November 23, 2023 - What an absolute treat this wine was. A great example of what Harlan is capable of. Decanted and rested for a few hours while getting ready for Thanksgiving.
Layers of dark berry and red fruit, with a touch of smoke and a little bit of sage. I’m so glad I held on to this one.
May 2, 2023 - decanted for 1½ hours prior to serving. Lots of ripe and sweet fruit, plenty of smoke, very minty. Beautiful after 2 hours with a lovely woodsy nose.
April 22, 2023 - Jamie and Linda’s Excellent Wine Adventure (Country Club of Florida): This had bones, fruit, color, palate weight, just plain delicious. Served with A5 Wagyu. Yum. Drink to enjoy
February 18, 2023 - Good but not at the level of last year’s bottle. The fruit is just lovely. There is a bit more oak here as well as a touch of rubber that holds things back. That said, this is a juicy, sweet-fruited wine that is fun to drink. (91)
January 16, 2023 - 5 hours in the decanter before service. Eleven years since my prior tasting note, but reviewing it now, nothing of substance has changed - soft, lush, texture is there, as is the mix of currants, tobacco, leather, and mocha, and the elegant midpalate and finish. The tannins remain mild and silky, so I can only assume that evolution will proceed at a glacial pace - but based on current performance, no reason not to give a bottle some air time and enjoy it now.
December 27, 2022 - Opened for Christmas Rib Roast. I didn't take detailed notes on the wine at the time, but here's the run down: I opened the wine about noon and it stayed in the bottle for about 3 hours which was followed by an hour in the decanter. I recall the first aromas and flavors were not entirely pleasing -- bbq pork and cooked strawberries -- but it opened spectacularly and offered a resounding endorsement of a thorough decanting. By dinnertime about 4 pm, the wine was complex, layered, and absolutely enjoyable.
April 15, 2022 - decanted 30 minutes after opening, and served 1½ hours after decanting. A little sweeter on the palate, with some exotic spices and stewed prunes on the nose. Improved after 15 minutes, and definitely got sweeter on the palate with more fruit, but still on the cooked or stewed side, along with leather and smoke. A little disappointing.
February 26, 2022 - The best bottle of The Maiden I can remember drinking. Dark ruby color with a light brick rim. The nose is caressing with plump fruit, fig and a touch of rubber. Mature, sweet fruit highlights the rich and full palate. There is some oak and tannin that currently mixes nicely with everything else. A warming but not heavy wine. A good time to drink as I wouldn’t want to see the fruit fade and expose the oak to a greater degree. Good stuff. (93)
December 11, 2021 - Was a little worried after the first sip that it was past prime. Decanted for an hour and tried again - much better. Smooth, velvety, and a great wine. Would definitely not let sit any longer if you have a bottle.
April 20, 2021 - This one was not flawed. It was just simply not a 93 + wine. I have never really had one of these that has held up incredibly well after 15 years. This is probably the first example of this so I guess there is a first to everything! Sweeter, mature blackberry fruit up front, with a nice balance of black cherry and big. Finishes bigger than it started, with some black pepper but the tannin is pretty much softened here and some mushroom and braised beef kind of show up here on the finish. This one is starting to develop some tertiary notes, and really doesn't have it together like these bottles do when they are around 5 years old. This bottle is at the top of the hill and starting to slide down the back. I think it will take a gradual slide over the next five years, but I would definitely start preparing to drink these.