February 4, 2015 - Slightly bricking dark red violet color; mature, ripe cassis, tobacco, tart red currant nose; silky textured, angular, bright, tart currant, tobacco, cedar palate with medium acidity; starts to fade after 30 minutes in the glass but was surprisingly youthful before that; medium-plus finish
July 5, 2012 - No notes taken, but this was consistent with my previous bottle. Excellent stuff.
January 29, 2012 - No notes taken, but this was consistent with my previous bottle. Excellent stuff.
December 19, 2011 - Reds at Dave's: Popped and poured. The cork was in surprisingly good shape and came out cleanly. The wine is a pretty red color with barely a hint of browning. The nose delivers layers of complex aromas with red fruit, tobacco, earth and iron/mineral leading the way. Such a great nose it's almost a shame to drink, but drink we did. Not quite as spectacular on the nose with nice red fruit and good intensity but turns a little tart/thin from mid-palate to the finish. Still a perfect wine to pair with pizza. All indications are that this was a very well cared for bottle (I bought it fairly recently) that will hold on for a few more years but is unlikely to improve for where it is today.
October 14, 2009 - Color was brick red/orange with the viscosity of a light oil (olive, etc.). Beautiful and spectacular to look at in the glass. Initial smell held on to must and mold, but after 15 minutes in the glass, it all blew off. Taste began with tart cherries with mid palate of earth and spice; very long finish (45 seconds). After about 45 minutes in the glass, all elements came together to showcase a very elegant, refined and well integrated wine. After about 90 minutes it faded back to tart cherries...didn't make it past the 2 hour mark, so I don't know if additional evolution would have occurred. **Would be interested in hearing from others about this wine ( fozziedoggie@hotmail.com ).
January 1, 1979 - shared with pat, keith and jean at a cellar tasting. this note is being written long after the fact. unfortunately, was not keeping a cellar book at that time, keith's notes are not available, and memory does not serve to recall details. must have enjoyed the wine immensely since i hung on to the dead horse until now despite significant damage to the thin paper label. notes from others indicate the wine was still enjoyable as recently as 2015. amazing longevity for a merlot based wine from a less than stellar vintage.