Watching our favorite TV show, Rescue Me, always calls for a somewhat decent bottle. Popped this after a nice meal of Flannery hanger steak and garlic/cayenne roasted Yukon Gold taters.
Nice crimson color and a faint nose of oak and vanilla…even after almost nine years. Still good concentration of blueberries and some nice leather and licorice. Tannins are softening nicely to make a very well rounded wine.
I had my doubts about the 2000s lasting this long, but when you start with good fruit and have a talented winemaker, good things are possible. The 2000 is however, not on the same level as the '99 or '01. I would drink them sooner, as in within a couple of years. Glad to have two more remaining.
Tex - thanks for the tasting note. I have to admit, I owned 3 of the 99, tasted one and sold the other two immediately. It was so rich, thick and almost syrupy that it was unenjoyable. I would probably prefer the restraint of an off vintage like the 2000.
As for Rescue Me, I want to love the show, find it hilarious at times, but just can’t get excited about it. Oh well.
The '99, '01 and '02 were all super extracted and ripe wines ala Harlan…well duh, look at the winemaker. But, I have enjoyed them immensely as well as the Harlan Maidens. The '00 Matriach and Maiden were both leaner and more restrained, and yet I still liked them…albeit they were very different from the powerhouse wines.
As for Rescue Me, I think it is a love it or leave it show just like The Shield.
So, were you drinking during Tommy Gavin’s speech at the AA meeting? That was classic Rescue Me.
Oh hellz yeah. Awesome speech.