20
Mar
2023
- Details
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Category: Uncorked Tonight
Upon opening ... Young wine, only 6 years old, cork is in decent shape, there was a little crack and bend to the middle; nothing too odd like wine creeping up. No problems to report. 
NOSE: Raspberry and black cherry aromas ... I'm happy with that.
TASTE: Palate shows more licorice and cedar than it does the fruits described on the nose, nice tannin structure; within half-an-hour this wine has already begun to change it's character as the fruit starts to drop out.
2 hrs later ... Smooth, across the tongue, those tannins have almost disappeared replaced by licorice and a good level of acidity - though it is getting leaner: there is little else holding my interest.
3 hrs later ... There's very little fruit present, that lean quality has taken over. Cedar is now dominating.
16 hours later ... Dusty ... Not dead, just really dusty.
Bottom Line ... Not a wine to hold anymore. It's ready and ready within the first hour. Enjoy with food and you might get a little longer out of it.
14
Mar
2023
- Details
-
Category: Uncorked Tonight
Upon opening ... Crack of the cap, a couple of spins and off comes the stelvin; the wine goes into the glass deep and dark and rich looking. 
NOSE: Raspberry, blackberry with hints of licorice and chocolate
TASTE: Lots of smoky, gritty tannins. Fruit is subtle and lingers in the background - but it materialize mostly on the finish ... This tastes like it is going to be interesting.
1:30 hrs later ...
The wine is beginning to smooth out, still a little gritty, but the blackberry and cassis are showing, along with spiced-plum and even the dark chocolate is stepping up.
3:00 hrs later ...
There's a peppery note that is weaving itself around that dark fruit, the tannins have softened a little more. Might put the clock on this one and try again tomorrow...
22 hours later ...
Goodbye tannins, hello black pepper, mocha, spiced-plum, silky dark fruit and a long finish. What started out rugged turned into a wine of depth, complexity and flavour to spare.
Bottom Line ...
Those who doubt screwcap wine: think they are for cheap, drink now wines, need to rejigger their perceptions - this was a tough wine in hour one, but by the next day it was pure pleasure on the palate. Have some? Hold some. Or just drink it over a few days and be in awe. Magical.
