July 30, 2023 - Decanted 1+hr
Blackberry and crushed gravel on the nose, also high alcohol.
Riper fruit, whole blackberry bunch, including the stem. Baking spices, anise, graphite, tobacco. Grippy tannins, med acidity.
May not benefit from additional ageing. Would buy again.
July 23, 2022 - Concentrated, fruit forward with blackberry jam, mocha, milk chocolate - intense notes. Hints of lavender and spice on its super long finish. This is a classic Napa cult blend that is velvety smooth, soft and very enjoyable to drink.
February 17, 2022 - Blackberry, raspberry, cola, tea, and a touch of earth all in balance and showing well. Rounded tannins and just the right amount of acid to hold it all together. Long finish.
May 25, 2021 - Needs ample air time before consumption. 90 min - 2hours before
first attempt. Nose was somewhat muted although the mid palate
delivered beautiful blackberry, blueberry, and mulberry layers of
fruit. Spice box with Polished tannin and the finish lasted wonderfully. Powerful Blend from historic site and historic vintage. Enjoy!
August 28, 2020 - decanted and drank over 2 hours. medium body, purple fruits, but not quite to the coffee/chocolate fruit profile. merlot here adds nice roundness and an easy drink. finishes with good spicebox.
October 12, 2019 - Time to drink this beauty. Starting to soften
August 27, 2019 - The hit of the afternoon lunch... a big guy that is just full of flavor. Better than the 2012 Eisele by a point. What a pleasure to drink, and at a realistic price, half the cost of the Araujo!
12/28/19 Another bottle, not quite as successful as the earlier one... still a bit tight, might have needed a bit more air time. Scored it 95, a point behind a 2013 Beringer Reserve that was smoother.
June 1, 2019 - I would still say that, all in all, this wine is still locked up tight. Fruit profile is good and has distinct black and blue fruit notes with mocha and espresso in the middle. Chalky youthful sweet finish but the oak on the back of this one shuts it down. I wouldn't touch this for a few years if I had any.
April 21, 2019 - Terrific++ but young. Drank with friends after a splash decant at our local BYOB French bistro. On the doorstep of maturity but 2-3 years away from explosive greatness.
Plenty of stuffing here but reticent nose of berries, mocha, plum and spice.
If fortunate enough to own some decant extensively on a cookie sheet.
If a date, this was a 19 year old Nebraska farm beauty about to thrill Madison Avenue with brains and beauty
June 21, 2018 - Drinks as advertised by others.