5/7/2023 - cliffkol wrote:

Still young. Bright, sweet, concentrated red fruits on the nose. Deep fruits, earthy, a bit of spice flavors, and citrus for the acidity. Soft tannins, but well balanced. Layers of flavors. This wine needs more time before the next bottle. Looking forward to it.

5/7/2023 - cliffkol wrote:

Cooked. Over the hill. Provenance was proper, but time took its toll.

5/7/2023 - cliffkol wrote:

Coming down the other side of the hill. Provenance has been proper, but time took its toll. Still drinking, but fading. Drink up!

4/14/2023 - cliffkol wrote:

100% Purple Muscatel grapes. Bottled in 2012, this is a 10 year old fortified wine. Velvet, silky, elegant, feminine. Concentrated flavors of caramel, oak, honey, orange. The fortification spirits are made from the same grapes. 1/3 fortified. Long finish.
April 2023: Brown color, increased caramel flavor, still in prime. Thick, concentrated honey, orange, caramel, slight oak. Exceptional

3/13/2023 - cliffkol wrote:

extremely light flavor, artificial tasting, acidic

4/2/2023 - cliffkol wrote:

Deep citrus, grapefruit, lemons, grass. Nice acidity, powerful on the palate. Really nice Sauvignon Blanc.

2/23/2023 - cliffkol wrote:

Luscious, dark fruits, earthy, forest floor. Spectacular. Massive aromas, long lingering finish. WOTN

3/3/2023 - cliffkol wrote:

Aromas of fresh, bright cherries, earth, black pepper. Bright flavors, but mellowing, slightly acidic, still very young. Tannins tight. Nice, soft finish. Doris 90.

3/7/2023 - cliffkol wrote:

Slightly acidic, unexpected, but still excellent.

12/4/2022 - cliffkol wrote:

Beautiful, similar notes as before.

12/30/2022 - cliffkol wrote:

concentrated red, lush, fruits, earthy, strong depth and layers, solid wine.

2/23/2023 - cliffkol wrote:

soft brown rim, and the wine follows. This bottle is declining, not much time left. Still a delicious glass, but drink up!

2/23/2023 - cliffkol wrote:

Excellent. Glad we still had one bottle remaining. Concentrated aromas of lush red fruits and earth. Still has time in front of it, tannins are resolved but obvious. Long lingering finish.

11/24/2022 - cliffkol wrote:

Getting light bodied, with plums, slight jam flavors and aromas. Bramble on the palate. Time to drink up while still in good shape!

10/1/2022 - cliffkol wrote:

deep, well established tannins, mature fruits, quality acidity, flavors of leather, oak, layers of red fruits. Still going strong.

7/6/2022 - cliffkol wrote:

Light, and slightly fading. Drink up! Still deep flavors, but becoming too mature. Nice finish, balance and mouthfeel.

7/7/2022 - cliffkol wrote:

Full-bodied, deep flavors, dark berries. Balanced, soft tannins. Easy drinking with decent depth.

8/30/2022 - cliffkol wrote:

Masculine, deep concentrated and mature red and blue fruits, tannins well refined, still has time left to age. Will hopefully save my last bottle for a couple more years.

8/20/2022 - cliffkol wrote:

Still intense, but softening flavors, of blue fruits, grass. Still brooding flavors, excellent acidity, balance and tannins. Excellent at this point and aging well.

5/11/2022 - cliffkol wrote:

losing taste -- acidic. becoming over the hill ?

2/19/2022 - cliffkol wrote:

Deep golden color, great balance between acidity and sweetness. Aging gracefully

2/18/2022 - cliffkol wrote:

slightly acidic, increased tannins. Seemed 'off' slightly, but still enjoyable.

2/2/2022 - cliffkol wrote:

Bright forward aromas of mature fruits, leather, bramble. Tannins are totally resolved, but obvious. Excellent depth, concentrated mature red fruits, elegant, feminine, silky. Long, juicy finish.

2/19/2022 - cliffkol wrote:

Citrus, stone fruits, terroir, deep flavors, steely, mineral, light on the tongue. Very nice. Enjoyed by all!

12/31/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

Light and fruity. A nice afternoon drinker, or party time.

2/19/2022 - cliffkol wrote:

Very fruity, not forward, tannins still need time to resolve, concentrated flavors. A very nice bottle under $15.

11/30/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

Dark, deep, brooding aromas and flavors. On point, wonderful.

12/2/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

Needs decant - lots of sediment. Dark, brooding aromas and flavors. Red fruits, soft, delicate, feminine on the palate, minerals, landscape, leather, slight oak. Long lingering finish.

11/21/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

Brilliant. Mature dark fruits, well structured and balanced. Big bouquet of floral, soil, leather. Classic and delicious

11/15/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

1 hour decant. Fabulous. Drinking beautiful. Classic big cab with structured, well balanced tannins. Strong foundation with deep flavors of dark, mature fruits, grass, oak, leather. Powerful bouquet easily discerned from afar.

11/14/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

2 hour decant. Beautiful. Notes from 5/2/2021 still apply. Huge bouquet, complex, layered flavors, mouth filling. Long, lush finish.

11/14/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

2 hour decant. Floral flavors are overpowering, delicious but not jammy. Big and bold wine, nose of red fruits, forest floor, leather. Tannins are softening but still powerful. Well structured. Aromas are detected from afar. Nice lingering finish. Still has life for a few years.

11/15/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

1 hour decant. Huge nose of sweet red fruits, spices, tobacco, minerals. Well structured, concentrated flavors of red fruits, cloves, spices, cigar, barnyard. Well structured, maturing tannins, powerful. Finish is very long, lingering. Although deep and powerful this wine is still feminine overall, soft and modest.

11/7/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

Great nose of red fruits, soil, spices. Full bodied and concentrated flavors, dark fruits, spices, minerals, licorice. Nicely softened tannins, with balanced acidity keeping the interest. Lingering finish. Well done!

10/24/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

beginning to show its age, light brown rim, mature, layered flavors. Aromas of dark fruits, soil, spices. Tannins have softened, but structured, well balanced and slow dancing on tongue. Well done.

11/5/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

Has evolved wonderfully. Deep concentrations of stone fruits, slight citrus, grass, background honey, mineral. The touch of sweet is noted, and needs to be recognized.

5/14/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

Explosive bouquet of lush honey, tropical fruits, citrus, toasted oak. Yummy. Deep golden color. On the palate great acidity with flavors of pineapple, mangoes, honey, spices. Deep, concentrated and harmonious. This one just keeps going. Saving the rest for many years ahead.

5/14/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

Big nose, bright fruits and earth. On the palate, a touch of sweetness under the red fruits, cherries, plums. Will the sweet taste fade with age? A bit of earth and oak underneath. Fragrant, feminine, well structured. Tannins still apparent, a few more years should refine this wine. Very nice and would buy again.

5/15/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

This bottle was within its drinking window, but on the other side of its peak. Slight browning on the edges, flavors slightly faded. Needed an hour to open up to earthy aromas and flavors, slight oak, bramble. Nice acidity and smooth tannins. Fully integrated and well structured. Overall, quite enjoyable and looking forward to our remaining bottle.

5/15/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

Still young. Big nose, Very fruity, cherry, slight sweet. Closed a bit but after an hour fruit forward, rich and concentrated, tannins balanced in background, spices, woodsy flavors, fine acidity. With another year or two, should improve nicely.

5/2/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

CORAVIN. With Steve and Linda. Crisp, energetic, citrus, green apple flavors. Bright and forward, in your face, steely.

5/2/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

Decanted 2 hours. Delicious. Needed time to settle the tannins and open the flavors. Nose was substantial and entertaining with red fruits, earthy notes, tar, anise. The tannins have softened considerable, and became slighted muted on the palate. But still well structured. Long finish.

5/2/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

We were serving two Italian wines, Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino and Covallotto Barolo Risserva, with the tenderloin, but needed to serve a softer wine for some people. Normally the Beaucastel CdP is outstanding and lifts the evening. But it did not have a chance this evening against the other two. It became an "ordinary" wine, but did serve its purpose for the guests.

5/2/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

Crisp, light, delicious. Pale gold color, flavors of lemons, green apple, oyster shells, minerals. Expressive, softly complex and entertainingly elegant. Well balanced and structured. Steve and Linda loved this wine. Glad I bought 6 bottles!

5/2/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

Decanted two hours. Beautiful wine, amazing now. The color is fading to brown, lots of funk, tannins and heavy fruits when opened. But settled nicely over time. Bouquet was evident from afar. Earth, leather, minerals, floral, dark fruits. Mouth filling, big spicy tannins with complex, secondary layers of flavors including anise. The tannins are tight, mouth filling, powerful and balanced. Enjoy the aromas. Long, lush finish. Steve and Linda loved this wine. WOTN

4/11/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

With Jerry. Singular layer, beautiful and concentrated but lacking depth of tannins and complexity. Still a great wine though.

4/12/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

CORAVIN. With Jerry. Wonderful and long life ahead.

4/12/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

CORAVIN. With Jerry. amazing! Long life ahead

12/25/2020 - cliffkol wrote:

Bonnie: Wine was amazing!

4/10/2021 - cliffkol wrote:

Bonnie: Incredible