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WTN: 2004 Hook & Ladder The Tillerman red wine

PostPosted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 9:13 pm
by JC (NC)
Sonoma County, Russian River Valley, CA
Cecil DeLoach, winemaker. 15.4% abv. Cabernet Sauvignon 50%, Cabernet Franc 33%, and Sangiovese 17%. Grapes are from Los Amigos Ranch in the northern reach of the Russian River Valley. I purchased this on my first visit to Sonoma County some years ago. I knew at the time that it was a big, robust wine but set it in a box and sort of forgot about it. When I looked at CellarTracker to select a 2004 wine for this tasting series I thought this might be over-the-hill. Not so.
Very dark purple color; opaque. The nose reflects currants and dark raspberries. The same fruits show up on the palate along with spices. Fruity, yet drying on the finish when held in the mouth for a bit of time. Appropriate match for roast beef, steak, bison or perhaps lamb chops. Drinking well now, it could probably hold at this level for several more years. I liked this more than I expected to like it. Recommended for those who like to indulge in an occasional "hedonistic" wine. I would give it 89 or 90 points.