May 13, 2023 - At Bellota with Peter. This is drinking wonderfully. Great intensity of fruit and balanced tannins. Quite Bordeaux like. Great now, but still has the fruit and backbone for a few more years if you need to.
October 12, 2022 - Primary flavors are basically gone but tertiary notes are very alive. Crushed earth, mushrooms, and cedar are present. Tannins are smooth but acidity is still vibrant. Very pleasant with 18 years on it.
June 23, 2021 - This wine is drinking wonderfully, even at 17 years old! It could have used more decanting, but was still fabulous! Enjoyed with grilled ribeyes as we celebrated my 35 years in the wine business. Too bad it was only a 375ml! 😟
January 30, 2021 - Drinking very well now.
November 28, 2020 - Decanted for 2 hours. Seamed fairly flat as others have noted. For the price, was a bit disappointed.
July 27, 2020 - Of the 6 reds this was the last one served. From a decanter so I assume it had been poured at least an hour earlier. Was ok but not memorable. If I had bought this for the 145+ market price I would have been hugely disappointed. This was by far the most expensive wine of the reds and nowhere near the best. But, since the host provided it I could just sit back and enjoy. Most professional reviews give a drinking window that ended a few years ago so perhaps that is why it was just an easy drinking, pleasant wine and not something special. If I didn't know its price point perhaps I would have enjoyed it more. Decent wine, terrible QPR.
March 17, 2018 - At first, was muted, even flat. After it had been open for a while, was clearly improving, so decanted to a large based decanter. Then it started to sing. This is not a hugely tannic or fruity wine at this point in its life. Mostly cab, but not all about the cab flavors. Any tannins are completely smoothed out, giving it structure but no harshness. Hints of tobacco, but this still tastes youthful and pure, wiht black cherry notes as the strongest fruit. Good wine caught at the right moment, I'd guess.
January 7, 2018 - Decanted for 2 hours. Great nose, full body, still can go many more years. Quite surprised it was still somewhat youthful and relatively long finish with tannins still present.
September 18, 2017 - Drinking well tonight. As before, but greater depth of flavor. Very blueberry driven with raspberry and plum notes. Very well liked by everyone.
August 29, 2017 - Popped and poured. Much less sediment than previous bottles - but still quite a bit. Dark and rich. Forest and floral nose following thru on the palate. Very good depth and lingering finish.