February 24, 2022 - Blind tasting at wine night with Prime Rib served. Below are the contestants, the list is how they finished, highest to lowest, for me personally and although all wines were very, very good some were just simply better than others but all paired extremely well with the meal.
2007 Joseph Phelps Insignia – Typical Insignia, spectacular.
2004 Colonial Estate Exile – As always, simply excellent.
2008 Don Melchor – This blind tasting showed it can hold its own with the big boys.
2010 Auma – My first experience with this Carménère blend and it was awesome!
2007 Dunn Howell Mountain Cab – First time with the Howell Mountain and was somewhat disappointed. I was really expecting more BOOM from this but it just didn’t knock my socks off.
2017 Cade Howell Mountain Cab – Again, not sure why but the Howell Mountains just didn’t perform as well as they have previously.
1997 BV Tapestry – Although it was a magnum and should’ve aged slower than a typical bottle I believe this was slightly past its prime. Still extremely good, just not one of the best sips of the night.
2005 Colonial Estate Explorateur – I truly enjoyed this wine, it was just sweeter in flavor and just a large drop off from the other Colonial Estate enjoyed this night.
April 22, 2019 - Full and round with elegant tannin and layers of flavors. Vivid body and fruity balanced the high alcohol quite well. Kind of dry on finish. Well on peak after 15 years of aging. A very price worthy bottle.
October 16, 2018 - Sweet sous bois and dark berry in the nose. Juicy blackberry, black pepper and fading oak notes. Still quite drinkable without be overwhelming from the bad days of over-wrought Shiraz.
October 6, 2018 - Same as last note.
December 10, 2017 - Whilel still good this bottle wasn’t as vibrant as in the past. Open another one soon. They might be on the decline.
November 25, 2016 - In a great window, at its peak. Notes of blueberry and blackberry on the nose. Incredible nose, enjoyed smelling this wine. In the mouth, well-balanced and lush with tannins resolved. A touch of oak on the finish.
February 16, 2016 - Big Bottle Night Dinner for 16 people: a 3L of 2012 Chappellet Signature Reserve, followed by 1.5 L bottles of : 1992 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Chalegmagne, 2009 Domaine La Roquete and 2004 The Colonial Estate Shiraz Exile. All were opened and allowed to breath in the bottle for at least 45 minutes. The Chappellet was decanted.
My notes on the Exile: We drank this one last, and more than half voted this as "very good" to "excellent", I was the lone "just ok" vote. It just wasn't my style. Very fruit driven, and not much structure, at this point. It was almost more suitable for drinking after diner with some almonds instead of with the diner.
October 24, 2015 - Overwhelmingly and hot to my taste at least. very jammy. Nose is very dominated by blackcurrant. too much
September 26, 2015 - corked and cooked through :(
August 23, 2015 - Really enjoyable.