Dense garnet with bricking edges. Aged gamey satisfaction in nutty sharp layers of mascarpone and rosin–a patina so memorable your college photos bow in reverence. Round tropical effluence of perfect Right-Bank claret green vibrant vegetal rusty steel sun-drenched citrus minerality and old postcard eucalyptus nose.
None of Santa Barbara’s young guns stand a chance as this stalwart and founding father of Santa Ynez Valley brings on the decadent and mouth-filling perfection of fruit with not a single ounce of fat, an acid rift sears the entire dense black cherry spectrum, splitting the leather and oiled-wood atom at the center of this amazing blend in perfect fashion. Holy wow folks, THIS is why you own a cellar and buy from the non-blingy pillars of a region.
2001 THE BRANDER VINEYARD Bouchet CF/CS/ME Santa Ynez Valley 49/27/24 13.0
Stephen McConnell 