Community Tasting Note
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csimm wrote: 100 points
November 29, 2018 - Opened around 11AM, double-decanted, and remained re-corked in the bottle until 7PM. Re-opened, decanted, and followed over the course of a few hours. After the first hour of open air exposure in the decanter and glass is when this wine truly started to blossom. Served side-by-side next to a 2015 Cliff Lede BTK (somewhat similar in profile and demeanor, if a little bit more austere and linear than the MACDONALD) and a 2015 Purlieu BTK (which came off much more “fruity” and simple in overall delivery by comparison).
It’s really no surprise that the 2016 MACDONALD showed as an absolute phenom, and is perhaps even more seductively compelling than its 2015 sibling. This 2016 hit the front end with a gorgeous cascade of mineral-infused black cherry, currant, dark cassis, and black raspberry core fruit. Notes of freshly laid asphalt, black rocky soil, scortched earth, anise, clove, and even hints of charcuterie arrive to the palate-party and catapult this wine into the next-level-sh*t category.
Astutely grippy, with a prominent but ever-balanced acidity. The back end unloads with more crushed stone and black earth notes. All of the swirling minerality almost fools you into thinking it will finish gritty, but instead, fine-grained tannins roll in and harness the back of the palate with a keen grip.
If the best Mick Jagger To Kalon grape went on a celebrity cocaine bender, had a rockstar lovechild with the best Gigi Hadid (ya, look her up folks) runway model Las Piedras grape, then sold the baby to a Ricky Schroder Silver Spoons family of Steltzner grapes in the rockiest region of Stags Leap, it would grow up to be the 2016 MACDONALD.
And look...Don’t anyone get all caught up in the “perfect” score thing, thinking this is all some CIA tinfoil-hat-wearing-conspiracy motivated by just some automaton MACDONALD cronie that slings throwdown points for the uber-cult genre in hopes of garnering attention or upping an allocation (...are you reading this Alex??!! I’m doing good, right??!)..... just kidding people.... let’s all take a breath.
In any event, those who know this label don’t need any convincing about the top tier quality and craftsmanship that go into the wine. Those who know To Kalon should be well aware that this wine sets the benchmark in many ways as to what the best of this site and terroir can offer. 2016 is a hyped-up example of what you already know about MACDONALD. It’s one of those unicorns that supersedes the 100 point scale (which is utilized more like a 90-100 ten point scale nowadays), and operates on both cerebral and emotional levels, offering plenty of geek-out moments as well as visceral oohs and aahs.
Ideally, and unless you want to go through a whole barrage of aeration gymnastics to get this thing to do its tricks for you, hold this wine for 3+ years to allow it to start finding its true identity. 98-100 points all day long.7 people found this helpful 7,135 views
8 Comments
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melsdad commented:
11/30/18, 10:52 AM - Hi Csimm- While I really enjoy reading your tasting notes, this is the third wine on my "must get list" you have reviewed recently I can only (for now) enjoy vicariously. A far cry from orally. I'm on the list but have yet to receive an offer. Maybe when I visit with Alex next year I'll be luckier. I like the Gigi Hadid reference. Cheers!
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csimm commented:
11/30/18, 1:10 PM - Hey melsdad! You will undoubtedly enjoy a tasting with Alex. He is extremely knowledgeable and one of the most genuine guys in the Valley. Hopefully you get on the list soon enough. The 2016 is truly an incredible wine with a ton of potential. One of the wines of the vintage for me, even among some other utterly amazing Cabs to come out if Napa in 2016.
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blarmston commented:
11/30/18, 2:12 PM - Oh man! Lucky to have been able to drink that already! If its anything like the 14 and 15 that I've tasted, its gonna be a GOOD ONE.
My GF and I will be up there right before Christmas, and have tentative plans to meet up with AMac at some point, so hopefully he's in the "Spirit" :) -
NickRut commented:
11/30/18, 4:05 PM - I need a cigarette after that review. How’d you pull off getting a bottle of this early?
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csimm commented:
11/30/18, 8:47 PM - Blarmston, I believe you’ll be most impressed with the 16. Seemingly even more intense (but ironically comparatively “accessible”) to the 2015. Alex is a great host all the way around. Hope you get to try this 16, cuz it’s right in my wheelhouse personally. Almost like a roided-out LPV/BTK hybrid in the best of ways.
Nick, we happened to meet up with Alex and he was gracious enough to share the 16. Super generous! -
sfwinelover1 commented:
11/24/19, 6:11 PM - Just seeing this TN, and now I'd really kill to meet Alex and taste his wares, even if it would ruin me for everything else I drink. Hopefully after the calendar turns . . . ?
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csimm commented:
11/24/19, 6:56 PM - Hey sfwinelover. So....... Thanks to a very altruistic friend, I was invited to a quasi-impromptu dinner with a few folks on Friday in Yountville. Alex was gracious enough to join. Among a few other periphery wines at the table, we actually ended up doing a vertical of 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 Macdonald. Holy Christ almighty. I have yet to post notes. I can safely say that "ruining" you for most-if-not-all wines in the Valley would be accurate indeed. It almost pisses me off how much I love his wines :). Anyway, tasting notes to follow....
BTW, I'll shoot you an email off-line and we can discuss what the first part of 2020 looks like for connecting. Happy Turkey Day my friend. -
sfwinelover1 commented:
11/24/19, 7:01 PM - Green with envy! Best TG wishes to you and yours as well. Look forward to some great tastings in 2020. Great TN, btw.