vintages 1994–2007
Vertical Tasting Held on November 17, 2010
1994DRINKPretty and soft, displaying appealing notes of old leather, dried spices, eucalyptus, sweet cedar, wet leaves, truffles, lanolin, bread pudding, and cinnamon. Not deep or power driven, with a lighter, more delicate texture, yet expressive on the palate?long and smooth. Tannins are mature and a bit dusty. “Pair with delicate fare, no heavier than duck,” suggests Andrea. Extremely attractive.
1995DRINK!Rust color. Showed the most age of the flight, with some sherry and port-like aromas and flavors. Dried rosemary, caramelized shallots, anisette, consomm?, cured meat, tobacco, and soy were some of the descriptors used. The palate is accurate to the nose. A touch drying in the mouth, but then juicy and long. A hint of salt. We all decided, “An old soul,” but a good old soul, especially to a lover of claret.
1996DRINK/HOLDA nice m?lange of ingredients, reflecting a mix of youthful and aged characters. Pretty, with a wild strawberry and cherry sweetness, some rose talcum powder and anise, wisps of vanilla, rhubarb, and peppermint, offset by touches of salinity, soy, smoke, peat, and white pepper. Still evolving, softened with time in the glass. Not perfectly harmonized at the time of tasting?Andrea thought the wine could use a bit of time for the tannins to integrate. Has retained its intrigue and sense of mystery.
1997DRINK/HOLDVivid ruby purple color, persistent to the rim. Very perfumey and elegant, with a creamy mid-palate, integrated fruit tannins, and great length. So much going on and so many layers. Bright red fruit, cherry potpourri, sweet spice dust, wilted rose petals, maple syrup, ripe plum, cranberry and pomegranate zest, dried lavender, and lively mint characters. Structured and balanced, in a happy place, showing beautifully. Pair with a delightful cheese and savor.
1998DRINKSweet roses and leather initially. Resolves with a bit of time in the glass to offer a forward nose with ripe fruit characters and a warm allure. Great complexity, and a fairly sweet entry?plums, red licorice, dark cinnamon. We noted that the fruit falls off rather quickly, and some greener, earthier characters emerge. The palate doesn’t quite follow through with the riper characters of the nose. Evolved very quickly after opening. Treat with care?we suggest not decanting?and serve with something savory like a long, slow-cooked stew.
1999HOLDLovely purple color. More showy than last year?bright and fresh. Lots of berry aromas?blackberry pie, fresh-crushed blueberries, cherries jubilee, laced with lovely mocha, vanilla, and black fig. A backdrop of pine needles and forest floor, tobacco, smoke, white pepper, spice, and rose petal make this a layered, intense, multi-faceted wine. A tight mineral core, with discernible tannins that have not yet perfectly meshed with all of the other elements. As stated last year?still evolving, the promise lies ahead. Tracey’s description: “Classic.” And Mary Novak’s first choice this year…and this from a devoted Sauvignon Blanc lover!
2000DRINK/HOLDPretty violet color. Dan said, “Very Paulliac,” with intensity and muscle. Lots of components: lush strawberry, flowers, lavender, licorice, sweet cinnamon, strudel, pepper, dried spices, olive, leather, saddle soap, warm stones. Sweet creaminess and earth on the palate?great texture, tannic structure, and a long finish. Beth captured the essence well: “Fresh, earthy, vibrant, and alive. So showy. There now.” Ripe, concentrated, distinctive.
2001Drink/HOLDShowing some age, but very well composed. A wisp of sea air floats above a medley of black cherry cola, damp forest floor, rose-tinted potpourri, mint, anise seed, soft leather, and wet wool. A lovely, complex co-mingling of sweet and savory aromas and flavors. Some enticing earthy notes. Balanced, warm, interesting. An aging beauty.
2002Drink/HOLDA dark wine. Dark cocoa, dark chocolate, ripe lush fruit, plum jam, cinnamon and nutmeg, and hints of soy, basil, mint, lanolin, iron, and leather. Evolving nicely, with a soft mouth feel?the riper fruit characteristics of this vintage in Napa Valley are more apparent at this stage. Well-structured with a pleasant warmth. Like the 1996, this wine elicited a range of responses among the tasters.
2003HOLDMore subdued than last year; still warm, enticing, and complete. A lot of yin and yang in this wine?youth and age, tartness and dustiness, wildness and earthiness, sweetness and saltiness. Rambunctious brambly fruit, strawberry fruit roll, sassafras, brown sugar, and graham cracker are offset by cut green beans, forest floor, anise, and some wood tannins. Tracey captured this by saying “earthiness gives way to a candy store.” A bit of an enigma just now, so we think this vintage is calling for some more time in the bottle.
2004Try/HOLDThis wine made Peah swoon. Rich and broad, with well-integrated oak, firm tannins, wonderful balance and harmony. Lots of cinnamon spice, rose dust, and sweet berries, with hazelnut, cassis, cheesecake, graham cracker, cocoa, brioche, leather, and hints of meat and consomm?. Powerful, vibrant, deep. Yummy, and tempting to drink now, but it’s got more in store, says Andrea. Still, we think you might want to try it!
2005TRY/HOLDBig, yet elegant. Perfumey. Layered, textured, complex, multi-faceted, dynamic. Runs the gamut in terms of aromas and flavors: deep crushed blackberries and vibrant cherries, with some black pepper, menthol, barley, olive and mushroom notes. A perfect medley of fruit and earthy characters, with a wonderful, long, sweet finish.
2006Try/HOLDYoung and gorgeous. “A lot of everything in this wine.” Full of boisterous red and blue fruits?big, dynamic, and layered. Takes a bit of time to unravel, boasting notes of caramel, roasted nuts, smoky cedar, coffee and toffee, rose talc, cranberry, apple crisp, truffles, cocoa, licorice, and spice. Lovely tropical and honey floral hints, as well as beeswax and pine needles wrapped around a fresh mineral core. Somewhat taut, with a substantial tannin presence, a meaty-glycerin mid-palate and a long, dusty, sweet berry finish. Juicy and tangy, possessing both delicacy and power. Lots of superlatives.
2007HOLD“Totally young,” extremely compelling. Concentrated and ripe. Dark raspberry and cherry fruit, sweet vanilla and white chocolate, espresso, mocha, blackberry pie, toffee, marshmallow, nutmeg, cinnamon tea, baking spices, tobacco and cut hay. Some enticing oak notes. Lush and palate-coating, seamless. A plush core, a big finish?this wine has a long life ahead. We look forward to tracking this wine’s development. You probably want to try it. Go ahead?but save some for later, too!
