Very dark, ripe and rich at 15% ABV. Did not observe heat on the palate. The oak (and there was a bunch from its 100% new French oak) is now well-integrated and did not stick out, but overall I don't think I enjoyed this as much as some other folks before me.
Oddly, the intensity of the fruit was on the palate, but not on the nose, with it being mighty difficult to detect many aromas at all.
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85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot. Aged in 100% new French oak. 600 cases produced. Decanted 2+ hours. Moderate sediment. richly scented and complex with notes dark cherry, cassis and blackberry with notes of pencil shavings, chocolate, bay leaf and herbs that intertwine with hints of leather, tobacco, earth and cedar. The palate is full with well integrated tannins and balanced acidity. Smooth and suave in texture and full of flavors that incorporate notes of cassis, dark cherry, herbs, chocolate, cigar tobacco, leather, coffee, earth and notes of vanilla bean and toasted oak. Long through the chewy finish.
Overall drinking at its best now! Delicious!
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Friends brought this to our 5/11/18 grilled Ribeye dinner. It had a rich, ripe bouquet of black currant, plum, blueberry, licorice, mocha, cocoa and spice aromas. The palate was rich, dense, dry and nicely balanced with flavors of black currant, plum, blueberry, mocha, cocoa, licorice, minerals and spice. 92+
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I did not know what to expect, but was blown away by this bottle. Developed over time in the glass, full body, firm with no hard edges, a lot of structure to keep in cellar, but outstanding right now. I'm glad I waited this long to open this bottle, the weight of the age and roundness truly made this wine special. I wish I had more.
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Drank at a restaurant. Out of the bottle this was very tightly wound, needs a 2 hour decant at least. Still highly tannic at this point needs another 2 years to reach its peak I would say.
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85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot. Aged in 100% new French oak. 600 cases produced. Decanted 2+ hours. Moderate sediment. Moderate-plus aromas show scents of currant, chocolate and leather that are well integrated at this point with notes of sassafras, herbs, red cherry, cassis and coffee liquor that show hints of vanilla and cigar box. The full bodied palate shows fine tannins and balanced acidity. Flavors show the Red Mountain Cab distinctly with cherry, cassis, chocolate and vanilla that proceed notes of mountain herb, tobacco, spice, leather and chocolate. The finish is long and lingers with almost as much intensity as it holds on the entry. Shows better with air and should continue to drink in its peak for a few years to come.
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A fan of the Bully but the 2008 is the wimpy vintage. The nose had some power but the ETOH was very present and was a little distracting.
Surprisingly the mouth feel was soft but the fruits were still hiding even after an hour in the decanter. A little strong on the alcohol still and secondary flavors were hiding with the fruits I guess.
A nice bottle but compared to even the 2009 this was a little weak for a Bully.
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1-1.5 hours of air, maybe not enough. Too much ethanol and acetone, decent fruit, vanilla cake, with pretty significant tannins and acidity. Maybe this wine needs 2 more years.
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Wine was very good. short decant at restraunt probably knocked a point off of it. However by last glass nose was still building with some classic cab notes. Nice mouthfeel, blackberry jam, mocha and still a little grip on the finish.
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Dark and beautiful. This wine needs a few hours of decanting or hold for a few years. I thought it was complex with lots of chocolate on nose and some on palate. Not too fruity but very enjoyable.
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Delivers a hearty mouthful of densely concentrated currants, sweet cassis, spices, leather, herbs and tar but there is this beautiful fresh character. This is powerful, full-bodied and layered with round plush tannins and enough acidity to keep thin is check. Then it switches gears turning chewy, attacking your palate on the extra long finish. Composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot which was aged 21 months in 100% new French oak. This is an excellent wine and I will be looking forward to future vintages. (Best 2013-2022) - December, 2012 (JD)
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BAM! In your Face! Cigar/tar and Cedar on the nose. In the mouth as the blackberry, cocoa, and earthy layers gently settle in, not like a fruit bomb, but the noticable layers of this velvet glove. Decanted as did a pop and pour and noticed heat but could still taste the layers and neede to get the tannins time to calm down after being all pent up!
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Dark red color, medium viscosity, day bright and shows good concentration. On the nose this wine pushes around aromas of currant and blackberry, with touches of spice cocoa and sassafras that are enjoyable. The palate is smooth with a little heat, strong tannins and balanced acidity. Flavors of blackberry, currant, cedar, herbs, cocoa powder and vanilla drive through to the long muscular finish. Should age well
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Friends and I tasted this at the winery on 7/28/12. It had a strong, fragrant, beautifully balanced bouquet of black currant, blueberry, sandalwood, anise, spice and bell pepper (just a hint) aromas. The palate was dense, dry and well integrated with flavors that followed the nose. 92+
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Dark brooding cedar and cigar box nose with layers of fruit. Velvet in mouth, tannins nicely softened around gobs of blackberry/mulberry fruit. Long, big, powerful, with PV integration rounding out the cab's hard edges
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Popped and poured. Nose was warm baking spice and cacao nibs and river rocks dipped in dark cherry sauce. Some pain grille and smoke wafting from a small fire of well seasoned wood with a few green twigs. Delicious and silky with mouthfeel of velvet. Textured and yet lovely smooth mouthfeel. Well-balanced, big and fruit driven with a line of lean minerality and elegance. Long finish. Good balance. Juicy but not a fruit bomb. Would benefit from a few hours in the decanter. It's young, but all there. I'd wait a couple years with the rest to taste its evolution.
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I like this wine - a lot. I like Gorman a lot anyway and have been a fan of their syrah and syrah blends for a while. Albeit a little young this wine shows great integration with thick black fruits and nice oak. A little hot (again, due to age).
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9/6/2019 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gorgeous fruit! Great structure. Aged beautifully. Unfortunately my last bottle. Probably at it’s peak.
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5/4/2019 - SeaWine wrote: 90 Points
Very dark, ripe and rich at 15% ABV. Did not observe heat on the palate. The oak (and there was a bunch from its 100% new French oak) is now well-integrated and did not stick out, but overall I don't think I enjoyed this as much as some other folks before me.
Oddly, the intensity of the fruit was on the palate, but not on the nose, with it being mighty difficult to detect many aromas at all.
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9/29/2018 - bjamesclark wrote: 93 Points
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot. Aged in 100% new French oak. 600 cases produced.
Decanted 2+ hours. Moderate sediment.
richly scented and complex with notes dark cherry, cassis and blackberry with notes of pencil shavings, chocolate, bay leaf and herbs that intertwine with hints of leather, tobacco, earth and cedar.
The palate is full with well integrated tannins and balanced acidity. Smooth and suave in texture and full of flavors that incorporate notes of cassis, dark cherry, herbs, chocolate, cigar tobacco, leather, coffee, earth and notes of vanilla bean and toasted oak. Long through the chewy finish.
Overall drinking at its best now! Delicious!
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5/11/2018 - garambler Likes this wine: 92 Points
Friends brought this to our 5/11/18 grilled Ribeye dinner. It had a rich, ripe bouquet of black currant, plum, blueberry, licorice, mocha, cocoa and spice aromas. The palate was rich, dense, dry and nicely balanced with flavors of black currant, plum, blueberry, mocha, cocoa, licorice, minerals and spice. 92+
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1/31/2018 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great fruit. Well balanced.
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9/25/2017 - vinomex wrote: 93 Points
I did not know what to expect, but was blown away by this bottle. Developed over time in the glass, full body, firm with no hard edges, a lot of structure to keep in cellar, but outstanding right now. I'm glad I waited this long to open this bottle, the weight of the age and roundness truly made this wine special. I wish I had more.
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6/8/2017 - themki wrote: 92 Points
Could be 94/95 in 2-3 years - tannins still pronounced
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3/18/2017 - Nbkat8 wrote: 92 Points
Drank at a restaurant. Out of the bottle this was very tightly wound, needs a 2 hour decant at least. Still highly tannic at this point needs another 2 years to reach its peak I would say.
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1/30/2017 - bjamesclark wrote: 93 Points
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot. Aged in 100% new French oak. 600 cases produced.
Decanted 2+ hours. Moderate sediment.
Moderate-plus aromas show scents of currant, chocolate and leather that are well integrated at this point with notes of sassafras, herbs, red cherry, cassis and coffee liquor that show hints of vanilla and cigar box.
The full bodied palate shows fine tannins and balanced acidity. Flavors show the Red Mountain Cab distinctly with cherry, cassis, chocolate and vanilla that proceed notes of mountain herb, tobacco, spice, leather and chocolate. The finish is long and lingers with almost as much intensity as it holds on the entry.
Shows better with air and should continue to drink in its peak for a few years to come.
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2/27/2016 - Nbkat8 wrote: 92 Points
92+ Approaching its prime right now. The hit of the night with its chewy tannins and long finish.
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7/5/2014 - brouigu1 wrote: 90 Points
A fan of the Bully but the 2008 is the wimpy vintage. The nose had some power but the ETOH was very present and was a little distracting.
Surprisingly the mouth feel was soft but the fruits were still hiding even after an hour in the decanter. A little strong on the alcohol still and secondary flavors were hiding with the fruits I guess.
A nice bottle but compared to even the 2009 this was a little weak for a Bully.
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12/26/2013 - ocperu wrote: 92 Points
Still young, but opened up after two hours.
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12/12/2013 - suarezd wrote: 85 Points
1-1.5 hours of air, maybe not enough. Too much ethanol and acetone, decent fruit, vanilla cake, with pretty significant tannins and acidity. Maybe this wine needs 2 more years.
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9/28/2013 - enjoyvino wrote: 91 Points
Wine was very good. short decant at restraunt probably knocked a point off of it. However by last glass nose was still building with some classic cab notes. Nice mouthfeel, blackberry jam, mocha and still a little grip on the finish.
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7/13/2013 - tombiro wrote: 92 Points
Cherries, a warm mid-palate vibe, tannic but not unfriendly. Could continue to sit down but ready to drink for most.
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2/18/2013 - GNorton wrote: 91 Points
Good dark fruit elements, alcohol nice and warming, tannins strong and forthright. little acidic for my taste in cabs, but overall a pleasent drink 91
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1/13/2013 - uncle al Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark and beautiful. This wine needs a few hours of decanting or hold for a few years. I thought it was complex with lots of chocolate on nose and some on palate. Not too fruity but very enjoyable.
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12/24/2012 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 93 Points
Delivers a hearty mouthful of densely concentrated currants, sweet cassis, spices, leather, herbs and tar but there is this beautiful fresh character. This is powerful, full-bodied and layered with round plush tannins and enough acidity to keep thin is check. Then it switches gears turning chewy, attacking your palate on the extra long finish. Composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot which was aged 21 months in 100% new French oak. This is an excellent wine and I will be looking forward to future vintages. (Best 2013-2022) - December, 2012 (JD)
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12/10/2012 - pkatz Likes this wine: 91 Points
A big surly wine. Lots of dark fruit, but also very significant tannins. Needs some time and if it smooths out score could go considerably higher.
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10/5/2012 - td7340 wrote: 90 Points
BAM! In your Face! Cigar/tar and Cedar on the nose. In the mouth as the blackberry, cocoa, and earthy layers gently settle in, not like a fruit bomb, but the noticable layers of this velvet glove. Decanted as did a pop and pour and noticed heat but could still taste the layers and neede to get the tannins time to calm down after being all pent up!
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9/22/2012 - bjamesclark wrote: 91 Points
Dark red color, medium viscosity, day bright and shows good concentration.
On the nose this wine pushes around aromas of currant and blackberry, with touches of spice cocoa and sassafras that are enjoyable.
The palate is smooth with a little heat, strong tannins and balanced acidity. Flavors of blackberry, currant, cedar, herbs, cocoa powder and vanilla drive through to the long muscular finish.
Should age well
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7/28/2012 - garambler wrote: 93 Points
Friends and I tasted this at the winery on 7/28/12. It had a strong, fragrant, beautifully balanced bouquet of black currant, blueberry, sandalwood, anise, spice and bell pepper (just a hint) aromas. The palate was dense, dry and well integrated with flavors that followed the nose. 92+
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6/15/2012 - jmcmchi wrote: 92 Points
Dark brooding cedar and cigar box nose with layers of fruit. Velvet in mouth, tannins nicely softened around gobs of blackberry/mulberry fruit. Long, big, powerful, with PV integration rounding out the cab's hard edges
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6/11/2012 - topher2411 wrote: 92 Points
Reticent on the nose, but opens up with some time. This is a gorgeous wine and beautifully structured. Probably will benefit from some more time.
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10/17/2011 - rosesandthorns wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Nose was warm baking spice and cacao nibs and river rocks dipped in dark cherry sauce. Some pain grille and smoke wafting from a small fire of well seasoned wood with a few green twigs. Delicious and silky with mouthfeel of velvet. Textured and yet lovely smooth mouthfeel. Well-balanced, big and fruit driven with a line of lean minerality and elegance. Long finish. Good balance. Juicy but not a fruit bomb. Would benefit from a few hours in the decanter. It's young, but all there. I'd wait a couple years with the rest to taste its evolution.
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2/12/2011 - Ecbatana wrote: 92 Points
I like this wine - a lot. I like Gorman a lot anyway and have been a fan of their syrah and syrah blends for a while. Albeit a little young this wine shows great integration with thick black fruits and nice oak. A little hot (again, due to age).
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