With Hart, Jess, Tiara, Bradien and Eric, at No Menu for Hart’s Birthday celebration.

This is the greatest wine I’ve ever personally bought and tasted. There.
I had cautiously high hopes, and it blew my expectations outta the park.

First of all, Fill level was good.

cork was in superb condition.

Looks safe. Opened and slow-oxed it 2 hours before expected drink time.
The waiter poured me a tiny sampler first before serving. I smelled it, whoa. I drank it, and I internally lost my shit. Brace yourself.

In the glass: deep dark ruby purple core, with distinct dark garnet rim. This is unmistakably an aged, and very concentrated wine.

On the nose: sigh. This is the magic of well-aged GREAT Bordeaux, in its prime drinking window. It’s black fruits, almost entirely black currant that’s just started to develop a dried fruit tone to it. It’s distinctly pepper, with other faint spices that i can’t place, a very distinct slightly savory herbal note that I again can’t place, it’s just that touch of tender funk, delicate cedar, graphite. It’s been 30 years, but the sheer concentration of fruits remains distinct, but is just starting to turn pleasurably funky. It’s the winemaking and perfect use of oak, that kept those spices and cedar in this distinct but delicate background. It’s intense, has a certain depth, yet delicate and balanced.

On the palate: it’s a touch savory. Tannins are still very present, but just grips your tongue for a second and slides down the hatch. LoOoooOong finish, and that aroma that persists long after the swallow. Mid/Mid+ acidity.

This is probably the most finessed and complex wine I’ve ever encountered in my life. I still think of it. I’m absolutely mindblown by it. I don’t have the words to capture this adequately.