This was pop and poured and even at 10yrs, it needs a healthy decant. It evolved to show a lot of black cherry, a mix of plum and pomegranate on the palate, but was super dark in the glass! The finish had a smokiness and meat dominant note. It wasn’t a fruit bomb, nor was it savory. It was a perfect harmony of both. Better yet? It still tastes almost like a new release! Years to go.
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Opened ahead of a friend visiting in a little under 3 weeks. This wine was still not anywhere near pop and pour status. Poured a deep maroon into the glass. Dense. The nose out of the glass initially was showing a little bit of age and this was transferring to some greener notes on the entry. For the most part, these notes died about an hour to an hour and a half after opening the bottle. Secondary notes kind of died. Entry that was luscious, mouth coating dark black cherry, herb, grilled meat middle. Brambly in the middle. The finish still showed some tannin, but had softened and was on the smoky side. Some black cherry, fig, licorice. This wine was very complex, and had turned a little darker than what I remember of this wine the last time I tasted it which was quite some time ago. This wine is still a baby, and after 3 hours of air it was still developing. Drink 2014-2026.
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Dark, opaque purple with a garnet rim. Nose of blackberry, cassis, and bell pepper. Spicy medium palate of intense blueberry, espresso, vanilla, and black licorice. Very good lenth. Vibrant Howell Mountain Acidity. Young, grippy tannins. Very good, but not as good as my last bottle. Paired well with Batali's beef ragu with pasta.
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Nice wine. Little more brambly here, but this one had a streaked/stained label so I'm not certain if there was a little extra-curricular oxidation thanks to UPS. Either way, the wine did drink well tonight but was tired after 2-3 hours. Good fruit up front, but darker than I recall for Levante fruit. This one had a blackberry backbone, but was herbal in the front, darker espresso notes in the middle, with a minty type finish. Interesting expression of this wine, but was perhaps a bit off.
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Decanted for about 2 hours prior to drinking. It definitely needs some time in the decanter as it was very tight when i first opened it. Very dark in color and nice nose. Lots of fruit on the mid-palate. The finish was great, covered your entire mouth and lasted for over 30-45 seconds. This wine is still a baby and has plenty of life left.
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9/16/2019 - Shay.Aldriedge Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was pop and poured and even at 10yrs, it needs a healthy decant. It evolved to show a lot of black cherry, a mix of plum and pomegranate on the palate, but was super dark in the glass! The finish had a smokiness and meat dominant note. It wasn’t a fruit bomb, nor was it savory. It was a perfect harmony of both. Better yet? It still tastes almost like a new release! Years to go.
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1/13/2018 - mflesh wrote:
Opened ahead of a friend visiting in a little under 3 weeks. This wine was still not anywhere near pop and pour status. Poured a deep maroon into the glass. Dense. The nose out of the glass initially was showing a little bit of age and this was transferring to some greener notes on the entry. For the most part, these notes died about an hour to an hour and a half after opening the bottle. Secondary notes kind of died. Entry that was luscious, mouth coating dark black cherry, herb, grilled meat middle. Brambly in the middle. The finish still showed some tannin, but had softened and was on the smoky side. Some black cherry, fig, licorice. This wine was very complex, and had turned a little darker than what I remember of this wine the last time I tasted it which was quite some time ago. This wine is still a baby, and after 3 hours of air it was still developing. Drink 2014-2026.
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8/23/2016 - Wink Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark, opaque purple with a garnet rim. Nose of blackberry, cassis, and bell pepper. Spicy medium palate of intense blueberry, espresso, vanilla, and black licorice. Very good lenth. Vibrant Howell Mountain Acidity. Young, grippy tannins. Very good, but not as good as my last bottle. Paired well with Batali's beef ragu with pasta.
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2/3/2016 - mflesh wrote:
Nice wine. Little more brambly here, but this one had a streaked/stained label so I'm not certain if there was a little extra-curricular oxidation thanks to UPS. Either way, the wine did drink well tonight but was tired after 2-3 hours. Good fruit up front, but darker than I recall for Levante fruit. This one had a blackberry backbone, but was herbal in the front, darker espresso notes in the middle, with a minty type finish. Interesting expression of this wine, but was perhaps a bit off.
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12/6/2015 - stconner Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for about 2 hours prior to drinking. It definitely needs some time in the decanter as it was very tight when i first opened it. Very dark in color and nice nose. Lots of fruit on the mid-palate. The finish was great, covered your entire mouth and lasted for over 30-45 seconds. This wine is still a baby and has plenty of life left.
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