August 4, 2023 - Last of 4 and wow it's good tonight. Funny how I thought the bottle in 2015 was not as good as '12 and '13, and this might be the best yet!
Garnet in color. Smells like the same mix of red fruits, mixed florals, and dry spice drawer, but somehow more exotic potpourri and intoxicating. A little fresh herbs too. Medium body and acid, medium (+) length, with flavors of dark cherry (bourbon soaked?), lemon, orange, fair amount of spice, and minerals. This is really nice tonight. 👌
December 30, 2015 - Eh, haters are gonna hate I guess...Well, this is not as bright and fresh as it was in '12 and '13, and while the floral rose and violet notes are still coming across on the nose, along with red fruits and dried spice drawer, it's more subdued than it once was. Tart red raspberry and sour cherry notes on the palate, along with lemon and spice, with fairly bright acidity and medium body and finish. This was a knockout a few years ago, and is definitely showing some aged characteristics now, and although it's a notch below what it once was for me, I'm inclined to drink my last bottle at the age of 10 just to experiment (what's to lose?). I recently had a '97 Turley that was long considered dead according to the CT consensus, and it was a flat out show stopper, so let's see what happens.
March 31, 2015 - Yep..way past its prime. Fruit is gone.
December 25, 2014 - PnP. Medium crimson in color with some bricking. Not a whole lot on the nose but toast and dried berries and rose petals. Sadly, I have to agree that its best days have probably past as the fruit is just not there. Its light on its feet, but at this point, the oak is dominant.
Tasted in a Riedel Vinum Chianti Classico glass at 60F.
December 7, 2014 - Past its prime
November 19, 2014 - Drinking very well right now. Paired perfectly with smoked ribs. Very refined for a domestic Zin.
July 20, 2014 - This wine (or bottle) is past it's prime. This bottle was very unbalanced with unpleasant flavors. The Dwight vineyard is normally more vibrant and a bit young in flavors (given its a young vineyard) but either this bottle got too much heat in shipping, there was some other problem with the bottle, or the phenollics and tannins were not there to keep it balanced until this point. A surprising disappointment.
October 20, 2013 - Still drinking well, and consistent w/ my last note. Sure do love the nose on this wine!
April 29, 2013 - Wonderful wine for the price. Would definitely buy again
March 5, 2013 - - Crimsom color.