This remains one of the favorite American wines. Perfectly aged. Incredibly well-balanced but with solid notes of dark berries and black currants. This was absolutely delicious
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This was a gift bottle, tendered on release. It's been in my cellar since. And in that sense, it was a most gracious and considerate gift. I'm definitely grateful for that friend's thoughtfulness. Since then, it's even appreciated in value to the point where I would never buy this bottle for me ... so I'm just that much more appreciative that my friend did. However, gratitude aside ...
It's fine - lots of fruit still present, tannins largely resolved, everything in balance. While the CT drink-by date suggests "drink up", I think it'll hold for plenty more years with no issue.
The problem is, I just don't really like these style wines anymore. It's the quintessential Parker-fruit-bomb that I also enjoyed in their golden era ... but my tastes have long since evolved. Just too big, too much heat on the back end, no nuance or layers or intrigue. I thought our grilled grass-fed/finished strip steaks and lamb-loin chops would help mellow it out, but to me, it was still just a punch in the face, and that's it.
If you like this style, it's a solid example. But given my evolving palate, it wasn't worth anywhere near the valuation to me ...
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Dark red; after a few hours a very impressive nose, tons of sweet licorice; very rounded and balanced, nice very soft tannins, long sweety aftertaste; best Special Selection ever tasted - it does need age!
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10/21/2023 - Delli wrote:
I know we’re out of the community drinking window but the wine was a drinking well and I suspect (no more of this vintage) has years left.
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8/28/2023 - pdicorpo Likes this wine: 95 Points
This remains one of the favorite American wines. Perfectly aged. Incredibly well-balanced but with solid notes of dark berries and black currants. This was absolutely delicious
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7/24/2023 - awineo wrote: 95 Points
Always consistent.
At 24 years the wine aged nicely, still retaining full body and aged tannins.
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4/22/2023 - Adventr.us wrote: 91 Points
This was a gift bottle, tendered on release. It's been in my cellar since. And in that sense, it was a most gracious and considerate gift. I'm definitely grateful for that friend's thoughtfulness. Since then, it's even appreciated in value to the point where I would never buy this bottle for me ... so I'm just that much more appreciative that my friend did. However, gratitude aside ...
It's fine - lots of fruit still present, tannins largely resolved, everything in balance. While the CT drink-by date suggests "drink up", I think it'll hold for plenty more years with no issue.
The problem is, I just don't really like these style wines anymore. It's the quintessential Parker-fruit-bomb that I also enjoyed in their golden era ... but my tastes have long since evolved. Just too big, too much heat on the back end, no nuance or layers or intrigue. I thought our grilled grass-fed/finished strip steaks and lamb-loin chops would help mellow it out, but to me, it was still just a punch in the face, and that's it.
If you like this style, it's a solid example. But given my evolving palate, it wasn't worth anywhere near the valuation to me ...
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1/7/2023 - Miceri Likes this wine: 97 Points
Dark red; after a few hours a very impressive nose, tons of sweet licorice; very rounded and balanced, nice very soft tannins, long sweety aftertaste; best Special Selection ever tasted - it does need age!
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