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Wine Type Vintage Name Variety Locale Date Posted Score Helpful Comments Comment Date Community Score More...
Red

2018 Clos I Terrasses Priorat Laurel

 Grenache Blend, Grenache more
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3/1/2024 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 points

I decanted this for about 3 hours before drinking. It really became expressive and red-fruit driven with rich, yet balanced tones of raspberries, black cherries, bing cherries, crushed rocks, violets, kirsch liqueur, ripe plums, crushed berries, lilac, and a touch of lavender. The Full bodied feel has some density and weight behind it, yet with a deftness across the palate that shows this isn’t a brute. There is tart, medium+ acidity and youthful, medium+ tannins that have a bit of chewiness to them. This is really lovely right now and there is certainly more room for development. I love how expressive this is while remaining true to itself. It’s been a bit since I’ve had a Laurel and I’m a real big fan of this.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    3/14/2024 12:32:00 AM - I’m with you in that there feels like there’s been a change in style. My perception for a long time was based on some really bombastic wines. Now, this is a lot of what I want when I drink Priorat. In that it’s big, rich, yet balanced and complex
Red

2016 Cantina del Pino Barbaresco Albesani

 Nebbiolo more
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2/7/2024 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 points

Wednesday Nebbiolos (Gino's, Portland OR): So, we had ordered the 06 of this and they gave us the 16 instead (thankfully they charged us the right amount). Funny how a minor accident can lead to something so beautiful. There is a real lush quality to the fruit along with the nose showing off a lot of perfume and nuance to the tones of tart red cherries, licorice, raspberries, crushed rocks, violets, wild flowers, purple fruits, bright red fruits, red berries, and sweet tobacco notes. The Full bodied feel is vibrant and balanced with tart, high acidity and silky, high tannins. The structure is youthful, but it hasn't gone into a shut down stage and it isn't too overbearing. This is still clearly young, but it's also really friggin good. This is a straight up sexy Barbaresco that will age gracefully for many many years.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    2/10/2024 8:33:00 AM - it was just a fun thing two friends and I did😃
Red

2019 Mickaël Bourg Cornas Les P'tits Bouts

 Syrah more
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1/5/2024 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 points

Wines drunk around London; 1/3/2024-1/7/2024 (London, UK): This was available by the bottle at Sager+Wilde. So, I had to jump on this with the quickness as this is my first time finally having a Bourg Cornas! And oh boy, what an introduction!! This is olive tapenade city right from the first whiff! There is so much depth and style, filling the glass with black cherries, black raspberries, violets, tobacco leaf, licorice, dark spices, black fruits, savory herbs, a touch of sanguine notes with an underlying briny quality that is driving me wild. The Full bodied feel is way more silky and deft than I would expect from a young Cornas with tart, medium+ acidity and chewy, medium+ tannins. This, this fucks. Like, it fucks really hard. This isn't just up my alley, it's my 10-lane highway. This will clearly improve with age and I'm not really here to say that it's "drinking" per se at the moment. What I am saying is, yea, this is some really good shit that I need to find a way to have more of in my life.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    1/12/2024 8:51:00 AM - Sometimes flowery prose is useless and it needs to be summed up in the way it should be!
Red

2019 Olek Bondonio Barbaresco Roncagliette

 Nebbiolo more
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9/2/2023 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 points

This was drunk at a wine bar with no real air. Even then, holy cow is this perfumed right away! The nose is so lifted, vibrant, and complex with strawberries, raspberries, spice notes, earth, tobacco leaf, crushed rocks, and violets. The Full bodied feel is silky, deep, and refined with mouthwatering, high acidity and silky (but sneaky), high tannins. I don't come across Bondonio often and I "needed" to try this. This is clearly a baby and there is a lot of room for this to grow. I can easily see this getting a lot better with time as this has everything there for that to happen.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    11/26/2023 10:21:00 AM - Definitely hold! This was at a wine bar/retail spot and temptation deliciously got the better of me😂
Red

2021 Sandlands Syrah Santa Lucia Highlands

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5/19/2023 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 points

This was a pop and pour at Oakwood Pizza box. I tried to give this a little air, but that wasn't really happening. At first pour, it was a slight bit grapey but after swirling and a half hour this opens up beautifully into savory tones of black fruits, dark red cherries, raspberries, crushed rocks, black pepper, herbs, and violets. The Medium bodied feel is light on its toes with a slightly thinner mid-palate while backed up by crisp, medium acidity and silky, medium tannins. This is clearly young, but this could really blossom with about 4+ years.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    11/26/2023 9:49:00 AM - I think a few years would’ve done this really well. But, that wasn’t the situation I was in and I’m still very happy to have gotten in this early data point😃
White

2017 Domaine Vocoret et Fils Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons Vieilles Vignes

 Chardonnay more
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5/1/2023 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 points

A night at the office (RL Restaurant, Chicago IL): This was flowing immediately with perfumed tones of lemon peels, apples, mint, a touch of yoghurt, pears, vanilla, jasmine, peaches, and saline. There is very good depth and definition here to the nose. It does lack a little bit of tension, but the citrus flavors work so perfectly with each other. The Medium bodied feel is deft and balanced with mouthwatering, medium+ acidity. This could benefit from a couple of years of aging, but I don't think this is one to hold for a long time. It is a lovely Premier Cru Chablis that really hits all of the spots I want it to hit.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    11/26/2023 9:48:00 AM - I bet that was a wonderful visit!

    I did want some more flint and minerality, but this was still really lovely and well worth drinking on my end😃
White

2018 Emrich-Schönleber Halenberg Riesling Großes Gewächs

 Nahe more
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4/12/2023 - KeithAkers wrote: 94 points

This was decanted in the fridge for a few hours before drinking. The nose is deep, balanced, and fresh as it fills the glass with green apples, a touch of petrol, peaches, crushed rocks, saline, limes, acacia flowers, jasmine, and white fruits. The Medium bodied feel is vibrant and balanced with tart, high acidity that is backed up by a fresh, lengthy finish. This has really developed in the nearly 3 years since I last had it. The palate has fleshed out more and while the acidity has cut, it is much more integrated. This is in a great place right now. Though it will easily age longer, it has entered its window and is a beautiful Halenberg.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    5/8/2023 4:30:00 PM - In my opinion, yes. I don’t see it getting *that* much better with age than it already is. Ymmv
White

2019 Yves Boyer-Martenot Meursault 1er Cru Charmes

 Chardonnay more
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8/19/2022 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 points

Blind Chardonnay Shoot-Out (Cru and Domaine, Portland OR): The nose is deep and lovely right away with gorgeous tones of meyer lemons, red apples, toast, kumquat, poached pears, stone fruits, custard, yellow flowers, and a touch of salinity. There is a whole lot of complexity and balance to the nose while showing off a more soulful side. The Medium/full bodied feel is polished and poised with crisp, medium+ acidity and a lengthy finish. This is a real banger already and there is still room for improvement. This was from Magnum and was a real treat on the whole.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    2/8/2023 2:58:00 PM - /shrug. It was blind and was actually showing less reduction than most of the Oregon chards!
White - Sparkling

NV Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Réserve Oubliée

 Chardonnay more
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12/31/2021 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 points

In no surprise, this was an entirely different wine compared to the L'Espirit. The Solera use really shows through as it shows off more rounded tones of toast, brioche, biscuits, red apples, quince, chamomile, nougat, frosted vanilla, spiced pears, green tea, and yellow flowers. The Medium bodied feel is well balanced and textured with tart, high acidity. This is a recent release, though I didn't catch the disgorgement date or base vintage. I'm certainly a fan of this as its a great Champagne that is quite different from the other main Champagnes from Pierre Peters.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    7/19/2022 1:15:00 PM - Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get that info. This was part of a flight at a wine bar and there were too many customers around
Red

2016 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah The Contender In the Rocks

 Walla Walla Valley more
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12/12/2021 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 points

Sunday Brisket (Matt's, Portland OR): Nose: The nose is deep and rich, filled with black cherries, raspberries, licorice, bacon fat, olives, currants, black pepper, smoke, violets, and a touch of herbs.

Taste: The feel is Full bodied with medium acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. The feel is larger scaled and rich, but deft and balanced with black cherries, raspberries, licorice, bacon fat, currants, black pepper, smoke, and violets.

Overall: Though this could use a few more years, it’s also drinking beautifully. I love the expression of syrah here as there’s a great cross between richer fruits and the peppery side of the grape.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    1/22/2022 12:59:00 PM - I think it’s definitely worth opening a bottle now! For me, it’s at a point where I ask myself: does this actually get better? It’ll certainly age and take on different characteristics, but imo the window is well open and worth digging into

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    1/24/2022 1:41:00 PM - Awesome! It definitely wasn't a massive wine for me, but rich on the feel and balanced. I'm glad you liked it! I've consistently been impressed with Reynvaan and this was no different.
White - Sparkling

2008 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Coeur de Cuvée

 Champagne Blend more
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5/1/2021 - KeithAkers wrote: 95 points

Nose: Oh my word. This is firing on all cylinders as it shows off great depth and complexity with red apples, pears, peaches, yellow and white flowers, vanilla beans, custard, brioche, biscuits, warm dough, and lots of mineral tones providing a base for it all.

Taste: The feel is Medium/full bodied with tart, high acidity. The acidity is well integrated, but with a youthful verve. There is excellent texture and balance to the feel with red apples, pears, peaches, yellow and white flowers, vanilla beans, custard, brioche, and warm dough.

Overall: This was from magnum and was killer. There is so much going on and it was going down quickly, so this is really more of what I took the time to write down. There is plenty of life left here, but there is zero reason to not dig in and fully enjoy.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    8/3/2021 2:21:00 PM - Thanks Frank!!!!


    Mark, lol! I’ll try to do better next time :)
Red

2001 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage

 Syrah more
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5/1/2021 - KeithAkers wrote: 97 points

Nose: Chave is Chave, and this is all of the things I love about Chave. The nose is so deep and perfumed with an animalistic side filled with black cherries, roasted meats, raspberries, earth tones, tobacco, leather, black pepper, crushed rocks, and violets.

Taste: The feel is Full bodied with tart, medium+ acidity and refined, medium+ tannins. There is so much depth and class to the feel that you almost don’t realize how much structure is still there. There is a deftness to the tones of black cherries, raspberries, roasted meats, leather, tobacco, black pepper, crushed rocks, and violets.

Overall: This is is just amazing. There is a ton of life left in it and yet it is really in a zone right now. This is a truly special wine.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    10/28/2021 4:54:00 PM - Thanks! Yea, this was definitely a real killer wine and one of my best of the year!
White - Sparkling

2015 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or

 Champagne Blend more
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4/13/2021 - KeithAkers wrote: 90 points

Nose: The nose is forward and balanced with red apples, quince, pears, stone fruits, vanilla, ginger, biscuits, baking spices, yellow flowers, and some doughy notes. There is good complexity, but it lacks some depth that I normally expect from this cuvee.

Taste: The feel is Medium bodied with crisp, high acidity. The acidity is well integrated already with a more forward take of red apples, quince, pears, stone fruits, vanilla, baking spices, yellow flowers, and dough notes.

Overall: This is disappointing. There is a more forward nature to the tones, but it lacks depth across the nose and palate. The acidity also lacks the cut that I normally expect as well. It could likely benefit from a few years of aging, though I don't see this as a long-term ager.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    4/14/2021 10:08:00 AM - Hi Frank,

    I religiously use WSET’s ultimate scale for evaluating acidity. So, a champagne will always be high acid. If I had this next to a Gewurztraminer or Viognier, those would taste flabby next to this. That is a mistake I routinely see people make here and on WB as the acidity isn’t within the context of the grape, but of the whole spectrum.

    For this wine, there is still noticeable acidity that hits the top of the mouth but this doesn’t have the edge I would expect from a young champagne right now. The acidity is actually pretty well integrated already and there is ample fruit to disguise it somewhat. Still, if we were blinding this and I had it next to a Prosecco or Cremant d’Alsace, the differences would be quite noticeable.

    I hope that helps!
Red

2001 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Villero

 Nebbiolo more
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3/7/2021 - KeithAkers wrote: 94 points

Bolognese, Brovias, and more (My place, Chicago IL): Nose: The nose is drop, dead gorgeous as it fills the glass with perfumed tones of red cherries, strawberries, savory herbs, licorice, raspberries, violets, crushed rocks, earth tones, leather, and a touch of ash.

Taste: The feel is Full bodied with tart, high acidity and silky, high tannins. The structure is fairly resolved right now and has given way to a gorgeous and deep feel with red cherries, strawberries, raspberries, violets, crushed rocks, savory herbs m, tobacco, and leather tones.

Overall: This is gorgeous and really opened up in the glass. There is a refined and elegant nature to this that is immensely attractive while still having a bit of weight behind it.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    10/28/2021 4:53:00 PM - Hi gilrbo,

    These were all double decanted for sediment and given time in the bottle for about 6+ hours each. They were all a bit dusty on pop and pour, but there was fruit there on all of them for me to feel like they would wake up with extended soft air.
Red

2011 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Riserva Asili

 Nebbiolo more
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9/2/2020 - KeithAkers wrote: 94 points

Dinner at Tarantino's (Tarantino's, Chicago, IL): Nose: Immediately this is clearly on a different level of depth and class. The nose is still a bit tight and coiled, but beautifully red-fruited with red cherries, strawberries, raspberries, herbs, licorice, juniper berries, rose petals, violets, tobacco, savory herbs, and morning dew tones.

Taste: The feel is Full bodied with mouthwatering, high acidity and youthful, high tannins. The structure still shows a good amount of youth but it isn't overpowering at this time. The feel is deep and classy with red cherries, strawberries, raspberries, licorice, savory herbs, and tobacco notes.

Overall: Even with it clearly being young, it was still a wonderful wine. There is clearly more that this can give and these weren't the best conditions for it, but that's just how these things go some times.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    9/15/2020 7:46:00 PM - I think it was $25 a bottle and we were outside. It was just a small group of us, so it was no big deal
Red

2015 Antinori Tignanello

 Toscana IGT SuperTuscan Blend more
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1/4/2020 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 points

Wines that F**k to kick off the new year (Bob's, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL): Nose: The nose is polished and perfumed with black cherries, raspberries, cranberries, licorice, dusty notes, violets, tobacco, leather, roses, and herbs. There is excellent depth and poise with a lot of well balanced fruit at this time.

Taste: The feel is Medium/full bodied with tart, medium+ acidity and chewy, medium+ tannins. The structure is very youthful but the feel is lovely and balanced with black cherries, raspberries, licorice, dusty notes, herbs, roses, and leather tones.

Overall: This is extremely young, but it's also extremely good. There is a lushness to the fruit with a good savory quality and good depth.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    9/16/2020 10:24:00 AM - without question! I would love to try this again down the line to check in with how it'll have evolved. Lots to love already and there's more to come!
Red

2006 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia

 Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more
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9/23/2019 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 points

Dinner at Tango Sur (tango sur, chicago IL): Right away, this is classic LdH as there is a real distinctive sourness to the fruit with raspberries, sour red cherries, red fruits, dried herbs, dill notes, violets, vanilla beans, tobacco leaf, and some leather notes. The Medium bodied feel is lively and lengthy with some jagged edges backed up by tart, medium+ acidity and slightly stiff, medium+ tannins. The acidity has some sting and this could likely use a few more years to fully come together.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    8/19/2022 8:58:00 AM - Hello,

    I don’t think a decant would change any of that. Both of them are hallmarks of winemaking and traditionally made Rioja imo and I wouldn’t want them changed at all! A sourness to the red fruits is usually a marker for me when tasting Rioja blind (after the structure) and LdH makes their wines with a bit of volatility. I really enjoy these aspects and they are part of the overall picture on the wine.

    Cheers!

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    8/19/2022 10:13:00 AM - I hear ya! I’ll be quickly visiting Rioja in a little over a month, but it won’t be close to enough to get a better feel for the region.

    I’ve been deeply enjoying Spanish wine for a few years now and it feels like a new discovery!
Red

2009 Clos Rougeard (Foucault) Saumur-Champigny

 Cabernet Franc more
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2/3/2019 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 points

Nose: The nose is fragrant and herbal with red cherries, raspberries, dark chocolate, violets, roses, herbs, and dark red berries. There is excellent depth and class here with great balance between the herbal parts of the grape and red fruits.

Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and medium+ tannins. The structure is well integrated, though the tannins have a sneakiness to them. The feel is refined and deep with red cherries, herbs, raspberries, roses, and some dark chocolate.

Overall: This is a gorgeous Clos Rougeard that is drinking beautifully right now. This is a dignified and poised Saumur that has excellent depth. While this can certainly age a good while, it’s just wonderful right now.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    4/8/2019 7:26:00 AM - Hi walker,

    it was put into a decanter for air and sediment, but I basically dug right into on Pop n pour
Red

2007 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo

 Nebbiolo more
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7/29/2018 - grafstrb wrote: 89 points

-- decanted immediately before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over a couple hours --

NOSE: cherry licorice; cement/mineral/ash; moderately expressive, if not a bit tight initially; ripe fruit aromas; no funk or tar.

BODY: medium-full bodied.

TASTE: very tannic; medium-low to medium acidity; alc. comes through a bit; ripe cherry and baked cherry; light wood presence; not a waif --- this is on the bigger side of things. Drink or Hold.

50, 5, 12, 15, 7 = 89

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    8/13/2018 5:58:00 AM - I’m legit confused on the acidity here. I’ve had a decent amount of 07s and even for the warm vintage, I’m having a hard time seeing how nebb would bring anything less than Medium+ acidity, much less medium- or medium.
White - Off-dry

2015 Dönnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spätlese

 Nahe more
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2/8/2018 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 points

Nose: The nose is pristine and highly aromatic with pears, green apples, saline, crushed rocks, acacia flowers, and white fruits. There is excellent depth and verve to the nose with there being a real cleanliness to it as well.

Taste: Light bodied with high acidity. The acidity is extremely refreshing and youthful with the feel being featherweight along with green apples, pears, saline, white fruits, and crushed rocks.

Overall: This is a fantastic young spatlese. There’s ample depth and acidity for this to age a good while, but it is ever so delicious right now.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    2/8/2018 8:32:00 PM - It wasn’t. I fat fingered the score initially
White - Off-dry

1997 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese **

 Mosel Saar Ruwer more
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3/9/2017 - KeithAkers wrote: 94 points

Nose: The nose is succulent, highly aromatic, and filled with star fruits, sweet peaches, saline, quince, white florals, honey tones, and petrol. There is a lot of depth and layering with the tones coming on in waves.

Taste: Medium bodied with high acidity. The acidity really cuts through the residual sugar and extract with the feel showing excellent density. There is a lot of depth on the palate with star fruit, sweet peaches, saline, quince, bleu cheese, and white florals.

Overall: This was a wonderful Auslese. It showed off a lot of richness and intensity from the residual sugar. This is mature, but there is a lot of stuffing here for this to last a long time.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    2/21/2018 7:31:00 PM - I'm catching up on notes, so this was from last year when Salil was in town
Red

NV R. López de Heredia Rioja Crianza 6º Año Viña Tondonia

 Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more
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2/11/2017 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 points

Post-auction fun (Birch Road Cellar, Chicago IL): Nose: The nose is flowing and perfumed with sour red cherries, herbs, spices, cranberries, leather tones, and earth tones. The fruit still has ripeness to it, though it is clearly mature while there is excellent depth and layering.

Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and medium tannins. The feel and structure are showing mature with the acidity being a little on the sharp side. The feel is refined and polished with sour red cherries, herbs, cranberries, leather, earth tones, and black tea notes.

Overall: This is just drop dead gorgeous. There can certainly be some variation on these bottles and this was an on bottle.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    2/6/2018 1:57:00 PM - A friend provided this. My guess is that he got it at auction, possibly acker, but I think it was a while ago
Red

2006 M. Chapoutier Ermitage l'Ermite

 Hermitage Syrah more
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1/15/2017 - KeithAkers wrote: 86 points

Cassoulet with (mostly) Cote-Rotie&Hermitage (Jordan's, Northbrook IL): Nose: The nose shows intensity and some extraction with licorice, wood, vanilla, liqueur tones, black cherries, black tea, and black raspberries. There is good depth here, but the wood and extraction are a bit too noticeable.

Taste: Full bodied with medium acidity and medium+ tannins. The tannins are a bit woody with the feel showing some extraction and intensity along with licorice, black cherries, wood, vanilla, liqueur, and black tea.

Overall: The oak and extraction on this is certainly noticeable. The wine feels a bit forced and lacks elegance. This is drinking fine right now as it's hard to see the oak integrating with more time.

  • Comment posted by KeithAkers:

    1/31/2018 5:20:00 AM - jsmorris,

    while that is possible, I have a hard time seeing how the oak will successfully integrate in the next decade and I don't see the extraction giving way to something more balanced.

    A perfect contrast to this wine was the 05 Clape that was had at the same tasting. That too is a young wine, but it was also showing evolution that one would want at this young age and something that will give even more around the 20 year mark.

    ymmv

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