October 22, 2022 - Ok. Not great. Not terrible. A bit bland.
June 26, 2022 - From magnum. I opened this, concerned that it may be headed for decline. Experience was quite the opposite - this was firing on all cylinders. Ripe plum and cassis framed by subtle oak and earth, with overall impeccable balance and delicious factor.
August 29, 2020 - Drank over several nights and was singing on night 3. Nose of black cherry, must, coffee and a touch of oak. Well integrated fruit and silky tannins, still feel the alcohol in the long finish. Consistent with prior bottle - not overly complex. Only drawback.
August 1, 2020 - Needed an hour + in the decanter. Fruit of black cherries, iron and some earth - very pleasant, soft and integrated. Lack of structure and a bit one dimensional - enjoyable but just okay. drink now for sure (past prime).
May 24, 2019 - Had this wine tonight with rack of lamb. The wine was compared to 2000 Leoville Barton. The Larkmead took an hour more to open up, but developed into a medium to full bodied, silky, wine with strawberry and complex attributes. A thoroughly enjoyable wine, and although it did not have the graphite and pony barn of the Barton wine, the Larkmead held it's own in it's own way, and was truly delicious.
It was the perfect comparison of French versus California. It's important to understand that the larkmead wine is not made like a typical young fruit forward cab. This was not a tasting to see whether one was better than the other. The comparison of the wines was really to see that each wine had perfection in its own way. The California cab could never be like the French Bordeaux. Vice versa, the Bordeaux could never be like the California cab. The Barton wine was so integrated and mature that it was not overwhelming. Neither was the larkmead super fruit forward without complexity. In the end, the group preferred the 2000 Barton over the 2006 larkmead because of the additional complexity, but that was only evident in the comparison in the wines and on their own they would have both rated similar scores.
February 22, 2018 - Opened this bottle table side at restaurant. Definitely open for business tonight. Nice soft red black fruits of front. Pretty nose to compliment. Resolved tannins. Very soft New World cab ready to go.
January 3, 2018 - Had for New Years with prime ribeye steaks. Wine needs at least an hour decant. Wine is ready to drink, great fruit a bit of spice, full bodied and some darker fruit overtones. I developed more appreciation for Merlot heavy blends from this wine. Excellent wine, sad it is my one and only bottle.
December 31, 2016 - Smooth and delicious.
May 25, 2016 - A plush Merlot-based blend that blends Napa fruit with classic style. Dark purple in color, full in body, and an inviting nose of blackberry and charcoal. Round tastes of sweet cherry, blueberry, licorice, and gravel, with mouth-coating tannins. Blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Malbec. 14.7% alcohol. It takes an hour or two to shed its angles, but it is quite compelling when it does. Drink in next year or two.
February 27, 2015 - Nice nose, immediately approachable, soft on the pallet.
Lots of berry with a long finish. still have 3 left and will try again in another 6 months or so.