Community Tasting Note

pkbowen Likes this wine:

Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - This one needed precise handling to get the cork out in one piece. There was only 1-2 mm of soak into the cork and quite a bit of sedmient on the cork and in the neck. Decanted for about an hour before the first glass.

The color was ruby with a few millimeters of bricking; it appeared much more youthful than 16 years old. The nose was rich and rose right up out of the decanter. It had a substantial amount of red fruit aroma with a boquet of leather and damp earth. Palate was similar, with cherry and black cherry featuring on the attack (how can this relatively inexpensive bottle have this much primary fruit after 16 years!?), with a smooth transition to a complex nutty, earthy, and herbaceous midpalate. Overall, this is medium-bodied (what I would consider below-average for a Cali cab sauv) with an approachable flavor profile that shows good typicity.

The structure was perfect. Tannins were obviously present after the attack; they supported the midpalate well, but didn't actually dry out the mouth. They subsided slowly, melting into a medium-length finish of supple tannin and with rich earth, mild blackcurrant, and some nutty flavors.

This wine is a thing of beauty. My only critique is that the finish is a wee bit short, but I don't care. I still loved this bottle, and I'm glad I have another in the cellar! I am going to call this "excellent," 92/100.

Post a Comment / View pkbowen's profile
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue (2,016 views)