November 26, 2023 - This is in a great spot. 3 hour decant. Nose: cassis, smoke, blueberries, plum, some tobacco. Palate: blueberries, tobacco, dark chocolate, plum, leather, soft tannins, low acidity, long finish.
September 9, 2023 - At approximately 7 years of age, this wine is showing beautifully and is in a great spot. Still a pretty heavy texture and deep red coloring. Palate and nose of vanilla is the most distinct. This wine is very enjoyable to drink today if decanted, but likely has up to 10 years ahead of peak drinking window.
April 9, 2023 - Wonderful, deep ruby color, slow legs, decanted for 2-hours prior to tasting. Still had plenty of time to age in the cellar.
July 16, 2022 - Deep ruby/purple color with slow legs. New oak, cassis and blackberry inbthe nose. Black cherry , plum and some heat on the palate. Long leathery finish.
July 3, 2022 - Good wine, but still very young. Tannins were quite grippy. Underripe cherry, some smokie characters. Flint. Decent wine for the price .
February 27, 2022 - Decanted 2 hours
Nose is a bit closed. Some smoke, iodine, minerals, Dark chocolate, blackberries, strong hint of tar, cinnamon, butter, decent mouthfeel, but tannins a bit strong still. Weight medium plus, acid medium plus. Some bitterness on ending. Would do well with another 3+ years to smooth out the tannins. Still very good cost performance, but not as good as the last bottle. 91+
January 24, 2022 - 2016 decanted 2 hour
It needed the decant. It was very closed. Heavy dark chocolate on nose. Soy sauce, hint of tar, raspberry jam, hint of pepper, smoked meat, lots of smoke, some mint. Nice wine, but missing the smoothness and mouthfeel of a truly high end new world cab. It is a bit edgy or obtuse. Weight medium, acid medium plus. Should age well. 91+
January 23, 2021 - Chimney Rock's 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is beautiful, precise and impeccably balanced. Floral top note and bright red cherry/plum fruit are very nicely delineated. Medium in body and gracious, the 2016 is super expressive today. The 25% Merlot adds mid-palate softness and helps in giving the wine a good bit of early appeal. What a pretty wine it is.
January 1, 2021 - I agree with MATHWONK, who liked the wine but felt it wasn't worth the money. It's a solid wine for $50-$60, but my price, including tax, from Total Wine & More was $91.79. Very tasty and drinkable, but not sufficiently interesting for the hefty price tag.
October 12, 2020 - Just opened and tasted. Delicious at first, with berry flavors. Then a bit sharp. No depth or weight, not especially smooth. Based on advice here I have decanted it and we will see. Probably does need a few years to mature, but have high hopes for enjoying it after a few more hours.
...Two hours later, not much change, lightweight, makes me long for something like a 2009 Chateau Talbot, at about the same price.
...Over three hours in: my wife is enjoying a glass but to me, the main impression is high alcohol on the nose, even after aerating once. But it is tasty.
...Now 5-6 hours in, it has become better, and was enjoyed with a filet mignon. There is still some in the carafe however that is going ignored, which almost never happens.
The price is high for the quality. and I think an Andrew Will Sorella would have been a better bargain, especially a 2011-2013, or a Talbot from 2009. If you like somewhat thin but flavorful wine, with some sharpness and high alcohol, go for it, but probably wait a few years. Mixing may be in order, as a few tablespoons of this might help some austere french wines. good luck in this crapshoot!
Actually if you like the young flavorful fruit forward CA wines from this vintage, I recommend a Stags Leap Artemis 2016 over this, for a bit over half the price, and ready to drink.
next day: drank the last half glass from the carafe: no better than yesterday, still hard edged and almost bitter rather than sweet. I.e. good quality, but not enjoyable at least at this point in time. Am enjoying a Faustino 2006 rioja much more tonight.