Deep Ruby, aromas of red and black fruits with sweet spice and oak, a classical blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, barrel aged for 24 months. On the palate flavors of black cherry and currants with spice, espresso, vanilla & toasty oak tones. Fine tight tannins, lively acidity on a long finish ending with fruit, sweet spice and an earthy mineral character. Nice! — 2 years ago
A real solid $20 Chard, Barrel aged 10 months sur lie! Medium lemon color with aromas of stone and citrus fruits with notes of warm baking spice. On the palate ripe apple and lemon flavors with vanilla and nutty toasty oak. Well balanced on medium+ finish ending, a bit buttery with slight oak and mineral notes. A favorite!! — 3 years ago
Caramel, sugar cane, maple syrup and vanilla — 4 months ago
An “intermezzo” as we prepared for the reds flights. This was served blind. The 1978 shows really young for its age. Most at the table, including myself, were convinced that this was classified growth Bordeaux with maybe 20-30 years of age. However at least one of us thought it was Napa…and whoa. The color was dark and handsome though there was some sediment (to expected). The fruit was bright but I felt it was secondary to the dried leaf tobacco, earth and leather notes. There was good acid too. Tannins have integrated. Lots of wows when this was revealed while the Napa holdouts gave a smile. Bravo. This could easily live well for another 10 or so years. — a year ago
Perfect wine to celebrate the wife’s birthday this last week. Medium garnet red and clear in appearance. Well rounded nose with truffles, damp earthiness, cherries and some black berries. Medium tannins (5.5/10), balanced acidity and medium plus body. Balanced palate with tobacco, leather, earthiness, black plums and cherries. Long finish. Drink till 2027. — 3 years ago
HBTM! 🥳 🎉🎂 🎈
WOTN!
Still fresh & youthful. Perfect. Great fill. Still peaking.
Bramble, nicely, fresh fruits of; blackberries, creamy, black raspberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries, hints of blueberries, poached to dry strawberries. Lead pencil for days, dry tobacco, used leather, liquid herbaceous notes, volcanic & limestone marl & grey clay, eucalyptus/pine tar, black licorice, dark spice, touch of black pepper, mushroom, light baking spices, dry top soil, dry river stone, dry stem, well done toast, dry & withering; dark, red, some blue florals framed in lavender & violets, perfect acidity and extremely well; balanced, structured, tensioned, balanced, smarty polished finish that last several minutes finish.
Photos of; Latour and their vine close to the D2, entrance to Chatesu Latour and their barrel room. The cleanest cellar I’ve seen and I have seen most of the wine world.
It’s just the left side of the bell curve. Stored correctly it has another 10 plus years of good drinking.
Robert Parker launched his career calling this vintage correctly upon release when others were not. — 8 months ago
Blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot & 5% Tannat, aged 20 mos French oak. LaJota has deep roots in Napa, in 1888, wine pioneer W.S. Keyes planted the first vines on Howell Mountain, 10 years later LaJota Vineyard established, named for location on Mexican parcel Rancho La Jota. Deep Ruby, rich berry fruit aromas & herb spice. On the palate blackberry & cherry flavors with sweet spice, licorice & cacao notes, rich & tangy. Soft full tannins, long finish ending with oak & earthy herbs. Just starting to drink now, will cellar for a decade. — 3 years ago
Doug Powers
Very fresh, lively, primarily redfruited aromas and flavors, some spicy notes as well, super nicely balanced, great acid, shows admirable restraint, should age nicely midterm (5-10 years?), very good “entry level” Zinfandel, long finish!! I’d read that the 2023 Zins, grown in a relatively cooler year, had a very long growing season, with excellent acidity, and I’d say this shows all of those characteristics. Morgan nailed this, it was great to finally meet his “adult” version, my wife and I first met him about 35 years ago at a ZAP event at Ravenswood hosted by his father Joel. — a month ago