January 3, 2021 - Cork totally dried out and crumbled upon opening. Seemed flawed.
December 21, 2020 - No formal tasting notes but wow this was drinking so well at this age. Yes it’s a legendary wine but I’d been concerned my bottle that had moved continents twice (once from a California to Europe and then to Australia) might not have liked the travel.
Just marvelous, I’d not hesitate to buy again and cellar for 25 years.
November 27, 2020 - Soft but incredibly youthful fruit. Fully resolved tannins but looked and tasted young.
August 22, 2020 - Decanted for 45 minutes. Dark opaque garnet. Steadily building nose of cassis, cedar, acacia, red currant, fennel, saline. Layers of deeply drenching black and red currant, vibrant ripe plum, blackberry, and iodine on the smoothly-textured palate. Lovely acidity and gentle tannin leading to a long finish of anchored but ringing red fruit with hints of leather and tobacco. A wine of balanced richness. Just beautiful.
June 26, 2020 - Carried to village pub
June 6, 2020 - Consistent with prior note
May 22, 2020 - From a half bottle bought at auction, and in impeccable shape. Extraordinarily evocative nose screaming Old World Cabernet: cassis, mild green pepper and a savory spice, tea and truffle overlay. Much more complex palate, with additional notes of black and blue fruit, some mocha and a touch of acidity. I suppose the Merlot and Petit Verdot explain the spiciness, but this is really Cab-driven. In its secondary phase, and just heading to tertiary, I think. Moderate, well-integrated oak and sweet tannins, a touch drying. When sheltering at home, 375's rule!
April 14, 2020 - very similar to my last note - inky black- effusive nose of dark red fruit - cassis & blackberries, some leather undertones, but not a lot of complexity - GIANT fruit in the mouth, more than I've had in most CA cabs this old - good acid, low tannins - nice moderately long finish - this wine is drinking very well now, though not as complex as I had hoped - will easily last another 10-20 years, but not sure how much complexity will develop - based on the taste characteristics, I would consider this the Ch Latour or Montrose of new world cabs
December 16, 2019 - 1994 California Cabernet Blind Tasting (Michelangelo Hotel, New York): Light fruit nose. Dark fruit palate. Youthful and tannic but nicely balanced. WOTN for some and a contender for me.
October 2, 2019 - Big fruit up front after barnyard stink usually noted with pinot's> Kids enjoyed the experience and adults marveled at clear red ruby hue, bold fruit upfront and a rather quick decline in tannins. Julia noted that the finish improved when upfront fruit faded a bit. Those Pochini palates can't be beat!