This had broad shouldered fruit and the tannins were nicely resolved but the wine was destroyed by a complete over abundance of oak. If you’re looking for a campfire in a bottle, this is the wine for you. I have no clue how this much oak escaped the palates of the critics in its youth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Full, ripe and powerful. Resolved tannins. Plenty of acidity, but feels almost artificially pumped up in that department. Enjoyable. Good with thanksgiving food
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A good choice for a Thanksgiving wine. Immediately very fragrant when opened with dark fruit swirls and cigar smoke character. Deep fruit intensity but not heavy on the palate. Very blackberry but not blueberry flavor with a certain decomposting sous bois and cigar tobacco character. A great match for the varied flavors of a Thanksgiving spread because the wine had such a "base" fruit mixture. But I do have to mark it down for lacking fruit complexity and lift in its profile. Nicely mature it was solid in the glass for more than an hour before retreating a bit. Expect it to hold for 3 to 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Massive wine from a bizarrely hot vintage. The color is starting to show brick/orange on the rim and still a dense garnet in the center. After a half hour of air, there are copious pronounced aromas of dense smoke, wood, wet earth, aged balsamic vinegar, roasted cherry and red currant with hints of clove and ground allspice. The palate shows an upfront whack of raisin, cried cherries, dried cranberries, red currant, paprika?, and cherry pie filling, which echoes on the long finish. Still has good ripe tannins and great acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clear red color with aromas of dried meats, and salty spices. Intoxicating nose. Silky smooth flavors of red fruits, vanilla and cedar. Medium finish. Just an excellent wine drinking well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2/26/2021 - thenapalist wrote: 83 Points
This had broad shouldered fruit and the tannins were nicely resolved but the wine was destroyed by a complete over abundance of oak. If you’re looking for a campfire in a bottle, this is the wine for you. I have no clue how this much oak escaped the palates of the critics in its youth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2020 - schway wrote: 93 Points
Full, ripe and powerful. Resolved tannins. Plenty of acidity, but feels almost artificially pumped up in that department. Enjoyable. Good with thanksgiving food
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2016 - Purduke Likes this wine: 91 Points
A good choice for a Thanksgiving wine. Immediately very fragrant when opened with dark fruit swirls and cigar smoke character. Deep fruit intensity but not heavy on the palate. Very blackberry but not blueberry flavor with a certain decomposting sous bois and cigar tobacco character. A great match for the varied flavors of a Thanksgiving spread because the wine had such a "base" fruit mixture. But I do have to mark it down for lacking fruit complexity and lift in its profile. Nicely mature it was solid in the glass for more than an hour before retreating a bit. Expect it to hold for 3 to 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2015 - beaunehead wrote: 94 Points
Massive wine from a bizarrely hot vintage. The color is starting to show brick/orange on the rim and still a dense garnet in the center. After a half hour of air, there are copious pronounced aromas of dense smoke, wood, wet earth, aged balsamic vinegar, roasted cherry and red currant with hints of clove and ground allspice. The palate shows an upfront whack of raisin, cried cherries, dried cranberries, red currant, paprika?, and cherry pie filling, which echoes on the long finish. Still has good ripe tannins and great acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2009 - rwstorer wrote: 92 Points
Clear red color with aromas of dried meats, and salty spices. Intoxicating nose. Silky smooth flavors of red fruits, vanilla and cedar. Medium finish. Just an excellent wine drinking well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment