4/14/2024 - DoubleMagnum wrote:

This either needs a lot of air or it is going through a mute phase. It was completely closed. It opened up a little after about 20 minutes but I think it needed more time. Just some red fruit and a hint of cedar. Palate is high in acid, fruit is underripe. Finish is brief.
Will let the next one sit for another year or so and see how it progresses.

4/13/2024 - DoubleMagnum wrote:

Medium lemon in color. Reductive nose. Some citrus and wet stones on the nose. High acid, medium extract. Shortish finish. Good, but not very exciting.

4/14/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Lighter in color than the Singerriedel I had a few days ago. This is a light gold color. The nose has some papaya, pineapple, bitter orange and some petrol notes. Dry on the palate. The body is medium and unctuous. There's a good amount of acidity and also light bitterness on the finish. Very good bottle.

4/12/2024 - DoubleMagnum wrote:

Deep gold in color. Nose of dried apricots, bruised apple and preserved lemons. Rich but weightless on the palate. High acid and almost dry. Great phenolic grip. Lengthy, permeating finish. This is outstanding.

4/7/2024 - DoubleMagnum wrote:

Cherry and cranberry compote on the nose. The fruit is a bit passed peak now but the restrain on this is astonishing. Nobody could believe the alcohol content. Fully mature. Drink up!

4/7/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Much better than last time. This wine is evolving nicely. Oak is well integrated, acidity balances the fruit nicely, it feels leaner than I recall and the length on the finish is respectable. Very good bottle.

4/5/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

The nose reminds me of Cote du Beaune but the palate is more austere. There's fruit but the acid is high. It's drinking well but I think it still can gain more complexity.

4/4/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Consistent notes. This does not taste its age at all.

4/4/2024 - DoubleMagnum wrote:

Time in the cellar has made some improvements on this bottle. The fruit is popping a little more, and the acidity is not as pronounced as I recall. The price point still seems a bit high for what's in the bottle. Enjoyable but not a great QPR.

3/16/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

It was the consensus from the group that this tasted a lot younger than its age. For me, the nose was more mature than the palate but both are in a great stage right now. I don't think there is any need to wait any longer though.

3/14/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

It appears younger than ten years old. Red fruit on the nose, some raw oak, faded mushroom notes as well. Lean, bright, with medium tannins on the palate and a medium finish.
It's starting to open up, but my overall impression is this is still tight. It needs some more time.

3/9/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Fresh, full of red fruit and easy. Not the most overly complex wine to drink but very enjoyable.

3/10/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Consistent notes. But this time it's even better. Contrary to what I thought then, time may have done good to this. It's so Bordeaux-like. 91+1.

3/11/2024 - DoubleMagnum wrote:

Four years has made a difference here. It is aging quick, time to drink up.

3/11/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Consistent notes from six years ago. Aside from the color, this hasn't changed much. It's still fantastic.

3/10/2024 - DoubleMagnum wrote:

Had a small taste. This seem still fairly tannic to me. There's extract there but very little development. It needs at least 5 more years IMHO.

3/8/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Aging marvelously. Marmalade, honeycomb and quince on the nose. Unctuous, lingering and balanced on the palate. Persistent finish. Excellent job.

3/7/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

In a very good stage of development. The tertiaries are just starting to pop. Tannins are well absorbed, mouthfeel is silky, extract is plenty. This can age another 5 years easily. Great QPR.

3/6/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Pure black olive on the nose. Lean, light, ethereal on the palate. Very Northern Rhone in style at this stage. Reminds me a lot of Saint Joseph.

3/2/2024 - DoubleMagnum wrote:

More red fruit on this Barbaresco than in the last Barolo I had. This has aged more gracefully. Nose has some mushroom, dried flowers and red berries. On the palate, acid is medium, tannins are integrated, oak a bit high but not noticeable enough. Finish is dry and of medium length. Enjoyable.

2/29/2024 - DoubleMagnum wrote:

New world influence is evident here. Oak is popping, fruit is fading. Still pleasurable but time to drink up.

2/27/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Still drinking well. Feels higher in acid and the sweetness has gone down, minerality is up. Drank it with a red Roussillon and this felt more old world.

2/23/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Still holding up. Elegant and restrained with quite a bit of red fruit left at the core. Notes of raspberry, forest floor and black tea. Dry, high acid, soft tannins, long finish. Pretty wine. It has aged nicely.

2/17/2024 - DoubleMagnum wrote:

Too sweet for me. Feels one dimensional. Still all fruit after 17 years. It lacks some complexity.

2/15/2024 - DoubleMagnum wrote:

Quite enjoyable on the first day. Nose is not very developed. Palate is a bit more. I'd say this is full bodied. It has quite an amount of extract but it's feeling a bit too ripe for me, especially on the second day. The notes of licorice are turning into prunes. Not sure if time will do this any good. I'm glad I popped now.

2/12/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

The color is deep gold now. Nose is still enticing and quite old worldy, but on the palate it is definitely not as elegant and polished as seven years ago. There is a bit of oxidation but more than that, it feels quite concentrated and more fleshy than I remember. Persistent on the palate. Finish is long. This is on the down slope. Drink up.

2/5/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Still in the early drinking stage. Wait.

1/20/2024 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Very attractive nose. Still to young for my taste but absolutely enjoyable. Feels really traditional. Good grip and length.

1/12/2024 - DoubleMagnum Does not like this wine:

Eight years later, you can still feel the vintage here. A bit too ripe, extracted, big for me. It can pass for new world pinot.

12/21/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Agreed with the prior note. I can see the analogy to Morgon. This also reminds me of the northern Rhone a bit. It's like drinking Marcel Lapierre and Hervé Souhaut at the same time.

12/24/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

The body of Smaragd and the salinity of Assyrtiko. Stunning bottle.

12/23/2023 - DoubleMagnum wrote:

It's okay.

12/23/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Three years later, consistent notes. This is still at the sweetspot of maturity.

12/18/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Don't let the label detract you. This is good wine. Definitely the best vintage of this bottling from '16 to '20. Some time in the cellar has done it good. It has gained some weight and the mineral notes are popping. The fruit is kept lively by the acidity. It has certainly gained complexity. I think this can develop further but the balance between primary fruit and tertiary notes is at its prime. Great effort from Kirkland.

12/13/2023 - DoubleMagnum wrote:

Medium garnet in color, no briking, some sediment. Muted on the nose. Barely noticeable red fruit and oak. On the palate, dry, acid is medium, tannins are angular, mouthfeel is rustic. Not sure this will improve. I don't think there's enough extract. Unfortunately this seems like it's passed peak.

12/10/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

From magnum. Medium ruby in color. Nose is red fruited, some raw cedar, raspberry, forest floor and floral notes. Medium bodied, packed with flavor and a bit spicy. Tannins are still chewy. Acid is medium plus. Finish is dry and longer than average. This can age longer in this format. Enjoyable but it can use a few years in the cellar to polish some edges.

12/7/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Time has done good to this bottle. Everything seems to be coming together. The plushness of the fruit went quite well with Indian food.

11/28/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Deep ruby in color. A bit of sediment is present. A lot younger looking than its age should reflect. Cherry, blackberry, licorice on the nose. Along with iron, fresh meat carcass, and wet soil. On the palate, ripe but no heat or overripeness. There are no dried or stewed fruits. The palate isn't as wild as the nose, it was resolved, velvety smooth. The finish is long. Amazingly, the whole group thought this still tasted young. I think it's at peak maturity for me but it should linger there for quite some time.

11/22/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Enticing floral nose with an herbal background, cranberry, underripe strawberry, hints of tar and tea. Bright, grippy and seductive palate with a good amount of fruit at the core and even a hint of sweetness. Well structured and a finish that lingers for a bit. I'd say this is entering peak of maturity. There is still a few years left but such a treat to drink now.

11/26/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Surprisingly young for a decade old bottle! Stunning for its focus, clarity, high intensity and raspberry fruit wrapped with minerals and doused with sweet spices. Elegantly concentrated, silky, layered and crisp. Well balanced, harmonious and long. Masterfully done.

11/17/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Bottle is good. Consistent notes as last time.

11/17/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Blackcurrant, tobacco and ash on the nose. Mature but still vibrant. Dry on the palate with bright acidity, soft tannin and restrained alcohol. The fruit is still alive. Finish could be a tad longer but this is a charming bottle.

11/14/2023 - DoubleMagnum wrote:

Similar to last note. Blinded. It is developing some tertiaries. A few thought it was older than 2010. Most did not.

11/16/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Raspberry, sap, earth, leather and a bit of funk that dissipated fairly quickly. On the palate dry, high acidity, resolved tannins and no heat. The finish is of mid length. It is drinking almost as good as last time. Drink up.

11/13/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

This wine is ageless. Insanely young. Great bottle.

11/12/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Dark fruited nose, with notes of black olives, asphalt, violets, lavender and bramble. Lowish acidity, medium soft tannins, medium/full weight. Medium length finish. Feels restrained and elegant. Went well with some Uzbeki grilled treats.

11/9/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Four years later, this is still singing. Notes seem fairly consistent with just a little more development. Beautifully complex bottle. Time to drink now.

11/4/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Beautifully aged. Notes of rose petals and cigar pop. The fruit is still alive at the core. Acidity keeps it vibrant. Tannins are well integrated. Finish is dry and of medium length. Very good effort.

11/4/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine:

Medium lemon in color. Nose is a bit muted but there are some stone fruit and floral hints. On the palate, the wine is soft, mellow ,round, clean, and smooth and not so fruity as much as alkaline. Somewhat innocuous.

11/3/2023 - DoubleMagnum wrote:

Deep gold in color. Some tartrates are visible. The nose has some funk, pineapple, a little botrytis, honey and elderflower. Complex palate of honey, wax, orange marmalade and a bitter finish.
Dryer and more advanced than expected for a 50 year old bottle, but still a treat.