2019 Firestone Walker Barley Wine §ucaba

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 91 points

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  5/31/2020 - dczapka Likes this wine:

  It's been a few months since I last tasted this vintage, but I have to admit that not much has evolved since my last sampling. The nose is rich, but that first taste is very wood forward, without many of the rich, dark- and stone-fruit notes that I would expect from a world-class barleywine. Instead, there's a very subtle cola bit with wood notes on the finish, and while it's still drinkable, it lacks the complexity and intensity of character that I was expecting.

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  2/14/2020 - dczapka Likes this wine:

  Opened one of my remaining '19s alongside a friend's '18, and this continues to prove to be among the most confounding beers year in and year out. Especially as compared to my buddy's '18, the '19 presents prominent notes of dark chocolate, which didn't show up at all a year ago. This brew is still wood-forward, but the body is a little thin, with mostly cola-like flavors presenting as opposed to the raisin and plum that were holding up strong a year ago.

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  4/25/2019 - joraesque wrote: 92 Points

  Drinking great @ ~ 55°F.

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  4/12/2019 - joraesque wrote: 92 Points

  I'm really digging this year's release, albeit it appears to be an outlier in the lineage. More body than ever, and also more accessible. Drinking perfectly as a pop-and-pour. It's got the flavor profile of a malty barley wine, and the mouthfeel of a Belgian triple ale. And "only" 11.3% ABV -- a contender for all-time-low-alcohol Sucaba. Question is, will it age well?
  91-92

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  3/6/2019 - dczapka Likes this wine:

  One year of Life to the next, to celebrate my wife's birthday! Having tried all of the previous iterations to date, getting multiple bottles of 2019 §ucaba was never in doubt, but I was a touch concerned after the '18 was a touch too thin and mild. The body on the 2019 remains thin, but rather than the wood from the barrel overwhelming the palate, there are some interesting plum, mild raisin, and dark fruit notes that cut through the palate and linger after the finish. Not a huge step up from the '18 but a step up nonetheless!

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