Nose. On first opening was vanilla, mint, blackcurrant, violet and plum with a touch of earth and spice. After an hour earth and roasted spices start to dominate and the fruit recedes. Palate: Blackcurrent, violet and plum intermingle with toasted Asian spices, meat juices and earth, with a minty freshness providing a nice lift. Quite strong acidity and tannins take over on the mid and back palate. A medium to full mouthfeel and moderately long finish.
At 23 years this is in a great place and tastes like a wine 10 years younger. As it’s still going strong after 90 minutes means it should have another 5 years at least although the acidity will get spikier as the fruit fades.
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dark ruby color with bricking ring , ripe blackcurrant , hint of mint , palate with structured complex depth of fruits , smooth velvet integrated tannins . Paring with grilled wagyu beef 🥩 fillet .
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Showing a faint bricking at the rim, but otherwise a youthful purple-claret colour.
Powerful on the nose, still strongly fruited, with a touch of liqueur, but also mint & leather. Complex but hints that the wine will be quite powerful.
and it is, but far from 'full-throttle' and whilst the initial impression is quite intense, the wine comes into it's own as this subsides and a complex and quite elegant finish emerges. The acidity follows suit, initially quite bold, but helps carry that finish. No apparent tannins, though the depth of fruit still there might be hiding what's left.
I like this a little more than I expected to, and I'd say it would hold it's own with a good vintage of Cullen Cabernet Sauvignon (DM) or Wynns John Riddoch. Not necessarily a wine I would buy again, but one I'm quite glad I bought (the price was reasonable when I got it).
Future development? Yes there is potential, though for those that like and even balance of primary/secondary vs. aged elements, then it might be at/near peak for them. I suspect 4-5 extra years might be better for my palate, softening that initial intensity and bringing out the more complex / delicate side of the wine.
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Decanted for roughly 30 minutes before tasting (a decant was absolutely necessary due to heavy sediment). Medium ruby core, slightly bricking rim. On the nose; “in your face” blackcurrants followed by hints of vanilla, nutmeg, allspice, liquorish and some slightly more animalistic aromas (fur?) way back. On the palate; the sweet blackcurrants carry over from the nose where they are joined by notes of bitter mocha and spices. Smooth, concentrated and long, but lacks the structure needed to hold everything together. Although I find the style enjoyable from time to time, this particular wine was a little too much “forward in all directions” to merit a top score.
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This was a very nice wine - on opening had a gorgeous fruity nose, with a hint of earth and oak - this wine was so balanced yet incredibly still tannic - I think will still evolve in the cellar! We drank this after a drinking Chardonnay with a cioppino - it was a beautiful enjoyable wine and cudos to my guest who xellared it for 6 years for us all to enjoy I'd say drink now until even 5 more!!!
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Decanted three hours. Very impressive inky colour. Aromoas of dry figs, plums and licorce. Some tannins - not as much as I had anticipated. Raspberry, cherries and oak on the palate. Medium finish. A good wine but I expected more out of this wine.
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9/29/2023 - Brucie69 Likes this wine: 92 Points
A lovely wine at the top of the maturation curve.
Nose. On first opening was vanilla, mint, blackcurrant, violet and plum with a touch of earth and spice. After an hour earth and roasted spices start to dominate and the fruit recedes.
Palate: Blackcurrent, violet and plum intermingle with toasted Asian spices, meat juices and earth, with a minty freshness providing a nice lift. Quite strong acidity and tannins take over on the mid and back palate. A medium to full mouthfeel and moderately long finish.
At 23 years this is in a great place and tastes like a wine 10 years younger. As it’s still going strong after 90 minutes means it should have another 5 years at least although the acidity will get spikier as the fruit fades.
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2/26/2021 - Rainbow88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
dark ruby color with bricking ring , ripe blackcurrant , hint of mint , palate with structured complex depth of fruits , smooth velvet integrated tannins . Paring with grilled wagyu beef 🥩 fillet .
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8/9/2017 - Ian S wrote:
Showing a faint bricking at the rim, but otherwise a youthful purple-claret colour.
Powerful on the nose, still strongly fruited, with a touch of liqueur, but also mint & leather. Complex but hints that the wine will be quite powerful.
and it is, but far from 'full-throttle' and whilst the initial impression is quite intense, the wine comes into it's own as this subsides and a complex and quite elegant finish emerges. The acidity follows suit, initially quite bold, but helps carry that finish. No apparent tannins, though the depth of fruit still there might be hiding what's left.
I like this a little more than I expected to, and I'd say it would hold it's own with a good vintage of Cullen Cabernet Sauvignon (DM) or Wynns John Riddoch. Not necessarily a wine I would buy again, but one I'm quite glad I bought (the price was reasonable when I got it).
Future development? Yes there is potential, though for those that like and even balance of primary/secondary vs. aged elements, then it might be at/near peak for them. I suspect 4-5 extra years might be better for my palate, softening that initial intensity and bringing out the more complex / delicate side of the wine.
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1/18/2014 - ourempire Likes this wine: 95 Points
best cabernet ever tasted
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1/14/2012 - Pebben wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for roughly 30 minutes before tasting (a decant was absolutely necessary due to heavy sediment). Medium ruby core, slightly bricking rim. On the nose; “in your face” blackcurrants followed by hints of vanilla, nutmeg, allspice, liquorish and some slightly more animalistic aromas (fur?) way back. On the palate; the sweet blackcurrants carry over from the nose where they are joined by notes of bitter mocha and spices. Smooth, concentrated and long, but lacks the structure needed to hold everything together. Although I find the style enjoyable from time to time, this particular wine was a little too much “forward in all directions” to merit a top score.
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12/27/2010 - rosko47 wrote: 92 Points
This was a very nice wine - on opening had a gorgeous fruity nose, with a hint of earth and oak - this wine was so balanced yet incredibly still tannic - I think will still evolve in the cellar! We drank this after a drinking Chardonnay with a cioppino - it was a beautiful enjoyable wine and cudos to my guest who xellared it for 6 years for us all to enjoy I'd say drink now until even 5 more!!!
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7/14/2006 - msinger wrote: 88 Points
Decanted three hours. Very impressive inky colour. Aromoas of dry figs, plums and licorce. Some tannins - not as much as I had anticipated. Raspberry, cherries and oak on the palate. Medium finish. A good wine but I expected more out of this wine.
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