2001 Mitolo Shiraz G.A.M. McLaren Vale
Smoked cherries with salami with velveteen textures. That is, a smokey blanket sits across all flavors and the meat element is more like a sour cured meat than, say, typical syrah descriptors like ham or bacon. But I often/usually find that sour lactic note in McClaren Vale syrahs, and I strongly dislike that characteristic. Will be glad to get the last of these out of my cellar.
2006 Black Hills Estate Nota Bene Okanagan Valley VQA Red Bordeaux Blend
Fantastic bottle--classic bordeaux blend flavors with just a tiny bit of funk in the background. Unexpected, as the bottle from May 2015 was so awful.
2002 Kenwood Cabernet Sauvignon Jack London Vineyard Sonoma Valley
Great showing! Intense dark black and blue fruits, concentrated on the palate. Has the London's typical rusticity but the largesse of the vintage adds suppleness. Not yet fully mature--good through at least 2020.