Community Tasting Note

Tuesday, July 27, 2021 - Vice Versa weekend and dinner: Refined and acutely polished, the 2015 Promontory showed even better than when I had it back in April. Sophisticated red berry fruit and tobacco notes initially load the front end with classicism and judicious restraint, but come mid-palate, the profile shifts to a more purple/black contour, deepening as it rides through its expansion of flavor. Purity of fruit is off-the-charts. It remains somewhat tight throughout consumption, but it never becomes rigid or sterile. Its nucleus is just rock solid and serious business. Subtle herbs, graphite, and dust notes add additional interest. A great showing tonight with this bottle and one of the wines of the night (just barely overshadowed by a 2012 Harlan – go figure). Hold the Promontory for now. Try again in 5+ years. 97+ points.

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7 comments have been posted

Comment posted by Cyclist:

7/27/2021 9:19:00 PM - Great note! Did you decant this at all, or just pnp?
Comment posted by csimm:

7/28/2021 8:21:00 AM - Hi there! No decant. Followed over the course of a few hours in-bottle. That said, a decant of a couple hours is probably worth considering given that it remained a bit tight throughout.
Comment posted by Cyclist:

7/28/2021 9:53:00 AM - Thanks for the info! Likely opening one of these next week, will definitely decant for a couple hours in that case.
Comment posted by csimm:

7/28/2021 10:55:00 AM - Would love to know your thoughts when you pop the cork! Enjoy!
Comment posted by Cyclist:

7/28/2021 11:06:00 AM - I tasted at the winery a couple years ago before I used CT. Will put some notes together when I open this time. I do remember very slightly preferring the 2014 then, but mostly because it was so open and singing at the time, not because it was structurally better.
Comment posted by csimm:

7/28/2021 11:13:00 AM - I would imagine the 2014 would be more giving just because of the accessibility of the vintage in general. Some of the Napa 2015s are displaying some angularity at the moment in their evolutions, so i think 2015 (again, generally speaking) is more of a vintage in need of time over the more approachable 2014s. That said of course, the 15 Promontory was killer.
Comment posted by Cyclist:

7/28/2021 8:13:00 PM - Agreed on all fronts. Excited to pop it. Will be opening some other fun stuff too, will do my best to actually remember to write notes.