April 15, 2024 - Generously brought by MN (as if he hadn’t done enough!) to the apres tasting, apres In ‘N Out Burger festivities back at BW, and alas, on my 900th TN, my first sadly, badly, irredeemably corked bottle! Next time, perhaps, since you have a few in the bullpen. Guess we’ll have to crack that Ovid.
April 11, 2024 - Beautiful nose but doesn't quite follow through on the palate. I've had some bottles that are more open but mine seem to be pretty closed down still but there feels like a great wine lurking underneath. 92+
February 9, 2024 - Winey. Saddle sweat. Pheromones. Manure. Little fruit - all tertiary on the nose. Tightly knit, tannic structure still there, beautiful fruit, tannic, acid balance, so complete and perfect. An understated, classic wow. Love it.
January 13, 2024 - This is getting close to mature. It only took 26 years. But it was worth the wait. The wine is regal, plush, opulent, and intense with layers of perfectly ripe, powerful, strong black and red fruits, truffles the size of footballs, a bowl of Valrhona chocolate, and an orchard of ripe berries. The wine is palate-staining with its non-stop intensity. This is a muscular Pomerol with a refined edge that offers a thrilling tasting experience. In another decade, this could be a triple-digit wine. My instincts say it is highly possible. Drink from 2024-2050.
January 8, 2024 - Stunning wine with a beautiful nose and luscious fruit that is giving way to hints of herb and cedar. I think this is entering into a perfect drinking window but will hold on and continue to develop and evolve.
December 16, 2023 - In a 1998 right bank tasting recently, this was just outstanding. It had that extra element versus all the other super 98’s that night, this was able to standout with its complexity and flavours. Just in a perfect drinking window right now
November 16, 2023 - Beautiful.
After 2 hours in the decanter was nice but still just a tad lean.
Loved that this was mostly merlot with a taste of cab franc. No cabernet sauvignon! Great blend. So tired of the over everything Napa cabs. glad to have a nice blend v another oh so boring napa cab.
Anyway, after about 4 hours in the decanter, kapow! Really gained weight and was stunning. Velvety Pomerol delishishnous yum yum. More please. Oh, I have 3 more. Feels to be in a good drinking window. Will it get better, perhaps. Regardless, they're ready now w a proper decant.
July 27, 2023 - Giuseppe's (Scottsdale, AZ): Solid fruit here, but a severely clipped finish makes for an angular showing overall. Red and black fruit, cedar, hope chest, dry soil, and dust make for a constricted delivery. The small pour I had threw off a bunch of sediment. A second bite of the apple revealed similar characteristics.
The ’00 La Mish and 1990 Montrose served beside this Trotanoy proved to be more agreeable in conveyance. The Trotanoy seems to be getting overly crotchety and “get off the lawn”-y as it advances. Drink 5 years ago… (though I know this will draw some spitfire from traditionalists who say this is a 40 year wine. And to that, I simply say, “um, no.”)
June 21, 2023 - Another Grand Tasting in Arizona! (Guiseppe's in Scottsdale): Splashed and slo-O for two hours. Initially tasted when opened, and nice perfumed nose with palate showing lots of tertiary character and some red fruit and chocolate notes. Later, still very nice, but a little muted. After sitting out for a couple more hours, this wine really started to show much better! Red fruit (mostly cherry) became more prominent and it struck a nice balance for my palate between tertiary and fruit flavors. I recommend two to three hours of slow slo-O prior to serving, or probably a one to two hour decant, if drinking soon. No hurry on this wine, but in a great place with some air. 95+ for my palate.
May 24, 2023 - I would hope to live long enough to finish my stock, as this is outstanding, and is only going to get better, and possibly even surpass the 1982. I am trying to limit myself to a bottle a year to track its progress, but its so seductive that it is difficult. Admittedly, it is in its earlier stages of its drinking window, but with an afternoon in the decanter, it is irresistible. At present, the nose and front palate are its best features with a gorgeously decadent nose of of ripe cherry, strawberry, and raspberry with the 10% of Cabernet Franc surprisingly making its presence felt with residual green pepper notes. It's relatively younger age does mean the tannin is still more left bank than right bank. This is going to be a classic, already just eclipsing the Angelus, and I am drinking the Cheval Blanc in a couple of days, so will reserve judgement if this is the best right banker of 1998. If not, even so it will be possibly touching a perfect score in the next 5 years.