14.2% abv, 50% whole cluster. Dark garnet. There's some really pretty things going on with this wine at eleven years old - savory aromas of kola nut, violets, game and olives are immediate and nicely intertwined. Yes, there's some Cali-typical purple and blue fruit that's a bit jammy at times, but no one should mistake this for Cornas. It seems relatively unevolved but my feeling is it has another 5-7 years of plateau. Surprisingly good with homemade butter chicken - the tomato and cardamom liked the whole cluster I think.
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Consumed over two days. Pretty good stuff. Nose not as expressive as I would have expected. On the palate plummy fruits, florals, and some iodine and meat. Fairly well integrated but a bit tannic. Fruity and new world but not a jammy bomb. Solid effort.
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Note taken after 3+ hours of air. Plum and blackberry on the nose, with a subtle whiff of bacon fat. The palate has juicy fruit, with a nice smoky element to it on the finish. This one is ready to drink and probably won’t improve.
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4/8/2024 - zpearson Likes this wine: 91 Points
14.2% abv, 50% whole cluster. Dark garnet. There's some really pretty things going on with this wine at eleven years old - savory aromas of kola nut, violets, game and olives are immediate and nicely intertwined. Yes, there's some Cali-typical purple and blue fruit that's a bit jammy at times, but no one should mistake this for Cornas. It seems relatively unevolved but my feeling is it has another 5-7 years of plateau. Surprisingly good with homemade butter chicken - the tomato and cardamom liked the whole cluster I think.
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1/15/2024 - Robert R. Likes this wine:
Consumed over two days. Pretty good stuff. Nose not as expressive as I would have expected. On the palate plummy fruits, florals, and some iodine and meat. Fairly well integrated but a bit tannic. Fruity and new world but not a jammy bomb. Solid effort.
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12/22/2023 - jonh1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow. Almost a mezcal smokiness up front. Really nice purple fruit behind it. Big, unctuous wine with some beauty and complexity behind.
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11/21/2023 - kkoshkin Likes this wine: 96 Points
This thing was singing like a witness that flipped to the prosecution. Just outstanding.
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11/18/2023 - kkleg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Note taken after 3+ hours of air. Plum and blackberry on the nose, with a subtle whiff of bacon fat. The palate has juicy fruit, with a nice smoky element to it on the finish. This one is ready to drink and probably won’t improve.
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