April 13, 2023 - Popped and poured a few nites ago. Color shows a bit thin, some browning at edges. Nose of dark fruit, palate shows still a good amount of black cherry fruit, some leather and earth. Slightly raisiny. Much better preserved than I expected
February 27, 2023 - 100% Tinta de Toro from over 100 ungrafted, non-irrigated parcels aged between 70 and 100 yo located in the villages of Valdefinjas, Toro and El Pego. The fully destemmed fruit is cold-soaked with the skins for more than a week followed by fermentation and maceration over a period of 28 days. Aged in new French oak barrels for 19 months. 14,5% alcohol. Total production 350 cases.
Quite old, slightly hazy and moderately opaque cherry-red color with a rusty brownish-maroon hue. The nose feels very old and evolved with quite oxidative aromas of meat stew and beef jerky, some raisiny tones, a little bit of salty liquorice, light nutty notes of rancio, a hint of smoke, a touch of balsamic VA and a whiff of sweet, toasty oak. The wine feels ripe, dry and tertiary on the palate with a full body and quite tired flavors of raisin soup and meat consommé, some balsamic notes of VA, a little bit of salty liquorice, light nutty notes of rancio, a hint of extracted bitterness and a touch of soy sauce. The wine is quite low in acidity with rather tough and grippy tannins. The finish is dry, tough and grippy yet still quite fat and flabby with a long, tired aftertaste of raisins and meat stew, some nutty notes of rancio, a little bit of balsamic VA, light sweet notes of toasty oak, a hint of salty liquorice and a touch of dried dates. The wine ends on a rather warm and quite grippy note.
Ugh, this was already on a decline. It feels this must've been quite a big powerhouse maybe ten years ago, but now the wine is just too evolved. It is not completely in pieces or fully oxidized, but can't say the wine is particularly enjoyable anymore. It's high time to drink up any remaining bottles.
June 27, 2022 - corked
February 9, 2022 - A little past peak but still has some cream de cassis. Drank over 2 nights and it did not loose much the second night.
January 28, 2022 - Splendid bottle. Slox ox for several hours. Burgundy body with toffee edges. Pinot noir thin in appearance. Nose is powerful, darker berries and black cherry, baked tones, acetylide aromas. Silk body, with more weight, cranapple, port/brandy, raisins.
Drank along with the 1999 which was less powerful but more elegant. In the end, we could not say that we prefer one over the other. Both were amazing and exceeded expectations.
January 17, 2022 - Definitely past peak but still enjoyable. Has lost the power of the mid palate but still has touches of licorice and spice. Will try to drink my remaining bottles soon.
January 7, 2022 - Pristine cork. Pours a nearly opaque ruby into the glass with slightly thinning edges with no bricking. Very alluring nose of balsamic-laced sherry with dried fruits, motor oil, and old leather. On the palate, dark cherry, red currant, red plum, green tobacco, leather, and oak spices. Good level of supporting acidity. Agree that this is probably past peak but it is very enchanting if you enjoy balsamic oxidized flavors, like I do.
January 2, 2022 - Probably past peak but still a deep color and retains it's earthiness and some cream de cassis.
October 1, 2021 - Supposedly past its Drinking Interval but I found it with a beautiful nose and cream de casis and dark fruit on the mid palate.
November 28, 2019 - Wow this baby is right in her drinking window. Well stored bottles should be singing.