Decanted about an hour, consumed over 3h. Blousy floral nose and deep with layers of dark fruit on the palate. Nice Napa Cab in a (relatively) reserved style. Well balance and medium finish. A decate or more in the tank (as demonstrated by the '94 we had along side it which outshone it in elegance only acquired with age).
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Very dark red.purple color. Splash decanted and drak a couple glasses over 2 hours. Cedarbox, dried herbs, cassis, retrained, though slowly gets earthier and a bit deeper too on the nose. The palate too shows restraint, nothing over done here; full bodied, lot of wood and earth notes, cassis, dark fruits, good acid, grainy somewhat dry tannins. Slowly improves and pairs well with our steaks.
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Last of 6 bottles. Drank over 2 nights. Black/red color. On nose, cassis, pipe tobacco, cherry, sweet oak and plum. With air, bell pepper, otherwise palate consistent with nose. Medium body, medium acidity/tannins and long finish. Very enjoyable and has aged beautifully. 92-93+ range.
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Deep dark center, red rim with minimal age. Plums and tobacco, a little lifted, raspberries and touch of spa. Smooth, blackcurrants and tobacco leaf, nice richness and fruit up front, then significant acidity, alcohol in check (14.2%), nice finish with some toasty oak and red fruit. Excellent Cabernet Sauvignon (100%), the leafiness puts it closer to Bordeaux, the reduced alcohol is a departure for this winery and very welcome. Good now with food, but has acidity to last a while.
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pnp,good balance top to bottom, nice helping of dark fruit in the mid palate which receded/tightened up with air time, improving the overall balance, very enjoyable
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Summer Wines (Craig & Nita's Place): Same bottle as Chablis28 and galeskj. Very good, coming around, a pretty core of dark fruits, good structure, oak is folding in and could use a little more time. Showed well in a tough outdoor setting.
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Thanks Joe for bringing. A very fun CA Cab out on our lawn tonight with assorted meat dishes. Just needs a little more time to further meld its oak but otherwise very complete and tasty.
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Fantastic! Last tasted almost 4 years ago via Coravin. This has improved and developed that tell-tale Napa Cabernet signature. Long mouth coating finish. Dusty tannins that add just enough interest. The nose is full of ripened dark fruits and a touch of cedar.
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Dark ruby. Pronounced aromas of blackberry, graphite, violets, dry heath, blocked out in primary colors in classic California style. Bright attack of clear deep red fruit on the palate, high acids mediating the strong but integrated and aromatic tannins, medium body despite its high alcohol, medium finish. Quaffable, a little confused on the palate but lovely as the end to an evening.
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Best Cabernet I've had in quite some time, although it is not an opulent, overripe, showy crowd-pleaser. Very dark, with no visible signs of age. Nose was quite restrained - black and blue fruits, with hints of pencil shavings and forest floor. Although still reasonably tannic, on the palate, it was smooth elegance and polish. Very good - but not great - finish. Seems to be holding up just fine.
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Drank over 2 days. Rich purple in color with a nose of earth, pepper, and loamy soil. Tannins are quite receded and the flavors are consistent with the aromas. Early mature drinking window. I decanted for 20 minutes or so and poured back into the bottle.
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Out of 375. I only got a tiny pour of this, but it was in a great spot in this format. Great structure, yet still very approachable. Nice mix of red and black fruit.
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The last bottle of our Anderson era. We first started buying in 2005 and continued until 2011. During that time, Parker's reviews were amazing but the wine normally didn't live up to the hype. So we finally had our last bottle and it was ok. All bottles were stored from receipt in temperature controlled cellars. Oh well.
A wonderful wine. Gobs of red and blue fruit, pencil lead, and vanilla notes. This wine has a beautiful ruby color with no signs of ageing. Every component is balanced and in good proportion. This, for me, is a quintessential example of a great Cali cabernet drinking near its peak.
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I did not read my last note from earlier this year and did not give this enough air. It was just coming into its own at the end of the evening and most of the bottle was gone. Started out with a fantastic nose of rich black fruit, licorice and spices, but the palate was austere and acidic and dint seem to match. A few hours later it was coming together and the fruit was starting to show on the palate. I am just not having great luck with Napa 2010s
Inky black and a strong primary nose of blackberry and cassis. Very suprised how young this is. The nose was so young and reminded me of Napa during harvest. On the palate still quite a bit of structure with deep flavors of black fruit and cassis. This really developed on day 2 with more complexity and finer tannins. Leave this alone or decant for several hours.
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Medium red color with slight change from rim to center. Cassis, cigar box, black currants, and blackberry on nose & palate. Medium+ body, medium acidity / tannins and long finish. Very enjoyable. 92+/-
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In a great drinking window. Nose reminiscent of Bdx with a touch of tobacco and herbs but definitely Cali on the palate. Mature dark fruit but not in your face, some savory herbs, licorice, dark chocolate and lingering black cherries. Noticeable oak but everything completely balanced. Needs 30-60 min to soften the tannins. Still some significant structure so I think plenty of years to go for this lovely and sophisticated wine. Great QPR at $60.
PnP. From Garagiste garage sale. Tight at beginning. Really opened. Lots of Tannin and structure with alcohol. This should age well for a few more years.
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1st of 6 bottles. This is really fantastic, showing all the Napa Cab flavors, with beautifully semi-sweet blue and black fruits, dark chocolate, anise, camphor. On the palate, full bodied, elegantly wielding it's strength and breadth with a deft touch. Long finish, drink now through 2030+.
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Outstanding wine, still a bit young and linear here, even with decanting and a spreading funnel to encourage some O2. For as dark a wine as this is, the fruit — while purple with shades of blue — has a late palate shift to red that I find a bit odd in the taste profile. Perhaps this is me confusing the redness for acidity or even for a late blossoming fruit tannin, but I got that sense. Nonetheless, I think this wine will integrate better with more years, and I’ll hold off on anymore until 2021.
Really great QPR.
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Superbowl wine. Sentimental favorite. Everyone liked this. Full bodied. Great nose. Tannins suggest drink or hold until 2025. After 2 hours, the tannins softened. This was an enjoyable wine. My very first ACV was a 1999 that I purchased at K&L at the suggestion of a friend.
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Enjoyed alongside the 2009 and 2011 vintages of ACVV Estate Cabernet at a family gathering with grilled ribeyes. Although the others were outstanding, I still prefer this vintage slightly more, but only marginally. As with the other offerings this shows lots of balance, complexity, and concentration. Oak, fruit, acid and tannin all in harmony. Lengthy finish. Drinking at peak with another five to eight years of cellar potential. Consistent with prior 95 point ratings.
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Blue fruits, “grapey”, superficial without depth of flavor, lacking character and nuance, something off balance as this was a bit cloying and I didn’t finish my last glass. Over the years I’ve had many from this producer and while not bad, I think these wines are consistently overrated by the critics, and don’t belong in the category of top tier Napa collectibles. 88
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Three and a half years after I opened my first bottle, this ACV proves the point that age (and patience) matters. The reward is a finely mellowed CA cab relying upon finesses, not super extraction. After a two hour decant the "bite" is gone and what's left are fine grain tannins, dark berries and the comfort of knowing it was worth the wait.
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Dark berry and eucalyptus on the nose. Flavors of dark chocolate, blackberry, black cherry and cola. Smooth tannins with a round mouthfeel. Medium+ finish.
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I did a Coravin taste-off between 2010, 11 & 12 vintages. The one word that I would use is consistency. 2010 - (92) Smoothest tannins (likely as the oldest of the trio) and a very rewarding finish but a bit shy on the nose. 2011 - (91) Detected a bit of "stewed" fruit on the nose but otherwise was a solid performer in a weaker vintage 2012 - (93) Most robust nose, with spicy notes and the tannins were evident still. Longest finish and likely a long life ahead. Overall I spent a good 45 minutes going over each one side by side and if tasted blind I could have easily been convinced they were all the same bottle but maybe the 2012 would have stood out. I view this as a strong testament to outstanding wine making and vineyards as WS rates the Napa Cab Vintages 2010 and 2012 at 96 while the 2011 only garnered 86. That is why CVV is always one of my go to producers.
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I know my score is an outlier here, but this was from a 9 Liter bottle (12 bottle equivalent!). It was opened and poured into 3 decanters at a time with my wine group, and shared with 19 people. So much better than the 2012 and 2014 magnums of the same wine that I opened last month. Beautiful nose, dark color, long finish. This was purchased directly from the winery in late 2014 and stored in a temperature controlled cellar ever since.
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Aromas of dark black berry. Tight tannins, some heat on the finish. Pronounced blackberry and kirsch. Very tart. Short finish. Somewhat disappointed in this bottle, different than I recall with other ACV vintages. Will have to try again.
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Enjoyed from a 375, and decanted for about 30 minutes. Even at 7+ years this is still a huge wine. Deep, very dark ruby color. Still developing aromatics with pronounced sour black cherry, smokey blackberry, black currant, ripe black plum, spiced raspberry, charred, rocky soil, powdered cocoa, green bell pepper, and black herbal tea. Dry with a huge structure. Pronounced and concentrated flavors in line with the aroma profile. Full bodied with high alcohol. Huge tannins and high acidity provides structure which should support a long cellar life. Long, very long finish. This is totally consistent with my prior forays with this wine. Outstanding!
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This wine needed a good 2 hour decant to show it's best. I didn't take formal notes but this tasting was consistent with my note from 2/2018. This wine is still young and the fruit profile was very bright (red fruits & black cherry) with great balance. If opening now decant - 93+/-
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Dark fruit, a little bit of leather and tobacco leaf on the nose. Nose seemed to dissipate relatively quickly. Very nice palate, but not a long finish. Tannins are reasonably well resolved given the age, modest acidity. Lacks complexity.
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100% CS. Significant sediment. Double decant 2 hours. Fragrant on opening. Candied cherries backed by currants, red and black. Medium body, great structure. Good fruit and long finish. Great now, future ahead.
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Decanted for 2 hours and paired with steaks. Black in the glass and throwing some sediment. Cassis, blackberry, plum, cedar and green tobacco on nose. On palate, cassis, black licorice, blackberry flavor profile - sweet tannins, medium acids and long finish. Delicious wine with good structure. 93-94 range.
I don't drink many Napa Cabs these days but these but I always enjoy ACV's red wines.
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Sour cherry and pomegranate flavors dominate. Very smooth, soft tannins. Good wine, but not quite great. Saved one glass for the second night, and it had deteriorated.
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Tasted SBS with the 2010 Inglenook Rubicon, these wines could not have been more different. This one was opaque purple with only slightest clear rim; 40 minutes after opening and a decant, reluctant nose at first of dark blue/black fruit and a stern, dryness to it. Real depth; on palate fairly austere and dry with substantial drying tannins. Very long as only at the end of things does it explode with fruit. Firm acids and huge long finish; should smooth out and balance with time as this is still just a baby. A fruit bomb showing loads of extract, tons of sediment and "goop" in the bottle neck upon opening. Lacks refinement which one can only hope it develops some of.
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Always a favorite and this delivered tonight. It was in the runner-up spot prior to enjoying a 2009 Opus One. It was very close to the Opus with just a bit shorter finish.
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PNP from a 375 on Monday with a few friends to share a quick glass of what I thought would be a wonderful and ready to drink wine. It was beautiful straight out of the bottle for the first ten minutes but then became a little astringent over the next hour. Not sure if it was the 375 talking but this was a slight disappointment overall. Consumed and gone. One of the few bottles I have had over the past year that I would not repurchase. My lone bottle of this producers cabernet that I have tried so I will try another from a 750 to give it a fairer assessment.
1 hr decant. Lots of eucalyptus on the nose and palate with a hint of bell pepper, blackberry, leather, cherry, and fine grained tannins. Just didn't seem as ripe as a previous bottle.
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This opaque ruby wine is entirely estate-sourced and is comprised of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Black and blue fruits are front and center, accented with notes of pipe tobacco, anise and smoke. Full-bodied, fresh, seamlessly alcoholic (14.2%) and with big sweet tannins, it is dense on the mid-palate, has nicely integrated oak and finishes with impressive length. This tremendous effort from Conn Valley Vineyards undoubtedly has many more years of life ahead. Drink now-2030.
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Incredible over the last time I had this. 2 years ago. Starting to come out. Redding some of the other tasters, I'm shocked that think it's just average. I found it to be a really good cab from this NAPA area. Very drinkable with a decant of 1.5 hours. Enjoy
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Barnyard aroma like another posting. Balanced, but not very complex. Lighter color than expected, medium finish. Overpriced at $45. Average Napa Cab in the $25-30 price range.
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Triple decanted back and forth from bottle to decanter and back (3x) - from a 375ml. With a little air after that this was very drinkable. I would suggest a hour decant, but did not have that luxury. No detailed notes as this was consumed late in the night.
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Looking back at my previous tasting note, I see that the previous bottle also had a barnyard aroma. Tasted like a much older wine, old dried up fruit, leather. Somewhat disappointing.
I like it, bordering on a 93 for me. Tightly wound and precise. Nice nose, smooth palate, medium to long finish and a nice earthy quality. Definitely not a manipulated Cali Cab in my view and it could probably use 1-2 more years in bottle.
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This is not quite Ghost Horse caliber but it's still utterly fantastic CA Cab Sauv. Lots of cherries and lots of tobacco. Tannin is still gripping. Could go another 3-4 years before it mellows out.
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Enjoyed subsequent to the 2009 ACVV Estate Cabernet. Bigger, more concentrated, and showing more layers than the 2009. Both were excellent but this one seemed to have slightly more structure, depth, and complexity overall.
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Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards 2010 Estate Reserve Cabernet is suave, with no hard edges, and languid notes of creme de cassis, bluberry crumble, brown sugar, anise and a decadent, if unexpected top note of soy. In the mouth, sueded tannins lend structure to an overturned basket of juicy black cherries and ultra-ripe blueberries, leading into a finish that is surprisingly spicy, a hit of cracked black pepper. Sumptuous and delicious. 14.2% ABV
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A four-year vertical tasting of Anderson's Conn Estate Reserve Cabernets: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.
The 2010 ranked #1, not because it was an amazing or standout wine, but because it was the only wine out of the four that actually had a bit of structure and fruit flavors to it. Notes of red and black currant, black cherry, asphalt, and cedar. Darker than the other three vintages, with some black and purple fruit flavors.
Did I love this wine? Not especially. Did I like this wine? I liked it better than any Anderson Conn Estate Reserve I've had. But in the end, this wine evoked very little inspiration or any memorable experience worth talking too much about.
The mid-palate was tight and a bit hollow. The finish was ok, but again, nothing that made me want to go back for multiple sips.
This probably had a few years of life still in it, but all in all, these wines are less expressive and flavorful than I would expect mid-level Cabernets to be.
The 2010 was barely 90 points for me. In a different lineup of other stronger wines, it probably would have been scored even lower. But by comparison to its older siblings, the 2010 was the "star" ...a very dim star at that....
Drink now.
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Decanted for 2.5 hours and served with grilled NY Strip. Dark red in the glass and throwing a fair amount of sediment already. On nose, graphite, black currants, cedar, blackberry. On palate, similar flavor profile with medium body, medium+ acidity and fine tannins. Very long finish.
What stuck out about this wine (especially for a Napa Cab) is the impeccable balance - fruit / acid / tannins. Was better with steak initially but as we enjoyed with the meal it fleshed out.
Drink now with a 2+ hour decant or for me I'll revisit late 2017/early 2018 - this should last 15-20 years from vintage . 93+/-
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Poured through aerator and into decanter, let sit for 2 hours. Notes very consistent with bottle had back in October, only aromas and flavors seemed much sharper and distinct than that last bottle. A great wine with Christmas roast.
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Drank from a 375, but decanted briefly. After two years, it was time to check on this wine! Very consistent experience to my winery tasting back in November 2013. Still a big wine, but its very definitely approachable, with a decant; displays class and elegance; and will pair with a hearty meal. Todd Anderson and his team just continue to hit on all cylinders at a reasonable QPR.
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Removed half a glass from the bottle and then re-corked to let it sit for a day which did wonders; rich, dark fruits with oak, earth, and herbal notes; dusty tannins
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Nice on the nose with dark fruit and wood smoke. Nice concentration with a touch of sour funk followed by well balanced fruit and friendly acid on the palate.
Finish a touch short at this stage.
I think this is a winner and have no problem with today's community average of 92+. Would have scored 90+ for today but will definitely improve. Good stuff.
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Big giant fruit bomb. I think over the years, this will become better. have some Bordeaux characteristics. Smell's earthy, and yet the taste has a dirty, peppery, ground taste. My other bottle will age.
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As others have indicated, this took a LONG time to come around. Even running through the aerator didn't do much. Thought slowly sipping thru the second glass would allow enough time. Would have probably been better to have left the last half of the bottle to sit over night. Going to refrain from rating as this was just not ready.
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On night #1 with a one hour decant this wine did not impress me. Harsh tannins, dilute, muted fruit notes. By the end of the evening it was starting to show some promise so I saved the second half of the bottle for night # 2. It was worth the wait. The tannins softened, the fruit shone through and the rest of the bottle was savoured. The problem with ACV is you can never order it from a restaurant wine list. There's just not enough time. That's a positive for collectors.
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Loved it. Great nose from even a foot away. Nice dark fruit, some vanilla, but not overdone. Tannins are evident but not overbearing even at this young age. Coravinned a single glass, looking forward to another pour.
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It has a wonderful first impression of being a well aged very high-end cabernet. The dark fruit is there, and the tannins are what you would expect from ten years of a perfectly cellared prize. I have one bottle remaining, but I will seek more of this vintage!
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Couldn't really taste due to Italian small plates (not a good match) and the restaurant didn't use wine glasses... Which made a huge diff. Will save for appropriate tasting next time.
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Extremely nice -- balanced but powerful, and a joy to drink slowly over the course of an evening. Especially nice since it came in a Garagiste mystery case.
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Wax crayon. Big, thick but also finesse here. You get that crayola initially but that gives way. Not as compex or layered as I woud lke. 10-15 second finish but not much more. Good but compared to the magie rouge it was lacking.
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Although a very solid wine it surprisingly finished last in a 4 bottle 9 person blind tasting. It was the most expensive wine and the one I thought would win. Especially since several of the taster were Cab lovers! 1st 2010 Paraduxx Napa C Blend, 2nd 2012 Betz Cuvee Frangin, 3rd 2009 J Bookwalter Foreshadow Cab.
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Probably should have decanted for a couple of hours. Flavorful and quite nice....but poor QPR...... For half the price, I like Hall and Frank Family just as much.
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Based on other reviews, gave it a ton of air, probably more than it needed (24 hrs). Comparing against the 2008, which is outstanding, this leaves quite a bit to be desired, as it is a bit thin and acidic in the mid-to-finish, particularly lacking on a deep finish. Great nose and the velvety mouthfeel that seems to be the Anderson Cab gimmick, so there's definitely some hope that there could be some integration forthcoming, but for now, it is just a normal QPR vs its normal position as Napa cab QPR leader.
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Medium body color with skinny long tears. Bouquet has plenty of new oak with notes of wet earth. Palate displays low acidity coupled with supple soft tannins, and a juicy fleshy mid palate with dark cherries, some cigar, and some bell pepper. Medium short finish with plums and new oak. Definitely Napa, although not in the overripe sense. There is fruit, structure, and elegance, just lacking complexity that's all.
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Beautiful wine. Black licorice, ripe plum and black cherry, well balanced with less alcohol than a lot of Napa cabs. Enjoyed thoroughly with an Italian dinner at Tulio.
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This is way too young. I let this decant for hrs yesterday and it was still so closed and muted. I had a glass put it in a vacu vin and today I was just diappointed. Almost as if it had hit its prime and I was catching it on the tail end. Now I've had this before so I know it's good but today was just not it's day. Way too much oak on this and alcohol both of which should blow off with time. This needs a decade in the cellar at least.
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Medium body color with skiny long tears. Bouquet has plenty of new oak with notes of wet earth. Palate displays low acidity coupld with supple tannins, and a juiciy fleshy mid palate with dark cherries, some cigar, and some bell pepper. Medium short finish with plums and new oak. Definitely Napa, although could've guessed a modern Spanish Ribera. There is fruit, structure, and elegance, just lacking complexity that's all.
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Enjoyed at the winery. One of my favorite Cabernet's from Napa, of which, I am sitting on four bottles in my cellar. It was great to get a preview of this, as I have had three recent vintages and all have been superb.
Big, dark, and full bodied. Huge nose of black currants, blackberries, cassis, and vanilla with some earthiness in the background. 100% estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon. Concentrated and focused flavors of ripe blackberries, dark juicy plums. sweet dark cherries, and some evolving earthy flavors. Firm, dry tannins which will soften with bottle age. Requires decanting over the next three to five years. Great, long persistent finish. Outstanding.
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pop-n-pour, which was a big mistake, then tasted over the next 24 hours. Strong barnyard aroma on initial whiff, which disappeared over time. Quite light in color. Strong acids overwhelmed the fruit. A bit disappointing compared to some tastings of 08 & 09. Time to sock it away in the cellar and see what happens.
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Tons of fruit and extremely approachable at this young age. Plum, blackberry and coffee balanced with nice oak and a smoky, earthy quality on the finish. Soft tannins make this an easy drinker with a 30 minute decant, but there is enough depth here for some short term cellaring to add some nuances to the flavors.
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Anderson's Conn Valley is on the rise the be one of my favorite wineries with this hot streak. This cab is big, with nice fruit and depth. It is not overly tannic so very approachable young, but seemingly excellent depth to the wine.
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Had to try this. I think the next one will be opened in 3-5 yrs. The nose was outstanding. Black currant, licorice, espresso bean, & licorice. Exremely young and tannic. A bit of a hot finish that should blow off in a few years. Velvety smooth, polished, complex & outstanding. Amazing lingering and full finish. Just kept going back for more. This will keep for decades but with decanting is definitely approachable now but decant for a few hrs. As always one of my favorites.
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1/4/2024 - Empirate wrote: 92 Points
Decanted about an hour, consumed over 3h.
Blousy floral nose and deep with layers of dark fruit on the palate. Nice Napa Cab in a (relatively) reserved style. Well balance and medium finish. A decate or more in the tank (as demonstrated by the '94 we had along side it which outshone it in elegance only acquired with age).
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12/25/2023 - MagicJuan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Amazing Cabernet, couldn't be more delicious
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10/20/2023 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Very dark red.purple color. Splash decanted and drak a couple glasses over 2 hours. Cedarbox, dried herbs, cassis, retrained, though slowly gets earthier and a bit deeper too on the nose. The palate too shows restraint, nothing over done here; full bodied, lot of wood and earth notes, cassis, dark fruits, good acid, grainy somewhat dry tannins. Slowly improves and pairs well with our steaks.
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9/12/2023 - EdKz@comcast.net Likes this wine: 91 Points
See others’ notes; Muted in all ways, slightly occidated first 2 hours, improved with air over 3 hours.
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5/8/2023 - CWilliam wrote:
Last of 6 bottles. Drank over 2 nights. Black/red color. On nose, cassis, pipe tobacco, cherry, sweet oak and plum. With air, bell pepper, otherwise palate consistent with nose. Medium body, medium acidity/tannins and long finish. Very enjoyable and has aged beautifully. 92-93+ range.
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4/9/2023 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep dark center, red rim with minimal age.
Plums and tobacco, a little lifted, raspberries and touch of spa.
Smooth, blackcurrants and tobacco leaf, nice richness and fruit up front, then significant acidity, alcohol in check (14.2%), nice finish with some toasty oak and red fruit.
Excellent Cabernet Sauvignon (100%), the leafiness puts it closer to Bordeaux, the reduced alcohol is a departure for this winery and very welcome. Good now with food, but has acidity to last a while.
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11/25/2022 - gesusser Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank with bacon wrapped prime filet and turkey sausages
Nice compliment with dinner. Easy drinker. Not overpowering or especially noteworthy
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10/8/2022 - MattB72 wrote: 95 Points
Fantastic Wine.
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9/1/2022 - drummer Likes this wine: 93 Points
pnp,good balance top to bottom, nice helping of dark fruit in the mid palate which receded/tightened up with air time, improving the overall balance, very enjoyable
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8/28/2022 - elevwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
In perfect drinking window.
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8/7/2022 - popasq Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent Napa cab, everyone loved it.
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7/16/2022 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
I felt this had great fruit, but it was somewhat blown away by a 2012 Dominus Napanook, which I didn't expect.
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7/10/2022 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Summer Wines (Craig & Nita's Place): Same bottle as Chablis28 and galeskj. Very good, coming around, a pretty core of dark fruits, good structure, oak is folding in and could use a little more time. Showed well in a tough outdoor setting.
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7/10/2022 - chablis28 wrote: 92 Points
Thanks Joe for bringing. A very fun CA Cab out on our lawn tonight with assorted meat dishes. Just needs a little more time to further meld its oak but otherwise very complete and tasty.
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7/8/2022 - jsander Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really nice old school aged cab. Fruit is singing but has room. Liked it a ton.
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6/17/2022 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fantastic! Last tasted almost 4 years ago via Coravin. This has improved and developed that tell-tale Napa Cabernet signature. Long mouth coating finish. Dusty tannins that add just enough interest. The nose is full of ripened dark fruits and a touch of cedar.
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4/14/2022 - drrobvino wrote: 93 Points
2nd of 6 bottles.
Beautiful cassis and blueberry fruit, alongside tobacco leaf, wet soil, and soil noted.
Drink now through 2026+.
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4/5/2022 - wgmccallum wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby. Pronounced aromas of blackberry, graphite, violets, dry heath, blocked out in primary colors in classic California style. Bright attack of clear deep red fruit on the palate, high acids mediating the strong but integrated and aromatic tannins, medium body despite its high alcohol, medium finish. Quaffable, a little confused on the palate but lovely as the end to an evening.
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3/3/2022 - JGinMO wrote: 92 Points
Fruit quite lively, very nicely integrated , but not a lot of secondary flavors. No rush.
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2/11/2022 - Night Train Likes this wine: 94 Points
Best Cabernet I've had in quite some time, although it is not an opulent, overripe, showy crowd-pleaser. Very dark, with no visible signs of age. Nose was quite restrained - black and blue fruits, with hints of pencil shavings and forest floor. Although still reasonably tannic, on the palate, it was smooth elegance and polish. Very good - but not great - finish. Seems to be holding up just fine.
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1/16/2022 - SMagowan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank over 2 days. Rich purple in color with a nose of earth, pepper, and loamy soil. Tannins are quite receded and the flavors are consistent with the aromas. Early mature drinking window. I decanted for 20 minutes or so and poured back into the bottle.
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1/9/2022 - twither Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not a fan of this vintage. 91-92.
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12/18/2021 - JCGuthrie wrote:
Out of 375. I only got a tiny pour of this, but it was in a great spot in this format. Great structure, yet still very approachable. Nice mix of red and black fruit.
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12/10/2021 - HOS Likes this wine: 90 Points
The last bottle of our Anderson era. We first started buying in 2005 and continued until 2011. During that time, Parker's reviews were amazing but the wine normally didn't live up to the hype. So we finally had our last bottle and it was ok. All bottles were stored from receipt in temperature controlled cellars. Oh well.
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7/29/2021 - JGinMO wrote: 92 Points
Good not ethereal. Acid and structure are at the fore, fruit a bit muted, so not quite in balance right now. But could get better, certainly no rush.
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5/9/2021 - Tannic Monster Likes this wine: 94 Points
A wonderful wine. Gobs of red and blue fruit, pencil lead, and vanilla notes. This wine has a beautiful ruby color with no signs of ageing. Every component is balanced and in good proportion.
This, for me, is a quintessential example of a great Cali cabernet drinking near its peak.
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3/7/2021 - HOS wrote: 95 Points
PnP. Seems to be major bottle variations. This one was great. Currant, dark chocolate in a silky smooth wine. Great finish and depth of flavor.
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2/22/2021 - SMagowan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fruit receding a bit, leading to a more complex and interesting package. Well-made and attractive.
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2/2/2021 - chuckos77 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beautiful aged wine. Drinking superbly right now. Soft but not flabby. Still intact but no need to let it lay down any longer. Drink up
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1/15/2021 - zigzag Likes this wine:
PNP; very youthful solid Cabernet, straightforward.
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12/31/2020 - HOS wrote: 90 Points
PnP. Just bland. I’ll decant the next bottle and see if there’s any improvement.
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11/29/2020 - Decanting Queen wrote:
I did not read my last note from earlier this year and did not give this enough air. It was just coming into its own at the end of the evening and most of the bottle was gone. Started out with a fantastic nose of rich black fruit, licorice and spices, but the palate was austere and acidic and dint seem to match. A few hours later it was coming together and the fruit was starting to show on the palate. I am just not having great luck with Napa 2010s
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8/22/2020 - fdaner wrote: 93 Points
Inky black and a strong primary nose of blackberry and cassis. Very suprised how young this is. The nose was so young and reminded me of Napa during harvest. On the palate still quite a bit of structure with deep flavors of black fruit and cassis. This really developed on day 2 with more complexity and finer tannins. Leave this alone or decant for several hours.
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7/20/2020 - AusTxJim wrote: 86 Points
This may have been a bit flawed. Smooth. But no complexity.
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6/21/2020 - MattB72 wrote: 93 Points
So good.
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6/8/2020 - CWilliam wrote:
Opened, but did not decant 1 hour before dinner.
Medium red color with slight change from rim to center. Cassis, cigar box, black currants, and blackberry on nose & palate. Medium+ body, medium acidity / tannins and long finish. Very enjoyable. 92+/-
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5/15/2020 - RusisWine wrote: flawed
Corked. First one of the batch.
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5/1/2020 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 94 Points
In a great drinking window. Nose reminiscent of Bdx with a touch of tobacco and herbs but definitely Cali on the palate. Mature dark fruit but not in your face, some savory herbs, licorice, dark chocolate and lingering black cherries. Noticeable oak but everything completely balanced. Needs 30-60 min to soften the tannins. Still some significant structure so I think plenty of years to go for this lovely and sophisticated wine. Great QPR at $60.
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4/7/2020 - Dhotchki Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP. From Garagiste garage sale. Tight at beginning. Really opened. Lots of Tannin and structure with alcohol. This should age well for a few more years.
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3/20/2020 - drrobvino wrote: 94 Points
1st of 6 bottles.
This is really fantastic, showing all the Napa Cab flavors, with beautifully semi-sweet blue and black fruits, dark chocolate, anise, camphor.
On the palate, full bodied, elegantly wielding it's strength and breadth with a deft touch.
Long finish, drink now through 2030+.
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2/7/2020 - Rick 4 Wine wrote: 93 Points
Outstanding wine, still a bit young and linear here, even with decanting and a spreading funnel to encourage some O2. For as dark a wine as this is, the fruit — while purple with shades of blue — has a late palate shift to red that I find a bit odd in the taste profile. Perhaps this is me confusing the redness for acidity or even for a late blossoming fruit tannin, but I got that sense. Nonetheless, I think this wine will integrate better with more years, and I’ll hold off on anymore until 2021.
Really great QPR.
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2/2/2020 - dhammer53 wrote: 91 Points
Superbowl wine. Sentimental favorite. Everyone liked this. Full bodied. Great nose. Tannins suggest drink or hold until 2025. After 2 hours, the tannins softened. This was an enjoyable wine. My very first ACV was a 1999 that I purchased at K&L at the suggestion of a friend.
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1/26/2020 - wmccone54 Likes this wine:
Enjoyed alongside the 2009 and 2011 vintages of ACVV Estate Cabernet at a family gathering with grilled ribeyes. Although the others were outstanding, I still prefer this vintage slightly more, but only marginally. As with the other offerings this shows lots of balance, complexity, and concentration. Oak, fruit, acid and tannin all in harmony. Lengthy finish. Drinking at peak with another five to eight years of cellar potential. Consistent with prior 95 point ratings.
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1/26/2020 - NI1234 wrote: 88 Points
Massive fruit bomb that started to become a bit more balanced after 3 hours.
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12/30/2019 - CWilliam wrote:
PNP and drank next to a 2010 Pio Cesare Barolo. Went great with grilled steaks and I'd rate the wines similarly.
Can't find notes but I really enjoyed this - good fruit that was not over the top and good structure (fruit/acid / tannin balance). 92-93 range.
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11/19/2019 - cdp1276 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still holding its own but lacking boldness on finish.
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10/21/2019 - bonedoc wrote:
Blue fruits, “grapey”, superficial without depth of flavor, lacking character and nuance, something off balance as this was a bit cloying and I didn’t finish my last glass. Over the years I’ve had many from this producer and while not bad, I think these wines are consistently overrated by the critics, and don’t belong in the category of top tier Napa collectibles. 88
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10/13/2019 - RusisWine wrote: 89 Points
Bit soft and not carrying a lot of tannins. Enjoyed but not powerful.
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10/6/2019 - dmwilsondvm Likes this wine: 94 Points
Showing nicely. Smooth as silk. Long finish.
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8/10/2019 - drummer Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really enjoyable at this point, drank 2 of these this week, probably will allow it to cellar another 3-5yrs before trying again.
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7/5/2019 - Francophile Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely smooth wine with delicate tannin and good fruit
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6/14/2019 - toddmk wrote: 92 Points
In a good drinking window. Drank first glass on PnP but improved with about 30 minutes of air. Not a very complex wine but very tasty.
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6/9/2019 - Vinobc wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours before serving. Deep ruby color, very plummy nose. Great balance. Blackberry and plum.
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11/30/2018 - Vailman Likes this wine: 93 Points
Three and a half years after I opened my first bottle, this ACV proves the point that age (and patience) matters. The reward is a finely mellowed CA cab relying upon finesses, not super extraction. After a two hour decant the "bite" is gone and what's left are fine grain tannins, dark berries and the comfort of knowing it was worth the wait.
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10/26/2018 - Tym4wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark berry and eucalyptus on the nose. Flavors of dark chocolate, blackberry, black cherry and cola. Smooth tannins with a round mouthfeel. Medium+ finish.
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9/4/2018 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I did a Coravin taste-off between 2010, 11 & 12 vintages. The one word that I would use is consistency.
2010 - (92) Smoothest tannins (likely as the oldest of the trio) and a very rewarding finish but a bit shy on the nose.
2011 - (91) Detected a bit of "stewed" fruit on the nose but otherwise was a solid performer in a weaker vintage
2012 - (93) Most robust nose, with spicy notes and the tannins were evident still. Longest finish and likely a long life ahead.
Overall I spent a good 45 minutes going over each one side by side and if tasted blind I could have easily been convinced they were all the same bottle but maybe the 2012 would have stood out.
I view this as a strong testament to outstanding wine making and vineyards as WS rates the Napa Cab Vintages 2010 and 2012 at 96 while the 2011 only garnered 86. That is why CVV is always one of my go to producers.
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8/31/2018 - drmarc61 wrote: 93 Points
Nice wine, but a little pricey for what you get....
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8/24/2018 - D3S Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great nose, nice blue and dark fruit, cedar on palate with long finish. A significant amount of sediment. Drinking much better than 2 years ago.
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7/22/2018 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 97 Points
I know my score is an outlier here, but this was from a 9 Liter bottle (12 bottle equivalent!). It was opened and poured into 3 decanters at a time with my wine group, and shared with 19 people. So much better than the 2012 and 2014 magnums of the same wine that I opened last month. Beautiful nose, dark color, long finish. This was purchased directly from the winery in late 2014 and stored in a temperature controlled cellar ever since.
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6/25/2018 - Tym4wine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Aromas of dark black berry. Tight tannins, some heat on the finish. Pronounced blackberry and kirsch. Very tart. Short finish. Somewhat disappointed in this bottle, different than I recall with other ACV vintages. Will have to try again.
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6/16/2018 - wmccone54 wrote: 95 Points
Enjoyed from a 375, and decanted for about 30 minutes. Even at 7+ years this is still a huge wine. Deep, very dark ruby color. Still developing aromatics with pronounced sour black cherry, smokey blackberry, black currant, ripe black plum, spiced raspberry, charred, rocky soil, powdered cocoa, green bell pepper, and black herbal tea. Dry with a huge structure. Pronounced and concentrated flavors in line with the aroma profile. Full bodied with high alcohol. Huge tannins and high acidity provides structure which should support a long cellar life. Long, very long finish. This is totally consistent with my prior forays with this wine. Outstanding!
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5/19/2018 - CWilliam wrote:
This wine needed a good 2 hour decant to show it's best. I didn't take formal notes but this tasting was consistent with my note from 2/2018. This wine is still young and the fruit profile was very bright (red fruits & black cherry) with great balance. If opening now decant - 93+/-
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4/21/2018 - Billiken Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark fruit, a little bit of leather and tobacco leaf on the nose. Nose seemed to dissipate relatively quickly. Very nice palate, but not a long finish. Tannins are reasonably well resolved given the age, modest acidity. Lacks complexity.
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4/12/2018 - drmarc61 wrote: 93 Points
Needed a good three hours to open up into a nice bouquet of dark fruit and cedar.
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4/7/2018 - timbobwhite wrote: 96 Points
100% CS. Significant sediment. Double decant 2 hours. Fragrant on opening. Candied cherries backed by currants, red and black. Medium body, great structure. Good fruit and long finish. Great now, future ahead.
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2/25/2018 - CWilliam wrote:
Decanted for 2 hours and paired with steaks. Black in the glass and throwing some sediment. Cassis, blackberry, plum, cedar and green tobacco on nose. On palate, cassis, black licorice, blackberry flavor profile - sweet tannins, medium acids and long finish. Delicious wine with good structure. 93-94 range.
I don't drink many Napa Cabs these days but these but I always enjoy ACV's red wines.
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2/24/2018 - kingboo wrote: 95 Points
If this wine were a person, she would be a sports Illustrated swimsuit model.
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1/15/2018 - MaineMark wrote: 91 Points
Sour cherry and pomegranate flavors dominate. Very smooth, soft tannins. Good wine, but not quite great. Saved one glass for the second night, and it had deteriorated.
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12/29/2017 - soyhead wrote:
agree with JMoore431. lots of heat in this makes it a napa giveaway. fruitbomby
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12/28/2017 - jmoore431 wrote: 93 Points
Tasted SBS with the 2010 Inglenook Rubicon, these wines could not have been more different. This one was opaque purple with only slightest clear rim; 40 minutes after opening and a decant, reluctant nose at first of dark blue/black fruit and a stern, dryness to it. Real depth; on palate fairly austere and dry with substantial drying tannins. Very long as only at the end of things does it explode with fruit. Firm acids and huge long finish; should smooth out and balance with time as this is still just a baby. A fruit bomb showing loads of extract, tons of sediment and "goop" in the bottle neck upon opening. Lacks refinement which one can only hope it develops some of.
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11/11/2017 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Always a favorite and this delivered tonight. It was in the runner-up spot prior to enjoying a 2009 Opus One. It was very close to the Opus with just a bit shorter finish.
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9/30/2017 - jeffjohnsonjj@hotmail.com wrote: 92 Points
A cool year ACV. Hints of bell pepper and eucalyptus on the nose. Medium body after a 1 hour decant - much fuller after 3 hours of air.
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9/27/2017 - Francophile Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely smooth Cab Sab that was enjoyed by all at dining under the stars
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8/22/2017 - travelme wrote: 90 Points
PNP from a 375 on Monday with a few friends to share a quick glass of what I thought would be a wonderful and ready to drink wine. It was beautiful straight out of the bottle for the first ten minutes but then became a little astringent over the next hour. Not sure if it was the 375 talking but this was a slight disappointment overall. Consumed and gone. One of the few bottles I have had over the past year that I would not repurchase. My lone bottle of this producers cabernet that I have tried so I will try another from a 750 to give it a fairer assessment.
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7/2/2017 - flwinos wrote: 90 Points
Pnp, but better after some air. Muted fruit and some tannins. Just ok compared to other vintages of this wine which are great.
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6/17/2017 - Rick 4 Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent wine. Needed decanting for almost an hour.
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5/2/2017 - mgstull Likes this wine: 89 Points
1 hr decant. Lots of eucalyptus on the nose and palate with a hint of bell pepper, blackberry, leather, cherry, and fine grained tannins. Just didn't seem as ripe as a previous bottle.
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4/22/2017 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 94 Points
This opaque ruby wine is entirely estate-sourced and is comprised of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Black and blue fruits are front and center, accented with notes of pipe tobacco, anise and smoke. Full-bodied, fresh, seamlessly alcoholic (14.2%) and with big sweet tannins, it is dense on the mid-palate, has nicely integrated oak and finishes with impressive length. This tremendous effort from Conn Valley Vineyards undoubtedly has many more years of life ahead. Drink now-2030.
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2/15/2017 - flwinos wrote: flawed
Corked
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2/14/2017 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Incredible over the last time I had this. 2 years ago. Starting to come out. Redding some of the other tasters, I'm shocked that think it's just average. I found it to be a really good cab from this NAPA area. Very drinkable with a decant of 1.5 hours. Enjoy
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1/6/2017 - wcf1946 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Barnyard aroma like another posting. Balanced, but not very complex. Lighter color than expected, medium finish. Overpriced at $45. Average Napa Cab in the $25-30 price range.
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1/2/2017 - flwinos wrote: 92 Points
Triple decanted back and forth from bottle to decanter and back (3x) - from a 375ml. With a little air after that this was very drinkable. I would suggest a hour decant, but did not have that luxury. No detailed notes as this was consumed late in the night.
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12/29/2016 - webbaker wrote: 90 Points
Looking back at my previous tasting note, I see that the previous bottle also had a barnyard aroma. Tasted like a much older wine, old dried up fruit, leather. Somewhat disappointing.
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12/11/2016 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:
From memory, a big rich cabernet, expressive aromas, good balance of fruit and acid on the palate. Excellent.
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11/13/2016 - mgstull Likes this wine: 92 Points
2 hour decant. Sweet cherry and blackberry fruit with cigar box and leather notes. Tannins are fine grained and smooth. Mid bodied.
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10/12/2016 - rexmerlot wrote: 90 Points
No formal notes
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9/24/2016 - Adam T 12 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I like it, bordering on a 93 for me. Tightly wound and precise. Nice nose, smooth palate, medium to long finish and a nice earthy quality. Definitely not a manipulated Cali Cab in my view and it could probably use 1-2 more years in bottle.
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8/28/2016 - D3S Likes this wine: 90 Points
It was good, but I was expecting it to be better.
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8/7/2016 - kietkopelli Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is not quite Ghost Horse caliber but it's still utterly fantastic CA Cab Sauv. Lots of cherries and lots of tobacco. Tannin is still gripping. Could go another 3-4 years before it mellows out.
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8/5/2016 - PSUSteve wrote: 91 Points
From a 375. Showed better after pouring through the Aerator. Cherry fruit with some tobacco and strong tight finish. Lots of sediment.
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6/5/2016 - wmccone54 wrote: 95 Points
Enjoyed subsequent to the 2009 ACVV Estate Cabernet. Bigger, more concentrated, and showing more layers than the 2009. Both were excellent but this one seemed to have slightly more structure, depth, and complexity overall.
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5/1/2016 - Christine Havens Likes this wine: 91 Points
Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards 2010 Estate Reserve Cabernet is suave, with no hard edges, and languid notes of creme de cassis, bluberry crumble, brown sugar, anise and a decadent, if unexpected top note of soy. In the mouth, sueded tannins lend structure to an overturned basket of juicy black cherries and ultra-ripe blueberries, leading into a finish that is surprisingly spicy, a hit of cracked black pepper. Sumptuous and delicious. 14.2% ABV
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4/23/2016 - csimm wrote: 90 Points
A four-year vertical tasting of Anderson's Conn Estate Reserve Cabernets: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.
The 2010 ranked #1, not because it was an amazing or standout wine, but because it was the only wine out of the four that actually had a bit of structure and fruit flavors to it. Notes of red and black currant, black cherry, asphalt, and cedar. Darker than the other three vintages, with some black and purple fruit flavors.
Did I love this wine? Not especially. Did I like this wine? I liked it better than any Anderson Conn Estate Reserve I've had. But in the end, this wine evoked very little inspiration or any memorable experience worth talking too much about.
The mid-palate was tight and a bit hollow. The finish was ok, but again, nothing that made me want to go back for multiple sips.
This probably had a few years of life still in it, but all in all, these wines are less expressive and flavorful than I would expect mid-level Cabernets to be.
The 2010 was barely 90 points for me. In a different lineup of other stronger wines, it probably would have been scored even lower. But by comparison to its older siblings, the 2010 was the "star" ...a very dim star at that....
Drink now.
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2/17/2016 - Superjack29 wrote: 90 Points
Didn't love this. I'm assuming it may need more time.
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1/9/2016 - CWilliam wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 2.5 hours and served with grilled NY Strip. Dark red in the glass and throwing a fair amount of sediment already. On nose, graphite, black currants, cedar, blackberry. On palate, similar flavor profile with medium body, medium+ acidity and fine tannins. Very long finish.
What stuck out about this wine (especially for a Napa Cab) is the impeccable balance - fruit / acid / tannins. Was better with steak initially but as we enjoyed with the meal it fleshed out.
Drink now with a 2+ hour decant or for me I'll revisit late 2017/early 2018 - this should last 15-20 years from vintage . 93+/-
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12/25/2015 - jwolf99 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Poured through aerator and into decanter, let sit for 2 hours. Notes very consistent with bottle had back in October, only aromas and flavors seemed much sharper and distinct than that last bottle. A great wine with Christmas roast.
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11/28/2015 - drdorado wrote: 92 Points
Very nice but will get better with a more time. Waiting at least 3 more years.
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11/26/2015 - Billiken Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good wine. Needs time.
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10/17/2015 - wmccone54 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank from a 375, but decanted briefly. After two years, it was time to check on this wine! Very consistent experience to my winery tasting back in November 2013. Still a big wine, but its very definitely approachable, with a decant; displays class and elegance; and will pair with a hearty meal. Todd Anderson and his team just continue to hit on all cylinders at a reasonable QPR.
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10/14/2015 - rexmerlot wrote: 91 Points
Great wine. Anderson's never disappoints
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10/5/2015 - jwolf99 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Removed half a glass from the bottle and then re-corked to let it sit for a day which did wonders; rich, dark fruits with oak, earth, and herbal notes; dusty tannins
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9/17/2015 - Y.L. Wino wrote: 97 Points
This is what a high quality cab should taste like. It would probably beat most $100 cabs.
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7/13/2015 - Opusone99 wrote: 93 Points
Très bon!
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5/15/2015 - Empirate wrote:
Decanted 2 hours.
Nice on the nose with dark fruit and wood smoke. Nice concentration with a touch of sour funk followed by well balanced fruit and friendly acid on the palate.
Finish a touch short at this stage.
I think this is a winner and have no problem with today's community average of 92+. Would have scored 90+ for today but will definitely improve. Good stuff.
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5/14/2015 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 88 Points
Big giant fruit bomb. I think over the years, this will become better. have some Bordeaux characteristics. Smell's earthy, and yet the taste has a dirty, peppery, ground taste. My other bottle will age.
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3/29/2015 - JGinMO wrote: 91 Points
PNP; A little jammy for my taste right now. Hopefully settles down over time.
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3/14/2015 - jwolf99 wrote:
As others have indicated, this took a LONG time to come around. Even running through the aerator didn't do much. Thought slowly sipping thru the second glass would allow enough time. Would have probably been better to have left the last half of the bottle to sit over night. Going to refrain from rating as this was just not ready.
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2/22/2015 - Vailman Likes this wine: 92 Points
On night #1 with a one hour decant this wine did not impress me. Harsh tannins, dilute, muted fruit notes. By the end of the evening it was starting to show some promise so I saved the second half of the bottle for night # 2. It was worth the wait. The tannins softened, the fruit shone through and the rest of the bottle was savoured. The problem with ACV is you can never order it from a restaurant wine list. There's just not enough time. That's a positive for collectors.
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1/25/2015 - SMZ wrote: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully right now
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1/9/2015 - Davebk59 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Loved it. Great nose from even a foot away. Nice dark fruit, some vanilla, but not overdone. Tannins are evident but not overbearing even at this young age. Coravinned a single glass, looking forward to another pour.
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11/30/2014 - dpohlman wrote: 93 Points
It has a wonderful first impression of being a well aged very high-end cabernet. The dark fruit is there, and the tannins are what you would expect from ten years of a perfectly cellared prize. I have one bottle remaining, but I will seek more of this vintage!
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11/29/2014 - km5 wrote:
Couldn't really taste due to Italian small plates (not a good match) and the restaurant didn't use wine glasses... Which made a huge diff. Will save for appropriate tasting next time.
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11/26/2014 - mbenz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured. No formal note, but a very nice, balanced and enjoyable California cab!
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11/21/2014 - jim dixon wrote: 93 Points
Extremely nice -- balanced but powerful, and a joy to drink slowly over the course of an evening. Especially nice since it came in a Garagiste mystery case.
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11/12/2014 - rexmerlot wrote: 91 Points
No formal note
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11/9/2014 - domco wrote:
A bit off (bitter?) at first, but by day 2 it had all come together. So seems to need some air, or a couple more years.
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9/5/2014 - JDV.DDSPHD Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wax crayon. Big, thick but also finesse here. You get that crayola initially but that gives way. Not as compex or layered as I woud lke. 10-15 second finish but not much more. Good but compared to the magie rouge it was lacking.
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8/24/2014 - Mrp2008 wrote: 92 Points
Huge tannins, good acid, balanced and Bordeaux in style. Not a waste to drink now, but really needs to be cellared until 2018. Really nice
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8/17/2014 - hdchappy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Although a very solid wine it surprisingly finished last in a 4 bottle 9 person blind tasting. It was the most expensive wine and the one I thought would win. Especially since several of the taster were Cab lovers! 1st 2010 Paraduxx Napa C Blend, 2nd 2012 Betz Cuvee Frangin, 3rd 2009 J Bookwalter Foreshadow Cab.
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7/30/2014 - km5 Likes this wine:
Beautiful wine drank at Bavette! Needs to breathe and open up.
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7/22/2014 - SMZ wrote: 91 Points
Probably should have decanted for a couple of hours. Flavorful and quite nice....but poor QPR...... For half the price, I like Hall and Frank Family just as much.
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7/10/2014 - hawkeye54 wrote: 93 Points
Very nice wine. This is why I like Anderson Conn Valley wines. Not overdone. Well balanced. Drank great after a two hour decant.
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7/5/2014 - mrmedoes wrote: 91 Points
Based on other reviews, gave it a ton of air, probably more than it needed (24 hrs). Comparing against the 2008, which is outstanding, this leaves quite a bit to be desired, as it is a bit thin and acidic in the mid-to-finish, particularly lacking on a deep finish. Great nose and the velvety mouthfeel that seems to be the Anderson Cab gimmick, so there's definitely some hope that there could be some integration forthcoming, but for now, it is just a normal QPR vs its normal position as Napa cab QPR leader.
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6/22/2014 - farinas Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium body color with skinny long tears. Bouquet has plenty of new oak with notes of wet earth. Palate displays low acidity coupled with supple soft tannins, and a juicy fleshy mid palate with dark cherries, some cigar, and some bell pepper. Medium short finish with plums and new oak. Definitely Napa, although not in the overripe sense. There is fruit, structure, and elegance, just lacking complexity that's all.
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4/12/2014 - jimyeni wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful wine. Black licorice, ripe plum and black cherry, well balanced with less alcohol than a lot of Napa cabs. Enjoyed thoroughly with an Italian dinner at Tulio.
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3/27/2014 - rexmerlot wrote: 91 Points
No formal note
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3/21/2014 - brianspross wrote: 94 Points
Rebuy. This was a smooth bottle. I let it breathe for a couple of hours and then it was superb. Highly recommend. $56.70
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2/6/2014 - JDV.DDSPHD Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is way too young. I let this decant for hrs yesterday and it was still so closed and muted. I had a glass put it in a vacu vin and today I was just diappointed. Almost as if it had hit its prime and I was catching it on the tail end. Now I've had this before so I know it's good but today was just not it's day. Way too much oak on this and alcohol both of which should blow off with time. This needs a decade in the cellar at least.
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2/1/2014 - farinas wrote: 92 Points
Medium body color with skiny long tears. Bouquet has plenty of new oak with notes of wet earth. Palate displays low acidity coupld with supple tannins, and a juiciy fleshy mid palate with dark cherries, some cigar, and some bell pepper. Medium short finish with plums and new oak. Definitely Napa, although could've guessed a modern Spanish Ribera. There is fruit, structure, and elegance, just lacking complexity that's all.
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1/24/2014 - kietkopelli Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice wine but still very very young. Lots of tight tannins, lots of tobacco and chocolate. Herbs in place of fruits.
I will let this sit at least another 5 years.
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11/18/2013 - BK29 wrote:
Foolish decision! Will be really good of course, but this is a 2010 you really cannot drink yet no matter how much air you give it. Wait 2 years...
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11/1/2013 - wmccone54 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Enjoyed at the winery. One of my favorite Cabernet's from Napa, of which, I am sitting on four bottles in my cellar. It was great to get a preview of this, as I have had three recent vintages and all have been superb.
Big, dark, and full bodied. Huge nose of black currants, blackberries, cassis, and vanilla with some earthiness in the background. 100% estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon. Concentrated and focused flavors of ripe blackberries, dark juicy plums. sweet dark cherries, and some evolving earthy flavors. Firm, dry tannins which will soften with bottle age. Requires decanting over the next three to five years. Great, long persistent finish. Outstanding.
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11/1/2013 - webbaker wrote:
pop-n-pour, which was a big mistake, then tasted over the next 24 hours. Strong barnyard aroma on initial whiff, which disappeared over time. Quite light in color. Strong acids overwhelmed the fruit. A bit disappointing compared to some tastings of 08 & 09. Time to sock it away in the cellar and see what happens.
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10/31/2013 - VintageSully wrote: 91 Points
Tons of fruit and extremely approachable at this young age. Plum, blackberry and coffee balanced with nice oak and a smoky, earthy quality on the finish. Soft tannins make this an easy drinker with a 30 minute decant, but there is enough depth here for some short term cellaring to add some nuances to the flavors.
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7/24/2013 - douggator Likes this wine: 93 Points
Anderson's Conn Valley is on the rise the be one of my favorite wineries with this hot streak. This cab is big, with nice fruit and depth. It is not overly tannic so very approachable young, but seemingly excellent depth to the wine.
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6/30/2013 - JDV.DDSPHD wrote: 94 Points
Had to try this. I think the next one will be opened in 3-5 yrs. The nose was outstanding. Black currant, licorice, espresso bean, & licorice. Exremely young and tannic. A bit of a hot finish that should blow off in a few years. Velvety smooth, polished, complex & outstanding. Amazing lingering and full finish. Just kept going back for more. This will keep for decades but with decanting is definitely approachable now but decant for a few hrs. As always one of my favorites.
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