April 6, 2024 - Two bottles, both showed well. Raspberry, cocoa, cinnamon, plum, sweet vanilla finish.
November 2, 2023 - "Off" Vintages from Elite Producers: (Petrus, Lafite, Margaux, etc) (Charlotte, NC): Decanted at 5:30am, put back in bottle 45 min later and refrigerated. Brought to dinner and popped the cork about 90 min prior to serving.
Rich nose of cassis and gentle floral notes. Great depth of flavor on the palate delivered with the deftness of a master winemaker – dark red and black fruits with hints of complexity just beginning to show. The rich flavors hit your palate with a gentleness you don’t expect from this reputationally “big” wine. Long, savory finish. A wonderful and approachable wine that complimented the more decidedly Old World lineup and very fitting in its quality. Is ‘Mr. Tin” actually a “value-wine” in the ultra-premium Napa market? Served properly, maybe so.
February 17, 2023 - This was enjoyed by everyone at the table.
It was rich, mouth-coating monster (only in the very best sense) of a wine that was smooth and beautifully balanced (for such a powerful wine) and had a lovely long finish.
December 25, 2022 - Spicy leathery nose. Initially well balanced with more fruit , spice and tannin than the Scarecrow 2011 becoming more tannic over time. Also a hint of age.
December 10, 2022 - Decanted for one hour. Nose of black cherry, currant, mocha, vanilla and spice. Black cherry liquor, mocha, spice and crushed rock on the palate. Dry finish with good length. Full bodied. Served with reverse seared picanha and a green peppercorn cream sauce.
July 5, 2022 - Phenomenal how complex this is. Ripe full bodied nice cassis, graphite . Mellow tannins
Great place in drinking window
June 8, 2022 - Excellent cab! I have not been thrilled with any 2011s, but this one was solid. Great structure, fruit, start and finish.
March 29, 2022 - A great wine to pair with dry aged steaks!
November 25, 2021 - Super smooth. Tastes of chocolate and cherries. Beautiful wine.
October 25, 2021 - First had this in Sept 2016 (a 91 then) and was struck by how linear it was, not changing one iota over 1-2-3-4 hours. Here we are 5+ years later and, oh my, what a change. This felt like it was definitely at its' peak.
On opening it was thin and even slightly sour on the palate, but after an hour or so it blossomed into an enchanting glass of wine. Always amazed at how significantly a wine can change when exposed to air.
So interesting in that it wasn't plush or thick but so very smooth and velvety. Just a super viscous mouth feel. Tannins are fully resolved with some fine sediment in the last glass.
On the palate I get mint, licorice and a slight hint of tobacco.
Not a food wine. One that needs your full attention to be enjoyed as it does not hit you in the face with fruit or tannins. So drink it alone or with someone who appreciates a subtly knockout wine. (another one of those exceptions to the '2011 bad' rule)