3/11/2024 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

From half bottle.
Nectar of the Gods.

3/11/2024 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

Decanted two hours ahead.
Surprisingly light sediment.
Outstanding nose. A beautiful blend of
elegance and power. It took great restraint,
but this is the first bottle from the case.

2/24/2024 - booksmiths wrote:

Well past its peak.

1/16/2024 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

This wine is at its peak for me. Perfect with Italian sausage, onions, peppers and baby potatoes.

1/11/2024 - booksmiths wrote:

Decanted two hours before dinner, light sediment.
A beautiful wine with nicely resolved tannins.

1/11/2024 - booksmiths wrote:

Very pleasant with some complexity.

1/7/2024 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

An unexpected surprise. Sorry I only had one bottle.

11/24/2023 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

Still nice, but in decline.

8/16/2023 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

Took a 2-3 hour decant to open this wine.

2/8/2023 - booksmiths wrote:

A lovely, mature Bordeaux. decanted two hours before dinner. Started nicely and improved during the dinner. Soft fruit fully in balance. Should stay at this level for several years.

1/24/2023 - booksmiths wrote:

Double decanted an hour before dinner reservation. Medium crusty sediment. This wine is likely at or very near its peak with elegant cherry notes. Glad I have two more.

11/5/2022 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

Starting to fade, but still nice with roast duck.

2/15/2022 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

Decanted two hours before serving. Heavy sediment.
Sweet but very satisfying desert drink.
Glad I have another bottle.

2/13/2022 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

Decanted 2 hours, moderate sediment. Wonderful nose, very smooth and enjoyable.

1/31/2022 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

Definitely jammy but paired nicely with roasted bacon-wrapped pork loin. This one has at least a couple of years left.

1/25/2022 - booksmiths wrote:

OK with Italian meatloaf, but drink up.

1/23/2022 - booksmiths wrote:

Nothing special.

1/21/2022 - booksmiths wrote:

A lovely CdP right at its peak.
Decanted for one hour. light sediment.
Was good the second night, but not quite as good.-

1/11/2022 - booksmiths Does not like this wine:

gone

1/4/2022 - booksmiths wrote:

Still very tight.
I disliked my last bottle about nine months ago so I decanted this bottle two hours before serving. It seemed to be a little better than my last bottle. This is either an unusually big CdR that is going to take a few more years, or it's just a big clumsy disappointment.

12/11/2021 - booksmiths wrote:

PnP
Lovely, dark syrah drinking at its peak.
Perfect with a grilled New York Strip steak with Texas Roadhouse Rub.
Should stay at this level a few years although this is my last bottle.

11/25/2021 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

A good choice for Thanksgiving. It seemed to work with all of the flavors of a Thanksgiving meal.

11/9/2021 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

Still very pleasant.

10/3/2021 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

A lovely wine that benefited from a two hour decant.

9/8/2021 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

Pop and pour. Drinking very nicely.

7/7/2021 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

Lovely layers of subtle flavors with tropical fruit finish. This may be its last year, drink ‘em up.

6/30/2021 - booksmiths wrote:

Decanted two hours. No sediment.
Very nice but can still improve for another year or two.

1/24/2021 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

What a lovely surprise.
Well worth cellaring to yield this silky gem.
Excellent with grilled New York strip steaks.

12/1/2020 - booksmiths wrote:

Thin, disappointing.

8/31/2020 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

Still nice but acid is starting to dominate.

8/7/2020 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

A sold bold wine. Very good fruit and balance.
Perfect for a weekday grilled steak, and may improve marginally for a couple of years.

7/3/2020 - booksmiths wrote:

Served with short ribs. A pleasant, fairly simple wine, just starting to show the start of decline. Nowhere to go from here, drink 'em up.

6/28/2020 - booksmiths Does not like this wine:

In decline.

5/4/2020 - booksmiths wrote:

Still drinking very nicely.
It was better the second night, so this one still has a few years left.

3/21/2020 - booksmiths wrote:

Decanted two hours before serving. Very purple with a lovely nose. This wine went nicely with a grilled rack of lamb, although I can see myself giving this a 92 or more in five years as it develops greater complexity.

3/20/2020 - booksmiths wrote:

I bought this one based on ratings, and have been very disappointed.
I just don't get this one. Anyone near Sarasota, Florida want to get some at a discount?

1/16/2020 - booksmiths wrote:

Lovely nose but not ready yet.
Try again in 3-5 years.

1/5/2020 - booksmiths wrote:

This wine is in a nice place right now. Very enjoyable.

11/28/2019 - booksmiths wrote:

Went beautifully with my herb-rubbed beer can turkey (using orange juice and chicken stock in place of beer).
This wine is developing nicely and may not yet have hit its peak

10/28/2019 - booksmiths wrote:

A memorable mature Bordeaux.

11/15/2019 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

This wine is still at its peak.
I would never have guessed this to be a twelve year old Cotes du Rhone.

10/15/2019 - booksmiths wrote:

Dustier than I remember it.
Decanted two hours ahead. Moderate sediment.
Restrained nose. Past its peak, but an enjoyable mature Bordeaux with American Beef Wagyu at Restaurant Bocuse, NY CIA.

9/9/2019 - booksmiths wrote:

Medium yellow.
Perfect with Fettuccine Alfredo with Shrimp.

8/1/2019 - booksmiths wrote:

Decanted 1 hour before serving, light to medium sediment.
Has softened greatly. Still an enjoyable elegant wine, but drink up in the next 18 months.

7/22/2019 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

Decanted two hours before dinner and returned to bottle. Minimal sediment. Beautiful color, lovely nose. Nice from the start but opened beautifully after another two hours. This wine will only improve over the next 5-10 years.

2/13/2019 - booksmiths wrote:

A magnificent Bordeaux reaching its prime.
Decanted two hours before serving and it kept growing.
Wonderful nose, balance, structure, mouthfeel.
This reminds me of the rewards that come from cellaring well-crafted wines.

2/11/2019 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

Decanted an hour before dinner and at two hours it opened nicely.
Lovely sangiovese flavors.
One bottle left.

1/3/2019 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

Very nice wine currently at its peak.
Decanted and returned to bottle one hour before dinner.
Nicely balanced with lovely nose, lively fruit and nice finish.

12/9/2018 - booksmiths wrote:

Not terribly complex but a very enjoyable mature Bordeaux

10/22/2018 - booksmiths Likes this wine:

Past its prime. I took a sip after pulling the very dense cork and I thought I had a dead bottle. An hour after decanting, the wine started to come alive with some moderate acidic fruit.