4/25/2024 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Unexpected gem at a corporate dinner. Classic white Hermitage profile.

Mark

1/31/2024 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

A touch of salinity and sharpness. As noted by others a bit green on the palates but still very much Meursault. Great with Hawaiian fishes Mahi and Kampachi.

7/3/2023 - mclancy10006 wrote:

Still a bit tannic. Probably needs 5 more years to fogure out what it is going to be when it grows up. It softened after aeration and time in the glass. It needs at least 3 hours in the decanter right now.

1/8/2023 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

This is in a great place right now. This PV is on the floral side and the tannins have softened so the wine is balanced. Goes into the patience is rewarded camp.

7/11/2022 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

This is in great place right now. I say drink them up. Balanced and smooth with some red fruit on the palate. Very enjoyable.

5/25/2022 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Last bottle. Drinking well, but perhaps past prime. Still some stone fruit on the palate.

4/6/2022 - mclancy10006 wrote:

This is really in a good place now. Balanced with some red fruit.

3/30/2022 - mclancy10006 wrote:

Pleasant but feeling a bit bricked and past prime. Drink 'em if you got 'em

3/13/2022 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

This is drinking really well right now. All is in harmony with some dark fruit on the palate.

3/12/2022 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Mature perhaps a bit past prime. Balanced with tannins resolved. Bit of a prune over note but still enjoyable.

2/10/2022 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Well balanced Pauillac with red fruits and the slightest amount of pencil lead. Definitely a great value at the CT average of $37, but paid a lot more as a restaurant purchase and wasn't upset.

10/31/2021 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

For sure early, but had to try one. A light body, but with good flavor and balance. Starting to taste some secondary notes, but not quiet there yet. The better half really like this one so I think its future is bright.

8/29/2021 - mclancy10006 wrote:

Drinking well right now. Still some bright red fruit and it figured out what it wants to be... the 14.9% alc is hiding underneath but is not distracting. Drink up.

6/4/2021 - mclancy10006 wrote:

Was drinking fine on pop and pour, but totally fell apart after a day in the vacu-vine. Drink up I think.

1/26/2021 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

When we popped and poured this I was not a fan it was kind of a hot mess. I had a glass and then sealed it up with the vacuvin for about 48 hours. What emerged at that point was supple, elegant, and balanced. Some round red fruit on the palate.

The lesson learned is it needed a bit of air. How much exactly seems to be the question. Last bottle for me so no more data points.

I suggest drinking up on this one, but give it a few minutes to find its legs out of the bottle.

8/29/2020 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

This wine has found what it can be and that is fabulous. A bit mellow but balanced with depth of flavor and a lot going on.

8/17/2020 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

A bit bricked, but smooth and deep. A good amount of layered flavors and complexity. Definitely past prime, but still drinking well.

7/5/2020 - mclancy10006 Does not like this wine:

what a hot mess still...

4/26/2020 - mclancy10006 wrote:

This is in a great spot right now. Drink up as this why you have been holding them.

3/14/2020 - mclancy10006 wrote:

Drink up. This bottle was showing signs of age with a little bricking and stewed fruit notes. Threw off a lot of sediment so I suggest decanting.

2/15/2020 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 hour. Drinking well right now. Red fruit and leather and a hint of vanilla on the palate. The nose has a bit of heat that I don't find on the palate. Noticeable tannin but not over powering. Nice showing of a Cab at 10 years. If I had more I would not wait more than a few years.

12/22/2019 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Balanced, floral, and supple. Drinking nicely for a baby. Excellent pairing with pan seared scallops and mushroom & rice cauliflower risotto.

11/24/2019 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Bright fruit and balance. This is a really nice wine right now even if it is a baby. My rational side says wait on this a few years, but I think the impulsive side might win and I will drink the others early as it is too good right now to wait.

11/10/2019 - mclancy10006 wrote:

From Magnum. Side by side with 1995 (750 ml). Evolved and deep. Good balance sweet to crispness. Seemed to be more mature than the 95 with that extra complexity you get as these wines age.

11/10/2019 - mclancy10006 wrote:

From Magnum. Drink side by side with a 1989 (750ml). In a nice place right now with depth on the palate. Classic notes saddle leather, pencil, and a bit of flint. Very nice and slight better than the '89 for me

11/8/2019 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Lots of funk on this but don't think it was flawed. Integrated with some fruit remaining.

11/7/2019 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Early in the drinking window. This is everything it should be and will evolve in the years to come. A depth of 'steminess' as some in our group noted. Try again in 5 years is my suggestion.

11/2/2019 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

On the early side of the drinking window, but it is open. Well balanced and smooth. Has bright fruit with that raspberry and blueberry undertone indicative of fruit from The Rocks.

8/3/2019 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Excellent pairing with grilled rack of lamb. Good balance and a touch of acid/tanin to cut the fat of the lamb.

4/30/2019 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Was mellow and balanced which was a bit unexpected, but kind of worked for a 14% alc cab. Some fruit remained, but was either tailing off for good or entering a dumb phase. It was hard to place it in the ageing cycle. Not a ton of complexity, but a nicely drinking wine right now.

2/17/2019 - mclancy10006 wrote:

I like the balance as this stage with a small bit of the fruit remaining. I would say drink them as I don't see it getting better. A solid QPR Bordeaux with bit of age making it a bit mellow, but pleasing in any case

1/20/2019 - mclancy10006 wrote:

Brett city. Undrinkable for my hyper Brett sensitive palate

12/31/2018 - mclancy10006 wrote:

A bit over the hill so thinking this bottle was not stored well its whole life. Prune/raisin was dominate.

12/1/2018 - mclancy10006 wrote:

Nice lighter wine with lots of flavor. Ripe red fruit and good balance. Very enjoyable at this stage of its life.

4/1/2018 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Always a fave. This is in a good place with sweetness of course, but depth of flavors starting to break through as well. (from 375)

4/1/2018 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Mellowed and in balance. this is a nice somewhat mature cab heavy wine which has figured out what it is going to be and is there. Drink up I would think if you have these in the cellar.

2/4/2018 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Always a solid wine and this was no exception. Fruit is still up front, but is not the only note with tar and leather complimenting food.

2/3/2018 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

This is in a great place, but a touch past peak. Round and subtle with some fruit remaining. Drink 'em up

12/16/2017 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Drink up! This is in a good place right now, but probably past peak. Smooth, balanced, softened, and a lot of complexity.

11/24/2017 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

This after a 1.5 hour decant was rocking. Window is most definitely open wide open on this one now and I am guess it is at or nearing peak drinking time. Still some bright fruit, but lots of depth lurking underneath.

11/24/2017 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Bright fruit on the palate and balanced. No burg by any measure, but a good New World Pinot that has figured out what it is all about at this stage. (First bottle was fantastic, but second bottle was corked)

11/24/2017 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

This is drinking extremely well right now and is very balanced. Perhaps a bit less acidic crispness than you might want, but otherwise a gem.

11/8/2017 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Wow! One of the top wines I have had in a while.

Pop and Pour non-blind and this one was right on from sip one. The nose was clearly a WA Syrah to me, but the mouth feel was supple and this a very balanced elegant wine and I did not place it at first as a WA Syrah, more old world in balance. The flavor profile had rich fruit coming through from underneath, so you knew it was there, was not to be missed, but was a kiss not a kick in the face. The brightness of the fruit is the clue this is a new world wine and the blueberry slight funk on the nose placed it in the In the Rocks, but not right away. Backing up the truck for this one if there are enough out there.

24 months in barrel, 36 months in bottle prior to release. 100% Syrah from choice blocks of the In the Rocks vineyard at Reynvaan. 13.1% Alcohol

It will be interesting to see how this wine develops further.

10/15/2017 - mclancy10006 wrote:

This is a good place now. Some fruit remains and this is balanced. If you have any I say drink them up don't wait.

8/6/2017 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

Great for summer sipping. Not overly complex but a good crisp wine with decent acid and floral notes

4/22/2017 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

In a very good place right now. Ripe drank fruit and depth of flavor on the palate. A lighter style of Brunello, but was a standout in a crowd of other top Brunellos (different years/producers). One taster thought it was a bit too young, but I liked it at this stage. Just wish I had more.

4/21/2017 - mclancy10006 wrote:

lots of Brett on this for me. Others at the table liked its complexity which I suspect was the Brett to which I am hypersensitive.

Restaurant purchase with superficial decant. The defect did not burn off sitting int he glass either.

4/20/2017 - mclancy10006 wrote:

Lots of oak and smoke in this one to the point of annoyance for me as it took away from the round texture which I quiet liked and the depth of dark fruits underneath all of that pretext. A good drinking cab to be sure just perhaps not in my flavor profile perhaps.

Restaurant purchase with a superficial decant.

4/1/2017 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

This is drinking quite well right now. Very balanced with decent fruit remaining and smoothness. The finish hangs on for a bit which is nice.
Probably time to start popping these wines open. (Decanted via venturi for ~30 mins and then decanter over the next 2 hours)

2/18/2017 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:

This is a phenomenal wine and stood out as such in very steep company. Its is still a baby to be sure, but with 4 hours of decanting it was all there.