Virtual Californa Syrah Tasting

Right now (Friday, Mach 7th, 2008, 7:48PM) there is a virtual Cali Syrah tasting going on. It is actually going the whole weekend. The brainchild of the parker board member Frank Murray III. Bravo Frank!

There has been much talk of late about Cali Syrah not getting its due. In my mind it is the single most interesting varietal right now. There are so many styles to be attracted to. Nothing like Shiraz, the grape has found its place in the US nicely. I prefer the cooler climate style, not bruisers.

Unlike Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, this grape does well under many conditions, cool, warm, high, and low. There is something for everyone.

Tonights choice:
2005 Lucia Susan's Hill SLH Syrah- Decanted 4PM.
5PM:Initially somewhat primary. Super dark color. Purple edges. amazing pure saturated blackberry and blueberry. Beautiful floral notes.This will get better and better...
6:40P:This nose is just exploding with black fruit. An incredible lush tannin and acid level showcases the blackberries, tar, white pepper, bacon fat. A super long finish . Wow. No Glad I've got 10 more and will seek more yet. This is an elegant classy pure pretty Syrah. Well worth the $40 price tag. I will never drop from ths list and will continue to ask for 2x the allotment. 94/100

This coming Tuesday a few friends and myself are getting together to cap off the Virtual Tasting Weekend, by tasting a few more California Syrahs, albeit 2 days late, but who keeps track of such minutia? Bloggers, that's who.

2004 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank (USA, California, Napa Valley)

Since I have been banned from stepping foot in Ghost Horse’s caves, I have to drink the next best thing available. I reached into my cellar and grabbed this: (by the way, since this ridiculous fiasco of a thread happened on ebeb, I've had 3 gracious invites (from others) to taste wines when I do visit Napa):

Medium in color. Not as intense as I might expect, but very vibrant. The nose is pure vanilla and dark blackberry & red raspberries. The palate had shown some wonderful pure dark black and red fruits of raspberries and blackberries with some Bing cherry, soy, & tobacco. A very restrained style of Cali blend that has more in association with the actual 'right bank' of Bordeaux than anywhere else. The Cab Franc is first and foremost, but does the tight line walk nicely. An ultra lush mouth feel. Somewhat dry and austere, but giving with some coaxing. The Merlot balances this nicely. This wine needs deep examination and an eye toward the future. It's pure, exact, and with the promise of profound, I would hold any others for 5 years. A decent finish 'almost' rounds this out. This needs to flesh itself out, but than will be incredible. (91 pts.)

1973 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon from a pristine magnum

This had a great lush dark resolved fruit profile that belied its age. The color was dark. There was great dark currant, blackberry, tar, cocoa, and so much more going on. I kept this glass alive until the end of the night. It changed and evolved getting lusher and deeper. The finish was long. If tasted blind I would place this at about 6 or 7 years of age. This 35 year old was amazing. (Comforting like a warm blanket) 94/100

1975 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon from a pristine magnum

This wine in itself was worth the price of admission for the night. Dark brooding color. Silky dark fruited and jam packed full of character. This had a wonderful fully resolved tannin level acted like a conveyor for all else. Some soy, cedar box, tobacco, & cassis. This wine needed a night to watch. A long finish that was like hitting a birdie on 18 that gets you smiling and planning your next outing even before you get back to the cart., here, your next taste. 96/100

1977 Heitz Bella Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon from a pristine magnum

This was pure 1970s California…. fast-forwarded. Slightly edgy and rustic. A nice dark fruit profile that seemed masked by a matured high oak level? Not quite sure. Some currant and spice, and some other nice secondaries. Kevin to my right loved it so, I emptied my glass and got myself more of that '75 Mayacamas. 89/100

1991 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23- From the Cellar of a Gentleman :)

This was dark and brooding. Much more in today’s style of Napa Cabernet. Deep vanilla and cassis on the nose. A wonderful purity. The palate a very elegant currant, tar, cocoa, cedar, & vanilla, this was a hedonistic wine. Structured, classy elegant and brawny all at once. Just a balanced beauty. A long smooth finish that went on for 45 seconds. 17 and acting like 7. 94/100

2002 Blankiet Merlot Estate

Last wine of the night, and quite the surprise. I wish I had 3 hours to appreciate and watch this sexy beast, but alas, I had 30 minutes at best. Plush dark cherry pie and ripe tomato leaf on the nose. The palate had the cherries, black and red plums, cocoa, and anise. The mouth feel was incredible: round and soft, but firm and structured. It harkened memory of a wonderful the Pomerols I had many years ago, (when I drank that sought of thing that is…). I would have rated this higher if it did not remind me initially of Chianti on the nose. 91/100

2002 Brokenwood Shiraz (Australia, South Australia, McLaren Vale / Padthaway)

2/22/2008 rated 90 points: Deep dark color. The nose reveals graphite, blackberry & black cherry. The palate has some wonderful silkiness, blackberry, some blueberries, tar, and anise. Silky tannins and an admirable acid level. A medium bodied Shiraz with a slight metallic note on the finish. All in all a very nice Shiraz, full of character and value. Well worth the $20 I paid.

Some 'cool' Shiraz amongst friends

A few of us gathered at Walkers in Tibeca to partake in some 'cool climate' Australian Shiraz. The wines were interesting, but the company was fantastic.

1999 Greenock Creek Apricot Block - Sweet berries dominated the nose and carried over to the palate. The acid level was slightly elevated. An over ripe example that was an early crowd pleaser, but alas to my taste it got old (the sweetness) quickly, especially when more elegant wines hit the table. 88/100
2002 Berrys Bridge Pyrenees – Pure ripe blueberry pie and flowers. Although had the better nose of the two berry bridges, the ’04 was smoother on the tongue. Somewhat awkward and thin in the midpalate. 87/100
2004 Berrys Bridge Pyrenees - Not without its issues: Goodyear tires on the nose big time, and tractor-trailer size to boot. Strange, once past the nose this showed some elegant blueberry, slight tar, some graphite. A strange wine. Maybe a bit cooler this would have shown better. 86/100
2003 Tintara Reserve Shiraz- I may differ with Greg’s final point about this not being cool climate. This surely was a very different styled wine, but still not jammy and hot, as a matter of fact this was elegant, and pure with a graceful mouth feel. Nicely balanced great black fruits abounded. Slight cassis made this a winner for me and an early WOTN. Which became the night’s No. 2 for me. Glad I have more. 93/100
2004 Heathcote II – Medicinal. So much so I could not bring the glass to my mouth, but when I did I squinted and quivered. N/R
2004 Wild Duck Creek – Great nose, Super red fruits with some tar, cherries, and slight cocoa. A great balance of purity/tannins/and acid made this a WOW wine for me. No perceptible heat to speak of and a long finish made this the WOTN…easily.94/100
2005 Terlato & Chapoutier lieu dit Malakoff- Yeah, the French influence was showing big-time here. I wish it had more stuffing. I found it a bit jammy. I immediately thought Cotes du Rhone. I wish I could have believed Cote Rotie instead. 87/100

2005 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Hudson Vineyards USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (2/18/2008)

($49.99) Dark with crimson edges, Great nose of blueberry, cracked white pepper, some boysenberry and graphite. The palate had the blueberry pie, the boysenberry, tar, some cedar box, and bacon fat. This needed about an hour to shine, although I liked it out of the bottle. I find there is a real change from moment to moment (hour to hour?) when a quality Syrah is opened...more so than say a Cabernet or Pinot. This had wonderful body. Not the most elegant Syrah I have had, but no brute either. This has the stuffing to go the distance & some bottle time should make this even better. A long finish completed the whole experience. I would wait at least a year to touch one again. (91 /100)

2001 Worthy Sophia's Cuvée (USA, California, Napa Valley)

2/16/2008 rated 92 points: Double decanted back into the bottle 2 hours previous. Initially very profound deep velvety dark fruits and wonderful length. After 2 hours: Ultra dark and brooding. The nose was very restrained: some cassis, some blackberries. The palate revealed amazing refined dark fruits. Initially somewhat astringent, but after a few hours opened to a lovely cedar box & tobacco. After 4 hours this rocked into a medley of pure fruit, smooth body, and refined elegance. This did not dissapoint. Very pure aligned tannins and a long finish completed the package. Lots of life left in this.V ery unlike any Sophies that came after (I have had the 2002, and the 2003. Glad I have more. WOTN

2000 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

2/3/2008 rated 91 points, almost.
Advice is a funny thing, especially when you don't take your own.
On my last outing with the 2000 Mondavi Reserve I recommended that you open it 1 day in advance. So what do I do on Saturday for Saturdays bottle? You guessed it, I open a 2000 Mondavi Reserve and start drinking 3o minutes later.
Not wise. Especially since I was warned by my favorite critic: me.
What was I thinking? It's not like my notes are buried. Anyone hate vegetalnees more than me?

So I Vacu-Vin the 2nd half and put it back in the cellar for Sunday.
Come Sunday...BINGO. It was a totally different wine. Lush, fruit forward and almost seamless.

Will I ever learn?

11/9/2007 rated 89 points: The color as dark old brick, not brown. (after 1.5 hours) The nose revealed slight vegetalness. On the tongue one get the feel of the elegance and breed, but initally slightly akward. Great cassis, cocoa, tobacco leaf, and tar. The fine tannins reside in the background. An admirable mouthfeel and the typical handling of acid a-la Mondavi; Deft. Moderate finish. The vegetalness never really disappeared. I would rate this a solid 90 if the veg was not present. All in all not a bad $30 drink, but I would be perturbed if I spent $125.

2nd day- This evolved nicely. Much more plush and elegant. Great expressive fruits shooting upward through the opening of the glass; black cherry, currant/cassis, black plum, and boysenberry. The green has subsided, but still slightly present in the background. No longer offensive. A bit longer in the finish as well.

This wine is singing tonight. 89+ points.

Plan to open this 24 hours in advace. You will not be dissapointed.

2004 Cape Mentelle Shiraz Margaret River

Last week I revisited Aussie Shiraz at the Aussie Wine Festival, (below). As mentioned a few stuck out as purchase worthy. Not that I ever need a reason to find a great wine that clocks in below $20.

I just had to try this one again, and I am glad I did. ($17.99). Dark color with some browning on the edges. Not alarming type of browning though. The nose had some great fresh vibrant dark fruits: cassis, blackberry, and boysenberry. There is a slight band-aid element that I won't quite call VA. It's actually quite intriguing and I am going to call it a fruit note. The mouth explodes with dark black plums, blackberries, and camphor. There is an element of purity that belies its price. A pure fruit forward and elegant wine. I love the notes of tobacco, dark coffee and tar. The tannins are spot on and the acid level is hovering over perfection. This is a wonderful Shiraz from Margaret River that has cool climate written all over it. Smooth, sweet, long and full of the wow factor. These are the qualities I look for to my Northern Rhone’s in the sub $50 region. Usually with not much luck.

If you have avoided Shiraz in the last year or so, like I have, you will be pleasantly surprised. Seek this one out. If you hate it I will purchase them from you. 92/100 (upgraded from 90)

2005 Burgundies & Turkish at the Fox's

The Erobertparker bulletin board has been great source for information on wines from anywhere in the world, but far surpassing any tasting note or Cabernet recommendation is its ability to create new friendships. Last night Lenny and Susan Fox hosted a handful of winos in their beautiful home. Turkish cuisine and red Burgundies from 2005 was the theme. I have had many types of foods in my life, but never Turkish. I wish I could tell what I had, but it was all tasty and well prepared. Any country that has a version of pizza can’t be all that bad. I made some new friends, put some faces to familiar names, as well as seeing old friends again. It was a wonderful time and I want to thank Susan and Lenny for their graciousness in opening their home and making this possible.

Now onto the wines:
2005 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges VV; Medium dark color. The nose of red cherries and crushed stones. Smooth finessful tannins carried this along deftly. This was wonderful & elegant. A long finish completed the package. A stunner; 94/100 (My WOTN).
2005 Domaine Ligier Michelot Morey St Denis VV; A subdued nose of flowers and red fruits. This was very fruit forward, dark cherries & raspberries. Wonderful structure, chewy tannins, and a slightly raised acid level. A masculine St Denis. 91/100
2005 Domaine Jablot Givry “Clos des Cellier aux Moines”; this started somewhat awkward, but some time in the glass gave it grace. Amazing dark fruits and wonderful structure. Some tar and anise. A well-aligned tannin level wrapped around a refined (slightly elevated) acid level. This was a beautiful Givry. Very different than anything before or after it on this night. 93/100
2005 Domaine Joseph Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin “Leas Marchais”; this had the most wonderful nose of red cherries, and pebbles. A nicely balanced acid level combined with a nicely structured tannin level wrapped within layers upon layers of sweet red fruits. A dry finish hurt this a bit. 88/100
2005 Domaine Perrot-Minot Vosne Romanee; Some great black fruits and a nice balance of acid and fine intertwined tannins. This was a very clean Vosne, if not noteworthy. 89/100
2005 Domaine Emmanuel Rouget Vosne-Romanee; corked
2005 Domaine Daniel Rion "Vosne Romanee Les Beaux Monts"; (thanks Suzanne for the name clarification as my notes were smeared). This was the funky wine of the night. There were some red fruits, but they were masked by the elevated alcohol and funky cellar floor. Wine like this I always attribute to sloppy winemaking techniques. N/A
2005 Maison Bouchard Pere et Fils Volnay “Caillerets- Ancienne Cuvee Carnot”; this was the most fragrant wine of the bunch; flowers, cherries, stones, and tar. Wow. A nice acid level alongside a sweet refined tannin level made this a pretty wine. Great structure and long finish. Did I say wow? 92/100
2005 Domaine Michel Magnien Gevrey-Chambertin “Les Seuvrees VV”; Sulphur nose that only opened up a bit with air. The darkest wine of the night. Once past the nose this had big chewy tannins and a bold structure of deep red & black fruits. (Super dark cherries and currants). Of all the night’s wines, this needs the most bottle time. Very masculine and brooding. 89/100

From this cross section of wines, I can humbly say the promise is real.
2005 will deliver for the patient, and not so patient. (for which I am usually the latter). Wonderful fruit and seamless balance is the recurring element in all of these wines. Anyone interested in getting to know Burgundies better will find lots to love here.

Aussie Shiraz: Maybe I was wrong after all?

There is one tasting I try not to miss every year; it’s the ‘Wine Australia Festival New York’. This is when Australia comes half way around the world to show metro area distributors, restaurateurs and retailers what they have to offer.

I show up half heartily and with a sour stomach to taste through these wines yesterday (1/24/2008). I must be nuts, right? Wrong.

I found some very interesting stuff amongst the ocean of typical Shiraz and blends. I have been very critical as of late, and may have been rough on Aussie Shiraz. For the most part, I do believe that the winemakers are adjusting toward the elegant styled, and leaving the bombastic style behind, and my tasting notes from yesterday reflects my thinking on this subject.

Too many of these wines were still monstrous fruit bombs though. I never changed my glass more than I did this day. The residue made my glass almost opaque on more than one occasion.
I worked my way around looking for familiar names first. I came across Green Point & Cape Mentelle. The latter was offering the 2004 Margaret River Shiraz, which was pretty great. Even better than the Reserve Shiraz which I found dry and austere. The Shiraz is from the Margaret River region on western Australia. Great blueberries and violets with smooth cocoa atop a wonderful mouth feel and lush tannin base. This is a complex wine with a great finish. I doubted the price and looked thrice, $25. 90/100. My second ‘find’ is the Yering Station 2005 Reserve Shiraz Viognier: This had a wonderful super elegance with boysenberry, white pepper, and blueberry. The Viognier added a slight floral note. This was a deep serious wine that goes on forever. I like the fact that it did not have a catchy name other than Shiraz Viognier. Very Rhone like, but keeping its roots firmly in Australia. A tremendous winner. 95/100. Next up was the 2004 Tintara Shiraz Reserve: I always have found the Tintara line-up a great qpr, and this Reserve is no different. The difference lies in its amazing classy styling of fruits and tannic structure. Wonderful refined dark fruits surrounded by the most deft tannin level I have ever experienced in a Tintara. Breed and finesse is abounding here. 93/100 ($50). My fourth ‘revelation’ wine is very different but still Shiraz: the 2005 Tyrrell’s wines DB 24: This was probably the single best wine I have ever tasted coming out of Australia. Period. Ultra pure dark red black and blue fruits. The tannin level is so complex, we need another word for complex. This wine would appeal to the world-class claret drinkers out there. It is so claret like I needed to use the world again. Pure lush midpalate, with a finish that confounds. 24 months in oak, this amazing wine is a real treat of the senses. A Cabernet drinkers Shiraz. 96/100. ($80).
Last but certainly not least is a wine called 2005 Yangarra Cadenzia. Cadenzia seems to be a special McLaren Vale membership wine that at the moment there are only six of. A GSM blend, this one had all the stuffing’s: Elegance, structure, style, class, and…value. Lush and fragrant, this defies its price tag. $25. I defy you to find a better GSM blend for this money. I mentioned to the winemaker that after I have heard the spiel, I reckoned I would hear a price to match like say... $65ish? Nah, this is the super QPR of the day. 92/100

The problems I have found with many cabernet's coming out of Australia are usually the greenness, or over extraction. I wish I could find one comparable to the Napa style (Michael Chiarello, please don’t sue). For the most part they leave me wanting, and are unbalanced. I did find an interesting one or two though: The 2003 Jacobs Creek St Hugo had a smooth eucalyptus nose and palate. This harkened me back to Heitz Martha’s of yesteryear, if just for a super slight second. Deep red fruits and a smooth underlying tannin base. All this with a decent midpalate. Nice cocoa and tar notes were in the house as well and this begged for food, although I think the eucalyptus would tire out quickly. 89/100. The second was the 2004 Parker Estate First Growth. ($65). A great Bordeaux styled blend that had great dark ad red fruits with some cocoa, leather, anise, and tar. A nice bottle of wine, if a bit pricey. 90/100

The Shiraz was the stars of the day. Some worth seeking out. My palate still loves those cool climate Syrahs, where ever they may come from.

Is the bloom off the rose? Cults in the 21st Century or ‘What the hell is going on here?’

With all the mailers arriving these days, a few really stick out: Levy & McClellan, Futo and Sloan. Sloan is in its 4th year of release and the price has gone from $165 to $325. L&M 2004 was $350 out of the gate (and now, their second offering is up $50!!). Futo was $200.

What the hell is happening here? These wines have almost no track record to speak of, save for Sloan, but yet the price increases are astronomical. With Harlan at $450 and Screaming Eagle at $500, it’s no wonder what the goal is? The $500 bottle of Cabernet. Will they stop there? Nah.

To understand what is going on one must know some history of the ‘Cult’. I think there was a real need in the market for a wine of promise and rarity back in the early 90s, (keeping in mind these wines were in the $50 range) That was the niche, to create a false market by making people think they were getting ‘exclusive’ wines that a great percent of wine lovers will never be able to find with out forgoing a months mortgage payment. Lists were quickly formed. Even wait-lists. These days Screaming Eagle sells on the secondary market for between $1300 and $3500 for certain vintages. Just last week even Bill Harlan has mentionedin an interview that he thouht the 1997 Harlan was over the top. Is he not a fan? The goal is to garner as many points from the critics as possible. When a wine is bestowed the elusive ‘100’.... look out! Mass hysteria ensues. Many Cults have been given that score, so it’s easy to track some history. The 2002 Sloan shot up to $600 on the secondary market! Some buyers I know never even held the bottle in their hands as their 3 bottles allocation went directly to their new owners right from the winery. Imagine? A staggering $1100-$1200 profit for doing…nothing, but to be on the 'list'.

The chase is on. These new offerings are a product of this phenomenon. That’s why everyone wants to get on the list, and then stay on the list (even through 'off' vintages) to get the next 100 pointer.

Ever drink a 100 point wine? I have, a few times. Funny, I usually don’t get it personally. They are usually great wines mind you but perfect? I do have some 92s and 94s (Pobega point’s that is) that were actually better than some 100 RPs. (in my humble estimation that is).

At the end of the day isn’t that what’s important? Drinking something that spins your wheels as opposed to some critic’s wheels? There will always be flippers for these wines, as there will always be buyers. The market always sets its own pace, and there is not anything we can do about it. Why should I care you ask? I care because this has an effect on the whole market and sends my 92 pointers (Pobega points that is) skyrocketing well above the comfort level. Everyone’s comfort level is different, but my personal one is about $50-$85. Sure I go above it from time to time (probably too much) but as my friend Ben Sherwin says "If you can't run wth the big dogs you gotta stay on the porch". My criteria for doing so is simple: I've got to taste the wine first, and only then will happily get behind a wine I love. Maybach comes to mind. Even when Chris Maybach told buyers to be patient, there were still some negative tasting notes floating around. People started publicly dumping their Maybach. Guess what happens next? Parker gave it a 95. No more dumping (both on and the wine itself). I happened to give it a 96 as well. Just 9 months too early.

I know of many wine buyers who seek the Screaming Eagles out just to have... a Screaming Eagle, not even knowing if they like the style! I also know there are true lovers of these wines. This is not a personal attack on you. Some I consider good friends as well.

Will this craziness ever end? Probably not. As long as I can find my Kuleto's ($40), Ehlers ($25), Realm's ($85), and Sorrel Canyons ($9), and still feed the kids, I won’t complain…..much.

Added 2/18/2008- The latest vintage of Screaming Eagle has just gone to mailer: $750.00 per bottle!!

Thoughts?

TN: 2002 Kuleto Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - REDUX

(1/18/2008) Youthful deep color. Intense sweet cassis on the nose. On the palate the first thing you notice the purity. There is an amazing smooth sweet cassis, dark cherry, and deep tar going on here. I am a big fan of the lush elegant style this wine brings. The mouthfeel reminds me of a top Pomerol. Sure, it's fat, but what's wrong with fat? This has a finely weaved tannin level and an 'in your face' (not in a bad) way acid level. The finish is long and smooth. This is still wonderful, and there is no sign of any change on the horizon. A great deal at $39. Recenty found for $25 and a SCREAMING deal at that. Glad I got me more. Drinks like a $100 bottle of Napa Cab...really. Holdng at 94. (94 pts.)

(2/25/2007)Ultra dark intense crimson color with the slightest purple edge. The nose shows some anise, currant, cherries, cassis, and espresso. On the palate there is a wonderful purity and lushness. A dark fruited medley with espresso and cocoa. This Cabernet has an amazing soft mouthfeeel and a lilt balance of fine tannins and acid. To me this is more of a drinking wine than a food wine. This is a truly special Cabernet, especially when you take into account its cost; $40. A modern day Napa QPR. Over the past few months this wine has evolved nicely. It has picked up much more character, and has ironed out its rough edges. Drinks like a $100 Napa, and that ain't easy to do. Wow (94 pts.)

1996 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve (USA, California, Napa Valley)

From magnum. This was from a recent winery release.

Medium garnet color. A wonderful pretty nose of sweet vanilla, eucalyptus, creme de cassis, and red fruits dominate in a very sexy showy way. The palate had intense creme de cassis,smooth sweet red fruits and a slightly overdone (to my taste) vanilla component. Some tar and leather. The tannins were completely resolved. A long finish completes this one. This was undeniably GdL. Showed much better than our BV GdL Vertical 18 months back. Peaking but in no danger for a couple of more years.

The recent cellar release and format (magnum) guaranteed a wonderful provenance. The Marilyn Monroe of the evening. Thanks to Steve E. for sharing this and all the magnums below.

92/100

TN: 1996 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (USA, California, Napa Valley)

From Magnum. Nice brick red color. Not too expressive on the nose; some blackberry and some red currant. The palate shows smooth silky tannins, complex red and black fruits with some secondary notes of cigar box, tar, and mushroom. A very 'Mondavi' like wine indeed. This can stand well on its own, but when then higher rent (and not so higher rent) neighbors are in attendance, can lag a bit. A great food friendly was (as always). Interesting to see where this is at the moment. I just sampled the 2004 Mondavi Reserve last month and it was a stunner. Good to see such an 'Icon' back on track, and I am always happy to sample when I can. The Jack Nicholson of the evening. (you just know the movie will be good, if not great).
90/100

1996 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Selection

From Magnum. This had amazing deep garnet color, as these Mountain wines most times do. There was a typical slight funkiness (secondary?) I find with many Howell Mountain offerings. Some nice dark fruits filled the nose. The palate had a brambly fruit smorgasbord, some secondaries of cedar and leather, as well as an earthy quality. The tannins were slightly angular. I really preferred the taste to the smell of this wine. This still has much life. I commented that the BV nose on the La Jota palate would be an almost perfect wine (to me).

91/100