Community Tasting Note

ChrisBeacham wrote:

Monday, June 15, 2009 - Dark but not opaque, purple-red. Nothing jumps out on the nose. Herbal mostly at this point with a little heat. The GF says tar and I get some of that -- I like tar, she doesn't. A little green pepper but not a problem. Better in the mouth, rich, medium to full-bodied but good acid, firm but not overwhelming tannins. The acid cuts through the ripe fruit. Finish shows substantial tannins but they're not totally mouth puckering. Some smokiness and lovely and yummy ripe plum, a bit of anise and Med spices. Nice finish, smooth and somewhat elegant.

I'm betting this wine improves over the next 5 years and turns into something pretty nice if not exceptional. Got better over the course of the evening. The 2005 vintage was cool and foggy in Carneros so the green notes that Ian found aren't surprising. But maybe the ripeness (come on, 14.7%) is tempered by the acid. At $60, the suggested retail, this is big time pass. At $19 I'm going back for 6 bottles to drink over the next 5-10 years.

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