Drinking very nicely right now with notes of blueberries and blackberries, a nice grapyness that I loved. Some cigar box and cedar, vanilla too. Nice plush mouth feel but enough acidity to keep it lively. Delicious.
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Had this side by side with a Hestan Meyer Vineyard 2014 cabernet (rated 95 by WS) and I thought it held up quite well. Dark berries, spices and sweet tobacco on the nose and palate. Super-expressive and rich with great concentration. Soft tannins, well integrated acidity, full bodied Napa cab but not over the top. Medium length finish. Worth $40+ spent and worth the 10 year wait. Still has life left if properly cellared.
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Dark berry compote, spices, sweet tobacco on the nose. Super-expressive and rich with great concentration. Soft tannins on the palate, well integrated acidity, big without being heavy. Good length to the finish. 90-92
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Decanted about an hour, first impression was a high alcohol jammy fruit bomb but after about 3-4 hours the fruit mellowed considerably and the tannins and structure started to show themselves. A little flabby through the mid palate. Felt this wine was ok. This is my first adventure into Schrader wines, I hope the more expensive Schrader wines in my cellar are significantly better than this.
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Young, bright purple color. Concord grape, vanilla, oak, hint of citrus, it just smells young! Also feels more complete than the other ones...just has more oomph to it throughout.
Very tannic though, mouth drying in fact, and out of balance that way. Needs some time there.
It's a good wine, and I like the youthfulness of this. It edges the '08 and '09 out for me, as it seems to be a bit more put together than the other two, and I do think these are made to drink young. I'm kind of meh on the way they seem to be aging though.
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Pop and pour right into the decanter. In the glass, dark, opaque purplish-ruby. On the nose, dark red and blue fruits, a mixture of oak and vanilla, and a hint of spice. On the palate, dark fruits dominate, but there is some structure and spice here, enough that a couple more years in the cellar may yield some improvement. Still pleasant enough to drink at its current stage of development, though.
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Popped and poured. Medium-plus purple/ruby, obviously youthful. Primary nose initially redolent of red fruits, especially raspberry and strawberry which evolve with aeration into more exotic hints of peach schnaps, vanilla spice, and an almost incense like quality from the oak. Medium-plus body. Somewhat surprisingly, and despite showing more as a barrel sample, once in mouth, the pronounced, extremely youthful flavors of crushed red and black fruits plus intense oak spice actually show a certain accessibility. Other than just a touch of heat, perhaps this accessibility is also due to how well balanced this wine is overall, with youthfully grainy tannins never taking over on the moderate close. A very nice showing for such a young wine, give this 2-3 years and it will be a joy.
Quick comment: I haven't tried such a young Double Diamond since my last time purchasing, which was the 2007 vintage. I find the 2010 to be exceptionally better at this early stage. Perhaps the comparison creates more bias, but 2010 really comes off as a great vintage for this wine.
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11/30/2023 - houstonjeff@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 89 Points
In the decline but still OK.
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11/7/2022 - Joelene wrote: 92 Points
Drinking very nicely right now with notes of blueberries and blackberries, a nice grapyness that I loved. Some cigar box and cedar, vanilla too. Nice plush mouth feel but enough acidity to keep it lively. Delicious.
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4/10/2021 - Vailman Likes this wine: 91 Points
Had this side by side with a Hestan Meyer Vineyard 2014 cabernet (rated 95 by WS) and I thought it held up quite well. Dark berries, spices and sweet tobacco on the nose and palate. Super-expressive and rich with great concentration. Soft tannins, well integrated acidity, full bodied Napa cab but not over the top. Medium length finish. Worth $40+ spent and worth the 10 year wait. Still has life left if properly cellared.
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6/24/2018 - Wino Laurie wrote: 89 Points
Dark cherry notes with good if not exceptional structure. Smooth finish. Enjoyed but dint have the complexity of many wines at similar price point.
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5/24/2018 - rossi.wine wrote: 91 Points
Dark berry compote, spices, sweet tobacco on the nose. Super-expressive and rich with great concentration. Soft tannins on the palate, well integrated acidity, big without being heavy. Good length to the finish. 90-92
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10/1/2016 - iamandyc wrote: 88 Points
Decent cab that was nicer on day #2 but nothing special at all. Red fruited with some plum. Not much complexity. Not a great QPR
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9/10/2016 - JSPuskar Likes this wine: 86 Points
A good Cab - moderate fruit and some chocolate on the palate. Decent finish.
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5/12/2016 - Backdoctor wrote: 91 Points
Drinking well. Still some tannins but mature. Red fruit on palate
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10/7/2015 - jshufelt wrote: 87 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
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3/29/2015 - tom.hull33 Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Don't like the wine. Flat. No body. Very disappointing.
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3/17/2015 - JSPuskar Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very satisfying. A nice nose of fresh, ripe berries and chocolate. Lots of fruit and chocolate on the palate.
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11/21/2014 - jshufelt wrote: 88 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
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4/26/2014 - hdchappy wrote: 89 Points
Decanted about an hour, first impression was a high alcohol jammy fruit bomb but after about 3-4 hours the fruit mellowed considerably and the tannins and structure started to show themselves. A little flabby through the mid palate. Felt this wine was ok. This is my first adventure into Schrader wines, I hope the more expensive Schrader wines in my cellar are significantly better than this.
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4/1/2014 - jshufelt wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
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2/8/2014 - brianngibson wrote: 89 Points
A little green and herbal, but still good QPR.
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9/8/2013 - jshufelt wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous tasting note.
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1/10/2013 - OakvilleGrade Likes this wine: 90 Points
Big and bold. Reddish purple in color. Fruit, spice, and vanilla.
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12/7/2012 - wineberg Likes this wine: 88 Points
Friday Night Wine 12/7 - Double Diamond Vertical with a ringer: Tasting notes on morning-after leftovers, so they've had some air. Had next to '08 and '09 Bomber X.
Young, bright purple color. Concord grape, vanilla, oak, hint of citrus, it just smells young! Also feels more complete than the other ones...just has more oomph to it throughout.
Very tannic though, mouth drying in fact, and out of balance that way. Needs some time there.
It's a good wine, and I like the youthfulness of this. It edges the '08 and '09 out for me, as it seems to be a bit more put together than the other two, and I do think these are made to drink young. I'm kind of meh on the way they seem to be aging though.
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12/3/2012 - Dasher wrote: 94 Points
Big inky cab. Loved it. It will need to settle down a little.
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11/30/2012 - jshufelt wrote: 89 Points
Pop and pour right into the decanter. In the glass, dark, opaque purplish-ruby. On the nose, dark red and blue fruits, a mixture of oak and vanilla, and a hint of spice. On the palate, dark fruits dominate, but there is some structure and spice here, enough that a couple more years in the cellar may yield some improvement. Still pleasant enough to drink at its current stage of development, though.
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10/25/2012 - *Vine* wrote:
Popped and poured. Medium-plus purple/ruby, obviously youthful. Primary nose initially redolent of red fruits, especially raspberry and strawberry which evolve with aeration into more exotic hints of peach schnaps, vanilla spice, and an almost incense like quality from the oak. Medium-plus body. Somewhat surprisingly, and despite showing more as a barrel sample, once in mouth, the pronounced, extremely youthful flavors of crushed red and black fruits plus intense oak spice actually show a certain accessibility. Other than just a touch of heat, perhaps this accessibility is also due to how well balanced this wine is overall, with youthfully grainy tannins never taking over on the moderate close. A very nice showing for such a young wine, give this 2-3 years and it will be a joy.
Quick comment: I haven't tried such a young Double Diamond since my last time purchasing, which was the 2007 vintage. I find the 2010 to be exceptionally better at this early stage. Perhaps the comparison creates more bias, but 2010 really comes off as a great vintage for this wine.
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