A very unusual wine. It's hard for me to put into context. Sort of like a sweet Barolo mixed with good Vermouth. Ruby/purple in color. The nose has botanicals, herbs and slight raisin notes. On the palate, this is sweet with herbal qualities. It is very enjoyable but a little goes a long way.
I have been lucky enough to try this twice in a month. Both times just as amazing. Purple in color. The nose is great with cassis, cedar and pencil lead. Full bodied. On the palate, this is almost seamless. Gorgeous texture. Cassis with graphite and underlying minerals. Long finish. More elegant than powerful but it has power. This is still quite young and needs a long decant or better yet, more time in a good cellar.
This seems to be at or close to peak at this point. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has cassis, cedar, slight char and a slight earthiness. On the palate, this is soft with thin tannins. Cassis layered with earthiness and spice. Nice finish. Showing a very nice complexity. Worked well with food. This was a huge wine in its youth that has developed beautifully.
This is remarkably approachable at this point. Ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose has cherries and rose notes with a bit of dust and spice. On the palate, there are silky tannins. Nice cherry fruit layered with dry forest floor. Great acidity. Long finish. It was decanted for a few hours and that seemed to do the trick. No hurry on it, but with some air, it is ready to go.
Despite a four hour decant, this still needed more time. After a few hours more in the glass, it really started to open up. Ruby in color. Gorgeous nose of cherries, slight dried cherries, rose and slight tar. Firm tannins. The palate has depth with layers of cherries and some forest floor. Great acidity. Long finish. Plenty of upside here. Hold for a few more years.
From a 375ml bottle. This was very impressive. Drinking very well. Deep golden in color. The nose has honey and burnt orange peel. On the palate, this is sweet not cloying. Thick and unctuouos with good acidity. The burnt orange notes continue on the palate, also apricots and slight honey. Long finish. Impressive.
What can you say about d'Yquem? An amazing wine. The nose has honey and crem brulee. Unctuous. Sweet not cloying. THe honey and crem brulee continue thru to the palate. A slight burnt note which I enjoy. A finish that goes on forever. Gorgeous wine.
As to be expected, this is quite young and tight. Yet, the nose is so precise it should develop beautifully. Black raspberries, black pepper, roasted meats and violets. On the palate, this took some time to open. Vigorous tannins. Black raspberry fruit tightly packed. Deep. Long finish. Don't open for a few years without a long decant.
My favorite of the 12, 13 and 14 trio of these wines (though all are good). This also seems to be the one with the most upside potential. Inky purple in color. The nose is dusty with black raspberries, black pepper and slightly roasted meats. On the palate this is flat out delicious. Deep with black raspberries, black cherries, juicy acidity and some chocolate. Long finish. Tightly packed it explodes in the glass. Great wine.
Inky purple in color. The nose has cedar, black raspberries and black pepper. On the palate, jammy black raspberries with some black cherries and chocolate. Good acidity. This is a very rich and open Syrah but still quite young. it will be interesting to see how these develop with ten or twenty years on them. I think they will be just fine and not too dissimilar from the better Northern Rhone reds. Time will tell.
