email, and this is no exception!
Decided to have this over two nights, tonight with grilled rack of lamb. So we opened the bottle, immediately poured half into a 375 for tonight’s consumption and recorked the second half in the bottle for tomorrow. We did the same with a bottle of 2019 Château Le Coteau Margaux for a semi-comparison.
Initial impressions are that it’s clearly a young wine from the bright purple-red colour and overtly fruity nose. molarchae said “cherry cola”. I said I could see that. Younger child said it smelled “like all the candy and all the fruits”. Older child said “I could barely smell it!”
On further inspection, even with a partially stuffy nose, I’m getting raspberry, mint/eucalyptus, maybe a hint of slate or graphite. Quite happy with this initially. First sips are similar - medium body, red fruit, graphite, and some tannin. Decently long finish that follows the palate but adds an herbal note. Unsurprisingly this is a wine that will likely benefit from age. But even for my tastes (and I prefer older wines generally) this doesn’t seem like it requires time.
In comparison to the Bordeaux, the Remix was a little brighter, less tannic, and seemed slightly more ready to go.
Fast forward to night 2, and my cough is a whole lot better but my nose is more stuffed. I could only get the most faint wisp of aromas and of course the flavours were dulled. Tannins seemed equally well behaved compared to the first night. Wish I could have done a better job tonight, but I just need my nose to clear up.
Thanks to Alice and the crew!
Also - now seeing the price, holy shit this is a crazy good deal. If the Twisted Oak closing sale wasn’t occupying all my wine-buying capacity (and then some) I’d be in.
E11even Deadly Sins: What’s in the Box!? (Film Noir Edition)
The inconspicuous package arrived without any warning just as I was settling in for the weekend, giddy at the prospect of slothfully lazing away the Lord’s day in front a screen, as usual. Handing over my signature to the delivery driver after the doorbell jarred me from my anticipatory daydreams, I was oblivious to just how much of myself I’d be signing away in the hours to come.
The contents, a familiar red liquid sloshing around its vessel like a headful of unwanted memories, meant that my week’s labor was far from over. No time for proper forensics; just a single nitrile glove, a half-burnt cigarette, and a corkscrew would have to get me through the sleepless night ahead.
Giving the grapes no time to rest, like a beat cop earning his chops on the rain-slicked, detritus-laden streets of our urban hellscape, I tipped out a sample into the closest spit-shined beaker—my patience long lower than my professional standards—and stared.
Not unlike a fresh pool of oxygenated blood, the black-like burgundy abyss stared back. And I was the first to blink.
Coating the glass in a thin but pronounced layer, it expressed some legs; legs I wished I had to get as far away as I could from the task at hand and this cesspool of a city, if one were ever so lucky. No matter. I saw things through. That was my one redeeming quality, my sole remaining pride, after all. At least that’s what she used to say.
Murky glimpses of failed friendships and relationships echoed in my mind. By now I should’ve known better; should’ve known that it’s always a mistake to get closer. But it’s what the job required, so I did. The nose of sweet redcurrants belied the true nature of the devil that was in front of me. Dry. Sour. Moderately bitter, like the aftertaste of nibbling on the stale beans they use back at the precinct to brew swamp water in a discount carafe from one of those trite deal-a-day online shops. No judgment here; sometimes you just have to feel something, anything, to remind yourself that you’re still alive. Plenty of pepper too, at least as much as you need to cover up the staleness of the skirt steak fried up at 2 AM at the only diner still serving, and enough menthol-laden smoke to remind you of the underpaid cook manning the grill that night.
For a moment I was brought back to my childhood. A memory of a summer barbecue, and biting just a bit too deep into the watermelon slice, getting a mouthful of bitter rind as a reward. It was all oak and tannins. I got the tree but none of its fruit, and I don’t know what made me more angry: my envy of my younger self during better days, or being misled by the expectations of my taste buds, which hoped for at least a tiny morsel of berry. In a fit of wrath I almost hurled the glass across the dimly-lit room, but cooler heads prevailed, despite being warmed by the steady alcohol burn slowly creeping in like that feeling of dread you get when you see your own smiling, hopeful face in a two decade-old photograph.
So I drank more. And more. This might’ve not been what the kid in me would enjoy, but it was definitely what the adult in me needed. Deserved, even. I would share this with no one; it would be both my greedy little secret, and my biggest shame. I wanted more. In a perverse reversal of common sense, but befitting my tenuous sense of morality, I wanted this punishment. And unlike a quarter hour at the den of vice and lust that was the local nudie bar, it cost me nothing. The irony of a full wallet and a lack of riding crop-induced welts the only grace whatever god still listened bestowed upon me in my ever-hastening fall from it.
Suddenly, the panic of running out. The quickly-diminishing contents made me more fearful of the mortality of the bottle than of my own self. One would almost find this tragic, if not for the well-deserved schadenfreude.
They say that fear can work up an appetite, but this was even beyond what hearing the door lock behind you after stepping into a dark warehouse, service pistol in hand, can do to a man. I was downright ravenous. I dug up a slab of salty goat cheese from the fridge, which paired well with what was left in the bottle that was quickly becoming as dessicated as an ancient riverbed. Sweets fared less well, but my gluttony knew no bounds, and all was consumed with so much remorse.
And then, like the bruising shock of Parabellum flattening against my Kevlar-covered ribcage, it hit me: I wasn’t going to win this one. I avoided the entrance fee, but now that the glass was empty, the only thing I was left grasping was a handful of aces and eights, and this time my hubris wrote a check that my consciousness simply could not cash. Like an extra in a spaghetti Western, I staggered a few steps, and slumped onto the ratty couch. And then, like the flicker of a vintage television tube, a flash, and I was out.
In a weird twist of fate, despite my many grave shortcomings, perhaps the four remaining sins of which I’m truly guilty of are nothing more than ordinary inebriation.
If you are not a screen writer, then you should consider a career change. This was an epic tale…part Fear and Loathing, part Henry David Thoreau, while equally Ginsberg and Kerouac - the Cab Franc is one of my faves and one of the most misunderstood grapes out there. Exists mostly in the right bank bank of Bordeaux, but equally interesting and wildly different in the Loire Valley. We have a climate somewhere in the middle - where blue fruits sit side by side with mint and cigar leaf, fresh sage and pepper alongside tart blackberry. Thanks for the wild and interesting lab rat reportage…
@ShotgunX Got it…so a real Renaissance man! rare these days…either way, keep up reviewing wine. Way more interesting than tastes of summer days and unripe melon,…
@hscottk Damn…and here I thought it was more expensive. Man, I am not great at mental math…i should really resort to using a calculator more…oh well…hope you all take advantage of our mistake and the limited amount of wine made available to CaseMates…
Always a welcome surprise to get the email - thanks Alice!
2021 E11even Petit Verdot, Santa Ynez Valley
I was fortunate to be able to sample this 2021 Petite Verdot. If you want to save yourself some time - it was good!
The bottle opened with a very satisfying pop of the cork and revealed smells of red fruits and some deep red stains on the cork.
The wine was deep ruby in the glass. Very rich color. You could hold it to the light and hardly see through.
It was fruit forward on the nose. First sniff was jammy. Cherry, raspberry. A little alcohol became apparent on the 4th or 5th sniff.
First sip was also jammy (zin like) and little tight but also very good. Finish was smooth with tannins apparent. This is a fruit forward and solid wine. Tasting partner detected some acidity with bright/floral hints and noted that the taste improved as we added food - a good table wine. This is an easy drinking wine that reminds me of a good Italian house wine. It’s not insanely complex but it’s very well executed.
Let a glass sit for about 2 hours and came back to find a very balanced, full bodied wine once it had some time to air. Recommend letting this one rest for a couple years or airing it out before drinking.
Stoked you enjoyed the wine. Petit Verdot is the black sheep of Bordeuax - it is slowly falling out of favor and being replaced. I think that the right clone, older vines, sandy soils, and modestly warm site make for a late ripening, beautifully dark and rich wine…a harmonious blend of fruit and spice notes with enough tannins to dare you to age a few bottles for several years (spoiler alert - you will be rewarded Thanks for taking the time to report your thoughts on the wine!
@albish7 opened the 2020 just now and it’s delightful. Still a bit tight but can see it in a great place in a year or two. Unfortunately, my wife and I don’t have the patience so the remainder likely not going to make it
@albish7@losthighwayz Maybe try opening in the morning, putting in a decanter or splitting between two empty bottles if a decanter is too bougie (remember to cover the decanter or the bottles with corks) and letting the wine slow ox for the whole day and then enjoying at dinner. This will simulate the waiting part and is a great short cut for folks like me from the MTV generation…
Great question…And, I want to stay out the weeds here if I can. Slow Ox is a rather contentious subject. Scientifically, getting oxygen into wine is harder than most people think. Wine can easily and quickly reach O2 saturation, so even adding more oxygen is essentially useless. But, I still believe in the idea of slow ox’ing wine - essentially slowly oxidizing the wine under controlled circumstances. Often this means opening the wine the morning of or even the day before or following a wine over several days. This is nothing new…many argue that there is no way that O2 will get into the wine in sufficient amount to “age” the wine, but I have tasted this myself with younger, tannic wines and even middle aged Barolo for example that need lots of time and air. I found an interesting article recently…If time allows, check it out. It is a bit less scientific than some, which makes it easier for my brain…it is about old wines, but it certainly can help with younger wines as well. And, for these wine specifically, the Petite Sirah might benefit the most, then Petit Verdot, then Cabernet Franc. The Remix is drinking pretty well, but it will also benefit from some extended time in decanter. If you are not already doing this, I suggest you try it. Thankfully, everyone’s taste for wine is very personal and individual…if not, all wine wine taste the same. Some prefer younger, tannic wines, while others will happily drink wines well past their useful lives and think of them as amazing. I love this about wine - no one is more right than the other. So, depending upon your taste for wine, try different amounts of time in the decanter to see where your preference lies. I hope this helps. I am sure some of this is already very old news and regrets for any redundant explanations here. My only rule in life is to drink what you like when you like and how you like - and this is to me, not to you. But, I universally believe, we should all just enjoy what makes us happy, and never drink wine to make someone else happy. In other words, love the wine you’re with!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
E11even Wines Mixed Reds from Andrew Murray - $35 = 17.94%
I got a mixed case from this vineyard several years ago and was pleased with the purchase. I can’t remember which varietals it had, but we liked it all. Good juice.
Very recent…like brand spanking new. And, only the second time we have sought out critical opinions…we were rather happy that the Enthusiast appreciated our efforts and awarded the wines some nice praise. Always a bit scary inviting criticism, especially for such a small passion project. Thanks for weighing in! I am going back to do some punch downs as harvest recently started…
@PLSemenza Can’t help with the icon (I am sure that there is a sentient AI out there that could design something pithy and wonderful), but it is my pleasure to say thank you and wish you years of enjoyment with these wines.
With the luxury of the coravin, I did a side by side tasting of the 2020 Remix, Cab Franc and Petite Verdot. All quite delicious, full bodied, luscious with the legs to match. In For a case of the 2021. Thank you for quality elegant wines that are to be appreciated now and will stand up to some cellaring for future enjoyment. A wonderful addition to our wine list and library
@spdemonjwd Damn, mic drop and retweet! Love these sentiments and comments. I appreciate a yummy wine for the very same reasons. Appreciate you so very much!
Every time I think I have my wine buying under control, you come up with something like this! Love these wines. In for a case, and no place to put it.
/giphy negligent-fuchsia-cabbage
@rjquillin Like in the movie Spinal Tap - there is a fine line between stupid and clever - haha - what I mean is that here I was sitting and thinking that I was more annoying than not - I shut the computer down and was heading back to punch downs. BTW, spending time here was a great way to catch my breath with harvest activities… I am honestly a bit uncomfortable in sales pitchy settings and hard sells and trying to convince someone to part with their hard earned dollars. I know how it feels to be on the other end. So, I am here to be grateful and appreciative…and to share this hilarious link to stupid and clever scene in Spinal Tap…Truly thank you and the rest of the fun, wine loving community!
This is the clip that changed everything for me…saw this movie in high school and everything great became an 11…this wine is inspired by always going extra and never settling, always going full tilt, never giving up, always striving, always yearning, seeking perfection and always falling short, but trying all the same…and laughing and drinking and enjoying all the way!
@FritzCat One of the absolute best scenes in the movie…really there are so many…but this one made me laugh out loud, even if it is in the “saddest” key. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
@Mark_L Mark, I need to ask: Do you want us to be staring these comments from you?
Would you like to throw a casemates party with your wine collection, and we can see if we can bring your sense of smell back through our descriptions of the tastings?!
@Drez143 For the past 8 months my wines have largely (and sadly) been untouched, as it is hardly worth opening when I can’t enjoy them. As to the future of my cellar, it remains to be seen.
@PLSemenza
Soooo tempting for a #2, but I’m not sure I’ve even pulled a cork on any bottles from earlier offers yet.
The '16s just seem to be entering their prime.
Just my 2 cents, I have both Eleven and some Andrew Murray bottles in the rack. My opinion is Mr. Murray punches above his weight class. Can’t buy this time but would recommend and would buy again.
Oh, yeah, no Stranger Things references for Eleven? Some homework for the next time
Yesterday I was hesitant. After all the input today I’m in for a case. Glad to see the input from Andrew as well.
Also being a bass player, can’t resist the label and reference to Spinal Tap.
Omg, just counted, have 7 bottles of the ‘20 Petit Verdot in the cellar, but want to give a comment, finished off the last bottle of the PV, ‘17 just a month ago. Bought it (mixed case as this one is) back in December of ‘20, ($239.99, so this is a steal). It was about 30 months before I popped the first one, since then I have bought every offer I have seen, here and on RWS. To my fellow mates out there, the PV, ages into the most heavenly juice…
Now, starting my collection of the ‘21. I have till Tonite, to see if I can do a second case.
Oh, on Sunday I popped the ‘20 Remix, another recommendation.
Day 2 of the 20 PV and it’s a nice pairing with Trader Joe’s meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and broccoli. Yeah, gotta make easy meals when kids are in middle and high school! Anyway, just realized this was sourced from Curtis Vyd! My wife and I have great memories of Curtis winery before it became Andrew Murray. Ernst Storm makes some great vino (as does Andrew Murray of course). Crazy how a bottle of wine can bring back vivid memories from a distant past! Cheers
2021 E11even Petit Verdot, Santa Ynez Valley
92 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
Specs
2021 E11even Remix Blend, Santa Ynez Valley
Tasting Notes
Specs
2021 E11even Cabernet Franc, Santa Ynez Valley
94 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
Specs
2021 E11even Petite Sirah, Santa Ynez Valley
91 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not all wines for sale on winery website, $480/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Oct 7 - Tuesday, Oct 8
E11even Wines Mixed Reds from Andrew Murray
4 bottles for $64.99 $16.25/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $159.99 $13.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2021 Petite Verdot
2201 Remix
2021 Cabernet Franc
2021 Petite Sirah
Auto buy for me even if I have no space. Thank you Andrew. Love your wines.
@danandlisa Thank you so much!
Any possible shipping to Vermont?
@drgonzo99 Sorry, missed seeing this earlier. Harvest brain. Unfortunately, we don’t have licensing in Vermont. I just checked our bevvy of DTC licenses and that one is missing. Thank you so much for interest and I sure wish could ship to you.
@AndrewMurray Well, thanks for the reply…I didn’t have too much hope for a direct sale. You’re making me work for this!! Went ahead on a case, sent to my brother in Massachusetts, which I’ll get one of these days. Now, I would definitely make that trip for some of your Syrah
2021 e11even Remix Bordeaux Blend, Santa Ynez Valley.
Or at least the bottle said Bordeaux varieties!
It’s always delightful to get the “you’re a lab rat” email, and this is no exception!
Decided to have this over two nights, tonight with grilled rack of lamb. So we opened the bottle, immediately poured half into a 375 for tonight’s consumption and recorked the second half in the bottle for tomorrow. We did the same with a bottle of 2019 Château Le Coteau Margaux for a semi-comparison.
Initial impressions are that it’s clearly a young wine from the bright purple-red colour and overtly fruity nose. molarchae said “cherry cola”. I said I could see that. Younger child said it smelled “like all the candy and all the fruits”. Older child said “I could barely smell it!”
On further inspection, even with a partially stuffy nose, I’m getting raspberry, mint/eucalyptus, maybe a hint of slate or graphite. Quite happy with this initially. First sips are similar - medium body, red fruit, graphite, and some tannin. Decently long finish that follows the palate but adds an herbal note. Unsurprisingly this is a wine that will likely benefit from age. But even for my tastes (and I prefer older wines generally) this doesn’t seem like it requires time.
In comparison to the Bordeaux, the Remix was a little brighter, less tannic, and seemed slightly more ready to go.
Fast forward to night 2, and my cough is a whole lot better but my nose is more stuffed. I could only get the most faint wisp of aromas and of course the flavours were dulled. Tannins seemed equally well behaved compared to the first night. Wish I could have done a better job tonight, but I just need my nose to clear up.
Thanks to Alice and the crew!
Also - now seeing the price, holy shit this is a crazy good deal. If the Twisted Oak closing sale wasn’t occupying all my wine-buying capacity (and then some) I’d be in.
@klezman Bummed about Twisted Oak, but thanks for making that note. I picked up a case today.
@klezman Hope you feel better soon…and thank you for taking the time to report your thoughts on the wine…
@AndrewMurray thanks! Real bummer I wasn’t able to get the day 2 experience. I was expecting a panoply of aromatics!
@klezman Great lab report. Eagerly bought a case after reading your report.
E11even Deadly Sins: What’s in the Box!?
(Film Noir Edition)
The inconspicuous package arrived without any warning just as I was settling in for the weekend, giddy at the prospect of slothfully lazing away the Lord’s day in front a screen, as usual. Handing over my signature to the delivery driver after the doorbell jarred me from my anticipatory daydreams, I was oblivious to just how much of myself I’d be signing away in the hours to come.
The contents, a familiar red liquid sloshing around its vessel like a headful of unwanted memories, meant that my week’s labor was far from over. No time for proper forensics; just a single nitrile glove, a half-burnt cigarette, and a corkscrew would have to get me through the sleepless night ahead.
Giving the grapes no time to rest, like a beat cop earning his chops on the rain-slicked, detritus-laden streets of our urban hellscape, I tipped out a sample into the closest spit-shined beaker—my patience long lower than my professional standards—and stared.
Not unlike a fresh pool of oxygenated blood, the black-like burgundy abyss stared back. And I was the first to blink.
Coating the glass in a thin but pronounced layer, it expressed some legs; legs I wished I had to get as far away as I could from the task at hand and this cesspool of a city, if one were ever so lucky. No matter. I saw things through. That was my one redeeming quality, my sole remaining pride, after all. At least that’s what she used to say.
Murky glimpses of failed friendships and relationships echoed in my mind. By now I should’ve known better; should’ve known that it’s always a mistake to get closer. But it’s what the job required, so I did. The nose of sweet redcurrants belied the true nature of the devil that was in front of me. Dry. Sour. Moderately bitter, like the aftertaste of nibbling on the stale beans they use back at the precinct to brew swamp water in a discount carafe from one of those trite deal-a-day online shops. No judgment here; sometimes you just have to feel something, anything, to remind yourself that you’re still alive. Plenty of pepper too, at least as much as you need to cover up the staleness of the skirt steak fried up at 2 AM at the only diner still serving, and enough menthol-laden smoke to remind you of the underpaid cook manning the grill that night.
For a moment I was brought back to my childhood. A memory of a summer barbecue, and biting just a bit too deep into the watermelon slice, getting a mouthful of bitter rind as a reward. It was all oak and tannins. I got the tree but none of its fruit, and I don’t know what made me more angry: my envy of my younger self during better days, or being misled by the expectations of my taste buds, which hoped for at least a tiny morsel of berry. In a fit of wrath I almost hurled the glass across the dimly-lit room, but cooler heads prevailed, despite being warmed by the steady alcohol burn slowly creeping in like that feeling of dread you get when you see your own smiling, hopeful face in a two decade-old photograph.
So I drank more. And more. This might’ve not been what the kid in me would enjoy, but it was definitely what the adult in me needed. Deserved, even. I would share this with no one; it would be both my greedy little secret, and my biggest shame. I wanted more. In a perverse reversal of common sense, but befitting my tenuous sense of morality, I wanted this punishment. And unlike a quarter hour at the den of vice and lust that was the local nudie bar, it cost me nothing. The irony of a full wallet and a lack of riding crop-induced welts the only grace whatever god still listened bestowed upon me in my ever-hastening fall from it.
Suddenly, the panic of running out. The quickly-diminishing contents made me more fearful of the mortality of the bottle than of my own self. One would almost find this tragic, if not for the well-deserved schadenfreude.
They say that fear can work up an appetite, but this was even beyond what hearing the door lock behind you after stepping into a dark warehouse, service pistol in hand, can do to a man. I was downright ravenous. I dug up a slab of salty goat cheese from the fridge, which paired well with what was left in the bottle that was quickly becoming as dessicated as an ancient riverbed. Sweets fared less well, but my gluttony knew no bounds, and all was consumed with so much remorse.
And then, like the bruising shock of Parabellum flattening against my Kevlar-covered ribcage, it hit me: I wasn’t going to win this one. I avoided the entrance fee, but now that the glass was empty, the only thing I was left grasping was a handful of aces and eights, and this time my hubris wrote a check that my consciousness simply could not cash. Like an extra in a spaghetti Western, I staggered a few steps, and slumped onto the ratty couch. And then, like the flicker of a vintage television tube, a flash, and I was out.
In a weird twist of fate, despite my many grave shortcomings, perhaps the four remaining sins of which I’m truly guilty of are nothing more than ordinary inebriation.
@ShotgunX so did you effing like the wine or not?
@losthighwayz I’d say “yes” but it wasn’t what I expected. I expected a bold fruity red, but it turned out to be more like a cigar.
@losthighwayz @ShotgunX still. Loved the report!
i read it as if it were in black n white. Bravo!
@ShotgunX
If you are not a screen writer, then you should consider a career change. This was an epic tale…part Fear and Loathing, part Henry David Thoreau, while equally Ginsberg and Kerouac - the Cab Franc is one of my faves and one of the most misunderstood grapes out there. Exists mostly in the right bank bank of Bordeaux, but equally interesting and wildly different in the Loire Valley. We have a climate somewhere in the middle - where blue fruits sit side by side with mint and cigar leaf, fresh sage and pepper alongside tart blackberry. Thanks for the wild and interesting lab rat reportage…
@ShotgunX Thought we were in for a recipe at the end of that
@AndrewMurray Ironically, I’m a math guy!
@ShotgunX Got it…so a real Renaissance man! rare these days…either way, keep up reviewing wine. Way more interesting than tastes of summer days and unripe melon,…
@AndrewMurray If you haven’t seen them before, you can google casemates plus my forum name to find the earlier reviews. They’re pretty funny too.
@AndrewMurray @ShotgunX This year’s Ratty Award
for Best Original Rattage goes to…
“ShotgunX”
@AndrewMurray @ShotgunX @WCCWineGirl @rquillin oohh, “Ratty” Awards
20% cheaper than last time with the 2020 vintage https://casemates.com/forum/topics/e11even-wines-mixed-reds
@hscottk and different vintage!
@losthighwayz was just adding the edit!
@hscottk Damn…and here I thought it was more expensive. Man, I am not great at mental math…i should really resort to using a calculator more…oh well…hope you all take advantage of our mistake and the limited amount of wine made available to CaseMates…
Always a welcome surprise to get the email - thanks Alice!
2021 E11even Petit Verdot, Santa Ynez Valley
I was fortunate to be able to sample this 2021 Petite Verdot. If you want to save yourself some time - it was good!
The bottle opened with a very satisfying pop of the cork and revealed smells of red fruits and some deep red stains on the cork.
The wine was deep ruby in the glass. Very rich color. You could hold it to the light and hardly see through.
It was fruit forward on the nose. First sniff was jammy. Cherry, raspberry. A little alcohol became apparent on the 4th or 5th sniff.
First sip was also jammy (zin like) and little tight but also very good. Finish was smooth with tannins apparent. This is a fruit forward and solid wine. Tasting partner detected some acidity with bright/floral hints and noted that the taste improved as we added food - a good table wine. This is an easy drinking wine that reminds me of a good Italian house wine. It’s not insanely complex but it’s very well executed.
Let a glass sit for about 2 hours and came back to find a very balanced, full bodied wine once it had some time to air. Recommend letting this one rest for a couple years or airing it out before drinking.
Excellent value at this price point.
@albish7
Stoked you enjoyed the wine. Petit Verdot is the black sheep of Bordeuax - it is slowly falling out of favor and being replaced. I think that the right clone, older vines, sandy soils, and modestly warm site make for a late ripening, beautifully dark and rich wine…a harmonious blend of fruit and spice notes with enough tannins to dare you to age a few bottles for several years (spoiler alert - you will be rewarded
Thanks for taking the time to report your thoughts on the wine!
@AndrewMurray just had a ‘day 2’ glass and the juice is singing. Delicious after opening up a bit more!
@albish7 opened the 2020 just now and it’s delightful. Still a bit tight but can see it in a great place in a year or two. Unfortunately, my wife and I don’t have the patience so the remainder likely not going to make it
@albish7 @losthighwayz Maybe try opening in the morning, putting in a decanter or splitting between two empty bottles if a decanter is too bougie (remember to cover the decanter or the bottles with corks) and letting the wine slow ox for the whole day and then enjoying at dinner. This will simulate the waiting part and is a great short cut for folks like me from the MTV generation…
@AndrewMurray have you guys on autobuy. Can you explain more re: slow ox process? Recommended for all these?
@user97323394
Great question…And, I want to stay out the weeds here if I can. Slow Ox is a rather contentious subject. Scientifically, getting oxygen into wine is harder than most people think. Wine can easily and quickly reach O2 saturation, so even adding more oxygen is essentially useless. But, I still believe in the idea of slow ox’ing wine - essentially slowly oxidizing the wine under controlled circumstances. Often this means opening the wine the morning of or even the day before or following a wine over several days. This is nothing new…many argue that there is no way that O2 will get into the wine in sufficient amount to “age” the wine, but I have tasted this myself with younger, tannic wines and even middle aged Barolo for example that need lots of time and air. I found an interesting article recently…If time allows, check it out. It is a bit less scientific than some, which makes it easier for my brain…it is about old wines, but it certainly can help with younger wines as well. And, for these wine specifically, the Petite Sirah might benefit the most, then Petit Verdot, then Cabernet Franc. The Remix is drinking pretty well, but it will also benefit from some extended time in decanter. If you are not already doing this, I suggest you try it. Thankfully, everyone’s taste for wine is very personal and individual…if not, all wine wine taste the same. Some prefer younger, tannic wines, while others will happily drink wines well past their useful lives and think of them as amazing. I love this about wine - no one is more right than the other. So, depending upon your taste for wine, try different amounts of time in the decanter to see where your preference lies. I hope this helps. I am sure some of this is already very old news and regrets for any redundant explanations here. My only rule in life is to drink what you like when you like and how you like - and this is to me, not to you. But, I universally believe, we should all just enjoy what makes us happy, and never drink wine to make someone else happy. In other words, love the wine you’re with!
http://www.academiedesvinsanciens.org/the-slow-oxygenation-method-for-opening-old-wines/
@AndrewMurray @user97323394
Ever hear of the Mollydooker Shake?
Case trigger pulled! I was impressed with the case I bought here a few years ago.
/giphy melodic-shady-flower
@DebRVA LOVE IT! Hope it makes your days and nights go to 11!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
E11even Wines Mixed Reds from Andrew Murray - $35 = 17.94%
I got a mixed case from this vineyard several years ago and was pleased with the purchase. I can’t remember which varietals it had, but we liked it all. Good juice.
@GatorFL Appreciate the sentiments…most likely all the wine is making us forget the specifics…but glad you remember enjoying the wine
Well the Enthusiast reviews above are recent, Oct 1 '24 issue.
This does look like a nice little deal…shipping window might be problematic…hmmm
fwiw
@kaolis
Very recent…like brand spanking new. And, only the second time we have sought out critical opinions…we were rather happy that the Enthusiast appreciated our efforts and awarded the wines some nice praise. Always a bit scary inviting criticism, especially for such a small passion project. Thanks for weighing in! I am going back to do some punch downs as harvest recently started…
/giphy hilarious-thin-collar
The /showme command is a member feature. Join membership to try it out.
Strongly agree with the ‘Auto-Buy’, in for a case!!
RJ maybe we need a CaseMater’s Auto-Buy icon
gourmet-equable-snake
@PLSemenza Can’t help with the icon (I am sure that there is a sentient AI out there that could design something pithy and wonderful), but it is my pleasure to say thank you and wish you years of enjoyment with these wines.
@AndrewMurray @PLSemenza
Yeah, none of these seem quite right, and there isn’t even a cash register…
@AndrewMurray @PLSemenza @rjquillin
“Auto”-buy?
@InFrom @PLSemenza @rjquillin I suspect it might be a hyphenated icon maybe car and then money?
Popped a 2020 PS.
Excellent, In for a case.
@FritzCat Freaking love this! Hope you love them all and please don’t be afraid to lay a bottle or three down for a bit…thank you!
With the luxury of the coravin, I did a side by side tasting of the 2020 Remix, Cab Franc and Petite Verdot. All quite delicious, full bodied, luscious with the legs to match. In For a case of the 2021. Thank you for quality elegant wines that are to be appreciated now and will stand up to some cellaring for future enjoyment. A wonderful addition to our wine list and library
@spdemonjwd Damn, mic drop and retweet! Love these sentiments and comments. I appreciate a yummy wine for the very same reasons. Appreciate you so very much!
I do believe that aeration or decanting could improve the enjoyment and complexity of the wines . Absolutely delicious
Every time I think I have my wine buying under control, you come up with something like this! Love these wines. In for a case, and no place to put it.
/giphy negligent-fuchsia-cabbage
@Springbank Thanks so much - and, just like Matty in the gif might say - Put it in your belly!
Opened the 2020 Petit Verdot to have with lunch (for science!). That will leave us with only 2 more bottles from the last offer, so we’re in!
@AndrewMurray
I do have to say, I can’t recall winery participation quite this active unless we go way-back to some of the early WineSmith offers…
Tip-o-the-hat for hanging out with us!
What a pleasant change from so many other offers here.
@rjquillin Like in the movie Spinal Tap - there is a fine line between stupid and clever - haha - what I mean is that here I was sitting and thinking that I was more annoying than not - I shut the computer down and was heading back to punch downs. BTW, spending time here was a great way to catch my breath with harvest activities… I am honestly a bit uncomfortable in sales pitchy settings and hard sells and trying to convince someone to part with their hard earned dollars. I know how it feels to be on the other end. So, I am here to be grateful and appreciative…and to share this hilarious link to stupid and clever scene in Spinal Tap…Truly thank you and the rest of the fun, wine loving community!
@AndrewMurray
“Sales People” don’t generally do all that well here either; honesty and insights do.
Clearly it seems you don’t fit that first mould.
This is the clip that changed everything for me…saw this movie in high school and everything great became an 11…this wine is inspired by always going extra and never settling, always going full tilt, never giving up, always striving, always yearning, seeking perfection and always falling short, but trying all the same…and laughing and drinking and enjoying all the way!
D Minor is the saddest of all keys.
Between Mozart & Bach, a Mach piece.
@FritzCat One of the absolute best scenes in the movie…really there are so many…but this one made me laugh out loud, even if it is in the “saddest” key. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
If I had any hope of my smell/taste senses returning, I would definitely be getting a case. But, alas…
@Mark_L Mark, I need to ask: Do you want us to be staring these comments from you?
Would you like to throw a casemates party with your wine collection, and we can see if we can bring your sense of smell back through our descriptions of the tastings?!
@Drez143 For the past 8 months my wines have largely (and sadly) been untouched, as it is hardly worth opening when I can’t enjoy them. As to the future of my cellar, it remains to be seen.
Not a sell out??? In for a 2nd case!!
Who need’s a guest bedroom anyway…
unequal-questionable-tail
@PLSemenza
It’s only Monday, not Friday, still another full day to go on this one
@PLSemenza
Soooo tempting for a #2, but I’m not sure I’ve even pulled a cork on any bottles from earlier offers yet.
The '16s just seem to be entering their prime.
Andrew is a rock star - mic drop
Just my 2 cents, I have both Eleven and some Andrew Murray bottles in the rack. My opinion is Mr. Murray punches above his weight class. Can’t buy this time but would recommend and would buy again.
Oh, yeah, no Stranger Things references for Eleven? Some homework for the next time
Yesterday I was hesitant. After all the input today I’m in for a case. Glad to see the input from Andrew as well.
Also being a bass player, can’t resist the label and reference to Spinal Tap.
Omg, just counted, have 7 bottles of the ‘20 Petit Verdot in the cellar, but want to give a comment, finished off the last bottle of the PV, ‘17 just a month ago. Bought it (mixed case as this one is) back in December of ‘20, ($239.99, so this is a steal). It was about 30 months before I popped the first one, since then I have bought every offer I have seen, here and on RWS. To my fellow mates out there, the PV, ages into the most heavenly juice…
Now, starting my collection of the ‘21. I have till Tonite, to see if I can do a second case.
Oh, on Sunday I popped the ‘20 Remix, another recommendation.
Day 2 of the 20 PV and it’s a nice pairing with Trader Joe’s meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and broccoli. Yeah, gotta make easy meals when kids are in middle and high school! Anyway, just realized this was sourced from Curtis Vyd! My wife and I have great memories of Curtis winery before it became Andrew Murray. Ernst Storm makes some great vino (as does Andrew Murray of course). Crazy how a bottle of wine can bring back vivid memories from a distant past! Cheers
The Spinal Tap references are amazing. I’ll be in for next year’s offer!