December 4, 2021 - Getting close to a good early maturity. The coarse oak edge has receded and tannin is tolerable with food. There's a rich, dark fruit with a kind of inner sweetness to it framed by a deeply mineral vein reminiscent of Priorat wines. This regained some surliness after a night in the fridge so I think a few more years downstairs are indicated, but my assessment from 11/2014 seems about right.
October 27, 2021 - Pizza Night with (Mostly) Italians: Respect the Pie (Candie's, Mpls): Black fruits, dense and full bodied, really high toned, rich layers of succulent dark fruits and scorched earth, the nose soars; the palate is still crazy young at 20 years and wrapped up in the oak yet. It's anybody's guess as to when this is fully ready to go. Score reserved.
January 17, 2021 - This was a pop and pour during a party so I couldn't take any notes, but this was stunning. Soaring nose, expansive on the palate and an amazing lingering finish. Much silkier than my last bottle (in 2006), but still so, so young with significant tannin. Crazy, but oh so good!
January 17, 2020 - Decanted 1 hour. Very good bottle. Ready to drink but no hurry. 93 pts.
November 28, 2018 - Drinking well now but still young.
September 8, 2018 - Rich, beautiful, bottomless. I’ll pay more attention next time, but wow.
June 6, 2018 - Cork disintegrated and spoilt the wine - down the sink. Shame - last bottle
May 19, 2018 - Incredible deep colour, lively, no brown; first day missing some balance, in the nose some dark fruit, but mainly lots of wood and vanilla, chunky taste, very powerful and severe tannins. The second day (after a night in the fridge) the wine showed more bouquet with a far better balance between dark fruit and elegant (although still prominent) vanilla, a taste with cocoa, firm, also smooth, juicy, till the long and a bit hefty aftertaste with firm, but quite edible tannins. This is a giant with a long live ahead (I think another 10 years).
September 9, 2017 - Broken cork and I felt the wine was drying out somewhat. The fruit and tannins were not in balance. Dark, cedar and earth aromas and palate but a bit rigid.
September 5, 2015 - Very balanced and drinking beautifully. Mid-weight.