Opened yesterday, on the counter unrefrigerated overnight. Last btl of a half case. This is the wine I turn to when I want something thick and rich. On the nose: plenty of big raspberry, spicebox and blueberry, with a touch of prune, vanillla and toast. On the palate: while you usually don't bother with acidity when the wine is this big, this still has a clear energetic vein of acid. Very rich and dense with loads of cassis, tarry black fruit, and loads of very finely grained tannin on the finish, which leans a little soupy and hot. Nice for its style, but there are only a few nights a year that we want something like this. For my palate, this hasn't improved from my last btl two years ago. Drink up.
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Solid but I don't think I'd buy any more at the $50 price point. I have a few later vintages and hope they drink better younger. Nothing wrong with this--medium heavy body in good balance and with good fruit but not as much secondary flavor as I would hope for.
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Needed over an hour to open and smooth out. Grainy tannins at first. A tanginess of red and black fruits that would have led me to a ripe but still acidic zinfandel in the blend, but that was just the combo of syrah and cab franc in this bordeaux blend.
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A solid showing, definitely needed a decant to mellow and calm down. On open was showing a bit heavy in alcohol and seemed a bit tight, even a little raisin'y, but after a few hours definitely was enjoyable, rated on the lower side, as the next day this showed exceptionally well and would have given a 91.
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Happy 4th. Not bad: intense nose with raspberry coulis, cassis, a touch of green pepper, and loads of spice. On the palate, good acidity, some wood, more dense red fruit and a soft tannic finish. Tannin largely attenuated, and very spicy, but better than the previous btl at least based on my TN.
Day 2: briary red fruit, cassis and loads of spice. Very dense. If this bottle is any indication, this is still on the upswing!
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I really liked this. Such a hedonistic wine. It had layers and textures that framed black and red currants, raspberries, and fancy oak aromas. The plump fruit flavors were entirely expressive, gaining richness and density while remaining vibrant and energetic. A note of chocolate became more pronounced the longer it sat. Closed with a tasty, dusting of Asian spice.
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Dark ruby/purple, a touch of age on the edge of the rim if you look carefully. Deep purple fruits, hints of spice but the fruit is dominant. Ends with cocoa flavors and creamy texture that AFWE would hate. Medium plus density. Medium acid. Tannin resolved. Modern Napa cab that doesn't take it over the top for my palate. Drinking well now, unsure if more time will be beneficial. Last of 3 bottles, best of 3.
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Purple darkness and fruit on the palette to match. Deep dark and quite spiced. Decent for its well aged balance. White pepper and creamy. Short to Medium finish. Oh so big and delicious. Modern!
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Extremely drinkable, fruit forward California red blend, in the style of Prisoner. Not particularly complex, but very food-friendly, had with ribs at Christmas Eve dinner. The fruitiness and high-ish ABV matched well.
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Glad I waited this long to open this bottle, fully matured and nuanced. Very rich and composed, it improved as the night went on. Complex but not in an elegant sort of way. Solid drink, I would not wait much longer to drink this bottle.
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The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like red currant and prune. It tastes like prune and red currant. The body is medium. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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Bordeaux vs Cal (Bordeaux Blends) - $20 to $40 (Trent's): The group liked this more than I and was in fact the groups WOTN. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has ripe black cherry fruit. On the palate, this is ripe black cherry fruit. There is some black olive and I thought i got some VA which made me wonder if there is more than a bit of Syrah in here? Lots of tannins. It is a solid wine that to me needs time. If there is Syrah, 2010 is a slow maturing year and that would make some sense. Anyone know?
Double decanted, and sat in a wide-bottom decanter for a few hours. On the nose, some wild herbal notes, green pepper, a whiff of alcohol, loads of red fruit, with a suggestion of confection, but not over the top. On the palate, soft acidity and velvety; loads of tannin, which is slightly felt-like, on the finish. Wouldn't mind seeing this after the tannin softens a bit more.
Day 2: Left on the counter, unrefrigerated, overnight. After more than 24 hours open, this doesn't show too much evolution from the start. Tons of fruit, and still intensely tannic. Big, and enjoyable, but not really that interesting.
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Even the name is impressive .... Leviathan. Doesn't give up much of her charms upon opening, but this seems built to enjoy over the course of a three-hour dinner. Keep swirling; she'll come around. Iodine, cassis, and cedar in the bouquet. Black cherries, blackberry compote and dust on the palate, finishing with more dark fruits and a creamy texture. Throwing some sediment; pour carefully or strain. Would have thought the tannins had become more integrated by now. Delicious. But not near its peak yet. Drink 2018-2020? ( = Worth Seeking Out)
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Didn't detect any of the herby green that I like this time, but still a delicious obviously Cali, cab-based blend. Lots of sweet fruit here so not for the fruit-phobic. Definite crowd pleaser.
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Has improved vs last summer. Still a little vegetal but the fruit has integrated. Serious legs and a long finish with medium heat. This won't be for everyone but I like it.
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Vegetal notes on open, but after an hour of air there's lots of black fruit, cassis, and some oaky notes. On the palate, it's lots of tart black fruit, good acidity, tannins are notable but integrating nicely. Long tart finish. This could go a few more years in bottle, or needs a long decant.
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Agree that this is green on opening. After 60-90 minutes in the decanter this opens up and changes. Lush fruit with spice and some cedar evolving into a lengthy finish. This definitely needs the air.
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Jammy, harsh and a little green at this stage but good potential, the fruit is there. I've got 2 more, will wait another couple years before trying again.
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Might be drinking it a bit young, but found it too much on the green side, as the night progressed, subsided a bit, but even the next day found too much bell pepper for my taste, will hold for another 6 months before opening another, hoping just a phase that will pass, definitely disappointed, always have loved it as one of my easy 'go to' wines.
Opens green and vegetal .... But ..... Wait ..... Wait .... After an hour in the glass this opens up into a Bordeaux with an afterburner. Lush bouquet with cranberries and cassis all over the palate. Nicely integrated tannins. Graphite and heavy minerals throughout, with a lingering finish. This is a big wine once it opens up. A great ride throughout the meal. Either decant this beast or make it a slow dinner.
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Uninspiring the first night, even when run through a Vinturi. The second day is a different story. Nose wasn't much, but the fruit comes through on the palate. Silky black fruit. The finish shows big tannins. This is a huge wine that needs a few hours of a proper decant to enjoy at this time. Drink now-2020. Really nice if you give it the right amount of air.
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It's been about a year since I opened one of these. This was opened last night in a late night cellar raid. We double decanted, had a few glasses, but only really started paying attention to it today. Really big nose of blueberries and dark fruits, caramel, toast. Very juicy on the palate and excellent acdity. This is great fun to drink. I think it could easily lay down for a while longer... the tannins are plush, but intense in their own way.
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Big, strapping wine with lots going on. Whopping aroma, great mouthfeel and finishes strong. I'm upset that it's this delicious right now because I'm sure I'll drink all I have before it really hits its prime.
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This wine got better the longer I exposed it to the air. It held up well for three days by pumping out the air and was almost as good on day 3 as day 1. Medium bodied with a long finish, tart on the tongue.
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wonderful and went well with grilled tri tip. can sense that it needs a bit more time to round out but did open nicely and was not so tight that it wasn't inviting.
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Very dark. Lushly fruity nose. Lots of black fruit, saved by a core of grip and red fruit. This Might age well. I didn't have opportunity to pay enough attention to this.
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PNP...definitely a bit harsh at first and showing its youth. Peppery, dark cherry, blueberry. Will probably round out more with another couple of years, as it mellowed considerably after about an hour.
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The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. I decanted this wine for approximately four hours and paired it with filet mignon, asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes.
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Upon opening: A lot of Syrah in the nose. Very light up front with some peppery notes in the middle. Two stage finish with an initial burst followed by a lingering tannic echo.
10min: smoothed out considerably! Still has the pepper and the fruit but the transitions are less obvious.
Nice wine at the price point if you like a Syrah-heavy blend.
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1st off this is a VERY young, tannic, VOLUPTUOUS, bottle of red wine. Like conversating to a very well developed, but immature mid. . . Stopping now. If you plan on drinking this right away, decant this beginning at 7am for your 6pm dinner. Oh yea, and make sure dinner is very bold...aka Venison, Lamb, bison, or beef.
2nd, if you're not drinking it right now, Lay This One DOWN For A While. We will be doing just that with the rest of our bottles. Whew!! Just Sayin'
So Anyway . . . . . . .
Nose: Don't let this fool you. Soft & quite rounded with lingering fruit, cassis, cherry, and a hint of vegetation, like a summer garden coming into bloom.
Color: Bright & Happy red. Like a prom dress at the beginning of the evening! :)
Taste: BOOM! Strong Tannins right out of the gate. No ifs, ands, or, buts about that. Quite a passively bold character overall. Red cherry, ripe cassis with hints of cedar on the palate. A long lingering finish. I could see this cellaring for quite sometime, maybe 10+ years. We'll try our next bottle 2020, it definitely has the tannins to support a long lay down!
Just remember, this is a great wine. If you're going to drink it right, this, now, DECANT for hours! If you can't decant do what we did, run it through a Vinifera Aerator 3 times. No, not once. NO, not twice. THREE TIMES through an aerator. It will be approachable then.
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Decanted all afternoon. Leftovers rebottled and recorked overnight, TN is on the leftovers the next morning. 14.5% ABV
Very youthful, but made to be accessible at this point. Very nice, and the Syrah adds an extra gear to this...Blue and blackberry, baking spices, vanilla, slight brine (the syrah?), eucalyptus, toffee.
This can be drunk now, or laid down for a few years.
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This has evolved to a better place since I lasted tasted it. Its sweet, layered, very textured and opulent. The nose is sweet like treacle, with a hint of cinnamon. It's a little brash on the palette, but it is a 2010. I'm baby-snatching, but I don't care. I think what makes this wine is the cabernet franc (a varietal that I normal run away from).
If possible, put this wine down for 3 years. Your patience will be rewarded handsomely, I'm sure.
:0)
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Hannah's 25th birthday at R&D Kitchen, Santa Monica. A sledgehammer compared to the elegant Bordeaux that preceded it. Bold, burly and buttery. A perfect foil for the best-hamburger-ever, and fully drinkable now. Fairly subtle bouquet and medium legs. But the attack on the palate is substantial with chocolate notes throughout. Cherries, fudge and ever-so-subtle mint notes in the finish. A party in a bottle.
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12/26/2023 - JDC Wine wrote:
Carly liked
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3/12/2023 - MrBirdman Likes this wine: 91 Points
Almost completely tertiary at this point and just past it’s peak I think. Definitely drink up soon. Long decant was worthwhile.
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1/14/2023 - napasoutherner wrote: 88 Points
Nice red with Chinese food. ModerTe notes of red fruit. Slightly ripe. This is the best it’s gonna get
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3/10/2021 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Opened yesterday, on the counter unrefrigerated overnight. Last btl of a half case. This is the wine I turn to when I want something thick and rich. On the nose: plenty of big raspberry, spicebox and blueberry, with a touch of prune, vanillla and toast. On the palate: while you usually don't bother with acidity when the wine is this big, this still has a clear energetic vein of acid. Very rich and dense with loads of cassis, tarry black fruit, and loads of very finely grained tannin on the finish, which leans a little soupy and hot. Nice for its style, but there are only a few nights a year that we want something like this. For my palate, this hasn't improved from my last btl two years ago. Drink up.
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12/29/2020 - EvanJB wrote:
Drinking very nicely
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11/23/2020 - ddingley wrote: 90 Points
Solid but I don't think I'd buy any more at the $50 price point. I have a few later vintages and hope they drink better younger. Nothing wrong with this--medium heavy body in good balance and with good fruit but not as much secondary flavor as I would hope for.
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5/5/2020 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Needed over an hour to open and smooth out. Grainy tannins at first. A tanginess of red and black fruits that would have led me to a ripe but still acidic zinfandel in the blend, but that was just the combo of syrah and cab franc in this bordeaux blend.
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2/29/2020 - WineCPA wrote: 92 Points
Definitely smoothed out over the past several years.
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1/4/2020 - Cabernet4me2 wrote: 90 Points
A solid showing, definitely needed a decant to mellow and calm down. On open was showing a bit heavy in alcohol and seemed a bit tight, even a little raisin'y, but after a few hours definitely was enjoyable, rated on the lower side, as the next day this showed exceptionally well and would have given a 91.
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9/19/2019 - NapaCabMan wrote: 72 Points
This wine is not for me. Lacks depth and character. Flat and uninspired
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7/4/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Happy 4th. Not bad: intense nose with raspberry coulis, cassis, a touch of green pepper, and loads of spice. On the palate, good acidity, some wood, more dense red fruit and a soft tannic finish. Tannin largely attenuated, and very spicy, but better than the previous btl at least based on my TN.
Day 2: briary red fruit, cassis and loads of spice. Very dense. If this bottle is any indication, this is still on the upswing!
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1/23/2019 - DBunk Likes this wine:
Rounded out with velvety tannins.
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10/30/2018 - whinemeister Likes this wine: 90 Points
Earth and some dark fruit on nose. Black plum and berries on palate. Nicely integrated tannins, a little acidity. Yum!!!
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10/19/2018 - ksj wrote: flawed
Unlike the first bottle, this was defective with chemical smell (brett ?).
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8/31/2018 - wiscgrad wrote: 94 Points
Really delicious. Long finish. Definitely in it's drink window
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8/24/2018 - KevGMarz Likes this wine:
Yummy
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4/23/2018 - MattB72 wrote: 92 Points
Too much dill the first night. Much more integrated and balanced the 2nd
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4/19/2018 - buckeye566 wrote: 94 Points
Drinking well now
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4/5/2018 - lachord Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still plenty of fruit. A bit of earth and dark berries.
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4/1/2018 - mmurph wrote:
Still drinking great but has peaked and has started its downturn. Drink soon.
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2/18/2018 - Baron Slick wrote: 92 Points
I really liked this. Such a hedonistic wine. It had layers and textures that framed black and red currants, raspberries, and fancy oak aromas. The plump fruit flavors were entirely expressive, gaining richness and density while remaining vibrant and energetic. A note of chocolate became more pronounced the longer it sat. Closed with a tasty, dusting of Asian spice.
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1/22/2018 - Vietty wrote:
Dark ruby/purple, a touch of age on the edge of the rim if you look carefully. Deep purple fruits, hints of spice but the fruit is dominant. Ends with cocoa flavors and creamy texture that AFWE would hate. Medium plus density. Medium acid. Tannin resolved. Modern Napa cab that doesn't take it over the top for my palate. Drinking well now, unsure if more time will be beneficial. Last of 3 bottles, best of 3.
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12/25/2017 - tomoem wrote: 90 Points
Purple darkness and fruit on the palette to match. Deep dark and quite spiced. Decent for its well aged balance. White pepper and creamy. Short to Medium finish. Oh so big and delicious. Modern!
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12/24/2017 - wine4lux wrote: 90 Points
Extremely drinkable, fruit forward California red blend, in the style of Prisoner. Not particularly complex, but very food-friendly, had with ribs at Christmas Eve dinner. The fruitiness and high-ish ABV matched well.
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10/15/2017 - vinomex wrote: 91 Points
Glad I waited this long to open this bottle, fully matured and nuanced. Very rich and composed, it improved as the night went on. Complex but not in an elegant sort of way. Solid drink, I would not wait much longer to drink this bottle.
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9/26/2017 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Solid napa cab, straight down the middle, right in it's prime drinking window.
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5/20/2017 - MattB72 wrote: 93 Points
Much better a year later. Great blend. Should get better with a few more years
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2/19/2017 - jarospigliosi@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like red currant and prune. It tastes like prune and red currant. The body is medium. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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1/25/2017 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 88 Points
Bordeaux vs Cal (Bordeaux Blends) - $20 to $40 (Trent's): The group liked this more than I and was in fact the groups WOTN. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has ripe black cherry fruit. On the palate, this is ripe black cherry fruit. There is some black olive and I thought i got some VA which made me wonder if there is more than a bit of Syrah in here? Lots of tannins. It is a solid wine that to me needs time. If there is Syrah, 2010 is a slow maturing year and that would make some sense. Anyone know?
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1/18/2017 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Double decanted, and sat in a wide-bottom decanter for a few hours. On the nose, some wild herbal notes, green pepper, a whiff of alcohol, loads of red fruit, with a suggestion of confection, but not over the top. On the palate, soft acidity and velvety; loads of tannin, which is slightly felt-like, on the finish. Wouldn't mind seeing this after the tannin softens a bit more.
Day 2: Left on the counter, unrefrigerated, overnight. After more than 24 hours open, this doesn't show too much evolution from the start. Tons of fruit, and still intensely tannic. Big, and enjoyable, but not really that interesting.
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11/5/2016 - Adam T 12 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Strong tannic backbone, muted nose. Good bright fruits underneath. Enjoyable but would probably give it more time.
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10/17/2016 - jonahfactor Likes this wine:
Even the name is impressive .... Leviathan. Doesn't give up much of her charms upon opening, but this seems built to enjoy over the course of a three-hour dinner. Keep swirling; she'll come around. Iodine, cassis, and cedar in the bouquet. Black cherries, blackberry compote and dust on the palate, finishing with more dark fruits and a creamy texture. Throwing some sediment; pour carefully or strain. Would have thought the tannins had become more integrated by now. Delicious. But not near its peak yet. Drink 2018-2020? ( = Worth Seeking Out)
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9/11/2016 - amateurwino wrote:
Didn't detect any of the herby green that I like this time, but still a delicious obviously Cali, cab-based blend. Lots of sweet fruit here so not for the fruit-phobic. Definite crowd pleaser.
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8/31/2016 - Adam T 12 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Has improved vs last summer. Still a little vegetal but the fruit has integrated. Serious legs and a long finish with medium heat. This won't be for everyone but I like it.
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5/13/2016 - raypedia Likes this wine: 91 Points
Vegetal notes on open, but after an hour of air there's lots of black fruit, cassis, and some oaky notes. On the palate, it's lots of tart black fruit, good acidity, tannins are notable but integrating nicely. Long tart finish. This could go a few more years in bottle, or needs a long decant.
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3/6/2016 - MattB72 wrote: 92 Points
Good, but somewhat one dimensional the first night, better the second. Needs some time.
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2/21/2016 - PSUSteve wrote: 92 Points
Agree that this is green on opening. After 60-90 minutes in the decanter this opens up and changes. Lush fruit with spice and some cedar evolving into a lengthy finish. This definitely needs the air.
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7/1/2015 - Adam T 12 wrote: 90 Points
Jammy, harsh and a little green at this stage but good potential, the fruit is there. I've got 2 more, will wait another couple years before trying again.
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6/26/2015 - Cabernet4me2 wrote: 90 Points
Might be drinking it a bit young, but found it too much on the green side, as the night progressed, subsided a bit, but even the next day found too much bell pepper for my taste, will hold for another 6 months before opening another, hoping just a phase that will pass, definitely disappointed, always have loved it as one of my easy 'go to' wines.
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5/31/2015 - jonahfactor Likes this wine:
Opens green and vegetal .... But ..... Wait ..... Wait .... After an hour in the glass this opens up into a Bordeaux with an afterburner. Lush bouquet with cranberries and cassis all over the palate. Nicely integrated tannins. Graphite and heavy minerals throughout, with a lingering finish. This is a big wine once it opens up. A great ride throughout the meal. Either decant this beast or make it a slow dinner.
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5/18/2015 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 86 Points
Young and rich; not much in the way of promise
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3/28/2015 - WineCPA wrote: 92 Points
Uninspiring the first night, even when run through a Vinturi. The second day is a different story. Nose wasn't much, but the fruit comes through on the palate. Silky black fruit. The finish shows big tannins. This is a huge wine that needs a few hours of a proper decant to enjoy at this time. Drink now-2020. Really nice if you give it the right amount of air.
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2/21/2015 - wirelesswine wrote:
Big unapologetic Napa wine, lots of green pyrazine notes on the nose this time around.
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2/4/2015 - lachord wrote: 92 Points
Excellent fruit. Opened up nicely after an hour and exceptional compliment to a well-marbled steak. Couldn't stop smelling it.
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1/10/2015 - mikev101 Likes this wine: 91 Points
exceptional wine. Drinking great now. Wonderful dark fruit, tannins and weight.
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12/15/2014 - Aravind Asok wrote:
It's been about a year since I opened one of these. This was opened last night in a late night cellar raid. We double decanted, had a few glasses, but only really started paying attention to it today. Really big nose of blueberries and dark fruits, caramel, toast. Very juicy on the palate and excellent acdity. This is great fun to drink. I think it could easily lay down for a while longer... the tannins are plush, but intense in their own way.
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11/12/2014 - Dale Rattles Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big, strapping wine with lots going on. Whopping aroma, great mouthfeel and finishes strong. I'm upset that it's this delicious right now because I'm sure I'll drink all I have before it really hits its prime.
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11/6/2014 - rylanreynolds wrote: 91 Points
Needs a good decant. I concur with my fellow winos. Could take a 2-5 year nap in the cellar and see what happens.
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10/5/2014 - dmccann3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine got better the longer I exposed it to the air. It held up well for three days by pumping out the air and was almost as good on day 3 as day 1. Medium bodied with a long finish, tart on the tongue.
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10/3/2014 - dynedain wrote: 93 Points
Tobacco and black pepper on the nose. Dry rich mouth feel, with a simultaneous sweet and tang with a cheery and blackberry finish.
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9/14/2014 - AAJR Likes this wine: 91 Points
Had at Fairmont in Sonoma. Well balanced, and refined showing. Very enjoyable.
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6/29/2014 - OenoMike wrote:
The seed
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6/15/2014 - DBunk Likes this wine: 91 Points
wonderful and went well with grilled tri tip. can sense that it needs a bit more time to round out but did open nicely and was not so tight that it wasn't inviting.
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5/1/2014 - KVM wrote:
Very dark. Lushly fruity nose. Lots of black fruit, saved by a core of grip and red fruit. This Might age well. I didn't have opportunity to pay enough attention to this.
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4/7/2014 - Rangeldoug wrote: 90 Points
PNP...definitely a bit harsh at first and showing its youth. Peppery, dark cherry, blueberry. Will probably round out more with another couple of years, as it mellowed considerably after about an hour.
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4/4/2014 - Napacablover Likes this wine: 92 Points
A very big wine! Needs some time in bottle to round out, but this is a great bottle of wine for the money.
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3/10/2014 - mpholiday Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. I decanted this wine for approximately four hours and paired it with filet mignon, asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes.
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2/20/2014 - CultCabKing wrote: 90 Points
Upon opening: A lot of Syrah in the nose. Very light up front with some peppery notes in the middle. Two stage finish with an initial burst followed by a lingering tannic echo.
10min: smoothed out considerably! Still has the pepper and the fruit but the transitions are less obvious.
Nice wine at the price point if you like a Syrah-heavy blend.
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2/8/2014 - brianspross wrote: 90 Points
This was a pretty good blend; however, it was a bit high on the price point for my taste. I will not repurchase this one. $44.99.
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1/16/2014 - Aravind Asok Likes this wine:
Very tannic, bold wine. Improved over the six or seven hours it was open.
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1/4/2014 - Wine Gombie wrote: 94 Points
1st off this is a VERY young, tannic, VOLUPTUOUS, bottle of red wine. Like conversating to a very well developed, but immature mid. . . Stopping now. If you plan on drinking this right away, decant this beginning at 7am for your 6pm dinner. Oh yea, and make sure dinner is very bold...aka Venison, Lamb, bison, or beef.
2nd, if you're not drinking it right now, Lay This One DOWN For A While. We will be doing just that with the rest of our bottles. Whew!! Just Sayin'
So Anyway . . . . . . .
Nose: Don't let this fool you. Soft & quite rounded with lingering fruit, cassis, cherry, and a hint of vegetation, like a summer garden coming into bloom.
Color: Bright & Happy red. Like a prom dress at the beginning of the evening! :)
Taste: BOOM! Strong Tannins right out of the gate. No ifs, ands, or, buts about that. Quite a passively bold character overall. Red cherry, ripe cassis with hints of cedar on the palate. A long lingering finish. I could see this cellaring for quite sometime, maybe 10+ years. We'll try our next bottle 2020, it definitely has the tannins to support a long lay down!
Just remember, this is a great wine. If you're going to drink it right, this, now, DECANT for hours! If you can't decant do what we did, run it through a Vinifera Aerator 3 times. No, not once. NO, not twice. THREE TIMES through an aerator. It will be approachable then.
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12/3/2013 - WineDoctors wrote: 91 Points
dark fruit, low-medium acid , full bodied, medium tannins.
Dark sumotuous fruit combine with cedar, brambleberry. well integrated
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6/7/2013 - wineberg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted all afternoon. Leftovers rebottled and recorked overnight, TN is on the leftovers the next morning. 14.5% ABV
Very youthful, but made to be accessible at this point. Very nice, and the Syrah adds an extra gear to this...Blue and blackberry, baking spices, vanilla, slight brine (the syrah?), eucalyptus, toffee.
This can be drunk now, or laid down for a few years.
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5/17/2013 - TheDarkPrince Likes this wine: 93 Points
This has evolved to a better place since I lasted tasted it. Its sweet, layered, very textured and opulent. The nose is sweet like treacle, with a hint of cinnamon. It's a little brash on the palette, but it is a 2010. I'm baby-snatching, but I don't care. I think what makes this wine is the cabernet franc (a varietal that I normal run away from).
If possible, put this wine down for 3 years. Your patience will be rewarded handsomely, I'm sure.
:0)
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1/28/2013 - jonahfactor wrote: 91 Points
Hannah's 25th birthday at R&D Kitchen, Santa Monica. A sledgehammer compared to the elegant Bordeaux that preceded it. Bold, burly and buttery. A perfect foil for the best-hamburger-ever, and fully drinkable now. Fairly subtle bouquet and medium legs. But the attack on the palate is substantial with chocolate notes throughout. Cherries, fudge and ever-so-subtle mint notes in the finish. A party in a bottle.
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