October 21, 2021 - Thank you Derrald for the birthday gift, lovely nose showed immediately upon opening, nose of black cherries, hints of herbs and black berry with the smell of old wine barrels, big body, rich, black cherry fruit on the palate, mouth filling fruit, floral accents, delicious over the next 2 hours, elegant, long finish, lovely aftertaste, photo uploaded.
February 20, 2021 - 34 years and still a hint of black fruit on nose and palate. Tertiary tobacco, leather and deep earthy tones predominate. Smooth, well integrated tannins complete the long finish.
November 29, 2019 - Very little sentiment, cork in good shape, needed 25 mins in decanter and it was delicious and smooth
March 27, 2019 - Still showing a hint of primary fruit, but mostly tertiary flavors now. Called it left bank Bordeaux blind, and it’s certainly drinking like one. Delicious!
April 23, 2017 - Pretty consistent from decant to drink two hours later... well past its prime, just a suggestion of what it was. Still pleasant to drink, soft faded fruit but tasty in a subdued way. Drink with milder foods, even fish.
October 15, 2016 - Well past prime. The cork, while intact disintegrated upon extraction. The wine lacked flavor and bouquet. A disappointment, but this one wasn't probably meant to last 30 years.
September 18, 2016 - Opened, filtered, decanted 2 hours, washed bottle, repoured, and poured back in decanter at restaurant. Minimal bricking.
Licorice, coffee, smoke, subtle acid back palate initially which resolved over an hour. Sweet hints of black fruit, currant. Medium body. Subdued. A true gem. Purchased from Benchmark.
February 16, 2014 - Opened soft and stayed soft. Probably 2-4 years past prime but still drinking well. Did not decant, which was the right call.
August 3, 2013 - Very fresh. Cork looked like that of a much younger wine. Very smooth, with hints of vanilla and leather. Lots of time left.
April 7, 2013 - Undrinkable. Huge disappointment. You win some you lose some. Sigh.