Deep ruby wine with a somewhat reticent nose at first. A short decant allows the wine to open nicely. Nose of violets, black cherry, tobacco leaf, and a faint earthiness. Soft, polished tannins on the palate with tastes of black cherry and blueberry, dark fruits somewhat subdued. Nice length on finish. Much better over time, surprisingly slow to open, better structure than expected. Drinking really well at this point in time, but needs a short decant to allow it to start to develop. More impressive with some bottle age.
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Served with Standing Rib Roast. Opened 3 hours ahead. Black fruits, chocolate and some alcohol on the nose. Full bodied with red and black fruit and later on, some chocolate on the palate. Plenty on tannins to carry but I am not sure I would age this a lot longer. Decent finish. 90 points
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A ruby wine with a nose of black currant, violets and hints of earth. Big in the mouth, with tastes of cherries, cassis and oak. Nice length on the finish. Maturing nicely, as compared to last bottle in 2017. Still could use a few more years. Still needs decanting before it opens up. Very nice overall.
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Much improved over our last tasting 2.5 years ago. Opened up nicely in the decanter after 45-min of air. Mint, eucalyptus, tobacco, blackberry, blueberry, blackcurrant, cherry oak, and baking spices flow from the nose to the finish, which lasts a good 30-seconds+. Full, square, broad, and dense, this wine is still climbing towards peak and will be best over the next 3-5 years. Drink 2019-2028. Technical score: 94. Enjoyment score: 94.
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A young cabernet that was closed when first opened, finally showed earth, black currant, and a hint of mint. A ruby hued wine with decent legs. Appealingly smooth on entry, but mouth coating tannin mid palate. The finish seemed average with more black currant. Still needs to mature for a few more years.
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Dark purple color, full bodied with tremendous amount of pepper. Wine was hot on the palate, almost like a full bodied Zinfandel. Maybe needed to be decanted or way too young to drink. Expected more fruit and finess and less harshness. Was very disappointed compared to other California Cabs.
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Decanted 45-min ahead of a rather large steak and root vegetable salad. Dark crimson color with a purple hue. A deep, effervescent nose brings spring violets, red lavender, eucalyptus, mint, cherry tobacco, and sweet candied raspberries and strawberries. The palate is full, square, jagged, and concentrated, bringing blackberries, plums, blackcurrant, creme de cassis, espresso bean, dark chocolate, dried leather, and tart cranberries into the finish, which is extremely tannic and packs a firm acidic bite. Overall, a deft combo of black then red fruit, albeit significantly muted. This is still closed but it has the stuffing and frame to be quite good. I would hold and drink 2018-2028.
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Don't agree with the last notes, but it's been a while, so maybe this is emerging from the dumb phase. Decanted one hour, really nice nose, good on the second day as well. Strong plum/currant, cassis, leather and cedar. Good structure with medium tannins. What I'd expect for a $40 bottle of Napa Cab, but nothing more.
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Nose of black cherry fruit, currants, allspice, and fig preserves, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, subdued fruit, gives favorable impression but doesn't meet my expectations at all, medium/long, fruity finish.
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On the nose a sense of luxurious dark fruits masked by alcohol. Very tightly wound at this point, on the palate the tannins wrap around and hide the obvious high quality fruit. Very dry finish, waiting to drink the rest tonight. For one night consumption recommend at least a two hour decant.
Night 2 still very tight and reticent, giving one more night but guessing based on AntonioGalloni‘s review that these are in a shutdown phase. Waiting two years on the next one
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PNP on day 1, and then slow ox on the rest of the bottle for about 12 hours.
Nose: Blackberry, Jammy Black Cherry and some nice tobacco, sage, vanilla and coffee notes. Palate: Nice weight, smooth and just a bit of glycerin. Rounded but not overly manipulated. Fruit is still dense and has a tart note about it while maintaining the cedar, berry and leather. Finish: moderate and filled with black fruit.
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Ripe currant, spice box, licorice and blackberry. Medium on the finish and concentrated. Velvety tannins and a medium finish of dark fruit. Enjoyable, still give her time. Drink 2015 - 2022.
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Black core with bright purple rim; nose of ashy tart black fruit, blackberry slight black currant, really pent up, graphite; palate was more giving with surprisingly soft tannin, kind of ashy wild berry fruit; saw about 2 hours of air which I think helped the tannin soften.
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black, opaque with a violet rim, blueberries, pastries and eucalyptus fill the glass, does not show the alcohol, clean but rich, fills the mouth with dark characteristics of black cherries, smoke, herbs, currants, burnt vanilla and blueberry, this gives the impression that it will evolve in the bottle but tastes great now, it reminds me of a Stags Leap District wine- lots of darkness and very smooth, nice with steak off the grill
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Aromas of warm blueberry pie. Evokes flavors os cassis and black currents. Primary, but nonetheless has a certain hardness, without the core energy of some 2010s. 87
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3/24/2024 - maxmanx wrote:
Needed some air and then was ready to go. But LOTS of sediment- decant next time.
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11/17/2023 - maxmanx wrote:
Good time to drink! Tannins fully resolved.
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7/7/2023 - Wrkolbeck wrote: 90 Points
Ripe berry nose & palate, medium bodied, good balance, medium finish. Quite enjoyable.
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1/21/2023 - Janstan Likes this wine: 88 Points
Went well with short ribs. Not as full in the mouth as other cabs of the evening.
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6/3/2022 - The Kokopelli wrote:
Deep ruby wine with a somewhat reticent nose at first. A short decant allows the wine to open nicely. Nose of violets, black cherry, tobacco leaf, and a faint earthiness. Soft, polished tannins on the palate with tastes of black cherry and blueberry, dark fruits somewhat subdued. Nice length on finish. Much better over time, surprisingly slow to open, better structure than expected. Drinking really well at this point in time, but needs a short decant to allow it to start to develop. More impressive with some bottle age.
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2/28/2022 - sastewart wrote: 90 Points
Served with Standing Rib Roast. Opened 3 hours ahead. Black fruits, chocolate and some alcohol on the nose. Full bodied with red and black fruit and later on, some chocolate on the palate. Plenty on tannins to carry but I am not sure I would age this a lot longer. Decent finish. 90 points
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1/20/2021 - heidoanddave Likes this wine: 93 Points
We Were Surprised By How Enjoyable Our Group Thought It Was. Deep, Dark Fruit With A Long, Chocolate Finishing With A Bit of Tobacco.
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11/6/2020 - The Kokopelli wrote:
A ruby wine with a nose of black currant, violets and hints of earth. Big in the mouth, with tastes of cherries, cassis and oak. Nice length on the finish. Maturing nicely, as compared to last bottle in 2017. Still could use a few more years. Still needs decanting before it opens up. Very nice overall.
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8/10/2020 - weinmatt Likes this wine: 93 Points
Last review has this spot on. This is getting very good now. Bob maybe had it right ...
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1/31/2019 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 94 Points
Much improved over our last tasting 2.5 years ago. Opened up nicely in the decanter after 45-min of air. Mint, eucalyptus, tobacco, blackberry, blueberry, blackcurrant, cherry oak, and baking spices flow from the nose to the finish, which lasts a good 30-seconds+. Full, square, broad, and dense, this wine is still climbing towards peak and will be best over the next 3-5 years. Drink 2019-2028. Technical score: 94. Enjoyment score: 94.
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12/20/2017 - The Kokopelli wrote: 89 Points
A young cabernet that was closed when first opened, finally showed earth, black currant, and a hint of mint. A ruby hued wine with decent legs. Appealingly smooth on entry, but mouth coating tannin mid palate. The finish seemed average with more black currant. Still needs to mature for a few more years.
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3/7/2017 - slbelln Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Dark purple color, full bodied with tremendous amount of pepper. Wine was hot on the palate, almost like a full bodied Zinfandel. Maybe needed to be decanted or way too young to drink. Expected more fruit and finess and less harshness. Was very disappointed compared to other California Cabs.
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12/19/2016 - cjohnson2960 wrote: 94 Points
This wine needs to breathe. It transforms dramatically if you decant it for 3-4 hours.
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11/7/2016 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted 45-min ahead of a rather large steak and root vegetable salad. Dark crimson color with a purple hue. A deep, effervescent nose brings spring violets, red lavender, eucalyptus, mint, cherry tobacco, and sweet candied raspberries and strawberries. The palate is full, square, jagged, and concentrated, bringing blackberries, plums, blackcurrant, creme de cassis, espresso bean, dark chocolate, dried leather, and tart cranberries into the finish, which is extremely tannic and packs a firm acidic bite. Overall, a deft combo of black then red fruit, albeit significantly muted. This is still closed but it has the stuffing and frame to be quite good. I would hold and drink 2018-2028.
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10/28/2016 - weinmatt Likes this wine: 91 Points
Don't agree with the last notes, but it's been a while, so maybe this is emerging from the dumb phase. Decanted one hour, really nice nose, good on the second day as well. Strong plum/currant, cassis, leather and cedar. Good structure with medium tannins. What I'd expect for a $40 bottle of Napa Cab, but nothing more.
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3/28/2016 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nose of black cherry fruit, currants, allspice, and fig preserves, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, subdued fruit, gives favorable impression but doesn't meet my expectations at all, medium/long, fruity finish.
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10/25/2015 - earlyApex wrote:
On the nose a sense of luxurious dark fruits masked by alcohol. Very tightly wound at this point, on the palate the tannins wrap around and hide the obvious high quality fruit. Very dry finish, waiting to drink the rest tonight. For one night consumption recommend at least a two hour decant.
Night 2 still very tight and reticent, giving one more night but guessing based on AntonioGalloni‘s review that these are in a shutdown phase. Waiting two years on the next one
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9/27/2015 - brian przyzycki wrote: flawed
I withhold a review at this time. Closed down and would not budge. Seems very well made but...???
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8/11/2014 - Mr T wrote:
Solid wine although not sure I understand why so high a score from Bob
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11/1/2013 - BK29 wrote: 91 Points
Solid cab for the money
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9/15/2013 - RockinCabs wrote: 89 Points
PNP on day 1, and then slow ox on the rest of the bottle for about 12 hours.
Nose: Blackberry, Jammy Black Cherry and some nice tobacco, sage, vanilla and coffee notes. Palate: Nice weight, smooth and just a bit of glycerin. Rounded but not overly manipulated. Fruit is still dense and has a tart note about it while maintaining the cedar, berry and leather. Finish: moderate and filled with black fruit.
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9/12/2013 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ripe currant, spice box, licorice and blackberry. Medium on the finish and concentrated. Velvety tannins and a medium finish of dark fruit. Enjoyable, still give her time. Drink 2015 - 2022.
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7/12/2013 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
Black core with bright purple rim; nose of ashy tart black fruit, blackberry slight black currant, really pent up, graphite; palate was more giving with surprisingly soft tannin, kind of ashy wild berry fruit; saw about 2 hours of air which I think helped the tannin soften.
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7/9/2013 - whits Likes this wine: 93 Points
black, opaque with a violet rim, blueberries, pastries and eucalyptus fill the glass, does not show the alcohol, clean but rich, fills the mouth with dark characteristics of black cherries, smoke, herbs, currants, burnt vanilla and blueberry, this gives the impression that it will evolve in the bottle but tastes great now, it reminds me of a Stags Leap District wine- lots of darkness and very smooth, nice with steak off the grill
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6/24/2013 - swade wrote: 87 Points
Aromas of warm blueberry pie. Evokes flavors os cassis and black currents. Primary, but nonetheless has a certain hardness, without the core energy of some 2010s. 87
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5/8/2013 - vegasoenophile wrote: 86 Points
Nose is rich in cassis and floral perfume. Tad hot up front on the palate. Nice structure though and good flavor.
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3/28/2013 - Rick 4 Wine wrote: 88 Points
Little tight for pop and pour but red fruit with little dark sitting underneath. Over oaked
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