2/24/2024 - jonphillips wrote:

90 minutes to open at Oakleaf with Stuart, then beautiful

2/10/2024 - jonphillips Likes this wine:

I love the purity and complexity of this wine. Grapey with some hints of bell pepper perhaps. But the fruit shines through. Can’t stop sipping. Can’t justify … it’s not over the top or anything. Just yummy

1/26/2024 - jonphillips wrote:

Closer to the tannic austerity of a Barolo than I might of thought. A bit of a bruiser still, but a lovely wine.

12/26/2023 - jonphillips wrote:

Confused by everyone else’s notes. NOT ready to drink, 2 hours in. Still massive tannins. YMMV, of course. Mine did!

12/25/2023 - jonphillips wrote:

Muted

11/5/2023 - jonphillips Likes this wine:

Needs at least an hour decant; still plenty of tannin. Wonderful.

9/26/2023 - jonphillips wrote:

Ordered at Manoir Hovey. This was a surprise. Still going strong, opened nicely with nice lift on the palate but not flabby. Much better than expexted

9/2/2023 - jonphillips Likes this wine:

Cherry, fennel, forest floor. A tad ripe. Much better after an hour opening. Not fading, but doubt it will improve

7/13/2023 - jonphillips wrote:

Beautiful dark flavors. Just tannic enough for grip. Very enjoyable. Took two hours to open up and achieve true lift on the palate.

5/28/2023 - jonphillips wrote:

Took a couple hours to open up … I think wait another 2-3 years before the next one {~2025-2026). Still grainy and a short-ish finish, but potential.

4/30/2023 - jonphillips wrote:

This is still tight. Hold until at least 2025. Minerality

11/26/2022 - jonphillips wrote:

Great … and young. Try again in … late 2024?

5/31/2022 - jonphillips Likes this wine:

Still life in this! Nice acid, tannin, structure. Lively, still some fruit.

4/15/2022 - jonphillips wrote:

Cassis, great energy. Love this wine

4/26/2021 - jonphillips wrote:

This was really nice and surprisingly drinkable.

2/12/2021 - jonphillips wrote:

Bell pepper note on night one, though nicely sized in the mouth. We will see what night 2 brings.

1/22/2021 - jonphillips Likes this wine:

Quite liked this and bigger than I thought. Then I saw 16% alcohol and thought: “I didn’t realize it was that big!”

1/3/2021 - jonphillips Likes this wine:

Drank this too young. Nice berry flavor but still acidic and angular.

11/14/2020 - jonphillips wrote:

I enjoy the weight of it ... nice depth though a bit stemmy.

10/31/2020 - jonphillips wrote:

Needs another 5 years

9/21/2020 - jonphillips wrote:

Strong acidity, still slight tannin, and still some fruit. Open with a good pizza

9/19/2020 - jonphillips wrote:

Opened up and is still drinking great 3 hours in, nice acidity, long finish.

8/23/2020 - jonphillips Likes this wine:

Bright clear red fruit, no steaminess, medium length. Not complex, but nice.

8/22/2020 - jonphillips Likes this wine:

Last bottle ... thought this was really nice; opened up after about an hour. No opinion on how long it will go, but drinking well now.

4/10/2020 - jonphillips wrote:

The wine that killed my love of Larkmead and captured their cynicism. Dramatic raising of prices across the board, even for wines that were pedestrian. Sorry for the political tasting note. The wine is fine. 90 points is accurate.

12/14/2019 - jonphillips wrote:

No one is saying smoke taint so I will say it.

11/29/2019 - jonphillips wrote:

The magic of Burgundy still lost on me, as this felt simple on the palate. Maybe it needs more time? Maybe?

7/1/2019 - jonphillips Likes this wine:

Craziness. I put this in the freezer. Forgot it, froze solid, cork almost out. Let it defrost on the counter for two days. Drinking tonight ... lovely.

8/25/2017 - jonphillips wrote:

Loved the 2001, but 2004 still hard-edged, tannic, angular

8/28/2016 - jonphillips Likes this wine:

A little overripe note that blew off after about 60-90 minutes.

3/22/2015 - jonphillips wrote:

Enjoying these. Still better on day 2 than 1

11/27/2013 - jonphillips wrote:

I really like this wine ... let my other one site 5 years.

5/26/2013 - jonphillips wrote:

I don't have as much experience with Burgundy. This was nice, more herbal and wood(?) than fruit right now. Nice lift in the mouth after about an hour or so. Still young?

1/30/2013 - jonphillips wrote:

Plenty of tannins ... Some upside potential

1/20/2013 - jonphillips wrote:

Good, but I think time to drink up. An acidic edge to this that felt like it wasn't going to age well.

12/2/2012 - jonphillips wrote:

Carmelization creeping in and very little on the palate.

11/21/2012 - jonphillips wrote:

Great pure flavor. Totally drinkable, but could sit for a little bit.

11/20/2012 - jonphillips wrote:

Really grew on me.

11/20/2012 - jonphillips wrote:

Eh. Look, this is totally pleasant. But, we have to be honest.Pax has yet to deliver, right?

11/17/2012 - jonphillips wrote:

Really enjoyed this.

11/17/2012 - jonphillips wrote:

this felt a bit tannic and reserved. Very good, but let sit another year or two.

11/17/2012 - jonphillips wrote:

black olive, black olive. Never achieves lift-off.

11/15/2012 - jonphillips wrote:

Thin and a strange ripe note

10/26/2012 - jonphillips wrote:

Tight, but not sure of potential. Tannic ... Yet the acid seems to be building and the Syrah drowning out the merlot.

10/20/2012 - jonphillips wrote:

Yeah, I guess this is still young. Primary, certainly. Entertaining, but not interesting. Let em sleep in hopes they become so.

10/13/2012 - jonphillips wrote:

Still a bit strong and thick

9/8/2012 - jonphillips wrote:

Took an hour to open up. This can sleep a little while. 2 years?

9/1/2012 - jonphillips wrote:

This won't get any better.

9/1/2012 - jonphillips wrote:

Really enjoyed this. Could easily go another few years.

8/11/2012 - jonphillips wrote:

Young. Minerally.