Have to agree with several notes here. Especially cutthroattrout. I think CH got ahold of some very good Cali Cab. My initial impression years ago was that this was a good but not great wine. After a 4 hour slo ox and 2 hour decant, this wine was very good,indeed. Deep dark color with no browning. Strong nose of plums, dark fruit and seondary layers. Full bodied Smooth mouthfeel, ameliorated but present sweet tannins, balanced, long finish. Drinks like a high end Cali Cab. Very suprising and enjoyable.
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Opened a bottle of this wine about 7 years ago and thought it needed more age. So I buried the the remaining 11 bottles into a corner of my cellar.
PNP tonight and my first reaction was Wow, this is a good wine. Very fruit forward, soft tannins, good acid balance, well integrated oak. Good fruit length, Plums and Blueberry.
Great value, drinks like a much more expensive Napa Cab.
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Very nicely drinking right now. Nice balance of fruit, oak, tannins. Nice nose of berries, cassis, typical cabernet. Tannins are still present and add to the balanced structure. Can go a few more years with proper storage. Very pleasant with food or by itself.
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Nice and an easily quaffable wine. Long wine legs indicate the higher alcohol levels. Black berries, tobacco, green peppers, and leather on the nose. Medium bodied and short finish. Does not have the tannic structure to give it a back bone and interest. Likeable, but not memorable wine.
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Lost my note on this from a couple weeks ago. Last bottle. Suffice it to say, I continue to be impressed by the evolution of this wine. Really, a fine example of Napa cab with a mix of valley and mountain fruits, blue and black with polished tannins and nice balance.
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wow, great nose, lots of fruit. On PNP, still tight, but after 3 hrs, opened up, very smooth and balanced wine. Cellaring my other 3 bottles to see this evolve.
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Weekend with Dad Up North; 8/4/2017-8/5/2017: Very dark red/purple color. PNP, drank 2 glasses over 2 hours. Boy, has this come a long way, and it has now entered into the peak drinking window. Classic Napa cab nose with pretty dark fruits, black currants, blackberry, and dark raspberry, integrated wood spice, some damp earth tones, and graphite. The palate is where I think there's been the most development. This was really seamless, with silky tannins, soft texture, and bright dark berry and cherry fruits that layer nicely and don't come off as jammy or too forward. This has been quite good for the last couple years, but it has taken another big step. Kinda wish I'd have sat on more of these.
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Just a small pour, but again showing more depth and balance. Black fruits and the herbal notes are there on the palate. Full body with nicely rounding tannins.
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Continue to be impressed with this wine. Storage may explain the bottle variation - mine have been climate controlled since release. Menthol and cassis.
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You can tell this wine was not well made and not a cellar selection. Menthol, cherry cough syrup and oak chip over load. Was better young. Drinkable but in the same league as Columbia Crest Grand Estates.
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PnP. Next time I will decant for at least 2 hours. Great QPR for $25.00. Dark red fruits on the nose, nice smooth finish. This is drinking well now. It still has at least 5 more years.
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Our neighborhood wine club gathered to compare CH cabs. I thought it would be interesting to have a 'Century Smack-Down' by comparing lots #200, 300, 400 and 500. I decanted each bottle three hrs then re-bottled. We tasted in random blind fashion with enough left over to retry. In addition to rank ordering favorites, we asked to pick the oldest. Amazingly, one person ranked all four in sequential year order (dumb luck Carl?).
6 men and 3 women voted: Lot Overall 1st Last 200 (2nd) 3 2 300 (1st) 2 0 400 (3rd) 2 2 500 (4th) 2 5
Interestingly, 1st place votes were evenly distributed, but after adding all votes, Lot #300 was deemed the night's winner. Splitting hairs between 90 pt CT-scored wines was challenging, but someone had to do it :) We heard Lot #600 is on its way.
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Decanted for about 40 minutes. Dusty and spicy nose Plummy fruit with mocha notes hiding behind still overly robust tannins. Should be fantastic in 2017 or so.
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Amazingly dark with no signs of age. N: Loads of rich Napa fruit, espresso and oak. P: Rich, dark cherry, raspberry, coffee. Medium + acidity kept the fruit from being too much, with balanced tannins. Medium-full body. F: Medium+ with more fruit and excellent acidity. This seemed surprisingly young and got better with a 2 hour decant. I really wish I had more. 92-93
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Another good bottle: Very nice wine. Ruby red, with a slight purple tinge. Cassis, raspberry, a little tar, herbs. Medium-full weight. Firm tannins, but no sharp edges. Delicious fruit, great balance.
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Very dark red /purple color. PNP with bottle aerator, drank 2 glasses over 2 hours. Well this was finally what I've been looking for, and I don't totally regret this purchase. There's a nice mix of rich lush fruit on the nose an palate, black currant, black cherry. The palate has integrated with pleasant wood spice and a fresh herbal quality that is just restrained enough. very silky tannins now and showing a nipe mulberry, velvety finish. Another big crowd pleaser that had everyone asking for more.
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The wine looks garnet colored. There is light sediment in the bottle. It tastes like fig, raisin and espresso. The body is medium/full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
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This bottle was pretty typical of what has come before. PNP, with aeration into glasses. Nice black fruit aromas, lots of wood spice; still has some sharp oak edges on the palate and plenty of spice, tannins are fairly round.
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Deep dark purple in color. Thick, lasting legs. Initially the nose was subdued and smelled of candle wax; however after an hour, it's morphed into a big, expressive wine. Distinct notes of chocolate, tobacco, cassis, espresso, and blue berries. On the palate the finish is long; easily lingering for 60 seconds (wonderful). Medium tannins, with medium viscosity, and distinct oak finish. You can almost taste terroir here; reminds me of Oakville. This wine has changed tremendously since the last bottle I had a year or two ago. Still tons of time left in this wine. Great value...wish I had more.
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Similar to the last bottle: Very nice wine. Ruby red, with a slight purple tinge. Cassis, raspberry, a little tar, herbs. Medium-full weight. Firm tannins, but no sharp edges. Delicious fruit, great balance.
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Dark purple red color. PNP, but still needs some air and opens over 30 minutes. Drank1 glass over an hour. This was pretty similar to the last bottle I had - lots of blueberry and cassis with dark chocolate and wood spice . I don't see much evolution here.
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Menthol and camphor on the nose; black cherry, raspberry, and a savory herbal note on the palate, with just enough acidity to save it from tasting cheap. This is a decent Cabernet for the price, but I don't think it lives up to the "Lot 200!" hype. It's too fruity and not structured enough for me to want more, which is good because this was my last bottle.
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Light ruby color. Bright raspberry and plum with dust notes on the expressive nose. Don't be fooled by the light color, this wine is huge. Mouth coating layers of red fruits and dusty tannins dominate through to the long dry finish. Powerful and elegant.
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Very nice wine. Ruby red, with a slight purple tinge. Cassis, raspberry, a little tar, herbs. Medium-full weight. Firm tannins, but no sharp edges. Delicious fruit, great balance. Other CH wines can be a gamble, but the Cabs have been consistently good.
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Better on a pop and pour than last bottle. Minerals, red currants, chocolate and sweet spices. Medium finish and easy drinking. Not super complex but for under $30 a good value.
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Once again, great grapes make grape wine. There's some oak here for sure, but also wonderful fruit, sweet soft tannins, very nice -- wish I had more than one left
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Very dark red/purple color. Decanted for 60 minutes. Drank a small pour upon opening and another glass after the decant. This was markedly better than the last time I checked on this. Good with aeration out of the bottle and even better with some additional air. Nose has ripe fruits of mulberry, cassis, blueberry, spices, dried herbs, some oak. The palate is concentrated and full bodied, cassis, mulberry, spice, oak, moderate round tannins. This has rounded out nicely and integrated well and should improve a bit more. This is just hitting its drinking window.
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Great berry favors on the nose. Great traditional Napa Cab. Well integrated oak and med-mild tannin. Balance of tannin / acid very good. Med finish. Wish I had more of this in the cellar...
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Interesting. Last bottle, consumed 2 years ago was fantastic. I opened this bottle about 2 hours before pouring. It was astringent with a bitter finish that lingered. So, I decanted the rest of the bottle and left it for about 1/2 hour. The difference was astounding. Plums and chocolate were evident on the palate and all bitterness was gone. The finish was silky with mild tannins and a bit of coffee. This was a dramatic example of the benefit of decanting! Still wasn't as good as I noted the former bottle but plenty enjoyable.
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Revisiting this wine after a year. Somewhat less impressed this go-round. Sweet dark fruit flavor with some herbs on the finish, reminded me a bit of boysenberry syrup. Not terribly complex. Adequate acidity and a med+ finish. Tannins are soft and unobtrusive.
A respectable wine, but the sweetness really throws me off. I feel like I've outgrown Cameron Hughes wine -- too much mystery in where the grapes are from, the winemaking techniques, etc. All in all, they seem to be made in a style that is immediately appealing to "advanced beginners" -- not my thing, but not criticizing those who enjoy.
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Vertical Tasting of 200, 300, 400. Lot-200 Earthy high mineral dark ruby will continue to age nicely Lot-300 minerals with subtly fruit can age many more years Lot-400 ready to go now no need to wait subtle crowd pleaser TODAY fruity floral almost sweet
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Vertical Tasting of 200, 300, 400. Lot-200 Earthy high mineral dark ruby will continue to age nicely Lot-300 minerals with subtly fruit can age many more years Lot-400 ready to go now no need to wait subtle crowd pleaser TODAY fruity floral almost sweet
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3rd out of 7 that I bought. Keep hoping this one is going to get better. Don't get me wrong - this wine has nice aromas of plush fruit, a little bit of mint and a slight dusty character that is real nice, but overall this wine is not as complex a I would like. Nice smooth, medium finish, but again, nothing that really blows me away. I will probably wait another year to try bottle #4 and hope it develops some secondary characteristics and a more complex profile.
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Dark and fruity, with smoooooooth tannins. If I had a criticism, it be that the tannins were TOO suppressed, so I don't get some of the criticisms I read here. Nonetheless, a delightful pour.
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A very ordinary California cab, no better than many other "name" California Cabs at same price point. Drank this with a group of people with a number of different bottles, this did not show well.
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I consumed this bottle over a few hour period and it started out a little tight, however, once it started to open it was quite good. There was definite fruit and the tannins were well integrated. Overall, very good wine value.
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Decanted 6 hrs, dense ruby color, nose seems more alcoholic than previous, medium mouthfeel, long finish with some grip, too much heat/green notes on finish for me, definitely lost some appeal compared to 8 months ago, will wait another year.
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It's starting to hit it's stride. It could have used more than the hour I gave it in the decanter, as the last glass was the best one. Gorgeous nose of your typical Napa Cab - Cassis, dark plums, caramel, expensive oak. Needs another year of rest, then should hold for 5+ years. Glad I have 9 more to follow. Very nice. 91
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Brought a bottle to a six bottle blind wine tasting. It came in second against other cabs. Beautiful aroma, dark purple, long legs, rich and full bodied. Definitely needs a long decant time to live up to its full potential. We will wait a year before we try another bottle.
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Dark, smooth, mildly tanic. Plum/cherry early. Velvet mid-palate. Mild earth with too early of a finish. Opened up later after being decanted for more than 3 hours. Great for the money though.
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Very dark red purple color. I decided to check in on this wine again, and that was probably a mistake. I have to seriously question all the high scores on this wine right now. The reality is it is not really in any different place than it was about a year ago. I drank this wine over three days, with a very similar experience to the last two bottles. Decanting does not help this wine sufficiently at this point IMHO. Clearly there is big fruit here, both Rutherford and Howell Mountiain characteristics show through. But this is so oaky and spicy out of the gate, I can't enjoy it. There is still the heat and a stemy quality, worse day 1, a little better day 2. Finally on day 3 when you're ready to give up on it, a ray of hope emerges. Day 1: oak, spice, dust, tobacco, loads of black licorice, heat, black fruits; the palate is dense and chewy, heat, oaky, very spicy and obnoxious tannins. Day 3: A mix of black fruit featuring cassis and mulberry along with some red current, black cherry, dusty, tobacco, a little licorice, on the nose and palate. The tannins soften pretty dramatically and the oak integrates well. It actually comes off pretty suave at this point. Day 1: 87 Day 3: probably approaches 90. My score is a generous hybrid of where this is at. Still needs 2+ years.
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The nose and color is dynomite. Overall I am very satisfied that I jumped on a case of this when it hit the clearance rack at Sam's ($14). Cassis and blueberries galore. Solid 91
Huge hit when brought out after a six wine blind tasting of highly rated Napa Cabs. Opened one last fall and it was very tight. Not the case now. Really coming into its own.
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I have a case of this wine and when I tasted a bottle a year ago, it seemed too "young". That's not the case anymore. I decanted two hours in advance. Wonderful aromas. Balanced. Not overpowering, but not wimpy either.
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I liked this wine a lot, even with just being popped open a few hours it showed well, nice dark fruits - cassis stands out. A hint of graphite and nice oak treatment. Overall very well balanced and such a pleasurable wine with a great color, nose and finish. Would buy again.
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The very deep purple suggested there might be more than this wine delivered. It is without the flaws that usually accompany "bargain" wines and this suggests the wine was sourced from a reputable supplier. However, in the mouth the wine just didn't do much except offer a pleasant, but rather bland experience. For the money, it's hard to complain.
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Lovely reddish purple color. Some sweetness and forest floor on the nose. Flavors of sweet dark fruit flavor with some green pepper on the finish. Big-medium wine, but not as massive as many Cabs. Not much complexity. Velvety tannins. Wine is no longer my style, but there's definitely some pedigree showing through.
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Decanted for about an hour then drank with a dog's dinner of wonton soup and Indonesian-style chicken and peanut sauce over brown rice, then on the next night with rice and parmagianno cakes and spinach. Very dark, inky color. Opulent, foresty nose. Deep, dark fruit flavors, soft, velvety tannins. Really nice right now, but I have 5 more bottles to go. Let's check in 6 months down the road.
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Decanted 6 hrs, dense purple color, bright/crisp nose, medium mouthfeel, long balanced finish with some tannins. Tasted blind with wine club. Group consensus was 4th place behind 2001 Silver Oak Alexander Valley, 2005 Paul Hobbs Napa Valley, and 2007 Hughes Wellman Cabs, respectively. I rated higher than group.
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I now understand why all the other reviews seem to struggle to put a finger on this one. It's got lots of power, this one has substance, you can watch it coat the glass and slowly roll down. The problem is that there is no one stand out flavor or smell, its a smooth blend but with power. Wine this good you expect more on the nose, but where it lacks in the front it more than makes up for in the finish. This one will age well, might hold onto my other bottles for a while. Decant at least 30-60 minutes.
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Was VERY difficult but I waited a year to taste based on reviews, aroma jumped out of the bottle after uncorking, poured through Nuance, decanted 7 hrs, love the nearly opaque dark ruby color, get vanilla and dark fruit nose, medium mouthfeel, balanced dusty tannins, long finish with slight spice/oak, wife said "that's nice", agreed, looks/feels delicate but has bold finish.
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Probably better than the 07 Mondavi, but this seems to have shut down a bit since the ones I drank on release. It is a very good wine but for $28, I would like more. I will wait a bit on the next bottle, or perhaps give it some air. Everything is here, but it left me wanting more. Jury is still out for now.
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Allowed to breath for about an hour before trying to a full glass. This is a respectable wine at this price point; dark ruby color with notes of dark fruits, a touch of spiciness, and perhaps even some tobacco and plum. As others have said below, the palate is concentrated with dark berry fruits and a spicy character; however, the finish still has quite a bite to it. Even after several hours the tannins were a bit much for my liking. On the contrary though, it did pair well with a bold beef stew that helped mellow out some of the mouth feel (there was a glass of it in the stew! yum). I think this wine has many more years left and I probably won't even open another bottle for a year or two.
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Popped and poured. Medium-plus dark ruby hue. Aromas of dark cherry fruits, dark berries, anise, and an earthy quality along with a touch of oak. Medium-plus body. On the palate, the fruit is subtle yet in a nice way, with dark fruits, currant, and again, a faint earthiness throughout. Toasted oak lingers on the somewhat clipped finish, with astringent tannins on the end. Seems to be at an awkward or closed stage right now. Probably best to age for a few more years before openiing another.
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Decanted 2 hrs prior. Shy nose, some wild berry, black currants, dusty earth. Palate is moderately concentrated, fresh, with dusty tannins on the back end. Ripe crystalline fruit with red berry highlights. Just a touch of heat. Lengthy milk chocolate finish with currants, earth, and vanilla cream. Nice wine, slightly disjointed on the mid palate, but should come together. Shows as a nice $35 cab, but not the $50 level. Still a nice bargain.
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Dark fruits and spice on the nose with some heat. The palate is not good with a medicine like quality along with spice and chocolate. Medium finish. This is not as good as the first bottle and did not improve over a few days.
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I wanted to try another bottle of this to see where it was at. The answer for me is not close yet. Dark red purple color. The color just coats the glass and hangs, very rich and concentrated. The nose is black fruits, cassis, blackberry, spice, tobacco. After 2 days, the earth emerges and some licorice. The palate again is concentrated, very drying tannins at this point, oaky, spicy, black fruits and some heat. I did not find this pleasant on day one, and not much better on day 2. By day 3 this was beginning to settle down and come together showing some promise. I am going to let this sit for a good year before revisiting.
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Vinturi'd: Nose consists of loads of plum, black currants, cassis, vanilla, and other dark fruits. The palate is smooth and balanced, with dark fruit, suttle spices, and sweet tannins.
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Enjoyable Cabernet, but nothing jumps out at me right now. That said, I do think this can develop with a few more years under it, as it does seem like it just hasn't come out of it's shell just yet. Good berry and slight oak flavors, a bit tight, but still enjoyable all on it's own.
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This is my second bottle of this wine. I remember the first bottle being more approachable. This seems to be closing down a bit and I will sit on my remianing 6 bottles. FWIW - I find CH Lot 189 much more ready to drink right now.
Nose - Somewhat closed but classic currant and cassis....very nice Taste - Dark fruits with drying tannins; good structure, medium to full body.
I rate this 90 points right now as it is a very good Napa Cabernet, but $28 gets you some really good juice right now (if you shop around). If I were grading on potential I might go 91-92, but right now 90 seems right.
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I read it was too early to drink but after 1 hour, this wine drinks nicely. Medium bodied, cassis and black cherry, picked up eucalyptus and maybe a small amount of cigar box. After an hour open it was much nicer than the first glass. Next one I'll decant for several hours before trying.
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Nice rich plum and dark fruit, but just didn't come together for me. Structure was slightly flabby. Not very complex. A very good wine, but high expectations were set. Didn't get big tannins as some have had but definitely some very rich fruit with some dark licorice flavors. I'll lay the last few down for awhile the rich dark fruit has a decent finish already and could develop very nicely.
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Drank over two nights. It took a couple of hours to open then was good to go. Nice cassis flavors, a bit too much primary oak, but I am sure it will integrate. This drinks well and on Day 2, was very smooth. I should move these to the "hold" section of the cellar, at least for a few years.
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Nice nose, shy, creamy chocolate with currant undertones. Palate is rich and concentrated, with toasty mocha notes and pleasant ripe fruit flavors of currants and berries. Finishes with nice depth, gritty tannins, mocha earth and a pleasing mineral note. Nice for the price. On night two this was more shut down and showing more austerity, still good but not as enjoyable 89
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Dense, dark color. Lots of dark fruit. Structure is pretty in your face. Tannins are strong and chalky on the fairly long finish. This is a big wine, but didn't live up to my expectations, set by Mr. Hughes. It definitely needs a couple of years in the bottle, and I might buy a couple for this purpose if I can get more.
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On first tasting, very acidic and heavy tannin. Then, decanted wine for 6 hours, after that continued to open up and taste improved significantly. Very high quality Cali Cab, good value at $27. I plan on buying more and cellaring for 2-3 years. I heard a rumor it was acquired from Scarecrow winery (rated 98-100 pts)
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OK...I'm blown away, seriously. Never expected this wine to be THIS good. Opened 5 hours before drinking. Did not decant. Nose of berries. Smooooth tannins. Not jammy but delicious flavors of plums, chocolate ending with licorice. Yes! I actually tasted all 3 of these. Will wait at least a year before trying the next bottle but this was very very satisfying.
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Rather shy nose of cassis, lavender, and vanilla. Lush bright red fruit palate, with fine polished tannins and a moderate length vanilla creamy finish. I like this for the money. Quite refined. Not sure it will age.
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Cecile's Wine Cellar Friday Tasting (McLean, VA): holy cow what a nose - incredibly strong, expressive, and rich. If the palate matched the nose, this could be a 95. the palate features chocolate and dark fruit, with a dry, chalky mouthfeel and a medium finish.
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Deep red color with strong glycerine legs. Took about an hour and a half to fully open but the nose has a wonderful aroma with hints of blackberries, cedar and vanilla truffles. Well balanced on the pallet. Medium body with warm tannins and traces of toasted cocoa and ground spices with a silky smooth finish short-to-medium in length (15-20 seconds)
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Great bottle. Did not know what to expect from this. Great nose of blackberries and licorice. Very nice on palette wtih very smooth tanin structure. This drinks like a $60+ bottle of Calif Cab. I only bought one bottle, I am wanting more. Great QPR.
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I let this 1st bottle air out and this is a day 4 review. Mocha, blackberries, spices, oak, vanilla and violets. If you drink this now I recommend a six hour decant. The wine is more concentrated and really showing like a $60 Napa Cabernet. Highly recommended wine at this point and I am glad I saved some for the experiment.
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Candied cherries, spice, blackberries, coffee and firm tannins. It is certainly better Napa grapes and will need some time to show its stuff. The palate is not up to par with the nose and the finish is medium. I will guess it will improve over time but not a recommend drink now wine.
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I would wait a year at least before opening this bottle if you can. It doesn't seem fully integrated yet, but what's there speaks of great potential. Despite being a 14.5% alcohol Napa Cab, the body isn't heavy at all, and the flavours seem restrained before powering through at the finish. Tons of black fruit and young tannin. I will hold the rest of my Lot 200s for awhile...I can't score this wine yet because I don't feel like I'm tasting the finished product.
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Served XMas Day with the in-laws. There is a fair amount of oak on the nose, less obvious on the palate. Lots of good fruit. This wine has plenty of stuffing, mostly cassis and oak nuances. Juicy texture. Very nice.
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enjoyed the wine. smooth but not overly complex. seems to need more time on shelf. very worthy of the 25$ spent and i look forward to drinking the other bottles when their time comes.
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Opened for 4-5 hours. Showing well with soft tannins, intense berry nose, complex flavors of black berries, currants, hint of licorice and cedar. Long in the finish. Drinking well now but will improve in 3-5 years at the most. Held up the second day.
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Drank a few nights ago. Very tight the first night - opened about an hour before I poured my first glass. Black cherry and some vanilla on the nose. An enjoyable glass of wine, but nothing special. I would have given it an 88 on the first night. Stored in my Eurocave SoWine for the next couple of days. When I tried it again, it had really opened up. The nose was incredible and the taste was quite mellow with an incredibly long finish. I would have given it a 92+ at that point. Finished the bottle the next night. It was starting to be a little muted, but still better than the first night. (92). All in all a very good QPR. I'm not sure that I'll wait very long to drink these - I'll just make sure that I decant for at least 3 hours before. I really think that this needs a couple of years in the cellar, but I really bought these as near term drinkers.
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2 thoughts, 1) still very primary 2) 1 dimensional. Given all the hype and secret pedigree I was very unimpressed by the lack of any 2nd tier flavors including Oak. This was totally fruit driven with nothing else giving character. Now, was it bottle shock? Dunno, Youth? perhaps, but given the top billing and secret pedigree, I would honestly feel a significant disappointment if this doesn’t deliver down the road. Given the price but $24.00 it is a value, but given the hype, it would merit a JohnR pazzzzz 85pts.
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NC Cindy Offline w/ WIM and SCKen (WineKnurd's House, Durham NC): Decanted approx an hour before tasting. Reminded me of liquefied pink starbust, the strawberry ones, on the nose and palate. Lots of oak as well, vanilla and hints of coffee grounds. Jammy and artificial tasting to me, screams new world, and is actually everything I dislike about Napa Cabs. Smooth texture and light finish for a Cab; oddly enough almost no tannins. Not sure how this can hold up to age with no tannins, low acidity, high alcohol, and no complexity. Alcohol wasn't noticeable which is a positive, as well as the $25 price tag. At least I didn't pay $80. If you are a fan of extracted and candied Cab's, you will like this wine. If you are an old world guy like me, save your $. Will still rate it objectively even though I didn't much care for this wine. Style & Quality Rating: B. (all fruit and oak, doesn't distinguish itself as a wine or with terroir) Value: B (lacks much of the depth and complexity that can be found from Napa, even in the $30 bottle range). Overall: B
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Very good, needs plenty of time to open up but once it does it's a good example of that lush, extracted style of Napa cab. The value here is fair at mid-to-high 20's.
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Opened and decanted for 3 hours, drank over the following 2 hours. Still very tight - this will definitely improve with more time in the bottle. Deep ruby color, but did not appear overly extracted, and nice clarity. Nose was showing nice fruit, but not in your face... it wasn't as "loud" as some other new Napa cabs can be - definitely more subtle and slightly more nuanced at this point. On the palette it was showing similar restraint, not giving too much away but with a very long finish. Overall, nicely done... glad to have purchased 4 bottles so I can try the other 3 with more age.
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14.5% ABV. Slightly translucent, dark garnet in the glass. Aromas of cedar, licorice, and black currant fruit primarily on the nose. A medium-bodied rather elegant style of Napa Cabernet with cassis and black currant fruit with savory, slightly dry tannin and cedar rounding out the finish. This is pretty solid Cab and a decent value. 90-91ish.
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Dark Red Color. Nose is initiallly red berries, but evolves to a more of a black fruit profile with cassis, Black cherry, Black Raspberry, with subtle earth, nice tobacco and coffee. The palate is medium full bodied and displays a nice core fruit that is consistent with the nose and there is a nice dusty quality too. Oak is present but restrained and there is a very good tannic structure. The wine has a plush mouthfeel and Medium plus finish. This was very good on day one, but it was MUCH better day 2 and day 3. This was probably 88-89 initially and now a solid 90-91. The structure is definitely there for this wine to improve with age, but if well decanted it is very nice now.
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Not sure about all the secret pedigree, but this is a solid Cal Cab and certainly worth the money. Young and seems like a few years from maturity. Nice balance and elegance. Different on day 2, a bit more unwound but not better or worse. I will plan on drinking mine over the next five years and might consider picking up more if I see them.
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Dark ruby color; Ripe berry and a touch of vanilla oak on the nose; Red fruit, cassis and a touch of chocolate flavors with a medium finish. Not a Napa Bruiser wine. Balanced with a lift of acid on the finish. Med- complexity but there is a possibility for short-term improvement. As others note it was a nice match with food but might be overwhelmed by some foods such as a very charred steak. Decanting recommended.
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This did not open up and come together until decant of 4 hours. Berry and a little vanilla on the nose. A smooth creamy fruit and licorice. Good tannins and plenty of acid to carry the fruit into a juicy finish. Some chocolate late as well. Medium body. I was beginning to be a little disappointed in this wine until it had been open and decanted a while, when it finally began to really shine.
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The main adjectives that came to mind with 200 were "elegant" and "smooth". It has the usual characteristics of a Napa Cab, but was very smooth and, I have to say, not terribly complex. The tannins were very smooth and the finish was long, but I kept thinking "this is the Pinot Noir of Napa Cabs". 200 is not a big, bold cab for a big bold steak...the steak will overpower the wine. I don't think it will age much, but don't think you really need to...the tannins are already smooth. All in all, a very nice, easy drinking wine and a good deal at $28.
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Definitely a well made wine, but lots of ripe cherry and berry fruit and spice with a nice creaminess with a hint of sweetness. Medium bodied and not overextracted, but not a lot of earthiness or tannin and rather ripe with some lingering sweetness. I would definitely give this a major decant, but even after that I don't get the dark earthiness, darker fruit or complexity that I like in my Napa cabs. This may be better and tone down a bit with some sideways time, but I don't see this ever being great for my palate or people who like some old world flavors in their wine. Not my favorite style, more of a crowd pleasing style. There are several CH Lots i like better than this for me. Better day 2 than 1. 87-88.
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Medium-deep ruby in glass with a beautiful nose of red fruit, smoke and cedar. Had originally expected a gooey extracted cabernet, but what emerged on the palate was a delicate and sophisticated wine of complexity, balance and depth. Gorgeous black cherry and cassis flavors, enhanced with cigarbox and a touch of smoky oak/vanilla; braced with an acidic structure and soft but firm, sweet tannins. This is exceptionally well-made, and reminded us of several Heidi Barratt productions with its finesse and grace. Will reward with added cellaring, but more than enjoyable now.
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Popped and poured. Deep ruby hue. Nose of black cherry, currant, smoke, anise, and a touch of oak. Medium-plus body, nice concentration. On the palate, the flavors come off as slightly evolved and complex for such a young wine, with notes of pronounced cherry fruit, plummy fruits, cigar box, earth, licorice, and toasted oak. Tannins are a bit chunky on the moderate close. Well-balanced overall, and will pair nicely with a meal. An interesting Cabernet...on one hand, the flavors are already slightly evolved and complex, which suggests an earlier drinking window. However, the age and youthful tannins indicate that this needs additional time in the cellar. Either way, this is very tasty Cabernet and certainly a winner at the asking price.
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2nd bottle... What I find intriguing about this wine is how it evolves after opening. This is an elegant wine, very well balanced and structured. The color is perfect for Cabernet, like looking into a glass of ruby stones. After a couple hours of air, this wine shows what it's about. I need to go to Costco tomorrow and get another case of this. At $25 a bottle, it is a steal. On the negative, the tannins are a little soft for my taste, but still there (I like heavy wines). I do highly recommend this wine. Especially if they carry it at your local Costco. Enjoy
Update: I'm on my last half of a glass of this wine and it is really great. If you have some of this, give it time. Either decant it for 3 hours prior to drinking or give it some time in the bottle. I almost want to nurse the last little bit to see where it goes.
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Opened last night drank one small glass at cellar temp, too cold. Vacuumed in fridge over night removed around lunch time left on counter sealed to drink around 7. Great plum on the nose and palate very integrated tannins, If it gains body over time its value will improve, but as is with a little air it is a very nice Wine. Worth $100+, No. If it gains a little structure I would not feel cheated at $40 to $50.
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Pop and pour. This wine is medium bodied: definitely not the huge jammy type of wine. Garnet colored. Cherries, dark cocoa on the palate leaving a nice long finish. Worth the tariff? Sure, why not? Would be interesting to put this in a blind tasting but after some decanting. Wine definitely gained some weight in glass.
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Upon opening - Light ruby red in color - much lighter than I expected. Lots of Oak, smoke, leather, tobacco and plum on the nose. After an hour decant on the nose the oak seemed to fade away a touch; the plum was very predominant as well as some berry sweet tarts on the nose. Drinking this showed a heavy dose of plum, a ton of licorice, cassis, chocolate covered black cherries with very smooth tannins with hardly any tannic bit at the back end finishing with a touch of heat. The finish on this was the highlight as it seemed to go on and on. This needs to pick up a little weight as it was very light for a cabernet.
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Wow... lot 200. POP-N-POUR: very tight, yet I could tell there was great structure to this wine. Very young. AFTER 4 HOUR DECANT: Great color, slight purple core, otherwise Ruby red. Wonderful bouquet, red fruit, cassis, and anise. There's a great complexity to this wine, long legs, definitely a great, great value for $25. Every glass just opens up so much more. Will hold on other bottles for at least 6 months before trying this again. Look forward to seeing where this one goes
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6/25/2023 - Geoff Likes this wine: 92 Points
Same as previous note with no decline in this wine. Very enjoyable.
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12/25/2022 - Geoff Likes this wine: 93 Points
Have to agree with several notes here. Especially cutthroattrout. I think CH got ahold of some very good Cali Cab. My initial impression years ago was that this was a good but not great wine. After a 4 hour slo ox and 2 hour decant, this wine was very good,indeed. Deep dark color with no browning. Strong nose of plums, dark fruit and seondary layers. Full bodied Smooth mouthfeel, ameliorated but present sweet tannins, balanced, long finish. Drinks like a high end Cali Cab. Very suprising and enjoyable.
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3/1/2022 - Vegas Bob Likes this wine: 92 Points
very smooth great Cab. The last of 12 bottles, which held up very well.
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2/20/2021 - Cutthroat Trout Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened a bottle of this wine about 7 years ago and thought it needed more age. So I buried the the remaining 11 bottles into a corner of my cellar.
PNP tonight and my first reaction was Wow, this is a good wine.
Very fruit forward, soft tannins, good acid balance, well integrated oak. Good fruit length, Plums and Blueberry.
Great value, drinks like a much more expensive Napa Cab.
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12/16/2020 - Whodiini Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nicely drinking right now. Nice balance of fruit, oak, tannins. Nice nose of berries, cassis, typical cabernet. Tannins are still present and add to the balanced structure. Can go a few more years with proper storage. Very pleasant with food or by itself.
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9/21/2020 - actx Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is still a great wine with plenty of years to go.
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4/24/2020 - MXL Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent still.
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5/26/2019 - BURGHen Boy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great balance. right amount of black fruit and oak. Long & deep. Tannin present but not gripping
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1/10/2019 - rahul_d_chatter@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 86 Points
Nice and an easily quaffable wine. Long wine legs indicate the higher alcohol levels. Black berries, tobacco, green peppers, and leather on the nose. Medium bodied and short finish. Does not have the tannic structure to give it a back bone and interest. Likeable, but not memorable wine.
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12/31/2018 - twelch wrote:
Really drinking quite nicely. Pulled this to cook with but ended up drinking most of the bottle.
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10/29/2018 - MXL wrote: 94 Points
Vertical 200, 300, 400, 500. 9 friends with advanced pallets- 200 was the unanimous winner! Spectacular wine!
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6/17/2018 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Lost my note on this from a couple weeks ago. Last bottle. Suffice it to say, I continue to be impressed by the evolution of this wine. Really, a fine example of Napa cab with a mix of valley and mountain fruits, blue and black with polished tannins and nice balance.
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3/3/2018 - Ranjan wrote: 93 Points
wow, great nose, lots of fruit. On PNP, still tight, but after 3 hrs, opened up, very smooth and balanced wine. Cellaring my other 3 bottles to see this evolve.
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8/4/2017 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Weekend with Dad Up North; 8/4/2017-8/5/2017: Very dark red/purple color. PNP, drank 2 glasses over 2 hours. Boy, has this come a long way, and it has now entered into the peak drinking window. Classic Napa cab nose with pretty dark fruits, black currants, blackberry, and dark raspberry, integrated wood spice, some damp earth tones, and graphite. The palate is where I think there's been the most development. This was really seamless, with silky tannins, soft texture, and bright dark berry and cherry fruits that layer nicely and don't come off as jammy or too forward. This has been quite good for the last couple years, but it has taken another big step. Kinda wish I'd have sat on more of these.
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5/30/2017 - Acohen Likes this wine: 90 Points
Big sweet currant with cassis and integrated tannins
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4/16/2017 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
Just a small pour, but again showing more depth and balance. Black fruits and the herbal notes are there on the palate. Full body with nicely rounding tannins.
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1/30/2017 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Much better and softer than the oak bomb years ago. Plums, cherry, earth and rose petals. Tasty and medium plus finish. Drink now.
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12/23/2016 - brentb Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking good right now. Paired well with NY Strip.
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7/23/2016 - prufrocksabogado Likes this wine: 92 Points
Continue to be impressed with this wine. Storage may explain the bottle variation - mine have been climate controlled since release. Menthol and cassis.
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4/4/2016 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 85 Points
You can tell this wine was not well made and not a cellar selection. Menthol, cherry cough syrup and oak chip over load. Was better young. Drinkable but in the same league as Columbia Crest Grand Estates.
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4/2/2016 - John O' Likes this wine:
decanted 1 hour. In a very nice place.
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12/24/2015 - BordeauxMN Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnP. Next time I will decant for at least 2 hours. Great QPR for $25.00. Dark red fruits on the nose, nice smooth finish. This is drinking well now. It still has at least 5 more years.
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10/3/2015 - RedValues Likes this wine:
Our neighborhood wine club gathered to compare CH cabs. I thought it would be interesting to have a 'Century Smack-Down' by comparing lots #200, 300, 400 and 500. I decanted each bottle three hrs then re-bottled. We tasted in random blind fashion with enough left over to retry. In addition to rank ordering favorites, we asked to pick the oldest. Amazingly, one person ranked all four in sequential year order (dumb luck Carl?).
6 men and 3 women voted:
Lot Overall 1st Last
200 (2nd) 3 2
300 (1st) 2 0
400 (3rd) 2 2
500 (4th) 2 5
Interestingly, 1st place votes were evenly distributed, but after adding all votes, Lot #300 was deemed the night's winner. Splitting hairs between 90 pt CT-scored wines was challenging, but someone had to do it :) We heard Lot #600 is on its way.
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9/23/2015 - Fire Bill wrote: 92 Points
Continues to be a great wine for the price, $25, dark red fruits, great mouthfeel and decent finish. Drink now or hold for next 5 years
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9/23/2015 - prufrocksabogado Likes this wine: 91 Points
QPR adjusted scale. A bit messy but for the price a wow experience for the average wine drinker.
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9/12/2015 - Geoff Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice dusty nose with dark fruit, some herbs. Still slightly tannic, but not in a bad way. Slight green notes on the finish. Enjoyable wine.
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8/20/2015 - yeastbeast Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted for about 40 minutes. Dusty and spicy nose
Plummy fruit with mocha notes hiding behind still overly robust tannins. Should be fantastic in 2017 or so.
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6/12/2015 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 88 Points
Dense wine with berries, cedar chips, menthol and spices. Intense and probably still needs a few more years of aging but nice wine for under $30.
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5/1/2015 - RDHudak wrote: 92 Points
Amazingly dark with no signs of age. N: Loads of rich Napa fruit, espresso and oak. P: Rich, dark cherry, raspberry, coffee. Medium + acidity kept the fruit from being too much, with balanced tannins. Medium-full body. F: Medium+ with more fruit and excellent acidity. This seemed surprisingly young and got better with a 2 hour decant. I really wish I had more. 92-93
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3/7/2015 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 90 Points
Another good bottle: Very nice wine. Ruby red, with a slight purple tinge. Cassis, raspberry, a little tar, herbs. Medium-full weight. Firm tannins, but no sharp edges. Delicious fruit, great balance.
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11/13/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Very dark red /purple color. PNP with bottle aerator, drank 2 glasses over 2 hours. Well this was finally what I've been looking for, and I don't totally regret this purchase. There's a nice mix of rich lush fruit on the nose an palate, black currant, black cherry. The palate has integrated with pleasant wood spice and a fresh herbal quality that is just restrained enough. very silky tannins now and showing a nipe mulberry, velvety finish. Another big crowd pleaser that had everyone asking for more.
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11/9/2014 - dgriffin3480 wrote: 86 Points
Pretty average Cabernet with lots of sweet red fruit and virtually no tannins on the finish.
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10/16/2014 - WineGalDT Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine looks garnet colored. There is light sediment in the bottle. It tastes like fig, raisin and espresso. The body is medium/full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
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9/4/2014 - bobvictor Likes this wine: 92 Points
Better than I remembered last time. Very smooth silky in the palate like a solid stags leap cab. Will last for at least another 5-10 years.
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6/20/2014 - ctjared Likes this wine:
Surprisingly good. Very nice nose and a decent finish. Maybe a touch thin, but that's being picky. I like this.
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6/11/2014 - brentb Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good with beef tenderloin. Crowd pleaser. Decent fruit, licorice, overall good experience and great value.
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4/5/2014 - ctjared Likes this wine:
WAY better then last time. solid cab.
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3/29/2014 - srwatters wrote: 91 Points
Still needs a little air to blow off the heat, but after an hour or so it really opens up and shines. An excellent QPR from Costco at $25.
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3/23/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 89 Points
This bottle was pretty typical of what has come before. PNP, with aeration into glasses. Nice black fruit aromas, lots of wood spice; still has some sharp oak edges on the palate and plenty of spice, tannins are fairly round.
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3/20/2014 - kerv22 wrote: 94 Points
Deep dark purple in color. Thick, lasting legs. Initially the nose was subdued and smelled of candle wax; however after an hour, it's morphed into a big, expressive wine. Distinct notes of chocolate, tobacco, cassis, espresso, and blue berries. On the palate the finish is long; easily lingering for 60 seconds (wonderful). Medium tannins, with medium viscosity, and distinct oak finish. You can almost taste terroir here; reminds me of Oakville. This wine has changed tremendously since the last bottle I had a year or two ago. Still tons of time left in this wine. Great value...wish I had more.
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3/1/2014 - Fire Bill wrote: 93 Points
Drinking well, plenty of life left
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1/23/2014 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 90 Points
Similar to the last bottle: Very nice wine. Ruby red, with a slight purple tinge. Cassis, raspberry, a little tar, herbs. Medium-full weight. Firm tannins, but no sharp edges. Delicious fruit, great balance.
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1/11/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple red color. PNP, but still needs some air and opens over 30 minutes. Drank1 glass over an hour. This was pretty similar to the last bottle I had - lots of blueberry and cassis with dark chocolate and wood spice . I don't see much evolution here.
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12/5/2013 - RichardP wrote: 87 Points
Menthol and camphor on the nose; black cherry, raspberry, and a savory herbal note on the palate, with just enough acidity to save it from tasting cheap. This is a decent Cabernet for the price, but I don't think it lives up to the "Lot 200!" hype. It's too fruity and not structured enough for me to want more, which is good because this was my last bottle.
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11/28/2013 - SCMeyer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light ruby color. Bright raspberry and plum with dust notes on the expressive nose. Don't be fooled by the light color, this wine is huge. Mouth coating layers of red fruits and dusty tannins dominate through to the long dry finish. Powerful and elegant.
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11/16/2013 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice wine. Ruby red, with a slight purple tinge. Cassis, raspberry, a little tar, herbs. Medium-full weight. Firm tannins, but no sharp edges. Delicious fruit, great balance. Other CH wines can be a gamble, but the Cabs have been consistently good.
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11/9/2013 - sdrum Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is still a beautiful wine. Nice nose. Fruity. Substantial, but not heavy.
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9/9/2013 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Better on a pop and pour than last bottle. Minerals, red currants, chocolate and sweet spices. Medium finish and easy drinking. Not super complex but for under $30 a good value.
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8/30/2013 - Bluffan wrote:
Once again, great grapes make grape wine. There's some oak here for sure, but also wonderful fruit, sweet soft tannins, very nice -- wish I had more than one left
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7/4/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Very dark red/purple color. Decanted for 60 minutes. Drank a small pour upon opening and another glass after the decant. This was markedly better than the last time I checked on this. Good with aeration out of the bottle and even better with some additional air. Nose has ripe fruits of mulberry, cassis, blueberry, spices, dried herbs, some oak. The palate is concentrated and full bodied, cassis, mulberry, spice, oak, moderate round tannins. This has rounded out nicely and integrated well and should improve a bit more. This is just hitting its drinking window.
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6/17/2013 - Fire Bill wrote: 93 Points
Took some decanting to open up. When it did, it was a very beautiful wine.
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6/13/2013 - Acohen Likes this wine: 90 Points
nice dark fruit that needs time to open. Had smooth blackberry and cassis and nice finish
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1/27/2013 - vertex663 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful Napa cab. Dark berry on the nose. Chocolate, coffee on the palate. Soft tannins, great balance with minimal acidity.
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1/20/2013 - vertex663 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great berry favors on the nose. Great traditional Napa Cab. Well integrated oak and med-mild tannin. Balance of tannin / acid very good. Med finish. Wish I had more of this in the cellar...
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1/15/2013 - Annie1 wrote: 87 Points
Interesting. Last bottle, consumed 2 years ago was fantastic. I opened this bottle about 2 hours before pouring. It was astringent with a bitter finish that lingered. So, I decanted the rest of the bottle and left it for about 1/2 hour. The difference was astounding. Plums and chocolate were evident on the palate and all bitterness was gone. The finish was silky with mild tannins and a bit of coffee. This was a dramatic example of the benefit of decanting! Still wasn't as good as I noted the former bottle but plenty enjoyable.
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12/16/2012 - CMN wrote: 85 Points
Revisiting this wine after a year. Somewhat less impressed this go-round. Sweet dark fruit flavor with some herbs on the finish, reminded me a bit of boysenberry syrup. Not terribly complex. Adequate acidity and a med+ finish. Tannins are soft and unobtrusive.
A respectable wine, but the sweetness really throws me off. I feel like I've outgrown Cameron Hughes wine -- too much mystery in where the grapes are from, the winemaking techniques, etc. All in all, they seem to be made in a style that is immediately appealing to "advanced beginners" -- not my thing, but not criticizing those who enjoy.
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12/7/2012 - BALSB wrote: 92 Points
Vertical Tasting of 200, 300, 400.
Lot-200 Earthy high mineral dark ruby will continue to age nicely
Lot-300 minerals with subtly fruit can age many more years
Lot-400 ready to go now no need to wait subtle crowd pleaser TODAY fruity floral almost sweet
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12/7/2012 - BALSB wrote: 94 Points
Vertical Tasting of 200, 300, 400.
Lot-200 Earthy high mineral dark ruby will continue to age nicely
Lot-300 minerals with subtly fruit can age many more years
Lot-400 ready to go now no need to wait subtle crowd pleaser TODAY fruity floral almost sweet
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12/7/2012 - cabsnob Likes this wine: 93 Points
After decanting 90 minutes, the boquet is light alcohol, mineral, dust, typical valley floor, smooth on the pallet, long finish. One of Cam's best.
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11/22/2012 - RedValues wrote: 87 Points
Decanted 4 hrs, dense ruby color, expressive nose, medium mouthfeel, finish mostly oak/tannins, minimal fruit, liked better a year ago.
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11/19/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 86 Points
Decanted this 4 hours, and the oak never eased up. Just too much. Bad bottle? Maybe, but I doubt it. 86
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11/9/2012 - Zo65 wrote: 80 Points
Surprisingly bad. The most disappointing wine I have bought from CH. Heavy, completely lacking in finesse. Really poor effort.
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11/6/2012 - dg1 wrote: 91 Points
Really nice bottle, pity you can't buy more
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11/4/2012 - ksimback wrote: 90 Points
3rd out of 7 that I bought. Keep hoping this one is going to get better. Don't get me wrong - this wine has nice aromas of plush fruit, a little bit of mint and a slight dusty character that is real nice, but overall this wine is not as complex a I would like. Nice smooth, medium finish, but again, nothing that really blows me away. I will probably wait another year to try bottle #4 and hope it develops some secondary characteristics and a more complex profile.
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10/25/2012 - RandomCoil wrote: 90 Points
Dark and fruity, with smoooooooth tannins. If I had a criticism, it be that the tannins were TOO suppressed, so I don't get some of the criticisms I read here. Nonetheless, a delightful pour.
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10/14/2012 - Acohen wrote: 89 Points
Needs time to open but nice full cabernet with dark fruit, cassis and a reasonable amount of tannin
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10/11/2012 - Fire Bill wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful!!! Needs a long decant to loosen up. Had with lot 300 and preferred this wine
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10/7/2012 - 10izguy wrote:
A very ordinary California cab, no better than many other "name" California Cabs at same price point. Drank this with a group of people with a number of different bottles, this did not show well.
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10/1/2012 - tom_wine wrote: 86 Points
Well balanced and firm but silky tannins. Good structure, classic California fruit. Forward, back berries and cassis.
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9/30/2012 - dgriffin3480 wrote: 87 Points
Three hour decant not enough for this tannic wine. Very tight with decent red fruits on nose, bitter tannins on mid palate.
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9/18/2012 - djpiglet wrote:
Must decant! At least an hour and it will open up a lot. Dark and smooth as always. Aged well. Tanic. better late palate.
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8/22/2012 - artist777 wrote: 89 Points
I consumed this bottle over a few hour period and it started out a little tight, however, once it started to open it was quite good. There was definite fruit and the tannins were well integrated. Overall, very good wine value.
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8/14/2012 - MXL wrote: 92 Points
decanted for 1 hour and it was great, again. see my previous notes
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8/4/2012 - Grillgod wrote: 89 Points
Not much different 1.5 years later. Very good but I've had other Cameron Hughes wines that were better at less than half the price.
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7/1/2012 - RedValues wrote: 86 Points
Decanted 6 hrs, dense ruby color, nose seems more alcoholic than previous, medium mouthfeel, long finish with some grip, too much heat/green notes on finish for me, definitely lost some appeal compared to 8 months ago, will wait another year.
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6/18/2012 - viking60 wrote: 86 Points
way to hot and fakey fruit.....
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5/26/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 91 Points
It's starting to hit it's stride. It could have used more than the hour I gave it in the decanter, as the last glass was the best one. Gorgeous nose of your typical Napa Cab - Cassis, dark plums, caramel, expensive oak. Needs another year of rest, then should hold for 5+ years. Glad I have 9 more to follow. Very nice. 91
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5/21/2012 - WineJunkieWest wrote: 91 Points
Brought a bottle to a six bottle blind wine tasting. It came in second against other cabs. Beautiful aroma, dark purple, long legs, rich and full bodied. Definitely needs a long decant time to live up to its full potential. We will wait a year before we try another bottle.
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5/16/2012 - thw3z wrote: 94 Points
I thought this was great
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4/16/2012 - djpiglet wrote:
Dark, smooth, mildly tanic. Plum/cherry early. Velvet mid-palate. Mild earth with too early of a finish. Opened up later after being decanted for more than 3 hours. Great for the money though.
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4/16/2012 - rocknroller wrote: 89 Points
Very dark red purple color. I decided to check in on this wine again, and that was probably a mistake. I have to seriously question all the high scores on this wine right now. The reality is it is not really in any different place than it was about a year ago. I drank this wine over three days, with a very similar experience to the last two bottles. Decanting does not help this wine sufficiently at this point IMHO. Clearly there is big fruit here, both Rutherford and Howell Mountiain characteristics show through. But this is so oaky and spicy out of the gate, I can't enjoy it. There is still the heat and a stemy quality, worse day 1, a little better day 2. Finally on day 3 when you're ready to give up on it, a ray of hope emerges. Day 1: oak, spice, dust, tobacco, loads of black licorice, heat, black fruits; the palate is dense and chewy, heat, oaky, very spicy and obnoxious tannins. Day 3: A mix of black fruit featuring cassis and mulberry along with some red current, black cherry, dusty, tobacco, a little licorice, on the nose and palate. The tannins soften pretty dramatically and the oak integrates well. It actually comes off pretty suave at this point. Day 1: 87 Day 3: probably approaches 90. My score is a generous hybrid of where this is at. Still needs 2+ years.
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3/20/2012 - Fire Bill wrote: 92 Points
Drinking well after 1.5 hr decant
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3/13/2012 - pinotblanc Likes this wine: 91 Points
It is getting better now compared with several months ago.
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3/2/2012 - sdrum Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine has aged nicely since last year.
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2/20/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 91 Points
The nose and color is dynomite. Overall I am very satisfied that I jumped on a case of this when it hit the clearance rack at Sam's ($14). Cassis and blueberries galore. Solid 91
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2/12/2012 - WineJunkieWest wrote: 92 Points
Brought to an Italian dinner with friends. Decanted and ran through the vinturi. Wowed everyone! Smooth, velvety tannins. Long finish.
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1/31/2012 - TRock3000 wrote: 92 Points
Huge hit when brought out after a six wine blind tasting of highly rated Napa Cabs. Opened one last fall and it was very tight. Not the case now. Really coming into its own.
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1/27/2012 - sdrum Likes this wine: 92 Points
I have a case of this wine and when I tasted a bottle a year ago, it seemed too "young". That's not the case anymore. I decanted two hours in advance. Wonderful aromas. Balanced. Not overpowering, but not wimpy either.
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1/2/2012 - Johnny C NYC wrote: 90 Points
Very enjoyable high-toned cab; a lot of good life left here. 50/5/11/15/9
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12/28/2011 - wirelesswine wrote: 91 Points
I liked this wine a lot, even with just being popped open a few hours it showed well, nice dark fruits - cassis stands out. A hint of graphite and nice oak treatment. Overall very well balanced and such a pleasurable wine with a great color, nose and finish. Would buy again.
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12/26/2011 - tom_wine wrote: 84 Points
More simple than I expected, given the ratings. Medium body, black berry fruit, but little personality.
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12/22/2011 - ctjared wrote:
Less fruity then others had in the night. Decent, but nothing terribly exciting.
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12/7/2011 - lvjohn wrote: 90 Points
The very deep purple suggested there might be more than this wine delivered. It is without the flaws that usually accompany "bargain" wines and this suggests the wine was sourced from a reputable supplier. However, in the mouth the wine just didn't do much except offer a pleasant, but rather bland experience. For the money, it's hard to complain.
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11/30/2011 - CMN wrote: 87 Points
Lovely reddish purple color. Some sweetness and forest floor on the nose. Flavors of sweet dark fruit flavor with some green pepper on the finish. Big-medium wine, but not as massive as many Cabs. Not much complexity. Velvety tannins. Wine is no longer my style, but there's definitely some pedigree showing through.
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11/22/2011 - Hamilton1 wrote: 90 Points
Didn't live up to the hype. Lots of other Cali cabs in the $25-$30 range are this good.
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11/12/2011 - yeastbeast wrote: 86 Points
Decanted for about an hour then drank with a dog's dinner of wonton soup and Indonesian-style chicken and peanut sauce over brown rice, then on the next night with rice and parmagianno cakes and spinach. Very dark, inky color. Opulent, foresty nose. Deep, dark fruit flavors, soft, velvety tannins. Really nice right now, but I have 5 more bottles to go. Let's check in 6 months down the road.
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10/29/2011 - RedValues wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 6 hrs, dense purple color, bright/crisp nose, medium mouthfeel, long balanced finish with some tannins. Tasted blind with wine club. Group consensus was 4th place behind 2001 Silver Oak Alexander Valley, 2005 Paul Hobbs Napa Valley, and 2007 Hughes Wellman Cabs, respectively. I rated higher than group.
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10/26/2011 - Fire Bill wrote: 92 Points
Drinking well now, but still young. Was great on the second day!
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10/8/2011 - dg1 wrote: 90 Points
I now understand why all the other reviews seem to struggle to put a finger on this one. It's got lots of power, this one has substance, you can watch it coat the glass and slowly roll down. The problem is that there is no one stand out flavor or smell, its a smooth blend but with power. Wine this good you expect more on the nose, but where it lacks in the front it more than makes up for in the finish. This one will age well, might hold onto my other bottles for a while. Decant at least 30-60 minutes.
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10/7/2011 - RedValues wrote: 92 Points
Was VERY difficult but I waited a year to taste based on reviews, aroma jumped out of the bottle after uncorking, poured through Nuance, decanted 7 hrs, love the nearly opaque dark ruby color, get vanilla and dark fruit nose, medium mouthfeel, balanced dusty tannins, long finish with slight spice/oak, wife said "that's nice", agreed, looks/feels delicate but has bold finish.
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9/19/2011 - winephx wrote: 89 Points
Very nice fruit forward Cab. Not as big as I expected, but balanced and easy to drink.
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9/12/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 88 Points
Probably better than the 07 Mondavi, but this seems to have shut down a bit since the ones I drank on release. It is a very good wine but for $28, I would like more. I will wait a bit on the next bottle, or perhaps give it some air. Everything is here, but it left me wanting more. Jury is still out for now.
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9/2/2011 - bobpsi wrote: 89 Points
1 Hr decant. Muted nose of plums, cherries and some cedar. The palate is black fruits, spice and mocha. Well balanced with smooth tannins.
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8/31/2011 - kerv22 wrote: 90 Points
Allowed to breath for about an hour before trying to a full glass. This is a respectable wine at this price point; dark ruby color with notes of dark fruits, a touch of spiciness, and perhaps even some tobacco and plum. As others have said below, the palate is concentrated with dark berry fruits and a spicy character; however, the finish still has quite a bite to it. Even after several hours the tannins were a bit much for my liking. On the contrary though, it did pair well with a bold beef stew that helped mellow out some of the mouth feel (there was a glass of it in the stew! yum). I think this wine has many more years left and I probably won't even open another bottle for a year or two.
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8/27/2011 - MXL wrote: 92 Points
Again this one delivers, so smooth and great flavors. see previous notes...
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8/21/2011 - *Vine* wrote:
Popped and poured. Medium-plus dark ruby hue. Aromas of dark cherry fruits, dark berries, anise, and an earthy quality along with a touch of oak. Medium-plus body. On the palate, the fruit is subtle yet in a nice way, with dark fruits, currant, and again, a faint earthiness throughout. Toasted oak lingers on the somewhat clipped finish, with astringent tannins on the end. Seems to be at an awkward or closed stage right now. Probably best to age for a few more years before openiing another.
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7/22/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 2 hrs prior. Shy nose, some wild berry, black currants, dusty earth. Palate is moderately concentrated, fresh, with dusty tannins on the back end. Ripe crystalline fruit with red berry highlights. Just a touch of heat. Lengthy milk chocolate finish with currants, earth, and vanilla cream. Nice wine, slightly disjointed on the mid palate, but should come together. Shows as a nice $35 cab, but not the $50 level. Still a nice bargain.
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7/17/2011 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 84 Points
Dark fruits and spice on the nose with some heat. The palate is not good with a medicine like quality along with spice and chocolate. Medium finish. This is not as good as the first bottle and did not improve over a few days.
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6/28/2011 - rocknroller wrote: 88 Points
I wanted to try another bottle of this to see where it was at. The answer for me is not close yet. Dark red purple color. The color just coats the glass and hangs, very rich and concentrated. The nose is black fruits, cassis, blackberry, spice, tobacco. After 2 days, the earth emerges and some licorice. The palate again is concentrated, very drying tannins at this point, oaky, spicy, black fruits and some heat. I did not find this pleasant on day one, and not much better on day 2. By day 3 this was beginning to settle down and come together showing some promise. I am going to let this sit for a good year before revisiting.
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6/19/2011 - mdaniel wrote: 90 Points
Vinturi'd: Nose consists of loads of plum, black currants, cassis, vanilla, and other dark fruits. The palate is smooth and balanced, with dark fruit, suttle spices, and sweet tannins.
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5/8/2011 - mdaniel wrote: 90 Points
No formal notes, but the taste I had indicated a very smooth wine.
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5/2/2011 - Camron Dearing wrote: 95 Points
i love this wine! after decanting 3 hrs it was amazing. well worth 25.00
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5/1/2011 - scotty_b wrote: 91 Points
Picked up weight after an hour of air. Plum, blackberry, chocolate with a little spice. Very nice wine.
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4/9/2011 - vinoveritas wrote: 87 Points
Good straight forward cab
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4/5/2011 - Zinister wrote: 89 Points
Enjoyable Cabernet, but nothing jumps out at me right now. That said, I do think this can develop with a few more years under it, as it does seem like it just hasn't come out of it's shell just yet. Good berry and slight oak flavors, a bit tight, but still enjoyable all on it's own.
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3/13/2011 - Fire Bill wrote: 92 Points
This wine must just suit my palate. I think it's an excellent Cabernet and definitely worth the $25 a bottle
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3/12/2011 - BALSB wrote: 93 Points
one of the best CH yet, only outdone by lot 189
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3/6/2011 - ralford wrote: 90 Points
This is my second bottle of this wine. I remember the first bottle being more approachable. This seems to be closing down a bit and I will sit on my remianing 6 bottles. FWIW - I find CH Lot 189 much more ready to drink right now.
Nose - Somewhat closed but classic currant and cassis....very nice
Taste - Dark fruits with drying tannins; good structure, medium to full body.
I rate this 90 points right now as it is a very good Napa Cabernet, but $28 gets you some really good juice right now (if you shop around). If I were grading on potential I might go 91-92, but right now 90 seems right.
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3/6/2011 - KVM wrote: 88 Points
This thing is tight and tannic. Better the next day, but no rockets were going off for me.
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3/5/2011 - MXL wrote: 93 Points
I read it was too early to drink but after 1 hour, this wine drinks nicely. Medium bodied, cassis and black cherry, picked up eucalyptus and maybe a small amount of cigar box. After an hour open it was much nicer than the first glass. Next one I'll decant for several hours before trying.
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2/21/2011 - castle2 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Improving with a little time
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2/20/2011 - Grillgod wrote: 89 Points
Nice rich plum and dark fruit, but just didn't come together for me. Structure was slightly flabby. Not very complex. A very good wine, but high expectations were set. Didn't get big tannins as some have had but definitely some very rich fruit with some dark licorice flavors. I'll lay the last few down for awhile the rich dark fruit has a decent finish already and could develop very nicely.
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2/20/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 90 Points
Drank over two nights. It took a couple of hours to open then was good to go. Nice cassis flavors, a bit too much primary oak, but I am sure it will integrate. This drinks well and on Day 2, was very smooth. I should move these to the "hold" section of the cellar, at least for a few years.
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2/15/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 91 Points
Nice nose, shy, creamy chocolate with currant undertones. Palate is rich and concentrated, with toasty mocha notes and pleasant ripe fruit flavors of currants and berries. Finishes with nice depth, gritty tannins, mocha earth and a pleasing mineral note. Nice for the price.
On night two this was more shut down and showing more austerity, still good but not as enjoyable 89
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2/12/2011 - Fire Bill wrote: 92 Points
Love this wine!!!
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2/7/2011 - jeremy_ross wrote: 88 Points
Dense, dark color. Lots of dark fruit. Structure is pretty in your face. Tannins are strong and chalky on the fairly long finish. This is a big wine, but didn't live up to my expectations, set by Mr. Hughes. It definitely needs a couple of years in the bottle, and I might buy a couple for this purpose if I can get more.
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1/30/2011 - Ranjan wrote: 92 Points
On first tasting, very acidic and heavy tannin. Then, decanted wine for 6 hours, after that continued to open up and taste improved significantly. Very high quality Cali Cab, good value at $27. I plan on buying more and cellaring for 2-3 years. I heard a rumor it was acquired from Scarecrow winery (rated 98-100 pts)
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1/18/2011 - Annie1 wrote: 92 Points
OK...I'm blown away, seriously. Never expected this wine to be THIS good. Opened 5 hours before drinking. Did not decant. Nose of berries. Smooooth tannins. Not jammy but delicious flavors of plums, chocolate ending with licorice. Yes! I actually tasted all 3 of these. Will wait at least a year before trying the next bottle but this was very very satisfying.
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1/17/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 90 Points
Rather shy nose of cassis, lavender, and vanilla. Lush bright red fruit palate, with fine polished tannins and a moderate length vanilla creamy finish. I like this for the money. Quite refined. Not sure it will age.
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1/14/2011 - grayfont wrote: 90 Points
Cecile's Wine Cellar Friday Tasting (McLean, VA): holy cow what a nose - incredibly strong, expressive, and rich. If the palate matched the nose, this could be a 95. the palate features chocolate and dark fruit, with a dry, chalky mouthfeel and a medium finish.
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1/11/2011 - CarterWho Likes this wine: 95 Points
Break through wine for this great group.
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1/1/2011 - napadrew Likes this wine: 87 Points
Deep red color with strong glycerine legs. Took about an hour and a half to fully open but the nose has a wonderful aroma with hints of blackberries, cedar and vanilla truffles. Well balanced on the pallet. Medium body with warm tannins and traces of toasted cocoa and ground spices with a silky smooth finish short-to-medium in length (15-20 seconds)
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1/1/2011 - msilver wrote: 91 Points
Great bottle. Did not know what to expect from this. Great nose of blackberries and licorice. Very nice on palette wtih very smooth tanin structure. This drinks like a $60+ bottle of Calif Cab. I only bought one bottle, I am wanting more. Great QPR.
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1/1/2011 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 91 Points
I let this 1st bottle air out and this is a day 4 review. Mocha, blackberries, spices, oak, vanilla and violets. If you drink this now I recommend a six hour decant. The wine is more concentrated and really showing like a $60 Napa Cabernet. Highly recommended wine at this point and I am glad I saved some for the experiment.
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12/30/2010 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 88 Points
Candied cherries, spice, blackberries, coffee and firm tannins. It is certainly better Napa grapes and will need some time to show its stuff. The palate is not up to par with the nose and the finish is medium. I will guess it will improve over time but not a recommend drink now wine.
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12/26/2010 - pvetsch wrote:
I would wait a year at least before opening this bottle if you can. It doesn't seem fully integrated yet, but what's there speaks of great potential. Despite being a 14.5% alcohol Napa Cab, the body isn't heavy at all, and the flavours seem restrained before powering through at the finish. Tons of black fruit and young tannin. I will hold the rest of my Lot 200s for awhile...I can't score this wine yet because I don't feel like I'm tasting the finished product.
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12/26/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 90 Points
Served XMas Day with the in-laws. There is a fair amount of oak on the nose, less obvious on the palate. Lots of good fruit. This wine has plenty of stuffing, mostly cassis and oak nuances. Juicy texture. Very nice.
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12/25/2010 - edcooke wrote: 91 Points
enjoyed the wine. smooth but not overly complex. seems to need more time on shelf. very worthy of the 25$ spent and i look forward to drinking the other bottles when their time comes.
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12/21/2010 - Zinister wrote: 89 Points
No notes, but I recall thinking it's wonderful, but too young to truly appreciate.
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12/21/2010 - tom_wine wrote: 88 Points
Opened for 4-5 hours. Showing well with soft tannins, intense berry nose, complex flavors of black berries, currants, hint of licorice and cedar. Long in the finish. Drinking well now but will improve in 3-5 years at the most. Held up the second day.
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12/20/2010 - vwsmaltz wrote: 90 Points
Drank a few nights ago. Very tight the first night - opened about an hour before I poured my first glass. Black cherry and some vanilla on the nose. An enjoyable glass of wine, but nothing special. I would have given it an 88 on the first night. Stored in my Eurocave SoWine for the next couple of days. When I tried it again, it had really opened up. The nose was incredible and the taste was quite mellow with an incredibly long finish. I would have given it a 92+ at that point. Finished the bottle the next night. It was starting to be a little muted, but still better than the first night. (92). All in all a very good QPR. I'm not sure that I'll wait very long to drink these - I'll just make sure that I decant for at least 3 hours before. I really think that this needs a couple of years in the cellar, but I really bought these as near term drinkers.
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12/18/2010 - viking60 wrote: 85 Points
2 thoughts, 1) still very primary 2) 1 dimensional. Given all the hype and secret pedigree I was very unimpressed by the lack of any 2nd tier flavors including Oak. This was totally fruit driven with nothing else giving character. Now, was it bottle shock? Dunno, Youth? perhaps, but given the top billing and secret pedigree, I would honestly feel a significant disappointment if this doesn’t deliver down the road. Given the price but $24.00 it is a value, but given the hype, it would merit a JohnR pazzzzz 85pts.
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12/17/2010 - WineKnurd wrote: 84 Points
NC Cindy Offline w/ WIM and SCKen (WineKnurd's House, Durham NC): Decanted approx an hour before tasting. Reminded me of liquefied pink starbust, the strawberry ones, on the nose and palate. Lots of oak as well, vanilla and hints of coffee grounds. Jammy and artificial tasting to me, screams new world, and is actually everything I dislike about Napa Cabs. Smooth texture and light finish for a Cab; oddly enough almost no tannins. Not sure how this can hold up to age with no tannins, low acidity, high alcohol, and no complexity. Alcohol wasn't noticeable which is a positive, as well as the $25 price tag. At least I didn't pay $80. If you are a fan of extracted and candied Cab's, you will like this wine. If you are an old world guy like me, save your $. Will still rate it objectively even though I didn't much care for this wine. Style & Quality Rating: B. (all fruit and oak, doesn't distinguish itself as a wine or with terroir) Value: B (lacks much of the depth and complexity that can be found from Napa, even in the $30 bottle range). Overall: B
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12/16/2010 - woodwardcellar wrote:
Very good, needs plenty of time to open up but once it does it's a good example of that lush, extracted style of Napa cab. The value here is fair at mid-to-high 20's.
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12/10/2010 - ksimback Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened and decanted for 3 hours, drank over the following 2 hours. Still very tight - this will definitely improve with more time in the bottle. Deep ruby color, but did not appear overly extracted, and nice clarity. Nose was showing nice fruit, but not in your face... it wasn't as "loud" as some other new Napa cabs can be - definitely more subtle and slightly more nuanced at this point. On the palette it was showing similar restraint, not giving too much away but with a very long finish. Overall, nicely done... glad to have purchased 4 bottles so I can try the other 3 with more age.
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12/8/2010 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 90 Points
14.5% ABV. Slightly translucent, dark garnet in the glass. Aromas of cedar, licorice, and black currant fruit primarily on the nose. A medium-bodied rather elegant style of Napa Cabernet with cassis and black currant fruit with savory, slightly dry tannin and cedar rounding out the finish. This is pretty solid Cab and a decent value. 90-91ish.
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12/6/2010 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Dark Red Color. Nose is initiallly red berries, but evolves to a more of a black fruit profile with cassis, Black cherry, Black Raspberry, with subtle earth, nice tobacco and coffee. The palate is medium full bodied and displays a nice core fruit that is consistent with the nose and there is a nice dusty quality too. Oak is present but restrained and there is a very good tannic structure. The wine has a plush mouthfeel and Medium plus finish. This was very good on day one, but it was MUCH better day 2 and day 3. This was probably 88-89 initially and now a solid 90-91. The structure is definitely there for this wine to improve with age, but if well decanted it is very nice now.
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12/4/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 90 Points
Not sure about all the secret pedigree, but this is a solid Cal Cab and certainly worth the money. Young and seems like a few years from maturity. Nice balance and elegance. Different on day 2, a bit more unwound but not better or worse. I will plan on drinking mine over the next five years and might consider picking up more if I see them.
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12/3/2010 - Rubanyi wrote: 88 Points
Decent wine right now, bit closed. Drank after 2 hours of decanting. Will keep rest sideways for a few years and see how they evolve.
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12/2/2010 - Winetex wrote: 88 Points
Dark ruby color; Ripe berry and a touch of vanilla oak on the nose; Red fruit, cassis and a touch of chocolate flavors with a medium finish. Not a Napa Bruiser wine. Balanced with a lift of acid on the finish. Med- complexity but there is a possibility for short-term improvement. As others note it was a nice match with food but might be overwhelmed by some foods such as a very charred steak. Decanting recommended.
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11/29/2010 - hende14 wrote: 91 Points
This did not open up and come together until decant of 4 hours. Berry and a little vanilla on the nose. A smooth creamy fruit and licorice. Good tannins and plenty of acid to carry the fruit into a juicy finish. Some chocolate late as well. Medium body. I was beginning to be a little disappointed in this wine until it had been open and decanted a while, when it finally began to really shine.
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11/29/2010 - CrewCutter wrote: 88 Points
The main adjectives that came to mind with 200 were "elegant" and "smooth". It has the usual characteristics of a Napa Cab, but was very smooth and, I have to say, not terribly complex. The tannins were very smooth and the finish was long, but I kept thinking "this is the Pinot Noir of Napa Cabs". 200 is not a big, bold cab for a big bold steak...the steak will overpower the wine. I don't think it will age much, but don't think you really need to...the tannins are already smooth. All in all, a very nice, easy drinking wine and a good deal at $28.
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11/29/2010 - winegr wrote: 88 Points
Definitely a well made wine, but lots of ripe cherry and berry fruit and spice with a nice creaminess with a hint of sweetness. Medium bodied and not overextracted, but not a lot of earthiness or tannin and rather ripe with some lingering sweetness. I would definitely give this a major decant, but even after that I don't get the dark earthiness, darker fruit or complexity that I like in my Napa cabs. This may be better and tone down a bit with some sideways time, but I don't see this ever being great for my palate or people who like some old world flavors in their wine. Not my favorite style, more of a crowd pleasing style. There are several CH Lots i like better than this for me. Better day 2 than 1. 87-88.
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11/22/2010 - Snoman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium-deep ruby in glass with a beautiful nose of red fruit, smoke and cedar. Had originally expected a gooey extracted cabernet, but what emerged on the palate was a delicate and sophisticated wine of complexity, balance and depth. Gorgeous black cherry and cassis flavors, enhanced with cigarbox and a touch of smoky oak/vanilla; braced with an acidic structure and soft but firm, sweet tannins. This is exceptionally well-made, and reminded us of several Heidi Barratt productions with its finesse and grace. Will reward with added cellaring, but more than enjoyable now.
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11/19/2010 - *Vine* wrote:
Popped and poured. Deep ruby hue. Nose of black cherry, currant, smoke, anise, and a touch of oak. Medium-plus body, nice concentration. On the palate, the flavors come off as slightly evolved and complex for such a young wine, with notes of pronounced cherry fruit, plummy fruits, cigar box, earth, licorice, and toasted oak. Tannins are a bit chunky on the moderate close. Well-balanced overall, and will pair nicely with a meal. An interesting Cabernet...on one hand, the flavors are already slightly evolved and complex, which suggests an earlier drinking window. However, the age and youthful tannins indicate that this needs additional time in the cellar. Either way, this is very tasty Cabernet and certainly a winner at the asking price.
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11/17/2010 - Fire Bill wrote: 92 Points
2nd bottle... What I find intriguing about this wine is how it evolves after opening. This is an elegant wine, very well balanced and structured. The color is perfect for Cabernet, like looking into a glass of ruby stones. After a couple hours of air, this wine shows what it's about. I need to go to Costco tomorrow and get another case of this. At $25 a bottle, it is a steal. On the negative, the tannins are a little soft for my taste, but still there (I like heavy wines). I do highly recommend this wine. Especially if they carry it at your local Costco. Enjoy
Update: I'm on my last half of a glass of this wine and it is really great. If you have some of this, give it time. Either decant it for 3 hours prior to drinking or give it some time in the bottle. I almost want to nurse the last little bit to see where it goes.
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11/17/2010 - Slvrfish wrote: 91 Points
Opened last night drank one small glass at cellar temp, too cold. Vacuumed in fridge over night removed around lunch time left on counter sealed to drink around 7. Great plum on the nose and palate very integrated tannins, If it gains body over time its value will improve, but as is with a little air it is a very nice Wine. Worth $100+, No. If it gains a little structure I would not feel cheated at $40 to $50.
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11/17/2010 - mpchs1988 wrote: 91 Points
Great berry and good fruit. Some oak but not overpowering. This will be much better in about 3 years. A must decant, dont pop and pour
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11/16/2010 - castle2 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still very young and may still have bottle/travel shock but tasty and will evolve into a better wine.
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11/14/2010 - hudamang wrote:
Pop and pour. This wine is medium bodied: definitely not the huge jammy type of wine. Garnet colored. Cherries, dark cocoa on the palate leaving a nice long finish. Worth the tariff? Sure, why not? Would be interesting to put this in a blind tasting but after some decanting. Wine definitely gained some weight in glass.
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11/12/2010 - twelch wrote: 90 Points
Upon opening - Light ruby red in color - much lighter than I expected. Lots of Oak, smoke, leather, tobacco and plum on the nose. After an hour decant on the nose the oak seemed to fade away a touch; the plum was very predominant as well as some berry sweet tarts on the nose. Drinking this showed a heavy dose of plum, a ton of licorice, cassis, chocolate covered black cherries with very smooth tannins with hardly any tannic bit at the back end finishing with a touch of heat. The finish on this was the highlight as it seemed to go on and on. This needs to pick up a little weight as it was very light for a cabernet.
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11/6/2010 - Fire Bill wrote: 93 Points
Wow... lot 200. POP-N-POUR: very tight, yet I could tell there was great structure to this wine. Very young. AFTER 4 HOUR DECANT: Great color, slight purple core, otherwise Ruby red. Wonderful bouquet, red fruit, cassis, and anise. There's a great complexity to this wine, long legs, definitely a great, great value for $25. Every glass just opens up so much more. Will hold on other bottles for at least 6 months before trying this again. Look forward to seeing where this one goes
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