I've had to resist the temptation to open this over the past few years, but w/my father coming to town to watch his grandsons' football game, I figured let's go for it.
There was some seepage around the cork, though the cork itself wasn't saturated. Initial hints from the bottle showed fresh tar and stewed plum notes; my hopes sank as I thought the wine was spoiled - eau contrair!
Deep ruby-cranberry coloration, excellent clarity and thin, clear legs on the pour. More notes of tar, hot stones, crushed berries, and toast greeted the nose. As the wine continued to open, gamy/butcher shop notes accentuated the berry and mineral aromas.
Blackberry, black cherry, coffee, mineral, and spicy oak blended harmoniously, bright acidity lifting the flavors along nicely. Not overly tannic, but plenty to keep this wine balanced for quite few more years. Warm, mineral and red fruit finish. A big, solid wine, w/o the high Etoh (13.5%).
92-93 pts., a beautifully balanced CdP from obviously one of the premier producers in the region. Can go another 5-6 yrs. easy, I'd think.
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