February 6, 2023 - A bit over due but still worth a try. Chocolate and blueberries with hints of vanilla. Decanted for an hour before drinking.
December 28, 2022 - Decanted/strained due to crumbled cork. Big wine with in your face fruit and leathery secondary flavors at first. Cassis and black cherry flavors most pronounced, with earthy-leathery notes and a vanillin finish. Could detect slight hints of oxidation, which by day 2 had risen to the forefront and made the wine unpleasant to drink. Drink now and finish the bottle on day 1 for best results.
September 30, 2018 - This wine has gotten better. Drinking very well now and more balanced than I remember it. Just killed the last 2 last night.
April 11, 2018 - Drank over two days. Nice fruit with good balance.
September 3, 2017 - Sadly, Nicholas Cole Cellars has been out of business for a couple of years now. Showed a lot of promise in the mid '00s with their Camille and Michele blends. This 2006 Michele is just its second vintage, not sure how many more they made before folding.
As for the showing of this 2006 today: Faint, port-like bouquet of plum & raisin and an unusual salted nut characteristic. On the palate: quite astringent, tart, heavy acidity and spicy, fruit way in the background. Without question at the end of its drinking window.
April 7, 2017 - Our last bottle of Michele. Perhaps a year or two past it's peak, but delicious. We will miss you, Michele!
January 2, 2017 - When we first had this wine, from a case we had in 20p9 we all thought it was exceptionally good. Somehow this bottle was lost but turned up all this time later. It is difficult to compare witb yesteryear but was still a mellow smooth drink
November 21, 2016 - Lots of fruit.
September 17, 2016 - Dark ruby with a red berry nose. Dry with ripe fruit, chewy tannins on opening. Plums with some tartness to enhance the fruit which is on the verge of becoming jammy. Way out of my present style, but for those liking a more fruit forward wine, this one still delivers. These have been getting better with age and the third night is usually the best. This one will not last that long as I'm sending this last bottle upstairs where it will receive a good reception. I would drink within a couple of years for best enjoyment.
August 27, 2015 - Interesting, mature WA red blend. Dark and thick color. flavors more earthy than berry, maybe stewed plums. Fig and smoke on the finish.