Community Tasting Note

z_willus_d wrote:

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - Classic claret color. This was tight on the nose when I first opened while it was still at cellar-temp. I took it in hand to a warmer environ and slowly the bouquet ripened and expanded to the point now where I'd describe the nose as anything but tight; very expressive in fact; evocative of the aromas generated in my garage (while cleaning) the other day when I found a collection of essential oils from my late teens. I might have damaged my scent implements after sniffing the 20th vial, but I know at least two of those flowery oils were a dead-ringer for what I'm picking up here - was it African Violet or Light Musk. In any case, the aromas are very perfumed in quality and mingle with red fruits, blueberry air freshener spritz, and a bit of dusty, wood. Three or four sips and I think I'm beginning to articulate this wine to myself. It has a medium body and mouth weight. Raspy tannins are moderate to above and really only show with some drying and an astringency accompanied by wood lacquer on cedar that grows out of the finish. Fruit is plush and full up front with red and blue components alongside the floral, but then it takes a nose-dive entering the mid-palate where it transitions from a fruity Merlot sensibility to a more austere wine of pepper and cayenne and spice and the above described astringent qualities. This particular glass is drinking a touch awkward for me, but I still think it's quality Bordeaux. I think there's a good chance this will be a better wine in 10 years than it is today. Given a choice between the regular '05 cuvee and this special '06 "La Reserve," I'd opt for the former for depth, complexity and poise.

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