June 25, 2018 - high in alcohol, no fruit, mono-dimensional cough syrup
May 29, 2017 - Hot. Hot. Hot. Considerable bricking, and an alcohol level (15%+) that overcomes what little fruit is left. This wine had been unbalanced throughout its evolution, but it's over the edge now. Drink up now, if you dare. (��= Pass)
June 26, 2016 - In a way that didn't happen with previous bottles the alcohol overwhelms the fruit and comes in hot. Nose of over baked pie fruits, plum, light baking spices. Fruit and alcohol dominates taste little in earthy characteristics. Berry mixture fruit snack pie crust and spice heat on finish. Less than pleasing. Okay but far from great.
April 10, 2016 - Generous nose of dark fruit earth graphite and herbs. Touch of blueberry. Soft silky yet mouth coating full on the plate. Little to No heat from the 15% alcohol. Black fruit - some licquorece dark finish. Very Burgundian in style, w/ a modern bent.
March 19, 2016 - Silky, elegant, earthy and yet, even after 11 years, still shows some gripping, extracted fruit. Fantastic. Probably has more time than the 2017 expiration date.
March 4, 2016 - Still a surprising amount of fresh red fruit. Cherry, strawberry; a little edgy but I attribute that to the age. Better with food (beef) than the pre-dinner glass.
January 31, 2016 - Nice level of fruit, light on the finish though. Quintessential B-C! Just found this baby while organizing our new cellar....what a bonus.
January 23, 2016 - Nose of evolved funk, earth and baked fruit. Fruit is discreet but evolved - raspberry? Beautiful soft hedonistic mouth coating texture w/ raspberry, earth, baking spices and evolved cherry cola on the short finish. Fruit might be fading but secondary flavors keep it extremely interesting and pleasing.
December 25, 2013 - Massive hit of pepper on the nose. Wonderful depth, this one keeps getting better!
October 14, 2012 - Comes on like a locomotive up front with not much left by the time the caboose comes by. Acetone nose upon opening that quickly blows off. Then showing a clear-cut ruby clarity, thunder-thigh legs and a brisk sea-breeze nose intermixed with floral (mostly rose) notes. On the palate it shows more herbs (thyme, marjoram and rosemary) and spice (cinnamon and white pepper) than fruit (tart cherries and cranberries). The heat (15.5% alc.) picks up in the finish and flavor drops off dramatically. Strangely, the wine bricked in the glass over time, and after an hour the spice kicks up, which provided a nice foil for the grilled salmon and roasted potatoes.