May 22, 2023 - The 2002 Verite La Joie was special last evening… soft / very pleasant. Glad to have one last bottle to share sometime soon!
April 16, 2023 - Dinner at Union Square Cafe with Alastair, first time at the new location.US had been my go-to place in the old spot for great food and corkage friendly, excited to be back. Somm decanted this and a Charnu PNV next to each other. Drank this one first
From prior notes:"Medium garnet color, some bricking. Nose showing cherry, cedar, smoke, earth. Palate of dark raspberry, graphite, iron. Medium weight and finish."
This one showing more age than last bottle. Still expressive but moving to a secondary phase. Still plush in a right bank way, this bottle was starting to dry out some on the mid palate. Medium weight and finish. Would drink over the next few years
April 8, 2023 - Spectacular.
September 7, 2022 - Brought this to dinner at Anton's in Lambertville, NJ. With Neeta and Manoj. Classic, old school and corkage friendly place. Bottle was opened, slow oxed for about 2 hours prior to drinking
Medium garnet color, some bricking. Nose showing cherry, cedar, smoke, earth. Palate of dark raspberry, graphite, iron. Medium weight and finish.
Elegant, Bdx styleded win. Nicely aged at this point. Wine is well into a seconday phase and drinking well. Would drink over next 2-4 years
May 27, 2022 - Seemed cooked.
July 22, 2021 - Got 2 of these on Winebid. I agree completely with those who say if tasted blind they would likely say Bordeaux. This reminded me of a great Right Bank St Emillion. Loads of nuanced smoke and leather intermingled with red fruit. Bricking around the edges in color but still vibrant. I will not wait to drink the next one. Best in the next 1-3 years. Amazing new world wine!
March 27, 2021 - A beauty. Great nuance and complexity. Brambly blackberries with earth, tobacco and licorice. Smoke and graphite. Good underlying acidity. A slightly drying finish.
November 25, 2020 - Two and a half years since my last review- still great. This needs about 90 minutes to open up. Very reminiscent of Bordeaux. Will be challenging to pick new world in a blind tasting. Should continue to hold for 5 plus years. Very nice balance and finish. Overall a complete wine.
November 12, 2020 - Coravin sample for virtual tasting with Garth. Subtle nose of sandalwood and mineral on the nose. The palate has more refined red fruit, more smooth oak, minerals. Smooth. Almost old world.
March 22, 2020 - My last bottle and it was amazingly tight upon opening.
12 hours later my assessment remains the same. True 30+ year wine. Iron, earth, pencil shavings, raspberries and all the other stuff mentioned in my previous review.
I have some 2015's and I have no idea if I can cellar them like they deserve to.
Best similar Cab analogy I can think of is what a perfect 2013 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red would be like but with 10+ years of age on it.