Holding up well for its age, but the downhill slide has begun. The color is still bright red with some fading at the edges. Bright cherry notes on the nose. The palate shows dark fruits, but with just a bit of persistent funk. You can see the fruit starting to fade. Tannins still firm and nice acidity. A bit of roasted meat and black pepper. The finish is faint. Not bad at this point, but I'd say drink up.
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It is still dark in the glass, with little bricking. The nose is a little earthy, and has some cherry and floral aromas. On the palate, it presented dark red fruit (maybe some blackberry too), finishing with somewhat sour acidity. It is drinking well, but is past its peak. It went well with simply grilled skirt steak.
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Dark color. Nice earthy nose - more like a Rhone than a California wine. Medium- to full-bodied with dark fruits (blackberry and black raspberry) and some nice acidity. As it sat open, though, there seemed to maybe be a bit of VA on the nose and the acidity become more prominant. Still, a nice match with chili on a cold, rainy evening. Either at or past it's peak. My only bottle. These will probably be OK for awhile but I wouldn't hold on to them much longer.
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Dark black cherry/cranberry in color. Wonderful nose of floral plum/raspberry, dusty sweet cherry spice, beef, leather, coffee, white pepper, vanilla oak. Saturated blackberry, black cherry, raspberry/cranberry fruit. Big sweet spice, tart grapefruit tingle, dusty cedar tannin, beefy funk, leather, mint, sage, anise, vanilla oak. Still a big wine, well concentrated, floral, tannic....but integrated. Has more acid than I remember, somewhat sour...but holds it well. Should age even longer. Great wine! 93pts
On day 2...I am changing my score to 88pts. The sour acidity is just getting to me....and is taking away from the tasty meaty, and dark berry fruit. Way too sour and tart....hard to drink. 88pts though, cuz you drink it with food, and the acid subsides...but alone...it hurts.
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Started very reduced with coffee and grapefruit notes. After 24hrs the cassis and dark berry fruit had increased. Still quite tannic with good acidity. Decant or give it 1-2 more years.
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Big wine, but well balanced. Great nose, some fruit, anise, green pepper. Taste, again, some fruit, loads of pepper, notice a tiny bit of bret-like flavor. On day 2, no off flavor at all. I think this wine is so concentrated, my taste buds are overwhelmed and confused.
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11/11/2018 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 84 Points
Holding up well for its age, but the downhill slide has begun. The color is still bright red with some fading at the edges. Bright cherry notes on the nose. The palate shows dark fruits, but with just a bit of persistent funk. You can see the fruit starting to fade. Tannins still firm and nice acidity. A bit of roasted meat and black pepper. The finish is faint. Not bad at this point, but I'd say drink up.
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5/21/2014 - AJG wrote: 87 Points
It is still dark in the glass, with little bricking. The nose is a little earthy, and has some cherry and floral aromas. On the palate, it presented dark red fruit (maybe some blackberry too), finishing with somewhat sour acidity. It is drinking well, but is past its peak. It went well with simply grilled skirt steak.
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12/2/2007 - kmack wrote:
Dark color. Nice earthy nose - more like a Rhone than a California wine. Medium- to full-bodied with dark fruits (blackberry and black raspberry) and some nice acidity. As it sat open, though, there seemed to maybe be a bit of VA on the nose and the acidity become more prominant. Still, a nice match with chili on a cold, rainy evening. Either at or past it's peak. My only bottle. These will probably be OK for awhile but I wouldn't hold on to them much longer.
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9/9/2007 - Mrbuzz wrote: 88 Points
Dark black cherry/cranberry in color. Wonderful nose of floral plum/raspberry, dusty sweet cherry spice, beef, leather, coffee, white pepper, vanilla oak. Saturated blackberry, black cherry, raspberry/cranberry fruit. Big sweet spice, tart grapefruit tingle, dusty cedar tannin, beefy funk, leather, mint, sage, anise, vanilla oak. Still a big wine, well concentrated, floral, tannic....but integrated. Has more acid than I remember, somewhat sour...but holds it well. Should age even longer. Great wine! 93pts
On day 2...I am changing my score to 88pts. The sour acidity is just getting to me....and is taking away from the tasty meaty, and dark berry fruit. Way too sour and tart....hard to drink. 88pts though, cuz you drink it with food, and the acid subsides...but alone...it hurts.
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1/1/2006 - pgordon62 wrote: 89 Points
Started very reduced with coffee and grapefruit notes. After 24hrs the cassis and dark berry fruit had increased. Still quite tannic with good acidity. Decant or give it 1-2 more years.
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4/22/2005 - jpelote wrote: 92 Points
Big wine, but well balanced. Great nose, some fruit, anise, green pepper. Taste, again, some fruit, loads of pepper, notice a tiny bit of bret-like flavor. On day 2, no off flavor at all. I think this wine is so concentrated, my taste buds are overwhelmed and confused.
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