The bottle in the large CSJ tasting was heavily reduced and the only element that managed to survive the funk was the wood treatment. Worse, the reduction extends to the palate as well rendering this impossible to like. Not Rated.I would add though that I have at least some difficulty believing that this bottle was representative as I last tasted it in November 2018 and there was no reduction. For the convenience of readers, I repeat that note here: A pungent nose is composed today of wood toast and slight reduction so be sure to decant this if you can't resist opening a bottle. Otherwise there is excellent precision to the rich, intense and mineral-driven flavors that are shaped by firm but ripe tannins and outstanding length on the linear and driving finish. This is a markedly ripe and quite powerful 2016 that is going to need plenty of cellar time.
Allen Meadows - Score: 92 (2019 March)
The bottle in the large CSJ tasting was heavily reduced and the only element that managed to survive the funk was the wood treatment. Worse, the reduction extends to the palate as well rendering this impossible to like. Not Rated.I would add though that I have at least some difficulty believing that this bottle was representative as I last tasted it in November 2018 and there was no reduction. For the convenience of readers, I repeat that note here: A pungent nose is composed today of wood toast and slight reduction so be sure to decant this if you can't resist opening a bottle. Otherwise there is excellent precision to the rich, intense and mineral-driven flavors that are shaped by firm but ripe tannins and outstanding length on the linear and driving finish. This is a markedly ripe and quite powerful 2016 that is going to need plenty of cellar time.