I posted a note on this in 2001, then forgot about it. I still have one bottle left, which I will drink soon.
Bottle had very good level, again the cork was a mess. Short cork.
A big grape and spice nose, but quickly dissipating. Color quite brick, a little short in the mouth but with nice leather and spice overlaying solid dried fruit and raspberry. Very pleasant, but fading I thought at first. This bottle then exhibited the peculiarity of gaining in body and structure over the
1.5 hours or so it was open. Unusual for a bottle of this age. All in all more claret-like than west-coast.84 was the year Adele and I started dating, so this seemed like a good Valentine's offering. What did you folks open to fete the day with a loved one?
-E
P.S. Here's my note on the same wine from 01:
Veering slightly toward brick in color but still dark purple in the center, with a strong nose of black cherry and vanilla, very silky, medium long, still a bit of green oak in the structure, very nice raspberry, vanilla oak, maybe a hint of red gooseberry, chocolate, bit of spice. Not dried out!