Still very hot. Seems to smoothe out with time (and a couple glasses of wine). Some nice flavor, but unbalanced. Seems like it had potential, but doesn't quite make it.
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Huge Jeff Ames fan, but this one isn't quite up to his usual standard. Perhaps the key is...yet? Most of the 07s have been very approachable...this is rather tannic. Definitely some heat. Won't touch this for a year and see how things resolve themselves.
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At 15.5%, the alcohol level is almost ridiculously high on this wine -- a little overripe, maybe? The blast of fruit at the start and alcohol on the finish says unbalanced, but there is more here as well. Delicate spices, sweet tannins and really nice fruit flavors. Time may improve this into a very good wine -- or not. It's a very young wine (I would love to see what more barrel time would have done for it), so I think I will wait another year or two to open another bottle. Can't really score it yet.
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At 15.5%, the alcohol level is almost absurdly high on this wine -- a little overripe, maybe? The blast of fruit at the start and alcohol on the finish says unbalanced, but there is more here as well. Delicate spices, sweet tannins and really nice fruit flavors. Time may improve this into a very good wine -- or not. It's a very young wine (I would love to see what more barrel time would have done for it), so I think I will wait another year or two to open another bottle. Can't really score it yet could be anywhere from 88 to 94, I think.
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This is an amazing wine. Will put the others away for at leat another year before having another. So much aging potential but also fabulous right now. If you can actually get your hands on this one, get as much as you can. It will be a cult wine within the next vintage.
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3/20/2018 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderfully balanced bottle with nice To Kalon fruit. Beautiful over two days. Fruit is the star as not as complex as hoped.
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11/21/2013 - jeffm_fla Likes this wine: 91 Points
Time was good for this wine. Rich, distinctive To Kalon nose and flavors are nicely integrated. Sorry it was my last bottle.
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2/20/2012 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 91 Points
Very dark red violet color; redolent, iodine, baked berry nose; tight, baked berry, baked black fruit, blue fruit, cedar palate; medium-plus finish
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11/20/2010 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 88 Points
SF Vintners Market: 164 Wines Tasted (Fort Mason, San Francisco, California): Ripe black fruit, tar, berry nose; plush, ripe black fruit, tar, berry, mint palate; medium-plus finish
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10/31/2010 - jeffm_fla wrote: 89 Points
Still very hot. Seems to smoothe out with time (and a couple glasses of wine). Some nice flavor, but unbalanced. Seems like it had potential, but doesn't quite make it.
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5/23/2010 - jaylew1 wrote: 90 Points
Huge Jeff Ames fan, but this one isn't quite up to his usual standard. Perhaps the key is...yet? Most of the 07s have been very approachable...this is rather tannic. Definitely some heat. Won't touch this for a year and see how things resolve themselves.
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1/25/2010 - winelovr2001 wrote: 89 Points
Bright raspberry, vanilla, cinnamon, integrated oak. A nice wine, but very little varietal character.
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12/27/2009 - jeffm_fla wrote: 91 Points
At 15.5%, the alcohol level is almost ridiculously high on this wine -- a little overripe, maybe? The blast of fruit at the start and alcohol on the finish says unbalanced, but there is more here as well. Delicate spices, sweet tannins and really nice fruit flavors. Time may improve this into a very good wine -- or not. It's a very young wine (I would love to see what more barrel time would have done for it), so I think I will wait another year or two to open another bottle. Can't really score it yet.
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12/27/2009 - jeffm_fla wrote:
At 15.5%, the alcohol level is almost absurdly high on this wine -- a little overripe, maybe? The blast of fruit at the start and alcohol on the finish says unbalanced, but there is more here as well. Delicate spices, sweet tannins and really nice fruit flavors. Time may improve this into a very good wine -- or not. It's a very young wine (I would love to see what more barrel time would have done for it), so I think I will wait another year or two to open another bottle. Can't really score it yet could be anywhere from 88 to 94, I think.
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12/18/2009 - MemWine123 wrote: 97 Points
This is an amazing wine. Will put the others away for at leat another year before having another. So much aging potential but also fabulous right now. If you can actually get your hands on this one, get as much as you can. It will be a cult wine within the next vintage.
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