Delicious, if a bit developed. I liked the dark fruit flavors and leathery notes, along with the integrated oak and campfire aromas. I think this might be either at peak or just past, but it's drinking quite well. Paired with a grilled steak and more than held its own. While we did pop 'n pour, this was better after 30 minutes or so.
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Bottle opened up with notes of cedar and baking spice mixed with leather...not leather as in a catchers glove leather, but leather that just fell out of a pussy cat dolls tour bus. And lingering behind this effeminate leather-wrapped cedar plank and dusted with allspice/cloves/cinnamon was a dollup of fruit. What kind of fruit? Black Fruit. and Black Fruits bruised cousin, Blue Fruit. These souls frozen in time inside this little bottle, were like a street party in Nawlins that keeps on going...for 15 years! After a slight round of tiredness, and unused to its hyperoxic new world, it took only a few minutes for it to say, with trombones and all :Hey party people, it's time to let us players play. We'll share our good time with you! And they did on our noses and tastebuds. Who says "mature", or is it "Cougar" wine cant still rock the house? Not anyone at out table.
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Inky dark ruby, menthol, iodine nose. Dry, tart tannic blackberry, cherry stone fruit, black currants, prominant alcohol and tannins. Needs some air, pretty harsh and simple on the PnP. I will let it sit on the counter overnight, it needs some decant time. Getting better, cedar on the nose, but has a ways to go. At the bright berry stage with prominent acid, heavy body, tannic finish. I'm starting to like it and tomorrow it should be better. Do not be in a big hurry to drink this one if you have more in the cellar. Day three and it has hit its stride, the red berry of the merlot is asserting itself, a smooth mouthfeel, nicely balanced acid and tannins with a nice long tart stemmy finish. 14 years and going strong, easy 90+ pts.
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Lots of earthy scents (dirt, forest, moss) plus strawberry, dried cherry, cedar, flowers, and a little bourbon barrel on the nose. Black cherry, tart cherry, earth, blackberry, and a little vanilla on the palate. Good acidity. Tannins are integrated but still drying and shortens the finish slightly. Pleasant finish. 89-90
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Probably missed the peak drinking point, but it was still very good. Lots of strawberry and vanilla on the nose, with some additional berries, and a creamy taste upon drinking.
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Lot's to say about this wine. The state of the cork and overall cellaring of my bottle was perfect. Both bottles I tried were consistently on the mark and exhibitted all the characteristicss
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Ruby-brick red, with a strong purple hue. Vibrant up-front fruit, really jumps out of the glass, with secondary notes of eucalyptus, mint and cedar. Tannins are smooth and integrated, and well in the background at this point. More structure comes from the bright acidity, which plays nicely off the dark fruit. Nice Pacific Northwest treatment of a classic Bordeaux blend.
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Definitely needed an hour or so in the decanter. It was still a bit tannic and acidic on opening, but smoothed out nicely. Flavors of dark fruit, coffee and spice. Very nice but maybe aged a little too long.
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After waiting years for an occasion to open and enjoy this bottle I think we waited too long. The wine was drinkable but not exceptional, which we had hoped it would be. This was in a 1.5 liter etched glass bottle, so we held onto it for a long time because of the packaging.
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Med opaque ruby, pale rims, aromas of sour red fruit, smoky oak, plum, w/sweet caramel notes, b3, a3+, t2, tart & tangy fruit, a bit hollow/watery on mid-palate, tad harsh & bitter on finish, some sweetness fills in w/air, actually not too bad, better with food?
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Med ruby, somewhat opaque, aromas of toast, plum, cassis, dust, smoky berry, vanilla, b2+, a3, t2+, slightly tart, high toned fruit, smokey, caramelly oak, juicy finish, shows good structure, a bit simple, d2, a bit rough, sharp & disjointed (4.5)
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Nice, not quite as much sweet fruit as before, still very well balanced and tasty, day 4, ultra ripe strawberry jam & vanillan oak, quite nice, touch hot
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Dark purplish red, aromas of plum, toast, tobacco, berries, smooth on the palate with glassy fruit, smoky oak notes, fine tannins on long finish, nice balance, body(3), acid(3), sweet juicy fruit, drinking great now
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Dark purplish black, aromas of cassis, tobacco, cigar box, plum blackberry, chocolate, full bodied, taste of black fruit, currant, stewed tomato herb, chocolate, long juicy finish w/solid tannins, very nice balance, complex, should age well
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7/26/2013 - ucbeau Likes this wine:
Delicious, if a bit developed. I liked the dark fruit flavors and leathery notes, along with the integrated oak and campfire aromas. I think this might be either at peak or just past, but it's drinking quite well. Paired with a grilled steak and more than held its own. While we did pop 'n pour, this was better after 30 minutes or so.
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5/26/2013 - circadumonde Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bottle opened up with notes of cedar and baking spice mixed with leather...not leather as in a catchers glove leather, but leather that just fell out of a pussy cat dolls tour bus. And lingering behind this effeminate leather-wrapped cedar plank and dusted with allspice/cloves/cinnamon was a dollup of fruit. What kind of fruit? Black Fruit. and Black Fruits bruised cousin, Blue Fruit. These souls frozen in time inside this little bottle, were like a street party in Nawlins that keeps on going...for 15 years! After a slight round of tiredness, and unused to its hyperoxic new world, it took only a few minutes for it to say, with trombones and all :Hey party people, it's time to let us players play. We'll share our good time with you! And they did on our noses and tastebuds. Who says "mature", or is it "Cougar" wine cant still rock the house? Not anyone at out table.
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6/11/2012 - dsgris Likes this wine: 90 Points
Inky dark ruby, menthol, iodine nose. Dry, tart tannic blackberry, cherry stone fruit, black currants, prominant alcohol and tannins. Needs some air, pretty harsh and simple on the PnP. I will let it sit on the counter overnight, it needs some decant time. Getting better, cedar on the nose, but has a ways to go. At the bright berry stage with prominent acid, heavy body, tannic finish. I'm starting to like it and tomorrow it should be better. Do not be in a big hurry to drink this one if you have more in the cellar. Day three and it has hit its stride, the red berry of the merlot is asserting itself, a smooth mouthfeel, nicely balanced acid and tannins with a nice long tart stemmy finish. 14 years and going strong, easy 90+ pts.
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5/13/2012 - rmh66 wrote: 90 Points
Lots of earthy scents (dirt, forest, moss) plus strawberry, dried cherry, cedar, flowers, and a little bourbon barrel on the nose. Black cherry, tart cherry, earth, blackberry, and a little vanilla on the palate. Good acidity. Tannins are integrated but still drying and shortens the finish slightly. Pleasant finish. 89-90
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2/11/2012 - boogie96 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Probably missed the peak drinking point, but it was still very good. Lots of strawberry and vanilla on the nose, with some additional berries, and a creamy taste upon drinking.
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1/2/2012 - Mind Bottling wrote: 89 Points
Lot's to say about this wine. The state of the cork and overall cellaring of my bottle was perfect. Both bottles I tried were consistently on the mark and exhibitted all the characteristicss
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12/2/2011 - bmwcarl wrote:
Not particularly memorable. Lots of structure but fairly one dimensional red fruit.
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3/24/2011 - qwerty2 wrote: 86 Points
Pretty good, for an older wine. If you own this wine, you should probably drink it soon, but I think it's held up quite well, considering its age.
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10/21/2007 - singletrackmind wrote: 90 Points
Ruby-brick red, with a strong purple hue. Vibrant up-front fruit, really jumps out of the glass, with secondary notes of eucalyptus, mint and cedar. Tannins are smooth and integrated, and well in the background at this point. More structure comes from the bright acidity, which plays nicely off the dark fruit. Nice Pacific Northwest treatment of a classic Bordeaux blend.
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7/17/2007 - vinoceros wrote: 87 Points
Definitely needed an hour or so in the decanter. It was still a bit tannic and acidic on opening, but smoothed out nicely. Flavors of dark fruit, coffee and spice. Very nice but maybe aged a little too long.
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10/26/2006 - Cheers_mate! wrote: 85 Points
After waiting years for an occasion to open and enjoy this bottle I think we waited too long. The wine was drinkable but not exceptional, which we had hoped it would be. This was in a 1.5 liter etched glass bottle, so we held onto it for a long time because of the packaging.
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10/1/2006 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 84 Points
Nice mature wine, nothing extraordinary but certainly passable, wouldn't last much longer
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8/1/2005 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 82 Points
Med opaque ruby, pale rims, aromas of sour red fruit, smoky oak, plum, w/sweet caramel notes, b3, a3+, t2, tart & tangy fruit, a bit hollow/watery on mid-palate, tad harsh & bitter on finish, some sweetness fills in w/air, actually not too bad, better with food?
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4/4/2004 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 84 Points
Med ruby, somewhat opaque, aromas of toast, plum, cassis, dust, smoky berry, vanilla, b2+, a3, t2+, slightly tart, high toned fruit, smokey, caramelly oak, juicy finish, shows good structure, a bit simple, d2, a bit rough, sharp & disjointed (4.5)
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10/3/2003 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 87 Points
Nice, not quite as much sweet fruit as before, still very well balanced and tasty, day 4, ultra ripe strawberry jam & vanillan oak, quite nice, touch hot
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3/2/2002 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 92 Points
Dark purplish red, aromas of plum, toast, tobacco, berries, smooth on the palate with glassy fruit, smoky oak notes, fine tannins on long finish, nice balance, body(3), acid(3), sweet juicy fruit, drinking great now
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8/1/2001 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 92 Points
Dark purplish black, aromas of cassis, tobacco, cigar box, plum blackberry, chocolate, full bodied, taste of black fruit, currant, stewed tomato herb, chocolate, long juicy finish w/solid tannins, very nice balance, complex, should age well
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