Tom Garland

9.3

Happy New Year Delectable!

Double decant and pour. A splendid tawny red color. On the nose: dark fruit, cigar ash, cedar, smoked meat, pencil shavings, mint. Taste: soft, silky, elegant, still fresh wine with dark red fruit, worn leather, graphite, loamy soil, spiced herbs, minty black tea and a dry medium finish. YUM! What a fun wine to end 2024 with. A wine bought at auction, and a cork which was not in the best shape, so not sure if this is a true representation of where this wine is at.

FOOD:
Island creek oyster and cavier
Lobster butternut bisque
Pan roasted duck breast
Braised beef short rib
Black forest chocolate cake — 14 days ago

with Brenda

Tom Garland

9.3

Pop and pour from MAG. A splendid light gold color. On the nose: apple, honeydew melon, banana, crushed stone, floral. Taste: still young at 11 years. Fresh, chalky, with depth and character. Notes of pear, nectarine, lemon & lime, and a white pepper minerally long lean finish. YUM! — 4 months ago

with Brenda

Vino Joe

9.2

Pleasant at first pour but underpowered. Needed 45 minutes and decant to start. Improved over time. Darker red than I was expecting. Young wine and quite smooth. Some racy notes at the perimeter but more of an easy drinking succulent Nebbiolo than a brooding one. — 6 months ago

Tom Garland

9.3

Decant and pour. They broke out the Giant glass.....black cherry, leather, tobacco, pepper, dried herbs, cedar, and tannic. Should round out over time. YUM! Super Tuscan tonight to start our Napa weekend...who woulda thunk. — 8 months ago

with Brenda

Tom Garland

9.2

Double decant and pour (lots of sediment). A splendid medium tawny red color. On the nose: stewed black plum, nutmeg, forest floor, worn leather, vanilla oak. Taste: soft, lively wine with dried candied cherries, currants, loamy soil, toasty oak, and a spiced mocha medium finish. YUM at 28 years! — 21 days ago

with Brenda

Andrea Watt

9.0

Dark ruby color and soft tannins with flavors of unsweetened cocoa, thyme, violet, and cherry. Rich and dry. — 2 months ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Decant for sediment(lots of fine/cloudy sediment) and pour. A majestic tawny dark red color. On the nose: sweet port like with dried plum/cherry, herbaceous, rich soil, mushroom, pepper. Taste: Amazing! juicy, refined, balanced, savory wine with dried cherry, black raspberry, earth, tobacco, mint, and a nice mocha baking spice medium plus finish. YUM! Still delivering at 44 years, and glad to have a few more bottles. — 5 months ago

with Brenda

Tom Garland

9.1

Decant for sediment and pour. A majestic deep ruby red color with bricking. On the nose: Seductive notes of dark cherry, eucalyptus, cigar smoke, forest floor, new leather. Taste: creamy, elegant, savory medium body wine with a little brambly cherry/red plum, tobacco, earth, dark chocolate, spice, and just a hint of it's signature minty eucalyptus. YUM! Such a treat to drink tonight. — 2 months ago

with Brenda

Aravind A

9.5

Pop and pour. Notes from 24 hrs open (in the fridge overnight). While this was compelling yesterday, it is glorious today. On the nose: pure lavender, garrigue, soft cola and a touch of sweet incense, wow. On the palate: very good acidity, fantastic density, sweet blackberry, a touch of ash and heat, cola and a surprisingly dark finish, showing a smoldering warmth and very fine tannin. Seems like at least another 3-5 years before peak if this btl is representative. Absolutely gorgeous. — 5 months ago

Yan Gagnon

9.0

Rubis presque violet. Dense et jeune. Un premier nez presque médicinal, cerise, poivron. Le bouquet est agréable. La bouche est puissante, on sent sa jeunesse. C'est long et sec. L'acidité est bien marqué. Les saveurs de cerises et de cèdre s'entremêlent pour ce vin en début de vie. — 6 months ago