July 25, 2020 - Keeping these wines only rewards you. What was first more fruit forward is now more refined. A little leather and the brighter cherry is riper and a bit more raisiny. Days 2 and 3 just keep getting better. 90 pts.
June 9, 2020 - Still lively & delicious. Medium bodied. Flavors include berry (raspberry & blueberry) with typical soft spiciness. There is now a soft underlying vanilla presence above which the flavors are integrated. Mouthfeel remains a strong point, perhaps losing a bit of the luscious texture noted a year ago. No heat noted at all. Smooth moderately long finish. I have a few bottles left & I think I should not let them lie.
September 22, 2019 - Just opened my last bottle, loved it. At 5 years in the bottle. The nose is licorice, the mouth feel is soft. The fruit notes I would associate with Zinfandel have faded a little so the notes of a old world aged zin are present. I love to lay down the 1869s then open 6 years and taste the wine living through the years.
March 3, 2019 - Had this at a wine tasting party last night and I have to say it was not very good. I thought there was a "sweetness" to it that undercut everything else. Was the worst wine of the six tasted. That said, as we all know, wine is an individual taste!
May 13, 2018 - Nice wine and I had to share it with family...well, did so willingly, mostly.
March 18, 2018 - Wow. This is one of Scott Harvey's best MS Zinfandels in the past 5 years. I really enjoyed the 2011, but this one is even better. So many California Zins are high in alcohol and cannot hide it. I would have guessed 13-14% alcohol (it's 14.5%)---so smooth and balanced. Great fruit. Nice finish. No need to pair it with food...although this a wonderful food wine. Very easy drinking---not a complaint...more of a "warning".