December 19, 2020 - Such an interesting wine. Wild berries, herbs, olives and brine. The alcohol gets a bit out of whack though. This is a good one to leave open for four hours, and drink with friends so you’re not plowing through a full bottle.
March 25, 2020 - Interesting to say the least. Needs long decant. 3 hours and its full of olives, dark cherry and licorice. Velvety mouth feel till the alcohol punches you in the face. Firm tannins finish this somewhat awkward wine off. Its has some panache but too much alcohol. Don't know if age will help this one. Drink with food.
September 8, 2016 - The 16.2% alcohol is too much. A bit pruney and porty, almost vinegary on the palate. Kinda like a vintage port that underwent full, native yeast fermentation. Paired well with fresh marjoram.
September 14, 2015 - Big wine, yet maintains balance. Inky purple in the glass, nose of black fruit, Etoh, forest floor and blackberry bushes. Blackberry (wild) on the palate, with a sour note (good) rather than sweetness. At 16.5% (at least), this is powerful, yet still manages to pull off a "wine" rather than a "port".
July 2, 2015 - A tremendously interesting, rich, inky, earthy, olivy red that resonates with Mediterranean warmth. The region is not one with which I am very familiar, and I was admittedly initially skeptical - but I keep coming back for more with each new vintage of Babylon.
May 17, 2015 - Smells... wild. Like a swath of wild berries on a mountain side baking in the sun. Scents of green vegetation and high mountain air.
Velvet and juice, fine tannins and acid. Tastes of blackberries and cigar boxes.
This wine is in a fantastic place currently. The tannins are just present enough to create texture without obstruction, the acid is in counterpoint to the perception of ripe fruit, the dark tones round out the spectrum of flavor, just singing tonight.
There is a bitter sweetness knowing you are drinking your last bottle of something you enjoy so. There'll be other wines of course, even better wines, but this is the last time you'll drink this particular juice. An excellent adieu.
April 19, 2015 - This has an amazingly complex nose - black fruit, earth, licorice, manure, cocoa and potpourri. At over 16% the size of the body is noticeable (a bit of a Port-like mouthfeel) but not sweet or over the top. The black fruit is prominent with cocoa, earth and dark florals rounding it out. Medium acidity, strong tannins. A big wine but with the structure to match; drinking well now.
March 23, 2014 - Much better than the nv. Fruit like a cerasuolo, but deeper in character. Some amount of dirt and funk, but all in all, pretty good.
March 7, 2014 - Deep earthy nose. Almost bittersweet taste, with tannins coming right after. Blackberries, but wild ones. Very interesting.
September 1, 2013 - Big brute of a wine with dark, dark fruit and tongue staining tannins. Appreciate the PS blend that has blackberry, bramble and a really interesting mix of dark fruit.