
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Best on Day 2. The 2018 pours a deep purple color with an impenetrable core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe black and red fruits: brambles, tobacco, purple flowers, dill, vanilla, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and pretty decadent with a velvety texture. Drink now through 2033. — 9 months ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. This bottle of the 2005 Gran Reserva came from a Library Release in 2022 so the cork was perfect. The wine pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart, ripe and some dried, mostly red fruits: Bing cherry, raspberries, plum, tobacco, leather, dill and assorted dried garden herbs, gentle baking spices and dry, dusty earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is in a lovely spot and yet, has a long life ahead. Drink now with some patience and enjoy through 2045. — 5 months ago
Called Rioja. Super-dill coconut give-away. — 8 months ago
Medium garnet, intensity aromas of strawberries, black cherry, dill, liquorice, butter scotch, sweet oak, vanilla, cloves, coconut oil. Dry, high acidity, medium plus tannins, high alcohol, full body. Pronounced flavor. Long finish. Outstanding. — 8 months ago
Delicious, bing cherry, dill and leather. — a year ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2004 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart mixed fruit: Blackberries, black cherry, dill, olives, leather, toasted coconut, some vanilla, dried green herbs and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is in a very lovely place. Drink now through 2044.  — 6 months ago
Dense and dark, almost black colors. Looks viscous when I swirl. Lots of vanilla on the nose, but some cedar and dark fruit underneath. Has some spice, like clove and dill, but also perfume, like rose. Very intense and rich juice, heavy acidity and powerful structure with medium+ tannins. Manly wine. — 10 months ago
I don’t have much experience with the Bin 407 from Penfolds compared to others in the portfolio, but I was curious to see how this was drinking at 20yrs after recently getting locally for a steal.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Even knowing this is cab, I still expected a Penfolds Shiraz type aromatic, and while I didn’t exactly get that, the American Oak in the background alongside the ripe fruit do help bring Penfolds semi in to focus. This needed about 90mins in bottle to wake up…initially I was concerned I had missed a window as it was very stewed and fig dominant (not much fruit). The American Oak notes started appearing (faint coconut and dill) and then high toned red fruits. After 90mins, the palate bulked up and showed some black fruits, cassis, espresso, and even some Andes mint at the finish. Plenty of tannin too.
I’d open soon if you have any left, but give it some time to wake up. (Yes, the ‘94 Monte Bello was insanely good, as was the still young ‘06 Unico). — a year ago
Ruud Verhagen
dill-coconut-galore 🫶🏼 — 3 months ago