2008 Wellington Victory 750ml 2-Pack

This vintage of Victory has intense and complex aromas of blackberry, black cherry, cinnamon, mocha, cedar, licorice, dark chocolate, and violets.  In has a smooth, supple entry, is rich but never heavy, has mouth watering acidity that leads to a firm, slightly chewy yet not harsh finish that promises great things to come.  The fruit lingers on the palate long after swallowing.  This wine will show its best side at the dinner table – with tannins and acid that cleanse the palate and invite another bite of food.  I like to see how a wine develops over time after opening, but for those who like to decant, yes it will benefit from decanting (and you won’t have to worry about the sediment).  Cellaring will be duly rewarded; I have no reason to doubt that this wine will develop nicely for several more years and hold long after that.

This is not a big, heavyweight “Parker style” wine.  It is elegant and medium-bodied, with a creamy texture, moderate tartness, and firm but not harsh tannins.  It is not a tannic monster that demands aging to be drinkable, but it is still a baby and has all the components that will allow it to age and develop beautifully for at least another decade.  Even though a lot of new oak was used in the blend, there is no obvious oak in the aromas.  The oak does show up on the finish, and will continue to integrate with the other components of the wine during aging, adding length and richness to the finish.

• 91 points, Wine Enthusiast