2018. Amazing — 5 years ago
Crisp, clean with kiwi hints and nerds candy — 3 years ago
Opened a great wine at the wrong time. Clocking at 35yo, like a wise grandpa it has wisdom to share but only talks when it’s quiet. Right after opening it has a mix of ripe, evolved pyrazines but with an hour or so the black olives are there in your face like in cote rotie, with a touch of their brine but without the VA you would expect. dried black fruit makes an appearance, even a medium bodied texture (!!!) which already isn’t Chinon’s strength and fine tannins still with some good grip, leading to a bright lingering acidity. Of course it can’t stay too long in the glass as the age shows some fragility. Still, it delivers — 8 months ago
Slightly underripe strawberry, white mushrooms and herbs. Mousse is abundant but not so fine or persistent. Not much from the lees — 4 years ago
John Howard
Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries
A bit blown out to me but tasty. Maybe a vintage thing or the 15.5 abv. — 18 days ago