With Hart at home.

I was feeling super salty because we had to reschedule a wine night where we were supposed to try the ungodly 2010 Leoville las Cases. So I decided I get to open one of these.

YUM this was DELICIOUS. We had the 2009 previously which was also a very delicious wine – rated 4.5 then, probably more like a 4.4 or 4.3.

I uncorked this wine and left it to air in the bottle while I cut the papaya and showered.

In the glass: the photo is a little misleading. Beyond the rich red ruby, it really had a fair bit more garnet to it.

On the nose: this is a pleasurable evolving wine that you need to avoid over airing. Nose was v shy initially. Took about 20 mins for it to get up to temp and open up. Blackcurrant and very faint plums. Over the hour, that distinct and trademark blend of pencil shaving, leather, and distinct tobacco on exhale emerged.

On the palate: this is an easy agreeable wine. Mid acidity, tannin and mid+ finish. Very dry. Lean, and mid- body.

1-2hr: nose intensified and became almost exclusively red fruits. Each fresh pour off the bottle came with a dense delicious funk that dissipates fairly quickly.

2-3 hrs: the tertiary notes continued to climb. Now we also get a lot more earthiness and notes of dried herbs. Mint on palate! Yum.

3+ hours: the pencil, earthiness and tobacco started to dominate. Thankfully, this wine is young enough for its fruits to hold its on. From my prev experiences, BAMA has a tendency lose balance and become hyper tobacco/leathery with too much air or age.

Today was just delicious. Not as good as the 2009, but close