Presentation: *****
Nose: *****
Complexity: ***
Value: NA
Overall: *****
They say a lot of factors determine if you like a piece of art--what you had for lunch, what kind of mood you're in, who you're with, what song is on your mind, and etc. I think wine is very much the same way. So without too much sentimentality (but at least a bit) I shared this bottle with my Uncle Gary, while watching Butler beat Michigan State in the NCAA Final Four, on a hot afternoon in the Phoenix-area. After we dealt with the crumbly cork via coffee filter, we sampled this wine as is and having passed through his Vinturi device. Both were good. The Vinturi indeed opened it up a bit, but the real treat of this wine was it's mellowness--very much the way a spicy zinfandel will mellow with time. It had all the structure of a good Napa Cab, but none of the "tightness" a newer cab would have. It was plenty dry, generous in flavor and aftertaste, and left me with lingering notes of honey and coffee. Which I don't think was from the espresso we'd had earlier...when we left to get dinner an hour or two later, he had a glass or so left for a future moment. So he'll get the final take on this bottle. Thanks Uncle Gary!
