Friday, July 9, 2010 - Night #2 (3/4 of bottle was remaining). Not decanted simply left in bottle as is in the cellar over night.
Color: Same as previous
Smell: Initially it's a bit smokey with hints of cigar box, dark fruits and violets. Still a kind of muted nose from what I was hoping would be a knockout. Alcohol is no longer obvious or standing out on the nose as it did last night.
Taste: Raspberry fruit leads into flavors of blackberries, blueberries, plum, and other dark fruits. This is followed by a bit of spice and a hint of the alcohol leaves the back of the throat slightly warm as the finish transitions into a woodsy and rustic finish.
Overall: Slightly more promise tonight than last night...which gives me hope for this wine. There is half a bottle left that I will continue to check in on over the rest of this weekend.