A PERFECT cork leads to understandable color and a nose quite difficult to enjoy: full of burnt rubber, cigar butts and old lacquer boxes. It breathes off somewhat, leaving a 2-day old diaper for bouquet. It tastes a BILLION times better, not bad actually, syrupy reduction and ridiculously bold tannins compliment completely non-pruney fruit, lively and alive in the mouth–though I wouldn’t call it fresh. What was this–like an $8 bottle of wine?
2005 WILD HORSE Merlot Paso Robles 13.9
Stephen McConnell 