April 23, 2012 - I found this bottle hiding in the back of my cellar and was concerned that it had spoiled. After an hour in the decanter, that was not the case...This wine is still holding well. It had a huge nose with its dark ruby red color and full body. It was well balanced with delicous flavors of blackberry, strawberry, plum, cassis and spice. Excellent!
March 15, 2010 - I thought this wine might be expired but it was terrific after the initial barnyard funk blew off the nose...quickly opened up to full, well balanced fruit, long finish...it was great after dinner/dessert.
January 18, 2010 - Wife was raving about it and would have stayed up till 1am to drink it if she hadn't realized it was 11:40 and she should go to bed (since I was in bed since 10 after drinking my own bottle). She says "90 points" and fruit bomb on front end but lingers for a long time on smooth finish. Great mid palate transition to the finish.
September 26, 2008 - Dark ruby color. Nose of briary fruits and leather. Palate of blackberry, cassis, plum with some tar, spice and residual heat. Still with decent tannic background. This was balanced and delicious. Not over the top.
December 15, 2007 - Always one of my favorites. Picked up for $19. Deep purple in the glass. The aromas and flavors of currant, blackberry, strawberry, cocoa and spice finish with nice acidity.
August 13, 2007 - Very nice wine. Deep purple color, expressive nose of fruit and cedar. On opening this showed strawberry and rasberry fruit with gripping tannins. Medium to full bodied with nice balance, this changed over ~2h in the decanter with the fruit gradually replaced by darker cocoa and licorice notes.
July 30, 2006 - Better than I had expected. Not great, but at least seemed to have lost the hard edges, and the light palate didn't bother me so much with the pizza I was eating.
September 25, 2005 - MLW: Definnitely more subtle than a shiraz. Gentle with no sharp edges - 88
MDB: Strawberry, coffe/mocha, spicy start and a short finnish - 89
October 15, 2003 - Deep garnet/purple. Charcoal/leather. Surprisingly dense and smooth for a 2000.