Auction bottle - moldy label and caked sediment on one side of the bottle implying high humidity cellaring while on its side. The bottle has been standing for months in my basement.
Napa Super Tuscan Blend: 44% cab, 24% cab franc, 16% merlot, 8% sangiovese and 8% petit verdot
Condition: Moldy label. Capsule in good shape. Cork was in good shape with about 2mm of saturation. Pop and poured into the glass. Pulled at basement temp 60 degrees on a San Francisco January.
Visual: Clean and clear of sediment, light age-typifying bricking on the rim with a deep ruby core. Long glass sticking legs
On the nose: Dark red fruit, black currant, plum, mushroom and tobacco, and a whisper smoke. Similar to the way a LaCroix hints at whatever is pictured on the can. Secondary and tertiary notes well developed here at this point.
Palate: Polished, smooth, silky tannins with some grip to let you know it isn’t done fighting yet. Bright acid keeping you salivating with each glug, even after 25 years in the bottle. There’s some complex spice on the finish, kind of the way that ground cinnamon makes your tongue tingle. If I had one critique it would be that it finishes a little hot (alcoholly). It is 14.2% by volume so not that high for Napa standards but typically good winemakers can mask that. That wasn’t the case here.
Conclusions: Very enjoyable bottle and even better with food. It is likely drinking at peak or beginning the slow decline. Other bottles I’ve had of this recently had a slight raisiny note but this one did not.
YBMV!
Drink now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent with previous tasting notes when I wrote, "this may be at its apex as its showing well - bright and expressive. Deep dark ruby colored with tinge of purple, medium to full bodied, elegant, polished, smooth and delicious full forward sweet black currant, plum and red berry fruits accented by subtle smoke layer turning to silky smooth tannins on a full long finish." I would only add mention of the bright aromatics, its complexity, the deep purple hues, and the tone of anise on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow. This is drinking beautifully right now. It’s medium to full-bodied, with just such a rich, warm texture. Lovely forward dark black & blueberry fruit, with a hint of baking spice and smoke. Really nice structure. Just yum.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent with previous tasting notes, this may be at its apex as its showing well - bright and expressive. Deep dark ruby colored with tinge of purple, medium to full bodied, elegant, polished, smooth and delicious full forward sweet currant, plum and red berry fruits accented by subtle smoke layer turning to silky smooth tannins on a full long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I'm happy to announce to the.... 62 bottles "in cellars" that this wine is drinking beautiful. Here's the key (2015) - open it and let it breath for about an hour or two. It went from initally a little funky to sexy in that time frame. It started off with some off notes - barnyard, brett, etc. It emerged with bright yet mature fruit. It had a beautiful balance of young dark fruit with submissive secondary napa cab notes. More lively fruit then dried roses and cigar box. It is full, warm, balanced in all ways and delicious. It's succulent and went great with the rib cap. The average price is $50ish bucks at 18 years? A steal. Enjoy now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Liquid silk. Aged very well. Deep ruby in the glass with hints of black at the core. Aromas of roasted espresso beans, black and blueberries and sweet spice. Light notes of white pepper and LEATHER too. Palate is smooth and very drinkable. Incredibly smooth. Another winner from DAV.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich and unique combination. While still somewhat tannic it is balanced by the richness and some sweetness. A very nice diversion from straight cab. I'll leave the other bottles for 2-3 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow, this wine has come around to be elegant, polished, smooth and delicious. Full forward sweet currant, pear, plum and red berry with subtle smoke and silky smooth tannins on a full long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
i opened this tonight because i have been ragging heavily on egelhoff made wines of late. decanted an hour before tasting.
this is a beautifully blended wine. the unusual addition of the sangiovese softens the wine, and the aromatics are compelling. i especially enjoy the rich midpalate, and satisfying finish. mocha and blackberries dominate. delicious.
recommended.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/8/2022 - robburgundy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Auction bottle - moldy label and caked sediment on one side of the bottle implying high humidity cellaring while on its side. The bottle has been standing for months in my basement.
Napa Super Tuscan Blend:
44% cab, 24% cab franc, 16% merlot, 8% sangiovese and 8% petit verdot
Condition:
Moldy label. Capsule in good shape. Cork was in good shape with about 2mm of saturation. Pop and poured into the glass. Pulled at basement temp 60 degrees on a San Francisco January.
Visual:
Clean and clear of sediment, light age-typifying bricking on the rim with a deep ruby core. Long glass sticking legs
On the nose:
Dark red fruit, black currant, plum, mushroom and tobacco, and a whisper smoke. Similar to the way a LaCroix hints at whatever is pictured on the can. Secondary and tertiary notes well developed here at this point.
Palate:
Polished, smooth, silky tannins with some grip to let you know it isn’t done fighting yet. Bright acid keeping you salivating with each glug, even after 25 years in the bottle. There’s some complex spice on the finish, kind of the way that ground cinnamon makes your tongue tingle. If I had one critique it would be that it finishes a little hot (alcoholly). It is 14.2% by volume so not that high for Napa standards but typically good winemakers can mask that. That wasn’t the case here.
Conclusions: Very enjoyable bottle and even better with food. It is likely drinking at peak or beginning the slow decline. Other bottles I’ve had of this recently had a slight raisiny note but this one did not.
YBMV!
Drink now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2020 - ewasowicz wrote: 94 Points
Nose: still Covid. Getting some raisins
Taste: raisins, black berries, light oak, very smooth. This wine has held up very well. Good job Bob Egelhoff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2017 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 93 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes when I wrote, "this may be at its apex as its showing well - bright and expressive. Deep dark ruby colored with tinge of purple, medium to full bodied, elegant, polished, smooth and delicious full forward sweet black currant, plum and red berry fruits accented by subtle smoke layer turning to silky smooth tannins on a full long finish." I would only add mention of the bright aromatics, its complexity, the deep purple hues, and the tone of anise on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2015 - MeToo wrote:
Wow. This is drinking beautifully right now. It’s medium to full-bodied, with just such a rich, warm texture. Lovely forward dark black & blueberry fruit, with a hint of baking spice and smoke. Really nice structure. Just yum.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2015 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes, this may be at its apex as its showing well - bright and expressive. Deep dark ruby colored with tinge of purple, medium to full bodied, elegant, polished, smooth and delicious full forward sweet currant, plum and red berry fruits accented by subtle smoke layer turning to silky smooth tannins on a full long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2015 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
I'm happy to announce to the.... 62 bottles "in cellars" that this wine is drinking beautiful. Here's the key (2015) - open it and let it breath for about an hour or two. It went from initally a little funky to sexy in that time frame. It started off with some off notes - barnyard, brett, etc. It emerged with bright yet mature fruit. It had a beautiful balance of young dark fruit with submissive secondary napa cab notes. More lively fruit then dried roses and cigar box. It is full, warm, balanced in all ways and delicious. It's succulent and went great with the rib cap. The average price is $50ish bucks at 18 years? A steal. Enjoy now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2008 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
Liquid silk. Aged very well.
Deep ruby in the glass with hints of black at the core.
Aromas of roasted espresso beans, black and blueberries and sweet spice.
Light notes of white pepper and LEATHER too.
Palate is smooth and very drinkable. Incredibly smooth. Another winner from DAV.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2007 - Double D wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with notes from last year, rich and sweetish blend but one I would purchase again and well worth the wait.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2006 - Double D wrote: 92 Points
Rich and unique combination. While still somewhat tannic it is balanced by the richness and some sweetness. A very nice diversion from straight cab. I'll leave the other bottles for 2-3 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2005 - rmcnees wrote: 94 Points
Wow, this wine has come around to be elegant, polished, smooth and delicious. Full forward sweet currant, pear, plum and red berry with subtle smoke and silky smooth tannins on a full long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2005 - Jack wrote: 93 Points
Great fruit. Great stucture.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2004 - Jack wrote: 93 Points
Great Wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2004 - buckeye76 wrote: 91 Points
BLACK CHERRIES AND TOBACCO IN THE NOSE WITH DEEP JAMMY FRUIT, RASPBERRIES AND MINT IN THE FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2004 - jeff nowak wrote: 92 Points
14.7% alcohol. 44% cab, 24% cab franc, 16% merlot, 8% sangiovese, 8% petite verdot.
i opened this tonight because i have been ragging heavily on egelhoff made wines of late. decanted an hour before tasting.
this is a beautifully blended wine. the unusual addition of the sangiovese softens the wine, and the aromatics are compelling. i especially enjoy the rich midpalate, and satisfying finish. mocha and blackberries dominate. delicious.
recommended.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment