Light gold color. Drank 1 glass blind over 30 minutes. Light tropical fruit, subtle oak. Palate has tropical fruit, medium body, medium finish. Nice.

Light gold color. Drank 1 glass blind over 30 minutes. Nose is nice, rich, tropical, floral, spices. The palate is medium full bodied, tropical fruit, good depth, lighter-moderate oak, medium plus finish, well balanced. Very solid 91+ to 92pts.

Very dark red-purple color. Decanted for 1.5hrs, drank 1 glass blind over 45 minutes. Nose is very fruit forward, big black fruits of cassis, blackberry liqueur, ripe, pepper with caramel and herbs emerging later. The palate is full bodied and concentrated, nicely textured, blackberry, blackberry liqueur, black pepper, and a moderate amount of heat. This did settle down over time; young, needs 2 years.

Very dark red color. Decanted 1.5hrs, drank 1 glass over an hour. Needed a bit coaxing despite the decant, but really blossomed over 15 minutes. Great noce with dry earth, dried herbs, dusty earth, blueberry, raspberry. The palate is elegant and silky, well integrated, blue, black, and red fruits, nice wood elements, spice, and a long finish. Maybe just past peak, but should drink well for 2 years or so. No contest vs. the Foley 2009 blind and not any question which was which.

Very dark red-purple color- no bricking. Decanted 1.5hrs.; drank 1 glass blind over 90 minutes. Nice nose with deep aromas of dark fruits, dry forest floor, briary. The palate is full bodied, cassis, oak, black cherry, very round attractive tannins, anise, integrated and fresh. Long finish. Had a little heat on the palate. I found this to be very good and it evolved over the 90 minutes. No change on day 2. 92+ to 93pts.

Very dark red-purple color - no bricking. Decanted for 1.5hrs; drank 1 glass blinde over 90 minutes. Rocking nose, toasted, blackberry, cassis, scorched earth, tar, complex spices, mushroom. The palate is intense, yet elegant, powerful but not over the top, gravel, Blueberry, black cherry, cassis, scorched earth, very long finish. I had hoped this was the Montelena, but the scorched earth made me question whether it could be. WOTN (not to mention QPROTN), 94+pts.

Very dark purple -red color - no bricking. Decanted 1.5hrs; drank 1 glass blind over 60 minutes plus. Big black fruits on the nose, mint, more earthy, chocolate, minerals. The palate is big, bold, full bodied, menthol, blackberry liqueur, blackberry, dark chocolate, spiced, alcohol, firm tannins, long finish. This definitely improved, but has some heat and firm tannins that needs to hopefully settle down a bit more. 91+pts.

Very dark red-purple color - no bricking. Decanted for 1.5hrs; drank 1 glass blind over 60+ minutes. Nose: spices, alcohol, black fruit, mildly herbal, cassis, oak. The palate has full body, deep black fruits, spicy, herbs, oak, heat. Medium plus finish.

Medium gold color. PNP, drank 1+ glass over 60 minutes. Nose is scrumptious; orange marmalade, honey, spiced, lemon, apricot, vanilla, floral. The palate is intense and concentrated, deep, honeyed, honeysuckle, orange marmalade, tangerine, pineapple, apricot, spices, rich and unctuous with a very long finish. Delightful. Still youthful. 94+ to 95pts.