Nose—white and purple flowers, cocoa, mocha, perfume, burnt evergreen brush. Smelled like a young Bevan (in a great way).
Palate—racy, juicy, somewhat jammy and definitely young, black and purple fruit. Oak and tannins have seemingly integrated very well but feels a bit disjointed. Like Blarmston I was able to discern the Crane component easily, telling me this needs time to get its act together. 92ish
Got a little better but not much change as we drank. Mrs Geaux loved it. Peaked at 2-2.5 hrs. Either too much air or it warmed too much (still f’in hot in HTX) and it seemed to shut down.
This was good not great, but I have two more bottles and many more years to prove this wine hasn’t hit its best years yet. I think time will show this has room to run to 95ish. That being said, it was good enough for me to go ‘on the line’ and pick up a three-pack of the ‘19.
Two hour decant. Deep dark magenta color. Blackberry compote, coconut white chocolate, poppy seed, chai tea, and sugar plum on the nose. Smooth, tongue drying, full bodied palate. Firm, full, satiny tannins on the longish finish.
There is a subtle earthiness that I don’t love, but I think many will. It’s modestly restrained overall.
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Five hour decant. Deep, dark, inky magenta color. Blackberry, raspberry, damp slate, and peony on the nose. Very smooth, dry, velvety palate, with good acidity. Firm tannins on the longish finish.
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10/13/2022 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine: 93 Points
First time on the A&B Black Label.
90 min decant before first sips.
Nose—white and purple flowers, cocoa, mocha, perfume, burnt evergreen brush. Smelled like a young Bevan (in a great way).
Palate—racy, juicy, somewhat jammy and definitely young, black and purple fruit. Oak and tannins have seemingly integrated very well but feels a bit disjointed. Like Blarmston I was able to discern the Crane component easily, telling me this needs time to get its act together. 92ish
Got a little better but not much change as we drank. Mrs Geaux loved it. Peaked at 2-2.5 hrs. Either too much air or it warmed too much (still f’in hot in HTX) and it seemed to shut down.
This was good not great, but I have two more bottles and many more years to prove this wine hasn’t hit its best years yet. I think time will show this has room to run to 95ish. That being said, it was good enough for me to go ‘on the line’ and pick up a three-pack of the ‘19.
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3/18/2022 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 94 Points
Two hour decant. Deep dark magenta color. Blackberry compote, coconut white chocolate, poppy seed, chai tea, and sugar plum on the nose. Smooth, tongue drying, full bodied palate. Firm, full, satiny tannins on the longish finish.
There is a subtle earthiness that I don’t love, but I think many will. It’s modestly restrained overall.
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12/30/2021 - greg@newsomehh.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brought down for the Splendido 5:15 meeting, shared and enjoyed with BA, Bill, Matt and Jeanette from Chateau
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11/2/2021 - Justinwine wrote: 92 Points
Damn good. Hints of greatness.
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1/14/2021 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 94 Points
Five hour decant. Deep, dark, inky magenta color. Blackberry, raspberry, damp slate, and peony on the nose. Very smooth, dry, velvety palate, with good acidity. Firm tannins on the longish finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)