February 3, 2024 - I know some CTers like to compare wine to women but I am going in a different direction. After a 60 minute decant, the 2013 Altagracia was like a bulldozer. Not a Cat D11, but still big with a dark plum and dark chocolate paint job. After another couple of hours the wine had shed some of its brawn - more like a big pickup with dark cherry paint, a hunk of chocolate in the cargo bed, and some nice detailing in herbal green. Really liked driving around in the pickup.
What can I say? Sometimes fine wine brings to mind an exquisite painting, and sometimes it’s heavy equipment.
P.S. The Altagracia was last night’s wine. Tonight’s is a 2009 Ovid, which is definitely a Porsche.
December 22, 2023 - Poured into a decanted and consumed over 3 hours. Medium+ nose of violet, black cherry, blueberry, liquorice, vanilla, toast, and espresso. Equally concentrated blue fruits on the palate. Medium+ acidity, medium+ silky tannins, and medium+ complex finish. Everything was remarkably in balance. At $190 off the list, this proves the rule of going after second wines of great producers in great vintages.
December 21, 2023 - I agree with Mark1npt TN. Have to cut back a couple of points value-wise because up here in Canada this is fully priced after taxes at USD220 on the list @ The Courtney Room in Victoria BC. However, it is a ten-year old delight. Deep rich garnet crimson colour. Complex nose of cassis, black cherry compote, mission fig paste, tapenade, mocha and dried sage. Mouth filling but the acidity keeps it lithe on the palate. Lingering finish. Went well with appetizers and antipasti. Would definitely hunt this down south of the border <$90.
December 13, 2023 - One of the top vintages in history of Napa produced this fine second label of Eisele CS. CS based blend with 10% CF, 6% PV and 4% Malbec, wine is aged in FR oak barrels for 15 months. Deep opaque ruby colour. Medium+ intensity fragrant aroma of cassis, lavender, violets, roses, chocolate, tobacco, earthy hints. Full body, complex, deep and intense with rich, floral and touch smoky black fruit flavours. Muscular and well structured with great restraint and fine medium+ grippy tannins, long savoury finish.
June 28, 2023 - OK, not great, expected more, dark color
April 29, 2023 - Spread this over 3 nights. Opened with short decant with a filet. Big bold blue fruit and still some moderate tannin. Touch of herbs and leather. Night 2 the herbal is more in evidence. The balance is outstanding. Night 3 the fruit is mostly gone and an iron, almost metallic note blends with the herbs to give an old world feel to it. Best on night 2 so a good decant or some more time is recommended.
April 1, 2023 - No notes. The wine needs a bit more time.
February 12, 2023 - My first of this vintage, picked up at auction in the secondary market. Pnp'd for our Super Bowl event this afternoon/evening. Enjoyed over about 3 hours. Right from the pnp, the class is evident. It's resolved and integrated, yet has high toned acidic backbone giving it life. More red to dark red fruit, smooth with great weight and balance. I picked this up at $76/bottle and feel like it is worthy of 3x that price. Expertly balanced. It drinks very well, right now.
September 26, 2022 - Very nice but still too young
June 11, 2022 - Coravined a glass last night and opened the bottle tonight. Smooth on the entry and then dense, with dark blue fruits, Italian herbs, and a curtain of tannin that descends on the 20 second finish. May be better in few years if the tannins soften.