Beaulieu Vineyard, Georges de Latour, Private Reserve, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, 1994, 13.0% abv.
Nose: a welcoming aroma set of moderate bramble fruit and vanilla, bit of iron, interestingly with more air time there is a surprising oyster sauce and soy aroma.
Palate: medium body, entry is spices and wood, darker fruits which are quite greedy on the mid palate. Wood, iron, ink, additional spices, and tart boysenberries and blackberries are better defined here as well, then the back palate showcases the wood and iron. Quite nice and works well with the prime rib.
Finish: medium, dry, bit of sawdust, grapeskin, blackberries with supporting berries and bramble fruit. Surprised with the fruit. No alcohol.
Vernacular: nose shows primary with secondary aromas improving. Medium body, balanced, precise, complex, medium acidity, medium minerality, good secondary, grainy chalky tannins, no alcohol. Medium finish, dry, no alcohol.
Quite good, I believe it is at peak range now. Good amount of fine-flaked sediment. Not a fan of BV, but I am impressed. Wished it didn't degrade with air time.
Grade: B-
by starvinggigolo