September 28, 2020 - Decanted, aerated, and enjoyed. Everything in place, a really nice wine. Just a touch muted all around. No need to rush remaining bottles but this is in a good place.
May 17, 2019 - Judgement of Exchange Arcade: California vs Bordeaux (RA's take): Bright strawberry nose. Rich red and black fruit, morelo. Very nice. Still seems young and score could improve or there is not as much complexity beyond the finely balanced fruit. 92 for now
May 4, 2018 - Still drinking well.
February 24, 2016 - Dark rust red color with limited thinning at the rim. Aromas of red berries, cedar, vanilla and a hint of licorice. Palate is red and blueberry fruited with cedar, tar, and a bit of walnut. Tannins emerge on the medium-long finish. This is showing more structure than the last bottle from fading memory, but still a wine I would consider to be drinking in its prime window for my tastes. Drink.
January 17, 2015 - Still on the fence on this one. Less tannic than previous bottles, but a bit cloying
July 6, 2014 - ripe voluptuous nose of cassis and mint, on the mouth instead very tannic with drying finish (wood?), and cherries in alcohol. wait fr the tannins or too late for the fruit? but drank half a bottle so it cannot have been that bad :-)
June 30, 2013 - Medium-dark smoky red color with limited transparency. Aromas of sweet earth, red berries, currants, and vanilla. Palate shows sweet red fruit, plum, currant, blackberry, and a hint of vanilla that carries into a medium finish. This is well integrated and shows the value of cellaring wine. Great showing, but not profound. Drink at leisure.
March 25, 2013 - Excellent "baby Monte Bello". Dark purple to the rim, heady aromas of spicy cedar and dark fruits, strikingly young. Tannins well integrated, really showing well. This has the structure to keep for many more years, very drinkable now.
February 1, 2013 - Dark smoky red color; fully opaque. Aromas of black olive, coffee, currants, cedar, and spice notes. Palate is on the rustic side with olive, cedar, and tannic currant elements that carry into a coffee and vanilla-infused finish. The finish is medium-long. With time in the bottle, this expands and some of the tannins integrate with more red fruit coming to the fore. This needs more time to unwind in the bottle for my tastes, but it is certainly drinkable now. Drink or hold.
April 28, 2012 - Delicious red blend with gorgeous fruit wrapped in well-balanced tannins. No detailed notes as it was served at a dinner party where I had grill duty.
Just as nice on day two, I drank the remaining few ounces and it was marvelous!