Power is starting to fade, ever so slightly; probably the victim of a slightly “weak vintage”. Lacks the concentration that I remember from a few years ago. Time will tell…I’ve been an advocate of this vintage. Drink by 2024.
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Nose: Violets, cocoa, and soil; reminds me of a prototypical Margaux. Palate: Bright acidity, perfectly tart currants, very faint oak, nice earthy flavors, sweet and smooth tannins on the finish.
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Mot sure how or why, but this was my third bottle of this in 2021, and it just keeps getting better. Could certainly use a little more tannic structure, but it's simply freakin' delicious. Took it to a wine-centric party, and people just went nuts over it. Only one bottle left, and I wish i'd bought a case of it. Nevertheless, it's probably close to the time to drink up.
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Good, but slightly disappointing - seemed a little more mature after ten years than Chappelllet cabs usually are. Nose was nice, but not all that generous - dark fruits and wet leaves. More of the same on the palate, along with a healthy dose of tobacco. Fairly rich, with a really nice finish. Since it was released while Donn was still alive, it was a terrific value. Drink soon.
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Ready to drink now. Good, mature cab fruit and a few tannins left to hold it together. Meant to visit this bottle a couple years ago but it got lost in the shuffle. Turned out to be one of the better 2011's in my cellar.
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Poured through a Vinturi. Seems more mature than a typical 9 year old Chappellet Cab. Red fruit and tobacco dominate with mild tannins on a finish with some length.
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At 4th dinner @ Mashomack - covid setup. This was excellent. Great cali cabernet. Fruit body and length. Yummy. This has 5 to 10 yrs left although top drinking now.
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Smooth. Plenty of blue- and blackberry, along with chocolate on the nose. Decanted for an hour, upon which tannins mellowed, dark fruits became brighter and oak flavors blend wonderfully to a long, rich finish.
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Still shows a lot of gritty tannin with the black fruits and evolving complexity providing balance. This wine demands a a big piece of red meat to maximize enjoyment.
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There’s been significant development and improvement in this wine since I tried it almost four years ago. Enjoyed over two days, and both a decant and food are highly recommended. Much better on day two after it’s had lots of oxygen.
Deep, clear ruby color, full bodied texture, and still developing. Medium intensity aromatics show upfront earth tones, mint, black herbal tea, and herbaceousness mixed with black currant, blackberry, black cherry, and black plum. Still some vestige of oak which eventually disappears. Gritty tannin and medium plus acidity support a long finish. I suspect this will continue to improve over the intermediate term and should cellar for at least five more years.
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I'm a real Chappellet fan. Opened 7 hours before consuming. Dark, fruit forward. Tannins were mild probably due to being open for so many hours. Decant or open very early. Wine was like drinking liquid velvet. Drank over 2 nights...was just as good on night 2. Good wine for an off year in Napa.
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At MH w Jenny & Rudy staying at the house because of power outage. Great steak from BBQ. This was still very tight but after hour and half really opened up. Very dark color and great spice and fruit on the nose. On palate a lot is going on. This is very good, has length and elegance. Give it a 3 hour decant. I continue to do things backward: 1) select wine2) open wine 3) check my own notes to see if i should open. No regrets but still.
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Was slightly hard and unyielding at first but opened up nicely. Pretty classy, deep and a bit old school. Pretty good considering the vintage. Benefits from decanting. 91+pts.
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Opened night before, was excellent with Christmas BBQ Filet. Smoky, moderate tannin, smooth. Definitely ready to drink with good decant first, don’t see changing much for better with time.
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Burger Sunday. Very good, gave it a 2 hour decant and this was a great Calicab. Bit rough around the edges but that gave it the interest. Good fruit and finish. This will live nicely until its 10 yrs old. Roosje/ JH visiting for weekend.
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Very good for the off vintage. Moderate tannins at this point so a decant is helpful. Blackberry & black cherry on the palate & finish. Drink now-2020.
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Updated:. Good but too young. Good depth. Mocha, chocolate, spices & plums fuse togther gracefully as this soft, supple wine takes shape. Suggestion: Decant for 3 hour before serving... Or better to wait (see updated drinking window)
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PNP, last tasted 1 year ago almost to the day, very nice flowery nose, with plenty of dark currants, cassis, the palate was similar to the nose, with good concentration for the vintage, structure is also quite good for the vintage a rich, dark, sturdy Cabernet that is in my mind a reference point for this so,so vintage.
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Opened up after about 1/2 hour to be a very good cab. Had quite a bit of sediment, so will stand upright, for a couple days, and decant at dinner. Faded after 1 1/2 hours, so I will drink my other two bottles in next two years. Seems to be at peak now. Reidel cab glasses
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At first this opens with a nice red fruit nose, a little thin but inviting. The palate is more red fruits, lots of cassis and a little greenness- good enough but not exciting. About an hour later it's all green, really funky if not meaty, and very astringent . Hot and disjointed. Something had to be off with the cork, I'll mark it flawed. Boo.
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Well integrated, polished, dark purple win with loads of black and blue fruit backed with more than enough tannin. Blueberry, plums, cassis, medium oak (not soft or light at all, to me). I think this is drinking well now and has enough structure to stay at its peak window for three or four years.
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A little tight on pop and pour. Opens up some with an hour of air but overall this is a muted wine with some cassis, cherry and a hint of tobacco on the palate. Not sure I see this getting better but I may hold off on the next bottle.
Enjoyed this better on night 2 after VinVac so I bumped it from 89 to 90 and will wait until 2017 for next one or give it much more air.
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W great pork roast from eataly. Richie, Olly, Albert. Yummy wine that needs time (as i said before but i dont read my own notes back). Has it next to 2011RC Affinity and 2008 Red Barn Cab from Frogs Leap. Very good came in second. After an hour it rally started to develop.
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Very nice showing, especially for the vintage. Quite rich and concentrated, but not overdone, plenty of dark currant, cassis, dark chocolate, dark plum, smooth soft forward tannins. As with most 2011 reds from Napa, drink soon!
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Now is the time. Maybe a year more, max. Soft dark fruit and medium dry tannin. Oak well integrated now. Handles an hour of decanting and is so easy to drink it won't last long.
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An impressive cabernet for the vintage. Dark ruby in color, nose of blackberry and gravel. Tastes of blueberry, graphite, olive, and eucalyptus, followed by somewhat rustic tannins. 14.5% alcohol. It is still a 2011, but it is a good 2011 - more fruit than usual for this vintage.
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I was excited to try this and it didn't disappoint. Pnp'ed, but got a fair amount of evolution in the glass. It was very approachable from the beginning though. Didn't get the feeling that aging would change or improve much, but perhaps a bit of time left open in the bottle before drinking. Nice mix of fruit and spice. Good wine.
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Very good. Agree that this one is probably best in the near term. Also best the first day. No need to aerate it, or let it breathe for too long. Good with food as well.
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Enjoyed over three days; and subsequent to the 2008 Prichard Hill on Day 1. This was a good contrast in vintage differences. Not nearly as extracted, and rich as its more expensive sibling; however for half the price this is an excellent and tasteful wine showing more herbal and earthy qualities built around a solid core of mixed black and red fruit, underscored with a solid tannic structure. Long finish. Very good given the tough 2011 vintage conditions.
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Good fruit. Light on the tannins and acidity. Typical for the vintage. Not one for the cellar, so drink up and enjoy. After a couple of hours decanted, starting to really blossom. Quite good.
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Forgot I opened this last night and poured 1 glass for guest, cork was put back and re tasted some 20 hrs later. Blueberries seem to dominate on both the nose and palate, with hints of currant, cassis, and plums all dark & concentrated. The palate was soft and surprisingly approachable, clearly better than the bottle I had six months ago, like most Napa 2011's this is an early maturing cab. I will consume remaining bottles over the next five years or so.
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W lambchop from grill. First bottle of this was corked. This was great. Verytight and way too early to drink. This will take a few more yrs but a great wine of fruit and tannins. Very bordeaux like (that was mu first impression of the corked bottle). Great dark color, good nose of fruit and spice. On palate very tight but signals of a very good wine. Yummy but stay away for 3+ yrs.
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Mocha, earth, and black cherry dominate. Hugh johnsons comparison with a first growth however is laughable. This has neither the length, structure, or depth of a great Bordeaux. Not to say its bad by any stretch, but this is more fruity and feminine.
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90 min decant. Eye: Dark purple with a deep violet rim and opaque Nose: Black plums, cassis, blueberry Palate: Cassis, some oak, med + acidity, integrated tannins (nearly soft) with a medium finish.
Overall this was a very nice cab but was not great. I think it may just need more time or the fruit just isn't great. One odd thing was the nose was very closed after opening and the decant really helped but the mid palate was non existent. This feel of this wine may improve over time...we shall see.
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Chappellet tasting at K&L (K&L Los Angeles): Some alcohol on the nose and a bit closed up otherwise. Silky mouthfeel. After vigorous swirling, we got hints of earth and some wood. Rather full bodied and a very soft finish. Tannins were soft to begin but became more expansive and mouth-coating with air. I'm not sure how long this was open before I tried it, but maybe it needed more time to open up.
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Clearly opened this bottle too young. Tight and acidic with little structure at first but after decanting and letting it breathe for appx 2 hours it started to balance with some nice earthy notes and tannins. This wine needs another few years in the bottle before coming into form but has potential.
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Splashed decanted, very primary, rich, concentrated, tannic, dry, undertones of currants cassis, plums. The structure is there, just needs some time to integrate. 89++
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Chappellet Vineyards and Sonoma Loeb Tasting Streamed to 45 Total Wine Stores (Tempe, AZ): Very dark extracted looking wine with an intense nose of alcohol, plum and blackberry. High acidity and high tannins - very young. This has a light mouth-feel, offering more of a food wine approach. The palate is fruit forward with sweet plum, blackberry and white pepper. The fruit is very concentrated. The mid-palate brings in oak and toffee and then finishes with vanilla. A middle of the road Napa cab.
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Cherry, blackberry, oak, something a little green as well. Medium acidity with well integrated tannins. Medium finish. Decanted 1 hr. Elegant, but expected bigger. (50+5+11+15+7)
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I don’t know if the wine has reached a REALLY GOOD stage or extreme bottle variation for 2011. This was wonderful and a great QPR. Rich deep fruit with a touch of oak. Long finish.
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Yumma! Really big and bold out of the gate. Mellowed and smoothed over a couple hours to a jammy, luscious, full bodied wine. Will be amazing in 10 years.
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Chocolate covered cherry on the forepallet and then a little bit of a hole in the middle before you get to some minerality, black tea and wet rocks and then a smack in the face of blackberry cobbler. Nice lingering finish. A little too acidic at the moment but that should dissipate with time.
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2/6/2023 - bsmall Likes this wine: 93 Points
Outstanding--perfectly aged, had witgh prime rib and T-bones; even non-wine drinkers enjoyed it!
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4/30/2022 - wmccone54 wrote: 90 Points
Power is starting to fade, ever so slightly; probably the victim of a slightly “weak vintage”. Lacks the concentration that I remember from a few years ago. Time will tell…I’ve been an advocate of this vintage. Drink by 2024.
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2/28/2022 - EJDALEwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pretty wine. Not as intense as expected. Don't think it has much more time to drink well.
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2/3/2022 - stamperb Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose: Violets, cocoa, and soil; reminds me of a prototypical Margaux. Palate: Bright acidity, perfectly tart currants, very faint oak, nice earthy flavors, sweet and smooth tannins on the finish.
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1/23/2022 - Ace5glassesinthesky Likes this wine: 91 Points
Definitely moved into secondary flavor range. Still had decent acidity, smooth finish. Not much fruit left, maybe a little plum. Leathery
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12/31/2021 - jhanne8 Likes this wine: 90 Points
A little disappointing Maybe past it’s prime?
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11/6/2021 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mot sure how or why, but this was my third bottle of this in 2021, and it just keeps getting better. Could certainly use a little more tannic structure, but it's simply freakin' delicious. Took it to a wine-centric party, and people just went nuts over it. Only one bottle left, and I wish i'd bought a case of it. Nevertheless, it's probably close to the time to drink up.
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8/7/2021 - Night Train Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good, but slightly disappointing - seemed a little more mature after ten years than Chappelllet cabs usually are. Nose was nice, but not all that generous - dark fruits and wet leaves. More of the same on the palate, along with a healthy dose of tobacco. Fairly rich, with a really nice finish. Since it was released while Donn was still alive, it was a terrific value. Drink soon.
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5/7/2021 - moods wrote: 88 Points
Classic Napa Cabernet. Decent enough.
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5/2/2021 - EJDALEwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
A great wine from Chappellet. At ten years it is going strong, probably has at least another five to peak. J9
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3/22/2021 - LCHammer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ready to drink now. Good, mature cab fruit and a few tannins left to hold it together. Meant to visit this bottle a couple years ago but it got lost in the shuffle. Turned out to be one of the better 2011's in my cellar.
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10/5/2020 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 92 Points
Poured through a Vinturi. Seems more mature than a typical 9 year old Chappellet Cab. Red fruit and tobacco dominate with mild tannins on a finish with some length.
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7/22/2020 - dlf-48 wrote:
Fruit forward drinks well
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7/5/2020 - MichielV wrote: 91 Points
At 4th dinner @ Mashomack - covid setup. This was excellent. Great cali cabernet. Fruit body and length. Yummy. This has 5 to 10 yrs left although top drinking now.
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1/5/2020 - Dionysusx Likes this wine: 94 Points
Smooth. Plenty of blue- and blackberry, along with chocolate on the nose. Decanted for an hour, upon which tannins mellowed, dark fruits became brighter and oak flavors blend wonderfully to a long, rich finish.
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11/29/2019 - moods wrote: 88 Points
Nice fruity Napa cab with an earthy character. Lacks a bit of a mid-palate punch to be awesome. Good value.
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9/7/2019 - wmccone54 wrote: 92 Points
Still shows a lot of gritty tannin with the black fruits and evolving complexity providing balance. This wine demands a a big piece of red meat to maximize enjoyment.
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7/13/2019 - neurovino Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice modern napa cab. A little more depth would have been even better, but still excellent.
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9/9/2018 - wmccone54 wrote: 91 Points
There’s been significant development and improvement in this wine since I tried it almost four years ago. Enjoyed over two days, and both a decant and food are highly recommended. Much better on day two after it’s had lots of oxygen.
Deep, clear ruby color, full bodied texture, and still developing. Medium intensity aromatics show upfront earth tones, mint, black herbal tea, and herbaceousness mixed with black currant, blackberry, black cherry, and black plum. Still some vestige of oak which eventually disappears. Gritty tannin and medium plus acidity support a long finish. I suspect this will continue to improve over the intermediate term and should cellar for at least five more years.
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9/8/2018 - vincemcd61 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great wine. Wonderful aroma with an earthy undertone. Long finish
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4/28/2018 - kcsteve Likes this wine: 91 Points
I'm a real Chappellet fan. Opened 7 hours before consuming. Dark, fruit forward. Tannins were mild probably due to being open for so many hours. Decant or open very early. Wine was like drinking liquid velvet. Drank over 2 nights...was just as good on night 2. Good wine for an off year in Napa.
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3/5/2018 - MichielV wrote: 91 Points
At MH w Jenny & Rudy staying at the house because of power outage. Great steak from BBQ. This was still very tight but after hour and half really opened up. Very dark color and great spice and fruit on the nose. On palate a lot is going on. This is very good, has length and elegance. Give it a 3 hour decant. I continue to do things backward: 1) select wine2) open wine 3) check my own notes to see if i should open. No regrets but still.
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1/5/2018 - John McCabe wrote: 91 Points
Was slightly hard and unyielding at first but opened up nicely. Pretty classy, deep and a bit old school. Pretty good considering the vintage. Benefits from decanting. 91+pts.
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12/25/2017 - Ejkrieg Likes this wine: 88 Points
Opened night before, was excellent with Christmas BBQ Filet. Smoky, moderate tannin, smooth. Definitely ready to drink with good decant first, don’t see changing much for better with time.
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12/2/2017 - tomoem Likes this wine: 90 Points
Graphite on the nose with immediate fruit on the start. Not overly complicated but fun and fresh modern Cabernet.
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7/17/2017 - MichielV wrote: 91 Points
Burger Sunday. Very good, gave it a 2 hour decant and this was a great Calicab. Bit rough around the edges but that gave it the interest. Good fruit and finish. This will live nicely until its 10 yrs old. Roosje/ JH visiting for weekend.
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1/31/2017 - VinoViking Likes this wine: 89 Points
Among the best 11's, but still a thin tight wine. Ready to drink now. Enjoy in context.
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1/28/2017 - WineCPA wrote: 92 Points
Very good for the off vintage. Moderate tannins at this point so a decant is helpful. Blackberry & black cherry on the palate & finish. Drink now-2020.
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12/24/2016 - ljonas Likes this wine: 91 Points
Updated:. Good but too young. Good depth. Mocha, chocolate, spices & plums fuse togther gracefully as this soft, supple wine takes shape. Suggestion: Decant for 3 hour before serving... Or better to wait (see updated drinking window)
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12/8/2016 - wineshaman wrote: 91 Points
PNP, excellent cab, rich, concentrated, smooth dark fruit, very approachable but can lay down for several more years.
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11/26/2016 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
PNP, last tasted 1 year ago almost to the day, very nice flowery nose, with plenty of dark currants, cassis, the palate was similar to the nose, with good concentration for the vintage, structure is also quite good for the vintage a rich, dark, sturdy Cabernet that is in my mind a reference point for this so,so vintage.
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10/29/2016 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 90 Points
A touch of green when first sampled, this settled into a nice profile of Raspberry, cherry and bright plum.
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10/22/2016 - Les Kangas Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened up after about 1/2 hour to be a very good cab. Had quite a bit of sediment, so will stand upright, for a couple days, and decant at dinner. Faded after 1 1/2 hours, so I will drink my other two bottles in next two years. Seems to be at peak now. Reidel cab glasses
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8/6/2016 - Kakkihahn wrote:
Drank both on Friday night . .scrumptous wine
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7/17/2016 - Tazdevil Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent wine, can't wait to try it again.
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7/15/2016 - Quarked wrote: 91 Points
Surprisingly full bodied for a 2011, with deep cassis notes under smooth tannins. A very dark and satisfying wine that is ready to drink now.
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7/10/2016 - EvanJB wrote:
Excellent cab
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5/20/2016 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: flawed
At first this opens with a nice red fruit nose, a little thin but inviting. The palate is more red fruits, lots of cassis and a little greenness- good enough but not exciting. About an hour later it's all green, really funky if not meaty, and very astringent . Hot and disjointed. Something had to be off with the cork, I'll mark it flawed. Boo.
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5/8/2016 - rougeamore Likes this wine: 91 Points
Loads of dark fruit with smooth tannins. Full bodied and medium finish. Drank really well with the skirt steak. Ready to drink now.
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2/15/2016 - WineGold Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well integrated, polished, dark purple win with loads of black and blue fruit backed with more than enough tannin. Blueberry, plums, cassis, medium oak (not soft or light at all, to me). I think this is drinking well now and has enough structure to stay at its peak window for three or four years.
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12/29/2015 - RedEric Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delightful. Aging well.
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11/27/2015 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
5th annual Thanksgiving dinner @ Charlier Palmer DC (Charlie Palmer Steak House/Washington DC): More concentrated than the Octagon, plenty of currant, cassis, dark cherry, low acidity, thick and chewy. Paired with roasted baby beets and braised short rib pastrami.
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10/31/2015 - PSUSteve wrote: 90 Points
A little tight on pop and pour. Opens up some with an hour of air but overall this is a muted wine with some cassis, cherry and a hint of tobacco on the palate. Not sure I see this getting better but I may hold off on the next bottle.
Enjoyed this better on night 2 after VinVac so I bumped it from 89 to 90 and will wait until 2017 for next one or give it much more air.
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10/28/2015 - MichielV wrote: 91 Points
W great pork roast from eataly. Richie, Olly, Albert. Yummy wine that needs time (as i said before but i dont read my own notes back). Has it next to 2011RC Affinity and 2008 Red Barn Cab from Frogs Leap. Very good came in second. After an hour it rally started to develop.
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10/4/2015 - wineshaman wrote: 92 Points
Very nice showing, especially for the vintage. Quite rich and concentrated, but not overdone, plenty of dark currant, cassis, dark chocolate, dark plum, smooth soft forward tannins. As with most 2011 reds from Napa, drink soon!
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9/12/2015 - Mountster27 wrote: 91 Points
Now is the time. Maybe a year more, max.
Soft dark fruit and medium dry tannin. Oak well integrated now.
Handles an hour of decanting and is so easy to drink it won't last long.
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5/16/2015 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 1hr, dark fruit, chocolate, low complexity, medium dry finish, drink over the next few years. Paired nicely with grilled lamb chops.
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3/31/2015 - msuwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
An impressive cabernet for the vintage. Dark ruby in color, nose of blackberry and gravel. Tastes of blueberry, graphite, olive, and eucalyptus, followed by somewhat rustic tannins. 14.5% alcohol. It is still a 2011, but it is a good 2011 - more fruit than usual for this vintage.
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2/28/2015 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
I was excited to try this and it didn't disappoint. Pnp'ed, but got a fair amount of evolution in the glass. It was very approachable from the beginning though. Didn't get the feeling that aging would change or improve much, but perhaps a bit of time left open in the bottle before drinking. Nice mix of fruit and spice. Good wine.
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2/19/2015 - KeithSurg wrote: 89 Points
Smooth and polished, but simple. Did not have the heft to stand up to lamb chops. Still a nice wine, though.
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12/31/2014 - nsmith75 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Enjoyed with bone in ribeye on the lanai on New Years eve. Chappellet rarely disappoints. Good value for a $50 bottle.
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12/5/2014 - pvewino Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good. Agree that this one is probably best in the near term. Also best the first day. No need to aerate it, or let it breathe for too long. Good with food as well.
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11/24/2014 - wmccone54 wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyed over three days; and subsequent to the 2008 Prichard Hill on Day 1. This was a good contrast in vintage differences. Not nearly as extracted, and rich as its more expensive sibling; however for half the price this is an excellent and tasteful wine showing more herbal and earthy qualities built around a solid core of mixed black and red fruit, underscored with a solid tannic structure. Long finish. Very good given the tough 2011 vintage conditions.
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11/21/2014 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Big Napa Cab in the best way.
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11/17/2014 - kingboo wrote: 91 Points
Good fruit. Light on the tannins and acidity. Typical for the vintage. Not one for the cellar, so drink up and enjoy. After a couple of hours decanted, starting to really blossom. Quite good.
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11/14/2014 - mikev101 Likes this wine: 91 Points
awesome Cab
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11/1/2014 - wineshaman wrote: 91 Points
Forgot I opened this last night and poured 1 glass for guest, cork was put back and re tasted some 20 hrs later. Blueberries seem to dominate on both the nose and palate, with hints of currant, cassis, and plums all dark & concentrated. The palate was soft and surprisingly approachable, clearly better than the bottle I had six months ago, like most Napa 2011's this is an early maturing cab. I will consume remaining bottles over the next five years or so.
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10/18/2014 - MichielV Likes this wine: 90 Points
W lambchop from grill. First bottle of this was corked. This was great. Verytight and way too early to drink. This will take a few more yrs but a great wine of fruit and tannins. Very bordeaux like (that was mu first impression of the corked bottle). Great dark color, good nose of fruit and spice. On palate very tight but signals of a very good wine. Yummy but stay away for 3+ yrs.
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10/9/2014 - Johnfromspokane wrote: 90 Points
Mocha, earth, and black cherry dominate. Hugh johnsons comparison with a first growth however is laughable. This has neither the length, structure, or depth of a great Bordeaux. Not to say its bad by any stretch, but this is more fruity and feminine.
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10/1/2014 - Rgentile wrote: 89 Points
90 min decant.
Eye: Dark purple with a deep violet rim and opaque
Nose: Black plums, cassis, blueberry
Palate: Cassis, some oak, med + acidity, integrated tannins (nearly soft) with a medium finish.
Overall this was a very nice cab but was not great. I think it may just need more time or the fruit just isn't great. One odd thing was the nose was very closed after opening and the decant really helped but the mid palate was non existent. This feel of this wine may improve over time...we shall see.
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9/11/2014 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Chappellet tasting at K&L (K&L Los Angeles): Some alcohol on the nose and a bit closed up otherwise. Silky mouthfeel. After vigorous swirling, we got hints of earth and some wood. Rather full bodied and a very soft finish. Tannins were soft to begin but became more expansive and mouth-coating with air. I'm not sure how long this was open before I tried it, but maybe it needed more time to open up.
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7/7/2014 - cspence1981 wrote: 88 Points
Clearly opened this bottle too young. Tight and acidic with little structure at first but after decanting and letting it breathe for appx 2 hours it started to balance with some nice earthy notes and tannins. This wine needs another few years in the bottle before coming into form but has potential.
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6/15/2014 - ivsimler Likes this wine: 90 Points
Delicious with steak prepared with peppers and grilled potatoes. No really.. Quite damn delicious.
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6/14/2014 - wineshaman wrote: 89 Points
Splashed decanted, very primary, rich, concentrated, tannic, dry, undertones of currants cassis, plums. The structure is there, just needs some time to integrate. 89++
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4/19/2014 - djlevin Likes this wine: 89 Points
Chappellet Vineyards and Sonoma Loeb Tasting Streamed to 45 Total Wine Stores (Tempe, AZ): Very dark extracted looking wine with an intense nose of alcohol, plum and blackberry. High acidity and high tannins - very young. This has a light mouth-feel, offering more of a food wine approach. The palate is fruit forward with sweet plum, blackberry and white pepper. The fruit is very concentrated. The mid-palate brings in oak and toffee and then finishes with vanilla. A middle of the road Napa cab.
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4/15/2014 - jaxpaj wrote: 89 Points
there must be huge variation for 2011 with the majority being average.
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4/9/2014 - jdub679 wrote: 88 Points
Cherry, blackberry, oak, something a little green as well. Medium acidity with well integrated tannins. Medium finish. Decanted 1 hr. Elegant, but expected bigger. (50+5+11+15+7)
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3/31/2014 - jaxpaj wrote: 94 Points
I don’t know if the wine has reached a REALLY GOOD stage or extreme bottle variation for 2011. This was wonderful and a great QPR. Rich deep fruit with a touch of oak. Long finish.
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2/8/2014 - Gator96 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Spicy middle with a strong finish. Ty and John
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1/18/2014 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
RussK. best of 2013 at wine watch. 90-.
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1/13/2014 - jaxpaj wrote: 87 Points
An off year or an off bottle. This wine has a tight mineral edge that keeps me from enjoying the wine.
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1/4/2014 - Richard Ellison wrote:
Wonderful
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12/24/2013 - top_chef wrote: 94 Points
Yumma! Really big and bold out of the gate. Mellowed and smoothed over a couple hours to a jammy, luscious, full bodied wine. Will be amazing in 10 years.
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12/21/2013 - mpmullic Likes this wine:
Chocolate covered cherry on the forepallet and then a little bit of a hole in the middle before you get to some minerality, black tea and wet rocks and then a smack in the face of blackberry cobbler. Nice lingering finish. A little too acidic at the moment but that should dissipate with time.
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