December 19, 2023 - Well-integrated with a nice finish. Various fruit on the palette. This is ready to drink now.
December 9, 2023 - The Columbia Group - Two and a Half Years Later (Our Place): Popped the cork, poured a half glass, then allowed both to slo-ox for about 45 minutes. Periodic sampling showed the wine opening with a broadening set of aromas (dark fruit and earth) and flavors (blackberry, red currant and touches of graphite and oak). The acidity was just a bit overbalanced, and all tannins were integrated.
This wine was a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabermet Franc and 3% Merlot. I think a bit more air up front - maybe a one hour decant - would have helped as I couldn't help thinking that something was missing - especially given the winemaker and grape source. Or was it because it was up against a really fine bottle of 2003 Cos d'Estournel? Either way, there are many years of enjoyment ahead.
October 28, 2023 - PnP. Opened up over an hour, and by the end of two hours it had only faded a bit. Cork in great shape. Opened side by side with a 2012 vintage which needed an hour in the decanter. Beautiful wine.
October 6, 2023 - Thi is really good. Notes of licorice, dark plum, pencil shavings, and a little dried fruit. A bit hot, but still terrific.
June 16, 2023 - Dark fruit and pencil lead. Still has life.
April 28, 2023 - Notes of dried black fruit and pencil shavings. Soft tannins, but with good body. Still fresh and fruity.
March 17, 2023 - 2nd bottle; good at 1hr and improving. Thick purple. Structured. Red blackberries give way to tar, brick.
December 16, 2022 - The cork broke apart when I opened the bottle, so I feared the worse.
But, luckily, the wine was intact. Complex, with notes of blackberry, pencil shavings, and tobacco. I decanted about an hour before serving.
December 7, 2022 - Double decanted and back in bottle for about an hour and then sipped while slow oxidizing over another hour. Dense purple and ruby color. Tar and leather, slight bramble and hint of blackberry on the nose. Lots of leather, some licorice, cocoa, and blackberry on the palate with ~35 sec finish. Reminded me of an aged Chateau Montelena crossed with Dr. Crane. This is drinking nicely right now.
July 3, 2021 - Very rich, tasting of ripe dried berries. Opulent but well balanced. Drinking very nicely.