2016 BOND Vecina

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 96.4 points

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  7/23/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 97 Points

  Opened this for Jaime (AGElvis) and Melissa (his wife) before we went to a group tasting. I picked this wine because I know he was a huge fan of the 2016 VHR, so I thought this would be right in his wheelhouse because it comes from 2016 VHR fruit (Bond has a plot they lease from VHR in an awesome spot on a hill in the valley.
  
  Prep: Splashed for air and let slow-O for 6 hours. Followed the wine over the course of an hour and a half.
  
  Nose: Purple flowers/lavender with notes of blackberry pie, some birch and some baking spice.
  
  Palate: Palate was even more glorious. Notes of black and blue fruit, baked pie crust, creme de cassis, kirsch and some leather, tobacco and tar notes also present, but not nearly as dominant as the fruit. In a great spot for those who prefer their wine more on the hedonistic side. Personally, while I thoroughly enjoyed the wine, I will note that I will enjoy it even more as the tertiary flavors approach the intensity of the fruit. I could drink this all day right now, but it would detract from the enjoyment knowing this wine will get even better. I will likely wait a couple years before revisiting. 96+ to 97 now, better in the future!
  
  Side note: This does help confirm for me that 16 was an awesome Napa vintage....wish I owned more 16s (yes, I am that greedy!)

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  7/23/2023 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 98 Points

  Six hour slow ox. Deep dark electric magenta color. Blueberry cobbler, almond, baker’s chocolate, juicy blackberry, and dark honey. Smooth, dry, rich palate. Firm, full tannins on the long finish.
  
  It’s scary to know this is still improving. Such a beautiful red. I’d Rather Be Drinking Wine was kind enough to share this with my wife and I during a recent trip to Minnesota.

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  2/13/2022 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 98 Points

  Had a Super Bowl face off between 2016 Bond Vecina v 2016 VHR. As many probably know, they are both from the Vine Hill Ranch vineyard. Bond has leased blocks from VHR for a long time right at the base of the mountain, in a prime location. Both wines achieved 100pt ratings from prominent critics, but the Bond is over twice the price of VHR. I set out to see whether I am just throwing dollars down the drain buying the Bond.
  
  Doubled decanted both about 5 hours before consumption. Cutting right to the chase, these are VERY different wines, despite being sourced from the same general vineyard. The Bond is more concentrated, displays bluer fruit, is not as well integrated, has bigger tannins, sharper edges and overall shows the most potential. If you're drinking one today, you'd want the VHR; in 5+ years, I'd take the Bond.
  
  Nose of black cherries, blackberries, asian spices, forest floor and dank earth. Very firm with big time tannins, it shows fantastic purity and freshness, with lively acidity and big time cut. Anything but fruit forward, the Vecina shows amazing levels of minerality and earthy notions to complement concentrated blue fruit, along with a nice crushed rock component. The strong tannins make this clamp down tight as it transitions from mid palate to the finish, with a somewhat astringent end. However, the finish is epically long. Good now but better in 5 years.
  
  The value proposition is always hard at $500+ dollars a bottle. But as many have noted, if you're drinking wine at this level price is usually not a barrier. This is a great wine.

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  12/10/2021 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Beautiful wine. Lean and restrained on the palate. Many layers and very well balanced

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  11/11/2019 - peternelson wrote: 94 Points

  This wine was super cool, with dried black olive character, raisin, anchovy, scorched earth, and dense cassis fruit; good cut, power, ample tannins, and a tangy long finish. Spago tasting

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