9/24/2021 - mfkidd wrote:

Supposedly on the tail end of drinkability, but popped and poured and was quiote good.

4/10/2021 - mfkidd wrote:

I don't usually post many tasting notes, but saw that the latest one for this wine is 3 years old. Have been sitting on my box of three bottles and one magnum of this debut vintage since I received them almost exactly 10 years ago. I was very fortunate to end up on the NoK mailing list. I was (and am) on the SQN mailing list and (according to my records) on July 14th, 2010 I noticed an email in my inbox from SQN and Manfred announcing a new wine they would be releasing called Next of Kyn. They were opening up the mailing list on a first come, first served basis. I immediately signed up and hit send about 8 minutes after the email went out. I believe I heard afterwards that if you didn't sign up within something like 16 minutes you didn't make the list.

Ever since I've received every vintage of NoK and have tried a few of the other vintages, but have kept the original box intact, perhaps to preserve the sanctity of that original release. The other day though I noticed on CellarTracker that Parker had initially given the wine a drinking window through 2020. I panicked. Had I let these wines age out of their prime? Would they still be any good? So I decided to open my first last night. Decanted for four hours.

I found the wine delightful, with plenty of structure and age left in it. A great smoky finish. A little more earthy than a lot of the SQNs, not as fruity. Interestingly, the sine started strong after the decanting and just kind of stayed there. Didn't notice a lot of evolution over the next few hours. Anyways, love that my ten years of cellaring this gem paid off last night as we shared with a couple friends (all two weeks past full vaccination) for our first social wine gathering since the pandemic started. Get your shots and enjoy your wine!

Edit: I realize I ordered the wines on 7/14/10, but must have signed up for the mailing list on an earlier date than that.

1/13/2021 - mfkidd wrote:

Wonderful.

11/26/2020 - mfkidd wrote:

I was given this bottle as a gift over 13 years ago and have kept it in a prominent place in my cellar when I learned the story of this inaugural vintage of Pingus and the rarity of bottles around the globe. No idea what the provenance was before it came into my possession, but the cork came out easily and intact and the initial barnyard smell disappeared after an hour of decanting.

Decanted for a total of three hours and shared with my wife and (adult) daughter with our Thanksgiving meal. The final result was joyous. A unique taste I haven't experienced with any other wine I've had in my life. Some black raspberry notes, mushrooms. Kept getting better in the glass. It was all gone way too soon. Wish I had decanted it even longer than three hours.

I thanked my friend who had gifted me the wine so long ago. Probably the only '95 Pingus I will ever have in my life and well worth the wait and the mystery.

11/14/2020 - mfkidd wrote:

Good, but too grapey.

10/17/2020 - mfkidd wrote:

Lovely. Oldest wine I have ever had.

10/10/2020 - mfkidd wrote:

First bottle from an OWC. Decanted for 3 1/2 hours.

6/21/2020 - mfkidd wrote:

My first Screagle. Been sitting on some bottles, too afraid to open them for anything less than the perfect occasion. Guess Covid-19 made me realize the perfect occasion is always now. Decanted for 5 hours. A lot of sediment in the bottle. Was just enjoying the moment and wasn't focused on specific notes, but the wine felt so refined to me, so ethereal. Wife, adult daughter and myself all were blown away. I won't get into discussions whether any wine is worth this price point, but was awfully glad when the last sip was taken that I can say I've drank Screaming Eagle in my life and that it was fantastic.

3/22/2020 - mfkidd wrote:

The wine was tremendous. I'll remember it most for drinking it with my family while self-quarantined during the coronavirus crisis. What a scary time. So bring out the good stuff now. First of four bottles I ordered after Parker's glowing review. Pop, aerated and poured. Fruity with a hint of smoke. The three of us drank it too quick to see how it would evolve.

4/29/2017 - mfkidd wrote:

Decanted for two hours. Cherry licorice followed by smoke. Lovely.

2/14/2016 - mfkidd wrote:

Popped, aerated and poured, then consumed over the next 5-6 hours. A lot of complexity to start with, but the finish was slightly more harsh than I expected.

1/16/2016 - mfkidd wrote:

This one surprised me. Popped and poured with an aerator and this was rich and fruity from the start. Smooth and smoky finish. Very nice.

7/25/2015 - mfkidd wrote:

Pleasantly mellow. Popped and poured. Took 45 minutes to open up.

7/1/2015 - mfkidd wrote:

A fruit explosion. Quick pop and pour.

3/14/2015 - mfkidd wrote:

Decanted for five hours prior to drinking. This turned out to be the perfect amount of time. So smooth, more earth than you might expect from a young cab. Such a subtle beautiful wine and at such a young age. My first ever Realm and I'm very impressed.

2/14/2015 - mfkidd wrote:

Wine seemed off. Harsher and thinner than my previous SQNs. Cork was a bit dubious. Hoping this was just a weak bottle.

11/16/2013 - mfkidd wrote:

Popped and poured. A little hot and didn't settle down by the time the bottle was gone. A slight disappointment compared to other Saxums. Would recommend giving this some more time.

3/10/2013 - mfkidd wrote:

Lovely.

12/22/2012 - mfkidd wrote:

Popped and poured at dinner. Very smooth and drinking very well.

2/16/2011 - mfkidd wrote:

Tempted to give it a perfect score. This was just an amazing wine. Decanted for an hour and served with dinner at BTL in Los Angeles. So smooth.

4/25/2009 - mfkidd wrote:

Wonderful.

12/10/2008 - mfkidd wrote:

Dinner with the Mazzaras in Laurel Canyon. This wine was amazing.

2/4/2008 - mfkidd wrote:

Velvet Glove is the perfect name for the wine. The packing is spectacular and the wine doesn't disappoint. Someone here mentioned the vanilla flavors and they were dead on. This wine had a stronger vanilla flavor than any wine I've ever tried, though the vanilla dissipated over time. It's amazing how smooth and refined this wine is for such a young shiraz. I don't know how much this will improve with aging, but it's drinking damn nice now.

1/21/2008 - mfkidd wrote:

Very good summer wine in the middle of winter.

12/24/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Pure chocolate mocha.

12/10/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Popped and poured, which was a bit of a mistake as the wine on first taste was all earth and no fruit. The nose was wonderful, but the palate didn't follow. After a couple hours though, the wine opened up in glass and the fruit came out. Then it was similar to a mature Pichon Lalande (minus the lead pencil). very smooth, composed and sophisticated. Decant! Decant! Decant!

12/8/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Wine was very tight and never gave way. Fruit was hard to come by and the finish was acidic and bitter.

12/1/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Ruby red, purple color. Decent nose. On the palate, though, all the fruit seems blocked this time. Tannins, going into acidic tartness. The fruit is buried somewhere down there, but it never gets to the surface and this wine goes down hard tonight. I've enjoyed this one before and I will put a cork in this and stick it in the cellar and try again, but perhaps it's just a bad bottle.

11/22/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

My first Yquem. Hard to describe as anything but otherworldly. I leave 2 points open as everyone says these get better. Is that possible?

9/30/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Grilled sausages meets cherry jubilee. Better 8 hours after opening than when popped and poured.

9/13/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Cherry and raspberry new world taste with a good, smooth finish.

7/29/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Lunch at the Mazzaras. Very nice, fruity, forward pinot. Popped then poured, perhaps explaining my lower rating than some who decanted.

7/14/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Consumed with dinner at Hollywood Bowl - Evening with John Williams. A little inferior to my memory of my last bottle. Buttery, spicy zin with some cherry flavors up front followed by an earthy finish that smacks of Cali zin. A nice long finish, though with a slight vegetal residue.

7/4/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

For my money, not as complex or as delicious as the wonderful 2004 Colson Canyon. This wine comes across more like a young zinfandel (one of the more basic Turleys?) than a classic syrah. Very front forward cherry and blackberry notes followed by a slightly disjointed finish that falls apart into some tartness (though not entirely unpleasant tartness). A good wine that I'm probably punishing for not living up to its slightly older brother.

6/30/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

1/2 bottle purchased at Valentino. Consumed after 2000 Bellevue was finished and these two wines show how different wines can be and still be good. This was all cherry and strawberry jam. Almost reminiscent of some of the sweeter Mollydooker wines. Instant pleasure, but ultimately I preferred the Bellevue. Wonderful evening of food and company.

6/30/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Consumed at Valentino with Andy/Lynn & Duke/Michelle. This wine was ground earth and blackberries. Quite enjoyable and drinking well now.

6/23/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Thought I was popping one of my 6 bottles of 2002, but after opening realized it was one of only 2 bottles of 2003. Will have to save the final one for a decade or so. My first Wolf Family Cab and this did not disappoint. Strong fruit, massive structure, a long finish and nearly as good 24 hours later after sitting out all night. This one should be rocking in 4-5 years.

6/2/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

I found the wine very tight and unaccessible for the first couple hours. Then fruit and that something special I was hearing about. My wife liked it more than me right from the start. Let sit in decanter overnight. On Day 2, tasted even better. This thing is a cherry liquid bomb ready to go off. Scoring low for now as I'll need the room to go up in the next few years, most likely. Good stuff.

5/25/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Muted nose. Some good fruit shows through on the tongue, but some astringency and toughness follows through as well. Tannins still masking the wine's true self. Will try again in a couple years.

5/12/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Consumed at AOC with Cathy, Jessica, Will, Marianna and Derek.

5/5/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Double decanted for 3 hours, then siphoned back into bottle for travel to the Solo home. First sip right after poured is tight and closed. 2nd taste is 1 1/2 hours into decanting and still isn't open much. By the time we arrive at the party and start pouring for friends, the wine has opened up tremendously (about 4 hours after uncorking). A powerful nose is followed by smoky pears and pomengranates (sp?). About a 20 second finish goes smoothly down the gullet. Very nice and will only improve with another 3-5 years.

4/28/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

I have eight bottles of this, so I figured I'd kill one ealy to get a baseline for the future. Decanted for one hour. Good, strong nose. Some fruit mixed with pine wood and lead. Clearly a young Bordeaux. The first glass is nicely balanced. Raspberries and strong earth flavors go down smoothly and I think that perhaps I didn't drink this one too young. Verging on a 94-95, and then about 2-2 1/2 hours after decanting, this wone closed down completely. Strong tannins take over and hide the fruit. Strangely, the wine still feels in balance, though. I will wait a few years before cracking open the next one, but this has the strong makings of a winner down the road.

4/14/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Consumed with dinner at Maestro's with Cathy, Lancer and Shannon. Cherries Jubilee was my first thought. This thing was all fruit exploding in my mouth, followed by some smoky secondary notes. the nose was deep and pentrating. The fruit hit you and kept going, but without some of the astringency I find in Australian Shirazes. A good, long finish with barely any tannins to get in the way. I know Parker says this one has a long shelf life, but I think it's singing now. A great California Syrah!

4/8/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Opened and decanted two hours before Easter dinner with Jay, Julia, Dave and Doug. Tasting a sip upon opening the wine was undrinkable. Tight, closed, no fruit. I was worried enough (just bought the wine recently from a store and who the hell knows about the provenance) that i opend a backup bottle of Australian Shiraz just in case.

An hour later, still undrinkable. Pretty worried now. Left it to sit in the decanter as guests arrived. Enough drinkers that we poured the shiraz first (2004 Kilikanoon Covenant). When that was finished, I muttered some excuses about how I didn't knwo how this next wine would be and then poured it around the table.

All of a sudden fruit was there. A very strong nose and a good powerhouse kick of what I can only assume people associate with mountain cabernets. A real firmness. A billygoat of a wine, but smooth with a nice long finish. A "celery crispness" accompanied the berry fruit on the palate.

About 1/3 of the bottle remains and I've vacuum-vined the wine and stuck it in the fridge to investigate tommorrow. I would say, ideally, 3 hours of decanting minimum before sipping this one.

Big sigh of relief that this came around though. One bottle left that I'll try in a decade or so.

UPDATE AFTER 24 HOURS:

I am trying the wine again now, 24 hours later, after putting in the fridge overnight. Poured into glass and allowed to reach room temperature after two hours. The wine has settled down now and cherry and pear flavors rare really coming out now. Silky and smooth, the finish is about 20-30 seconds. A little road weary after it's long trip in the fridge, but the wine is drinking as well, if not better, as it was after three hours decanting yesterday.

4/8/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Thanksgiving dinner with family, Jay, Julia, Dave and Doug. This was opened as insurance when my 1996 Shafer Hillside Select was opened and seemed at first undrinkable (too 2-3 hours for it to come around). As a result, this was popped and poured. I've evenjoyed a few Kilikanoons and this one was a disppointment for me. Nothing outrageously bad, just not much there to get excited about. Perhaps with more time or more decanting next time...

3/30/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

My first Radio-Coteau. Opened prior to dinner. Nose is big and full. First, on the palate, a rush of vanilla cookie dough followed by slightly sour berries and then into a short, nice finish. The beginning and end of this wine is decent. The middle of this wine is odd and unsettled, however, and harms the overall experience. Was hoping for more from my first glass from this winery.

3/3/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Well this bottle was a big disappointment. Low neck level when I bought it, but I had been assured that it had been resting at Dunn since bottling and just quickly changed into my hands from my local store. Nonetheless, this tasted like a spent wine. Decanted for three hours prior to drinking, then tasted over 4-5 hours. The fruit never showed. Instead of getting stronger the wine seemed to get worse. The '93 which I had a month or so ago was far superior. I have one more of these and I hope this was just a bad bottle. I know Dunns are long agers, so I'll try to wait 5 years or so before I try this one again.

3/1/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Dinner with Andy B., Chris D., Jay K. No extensive notes taken. Decanted for an hour, served with beef dinner. Wine is well settled, not too many tannins. A clear Bordeaux off the nose and on the tongue. Well balanced and smooth.

3/1/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Dinner with Andy B., Chris D., Jay K. -- No extensive notes taken. Big and spicy. Full and round. Very nice. 91-92

2/24/2007 - mfkidd wrote:

Pre-Oscar party at Ted's. Very nice wine. Shirley M., Simon B., Ridely S. amongst others. Wine was smooth with cherries and flowers. Nice finish, no astringent personality.