August 28, 2020 - Just on the other side of peak. Love it.
So this wine is critically in its last year. Not the case at all. Still had five years of good life in it.
I think people are so used to drinking wine young, critics purposely conservatively set their drinking windows to the younger side.
This 06 is just and I mean just the other side of its bell curve. I enjoy them at that stage and in fact, live on those descriptive edges quite often. .
The nose reveals; ruby, ripe & slightly baked fruits of; sweet, black plum, blackberries, black cherries, stewed strawberries, black raspberries, plums, raspberries, cranberries, pomegranate, raspberry cola, dry, crushed rocks, dry twig, dark spice, anise to black licorice, soft sweet tarriness, sage, graphite, dry tobacco, limestone minerals, soft leather, blonde volcanics, dark, slightly moist soils with candied, fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in lavender.
The palate is; round, juicy, voluptuous & sexy. Tannins are rounded yet firm & tarry. The tension, structure, balance and length are peaking. Ruby, ripe & slightly baked fruits of; sweet, black plum, blackberries, black cherries, stewed strawberries, black raspberries, plums, raspberries, cranberries, pomegranate, raspberry cola, dry, crushed rocks, dry twig, dark spice, anise to black licorice, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha, soft sweet tarriness, sage, Provence herbs, graphite, dry tobacco, limestone minerals, soft leather, blonde volcanics, dark, slightly soils with candied, fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in lavender. The acidity is round & like a gentle rain shower. The finish is rich, lush, ruby, nicely polished, elegant & finishing with persistent dark spices for minutes.
April 18, 2020 - Decanted 1 hour, dark cherry, currants, cassis, soft, very smooth, long finish. Ready to drink, but certainly can hold for several more years.
May 10, 2019 - The absolute best cab blend I’ve had this year. Everything in balance. Delicious beyond words. I’m not sure why other reviewers have been stingy with their ratings.
June 30, 2018 - Wonderful. In a really good place.
November 3, 2017 - Blackberries, black currants, licorice, coffee, tobacco and some earthiness. Nicely balanced with a medium to long finish.
October 16, 2016 - Delicious. Black fruits with nicely integrated oak. Also nice touch of earth. Tastes like caymus, but more fruit and less overtly oaky.
November 30, 2015 - Needs time in decanter to open up but had nice dark fruit, currants, well integrated tannins and lots of coffee notes
January 1, 2015 - Solid wine with dark red color and good tannins. Must decant due to sediment but air really helped it evolve over 2+ hours
December 19, 2014 - Solid. Holding up from our previous tastes. Last of our bottles. Enjoy.
October 14, 2014 - Great bottle, likely at peak. Very drinkable. No flaws. Moderate sediment. Mild rim variation in the glass. Mature cab nose. No tannin. Low acid. Low alcohol. Medium finish.