5/22/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Even better than my bottle from 18 months ago. Close to a 94 for me. My bottle from tonight is eerily similar in behavior to the tasting notes from that last bottle.

I think the difference may have been that I gave this one about a 3 hour decant vs a shorter amount of air 18 months ago. Lots of flat, just ok plummy notes early on. It evolved into a lot of bright red cherry later. Matched perfectly with the fatty prime ribeye that I grilled with a perfect char. Beautiful dark red fruited nose for an 'off' year. Elegant on the nose and palate as far as 'feel'. This is one of those women with silky soft skin and the best smelling hair......you know who you are.

5/21/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

A surprise bottle in a case shipment, not knowing what's going to show up.

Opened to have with Carol's chicken casserole with Stove-Top stuffing. Being as there's some chard in the casserole, the wine theme needs to keep going with this Sav Blanc. I've not before had the pleasure of a 10 yo SavB from California. I must admit, I am a tad impressed, especially for such an older bottle.

Lots of green apple/grass and grapefruit on the nose. Palate has it all together....lemon citrus, most predominant, a hint of beeswax, and an ever so slight brown herbal/nutty note on the nose and palate. Overall, while good acidity remains there seems to be a bit of a flat/hollow mid palate. Front and back ends are 92, middle is 89. Still, I am impressed......picked this up for only $5. Never would have bet this one would still be doing this well.....with more air, white peach emerges on the nose and takes over. Still, plenty of acidity here for more aging, but alas, it's my only bottle.

5/20/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

One of 3 bottles in a recent shipment. This was the hottest temp bottle out of the box, even with the styrofoam inserts.

Decanted almost 2 hours then back into a clean bottle to take to HMC's for dinner. Slow ox'd another 90 minutes there, so almost 4 hours of total airtime.

Initially, a bit of a 'dud'? Kind of flat throughout. Nice fruit, nice color, nice tannins, just a lot of nice....maybe a 91?

By the end this began to fill out, put on weight and develop more personality. More taste sensations, more acidity coming to the forefront, etc. Clearly, this bottle at least, seems to be in a stage where it needs every bit of 4+ hours of air to shine. The wine really deepens at that point in time. Glad to have two more in the cellar, glad that they weren't as hot off the truck as this bottle was!

5/20/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Full throttle, in your face MH cabernet.....elevated fruit, oak, drying tannins on the back end, and acidity. I guess one could say 'balanced' in that respect, but it's balanced out the wazoo! Opened 3 nights ago, drank half a bottle through the evening then put a Repour stopper in, til taking it to HMC's tonight. Drank much the same, good consistency using the Repour.

For me personally, I am tiring of these burning, over the top hyper fueled monsters. I will let my remaining 3 bottles sit for another year or two or ten and see where they are then. Make no mistake, I like this wine....I just wish it were toned down a notch, or three.

5/19/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 hour then back into the bottle to take to Patrick's for dinner with Carol's pot roast and mashed potatoes......

Slow ox'd another hour or two before/during/after dinner. Slightly lighter magenta, classic cab nose. Palate of dark red fruit with excellent balance of tannins and acidity. Fruit is still quite strong. A very pleasant bottle. Great qpr in the secondary market. Years to go yet.

5/19/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

This has been sitting in my cellar for 3.5 years.....pnp'd into a decanter at a family meal. Allowed to air for about 2 hours. I did not sample it early.

When I did have a glass, it was, oh my........smooth, integrated dark fruit with perfectly balanced tannins soft and round and matching acidity behind the curtain. Not harsh in any way. Maybe one of the best Rioja's I've had as far as the total package. QPR is off the charts. Very close to a 94 for me given the airtime. I paid $33 for these back in '21. How does Winesearcher have them at $330?

5/19/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Entering a great drinking window.....

Decanted for 90 minutes then slow ox'd for 2 more hours as we enjoyed dinner and after. Rich, red/black fruit. Perfectly balanced tannins and acidity. This has always been and remains, my single go to source in Washington State for great Cabernet......91 at the pnp.....94-95 easily over the next 5-6 hours.

5/17/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Almost identical to my first bottle one year ago. Very similar nose/palate notes. I will note this one plays out better more chilled than, at room temp and it really doesn't need any air right now. The nose is fresher/better early on. Later it gets a little nutty/oaky over ruling the great fruit/florals. Would have been a 94 for me, if not for that.

5/17/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

My first of the '21 Riddle. Pnp'd and enjoyed over 2-3 hours, then back into the fridge under a silicone stopper for tonight. This only gets better and better with warming in the glass and time to air. 90 to start and an easy 93-94 by the end, each day.

Requisite red fruit, clove and spices and clarity....these are always so clean with precise fruit. Very enjoyable.

5/16/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Pnp'd last minute to go with the beautiful pompano that Carol caught off the beach last night. Wonderful ginger infused cream sauce with Mandarin oranges. The perfect accompaniment. I have a feeling this one would have been 1-2 points better had we given it some air, but alas, it and the pompano were gone way too soon.........

5/15/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Pnp'd end enjoyed over 2 nights with a Repour stopper in the bottle. Notes are identical for both nights.

At the pnp, the wine is still quite tight with riveting acidity. The 14.9% alc feels much hotter in the back of the throat. The fruit is bright in feel and dark in color of fruit. The wine itself is a bit out of balance. 91-92 at the start.

Over 1-3 hours of air this one really fills out and calms down. The fruit grows darker, heavier and smoother. The remaining tannins sweeter and rounder. 94-95 then.

While rounding into shape now, these '18s still require some airtime to shine their best. Finished after 4-5 hours of air the second night and it lost all its sharp/harsh edge and settled in nicely. Much better balance to it then.

5/13/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Gotta love those Napa/Sonoma wineries that think they can ship ground to Florida in May with cardboard inserts all in an effort to stop global warming by not using Styrofoam inserts to help protect the wine.......talk about committing wine Hari Kari.

So, my shipment came in totally hot today off the truck at 4:45pm on a 93 degree day. Been on the truck since 7:35am! Nothing like feeling hot glass when you open the box. So, into an ice bath it goes while I prepare this evening's blackened chicken Caesar salad with Asian Tempest artisanal garlic. There's no way I'm letting these bottles sit in the cellar for more than a few weeks. Who knows how my other 5 bottles of chard and pinot will do?

First, I must say, Landmark makes some very nice wines. This Damaris has always been a fav of mine and this 50th Anniversary edition is no different. It's fresh and lemony and creamy and oaky and.......it drinks really well right off the truck. Pineapple and vanilla dominate on the nose. Perfectly balanced acidity. Just wish these people had a clue on delivering their wines to their members.

5/12/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Had to have a 3rd bottle for the family as we ordered takeout with Andrew and Kala for dinner on Mother's Day.

Tight at the pnp into a decanter but over 3 hours this one really came around. It really opened up and rounded out and clearly has the most life left ahead of it. It clearly had the most acidic backbone of all 3 wines tonight yet was in balance with the strong '12 Cab Franc and Cab fruit. This one is always a fav of mine. If there's one thing you can take from all 3 bottles tonight, it's the importance of air. Without air, you are left with wines that are 3-4 points less than what they could be.......

5/12/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

My first ever bottle of the '03 Staglin....decanted for 1 hour and enjoyed over 4 more. Like the Boswell, it continued to improve each hour, starting at a 93 and peaking at a 96. Solid Napa cab notes on the nose and palate. Great dense dark red/black Napa fruit on the palate. Just the slightest of color fading at the rim. The fruit is still quite strong hanging between primary and secondary. Sweet caramel notes emerge on the palate after a few hours. The wine overall is smooth and balanced and integrated. Hard to imagine it gets any better than this.....a really solid wine.

5/12/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Decanted this bottle for 1 hour and enjoyed over 3 more. 50% Cab Franc and 50% Cab. It started at a 94 and kept getting better and better with air, finishing at 98. Andrew kept going back to it over and over. The nose was especially strong throughout with florals and blue/red fruit with a gentle herbal quality. At least a point or two better than my last bottle. This stuff is rare and hard to find, but oh so worth it.

5/11/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Pnp'd for taco night here at the casa......

Requisite Turley barrel treatment. Chalky red fruit and florals. Gentle spices throughout. Just a classically good Turley Hayne. Really borders on a 95 for me. I had been a little disappointed in the '19s but this vintage is superb. Beautifully balanced with great acidic backbone and mouthwatering ending. Not overdone, just right.

5/11/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Enjoyed over 2 nights, Repour stopper in it overnight.

Right from the pnp, it's soft and beautiful, but improves with an hour or two of air. Classic Napa cab in every way. Second night even more so.....94-95. Glad to have quite a few bottles left in the cellar. Classic Chris Carpenter winemaking at its best........

5/9/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Enjoyed over two nights, with a Repour stopper. Need every bit of 2 hours airtime the first night. Second night it fills out after 15-20 min with the Repour.

Dark magenta in the glass. Nose of dark red fruit, florals and light herbs. Palate has nice medium plus weight, more red/dark red fruit. Resolving tannins are backed by pleasant mouthwatering acidity that carries through to the end but is not harsh or sharp in any way. There's a bit of softness here to the ending. Almost baby powder-ish. Fragrant and feels almost like a Merlot in a way.....

5/7/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Great bottle brought by L&G to the table......classic black Howell Mtn fruit on the nose and palate....quite dense with great weight. The tannins are softening, and the wine is very well balanced, but I feel it is still early for this one. I only see it getting better with more time. Easy 95, almost 96 tonight. Maybe 97 down the road?

Thanks for sharing, G!

5/7/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Obtained in the last year at auction. Decanted for 1 hour then back into the clean/dry bottle to take to dinner as I wasn't sure how the Erasmus would play out. Under stopper for 3+ hours then slow ox'd at the table for about 30 minutes. Consumed over 2 hours with escargot topped sirloin and steak frites. 92-93 initially, it improved further through dinner......

Dark purple in the glass, nose of dark black fruit and mild earthy notes like tilled black dirt. Tannins are fairly well resolved, and the wine overall is balanced except for missing just a bit of acidic energy on the back end. If this bottle had that, it would have had a bigger mouthwatering finish and I would have rated it a full 2-3 points higher. Still, it was a great accompaniment to the perfectly charred sirloin. I have one more bottle and am left with a dilemma. Is this all that's left at this juncture, or.....will letting it get another 5 years of age on it add complexity? I'm leaning towards this is all there is, as some Napa '07s are starting on a downward path now.

5/7/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

A very interesting bottle. Removed the foil to find a moldy cork top. Used an ah-so and the cork just crumbled to dust. Used part of my Durand to get the last bit of cork out, then a finer to pour into the decanter. It was a very slow pour given the sludge that passed for sediment. Almost an inch worth in the bottle?

Decanted only 30 min before going back into the clean, dry bottle to be transported to dinner with L&G at a nice little French bistro. Immediate nose of raisin/prune fruit and palate of a thin port. Under stopper for 4 hours chilled then slow ox'd at the restaurant for 30+ minutes and consumed over 2 hours.

Wow, how this changed over time. The port left, the acidity backed up the slightly raisined fruit and everything smoothed out. It really turned out to be a pretty decent bottle but you really needed to work with it. Most people probably would have dumped it in the first 10 minutes. Almost a 93 for me at the end. Just remains a tad too thin in the mouth to warrant a higher score.

5/6/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Two hour decant at home then back into the clean, dry bottle to take to CoopersHawk with family. Slow ox'd at the table for 2 more hours. Blueberry on the nose with florals and red fruit also. Savory compounds on the palate. Nicely complex yet clean and simple in a way at the same time? I guess, good focus is the theme.....it's a beauty. Andrew's fav of the night. Mine, too.

5/6/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Two hour decant.....slow ox'd at the table over 2+ hours more. Blueberry/raspberry/blackberry nose with a few mild savory elements accompanying it. Palate reflects much of the same. Pure feel to the fruit, as well. Sweet, round tannins. Good weight in the mouth. Bordered on a 96 for me.

5/6/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Maybe THE BEST bottle of Fourmeaux white I've ever had. Pnp'd at CoopersHawk for dinner with family. There's immediate thick/creamy viscosity, lemon curd, vanilla on the palate. So rich and inviting.....etherial nose of white flowers and citrus. Awesome.....went very well with the pistachio encrusted grouper.....

5/4/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

The last of HMCs bottles. Easily 1-2 points better than the last bottle which looking back, drank about 5 years older than this bottle, and the color reflected that as well as the palate. Not a 100 pointer but def in the 97-98 range for me. Deep, complex fruit with a little balsamic component to it. Quite exceptional and so glad I've had the oppo to try 3-4 bottles of this over the past year.

5/4/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

2 hour decant, back into a clean bottle to take to HMCs for dinner. Beautiful dark black plum fruit. No hint of it being a '13 as it drank much younger. Great weight with rich dark fruit, great balance and power. Unfortunately, as it got more air toward the end of the night, the fruit backed off and the alcohol emerged. 95 the first 2-4 hours. 91 at the end. This is one you must catch at exactly the right time in the night.

5/4/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 hour....back into a clean bottle to take to HMCs for dinner with Tony and Cathy. Beautiful dark fruit in the glass. Nose of classic Napa cab notes. Palate of rich, dark blackberry fruit, perfectly balanced tannins and acidity. These relatively affordable well aged Napa cabs are so much fun to drink at this stage.

5/3/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Honeysuckle, lemon with a hint of vanilla and oak. Wonderful backbone of acidity running throughout. This one has always been my fav of the Landmark chards and after many years of not having one, it sucks me right back in. Not the creamy, polished buttery Aubert type, but not the price point, either. Very enjoyable........

5/1/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

First dessert wine of the event brought by John. I wasn't taking many formal notes by that time, but did note a bit of a thinner feel in the mouth and not much fruit left. Paled in comparison to the next wine the NV Pedro Ximenez Nectar. Just seemed kind of one dimensional as another poster said below. Nice but not one I'd search out at this stage. Maybe past its due date?

5/1/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Brought by Jerry to tonight's event. My first ever of this maker. El Dougo pretty much says it all in his review below. I wanted to give this a 95 or more, but it was just a tad overly heavy/viscous, but then again, I believe that's the intended style? Great complexity to the nose and palate. I really liked this one, Jerry! Thanks for bringing it! Really went well with the chocolate mousse.......

5/1/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Ken's final Zin from tonight. These have fluctuated between 92 and 94 for me with previous bottles. Mid garnet in the glass, smokey red fruited nose. No fires that year so must have been some barrel char?

Palate smooth red Zin fruit with some spice but this bottle seemed a bit out of balance on the acid side. This bottle a 91-92 for me, personally tonight.

5/1/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

The second of Ken's bottles, same 90 min approx of airtime. I've previously had about 3 bottles of this but this is by far the best of them all by a point or two.

Mid garnet in the glass, nose of white pepper/spice and savory briar/forest floor notes. Palate is full of brambly black Zin fruit and beautifully balanced. I guess I didn't let my personal bottles of this breathe enough?

5/1/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

First of Ken's 3 Zin flight tonight. Corks popped approx 90 min before trying them. Nose is a tad muted by the time we got to this one. I've not had a O & F this old yet. Mid garnet in the glass with creamy black Zin fruit on the palate. Decent complexity for the pricepoint. Thanks for bringing these, Ken. Nice to have some comparison Zins!

5/1/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Second wine from the first tranche of Zins brought by John, tonight. Again, not sure of the airtime. Mid garnet in the glass with a more complex nose than many tonight of briar/pine and blueberry. Palate of dark spicy Zin fruit. Much better acidity than the '13 leads to a mouthwatering finish. I wanted to give it a 93 but it just seemed too good for a hot year with fires. Came across as maybe the most complex of all the Zins tonight, earns a 94 from me.

5/1/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

First wine of the first flight tonight. Not sure of the airtime given prior to everyone arriving. Mid garnet in the glass with a little pepper and red currant on the nose. Palate of almost port like fruit without much acid and bit of back throat burn on the ending. Wanted to like it more but I think it's in a phase where the fruit is changing and the alc is moving more to the frontlines.....I should note that for me, personally, I like my Zins in their 3-5 year window normally. I find when they get older they lose their 'togetherness' as Zins and start to separate in a way that doesn't do them their best justice as Zins, if that makes sense. This one at 11 yo is doing just that.

5/1/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Much like TomLee notes below. Final wine of the second flight of these tonight. Again, unsure as to decant time. Mid garnet in the glass, floral nose, seems like roses. Palate of rich, almost candied blackberry fruit. A bit chalky in the mouth. Decent acidity.

5/1/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Second wine of the second tranche of BC's brought by John tonight. Mid garnet in the glass, somewhat muted nose. Palate of more red than black fruit with increased acidity and decent spice so this one will roll on for quite a while......

5/1/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

First vintage from the second tranche of Zins tonight. Mid garnet in the glass. Nose of Zinny dark fruit. Palate of red/black fruit, with decent balance but comes across as a bit hot on the backend. Again, I do not know of the decant given but '20 was a very hot and trying vintage even before the fires arrived. From my experience, many reds from both counties come across as more red fruited than black in this vintage.

5/1/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Final vintage from the first tranche brought to tonight's event by John Vega. Many thanks to him for putting this multi vertical together for us all. Not sure of any decant time for these.

Mid garnet in the glass with a somewhat diminished nose of black fruit. The palate reflects the regal and denser quality of the '18 fruit. Smooth, slightly chalky black Zin fruit on display. Balanced, creamy black cherry fruit with more air and a hint of spice. I really liked this vintage. Thanks for supplying all these, John!

5/1/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

What a thrill....my first ever of this wine brought to tonight's event by Ed. Light yellow in the glass, maybe not as overtly floral as many Viognier, but I still appreciated a floral nuance on the nose along with honeysuckle and lemon cream. Palate of more citrus, Ted said a hint of orange peel and yes, it's there, too. Bracing acidity defines this wine at this stage. One of the sharpest and unique Viognier I've ever experienced. Thanks for bringing this one, Ed!

5/1/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

My entry for a white to the event tonight. Better chilled than near room temp. Medium yellow in the glass. Nose primarily of Semillon at the pnp. Somewhat flat at first. Air is its friend. Going back to it a few times, complexity on the nose and palate really picked up. Multi dimensional later on. The Semillon backs way down and the Sauvignon Gris emerges balancing it out. Citrusy lemon, a few green notes later and beeswax. Light on its feet with great acidity and near perfect balance. Last glass after dinner was the best for me. I feel many will not get the most out of this one without giving it enough air to grow! 91-92 early on, 95 by the end. Sitting for 3 hours in the ice bucket with the cork out, served it well....

5/1/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Brought to tonight's wine event by Jay @Bleu Provence......not sure if any decant time. Chilled perfectly. Nose immediately recognizable as an Aubert. Beautiful white florals, lemon cream and vanilla on the nose and palate. Impeccable balance. Toyed with giving it a 97 but it seemed to tone down just a tad with more airtime. Solid 96. Thanks, Jay!

4/28/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

First bottle of a 6 pack....and very hard to judge. It moves all over the place with air and temp changes over the evening.

At its best it's very good, a 94. Crisp, white and French. Delicate, yet precise and focused.

At its worst its 89, a flat and aimless, quite average on the palate while retaining a great white French nose.

All along it stays French. There's no mistaking it for any other. And the nose remains floral with honeysuckle, jasmine and lemongrass and a light Granny Smith apple..

The palate is primarily lemon/citrus with just the slightest hint of vanilla cream. The acidic backbone seems to come and go.....over time.

In total, this is a very nice wine, probably a 92-93. Drinks best when still chilled slightly, about 30 minutes after opening. It will be very interesting to follow this one over the next 5 years and see how it progresses.

4/27/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Decanted 2 hours prior to taking to the WGDMs for dinner....

Dark purple in the glass. Sweet cassis and a touch of graphite on the nose. Palate with great weight and blackberry fruit.

A bit peculiar, this one is.....seemed way too jammy and over the top when put into the decanter but when putting it back into the bottle to transport 2 hours later, it seemed very toned down, almost austere. Poured a glass before dinner and the nose is jammy, but the palate much less so with dry blackberry fruit. Carol loved it and pretty much finished most of the bottle herself....feeling no pain on the ride home. Def different than my last bottle one year ago but yet scored the same by me looking back just now. Very high quality here.

4/27/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

4 years since my last bottle from this case. Decanted 2 hours then back into the bottle to take to dinner with the WGDMs.....

Mid garnet in the glass. Nose of classic pencil lead/graphite and red fruit. Some earthy mushroom notes as well.

Palate is nicely integrated and for the most part, resolved. There is more fruit remaining at 2-3 hours of air and it lessens slightly after that. Balance is key here, as always. Very nice but I get the feeling there are a few more points in here down the road.....very consistent from bottle to bottle thus far.

4/26/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Blind. James' 2nd wine of the event.....1 hour decant and 1-2 hour slow ox.

Medium garnet in the glass. No Syrah stink but that black olive, meaty Syrah nose is unmistakable. The palate displays perfect balance with smooth, smokey dark red/black fruit and lots of black olive. It's smokey and meaty, but not in an overly strong way. I don't think this one gets any better than it is right now. Fooled us a bit early on thinking it was a Wash St Syrah.....it's extremely good and ready to drink in prime time right now.

4/26/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Blind. Brought by Rey to tonight's event. One hour slow ox beforehand.

Dark ruby in the glass. Nose of vanilla and red fruit and almost cotton candy.

Palate displays a soft mouthfeel, which I did not expect from this young wine. Increased acid and tannins on the back end....as it gets more air over 2-3 hours of slow ox, it actually gets sweeter but the acidity and tannins back off a bit. Maybe this one just needs more time?

4/26/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Served blind. Brought by HMC to our event this night. 3 hour decant.

Classic Napa Cab nose. Showing lots of age in the glass, a light to medium garnet. Looks like it could be an '01 or '03 so no way of knowing how this one was stored all these years as HMC got it at auction a few months ago.

Cedar and red currant on the nose. Palate is fully resolved. This one is drinking older than other bottles I have had in the past year. Smooth, regal and red fruited. It's beautiful, but weakens a bit later in the evening with too much airtime. Just goes to show you how storing bottles can make a big difference in how they drink down the road.....

4/26/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Blind. Just goes to show you what air does to a wine......

5 hour slow ox by James prior to tonight's event. Another 3 hours of slow ox during our event.

Medium to dark garnet in the glass. Big whiff of alcohol to start and for most of the evening. High acid and a short finish early on. Seems VERY out of balance. Lots if burn, which I don't like. 93 at best early on?

Funny thing is....as this gets more air it deepens, darkens and improves....a lot, and comes into balance. 97 by the end of the night but you need to give this one plenty of air. A good 5 hour full decant is probably best at this point in time, otherwise you have to give it an 8 hour slow ox. This might have been a 98 with more time in the glass, but we ran out!

4/26/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Blind. 45 min decant then 1-2 hours of slow ox. Dark garnet in the glass. Nose of perfumed red fruit and a mild incense. Cedar, too.

Palate is soft and smooth with great acidity. The wine is very well balanced, especially for an 'off' year. Great acidic backbone, backing it all up. No hesitancy giving this one a 96 with enough air right now. Very Cab Franc dominant and most of us at the table tonight were loving it.

Not the greatest Bdx vintage but Angelus nailed it pretty well. 2+ hours of air serves this one really well, right now.