April 23, 2024 - A full-bodied and powerful Cab. Very potent alcohol and tannins level. After a reasonable amount of time decanting, the aroma of dark berries and fresh pine come out. Definitely a good wine with long lasting flavors; but it needs ample decanting.
April 22, 2024 - Full bodied, dense aroma on the nose and equally dense taste on the palate. Should be drank with red meat heavy and cheese heavy food.
February 24, 2024 - Wasn’t drinking well nor did it taste like the other bottle in the same vintage. Off time or something was wrong
January 13, 2024 - Decanted 60 minutes - outstanding wine and aging really well. Cherry is the core flavor, but definitely not a fruit bomb - this is well integrated. Subtle toasted spices. Texture is very nice - not as chewy as the QC12 and some of the other vintages. The finish was the most impressive part - wonderful 30 second long finish.
December 27, 2023 - One of the first bottles we bought for our cellar and our first QC purchased back in 2016. This wine drinks like a 5yo bottle. If you open it now, give it 60 minutes of air. Tannins are smooth and well integrated. Nose of black cherry, graphite and you can still smell the oak, a bit of dusty dry barn wood. Full bodied, long finish. This is built to hold and could easily go another 10-15 years.
December 26, 2023 - Exquisite. Perfect on nose and palate upon opening; hypnotic aromas and balanced flavors immediately justify this brand's fame and reputation. Decanting not required. This emperor DOES have clothes!
December 3, 2023 - Decanted for an hour. Dark red fruit and eucalyptus on the nose. Red fruit and spice on the palate. A long finish with plenty of tannins. I bought this for my son’s birth year, and I think it should make it to 21 years without an issue. I’ll try again in 3 years.
November 23, 2023 - This grandaddy limped to the dinner, but man, when he woke up from his first course he was the grandaddy of them all. Plummy scents with just a rabbit punch of cantaloupe, some wafting light toast crumbs and a beast of a finish. Might have been a dollop of caramel in there, too. Really happy grandad didn't go face first into the creamed onions but woke up refreshed and blasted the feast like no other.
September 23, 2023 - Very good wine. Still has a way to go imo. If you have one or two I would wait as long as you can. Tasts like it will be a 20+ year wine.
August 23, 2023 - Very dark in the glass with a tiny clear meniscus at the rim. Alluring nose, all beautifully ripe dark fruit, olive, and a hint of menthol. It is complex on the palate, but the fruit recedes quickly and the salinity and minerality and woody tannins take over. They stay through the long finish. The flavors are a melange, which makes the wine interesting and enjoyable. Some sips I got a hint of anise, sometimes I didn't.