'97 Flora Springs Trilogy

[newsguy]

over the past few years, i've been collecting classic wines to drink with my brother for his 50th birthday celebration, which will be this new year's eve. but i've gotten so many -- and so many different types -- it'll be impossible to appreciate them all at one dinner with a common cuisine. so i've decided to start including one with the wines that i bring to my brother's when he has us over to dinner. last night was the first: the '97 trilogy.

simply put, this will be a classic wine, but's it's not ready.

medium dark reddish purple, with a very reticent nose that gave up a bit of earthy dark fruits. this is practically closed down right now. but there are remarkable flavors of perfumy dark fruits lurking in that bottle. and after a couple hours in the decanter they really started to shine. the '99 triology was drinking so beautifully last month (i probably should have scored it a 93 instead of 92), i thought the '97 would be close to the top of its game. it's not, probably another 2 or 3 years away. wait at least another year before opening one, and then plan to give it at least an hour or two in the decanter. when this hits its peak, i expect it will be in the 94-96 point range.

[winoweenie]

Think I've posted on this killer bottle this past year. Always on my "Must Buy" list IMHO one of the top 3 Meritages in every vintage I've tasted. Been on a 97 kick meeself since vacating my sabbatical posting on one rite after this. WW