Was unfamiliar with this one as it was a gift from a relative. Did some research and found it is from Orfila Vineyards in Escondido, California. What intrigued me was the blend: Mourvedre, Carignane, Syrah, Cinsout, Zinfandel, and Sangiovese. According to their Web site, the price point is/was around $16; no mention of the ’99, but they do say the 2000 is sold out.
Day 1: Not so sure about this one; not much on the nose and weak palate. However, as the glass started to empty, I have to say it started to open a bit. Got some berry and vanilla and a touch of spice on the finish.
Day 2: Have to say this is getting better; opening up well. The nose is a bit more pronounced with berry, plum, and vanilla on both the nose and palate. The finish still comes thru with some spice. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?
Day 3: OK, so I left it in the cellar so I could attend a tasting.
Day 4: Seems to have opened more, but just to experiment with a new toy, I left the bottle on the Perfect Sommelier (see:http://www.bettervino.com/) for about an hour. The harshness actually became more smooth, the nose was a bit more noticable (smoke, licorice, and a hint of earthiness), the palate was more pronounced, and the finish gathered a bit of smoke and spice.