Coming out of its shell. Still dark violet with no bricking. Not completely opaque but hard to see through without a backlight. Probably the most dried tobacco I've ever encountered, including barns in KY. Maybe some green tea/machata powder in there too. Still some strong, cloying tannins--but everything seems to be in balance still. Blueberry, unsweetened cocoa powder, and cassis starting to peak through. Hold and this will get better. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Even after a two hour decant, this twelve-year-old wine was tight as a drum. Even the cork popped with almost no saturation. On the nose, primary aromas of blackberry, smoke, creosote and asphalt. On the palate, notes of blackberry and other primary elements barely peeked through a heavily tannic frame. My guess is that this needs twelve more years to show anything, assuming there is something to show. For now, it is too one-dimensional and not that interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quick Day Trip to Napa (Napa Valley CA): Tasting at winery. Distinctly strong aromas of ripe fruit with lots of earth and mushroom. Fruit seemed slightly subdued, perhaps even shut down today, also less ripe. 12% Zinfandel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.
11/30/2018 - mercurius Likes this wine: 92 Points
Coming out of its shell. Still dark violet with no bricking. Not completely opaque but hard to see through without a backlight. Probably the most dried tobacco I've ever encountered, including barns in KY. Maybe some green tea/machata powder in there too. Still some strong, cloying tannins--but everything seems to be in balance still. Blueberry, unsweetened cocoa powder, and cassis starting to peak through. Hold and this will get better. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2013 - JOJ wrote: 87 Points
Even after a two hour decant, this twelve-year-old wine was tight as a drum. Even the cork popped with almost no saturation. On the nose, primary aromas of blackberry, smoke, creosote and asphalt. On the palate, notes of blackberry and other primary elements barely peeked through a heavily tannic frame. My guess is that this needs twelve more years to show anything, assuming there is something to show. For now, it is too one-dimensional and not that interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2006 - jwcnd69 wrote: 88 Points
Drank with Brian. Very good. Stood up to a hearty Mexican dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2004 - AlexHop wrote: 86 Points
Some nice body, but has that funny taste that is the mark of many not-so-great Petite Sirahs. Close to being good but somewhat unbalanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2004 - Burgundy Al wrote: 84 Points
Quick Day Trip to Napa (Napa Valley CA): Tasting at winery. Distinctly strong aromas of ripe fruit with lots of earth and mushroom. Fruit seemed slightly subdued, perhaps even shut down today, also less ripe. 12% Zinfandel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment