March 19, 2024 - A very generous gift from a good friend. Decanted off sei
Decanted off sediment for an hour. Gorgeous nose of dark dried fruits complexed with warm earth and a hint of savory. Palate is so so classy. Elegant, ethereal, fully integrated and coalesced. True red fruit that has some density, olive brine, graphite, cedar. Finish is gentle and shows those fully integrated and supple tannins.
Just fantastic and in a perfect spot. For my palate the time to drink this wine is now. 94-95 comfortably.
January 9, 2024 - In a great spot! Give it an hour of air
August 7, 2023 - Berries, cherries, licorice, earthy tannins still present, bright notes, full bodied, saturated with flavor, balanced, long and evolving flavors on the finish, well made. Drink now - 2030.
November 19, 2022 - Opened immediately after a 1993 that was past, I was worried that the 1994 would also be far along the downslope even though - ay=t least in our cellar - 1994 has proven to be a superb and long lived vintage for California Cabernets.
Not nearly as brick colored as the 1993 and with a nose that was more raspberry fruit and leather than sherry, I was reassured.
Initially however the wine was quite restrained to the point that I disappointedly thought most of the the fruit was gone. Not unpleasant in any way and totally drinkable with even some tannin still to resolve with time, I was thinking 90-91 points.
However over 2-3 hours thru the evening it improved so that my last glass was excellent with a lovely floral aromatic profile and delicious raspberry fruit
Despite the late rally, I think this wine is a bit beyond its peak and would recommend drinking any remaining bottles soon
November 16, 2022 - The Last Dinner at Dinner (Dinner by Heston Blumenthal): Our third time with this wine over the last 10 years or so and definitely the wine is on the way down. At first we really liked it when it was younger and brighter and could hold the a bit overripe fruit. Back then was a 96 now is a 93 at best as the lack of freshness post the evolution just highlights that the winemaker lost control of it and now its paying the price. Its not porty or burnt but lacks elegance and beauty that one would expect from this level of pedigree. The 1996 for example that we tried recently that comes from a less ripe year was an exceptional 97 from us . This 1994 is at best 93 and better drink now.
March 10, 2022 - Return to Napa; 3/6/2022-3/13/2022 (Wineries and various restaurants): This wine never quite shows the way I expect it to given the reputation. Perhaps it was just tight. We didn’t decant this time around (did the last time and between that and air the wine got to a really nice spot). So it was a bit less expressive and on the heels of the Gonon which was open and ready for business spoke a bit less.
February 3, 2022 - Couples night with Wines That Don't Suck (My house): Pop and pour. Mint and slight funk on the nose. Red fruit, green tannin and some beef blood on the palate. This is fabulous, especially for California.
February 3, 2022 - Guy's Night Goes "Couples": Open Something Interesting (Joe & Khem's Place, Mpls): Very dark red color with a 5mm transitional margin. PNP, drank a glass plus over 4 hours. Oh baby, is this a nice nose or what. Eucalyptus, savory, subtle funk notes, dried flowers, dried cedar, blackberry, black currants, menthol and a building perfume; ooh lala. The palate is right there with the nose, medium full bodied, earthy, deep cherry, cassis tobacco, menthol, well spiced with dried woodsy notes and gravelly minerality. This is in a great place, but still has tons of life left, it should go another 10-15 years.
February 3, 2022 - Couples Night at Joe's with Anything Goes!: PnP - One of my niece's attended a wine dinner with me, so we picked out a birth year wine for her....this one. It was superb! Nose showed Eucalyptus, violets, plum, blackberry, a slight funk (in a good way), and some cedar and spice notes, with some air, it also added some forest floor and dried wood notes. The nose was so fragrant and compelling, I hesitated to take a drink because I was in fear of a let down. Alas, the palate was equal to the task, showing dark fruit, leather and bramble notes followed by notes of mint and herbs, coupled with hints of toasty oak and tar. Everyone's WOTN! 96+ for me, and that may be conservative! Wish I had more of this one!
January 15, 2022 - PNP Antico
Cherry, tobacco, slightly pruny and hot. Some sharp edges initially but mellowed out with time as the fruit filled out.
Alas this needed a decant