An old friend returns. This is unintentionally turning into another Catena week, but who cares if it's good, right?
I believe the Luca series gets the most coverage on this site, year in and year out. It's no secret we are big fans of this, as it hits square in the bullseye of value on price and quality. It's high-end without paying high-end prices. Great expectations are faced here, so let's find out if this year's vintage is up to snuff.
Nose: Cherry bomb, with both black and red cherry alternating back and forth with time. Some savory spice and gentle balsamic coming up from below on subsequent passes. Some chocolate and espresso notes expand and meld with the cherry.
Palate: Continues forward with the nose, and is incredibly approachable with rich texture. More fruit on the second sip than the first, but the spice and chocolate expand before the espresso leads toward the finish.
Finish: Long. Quite long. The espresso builds steadily after I swallow but picks up more fruit as the black cherry has the last word here.
Once again, it's all good over in Lucaland. Consistently wonderful from start to finish, every year. Will most likely cut and paste this review next year, as I am overly confident that the quality will not fade.
$35