This is a WOW wine for me.
TN written at 3 1/2 hours after pouring first glass.

Color is super dark, hard to even see through the edges.
The very obvious nose of blue and black fruit is layered in dark chocolate.
The palate entry is big and fruity... Black and blue fruit, with tons of chocolate. It's multi layered and doesn't fade due to it's super complexity. Very structured with great balancing acidity and thick tannin. The finish is very luscious black fruit and tar with an aftertaste that seems to last forever. I hope I'm not tempted to open another one of these for at least 4 years, with this easily going 10 or more.
Rev rates it: 94. This is simply terrific, and the best malbec I've ever had. A point or two better than the '99. LOVE IT.

Where does this wine come from, Rev?

jb

JB... Looks like Argentina, with Michael Rolland involved in the project.

Yes, it's located in Salta (northern Argentina, near Bolivia). Hmm... I guess we should move this thread?

Michael Rolland is actually one of the owners of the San Pedro de Yachochuya winery. Yacochuya is their top wine, and probably one of the best from Argentina right now. They also produce "San Pedro de Yacochuya", a 2nd red (both reds are Malbec with some CS), and "San Pedro de Yacochuya Torrontés", a white wine.

I thought so. Bad, Revlis!

jb

Oops. I've made two huge blunders now.... didn't search for the 2001 Paul Hobbs Tn, and now, put this TN in the wrong place! I shouldn't drink and TN anymore.

I believe I can get the 99 for around $26. Is it a buy at that price? TIA

YES! The 2000 goes for $55 here in Maryland. The '99 is at least as good as the 2000.

Thanks Lou:

The actual price is $25, and it is the same wine as I checked last night.

No problem, enjoy!!

Also, see the Tikal Amorio thread.

The 99 was my revelation! I have 5 left and think I know where a few more are hiding.

Here is part of my tasting note:

1999 version:
This is an Argentinian wine from Michel Rolland.

.. with dinner last night, opened, and not decanted. (It needs decanting!)

Dark purple and black, smooth and leggy, opened up beautifully over the 60-90 minutes. Deep licorice and black cherry? aromas and flavor, with a bite upon openeing that blew off after 10 minutes. Plenty of tannin for the long haul, but there was also plenty of flavor making a powerful, mostly balanced wine. Loved this.

DBW points 92+

- bought this to try and will go get 4-6 more and lay a few down! I think I paid $25 but WS shows it as a $60 wine. Once in a blue moon, Pennsylvania has specials that are steals.

DBW

i need to see if they have any locally.

Tony - If you can't find one locally, I can hook you up with one when I see you next month. I have 10 bottles of the 2000 and I baby each and every one of them

Wine-searcher showed the 2000 for $55 at D. Sokolin Co in New York.

My local shop has it at $55 too, but I get it for $47.

Had the 2000 last night with Paul Homchick, Eric Lundblad, and Skwid. I opened it in part because I remembered the favorable comments on this thread, as well as Lou declaring it his wine of the month recently.

Well, right now this is the most tannic wine I've ever tasted out of bottle. Its what I imagine a Dunn barrel sample tastes like. Nice nose, and the attack is powerful and deep -- but it lasts only half a second before the tannins take over. Its like a disappearing wine -- the tannins overwhelm and erase the fruit.

It was kind of funny, we were drinking a 1998 Rudd Jericho and debating whether it was too tannic, with Paul in the too-tannic camp. This was opened, Paul tasted it, and just about fell out of his chair as he declared the Rudd wasn't so tannic after all!

This bottle was largely wasted being opened at this point. I do believe the (huge) fruit will last long enough for the tannins to soften and integrate, but that is several years away IMO. I think our unanimous view was that this wine should be cellared for quite a while yet.

I was tempted to open another one recently (even though I didn't want to for another three years), so thanks for the TN. I think I'll wait!

I've seen this for $42.50 recently (but not sure about current availability).

The 2000 ?

Yes - not sure if they still have it (but it's listed in their inventory).