I decanted for about two hours, since it was very closed upon opening. Then it came to life. The nose let out cherries and black currants, with hints of vanilla. The palate had acidity to match the grippy tannins; it was fresh, round, with elegant and fruit forward palate of tart cherries, raspberries, and red currants. Cocoa beans and some secondary notes preceded the long ending that showed coffee and sandalwood notes. Complex, layered - elegant; more Old Workd than California. I liked it a lot, but a bit less than the Elderton Command 2007 I had next to it. No need to wait any longer, but no rush either.
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A little slow to open up. Initially austere on the front end but opened up somewhat over time, solid finish. Not as overpowering or high tannin as it’s other vintages. Very enjoyable. Quality wine in a tough year.
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I had it upright at 70°F for a month, the morning of consumption I placed it upright inside the cellar 55°F. By 4:30pm I opened for 15min, then double decant it for 15min and left to the restaurant...
We start drinking around 6pm, the wine is very Frenchy, earthy, lots of minerality and mocha. A very complex wine with the finess of the French and boldness of California.
Spectacular!!!
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I love this style of wine...Its filled full of violets, graphite, and green yuzu...Almost herbaceous, with smoke and a tad of funk. Lots of creamy under toasted luxury new oak...The most beautiful thing is the lack of sugar. Its dry in sugar and dry on exit from pure velvet...Long solid finish. After about 3 hours the wine started declining a bit... i don't see this getting better, but its an exotic creature now. Love Napa wines from bad vintages! Its like taking the sun torch out of a pyromaniacs hands...Drink
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Crushed rock, pipe tobacco, freshly sawed cedar, ripe cherry and pencil shavings. Angelic in terms of the soaring palate: there's a stately fruit weight. Fine-grained tannins and a symphonic back palate. I also get a little Martha's Vineyard eucalyptus-meets-Pichon Lalande's feminine Paulliac traights. I would perform a serious decant or wait. Drink 2020 - 2045.
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United Cellars Bordeaux tasting 2015 (Harbour 220/L15 131 Macquarie Street): On the nose biscuit, cream, vanilla, blackberry and cherry, and a pencil shavings/graphite note. On agitation all are enhanced and enriched. Great nose. In the mouth the wine has juicy acidity, more of the same on the palate joined by a slight chocolate note. Fruit persists through a beautifully balanced fine talc-textured tannic grip. Long. Rather nice.
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2012 Bordeaux Trip; 4/1/2012-4/4/2012 (Bordeaux, France): Barrel sample. CS 83%, Malbec 4%, M 11%- Less flamboyant than the La Muse, and quite linear. Nose again was rather shy. Fruit profile on the palate added a red fruit tinge with cassis. Massive tannins that will likely need 10+yrs to integrate, but again, very polished and high quality with a little chalky quality. Eucalyptus on a long finish, hint of vanilla and mocha mixed in, but mostly fruit at this stage. This will need some serious time, could be very impressive. My guess, 93+
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2/10/2024 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 94 Points
I decanted for about two hours, since it was very closed upon opening. Then it came to life.
The nose let out cherries and black currants, with hints of vanilla. The palate had acidity to match the grippy tannins; it was fresh, round, with elegant and fruit forward palate of tart cherries, raspberries, and red currants. Cocoa beans and some secondary notes preceded the long ending that showed coffee and sandalwood notes.
Complex, layered - elegant; more Old Workd than California. I liked it a lot, but a bit less than the Elderton Command 2007 I had next to it. No need to wait any longer, but no rush either.
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11/24/2022 - Beric wrote: 93 Points
A little slow to open up. Initially austere on the front end but opened up somewhat over time, solid finish. Not as overpowering or high tannin as it’s other vintages. Very enjoyable. Quality wine in a tough year.
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5/28/2021 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 95 Points
I had it upright at 70°F for a month, the morning of consumption I placed it upright inside the cellar 55°F. By 4:30pm I opened for 15min, then double decant it for 15min and left to the restaurant...
We start drinking around 6pm, the wine is very Frenchy, earthy, lots of minerality and mocha. A very complex wine with the finess of the French and boldness of California.
Spectacular!!!
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1/1/2018 - Purple Tooth wrote: 95 Points
I love this style of wine...Its filled full of violets, graphite, and green yuzu...Almost herbaceous, with smoke and a tad of funk. Lots of creamy under toasted luxury new oak...The most beautiful thing is the lack of sugar. Its dry in sugar and dry on exit from pure velvet...Long solid finish. After about 3 hours the wine started declining a bit... i don't see this getting better, but its an exotic creature now. Love Napa wines from bad vintages! Its like taking the sun torch out of a pyromaniacs hands...Drink
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9/7/2017 - Chumptochamp Likes this wine: 95 Points
Darker red lots of legs. Bouquet of black tea,tar,smoky charcoal. Slight tannin pepper black current cherry.
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3/5/2016 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 94 Points
Crushed rock, pipe tobacco, freshly sawed cedar, ripe cherry and pencil shavings. Angelic in terms of the soaring palate: there's a stately fruit weight. Fine-grained tannins and a symphonic back palate. I also get a little Martha's Vineyard eucalyptus-meets-Pichon Lalande's feminine Paulliac traights. I would perform a serious decant or wait. Drink 2020 - 2045.
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5/14/2015 - chatters wrote:
United Cellars Bordeaux tasting 2015 (Harbour 220/L15 131 Macquarie Street): On the nose biscuit, cream, vanilla, blackberry and cherry, and a pencil shavings/graphite note. On agitation all are enhanced and enriched. Great nose. In the mouth the wine has juicy acidity, more of the same on the palate joined by a slight chocolate note. Fruit persists through a beautifully balanced fine talc-textured tannic grip. Long. Rather nice.
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4/3/2012 - Nutty08 wrote:
2012 Bordeaux Trip; 4/1/2012-4/4/2012 (Bordeaux, France): Barrel sample. CS 83%, Malbec 4%, M 11%- Less flamboyant than the La Muse, and quite linear. Nose again was rather shy. Fruit profile on the palate added a red fruit tinge with cassis. Massive tannins that will likely need 10+yrs to integrate, but again, very polished and high quality with a little chalky quality. Eucalyptus on a long finish, hint of vanilla and mocha mixed in, but mostly fruit at this stage. This will need some serious time, could be very impressive. My guess, 93+
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