This bottle has more energy and definition than the one I had about 16 months ago (5/18 - 90 points), but it's still not a wine I would seek out with particular (or any other form of) urgency. Purple red in color and full in body, the wine offers aromas of plum, licorice, and tar. Tastes of stewed blueberry, leather, and gravel, with a loose and lingering finish. This has more life in it than the bottle I had last year, but even that variation gives me pause. 15.1% alcohol. Drink now.
I am a fan of Robert Parker (no wine writer more reliably pointed me in the direction of great wines), but I took a look at his retrospective note about this wine (97 in 2014) - and I couldn't help but laugh at two things:
The first is the idea that this has "skyscraper-like texture." What does that even mean? I could imagine this analogy for depth or complexity, but texture is mouthfeel (e.g., silky, grainy), not height. Lots of reviews, lots of words, I get that it's hard - but, drinking this tonight, I couldn't imagine that descriptor for this wine (or, to be fair, any wine).
The second is that Parker suggests, in 2014, that this wine could age for another 15-20 years (read: 2029-2034). After tasting the wine twice in the past year or so, I can say this: that drinking window is insane. Perhaps it's easy to say this kind of thing when you don't pay for the wine, but this doesn't have the density or structure to go much further. I know free advice is worth what you pay for it, but the same can't be said (at least sometimes) for professional advice, either...
Drinking well right now. Great nose of Howell Mountain fruit. Tannins have knocked down. Dark purple color. Dark fruit, cassis, slight slate. Seemed to have a higher alcohol content than I expected. Still seems to have some years left. Decanted 2 hours. Still had some left on second day but not as good.
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This ripe and plummy Cabernet tastes like its on its downward slide (or at least this bottle was). Cherry red in color, full in body, nose of prune, tar, and graphite. Tastes of plum, cocoa powder, and leather, with a juicy finish that carries few, if any, tannins. 15.1% alcohol. I've enjoyed these wines from more recent vintages (2014 and 2012), but this tastes like its best days are behind it. Drink now.
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Brought with me on a cruise. Decanted for an hour ahead of time, and this was a little reticent at the start. But went from a 92 to a 96 in the span of 30 minutes. Bursting with cassis, blueberries, and graphite. Still purple in colour, great balance, nice acidity, and a 45-second finish. Really nice!
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8/23/2019 - msuwine wrote: 92 Points
This bottle has more energy and definition than the one I had about 16 months ago (5/18 - 90 points), but it's still not a wine I would seek out with particular (or any other form of) urgency. Purple red in color and full in body, the wine offers aromas of plum, licorice, and tar. Tastes of stewed blueberry, leather, and gravel, with a loose and lingering finish. This has more life in it than the bottle I had last year, but even that variation gives me pause. 15.1% alcohol. Drink now.
I am a fan of Robert Parker (no wine writer more reliably pointed me in the direction of great wines), but I took a look at his retrospective note about this wine (97 in 2014) - and I couldn't help but laugh at two things:
The first is the idea that this has "skyscraper-like texture." What does that even mean? I could imagine this analogy for depth or complexity, but texture is mouthfeel (e.g., silky, grainy), not height. Lots of reviews, lots of words, I get that it's hard - but, drinking this tonight, I couldn't imagine that descriptor for this wine (or, to be fair, any wine).
The second is that Parker suggests, in 2014, that this wine could age for another 15-20 years (read: 2029-2034). After tasting the wine twice in the past year or so, I can say this: that drinking window is insane. Perhaps it's easy to say this kind of thing when you don't pay for the wine, but this doesn't have the density or structure to go much further. I know free advice is worth what you pay for it, but the same can't be said (at least sometimes) for professional advice, either...
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8/5/2018 - Markie_Sharkie wrote: 93 Points
Drinking well right now. Great nose of Howell Mountain fruit. Tannins have knocked down. Dark purple color. Dark fruit, cassis, slight slate. Seemed to have a higher alcohol content than I expected. Still seems to have some years left. Decanted 2 hours. Still had some left on second day but not as good.
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5/15/2018 - msuwine wrote: 90 Points
This ripe and plummy Cabernet tastes like its on its downward slide (or at least this bottle was). Cherry red in color, full in body, nose of prune, tar, and graphite. Tastes of plum, cocoa powder, and leather, with a juicy finish that carries few, if any, tannins. 15.1% alcohol. I've enjoyed these wines from more recent vintages (2014 and 2012), but this tastes like its best days are behind it. Drink now.
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3/13/2018 - nm10 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Brought with me on a cruise. Decanted for an hour ahead of time, and this was a little reticent at the start. But went from a 92 to a 96 in the span of 30 minutes. Bursting with cassis, blueberries, and graphite. Still purple in colour, great balance, nice acidity, and a 45-second finish. Really nice!
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