June 10, 2022 - Over the hill. Wine had a ton of VA and was extremely bitter. No fruit to speak of...just earth and oak. Let it sit in a decanter for several hours and it did not improve. Ended up pouring it down the drain. If you got it, drink it now...this is not going to get any better.
December 18, 2020 - In Honor of a good friend!
April 12, 2018 - I'm down to perhaps three Nicholas Cole bottles, all the reserve Cabernet. It's been an amazing ride with a winery that closed up shop during the recession. Honestly, they made some of the best wine in the state of WA, so it's sad to think about what could have been... Anyway, drank this with some brisket and a side of Pig Iron Mustard BBQ sauce.
The color was a bit brickish and the nose showed a bit of age, but when combined with the food, it was totally singing! Very balanced, lush, yet not heavy, with plenty of fruit left. Next thing I know, I had drank almost all the bottle! I saved some for the next night, but by then it was more acidic than I preferred and a bit muted. I think I caught it just past its peak, but close enough to be thoroughly enjoyable.
February 12, 2017 - Based on notes, decanted 6 hours prior to dinner. Nose of strong fruit, smoke. My initial taste impressed me more on the tannins and the structure of the wine than the fruit profile. But, as time passed, the wine opened up beautifully. Dark fruit, smoke, tobacco, mocha. This is a big wine with the chops to age further. Long finish.
February 20, 2015 - The final Nicholas Cole from my cellar, and boy what a wonder it was. Purity, length, class. The flavors were almost secondary to the operatic movements sung in my mouth. I'm going to have to place this in the upper echelon of wines drunk in my lifetime: Top ten, right here right now.
This cements my belief that during its run, this label was at the pinnacle of Washington producers, all while flying relatively low under the radar. T'is a shame that it's no longer around ... but as they say, the brightest flames burn out the fastest.
May 31, 2014 - Amazing. Soft tannins. Vanilla tones. Long finish.
February 8, 2014 - Great flavors and balance, but lacking in a meaningful finish. Otherwise a fantastic wine. This could last another 3-5 years in the cellar before going over the hill, but it's drinking very well now. Sad that this is my last bottle.
September 13, 2013 - good wine, nice time to drink, but need to give it some air as it gets better over time. Good deep red color, not dark. Cherries, some spice, some acidity, with tannins to balance, decently integrated, solid medium finish. Good and ready
January 19, 2013 - popped and poured through venturi into decanter. Sat about 30 minutes, but think it needs more time. Color does have some "bricking" around the edges, showing some age. Nose is deep and wafts big over the glass. Taste, still bold. Deep tannins, with acidity but just hasn't balanced out yet. Spice, deep/dark fruit, fills your mouth and has a solid medium/long finish that does keep going. Recommend more time in bottle, or longer decant
December 31, 2012 - have loved every nicholas cole that we have opened, but this one may have been in the cellar too long. Not much fruit and a somewhat harsh after taste. Initially doubly decanted which helped the wine, but it continued to change over the night, ultimately to the point of being close to undrinkable