4/30/2022 - Toro Nero Likes this wine:

2015 was in the zone tonight. Super aromatic, with lots of floral notes, orange blossom, citrus, and sea spray. The floral and orange blossom carry through onto the front palate with a bit of citrus zest; then comes all the minerality. Wet river stones and cracked rocks. Long and enjoyable finish.

5/15/2020 - Toro Nero Likes this wine:

Needs at least an hour or two in the decanter to open up. A bit austere on the entry. Some nice cranberry, dried brush, and dusty tannins. Bright acidity, Best with food.

2/21/2015 - Toro Nero wrote:

Had high hopes for this. Built in the Burgundian style. Dark cherries, cola, sliced mushrooms on the nose. The palate starts with hints of bright fresh berries, strawberries, and earth. The back end shows soft tannins but is heavy on oak with notes of white pepper and maybe some sage. Simply not well balanced. The fruit appears early but is muted and fades far too quickly. Disappointing for this price point.

12/12/2014 - Toro Nero Likes this wine:

Crystalline bright red in the glass. No sediment at all. Fresh raspberry and blueberry and red currant jams on the nose. The wine is fresh and bright, with lively acidity. Crushed flowers, red currants, tart strawberries. A bit of earth and leaves. Finishes strong with minerals, wet stones. Really shows off the vintage. Gorgeous, gorgeous stuff. Very youthful; will lay down for a long time. 3 in the cellar, wish Santa would bring me another case.

12/13/2014 - Toro Nero Likes this wine:

Peaking! Black and red fruits on the nose along with fresh leather, sage, campfire, camphor, and medium tobacco. Very balanced on the palate, with more red and black fruit, asphalt, smoke, black pepper and a touch of heat from the 15% alcohol. The finish is elegant and lasting with mineral and sweet spice. Lots of layers, and everything's in harmony. Still has a spark of youth, but not sure it will improve going forward. Sadly this was my last bottle!

6/13/2014 - Toro Nero Likes this wine:

Fantastic Central Cali Coast take on the Southern Rhone. A gorgeous deep violet and purple hue. When first popped thie nose was pure black currant and black cherry, with hints of barbecue spices and smoke. After breathing for about an hour, camphor, sage, and thyme show up. The wine is light on its feet considering the muscular flavors on display. Rich and decadent red and black fruits are layered with savory grilled meat juices, charcoal, soy sauce, black olive and an earthy minerality. The finish shows crushed pink and green peppercorns, with a burst of red currant riding on a harmonious punch of tannin and acidity. Will be interesting to see how this evolves over time. For now, it is drinking very well. Perfect for pairing with summertime charcoal grilled meats.

5/16/2014 - Toro Nero Likes this wine:

Wet stones, crushed granite, morning dew, and hints of white flowers on the nose. The wine offers layers of flavor, albeit a bit subdued. Citrus oil, green apple, peach pit, almonds, pain grille. Lower acidity than I would prefer, which makes the finish a bit sluggish. Wish it was a little more crisp. Some buttered popcorn on the finish as it lingers.

4/4/2014 - Toro Nero Likes this wine:

Deep, dark garnet with a tinge of purple in the glass. A beautiful aroma of tobacco, bacon, cedar, pencil shavings, and black currant form the nose. If I didn't know this was a 2005, I'd guess a much younger wine. On the palate, this wine is plush and rich, almost velvety. Bursting with dark, spicy fruit and spice; there is black cherry, black currant, leather, and a touch of wet earth. The tannins have softened and a bit of heat is starting to show. A bit more acidity would balance things out. The finish is pleasant and warming. Time in the glass makes for an enjoyable evolution. This is at (if not just past) it's prime; I don't see further age enhancing the wine. Enjoy now!

3/28/2014 - Toro Nero Likes this wine:

First tasted after just opening. Brilliant deep garnet in the glass. The nose is complex with cherry pit, fresh cherry juice, crushed flowers, and a hint of petrol. The palate ranges from red currant and tart cherry to wet stones, paraffin, oak, and garrigue. It turns astringent and bitter on the finish. The tannins are a bit angular and not well integrated. The warming finish is long lasting and pleasant. This oddity in the finish improves dramatically with some time in the glass. Hoping to update this note after a few hours of oxygen.

3/22/2014 - Toro Nero Likes this wine:

Decanted for about an hour before tasting. A deep brick color, garnet at the rim. The nose is packed full of classic St. Estephe; damp earth, wet leaves, rich tobacco, Asian spices, red currant. On the palate the wine is light on its feet, however packed with complex layers; each coming through on different sips, never all at once. Tart cherry, tar, spicy red currant, capsicum, smoke, suede. The wine is quite balanced, with light acidity. The tannins are extremely softened, making for a silky texture. The finish lingers nicely. Overall a delicate, floral, and very interesting wine. Definitely a little brother to big boy Cos. Drinking beautifully now. Not sure of its longevity given the tannins are already rounded out; Pure pleasure right now.

2/1/2014 - Toro Nero Likes this wine:

I don't think they made a bad wine in Napa in 1999.... Deep garnet and pristine in the glass. Earthy, muted aromas of tobacco, leather, leaves, and briary fruit on the nose. Classic Napa Cab flavors; smokey, rich berry fruit with a green vegetal edge framed on solid, refined tannins. This is an angular style; they just don't make wines like this anymore. Closes with warm cloves. Not the longest finish, other 99s have a bit more heft. This is an extremely enjoyable and drinkable wine. And for me, it's like a time machine, taking me back.

12/29/2013 - Toro Nero wrote:

ASHEGEDYN got it right. The nose is layered with graphite, boysenberry, and an ocean water salinity. Surprisingly bright acidity and minerality. The fruit is subdued, and the terroir shines through. Nice structure from the tannins which continue to soften in the glass. This is extremely complex. There are undertones of fig and plum, balanced by the salinity and notes of savory cured meats. First glass after about 2 hrs of decanting. I'm sure this will develop further by tomorrow. A fun wine to enjoy now or store away for a rainy day 3-5 years from now.

12/21/2013 - Toro Nero wrote:

Deep, dark garnet in color. The nose is formidable with smoke, tar, and cedar. When I first decanted this, I also was getting aromas of mushroom soup, bordelaise sauce, and reduced veal stock. The wine is highly extracted, with a muscular frame supporting the dark berry flavors; boysenberry jam, spiced blackberry compote, and hints of tobacco, black tea, and savory cured sausage. With extended time in the glass, vegetal flavors develop, showing an edge of green pepper. Tannins are softened, but still firm enough to hint at what will develop over a little more time. The medium finish shows sweeter flavors of dried plum and dried cherry and baking spices. An extremely complex and enjoyable wine; drink now to enjoy. If you have some inventory, this will interesting to try in another 3-5 years.

12/21/2013 - Toro Nero Likes this wine:

Light garnet color. Pretty nose of balsam, smoke, spice and flowers. The palate is bright and fresh, offering tart cherry and lots of wet stone / mineral flavors. There is a hint of raw cremini mushroom as well. Very lean body, austere in an old world fashion. The finish is relatively short, with a burst of acidity, bright cherry and spice notes. Will try again in a year or so.

11/30/2013 - Toro Nero Likes this wine:

My last bottle of this wine in my favorite vintage. Decanted for less than 30 minutes. Deep garnet. Edge is slightly fading. On the nose, there are strong flavors of leather, tobacco, cigar box, dried leaves, and toasted oak.

The wine starts out with notes of cherry, green pepper, licorice, and black currant. The structure is holding on, with a bit of tannins remaining.

The medium finish gives off white pepper, tart cherry, and faint smoke. The finish is retreating, signifying the wine is on the downslope of its evolution.

While this wine is not what it was 5 years ago, I find it to be extremely enjoyable. Fully mature, displaying a nuanced beauty hidden in its younger years. 1999 remains one of my favorite vintages in Napa; not just because of the amazingly concentrated and long-lived fruit but also because it evokes a style of wine making prevalent during the late 90s which I truly appreciate. Enjoy this wine now, if you have any left!

11/24/2013 - Toro Nero Likes this wine:

Decanted and tasted over the course of about 4 hours. Deep garnet red. Olives, roasted meats, wild berries, dried fig, savory herbs, and brushfire leap from the glass.

The palate is a rush of blackberry and black currant, liquified minerals, leather, earth, smoke, perhaps a hint of kirsh. Silky tannins provide enough structure, but this is smooth....

The finish sails on and on.... White pepper and dried apricot. Extremely well made wine, this is classic Barossa shiraz. The wine is hitting on all cylinders now, and will most likely continue to do so for another 2-3 years. I don’t foresee it improving with additional age.

11/23/2013 - Toro Nero Likes this wine:

First time tasting this wine. Light golden in color, the wine is rich and viscous in the glass. Apple peel and wet stones come through in the nose. On the palate, I get layers of apples, honey, acacia flowers, honeysuckle, and almonds. The mid palate gets an uplift of acidity and a hint of salinity. The finish carries on with candied orange peel, clove, and allspice. Well balanced and quite lively; not showing much age after 10 years.