Snow storm so figured I’d break out a bottle. Last bottle 21 months ago. Gilman nailed the nose as roasted meats with tree bark along with a touch of orange and developing leather. The wine has thinned out quite a bit since last taste approaching elegance. Very nice dark fruit core with a tanniny back end. Tannins have softened. The port ish experience continues to come into focus. Nice persistence. Alcohol is generally well contained but continues to peak through. Only had a couple sips on day two but wine seemed improved after several hours sitting in a glass, very balanced and tasty.
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Tasted from a PnP. Nose reminds me of a stem heavy Napa Carneros Pinot Noir with some hints of orange peel and fresh toasted walnuts. Medium bodied, dry, structured, and nice acidity. Stemmy dark red fruits, spice, earth, and a bit of orange peel. Nice tannin structure without being over the top. Long spiced and earthy finish with a bit of bitters and walnuts at the end
Very interesting wine. I can totally see how this could remind someone of port.
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I wonder if the choice of stem has an outsized influence on this wine.
I poured a few ounces into a big, wide-rimmed Bordeaux stem, and all I got was alcohol on the nose. The flavors were all muddled, too.
I then tried it in a smaller, tulip style stem with a narrower mouth. The wine improved quite a bit. It even softened, which is no small task for something on the bigger end of the spectrum.
I can see Brian's tawny port comparison, as well as tasters who report dark fruits. My bottle was brooding, but on the quiet side. I was expecting to feel punched in the mouth but that was not the case.
If you have any remaining bottles, definitely find the right stem.
Big dark wine that leads with orange and spice. Juicy and a little chewy. Unique, so a little hard to judge, but the high intensity is maybe a little out of balance, and not the most complex wine. Serve with hearty food on a cold night.
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11/24/2023 - Discobiscuits42 wrote: 92 Points
Snow storm so figured I’d break out a bottle. Last bottle 21 months ago. Gilman nailed the nose as roasted meats with tree bark along with a touch of orange and developing leather. The wine has thinned out quite a bit since last taste approaching elegance. Very nice dark fruit core with a tanniny back end. Tannins have softened. The port ish experience continues to come into focus. Nice persistence. Alcohol is generally well contained but continues to peak through. Only had a couple sips on day two but wine seemed improved after several hours sitting in a glass, very balanced and tasty.
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4/10/2023 - ChateauShiny Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not the most detailed TNs due to allergies.
Tasted from a PnP. Nose reminds me of a stem heavy Napa Carneros Pinot Noir with some hints of orange peel and fresh toasted walnuts. Medium bodied, dry, structured, and nice acidity. Stemmy dark red fruits, spice, earth, and a bit of orange peel. Nice tannin structure without being over the top. Long spiced and earthy finish with a bit of bitters and walnuts at the end
Very interesting wine. I can totally see how this could remind someone of port.
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11/28/2022 - ptaylor2112 Likes this wine: 87 Points
I wonder if the choice of stem has an outsized influence on this wine.
I poured a few ounces into a big, wide-rimmed Bordeaux stem, and all I got was alcohol on the nose. The flavors were all muddled, too.
I then tried it in a smaller, tulip style stem with a narrower mouth. The wine improved quite a bit. It even softened, which is no small task for something on the bigger end of the spectrum.
I can see Brian's tawny port comparison, as well as tasters who report dark fruits. My bottle was brooding, but on the quiet side. I was expecting to feel punched in the mouth but that was not the case.
If you have any remaining bottles, definitely find the right stem.
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11/7/2022 - jonh1 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Big dark wine that leads with orange and spice. Juicy and a little chewy. Unique, so a little hard to judge, but the high intensity is maybe a little out of balance, and not the most complex wine. Serve with hearty food on a cold night.
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8/19/2022 - Brian Glas Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Very fruit and syrupy. Too sweet. Not much grip. Tastes almost like a tawny port.
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