by David Lole » Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:37 pm
Qualitatively, this bottle transcends any other of this particular label and specific vintage I’ve had the pleasure of imbibing to date. Opened with an old red/brown colour that looked a trifle “thin” and even suggestive of bordering on terminal. But that was it for negatives and disappointments. What transpired over the next several hours was truly amazing. Firstly, the colour seemed to change for the better in the glass, shifting to a deeper, healthier ruby core with red brick outer edges. The nose which, initially, was relatively enticing with a wealth of tertiary complexity (old books, leather, sweet earth and mushroom) progressively freshened and was far more lively with perplexing aged berried character with notes of cigar box, herbs and licorice. The palate followed down a similar path, basking in a mature glory only the best reds can produce. Riddled with glorious soft and harmonious flavour and texture as well as terrific length, this lovely old wine does not have much gas in the tank, but it was our luck to open it at a poignant, if not the ideal, moment to savour as an after dinner sipper as we grooved our way through a live DVD of Steely Dan. I’m giving it 93 points for what it did for us last night.
Last edited by David Lole on Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Cheers,
David
