April 8, 2023 - Decanted off sediment, then served immediately. Lovely aromas of dark cassis fruit, mint, sage, pine forest, vanilla and integrated oak. The palate is still deep and concentrated, lots of dark fruit and earth, some slightly rustic structure remaining. Superb, showing the quality of this vineyard.
March 5, 2023 - Last bottle of this. Like my last, this bottle had some barnyard which dominated on opening. After some time, tart fruit came to the fore and the brett receded a bit to the point that it could be seen as a feature. Herbaceous wine with menthol, cherry, and leather.
January 22, 2023 - Unfortunately, this bottle was over-the-top bretty.
December 14, 2022 - Drank at an event, no formal notes. First Thunder Mountain experience and I want more. It's as if the tannins came from 2017, not 1997. Incredibly fresh and bright at this age with a nice mix of fruit and earthy flavors, the acid really delivers a nice profile and the tannins seem to be playing a trick on time. No need to rush this one.
February 2, 2022 - Stood the bottle up for a couple days before opening it and decanted for sediment before pouring -- the last few ounces had a significant amount of sediment. 14.5% alcohol, unfined and unfiltered.
The wine had quite an earthy, herbal nose. The palate was red-fruited and fresh with a bolt of acidity that segued to a long finish. Throughout, there was a licorice/anise/eucalyptus note, which may be the primary driver of whether or not you like this wine. Glad to have a couple more bottles.
March 2, 2018 - A really fun Napa Cabernet. Great minty/menthol notes on the nose - a bit like Montelena - with a really nice layer of red fruit. The palate was sweet, but balanced. Drinking in its prime.
February 26, 2018 - Dinner at Formento's (Chicago, IL): My first Thunder Mountain, I think. The nose explodes with mint and eucalyptus, with plummy ripe fruit and cigar accents. Structurally this is rich but still elegant and lifted across the palate. Not overblown at all. Once again, so much eucalyptus throughout. Enjoyable. Ready to go.
February 26, 2018 - Dinner at Formento's with Michael (Chicago, IL): I just want to say that I love the label. I can hear He-Man saying "By the power of Greyskull..." Anyway, this is a pretty good Napa cabernet. It's certainly got a fair share of herbaceousness here: menthol, green pepper, all that sort of stuff. The palate is quite classic as well, with good black fruit, a hint of dustiness, and fully resolved tannins. This is in its prime (much like that hunky guy on the label).
April 8, 2014 - My husband and I just had this over the weekend, a very delightful shock. Still had the flavor of dark fruit, black cherry but soft, leathery finish, a dark earthiness to this wine, like a very very old fine french wine. We had a case of this in our cellar and this was one of the last two left. Looking forward to opening the last bottle. But I don't think it will go much longer, I would go ahead and drink now or within the next couple of years. It was purchased right after it's release, stored in cellar, then made a cross country move and has been in the cellar undisturbed for 13 years. I gave it 82 because it isn't going to last much longer.
April 8, 2014 - My husband and I just had this over the weekend, a very delightful shock. Still had the flavor of dark fruit, black cherry but soft, leathery finish, a dark earthiness to this wine, like a very very old fine french wine. We had a case of this in our cellar and this was one of the last two left. Looking forward to opening the last bottle. But I don't think it will go much longer, I would go ahead and drink now or within the next couple of years.