Oakville AVA tasting (67 Pall Mall): Some nice complexity and balance developing after a decade. It's still a bit sweet and jammy for my preference, but some autumnal, earthy, mulchy notes are coming to the fore. Quite sweet and unremarkable on the palate: smooth with a hint of grip on the back end, and subtle acidity providing a touch of freshness
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Overall a disappointment. There, I said it. Was ready to rumble after decanting this wine and having with family meatball dinner. No complexity, depth or finish. Straight in with deep blackberry and vanilla. Some astringency. There was a moment of black licorice that came & went. Dark chocolate late in the glass.
Oh well, not everything can be amazing
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BLIND REDS - Bordeaux varietals (mostly Napa and BDX) - Over/Under $100: Dark plum, round and rich black cherry, sweet blackberry, and hints of soil, this was immediately identified as New World Napa (or an Aussie Shiraz posing as a Cabernet Sauvignon) crafted for the general free world (wine geeks need not apply). Extracted and a bit cloying, the tutti-frutti core was a bit of a ice cream sandwich. Luckily, there was a longline rescue of faint dark earth that kept this from being a total implosion.
There were two samples of this side-by-side, where one was decanted for a few hours and one was not. Not shockingly, the former was even more rich and syrupy mid-palate, finishing heavy and somewhat lifeless (in terms of acid or liveliness).
If you are holding bottles, drink now. This is not one of those 2013s you want hanging around the cellar for a decade+ before cracking the cork.
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5/11/2023 - Joshvoulters Likes this wine: 90 Points
Oakville AVA tasting (67 Pall Mall): Some nice complexity and balance developing after a decade. It's still a bit sweet and jammy for my preference, but some autumnal, earthy, mulchy notes are coming to the fore. Quite sweet and unremarkable on the palate: smooth with a hint of grip on the back end, and subtle acidity providing a touch of freshness
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1/6/2022 - Gregboch wrote: 84 Points
Overall a disappointment. There, I said it. Was ready to rumble after decanting this wine and having with family meatball dinner. No complexity, depth or finish. Straight in with deep blackberry and vanilla. Some astringency. There was a moment of black licorice that came & went. Dark chocolate late in the glass.
Oh well, not everything can be amazing
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9/9/2021 - csimm wrote: 90 Points
BLIND REDS - Bordeaux varietals (mostly Napa and BDX) - Over/Under $100: Dark plum, round and rich black cherry, sweet blackberry, and hints of soil, this was immediately identified as New World Napa (or an Aussie Shiraz posing as a Cabernet Sauvignon) crafted for the general free world (wine geeks need not apply). Extracted and a bit cloying, the tutti-frutti core was a bit of a ice cream sandwich. Luckily, there was a longline rescue of faint dark earth that kept this from being a total implosion.
There were two samples of this side-by-side, where one was decanted for a few hours and one was not. Not shockingly, the former was even more rich and syrupy mid-palate, finishing heavy and somewhat lifeless (in terms of acid or liveliness).
If you are holding bottles, drink now. This is not one of those 2013s you want hanging around the cellar for a decade+ before cracking the cork.
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4/7/2021 - schnurbie Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful wine. Very nice bouquet and mouth feel
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5/31/2020 - TM11 wrote: 91 Points
Fantastic wine, spicy and bold. Could use one more year but drinking great now
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