With Hart, James and Zi at the @emidiopepe tasting dinner.

This was undoubtedly the wine of the night for me.

In the glass: the wine is just starting to show its journey towards maturity. Dark garnet that brightens around the edge. Mid bodied.

On the nose: a waft of rich dense funk. Dried cherries and tinge of cranberry lift. Dark berries. An aromatic lift that almost smells like a brand new leather good?? High intensity.

On the palate: the distinguishing feature is its INCREDIBLE freshness on the palate. A bright almost minty sensation. Mid++ acidity. Yet also lush and high intensity of fruit. Palate coating yet elegant. Long finish. Tannins that are just starting to relax, and still having very very good structure. Aromatics that linger long after swallowing.

This was stunning. Im obsessed with the 2014, but this 2013 is a different beast. It’s not quite as intense and dark as the 2014, but it has this magical freshness that I’m hooked on.

That said, not for those who don’t enjoy the funk.