Nose: [58°-60°] A brooding concentration of blackberries with a quiet and subtle ripeness, a bit of fresh blueberries, earthen oak, moss, and hints of dark chocolate. Purple and black flowers and if they were somehow sweet.
Palate: [58°-60°] Brooding black fruits, tons of clean and generous fruit without being heavy or weighty. Deep and damp earth, spiced oak, and something similar to a light, creamy coffee if it had a dob of rich fruit in it. Finishes with black and bitter minerals, and steeped tea. A long finish at that, with a dark graphite note that slowly surfaces on the finish.
Attributes: Clear, dark ruby, almost black. Dry with medium to medium-plus amounts of fine tannin. Medium-plus body with medium acidity (the acidity is well integrated if it's higher). Great finish of at least 20-22 seconds.
Thoughts: So giving and pleasurable while not tiring on the palate. I was constantly going back for a small, sip non-stop (terrible habit). Oozing with flavor from start to end, and manages to squeeze out every bit flavor on the finish. The generous profile does not waver over the course of emptying the bottle. Side note: if you fancy classic Napas or bdx style cabs, this won't butter your croissant. Drinking great now, and will hold well for years to come. Drink now through another handful of years.
Happy new year, everybody!
Serving notes: Bordeaux glass. Slow-ox'ed at cellar temp ~54° and consumed over 7 hours. Recommend serving ~56°-60°. Decant only as needed.
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Really outstanding wine. Drinking beautifully right now, classic cabernet qualities that are all in perfect harmony. The fruit is a marvel to behold - so pure, so clean. No rush on drinking this, but I would not put this at the back of the cellar - too much joy in drinking now. Bottles like this are what make this hobby fun (and not just expensive)
Epic Napa Trip - Day 5: Tasted at Tusk with Augie - This was my favorite wine of the tasting! The nose was perfumed with violets and lavender and also plenty of raspberry, strawberry, cherry and cassis notes. I could just sit and smell this all day, and be in bliss! The palate was also a winner with mostly dark fruit, some cocoa nibs, some herbs and hints of tea leaves, with nicely integrated oak and vanilla notes. Very structured. I thoroughly enjoyed this wine! (I even caved in and bought some!) 95+ to 96 now, and will likely flirt with perfection when it fully matures, IMO.
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Napa trip day 5: Drank a small glass over an hour at the winery's tasting house. On the nose, the fruit is just pretty and delicious. Rich rich chocolate and strawberry, rose petals, sweet earth. I can almost smell the fine tannins. The palate has a lot of acid, really fine tannin, more acid than tannin. A hint of alcohol, which seemed more evident with time. The nose is a 95, palate is a 90, so... 93 overall?
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12/31/2023 - WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine: 98 Points
Nose: [58°-60°] A brooding concentration of blackberries with a quiet and subtle ripeness, a bit of fresh blueberries, earthen oak, moss, and hints of dark chocolate. Purple and black flowers and if they were somehow sweet.
Palate: [58°-60°] Brooding black fruits, tons of clean and generous fruit without being heavy or weighty. Deep and damp earth, spiced oak, and something similar to a light, creamy coffee if it had a dob of rich fruit in it. Finishes with black and bitter minerals, and steeped tea. A long finish at that, with a dark graphite note that slowly surfaces on the finish.
Attributes: Clear, dark ruby, almost black. Dry with medium to medium-plus amounts of fine tannin. Medium-plus body with medium acidity (the acidity is well integrated if it's higher). Great finish of at least 20-22 seconds.
Thoughts: So giving and pleasurable while not tiring on the palate. I was constantly going back for a small, sip non-stop (terrible habit). Oozing with flavor from start to end, and manages to squeeze out every bit flavor on the finish. The generous profile does not waver over the course of emptying the bottle. Side note: if you fancy classic Napas or bdx style cabs, this won't butter your croissant. Drinking great now, and will hold well for years to come. Drink now through another handful of years.
Happy new year, everybody!
Serving notes: Bordeaux glass. Slow-ox'ed at cellar temp ~54° and consumed over 7 hours. Recommend serving ~56°-60°. Decant only as needed.
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9/7/2023 - cawinenerd wrote: 97 Points
Really outstanding wine. Drinking beautifully right now, classic cabernet qualities that are all in perfect harmony. The fruit is a marvel to behold - so pure, so clean.
No rush on drinking this, but I would not put this at the back of the cellar - too much joy in drinking now.
Bottles like this are what make this hobby fun (and not just expensive)
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3/25/2023 - wineholder Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted for an hour but needed longer
Yummy
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12/9/2021 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 96 Points
Epic Napa Trip - Day 5: Tasted at Tusk with Augie - This was my favorite wine of the tasting! The nose was perfumed with violets and lavender and also plenty of raspberry, strawberry, cherry and cassis notes. I could just sit and smell this all day, and be in bliss! The palate was also a winner with mostly dark fruit, some cocoa nibs, some herbs and hints of tea leaves, with nicely integrated oak and vanilla notes. Very structured. I thoroughly enjoyed this wine! (I even caved in and bought some!) 95+ to 96 now, and will likely flirt with perfection when it fully matures, IMO.
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12/9/2021 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
Napa trip day 5: Drank a small glass over an hour at the winery's tasting house. On the nose, the fruit is just pretty and delicious. Rich rich chocolate and strawberry, rose petals, sweet earth. I can almost smell the fine tannins. The palate has a lot of acid, really fine tannin, more acid than tannin. A hint of alcohol, which seemed more evident with time. The nose is a 95, palate is a 90, so... 93 overall?
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