2/27/2017 - TheNeuroticDobermann Likes this wine:

Decanted. Prismatic aromas of damson, fig, goudron, rose, violet, tar, sweet cherry, amarena jam, a hint of balsamic herbs. Very precise and very disciplined on the palate. Tannins are well ordered and balanced with magisterial acidity. Firm core of red fruit macerated in alcohol, with a hint of sour cherry liqueur, testament to the particularly warm year. Like a well oiled machine, each component exists in perfect harmony, such that the whole is very much greater than the sum of its already outstanding parts. Profound, long finish. A very cerebral, traditional Barolo, with absolutely no concession to extraction or new wood. A sybaritic pleasure from the first sip to the last.

10/24/2014 - dotis wrote:

Very good with nice steak. Has bit of berry but dry. Good after dinner too!

9/25/2014 - jcvalenti Does not like this wine:

2011 was a horrible year for everyone and I wanted - no, prayed - that Larkmead would somehow make a decent wine. Unfortunately, they didn't (or more fairly, they couldn't). This wine was like most other 2011 California Cabs - thin, lacking any substantial fruit, a displeasing vegetal aftertaste, and an overall unpleasant, weak experience. I absolutely love Larkmead, but this is the first time I ever opened a bottle of Larkmead with friends and none of us would finish the glass. I'm pretty sure I've never given a Larkmead wine a rating below 92 before. When I think about what I was charged for the 2011 shipment .... grrrr. It makes me angry. I understand the need to keep revenue going, but charging $75 or more a bottle for something of this quality is offensive. I'm really looking forward to 2012 to help me forget the 2011 and in the meantime, I guess I'll let this wine sit several years in hope that some magical wine fairy sneaks into my cellar and somehow makes it come together into something tolerable.

5/8/2013 - 64 Squares wrote:

This was a huge disappointment. I decanted the bottle for over two hours (with periodic tasting sips to see how it was coming along) and it just never opened up and was miserably thin, with a nasty heat on the back-end. I have 3 other bottles, so I will give them some time in the cellar before popping open another one. I've changed my initial rating to an NR.

4/3/2010 - BigGer wrote:

This bottle may be partially flawed, but it didn't have the depth of fruit, length, or complexity I expected. Had it once before, from the same vintage, and was impressed. This one had the beginnings of a vinegary, acidic reaction, so either it's past it's time, or somewhat flawed. The cork was red about half way up.