A purplish hue with early conversion to a slightly murky brown (sign of its age). Aromas of chocolate, coffee, oak, and dark fruits, although the fruit aromas are starting to be more in the background. Palate shows plumb, fig, black cherry, green pepper, and that graphite and dusty earth characteristic synonomous with Rutherford. Tannins are softened integrated. The overall power of this wine is subdued relative to other vintages of this same wine at this age. After swallowing, the balance between acid, tannin, and fruit tends to fall apart fairly quickly. Enjoyable, but not the best of older Peju cab reserves I've tried. Drink now because it's probably not getting any better.
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Purchased direct from winery and cellar stored at 55F since late 2013. Opened and decanted 1/2 bottle for 20mins. Poured deep dark purple with clear rim. Tasted tones of mellow cherry, some raisin and silky currant finish. No tannins or sediment noticed. Overall very smooth and enjoyable despite a bit past its suggested prime. Vacu-vin and fridged remainder for later in week with similar results. Could still go a bit longer IMHO. Like to have had another in the cellar.
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Somewhat murky prune color in the glass. Fairly complex nose—oaky vanilla, tarry, green herb. Initial (may have been biased by the color), raisin, dried currant. Considerable mineral or graphite mid-to-rear palate. Tannins are, presumably, quite resolved. Acid adds refreshness and really helps, but an unfortunate bitterness (alcohol?) detracts. I’m not going to say that this is a horrible wine, but it seems disjointed. Aging should have harmonized the components. Instead it seems that each one is going its own way.
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In a really nice place. Solid Cabernet nose, balanced on the palate with a hint of oak. Oak is almost completely gone on the second day. Soft tannins, but with enough to cut some of the ribeye fattiness. Medium length with a pleasant fruity finish.
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Had this for our Thanksgiving meal...a bit of a disappointment, overly sweet and lacking in complexity and acidity. Too big and fruity a wine for a delicate herb-crusted turkey...
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This is delicious stuff. Quite refined for a Napa cab. jdabrowski nails the flavor profile. The tea and leather notes are very interesting. I'm loving this wine but also thankful I didn't blow 100 bones on it.
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No formal notes taken. Seems rather advanced for a 2005 napa cab. Rather soft on the palateit was nice to drink, but maybe a little over extracted in style?
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5 hr decant. The nose is just starting to get interesting, finally showing dark fruit, cassis, cinnamon, citrus, and creme freshe. Initial attack of red fruit that does show some signs of age, then lots of tea, coffee, leather. Rather resolved tannins, this comes across as soft on the approach, medium bodied during the midpalate, and a tad hot on the lingering finish.
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Well made wine that I didn't find overly fruity or oaky, but definitely a red-fruit forward wine. Thick body, left a long aftertaste that was a touch unbalanced - perhaps a bit green. The tannins were present, but it's hardly mouth puckering. I'd say it's a fantastic deal at $30, but wouldn't waste my time with it at $100.
Big brooding wine, much deeper and darker than I remember in the tasting room. Cranberry overtones on the mid-palate with a hint of mint and fennel undertones. Delioucious. Great tannic structure to maintain drinkability for many more years. 92+
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Backbone. Fruit. Nose. What's there not to like? Well, there is the price. Not astronomical by Napa cab standards, but I'd be pretty disappointed if it *wasn't* this good.
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7/10/2018 - JGirl Likes this wine: 87 Points
Disappointing 20 - 30 minutes after opening. Much better an hour or so after opening. Eventually nice flavor.
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12/3/2017 - Thief Likes this wine: 91 Points
Similar to prior notes. This bottle seemed a little more balanced. Has a bit more time left before it declines but needs to be drunk.
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8/27/2017 - Thief Likes this wine: 90 Points
A purplish hue with early conversion to a slightly murky brown (sign of its age). Aromas of chocolate, coffee, oak, and dark fruits, although the fruit aromas are starting to be more in the background. Palate shows plumb, fig, black cherry, green pepper, and that graphite and dusty earth characteristic synonomous with Rutherford. Tannins are softened integrated. The overall power of this wine is subdued relative to other vintages of this same wine at this age.
After swallowing, the balance between acid, tannin, and fruit tends to fall apart fairly quickly. Enjoyable, but not the best of older Peju cab reserves I've tried. Drink now because it's probably not getting any better.
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1/11/2017 - Rherold wrote: 90 Points
12 years old but still nice red fruit, herbacious, coffee notes. Has a couple years left.
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10/18/2016 - ctwine62 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Purchased direct from winery and cellar stored at 55F since late 2013. Opened and decanted 1/2 bottle for 20mins. Poured deep dark purple with clear rim. Tasted tones of mellow cherry, some raisin and silky currant finish. No tannins or sediment noticed. Overall very smooth and enjoyable despite a bit past its suggested prime. Vacu-vin and fridged remainder for later in week with similar results. Could still go a bit longer IMHO. Like to have had another in the cellar.
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8/26/2016 - EMark wrote:
Somewhat murky prune color in the glass. Fairly complex nose—oaky vanilla, tarry, green herb. Initial (may have been biased by the color), raisin, dried currant. Considerable mineral or graphite mid-to-rear palate. Tannins are, presumably, quite resolved. Acid adds refreshness and really helps, but an unfortunate bitterness (alcohol?) detracts. I’m not going to say that this is a horrible wine, but it seems disjointed. Aging should have harmonized the components. Instead it seems that each one is going its own way.
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7/24/2016 - lavello wrote:
Vertical tasting 05-07
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12/24/2015 - Allison790 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Took about 15 minutes to come alive,then yielded a pleasant accompaniment to lamb.
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11/26/2015 - Plasters wrote: 88 Points
Shared w Todd and Tif and David and Vanessa
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2/20/2015 - TahoeATX16 wrote:
Went bad. Bummer.
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12/28/2014 - skinut Likes this wine: 92 Points
In a really nice place. Solid Cabernet nose, balanced on the palate with a hint of oak. Oak is almost completely gone on the second day. Soft tannins, but with enough to cut some of the ribeye fattiness. Medium length with a pleasant fruity finish.
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11/7/2014 - korkd wrote: 88 Points
Too jammy for me
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3/4/2014 - DecoEd wrote: 95 Points
Really a great bottle for Peju.
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2/27/2014 - Blackwa Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice ripe fruit and well integrated oak and vanilla on the palate surrounded by Black Cherry and black currant fruit with some cassis character.
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2/7/2014 - Billiken Likes this wine: 94 Points
Alan Arnopole rocks! Wine was great!
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11/28/2013 - Duckpond wrote: 88 Points
Had this for our Thanksgiving meal...a bit of a disappointment, overly sweet and lacking in complexity and acidity. Too big and fruity a wine for a delicate herb-crusted turkey...
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2/26/2012 - tourette wrote: 93 Points
This is delicious stuff. Quite refined for a Napa cab. jdabrowski nails the flavor profile. The tea and leather notes are very interesting. I'm loving this wine but also thankful I didn't blow 100 bones on it.
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2/18/2012 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 91 Points
No formal notes taken. Seems rather advanced for a 2005 napa cab. Rather soft on the palateit was nice to drink, but maybe a little over extracted in style?
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12/25/2011 - BiggE5252 wrote: 93 Points
Fruit Smell
Tremendous Smooth, & a lil spice
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12/3/2011 - kurtc wrote: 94 Points
Excellent! Elegant - could still age for awhile.
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10/14/2011 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 92 Points
5 hr decant. The nose is just starting to get interesting, finally showing dark fruit, cassis, cinnamon, citrus, and creme freshe. Initial attack of red fruit that does show some signs of age, then lots of tea, coffee, leather. Rather resolved tannins, this comes across as soft on the approach, medium bodied during the midpalate, and a tad hot on the lingering finish.
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6/24/2011 - East of Napa wrote: 92 Points
very nice drank eith andrew before golf.
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3/1/2011 - 10centpower wrote:
Well made wine that I didn't find overly fruity or oaky, but definitely a red-fruit forward wine. Thick body, left a long aftertaste that was a touch unbalanced - perhaps a bit green. The tannins were present, but it's hardly mouth puckering. I'd say it's a fantastic deal at $30, but wouldn't waste my time with it at $100.
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2/20/2011 - 82Latour wrote: 92 Points
Big brooding wine, much deeper and darker than I remember in the tasting room. Cranberry overtones on the mid-palate with a hint of mint and fennel undertones. Delioucious. Great tannic structure to maintain drinkability for many more years. 92+
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12/13/2010 - dferreir wrote: 92 Points
already showing age...unfortunately
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4/1/2010 - twojtkiewicz wrote: 90 Points
very smooth big wine. A little high in tanic.
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4/20/2009 - winekitchen wrote: 93 Points
Backbone. Fruit. Nose. What's there not to like? Well, there is the price. Not astronomical by Napa cab standards, but I'd be pretty disappointed if it *wasn't* this good.
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