Opened and decanted one hour. Took to Wood Tavern in Oakland and decanted another hour during our meal of rib eye steaks. Some heat on the nose with oak and berry notes. Initial super saturated dark berry fruit with very dry dusty tannins on the palate. Fortunately the fatty rib eye steaks were delivered to the table and with the sauce helped out immensely. Surprisingly light in body; ends with a dry blackberry and cherry finish with some heat. Good to Very Good.
FYI, I can’t tell if this is a long term ager or if the heat will burn up the fruit and become a hot mess. Wine was provided by my buddy who received it as a gift from a relative who had some connection with the winery.
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Night One - On the nose, it's blueberry, licorice, chocolate, spice, a fair amount of spearmint and a healthy dose of oak/ vanilla which, in my opinion, is masking an otherwise solid representation of Spring Mountain fruit. This might just need a few more years for the oak to take a backseat. Finish is there, it's not a blockbuster but it's a good 30 seconds. At the same time, it's a bit disjointed from the rest of the wine. 93 for now, it's got upside in a few years
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Gave this a solid 90min decant which was spot on. What’s clear immediately there is depth and concentration with intense ripe yet cool blueberry fruit, sweet spices and vanilla, green notes of fresh herbs and spearmint which become more prominent with aeration. After a a while elements if meat, bacon fat emerge as well adding to the complexity. Still loads of acidty, but tannins come across well integrated even if they still have a solid grip. Expressing a lot of vintage typicity overall. There is structural strength, versatility and harmony pointing towards expert craftsmanship in the winemaking. This sounds awesome, so why am I not more excited? What I’m missing a bit is character, elegance and refinement. Very good no doubt, but I didn‘t encounter any jaw-dropping features or uniqueness I‘m looking for in this price bracket. I only had this one bottle but am stocking up now to revisit in 5 years or so.
Post scriptum: Initially rated this 94 but I think I let this be tainted by my expectations while in fact the pleasure here is absolutely incredible and this does really deserve to be in the sphere of 95+ excellence.
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PnP at W Hotel Playa Conchal. More closed then I remember from the last bottle. Needs more time or in a dumb phase. More red fruits than blue or black. Nice wine but... 93-94 now
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Coravin first glass. This one followed a Seaver and beat it hands down. The nose has wonderfully sensual milk chocolate with black currant and blackberries interwoven with what seems like a hint of licorice/subtle sweetness makes you search for me- can’t be, but hard to put my finger on it. Could keep on breathing in all night. First sip had wonderful mid palate followed by strong tannins that are hidden by some gorgeous mountain fruit that are perfectly interwoven- maybe a full minute finish. This would be a 98+ if it wasn’t for the beginning lacking the strong outward attack I look for in my wines. Going to let it open up to see how it evolves but already a 93-95 wine that I hope will settle at 95+ given an hour/hour and a half.
95pts Gave it two and half hours and it started to reveal its real self. Excellent wine- start to finish. Look forward to 6-12 months and watching it develop.
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dark burgundy red, little clarity, burgundy hue Nose: cassis, dark chocolate, leather, tobacco, vanilla, green pepper, silver, herbs, earth, oak Pal: cassis, dark chocolate, earth, silver, tobacco, vanilla, dust, green pepper, wet earth, clove, oak Feel: full, round, chewy Finish: long T9
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2/20/2023 - Wino from Michigan wrote: 94 Points
Excellent wine -- buy more -- drinking very well. Typical Spring Mountain with perfect balance and great finish -- blue fruit profile.
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9/30/2022 - Frijole wrote:
blacking inky burgundy, little clarity, ruby hue
Nose: plum, blackberries, leather, chocolate, fennel, minerals, wet earth, cola, oak
Pal: plum, blackberries, leather, chocolate, minerals, wet earth, cola, tannins, oak
Feel: full, round
Finish: medium
T8 (could be a 7)
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11/29/2021 - Weiner Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rich and lucious cab, dark fruit.
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6/16/2021 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened and decanted one hour. Took to Wood Tavern in Oakland and decanted another hour during our meal of rib eye steaks. Some heat on the nose with oak and berry notes. Initial super saturated dark berry fruit with very dry dusty tannins on the palate. Fortunately the fatty rib eye steaks were delivered to the table and with the sauce helped out immensely. Surprisingly light in body; ends with a dry blackberry and cherry finish with some heat. Good to Very Good.
FYI, I can’t tell if this is a long term ager or if the heat will burn up the fruit and become a hot mess. Wine was provided by my buddy who received it as a gift from a relative who had some connection with the winery.
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5/1/2021 - ajrez wrote: 93 Points
Night One - On the nose, it's blueberry, licorice, chocolate, spice, a fair amount of spearmint and a healthy dose of oak/ vanilla which, in my opinion, is masking an otherwise solid representation of Spring Mountain fruit. This might just need a few more years for the oak to take a backseat. Finish is there, it's not a blockbuster but it's a good 30 seconds. At the same time, it's a bit disjointed from the rest of the wine. 93 for now, it's got upside in a few years
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2/20/2021 - andrewdl Likes this wine: 93 Points
After 2 hr decant, quite good.
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7/5/2020 - andrewdl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Muted
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4/17/2020 - sirpat00 wrote: 95 Points
Gave this a solid 90min decant which was spot on. What’s clear immediately there is depth and concentration with intense ripe yet cool blueberry fruit, sweet spices and vanilla, green notes of fresh herbs and spearmint which become more prominent with aeration. After a a while elements if meat, bacon fat emerge as well adding to the complexity. Still loads of acidty, but tannins come across well integrated even if they still have a solid grip. Expressing a lot of vintage typicity overall. There is structural strength, versatility and harmony pointing towards expert craftsmanship in the winemaking. This sounds awesome, so why am I not more excited? What I’m missing a bit is character, elegance and refinement. Very good no doubt, but I didn‘t encounter any jaw-dropping features or uniqueness I‘m looking for in this price bracket. I only had this one bottle but am stocking up now to revisit in 5 years or so.
Post scriptum: Initially rated this 94 but I think I let this be tainted by my expectations while in fact the pleasure here is absolutely incredible and this does really deserve to be in the sphere of 95+ excellence.
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3/19/2019 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 94 Points
PnP at W Hotel Playa Conchal. More closed then I remember from the last bottle. Needs more time or in a dumb phase. More red fruits than blue or black. Nice wine but... 93-94 now
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3/9/2018 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 95 Points
Coravin first glass. This one followed a Seaver and beat it hands down. The nose has wonderfully sensual milk chocolate with black currant and blackberries interwoven with what seems like a hint of licorice/subtle sweetness makes you search for me- can’t be, but hard to put my finger on it. Could keep on breathing in all night. First sip had wonderful mid palate followed by strong tannins that are hidden by some gorgeous mountain fruit that are perfectly interwoven- maybe a full minute finish. This would be a 98+ if it wasn’t for the beginning lacking the strong outward attack I look for in my wines. Going to let it open up to see how it evolves but already a 93-95 wine that I hope will settle at 95+ given an hour/hour and a half.
95pts Gave it two and half hours and it started to reveal its real self. Excellent wine- start to finish. Look forward to 6-12 months and watching it develop.
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12/1/2017 - Frijole wrote:
dark burgundy red, little clarity, burgundy hue
Nose: cassis, dark chocolate, leather, tobacco, vanilla, green pepper, silver, herbs, earth, oak
Pal: cassis, dark chocolate, earth, silver, tobacco, vanilla, dust, green pepper, wet earth, clove, oak
Feel: full, round, chewy
Finish: long
T9
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