Raspberry, pomegranate, cherry, a hint of clove and cedar. Very nice, but this is about the fourth vintage of Poetry I have tasted and was the lightest in weight and body. Still full bodied with wonderful balance and complexity. Tannins are fully integrated and this is unlikely to improve further.
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Deep red color in the glass. Plenty of fruit with notes of dark cherry, raspberry, chocolate and baking spice. Wonderfully balanced with still grippy tannins. Full bodied with a lingering finish. Let this decant for 3 and a half hours. Tannins predominate until that 3 and a half hour mark when the wine opens to reveal its incredible balance.
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Amazing! Ready to go since opening. Short Decant and the wine is so classic Cliff Lede. Fruit forward, balanced, lingering finish. Just what i love and expect from Napa cabs.
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I've opened three bottles of the 2008 and they've all been different. The last one was a dense, intense brute - not at all approachable, even with a long decant. This one was medium bodied and pliant with just a pop and pour, with sweet red raspberry, milk chocolate, wood spice, and a good level of acidity. Hard to believe that this has opened up so dramatically in the 16 months since my last bottle.
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Ruby red edge with a dense blood/black red core. Beautiful aromatics if eucalyptus, black licorice, cassis, cocoa powder, and dense black fruit. On the palate this is still incredibly youthful. Tannins are integrating nicely and the acidity is still fresh. Fruit is still primary! Wow. One of my best experiences with this wine. Drink now, or hold for another 15+ years.
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Drinking very well now but likely has another 10 years ahead of it. Dark cherry, licorice, unsweetened dark chocolate, good acidity, resolved tannins. Velvety.
Great balance, texture and finish. It's all here. Drank after the Beautiful Generation, which was the star of the night. This wine was smooth and integrated, but lacked some wow factor of the younger wine.
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Still strong tannins which give structure, but need to mellow. Strong fruit flavors, but with decanting and allowing to breath/open, it improves after 30-40 minutes. Still, should probably not consume for 3-5 years.
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I enjoy Stags Leap Cabs as they are usually big, fruit forward, with good concentration and big extraction. That being said, this 2008 Poetry was a little disappointing actually. Acidic, soft fruit and a soft finish not much to mention. Good wine but overpriced. 89.6 points
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Dark ruby color turning purple at the rim with a rich, earthy nose of dark fruit, espresso and cocoa. The palate is opulent with a thick, velvety texture and vibrant acidity. The flavors of mocha, tasted vanilla, currant, tobacco and scorched earth blend seamlessly on a layered, supple, and melodious effort. Finishes fragrantly with a hint of leather. Drink now until 2023. 94+
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Big, big wine. Dark in color with notes of really dark, black fruit, mineraly, and pencil lead. On the palate was big and enticing but with rough tannins at this point. 90 points today but would imagine a nice improvement if the tannins can soften and integrate with time.
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Christmas in Maryland for George's 87th: deep dark purple, full of dark fruits, graphite, with beauitful balance. A big yet very elegant Napa Cab. Outstanding ****+
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8/14/2023 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 92 Points
Raspberry, pomegranate, cherry, a hint of clove and cedar. Very nice, but this is about the fourth vintage of Poetry I have tasted and was the lightest in weight and body. Still full bodied with wonderful balance and complexity. Tannins are fully integrated and this is unlikely to improve further.
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12/24/2021 - timtom Likes this wine: 92 Points
Short decant. Very well balanced with flavors of dark red fruit and soft tannins. Still drinking very well, but maybe past its prime.
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6/5/2021 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep red color in the glass. Plenty of fruit with notes of dark cherry, raspberry, chocolate and baking spice. Wonderfully balanced with still grippy tannins. Full bodied with a lingering finish. Let this decant for 3 and a half hours. Tannins predominate until that 3 and a half hour mark when the wine opens to reveal its incredible balance.
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8/30/2020 - Myman24 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Amazing! Ready to go since opening. Short Decant and the wine is so classic Cliff Lede. Fruit forward, balanced, lingering finish. Just what i love and expect from Napa cabs.
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1/19/2020 - sunnylea57 wrote:
I've opened three bottles of the 2008 and they've all been different. The last one was a dense, intense brute - not at all approachable, even with a long decant. This one was medium bodied and pliant with just a pop and pour, with sweet red raspberry, milk chocolate, wood spice, and a good level of acidity. Hard to believe that this has opened up so dramatically in the 16 months since my last bottle.
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5/1/2019 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Ruby red edge with a dense blood/black red core.
Beautiful aromatics if eucalyptus, black licorice, cassis, cocoa powder, and dense black fruit.
On the palate this is still incredibly youthful. Tannins are integrating nicely and the acidity is still fresh. Fruit is still primary! Wow. One of my best experiences with this wine. Drink now, or hold for another 15+ years.
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9/2/2018 - sunnylea57 wrote: 91 Points
Dense, palate-staining, tannic and primary. Almost cloyingly concentrated raspberry. Come back in 10+ years. Score is based solely on potential.
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3/24/2018 - sunnylea57 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very well now but likely has another 10 years ahead of it. Dark cherry, licorice, unsweetened dark chocolate, good acidity, resolved tannins. Velvety.
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11/18/2017 - heidoanddave Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking well but still young.
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11/2/2017 - WineForRob wrote: flawed
Corked. Earth and heat.
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8/31/2016 - heidoanddave Likes this wine: 91 Points
We thought this was very tight even after an hour plus decant. High tannins remain. Will hold balance of bottles.
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7/24/2016 - KeithSurg wrote: 94 Points
Great balance, texture and finish. It's all here. Drank after the Beautiful Generation, which was the star of the night. This wine was smooth and integrated, but lacked some wow factor of the younger wine.
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7/11/2015 - Meneley wrote:
Sweet oak, delicious black fruits. Well balanced and aging well. LO
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1/8/2015 - LESTERTHEINVESTOR Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still strong tannins which give structure, but need to mellow. Strong fruit flavors, but with decanting and allowing to breath/open, it improves after 30-40 minutes. Still, should probably not consume for 3-5 years.
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8/18/2014 - Yack Man wrote: 90 Points
I enjoy Stags Leap Cabs as they are usually big, fruit forward, with good concentration and big extraction. That being said, this 2008 Poetry was a little disappointing actually. Acidic, soft fruit and a soft finish not much to mention. Good wine but overpriced. 89.6 points
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5/2/2014 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark ruby color turning purple at the rim with a rich, earthy nose of dark fruit, espresso and cocoa. The palate is opulent with a thick, velvety texture and vibrant acidity. The flavors of mocha, tasted vanilla, currant, tobacco and scorched earth blend seamlessly on a layered, supple, and melodious effort. Finishes fragrantly with a hint of leather. Drink now until 2023. 94+
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4/3/2014 - J-Sho wrote: 92 Points
This is currently drinking beautiful. Dense red color with soft fruit and vanilla aromas. Palate well rounded and full with long soft finish.
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9/7/2013 - josephme Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big, bold new world wine. Still too young, but opened with rich fruit and tobacco. Nicely balanced.
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2/1/2013 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Deep blue purple. With a few hour decant, lovely berry, tobacco aromas. Very new world, but beautifully balanced. Highly recommended
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8/26/2012 - KeithSurg wrote: 94 Points
Tasted next to the SLV bottling. This is a sweeter, more extracted wine. Bigger fruit and presenting better than when tasted 8 months ago.
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4/12/2012 - rh marcin wrote: 85 Points
Drank one bottle to check on delivery issue (left in hot car). No appreciable damage, but wine is still too young to drink now.
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3/30/2012 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Great vintage of Poetry. Needs to sleep for 6 or 7 years.
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3/25/2012 - J-Sho wrote: 90 Points
Big, big wine. Dark in color with notes of really dark, black fruit, mineraly, and pencil lead. On the palate was big and enticing but with rough tannins at this point. 90 points today but would imagine a nice improvement if the tannins can soften and integrate with time.
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1/30/2012 - KeithSurg wrote: 92 Points
Dark red color with plenty of minerality on the palate. Tannins supple, but fruit not coming out much after being opened an hour. Needs more time.
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12/25/2011 - cos65 wrote:
Christmas in Maryland for George's 87th: deep dark purple, full of dark fruits, graphite, with beauitful balance. A big yet very elegant Napa Cab. Outstanding ****+
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