This is entering its drinking window. Even out of crummy hotel room glasses and no decant, this was great. Minty red and dark fruits with a fine, long finish. Nowhere near decline. A detailed yet powerful version of a WA State Bdx blend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
P&P. Good showing with the plummy fruit taking a back seat to a more earthy presentation with almost crisp acidity. Very floral. I do think this is in a great spot and I would optimize by drinking sooner rather than later
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark, ripe and exciting. Bright, fresh dark currant and dark cherry fruit. Really juicy with fine tannins, bright acidity and a long long finish. This is not super complex but is delicious. Maybe a tinge of green herbs/mint on the nose from the cab franc, but the herbaceousness is very muted on the palate. Sweet long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
classy and on its way to elegant, but still a bit burly and needs more time to settle down. rather lighter than you'd think, with a very restrained flavor profile. wait 3-5+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opaque ruby violet with prominent tears. Aromas of cherry liqueur, plum, violets, and tobacco leaf. Still quite structured on the palate although the tannins have softened. Made from 39% Cabernet Franc, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Petit Verdot, and 11% Merlot. 14.4% ABV.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This became more rounded after a couple of hours but my wife would not get past the first glass as she felt the acidity was too high. This did subside with air but I still did not rate this in the 90s.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It was at this point of my birthday dinner that my taste buds started to go south on me. I do remember that we opened this two hours prior to dinner and that the nose was dark fruit. The palate was dark fruit, wood and tobacco. The finish was nice and smooth but by the time we finished that bottle reason had started to leave the group and I did not write up any more of the reds.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A medium bodied well balanced wine. Good acidity with still plenty of fresh red fruit. I have become a fan of a lot of Washington State wines as my interest in California wine wanes.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
In contrast to the other notes below this one was on the downhill slope already. Could be bottle variation. It started out disjoint and muted on the nose, but opened up quickly and began a more rapid descent than I expected. Medium body with plenty of sediment as others noted. The fruit on the pallet quickly went from ripe to over-ripe and then the tertiary notes started to show after only a couple of hours. It held steady from there, but I was surprised as I expected the wine to be much younger given the vintage and the other comments. Overall we enjoyed it, but very surprised to find it in the "drink now" stage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Last bottle of this one year ago was much lighter in color and density than this bottle. Therefore had low expectations here but instead youthful color and tannins with vivid, modern black fruit on the palate were a total surprise. Good bottles should handle another five years of cellaring easily.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Near-black opaque. Berry-burst nose & palate dominance. Sediment aplenty. This was way further along than my previous bottle 2 years ago - and seemingly in its wheelhouse right now. Drink or hold 5yrs.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A delightful nose of red and blue berries promised better things than this wine delivered. Its off putting tannic finish did not improve over the course of several hours. If you're cellaring any bottles suggest keeping them in place a few more years, it's still just a kid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
tasted blind vs other Red mountain wines slow ox 2 h the decant x 1h an emense amount of sediment was thrown lush and leafy aroma and blackberry and cherry smells as it decanted calmed down to something more subtle after the decant Pretty delicious was the favorite of 4 similar Red Mountain wines
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red fruited with some cab franc mint and other savory notes, plus prominent acidity. Splash decanted to remove very minor sediment and left open for three hours before serving.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Upon opening, green elements and red fruit. Wonderful Cabernet Franc funk with a Petit Verdot holding the rear. This is stylistically what I am looking for. Day two opens up to brown leaf and stems. Another interesting backdrop. This venue is ignored by the Pepsi/Coke commercially driven press. Vertical tasting over the next decade?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good QPR for sure. I know we're supposed to think Right Bank here but to me the WA state notes push through. The Cab Franc seems a little flat but the Cab Sauv and Petite Verdot is emphasized. The problem is that the Cab Sauv brings that "redness" forward in the taste profile. It's part iron and part currant and part pomegranate arils crushed up in your teeth and pushed forward. Then the Cab Franc sits at mid palate and I get some warm, dry earth with the tannins in the finish. Clearly this wine needs more time, but we decanted and drank over four hours.
Opened for an hour and then poured though a vintorio for two hours at dinner. Very tight until the last hour and then it opened up to dark berries, tobacco, fig and a touch of coffee. Once open the the finish is long and flavorful. It needs another year in the cellar or a 3 to 4 hour decant to really show its stuff.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was expecting more from this label / for the price. While still a nice offering - I think one has to fully age Cadence for full effect. Hold final bottle few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lean and fruity. I found it lacking structure and concentration. Almost sweet. I expected a bit more for the cost. I can see my opinion is an outlier but I wasn't alone in my opinion at our tasting.
Consumed over 4 hours. Came out of the gates swinging and seemed to shut down a bit becoming more dense and tannic with air. Bright red fruit and a solid acidic core take center stage with this extremely youthful wine. Underlying floral are notes compounded by a minty tobacco and a savory herabaciousness that show impressive complexity on the mid palate and inish. The purity of red fruit here is especially impressive but this a very young wine. Hold 5 years minimum - 93+.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Knightsbridge Bordeaux and US Cabernet Tasting (Northbrook, IL): Tasting, brief note. 39% Cab Franc really comes through with some intriguing gamy and barnyard hints. Very good power to start, seemed to lose some steam rather quickly in the middle, but i expect this will come into greater harmony in a few more years. Easily 90+ point potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had next to the 2010 Tapteil which is more Cab Sauv based. Loved the Cab Franc out of this one and the green, earthy big tough tones it had. Great with the sausage and ribs. This isn't as smooth and the tannins definitely need a lot more time..Very nice though and will be buying more Cadence
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
"Pure Cadence on the nose, a bountiful supply of fresh flowers, baking chocolate, and spices bounced around red fruit sensibilities, very Cab Franc aromas. Pure Ciel Du Cheval on palate however, as the fruit took on a darker tone and weight. Smoky, mineral infused plums nicely offset a real tannic grip in the mid palate, a surge of medicinal on the back half suggested the Medoc perhaps, but make no mistake; this is an excellent representation of this famed WA site. Violets and a certain “purpley’ quality added a new dimension, I bet this stems from the PV. Still a tad bit of youthful oak to work through, but the finish is quite impressive, and this should be just peaking in another 5 years or so" This is my note on the 08 from fall of 2012, and after having the 10 just now, the TN perfectly fits the newer wine to a T. I would say the there is a little more intensity in the 2010, especially in the mid palate, so expect this to be a little slower to develop an perhaps longer lived. Just a guess on my part. Terrific effort yet again from Ben Smith.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/28/2024 - mtaczak Likes this wine: 93 Points
Well resolved, drinks well with 45 mins of air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2024 - BRR wrote:
This is entering its drinking window. Even out of crummy hotel room glasses and no decant, this was great. Minty red and dark fruits with a fine, long finish. Nowhere near decline. A detailed yet powerful version of a WA State Bdx blend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2023 - Dale M wrote: 92 Points
P&P. Good showing with the plummy fruit taking a back seat to a more earthy presentation with almost crisp acidity. Very floral. I do think this is in a great spot and I would optimize by drinking sooner rather than later
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2021 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
Dark, ripe and exciting. Bright, fresh dark currant and dark cherry fruit. Really juicy with fine tannins, bright acidity and a long long finish. This is not super complex but is delicious. Maybe a tinge of green herbs/mint on the nose from the cab franc, but the herbaceousness is very muted on the palate. Sweet long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2021 - Francophile Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good structure, love the dominance of Cab Franc
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2020 - gmbdds wrote: 91 Points
There's a pleasant mustiness upon opening. Bordeaux-like notes with currant fruit. A little reticent, but a classy pour. I would decant for sediment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2020 - mtaczak Likes this wine: 92 Points
classy and on its way to elegant, but still a bit burly and needs more time to settle down. rather lighter than you'd think, with a very restrained flavor profile. wait 3-5+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2020 - Francophile Likes this wine: 90 Points
I love the large Cab Franc proportion. This was a nice well balanced wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2019 - zovizule Likes this wine:
Still quite tannic and structured, needs air. Try in another 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2019 - ashikoh wrote: 89 Points
Opaque ruby violet with prominent tears. Aromas of cherry liqueur, plum, violets, and tobacco leaf. Still quite structured on the palate although the tannins have softened. Made from 39% Cabernet Franc, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Petit Verdot, and 11% Merlot. 14.4% ABV.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2018 - mercurius wrote: flawed
Think it was ever so slightly corked. Just seemed very muted compared to others notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2018 - Francophile Likes this wine: 89 Points
This became more rounded after a couple of hours but my wife would not get past the first glass as she felt the acidity was too high. This did subside with air but I still did not rate this in the 90s.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2018 - markcic Likes this wine: 92 Points
It was at this point of my birthday dinner that my taste buds started to go south on me. I do remember that we opened this two hours prior to dinner and that the nose was dark fruit. The palate was dark fruit, wood and tobacco. The finish was nice and smooth but by the time we finished that bottle reason had started to leave the group and I did not write up any more of the reds.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2018 - blackcrowb Likes this wine: 93 Points
A medium bodied well balanced wine. Good acidity with still plenty of fresh red fruit. I have become a fan of a lot of Washington State wines as my interest in California wine wanes.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2018 - forcumba Likes this wine: 90 Points
In contrast to the other notes below this one was on the downhill slope already. Could be bottle variation. It started out disjoint and muted on the nose, but opened up quickly and began a more rapid descent than I expected. Medium body with plenty of sediment as others noted. The fruit on the pallet quickly went from ripe to over-ripe and then the tertiary notes started to show after only a couple of hours. It held steady from there, but I was surprised as I expected the wine to be much younger given the vintage and the other comments. Overall we enjoyed it, but very surprised to find it in the "drink now" stage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2018 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Last bottle of this one year ago was much lighter in color and density than this bottle. Therefore had low expectations here but instead youthful color and tannins with vivid, modern black fruit on the palate were a total surprise. Good bottles should handle another five years of cellaring easily.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2018 - fitchbuck Likes this wine: 92 Points
Near-black opaque. Berry-burst nose & palate dominance. Sediment aplenty. This was way further along than my previous bottle 2 years ago - and seemingly in its wheelhouse right now. Drink or hold 5yrs.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2017 - Ron Felthoven wrote:
Not ready. Hold. Tannis still prominent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2017 - Lemari wrote: 88 Points
A delightful nose of red and blue berries promised better things than this wine delivered. Its off putting tannic finish did not improve over the course of several hours. If you're cellaring any bottles suggest keeping them in place a few more years, it's still just a kid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2017 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine: 93 Points
tasted blind vs other Red mountain wines
slow ox 2 h the decant x 1h
an emense amount of sediment was thrown
lush and leafy aroma and blackberry and cherry smells as it decanted calmed down to something more subtle after the decant
Pretty delicious
was the favorite of 4 similar Red Mountain wines
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2017 - Rick 4 Wine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good QPR. Definitely washing state wine with big iron and a palate that tilts to red fruit. This wine needs to be under $30 to be attractive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2017 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Red fruited with some cab franc mint and other savory notes, plus prominent acidity. Splash decanted to remove very minor sediment and left open for three hours before serving.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2016 - Danthejuiceman Likes this wine:
Upon opening, green elements and red fruit. Wonderful Cabernet Franc funk with a Petit Verdot holding the rear.
This is stylistically what I am looking for.
Day two opens up to brown leaf and stems. Another interesting backdrop.
This venue is ignored by the Pepsi/Coke commercially driven press.
Vertical tasting over the next decade?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2016 - Rick 4 Wine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good QPR for sure. I know we're supposed to think Right Bank here but to me the WA state notes push through. The Cab Franc seems a little flat but the Cab Sauv and Petite Verdot is emphasized. The problem is that the Cab Sauv brings that "redness" forward in the taste profile. It's part iron and part currant and part pomegranate arils crushed up in your teeth and pushed forward. Then the Cab Franc sits at mid palate and I get some warm, dry earth with the tannins in the finish. Clearly this wine needs more time, but we decanted and drank over four hours.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/28/2016 - markcic Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened for an hour and then poured though a vintorio for two hours at dinner. Very tight until the last hour and then it opened up to dark berries, tobacco, fig and a touch of coffee. Once open the the finish is long and flavorful. It needs another year in the cellar or a 3 to 4 hour decant to really show its stuff.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2016 - hdchappy Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is still wound pretty tight, I would wait another few years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2016 - fitchbuck wrote: 91 Points
I was expecting more from this label / for the price. While still a nice offering - I think one has to fully age Cadence for full effect. Hold final bottle few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2015 - ben2e Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Lean and fruity. I found it lacking structure and concentration. Almost sweet. I expected a bit more for the cost. I can see my opinion is an outlier but I wasn't alone in my opinion at our tasting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2)
7/6/2015 - lirvingham wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful. I would hold for a year to reach its best
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2015 - junglejuice wrote: 93 Points
Consumed over 4 hours. Came out of the gates swinging and seemed to shut down a bit becoming more dense and tannic with air. Bright red fruit and a solid acidic core take center stage with this extremely youthful wine. Underlying floral are notes compounded by a minty tobacco and a savory herabaciousness that show impressive complexity on the mid palate and inish. The purity of red fruit here is especially impressive but this a very young wine. Hold 5 years minimum - 93+.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2015 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good for what it was. Did like.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2014 - cltean Likes this wine: 90 Points
Earthly and mosey wine. Very bold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Knightsbridge Bordeaux and US Cabernet Tasting (Northbrook, IL): Tasting, brief note. 39% Cab Franc really comes through with some intriguing gamy and barnyard hints. Very good power to start, seemed to lose some steam rather quickly in the middle, but i expect this will come into greater harmony in a few more years. Easily 90+ point potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2014 - cpsmith33 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had next to the 2010 Tapteil which is more Cab Sauv based.
Loved the Cab Franc out of this one and the green, earthy big tough tones it had. Great with the sausage and ribs. This isn't as smooth and the tannins definitely need a lot more time..Very nice though and will be buying more Cadence
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2014 - Dale M wrote: 93 Points
"Pure Cadence on the nose, a bountiful supply of fresh flowers, baking chocolate, and spices bounced around red fruit sensibilities, very Cab Franc aromas. Pure Ciel Du Cheval on palate however, as the fruit took on a darker tone and weight. Smoky, mineral infused plums nicely offset a real tannic grip in the mid palate, a surge of medicinal on the back half suggested the Medoc perhaps, but make no mistake; this is an excellent representation of this famed WA site. Violets and a certain “purpley’ quality added a new dimension, I bet this stems from the PV. Still a tad bit of youthful oak to work through, but the finish is quite impressive, and this should be just peaking in another 5 years or so" This is my note on the 08 from fall of 2012, and after having the 10 just now, the TN perfectly fits the newer wine to a T. I would say the there is a little more intensity in the 2010, especially in the mid palate, so expect this to be a little slower to develop an perhaps longer lived. Just a guess on my part. Terrific effort yet again from Ben Smith.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment