Pop and pour. My last bottle and this wine seems to be saying "drink up" to me. There was a bit of volatile acidity that mostly blew off, and some pruny fruit. After about 30 minutes in glass this was showing soft red fruit and very integrated tannins.
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I'll echo a previous reviewer. This has definitely improved over the years, still not a blockbuster, but enjoyable $20 cab. The wine is mellow and integrated, the fruit may be slightly faded. It's probably time to drink up.
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High/Low Blind Tasting - Can you taste the difference? (Amy and Scott's house): 1 hour decant and served blind alongside a 2007 Switchback Ridge. This wine got 5 out of 14 votes (but not mine), which isn't bad considering the price difference. At this stage, it is a perfectly serviceable Napa cab with your typical Napa potpourri and fruityness. There is enough structure here to drink it with a steak. As others have said, this is not the screechingly amazing wine that Envoyer claimed, but for the price it represents a decent value.
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Consistent with previous note. Straight-forward cab, acceptable for $20, but I think I'd rather buy something else. I'd definitely not buy another case of this - big mistake.
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Pop and pour, consumed over 2 days. Time seems to be improving these wines and making them more balanced. This bottle was actually performing at about the $20 I paid for it. Straight-forward cabernet, but much better balanced than earlier bottles.
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Drank over 4 days under argon. Very straight-forward sweet fruit cabernet. No compelling reason to think this will improve. I wish I had not bought this, and I do not trust anything Envoyer says anymore.
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This is not bad stuff, despite earlier notes. Solid Cali Cab, in good shape right now. I do think it will benefit from more time in the cellar, but it did not disappoint alongside some steaks tonight.
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It's been about 16 months since I last reviewed this wine. Back then I wasn't too happy with it and gave it the worst score I've ever given any wine (79). Let's see how it's doing now... I opened this bottle about an hour before tasting so as to let it warm up and get a little air. The color hasn't changed much; it's a very deep purple but is beginning to soften and show just a touch of ruby around the edges. The nose doesn't offer much, but that's an improvement from the last tasting where I found it downright offensive. On the palate, it's much more concentrated than it was earlier, but also dry, tight, and lacking in fruit. I'm still of the opinion that this wine is nothing special, but it doesn't offend me like it did last time. Now it just tastes like a fairly ordinary bottle of $20 California cab. The trend is up, but I'm dubious as to how high this wine can go.
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I drank a bottle immediately upon receiving the case. Day 1, very primary. A 1 hour decant produced a whole lot of oak. Day 2, a little more balanced, still primary and slightly oaky. Day 3, much better integrated and enjoyable. I have some hope that this will turn into a decent wine. I'm slightly annoyed at Envoyer for hyping this so much, but I will receive judgement for a later date.
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NR. On the lighter side but I wouldn't go so far to call it watery. Light black fruit and cherry but no acid or tannins and not really any finish. When counting shipping, there are clearly better $27 bottles out there, of anything really.
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86-87. This bottle settled down a bit. I like the flavor profile, but there is something off about it. First, it tastes a bit watery instead of structured/acidic. There is just something off about the structure and balance of this because of that watery aspect that isn't uplifting. If I were being harsh, I would probably go a fair bit lower, but the balance of flavors is solid right now. This tastes like a decent producer that really messed up the vintage. I see more downside than upside here in the future. What seemed to be optimistically bottle shock at first is clearly not. Boo EFW.
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Okay, I'll admit it. I bought into the hype from EFW on this one. Greg said it was $120 juice trapped in a $20 bottle and I took the bait--to the tune of a full case. Often he's right, and I've been happy with several of his recommendations, but this time I really don't get it. This wine smells and tastes like watery Kool-Aid. I'm hope I'm wrong, but I see very little potential here.
The first Treasure Hunter wine I bought (2009 Man 'O War Cab.) was a good value and a tasty find. Since then I've been disappointed by their North Star Pinot, Jenny's Tea Cup, and now this wine. Fool me three times, shame on me. I'm done with this producer. Perhaps I read too much into, "...the best $20 Cabernet we’ve ever tasted." Yeah, right.
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I liked the shipping shocked bottle more. This was a bit fruity and soft on structure on open, not really howell mountain reminiscent. The fruitness faded with air and got a bit better, but tasted slightly watery, versus higher acid. This doesnt seem to have the structure for the long haul or complexity. I don't see this as a 90 pointer ever. I'm thinking more like a columia crest h3 cab? A disappointing wine for my beloved howell mountain appelation. Night 2: no better, some tannins and lots of ripe fruit in a slightly watery way, but little acidity and real structure. 86-88?
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Not sure about this one. A quality wine no doubt that I'd probably give 89-91, but this seems way oversold by envoyer's flowery prose below that might make Rimmerman blush and they seem to be "blowing smoke" at least a bit to quote themselves. I like this wine, it is an elegant claret from a fruitier vintage and not distinctly howell mtn. Mine didn't really get better with air. "This is a bottle to put alongside your other $100 bottles." - perhaps physically, but don't expect that quality taste. "There is absolutely zero sense of heaviness or over-extraction" - true, one of its better qualities is the elegance and fine tannins. " if this were slipped into a Bordeaux tasting we wouldn’t be surprised if this was mistaken for a classified growth/top vintage from gravelly Graves " Not likely, but there is a nice spiciness, but I've found $20 bdx as nice as this. "A multiple decade wine for those willing to put a $20 bottle down long-term" I'll eat my shorts if this is magnificent in 2031, but its balanced to age for a bit. "The balance, spectrum of fruits, and subtlety of nuance are as good as it gets in CA." it does taste classy but, me thinks you need to taste more good CA wines, you can find some howell mountain blends for ~$30 that would kill this. "The boys have done it again and given us the best deal on the market in domestic wine!" Nope, lots of great deals out there that compete with this. If this is in fact Arkenstone, it's an off vintage or declassified juice. I'm not that excited that I have 5 more. Trying to have a little fun with envoyer since this is not the wine I would have put totally pounded the table on, even though good. Maybe it would put the hundred dollar a bottle sourced Cameron Hughes 200 to the test:)
10/18/2021 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
Pop and pour. My last bottle and this wine seems to be saying "drink up" to me. There was a bit of volatile acidity that mostly blew off, and some pruny fruit. After about 30 minutes in glass this was showing soft red fruit and very integrated tannins.
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9/16/2020 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
I'll echo a previous reviewer. This has definitely improved over the years, still not a blockbuster, but enjoyable $20 cab. The wine is mellow and integrated, the fruit may be slightly faded. It's probably time to drink up.
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10/2/2017 - Biskuit Likes this wine: 89 Points
This is definitely improved over the years, still not a blockbuster, but enjoyable $20 cab
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1/15/2017 - galewskj wrote: 89 Points
High/Low Blind Tasting - Can you taste the difference? (Amy and Scott's house): 1 hour decant and served blind alongside a 2007 Switchback Ridge. This wine got 5 out of 14 votes (but not mine), which isn't bad considering the price difference. At this stage, it is a perfectly serviceable Napa cab with your typical Napa potpourri and fruityness. There is enough structure here to drink it with a steak. As others have said, this is not the screechingly amazing wine that Envoyer claimed, but for the price it represents a decent value.
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9/24/2016 - galewskj wrote: 88 Points
Consistent with previous note. Straight-forward cab, acceptable for $20, but I think I'd rather buy something else. I'd definitely not buy another case of this - big mistake.
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8/25/2015 - galewskj wrote: 88 Points
Pop and pour, consumed over 2 days. Time seems to be improving these wines and making them more balanced. This bottle was actually performing at about the $20 I paid for it. Straight-forward cabernet, but much better balanced than earlier bottles.
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12/1/2014 - winegr wrote: 87 Points
Ok. Nothing more.
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8/2/2014 - winegr wrote: 87 Points
Its pretty nondescript. Definitely missing something for me. 87+
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5/28/2014 - galewskj wrote: 86 Points
Drank over 4 days under argon. Very straight-forward sweet fruit cabernet. No compelling reason to think this will improve. I wish I had not bought this, and I do not trust anything Envoyer says anymore.
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1/29/2014 - Biskuit wrote: 89 Points
This is not bad stuff, despite earlier notes. Solid Cali Cab, in good shape right now. I do think it will benefit from more time in the cellar, but it did not disappoint alongside some steaks tonight.
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5/4/2013 - gregg g wrote:
Horrible! Bitter, oaky, porty, indiscernible cab.
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4/25/2013 - DStyner wrote: 81 Points
It's been about 16 months since I last reviewed this wine. Back then I wasn't too happy with it and gave it the worst score I've ever given any wine (79). Let's see how it's doing now... I opened this bottle about an hour before tasting so as to let it warm up and get a little air. The color hasn't changed much; it's a very deep purple but is beginning to soften and show just a touch of ruby around the edges. The nose doesn't offer much, but that's an improvement from the last tasting where I found it downright offensive. On the palate, it's much more concentrated than it was earlier, but also dry, tight, and lacking in fruit. I'm still of the opinion that this wine is nothing special, but it doesn't offend me like it did last time. Now it just tastes like a fairly ordinary bottle of $20 California cab. The trend is up, but I'm dubious as to how high this wine can go.
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1/8/2013 - Biskuit Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is finally coming together
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8/22/2012 - rlleigh wrote: 90 Points
A bit young
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3/12/2012 - galewskj wrote: 86 Points
I drank a bottle immediately upon receiving the case. Day 1, very primary. A 1 hour decant produced a whole lot of oak. Day 2, a little more balanced, still primary and slightly oaky. Day 3, much better integrated and enjoyable. I have some hope that this will turn into a decent wine. I'm slightly annoyed at Envoyer for hyping this so much, but I will receive judgement for a later date.
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2/16/2012 - amoryb wrote:
NR. On the lighter side but I wouldn't go so far to call it watery. Light black fruit and cherry but no acid or tannins and not really any finish. When counting shipping, there are clearly better $27 bottles out there, of anything really.
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1/6/2012 - winegr wrote: 87 Points
86-87. This bottle settled down a bit. I like the flavor profile, but there is something off about it. First, it tastes a bit watery instead of structured/acidic. There is just something off about the structure and balance of this because of that watery aspect that isn't uplifting. If I were being harsh, I would probably go a fair bit lower, but the balance of flavors is solid right now. This tastes like a decent producer that really messed up the vintage. I see more downside than upside here in the future. What seemed to be optimistically bottle shock at first is clearly not. Boo EFW.
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12/29/2011 - DStyner Does not like this wine: 79 Points
Okay, I'll admit it. I bought into the hype from EFW on this one. Greg said it was $120 juice trapped in a $20 bottle and I took the bait--to the tune of a full case. Often he's right, and I've been happy with several of his recommendations, but this time I really don't get it. This wine smells and tastes like watery Kool-Aid. I'm hope I'm wrong, but I see very little potential here.
The first Treasure Hunter wine I bought (2009 Man 'O War Cab.) was a good value and a tasty find. Since then I've been disappointed by their North Star Pinot, Jenny's Tea Cup, and now this wine. Fool me three times, shame on me. I'm done with this producer. Perhaps I read too much into, "...the best $20 Cabernet we’ve ever tasted." Yeah, right.
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12/5/2011 - winegr wrote: 88 Points
I liked the shipping shocked bottle more. This was a bit fruity and soft on structure on open, not really howell mountain reminiscent. The fruitness faded with air and got a bit better, but tasted slightly watery, versus higher acid. This doesnt seem to have the structure for the long haul or complexity. I don't see this as a 90 pointer ever. I'm thinking more like a columia crest h3 cab? A disappointing wine for my beloved howell mountain appelation. Night 2: no better, some tannins and lots of ripe fruit in a slightly watery way, but little acidity and real structure. 86-88?
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11/12/2011 - winegr wrote:
Not sure about this one. A quality wine no doubt that I'd probably give 89-91, but this seems way oversold by envoyer's flowery prose below that might make Rimmerman blush and they seem to be "blowing smoke" at least a bit to quote themselves. I like this wine, it is an elegant claret from a fruitier vintage and not distinctly howell mtn. Mine didn't really get better with air. "This is a bottle to put alongside your other $100 bottles." - perhaps physically, but don't expect that quality taste. "There is absolutely zero sense of heaviness or over-extraction" - true, one of its better qualities is the elegance and fine tannins. " if this were slipped into a Bordeaux tasting we wouldn’t be surprised if this was mistaken for a classified growth/top vintage from gravelly Graves " Not likely, but there is a nice spiciness, but I've found $20 bdx as nice as this. "A multiple decade wine for those willing to put a $20 bottle down long-term" I'll eat my shorts if this is magnificent in 2031, but its balanced to age for a bit. "The balance, spectrum of fruits, and subtlety of nuance are as good as it gets in CA." it does taste classy but, me thinks you need to taste more good CA wines, you can find some howell mountain blends for ~$30 that would kill this. "The boys have done it again and given us the best deal on the market in domestic wine!" Nope, lots of great deals out there that compete with this. If this is in fact Arkenstone, it's an off vintage or declassified juice. I'm not that excited that I have 5 more. Trying to have a little fun with envoyer since this is not the wine I would have put totally pounded the table on, even though good. Maybe it would put the hundred dollar a bottle sourced Cameron Hughes 200 to the test:)
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