4/14/2024 - EM_MB wrote:

Same notes as before

4/14/2024 - EM_MB wrote:

Nice rose that’s perfect for a warm day

4/13/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Very good champagne with a good amount of age on it. That said, missing a wow factor that I was hoping would be there.

4/12/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

1 hour slow ox. Nice young BdM. Solid QPR.

4/6/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Quick splash decant and oh so good. No heat to speak of, tannis integrated but still present. Absolutely delightful to drink. It’s a shame the current vintages cost 50% more.

4/5/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Gorgeous SB. Much better than any SB from Napa. 2020 better than 2021

4/3/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Tight as coil, needed plenty of air to open up. That said, all the of the pieces in place for a great champagne.

4/2/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

IMHO, consistently the best rose out of Napa.

3/24/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

4 hour decant. Wasn’t as tightly wound as I feared. While very enjoyable now, I’m looking forward to seeing how this evolves.

3/22/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

4 hour decant and drank over 2 days. Decant but a big one dimensional. Was hoping for more nuance.

3/22/2024 - EM_MB wrote:

Every time I drink this aim left wishing it just had a bit more. More structure, more body, etc. it’s like it’s so close to being really good but always falls a bit short.

3/21/2024 - EM_MB wrote:

Would have expected more given the vintage.

3/16/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

PNP at restaurant. Good but still relatively simple. Just needs more time to come together. Hold.

3/15/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

5 hour decant and it was ready to go. Drinking very well now but still more upside to be had. Drink with lots of air of hold.

3/16/2024 - EM_MB wrote:

Cork looked and felt fine yet wine was super advanced given its age. If blind, would have guessed it was a 40 year old Barolo.

3/9/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

An absolute stunner. Every aspect has come together in harmony and still going strong. Could easily last another 5+ years. One of the best BdMs I’ve had in a long time.

3/9/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Slight step dow from the 2020 but nonetheless delicious

3/9/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Nice but relatively unremarkable

3/4/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable as long as you take it for what it is. An entry level BdM to enjoy while letting the more complex 15 BdM slumber for a few more years. Almost Rosso-like. Great QPR. Drink or hold.

3/3/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Pleasantly surprised by this. A bit tighter wound relative to the ‘20. More mineralogy as well. The antithesis of NoCal buttery oaky Chardonnay in the best way possible.

3/2/2024 - EM_MB wrote:

Massive fruit bomb. Perhaps that’s the style but I prefer some elegance/restraint.

2/24/2024 - EM_MB wrote:

Lacks the signature PM yeasty bouquet that I absolutely adore. On the palate, relatively full bodied but has a weird sour note in the end. Nonetheless, good QPR but in hindsight needs more time to develop. I’d hold for at least couple more years.

2/22/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Drank at a Park City restaurant so unfortunately only a splash decant. Would have been much better with a couple of hours of air and/or a couple of more years of age.

2/22/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Brought to dinner at a Park City restaurant so only a splash decant. Nice brunello with some age under it. I suspect it would have been much better with some air. That said, missing that cherry core that I love in BdM.

2/20/2024 - EM_MB wrote:

Nice but a tad bit thin. I’ve had much better versions of this exact same bottle, chalking it up to bottle variation.

2/20/2024 - EM_MB wrote:

Just meh. Uninspired and a bit tired. I was hoping for so much more.

2/15/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Great QPR

2/10/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Flash double decant. Lovely core of cherry and red fruit. Tannins have mellowed, already in its drinking window. While perhaps not at the level of some of the Salvioni from greater vintages, this is still a wonderful wine.

2/6/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

PNP. Much better than couple of years ago.

2/6/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

PNP and in a good spot now.

2/4/2024 - EM_MB wrote:

6 hour decant and drank over 2 days. Day 1 - disappointing; lacking in complexity and clipped finish. Day 2 - a good amount better but not quite there yet. IMO, years from being ready.

2/3/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Great QPR!!

2/3/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Massive wine. IMO 17s tend to drink sooner rather than later but this one needs lots of air. 1 hour decant which wasn’t nearly enough.

2/2/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

One hour slow ox. Definitely one of the more approachable ‘18 Napa reds at this point. Tannins fairly mellow, will continue to improve but very good now with some air.

1/14/2024 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

1 hour decant. Just entering its prime drinking window but will be there for many many years. Absolutely stunning wine.

12/25/2023 - EM_MB wrote:

Waaaay past its drinking window. Bouquet was jarring. If you can get past that, juice was actually decent. Definitely fun to try but no one in the group could stomach more than 1/2 a glass.

12/25/2023 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

3 hour decant. Oppulant. Almost too much so. Really good wine but needs food to cut through all of the layers it has going on. I’d suggest at least a 5 year slumber.

12/25/2023 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

As a rule of thumb, I don't particularly enjoy desert wines, ports, etc. but this was an absolute stunner of a wine. Total knock out.

12/25/2023 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

3 hour slow ox. Terrific BdM that should continue to improve with time. Drink with air or hold.

12/24/2023 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

5 hour slow ox. Pretty good but a massive drop off from the blockbuster I tasted 2 years ago. Not sure if somehow it’s shut down now but didn’t have much expression on the nose. Overall, just decent when I expected so much more. Unfortunately last of my 4 bottles.

12/23/2023 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Nice sparkler although didn’t find anything truly memorable about it.

12/22/2023 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

I historically stay away from Napa whites, but this is different, in a great way. That said, it’s a bit on the muted side, and while delightful, seems more of a poolside sipper on a hot day (for my palette anyway). However, am looking forward to seeing how this evolves over the next year or two.

12/21/2023 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Slow ox for 4 hours. One of my favorite things about the 17 vintage (which in general I tend to avoid) is that its drinking window is now so I can enjoy wines like BO while allowing better vintages time to slumber. This wine is so well crafted, very enjoyable. More finesse/elegance vs power. Great with or without food. Drink now or within next 5 years.

12/12/2023 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

7 hour slow ox. Fairly open given its youth but all the elements have not yet come together. This will no doubt be better in time. Hold at least a couple of more years.

12/5/2023 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

2 hour decant. As a rule, I just don’t the 13s are in their prime drinking spot yet. Hold.

12/8/2023 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

2 hour decant. Smooth and elegant, wonderful CF and great QPR. Early in drinking window and looking forward to seeing how it matures in a few years.

11/30/2023 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Once it has some air to mellow it out this is absolutely spectacular. More elegant/refined as opposed to powerful but checks all the boxes for a well crafted BdM with some age.

11/29/2023 - EM_MB Likes this wine:

Brought to an Italian wine tasting where PNP was the only option. Knew ahead of time that this was a coin flip but and at the very least would be interesting to try.

Ah-so got the cork out in one piece and once the initial funk blew off, we were rewarded with a surprisingly robust amount of fruit. Absolutely delicious and tasted like it could go many many more years. Super fun to try.

11/24/2023 - EM_MB wrote:

Cork all but disintegrated upon touch. Brown in color, raisiny almost armone taste. Interesting to try but this bottle was way past its prime and on the downward slide.

11/24/2023 - EM_MB wrote:

PNP. Always one of the best Zin’s IMO.