The hype around this wine is utterly lost on me. Tried over 3 days. Yes, it’s intensely structured, I’ll give you that. But it’s also unyielding and almost devoid of fruit. I can only hope that this evolves, as those with more experience tell me it will. Right now, I feel like I spent a lot of money on a case of wine that will never be pleasurable to drink.
Double decanted for about 24 hrs and still evolved after pouring for 1-2 hrs, same on day 2 and 3. Deep dark purple with a hint of ruby color. Blackberry, dark cherry, plum, graphite, soil on the nose. Mulberry, minerals, and cedar on the palate with slight tart acid core that lingers into a 35-40 sec finish. More red cassis and raspberry on the palate as it evolved in glass. I thought this wine presented in a much more French style than a typical modern Napa cabernet, and really interested in seeing how further aging affects this wine. Much less pyrazine than I anticipated, having last tried the 2013.
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Please please put your bottles away for the next 10+ years!
Now that my PSA is complete: decanted for 4 hours before the first pour. Nose is muted and slightly alcoholic. Tannins are gripping with noticable dryness on the younger and teeth. Under ripe blackberries and plums eek through the tannins. The stuffing is there for a great wine, but this is closer to a barrel sample than a 5 year old wine. It needs rest and time in the cellar. With more time in the glass the nose starts to evolve and grow to match the palate.
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Friday Group Brown Bag Tasting (R&D's): Blind. Dark color. Aromas of black fruit and herbs- rosemary and sage. Firm, fine tannins. Flavors of currants, black raspberry and herbs with a long finish. Young; structured, but balanced. In this flight, easy to pick out as one of the Betas.
This had been decanted nearly seven hours, and then spent another 90 minutes breathing in bottle. Poured in the flight 8.5 hours after the cork was first pulled. Lots of potential here- hold to 2027+.
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Cola, bitter herbs, dark fruit (restrained nose at the moment). Concentrated with high acidity giving it lift. Oak is present but not the star of the show and it still provides a lot of food for thought. Tannins are enjoyable now, but built for later. Can’t wait to try this again (absolutely no rush here).
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5/9/2024 - swillpower wrote:
The hype around this wine is utterly lost on me. Tried over 3 days. Yes, it’s intensely structured, I’ll give you that. But it’s also unyielding and almost devoid of fruit. I can only hope that this evolves, as those with more experience tell me it will. Right now, I feel like I spent a lot of money on a case of wine that will never be pleasurable to drink.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)
9/8/2022 - Asull2k Likes this wine: 92 Points
Double decanted for about 24 hrs and still evolved after pouring for 1-2 hrs, same on day 2 and 3. Deep dark purple with a hint of ruby color. Blackberry, dark cherry, plum, graphite, soil on the nose. Mulberry, minerals, and cedar on the palate with slight tart acid core that lingers into a 35-40 sec finish. More red cassis and raspberry on the palate as it evolved in glass. I thought this wine presented in a much more French style than a typical modern Napa cabernet, and really interested in seeing how further aging affects this wine. Much less pyrazine than I anticipated, having last tried the 2013.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2022 - pa1966stang Likes this wine: 92 Points
Please please put your bottles away for the next 10+ years!
Now that my PSA is complete: decanted for 4 hours before the first pour. Nose is muted and slightly alcoholic. Tannins are gripping with noticable dryness on the younger and teeth. Under ripe blackberries and plums eek through the tannins. The stuffing is there for a great wine, but this is closer to a barrel sample than a 5 year old wine. It needs rest and time in the cellar. With more time in the glass the nose starts to evolve and grow to match the palate.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2022 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Friday Group Brown Bag Tasting (R&D's): Blind. Dark color. Aromas of black fruit and herbs- rosemary and sage. Firm, fine tannins. Flavors of currants, black raspberry and herbs with a long finish. Young; structured, but balanced. In this flight, easy to pick out as one of the Betas.
This had been decanted nearly seven hours, and then spent another 90 minutes breathing in bottle. Poured in the flight 8.5 hours after the cork was first pulled. Lots of potential here- hold to 2027+.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2022 - spinnin_and_sippin Likes this wine:
Cola, bitter herbs, dark fruit (restrained nose at the moment). Concentrated with high acidity giving it lift. Oak is present but not the star of the show and it still provides a lot of food for thought. Tannins are enjoyable now, but built for later. Can’t wait to try this again (absolutely no rush here).
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment