Amidst the cacophony of accolades and praises that often accompany the unveiling of a new vintage, there occasionally emerges a dissenting voice, a contrarian perspective that dares to swim against the tide of popular opinion. Such is the case with my experience of The Mascot Wine, particularly its 2018 vintage. While many wine enthusiasts and critics alike have lauded it with fervent praise, I found myself distinctly unimpressed by its offerings.
Maybe too young? Has the 70's Left Bank Spoiled thee?
The Mascot Wine, established as a sister label to the highly esteemed Harlan Estate, carries with it a weighty legacy and a lofty reputation. With its roots firmly planted in the revered Napa Valley, expectations for its wines are understandably high. However, as I delved into a tasting of the 2018 vintage, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment lingering on my palate.
Did I breath it long enough? 2 hours?
One of the most notable aspects of The Mascot Wine is its pedigree. Coming from the same stable as the legendary Harlan Estate, it's easy to assume that greatness is a given. Yet, while the familial ties may be strong, the wine itself failed to captivate me in the same way as its illustrious counterpart. Perhaps it's unfair to draw direct comparisons, but when one considers the lineage and the price point of The Mascot, such comparisons are inevitable.
From the moment the wine met my lips, I was greeted with a bouquet that hinted at promise however.......—a deep symphony of dark fruits, subtle oak, and a hint of spice. Yet, as I allowed it to linger on my palate, I couldn't shake the feeling of unfulfilled potential. The flavors, while certainly present, lacked the depth and complexity that I had anticipated. Instead of a crescendo of flavors dancing across my taste buds, I found myself confronted with a rather one-dimensional profile that failed to evolve or entice with each sip.
One of the hallmarks of a truly exceptional wine is its ability to transport the drinker to another time and place, to evoke emotions and memories with each sip. In this regard, The Mascot Wine fell short of the mark for me. While it possessed a certain level of finesse and polish, it lacked that intangible quality that sets truly remarkable wines apart from the rest. Instead of whisking me away on a journey of sensory delight, it left me feeling oddly detached, as though I were merely going through the motions rather than experiencing something truly extraordinary.
Furthermore, while I understand that wine appreciation is inherently subjective and personal, I couldn't help but feel that The Mascot Wine failed to justify its lofty price tag. In an industry where prestige often comes with a hefty price, one expects nothing short of perfection for such a significant investment. Yet, with The Mascot, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was paying more for the name on the label rather than the liquid in the bottle.
Of course, it's worth noting that my experience with The Mascot Wine is just that—an experience. Palates vary wildly from person to person, and what may be lackluster to one individual may be a revelation to another. Indeed, there are countless oenophiles who swear by the virtues of The Mascot Wine and extol its virtues with fervent enthusiasm. However, as someone who approaches wine with a discerning eye and a critical palate, I cannot help but offer a dissenting opinion amidst the chorus of praise.
In conclusion, while The Mascot Wine undoubtedly has its merits, particularly in its association with the esteemed Harlan Estate, I found myself underwhelmed by its 2018 vintage. Despite its pedigree and reputation, it failed to deliver the depth, complexity, and emotional resonance that I have come to expect from wines of a similar caliber. While others may rave about its virtues, I cannot help but feel that The Mascot Wine fell short of the mark for me. As with all matters of taste, however, I encourage others to sample it for themselves and draw their own conclusions. After all, wine appreciation is as much an art as it is a science, and beauty truly lies in the eye—or in this case, the palate—of the beholder.
Dense opaque ruby purple Dense cassis, dark cherry flavors with a touch of vanilla. Seems classy, but young and the tannins start creeping in after a few sips. Tasty and seems that it should hold up well.
The Mascot vertical tasting, Trinity (Spit jack): Drought almost as good as the 2019 vintage, or so we were told -/- Quite different compated to 2019, earthier and not so much fruit, still very closed, not giving away much, some currant notes, a few dried fruit notes, prunes, currants Palate is smoother than 2019 though, rounder, the fruit is more upfront compared to the nose, black cherry, blue berry too, equally warm to 2019. The tannins are drier, the body is fuller, med finish -//- The wine feels like that it needs more time to open up. Its drier than 2019 which makes it not as subtle
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On opening, an extremely dense, concentrated, powerful wine. Nose brimming with dark fruit, breakfast tea, pencil shavings, and violets. Low viscosity, moderate alcohol, soft, dusty tannins, balanced acidity, and remarkable purity. On the palate, cassis, blackberry, herbal tea, thyme, oregano giving way to a dry, endless finish with herbal and spice notes. (Enjoyed after 45min decant… enjoyed more after 90min!)
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Beautiful young fruit. Relatively smooth tannins but could use a little more integration. Luckily enjoyed with a nice filet so that didn’t matter at all. Not great qpr but there isn’t much that is from 2018 Napa that is this good that I have found yet.
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The review from Immigrator nailed this to a tee. But I am jealous.....he paid $125; I paid $175. Horrible QPR at my price, and even overpriced at $125. Notes of dark fruit, cassis, dark cherry, and a hint of vanilla. Extremely smooth and balanced, subtle but firm tannins, long finish. Good complexity/structure but not overwhelming. Perhaps Immigrator is right, more time might garner a higher score and better presentation, but I will never buy again. I drank over 2 days and tasted multiple times on day 1. Surprisingly day 1 was fuller and more intergraded than day 2 at the 2 hour mark in the glass. Day 2 had thinned out a bit. Interesting we opened a Buena Vista Cab for $35 at Coscto. (I have notes on it, but it improved better on day 2 & 3). The consensus was it was more enjoyable than The Mascot....not the same quality in terms of complexity and finish, but everybody enjoyed it a little better for taste. Almost 6x cheaper; so much for over hyped "cult type" CA cabs.
One hour decant. Deep dark magenta color. Cherry, coconut cream pie, honeysuckle, cinnamon, rain on hot pavement, and subtle sweet basil. Smooth, dry palate. Firm, full tannins on the longish finish.
This has gotten a bit better since my last bottle seven months ago. It’s got good balance and complexity for such a young CS.
Note taken after 1.5 hours of air. Fragrant nose with good perfume and orange blossom, with a whiff of alcohol. The palate is fruit forward, with dusty tannins and a medium-long finish. Quite a bit of tannin, but still approachable, like it’s designed to be.
DEf not fruit forward yet it’s balanced. It has body an should be consumed with food. Pretty big at the present moment. DEf will get a higher score in the future when this wine decides to show its true colors. Until then I would suggest don’t open an hold. If u do decant decant decant.it has a Long finish, But not polished at the present moment.
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I haven’t had a Harlan, Bond, or Promontory wine, so I’m not able to offer a comparison, but compared to other pedigreed Napa wines I am familiar with (Hundred Acre, Colgin, Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon), I think it’s only fair to note that those wines offer refinement that’s not present here, but they also start at a multiple of The Mascot’s $125 entry price. Fortunately, The Mascot shows well compared to other Napa Cab blends at a similar price point. I gave it a bit more than two hours in bottle after opening and we then consumed it over the next hour with a filet mignon. Nearly opaque garnet color with aromas of blackberry, cherry, and mild herbs/spices. On the palate, it's not a fruit bomb, but the primary notes are cassis and cherry, with secondary notes of black fruit and some minerality. Medium/full bodied with relatively firm tannins, mild acidity, and a long finish. While it offers a silky mouthfeel, it’s not fully integrated yet, and the somewhat chewy tannins suggest it should continue to evolve and soften for several years to come. That said, it drinks pretty well right now and I wouldn’t hesitate on opening a bottle for an early reference point, but will hold my remaining bottles and consume over the next 2 – 10+ years.
First, the cork was wet and spongy and had absorbed the wine, but no sign of flaw to the wine.
This is not my favorite style, it's elegant, smooth, silky, and comes with highly polished tannins, the fruit is restrained. I prefer a more bold style with density and concentration of fruit. It seems odd to me that the stout and muscular dog on the label is representative of this wine. The wine is nothing like the mascot dog. A greyhound should be depicted for it's svelte and elegance. I wonder if this is like the framework of other Harlan wines. Overpriced IMO. Didn't change a bit over the course of three nights to finish the bottle.
Tasting: See the modest scores here and I do not agree. I think this is a great wine. Unfortunately also a bit pricey. Typical US cab. Actually guessed Shafer.
Trinity Fine Wines Tasting (Aleria restaurant): Big bold flavors, very rich, ripe to overripe black fruit notes, thick spice/oak frame, walnut/almond liqueur. Palate is juicy, big bold tannins, the oak is upfront, walnut liqueur again, chocolate notes, thick luscious body, long finish needs time but tasty already
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needed about an hour to become more expressive more demure fruit and more tartness compared to the 2018 tor cimarossa opened at the same time liked by all
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Not as good as the ‘16. I think the ‘18 actually needs more time to integrate and come together. There’s definitely good fruit, but there’s a bit of funky earthiness that comes off on the nose. I’m going to let the other bottles sit for another couple of years.
Good wine, overshadowed by a 2019 Seaver GTS served next to it. I think this has some good stuffing - note to self, try next bottle in 2-3 years. I saved a few glasses and will revisit tonight.
It is always difficult to assess a wine that you have no track record drinking and especially one that was consumed at a restaurant. But this is my sojourn on American Cabernets.
A beautiful medium body wine that was woken up too early, certainly killed a pup here but what do you do! Has plenty potential and requires a good 2 hour decant if consume now. Elegant, subtleness with beautiful fruits wrapping a fine structure that is waiting to come out in a few years. Right now, you get all the fruit suspects of a Cabernet Sauvignon but I have the funny feeling that the Merlot is quite pronounced. Beautiful acidity with power and depth. Tannin is very fine and well rounded. A refined finish that hints of the future world.
You can drink it now if you wanted to as the tannin is so fine but I’d suggest to leave it alone and drink from 2025 to 2034+.
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Menu decanted. Deep dark magenta color. Cherry cream cheese danish dominates the nose. Smooth, dry palate, with fine acidity. Firm, full tannins on the longish finish.
This was the last bottle opened at a Christmas party, so my notes aren’t doing it justice. It’s already accessible, but should get better in the coming few years. It sits between the ‘15 and ‘16 in regard to necessary aeration. A 2-3 hour traditional decant is probably optimal right now.
This is one of the better Mascot's I've had, going back to the 2013 vintage. Cassis, tobacco, violets and forest floor on an expressive, clean nose. Palate shows plenty of fruit around a solid structure with decent levels of acidity. It's pure and weightless with integrated tannins, seamless texture and a relatively long finish. It may not remind you of Harlan or Promontory, but for the price, there's class and sophistication here in a wine you can drink young - which I gather is the point. Can use some time, but it's not a horrible idea to pop one early.
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Don Draper is out for lunch! Tasted over several days. Plenty of blackberry, ripe, sweet fruit, very concentrated, but not a vulgar wine IMHO, has structure, vertical, manly stuff, a real Napa-wine. Very young indeed, 10+ years here. 93+ #podcast#IB
Nose: Elegant mélange of black and red fruit notes with a perfumed overlay of fine oak. Cherry, strawberry and maybe a touch of licorice. Not giving much on the nose yet. Palate: Broad and silky palate with very fine tannins. There is dark cherry, cassis, and raspberry here, but as the wine puts on weight the cocoa, tobacco and spice box elements fold in nicely. Finish: Lengthy, but not overly weighty finish that shows the spice and some soil character in the end.
Checked on this to see how much more I may want to add to the cellar. At current prices it is a very good wine, but QPR is tough. I'll cellar a few, but do miss the days when this was around $100.
Decanted about 2-hours and then consumed over the next two. Brought this to Chandlers in Petoskey for a date night.
2/19/2024 - BellevuePhil Does not like this wine: 90 Points
Amidst the cacophony of accolades and praises that often accompany the unveiling of a new vintage, there occasionally emerges a dissenting voice, a contrarian perspective that dares to swim against the tide of popular opinion. Such is the case with my experience of The Mascot Wine, particularly its 2018 vintage. While many wine enthusiasts and critics alike have lauded it with fervent praise, I found myself distinctly unimpressed by its offerings.
Maybe too young? Has the 70's Left Bank Spoiled thee?
The Mascot Wine, established as a sister label to the highly esteemed Harlan Estate, carries with it a weighty legacy and a lofty reputation. With its roots firmly planted in the revered Napa Valley, expectations for its wines are understandably high. However, as I delved into a tasting of the 2018 vintage, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment lingering on my palate.
Did I breath it long enough? 2 hours?
One of the most notable aspects of The Mascot Wine is its pedigree. Coming from the same stable as the legendary Harlan Estate, it's easy to assume that greatness is a given. Yet, while the familial ties may be strong, the wine itself failed to captivate me in the same way as its illustrious counterpart. Perhaps it's unfair to draw direct comparisons, but when one considers the lineage and the price point of The Mascot, such comparisons are inevitable.
From the moment the wine met my lips, I was greeted with a bouquet that hinted at promise however.......—a deep symphony of dark fruits, subtle oak, and a hint of spice. Yet, as I allowed it to linger on my palate, I couldn't shake the feeling of unfulfilled potential. The flavors, while certainly present, lacked the depth and complexity that I had anticipated. Instead of a crescendo of flavors dancing across my taste buds, I found myself confronted with a rather one-dimensional profile that failed to evolve or entice with each sip.
One of the hallmarks of a truly exceptional wine is its ability to transport the drinker to another time and place, to evoke emotions and memories with each sip. In this regard, The Mascot Wine fell short of the mark for me. While it possessed a certain level of finesse and polish, it lacked that intangible quality that sets truly remarkable wines apart from the rest. Instead of whisking me away on a journey of sensory delight, it left me feeling oddly detached, as though I were merely going through the motions rather than experiencing something truly extraordinary.
Furthermore, while I understand that wine appreciation is inherently subjective and personal, I couldn't help but feel that The Mascot Wine failed to justify its lofty price tag. In an industry where prestige often comes with a hefty price, one expects nothing short of perfection for such a significant investment. Yet, with The Mascot, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was paying more for the name on the label rather than the liquid in the bottle.
Of course, it's worth noting that my experience with The Mascot Wine is just that—an experience. Palates vary wildly from person to person, and what may be lackluster to one individual may be a revelation to another. Indeed, there are countless oenophiles who swear by the virtues of The Mascot Wine and extol its virtues with fervent enthusiasm. However, as someone who approaches wine with a discerning eye and a critical palate, I cannot help but offer a dissenting opinion amidst the chorus of praise.
In conclusion, while The Mascot Wine undoubtedly has its merits, particularly in its association with the esteemed Harlan Estate, I found myself underwhelmed by its 2018 vintage. Despite its pedigree and reputation, it failed to deliver the depth, complexity, and emotional resonance that I have come to expect from wines of a similar caliber. While others may rave about its virtues, I cannot help but feel that The Mascot Wine fell short of the mark for me. As with all matters of taste, however, I encourage others to sample it for themselves and draw their own conclusions. After all, wine appreciation is as much an art as it is a science, and beauty truly lies in the eye—or in this case, the palate—of the beholder.
It’s to self: not ready give as gifts
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1/5/2024 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 98 Points
Another winner bottle!
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12/21/2023 - Tonythefish Likes this wine: 94 Points
See prior notes - still young but aging is treating it very well
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11/26/2023 - cos65 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dense opaque ruby purple
Dense cassis, dark cherry flavors with a touch of vanilla. Seems classy, but young and the tannins start creeping in after a few sips. Tasty and seems that it should hold up well.
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11/10/2023 - Tonythefish wrote: 94 Points
Youthful wine. Deep red color with medium tannins. 30 second finish. Dark fruits, graphite, and floral notes. Will get better with more age
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10/28/2023 - safarimad Likes this wine: 92 Points
Took awhile for the almost gritty tannins to settle down, but was absolutely beautiful after that. Lots of black fruit and earthy notes
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10/5/2023 - kostaslonis wrote:
The Mascot vertical tasting, Trinity (Spit jack): Drought almost as good as the 2019 vintage, or so we were told
-/-
Quite different compated to 2019, earthier and not so much fruit, still very closed, not giving away much, some currant notes, a few dried fruit notes, prunes, currants
Palate is smoother than 2019 though, rounder, the fruit is more upfront compared to the nose, black cherry, blue berry too, equally warm to 2019. The tannins are drier, the body is fuller, med finish
-//-
The wine feels like that it needs more time to open up. Its drier than 2019 which makes it not as subtle
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9/23/2023 - winenot519 Likes this wine: 95 Points
On opening, an extremely dense, concentrated, powerful wine. Nose brimming with dark fruit, breakfast tea, pencil shavings, and violets. Low viscosity, moderate alcohol, soft, dusty tannins, balanced acidity, and remarkable purity. On the palate, cassis, blackberry, herbal tea, thyme, oregano giving way to a dry, endless finish with herbal and spice notes. (Enjoyed after 45min decant… enjoyed more after 90min!)
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9/22/2023 - jkwoodward Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful young fruit. Relatively smooth tannins but could use a little more integration. Luckily enjoyed with a nice filet so that didn’t matter at all. Not great qpr but there isn’t much that is from 2018 Napa that is this good that I have found yet.
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8/7/2023 - cab blends wrote: 89 Points
NOT blind
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8/4/2023 - wcf1946 Likes this wine: 92 Points
The review from Immigrator nailed this to a tee. But I am jealous.....he paid $125; I paid $175. Horrible QPR at my price, and even overpriced at $125. Notes of dark fruit, cassis, dark cherry, and a hint of vanilla. Extremely smooth and balanced, subtle but firm tannins, long finish. Good complexity/structure but not overwhelming. Perhaps Immigrator is right, more time might garner a higher score and better presentation, but I will never buy again. I drank over 2 days and tasted multiple times on day 1. Surprisingly day 1 was fuller and more intergraded than day 2 at the 2 hour mark in the glass. Day 2 had thinned out a bit. Interesting we opened a Buena Vista Cab for $35 at Coscto. (I have notes on it, but it improved better on day 2 & 3). The consensus was it was more enjoyable than The Mascot....not the same quality in terms of complexity and finish, but everybody enjoyed it a little better for taste. Almost 6x cheaper; so much for over hyped "cult type" CA cabs.
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6/22/2023 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 95 Points
One hour decant. Deep dark magenta color. Cherry, coconut cream pie, honeysuckle, cinnamon, rain on hot pavement, and subtle sweet basil. Smooth, dry palate. Firm, full tannins on the longish finish.
This has gotten a bit better since my last bottle seven months ago. It’s got good balance and complexity for such a young CS.
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6/18/2023 - kkleg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Note taken after 1.5 hours of air. Fragrant nose with good perfume and orange blossom, with a whiff of alcohol. The palate is fruit forward, with dusty tannins and a medium-long finish. Quite a bit of tannin, but still approachable, like it’s designed to be.
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6/9/2023 - Raywilliams420 Likes this wine: 94 Points
DEf not fruit forward yet it’s balanced. It has body an should be consumed with food. Pretty big at the present moment. DEf will get a higher score in the future when this wine decides to show its true colors. Until then I would suggest don’t open an hold. If u do decant decant decant.it has a Long finish, But not polished at the present moment.
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5/21/2023 - Immigrator Likes this wine: 93 Points
I haven’t had a Harlan, Bond, or Promontory wine, so I’m not able to offer a comparison, but compared to other pedigreed Napa wines I am familiar with (Hundred Acre, Colgin, Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon), I think it’s only fair to note that those wines offer refinement that’s not present here, but they also start at a multiple of The Mascot’s $125 entry price. Fortunately, The Mascot shows well compared to other Napa Cab blends at a similar price point. I gave it a bit more than two hours in bottle after opening and we then consumed it over the next hour with a filet mignon. Nearly opaque garnet color with aromas of blackberry, cherry, and mild herbs/spices. On the palate, it's not a fruit bomb, but the primary notes are cassis and cherry, with secondary notes of black fruit and some minerality. Medium/full bodied with relatively firm tannins, mild acidity, and a long finish. While it offers a silky mouthfeel, it’s not fully integrated yet, and the somewhat chewy tannins suggest it should continue to evolve and soften for several years to come. That said, it drinks pretty well right now and I wouldn’t hesitate on opening a bottle for an early reference point, but will hold my remaining bottles and consume over the next 2 – 10+ years.
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5/21/2023 - wineotim wrote: 91 Points
First, the cork was wet and spongy and had absorbed the wine, but no sign of flaw to the wine.
This is not my favorite style, it's elegant, smooth, silky, and comes with highly polished tannins, the fruit is restrained. I prefer a more bold style with density and concentration of fruit. It seems odd to me that the stout and muscular dog on the label is representative of this wine. The wine is nothing like the mascot dog. A greyhound should be depicted for it's svelte and elegance. I wonder if this is like the framework of other Harlan wines. Overpriced IMO. Didn't change a bit over the course of three nights to finish the bottle.
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4/26/2023 - Sundbyberg wrote: 94 Points
Tasting: See the modest scores here and I do not agree. I think this is a great wine. Unfortunately also a bit pricey. Typical US cab. Actually guessed Shafer.
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4/13/2023 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 98 Points
A bit of chalkiness (in a good way. Great dark fruit with medium tannins. Outstanding!
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3/9/2023 - kostaslonis Likes this wine:
Trinity Fine Wines Tasting (Aleria restaurant): Big bold flavors, very rich, ripe to overripe black fruit notes, thick spice/oak frame, walnut/almond liqueur.
Palate is juicy, big bold tannins, the oak is upfront, walnut liqueur again, chocolate notes, thick luscious body, long finish
needs time but tasty already
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2/25/2023 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 93 Points
needed about an hour to become more expressive
more demure fruit and more tartness compared to the 2018 tor cimarossa opened at the same time
liked by all
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2/12/2023 - wdcwineguys Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not as good as the ‘16. I think the ‘18 actually needs more time to integrate and come together. There’s definitely good fruit, but there’s a bit of funky earthiness that comes off on the nose. I’m going to let the other bottles sit for another couple of years.
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2/1/2023 - timdrex wrote: 92 Points
Big legs, solid Cabernet backbone. Some mineral/limestone, spice (almost but not quite cinnamon). Med-firm tannins.
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1/27/2023 - sean7711 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Good wine, overshadowed by a 2019 Seaver GTS served next to it. I think this has some good stuffing - note to self, try next bottle in 2-3 years. I saved a few glasses and will revisit tonight.
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1/1/2023 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
a elegant wine that opens up nicely. a blend of dark and red fruit. Silky wine. Cant wait to see this wine age over the next 5 years. Cheers
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1/1/2023 - tanduybui Likes this wine: 92 Points
It is always difficult to assess a wine that you have no track record drinking and especially one that was consumed at a restaurant. But this is my sojourn on American Cabernets.
A beautiful medium body wine that was woken up too early, certainly killed a pup here but what do you do! Has plenty potential and requires a good 2 hour decant if consume now. Elegant, subtleness with beautiful fruits wrapping a fine structure that is waiting to come out in a few years. Right now, you get all the fruit suspects of a Cabernet Sauvignon but I have the funny feeling that the Merlot is quite pronounced. Beautiful acidity with power and depth. Tannin is very fine and well rounded. A refined finish that hints of the future world.
You can drink it now if you wanted to as the tannin is so fine but I’d suggest to leave it alone and drink from 2025 to 2034+.
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12/9/2022 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 94 Points
Menu decanted. Deep dark magenta color. Cherry cream cheese danish dominates the nose. Smooth, dry palate, with fine acidity. Firm, full tannins on the longish finish.
This was the last bottle opened at a Christmas party, so my notes aren’t doing it justice. It’s already accessible, but should get better in the coming few years. It sits between the ‘15 and ‘16 in regard to necessary aeration. A 2-3 hour traditional decant is probably optimal right now.
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12/8/2022 - doug374 Likes this wine: 94 Points
An elegant and smooth wine. Dark fruits were bound snugly together with moderate tannins.
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12/7/2022 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is one of the better Mascot's I've had, going back to the 2013 vintage. Cassis, tobacco, violets and forest floor on an expressive, clean nose. Palate shows plenty of fruit around a solid structure with decent levels of acidity. It's pure and weightless with integrated tannins, seamless texture and a relatively long finish. It may not remind you of Harlan or Promontory, but for the price, there's class and sophistication here in a wine you can drink young - which I gather is the point. Can use some time, but it's not a horrible idea to pop one early.
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11/22/2022 - beatles wrote: 93 Points
Don Draper is out for lunch! Tasted over several days. Plenty of blackberry, ripe, sweet fruit, very concentrated, but not a vulgar wine IMHO, has structure, vertical, manly stuff, a real Napa-wine. Very young indeed, 10+ years here. 93+
#podcast#IB
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9/14/2022 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 92 Points
A little too green for me but still nice. Probably needed a decant or just more time.
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8/30/2022 - RockinCabs wrote:
Nose: Elegant mélange of black and red fruit notes with a perfumed overlay of fine oak. Cherry, strawberry and maybe a touch of licorice. Not giving much on the nose yet.
Palate: Broad and silky palate with very fine tannins. There is dark cherry, cassis, and raspberry here, but as the wine puts on weight the cocoa, tobacco and spice box elements fold in nicely.
Finish: Lengthy, but not overly weighty finish that shows the spice and some soil character in the end.
Checked on this to see how much more I may want to add to the cellar. At current prices it is a very good wine, but QPR is tough. I'll cellar a few, but do miss the days when this was around $100.
Decanted about 2-hours and then consumed over the next two. Brought this to Chandlers in Petoskey for a date night.
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