3/23/2024 - Matt Scott Likes this wine:

Decanted for four hours. Absolutely mesmerizing. Bing cherries, saddle leather, white pepper, acacia, star fruit, char siu and teak. The red fruit ensconces your palate, and the sheer agility and transparency are suave, sophisticated and gentle. Yet, the finish sails on and on… A medium body and very fine almost silky tannins, with this pure, sappy middle. The honest and angelic fruit has a district and glorious voice. Of course there’s finesse. This bottling is legendary - maybe the best yet. So delightful today and hard to stay away from, this will age without any effort. Decant for a few hours, consume over many days or wait about five years. Drink 2028 -.

6/13/2023 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine:

This was popped and poured straight into my glass, and "Oh, Nellie," is it a beauty. This is a big boy, with plenty of power, but that doesn't mean its ample charms are not on display, because they are. Not surprisingly, it looks the part, but it is elsewhere that the wine truly impresses. The nose offers up oodles of fruit and flowers, mostly blueberries, lavender and violets. Very penetrating and deep. Wonderful. But the palate is where this really awes. Take it in, hold it in your mouth, and the fruit cascades in layers of blue fruits, lavishing every part of the mouth with a fabulous coating of fruit that is still present for a long time after the wine is swallowed. Tannin is certainly in evidence, but it does not mask the fruit at all. Sweetness is well evident on the tip of tongue at the end. This is great now, and should last a very long time and provide loads of pleasure over its probably 40+ - year lifetime. I'm glad I got a few bottles of this stuff around for the future. 5-13-19-9: 96/100.

11/16/2022 - Doubleten Likes this wine:

Poured a couple glasses, and decanted the rest of the bottle. Dark red/purplish in color, the wine seems voluminous, dense and glossy as it swirls in the glass. Nose of dark cherries, plums, chocolate and flowers. In the palate, the wine is full bodied, rich and luscious, with a silky quality to it. Fruit forward in a good way, with well judged acidity and oak treatment. The rich, ripe merlot is instantly dominant as it hits the palate with intense, expansive, dark red fruit flavors and a hint of minerality. This wine is a crowd pleaser and the best value for quality I have encountered in my 35 years in this hobby. You would have to spend 2-3x to find a wine that will equal or surpass it. Although it provided immediate great drinking pleasure, the wine improved through the night. It will age and increase in complexity for 10-15 yrs with ease. I have purchased 6 cases thus far and will probably buy more. Chateau Laroque has officially become our house wine!

11/15/2022 - sdr Likes this wine:

My favorite on Shiraz night, including examples from Amon-Ra, Shiraz 9 and Grange. Full bodied (of course) but not overwhelming in alcohol, fruit or tannin. Nice balance. Actually enjoyable beyond the first sip, unlike so many Aussie Shiraz.

11/12/2022 - jriggleman Likes this wine:

Pizzas Andreas Bday. Freaking great wine for the price point

11/12/2022 - csimm wrote:

A Little Havana disco-pulse ultra-club kaleidoscopic fruit bowl bonanza of butterscotch schnapps, honey hot toddy, fresh pineapple, unripe mango, dry hay, fresh corn, and limoncello mojito, the Distenta I rolls on to the Miami red (or perhaps tangy tangerine?) carpet with anything but an "unlabeled" or anonymous posture. With more upfront power and boom-boom energy than its 2018 Aperta sibling, the Distenta I is the first to arrive and last to leave the party.

...Into the decanter you go Mr. MJ Madman Moonwalk Shi'mownah Circle Slide Guy...

With about three hours of crunching on open O2, the Distenta's boozy bearing becomes sufficiently bushed, permitting its other partygoer parts to make their ways to the dance floor. Still, the vigor stays a bit ballooned and unbridled, flailing like a husky hysteric air tube dancer at times. It's kinda like an all-neck Gold's Gym pectoralis major type guy trying to bust out some kind of handspring acro dance. The Distenta pulls it off, but one does wonder at first if John Cena was the right casting selection for Cirque du Soleil.

While the 2018 Aperta is a concoction of 38% Chardonnay, 25% Viognier, 22% Roussanne, 6% Petit Manseng, and 9% Muscat, the Distenta I is a blend of 41% Roussanne, 26% Chardonnay, 14% Petit Manseng, 12% Viognier, and 7% Gelber Muskateller (whatever the heck that last grape is). The heavier Roussanne component in the Distenta may account in part for its pompous potency on the initial pull of the cork... Or perhaps its that 3 Muscat-teer grape causing the extra sass.

Hold this for a couple of years, or give it a healthy decant so it doesn't initially hit you in the face with its flailing firewater fists on the finish. The Krankl texture is in the shadows a bit right now. Some welcomed oiliness offers dabs of polish, but it needs to crash on the couch for a few years before it becomes more Gene Kelly. 95-97 point potential.

9/19/2022 - jviz wrote:

Wow. Opened in a horizontal of 2010 CdN (white label and cerretalto), this was the most massive of the 3, but still showing wonderful complexity with floral top notes. I wish I could have followed it alone but it was easy to see the big step up in quality from the white label, then the singularity of the cerretalto alongside. I’d love to revisit this in the future, as it is not close to peak yet.

I'd also mention that this is only a small hair behind the 2006 which excelled in nuance

9/22/2022 - jocelyng Likes this wine:

This wine is back in great shape. It was extraordinary in the first years after release, than had a somewhat dull phase but now its back in the 95+.

7/9/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote:

2014 marks the first vintage the estate was Demeter certified. Everything here is classic in style starting with the nose and all of its tobacco leaf, cigar box, herbs, smoke, currants, and peppery spices. There is freshness, as well as sweetness to the berries. The fruits are clean, earthy, bright, and chewy, leaving you with a healthy wave of currants, blackberries, salty rocks, and a touch of creaminess in the finish. The wine blends 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2024-2045.

5/2/2021 - dajapino Likes this wine:

Perfect, reminded me of Rayas. Kaleidoscope nose coupled with a to die for palate and a smooth, long drawn out finish.

1/5/2022 - PIZZAandBAROLO Likes this wine:

This is good.

This is damn good.

I've had the last god knows how many vintages and I can safely say this is the best yet.

Beautiful purity of fruit. Boysenberry, blueberry, black cherry are on center stage. Great freshness, a seamless integration of varietals, and a focused drive carry it through. Mouth puckering, with ultra fine tannins and great finesse. Kudos Signora Tua 🙏

A Blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.

https://www.winebow.com/our-brands/tua-rita/tua-rita-giusto-di-notri/2019

97+

8/1/2021 - #alexindahouse Likes this wine:

Wow.. the aromatics are incredible , and the concentration is packing a real punch on the palate A stunning wine now but another 5 to 10 years in the cellar and my feeling is that this will turn into a classic vintage for Saint Pierre.. Gorgeous 95+

10/20/2021 - csimm wrote:

An SQN Rhone concoction that Frankensteins a surgical amalgamation of mixed whites, the 2018 Aperta is a provocative fusion of 38% Chardonnay, 25% Viognier, 22% Roussanne, 6% Petit Manseng, and 9% Muscat. The demonstrative brilliance of this wine starts off right away with its beautiful golden hue, at first suggesting a sémillon-stationed creation. It actually smells like a young Sauternes with honey and tangerine aromas that instantly pique the senses. On the palate, strong quince paste and clementine elements surge in advance of the lemon oil, yuzu, satsuma, orange blossom, yellow pear skin, yellow apple flesh, honeydew, fleur de sel, and tangy fresh grated ginger notes (oh, did I mention apricot and pineapple rind, too?!). The initial entry is slightly viscous and weighty, but then the vibrancy skips in and provides an acidic tensity that kicks up the freshness. It does what you want it to do with keen carriage: mouthwatering and saturating layered flavors while also pumping juicy freshness through the heightened purity of fruit. The senses here are all amplified but with that keen Krankl stylishness.

The Aperta volleys back and forth from being full and unctuous to tense and primary at times. It is initially quite spicy, with the ginger note arresting the mélange of citrus flavors. With some swirling and warmer temperature (slightly above cellar temperature), the lemon tangs brawl back and take centerstage. Though there is clearly youthful constriction curtailing a full breadth of flavor expansion at this particular juncture, the strata of complex and pulsating flavors that just can’t wait to detonate are nothing short of exceptional. Take all the things you like about white wine and this little bugger has some semblance of all of them passing through a kaleidoscopic palate prism of delectableness to make for a profile that is almost academically dizzying in terms of trying to identify particular flavor components.

Precise degustation dorking-out aside, this is a curiously enthralling wine that has so much character and charismatic charm that it is instantaneously mesmerizing. The finish doesn’t stop rolling, especially as the honeyed citrus oil and sweet tangerine notes encourage the back end to keep propelling to a ridiculously savory finale. Though this unquestionably needs air to ferret out more of its broader appeal, the first swig on the first pop is just as stimulating as the vacillating profile a few hours in. It certainly seems the extra barrel-down time here has proven to be an effective strategical success. 98+ points, with the likelihood of a perfect numeric with some short-term cellaring. For those on the conservative or earnest side, hold bottles for a few years. For those who can't wait to tear into a bottle the second UPS pulls into your driveway (like me), go full-on game-on and rock out with your bottle out my friends. Who am I to say wait?!

9/28/2021 - RhoneWho wrote:

2019 Janasse Chaupin is incredible yummy even though it's just released a few months ago! In my 2016 vintage review, I was in total awed by its rich dark fruit and complex profile given it's 100% grenache from sandy soil!

In 2019 vintage, I pick up more red berry (raspberry nose and ripe strawberry flavor) profile along with dark fruit flavor. One can feel the wonderful tension but also poised when it glides through the palate. Great juice for pairing with tonight's braised short ribs! It's very fresh and brighter than its sibling Vieilles Vignes. It's possible that it's slightly higher acidity which could be due to 100% grenache and sandy soil or the vintage. The tannin is super-fine and velvety.

I think giving it another 2, it would be like drinking its 2016 sibling right now. As 2016 vintage could be the best in the last 20 years, I think 2019 vintage is another great vintage and could be between 2007 and 2016.

My initial assessment 97-99 but fairly confident it will be better than current rating of 97+. Needless to say, it's a great QPR!

5/30/2021 - Employee500 wrote:

I may be overrating this a bit, but it’s a huge outperformer (relative to expectations) and completely delicious. Still very fruit forward and likely has another 10 years in it, but no real reason to wait unless you’re just craving more mature/tertiary character... outstanding!

4/3/2021 - CADomer Likes this wine:

Sometimes there is a wine that simply speaks to you at such a deep level that I can’t help but share. This was one of those wines for me. Maybe it is the fact that as I get to know the sincere and talented winemaker I feel all the more connected to what is in the bottle. Or maybe it is simply that the juice in the bottle is just that good...? Or maybe it is a bit of both!
Silvaner is a celebration of terroir and an incredible window into the place and soil that the wine comes from. Similar to Riesling in that way, but it expresses that view in a much more palate driven way.
This wine from the very beginning was like liquid rock, showing notes of flint and citrus pith. With air the hardened edges began to soften and showed spiced apples without ever losing the fantastic purity that remained constant throughout the evolution of the night. This absolutely delicious wine is full of class and deeply rooted with a sense of place and soul.
This was a study in nuance, clarity and evolution of a palate. The long mineral finish was full of grip, texture and mouthwatering candied lemons.
My lofty and probably unrealistically high expectations were exceeded. Bravo!

10/30/2020 - dannykoz Likes this wine:

Of all the wines I’ve laid down, this lived up to the price and commitment of a decade and a half of storage. This had everything I could want. Fruit bomb, for sure, like a good new world wine. It also had a hint of eucalyptus like my favorite Rhône’s. Deep, layered fruit with sweet, soft tannins, perfectly controlled alcohol heat and depth for days. Perhaps my favorite wine in recent memory. EPIC.

7/24/2020 - sirpat00 wrote:

Only brief notes ere. This ages very well with a harmonious and by now softly textured palate and an intense, fruity bouquet where herbal aromas are complemented by initial aging notes. Drinking window is now wide open. I poured this into a decanter and started serving immediately which is probably the best course of action.

6/22/2020 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote:

Dark garnet color turning tawny orange at the rim with a reflective edge. The nose gives off violet flowers, smoke, ripe dark berries and evident oaky vanilla. The palate is very sumptuous and savory with bright acidity, earthiness featuring ripe blueberry, black tea, balsamic sauce, cowhide leather, and graphite. Still in its youth but drinking wonderfully now that all aspects are in great balance. This could develop further nuances later on as it ages, but such a crowd pleaser right now. Finishes long and mentholated with dusty tannins that I’d expect to get silkier down the road. Drink now until 2035.

4/17/2020 - SimonS wrote:

This bottle was magnificent and ageless. The bottle variation is a bit maddening, but when it is on song, this is such a great wine. Long, complex, fruit of all colours.

4/17/2020 - Matt Scott Likes this wine:

Decanted for three hours. The nose is so mesmerizingly unctuous, with smoky cherry, lilacs, cassis, concentrated basil, thyme, bar b q pit, and melted chocolate. Such a perfect nose. Voluptuous and showy, yet suave and embodies finesse. Extremely attractive at this young age, but the layered, thick, and glowing palate shows backbone and a very well-framed structure; I have zero doubts about this in regards to the ability to age. Fine tannins with some velvet. Full-bodied. The finish goes on a journey that you can’t help but to study. The maestro of Grenache has blessed us again with something truly special. Drink 2023 -.

3/26/2020 - csimm wrote:

Holy Criminy this is a massive monster of a wine. Blackberry liqueur, ripe black raspberry compote, licorice, purple plum, creosote, tar, and wet rock. A voluminous mouthfeel and a rich mid-palate hit. Slightly roasted and sluggish as it moves to the back end, but the chewy tannins are so seductive and dripping sexy that you are drawn back to another sip. Surprisingly better with food. Broad shouldered with a bit of booze on the tail, but not especially hot (which is a great thing).

If you like Rhone and leopard-print pajamas, you’ll love this wine. 94-96+ points. Hold another couple years to see if it’ll calm down just a bit.

2/21/2020 - watcheslover Likes this wine:

re-tasted in bond last week. Is it possible to give the note 101/100?

9/21/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote:

The first thing you notice is the high-quality Cuban cigar notes that are quickly followed by earthy, fresh, powerful, sweet, pure, dense black fruits. Combining power, purity, refinement and lift is not an easy thing to do, but that is what you find in the 2016. This is a very exciting wine that you should be tasting, before prices catch up to its quality.

1/26/2019 - Philippe_C wrote:

Huge nose of BBQ meat, nice licorice, oriental spices, characoal, mine de crayon, elevage 100% demi muid 600l of 8 years... Huge concentration, huge load of ripe sappy cherries, very nice fresh mineral finish, lenght of 60 sec easy, a magnificent Mon Aieul!! 100% grenache, 5 Hectolitres par Hectare, 4000 bottles produced

4/30/2019 - Vintopia wrote:

The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is a head-turning seductress. For starters, the wine is endowed with a remarkably perfumed bouquet that captures the very essence of intensity and complexity, exuding a medley of ripe red and black fruit, vanilla bean, mocha, black licorice, and assorted baking spices. There's a satiny texture in the mouth, superb concentration, and a finish that simply refuses to relent. It's off-the-charts delicious now, but if I had this in my cellar I'd hold for a couple more years and then enjoy over for the long-haul.

11/11/2017 - D'Yquembe Mutumbo Likes this wine:

Popped this open and let it decant for a couple hours and have to agree with other posts about the opulent nose. An absolute joy to swirl and sniff, the perfume in the glass reminded me of that one girl you dated (or wanted to date) years ago whose come-hither scent put you in a trance for however long you were in her presence. The wine was less exhilarating on the palate, although still a pleasurable bouquet of dark fruits and kirsch. I was left wanting more, and perhaps it was because we had popped open a bottle of 10 Mon Aieul the weekend before and absolutely loved that bottle of wine, so I might not be fair here but a wine of this pedigree should have more depth to it IMO.

12/23/2017 - SICILIAN-SOLE wrote:

You can taste this wine through your nose before you get it to your lips! Unapologetically huge with a a good dose of American oak! Toast and vanilla with explosive raspberry on the palate. No sign of heat from the alchohol and drinks very smooth even in it's youth. Enough acidity and structure to keep it lively for at least another 5 years. This is the type of wine that the trend chasers and hipsters love to bash but if you're not a snob and love wines on both ends of the spectrum I highly recommend it!

7/12/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote:

Still on the right road to triple digit stardom, this debut vintage under the direction of Nicolas Audebert rocks! The wine is firming up a bit, adding more structure and nuances, while maintaining the wall of perfectly ripe fruit, sexy textures and polished tannins. Early buyers that took our advice on this one are sitting on liquid gold!

8/24/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote:

A cornucopia of herbs, a bit of pepper, and thyme with mint on top, with all the kirsch you could ask for, the wine is full bodied, and deep, yet equally fresh and light on its feet. Powerful and refined, the finish leaves you wanting another sip of this elixir. The wine is made from 100% old vine Grenache.

9/19/2017 - csimm wrote:

Previous notes apply. This is just as solid as it gets for a 2014 sub-$100 wine. PnP and it was good to go, though some air in the glass with a little swirling brought out deeper black cherry and cassis notes. Don't overthink it; just enjoy it. It's a great Napa Cabernet example of the 2014 vintage. I'll try to hold off another 6+ months, but I'm not exactly sure why...

If you are somewhat liqueur-adverse in your Cabernets (CT'er MAXIMUM SATISFACTION refers to it as a "ripe candied style"), then I suppose another year++ is recommended to let this settle down a bit so it has a little less "party" going on with it. But it's just drinking so good right now too, I'm a fan regardless. 94-95 points for me.

7/15/2017 - isaacjamesbaker wrote:

Tuscan Tasting (Zachy's DC): Christ, this wine blew me away! I had never heard of this producer before, but I’m listening now. Gorgeous waves of red fruits on the nose along with tobacco, leather, incense. Structured so well but vibrant and refreshing, the mouthfeel is so pure and focused. Cherries and velvety plums with lots of leather, sage, tobacco, mint, rhubarb – so much to unpack for many years in the cellar.

3/4/2017 - Dr. Bee Likes this wine:

Decanted 1+.
Incredible considering the listed 17.5%.
Second bottle. Finally showing its grace. An artists wine and brilliant example of Chris @ his finest.

6/17/2017 - csimm wrote:

Hands down the best GIII Mike Smith has made to date. Off the charts intensity and concentration. A rich drive pushes unbelievable tiers of black, blue, and purple fruit flavors on through a finish that lasts 60+ seconds. Rushes across the mid-palate with an undeniable depth that rivals the Myriad Cranes.

Scorched earth, fresh road tar, cacao, fresh vanilla bean, and hints of mulch notes round out the core fruit. I know that GIII can sometimes produce a more fruit, less structure type of wine, but rest assured, this GIII is able to more than adequately frame the massive layers of flavors.

99+ points with a potential perfect score in a year when it comes into even more focus with further integration. An unbelievable effort in my opinion.

12/20/2015 - ZinRandy Likes this wine:

BIG BIG

10/23/2015 - SMagowan Likes this wine:

Monumental and in line with SQN grenache. It fills the mouth and loosens the tongue. Crazy bargain and each bottle I have had was better than the last. Lots of fruit and spice and a heady aroma of freshly mowed fields. Love it. THREE DAYS LATER: I am raising this score to 96. I cannot believe how much better it is a couple of days later. It is rich and deep and complex. It feels like it seeps into the body like a magical elixir. If I close my eyes I would think it was an SQN Grenache.

7/13/2015 - ledocq Likes this wine:

First from a case bought at auction. Decanted and kept chilled in a tub of water for 5 hours (which is crucial). For the hell of it, I had a sip at pnp, and the nose was magificent and mysterious, with the familiar PC cedar and depth...and then more depth, sort of like realizing the mineshaft suddenly has a whole new vein you didn't know about if you had the '03 or '06 or '08. I actually had the thought "Oh my lord, I'm smelling eternity." Tasting it, however, was stupid. It was like being flung into the middle of a Jackson Pollack of confusing elements that finished with a cassis blowtorch. Five hours later, however, I was having an experience that seems pretty much like most people's from their notes: a little bit of "uh-huh" and a whole lot of "oh yeah." It kept getting better and by the 8th hour open, it was elegant yet robust, and the finish was endless, sun goes down moon comes up, oh it's still going on. And this might sound nuts, but I was starting to get notes that reminded me a bit of the '66 Haut Brion in that post-fruit, post-exuberant maturity. Not that it's anywhere near there, just that like seeing on-coming lights on the highway, you know there's something out there, approaching, eventually. This is magnificent and all that they say.

6/15/2015 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine:

A wow experience. Totally balanced and moving towards perfect integration, this 2010 Brunello reveals a lovely fruit, abundant flowers, wet saddle leather and a profound minerality(!). The lovely nose is accompanied by an intriguing palate with rather vivid tannins. Still the balance between the differen components is striking. Acidity, fruit and tannins all speak with one harmonious voice. There is so much texture and structure, I am confident this wine is in it for the longer haul. It will only improve with time. A lovely acquaintance well worth seeking out.

4/13/2015 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine:

Beef blood, meaty, gamey, nose to die for. Young but smooth. Tannin is there, but not overwhelming after 1 hour + decant. Just on another level, lasts forever. Iron fist, velvet glove.

3/30/2015 - lovechad wrote:

I just astonished that it has made of full of sangiovese from the Toscana, which has both firmness and accessive character. Ot reminded of well made, have both concentraded and jammy fruits character of the Barossa Grenache. Lovely to try now but also will evolves during 10+ years.

3/9/2015 - Pulling Corks Likes this wine:

Absolutely outstanding. Amazing price value. I challenge anyone to find a better wine for the price. So fun

7/3/2014 - Decanting fool wrote:

Astonishing focus and intensity of flavor, with that stones- crushed- into- blueberry magic that is the hallmark of a great Cornas. Leathery and smokey, with tart cherries, black and green pepper, cat piss and a broad swath of wood. Puckery, grainy tannins and an endlessly lingering finish. A wonderful experience already, given a few years it will integrate and soften into something profound.
Follow up note: saw there was a bit left in the bottle 2 days later and it had softened into something truly sensational.

1/13/2014 - CRAUBER4242 Likes this wine:

A really nice bottle of wine that we enjoyed over dinner at The Plumed Horse. A full flavored wine with pear being the headliner on the palate and a nice toasty nose.

5/9/2014 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine:

As stunning as always, the 2009 Chaupin once again delivers one of those magical moments tonight. This wine is one of those which plays more on its elegance than power. At first impression it appears a bit light, but when served to food it develops into a complex and meticulously crafted effort. The nose offers up an abundance of dark mature fruit, Grenache kirsch, thyme, sage, rosemary and wet saddle leather. There is a lot of primary fruit left, but the wine first comes across as a bit muted. It needs a while to open up fully and start singing. The palate is perfectly balanced with no hard edges. As I have written before, ”if velvet ever was liquid this is what it would be like”. The integration is absolutely profound as is the balance. The length on the finish lasts about a minute or more. This wine will most likely evolve into something even more amazing provided you can let any bottles rest in the cellar, which I know is pretty hard. A total stunner!

3/8/2014 - Rollerball wrote:

Volcanic Grenache. The bouquet boils with tiny dark berries and acacia muddled with ghost soy and the fruit of model airplane glue. Then a number of waves crash and recede: tart, attention-grabbing, vibrancy; searing blue ink; a bitter berry coffee blend; desert cactus and flowers as the glowing scintillations of wave one glide slowly to earth; and finally a long cherry liquer sweetness oddly satisfying and enticing. Ample silky structure fits the throbbing, juicy aggressiveness like a glove.

This is one to stop and enjoy with friends and some focus. Unsurprisingly the wine and a pancetta, tomato-creme sauce penne rigate neither hurt nor highlighted one another. The fireworks came when enjoying it afterward on its own.

10/14/2013 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 Likes this wine:

Dark purple color turning violet at the rim with a perfumed, floral nose of ripe blue and black berries. The palate is bold and cruises at high altitude balanced by lively acidity with flavors of ripe currant, plum, pipe tobacco, black tea, and graphite. This is very delicious. The fruit is ripe yet the palate remains dry due to the young tannin and bright acidity to give it a sumptuous, delectable experience. It would be interesting to taste this several years down the road. Finishes long and supple with hints of espresso. Drink now with 1-hr decant up to 2028. 94+

9/29/2013 - tantotinto wrote:

Tasted immediately after opening. Opaque, almost black. Great nose. Black fruit, allspice, smoke and earth. Very full, lush and rich. Power rather than nuance. Mellow tannins. I don't taste the 17.5% alcohol but can feel it. Hits like Vintage Port. I like it but it's not for the faint of heart. If I had another bottle I would save it for winter evening sipping.