12/6/2013 - wbfjsr wrote:

Big, big Pinot, but balanced. A bit hot on the finish but deep black cherry and oak flavors made it quite enjoyable.

7/19/2013 - wbfjsr wrote:

Text book Pinot - improved over the evening, if I had another bottle I would acutally decant

2/10/2013 - wbfjsr wrote:

Loved in tasting room. fig jam and spice on the nose. The fruit is a bit jammy for me, but beautifully structured and layered. Nice finish, just a bit hot, nice length. Much better second night, popped and poured, will decant other bottle.

12/25/2012 - wbfjsr Likes this wine:

Had 2 bottles with Christmas dinner, alongside a 2003 and 2007. Certainly this wine would be better in a year or two, but after a few hours in a decanter it was drinking beautifully. Classic dark cherry and leather notes, beautifully structured, and wonderful with beef tenderloin. A perfect example of what I love about Hawkes. Bold, but restrained.

1/2/2013 - wbfjsr wrote:

At this with a Turkey dinner, with rich gravy over Christmas. Double decanted. Pours a ruby red, note of spicy cranberry and earth dominated, wonderful pairing with rich turkey gravy. Smooth and and delicate on the pallet, showed delicate Grenache character over the typically BIG Tensley Syrah notes. Easily has another 5-7 years, but drinking well now, very pleased, clearly a special wine.

1/2/2013 - wbfjsr wrote:

quite rich and layered, but not nearly as in your face as it was at release. Will keep remaining bottles for a few years and see what happens.

10/21/2010 - wbfjsr wrote:

Beautiful wine and still could probably hang on a few more years. Toasted brioche and honey on the nose, beautiful near-amber color, rich layered pallete yet still refreshing. The best Champagne I have ever had. Drank after proposal to fiance..so that probably helped!

10/20/2010 - wbfjsr wrote:

Poured into decanet and immediatley drank (over 4 hours). Faint nose of cedar, worn leather and dusty red fruit. The body was lacking a bit, but it was well structured and stood up to my steak. After 3 hours it really did start to show a bit more fruit on the nose and was a bit more friendly. I will wait a few years to drink the other two and see what happens. Not a bad bottle, but not what I was hoping for.

3/12/2010 - wbfjsr wrote:

Decanted for an hour before opening...Barnyard/earthy nose with plenty of leather. Picked up much more vegetal notes than fruit, but you could still sense some nice fruit. Continued to develop for several hours, and would reccomend decanting for a few hours before the first glass.Some dark chocolate note emerged at the very end of the bottle. I have 3 more bottles and will wait another year to open the next, but its ready to go now.

3/12/2010 - wbfjsr wrote:

corked, bummer