Community Tasting Note
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Phredd Likes this wine: 91 points
March 26, 2010 - Pop and pour on a Friday. I'm looking for a pick-me-up, and hoping this wine delivers. Very inky purple color and thick and viscous in the glass - it almost looks like a dessert wine. The nose is fairly tight, but still complex and with good typicity: dark plum reduction, kirsch, black licorice, cement dust, and lilac. Some port-like character there. I wish this were more aromatic, because although the aroma profile is really exciting, there just isn't enough of it. On the palate, this is a very big, tannic wine. We're almost certainly a year or two too soon on this one. On the attack, lots of plum and port character, but without any sweetness. Dark, black fruit flavors, but also layered with sharp Granny Smith apples and nutmeg. The finish is still pretty bitter, a sign of youth, and the 14.5% alcohol (labeled) is not particularly well-contained. This ends up quite hot on the finish. It is a bit unbalanced now, but it is tremendously bold and ripe. I think this has the potential to mellow out a little and be very, very good for a $26 bottle of wine. I gave it a 91 now, but I think in two or three years this is likely to be closer to 93. Lots of potential here.
Edit: After 48 hours under Vacu-Vin, this really did smooth out a lot. Tempted to even bump up the score by a point, but I think I'll let it age before I revisit that. I am very enthusiastic about this one, though. The only real downside is the very high alcohol. The finish is still hot, and I don't think that's going to change with time. Even when mature, this will probably still need a decant and remain better with food. Really liking it, though, and look forward to popping another one in a year or so.2 people found this helpful 5,759 views
2 Comments
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DRod commented:
3/27/10, 4:11 PM - Nice tasting note. It seems the consensus calls for sleeping on these guys for a little bit. Thanks for your thoughts.
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Phredd commented:
3/28/10, 6:38 PM - Thanks, DRod. Glad you found it useful. I'll be curious to read your note on this one in a year or two.