Community Tasting Note

• csimm wrote: 96 points

  April 7, 2023 - A few days in Napa with fellow CT'r Cristal2000: (If you want the punchline, skip all the drivel and just go to the last sentence at the bottom of this lingual mess I’ve created here).
  
  Sure, you can talk about 2020 until you’re blue in the face. You can pick it apart and bust out your 2020 calendar (which of course I had handy in my jacket pocket) and go day by day leading up to the fires, asking where the smoke was (answer: every-where) and how the sun was barely discernible though the fumes for a month’s time. You can say, “But how?! How is it not tainted?!” Back and forth; back and forth. And we did. And I do. And it gets to the point where you dismiss that whole vintage and thank your lucky stars that you can actually afford to pay your electric bill (don’t even get me started on that whole thing!) because you thinned out your wine-spend so much this year that you start remembering what your finance life was like before you had to squander thousands of dollars away for this hobby you pretend to your family is an investment.
  
  Ok, enough of that… So, if there’s a wine to buy in the 2020 vintage, it is the MACDONALD. Period. Other wineries (as in, all other wineries), you’ll probably want to hit the ‘Pass’ button on (I know I’m gonna get grief for saying that since there is someone out there somewhere that somehow is giddy about some particular wine they hold allegiance to). Those of you who are savvy folks (and even those who aren’t) should know this by now. I’ve been tasting through a small handful of 2020 wines and many are ‘not ok’ in some way. From barrel, a few shined (or at least didn’t show any taint issues – masked by oak char perhaps). However, the 2020 MACDONALD is an exceptional wine for the vintage. Yes I know the final tag of “for the vintage” makes people nervous, as though it is somehow my secret code for subpar. Well, rest assured my fine friends, it is not subpar. No lies. No conspiracy. You know I can go on and on, so I’ll answer your questions quick and easy:
  
  - Any perception of detectible smoke taint? No (I’m not the science guy, so I’m going with what I taste – and yes of course, I was looking for any chance I could get to ask myself, “Is that it? Was that smoke taint?” Answer: still No.
  
  - Is it good? Yes. It’s great! (insert Tony the Tiger accentuation). The profile is completely along the same lines of previous vintages. A perfectly pitched black, gravely core with a judicious balance and tension that is signature MACDONALD. Olive, black asphalt, brambly blackberry and black cherry, dusty earth… What else do you want?
  
  - Should I buy it? What are you dumb? Um, Yes. If you don’t, send it my way right now.
  
  - What’s the difference compared to other vintages? I know people are looking for faults here, so I’ll appease ya’ll a bit just by saying that in its current state, the finish is a tad shorter at the moment and the body (more so in the mid-to-back palate) gentler than the previous big boy vintages of 2016, 2018, and 2019, for example. There is a notable finesse here as well. Toward the very end of the night, the expressive fruit elements started to shut down a bit and go back to sleep, but at the same time, the elegance remained steadfast. It’s a little hard to put a numeric here, but it’s easily in the 95-96+ point range for me at the moment.
  
  - Do I work for the Macdonalds? No… (though I did submit my forever pledge to their undying allegiance regardless of fact and circumstance – kidding… but I do still wonder where my 3L of 2010 Macdonald I asked for years ago is? Must’ve gotten lost in the mail…)
  
  For those who couldn’t stomach the above tasting note, here ya go: It’s good. It’s a buy. It’s the best 2020 out of Napa. Period. Exclamation point! Pinky swear. Absodefinitely. No backsies.

  7 people found this helpful 5,632 views

24 Comments

• sfwinelover1 commented:

  4/7/23, 12:14 PM - Good note, and wow, what an overall tasting experience (as you know, it’s on my bucket list to do something like this with you one of these days). Also was interesting just seeing this, since when I was lucky enough to taste with Alex a year ago, he seemed on the fence about whether he was going to do a ‘20 bottling at all, at least as i interpreted. Hope to catch up with offline of CT, even if not in the 707, sooner than later. Cheers!

• csimm commented:

  4/7/23, 12:17 PM - We may have something in the works at the tail end of May. Will keep you posted!

• sfwinelover1 commented:

  4/7/23, 1:31 PM - That would be fabulous! And if it’s not out of theme for your gathering, per your note in this story about another producer who makes objects of your keenest affections, I’ve come into possession of a few bottles of its wares. Assuming you didn’t mind drinking something bottled in the 18th century when goats transported the grapes up Pritchard Hill (or at least the aughts, when my favorite chard producer was vinifying their wines), I’d be happy to share . . .

• csimm commented:

  4/7/23, 2:07 PM - Now that sounds like an interesting offer.... :) ... Sold!

• csimm commented:

  4/7/23, 2:08 PM - As long as Mark didn't put all that vanilla in those wines back then too?! hahaha!

• sfwinelover1 commented:

  4/7/23, 4:20 PM - At least if he did, they’re probably old enough so that it’s fully integrated! You’re more likely to taste old sweater drawer and mothballs.

• csimm commented:

  4/7/23, 4:32 PM - De-lish!!!

• sfwinelover1 commented:

  4/7/23, 5:12 PM - And besides, what’s wrong with a little vanilla in your cab? You’re the one who likes Mike Smith and Kirk Venge, right? :)

• csimm commented:

  4/7/23, 5:38 PM - Here we go….

• sfwinelover1 commented:

  4/7/23, 5:40 PM - Lol. I’ll trade you 2 Mike Smiths and Kirk Venges for one Mark Aubert and a player to be named later.

• csimm commented:

  4/7/23, 5:43 PM - I’ll take all those and give you a $20 Sangio. in return.

• sfwinelover1 commented:

  4/7/23, 7:19 PM - Funny you say that as I sip my ‘06 Flac. A really good deal, but alas, a bit more than $20.

• csimm commented:

  4/7/23, 7:25 PM - If it’s any conciliation, I did have one of the best Sangios I’ve had in recent memory…. (‘17 2017 Soldera Case Basse). Second time around with this producer/wine, but this time the service was stellar and the bottle was masterfully exquisite. Maybe you’re on to something….

• sfwinelover1 commented:

  4/7/23, 8:00 PM - I saw Patrice popped one of those at the VV party; I was sorry I missed it, particularly since I never had one. All the more impressive that it’s the ‘17, since while the jury is still out for me on that vintage in Tuscany, I’m finding it very mixed so far, like ‘08 and ‘11. But for my plebeian tastes, you can’t do much better than Flac, vintage in and vintage out. A really happy place wine for me, and not much I’d rather drink. And while I like Tig—yeah, I know it’s only 80% sangio—I’d take Flac any day.

• #1Winelover commented:

  10/24/23, 9:45 AM - I thought that this was your best line:
  - Should I buy it? What are you dumb? Um, YES. If you don’t, send it my way right now.

• csimm commented:

  10/24/23, 9:48 AM - I suppose I could have finessed that a little better :)

• csimm commented:

  10/24/23, 10:01 AM - ...Plus, it looks like I'm one of those who didn't/couldn't buy. Saw the email a couple of minutes in and was too late on first come/first served allocation. I was never very good at the whole 'first come' format. Oh well, kudos to those who were quick on the keyboard.

• sfwinelover1 commented:

  10/24/23, 11:38 AM - Good to see you alive, cs. Hope to verify that in person one of these days . . .

• gymnastpro commented:

  10/24/23, 3:23 PM - Guess I was a lucky one who was checking my email at the right time! Got 2! Thanks for the notes Csimm

• #1Winelover commented:

  10/24/23, 3:28 PM - I think that it was perfect. Sorry that you didn't get any. And I agree that for long-time clients, 1st come 1st serve sucks.

• csimm commented:

  10/24/23, 10:11 PM - Hi sf.. yes, I’m still among the living!
  
  Good job gymnast. Way to be on it!
  
  Since I had an opportunity to try the 2020, I’m glad others will be able to too. With only 150 cases made, it’s always hard for everyone when it’s in such demand.

• gymnastpro commented:

  10/24/23, 10:32 PM - Got lucky! Hope to meet u all sometime. Would be a great wine gathering!

• sfwinelover1 commented:

  10/25/23, 7:33 AM - GP: where are you located? There’s a group of us in the Bay Area, get together in various combinations for tastings from time to time.

• gymnastpro commented:

  10/25/23, 8:08 AM - Not to far! Reno NV

Add a Comment