Community Tasting Note
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fclarity wrote: 94 points
March 13, 2016 - This lovely wine was tasted blind out of a magnum. It had a red/purple center and light red rims (i.e. shockingly young looking). The medium+ intensity nose showed black cherries, plum, clove, soil, and a touch of ethyl acetate. There was a slightly late harvest, roasted quality to the nose.
In the mouth, this wine was ripe and rich with light, ripe tannin and good acidity. It seemed Merlot oriented and had a refined style. However, it came of as a bit young and closed!
This is another bottle that shouldn't logically have any upside at this point but with its dark color and brooding manner, it might. However, it seems more likely that this is just the way the wine is. It had a great texture but didn't have the greatest level of complexity. This will last but will it get better?
I look forward to another data point!1 person found this helpful 4,533 views
6 Comments
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pclin commented:
3/13/16, 11:04 PM - Thanks for another data point. I have a single bottle left from a six-pack bought 15 years ago. I have never been impressed with the first 5 bottles, all of them seem to be slightly oxidized and over the hill, maybe previous owner(s) did not store them well. Should open the last bottle soon.
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fclarity commented:
3/14/16, 8:36 AM - pclin, thanks for your note. I agree, if storage was poor and the bottle is oxidized, time will not help! What were the fills like? How was the wine's color?
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pclin commented:
3/14/16, 7:58 PM - Fills were above shoulder and just into neck. Still decent garnet/purple color but every bottle had oxidized notes, maybe I should try to let it breath for long hours to see if that works but I am not hopeful.
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fclarity commented:
3/14/16, 10:35 PM - Thanks for the details. It sounds to me like you have nothing to lose by trying a different approach. I have had a number of older wines that tasted reduced and oxidized, especially in the first 30-40 minutes. Many times, but certainly not always, they will turn the corner at some point and start getting better. The darker the color is (for a white wine the opposite) the higher probability the wine will improve with extended aeration. Personally, I would suggest 4 hours of air in a decanter before you even start drinking it. Good luck and let me know what happens. It could be the whole batch was mistreated which would be a crying shame.
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pclin commented:
6/29/18, 11:47 AM - I just opened the last bottle of ‘59 this week, straight PnP. Phenomenal showing, no oxidized notes unlike the other 5 bottles, appeared to be very young and fresh and can keep on going another 10 years with ease.
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fclarity commented:
6/29/18, 1:20 PM - Like they say, no great wines, just great bottles. Glad you hit a good one! thanks for the update.