This wine struggled to get out of the gate for well over an hour. There was no taint, Brett, TCA, or VA going on as the nose of this wine actually displayed really beautiful notes of black cherry, milk and dark chocolate, and spiciness. Did not seem to have the more purple fruit I usually note on these when they are younger. Entry was darker, more blackberry for sure, with softer acidity but just also a softer wine than usual. After a good solid hour, the second half of this really started to show more fruit presence with a spicier acidic finish and rounded tannin with black pepper notes. A little strange. This is actually my last 2011 from this producer, although I really think I would like to have one of each from the vintage to hold for another one to two years to see if this one is just going through a dumb phase.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At the Zuni with friends. Well balanced wine. Deep red center, but not overly extracted. Floral, leafy nose, with some subtlety, lighter more austere red fruits, good backbone. More of the same in the mouth - more of a Bordeaux experience, not overly dark or extracted. Reflects the vintage well. Drinking well now, but has a few more years left to mature.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Out of a field of probably 14-ish wines, this one was probably number 4 or 5 IMO out of the reds. For an 11, the "damned" vintage, this wine was delicious. 15% Malbec and greater than 30% PV, this wine had quite a bit of youthful fruit, blackberry and black licorice on the front with floral showing the same plus a dark floral presence. This wine wasn't just jam packed in the fruit category but it had a lot of other things -- there was a hint of black pepper and oregano on the finish. This wine really was quite a bit more dense than my last evaluation of it, and I'm sad to say that there is only one of these left. I do feel that a little bit of bottle age has done this one well, so I will probably hold the other one for a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Although not the most full bodied and complex Bordeaux Blend I've ever had, this one is crazy complex. Cork withdrawn intact. The nose out of this one is more of a black cherry and dusty character. Poured with violet "influence" into the glass, this wine was a little heavier in the glass than it looked. The nose was youthful. Entry was slightly darker with new shoe leather, blackberry, some heat, probably a bit more acidity than this one is supposed to have at maturity, and a hint of black pepper even from the start. The middle of this wine is where I get oregano, lavender, miscellaneous crushed flowers, with an increasing acidity. Finished with a lot of youthful spunk, dust, and blackberry. Tannin and acidity both kind of high. Nice wine. This one will age 7 years quite easily. Not sure about 10.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
OK, so at the first bottle consumed back in late May, the notes were off a bit. This one has come a LONG way in a shorter amount of time. And is READY TO GO. WOW. This was a NICE WINE enjoyed tonight with dinner. Uncorked to a medium stain, maroon-purplish. The nose was intoxicating blackberry and lavender. The entry was blackberry and shoe leather, a bit smoky. The middle is lavender, spice, a little dark and somewhat brambly. The finish is crushed rock, jasmine, blackberry, graham cracker, and pepper that slaps you across the face and makes you beg. WOW. I only have one more bottle of this, but I have a feeling that this will shortly change.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A challenging year for the Rutherford Red, and yet I'm not entirely sure this one was ready to go even after 3 hours of time in the glass. This wine is very well made by a small producer in Napa, but the fruit just shows muted characteristics. The depth just isn't there on this one, but the backbone certainly is. This has the potential of being just as good as the 2010 (and everyone sure knows what I think of the 2010!). There appears to be a significant absence of merlot, and upon further glance this wine is 46 Cab, 31 Petit Verdot, 15 Malbec, and 8 Cab Franc....no merlot. Poured a very dark red into the glass, and coated it nicely. It's a wine that has a blackberry and floral nose, smooth and full bodied on the entry, blackberrry, cassis, middle of black cherry and Rutherford dust (but subdued compared to the 09 and 10), and finishes with a little heat or mint. Sweet tannin. I didn't detect nearly as much tannin as the 2010 or 2009 RR's. This wine is best held another 1-2 years before attempting a rating. I didn't feel as if it was on its best tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/24/2021 - mflesh wrote: 90 Points
This wine struggled to get out of the gate for well over an hour. There was no taint, Brett, TCA, or VA going on as the nose of this wine actually displayed really beautiful notes of black cherry, milk and dark chocolate, and spiciness. Did not seem to have the more purple fruit I usually note on these when they are younger. Entry was darker, more blackberry for sure, with softer acidity but just also a softer wine than usual. After a good solid hour, the second half of this really started to show more fruit presence with a spicier acidic finish and rounded tannin with black pepper notes. A little strange. This is actually my last 2011 from this producer, although I really think I would like to have one of each from the vintage to hold for another one to two years to see if this one is just going through a dumb phase.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2020 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Best drinking of the 6 bottles. More body than the others - some bottle variation? Still has that coffee and slightly green finish. Very well done.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2019 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
At the Zuni with friends. Well balanced wine. Deep red center, but not overly extracted. Floral, leafy nose, with some subtlety, lighter more austere red fruits, good backbone. More of the same in the mouth - more of a Bordeaux experience, not overly dark or extracted. Reflects the vintage well. Drinking well now, but has a few more years left to mature.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2017 - mflesh wrote:
Out of a field of probably 14-ish wines, this one was probably number 4 or 5 IMO out of the reds. For an 11, the "damned" vintage, this wine was delicious. 15% Malbec and greater than 30% PV, this wine had quite a bit of youthful fruit, blackberry and black licorice on the front with floral showing the same plus a dark floral presence. This wine wasn't just jam packed in the fruit category but it had a lot of other things -- there was a hint of black pepper and oregano on the finish. This wine really was quite a bit more dense than my last evaluation of it, and I'm sad to say that there is only one of these left. I do feel that a little bit of bottle age has done this one well, so I will probably hold the other one for a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2016 - mflesh wrote:
Although not the most full bodied and complex Bordeaux Blend I've ever had, this one is crazy complex. Cork withdrawn intact. The nose out of this one is more of a black cherry and dusty character. Poured with violet "influence" into the glass, this wine was a little heavier in the glass than it looked. The nose was youthful. Entry was slightly darker with new shoe leather, blackberry, some heat, probably a bit more acidity than this one is supposed to have at maturity, and a hint of black pepper even from the start. The middle of this wine is where I get oregano, lavender, miscellaneous crushed flowers, with an increasing acidity. Finished with a lot of youthful spunk, dust, and blackberry. Tannin and acidity both kind of high. Nice wine. This one will age 7 years quite easily. Not sure about 10.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2016 - Woodbridge Brad Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wonderful wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2016 - Woodbridge Brad Likes this wine: 94 Points
Quite big and complex without being over ripe. The tannin level is a bit chewy and the acid balance is good. Needs a year plus.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2016 - mflesh wrote: 93 Points
OK, so at the first bottle consumed back in late May, the notes were off a bit. This one has come a LONG way in a shorter amount of time. And is READY TO GO. WOW. This was a NICE WINE enjoyed tonight with dinner. Uncorked to a medium stain, maroon-purplish. The nose was intoxicating blackberry and lavender. The entry was blackberry and shoe leather, a bit smoky. The middle is lavender, spice, a little dark and somewhat brambly. The finish is crushed rock, jasmine, blackberry, graham cracker, and pepper that slaps you across the face and makes you beg. WOW. I only have one more bottle of this, but I have a feeling that this will shortly change.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2015 - mflesh wrote:
A challenging year for the Rutherford Red, and yet I'm not entirely sure this one was ready to go even after 3 hours of time in the glass. This wine is very well made by a small producer in Napa, but the fruit just shows muted characteristics. The depth just isn't there on this one, but the backbone certainly is. This has the potential of being just as good as the 2010 (and everyone sure knows what I think of the 2010!). There appears to be a significant absence of merlot, and upon further glance this wine is 46 Cab, 31 Petit Verdot, 15 Malbec, and 8 Cab Franc....no merlot. Poured a very dark red into the glass, and coated it nicely. It's a wine that has a blackberry and floral nose, smooth and full bodied on the entry, blackberrry, cassis, middle of black cherry and Rutherford dust (but subdued compared to the 09 and 10), and finishes with a little heat or mint. Sweet tannin. I didn't detect nearly as much tannin as the 2010 or 2009 RR's. This wine is best held another 1-2 years before attempting a rating. I didn't feel as if it was on its best tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment