Magnum! Leather, tart cherry, blackberry, cedar. Chalky tannins with bright acidity. What a treat! — 4 months ago
This was still youthful showing black currant, plum, cassis, cedar, damp earth, menthol, sweet spice & tobacco. — 5 months ago
Christmas Day wine 🎄🎅🏼🍷
Acquired this for two reasons: Flora Springs was my “a-ha” wine 10yrs ago which started my wine journey, and secondly because it’s my sister-in-law’s birth year.
Enjoyed on Christmas Day (with said sister-in-law) and family (the family who introduced me to wine + Flora Springs). Kept the bottle standing for a few days. In the glass, there was bricking but the color was much more vibrant than expected. Aromatically, it showed mushroom and fig, but a good bit of muddled red and black berry fruit, some mint as well. Alive, elegant and bright on the palate with good tannin structure (held strong the two hours it was open). Small hint of tobacco at the finish, but the berry fruit stayed persistent keeping the flavors balanced. Undeniably older Napa (13%) and in great shape. — 6 months ago
Raspberries, mild tannins. Went well with NY strip steak — 2 years ago
Gift from Matt. I really like this. Each time I have it. — 2 years ago
Very nice…
Beach Bistro nice suprise w the wine…
Not familiar prior to tonight (1.29.22) — 3 years ago
dark red. nose: leather. prunes. overripe berries. lots of jam. mouth: full body. medium big tannins. more jam and leather on the mouth. drinks like a cab. medium follow through. love it — 4 years ago
Dry yet succulent. Was quite impressive. — 7 years ago
Lovely secondary elements of sweaty saddle leather, cedar and later some cigar box. Soft, integrated tannins. Long finish and very nice nose. — 9 years ago
At Hakkasan — 12 years ago
1.5 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A remarkable purplish magenta color. On the nose: very aeromatic notes of black & red berries, truffles, loamy soil, worn leather, tobacco leaf, floral, herbaceous. Taste: soft, elegant, balanced, layered mouthfeel wine with blackberry, dark plum, leather, crushed granite, dried herbs, and a spiced cedar long finish with some dusty tannins. YUM! At the start of its drinking window with 20-30 years to go, so no rush. — 3 months ago
I really like what Evening Land does in general and their Pinots in particular. Lovely nose with some good cherry. Balanced mouthfeel with good dark red fruit and some nice herby notes. Acid is medium but works well to hold it together and the persistence is good. Really quite enjoyable. — 4 months ago
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 — 6 months ago
Starts off with a very evolved fruity character, but that quickly blows off.
Lovely purity beyond that - fresh black currant, with a bit of darker, earthy undergrowth, some red fruit, a hint of cedar wood, a touch of bell pepper. A bit evolved yet still juicy & pure.
Beautiful mouthfeel with nicely evolved, slightly mellowed yet still juicy tannins, evolved fruit yet still fresh acidity.
This is peeking or already has peeked but today is drinking so nicely!
A really nice one! — 2 years ago
When they say bring your A game you can think of this bottle. This is an amazing glass of wine. It benefits from decanting for a good bit. Upon opening I thought of dusty plum and cedar on the nose. Tasting brought plum, currant, blackberries, vintage leather plus an array of other items indicative of this style of big wine. There is a good mix of tannins and acid that makes this a classic great glass of wine. I want to try it again in a few years to see how much better it may get. — 3 years ago
Exotic and fun. — 6 years ago
Stunning nose of cedar, tobacco and smoke with a hint of hot gravel. Rich silky fruit with awesome sweetness and freshness. Long lingering finishing that haunts the palate. Incredible. — 6 years ago
Locorice braised candied cherries desert like distinctive — 9 years ago
Nice one! Opened up after some time! Full bloom of cherries red fruit and rounded profile. Served at lunch with Ma Lewis in Newport and very well received. — 4 months ago
Flight 2 , wine 1 . Quite deep garnet , less terracotta rim . This had a whiff of oxidation about it at first which seemed to somewhat dissipate with time . Some dark spiced fruits , liquorice and menthol hints , cedar and sous bois . On the palate good ripeness and spiced dark cherry hints . Good acidity and rounded tannin . Nice length also , offering some spiced black fruits and menthol hints . Don’t think this is a pristine bottle but was enjoyable none the less , I was unsure at first if this was Napa , but coming back to it … and reading my notes , it became quite obvious . However I had this down as the Ch Montelena , not the Dominus — 4 months ago
cedar nose with black currant + plum finish — 6 months ago
Another oldie, probably just past its peak. 38 years old - not bad! Barn-sided red with some brick on the edge. Lots of cedar, graphite, black pepper and cigar ash to smell but little fruit. Nice smooth tannins, still a little puckering. Medium acidity. For flavor there are some darker berries and red cherry notes. It’s a nicely balanced wine. Good length on the finish. — a year ago
From a great looking bottle with a fill almost into the neck. Double decanted and left in the bottle for 5 hours before attacking it. Amber color. Good weight and haunting nose. Notes of old cedar, mocha, plums, cola, dark fruit, molasses and some sweet red cherry. Early on it’s all about the amazing nose. But with time the wine gains weight and you have a gorgeous old St Estephe in front of you. Still giving its all, and although the fruit is somewhat faded, this has complexity and structure that still drives the experience. And that nose is simply stunning. Great showing. — 3 years ago
Tried this 4 years ago! Deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits and complex spice. On the palate flavors of ripe concentrated blackberry, cherry and currants, still fresh and vibrant with a great mouthfeel, well balanced. Tannins were soft and full, long finish ending with cigar box spice, cedar and cacao. An elegant wine, developing nicely, great drinking now and will continue to develop through next decade. Wow! — 5 years ago
Nice grapefruit — 10 years ago
Tom Garland
1 hour decant(some chunky/fine sediment). A splendid dark medium garnet with little bricking. On the nose: expressive perfumed nose with dark plum/cherry, currants,milk chocolate, baking spice, floral, wet forest floor, touch of roasted meat. Taste: silky, balanced, elegant wine that is singing at 20 years with dried red fruit, earth, chocolate, cedar, minerals, saline, and a spiced-tobacco-green bell pepper long finish. YUM! — 3 months ago