Antoine Arena BG

Beguiling aroma of sea air, flowers, and yellow plums with a steely mineral overtone. Deep charge of fruit on the palate with a precise acid frame, excellent grip and focus, with an intense and moving finish. A wine in perfect balance that evokes joy and contemplation. 50 + 17 + 17 + 9 = 93. [Interesting variation of my ratings and notes on this one. I did notice the oxidation after reading the previous notes but have not changed this …

Fairly deep yellow color, pushing towards a light golden. Light but present aromatics of pineapple, honeydew, white flowers, herbs, saline, smoke, and roasted nuts—a different subset of which showing with each whiff. Medium to full body with great texture and mouthfeel, medium acidity and finish, and flavors of lemon, herbs, nut oil, and minerals. While not an overly obvious delight, when given the time and air to sit and appreciate this wine, it's actually quite pleasurable. Worked well with tonight's …

Pale yellow. Pine, burned sugar, Meyer lemon on the nose. Smooth, almost oily mouth feel, watery lemon and quinine on the palate, long finish. Taut, stretched, enigmatic. 50 + 16 + 16 + 7.

Pale yellow. Nuts and raisins on the sherried nose. Very smooth on the palate with lovely dry fruit and a nice aromatic quinine lift at the back, long finish. High class, cool jazz. 50 + 16 + 17 + 8.

Slightly corked. Underneath a nose of pine, good fruit on the palate, probably a good wine without the flaw. [Second day: this is a really delicious wine, with palate drenching sweet stone fruit, lovely acid support, and a long finish. I feel confident enough now to give it a score, assuming the note of TCA is bottle variation.] 50 + 15 + 17 + 8 = 90.