14.7% abv. Seems to be fully resolved and drinking seamlessly. Very Bordeaux-like flavor profile - one might guess this blind as Bordeaux, but I think the slightly elevated alcohol gives this away as new world. All in all, this is drinking very well and is very pleasing and enjoyable. Not the most complex, but there's enough going on here to keep interest throughout the evening.
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Wow, this has evolved very well over time. Soft but firm tannin structure and mellowed acidity. Nose of black cherries, cassis, ripe figs and pencil shavings. Wonderful mouthfeel with a long finish and layers of blueberries, dried figs, cassis, toast and mint. Wonderful wine that rewarded patience.
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PnP. Had very low expectation yet found it to be delightful. Color still good though the wine is probably reaching its peak. Paired with classic steak and baked potato...
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Pop and pour; ripe, bright red fruit on the nose, hint of oak (oak chips?). There's a smooth/silky feel to the wine as it hits the palate, but its fairly one-dimensional...lacking depth and complexity. Nice enough and easy to sip, but a simplistic wine I don't see improving..
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Enjoyed this fine with friends over dinner. This wine is in a good spot right now - red fruit, nicely balanced, smooth and a good finish. I look forward to enjoying this wine again.
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Medium bodied, dark crimson, dark fruit forward wine. Lot's going on, but on separate tracks. Had wished for a little more balance and integration by now. Will try another bottle soon.
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Single glass via coravin. Dark coloring w nice legs; minerals/stone and a slightly sour red fruit nose. Velvet-y mouthfeel with red fruit that has a green/underripe aftertaste and a continuation of the mineralogy from the nose and others' notes. Fine sediment.
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Spectacular wine. Drank at MB Post in Manhattan Beach. Vibrant aroma, slightly floral but mostly red fruit. Silky smooth tannins, round soft mouth feel. Ripe dark fruit, some fig. Long elegant finish. Enjoyed this wine a lot.
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This is a 1.5-2 day superstar. Liked it at PnP, loved it over time. Black fruit nuances buttressed by flinty minerals. Balance is apparent even after a few hours, but sings later on. Wish I had a few more bottles in cellar.
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Solid daily drinker. Uncompromising in its fruit forwardness. Straight up big napa cab. Lacking done concentration & depth but just good. There's a reason why pRker gives this 90+.
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Deep red in color. Dark fruit mostly on the nose with a small amount of graphite and chicolate. Palate of plum, cherry, cocoa and a bit of earth. Nicely balanced with the fruit a bit out front but the tannins frim and the acidity adding to its depth. Nice finish and mouthfeel. Consumed with grilled ribeye, farro and vegetables. Made for a pleasant Sunday night meal. Nice QPR, great for casual drinking.
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consistent with prior bottles. Ripe, but not overly so, open-knit and even a little chunky, this is held back by its low acidity. Very popular with my new world-loving friends, so glad to share. EtOH and tannins resolved. Already in the zone, so drink up. Drink thru 2015, 14,8% abv
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consistent with previous bottles. One to enjoy in its youth, though it does show better with an hour of air in the decanter. Perhaps better on its own than with food. Casual, but not sloppy in any way. 14,7% abv
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Drank over three days and became more sophisticated with each day. Fruitier early on but came together as a package over the following days. Stewed plum and blackberry nose with some oak. Very dark wine that is clean on entry. Chocolate covered cherry and tea notes develop over time.
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Deeply colored. Dried fig, alcohol and cassis. Really lovely, primary and rich. Lots of energy and generosity. Balanced and smooth. This is fine to imbibe. Really, really fine. I love this Bordeaux style. 92
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I really enjoyed this. Paired with a broiled filet & scallops. Nice structure & depth to this. A bit more medium + body with some decent tannins. You get that black cherry, boysenberry & some tobacco leaf. Some earthiness to balance it out as well. This will make the daily drinking list for sure.
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ok ;grabbed this tonite and became one of my favorite midweek drinkers of all time;initial tannins dissipated into dark fruit with just a touch of oak and vanilla;easy yet the long finish kept making me think of friday or saturday nite;look forward to more
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Bright claret in color, very clear. Intense primary Bordeaux aromas of currant/cocoa Cab fruit, cedar, and violets. A beam of serious but lifted and light-footed red fruit in the mouth with a subtle undercurrent of firm tannin. Finishes almost like a white wine. Refined, refreshing aperitif or food wine, impeccably crafted, but probably not what some would expect from a Napa Cab/Merlot. Not my style, for the same price a Bordeaux superior in a good year (2009/2010) would be preferable.
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Very handily crafted, shades of Bordeaux. Was practically ready to go from PnP. Cool, dark berries, some coca powder, faint vanilla. Great balance to the acidity, tannins, and mouthfeel. Finish was almost painfully suave. Hard to imagine this will knit together better in coming years, ready now, hard to hang onto at this level of performance. 50/5/12/9/8/8
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Slow-O 2 hours, served non-blind. Plum, cocoa, cassis, shades of black earth and red apple skin. Full-bodied, nicely knit, with layers of fruit and a sensual mouthfeel. Medium(+) finish, good(+) acids. Tannins are narrow, focused and ripe. An excellent steakhouse wine. The 14,7% is fully integrated, adding to the pleasure. On point and ready to drink. recommended
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Dark red color but translucent nose was cherry with dark fruit. A nice blend got some fruit and a little oak. Dean aged for 1/2 hour and was smooth after 1 1/2 hour was complete resolved.
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consistent with prior bottles. Slow-O 2 hours, this really hit its stride mid-way through the bottle (2hrs open). The nose outshines the full (-) bodied palate. A respectable amount of restraint here that keeps it lifted and clean; however, I'm left wanting more complexity and a longer finish. Oak is fully integrated, tannins in balance. 14,7% abv, drink thru 2016
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Went through 4 bottles of this with large group at a steakhouse. Decanted and poured. Very nice dark ruby. Expressive nose with dark berry, vanilla and cigar. Palate seems fairly complex to me at this early stage, with a well balanced attack of great tasting fruit, coffee, and cigar. Slightly drying tannins which seem to mute the fruit a touch and medium finish. This went very well with the steaks and represents a good value at retail. Should be better in a few more years.
a woodsy-brambly nose of dark berries, fig, and sweet spice. on the palate a tart, red berry sweetness with leather, menthol, and mild chocolate on the finish and nice acidity. a good QPR @ $27
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Nice blend of red and black fruit. The wine opened to reveal some nice leather, chocolate and tobacco notes that mixed with a Cherry/Blackberry fruit blend. Good showing as usual.
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Not terribly impressed with this wine for the money and its reputation. I tried a glass fresh out of the bottle, and then had more after a couple hours of decanting. Fresh out of the bottle, the wine was overwhelmed with bitter oak. After decanting the oak become more subdued and balanced, while still strong. Unfortunately the tannins were now lacking and the fruit underwhelming. I will let my remaining bottles cellar much longer and give it another go.
[Update: 11/26/2015] Wow, has this one improved with age. Or perhaps the other bottle was a dud? Whatever, this one is now a winner. There's still a bit of bitterness/minerality to it, but it's well integrated and nicely balanced with dark fruit. The nose is simply amazing.
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Needs to be decanter for at least 30 minutes. Lots of fruit, infect when opened almost a hint of concord grapes. No tannins nor oak. Well crafted, but not as good as the 2009. Very good, but not a wow.
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consistent tn's. Aerated in decanter 1 hr, enjoyed over the following 3 hours. Very enjoyable wine, with a breadth of flavors and aromas. Prolly my 5th or 6th time with this now, and upon reflection, I think it is one that should be consumed in its youth. It's got some structure, but it will never be outweighed by the flavors and aromas present now and for the next few years. 14,7% abv
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the most recent tn is Isdaddy's, in which the bottle seemed to show rather poorly. This bottle was pretty much the opposite - the second the cork was removed this was ready for business. Somewhat high-toned, but pretty, with an effusive nose of dark berries, espresso roast, oak spice, toast and sweet tobacco. As powerful on the full-bodied palate as it is on the nose, this is really singing tonight. I poured it straightaway into a decanter, looked for sediment (none) and then straight back into the bottle to be served 3 hours hence. If it can manage to hang on to the magic it has right now, it'll be a wow wine for sure. I'd have to agree with the logic of a stubby cork, this is meant for early drinking. Of the three I've had since May, this is easily the best - lots of variation so far. 14,7% abv
update: at the 2hr mark this began to get creamy and very Napa-esque, which is to say I lost all interest
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After such stellar reviews for the 07 vintage of this wine I was anxious to try this wine. I have to say I was disappointed. I wasn't expecting it to meet 07 standees but I was hoping for more than I got. Decanted this wine directly from the cellar for one our. Muted nose with some dark fruit and licorice. Earthy and muddled flavor. Lack of any fruit or spice. Felt like there might be something better that would come out with time but never evolved that much over the additional hour of air.
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NY/NJ Offline at Beacon 7.23.12 (Beacon, NYC): Blueberry and black cherry on the nose. Significant oak treatment showing on the palate. Medium high tannin, medium acid, and medium long finish.
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Ever so slightly less focused than my bottle of 3 months ago - My TN's are virtually identical to gunpwdr's. Predominantly Coombsville CS grapes. The purity of fruit is attractively framed by the oak; lesser fruit would be overwhelmed by same. This bottle had been open a few hours, which may be why the etOh was not an issue on the nose, or palate. Very NAPA; Solid QPR, recommended, drink thru 2016, 14,7% abv, B+/A-.
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Decanted for an hour. Very Napa. At first the flavors were all towards the darker fruits -- black currant and plum -- but over time the flavors shifted to red cherry. Medium to full bodied with plenty of flavor. We thought it was delicious.
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Vintage Select Industry Tasting (Vintage Select Warehouse, Houston, TX): Great nose of plum, black currant, cedar, mint, vanilla, mocha. On the palate, red and black currant, blackberry, smoke, hints of mint and espresso. Big tannic finish with lots of grip and length followed by a slight hint of heat. Great fruit on this. Drink with a short decant or hold
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My TN's are virtually identical to gunpwdr's. Predominantly Coombsville CS grapes. The purity of fruit is attractively framed by the oak; lesser fruit would be overwhelmed by same. This bottle had been open a few hours, which may be why the etOh was not an issue on the nose, or palate. Solid QPR, recommended, drink thru 2016, 14,7% abv, A-
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Nose: Ripe, fleshy plums, mint, vanilla, currants, cedar box. Palate: Rich, sweet, currants, wild berry, smoke, black pepper on the attack. Big tannins, licorice, vanilla on the mid-palate. Creamy vanilla and plums linger on the finish. Even 60+ seconds later, vanilla and cedar notes are detectable on the palate.
Despite the creamy vanilla oak treatment, this wine's other elements show great focus, texture, and above all, sweet, delicious fruit. The tannins are pretty lively now and could use time to integrate, but with little acidity to balance things out, this is a wine to drink young as I can see this being a little flabby and syrupy once the tannins have receded. Fans of Napa cab should definitely check this bottling out though, particularly given its price point.
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Decanted at the restaurant and swirled it over and over to aerate it as best I could over a short time. Closed to start, the nose came alive after about a half hour and the palate followed about a half hour after that. BUT, although the nose was deep with black fruits and some brambles, the palate had a great attack but the mid palate and the finish were weak. Actually, the finish was a little bitter. I suspect it is due to the age of the wine and the fact that it came out of a box from California just this morning. But the gentleman that sent it to me said to drink a bottle and then call him and tell him if I want any more. Based on this and my inventory, I don't need any more $40 wine to age in the cellar. Too bad.
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3/2/2024 - PIntag wrote: 92 Points
14.7% abv.
Seems to be fully resolved and drinking seamlessly. Very Bordeaux-like flavor profile - one might guess this blind as Bordeaux, but I think the slightly elevated alcohol gives this away as new world. All in all, this is drinking very well and is very pleasing and enjoyable. Not the most complex, but there's enough going on here to keep interest throughout the evening.
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4/15/2023 - Snag One Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow, this has evolved very well over time. Soft but firm tannin structure and mellowed acidity. Nose of black cherries, cassis, ripe figs and pencil shavings. Wonderful mouthfeel with a long finish and layers of blueberries, dried figs, cassis, toast and mint. Wonderful wine that rewarded patience.
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10/11/2020 - mmatejka90 Likes this wine: 84 Points
Nice smooth merlot drinkable right out of the bottle.
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10/9/2020 - Labrador Likes this wine: 87 Points
No formal notes, but this is a wine that always pleases.
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8/28/2020 - mk42 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lovely mature cab. A bit less fruit than a few years ago, with softer tannins.
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2/3/2019 - JuliannaDHS wrote:
Still very big and very primary. I'd like to wait until opening another bottle.
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1/7/2019 - cooker315 Likes this wine: 91 Points
drinking remarkably well for being past prime
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4/7/2018 - Love Good Wine wrote: 92 Points
PnP. Had very low expectation yet found it to be delightful. Color still good though the wine is probably reaching its peak.
Paired with classic steak and baked potato...
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12/24/2017 - Reblin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just keeps getting better. Smooth, round fruit.
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11/8/2017 - Braunsteins1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
We still really liked this.
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3/4/2017 - Jerry 3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
opened and drank immediately and experienced a very smooth finish
great with a rich Snapper dinner and also with a bone in port chop.
we have 2 bottles left and will hold a few months longer for another fish & meat dinner.
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2/10/2017 - Ceo wrote: 92 Points
Still going strong
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6/8/2016 - Reblin Likes this wine: 90 Points
Continues to drink very well. Red fruit, moderate tannins, medium finish.
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1/22/2016 - davidandrose wrote: 87 Points
Pop and pour; ripe, bright red fruit on the nose, hint of oak (oak chips?). There's a smooth/silky feel to the wine as it hits the palate, but its fairly one-dimensional...lacking depth and complexity. Nice enough and easy to sip, but a simplistic wine I don't see improving..
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1/8/2016 - Labrador Likes this wine: 88 Points
Enjoyed this fine with friends over dinner. This wine is in a good spot right now - red fruit, nicely balanced, smooth and a good finish. I look forward to enjoying this wine again.
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12/21/2015 - Surfdoc wrote: 91 Points
Solid structure with rounded dark berry flavor, medium fine-grained tannins and just the right amount of smooth oak on the finish.
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6/25/2015 - andyw Likes this wine: 92 Points
Silky. Good balance between fruity and earthy.
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6/1/2015 - Xfactor wrote: 91 Points
Still lighter than it's compatriots, but what an offering.
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4/30/2015 - DTWOB wrote: 90 Points
Medium bodied, dark crimson, dark fruit forward wine. Lot's going on, but on separate tracks. Had wished for a little more balance and integration by now. Will try another bottle soon.
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2/27/2015 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 89 Points
Single glass via coravin. Dark coloring w nice legs; minerals/stone and a slightly sour red fruit nose. Velvet-y mouthfeel with red fruit that has a green/underripe aftertaste and a continuation of the mineralogy from the nose and others' notes. Fine sediment.
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2/22/2015 - Hemingway Likes this wine: 93 Points
Spectacular wine. Drank at MB Post in Manhattan Beach. Vibrant aroma, slightly floral but mostly red fruit. Silky smooth tannins, round soft mouth feel. Ripe dark fruit, some fig. Long elegant finish. Enjoyed this wine a lot.
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11/19/2014 - Xfactor wrote: 92 Points
This is a 1.5-2 day superstar. Liked it at PnP, loved it over time. Black fruit nuances buttressed by flinty minerals. Balance is apparent even after a few hours, but sings later on. Wish I had a few more bottles in cellar.
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10/10/2014 - Reblin Likes this wine: 91 Points
A big, fruit-forward wine.
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6/10/2014 - JDV.DDSPHD wrote: 90 Points
Solid daily drinker. Uncompromising in its fruit forwardness. Straight up big napa cab. Lacking done concentration & depth but just good. There's a reason why pRker gives this 90+.
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5/28/2014 - Xfactor wrote: 91 Points
Mineral, lighter than anticipated, complexity abounds.
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5/25/2014 - kiddoc wrote: 91 Points
Deep red in color. Dark fruit mostly on the nose with a small amount of graphite and chicolate. Palate of plum, cherry, cocoa and a bit of earth. Nicely balanced with the fruit a bit out front but the tannins frim and the acidity adding to its depth. Nice finish and mouthfeel. Consumed with grilled ribeye, farro and vegetables. Made for a pleasant Sunday night meal. Nice QPR, great for casual drinking.
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3/24/2014 - K&J Likes this wine: 93 Points
A very enjoyable wine on a Sunday with a good steak dinner and friends! Good density in the mouth, round tannins, good fruit. A joy to drink!
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2/21/2014 - Tim Heaton wrote:
consistent with prior bottles. Ripe, but not overly so, open-knit and even a little chunky, this is held back by its low acidity. Very popular with my new world-loving friends, so glad to share. EtOH and tannins resolved. Already in the zone, so drink up. Drink thru 2015, 14,8% abv
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12/22/2013 - Tim Heaton wrote:
consistent with previous bottles. One to enjoy in its youth, though it does show better with an hour of air in the decanter. Perhaps better on its own than with food. Casual, but not sloppy in any way. 14,7% abv
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11/23/2013 - iamandyc wrote: 90 Points
Drank over three days and became more sophisticated with each day. Fruitier early on but came together as a package over the following days. Stewed plum and blackberry nose with some oak. Very dark wine that is clean on entry. Chocolate covered cherry and tea notes develop over time.
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11/11/2013 - swade wrote: 92 Points
Deeply colored. Dried fig, alcohol and cassis. Really lovely, primary and rich. Lots of energy and generosity. Balanced and smooth. This is fine to imbibe. Really, really fine. I love this Bordeaux style. 92
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11/7/2013 - JDV.DDSPHD wrote: 90 Points
I really enjoyed this. Paired with a broiled filet & scallops. Nice structure & depth to this. A bit more medium + body with some decent tannins. You get that black cherry, boysenberry & some tobacco leaf. Some earthiness to balance it out as well. This will make the daily drinking list for sure.
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11/5/2013 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 90 Points
ok ;grabbed this tonite and became one of my favorite midweek drinkers of all time;initial tannins dissipated into dark fruit with just a touch of oak and vanilla;easy yet the long finish kept making me think of friday or saturday nite;look forward to more
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9/27/2013 - wilypod Likes this wine: 87 Points
Bright claret in color, very clear. Intense primary Bordeaux aromas of currant/cocoa Cab fruit, cedar, and violets. A beam of serious but lifted and light-footed red fruit in the mouth with a subtle undercurrent of firm tannin. Finishes almost like a white wine. Refined, refreshing aperitif or food wine, impeccably crafted, but probably not what some would expect from a Napa Cab/Merlot. Not my style, for the same price a Bordeaux superior in a good year (2009/2010) would be preferable.
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9/18/2013 - Xfactor wrote: 92 Points
Very handily crafted, shades of Bordeaux. Was practically ready to go from PnP. Cool, dark berries, some coca powder, faint vanilla. Great balance to the acidity, tannins, and mouthfeel. Finish was almost painfully suave. Hard to imagine this will knit together better in coming years, ready now, hard to hang onto at this level of performance. 50/5/12/9/8/8
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8/21/2013 - drcab wrote: 90 Points
classic new world Bordeaux blend. perfect for drinking now. tannins did not feel heavy like other reviewers felt.
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8/6/2013 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Slow-O 2 hours, served non-blind. Plum, cocoa, cassis, shades of black earth and red apple skin. Full-bodied, nicely knit, with layers of fruit and a sensual mouthfeel. Medium(+) finish, good(+) acids. Tannins are narrow, focused and ripe. An excellent steakhouse wine. The 14,7% is fully integrated, adding to the pleasure. On point and ready to drink. recommended
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6/14/2013 - Jwd12 wrote: 90 Points
Dark red color but translucent nose was cherry with dark fruit. A nice blend got some fruit and a little oak. Dean aged for 1/2 hour and was smooth after 1 1/2 hour was complete resolved.
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6/8/2013 - Not404 wrote: 89 Points
Tannins are hard so a decant is needed. Good for the price but not great.
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5/2/2013 - jfaulk wrote: 91 Points
Excellent blend. Nicely balanced
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3/22/2013 - Tim Heaton wrote:
consistent with prior bottles. Slow-O 2 hours, this really hit its stride mid-way through the bottle (2hrs open). The nose outshines the full (-) bodied palate. A respectable amount of restraint here that keeps it lifted and clean; however, I'm left wanting more complexity and a longer finish. Oak is fully integrated, tannins in balance. 14,7% abv, drink thru 2016
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3/16/2013 - ihavezinned wrote: 89 Points
lite nose of red fruit, licorice, mint
great red fruit on the palate w/floral notes, licorice, & mint on the finish
nice acidity
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3/1/2013 - winopops3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Went through 4 bottles of this with large group at a steakhouse. Decanted and poured. Very nice dark ruby. Expressive nose with dark berry, vanilla and cigar. Palate seems fairly complex to me at this early stage, with a well balanced attack of great tasting fruit, coffee, and cigar. Slightly drying tannins which seem to mute the fruit a touch and medium finish. This went very well with the steaks and represents a good value at retail. Should be better in a few more years.
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2/9/2013 - ihavezinned wrote: 88 Points
a woodsy-brambly nose of dark berries, fig, and sweet spice.
on the palate a tart, red berry sweetness with leather, menthol, and mild chocolate on the finish and nice acidity.
a good QPR @ $27
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2/6/2013 - Biskuit wrote: 90 Points
What do you know? This was significantly better after several days under vacuvin. Bumping from 88 to 90.
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1/25/2013 - dzal808@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
This was a decent bottle but not great. Over priced and over rated in my opinion. Maybe my bottle was a bit off. I have one more.
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1/22/2013 - texasvino wrote: 90 Points
Aroma's of huckleberry and ripe plum. Palate consists of black licorice, chocolate and bubble yum. Slightly bitter 30 second finish with soft tannins.
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1/17/2013 - emrugger Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 60 min, improved over the evening with air.
Nose: Very Rutherford in nature, sweet spice up front with a bit of heat.
Mid-Palate: Lithe smoky cherry with dusty tones with hints of loam and strawberry.
Finish: Persistent finish, with long rich tannins. Classis Napa dust.
Good value, would buy again. Very similar to Mondavi's Rutherford offering.
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1/14/2013 - RockinCabs wrote: 92 Points
Nice blend of red and black fruit. The wine opened to reveal some nice leather, chocolate and tobacco notes that mixed with a Cherry/Blackberry fruit blend. Good showing as usual.
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1/3/2013 - mreinitz wrote: 90 Points
Very forward red currant and rich dark fruit, followed by quite a wallop of oak on the mid palate. Enjoyable but I could do with a little less oak.
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1/2/2013 - t0pshelf wrote:
Not terribly impressed with this wine for the money and its reputation. I tried a glass fresh out of the bottle, and then had more after a couple hours of decanting. Fresh out of the bottle, the wine was overwhelmed with bitter oak. After decanting the oak become more subdued and balanced, while still strong. Unfortunately the tannins were now lacking and the fruit underwhelming. I will let my remaining bottles cellar much longer and give it another go.
[Update: 11/26/2015] Wow, has this one improved with age. Or perhaps the other bottle was a dud? Whatever, this one is now a winner. There's still a bit of bitterness/minerality to it, but it's well integrated and nicely balanced with dark fruit. The nose is simply amazing.
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12/24/2012 - wailes wrote: 87 Points
Needs to be decanter for at least 30 minutes. Lots of fruit, infect when opened almost a hint of concord grapes. No tannins nor oak. Well crafted, but not as good as the 2009. Very good, but not a wow.
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10/31/2012 - Tim Heaton wrote:
consistent tn's. Aerated in decanter 1 hr, enjoyed over the following 3 hours. Very enjoyable wine, with a breadth of flavors and aromas. Prolly my 5th or 6th time with this now, and upon reflection, I think it is one that should be consumed in its youth. It's got some structure, but it will never be outweighed by the flavors and aromas present now and for the next few years. 14,7% abv
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10/5/2012 - Tim Heaton wrote:
the most recent tn is Isdaddy's, in which the bottle seemed to show rather poorly. This bottle was pretty much the opposite - the second the cork was removed this was ready for business. Somewhat high-toned, but pretty, with an effusive nose of dark berries, espresso roast, oak spice, toast and sweet tobacco. As powerful on the full-bodied palate as it is on the nose, this is really singing tonight. I poured it straightaway into a decanter, looked for sediment (none) and then straight back into the bottle to be served 3 hours hence. If it can manage to hang on to the magic it has right now, it'll be a wow wine for sure. I'd have to agree with the logic of a stubby cork, this is meant for early drinking. Of the three I've had since May, this is easily the best - lots of variation so far. 14,7% abv
update: at the 2hr mark this began to get creamy and very Napa-esque, which is to say I lost all interest
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9/4/2012 - Isdaddy wrote: 85 Points
After such stellar reviews for the 07 vintage of this wine I was anxious to try this wine. I have to say I was disappointed. I wasn't expecting it to meet 07 standees but I was hoping for more than I got. Decanted this wine directly from the cellar for one our. Muted nose with some dark fruit and licorice. Earthy and muddled flavor. Lack of any fruit or spice. Felt like there might be something better that would come out with time but never evolved that much over the additional hour of air.
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7/23/2012 - amgryger wrote:
NY/NJ Offline at Beacon 7.23.12 (Beacon, NYC): Blueberry and black cherry on the nose. Significant oak treatment showing on the palate. Medium high tannin, medium acid, and medium long finish.
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7/21/2012 - tfharris wrote: 90 Points
This is a very interesting wine and is very enjoyable.
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7/15/2012 - Tim Heaton wrote:
Ever so slightly less focused than my bottle of 3 months ago - My TN's are virtually identical to gunpwdr's. Predominantly Coombsville CS grapes. The purity of fruit is attractively framed by the oak; lesser fruit would be overwhelmed by same. This bottle had been open a few hours, which may be why the etOh was not an issue on the nose, or palate. Very NAPA; Solid QPR, recommended, drink thru 2016, 14,7% abv, B+/A-.
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7/15/2012 - mreinitz wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour. Very Napa. At first the flavors were all towards the darker fruits -- black currant and plum -- but over time the flavors shifted to red cherry. Medium to full bodied with plenty of flavor. We thought it was delicious.
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6/30/2012 - awise45 wrote: 88 Points
A bit light and lacking the fullness of prior years.
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5/23/2012 - GalvezGuy wrote: 91 Points
Vintage Select Industry Tasting (Vintage Select Warehouse, Houston, TX): Great nose of plum, black currant, cedar, mint, vanilla, mocha. On the palate, red and black currant, blackberry, smoke, hints of mint and espresso. Big tannic finish with lots of grip and length followed by a slight hint of heat. Great fruit on this. Drink with a short decant or hold
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5/22/2012 - Tim Heaton wrote:
My TN's are virtually identical to gunpwdr's. Predominantly Coombsville CS grapes. The purity of fruit is attractively framed by the oak; lesser fruit would be overwhelmed by same. This bottle had been open a few hours, which may be why the etOh was not an issue on the nose, or palate. Solid QPR, recommended, drink thru 2016, 14,7% abv, A-
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5/22/2012 - tfharris wrote: 91 Points
Chocalate. Very nice. Needs 1 hour decanting.
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4/7/2012 - wailes wrote: 90 Points
Good, but not a $45 cab.
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3/16/2012 - gunpwdr wrote: 91 Points
Nose: Ripe, fleshy plums, mint, vanilla, currants, cedar box. Palate: Rich, sweet, currants, wild berry, smoke, black pepper on the attack. Big tannins, licorice, vanilla on the mid-palate. Creamy vanilla and plums linger on the finish. Even 60+ seconds later, vanilla and cedar notes are detectable on the palate.
Despite the creamy vanilla oak treatment, this wine's other elements show great focus, texture, and above all, sweet, delicious fruit. The tannins are pretty lively now and could use time to integrate, but with little acidity to balance things out, this is a wine to drink young as I can see this being a little flabby and syrupy once the tannins have receded. Fans of Napa cab should definitely check this bottling out though, particularly given its price point.
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12/30/2011 - drycab wrote:
Decanted at the restaurant and swirled it over and over to aerate it as best I could over a short time. Closed to start, the nose came alive after about a half hour and the palate followed about a half hour after that. BUT, although the nose was deep with black fruits and some brambles, the palate had a great attack but the mid palate and the finish were weak. Actually, the finish was a little bitter. I suspect it is due to the age of the wine and the fact that it came out of a box from California just this morning. But the gentleman that sent it to me said to drink a bottle and then call him and tell him if I want any more. Based on this and my inventory, I don't need any more $40 wine to age in the cellar. Too bad.
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12/9/2011 - rdsboca wrote: 86 Points
Spicy red fruit and dark cherries. Pretty green and tight. Has nice structure and fruit is integrated. Just didn't do it for me.
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