From a producer most well-known for their Pinots, but they do Cabernet Sauvignon well too!
Decanted and drank over two hours.
Let's address the elephant in the room. No smoke taint that I could tell. Grapes were picked prior to the fires and all the grapes were meticulously sorted. I was looking for smoke taint, but, thankfully, it wasn't there.
This is definitely very young, was initially super tight, but lots of air and vigorous swirling really unleashed the wine.
Notes of dark plum, blackberry, elaichi (cardomon), clove, star anise, orange skin, grapefruit skin.
Drank it alone and it was enjoyable and complex, but this really needs food, at least now.
I thankfully have a few more bottles left, which can be enjoyed in the coming decade or so.
Next time, I'd do a three hour decant before touching and probably pair with food.
91 points, but with real upside.
by rnjbond
1 Comment
I’ve been a W-S list member for a decade and have always passed on these, so it’s helpful to see a review here. At upwards of $300 a bottle after factoring in tax and shipping, I haven’t been able to justify it. And while you seem happy enough with this OP, it clearly hasn’t blown you away in its early youth.