January 14, 2024 - Last noted 3/13. First bottle corked; went & grabbed the last bottle.
Color/App: nearly opaque ruby core -> moderately dense ruby rim with a bit of garnet creeping in. The wine was rocking after decanting for about 30 minutes. Black-fruited bouquet showing off tar, creosote, leather, a little gaminess and wet-slate minerality. Palate showed smoke, pretty much any black fruit you can name, anisette and tobacco. Great structure to drink now: the tannins are finally approachable and the acid level seems just right. Well done and has held up nicely. I'd say this is for drinking now over the next 3-5 years.
January 14, 2024 - Stunningly corked.
Lucky to have one more left as a backup... :-)
July 7, 2023 - Tar, bbq meat, smoke and clove notes. The tannins are well resolved, but this still seems younger than dozen or so years of age. Big, muscular and beefy. Seems like this would go great with grilled food.
May 13, 2021 - This needed air even on day 2. Muted black fruit with resolves tannins.
November 1, 2020 - Thick fruit and smoky goodness
October 1, 2020 - My last bottle, pours inky purple-black. A big burly wine, full-bodies with a nice floral lift and tannins that are beginning to soften. Smokey black fruit nose with hints of anise and clove. Bigger and bolder than I go for these days but well made if a bit one-dimensional. In a prime drinking window I think.
April 18, 2020 - This surprised me, in a good way. While ripe dark berry fruit is present & there's a touch of vanilla in the midpalate, it's really herbs & a touch of game that is at the forefront of this wine. This was consistent across ~3 hours in the decanter. It is a little broad shouldered, but I think wears the California traits quite well.
March 17, 2020 - Black violet in the glass, still seems pretty reserved in the nose but some meat, sage and eucalyptus. Firm acidity and some slightly gritty tannins.
November 7, 2019 - This bottle is in a weird place. Seven years after my last bottle, this still has a lot of oak up front and bracing tannins on the back end. After Coravin'ing a glass, the first few sips were very disjointed, but with air this came together a bit. Somewhat reticent herbal nose shows notes of bay leaves, tapenade, sage, eucalyptus, cigar box and black fruits. A bit of stewed fruit on the midpalate suggests this bottle may not be pristine. Will revisit tomorrow.
September 23, 2019 - PnP. Nose is all savory with lots of olive. The palate has some black fruit remaining but is full of meat, tar and olive.