May 24, 2020 - Popped and poured. Pleasantly surprised. Didn't know what to expect but this Simi was really humming. The color was a lovely ruby red with a tiny bit of bricking. Lovely nose of red cherries, that nice California cab style but with some age on it. Just a lovely perfume. In the mouth it was silky smooth, some cherry, chocolate, cedar and dirt. Drinking well now with a bit more life left. Thoroughly enjoyed.
September 14, 2017 - From Art's cellar. Dining alone so I thought I would continue my quest to drink those non-reserve Simi Cabernets! Given the other CT notes on this wine, I considered this a bigger gamble than usual. The wine was a pleasant surprise. Decanted for about an hour and a half. Very little sediment. Wine was clear and still garnet except for the amber rim and thin clear corona. Upon initial decant, the nose had the bitter cherry pits aroma that seems to be a regular facet of older Simi Cabernets before they open up. After resting in the decanter, the bitterness blew off. Once poured in the glass, the nose was reminiscent of freshly-picked blackberries still attached to the leaves. In the mouth, very deep dark fruit, good balance, with some licorice and coffee in the finish. The wine was very smooth, tannins all resolved. Wonderful wine.
October 12, 2013 - - Crimsom color.
October 12, 2013 - - Crimsom color.
December 3, 2010 - Pleasantly surprised, based on the comments others have made. Opened and decanted for an hour before enjoying with fettucine, broccoli, and zucchini.......moderate nose, smooth, with some fruit present. Tannins have subsided, so don't wait any longer. Nice deep color. Not great, but still drinking well and worth enjoying.
June 23, 2010 - This never was very good, but, surprisingly, it still is drinkable, silky smooth just not so much there.
June 7, 2009 - purple garnet fairly clear. just a touch of oxidation. alcohol black fruit olives very nicely aged and balanced. At its peak. blackberry black cherry and liquorice. light to medium-bodied.
February 3, 2009 - Somewhat better experience then most of the other tasting notes. Had a vegetal to cedar nose with a bit of red berry. Still had a decent amount of tannin and needed to air out for an hour or so to open up. Found it definitely opened up even more with our red sauce pasta dinner. Did not find the wine dead at all, just not a great Cab. No reason to wait. Drink now.
January 28, 2008 - Heavier burgundy color. Initial nose revealed orange peel, and date. Swirling added an earthy air. First taste surprised me primarily with olives. The orange peel remains beneath the olive, with a plum finish. I felt it had an unusual feel on the palate--a graininess. The level of acidity was balanced, and the alcohol was not overpowering. I'm afraid I missed the drinkability window with this one. Revisited--Vacuu-Vin'd and put back in the cellar for 4 days. It was terrible this time; primarily sour and yeasty. If you have any of this left, I'd recommend you not serve it at a dinner party.
September 24, 2007 - Nice cherry flavor. This bottle was quite a bit better than we expected. Very enjoyable with lamb chops.