April 11, 2015 - with sister and LR. super dusty - as if the glasses had been sitting in a cardboard box for a decade. but it wasn't corked. some dark fruit emerged, the tannins had softened out, but in any interesting way. this didn't turn into anything special.
January 12, 2013 - Saturday with David White (Domaine Wine Storage & Sun Wah - Chicago, IL): Dark fruit at its core with some pepper and florals. Had nice balance to it, but just didn't strike a chord with me.
February 10, 2012 - Over 2 years in between bottles and very little traffic on this wine in over a year so I'll add my impression, although this is my last bottle. Open 2 full days. Pours very dark and comes across as inky, grapey and burly. The fruit has that earthy/crushed feel, juicy, without being ripe or alcoholic. This is a wine with a big path of fruit but it's in the vein of olive, soili and black cherry, dark blackberry. Needs another couple years but more approachable now than it was in 2009 when I last noted it.
November 5, 2010 - Good. Not great. Let's see how it is tonight.
August 25, 2010 - Northern Italian Whites and then Syrahs - Controversy in the tasting Group: My first time trying this producer. It is still young and for me, the oak was prevalent. I have no doubt, however, that a year or two in bottle will cure that issue and this will be a couple of points or so higher. Very pretty in the glass, purple with a ruby rim. Big nose with black raspberries and pepper and oak turning to cedar. On the palate, lots of tannins and an oaky black raspberry quality. I hope to be lucky enough to revisit this in 2013.
May 7, 2010 - immediately after opening this was wonderful! juicy, ripe & balanced with just the right acidity & tannins. after about 20 minutes, a veil was drawn over it & it continued to withdraw for a while. it was still quite good & i believe it will only get better with a little more time in the bottle. how much? i don't know, but i am going to give it another year before i open another.
August 15, 2009 - OC KB and Shane Dinner--With Michael Browne and Shane Finley (The Murray Casa): Peppercorn nose, some florals. Big, dense and dark with lots of chalk. Deep black fruit. As Steve Nordhoff said during the dinner (who also tasted the same wine with me back in December), "Shane, this thing has not moved since". You know, he's right, as this wine is so dense and large in tannin and stuffing, if you open it now and try and judge it right from the bottle on pour, then shame on you. Like with Shane's other 2007s, either air the hell out of it or age and enjoy down the road.
July 13, 2009 - Double decanted 24hrs ahead. Fantastic nose of pure blackberry, a strawberry note, ink, tobacco leaf, bittersweet choc and rocky earth. Very serious and structured on the palate where it displays more earthiness. Tannins are very strong and rather earthy. Great raw material but needs at least 5 years.
April 20, 2009 - Popped and poured a small amount out. Then did the mollydooker shake to release any trapped gas. Wine fizzed up. Let rest and then poured. Dark color; good nose of licorice, some menthol, bacon and tar. Lots of blackberries and meat. Has a slightly sweet edge to it. Finished the bottle the next day; a bit of heat showing when sipped with food (odd). Still concentrated and approachable now. Nice wine.
April 9, 2009 - I actually planned to open the Valenti ... but grabbed the wrong V. Very nice elements of whole cluster with more complexity showing up in white pepper and light flowers. Very enjoyable. So young right now so the fruit still as the head of the structure. I would assume this will start to tighten up. Best plan would be to wait but this is a heck of a wine right now.