Similar service and tasting notes as my note from 6/02/21 except no wet cardboard aromas! Wine was wonderful as described in my earlier note. Best bottle so far!
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Ninety-minute decant. Boysenberry nose was apparent during decant. The wine was garnet in the bowl with a distinct amber rim and small halo. In the glass: a nose of black fruits, wild flowers and a minute --but distinct -- sour note; the sour note diminished over time, but never left. In the mouth: blackberry, boysenberry and spice but the finish again was just slightly sour and astringent. With steaks, the wine was still very good, but it was not as a good as the bottle I drank on 6/02/2021. Unlike that bottle, this bottle seemed to have started its decline.
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Ninety-minute decant through an aerating funnel. No sediment. Wine had a moderate fragrance of blackberry brandy during decant. Wine was clear, still dark garnet from bowl to rim with no signs of any bricking. Initially in the glass, the wine had a wet cardboard aroma intermixed with blackberry jam, slate and wild flowers, somewhat akin to a 10-15 year-old Gruaud-Larose. After another 20 minutes or so, the cardboard aroma left and the wine's nose was singing: sweet black fruit conserve, wild flowers, anise and some tobacco. In the mouth, it was all that the nose promised! Good weight, nice structure, good depth of fruit with a fairly long finish of licorice and minerals. Many years left for other bottles of this wine.
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Spectacular. Best bottle of the three I have had over the years. Deep indigo color, lavender on the nose. Black and blue fruit, jammy blackberry, blueberry, cassis, tobacco, licorice and bramble on the palate. Rich and full bodied with a long lingering finish. Still has enough tannic backbone to sustain for a few more years but unlikely to improve further.
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Decanted 3hours. Nice lavender undertones to full dark fruit nose. Palate was full purple fruit with some licorice root and tobacco. Medium finish with some tannins remaining.
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Medium to dark ruby in color. A high degree of clarity. Bright floral nose. Typical Howell Mountain characteristics of white pepper and a bit of bramble. This was a little lighter and a bit sweeter than previous vintages I have drunk but still a very nice starter for the evening. Medium to full bodied with a lingering finish. Tannins are well integrated so time to drink this.
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98% CS with a dollop of P.V. Beautiful wine right now after 11 years of age. The fruit profile is that of dark currant, blackberry, and black cherry. Firm and structured mid-palate of dark chocolate, licorice, black pepper, along with some subtle mineral, earth, and savory notes on the end. Still has some chewy tannins and a wonderful long finish. Could definitely go a few more years.
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Very good wine with plum and other dark fruit, tobacco and cassis on palate, full bodied and Ling finish. Needs 30 minutes to open and probably would have benefited from a decant.
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Dark and extracted purple color, opaque, with a ruby to red rim. Nose is Cabernet essence, clean but still tight; hints of lead pencil and blueberry; some sweetness and floral notes. A welcoming but still reserved feel. On the palate, the wine is tighter and more savory than the nose. Dark fruits but closed; savory notes of dried herbs, minerals, perhaps some eucalyptus. There is enough ripeness to make me feel good about the future here. Reminds me in a way of the restraint of Leoville Barton - but in a Napa way. 91 at present, perhaps a point or two higher if it continues to evolve well.
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Deep, dark indigo color. A bit of pepper on the nose. A bit more than medium bodied. Classic Howell Mountain fruit with boysenberry, pepper, clove and pencil lead on the palate. Warm tannins are well integrated but this still has some backbone. This was decanted for four hours then re-corked for transportation to dinner with friends. We did not get to this bottle last night so uncorked 24 hours later. Held up just fine.
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Wonderful wine with long finish and needed decanting. Drank first half bottle on Saturday. Poured the remaining half bottle into a half bottle and used vacu-vin to remove air and finished the following Friday night and was even better the 2nd night.
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Nice nose but you have to coax it out of the glass. Tastes of dark fruit, some licorice and earth. Tannins still present but pleasant/round and well integrated. Good balance to my palate. Plenty of time, no need to rush the next bottle.
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Significant improvement sine I lay enjoyed this in 2012. Decanted briefly and enjoyed with Veal Marsala. It opened nicely and exhibited aromas and flavors of rich black currant, dark chocolate covered cherry, sweet juicy plum, black coffee, and cigar tobacco. Big, focused, balanced and rich with tannins, acidity and fruit all in harmony. Great finish, definitely entering its prime drinking window. Excellent.
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A year in the cellar has helped Initial tannins settled quickly and was followed by some rich but not overwhelming dark fruit along with a nice earth balance A touch of vanilla was not distracting Wish I had more
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at 2 hours this began to sing and reveal its secrets;delicious fruit without being too sweet or oaky/vanilla;yet so tight at first we would say hold for a year or two at the least
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amazing nose on this, which only got better with air - still very tannic, have one left and will wait a year or more before cracking it (if I can resist)
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- Violet color - Not as dense as the usual Howell Mt wines that I like and also had a bitterness to it, kind of like unripened fruit. Would not buy again.
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So my thought would be... is Napa Mountain fruit all brambely? Because it seems to be the theme I am experiencing in the Mountain Cabs I have been drinking as of late. Here, on day two, it could have more mid, it could have more finish, but it is still tasty.
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Big, dark, and bold, but very extracted with bunches of upfront fruit and oak. Decanted for 90 minutes. As both flydcjets and Lee Fining have pointed out, this is not quite ready for prime time. Lots of upside potential.
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Craig's most structured offering. Not as integrated as the others. The abundant tannins and stiff backbone may benefit from a lengthly, at least ten year, aging.
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3/30/2022 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 91 Points
Similar service and tasting notes as my note from 6/02/21 except no wet cardboard aromas! Wine was wonderful as described in my earlier note. Best bottle so far!
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9/9/2021 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 88 Points
Ninety-minute decant. Boysenberry nose was apparent during decant. The wine was garnet in the bowl with a distinct amber rim and small halo. In the glass: a nose of black fruits, wild flowers and a minute --but distinct -- sour note; the sour note diminished over time, but never left. In the mouth: blackberry, boysenberry and spice but the finish again was just slightly sour and astringent. With steaks, the wine was still very good, but it was not as a good as the bottle I drank on 6/02/2021. Unlike that bottle, this bottle seemed to have started its decline.
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6/2/2021 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ninety-minute decant through an aerating funnel. No sediment. Wine had a moderate fragrance of blackberry brandy during decant. Wine was clear, still dark garnet from bowl to rim with no signs of any bricking. Initially in the glass, the wine had a wet cardboard aroma intermixed with blackberry jam, slate and wild flowers, somewhat akin to a 10-15 year-old Gruaud-Larose. After another 20 minutes or so, the cardboard aroma left and the wine's nose was singing: sweet black fruit conserve, wild flowers, anise and some tobacco. In the mouth, it was all that the nose promised! Good weight, nice structure, good depth of fruit with a fairly long finish of licorice and minerals. Many years left for other bottles of this wine.
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12/11/2020 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 94 Points
Spectacular. Best bottle of the three I have had over the years. Deep indigo color, lavender on the nose. Black and blue fruit, jammy blackberry, blueberry, cassis, tobacco, licorice and bramble on the palate. Rich and full bodied with a long lingering finish. Still has enough tannic backbone to sustain for a few more years but unlikely to improve further.
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11/26/2020 - Ecoenophile wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 3hours. Nice lavender undertones to full dark fruit nose. Palate was full purple fruit with some licorice root and tobacco. Medium finish with some tannins remaining.
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11/21/2020 - Mallards wrote: 89 Points
At this point in its life, more sweet than we would prefer. May be just in a bad moment.
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8/9/2020 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium to dark ruby in color. A high degree of clarity. Bright floral nose. Typical Howell Mountain characteristics of white pepper and a bit of bramble. This was a little lighter and a bit sweeter than previous vintages I have drunk but still a very nice starter for the evening. Medium to full bodied with a lingering finish. Tannins are well integrated so time to drink this.
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6/25/2019 - brianofthevine Likes this wine: 93 Points
98% CS with a dollop of P.V. Beautiful wine right now after 11 years of age. The fruit profile is that of dark currant, blackberry, and black cherry. Firm and structured mid-palate of dark chocolate, licorice, black pepper, along with some subtle mineral, earth, and savory notes on the end. Still has some chewy tannins and a wonderful long finish. Could definitely go a few more years.
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5/19/2019 - D3S Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very good wine with plum and other dark fruit, tobacco and cassis on palate, full bodied and Ling finish. Needs 30 minutes to open and probably would have benefited from a decant.
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4/10/2018 - Helenachuck Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark and extracted purple color, opaque, with a ruby to red rim. Nose is Cabernet essence, clean but still tight; hints of lead pencil and blueberry; some sweetness and floral notes. A welcoming but still reserved feel. On the palate, the wine is tighter and more savory than the nose. Dark fruits but closed; savory notes of dried herbs, minerals, perhaps some eucalyptus. There is enough ripeness to make me feel good about the future here. Reminds me in a way of the restraint of Leoville Barton - but in a Napa way. 91 at present, perhaps a point or two higher if it continues to evolve well.
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3/11/2018 - wconnolly Likes this wine:
Deep, dark indigo color. A bit of pepper on the nose. A bit more than medium bodied. Classic Howell Mountain fruit with boysenberry, pepper, clove and pencil lead on the palate. Warm tannins are well integrated but this still has some backbone. This was decanted for four hours then re-corked for transportation to dinner with friends. We did not get to this bottle last night so uncorked 24 hours later. Held up just fine.
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10/3/2017 - macliii Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wonderful wine with long finish and needed decanting. Drank first half bottle on Saturday. Poured the remaining half bottle into a half bottle and used vacu-vin to remove air and finished the following Friday night and was even better the 2nd night.
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3/31/2017 - Dagman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Incredible nose, typical Howell mountain fruit (nice), tannins in check but there, moderate to long finish.
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1/12/2017 - Vietty Likes this wine:
Drinking really well right now, nicely integrated. Pop and poured and enjoyed the change in glass over dinner.
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10/15/2016 - Vietty Likes this wine:
Nice nose but you have to coax it out of the glass. Tastes of dark fruit, some licorice and earth. Tannins still present but pleasant/round and well integrated. Good balance to my palate. Plenty of time, no need to rush the next bottle.
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1/12/2016 - kingboo wrote: 88 Points
Good, but short on complexity.
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9/25/2015 - wmccone54 wrote: 93 Points
Significant improvement sine I lay enjoyed this in 2012. Decanted briefly and enjoyed with Veal Marsala. It opened nicely and exhibited aromas and flavors of rich black currant, dark chocolate covered cherry, sweet juicy plum, black coffee, and cigar tobacco. Big, focused, balanced and rich with tannins, acidity and fruit all in harmony. Great finish, definitely entering its prime drinking window. Excellent.
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3/21/2015 - mntebolt wrote:
Very good
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4/25/2014 - DanielJ Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice cab. Very good flavor. A touch thin. Well balanced. Tastey fruit
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2/23/2014 - bugdoced wrote: 92 Points
A year in the cellar has helped
Initial tannins settled quickly and was followed by some rich but not overwhelming dark fruit along with a nice earth balance
A touch of vanilla was not distracting
Wish I had more
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1/24/2014 - Gestalted wrote: 88 Points
A little plum, a little cherry and a touch of cocoa. Decent midpalate but I just wanted more depth and complexity.
--
Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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10/2/2013 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 92 Points
at 2 hours this began to sing and reveal its secrets;delicious fruit without being too sweet or oaky/vanilla;yet so tight at first we would say hold for a year or two at the least
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7/29/2013 - AngryPrez Likes this wine: 92 Points
amazing nose on this, which only got better with air - still very tannic, have one left and will wait a year or more before cracking it (if I can resist)
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2/26/2013 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 90 Points
better the second day with tart fruit and tannins that softened overnite;a hold in our world at least 6-12 months before trying again
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2/4/2013 - Petiger wrote: 87 Points
- Violet color - Not as dense as the usual Howell Mt wines that I like and also had a bitterness to it, kind of like unripened fruit. Would not buy again.
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12/16/2012 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
So my thought would be... is Napa Mountain fruit all brambely? Because it seems to be the theme I am experiencing in the Mountain Cabs I have been drinking as of late. Here, on day two, it could have more mid, it could have more finish, but it is still tasty.
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12/15/2012 - astroman wrote:
California Cabernet Tasting: Modern, ripe fruits.
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11/17/2012 - wmccone54 wrote: 90 Points
Big, dark, and bold, but very extracted with bunches of upfront fruit and oak. Decanted for 90 minutes. As both flydcjets and Lee Fining have pointed out, this is not quite ready for prime time. Lots of upside potential.
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9/14/2012 - flydcjets wrote: 90 Points
Young vintage that will require a few more years of aging, even after decanting it did not settle down. It will be well wroth wait to enjoy.
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2/12/2012 - mxpbuy wrote: 88 Points
Sampled 1/29/12. Boring but reasonably well made fruit bomb.
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1/29/2012 - Lee Fining wrote: 92 Points
Quality wine that is not ready for prime time. Needs serious aging to mellow out.
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11/5/2011 - bin905 wrote: 90 Points
Craig's most structured offering. Not as integrated as the others. The abundant tannins and stiff backbone may benefit from a lengthly, at least ten year, aging.
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