July 13, 2020 - With K&O, socially distanced wine on our patio...last bottle of this 5 years ago, good time to check in on it. Drank next to an 02 Lascombes, nice to contrast 2 wines at a great point in their evolution. Splash decant, drank over an hour
Medium ruby color, no separation. Nose showing dark fruits, floral/violets, earth notes. Palate showing blackberry, currant, cedar, licorice, damp earth. Full body, richly texture. Long finish, tannins smooth and dusted.
In a great spot right now. Earth/terroir is dominant at this point. Maybe a Napa version of Haut Brion at this stage...:) Well, stored bottles should continue to drink at this level but not likely to improve much. Great showing on this evening.
May 16, 2020 - Still drinking great! Fruit has dissipated but great earthy tones have emerged. Beginning is great, finish is great, the mid palate is starting to fade. Finish is long and strong. Wonderful to enjoy right now but don’t hang on too long.
August 21, 2019 - Great wine
August 6, 2017 - Well balanced and seductive. Blackberry fruit and mild tannins. I suggest drinking now as I don't think it will last for more than a couple years.
April 14, 2017 - Still full of bright dark blackberry fruit. Smokey nose. Solid tannic structure suggests this has many more years of life ahead of it. Classic Cali cab. Delicious!
December 27, 2015 - The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle.
February 19, 2015 - Dinner at SLWC during PNV week, fantastic setting and great wines.
Drank this next to the current release 2012, a real treat to compare the two wines with some age.
Dark ruby crimson color to the rim, no signs of age. Nose was black fruits, currant, cedar, violet, vanilla. Could mistake for an old world wine on the nose. Palate of "black raspberries" and black cherries, spice and smoke. Full mouthfeel, tannins sweetened and resolved. Moving into it's zone right now - should have a good arc from here. Not one of the blockbuster Cask 23's, at least as reviewed, but I think very nice at this stage
January 20, 2015 - Great wine.
December 16, 2014 - Drank at Ron's house with the WSS crew. Dark ruby/crimson color. Tobacco, cedar, currant on the nose. Also, still feint oak aromas. Big and round, with ripe fruit as one would expect. Not particularly hot though, which was a pleasant surprise. Lots of black raspberries and black cherries, along with some smoke and spice. Nice wine
April 18, 2014 - Good not great. Drank best third day opened after the whiff of brett funk blew off.