December 9, 2022 - Initially tight but suspect of great complexity .
October 2, 2022 - at this point still too massive for me. give it few more yrs.
April 2, 2022 - A beautiful showing this time — last time I drank it it had a strange coconut taste and sour tannins. Everything has fallen together now and you’ll see Ontogeny at its peak - though I wouldn’t hesitate to leave it longer.
Dark fruits, fig even, sweet, with nice tannic structure
January 24, 2021 - Virtually Wines That Don't Suck (online): Poured into jars about 3pm for transport and into glass at 630pm. Drank a glass over 2 hours. This wine is super-grapey and sweet. It's not often that a wine actually tastes like grapes, but this one has tons of grape flavor. Candied with some alcohol, clearly big and modern with some polish. There is something about the sweet fruit that is enticing, which is the style. Drank single blind, I guessed either a 2007 Saxum Broken Stones or maybe a 100RP 2010 Mas de Boislauzon Quet CDP just because of its forward nature and I could see RP giving 100 points to this. Wow was I wrong.
May 23, 2020 - After reading previous reviews, I've gone back and forth with these puppies ... decant or pop-and-pour? Tonight we decanted, drank soon thereafter and revisited over a four-hour period. Result? Decant. Much better later. From 89 to 93.
Happy to help.
March 26, 2020 - Opened with a wonderful mocha, earth, coconut nose and palate. Surprisingly, over a couple of hours it faded. Would not decant. I did drink my last 2008 in 2018 and it was singing, so further cellaring may not hurt it. I believe this is the last year of the old label design.
March 13, 2017 - At this point in its life this cuvee has an overbearing mocha note that reminded me of flavored coffee. Perhaps this will integrate with age?
December 16, 2015 - PNP
Rather simple after Galatrona
We will see how remaining 2/3 performs over next couple days
May 15, 2015 - Disappointed. I expected a smooth new world blend mellowed by the franc. This wine hits you in the face like a 100% Rutherford cab. Not what I was expecting from Russell who is supposed to be a franc-master. Color is beautiful, though. Super dark blackberry.
March 31, 2015 - Nice, full and mouth filling. Tasty dark red fruits showing, but not much complexity. Decanted and drank immediately.