ON THE NOSE:
Darcey opened this bottle an hour-and-a-half before I got home, but even then it didn’t have much of a nose to speak of. Some light floral notes, some new-belt leather, or a plastic/leather belt, but very faint. A bit later some cranberry, brown sugar, raspberry begin to emanate, but more from the residuals in the glass than from the wine itself.
I want to believe that there’s more here. As more time passes there are points of aroma that radiate from this juice: sugar and mint leaves, but again, quite faint. There is also a hint of sarsaparilla, but nothing here boasts, all is subtle peace on earth and goodwill toward women. Ultimately one would have to classify this nose as muted.
Much later there is some added spice and clay.
ON THE PALATE:
As presaged by the nose there is not much at first on the palate. The structure is sound, however, with a great tannic backbone balanced perfectly by a harmonious acidity, but not much in the way of flavor. Early on we must admit that we’re not finding much here to crow about, but, aside from a decidedly weak flavor profile, we also have to admit that we don’t have many complaints either. WAIT A MINUTE! There should be more on the palate than this, so we DO indeed wish to lodge a complaint! Is this bottle perhaps slightly corked? There is, however, thankfully, something here on the finish: well-cooked cranberries and also some strawberry. An odd sensation at the back of the throat, like the wine has lined the top of the esophagus, or more like “ringed” around it, leaving the hole of the throat open and untouched. It’s hard to describe, I suppose, but there it is. One thing I can say here is that this is REAL wine! There is a pure, clean mouthfeel to this wine, like drinking nice cold water on a steamy summer afternoon, sitting in the shade, listening to the bugs. The acidity is bright, leading me to believe that this would be a very good food wine. On its own, however, even after six hours this wine just doesn’t offer enough, not on the nose, and not on the palate. This is s shame, too, because it promises so very much, but, alas, does not deliver.
A mattress! This wine tastes like a bare spring-mattress when you turn it over, with that dusty, slightly musty, fabric! Again, cranberries, here poured over dusty rocks. To me this appears to be a very well-made wine in a poor year. Was this particular bottle perhaps a little spoiled? It could have been!
(Click here for an explanation of our ratings ...)
Our Rating: 84
Would we drink it again? 
No, but then again maybe - I'd like to see if the bottle we had was corked, slightly, as others have liked this wine more than us.
Would we buy it again?
No, but again, we wouldn't mind checking another bottle to see if the one we had was somehow compromised.
