Well this wine certainly is not pass its prime, mind you it was and is cellared properly still have 2 left. Tobacco at the nose, soft tannins with dark berries. Very nice still but maybe has a year left if cellared enjoy!
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First bottle was excellent but not exceptional, a bit angular. Second bottle was opened the previous day, which made a significant difference. Delicious, with fine sweet tannins.
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Aged but strong bottle - 2004 I tried at home was plush with plum fruit, gentle acid and background tannins. Slightly on downhill yet retains elegance. Over 2+ days it held up quite well refrigerated. Quite a bit of sediment.
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Dark inky color with a rim to show its age. Blueberry, baking spices & smoke. Medium + Acidity & Medium Tanin. Medium complexity and well balanced. A solid New World offering. Perfect pairing with a world class filet (duh).
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Wow, fantastic from the outset. Smoke, toasted oak & tobacco on the nose. Deep red in colour with signs of bricking to show its age. A taste of cherries, coffee and spice. Full bodied, lingering tannins and a medium finish. Still plenty of oomph and complexity. Drinking well now but no hurry.
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Lovely full bodied cab. Didn't get the exotic palate that I detected last time. But it was still excellent. Deep red and black fruits. Integrated tannins. Time to drink this one.
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Bottle came from very good cellar. This wine is at its peak now. Powerful yet elegant with well integrated oak. Beautiful tannins. As you would expect from an Amarone-style wine, dark fruit with a subtle raisiny twist.
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Under screw cap. Big hot stewed fruit. Only vaguely Cabernet. No sense of place or character. Big monolithic style. Not a bad wine but not a great one either. Poor qpr
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Found this on action. The cork was a bit mushy. May explain my previous TN's musty nose. Similar, super rich, ripe almost candied wine. Super smoky, almost concentrated Cab. So Aussie, so delicious. Heavy wine, can feel the alcohol. But it is there in a nice way, to slice through the ripeness.
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Couple hours in. This had a musty thing going. 9 years bottled up, you would too. Some French must and ripe fruit on the nose. Got some of that sweaty balls that Sine notes... but comparison stops there. Nice stuff, felt some of the heat though. Nice stuff, still has tones of life. Acid, fruit, tannins all tight, on the attack like a youngster, but completely balanced. Agree w some TS, Cab? Really? Totally lost her character.
Day II. Nose opens a bit, some blue fruit, jolly rancher style. Finally giving up some Cab Sav characteristics. Juicy, bigger, deeper. Totally different wine. If i was still scoring it would go up 3-4 points. Some tannins now there, tar, blueberries, menthol? Nicer bigger, deeper, juicier, whats not to like. Cool climate? wine.
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Someone said this smelled like sweaty b*llz. I wouldn't go that far, but it was a briny alcohol hot mess. Hard to believe this was a cab. Had the raisiny "past it's prime" taste. May have to cook with the last bottle :(
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Excellent! Bursting with flavor. Full bodied and inky, without being over-ripe for my palate. Plenty of dark fruit and integrated tannins. Leather and tar on the finish. Not coming in hot at 15% anymore. Can go longer in the bottle. Will keep the next till after 2014.
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NobleRottersSydney - 2003 reds (Pazzo, Surry Hills): [15%, cork] {Glenn) Not quite 2003, but no matter. Neither old nor young on the nose. Another bottle of 15% rocket fuel. Shot through with dead fruit characters; wrinkled, dessicated sultana flavours without the sugar sweetness. Not in the least cabernet-like. It’s full-bodied, with medium gritty tannins, no acid at all and wave after wave of alcoholic heat. Frankenstein’s monster in liquid form. In fairness, if you like the (extreme) style, then it’s a good example of the breed. Not for me. I can’t very well make any predictions about further aging a wine I don’t think should have been made in the first place.
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This is my introduction to Mclaren Vail cab savs. It wasn't exactly like the big California cabs, but it was very well ballenced. It had plenty of fruit without being juicy. It was the best of the night (against cal cabs that I was sure would win out). I'll be going back for more.
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Beautiful bouquet and also on the palate. Complex and elegant. Gentle and soft tannin. In fact everything in this wine is smooth. Completely ready now and no hurry.
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Consistent....starting to show more age in coloring, but still fairly primary on the explosive nose and palate. Thick and extremely delicious. This has miles to go.
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Deep, dense purple, with some red edging. Huge nose rises from the glass, with lots of cedar, milk chocolate/almond bar, green bell pepper and tobacco. Full bodied, yet light on its feet. Massive blackberry, cassis and some herbs on the palate. Has hints of sweetness. Really good stuff for the price. Lots going on as far as the nose goes, and though the palate is somewhat simple in that its size dominates, it is very tasty. Excellent QPR.
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Purple in glass. Nose of violets, blueberry, cassis and graphite. Dark and red fruits on the palate, with notes of plums, cherries, tobacco and a touch of oregano. Smooth with some heat on the finish. Not a profound wine, but very pleasurable. Great QPR.
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Fantastic wine! Decanted for nearly two hours. Big nose of cedar, dark fruits, and graphite. Big and smooth in the mouth, featuring dark fruit flavors of blueberry and blackberry, with a hint of chocolate. Very refined, and balanced. Tannins are big and present, but hidden by the gobs of fruit. Long long finish. Definitely seemed more Northern California than Australia to me. I'd say it can go another 4-5 years, but I'm uncertain how well these wines age. The '04 Reiver, opened alongside this one, was completely out of wack, dominated by alcohol and tannin - 93+
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Drank from a magnum on Christmas Eve dinner. Totally great Aussie cab, but this is the issue. I expected a more Cali new worlds style but the sweetness and fruit bomb pulled me out of Northern Cali to Aussie land. Way too heavy on the nose upon opening, but a 2 hr decant and some left in the bottle was helpful. Tannins were very grainey. Maybe the problem was this followed on 02' Hobbs Cobos Malbec which was one of the greatest wines I have ever consumed. My wife said "way too sweet" for the Mitolo even when served with a wonderful beef filet dinner. Day 2, the small balance left in the bottle settled down a lot, and though still sweet, had a more refined blueberry, tar and other dark fruit flavor. My guess is that this is way too young to be close to it's potential, particularily from a magnum.
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Tasted more like the first bottle I had about 8 months ago. Heavier on the concentrated dark fruits, with lesser nuance. Still delicious and highly recommended.
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Cabernet Smackdown (Steve T's, Vernon Hills IL): nose: rather rich nose of dark red fruits, black currants, cranberries, bits of herbs and spices. Real good balanced and fairly pungent right now. The flavors were well balanced and blended together very well with good depth
taste: Full bodied and rich with real big tannins that mute the tones a bit. Rich tones of dark red fruits, black currants, cranberries, herbs and bits of mixed berries work well together, but the tannins are a bit much and mute the tones a bit
overall: this is in need of time. I don't know how long this was decanted for, but there is a good amount of promise in it and it just needs some sideways time to work itself out.
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An hour in the decanter really helps to open this surprisingly elegant cabernet. Deep ruby/purple with some bricking at the rim. A swirl reveals a fruity Aussie nose, full of bright cherries and lighter black currants – almost merlot-like. A touch of oak, lifted by a strong presence of green bell pepper, adds further complexities. On the palette, the wine accurately delivers the flavors promised by the nose on an extracted scale, while remaining ‘light’ and energetic (though little acidity). With some time, a very subtle vanilla component comes into play. I had another bottle of this cabernet about six months ago and it was all fruit. Glad to see some secondary nuances shining through. I suspect this will continue to develop in the bottle over the next 2-4 years.
Drink now or hold. 94 –JRS
((PS – the more I drank this, the more it seemed like a merlot to me. The 2004 Clos Pegase Mitsuko’s Vineyard I drank recently comes to mind, though this certainly shows more green characteristics and elegance than the Clos’. Both fantastic wines, though the Clos’ costs less than half as much.))
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After an 8 hour decant, this is a beautiful wine. Big and powerful, yet smooth, perfectly balanced and almost light on its feet (believe it!). Blackberries and plums riddled with graphite and sweet tobacco. Astoundingly pure and silky in the mouth; not at all hot or disjointed. Love the Amarone stylings. Just a great wine.
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I am going to agree with wine advocate on this. Not syrup like Cab from a hot vintage, but not bordeaux either, I would have guessed a more refined Wash Cab like Betz. Very good.
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Black core ruby rim; it took me a few minutes but then I thought 'hmm, this is just like green tea', and it is. Lovely smooth palate; good full body and length. Certainly unusual and gorgeous!
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Big wine! Very pronounced nose, rich, opulent and luscious black fruits and cigar box nose. Still young, but thankfully approachable. Great tannins, very succulent and oozing flavour, with plenty of cassis and hints of bacon in this mouthfilling cab. Great wine,nicely put together and would definately seek out again.
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Outrageous! Wine of the X-mas dinner. Structured, large, and in charge... One could go on for quite some time getting tons of nuances from this wine. A real keeper likely to hang on for a long time.
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It seems as this ages the Cab comes through much more than when we had this many months ago...far deeper chocolate and vegital tastes coming through with more bite during the finish...stronger this time and not as fruit forward. I'm curious how this will taste in another several months.
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Popped and decanted for about an hour. During pour into decanter smelled of ripe blueberries, wonderful aroma. Nose was very lush with blue and black fruits, a little tobacco, very small whiff of mint, little leather, black tea, plums, vanilla...we mistakenly bought this thinking it was a Mitolo G.A.M. but to our sheer joy it was a cab!! This wine is huge, lush and balanced...we love it…we’re now looking into other Aussie cabs.
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Improved from the first bottles. Did not have time to decant, but still opened quickly within the 2 hour dinner at Catctus Grill. This was my last bottle, must find more.
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Excellent with fillet. Can't describe the friut aromas or hints of saddle leather, but approachable now, not overly tannic, and not the overwheliming fruit bomb of the 02 dead arm. My spouse gave it an excellent review.
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This vintage tastes far superior to the 2003 in that it seems far more refined with greater tannins and spice. Exceptional deep purple color, with a tinge of bright ruby around the rim. Great bouquet, boasting a host of scents which combine in an intoxicating aroma. Will buy a few more for the cellar.
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I really need to heed my own advice and stay away from this for a few more years. At the open was big and tannic, after 3 hours in the decantur it was a hugh, camphor, cassis with some blueberry and licorice. For myself and a friend it was wonderful, as for my wife, she hated it (which means it must be good)!
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Profound stuff. This wine has a very dark garnet red, cherry-like color. The nose is amazing with distinct blueberry, licorice, pain grille, tree bark, and earthiness. Elegant palate and velvety mouthfeel that packs cherry, berry, tobacco, and tons of earth. Finishes superbly with amazing acidity. This is totally different from Bordeaux and Cal Cab and that much better for it. It's elegant, yet not weak. It has luxurious fruit, but it's not overdone. It's got the fruit, but it also has the dirt...this is exactly what I am looking for in a wine that expresses its terroir. This is one of the best reds I've had in a while and is a true tour de force in winemaking. Congratulations to Roman Bratiasuk for this achievement.
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Impressive for what it is, though I have to say I've come to prefer lower rated Rhones & Bordeaux. Great extract, pure dark fruit, and nice smoke and spice, without the syrup problem plaguing many Aussies.
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Blueberry, boysenberry syrup, blackberry, minerals on the nose. Good acidity and ripe, silky tannins. Loads of sweet, ripe berries on the palate. Long, smooth, fruity finish. Loads of fruit, good structure, and no rough edges.
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Around the World in a Cab(ernet) (Farpointe Cellar): A very interesting nose of dark fruit, earth, and jello pudding mix. The palate was very smooth, with dark berries, spice, and mocha. The finish was really good.
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It does redefine Cabernet, but in a good way? I like the sheer intensity of the fruit (jammy is an understatement here), but it completely lacks the aromatic complexity Cabernet has to offer.
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Amazing Aussie Tasting- 38 Wines (Binny's, Schaumburg, IL (NW Suburbs - Chicago)): A tasty surprise. A complex and elegant Aussie Cab, that may be the best I have ever tasted from down under. Deep purple color. Aromas/flavors of plum, blueberry, black raspberry, smoke and vanilla. Deep, layered flavors and a huge mouthfeel. Balanced by integrated tannins to create a very elegant cab. Long 35+ second finish. Another Home Run from Mitolo. A tremendous wine for $53.
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Martin Scott Wines (Fall 06); 9/11/2006-9/13/2006 (Lincoln Center): this is REALLY GOOD! 100% dried fruit - amarone nose of powerfull ripe plums, oak is there but should integrate, this is a bruiser of a wine but maaan is it well balanced! this is trully excellent winemaking!
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Martin Scott Wines Portfolio Event (New York City): Deep ruby with a black center. The thickness looks like a Port; it is made by the Amarone method, with 100% dried fruit. And on the nose, definite aroma of dry blackberries and black fruits, with a hint of prune; also spices and tar. Very complex. On the palate it is dry, full-bodied and complex as well, very silky. Excellent stuff.
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This has a very dark inky purple color. Pouring this into the glass is like pouring 10W-40! This is not for the faint at heart. On the nose, I noticed some dark fruits, camphor and something I'd call an Old World element, leather maybe? This is a full-bodied cab at its best, very fruit-driven and full of tannins. Oak is definitely noticeable. It has enough acidity to balance the fruitiness. This is approachable now but I imagine it will get better in a year or two.
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Decided to go grab a bottle and give it a go. First night, very dark and fruit forward. Not a typical cab, but I really enjoyed it. The style (amarone) does sorta remind me of a big Italian wine. Had some bitterness on the open that faded in great after an hour or 2 in the decantur. Poured a 375 off for the next night. The next night it was still very big and black (really more purplish), and better integrated. Still very young. For someone wanting a typical cab experience, maybe not your bottle, but I really enjoyed it. Ran back today and got another 4 bottles.
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The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Serpico (aged 12 months in new American hogsheads as well as small French barrels) comes from the Willunga district in the southern sector of McLaren Vale, near the ocean. It exhibits a dense purple color in addition to an extraordinary bouquet of smoke, blueberries, black raspberries, and cassis. Superbly endowed with admirable purity, sweet tannin, a floral/fruity component, and a fabulously layered, concentrated mid-palate as well as finish, it is one of the finest Cabernet Sauvignons to ever emerge from South Australia. It should age well for 10-15 years.
For a winery only established in 1999, and dedicated to hand-crafted, artisinal wines, Mitolo has consistently been a revelation in my tastings. Thanks to owner Frank Mitolo and his brilliant winemaker, Ben Glaetzer, the quality has been truly splendid-ဝ 94 points, Wine Advocate
TRIED THE FIRST BOTTLE OF SIX I BOUGHT. WOW! BIG AND THICK WITH ALL THE FLAVORS ABOVE. SO THICK THE TWO OF US COULD NOT FINISH OFF THE BOTTLE. CAN'T WAIT TO TRY THE REST TONIGHT. THEN ITS TO SLEEP FOR THE OTHER 5 BOTTLES.
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4/11/2021 - Heeneska Likes this wine: 95 Points
Amazing wine. Flavours an tannins mellowed and so much length is amazing. Dark berries, and mid younger explosion of flavour. Wow
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3/10/2021 - PPalerme Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very pleased with this wine!
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4/5/2020 - ddhanraj Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well this wine certainly is not pass its prime, mind you it was and is cellared properly still have 2 left. Tobacco at the nose, soft tannins with dark berries. Very nice still but maybe has a year left if cellared enjoy!
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10/31/2018 - Hamersly wrote: 92 Points
First bottle was excellent but not exceptional, a bit angular. Second bottle was opened the previous day, which made a significant difference. Delicious, with fine sweet tannins.
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9/28/2018 - SadEdjo wrote: 91 Points
Dark colour. Lush, plush, ripe, bordering on off dry finish. Dark and red fruits. Well integrated tannins, long finish, low acid
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1/14/2018 - Chefofthewoods wrote:
Aged but strong bottle - 2004 I tried at home was plush with plum fruit, gentle acid and background tannins. Slightly on downhill yet retains elegance. Over 2+ days it held up quite well refrigerated. Quite a bit of sediment.
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11/6/2016 - Cschall Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark inky color with a rim to show its age. Blueberry, baking spices & smoke. Medium + Acidity & Medium Tanin. Medium complexity and well balanced. A solid New World offering. Perfect pairing with a world class filet (duh).
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10/12/2016 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wow, fantastic from the outset. Smoke, toasted oak & tobacco on the nose. Deep red in colour with signs of bricking to show its age. A taste of cherries, coffee and spice. Full bodied, lingering tannins and a medium finish. Still plenty of oomph and complexity. Drinking well now but no hurry.
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12/25/2015 - 309VEB Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pleasant but fading. drink now.
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8/9/2015 - 3marinerfans Likes this wine: 90 Points
Velvety smooth, well aged Cab. Moderate tannins,dark fruit but not fruity; very balanced. Do not wait to drink any remaining bottles.
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6/2/2015 - 3marinerfans Likes this wine: 90 Points
Subdued, balanced Cab. Drink now do not hold!
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5/21/2015 - WineCPA wrote: 92 Points
Lovely full bodied cab. Didn't get the exotic palate that I detected last time. But it was still excellent. Deep red and black fruits. Integrated tannins. Time to drink this one.
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8/19/2014 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 93 Points
My last bottle and will miss this wine. Drinking well. Bold complex fruit with long finish. Still have the savitar and riever to enjoy.
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6/21/2014 - Rezy13 wrote:
Stewed, soy, prune, raisin, tomato, spice, higher alcohol, smooth tannin; on the down side of the peak.
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6/14/2014 - Vlens Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bottle came from very good cellar. This wine is at its peak now. Powerful yet elegant with well integrated oak. Beautiful tannins. As you would expect from an Amarone-style wine, dark fruit with a subtle raisiny twist.
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4/18/2014 - sinebubble wrote:
Should have drank this 3 years ago. It's past its prime with that raisin/port flavor. No Cabernet left here at all.
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2/28/2014 - guy12 wrote: 79 Points
Under screw cap. Big hot stewed fruit. Only vaguely Cabernet. No sense of place or character. Big monolithic style. Not a bad wine but not a great one either. Poor qpr
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10/21/2013 - tplskylrk wrote:
Found this on action. The cork was a bit mushy. May explain my previous TN's musty nose. Similar, super rich, ripe almost candied wine. Super smoky, almost concentrated Cab. So Aussie, so delicious. Heavy wine, can feel the alcohol. But it is there in a nice way, to slice through the ripeness.
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9/24/2013 - tplskylrk wrote:
Couple hours in. This had a musty thing going. 9 years bottled up, you would too. Some French must and ripe fruit on the nose. Got some of that sweaty balls that Sine notes... but comparison stops there. Nice stuff, felt some of the heat though.
Nice stuff, still has tones of life. Acid, fruit, tannins all tight, on the attack like a youngster, but completely balanced. Agree w some TS, Cab? Really? Totally lost her character.
Day II. Nose opens a bit, some blue fruit, jolly rancher style. Finally giving up some Cab Sav characteristics. Juicy, bigger, deeper. Totally different wine. If i was still scoring it would go up 3-4 points. Some tannins now there, tar, blueberries, menthol? Nicer bigger, deeper, juicier, whats not to like. Cool climate? wine.
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6/23/2013 - sinebubble wrote:
Someone said this smelled like sweaty b*llz. I wouldn't go that far, but it was a briny alcohol hot mess. Hard to believe this was a cab. Had the raisiny "past it's prime" taste. May have to cook with the last bottle :(
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6/18/2013 - WineCPA Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent! Bursting with flavor. Full bodied and inky, without being over-ripe for my palate. Plenty of dark fruit and integrated tannins. Leather and tar on the finish. Not coming in hot at 15% anymore. Can go longer in the bottle. Will keep the next till after 2014.
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4/8/2013 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - 2003 reds (Pazzo, Surry Hills): [15%, cork] {Glenn) Not quite 2003, but no matter. Neither old nor young on the nose. Another bottle of 15% rocket fuel. Shot through with dead fruit characters; wrinkled, dessicated sultana flavours without the sugar sweetness. Not in the least cabernet-like. It’s full-bodied, with medium gritty tannins, no acid at all and wave after wave of alcoholic heat. Frankenstein’s monster in liquid form. In fairness, if you like the (extreme) style, then it’s a good example of the breed. Not for me. I can’t very well make any predictions about further aging a wine I don’t think should have been made in the first place.
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10/28/2012 - Jflawrence wrote: 93 Points
This is my introduction to Mclaren Vail cab savs. It wasn't exactly like the big California cabs, but it was very well ballenced. It had plenty of fruit without being juicy. It was the best of the night (against cal cabs that I was sure would win out). I'll be going back for more.
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9/14/2012 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful bouquet and also on the palate. Complex and elegant. Gentle and soft tannin. In fact everything in this wine is smooth. Completely ready now and no hurry.
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4/13/2012 - WI WineLover wrote: 88 Points
Tried really hard to believe that this CT92.7 wine was that good, but couldn't come to that conclusion
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12/22/2011 - Melli wrote: 93 Points
Really nice and odd at same time. Some green notes, lots of fruit.....and would buy again!
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10/8/2011 - maderay wrote: 84 Points
G. Too jammy, some chocolate. Disappointing. Decanted without success for about 1 hour. Took it to ken and Patty's house.
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5/1/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote: 94 Points
Consistent....starting to show more age in coloring, but still fairly primary on the explosive nose and palate. Thick and extremely delicious. This has miles to go.
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1/19/2011 - Bigsamsdad wrote: 92 Points
Nice balance, mouth of blueberry, blackberry and hint of currant. Nice smooth finish.
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6/18/2010 - Fielding wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous notes. Hedonistic wine.
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2/15/2010 - Edwind wrote: 92 Points
Deep rich color. Well balanced.
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1/26/2010 - cadamson wrote: 92 Points
Deep, dense purple, with some red edging. Huge nose rises from the glass, with lots of cedar, milk chocolate/almond bar, green bell pepper and tobacco. Full bodied, yet light on its feet. Massive blackberry, cassis and some herbs on the palate. Has hints of sweetness. Really good stuff for the price. Lots going on as far as the nose goes, and though the palate is somewhat simple in that its size dominates, it is very tasty. Excellent QPR.
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1/15/2010 - CdP in NYC wrote: 94 Points
Always delicious
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1/4/2010 - Fielding wrote: 93 Points
Purple in glass. Nose of violets, blueberry, cassis and graphite. Dark and red fruits on the palate, with notes of plums, cherries, tobacco and a touch of oregano. Smooth with some heat on the finish. Not a profound wine, but very pleasurable. Great QPR.
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12/25/2009 - Apollo5710 wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic wine! Decanted for nearly two hours. Big nose of cedar, dark fruits, and graphite. Big and smooth in the mouth, featuring dark fruit flavors of blueberry and blackberry, with a hint of chocolate. Very refined, and balanced. Tannins are big and present, but hidden by the gobs of fruit. Long long finish. Definitely seemed more Northern California than Australia to me. I'd say it can go another 4-5 years, but I'm uncertain how well these wines age. The '04 Reiver, opened alongside this one, was completely out of wack, dominated by alcohol and tannin - 93+
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12/25/2009 - scuderia vino wrote: 92 Points
Drank from a magnum on Christmas Eve dinner. Totally great Aussie cab, but this is the issue. I expected a more Cali new worlds style but the sweetness and fruit bomb pulled me out of Northern Cali to Aussie land. Way too heavy on the nose upon opening, but a 2 hr decant and some left in the bottle was helpful. Tannins were very grainey. Maybe the problem was this followed on 02' Hobbs Cobos Malbec which was one of the greatest wines I have ever consumed. My wife said "way too sweet" for the Mitolo even when served with a wonderful beef filet dinner. Day 2, the small balance left in the bottle settled down a lot, and though still sweet, had a more refined blueberry, tar and other dark fruit flavor. My guess is that this is way too young to be close to it's potential, particularily from a magnum.
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11/18/2009 - CdP in NYC wrote: 94 Points
Tasted more like the first bottle I had about 8 months ago. Heavier on the concentrated dark fruits, with lesser nuance. Still delicious and highly recommended.
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11/6/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 89 Points
Cabernet Smackdown (Steve T's, Vernon Hills IL): nose: rather rich nose of dark red fruits, black currants, cranberries, bits of herbs and spices. Real good balanced and fairly pungent right now. The flavors were well balanced and blended together very well with good depth
taste: Full bodied and rich with real big tannins that mute the tones a bit. Rich tones of dark red fruits, black currants, cranberries, herbs and bits of mixed berries work well together, but the tannins are a bit much and mute the tones a bit
overall: this is in need of time. I don't know how long this was decanted for, but there is a good amount of promise in it and it just needs some sideways time to work itself out.
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10/10/2009 - CdP in NYC wrote: 94 Points
Consistent with prior note. This has been a very good week.
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8/26/2009 - CdP in NYC wrote: 94 Points
An hour in the decanter really helps to open this surprisingly elegant cabernet. Deep ruby/purple with some bricking at the rim. A swirl reveals a fruity Aussie nose, full of bright cherries and lighter black currants – almost merlot-like. A touch of oak, lifted by a strong presence of green bell pepper, adds further complexities. On the palette, the wine accurately delivers the flavors promised by the nose on an extracted scale, while remaining ‘light’ and energetic (though little acidity). With some time, a very subtle vanilla component comes into play. I had another bottle of this cabernet about six months ago and it was all fruit. Glad to see some secondary nuances shining through. I suspect this will continue to develop in the bottle over the next 2-4 years.
Drink now or hold. 94 –JRS
((PS – the more I drank this, the more it seemed like a merlot to me. The 2004 Clos Pegase Mitsuko’s Vineyard I drank recently comes to mind, though this certainly shows more green characteristics and elegance than the Clos’. Both fantastic wines, though the Clos’ costs less than half as much.))
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8/19/2009 - DHJ1968 wrote:
After an 8 hour decant, this is a beautiful wine. Big and powerful, yet smooth, perfectly balanced and almost light on its feet (believe it!). Blackberries and plums riddled with graphite and sweet tobacco. Astoundingly pure and silky in the mouth; not at all hot or disjointed. Love the Amarone stylings. Just a great wine.
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4/29/2009 - pinotwinelover wrote: 94 Points
I am going to agree with wine advocate on this. Not syrup like Cab from a hot vintage, but not bordeaux either, I would have guessed a more refined Wash Cab like Betz. Very good.
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4/22/2009 - rob1869 wrote: 92 Points
Black core ruby rim; it took me a few minutes but then I thought 'hmm, this is just like green tea', and it is. Lovely smooth palate; good full body and length. Certainly unusual and gorgeous!
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4/20/2009 - redderthanred wrote:
Great wine, see prior notes.
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4/20/2009 - thewineoceros wrote: 92 Points
Big wine! Very pronounced nose, rich, opulent and luscious black fruits and cigar box nose. Still young, but thankfully approachable. Great tannins, very succulent and oozing flavour, with plenty of cassis and hints of bacon in this mouthfilling cab. Great wine,nicely put together and would definately seek out again.
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3/8/2009 - redderthanred wrote:
Decanted for about an hour.
Deep rich velvety mouthfeel, long finish...chocolate, blue fruit and little bell pepper in there. This is pretty darn good!
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3/5/2009 - idrinkvino wrote: 92 Points
Great balance between lush fruit and body, with a slight hint of oak that helps in this case.
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1/27/2009 - redderthanred wrote:
Took to brother-in-law's house, did not take notes this time...see prior notes however.
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1/27/2009 - Wrighty wrote: 90 Points
Raiding Danny's cellar at Chinese New Year (Club House, Casa Bella, Hong Kong): Nose is a little green, menthol, a little lean. Palate is a little fuller, taut.
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1/1/2009 - T Lauren O'Neal wrote: 94 Points
Outrageous! Wine of the X-mas dinner. Structured, large, and in charge... One could go on for quite some time getting tons of nuances from this wine. A real keeper likely to hang on for a long time.
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12/16/2008 - bigdogflow wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic Wine!! Big, expressive nose of dark fruit, with taste of blackberry and currant. Wonderful, long finish.
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9/27/2008 - idrinkvino wrote: 92 Points
Deep, rich with layers of subtle spice. Very good for a Cab from Auzzie.
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9/1/2008 - WDK wrote: 92 Points
Very rich, deep, and fat. Not as good as the GAM shiraz, but still went over well with the group.
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7/19/2008 - cadamson wrote: 91 Points
Better than expected. Dark purple. Nose of cassis, smoke, dark berry and coffee. Long finish, deep berry, super fruit but not jammy...damn good.
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7/7/2008 - redderthanred wrote: 90 Points
It seems as this ages the Cab comes through much more than when we had this many months ago...far deeper chocolate and vegital tastes coming through with more bite during the finish...stronger this time and not as fruit forward. I'm curious how this will taste in another several months.
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5/14/2008 - redderthanred wrote: 93 Points
We really like this wine, please see prior notes.
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3/30/2008 - snaff wrote: 95 Points
Smooth and powerful. Licorice in the nose, flavors of rich blackberry and dark cherry, but distinct from Napa cabs with its earthy, coffee finish.
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3/21/2008 - redderthanred wrote: 94 Points
see prior notes... we love this wine!
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3/8/2008 - redderthanred wrote: 94 Points
Popped and decanted for about an hour. During pour into decanter smelled of ripe blueberries, wonderful aroma. Nose was very lush with blue and black fruits, a little tobacco, very small whiff of mint, little leather, black tea, plums, vanilla...we mistakenly bought this thinking it was a Mitolo G.A.M. but to our sheer joy it was a cab!! This wine is huge, lush and balanced...we love it…we’re now looking into other Aussie cabs.
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1/17/2008 - Texas R Aggie wrote: 95 Points
Improved from the first bottles. Did not have time to decant, but still opened quickly within the 2 hour dinner at Catctus Grill. This was my last bottle, must find more.
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9/14/2007 - ogres3 wrote: 94 Points
Excellent with fillet. Can't describe the friut aromas or hints of saddle leather, but approachable now, not overly tannic, and not the overwheliming fruit bomb of the 02 dead arm. My spouse gave it an excellent review.
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8/21/2007 - idrinkvino wrote: 93 Points
This vintage tastes far superior to the 2003 in that it seems far more refined with greater tannins and spice. Exceptional deep purple color, with a tinge of bright ruby around the rim. Great bouquet, boasting a host of scents which combine in an intoxicating aroma. Will buy a few more for the cellar.
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8/19/2007 - Texas R Aggie wrote: 95 Points
Balanced. Best Aussie Cab encounted to date. Smooth tannins, but pronounced. Dark Cherry. Coffee.Amazing value.
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6/29/2007 - WStucker wrote: 94 Points
I really need to heed my own advice and stay away from this for a few more years. At the open was big and tannic, after 3 hours in the decantur it was a hugh, camphor, cassis with some blueberry and licorice. For myself and a friend it was wonderful, as for my wife, she hated it (which means it must be good)!
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6/28/2007 - Coltrane777 wrote: 93 Points
Excellent wine
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6/3/2007 - steffenpelz wrote:
Profound stuff. This wine has a very dark garnet red, cherry-like color. The nose is amazing with distinct blueberry, licorice, pain grille, tree bark, and earthiness. Elegant palate and velvety mouthfeel that packs cherry, berry, tobacco, and tons of earth. Finishes superbly with amazing acidity. This is totally different from Bordeaux and Cal Cab and that much better for it. It's elegant, yet not weak. It has luxurious fruit, but it's not overdone. It's got the fruit, but it also has the dirt...this is exactly what I am looking for in a wine that expresses its terroir. This is one of the best reds I've had in a while and is a true tour de force in winemaking. Congratulations to Roman Bratiasuk for this achievement.
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6/1/2007 - danibus wrote: 92 Points
Impressive for what it is, though I have to say I've come to prefer lower rated Rhones & Bordeaux. Great extract, pure dark fruit, and nice smoke and spice, without the syrup problem plaguing many Aussies.
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5/13/2007 - cbbrown3 wrote: 95 Points
Blueberry, boysenberry syrup, blackberry, minerals on the nose. Good acidity and ripe, silky tannins. Loads of sweet, ripe berries on the palate. Long, smooth, fruity finish. Loads of fruit, good structure, and no rough edges.
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4/7/2007 - mmurry wrote: 92 Points
Around the World in a Cab(ernet) (Farpointe Cellar): A very interesting nose of dark fruit, earth, and jello pudding mix. The palate was very smooth, with dark berries, spice, and mocha. The finish was really good.
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2/4/2007 - Ive Marx wrote: 92 Points
It does redefine Cabernet, but in a good way? I like the sheer intensity of the fruit (jammy is an understatement here), but it completely lacks the aromatic complexity Cabernet has to offer.
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1/20/2007 - GolferChris wrote: 95 Points
Amazing Aussie Tasting- 38 Wines (Binny's, Schaumburg, IL (NW Suburbs - Chicago)): A tasty surprise. A complex and elegant Aussie Cab, that may be the best I have ever tasted from down under. Deep purple color. Aromas/flavors of plum, blueberry, black raspberry, smoke and vanilla. Deep, layered flavors and a huge mouthfeel. Balanced by integrated tannins to create a very elegant cab. Long 35+ second finish. Another Home Run from Mitolo. A tremendous wine for $53.
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9/24/2006 - Jaegerbrau wrote: 94 Points
Very good, opened up after an hour. Well balanced. Ready to drink now. Will buy more!
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9/23/2006 - WStucker wrote: 94 Points
Leave for 5 years. Glorious, going to get 5 more. Round out a case. Needs to breath 2 hours at this stage.
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9/13/2006 - Mlermontov wrote: 94 Points
Martin Scott Wines (Fall 06); 9/11/2006-9/13/2006 (Lincoln Center): this is REALLY GOOD! 100% dried fruit - amarone nose of powerfull ripe plums, oak is there but should integrate, this is a bruiser of a wine but maaan is it well balanced! this is trully excellent winemaking!
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9/11/2006 - dougsmith wrote: 95 Points
Martin Scott Wines Portfolio Event (New York City): Deep ruby with a black center. The thickness looks like a Port; it is made by the Amarone method, with 100% dried fruit. And on the nose, definite aroma of dry blackberries and black fruits, with a hint of prune; also spices and tar. Very complex. On the palate it is dry, full-bodied and complex as well, very silky. Excellent stuff.
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7/30/2006 - NobleRot wrote: 92 Points
This has a very dark inky purple color. Pouring this into the glass is like pouring 10W-40! This is not for the faint at heart. On the nose, I noticed some dark fruits, camphor and something I'd call an Old World element, leather maybe? This is a full-bodied cab at its best, very fruit-driven and full of tannins. Oak is definitely noticeable. It has enough acidity to balance the fruitiness. This is approachable now but I imagine it will get better in a year or two.
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6/26/2006 - WStucker wrote: 94 Points
Decided to go grab a bottle and give it a go. First night, very dark and fruit forward. Not a typical cab, but I really enjoyed it. The style (amarone) does sorta remind me of a big Italian wine. Had some bitterness on the open that faded in great after an hour or 2 in the decantur. Poured a 375 off for the next night. The next night it was still very big and black (really more purplish), and better integrated. Still very young. For someone wanting a typical cab experience, maybe not your bottle, but I really enjoyed it. Ran back today and got another 4 bottles.
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6/26/2006 - Burgess wrote: 96 Points
The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Serpico (aged 12 months in new American hogsheads as well as small French barrels) comes from the Willunga district in the southern sector of McLaren Vale, near the ocean. It exhibits a dense purple color in addition to an extraordinary bouquet of smoke, blueberries, black raspberries, and cassis. Superbly endowed with admirable purity, sweet tannin, a floral/fruity component, and a fabulously layered, concentrated mid-palate as well as finish, it is one of the finest Cabernet Sauvignons to ever emerge from South Australia. It should age well for 10-15 years.
For a winery only established in 1999, and dedicated to hand-crafted, artisinal wines, Mitolo has consistently been a revelation in my tastings. Thanks to owner Frank Mitolo and his brilliant winemaker, Ben Glaetzer, the quality has been truly splendid-ဝ 94 points, Wine Advocate
TRIED THE FIRST BOTTLE OF SIX I BOUGHT. WOW! BIG AND THICK WITH ALL THE FLAVORS ABOVE. SO THICK THE TWO OF US COULD NOT FINISH OFF THE BOTTLE. CAN'T WAIT TO TRY THE REST TONIGHT. THEN ITS TO SLEEP FOR THE OTHER 5 BOTTLES.
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