5/19/2024 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Served with an avocado and crab salad. Nice.

5/19/2024 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Excellent with a rhubarb outside down cake.

4/20/2024 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Limited table side notes. Served from magnum which was stored in a cool cellar. Cork was perfect and ullage was normal, as expected.

The 2018 Drake Pinot Noir has a different profile than the next vintage, which I am more familiar with; this is not a criticism, but more of a function of how each vintage is unique.

The 2018 is all about bright cherry character appearing more wound-up vs the 2019. The tannins in the 2018 Drake are more obvious, but become more approachable at about one hour; clearly a candidate for decanting. For me, the 2018 has more in common with it's western neighbors along the coast than with the RRV AVA. Enjoy this wine if you have some stashed away, but best to hold for a few more years.

(Served with grilled salmon.)

4/13/2024 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

I can't improve on other comments. Better after about 15 min of airtime. Rather rich with good acid. Fairly golden color; not sure it will age to 2033, as suggested. No new vintages on CT, since the 2018 release.

(Served with pan-seared trout with butter, lemon, and thyme. Corn on the side. Nice combination.)

3/31/2024 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

More restrained than the 2019, which I thought was really lovely. Still it does have a nice raspberry and mocha/chocolate element on the nose (mostly) and also on the front palate. A bit of fleshiness on the mid palate and then some acidic uplift at the end. Needs more time, but not a long-term keeper.

(Served with a rack of lamb, roasted vegetables and potatoes, and grilled asparagus with Meyer lemon brown butter and Parmigiano (per Delfina Restaurant).)

3/24/2024 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

I love Loire dessert wines but, sadly, rarely drink them. Just for fun, I purchased this bottle - not knowing the producer - in Portland, at L&E.

The producer uses a glass stopper, rather than a cork, which is totally fine.

Good color and nice medium rich flavors mostly of apple and honey with a medium botrytis background. Good acids help provide balance and add nice high notes to the wine. Finishes with those mouth watering sweet apple notes. Should age. Lovely. Would buy again.

(Served with a homemade chocolate chestnut cake or Torta Morbida de Castagne e Cioccoiato. Dessert Chenin Blancs go really well with chestnut inspired desserts.)

3/24/2024 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Limited table side notes. Pretty much a complete Zin. Dark, rich, and well balanced. Simply outstanding. Will age beautifully.

(Served at Underwood Bar and Grill, in Graton, CA. The duck leg confit worked perfectly with this Zinfandel.)

3/22/2024 - John Dunlap wrote:

I didn't get the Heintz vineyard typicity that I was hoping for in this wine. It's nice, but we all thought it tasted like fine apple cider rather than Heintz Chardonnay. Perhaps, this will change with time as more complexity comes into focus. That said, it's refined with a nice bead. Not rated.

3/14/2024 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

A lovely gift from a friend. Quite rich - especially for Sonoma Coast. Notes of dark berries, pomegranate, green plum and some red apple were found on the nose and palate. Maybe the 2017 vintage promoted that richer spectrum of flavors? A little bit of alcohol on the finish along with that green plum and red apple. The wine should make it to 2027 and beyond.

12/26/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Severed on Boxing Day. Continues to be a lovely wine and one of my favorites. This wine has lots of wonderful fruit and lovely wood spice notes. See my 5/26/2021 review for more details as that review still holds true. The 93 point rating also applies.

(Served with braised short ribs, black-eyed peas, and baked fennel.)

12/25/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

WOW. What an incredible wine! Probably one of the best wines tasted in 2023.

Purchased at Dry Creek Liquors, Littleton, CO., in the early 1980s for $11.79 - before the employee discount. Stored in a cool cellar ever since.

Ullage was approximately ½ inch. Cork was tight and required use of a Durand, as expected. The base of the cork was discolored for the first ½ inch, yet the cork was effective.

Utterly amazing for a 45-year old bottle of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon with the “Yountville Vineyard” designation. Going out on a limb, but I would surmise that these CS grapes came from an old vineyard given the density of flavors and how well the wine performed this evening.

Decanted with a small amount of sediment. Color was a shockingly strong, red, hue with no signs of brown tawnyness. Nose and palate, were for the first 10 minutes, a bit astringent, but that soon subsided to reveal a common thread of fully integrated elements. Smells like old second growth Bordeaux w/o the cellar funk. Think sour cherries, leather, tar, red/black licorice, plum, dry red apple, and watermelon rind, to name just a few. There were also some very discrete savory spice notes on the marjoram / thyme spectrum, but noting objectionable. In addition, there was a bit of beefy bullion that shows up after about 30 minutes in the glass. This wine was quite well balance with acids, flavors, and tannins all in harmony. No eucalyptus, thankfully, and no oak interference. The wine seemed to reach its zenith at about two hours; no complaints whatsoever.

I believe 1978 was richer rounder year, similar to 1980. And as I recall, I liked the 1978s and 1980s, better than the 1977s, 1979s, and 1981s, which for their own reasons, did not produce those broad-shouldered profiles. Alcohol 13.5 percent.

How long will this wine age? I honestly, don’t know – maybe another five to ten years or so. I suspect the wine will outlive the cork, if that helps.

(Served with grilled lamb, black-eyed peas, Brussels sprouts, and roasted sweet potatoes.) Merry Christmas.

12/18/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

A friend surprised us with this bottle from their home. Served at a Healdsburg restaurant. Thank you, gents.

Ullage was reasonable and cork was fine. The bottle was decanted, but served almost immediately. Color had a good medium red hue indicative of an excellent chateau, nearly 20 years old.

The palate possessed darker red fruit qualities, such as mulberry and cherry. Some cassis too. No pencil lead like some Pauillacs. The 2005 vintage, as I recall, was big with lots of tannin, but this specific bottle was all about mid-palate elegance.

In sum, an enjoyable wine, revealing wonderful elegance with medium rich Cabernet Sauvignon flavors. Well balanced, but not brawny.

(Served with grilled duck, mushrooms, and creamed spinach.)

12/17/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

What a fun wine.

Cork was a bit soft, but wine was fine.

Tastes off dry, with lots of yellow apple and green pear. Maybe some quince? Good mouth watering acids from start to finish.

Would like to visit this wine region.

(Served with Thai pumpkin curry and rice. Great combo.)

12/4/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Half-bottle. Purchase various vintages of this chateau in 375ml formats. This St. Estèphe is a great qpr and a 375ml is fun to open on a whim.

Dark and rich, this vintage hits all the spots on a cold winterish evening. Dark color and dark red fruits dominate. Notes of raspberry plus a touch of red licorice and iron are present. Perhaps an orange citrus high-note too. Has become a bit more approachable since May. Nice.

(Served with a very dark and rich red cabbage ragu with rigatoni, source: NYT. Vegetarian, but you wouldn't know it.)

11/26/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

An enjoyable Syrah that didn't hit you over the head with too much of everything. Bright and fun to drink rather than brawney and alcoholic. This wine works well with many foods.

11/22/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Quick note from an impeccable cellar; also from a 1.5l format.

I haven't tried this vintage since their October 2017 pickup weekend, so it is nice to reconnect. Two things: (1) the Vista Verde Vineyard, in San Benito, should not be overlooked; and, (2) this Pinot Noir ages and needs time.

There is a significant amount of limestone in the soils from San Benito vs. the Russian River, or California, more generally; this minerality translates nicely into the glass for red (and white) wines, giving these wines a certain brightness and an extra kick of acidic flavor.

Good red color. This Pinot Noir has some wonderful perfume notes and bright red fruit flavors on the nose and palate. Think tart red pie cherries in this bottle along with some fun, sassafras, plus notes of tarragon?, and other savory spices. Oak is nicely restrained too. Alcohol 13.5%. Seems Burgundian. Very enjoyable.

I think you can age this wine a bit longer than the community consensus of 2018-2024. Yes, this magnum format is ideal, but I suspect the 750ml bottling should be quite nice through 2026 perhaps longer.

11/18/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

A wonderful Chardonnay from an excellent vineyard. Fully integrated flavors. The oak was moderate and allowed the mature fruit flavors to dominate. Elegant, and at 12 years, time to enjoy. A food wine especially with fish or chicken with a simple white/butter sauce of some sort.

11/14/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Quick note from an impeccable cellar and from a 1.5l format. Really lovely and firing on all cylinders. Bright and precise. Lots of bright red raspberry and limestone minerality on the palate. Quite elegant. Delightful.

11/7/2023 - John Dunlap wrote:

This wine is nice, but is too rich for me. 14.8 Percent alcohol, but it isn't hot. Maybe the profile of this wine reflects regional differences in this varietal as I am more familiar with Russian River Zinfandels. Lots of dense raspberries and some iron, but I prefer a bit more brightness.

10/25/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

I liked this special bottling. Good acidity with rich character. Elements of apple, honeydew melon, and round wood spices. Best to drink up.

(Served with cream of celery soup, a WS recipe.)

10/19/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Was a fun taste from an impeccable cellar. Very little experience with Gruners - let alone older versions, but this was enjoyable at seven years. Who knew? Also, the use of neutral oak keeps the wine focused on the varietal rather than hidden under various wood flavors.

I didn't get the classic white paper notes - that could be an old world/new world contrast or my palate. I did notice, however, an interesting green olive element along with some rich pea and/or vegetal notes. Age gives the 2016 some extra viscosity too that the 2021 vintage, the current release, will need cellar time to possess.

Overall, an enjoyed experience. The 2016, like the 2021, would be a fun wine to serve with a perfectly grilled pork chop (with or w/o an apple butter glaze). Mixed grilled vegetables would be an nice accompaniment too.

9/16/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Lost my notes, so I am starting over.... Served table side at Spinster Sisters, a wonderful Santa Rosa restaurant. Notes are limited.

Color is light and clean and a step up since the previous bottle, opened in 2022.

Unlike many white wines, this bottling needs a good decant - say 30 minutes to start to unravel and reveal its profile. It possesses a lot of mineral, iron, and saline qualities, which I assume are site specific. Beyond that, many of the flavors are supporting the overall bright mineral quality of the wine. E.g., just like last time, I get a lot of bright notes of green almond and green apple, a bitter lemon quality, white flowers, and dry honey; all of which build upon the mineral foundation of this wine. Oak is very restrained to non-existent. Quite tight; quite Lovely.

I wish I was tasting this bottle alongside their Abbey Ridge, but no such luck. Nevertheless, this really is a beautiful wine. It needs another five or more years to reach maximum enjoyment and should easily make it to 2029 - the ten-year mark. Enjoy!

Also good the second night.

6/7/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

This is a Russian River Valley AVA wine, but located in the Fountaingrove District, which is located in NE quadrant of Santa Rosa - east of 101 and north of CA12. More specifically, this vineyard is near/on Riebli, off of Mark West Road, in the Mayacamas foothills. I know, it’s confusing.

Very old Zinfandel vines are found on the property, some 120 years plus. Those Italian immigrants were amazing and plated in the Fountaingrove area very early on. Suspect Fountaingrove soils, elevation and temperatures are different than what is found toward the Russian River, which makes for a very diverse AVA.

Great dark red color. Looks very young for a 2018. Nose and palate area concentrated and rich, and possess the qualities of an old vine vineyard. Fruit forward with dark berry flavors. Finish drops a bit at the end. Enjoyed for the first hour, especially. Nice. Would score a bit higher if the flavors were more continuous at the end. Nice the second night as well. Alcohol: 14 percent.

(Served with pasta and a baked fennel casserole.)

7/30/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Wine gift. 100 Percent Zinfandel from their Jimsomare Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains. Notes of raspberry and plum/prune. Spice and vanilla. A touch or red apple too on the finish. Enjoyed this wine as the favor profile is so different than Russian River Valley fruit. Finish is bright and mouth-watering. Alcohol 13.5%.

PS: I liked this wine a bit more the second night.

7/4/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Wanted to open a bottle knowing full-well that the wine is really young. 92 Percent Merlot and 8 percent Cabernet Franc. 15 Percent alcohol. The color is quite dark and the palate includes dark cherry and something like dark chocolate. Did I say dark? As anticipated, this wine needs time in the bottle as it is really dense. Seems a bit one dimensional to me, which – I guess - is what one would anticipate from the vintage, but even great rich vintages should possess a bit of nuance. Wish this wine had a little brightness or lift, but again the wine is too young and too intense right now. Should further integrate with time. Let this wine be for at least five maybe 10 years. Good QPR for the cellar. Rated 92-93 at present, with the expectation that score could increase a few years out.

(Served on Independence Day with grilled burgers stacked with grilled onion and cheese plus all the other necessary fixings. A very nice combo.)

7/1/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Wow. What a wonderful wine - from the 2001 vintage. Consumed over a very warm evening in Sonoma. Notes are limited, but the saffron flavor was present in spades and dominate for more than an hour in the glass. Started fade a bit, but still nice. A very rich wine. Perhaps a bit more nuance would have helped to lift the score. 91-92

7/1/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Consumed over a very warm night in Sonoma. No notes taken. Very refreshing. The color is enchanting with a beautiful clear to light pink translucency, layered like the petals of a rose. Flavors were bright and crisp. Less strawberry as compared to the Billecart Salmon rose NV, but filled with light fruit flavors at half the price. Would like to compare it to the vintage rose by the same producer, but that is for another evening.

6/25/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

It's been a long time, but always a fun wine. Bright, crisp and representative of the varietal.

(Served over two dinners, first with pork and the next with chicken.)

6/15/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Williams Selyem always makes a lovely Vin Gris or rose. Ideal for summer drinking with all types of food. It can age some, but I like the fresh style found in each current release. My rule, hold until Easter the next year or before the next release. Don't overlook.

6/10/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

A nice summer wine from Williams Selyem’s Vista Verde Vineyard, located in San Benito, CA. Production is quite limited and this wine is, generally, only available at the winery.

This wine is fun by itself on a warm day; in addition, it pairs well with food that is lighter in style, but is always good with white meats such as a grilled pork chop.)

(Served with a pizza topped with artichokes, bacon and mozzarella.)

6/3/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

I believe Special Bottlings are offered to employees; they are not part of the publicly allocated wine program, nor should they be. These special bottlings are usually blends from residual wine from various barrels. It is not a vineyard designated wine. A few bottles were handed out recently. The 2021 is step up from the 2020 bottling with more complex flavors and a more complete profile. Very nice. Enjoy this vintage for the next year or so. Not rated.

5/31/2023 - John Dunlap wrote:

I believe Special Bottlings are offered to employees; they are not part of the publicly allocated wine program, nor should they be. These special bottlings are usually blends from residual wine from various barrels. It is not a vineyard designated wine. A few bottles of older SB PN were handed out recently. The color is good but this vintage is past and is only a curiosity. OK, but probably more interesting five years ago. A bit stewed and hammy. Not rated.

5/30/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

I drink mostly CA Pinot, but opening a Morgon is a nice change. The flavor spectrum is different - as it should be; yet, Pinot and Gamy are both elegant and restrained. This Morgon has good color with a lot of hard to define light floral notes. The wine remains bright with plenty of high notes. Raspberry flavors are noticeable. No spice or wood notes, here. A fun wine.

5/24/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Wine from one of the historic vineyards located, literally, at Piner and Olivet, and also from a wonderful vintage. Vineyard dates back to the 1920s. Nice color and nose. A rich, medium+ bodied wine, with good acidity. A fun wine.

5/17/2023 - John Dunlap wrote:

Opening up some old Loire that I should have consumed years ago. Regardless, there is a desire to see how long wines can last; call it an intellectual curiosity, but on a limited budget and on a very small scale. So you push the envelop, knowing full well, that the outcome is nearly certain, but hope otherwise.

Ullage was quite good. However, the cork was not great, so use of a Durand was essential.

The color is a beautiful dark golden color - think old marigold or a very ripe peach. Really lovely and alive looking. Nose has lots of botrytis and honey. Palate has bit of tangy apricot skin, but sadly the flavors are drying and turning too sour to provide needed balance. Pity. Not rated as I had no expectation that this wine would be in great shape.

(I tried the 1959 and 1990 side-by-side, and one thing that struck me was the different honey notes between the two wines. It reminded me of tasting honeys at the Occidental farmers' market and how different acacia honey is from orange, blackberry, etc. I can't say which vintages taste like which honey, but there is a difference. Of course, the level of botrytis adds to the individuality of these two vintages.)

5/17/2023 - John Dunlap Does not like this wine:

Removing the white foil top revealed an olive green wax seal. Cork was removed in one piece using Durand.

Dark brandy color. Clearly past its prime and no real surprise. Though surprisingly, the nose and palate does have some botrytis, but that falls off quickly to reveal something drying out, a touch of apple, and maybe a metallic element. None of the lovely pear quality that I remember from a long time ago. Yes, way past, so no expectation that wine would be serviceable. Not flawed just very tired. Not rated.

(I tried the 1959 and 1990 side-by-side, and one thing that struck me was the different honey notes between the two wines. It reminded me of a tasting honeys at the Occidental farmers market and how different acacia honey is from orange, blackberry, etc. I can't say which vintages taste like which honey, but there is a difference. Of course, the level of botrytis adds to the individuality of these two vintages.)

5/11/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Funny, but I drink very little syrah, so I'll provide some general observations. The wine was quite dark and quite alive at 13 years. Nose and palate are, and remain, very rich. Meaty with dark berries dominate. Early on, the wine had a bit of a tin can component on the nose/palate, which I often find in Syrahs and attribute to the idiosyncrasies of my palate. Settles down a bit with air. The next day, I noticed more elderberry (maybe cassis) on the nose - interesting.

Overall, an enjoyable wine and good example of how a RRV AVA wine can hold its own. Should continue to age.

5/3/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

375ml. Sometimes you want a big wine, knowing full-well it needs more time in the bottle. Color is dark and flavors need additional years to integrate. Flavors of green plum, cherry, plus hints of marjoram and maybe mint. I like it. Will improve with more bottle age.

(Served with lamb chops, baked potato, and succotash.)

5/1/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Really young and probably in need of another four to five months of bottle age. A wonderful field blend of classic Olivet/Piner varietals: Zinfandel, Carignan, dark Alicante and Grand Noir, plus smatterings of other dark red fruits. Will try again this fall.

(Served with stuffed bell peppers and corn on the side. Worked well.)

4/3/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

A very nice Chardonnay with nice balance and good acidity, plus just the right amount of oak. On the palate: dry peach mostly with a bit of bitter almond. A touch of vanilla too. An iron? finish along with apple and, again, that interesting dry peach flavor. Overall, quite nice and more restrained than most RRV Chardonnays. 13.8 Percent alcohol.

(Served with roast pork with milk and pearl onions (NYT) plus roasted green beans with Tahini dressing.)

4/1/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

A good Russian River Valley wine, worth seeking out. Pretty rich with lots of dark fruit flavors. A fair amount of acidity along with dark cherry, raspberry, something floral, citrus, and a rich red apple finish. Would be enjoyable with red proteins.

3/26/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Opened two bottles within a few days. See 3/23/23 notes as a starting point; however, tonight's wine seems less fruit driven with dialed-back apple flavors yet more savory almond nuttiness from start to finish. Both wines were enjoyable. Chalk this up to inexplicable bottle variation. Best to drink soon. Not a vineyard designated wine.

(Paired nicely with seared cod with gigante beans, chorizo, and sautéed greens at Boon Restaurant, Guerneville.)

3/23/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

This turned out to be a fun wine. I wasn't sure before opening since I know very little about the bottling, but age has made this Special Bottling very enjoyable. The nose and palate include, a nice apple flavor rounded-out by time. Pretty rich, actually. Has lots of spice, and even a bit of green olive, lemon balm, and an apple finish. Also, has an almond nuttiness too, which I liked. Acidity is good. Inclined to drink up, but makes me want to try some of the winery's 2015 Chardonnays such as Allen and Heintz especially in large formats.

3/10/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

This wine is more interesting now given additional time in the bottle. Overall, I liked the 2019 more, but the 2020 has come together nicely. This is not as broad-shouldered as a RRV Chardonnay, but there is a lot to like about this coastal wine. As alway, WS's use of French oak is, thankfully, judicious.

(Served with baked chicken, basmati rice with turmeric, and par boiled fennel in a cream sauce with Parmigiana cheese; all worked well together with the fennel complementing the wine in a sophisticated way.)

3/5/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

A fun wine. Rich but not big. Sort of like a dialed-back Chardonnay without oak with emphasis on yellow apple and a bit of lemon. Enjoyable.

(Served with a fried pork cutlet.)

3/1/2023 - John Dunlap wrote:

Haven't purchased a wine this bad in a long time. I liked the 2019 a lot, but this is terrible and an insult for $63. Lots of band-aid bret and immediate volatility. Tossed down the drain.

2/17/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Fun to try a Madeira that isn’t a bookend Sercial or Malmsey. Verdelho should be on the “drier” side of the spectrum, but it’s all relative.

Generally, NV Madeira wines tend to a follow proprietary “house style,” just like ports - some producers are drier some richer/sweet. For me, anyway, Madeira wines are not like sherry producers, which make very light/bright Finos to ultra-sweet PX wines and everything in-between; a typical Madeira house has a more compressed profile.

This Verdelho is dark and rich in color and has a nose of dry treacle, walnuts, and honey. It also has a palate of dry treacle plus apricot, brown sugar, and acidity like roasted grapefruit with honey. Lots of wood spice too. A warm wine at 19.5% alcohol, but not hot. Good balance. A good sipping wine and works well with foods.

2/15/2023 - John Dunlap wrote:

Bottle purchased at Vinothique de Bordeaux in 1983. Storeage was not optimal over the decades. Ullage: high shoulder. Cork removed in two pieces. Color was good and initial flavors were pretty interesting with notes of leather and some sort of dark cherry decay. Did not improve much over time, but clearly a wine of some stamina despite its storage. Regardless, best to drink up. Not rated.

1/1/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Purchased at the winery upon release. Stored in a cool/cold cellar ever since. Ullage was quite good and the cork, though getting old, was in fine form and removed in one piece.

The color is quite nice for an 13 year old wine and still appears in its prime: i.e., younger in color than anticipated with nice moderate red tones.

The nose and palate, are at first, pretty rich, but that changed over time as the wine was expose to more air. At about 10 minutes or so, the red fruit berries, turned more tertiary with more spice, apricot skins, leather, and acid. Now it is showing its age. And with more time the acids become even more obvious. Fortunately, the wine is not fragile like wines with advance age, but it will not get better unless you own larger formats.

Bottom line: fun to try, but a bit bit past its prime.

Rated 90 points as the wine is still interesting at 13 years, but this score won't remain. Drink up.

12/23/2022 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:

Table side notes are limited, but this wine is clearly worthy of a few nice words. A lovely RRV Pinot Noir, proving once again, that wines from a good vintage and a good producer can age beautifully. Wine was stored in a cool cellar since release. No need to decant, but would have, if served at home.

I believe 2010 was a kind year for Sonoma with reasonably warmish weather and the right amount of rain. From memory, this vintage was a rich year with inviting round tannins.

Last tasted on 9/22/18. This bottle retains a nice red color, which for a 12-year-old Pinot Noir, is both surprising and a good sign. Not as bold as last time, as one would expect; yet flavors remain rich and enjoyable. Nose and palate are so smooth with fully integrated flavors and elements. Less spice and oak in the glass tonight, but the flavors of strawberry, cherry, and raspberry are present and remain rich. No cola element – just like 2018. Perhaps a bit of mahogany(?) this evening. This wine is still in it’s prime and wonderful to drink; however, I would consume over the next couple of years. Rating increased to 93 given how nicely the wine has developed.

(Served with coriander crusted duck breast on a bed of farro. Mushrooms on the side.)