November 5, 2023 - Last bottle. Past it’s apex but still enjoyable. Soft, easy.
June 13, 2022 - Just lovely - resolved tannins- almost floral on the nose. stunningly good. I think I paid under 30 dollars for this on release. Last bottle. Sigh
October 18, 2021 - Cassis, anise, still some tannin. Very good. B+/B
February 14, 2021 - Double decanted and served with dinner three hours later. Vibrant crimson red core. Lovely bouquet of mint, black fruit, saddle leather and tobacco. Much of the same on the palate. Tannins are fully integrated.
September 25, 2020 - Two and a half hour decant. Far more youthful in the glass than I anticipated showing medium ruby with a pale ruby outer edge. Highly concentrated ripe, lush black fruits, blackberry, blackcurrant, cassis, and black plum. Sweet, exotic baking spices, anise, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg come together with deep savoury, mineral, and slightly herbaceous qualities of black liquorice, blood and iron to provide ample drinking pleasure despite lacking some complexity and concentration.
July 3, 2020 - More green tobacco, earth and minerals than the Montelena and also still has a bit of grip. Doesn't have the depth of the 1995 that I had recently, still, this is distinctly a Patrick Campbell wine and shows its mountain origins. I miss these wines.
September 15, 2019 - Timeless. Abundant nose of aged cedar, wet tobacco leaf, bell pepper and mountain fruit. The palate is still quite rich with herby/minty fruit. Loads of cab character. Perfectly mature. Tannins are suave and well integrated. Bravo.
July 27, 2019 - I big surprise that it still was alive and well. This was my last bottle and my expextations where very low after my last taste of this vintage 8-9 years ago, when it was sour and unpleasant to drink.
A lot of good cassis and nice to drink but nothing to keep.
January 5, 2019 - Opened by AllRed. Brownish red color. I found this to be a bit stark. Notes of licorice and grape nuts. The tannins were still pronounced. 90 points.
December 31, 2018 - Decanted off its sediment and enjoyed over a couple of hours. Notes of violet, cassis and currants. Currants and plum on the palate. Still has some slight tannin. On the early side of a nice window. Now through 2023+.