Community Tasting Note

forceberry wrote:

Monday, January 25, 2021 - A blend of Merlot (48%), Cabernet Franc (42%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%). Harvested in 36 separate pickings from 29 September until 28 October. Fermented in stainless steel vats for 12 days, aged for 8 months in French oak barriques (1, 2 and 3 years old), followed by another 11 months in cement tanks. Bottled in March 2016. 14% alcohol. Total production 55,500 bottles.

Still relatively youthful, somewhat translucent and quite deep and dark ruby red color. Somewhat restrained and understated nose with aromas of earth, fresh dark berries, some graphite, light blackcurrant tones and a hint of alcohol. The wine feels youthful, savory and quite acid-driven on the palate with a medium-plus body and flavors of redcurrants, blood, some brambly raspberries, a little bit of fresh red plum, a hint of sour cherry bitterness and a woody touch of pencil shavings. The overall feel is enjoyably dry, firm and quite structured, thanks to the high acidity and medium tannins that slowly pile up on the gums. The finish is quite dry, somewhat grippy and moderately long with flavors of fresh redcurrants and ripe lingonberries, some woody notes of pencil shavings, light crunchy notes of fresh red plums and blackcurrants, a little bit of sour sour berry bitterness, a hint of licorice root and a lactic touch of strawberry yogurt.

A surprisingly fresh, balanced and enjoyable effort for the lousy vintage - even though the nose was quite underwhelming and didn't promise much. Otherwise this was an enjoyable faux-Bdx Super-Tuscan. Nothing too memorable, but nothing disappointing either. Going still very strong and while drinking well now, most likely will continue to improve for a good handful of years - at least until the subtly lactic touch from the aftertaste disappears. All in all, quite nice.

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