Substantial bottle with deep punt hints at quality.
Poured directly into sealed carafe with large base and dimple. Tasting from wide mouth bowl.
Garnet with purple tones. Semi translucent.
5 minutes: Nose opens with fruit and a touch of old world. Moves to tar and some smoke, add bell pepper that lasts only a few moments. Palate shows dark berries and currents with some astringency
15 minutes: Nose becoming more Bordeaux-ish. More amalgamated. Palate sweetens and hints at menthol.
45 minutes: The smoke transforms to barrel toast on the sniff, and if iron had zest like a lemon then let's add that, a tangy minerality. Menthol effusing. On the palate, sweet tanginess, fruit re-exerting. Astringency turning to dryness. Good drinking window.
Unless there is another evolution at 1.5 hours plus, this wine has effectively revealed itself and settled out.
Finish is not opulent but sufficient. Lacks something on the back of the tongue, and a slight watery quality, but it coats the mouth and offers a nice dryness.
Pairing: Thinking this bottle would go very nicely with any oriental dish with dark sauce and some heat. Mongolian beef? Szechuan shrimp? Pair it like a young Bordeaux and you'll enjoy.
Very nice and interesting wine, especially for under $20US. This is why we are Havens fans.
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1/9/2023 - Davidalan wrote: 85 Points
I cellared too long but still a decent drink. The tannins are basically gone. Fruit forward but no staying finish. May improve with more decanting.
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12/30/2020 - Davidalan wrote: 85 Points
Maybe with some decanting it’ll take on some character.
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3/28/2019 - Davidalan wrote: 82 Points
Not a lot of character.
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11/2/2015 - sellerscellar wrote:
Consistent w/prior notes
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10/30/2014 - Tim and Bonnie Likes this wine: 88 Points
Substantial bottle with deep punt hints at quality.
Poured directly into sealed carafe with large base and dimple. Tasting from wide mouth bowl.
Garnet with purple tones. Semi translucent.
5 minutes: Nose opens with fruit and a touch of old world. Moves to tar and some smoke, add bell pepper that lasts only a few moments. Palate shows dark berries and currents with some astringency
15 minutes: Nose becoming more Bordeaux-ish. More amalgamated. Palate sweetens and hints at menthol.
45 minutes: The smoke transforms to barrel toast on the sniff, and if iron had zest like a lemon then let's add that, a tangy minerality. Menthol effusing. On the palate, sweet tanginess, fruit re-exerting. Astringency turning to dryness. Good drinking window.
Unless there is another evolution at 1.5 hours plus, this wine has effectively revealed itself and settled out.
Finish is not opulent but sufficient. Lacks something on the back of the tongue, and a slight watery quality, but it coats the mouth and offers a nice dryness.
Pairing: Thinking this bottle would go very nicely with any oriental dish with dark sauce and some heat. Mongolian beef? Szechuan shrimp? Pair it like a young Bordeaux and you'll enjoy.
Very nice and interesting wine, especially for under $20US. This is why we are Havens fans.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment