Nice to revisit this. At age 19, this is still youthful but starting to show some refinement. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is great with chocolate covered raisins and some red raspberries. Lots of energy. Slightly viscous. On the palate, chocolate and raisins. Sweet, not cloying. Some heat on the finish. This should easily go another fifteen or twenty years. Great on its own or with some type of blue cheese.
Decanted for about 6 hours prior to drinking. This is a good if not great declared vintage. Deep ruby in color. The nose has milk chocolate, cherries, and raspberries. Full bodied. On the palate, this is sweet with chocolate covered raisin notes. Very tasty. Some complexity. Solid finish. This is drinking very well now and should probably be consumed over the next decade though it will certainly have something ot offer after that. Drinks well on its own, it would work well with a chocolate cake.
Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has milk chocolate covered raisins. Full bodied. Viscous. On the palate, slightly sweet with milk chocolate covered raisins. Tasty. Some depth. Some heat on the finish. This is at or just past peak. Drink up. Nice on its own and worked well with Blue Cheese.
A bit lighter in style than say the '94 or '00 vintages, but drinking well nevertheless. Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has black raspberries and chocolate covered raisins. Medium to full bodied. Good acidity. On the palate, slightly sweet chocolate covered cherries. There is a nice depth and complexity. Drink over the next ten years. A nice match with a chocolate dessert.
This seems to be about at peak, at least from the 375ml bottle. Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is nice with chocolate, raspberries, and slight raisins. Full bodied. Sweet. Viscous. Complex. Liquified chocolate covered raisins. Good acidity. Nice finish. This needs about 30 minutes of air to blow off bottle stink and good to go. It should easily drink well for another ten years. great on its own, this will work well with a chocolate dessert.
Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has raising, black raspberries, milk chocolate and char. Full bodied. Viscous texture. On the palate, black raspberries, black cherries, kirsch, milk chocolate and raisins. Deep and complex. At or near peak but probably another ten to fifteen years left. Great with Blue Cheese, this would also work with a chocolate dessert.
