April 20, 2024 - PnP then ~1hr in the glass. Best sip was at PnP and then the walls started to close in. Gorgeous from first pour with lushness yet great dark earth and minerals all centered around big dark fruit. Until the structure kicked in, it was everything I love from the deep dark fruits to the earth & minerals giving this such complex and structured experience it was not hard to keep going back for more. I would hold for 3-5 more years and allow the structured components to soften and integrate into an entirely new phase of goodness. Can’t have enough of this in the cellar.
March 30, 2024 - Under pristine cork, barely soaked but black on the end. Decanted off a small amount of chunky sediment. Deep mulberry red with a raspberry puree rim. Long, slow legs. Decandent nose of smokey, crushed plums and black currents, graphite, a bit of leather, some earthiness, and blackberries and dried blueberries down deep. The longer this sits in the glass the more the fruit emerges to the fore. This definitely needs a longish decant! Medium bodied, dry, soft tannins, black fruit extract, good acidity and a smooth, chalky finish. Perfectly integrated flavours of mature black fruits and minerals. Plums and blackberries, charcoal, black currant leaf amd lots of graphite on the back end. Long, smooth, darkly fruited and very dry on the finish. Impeccable!
March 13, 2024 - Big and blocky on day one despite being open for three hours. After an overnight in the fridge and coming back up to room temperature it was much better on next day… more elegant more balanced - but still young - which suggests holding for another 3 to 5 years for the next bottle.
February 8, 2024 - 08.02.2024: Pre CNY with the boys @ F2P. Decanted this about 2 hrs before we approached this in the restaurant. Black fruit, dark berries, blackcurrant, cassis & used leather on the nose. Hint of bramble, gravel & forest floor as well. Young & firm tannins initially but after some time in the glass, drinking very well. Balanced layers with juicy acidity that adds vibrancy to it. Finish is lingering with lots of depth
December 25, 2023 - I've been threatening to open this case all year and tonight I finally did it. This needed all of 4 hours to start showing a hint of integration, though it still needs a lot of time. The nose was all ripe red and black fruits with cedar and incense. Some scorched earth notes emerged over time alongside oak that still needs to integrate. Palate has cassis and grippy, drying tannins that led into a promising but unformed finish.
For my palate, this still needs a lot of time. It's always going to be a ripe, hedonistic wine, but on tonight's showing I can see something harmonious emerging at the end.
September 26, 2023 - Really sweet oak, tasted much more like a wine from California than Bordeaux.
September 22, 2023 - aired for 5 hours before drinking, and it would open up nicely with primary and secondary notes. last time a 2 hour decant was too tight. SHL is an amazing winery that brings joy to the world.
as an aside, i reckon a long breathing time is necessary for young bordeaux, esp left bank ones. i wouldn't mind at all to try all these young bordeaux, as most of them are better made in recent years with a less heftier price tag.
September 22, 2023 - Obviously young and of course too tight, flavors and depth unable to be realized. Began opening up after a 3 hour decant, but ultimately was unsatisfying.
August 27, 2023 - It needs an additional couple of years to realized its full potential;. It is still too tied.
August 20, 2023 - A big, ripe Bordeaux that should appeal to lovers of hedonistic California cab. Opened quickly in 30 minutes. Flavors of plum, blackberry jam, chocolate, volcanic scree. Modest but not overbearing alcoholic heat. My money says this wine is best now and during this decade, and I won't hesitate to open more of my bottles.