August 3, 2013 - Jordyn Against Humanity: Decanted 2 hours. Slightly bretty nose, with ground white and red pepper, sweet pipe tobacco, mature cassis and blackberry. Very mature palate, reminiscent of an older Napa Cab, red currants and cassis, tarry plum, leafy herbs, integrated vanilla/cream, but also some undesirable oak barrel notes marking the palate. Drink now.
June 13, 2013 - Nose better than taste. ... Combination of bubble gum, mint, and flowers in a field. Lots of barbecue on the palate, which seemed to improve with the second glass.
May 22, 2013 - After three corked bottles, this was the best bottle so far of five. Good cork seal and condition; decanted briefly. Heavy white and red ground pepper, sweet blackberry and nutty vanilla nose, sweet cassis, smells like Cabernet, with maybe some orange peel mixed in. Similar palate, deep red cassis and ripe berry combines with a tangy, leathery texture. Initially the middle and late palate was too firm and not expressive enough, but time in the decanter allowed it to open and broaden into a sweet, ripe blackberry juice profile with woodspice and vanilla bean edges. There are dry oak notes on the finish, but tannins are fully integrated. While this wine needs to be drunk immediately, this particular bottle was still alive and quite good.
May 8, 2013 - The last three bottles have been corked.
April 11, 2013 - Fill at neck, which was the lowest fill of nine bottles, brittle cork, decanted. Intensely peppery nose—white, red, and black pepper—Tabasco sauce, dry leather, black plum and blackberry, wet gravel, with faint nougat and orange zest. At first I thought this was a bit tired, but each glass improved. Palate is absolutely mature but still plenty tannic, lots of tea leaf, oak leaves, rawhide, black plum skin, very dry, acidic late palate and finish, progressively more rustic from attack to finish. Nice complexity and earthy old world flavors. Doesn't need any more time—drink now.
January 13, 2008 - Same rating as the last bottle. The middle has filled out, and there is now some spiciness throughout the wine. A little more tar on the palate this time.
March 10, 2006 - Pop and pour, with the balance going into a decanter. Very nice, well balanced wine. On the nose, blackberries, licorice and a touch of vanilla. On the palate, medium bodied, with a bit of a weak middle that fills out over time. The palate follows the nose, with a hint of tar on the short/medium length finish, with some oak spiciness kicking in. Reasonable acidity and glycerin develop over time to somewhat hide the mid palate. No hurry to drink the remaining bottles, but enjoyable now.