Delish!

The 2004 Almaviva is now showing more evidence of the Carmenere in the blend than it had a month or so ago... a great bottle, but you have to like the Chilean style - green peppercorn, mint, eucalyptus with blackcurrants. The 1994 Opus One is past its prime... notes of anise, cedar, cigar box, tobacco leaves, black currant and cherries. You could tell that this wine was something special at some point, but was now just tired and faded... my last bottle in the cellar. The 2003 Bond "Vecina" is very, very good, it's just not as good as the 2001 or 2002 Bond's I've had in the past, but that should be expected as 2003 was an inconsitant vintage - and lighter than the 2002 and 2001s in almost all cases. Made my Bill Harlan, there are 4 single vineyard wines that are made under the Bond label - Melbury, St. Eden, Vecina, and the newest, Pluribus. A sweet nose of cassis, mint, blackcurrant, black cherries, plums and a bit of graphite. On the palate, the wine is not overly concentrated, with more of an elegant style. The sweet fruit is predominate on the palate, with lots of glycerol burning a little on the way down. Not as nicely balanced as it could, or should, be. In all honesty, I was expecting more...