Community Tasting Note

• emzee.mc wrote: 94 points

  April 2, 2018 - One of the better wines I've had this year thus far. The juice pours a dark inky garnet color with very thick long legs. Judging from the hot vintage and the alcohol content (15%), coupled with my experience with the 2003, I gave it a very long decant, almost 10 hours. Glad I did as the wine, which initially was tightly wound, started to show its mesmerizing beauty and power with air. On the nose, there are plenty of strawberries, crushed cherries, violets, baking spice, leather, cocoa, cigar smoke, and eucalyptus. The power and concentration are impressive. On the palate, the wine is structured, forceful yet elegant. Tannins, though not fully integrated yet, are still fine, velvety and exude class. Despite the power and alcohol content, there is no heat nor forceful entry. Instead, the wine is toned, lithe and balanced, no less because of the streaky minerality and an acidity that reminds me of Granny Smith apples. Palate hearkens the nose and offers plenty of red fruits, cinnamon, cloves, scorched stones, leather, barnyard hay, cassis and even cough syrup. Finish is long, complex and well-tempered as the wine concludes in a lingering, smoky and oaky farewell. This wine is fantastic. Although it wrestles with power, it maintains its lightness still without being in-your-face. Highly refined stuff.

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