There is a lot of interesting history about the Vineyard, but I’ll leave that for the 2009 Vintage review.
When I found this in the cellar this morning and decided to open it, I was a little concerned that I’d left it too long. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Very subtle signs of aging on the nose, lively aromas of blackberries, dark cherries, and ripe raspberries dominate.
One sip and its bold structure, broad shoulders, and generous palate are still very much present. Exceptional balance, and wonderful restraint and finesse- seamless layers of rich ripe fruits are evident- loads of blackberries, dark plums, dark cherries, and raspberries dominate, with secondary notes of dark chocolate, brambles, leather, and herbs round things out. Silky smooth mouthfeel that coats your mouth from start to finish. A delight to drink.
I’m very happy this is drinking beautifully and not past its peak. It walks a fine line between elegance and boldness, and the 14.9% alc has been kept in place by exceptional balance- a sign of excellence in winemaking and impressive integration through aging.
If you have any 2008, drink soon. I would hate to see you miss out on such a treat, as it’s drinking now. I have one bottle left of the 2009- I’ll pull that and taste it before summer.
This cries out for red meat, but don’t ignore roast chicken with herbs, grilled herb-crusted pork chops, pepperoni pizza, and Indian Goat dishes.
Forgive the photo, it’s way too cold to go outside, and I love taking photos outside. My work desk will have to suffice for the moment. I’m live in the Mid-west and we got somewhere around 14 inches of snow yesterday, and only 3F today. The sun is shining today, and it’s absolutely beautiful.
Vine to Table 