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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.6 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 68 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by t0pshelf on 5/22/2023: This is a magnum which I expected to sit much longer but I noticed the cork starting to pucker so figured I better at least hit it with the Coravin to see what's going on. Indeed it's starting to turn, and while it remains drinkable it's not retained much fruit or tannic structure. Oh well. (589 views) | | | Tasted by mflesh on 1/19/2022: I'd say this one is a touch past prime. Enjoyed one glass via Coravin and the rest on another night. The nose is mushroom au jus with blackberries. Fart box (not a typo). In its younger days, this one was was a blackberry rich infusion. It still has blackberry notes today but apricot, figs, dates and prunes are here as well along with some worn saddle leather. Finishes with resolving, rounded tannins and muted black pepper. This is enjoyable but you really have to like Napa Cabernet that has started to slide down the hill a bit. If you are a fan of the dense, youthful black and slightly unilateral "Napacab", this one is not in your wheelhouse. If you like the more mature and raucous qualities, this one seems to have the structure to give you that profile for at least the next 5-7 years. Little surprised that this Oakville wine didn't hold a little bit longer on the youthful side, as usually these wines stay a very nice aged red fruit profile for quite a while. (1434 views) | | | Tasted by angryphoton on 8/7/2021 & rated 89 points: As expected, this is a big unabashed modern CA cab, not gloopy but also not that exciting. Great with full bodied food like braised shortribs but in the end, not a wine I would buy again. (1218 views) | | | Tasted by KlinkandKlank on 9/26/2020 & rated 89 points: This wine is one of my favorites.
I just decanted the wine, and hope I can edit this note after finishing the bottle after it opens. Right away there is a light, fruit taste that I hope will mellow after decanting. (1654 views) | | | Tasted by wythes on 4/10/2020 & rated 94 points: I'm giving this wine 94 points because both my wife and I were blown away with this bottle. Classic Napa cab with just a tinge of age to it. My guess is this wine could go another 7-10 years easily. Wish I had more of the '09 vintage. Unfortunately this was my last bottle. I hope later vintages are as good as this one. (1855 views) | | | Tasted by AEROSMITH on 8/18/2017 & rated 90 points: yummy berries. many years left but couldn't wait (3439 views) | | | Tasted by Terramare on 4/10/2017 & rated 86 points: Somewhat disappointed in this particular bottle, which seems to be slightly past its peak. Still went fine with our NY Strip steaks, but seemed a bit thin compared to a number of other well-known Yountville/Oakville Cabs that we've had in recent years. We are fairly partial to moderate-to-heavy reds, but not really fans of this one. (2908 views) | | | Tasted by TallMikeWine on 3/6/2017 & rated 90 points: Definite in the zone. Might have another year or two left in the tank, but I felt as though it was beginning to wane. Only medium bodied, still good red fruit, very ripe. Tannins and acid in check. Time to get some red meat roasting and drink up! (2990 views) | | | Tasted by iamandyc on 2/27/2017 & rated 91 points: In a good spot with some decanting and not sure I see it getting better with more age. Drank over three days and was best on days 1 and 2. Very dark and opaque. Dark fruited with viscous, velvety mouthfeel. Structure waned over the three days and all tannin and acidity gone by end -- but there was nice energy on Day 1. Some spice and creamy oak come thru on the finish. (2729 views) | | | Tasted by LordByron on 2/9/2016 & rated 93 points: A superb bottle of wine; great cab taste with lots of black fruit, a strong, full mouth feel, spice, complex, yet nicely balanced, with lots of room for further development; wish I had more bottles in my cellar; what a marvelous treat; wonderful finish! (3383 views) | | | Tasted by SonnyChiba on 10/27/2015 & rated 92 points: Classic Oakville Cab. Rich, full bodied with ripe plum, currant, and layers of black fruit. Still youthful but very approachable. Delicious. (2154 views) | | | Tasted by blabbott on 10/20/2015 & rated 91 points: This is a very big, fruit forward wine. There is some plum in the nose and the flavors include dark fruit and plum plus earth, tannins, leather and spice. The wine is dry and it has a very long spicy finish. Excellent bottle of wine! (1826 views) | | | Tasted by folsomarndt on 5/1/2015 & rated 94 points: Decanted for 30min. A beautiful and well polished Oakville cab with dark fruits, lots of blackberry and black cherry flavors, thats extremely well balanced with velvety yet firm tannins, a touch of minerals, cassis, and a pleasant lingering finish. Oh, so good and drinking nicely at this stage...glad I've got a couple more!! (2187 views) | | | Tasted by Fbarba on 9/7/2013 & rated 91 points: Very good cab for the money, bright fruit at first, then the tannins coat your tongue and u get that nice finish. Really easy to drink. Should get better with time but its already at a wonderful place. (5379 views) | | | Tasted by sandwich on 8/3/2013 & rated 92 points: Needs at least an hour decant. Very typical cab and on par with other well known cabs at the same price. (4473 views) | | | Tasted by Rktekt3 on 6/24/2013 & rated 91 points: Ok cab. Obviously better than ok but not great. (4718 views) | | | Tasted by ShaneO on 5/18/2013 & rated 91 points: Really nice wine and good quality for the money. Comparing side-by-side with a 2007 Paradigm CS, I'm not sure this is a fair fight but I wouldn't expect it to be. This bottle has been open about 2 1/2 hours at this point. The nose gives you dark fruit with a hint of spice. On the palate, you get a good fruit level, the cloves drop off and you get a nice structure with good tannins. This is in my opinion, the epitome of Oakville; good ripe fruit layered with tannin and a long finish. (2060 views) | | | Tasted by SonnyChiba on 4/11/2013 & rated 94 points: Such a great wine - pure oakville, napa cab. Delicious, not too over the top, nice smooth tannins, dark fruit flavors, touch a of spice. Have had a few other vintages as well as their reserve, and just love this wine, and the 09' is another fantastic one. (2314 views) | | | Tasted by JR_Boston on 3/29/2013 & rated 94 points: Huge tannins, great wine (2003 views) | | | Tasted by dekehayes on 1/27/2013 & rated 92 points: Excellent. Garnet color. Very enticing nose. Great Oakville cab. (2562 views) | | | Tasted by BigBoy_Sonoma on 12/31/2012 & rated 91 points: Dark Fruit, spice, smokey oak, well balanced. A- (2239 views) | | | Tasted by JJB007 on 12/28/2012 & rated 97 points: excellent w/bold foods, especially spicy...compliments without stealing the show. Can also stand alone with elegance...a bit woody and masculine. (2983 views) | | | Tasted by sasvino on 12/12/2012 & rated 92 points: Business dinner so I did not take detailed notes but recall medium to full bodied, good structure and fruit flavors, midpalate had good depth, should improve with time. -S (2025 views) | | | Tasted by JJB007 on 11/17/2012 & rated 96 points: was awesome (3217 views) | | | Tasted by affordableCollector on 9/15/2012 & rated 87 points: dark red in color. forest floor, strawberry, sweet on the nose. cherry, cranberry, raisin on the palate. low acid, medium tannins on the finish. (2411 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, The 2009 Napa Valley Cabernets at Age 10 (Jul 2019) (7/1/2019)
(Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (oakville) Napa Valley Red) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Ghost Block Producer websiteCabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon is probably the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.
Used as frequently in blends as in varietal wines, Cabernet Sauvignon has a large number of common blending partners. Apart from the obvious Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prevalent of these are Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere (the ingredients of a classic Bordeaux Blend), Shiraz (in Australia's favorite blend) and in Spain and South America, a Cabernet – Tempranillo blend is now commonplace. Even the bold Tannat-based wines of Madiran are now generally softened with Cabernet SauvignonEstateIn the United States, "Wines with “estate bottled” designations must: a) also designate an appellation of origin or an AVA, and both the vineyards and the winery must be located there; b) the grapes must come from vineyards owned or controlled by the winery; and c) the wine must have been produced, from crush to bottle, in a continuous process without leaving the winery’s premises."
- WINE LABEL FAQS: A QUICK SUMMARY OF LABEL DESIGNATION RULES" by David E. StollUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa Valley Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Oakville |
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