Wow! Is this a great Lynch Bages or PLL? This has Pauillac trademarks all over it. Cassis, blackberry, tobacco, lead pencil, cedar, full-bodied, tannic. 1st of 4 from Auction win and these bottles could be in better condition than the couple I have left that I purchased direct at the winery 22 years ago - which were more Margaux like on last bottle I drank from that lot in 2020 (more perfumed with elegant texture). Remarkable wine with plenty of life left - keeps getting better and ecstatic I have 5 bottles left.
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Tonight showed the same profile consistent with earlier reviews, with full floral notes, black fruits, anise, leather and hints of tar and cedar and a firm tannin finish. At 21 years of age, this is past its prime as it is showing its age as the berry fruits are giving way to the non-fruit tones of leather, tar and anise. The most predominant tone at this stage is the layer of cedar or almost a eucalyptus tone that accents the fruits. Still, this is well within its drinking window but should be consumed over the next couple of years as it will assuredly continue to diminish further.
A very nice Cab!! Dark purple, great nose a lot of complexity and structure, wonderful blend of tannins and fruit and most importantly that Cab finish and mouth feel. Enjoy!!
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The Plumpjack Estate '96 opened with a big fruit and floral nose, dark garnet color and full body. Aromas and flavors of big ripe black cherry, black currant and black raspberry, a layer of cassis (more pronounced than earlier tastings' notes), finishing with sweet soft oak from the French Demptos oak cooperage, and lingering soft tannins. At release this was projected to have "a long and vibrant life of more than 12 years." Well here it is at fourteen years showing no sign of diminution whatsoever tempting promise of at least another half decade of enjoyable drinking, so we'll not rush the remaining bottles in our cellar.
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full fill, cork great shape, color and bouquet super with legs that can't be beat. took some time to open and had a wonderful evolution over the prime steak meal.
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Wow. Much better than I was expecting as I thought I'd waited too long. If you have it, you should drink it because this bottle has JUST topped the hill and is on the downhill slope. Just the slightest amount of bricking and it was very tight on opening. Had the bottle decanted and it opened up beautifully by hour two. At first it had a whiff of volatile acid that blew off in the decanter or with a little swirling in the glass. Opened up to rich dark fruit, cherries and plums, with cedar cigar box and lead pencil shavings.
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This was really tight upon opening and not showing that well. After about an hour open it started to show a fair amount of fruit. The tanins are pretty big and overpowered things at first. I didn't really like the wine at first but then once it opened up it was pretty good.
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Very dark color, no bricking. Nose of graphite and dust. Similar flavor profile, though there is still plenty of black fruit. Tannins well integrated, dusty flavors on the palate, long finish. I was worried this would be over the hill but its great now, and doesn't seem to be in danger of falling apart anytime soon.
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Opaque and brooding, nose was a bit restrained, but with some time there was the usual suspects of tar and red & black fruits. The palate had shown a medium bodied mouthfeel with some class, but always seemed kicked down a notch. Quiet and refined, there was nothing that screamed loudy. Balanced and nicely structured. There was black currant, bleckcherry, raspberry, leather, soy, and a touch of menthol...just a touch. A intertwined tannin and acid level that acted like a tight wire, but not as taut as it could be. Theres a little play and one senses the balance a bit fragile for it. Feminine and pretty though. Decent finish.
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Drank it over the weekend. Decanted for 1.5 hours. Tannins finished very smoothly. Strong vanilla and cherry. Tasted like a true traditional Bordeaux . Really enjoyed this bottle
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This has gotten better in the two months since my last bottle. Dark ruby color. On the nose, plum and cherry along with cedar and a little leather and mint. The palate follows, with nice vibrant cherry offset with some oak and cedar, with the tannins nicely balanced and integrated on the medium finish. Just a little lacking in complexity, but a very nice wine - wish I had more.
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Almost outstanding, but not quite. A little out of balance, tannins too heavy on the finish and fruit dies out too quickly. Nice nose isn't fulfilled on the palate. That said, enjoyable fruit with some complexity - aging well so far, maybe a some more time will help integrate the tannins and soften this up a bit.
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Dark red, lightening at rim. Red fruits, bit of veggies, smoke and oak on the nose, a bit alcoholic. Medium body, good fruit but could be deeper, good acidity, maybe a bit more than perfect balance to my taste, bit of veggies on palate but not excessive
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La Strada--these mid-90s CA cabs keep on delivering! Wonderful wine with a huge asphalt/dark fruit nose laced with elements of maturity such as earth and truffle.
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Very youthful with a ton of blueberry notes. Also present were some latex aromas--similar profile to QC. A wine that needs a few more years to come together.
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Tasted blind at Vintage Wines, Ltd. Bottle provided by Doug Harrigan. Bright disc. Opaque ruby robe with red rim. Clean nose, showing generous black fruit, mint, tobacco and slight eucalyptus aromas. Full-bodied on the palate, with low acidity, ample sweet tannins and similar flavors as for the nose. Long, smooth finish.
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3/28/2022 - JOEABR wrote: 95 Points
Wow! Is this a great Lynch Bages or PLL? This has Pauillac trademarks all over it. Cassis, blackberry, tobacco, lead pencil, cedar, full-bodied, tannic. 1st of 4 from Auction win and these bottles could be in better condition than the couple I have left that I purchased direct at the winery 22 years ago - which were more Margaux like on last bottle I drank from that lot in 2020 (more perfumed with elegant texture). Remarkable wine with plenty of life left - keeps getting better and ecstatic I have 5 bottles left.
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12/13/2017 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tonight showed the same profile consistent with earlier reviews, with full floral notes, black fruits, anise, leather and hints of tar and cedar and a firm tannin finish. At 21 years of age, this is past its prime as it is showing its age as the berry fruits are giving way to the non-fruit tones of leather, tar and anise. The most predominant tone at this stage is the layer of cedar or almost a eucalyptus tone that accents the fruits. Still, this is well within its drinking window but should be consumed over the next couple of years as it will assuredly continue to diminish further.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2017/12/plumpjack-napa-valley-oakville-cabernet.html
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12/3/2015 - danscellar wrote: 91 Points
Just like the one the other day, a very nice Cab!! Enjoy!
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12/1/2015 - danscellar wrote: 91 Points
Great Cab nose, a bit high on the oak and low on the fruit but nice complexity and balance. Good cab mouth feel.
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7/4/2015 - danscellar wrote: 92 Points
A very nice Cab!! Dark purple, great nose a lot of complexity and structure, wonderful blend of tannins and fruit and most importantly that Cab finish and mouth feel. Enjoy!!
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1/24/2015 - firstgrowth wrote: 90 Points
At AltaEats for Cris Jim 50th wedding anniversary.
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9/29/2012 - rmcnees wrote: 90 Points
The Plumpjack Estate '96 opened with a big fruit and floral nose, dark garnet color and full body. Aromas and flavors of big ripe black cherry, black currant and black raspberry, a layer of cassis (more pronounced than earlier tastings' notes), finishing with sweet soft oak from the French Demptos oak cooperage, and lingering soft tannins. At release this was projected to have "a long and vibrant life of more than 12 years." Well here it is at fourteen years showing no sign of diminution whatsoever tempting promise of at least another half decade of enjoyable drinking, so we'll not rush the remaining bottles in our cellar.
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9/26/2012 - peterk wrote: 91 Points
Rich fruit, lovely terroir - quite Bordeaux-like. Drink up.
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9/2/2012 - docjer wrote: 89 Points
full fill, cork great shape, color and bouquet super with legs that can't be beat. took some time to open and had a wonderful evolution over the prime steak meal.
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3/4/2012 - peterk wrote: 91 Points
Agree with the last 2 notes - tight initially, then opened up to reveal its stuffing. Drunk up.
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6/19/2011 - gavinesq wrote: 93 Points
Wow. Much better than I was expecting as I thought I'd waited too long. If you have it, you should drink it because this bottle has JUST topped the hill and is on the downhill slope. Just the slightest amount of bricking and it was very tight on opening. Had the bottle decanted and it opened up beautifully by hour two. At first it had a whiff of volatile acid that blew off in the decanter or with a little swirling in the glass. Opened up to rich dark fruit, cherries and plums, with cedar cigar box and lead pencil shavings.
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3/6/2010 - skwid wrote:
This was really tight upon opening and not showing that well. After about an hour open it started to show a fair amount of fruit. The tanins are pretty big and overpowered things at first. I didn't really like the wine at first but then once it opened up it was pretty good.
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1/4/2009 - rmcnees wrote: 90 Points
Dark berry, currant, black licorice, leather, hints of tar and cedar with a firm tannin finish.
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10/5/2008 - winotoo wrote: 91 Points
Very dark color, no bricking. Nose of graphite and dust. Similar flavor profile, though there is still plenty of black fruit. Tannins well integrated, dusty flavors on the palate, long finish. I was worried this would be over the hill but its great now, and doesn't seem to be in danger of falling apart anytime soon.
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5/4/2008 - King Cab wrote: 90 Points
Opaque and brooding, nose was a bit restrained, but with some time there was the usual suspects of tar and red & black fruits. The palate had shown a medium bodied mouthfeel with some class, but always seemed kicked down a notch. Quiet and refined, there was nothing that screamed loudy. Balanced and nicely structured. There was black currant, bleckcherry, raspberry, leather, soy, and a touch of menthol...just a touch. A intertwined tannin and acid level that acted like a tight wire, but not as taut as it could be. Theres a little play and one senses the balance a bit fragile for it. Feminine and pretty though. Decent finish.
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9/11/2007 - jawswine wrote: 93 Points
Drank it over the weekend. Decanted for 1.5 hours. Tannins finished very smoothly. Strong vanilla and cherry. Tasted like a true traditional Bordeaux . Really enjoyed this bottle
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3/22/2007 - DLT wrote: 91 Points
This has gotten better in the two months since my last bottle. Dark ruby color. On the nose, plum and cherry along with cedar and a little leather and mint. The palate follows, with nice vibrant cherry offset with some oak and cedar, with the tannins nicely balanced and integrated on the medium finish. Just a little lacking in complexity, but a very nice wine - wish I had more.
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3/7/2007 - kstoddard wrote: 86 Points
Phoenix eRP Offline - California Cabernet Sauvignon (Backstreet Wine Salon, Phoenix): Charred earth, blackberries, violets, spices and blackcurrant. Rich wine. Sort finish and still tannic.
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3/7/2007 - mattiasjansson wrote: 91 Points
Backstreet - California Cabernets (Backstreet Wine Salon, Phoenix, AZ): Oaky nose. Round and smooth on the palate.
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1/22/2007 - DLT wrote: 88 Points
Almost outstanding, but not quite. A little out of balance, tannins too heavy on the finish and fruit dies out too quickly. Nice nose isn't fulfilled on the palate. That said, enjoyable fruit with some complexity - aging well so far, maybe a some more time will help integrate the tannins and soften this up a bit.
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10/15/2006 - dbg wrote:
Dark red, lightening at rim. Red fruits, bit of veggies, smoke and
oak on the nose, a bit alcoholic. Medium body, good fruit but could
be deeper, good acidity, maybe a bit more than perfect balance to my
taste, bit of veggies on palate but not excessive
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6/26/2006 - danstrings wrote: 92 Points
La Strada--these mid-90s CA cabs keep on delivering! Wonderful wine with a huge asphalt/dark fruit nose laced with elements of maturity such as earth and truffle.
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1/23/2005 - BradA wrote: 91 Points
Robbie and Louis's
Very youthful with a ton of blueberry notes. Also present were some latex aromas--similar profile to QC. A wine that needs a few more years to come together.
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6/27/2003 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 92 Points
Tasted blind at Vintage Wines, Ltd. Bottle provided by Doug Harrigan. Bright disc. Opaque ruby robe with red rim. Clean nose, showing generous black fruit, mint, tobacco and slight eucalyptus aromas. Full-bodied on the palate, with low acidity, ample sweet tannins and similar flavors as for the nose. Long, smooth finish.
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11/18/2001 - dbg wrote:
very good-excellent
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