4/14/2024 - Apollo5710 wrote:

The nose initially featured bright, red fruit notes (e.g., pomegranate, raspberry) coupled with a hint of graphite and game. Fruit-driven in the mouth, but a bit light at first and noticeable alcohol presence. The nose then went into a shell and never returned in a substantive way. The wine returned to life, however, after 4-5 hours in the decanter, building weight, depth, and darkness in the mouth. Quite enjoyable at this stage, but it never seemed well balanced. I'll hold my other bottle for a few years to see what happens. 91+

4/7/2024 - Apollo5710 wrote:

A good, solid wine at a great QPR! Open and ready from the beginning, but not especially distinct or pronounced with anything in particular beyond red fruits. It was at its best with 3 hours of air, at which point bing cherry, raspberry, and plum came to the fore with rosemary herbs and some minerality. Nicely textured, concentrated, and expansive in the mouth. Good now, and can age further - 92+

3/24/2024 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Solid Napa Chardonnay, and great value, as usual. Open and ready immediately, but it improved measurably with air. Well balanced, with buttery notes of lemon, apple blossom, pineapple, and with time, coconut appearing on the nose. Big and expansive in the mouth, and increasingly expressive with 3-4 hours of air. In fact, the last glass at the 6-hour mark was the best, as the finish really took off at this point. Good, though if opening now 3-4 hours minimum is needed to catch it at its best (if anything like this bottle). 93+

3/17/2024 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Opened for my wife's birthday. The nose immediately leaped from the glass to showcase ultra-ripe dark red fruits (e.g., raspberry, blueberry), vanilla, and hints of prune. As other tasters have noted, it is on the verge of being Port-like. Huge in the mouth, and lush and suave in terms of texture, and quite tannic. With 2-3 hours in the decanter the nose dissipated somewhat but also became more complex to yield wonderful notes of espresso and rosemary herbs, as it softened somewhat in the mouth. It was at its best after 5 hours, at which point notes of charred meats and dark chocolate emerged. At other moments, lavender and anise came to the fore too, while the finish finally revealed its potential with incredibly vivid flavors of sweet cherries and cinnamon. I'd like to hold our remaining bottle for 4-5 years, perhaps - though the intermittent prune notes indicate over ripeness which I fear may not bode well for extended bottle aging. We shall see, though there is no harm opening a bottle now (if able to provide 3-5 hours of air). 94 now, with upside (though my wife gave it a 97).

3/11/2024 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Big, brooding, and dark-fruit oriented. With a couple hours of decanting the nose opened up to reveal notes of graphite, cocoa, damp earth, and a mix of blueberries and sweet raspberries. With time, rosemary herb emerged to showcase a bit more of your typical southern Rhone attributes. Big and voluptuous in the mouth, but somewhat monolithic, and a touch of alcohol notable on the finish. I'll hold remaining bottles. 91+

1/28/2024 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Pure hedonism! Dark amber/red in appearance. Compared to a bottle of 2000 DZH Pinot Gris Heimbourg SGN opened two years ago this was slightly bigger and more viscous. The nose showcased notes of dried apricot, peach, mandarin orange, honey, and caramel. It is super oily textured in the mouth, delivering a rich and unctuous package of stone fruits complicated by caramel and minerals. Incredible, and likely immortal. Stored in a climate-controlled cellar since purchase upon release. I wish I had more.

12/24/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

The nose was somewhat stunted at first, and clearly needing to be decanted. With 2 hours of decanting, the nose emerged to reveal superb fruit-forward notes of black and red fruits melded with a strong presence of graphite, minerals, licorice, and spice. It had also gained depth and precision on the palate, showcasing a multi-layered and suave package of blackberry, blueberry, and raspberry complicated by earthy notes of brown sugar. Well crafted, and big, reflecting all the best parts of the vintage. It is still young, but quite expressive and in notably fruit-forward. The structure is still there, but well contained beneath the substance and wealth of the fruit. Can't go wrong by opening one now, but it should progressively develop for years to come, at least based on this experience. 95+

12/17/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

This is drinking beautifully! The nose leaps from the glass to showcase smoky notes perfume, flowers, melon, and honeysuckle. Great right away, but I'd recommend 2-3 hours of air to let it develop weight and depth. With air, it becomes big, lush, and expansive in the mouth featuring rich and creamy textured citrus and tropical fruit flavors. The finish is long. If you have some now is a good time to indulge at least based on this experience.

12/10/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Dark and deep, though tight upon opening the cork. It opened up with 2-3 hours in the decanter to reveal reticent notes of cedar, mint, rosemary, licorice, and with time, more notable notes of black fruits, soy, and cocoa. Big, polished, and lush in the mouth, and a long expansive finish. The alcohol was notable toward the end of the evening but it was never obtrusive. More bottle age is recommended. 93+

12/3/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

This bottle was in great shape, and was immediately ready to go after pulling the cork, but only got better with 2-3 hours of air. The nose showcases aromas of rosemary, mint, licorice, and underbrush melded with dark cherry and blackberry fruit. With time, coffee and tobacco emerged as well. It is big and open in the mouth, featuring a blend of dark and red fruits, licorice, and herbs, followed by a long, expressive finish. Well balanced with good acidity and structure in-tact. I sense a good degree of bottle variation judging by the wide range of notes on this - based on this bottle, it seems to be hitting at near peak.

11/30/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

In a word, awesome! Ready to go after immediately opening the cork. Compared to previous bottles, this one was darker, richer, and more full-bodied. Oily textured in the mouth and quite concentrated, showcasing (initially smoky) aromas and flavors of tropical stone fruits, mandarin orange, and a touch of honey. The finish is long and expressive. I can see where some may not like this style and that's ok, but for my tastes this is about as good as it gets. Over the past few years this has only gotten better and better.

11/24/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Not much of anything at first (beyond asphalt/tar), but with 3-4 hours of air it opened up considerably to yield a nose of asphalt, underbrush, and leather complicated by emerging red and black fruit flavors alongside subtle hints of rose. It really shines on the palate though, with an expansive and notably mouth coating package of the same flavors. It's big in the mouth, though mid-weight in concentration. Based on this bottle, give it plenty of air in order to enjoy (at least 3 hours).

11/19/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

In the zone - the nose revealing bright, red-fruit notes of dried cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate, coupled with smoke and, with time, a hint of cedar and chocolate. Compared to the last bottle opened 1.5 years ago, this was more open and accessible immediately, though not quite as powerful and notably more red-fruited. Gained weight and depth with 2-3 hours of air, and featuring the same flavors on the palate. Notable acidic spine is present through the long finish. A great value!

11/11/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Big, rich, and lush! Slightly buttery notes of lemon, honeysuckle, and melon pervade the nose, followed by a massively endowed package of the same flavors on the palate. Quite enjoyable on the hedonistic scale, though not especially complex. If you want a big, mouthful of wine, than this is it! Drink now or hold.

11/5/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

A clear step-up from the 2014 of this opened last week. The highlight was definitely the nose, which leaps from the glass immediately after pulling the cork (and stayed prominent for the entire 5-6 hours it took for us to consume the bottle). Aromas of bright, sweet red fruit initially took the nose by storm (raspberry, cherry, pomegranate) melded with violet, lavender, rosemary, olive, and with time, a touch of smoked meats, charcuterie, etc. Unreal and multidimensional, the most impressive bouquet I've experienced in some time. It needed a couple hours of air to gain weight and depth in the mouth, at which point a polished and smooth yet large-scaled package of ripe red and dark fruits cascade across the palate. It is big, rich, yet balanced, and refined, flowing into the long finish with notes of olive and charcuterie. An awesome experience. The 2014 last week, though very good on its own right, seemed a tad old and tired in comparison.

10/29/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Another great showing! Perhaps a bit toned down in comparison to the last bottle we had two years ago, and a bit smoother and ready to go more or less immediately (we did not decant). It did put on some weight with 1-2 hours of air, and delivered a very refined and large-scaled wine showcasing bright red fruits, violet, game, cocoa, and a touch of tobacco, followed by a long finish.

10/15/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Notably better than the first bottle opened over a year ago. This one was more concentrated, oily, and longer on the finish. Honeysuckle, lemon, and slightly buttered apple blossom on the nose and palate. In the sweet spot I'd say, if you still have any!

10/15/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Closed after opening, then decanted. After two hours, still closed but with subtle hints of red fruits (i.e., cherry) and violet. Absolutely huge in the mouth (barely containable), largely tannic, biting, but massive stature and substance, just not expressive of much of anything. The next morning, some 15+ hours after opening, nothing had budged. Hard to score. 93 now, I suppose, but with huge upside. I will forget I have these for 10+ years easily.

10/1/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Good showing - the nose initially showcased a blend of blue/black fruits (blueberry, blackberry, plum) and needed to be decanted. It really gained weight, depth, and expressiveness at the 2-3 hour mark, when it w at its best over the course of the 5-6 hours we consumed the bottle. At the 2-3 hour mark, the nose revealed typical notes of rosemary and lavender with hints of dark chocolate melded with the same fruit flavors. The fruit is upfront and center. The alcohol is clearly there but not overbearing or too obtrusive. We'll hold our last bottle for near-term drinking.

8/13/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Great showing, and even better value! Compared to the last bottle opened last year this was notably more demonstrable, revealing on the nose more up-front and buttery tropical and stone fruit notes, e.g., peach, orange, pineapple, apple blossom, and lemon. Big and exuberant in the mouth at first, with more depth and balance coming with 1-2 hours of air coupled with the same flavors. We loved this, and it punches well above its weight!

8/7/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

It opened with a big nose of cedar, and then promptly shut down after 10-20 minutes. But with just 1-2 hours in the decanter it reopened to showcase subtle aromas of blackberry complicated by more prominent notes of licorice, star anise, and cocoa. It gained notable weight and depth at this point as well, featuring a super smooth and lush chassis of the same flavors. It progressively became bigger and richer with more time, adding increasingly more complex and smoky flavors of lavender, chocolate, soy, almond, truffle, and game. It seemed to evolve with each sip, at one point reminding us of a mix of the exotic flowers we had just experienced at a botanical garden. This was opened at a restaurant so we didn't give it as much time as we would've normally (I imagine it opening and building further with 3-4 hours or more). Super refined and polished! Opened for 11th wedding anniversary. 95+ today (though my wife gave it 97 points), with plenty of upside in 5-10 years and beyond.

7/30/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Great value! The nose is fairly focused, yielding a blend of citrus and tropical fruits (i.e., pineapple, grapefruit, guava, and lemon) melded with smoky mineral-laced notes on the nose. In the mouth, it is immediately ready to go, with only the slightest buttery notes delivered in a lush and expansive package of citrus fruits and minerals. The oak is well integrated and barely noticeable, while being wonderfully balanced, with a long, delicious, and fruit-driven finish. The QPR doesn't get much better, and currently drinking super well!

7/16/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Comparable to the last bottle we consumed last year, though this showed a slightly more evolved profile - just as good, with the nose leaping from the glass initially to showcase funky aromas of charcuterie, bacon, game, smoke, and dark fruit (i.e., plum, blackberry). While the nose was impressive, it remained closed a bit on the palate. This changed after 1-2 hours of air (no decant), at which point the depth and expansiveness of the wine appeared, while never being too heavy (also impressive considering the 15.5% alcohol). Big, lush, and smooth, and adding distinct earthy notes of charcoal, followed by spice on the finish. Compared to the '14 Cattle King we opened last week, the Klein Vineyard showed a bit more complexity and refinement (but also needed a tad more patience). My wife, on the other hand, preferred the Cattle King.

7/9/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Stored in a cllmate controlled cellar since purchase upon release. Similar experience from last year, though we learned to just PnP rather than decant. To minimize the alcohol, I would recommend to open and keep the bottle near cellar temperature and consume within 2-3 hours. Pure hedonism (to the point of gluttony), showcasing vivid (and near overripe) dark red and black fruits complicated by herbs, mint, violets, and lavender. With time, dark chocolate emerged, with all flavors following on the palate which is full-bodied, ultra smooth and silky, leading to an explosive and lingering finish. Quite pleasurable for what it is! I see no reason to wait any more if you have them.

6/26/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Absolutely delicious! The nose initially leaps from the glass featuring notes of charcuterie, bacon, graphite, and a blend of red and blue fruits. While it was good from the onset, 3-4 hours of decanting yielded an even more complex wine with greater depth and weight. Still a bit primary on the palate, but superbly crafted with text-book Syrah flavor profile. Big, rich, and expansive, with blackberry, blueberry, and bright cherry notes mingled with incense, wild game, and a note of graphite (almost coal) that builds with time. Good now but with notable upside - 95+

6/19/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Needed 3-4 hours to gain depth and expansiveness on the palate. Champagne-like nose of toasted bread, pastries, and citrus fruit - the fruit perhaps dominates, but this was quite refreshing and enjoyable out on the patio, and a solid QPR.

6/11/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Stored in a climate controlled cellar since purchase upon release. Initially the subdued nose reveals a potent nose of cocoa, blueberry, and blackberry, though mired by clear notes of prune and alcoholic presence. Based on this bottle, 3-4 hour decant is necessary to get all of what this wine can deliver. The nose remained subdued the entire evening, showcasing the same aromatic profile though without as much of the prune/alcohol. On the palate, however, this is when the wine really came alive, building weight and depth to a full-bodied, super rich, lush, and expansive mid-palate featuring dark fruits, chocolate, a hint of game, and with time, anise and spice. The score reflects the wine's performance after 3-4 hours of decanting. The prune/alcoholic presence was off-putting though and prevented what otherwise would've been a higher score. Good, but not to the level of the '09 we had a couple years ago.

6/4/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Indeed, upon opening the cork you might think this came from Burgundy. The subdued nose revealed smoky, mineral-driven notes of slate, gun powder, and coconut (which came and went for the entire time - we consumed in about 5 hours). Much more expressive in the mouth with buttery notes of lemon, pineapple, and honeysuckle. Acidity is there, with a good, long finish. It needed an hour or so to really build weight and depth, at which point it made for a super harmonious and balanced wine, very enjoyable, and nothing out of place. Drinking well now, though I sense there's no hurry to drink the rest.

5/14/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Stored in a climate-controlled cellar since purchase upon release. Initially the nose is quite funky, showcasing musty, gravelly earth scents combined with floral and blackberry fruit notes. Then, with 30-60 minutes of air, a more scorched earth, road tar, and graphite profile took over, melded with a mix of red and black fruits which recede to the background. In the mouth it was mostly mature and super expressive, adding flavors of spice and anise which cascade into the long and pleasurable finish. As other tasters have noted, it is ready and seemingly fully mature with no need for a decant. We consumed it in 5 hours or so, but was probably at its best in the first few hours.

4/30/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Initially the nose is big, showing a blend of black and red fruits coupled with eucalyptus, damp earth, and notable alcohol. In the mouth it is big, lush, and expansive, though was not particularly forthcoming with expressive flavors at first. It then went into a shell to re-emerge at the 3-4 hours mark (we decanted immediately after pulling the cork), which was when it was at its best. Cranberry came to the fore, which then melded with notes of rose pedal, spice, and steeped black tea. The oak is not intrusive, but the alcohol was always lurking. It's got a lot of everything, but a bit discombobulated at the moment. We will hold our remaining bottles a few more years before trying again. 93+

4/19/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Very similar experience as Caruso's note below. Not quite as good as the last time we drank this 1.5 years ago, but still drinking well.

4/2/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Very good, but ultimately underwhelming as I sense that it isn't quite there yet. Very mineral-driven nose, plus violet, coal, and a mix of bright red fruits on the nose. Big and rambunctious in the mouth, so we decanted. It slowly gained weight and depth in the mouth, showcasing red and black fruit flavors that would've had us guess Cabernet rather than Syrah (plus graphite, damp earth, etc.). It finally began to resemble a Syrah after 6 hours, with spice, anise, and gamey, herbal (i.e., rosemary) notes emerging on the nose and in the mouth. Long finish, which only lengthened with air. Very good and pleasurable, but I'd bet it would benefit from a few more years of cellar time.

3/19/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Similar experience to the Pira Margheria of the same vintage, except the Marenca is slightly bigger, deeper, and darker. Real funky at first, woody, and a prominent scent of turpentine. At least 2-3 hours of air is necessary for this to blow-off, at which point the nose turns to an earthy array of leather (it smelled like a used catcher's mitt), tar, rose pedal, mint, and with time, gravel and spice. Dark fruit flavors linger in the background of a full-bodied, resolved, and super expressive palate of the same assorted flavors, followed by a distinct gamey note on the long finish. Patience is key though to let this open up!

3/13/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Opened for my wife's birthday, and we loved it! The nose is initially quite powerful and nuanced, showcasing a plethora of earthy and dusty notes of tobacco, leather, truffle, and roasted meat. With time, red fruits, mint, eucalyptus, gravel, anise, rosemary, and spice followed. Big, round, and lush in the mouth, featuring red fruit flavors (strawberry, raspberry, cherry, etc.), licorice, and spice followed by a long, candied finish. This seems ready and in great shape, though will continue to evolve for years. Complex and ethereal, similar to the 2009. Of course, if brett is not your thing than you might not enjoy this like we did - it was quite funky and almost Burgundian on the nose.

3/5/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

A big, deep nose of graphite, leather, black cherry, roses, and black tea waft from the glass initially, with notes of soy, spice, and red licorice emerging with time. The graphite ended up being particularly prominent. In the mouth it needed a good 2-3 hours to gain weight and depth (although it was expressive and open the entire time), at which point a blend of black and red fruits cascaded over the palate within a soft and lush package, followed by a long, savory finish. Good now or hold.

2/19/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

This delivered for us! The nose revealed interesting notes of green olive, crushed rocks, slate, pineapple, apple blossom, and a touch of lemon and butter. Open the entire time (we drank it in 3-4 hours), showcasing a nicely balanced, creamy, and smooth (almost viscous) mouth feel, featuring mineral-driven and buttery flavors of citrus fruits plus oysters with time. Long finish. About as good as it gets for the price.

2/12/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

A monstrous wine. At first, the nose reveals subtle notes of black fruits, vanilla, coffee, and cedar. It clearly needed decanting, which proved necessary as it settled down and opened up with 4-5 hours of air. At this point, distinct notes of black cherry and blackberry emerged alongside earthy notes of graphite, cocoa, and spice. Absolutely huge in the mouth (of which the mouth can barely contain), with the extended aeration yielding suave layers of red and black fruit flavors melded with red licorice and spice. The finish is explosive and long. We regretted opening this up as this still needs more bottle age. Based on this bottle, we will hold at least 5 more years to open the next one. 95+

2/5/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Better than previous bottle, and likely peaking or close I would guess. The mature nose initially leaped from the glass to reveal prominent and attractive notes of tobacco, cedar, damp earth, and more subtle red and black fruits. The nose was at its best in the first few minutes before dissipating to some degree for a couple hours. In the mouth it was rather sumptuous and delicate at first, revealing little in the way of structure. We did not decant, but opted to give it air for 2-3 hours which proved crucial to get the best from this bottle. Though not a big or super concentrated wine, after 3 hours it gained considerable weight and depth, becoming increasingly expansive and expressive on the back end as well. At this point, the nose re-emerged though this time to showcase burning embers, soy, and black tea notes melded with graphite and more subtle notes of roses and cool mint. Red and black fruits, spice, and brown sugar flow over the palate into a lovely and long finish. Stored in climate-controlled conditions since purchase upon release. In agreement with other tasters, I suspect this is probably not getting much better.

1/29/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

The nose immediately leaped from the glass to showcase beguiling notes of pomegranate, fruit cake, assorted herbs, and candied strawberry and raspberry. With time, star fruit, passion fruit, spice, and hints of eucalyptus emerged as well. Big, rich, and concentrated, but clearly young as the tannin/acidic structure needed 3-4 hours to settle, and the fruit to come to the fore on the palate (which was geared toward tropical red fruit flavors). The 14.5% alcohol was also notable at times as well. Good energy and tension though, just needs 5 years (min.) of bottle age to develop further. Not as good as the 2015 today, but could easily be the better wine in the years to come. 93+

1/22/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Great initial nose of black fruits, charcuterie, earth and leather. On the palate, a good degree of heat is noticeable at first and increasingly dominated (even on the nose too) for the first 2-3 hours. Not well balanced. We decanted, and after 3 hours the heat blew off and it revealed its best. Increasingly complex at this point, adding flavors of olive, spice, cinnamon, and charcoal wrapped in layers of dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, much better balanced, and quite ethereal on the finish. If anything like this bottle, I'd give it 2-3 hours of air, or give it more bottle age.

1/16/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Good, balanced Chardonnay - the nose reveals notes of honeysuckle, apple blossom, lemon, hint of butter, and with time, oyster. Nicely balanced and concentrated in the mouth, featuring much of the same flavors. Great QPR at $35 on sale! Drinking great now, and seems like it will continue to evolve further.

1/8/2023 - Apollo5710 wrote:

This was in fantastic shape! The nose initially leaps from the glass to reveal a plethora of funky and earthy notes of red fruit (i.e., cherry, strawberry), cassis, hickory, and game. Open and lush immediately, and only gained weight and depth with extended aeration. Little tannic/acidic structure remains, just mouthful after mouthful super expressive, sweet red fruit. With time, the cherry and strawberry notes are joined by pomegranate, spice, and brown sugar. Impeccable!

12/25/2022 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Stored in a climate-controlled cellar since purchase upon release. Initially after pulling the cork, the nose leaped from the glass to showcase aged aromas of smoky tobacco, herbs, damp earth, leather, dark fruits (e.g., blueberry, boysenberry), and a hint of menthol. Big and rich in the mouth, but it promptly retreated into a shell after 20 minutes. We decanted, and it re-emerged 2 hours later to reveal the extent of the tannic/acidic structure, but with the hollow middle often associated with the vintage. After 3 hours, a totally different picture emerged: while the nose all but disappeared at this point, the mid-palate came to life with lush, suave, and complex flavors of red fruit (strawberry, cherry), licorice, spice, and brown sugar cascading across the palate into a particularly long and explosive finish. The best 2002 I've had thus far, but based on this bottle at least, a 3 hour minimum decant was necessary to get the best of what it had to offer, which was impressive!

12/17/2022 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Similar to last bottle earlier this year, but slightly better: a bit bigger, rich, and more expansive (with at least 2-3 hours of air).

12/13/2022 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Similar experience to previous bottles. While it's super expressive immediately after pulling the cork, featuring the usual funky, rocks notes of olive, bacon, charcuterie, pepper (plus cedar, minerals), it needs 2-3 hours of air to gain sufficient weight and depth.

12/4/2022 - Apollo5710 wrote:

This was more open and expressive than the last bottle we opened two years ago. The funky nose initially leaps from the glass to showcase notes of blackberry, strawberry, tobacco, smoke, and oak. With additional time, coffee, crushed rocks, anise, spice, and forest floor came to the fore. In the mouth it is suave, lush, and long on the finish, featuring much of the same flavors. The tannin seemed resolved, with all other components in balance and harmony. Well put together, and a great deal at $30. great now, but I sense that there's also no rush.

11/30/2022 - Apollo5710 wrote:

Better than the last bottle we had a year ago. If you're not into these wines than this review (and score) might not make much sense. We love this producer, and the style of wine they make, especially the Gewurz from this vineyard. The nose is big with a complex assortment of tropical fruit (e.g., peach, apricot), mandarin orange, caramel, honey, creme brulee, floral scented perfume, and a touch of minerality. Good acidity still frames the overall package of similar flavors that cascade over the palate. Open for business immediately, but best after 3-4 hours of air, as it builds weight and depth, becoming increasingly concentrated and even viscous. This is indice 3, but only a touch of sweetness remained notable for us. Utterly fantastic, balanced, and delicious! No need to drink today, as it will continue to age, but it's hard not to!

11/25/2022 - Apollo5710 wrote:

In short, we were disappointed. Good, but certainly not great or memorable. Many of the tell-tale signs of the vintage (i.e., weak mid-palate) were evident, coupled with no real nose. It did gain weight in the mouth after 4+ hours of air (we decanted), and the finish was probably the highlight, but we suspected it has probably seen better days (at least going by this bottle) (this has also stored in ideal climate conditions since purchase upon release).

With coaxing, the nose eventually yielded subtle notes of lavender, graphite, cassis, and blueberry, but was never expressive. In the mouth, darker flavors of chocolate melded with herbs and Asian spices, leading to a tasty finish. However, compared with /02 Leoville Poyferre and many other '02s, this was underwhelming.

11/13/2022 - Apollo5710 wrote:

This was drinking quite well for us! It was open and expressive from the beginning. We did not decant, though it did gain weight and depth and was definitely better after 3 hours of air. The nose revealed notes of tobacco, ash, anise, and a touch of prune (most likely the vintage talking), and with time, coffee, rose petal, and graphite emerging to the fore. It was expansive in the mouth, showcasing the same flavors, and was well balanced and pleasurable (though lost some complexity with 4-5 hours of air). Note: the amount of sediment was colossal, as other reviewers have also noted.

10/23/2022 - Apollo5710 wrote:

This started out a bit tight with the acidity dominating. With a few hours of air it settled down and developed into a nice mouth-full of wine, typical Pinot Gris notes of lychee, pineapple, and lemon are showcased. Very pleasant and tasty, and at its best with 3-4 hours of air.