October 14, 2022 - Second bottle from our cellar. Decanted for sediment (of which there was lots). Drank over 3 hours. Initially closed but slowly opened up, 2nd hour was the best. Almost as good as the bottle from 3 1/2 years ago - the acidity seems to be fading and the alcohol was somewhat noticeable this time. However, it's still an excellent food wine and it went extremely well with red meat and hearty side dishes. The nose and palate match. Very smooth, dark fruits, smokey oak, green pepper, granite, mineral. Long finish. Probably past it's peak now but it's still very enjoyable. Will drink our last bottle within the next 12 months.
April 19, 2022 - Swampy, dead.
March 31, 2021 - Still a bit closed after an hour’s decant, with distinct vegetal notes. Dark ruby with little bricking. Opened over time and drank well with food. Not aging, but I do not know if this will improve. I liked this wine best in its youth.
February 23, 2021 - Our bottle was in better condition than the last reviewer's. Full secondary development but not tired; vividly plummy with cedar notes, earth and cocoa. Stand up days in advance if you can to settle sediment because there's lots of it.
December 18, 2020 - Pulled this from a 55 degree cellar where it’s resided for the last twelve years. Used an Ah-so cork puller to open; cork saturation was about 25%; clear signs of bricking when poured into the decanter, color has turned mostly dull garnet, with a ruby core; lots of sediment in the bottom 5% of the bottle and in the decanter. Nose and palate showed a wine which is fully mature, probably slightly past peak: wet autumn leaves, iron infused sour red earth, stale powdered chocolate, dried Skoal chewing tobacco, worn shoe leather, old baking spices mixed with dried herbs; and rapidly fading cooked plums, stewed cherries, and boiled red berries. Structure still in tact, with tertiary notes dominating and the fruits in decline. By itself the wine wasn’t great, but the pork bolognese ravioli lasagna really enhanced and quite honestly saved the wine. Drink now, food required. Disappointing, given the great bottle enjoyed back in early 2012...I didn’t expect this would mature as quickly as it has.
October 10, 2020 - Ce vin que j’aime tant!
Mais je me dois de constater qu’il commence son déckin.
Les arômes de cerises noires et d’anis sont évanouis.
Les feuilles mouillées commencent à apparaître.
Ce serait donc un vin à boire entre 7 et 15 ans?
July 19, 2019 - Decanted....lots of sediment. Excellent and refined. Well made. Medium-heavy weight. Layers of berries, cherries, mineral, anise, oak. Super smooth. The merlot adds a little sweetness to the remaining tannins. Acidity is already in the background. Definitely in peak window. Drink now-2023.
July 14, 2019 - Le voilà à point, superbe!
Cerises noires, pruneaux, thym, anis.
Longue, longue bouche.
Vraiment, vraiment bon!
January 18, 2019 - Opaque, dark red, shy but dry on the nose, shows dried leaf, berry and herbs, lush with lively acidity, bright and airy, flavors of dried cherry, graphite, flower, chalk and sage, dry, drank beautifully with NY steaks, this is absolutely in the zone right now
December 25, 2018 - Did not take detailed notes. Just remember this was singing..