January 20, 2024 - Friday Group Brown Bag Tasting (J&J's): Double blind. Crimson core with a bit of bricking. Aromas of tapenade, pepper and black fruit. Full-bodied. Flavors of black fruit, spice, clove, pepper and plum. There's a bit of acidity supporting the ripe fruit...old world? Guessed 2009 Châteauneuf. 91-92 pts. (J&J)
January 20, 2024 - Double decanted three hours before service. I'm getting some medicinal notes but also floral. The red fruits are still there. The wine is ageing beautifully. I have one bottle left, that I'll leave for another couple of years.
March 19, 2022 - Double decanted two hours before served blind in a tasting. Very dark red. Sweet red fruit, with some chocolate coming on. Well integrated acid and tannins.
It's been exactly five years since I opened the last bottle. I couldn't be happier with the development of this wine. It's fully mature but not declining. I don't think it'll improve with more age, but there's no hurry to drink it at this point. Fantastic.
March 18, 2022 - Friday Group Brown Bag Tasting (Eagle Brook CC): Double blind. Opens with a dark grapey quality- sweet, almost zin-like. Settles in a bit with air, showing dark fruit, spice and licorice. Ripe black fruit and spice carry the finish. (JD)
March 17, 2017 - Double decanted two hours before service. Still an excellent wine that just keeps on going. Medium body, with still noticeable tannins and acidity that makes it a wine you notice. Deep red in color with a touch of lightening on the rim. The palate still shows plenty of blackberries, with a bit of violets. Easily another 5-7 years of prime drinking remaining.
February 2, 2014 - This wine is simply stellar. Every bottle gets better. Showing very little age after 10 years. It's a perfect beef wine, with black berries and cedar being the notes standing out. I believe the wine is still improving and will go at least another 15 years, if not more. Amazing.
December 16, 2012 - Another Saturday at Domaine (Domaine Wine Storage - Chicago, IL): A really nice Cabernet Franc. While this doesn't have the green notes that many Loire/Bordeaux cab francs may have this did have nice, pure, cool red fruit. Very silky, and totally gulpable!
December 15, 2012 - Popped and poured, which is not right for this wine. It really opens up after about one hour of air. Still a dark red, but lightening a little. Some tobacco on the nose. The palate screams of bitter sweet dark chocolate. This wine is not yet mature, probably needing another couple of years for that, at which point I think it'll last another 10
December 9, 2011 - Decanted for 3 hours. Supple, nice spice and soft tannins. Stored in cellar but feel this may only have one more year before it peaks.
September 8, 2011 - This wine is still dark red with no signs of browning. Great black fruits on the palate with cedar and tar on the nose. The acidity starts to come on a little strong after exposed to air for about 2 hours. It's drinking fine right now but will probably last another 5 years.