fantastic - lots of old school style, rich and peppery with a bit of funk but in a really pleasant wonderful way. Nose was so complicated it had an arterial quality. Fruit was solid ripe berries, grass and Indian spices aged perfectly..
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Wine & Barbecue (@Private location): *** brief, no formal notes *** Glass: Gabriel Universal What a difference after the Mercury head. Almost classic BDX, very elegant, quite low alcohol (12% abv). Very nice and fully developed nose with herbs, wet forest soil, dark fruit and some barn. Very elegant on the palate, velvet tannin, red raw meat, cherry and other red fruit, spices, medium+ finish. Very nice with potential of further ageing of at least 5-10 years. 93-94
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Decanted at 1:30pm and enjoyed throughout the next 10 hours. Medium to dark, slightly translucent garnet and a slightly brick edge. Initially the nose was reticent but exploded at about the 6 hour point with pencil lead, licorice, plum, vanilla, roasted meat and violets. In the mouth there was still some vibrancy but most of the tannins were integrated and the wine was rich and smooth. Flavors included baking spices, plum, cassis, graphite, earthy grilled mushroom and leather. Late in the timeframe it blew up with chocolate, blackberry and black cherry. Balanced, rich and harmonious, it was at its best in the last several hours and the score reflects this period after about 6 hours in the decanter. I have always found Diamond Creek wines to be like this, especially the Volcanic Hill bottling. If drinking at a restaurant have this wine immediately double decanted with another wine to drink first and if at home open it midday for dinner. You will be rewarded. Given the amount of time this improved in the decanter I have to believe this will be great for many years to come.
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Diamond Creek Rare Wine Dinner (Charlie Palmer Steak): Best aromatics of the first flight with a lovely nose reminiscent of Bordeaux. Rich fruit but also quite rustic with some roses on top. Fruit is pretty explosive and vibrant on the palate. Great structure, still powerful, good integration. Lengthy finish.
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This is holding up well, but surely on it's way down by now. Drank with NY steak and osso bucco; the Diamond Creek worked better with the osso bucco, and a Lynch-Bages '03 worked great with the steak. No visible browning at the rim, but the lighting wasn't ideal for evaluation. The wine is still balanced, but drink up in the next year or two if you aren't partial to that "faded" tasted that older wines eventually attain.
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Opened for 12th anniversary! Still has a healthy deep-red color, and wonderful, rich aromas of tar, leather, and black fruits. Tannins are well-integrated and balanced, with good flavor and a medium-long finish.
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JADE Dinner Party: Decanted w chhese course, because we had consumed the previous wines. Is drinking beautifully now w a good somewhat musty bouquet, and ripe tannins, and good red fruit flavors. Paired very well w cheese course, Red Cow Parmesan, Humboldt Fog Goats, Tomme de Crayuse. Good value at auction price.
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1/5/2024 - j5614.person@gmail.com Likes this wine: 98 Points
Superb- wine of the day
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5/10/2021 - Scheetz wrote:
Delicious. Still very full of fruit. Tried with 96 Mondavi which was great but softer.
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11/24/2019 - awkiii Likes this wine: 90 Points
decanted -
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1/21/2018 - Miamidivorcelawyer Likes this wine: 96 Points
fantastic - lots of old school style, rich and peppery with a bit of funk but in a really pleasant wonderful way. Nose was so complicated it had an arterial quality. Fruit was solid ripe berries, grass and Indian spices aged perfectly..
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6/17/2017 - NoTrollingerPlease Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wine & Barbecue (@Private location): *** brief, no formal notes ***
Glass: Gabriel Universal
What a difference after the Mercury head. Almost classic BDX, very elegant, quite low alcohol (12% abv). Very nice and fully developed nose with herbs, wet forest soil, dark fruit and some barn.
Very elegant on the palate, velvet tannin, red raw meat, cherry and other red fruit, spices, medium+ finish. Very nice with potential of further ageing of at least 5-10 years. 93-94
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3/11/2017 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted at 1:30pm and enjoyed throughout the next 10 hours. Medium to dark, slightly translucent garnet and a slightly brick edge. Initially the nose was reticent but exploded at about the 6 hour point with pencil lead, licorice, plum, vanilla, roasted meat and violets. In the mouth there was still some vibrancy but most of the tannins were integrated and the wine was rich and smooth. Flavors included baking spices, plum, cassis, graphite, earthy grilled mushroom and leather. Late in the timeframe it blew up with chocolate, blackberry and black cherry. Balanced, rich and harmonious, it was at its best in the last several hours and the score reflects this period after about 6 hours in the decanter. I have always found Diamond Creek wines to be like this, especially the Volcanic Hill bottling. If drinking at a restaurant have this wine immediately double decanted with another wine to drink first and if at home open it midday for dinner. You will be rewarded. Given the amount of time this improved in the decanter I have to believe this will be great for many years to come.
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5/4/2016 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 92 Points
Diamond Creek Rare Wine Dinner (Charlie Palmer Steak): Best aromatics of the first flight with a lovely nose reminiscent of Bordeaux. Rich fruit but also quite rustic with some roses on top. Fruit is pretty explosive and vibrant on the palate. Great structure, still powerful, good integration. Lengthy finish.
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4/8/2015 - Genghis88 Likes this wine:
HAPPY 14TH BIRTHDAY KAVA!!!!!
Ruddy, brick red
Leather, dirt, wet tobacco, earthy, some mint off the nose
Tastes much like the nose. Fruit was pretty much gone, some mint off the finish. Was better with the light dinner served, but not great alone.
Drink Your Wine in Time!!!! Although still drinkable, this would have been where it should have about eighteen months or more back.
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1/26/2013 - Capybara562 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is holding up well, but surely on it's way down by now. Drank with NY steak and osso bucco; the Diamond Creek worked better with the osso bucco, and a Lynch-Bages '03 worked great with the steak.
No visible browning at the rim, but the lighting wasn't ideal for evaluation. The wine is still balanced, but drink up in the next year or two if you aren't partial to that "faded" tasted that older wines eventually attain.
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7/24/2011 - abursky wrote: 93 Points
Drinking well; an inky, dark berried classic Cali cab. Diamond Creek produces reliable, top-drawer juice
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4/27/2011 - Chuck Miller wrote:
Really nice bottle, tasted side by side with a very good 1982 Beychevelle, and the RRT won. Ready to drink, but will hold another 5-10 years.
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1/16/2010 - RMundell wrote: 94 Points
Drinking really great right now. Black fruits with licorice taste. Really enjoy all Diamond Creek wines.
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8/1/2009 - Capybara562 wrote: 91 Points
Opened for 12th anniversary! Still has a healthy deep-red color, and wonderful, rich aromas of tar, leather, and black fruits. Tannins are well-integrated and balanced, with good flavor and a medium-long finish.
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5/29/2009 - buckeye76 wrote: 93 Points
BLACK CHERRIES, CURRANTS, AND LEATHER IN THE NOSE WITH DEEP BERRY FRUIT AND WOOD IN THE FLAVOR. NICE COMPLEXITY AND A LONG FINISH.
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11/20/2007 - hifiwine wrote: 92 Points
for Rachel's 10th b-day, lovely wine, ready to drink now. Will save the Volcanic Hill till her 15th b-day
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3/16/2007 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
JADE Dinner Party: Decanted w chhese course, because we had consumed the previous wines. Is drinking beautifully now w a good somewhat musty bouquet, and ripe tannins, and good red fruit flavors. Paired very well w cheese course, Red Cow Parmesan, Humboldt Fog Goats, Tomme de Crayuse. Good value at auction price.
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4/29/2006 - heyyu wrote: 90 Points
Still a very solid drinker - keeping one for next year.
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