Popped, poured, and rested in bottle while enjoyed over three hours. Deep garnet color tinging at the rim. Early barnyard on the nose that soon dissipated becoming warmer and less pungent. Dark berry (and pork fat?) on the first sip with a chewy mouthfeel. The fine tannins converted to a soothing, dusty, half-minute finish. Noticeable minerality on the next sip showing pencil shavings, graphite, and a loamy mouth-coating finish. Slight barnyard still on the nose after one hour in glass, but far from the intensity of the first sniff. Singing into the second hour and then fading a bit on the entry/mid-palate during the third, while the finish continued to appreciate. This wine is certainly ready to drink now with improvement potential for the future. Pleasurable alone, great with roasted chestnuts, and even better with mushroom ravioli and porcini chestnut ragu.
I drank the last of mine long ago --these were such fantastic bottles young that I neglected to save any for aging.
I was a big fan of this wine when it came out. After a couple of years it tasted very rustic. I bought some of the 04’s and loved it on release.
The 01 was their first vintage and it was a huge success, at least with me and Mr Suckling.
Well, they are open for business again and drinking very well. One bottle left, but I may buy more.