On this day Saturday I have opened the 2016 Darioush Caravan from Napa Valley. A Bordeaux blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot.
The nose is very expressive with notes of black cherry, blackberry, plum, black currant, cedar, vanilla, creamy chocolate and a rich dark soil.
The palate reveals ripe decadent fruit of dark cherry, blackberry, plum, black currant, green bell pepper, vanilla, spice, cinnamon and a nice earthiness.
This wine is a beautiful full bodied wine with a supple mouth feel, medium + acidity and medium + firm gripping tannins that move effortlessly into a long spicy fruit finish. What a wonderful relaxing experience from a wonderful producer. Always enjoy the weekend with a quality wine. Have a great rest of your weekend and stay safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 5 years ago
Stunning nose. Lavender, clay, granite, dark flowers, wild game and olive, so expressive. Palate is classically 16 and very refined with dazzling purity and so ultra silky and refined. Grippy and dense but ripe tannin and so pure and balanced. Elegant and long with distinctive mineral notes on the finish. Concentrated and fresh but with the grip and depth to age. Loads of olive throughout. Awesome. — 5 years ago
A great bottle gifted from, @Mo Salem’s cellar - thank you, bro.
We tipped a glass while we discussed the next phase of our renovations.
This wine is rich, contemporary and tightly wound. Notes of strawberries and forest floor on the nose. Tannins are underripe, but well assembled. Nice notes of barrel toast and coffee on the mid-palate. Finishes with sweetness, tobacco, focus and precision. This is a cellar buy. — 5 years ago
2008 Cristal on my 54th birthday. I found it easier to describe the character of this wine than its flavors. It was tense, then vibrant, then balanced, and at all times fresh, mineral, and elegant. To do it justice, I think I should open my other bottle on my 74th birthday (should I be fortunate enough to get there). This is definitely made for the future. — 5 years ago
Nose of raspberries, spices and a hint of flowers. Very fine, almost not noticeable tannins and a floral element in the mouth that is medium lenght and ends on licorice and flowers. Interestingly accessible today but lots of potential. More to hold than to drink. Highly recommended. Charles Lachaux does less new oak and less extraction, more whole bunches, and it shows. Very elegant overall. — 5 years ago
Shay A
This is an example of a wine that surpasses all expectations and is an absolute knockout in every way. I acquired this a few years back in anticipation of my wife’s 30th, and what an experience we were treated to when finally opening it to celebrate her!
The cork on this wine was so impeccable it had me wondering if this was fake. Hardly any seepage, and pristine at the top. Great lower neck fill. I expected this to have funk to blow off, but it didn’t need it, that’s how youthful it was! In the glass, it was dark in color with a slightly fading ruby rim. Explosive aromatics with ripe black cherries, bay leaf, new leather, herbal spices and black currant. Mind blowing profile and structure on the palate...graphite, blackberries, smoked plum, sweet cherry tobacco, and cedar shavings evolve and show layers upon layers of complexity. Seamless and clean, but...I can’t believe I’m saying this...probably still has another 10-15yrs of enjoyment. Aging marvelously and glacially! — 5 years ago