Tasting notes

2009:  Aged in 100% new oak, 13.5% alcohol, a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.  Beautiful, fine aromas of spicy black fruits, liquid minerals - quite exotic, almost liqueur-like.  On the palate the wine is bright and fresh, with layers of dense fruit and a lovely light freshness.  Very complex already, with an incredible lightness to the dense core of ripe fruit.  Incredible finish - so fresh and so compelling.  96-98 points, drink 2015-2035.  (April 2010).

2007:  A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, aged in 80% new oak.  Wonderfully expressive ripe plums, spice, and lovely creamy cola aromas.    On the palate the wine has good depth and weight, and is

quite fleshy with lovely spice and plenty of complexity.  Very fresh in style, showing some cinnamon spice on the finish.  A really attractive, classic style.  92-94 points (April 2008).

2005:  Produced from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.  Beautiful aromas, quite restrained, showing minerals, herbs and dark fruits.  On the palate the wine has lovely ripeness yet very firm, fine tannins. There is a lovely core of sweet plum, blackberry and minerals - almost cassis-like - framed by very fine yet firm tannins and wonderful, fresh acidity.  Should evolve magnificently.  Absolutely monolithic, but incredible.  95-97 points.  (May 2006).

2004:  Delightfully fresh, with very cool, dark, almost blue fruits, ever-so-slightly under-ripe, but quite delicious despite that.  Dense, with fine tannins, certainly a structured style, but not monolithic, that should evolve within its first decade of life.  91 points.  (October 2008).

2003:  Wow, an absolutely knockout style, with soaring aromatics of exotic spices, dark, ripe fruits and a herbal element.  On the palate the wine is massive, very ripe yet heavily endowed with serious, but fine, tannins.  Very complex, and quite dense mouthfeel, with a long, broad and rich finish.  Should become a magnificent wine, and will age for many years, or decades!  Give it another 10 years before trying!  95 points.  November 2006.

2001:  A very earthy, herbal style of Calon, with quite lifted light, red fruits and minerally aromatics that follow through on to the palate.  It’s not a light wine by any means, the usual, substantial (and ripe) tannins are there, along with good weight and moderate complexity, it just isn’t a ‘wow’ wine.  The finish is its strength, very long and pure and incredibly smooth.  It is perhaps in a ‘dumb’ or closed phase at the moment, and may evolve further putting on weight and rich flesh.  90 points (August 2005).

1995:  Incredibly closed, backward and ungiving at the moment.  Sure, there are some mineral and red fruit aromatics, and on the palate there are some very ripe, almost chocolate characters, and deep cassis, but they are unevolved and require plenty of enticement to coax them from the dense, tannic structure.  It is complex and has a long, ripe finish, and will surely evolve into a stunning wine, I just don’t know how long it will take!  93 points (February 2003).

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