Community Tasting Note

sfwinelover1 Likes this wine:

Sunday, February 25, 2024 - One off a couple of months ago ($200) from Napa cellerage #1. On the nose and palate, bright notes of mixed red and dark berries, black currants, red cherries and a slight note of pomegranate, dark florals, baking and forest spice, red licorice, tobacco, dark chocolate and earthy minerality. Deep ruby red, medium to full bodied, thick legs. Intense acidity integrating with air, medium tannins, a touch of heat also integrating with air. Great complexity, intensity and persistence. My first red Cardinale (I had the SB several years ago) after several Mt. Braves and La Jotas and having bought but not popped a couple of other vintages of this and a Lokoya Spring Mountain. This came out of the bottle a bit unbalanced, a bit too high toned and slightly boozy, but after 45 minutes-hour, it was just singing. Fulsome but weightless (in this regard, if not in quality, not unlike the Lafleur, Harlan and Prom), juicy but trued by a solid backbone, this hit a beautiful, energetic glide on the first night, with the wonderful New World Old World mix that’s catnip to sfwl, a wine in full seemingly early in its drinking window (97-98). On night 2, the wine darkened in all aspects, with the dark fruit coming more to the fore, including a plummy note, still a great quaff but more balanced, mature and with a bit less lift, presenting as further along in its evolution (95-96+). For some, this may actually be more appealing, and while I still found it excellent, the feel was less singular than on night 1. Great both on its own and with pizza. If I had more—which could happen, although with a ‘09 and 2 ‘15s, it won’t be my first premium option—I’d probably drink in the next couple-few years with an eye on aeration, but I think that this will be a really strong wine for years to come for those more geared to a darker, more tertiary profile. Great stuff here. 96+

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