Now almost 30 years old, this treasure was sound of nose, red rim with faintest garnet, smooth, long finish, complex fruit/wood notes. Cork was excellent. Stored 55 degrees since purchase. A great wine.
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Final bottle from a purchase made at the winery in 2016. Decanted for 3-4 hours to see if this would come to life. Nose is a old leather and forest floor a bit on the musty side. This is just over the hill for much drinking pleasure. Not sure this wine was built to age for 25 years.
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Forest floor, bark, and cooked cherries dominate the flavor profile. The wine is incredibly smooth with a velvety mouthfeel which is drenched with exotic sweet prunes, cherries and some many other sensations. I love older wines and this hit the mark for me. Sure possibly past there prime but these fruit flavors are dense and have a graceful age which reminds me of 50 year old sherry.
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2nd try at these older bottles of Mistral purchased last year during a tasting at Phelps. Similar to last time, cork disintegrated around the cork screw (needed a Durand for this one) and ultimately had to push cork inside of bottle. As per advice from previous taster decanted for about 90 minutes prior to tasting. The decanting helped and the wine was better than last time, but in our opinion still way past its prime. Nose smelled of stewed fruits. On the palate acid, leather, musty leaves and stewed fruits. Okay for a small tasting glass, but neither of us wanted to go back for more.
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Luckily this bottle was cellared properly. The cork was intact and still moist with no leakage. It needed time (2 hours) to open up from 22 years in confinement. Not much fruit on the nose - mostly cedar and graphite. Still has velvety mouthfeel with a nice finish. A bit past prime but still tasting well.
Cork crumbled on opening - had to strain wine into decanter. The nose smells of stewed fruits and color is leaning to reddish brown. Unfortunately this seems well passed its prime. Tastes of stewed fruit and must, not much holding it together. Let breathe for 1 hour did not improve - dumped the rest down the sink. Bought this last week at the winery, where friends had arranged a tasting. We mentioned that our last visit was in the 90's and we had enjoyed the wine. They don"t make it anymore and have not in 15 years. They did have some 93's in the library for sale so we took a chance and bought three. Oh well!
Found a forgotten bottle in the cellar. Cork had not leaked but disintegrated on pulling. Had to filter through a coffee filter. Distinct alcoholic nose, though not taste. Immediate overtones of bourbon vanilla, red currant and cherry. Did improve as it opened, but a touch too cherry / cough syrup for our taste -- clearly over the hill.
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11/24/2022 - LHB wrote: 92 Points
Now almost 30 years old, this treasure was sound of nose, red rim with faintest garnet, smooth, long finish, complex fruit/wood notes. Cork was excellent. Stored 55 degrees since purchase.
A great wine.
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4/25/2018 - retired_and_roving wrote:
Final bottle from a purchase made at the winery in 2016. Decanted for 3-4 hours to see if this would come to life. Nose is a old leather and forest floor a bit on the musty side. This is just over the hill for much drinking pleasure. Not sure this wine was built to age for 25 years.
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11/26/2016 - tomoem wrote: 93 Points
Forest floor, bark, and cooked cherries dominate the flavor profile. The wine is incredibly smooth with a velvety mouthfeel which is drenched with exotic sweet prunes, cherries and some many other sensations. I love older wines and this hit the mark for me. Sure possibly past there prime but these fruit flavors are dense and have a graceful age which reminds me of 50 year old sherry.
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6/3/2016 - retired_and_roving Does not like this wine:
2nd try at these older bottles of Mistral purchased last year during a tasting at Phelps. Similar to last time, cork disintegrated around the cork screw (needed a Durand for this one) and ultimately had to push cork inside of bottle. As per advice from previous taster decanted for about 90 minutes prior to tasting. The decanting helped and the wine was better than last time, but in our opinion still way past its prime. Nose smelled of stewed fruits. On the palate acid, leather, musty leaves and stewed fruits. Okay for a small tasting glass, but neither of us wanted to go back for more.
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9/7/2015 - Bottledrainer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Luckily this bottle was cellared properly. The cork was intact and still moist with no leakage. It needed time (2 hours) to open up from 22 years in confinement. Not much fruit on the nose - mostly cedar and graphite. Still has velvety mouthfeel with a nice finish. A bit past prime but still tasting well.
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8/30/2015 - retired_and_roving wrote:
Cork crumbled on opening - had to strain wine into decanter. The nose smells of stewed fruits and color is leaning to reddish brown. Unfortunately this seems well passed its prime. Tastes of stewed fruit and must, not much holding it together. Let breathe for 1 hour did not improve - dumped the rest down the sink. Bought this last week at the winery, where friends had arranged a tasting. We mentioned that our last visit was in the 90's and we had enjoyed the wine. They don"t make it anymore and have not in 15 years. They did have some 93's in the library for sale so we took a chance and bought three. Oh well!
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2/24/2014 - PSirah Tampa wrote: 92 Points
Time has served this bottle well- Grenache at it's best. Great form! At it's prime.
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10/17/2009 - PDavisMarble wrote: 75 Points
Found a forgotten bottle in the cellar. Cork had not leaked but disintegrated on pulling. Had to filter through a coffee filter. Distinct alcoholic nose, though not taste. Immediate overtones of bourbon vanilla, red currant and cherry. Did improve as it opened, but a touch too cherry / cough syrup for our taste -- clearly over the hill.
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