When decanting the room was filled with classic QC dark fruit and blueberries. Consistently more approachable out of Sommelier vs standard stems.
At the three hour mark the nose shows dark fruit, leather, pencil shavings, and more stone than earth.....almost like I've got a great glass of wine and it's aroma is mixed into the smells of walking into a tight, damp cave. Smells better than it reads!
Super-fine-grained tannins hit far back-palate. The only reason not to guess this Bordeaux blend as left bank is the bright fruit that's extraordinarily well integrated. Leather, barrique, muted dark fruit. Just a super wine. I'd take three of these over a HSS any day.
Update: at the 4.5hr mark this has notable improved and is in a darned near ideal condition;still a bit rougher from std stems, it's times like this that the Somm stems shine.
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Generous pour from my neighbor. I could smell the Cab Franc immediately. Unfortunately for my old world palette this lacked complexity, bit mono toned w somewhat a very slight shoe polish edge to the finish. Was certainly drinkable just not what I prefer.
Decent balance with some intense charred berry notes. Did not wow me or move me at all. New world for sure, and with pasta the heat came thru big time. 15.2% is obnoxious, and really present with food for some reason.
I remember falling in love w QC when I had the 99 and 01 back in the day and bought cases of it. They haven't held up well unfortunately or my tastes have changed. Me thinks a bit of both!!
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I opened this last night and allowed it to decant about 2 hours before dinner and it could have used more time. The nose is very fragrant baking spice, cedar, earth, and leather, not especially floral, but darker notes. After 2 hours, the wine shows lots of dark black fruit on the palate like blackberry, cassis, hints of chocolate, tobacco, leather and pencil lead. This wine is not like a Napa fruit bomb, but very restrained. The acidity is starting to integrate and there is still some good tannic structure. I rushed to open this because my experience with a 2014 had a not so pleasant experience but this has a few more years left in it for sure. Just decant it and allow it to evolve. Odedis and Vinnut below also did a good job to capture this experience
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3/20/2024 - YankeeRobio Likes this wine: 97 Points
Incredible depth and texture, plush and settled tannins. Creamy black cherry, cassis, and mild sweet tobacco. Early part of prime drinking window.
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2/11/2024 - amiller68003@gmail.com wrote: 96 Points
An exceptional wine. PNP and even the first sip was great. Hope we have more.
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7/28/2023 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 95 Points
When decanting the room was filled with classic QC dark fruit and blueberries. Consistently more approachable out of Sommelier vs standard stems.
At the three hour mark the nose shows dark fruit, leather, pencil shavings, and more stone than earth.....almost like I've got a great glass of wine and it's aroma is mixed into the smells of walking into a tight, damp cave. Smells better than it reads!
Super-fine-grained tannins hit far back-palate. The only reason not to guess this Bordeaux blend as left bank is the bright fruit that's extraordinarily well integrated. Leather, barrique, muted dark fruit. Just a super wine. I'd take three of these over a HSS any day.
Update: at the 4.5hr mark this has notable improved and is in a darned near ideal condition;still a bit rougher from std stems, it's times like this that the Somm stems shine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2023 - essenceofreal wrote: 91 Points
Generous pour from my neighbor. I could smell the Cab Franc immediately. Unfortunately for my old world palette this lacked complexity, bit mono toned w somewhat a very slight shoe polish edge to the finish. Was certainly drinkable just not what I prefer.
Decent balance with some intense charred berry notes. Did not wow me or move me at all. New world for sure, and with pasta the heat came thru big time. 15.2% is obnoxious, and really present with food for some reason.
I remember falling in love w QC when I had the 99 and 01 back in the day and bought cases of it. They haven't held up well unfortunately or my tastes have changed. Me thinks a bit of both!!
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7/9/2023 - aerosol Likes this wine: 95 Points
I opened this last night and allowed it to decant about 2 hours before dinner and it could have used more time. The nose is very fragrant baking spice, cedar, earth, and leather, not especially floral, but darker notes. After 2 hours, the wine shows lots of dark black fruit on the palate like blackberry, cassis, hints of chocolate, tobacco, leather and pencil lead. This wine is not like a Napa fruit bomb, but very restrained. The acidity is starting to integrate and there is still some good tannic structure. I rushed to open this because my experience with a 2014 had a not so pleasant experience but this has a few more years left in it for sure. Just decant it and allow it to evolve. Odedis and Vinnut below also did a good job to capture this experience
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