Apparently from a vintage PRIOR to the producer switching over to aging in FR barriques;
N: FRAGRANT roses, cherries, poss straws, with undertones of tar, addt'l swirling bringing out orange rind? Intensity lurking?
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent PUCKER which stays in contact with the init frt as it transitions into a LONG, BALANCED, very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with a swtness to the dusty tannins. Approachable now (with decanting/air), this deserves/NEEDS through '23, then at least approaching it's 35th? 13.5% ABV; My EXC/EXC+, & I'd not rule out Exceptional- before this one is finished! ;) 89 pts WS (12/31/00).
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Double decanted 90 minutes in advance. Muted aromas of red fruit and dried herbs. Delicate, lovely flavors of tobacco and black fruit. Licorice appears in the full finish.
This evolved slowly, but after two hours started to blossom. It is nicely balanced, with some complexity, and interesting flavors. I would like to see more depth, and a little more je ne sais quoi. Nice wine, nonetheless.
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Intense dark red color. Nose of red fruit, bacon fat, leather, muted forest floor. Silky palate feel, multilayered, complex. Drinking well right now, but could stay cellared for a few more years too.
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12/28/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [end of yr Special] + 3 Shared Bottles from 12/27/19 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): A heartfelt THANK you to those who made sharing this possible! :)
Decanted ≈90 min prior to when I tasted it
Apparently from a vintage PRIOR to the producer switching over to aging in FR barriques;
N: FRAGRANT roses, cherries, poss straws, with undertones of tar, addt'l swirling bringing out orange rind? Intensity lurking?
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent PUCKER which stays in contact with the init frt as it transitions into a LONG, BALANCED, very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with a swtness to the dusty tannins. Approachable now (with decanting/air), this deserves/NEEDS through '23, then at least approaching it's 35th? 13.5% ABV; My EXC/EXC+, & I'd not rule out Exceptional- before this one is finished! ;) 89 pts WS (12/31/00).
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8/3/2014 - wineshlub wrote: 90 Points
Double decanted 90 minutes in advance. Muted aromas of red fruit and dried herbs. Delicate, lovely flavors of tobacco and black fruit. Licorice appears in the full finish.
This evolved slowly, but after two hours started to blossom. It is nicely balanced, with some complexity, and interesting flavors. I would like to see more depth, and a little more je ne sais quoi. Nice wine, nonetheless.
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7/7/2013 - Mb1234 wrote: 93 Points
Char for Trans birthday..drinking perfwxtly
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9/9/2009 - kvdb wrote: 92 Points
Intense dark red color. Nose of red fruit, bacon fat, leather, muted forest floor. Silky palate feel, multilayered, complex. Drinking well right now, but could stay cellared for a few more years too.
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