It’s testament to the underlying quality here, that the wine was both approachable now, yet also imparted a sense of where it may well be over its life.
Opens with a plummy mix, supported by an oak framework that provides its longevity. Savoury, cedary with elevated notes being offered by the Cabernet Franc. Malty, chocolate oak adds to the mix, the aromatics swirling, layered and inviting.
The palate yields dense, chewy tannin; spicy black olive tapenade is in the frame too. Fruit is a consistent theme throughout, threading its way around an inherently spicy core. The finish is long, savoury with fine tannin. Black and dense. One for the long haul.
94 – Outstanding
Original review: http://www.thevinsomniac.com/2013/06/tapanappa-whalebone-vineyard-merlot…
