April 13, 2023 - 1 hour decant
Drinking brilliantly right now.
Blackberry & tobacco nose, with some floral hints
Very terroir driven on the palate with dried blackberry and dark chocolate taking the forefront, and a nice smooth tannic finish.
Talk about balance… This wine reminds of O’Shaughnessy’s offering in terms of the tasting notes and overall balance of the acidity, alcohol, tannins etc.
This is peaking right now, but still seems like it has plenty of life left to it in good cellaring conditions.
Cimarossa - yet another amazing winery to add to your list on Howell Mountain (all estate fruit too!)
December 31, 2020 - Great wine. Special meaning wine for me
September 11, 2019 - Compared to the 05 Ponente that went down last night (the 'palate cleanser'), this wine is quite different. But very true to style for Rian. This wine always tends to go darker. Nose and palate of baking spice, blackberry, chocolate, fig. In the first few years, these tend to also have a blueberry and vanilla side hustle, but really tend to lose that after five or six years. This one didn't have any blue fruit or vanilla notes. Towards the finish, this one stiffens up. Still a touch astringent with stiff tannin. Would have been a great one to serve in the American v French Oak blinded tasting from last night. Not really a lot of discernible French Oak influence even though I'm pretty sure they use 100% French. This one has a long life ahead of it. Have one more bottle, which I will try to hold until approximately 2023. Fat chance.....
May 29, 2019 - Four hour decant. Deep dark ruby magenta color. Dr Pepper, sandpaper, plum, dried pomegranate, and subtle Asian spice on the warm nose. Super smooth, tongue drying palate. Firm, full tannins on the medium long finish.
This is at or even just beyond its peak for me. Secondary notes are just starting to emerge and fruit just starting to fade.
December 22, 2018 - Great fruit.
November 28, 2017 - Very, very nice wine. Still a little tannic after an hour, but closing in on two hours now, and it is really opening up. Medium inky color, nose of forest floor/pine needles. Very dark fruit, blackberries and blueberries, more sweet fruit than tart. Chewy with a big finish.
March 19, 2016 - Tasted at the winery. Big bold black cherry fruit with some milk chocolate notes throughout and some firm tannins on the end. My favorite of the entire lineup during our visit.