Was worried this wine wasn't right, turns out something I was eating wasn't playing nice. Once my palate cleared I was able to get into the wine. Dark fruits, classic sangiovese characters throughout. Little sweet but pretty complex. Could use a little more tannin or acid. Would get again if I got it at the Trader Joe's price I did here. — 4 months ago
I brought this to a big 2012 retrospective tasting of Napa Cabernet but wasn’t able to stop by my offsite in time to get a ‘12.
Cork came out terribly. Double decanted 30-45 mins. 100% Cabernet. Sporting a deep purple color even at 15yrs. Just shy of explosive aromatics…ripe red and black fruits, mocha, cocoa powder. Sheer To-Kalon power on the palate with the velvet glove approach…layered dark fruits, black currant, cassis, charcoal and graphite. Mid-palate here has great depth and the finish is beautiful. This has evolved wonderfully. Pop now but no rush. — 7 months ago
1990 vintage. Decanted and tasted after one hour. Medium body. A shade darker than the 1990 La Turque tasted alongside. Deeper smoky, gamey nose. Meaty, gamey, smoky and beef broth/sous bois in the flavors. Super savory. This was phenomenal. Should be able to sustain this performance for the better part of a decade before noticeable drop off. Wowzers. Last tasted 3.24.23 with the same score. 3.15.24. — a month ago
2016 vintage. PNP. Decent nose. Light-medium body. Bit of oak afoot early on. Gets minimized fairly quickly and moves on to acidity and tannins along with unexpected balance. Some rose petal prettiness. Some earth. Good balance. Not the most, nor the least, structured. Should be able to handle a 15-spot without too much bother. Solid value and drinking well now. 11.28.23. — 5 months ago
From magnum. No formal notes. The fill was top-shoulder. Underneath the capsule, the top of the cork looked nasty which I wiped down as best I could. About four hours before service, using a Durand (which is almost essential with old bottles) I was able to pull the cork completely intact and decant for sediment. The cork was completely saturated but appeared to have done its job! At this stage in its life, the 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild pours a garnet color but it doesn’t appear particularly tired and the nose supports that. While it’s certainly a vinous wine, there is a lot to like: a mix of red and black cassis, rip and desiccated cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar box, old leather, damp earth, some mushrooms and baking spices. The structure is still sound and while the tannins have integrated and the acid is keeping this very much alive. In fact, this seemed to brighten with air and almost get a second wind! As I find with all great Bordeaux wines once they enter this stage, they seem to live forever. This was a lovely pairing with a Prime, Niman Ranch porterhouse served with corn, squash and porcini. This is squarely in the “drink now” window, not that it will be falling off a cliff anytime soon. Decant for sediment and enjoy through 2030+ — 9 months ago
2003 vintage. Just enuff acidity to lord over the proceedings. Initially, “cheesy.” That dissipates somewhat and gets very harmonious very quickly. Cleans up a bit on the finish. Should be able to glide hither and yon for another 5-7 years at this level. 1.10.24. — 3 months ago
Been hanging into this forever and definitely worth it - best Tapestry I can remember, not sure I’d be able to tell it from a GdL…punches way above its weight at 14.5…goodbye to a longtime cellar dweller — 4 months ago
1995 vintage. Great aging cork in good shape. Decanted and tasted immediately, after 30 mins and after 2 hours. Decent amount of sed. Slight brickish color. Initially and generally throughout, reticent nose and flavors. Very tightly wound overall. Eventually able to coax a small amount of black olive out of the nose along with minerals for days. Some dark cherry and plum allied with baking chocolate in the transition from mid-palate to finish. It was tough sledding in the frontal palate. Super dry with summer earth/dirt at the start. Obvious class but never really flashed more than a few cards to play. Perhaps a different bottle shows a little more love? Producer is always on the leaner side so unbridled optimism on that front is likely wasted energy. 10.25.23. — 6 months ago
Jason Sliwa
Gotta wait for it, but Sagrantino from Paolo Bea can be great. Best sagrantino I’ve had. Magnum. So happy to be able to share it with appreciators. — 17 days ago