Found this in my cellar but it wasn't in inventory... Popped and poured. Cork was solid. Nose of sweet leather and baking spices Palate was silky, a little watery, lacked depth of flavor that a great wine would have but not objectionable at all. Medium, short finish. Probably past it's peak but showing well for 23 years old.
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So, so good at the 21 year mark, this is prime drinking right now. Nose and palate is comparable to a wonderfully aged Bordeaux. Possibly my favorite bottle ever consumed from Washington.
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Nose is all soft dark blackberries, spicy tobacco leaf, some barnyard, plum. Palate is a wave of juicy ripe blackberry, chalky tannins and plum crashing across the tongue and receding gently, leaving plum paste, sweet tobacco, charred onion, plum skins and licorice, leaving a tannic bite behind. By no means balanced or impeccably made, but its my first bottle after a long week of stomach flu. Irregardless of the bottle, like Xmas f****g morning. Heaven.
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Dark red color, blackberry, cassis, smokey leather and mild tobacco aromas. Dense fruit on palate, slight acidity, smooth lengthy finish. A nicely matured wine.
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I constantly wonder about the storage conditions of many of the wines opened and consumed on cellar tracker. This bottle was bought on release and stored at 50-52 F. It's condition is still young with a dark red color and a fruit driven nose which is just beginning to evolve into a mature wine. It drank well over two days. Unlike most WA wines from Walla Walla it had no Volatile acidity or off putting flavors. The fruit was clean and without the overly ripe problem of many wines in particular Quilceda Creek.
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The wine is starting to fade. It still takes a while to open and when it does there are traces of cherry and cedar flavors. The wine has mellowed but still has a pleasant medium bodied finish, but is lack some of its old depth.
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This wine is dead, void of fruit and there's a strange smell of stewed peppers.......the palate is disjointed, thin and fruitless. This might possibly be the worst Wash. State wine I've ever had and will be dumped down the toilet when I'm done writing. What a waste of money this was. 50 points..... I would rate it 34 points but 50 is the lowest I can go on CT.
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Barbara's birthday, dinner at Jake's Grill, Portland. Good cork, great color. Decanted and let sit for about an hour. Weak nose. Tasted, nothing overpowering, fairly short 20 second finish. Some similarity to mid-range Paulliac with lead pencil, vague cherry. Not hot, although alcohol is present. This is at the end of its useful life, not much left. Fruit gone, but it has some attributes. Suggestive of a once really good wine. I'll try younger vintages and report again.....
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Intense garnet color and depth. Beautiful cedar on the nose. On the palate a classic Pauillac style with the extra warmth that comes with a higher alcohol level. Really long and enjoyable mouth feel
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Garnet hue. Solid nose of cedar, currant, earth, Asian spice. The palate was medium-bodied and layered, exhibiting red currants, tea, plum, and raspberry flavors. Tannins nicely rounded off. The finish was a bit dilute and short. Not sure this was the best example of this; very pleasant with elements of class showing intermittently.
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Popped cork and left in bottle for 1.5 hours. Classic aged WA Cab Franc/Sauv nose of berries and cedar, was really nice mouthfeel with plenty of cherry and vanilla oak. The tannins and acids were really sitting well and complimented the tenderloins we served, but I felt that the wine had a bit of a forward oakiness I would have expected to age off. I think this could easily have lasted a few more years, but glad I drank it now. On day two the oak had subsided, but the fruit had also faded a bit, but was still an enjoyable follow up glass to finish the bottle.
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Drank with Juan at the Capital Grille. Decanted for only a 1/2 hour but was impressed with the changing nature of the wine over the evening. It was a little closed at the beginning despite the intense nose of berries, cedar and spice. Over the night the wine opened beautifully with cherry, berry and spice flavors. Very enjoyable.
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It’s been over two years since my previous tasting, I figured it was time to open up another 98 Delille. Surprisingly closed, this wine was tight and astringent. It took over two hours before it opened up, and was drinking great at threw hours. A slightly diluted nose, not as intense as I recall a few years ago. Spice, oak, floral violets and a medium length finish. I think the intensity has slightly diminished from before and this wine now is what you’re going to get. Good, drinking well, but it really needs two to three hours. It was not that enjoyable for the first hour. I’ll try it again in a year, but suspect that now is the time to drink these up.
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This was worth keeping in the cellar! And is drinking perfectly NOW. :-) On opening, lots of fruit ready on the nose and taste, mellowing over the hours to a classic, well made, bordeaux blend (Cab, merlot, franc) with all the best of Washington state characteristcs. Full, perfectly balanced, and so well melded that no particular aspect pushes forward, but a smooth, broad, and warm complex blend of dark fruit, cranberry, earthy wood, berry, pencil, leather, cocoa, and cherry wood smoke. Fantastic!
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Dark purple in the glass with a nice spice kick to the nose. Almost floral. Black currant dominates the front half but turns into a nice dose of oak on the long tasty finish. My first wine fromthis producer and I did enjoy it.
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Decanted for 1 hour. The wine was still slightly tight. Opened up in the second hour to nice cherry and plum flavors. There is spice and oak flavors as well. Nice powerful finish.
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Brought to Crush in Seattle - was great with the duck and short ribs. the truffled mashed potatoes brought out the best of this wine.
Can pop & pour now but we let it sit in the decanter for about 30 minutes to let it come into full glory.
Deep inky purple fading to a translucent almost brick red ring on the edge. The nose as wonderful but not in your face - cedar, pencil lead, blackberry and cassis. The wine is integrating well and possesses that classic Bordeaux understated elegance. The blackberry & cassis is ripe and forward but not overpowering and sweet; the cedar box, white pepper and graphite is well integrated and layered into the fruit; the tannins are present but velvety smooth. I personally think this wine will continue to improve for at least 3-5 years before peaking.
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Had at Joanne's party. Group liked this better then the '97. The wine was full of berry flavors with plenty of plum tastes as well. Nice powerful finish. Drink now!
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Nicely integrating tannins this wine is drinking very well now but still can be socked away in the cellar for several more years. We cracked this beauty open after dinner and were much impressed.
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Surprisingly closed, this wine is tight, even with two hours of decanting I get this tight focused cheery core, some cola, oak, tannins. Coffee grounds and espresso on the finish. For a moment, the finish of this wine reminded me of the 2000 Monbousquet. If the rest follows in a few years, this will be something. I love the structure and overall power here, although it really needs some time to open up. Give this one a few years.
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Wine is starting to soften and become more integral. Nose is showing primary fruits backed by a slighly herbal, forest like quality. Soft, yet still a bit primary in the mouth, matching so very well with a crusted rib eye. Didn't take formal notes but found the wine a near perfect pairing for what I was looking for.
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Still decanting. Hope it improves since this wine isn't characteristic of the DeLille I know. Out of balance, not giving much, and very un-Bordeaux like. Too bad this is my last bottle, since I would like to try again in 3-4 years . . .
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Med ruby, slightly opaque, aromas of soft cassis, cedar, toast, herbs bell pepper, black cherry, celery seed, bread dough, licorice, b4, a3, t3+, thick & velvety w/tangy, rich fruit, good acidity, lots of thick, teeth-coating tannins emerge on finish, slightly bitter edge, a bit hot, sharp on finish, d2, aromas of dense currant, sour cherry, sweet blackberry, faint charred wood, vanilla, blueberry, b4, a3, t3+, very silky, smooth on palate w/firm tannic grip to finish, still w/slightly bitter tannins on finish, not bad though (6-ish), give some more time, great nose, slightly sour/bitter finish detracts, else quite good
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STG. WOTN. Nose is extremely closed. Right now it is only showing char. There is a hint of fruit, but it is really hiding below the surface. The palate, while closed, has all the components. It shows Delille's strength which is a silky texture. I also find sweet fruit, great balance, and strong structure. This should be a winner in 5 years. Of all the Washington wines I own, why don't I have any of this?
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WA Wine dinner at Kaspars: Seemed pretty closed. Rose petals and cedar on the nose, not giving up very much other than a little bit of vanilla and currant flavors.
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Seattle Tasting Group Washington Wine Offline at Kaspar's (Seattle, WA, USA): Very deep color. On the nose this shows a spicy note with cedar and asian spice. On the palate this shows very nice structure but is still black and hard, fairly closed. This is not very forgiving right now and could use a lot more decanting. I saved a glass for an extra half-hour, and this really opened up rather nicely. This is a wine that still needs a ton of decanting to show well.
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5/20/2022 - Gary Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pleasant but clearly over the hill
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5/10/2021 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
Found this in my cellar but it wasn't in inventory...
Popped and poured.
Cork was solid.
Nose of sweet leather and baking spices
Palate was silky, a little watery, lacked depth of flavor that a great wine would have but not objectionable at all. Medium, short finish.
Probably past it's peak but showing well for 23 years old.
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5/4/2021 - DaneM Likes this wine:
Holding up well, very evolved.
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11/11/2020 - Nothung Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. Still drinking well.
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12/6/2019 - Sctt Likes this wine:
Really quite nice.
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9/1/2019 - DaneM Likes this wine:
So, so good at the 21 year mark, this is prime drinking right now. Nose and palate is comparable to a wonderfully aged Bordeaux. Possibly my favorite bottle ever consumed from Washington.
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6/4/2019 - catall wrote:
Mistake
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3/22/2018 - Nothung Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still going strong
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2/16/2017 - Gary Likes this wine: 91 Points
Stunning at this age
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1/1/2016 - MikeW wrote: 60 Points
This one is gone!
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4/13/2014 - rfras Likes this wine: 89 Points
Showing a noticeable decline over the last bottle tasted a few years ago. The fruit is more muted and the wine was more chalky. Drink up if holding.
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2/2/2014 - puppetclause Likes this wine:
Nose is all soft dark blackberries, spicy tobacco leaf, some barnyard, plum. Palate is a wave of juicy ripe blackberry, chalky tannins and plum crashing across the tongue and receding gently, leaving plum paste, sweet tobacco, charred onion, plum skins and licorice, leaving a tannic bite behind. By no means balanced or impeccably made, but its my first bottle after a long week of stomach flu. Irregardless of the bottle, like Xmas f****g morning. Heaven.
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10/5/2013 - Schwarzer Hund Likes this wine:
Dark red color, blackberry, cassis, smokey leather and mild tobacco aromas. Dense fruit on palate, slight acidity, smooth lengthy finish. A nicely matured wine.
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8/4/2013 - Ronfeldman wrote: 88 Points
Still had nice fruit. Decanted for one hour before drinking.
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6/1/2013 - Easter Everywhere Likes this wine:
somewhat simple yet still very good
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9/26/2012 - JJN wrote: 93 Points
Excellent - wish I had more
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2/1/2012 - Montecalvo wrote: 92 Points
I constantly wonder about the storage conditions of many of the wines opened and consumed on cellar tracker. This bottle was bought on release and stored at 50-52 F. It's condition is still young with a dark red color and a fruit driven nose which is just beginning to evolve into a mature wine. It drank well over two days. Unlike most WA wines from Walla Walla it had no Volatile acidity or off putting flavors. The fruit was clean and without the overly ripe problem of many wines in particular Quilceda Creek.
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12/28/2010 - rfras wrote: 90 Points
The wine is starting to fade. It still takes a while to open and when it does there are traces of cherry and cedar flavors. The wine has mellowed but still has a pleasant medium bodied finish, but is lack some of its old depth.
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10/10/2010 - Money4wine Does not like this wine: 50 Points
Pop and pour.
This wine is dead, void of fruit and there's a strange smell of stewed peppers.......the palate is disjointed, thin and fruitless. This might possibly be the worst Wash. State wine I've ever had and will be dumped down the toilet when I'm done writing. What a waste of money this was. 50 points..... I would rate it 34 points but 50 is the lowest I can go on CT.
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9/29/2010 - dfsommer wrote: 80 Points
This was a tired bottle of wine with little fruit left.
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2/1/2010 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 90 Points
Very nice
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1/12/2010 - Padraig wrote: 86 Points
Barbara's birthday, dinner at Jake's Grill, Portland. Good cork, great color. Decanted and let sit for about an hour. Weak nose. Tasted, nothing overpowering, fairly short 20 second finish. Some similarity to mid-range Paulliac with lead pencil, vague cherry. Not hot, although alcohol is present. This is at the end of its useful life, not much left. Fruit gone, but it has some attributes. Suggestive of a once really good wine. I'll try younger vintages and report again.....
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11/13/2009 - Hazeo wrote: 92 Points
Lovely dark fruit ... very different from the Napa cabs as it wasn't as openly sweet. Nice depth with deep flavours. Must try more WA wines ...
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6/1/2009 - Easter Everywhere wrote:
Nice, mature cab, some wood
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4/1/2009 - jmcmchi wrote: 91 Points
History - drunk 5 14 2008
Intense garnet color and depth. Beautiful cedar on the nose. On the palate a classic Pauillac style with the extra warmth that comes with a higher alcohol level. Really long and enjoyable mouth feel
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3/16/2009 - JorgeH wrote: 78 Points
NY Berserkers Dinner @ Café Cortadito (210 E. 3rd St., NYC): Weird. A chemically sweet smell leads to a soy/fishy yet sweet note in the mouth.
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11/7/2008 - DougLee wrote: 88 Points
Garnet hue. Solid nose of cedar, currant, earth, Asian spice. The palate was medium-bodied and layered, exhibiting red currants, tea, plum, and raspberry flavors. Tannins nicely rounded off. The finish was a bit dilute and short. Not sure this was the best example of this; very pleasant with elements of class showing intermittently.
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10/26/2008 - fredmartens wrote: 90 Points
Drinking really well right now. Nice raspberry/vanilla/caramel notes, great nose. Still a touch of what tastes like medium toast oak in the finish.
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8/27/2008 - Hollowine wrote: 91 Points
Popped cork and left in bottle for 1.5 hours. Classic aged WA Cab Franc/Sauv nose of berries and cedar, was really nice mouthfeel with plenty of cherry and vanilla oak. The tannins and acids were really sitting well and complimented the tenderloins we served, but I felt that the wine had a bit of a forward oakiness I would have expected to age off. I think this could easily have lasted a few more years, but glad I drank it now. On day two the oak had subsided, but the fruit had also faded a bit, but was still an enjoyable follow up glass to finish the bottle.
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6/25/2008 - rfras wrote: 91 Points
Drank with Juan at the Capital Grille. Decanted for only a 1/2 hour but was impressed with the changing nature of the wine over the evening. It was a little closed at the beginning despite the intense nose of berries, cedar and spice. Over the night the wine opened beautifully with cherry, berry and spice flavors. Very enjoyable.
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4/29/2008 - Mark wrote: 89 Points
It’s been over two years since my previous tasting, I figured it was time to open up another 98 Delille. Surprisingly closed, this wine was tight and astringent. It took over two hours before it opened up, and was drinking great at threw hours. A slightly diluted nose, not as intense as I recall a few years ago. Spice, oak, floral violets and a medium length finish. I think the intensity has slightly diminished from before and this wine now is what you’re going to get. Good, drinking well, but it really needs two to three hours. It was not that enjoyable for the first hour. I’ll try it again in a year, but suspect that now is the time to drink these up.
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3/1/2008 - scottmi wrote: 97 Points
This was worth keeping in the cellar! And is drinking perfectly NOW. :-) On opening, lots of fruit ready on the nose and taste, mellowing over the hours to a classic, well made, bordeaux blend (Cab, merlot, franc) with all the best of Washington state characteristcs. Full, perfectly balanced, and so well melded that no particular aspect pushes forward, but a smooth, broad, and warm complex blend of dark fruit, cranberry, earthy wood, berry, pencil, leather, cocoa, and cherry wood smoke. Fantastic!
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12/27/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 92 Points
Dark purple in the glass with a nice spice kick to the nose. Almost floral. Black currant dominates the front half but turns into a nice dose of oak on the long tasty finish. My first wine fromthis producer and I did enjoy it.
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12/17/2007 - rfras wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 1 hour. The wine was still slightly tight. Opened up in the second hour to nice cherry and plum flavors. There is spice and oak flavors as well. Nice powerful finish.
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12/14/2007 - Wino Joe wrote: 92 Points
Brought to Crush in Seattle - was great with the duck and short ribs. the truffled mashed potatoes brought out the best of this wine.
Can pop & pour now but we let it sit in the decanter for about 30 minutes to let it come into full glory.
Deep inky purple fading to a translucent almost brick red ring on the edge. The nose as wonderful but not in your face - cedar, pencil lead, blackberry and cassis. The wine is integrating well and possesses that classic Bordeaux understated elegance. The blackberry & cassis is ripe and forward but not overpowering and sweet; the cedar box, white pepper and graphite is well integrated and layered into the fruit; the tannins are present but velvety smooth. I personally think this wine will continue to improve for at least 3-5 years before peaking.
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12/30/2006 - rfras wrote: 91 Points
Had at Joanne's party. Group liked this better then the '97. The wine was full of berry flavors with plenty of plum tastes as well. Nice powerful finish. Drink now!
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8/25/2006 - MeMyself&I wrote: 91 Points
Nicely integrating tannins this wine is drinking very well now but still can be socked away in the cellar for several more years. We cracked this beauty open after dinner and were much impressed.
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2/20/2006 - Mark wrote: 91 Points
Surprisingly closed, this wine is tight, even with two hours of decanting I get this tight focused cheery core, some cola, oak, tannins. Coffee grounds and espresso on the finish. For a moment, the finish of this wine reminded me of the 2000 Monbousquet. If the rest follows in a few years, this will be something. I love the structure and overall power here, although it really needs some time to open up. Give this one a few years.
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4/2/2005 - ErikK wrote: 90 Points
Wine is starting to soften and become more integral. Nose is showing primary fruits backed by a slighly herbal, forest like quality. Soft, yet still a bit primary in the mouth, matching so very well with a crusted rib eye. Didn't take formal notes but found the wine a near perfect pairing for what I was looking for.
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3/4/2005 - Blue Oval wrote: 86 Points
Still decanting. Hope it improves since this wine isn't characteristic of the DeLille I know. Out of balance, not giving much, and very un-Bordeaux like. Too bad this is my last bottle, since I would like to try again in 3-4 years . . .
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3/1/2005 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 87 Points
Med ruby, slightly opaque, aromas of soft cassis, cedar, toast, herbs bell pepper, black cherry, celery seed, bread dough, licorice, b4, a3, t3+, thick & velvety w/tangy, rich fruit, good acidity, lots of thick, teeth-coating tannins emerge on finish, slightly bitter edge, a bit hot, sharp on finish, d2, aromas of dense currant, sour cherry, sweet blackberry, faint charred wood, vanilla, blueberry, b4, a3, t3+, very silky, smooth on palate w/firm tannic grip to finish, still w/slightly bitter tannins on finish, not bad though (6-ish), give some more time, great nose, slightly sour/bitter finish detracts, else quite good
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4/16/2004 - Jason wrote: 94 Points
STG. WOTN. Nose is extremely closed. Right now it is only showing char. There is a hint of fruit, but it is really hiding below the surface. The palate, while closed, has all the components. It shows Delille's strength which is a silky texture. I also find sweet fruit, great balance, and strong structure. This should be a winner in 5 years. Of all the Washington wines I own, why don't I have any of this?
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4/16/2004 - ScottG wrote: 88 Points
WA Wine dinner at Kaspars: Seemed pretty closed. Rose petals and cedar on the nose, not giving up very much other than a little bit of vanilla and currant flavors.
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4/16/2004 - Eric wrote: 90 Points
Seattle Tasting Group Washington Wine Offline at Kaspar's (Seattle, WA, USA): Very deep color. On the nose this shows a spicy note with cedar and asian spice. On the palate this shows very nice structure but is still black and hard, fairly closed. This is not very forgiving right now and could use a lot more decanting. I saved a glass for an extra half-hour, and this really opened up rather nicely. This is a wine that still needs a ton of decanting to show well.
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