Community Tasting Note

Sunday, January 13, 2019 - I'll start off by saying we had this under almost the same conditions as last year's 2013 and it isn't as good. 2013 was a transcendental experience and so good I'm still not sure its classifiable as wine - this is really excellent but is demoted to being wine.

It sits perfectly in the glass. Pitch black and strong, opaque and mature. Vibrant in its blackness. Everything about it screams quality.

On the nose, I would agree that it is quite young but more than drinkable. Smells of oak and violet (perfume violets rather than Parma Violets). The petit verdot comes through extraordinarily strong considering its the smallest percentage of the blend. Touch of eucalyptus but I reckon that might actually be best described as more of a herbal sage or maybe under ripe blackberries.
There is a rich juiciness there too which is deceptive due to the dominance of the oaken violets.

Initially quite standard on first taste - tons of chewy tannins with a chalkiness, the oak not too dominant as it is on the nose.

Mid palate is quite sherberty.

Finish is a great sour black cherry, really long lasting herby and fruity.

Don't serve it too cold.

Its true that it isn't complex yet. It could become a bit of a leathery beast but I'm also sure that there doesn't need to be a lot of theatrics if you open this a little early. Drink and enjoy because it isn't a 2013, that much is abundantly clear.