2004 QC Red:
The 2 previous bottles I had were shut down hard. This one was starting to open up. On day two it was almost lush, full of red and purple fruits, and a berry sweetness that I had yet to experience in a red or the big brother cab. The texture was thick and smooth, but there are still solid tannins in the finish and it did take about a half a day to show some sweetness. Ill be drinking the cabs when Im 60.
2003 GAM
The Mitolos have taken a beating of late. This bottling was brash and intense at release and the question has always been do they have the stuffing to go long. Well, this was an entirely different experience than the last time I had it about two years ago. The nose showed lots of cocoa and dark though not over ripe fruit. The palate, however, was full of bright and acidic red fruits. Big palate, but not sweet at all (I kinda miss that), also the chewiness is gone, but the tannins are still there. No overt booze. Frankly I likes this better out of the gate, this wine is going somewhere, its just not there yet. Certainly not declining, just changing, IMHO. I dont know if Ill like the end result more than the first impression, but Ill wait and see.