November 17, 2023 - A good friends generous cellar pull for dinner. This continues to be a effortless wine to enjoy.
Beautiful now but no rush.
96
March 11, 2023 - Great blend, slightly lighter than a traditional Cab, rich fruit flavor with mild tanens, very well balanced, perfect time to drink wish I had more.
January 12, 2023 - Amazing quality. You cannot get a better merlot from USA. Extremely velvety and smooth. This is not a showy wine, this is aristocratic
November 25, 2021 - Pulled this cork to treat the extended family to a beautiful bottle of wine over a Thanksgiving feast.
Happy Thanksgiving CT’ers!
May 22, 2021 - Similar to prior note after a 2 hour double decant; outstanding, drink or hold
March 3, 2021 - The 2009 continues to be an awesome QPR cab slayer. For anyone who thinks merlot is Melba toast or lacks depth and interest, this is the gateway bottle for them.
The Vieux Château Certan of napa, this is a great bottle of wine. Perfumy aromatics, plenty of fruit, precise balance with acidity and tannins and a silky mouthfeel make this a complete wine. This continues to get better. I expect it has another decade of joy to give.
Served at 59 farenheit after a decant, and like the 2004 and 2008, best as it warmed to room temperature.
February 15, 2021 - Bottle 2/6. This one was decanted for a bit longer and better paired with the meal (1h+, goose with homemade plum sauce) than last time (30m, highly acidic meatball pasta). The wine was pretty spectacular offering an intensely long finish of bramble fruit and chocolate while still retaining the requisite Pomerol nose of plum and truffle. I can still taste the finish the next day. Out of 1,500+ tasting notes I’ve very rarely scored 97 or higher (and only two 98s: Petrus and Le Pin) and this bottle is definitely in that league.
February 6, 2021 - Decanted for over half hour. On the initial pour very floral and fruit bouquet which was less pronounced by the first glass. On the palate a little tightly coiled at first then later sips revealed red and dark fruit and above all dark chocolate with wood and graphite undertones. Bright acidity which eased somewhat and a medium plus finish of dark chocolate and graphite. Very drinkable with an hour plus decant. Over time the palate became a little spicier with exotic spices and the nose became smokier. Beautiful wine if tasted blind I never would have guessed Napa and thought a classic Pomerol. 95-96+
September 13, 2020 - Deep concentration. Aromatically powerful. Dark fruits merging into black olives and melted licorice. Campfire undertones. Multiple waves on the palate. The wine could use more red fruit flavors and acidic balance. But the quality hits you like a hammer.
August 16, 2020 - Impressive. Gorgeous nose of blueberries, cassis and smoke, followed by chocolate flavors. The mouthfeel is pure velvet with plenty of structure for many more years of aging ahead. The flavors are very dense and saturated but this retains impeccable balance and freshness with good underlying acidity. This wears its 15.2% alcohol effortlessly.