Duckhorn's "everyday wine". Matches the hype and lighter than anticipated. Deep Dark Redwith bold nose of blackberries, fig and cherries. Complex fruit with vanilla tones. Rich an balanced.
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- Garnet color with slow forming legs. It's balanced and has flavours of strawberry jam, raisin and prune with a medium/full body. Smooth texture with a long finish - Always a great bottle of everyday drinking wine.
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- Garnet color with medium forming legs. It's balanced and has flavours of blackberry, black currant and dusty with a medium/full body. Smooth texture with a long finish - As previously mentioned, great everyday drinking wine. Perfect for the money spent.
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- Garnet color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium body. Smooth texture with a medium finish - Wonderful bottle of Cab for the price.
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Really starting to come of age - our last tasting in 2011 found a tight, tannic opening, with little mellowing. A year later, fruit is more balanced and fuller. Depth is good, although the finish is light - not a lot of staying power (yet).
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After doing some research, this is not the same wine as the older decoys. These grapes are sourced from low-cost producers, whereas previous years Decoy were actual Duckhorn grapes. Nice bait and switch that I do not think most people will notice. Duckhorn and it's new private equity owner are no longer my go-to wines. Too much focus on profitability vs quality artisan ship. It's been a great run Duckhorn, sorry to see you go.
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- Garnet color with medium forming legs. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of blackberry, raspberry, black currant, strawberry jam and smokey with a medium body. Round texture - Great everyday drinking wine. Great value for a decent Cab.
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Very O.K., Purchased for $38 at my club with dinner. Somewhat sweet berries, too young to be complex, but reasonable for a red to go drink with dinner. Would I buy for my cellar? Of course not.
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Appreciate the effort to make a decent, affordable everyday Napa red. Unfortunately this is non-descript, with muted nose and tastes. Quite drinkable, but not memorable. Won't be buying again.
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No notes taken. Great young '09 color. Smooth blackberry and plum, milk chocolate. Velvety Cab Sauv and Merlot. On day three add some celery and blueberry. Great blue and black fruits. 90 pts.
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A bit on the light side, but still pretty in aroma and palate, this Duckhorn 2nd label shows a tasty Right Bank blend with sweet Merlot flavors, some interesting herbality and a touch of smoke and wood; nicely balanced and finishes smoothly, with soft tannins and a pleasant aftertaste.
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Medium bodied wine with a deep crimson color. A bowl full of red cherries on the nose. Cherries and raspberries on palate. Very subdued tannins, lacks any type of complexity and finishes weak. I have had a number of vintages of the Duckhorn Decoy and continue to be disappointed.
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Sort of a pale red. Subtle floral nose. Drinks, well, like a low end cab blend. Fairly good attack, but no middle, then a generic oaky finish. Still enjoyed it, but this decoy ain't going to fool anyone :)
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This is the "driver" in the Decoy line. 30% new oak, 70% second year oak. Its the same barrels as the Duckhorn main wines. This is suppoesd to be more about the varietal and upfront fruit.
Pronouced cabernet fruit, with some oak notes. Smells great actually. Touches of green. Palate is cabernet heavy and green. Works very well at $20.
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A bit green and minty on the nose. Made since 1985 this is the declassified Duckhorn. So back in the 1980s as the sources of fruit increased you ended up with fruit or juice that you weren't going to use in the regular bottles. So you could sell them, or you could control your destiny and make it a declassified wine. So this is the single vineyard wines first, the three palms, etc. And then whatever doesn't go into those wines go in to the Napa wines, and then what doesn't go into Napa goes into Decoy red. Sometimes is younger vines, bright fruit, etc..
This is almost always equal cabernet and merlot, with touches of Franc and Verdot. 16 months oak.
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Very disappointing. Virtually no mid-palate. Nothing objectionable, but might as well have been drinking watered wine. Expected more given the winemaker.
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Thursday Walk Around Tasting of California Wines (WineStyles Columbia, SC): I liked this wine. I think their concept of producing a Cabernet Sauvignon that is ready to drink on release this young is noteworthy, and for the most part seems to work. I was pleasantly surprised that this offering did not overwhelm the nose and palate with dominant new oak which has been the characteristic of some of their wines. As a Cabernet with less than 2 years from harvest to glass this wine is very complete. There are some vibrant fruit flavors of raspberry and cherry. They are backed up with a nice array of complimenting flavors like mocha, vanilla, brown spice and black pepper. Very mild tannins. The alcohol is well integrated, as is the acid profile. Relatively soft and easy drinking, while almost full bodied. I would even call this elegant. The finish though a little light is classic Cabernet Sauvignon with tobacco, tar, cola, all bolstered with some vanilla from new oak. Nice job, and well priced.
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Ordered off the list at Hawkshead. A nice but very complex wine. Deep red color. The tannins were not very harsh for being so young. Notes of ripe red fruit. 87 points.
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Slight disappointing for a Decoy - prior years were definitely better blends. Lackluster on the palate and tight on the fruit. Might do better with another year in the cellar.
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A rather simple wine with a basic red fruit profile. Picks up a little bit of complexity on the palate with grainy tannins that could use another year or so to fully resolve so there is a little room for short term improvement. Well priced at $23.
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Had at Tastebuds Restaurant with Roasted Rockfish. The wine was dark and had good weight. It was pleasant. Lots of fruit. Young. I think it will improve.
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3/26/2023 - Kristinfr wrote:
Airated and decanted
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9/19/2017 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice!
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12/12/2015 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Will probably benefit from another year or two in the bottle.
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10/6/2014 - jpstough Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fruit forward, but dry with a leathery finish. Very pleased with the extra cellaring. Blackberry, cherry and plum.
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10/3/2013 - JoshA wrote: 89 Points
Ripe, dark fruit and cocoa overtones anchored by tobacco toned tannins.
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9/26/2013 - redbrix wrote: 88 Points
Duckhorn's "everyday wine". Matches the hype and lighter than anticipated. Deep Dark Redwith bold nose of blackberries, fig and cherries. Complex fruit with vanilla tones. Rich an balanced.
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8/9/2013 - Marc S wrote: 87 Points
- Garnet color with slow forming legs. It's balanced and has flavours of strawberry jam, raisin and prune with a medium/full body. Smooth texture with a long finish - Always a great bottle of everyday drinking wine.
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3/23/2013 - tmcg55 wrote: 89 Points
Enjoyed this bottle. Solid all around. Smooth with a good finish.
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12/30/2012 - Marc S wrote: 87 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs. It's balanced and has flavours of blackberry, black currant and dusty with a medium/full body. Smooth texture with a long finish - As previously mentioned, great everyday drinking wine. Perfect for the money spent.
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12/26/2012 - chukon99 wrote: 83 Points
Competently made cab/merlot blend. Not particularly interesting, but serves its purpose as an everyday red. Doubtful that it will improve much.
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11/10/2012 - Marc S wrote: 87 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium body. Smooth texture with a medium finish - Wonderful bottle of Cab for the price.
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9/1/2012 - Drdaker wrote: 95 Points
Perfect blend of cab and merlot. Full taste of cab with the smoothness of merlot.
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8/24/2012 - Marc S wrote: 85 Points
Please read my previous notes.
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8/1/2012 - KC Lawyer wrote: 93 Points
Really starting to come of age - our last tasting in 2011 found a tight, tannic opening, with little mellowing. A year later, fruit is more balanced and fuller. Depth is good, although the finish is light - not a lot of staying power (yet).
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4/27/2012 - sipnwine wrote:
Enjoyed this wine. However I think there's better value to be had at this price point. I won't purchase this again.
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4/22/2012 - jackal4eva wrote: 83 Points
After doing some research, this is not the same wine as the older decoys. These grapes are sourced from low-cost producers, whereas previous years Decoy were actual Duckhorn grapes. Nice bait and switch that I do not think most people will notice. Duckhorn and it's new private equity owner are no longer my go-to wines. Too much focus on profitability vs quality artisan ship. It's been a great run Duckhorn, sorry to see you go.
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4/2/2012 - wamayes wrote:
Delish. A little heavy and sweet. Drank with Evan once and Tina and Steve the other time.
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3/9/2012 - pcarleto wrote:
hint of plum. mild tanins.
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2/11/2012 - Marc S wrote: 89 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of blackberry, raspberry, black currant, strawberry jam and smokey with a medium body. Round texture - Great everyday drinking wine. Great value for a decent Cab.
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2/3/2012 - RR47 wrote: 86 Points
Very O.K., Purchased for $38 at my club with dinner. Somewhat sweet berries, too young to be complex, but reasonable for a red to go drink with dinner. Would I buy for my cellar? Of course not.
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2/2/2012 - JoshA wrote: 88 Points
Dark, ripe fruit, tobacco, and fine tannins for a pleasing wine.
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1/23/2012 - pbilling wrote: 90 Points
Good general purpose cab, very drinkable. Not as good as some of Duckhorns other offerings.
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1/22/2012 - Achim wrote: 87 Points
Never can go wrong with a Decoy. Less bold than a Duckhorn, but very smooth.
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1/14/2012 - Sundesertcactus wrote: 84 Points
Decent wine, but nothing great, better $25 Cabs out there.
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1/7/2012 - denisontb wrote: 84 Points
Appreciate the effort to make a decent, affordable everyday Napa red. Unfortunately this is non-descript, with muted nose and tastes. Quite drinkable, but not memorable. Won't be buying again.
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12/26/2011 - BY Burgundy wrote: 85 Points
Somewhat limited nose with black currants dominant. Wine needed a couple hours to open up. Overall well balanced.
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12/14/2011 - James.michael.watrous wrote: 89 Points
Decent wine given the price. Certainly not a standout like other duckhorns. Overall quality is worth the extra few dollars for everyday drinking.
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12/13/2011 - mazik wrote: 84 Points
Popped and poured. No tasting notes but this struck us as a very ordinary red wine, unimpressive given the Duckhorn label.
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12/12/2011 - jackal4eva wrote: 86 Points
better than before -- vinturi aeration helped... very tight and limited flavor. still not worth it for the $
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12/6/2011 - cnorvell wrote: 85 Points
An unimpressive bottle. 85 is generous.
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12/3/2011 - Mendakota wrote: 88 Points
- Fast forming legs - Good Waller
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11/25/2011 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote: 90 Points
No notes taken.
Great young '09 color.
Smooth blackberry and plum, milk chocolate.
Velvety Cab Sauv and Merlot.
On day three add some celery and blueberry.
Great blue and black fruits.
90 pts.
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11/22/2011 - Snoman wrote: 89 Points
A bit on the light side, but still pretty in aroma and palate, this Duckhorn 2nd label shows a tasty Right Bank blend with sweet Merlot flavors, some interesting herbality and a touch of smoke and wood; nicely balanced and finishes smoothly, with soft tannins and a pleasant aftertaste.
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11/22/2011 - davejeep99 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great everyday cab.
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11/16/2011 - SGates wrote: 82 Points
Like drinking red water. Very young, no mid palate, and completely unmemorable finish. Name Decoy is right, this wine is a fake...
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11/11/2011 - caseylee55 wrote: 91 Points
4.5 out of 5.....fav for just sipping
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11/5/2011 - wmccone54 wrote: 84 Points
Medium bodied wine with a deep crimson color. A bowl full of red cherries on the nose. Cherries and raspberries on palate. Very subdued tannins, lacks any type of complexity and finishes weak. I have had a number of vintages of the Duckhorn Decoy and continue to be disappointed.
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11/4/2011 - Kevin1970 wrote: 86 Points
Good
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10/25/2011 - kuwayen wrote: 87 Points
Drinkable wine. Smooth but not much character.
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10/18/2011 - joefouche wrote: 86 Points
Sort of a pale red. Subtle floral nose. Drinks, well, like a low end cab blend. Fairly good attack, but no middle, then a generic oaky finish. Still enjoyed it, but this decoy ain't going to fool anyone :)
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10/12/2011 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
This is the "driver" in the Decoy line. 30% new oak, 70% second year oak. Its the same barrels as the Duckhorn main wines. This is suppoesd to be more about the varietal and upfront fruit.
Pronouced cabernet fruit, with some oak notes. Smells great actually. Touches of green. Palate is cabernet heavy and green. Works very well at $20.
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10/12/2011 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
A bit green and minty on the nose. Made since 1985 this is the declassified Duckhorn. So back in the 1980s as the sources of fruit increased you ended up with fruit or juice that you weren't going to use in the regular bottles. So you could sell them, or you could control your destiny and make it a declassified wine. So this is the single vineyard wines first, the three palms, etc. And then whatever doesn't go into those wines go in to the Napa wines, and then what doesn't go into Napa goes into Decoy red. Sometimes is younger vines, bright fruit, etc..
This is almost always equal cabernet and merlot, with touches of Franc and Verdot. 16 months oak.
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9/30/2011 - hoops92 wrote: 81 Points
Very disappointing. Virtually no mid-palate. Nothing objectionable, but might as well have been drinking watered wine. Expected more given the winemaker.
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9/5/2011 - KH wrote: 70 Points
Flat and not fit for consumption. I hope it was a bad bottle but this was not the first Decoy disappointment in recent memory.
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8/25/2011 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 88 Points
Thursday Walk Around Tasting of California Wines (WineStyles Columbia, SC): I liked this wine. I think their concept of producing a Cabernet Sauvignon that is ready to drink on release this young is noteworthy, and for the most part seems to work. I was pleasantly surprised that this offering did not overwhelm the nose and palate with dominant new oak which has been the characteristic of some of their wines. As a Cabernet with less than 2 years from harvest to glass this wine is very complete. There are some vibrant fruit flavors of raspberry and cherry. They are backed up with a nice array of complimenting flavors like mocha, vanilla, brown spice and black pepper. Very mild tannins. The alcohol is well integrated, as is the acid profile. Relatively soft and easy drinking, while almost full bodied. I would even call this elegant. The finish though a little light is classic Cabernet Sauvignon with tobacco, tar, cola, all bolstered with some vanilla from new oak. Nice job, and well priced.
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7/14/2011 - Matlatzinca wrote: 88 Points
Eminently drinkable, soft tannins, bold fruit, predominant fig and blackberry
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7/8/2011 - Vino Me wrote: 87 Points
Ordered off the list at Hawkshead. A nice but very complex wine. Deep red color. The tannins were not very harsh for being so young. Notes of ripe red fruit. 87 points.
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5/20/2011 - edrender Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Full bodied, but no fruit. Nothing in the nose, nothing in the finish. Expect more from a napa cab, even at this price point.
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5/14/2011 - jackal4eva wrote: 84 Points
Slight disappointing for a Decoy - prior years were definitely better blends. Lackluster on the palate and tight on the fruit. Might do better with another year in the cellar.
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4/5/2011 - Willbrew5 wrote: 80 Points
Agreed w the review that it is a fairly simple wine but is very drinkable.
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3/31/2011 - Rob MacKay wrote: 86 Points
A rather simple wine with a basic red fruit profile. Picks up a little bit of complexity on the palate with grainy tannins that could use another year or so to fully resolve so there is a little room for short term improvement. Well priced at $23.
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2/12/2011 - Zinlady wrote: 89 Points
Had at Tastebuds Restaurant with Roasted Rockfish. The wine was dark and had good weight. It was pleasant. Lots of fruit. Young. I think it will improve.
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