November 2, 2019 - Opened at a restaurant - decanted for 45 min at the table. Had a little bit of a musty/mildew note on the nose (cork was pretty dry) but the fundamental palate of the wine was quite good. Red fruit and especially plums come through with some oaky undertones. medium body and finish. Honestly I think this is maybe 18-24 mos past it’s prime, but still pretty tasty. If you have any 2002, now is the time to drink up!
September 4, 2017 - Popped and poured. Still lots of dark red berry fruit and black plums along with some chocolate and toasty oak on the nose and palate with some secondary notes of cigar box coming through. Medium acid and tannins were pretty much fully resolved so this is certainly drink now territory. Very smooth texture and finish. Will probably hold for a little while but not sure there is a lot of structure to hold for the long haul.
June 3, 2017 - Popped and poured, consumed over 5 hours. Nose: Medium expressiveness, black raspberry, black berry, sweet tobacco, black olives, and saddle leather. Palate: Medium-bodied, great mouth-feel - amazingly youthful for a 15 year old wine, spicy red and black fruit attack, plenty of acid to provide balance, builds in intensity from front to back-end with up-front fruit and spice persisting and joined by tobacco and leather. Finish: Medium-plus length dominated by spicy red/black fruit. My only bottle, but this has plenty of life left - 5-10 years easily.
April 15, 2017 - Really drinking well right now, well integrated, complex nose and palate with an excellent finish.
October 3, 2016 - Wow! This wine has aged phenomenally. Decanted for 20 mins as we were seated for dinner. Soft tannins, very low acidity, and silky smooth mouth feel. Clear hints of black currant and blackberry in the background. Lingers for a bit with a medium finish.
June 27, 2016 - Slightly bricking red in color, with nice aromas of sweet dark cherry, violets, and a subtle hint of mahogany. The palate shows gorgeous cherry and plum flavors with mocha, cedar, graphite, and a light herbal note. Rich, focused, and balanced, with a beautiful texture. Drinking so well right now.
March 30, 2016 - Very fruit forward, not much else going on but yummy.
October 12, 2015 - Pop n pour. Followed over a few hours
Purple, heat, dark chocolate on the nose. Palate showed purple plums, blackberry dark chocolate,pine, trace VA,trace cassis. Somewhat gloppy. Firm mouth-feel. Minimal/resolved tannin from hours 0-3. Although the tannin may be increasing with time open. Unbridled heat on the finish that increased with time and aeration in Z. bordeaux glasses.
Decent enough Would have preferred more structure. A little more austerity. Serve with leaner meats. Perhaps a kalbi bbq of some sort.
Drink within next 3 years
May 13, 2015 - This is a luscious wine. Black color. Aromas of dark fruit and some barnyard. Flavors of dark cherry and dark chocolate. Long finish. Some burn on the very end is the only negative.
April 18, 2015 - Gorgeous. Smooth, integrated tannins. Full bodied. Cassis, black cherry, spice. Tar on the finish. Thick fruit. Just beginning to take on slight brick color around the edges. Drinking beautifully now. Drink now-2017.