Decanted for three hours prior to dinner as there was a bit of fine sediment in the bottle. Very dark color showing no visible signs of age. The nose again initially had some funk which does not show in the palate. Notes of dark fruit, cedar and pencil shavings, violet and cigar on the nose. Palate continues with nicely integrated tannins. The best showing yet for this bottle with years remaining. 96+
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Decanted for 3 hours. Could have decanted for 3 days. This is a monster of a wine. Just too young but will be a great wine as all the components are there. 13.2% abv. Loads of dark fruit, blackberries and some leather. Just so primary right now. Lots of depth and massive concentration. 93 today upside to 95+
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Monday Night Festive Blinds (Hawksmoor Guildhall): Served blind but by me so I knew what it was. Interestingly, this was bigger, perhaps sweeter, certainly oakier than the wines it was tasted alongside. It was just as good as I hoped it would be but for balance I might have chosen an older one. With that said - this really is the nuts.
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BWCCC Cycling Planning Meeting (Hawksmoor, Guildhall): Served blind at the perfect temperature, this has a charming green fruited coolness with touches of cedar and blackcurrant leaf. On the palate there is a little mintiness that steers me towards the new world rather than Bordeaux. Some exotic beef tea too with just a hint of pho like lemon grass and ginger. With some air there is a hint of tarragon and a couple of PPM of pine resin. So youthful on the palate. Many, many years ahead of it. A tour de force.
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Thanksgiving Wimps 2023 - Alfred Stieglitz Table (La Trompette): Well well well. Some wines don't suck. Real fine tannins, and a lovely substance there. On pouring this seemed less ready than its 08 flightmate - over the course of the dinner this got up there with the 97 - the 97 for current drinking, and this for the future. Yum.
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(Ridge Monte Bello) Very dark maroon color; very appealing, lifted, ripe black currant, violets, blackberry, graphite nose; rich, delicious, ripe black currant, blackberry, violets, ripe black fruit palate with firm, sweet tannins; needs 7-8 years; medium-plus finish (74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc; 13.2% alcohol; 96% American oak, 4% new French oak for 18 months; yield of 83.5 tons from 58 acres)
(Ridge Monte Bello) Barrel sample (final assemblage) - purple red violet color; lifted, richly herbal, pencil lead, dark plum nose; delicious, very young, rich, red currant, cassis, red berry, green herb, gun flint palate with black plum undertones and sweet tannins; needs 10-12 years; long finish 94-95 points (74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc)
(Ridge Monte Bello) First assemblage barrel sample - nearly opaque crimson color; lovely, complex, olive, herbaceous, tart cassis, tart currant nose; tasty, tart currant, tart cassis, olive, herbaceous palate, like a St. Julien from a ripe year; long finish 93-95 points (70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc) 2010 Merlot component barrel sample - medium dark purple red violet color; primary, lavender, berry, raspberry nose; tight, tart red plum, herbaceous, tart red currant palate with near medium acidity; medium-plus finish 90-91 points (Bowl Block) 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon component barrel sample - dark magenta color; lovely, rich and complex tart cassis, green peppercorn, green olive nose; tasty, poised, tart cassis, green olive, red currant palate with lift; medium finish 92-95 points (Fosters Block) 2010 Petit Verdot component barrel sample - opaque purple red violet color; hint of pencil lead, tart red plum, red berry, black fruit nose; rich, lovely, tart black fruit, pencil lead, graphite palate; medium-plus finish 93-96 points (Olivos Block)
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3/12/2024 - thelostverse wrote: 96 Points
Decanted for three hours prior to dinner as there was a bit of fine sediment in the bottle. Very dark color showing no visible signs of age. The nose again initially had some funk which does not show in the palate. Notes of dark fruit, cedar and pencil shavings, violet and cigar on the nose. Palate continues with nicely integrated tannins. The best showing yet for this bottle with years remaining. 96+
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1/28/2024 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Could have decanted for 3 days. This is a monster of a wine. Just too young but will be a great wine as all the components are there. 13.2% abv. Loads of dark fruit, blackberries and some leather. Just so primary right now. Lots of depth and massive concentration. 93 today upside to 95+
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2023 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Monday Night Festive Blinds (Hawksmoor Guildhall): Served blind but by me so I knew what it was. Interestingly, this was bigger, perhaps sweeter, certainly oakier than the wines it was tasted alongside. It was just as good as I hoped it would be but for balance I might have chosen an older one. With that said - this really is the nuts.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2023 - Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine: 94 Points
BWCCC Cycling Planning Meeting (Hawksmoor, Guildhall): Served blind at the perfect temperature, this has a charming green fruited coolness with touches of cedar and blackcurrant leaf. On the palate there is a little mintiness that steers me towards the new world rather than Bordeaux. Some exotic beef tea too with just a hint of pho like lemon grass and ginger. With some air there is a hint of tarragon and a couple of PPM of pine resin. So youthful on the palate. Many, many years ahead of it. A tour de force.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2023 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Thanksgiving Wimps 2023 - Alfred Stieglitz Table (La Trompette): Well well well. Some wines don't suck. Real fine tannins, and a lovely substance there. On pouring this seemed less ready than its 08 flightmate - over the course of the dinner this got up there with the 97 - the 97 for current drinking, and this for the future. Yum.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)