Wow, classic example of patience paying off. None of the aggressive tannins or oak that I wrote about in 2014. This was smooth as a baby's bottom, and was awesome with a steak. Still nice dark fruits, but the structure is really resolved. These can probably go another year or two, but I only see downside from here. If you've got some of these, I would strongly recommend drinking up soon! Was a great buy at $30 from Wine Library (remember Gary Vay-ner-chuk?)
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Medium-deep, halfway between ruby and garnet color. On the nose it's simultaneously opulent and elegant, showy but refined—like a rococo old opera house in which over-the-top flourishes and intricate filigree have taken on a dignified character by virtue of age. There's still a little bit of dark, spicy blackberry fruit, and some rich, tasty pie-crust primary oak character, but those notes are overmatched by successive waves of secondary and tertiary characteristics: smoke, cedar, tree bark, dill, olives, barbecue, dried rose petals, black licorice, dark chocolate, old barrels, old books, old leather, coffee grounds, mushrooms, and soy sauce.
On the palate, you sense the high alcohol right away, with an immediate warming heat, but it actually doesn't present as remarkably heavy—more of a medium-heavy weight. The tannins are of medium strength, but they have really melted into an elegant, fine-grained texture, somewhere between silk and satin. The flavor profile is a little bit less complex than on the nose, and the oak is a bit more directly obvious, but there is still a nice balance between deep fruit and spicy/earthy/meaty/herbal flavors. And the intensity it prodigious.
Definitely a more dignified and less rumbustious wine than when I last drank a bottle, which still retains its power and scale. Lots of fun to drink, and wish I had more to see where it will go next.
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This is turning into a NYE tradition w/ porter braised short ribs, and I'm liking it. Last note in '17 though, and it's drinking great tonight. Dense, opaque coloring with ruby to garnet edges. Smells like dark fruits, cedar, coconut, dark chocolate, walnuts, violet, and graphite. Medium body and acid, medium (+) finish, and flavors of dark & dark red fruits, dark chocolate, coconut, black tea, and lemon.
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(Bodegas y Viñedos San Roman Toro Viña San Román) Opaque ruby color; sexy, baked plum, baked berry nose; tasty, baked berry, mulberry palate with lowish acidity; medium-plus finish (100% Tempranillo; 24 mos. in French and American oak)
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6/10/2023 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow, classic example of patience paying off. None of the aggressive tannins or oak that I wrote about in 2014. This was smooth as a baby's bottom, and was awesome with a steak. Still nice dark fruits, but the structure is really resolved. These can probably go another year or two, but I only see downside from here. If you've got some of these, I would strongly recommend drinking up soon! Was a great buy at $30 from Wine Library (remember Gary Vay-ner-chuk?)
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12/26/2021 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 91 Points
Time has tamed this wine, lots of sediment, still delicious but drink now. www.winelx.com
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10/23/2021 - JVG wrote:
Medium-deep, halfway between ruby and garnet color. On the nose it's simultaneously opulent and elegant, showy but refined—like a rococo old opera house in which over-the-top flourishes and intricate filigree have taken on a dignified character by virtue of age. There's still a little bit of dark, spicy blackberry fruit, and some rich, tasty pie-crust primary oak character, but those notes are overmatched by successive waves of secondary and tertiary characteristics: smoke, cedar, tree bark, dill, olives, barbecue, dried rose petals, black licorice, dark chocolate, old barrels, old books, old leather, coffee grounds, mushrooms, and soy sauce.
On the palate, you sense the high alcohol right away, with an immediate warming heat, but it actually doesn't present as remarkably heavy—more of a medium-heavy weight. The tannins are of medium strength, but they have really melted into an elegant, fine-grained texture, somewhere between silk and satin. The flavor profile is a little bit less complex than on the nose, and the oak is a bit more directly obvious, but there is still a nice balance between deep fruit and spicy/earthy/meaty/herbal flavors. And the intensity it prodigious.
Definitely a more dignified and less rumbustious wine than when I last drank a bottle, which still retains its power and scale. Lots of fun to drink, and wish I had more to see where it will go next.
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1/17/2021 - PSUSteve wrote: 93 Points
PnP. Deep and rich with dark fruits with hints of blueberry and chocolate poking through. Seems to have plenty of time left.
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12/31/2020 - studleytrey Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is turning into a NYE tradition w/ porter braised short ribs, and I'm liking it. Last note in '17 though, and it's drinking great tonight. Dense, opaque coloring with ruby to garnet edges. Smells like dark fruits, cedar, coconut, dark chocolate, walnuts, violet, and graphite. Medium body and acid, medium (+) finish, and flavors of dark & dark red fruits, dark chocolate, coconut, black tea, and lemon.
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