Definitely mature but still has fruit and some structure. Super smooth and balanced. Flavors peaked after 30 minutes and did fall off a bit after around 2 hours. Overall very enjoyable 92+
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Enjoyed another bottle and staying with the same rating and comments. Although this bottle displayed more bricking the nose and the taste were fantastic.
Amazingly the red fruits are still very present while the secondary and even some tracheary flavors are emerging. Nicely balanced and still delivering.
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The Cinq Cepages has been our comfort Cabernet for many years. I first tasted this 2003 vintage in 2007 and almost every year this wine delivers. On this occasion we enjoyed a glass by itself and then paired with a grill filet, just perfect. The edges display the initial hints of bricking while the fruits and spices feel like its 2017! The dark fruits hang so nice on the tannin and acids with enough oak aging to mellow the wine and really soften the edges. No alcohol heat just flavor and enjoyment.
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Still full, dark, and rich. Smoothness without being soft, maintaining wonderful balance. I love this wine right where it's at, easily 3-5 excellent yrs ahead of it.
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Mid-Aged Zinfandel and Cali Cab Dinner (Casa Garard - Northfield IL): Tasted double blind in vertical. Rich and powerful, yet wonderfully balanced and charming with very good weight. At a wonderful place now with Lots of life still remaining. Shocked to see the vintage. My fav or the 4 vintages.
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Medium deep color. Nose is still fresh and fruit driven. A nice varietal profile with nice balance of berry, herb and a touch of mint. Good acidity, structure and weight. Long and fine. Lovely Cabernet and a great example from California of what can be achieved without being overripe.
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How does Wine Speculator intially rate this as 86 pts without being taken to task by the subsequent CT community in our 90-95 pt impressions at this late stage? Zero faults in this wine. Mildly opage, color presents as 6-8 yrs old. Blackberry, blueberry, and baking spice nose. Round mouthfeel with grip preventing softness. Layers of blue, red, and black fruit are each easily identified. 20+ sec finish, slightly drying aspect to provide additional interest. The height of 20 year-old Sonoma red wine.
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This is why I love CellarTracker. I kind of blew past the early tastes of this wine and was going to give it a lower rating and review. But I took a look at what others had to say and went back and paid more attention. While I wouldn’t agree that this wine has decades of life left in it, I did find its savory notes, muted but elegant fruit and solid structure very compelling, especially when paired with food.
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This wine blew me away, wasn't expecting so much richness from a 15 year old wine. My notes contain words like "think, unctuous and husky" to describe it. Still in infancy, another 20 years of life is expected here. Another wine I wish I owned more of.
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This wine just gets better decanted for about two hours and it was like silk on the palet. Nice lingering finish. Great balance of tannins, acid and berry flavors.
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Medium mix of garnet and ruby red with lighter edges. Lovely aged nose with cedar, lavender, dark cherries, herbal, blackberries and licorice. Medium tannins (5.5/10) and well integrated with a medium to medium plus body. Rounded palate with blackberries, dusted cherries, herbs and spices. Medium plus to longboard finish. Drink till 2020.
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14.4% abv. Purple in glass but showing signs of bricking/age. Bordeaux blend of 5 grapes. Cherry, flowers, coffee, dark chocolate, oak on nose. Full in mouth, still well structured and lively with mouthwatering acid and tannins. Berries, cocoa, charcoal, layered and long finish, quite enjoyable. In prime window now and has 5+ years left. Nothing beats well cellared old California Cabernets like this one.
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Enduze decant for about an hour. Ever so slight indication of stewed fruit but an incredible nose: Coffee grounds with black raspberry and cassis. Whoa. On the palate? Whoa again. Rich and full, this is close to mind blowing. This is still fruity, deep, and velvet on the tongue with a length finish. Whoa again and again. thedrunkencyclist.com
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Dark purple, voluptuous wine, but slightly peaked. Big dark fruits on the nose that translated to blueberry/blackberry but now with a prune-plum taste. Medium bodied. Don't hold off -- DRINK NOW!
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Deep full-bodied nose -- not too fruity, not too oak-y, not too distinguishable. Unremarkable but good structure and drinking. Don't hold for too much longer.
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Some good complexity and sure does not feel like it is at the end of it's drinking window. Good tannins after being open 2 - 3 hours! Not a ton of fruit, has good oak and certainly enough alcohol! A good cinq but not a great cinq!
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90+. This was my last bottle - and it did not disappoint. Previous notes indicating chocolate and leather are dead on, with some earth and maybe vanilla / oak nuance. Cherry / raspberry as well - this was well worth the $36 I paid for it back in 2007, and showing great for being 12 years old. Wish I had a couple more ...
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Last bottle, better than previous. Nose has lots of berries chocolate and leather. Long finish smooth and blackberry tart cherry coffee. Bought a case at really good price, not sure I would pay full price
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Right up front this gets a Whoa. No green pepper but tons of intrigue. Blackberry, cassis, and a hint of vanilla. On the palate this is incredible--balance, fruit, finish. Whoa. 93. thedrunkencyclist.com
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Drinking really well. Some Tanin still present, but wine is well balanced overall. A little smoke and dark fruit. 12th anniversary wine. A lot has happened between 2003 and 2015. Wine is good to go now and confident it is good for a few more years if stored well.
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Dark purple opaque. Nose had little fruit and still had some alcohol, not big. On the palette some berry and short finish. Maybe waited too long to open
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Still holding up ok. Decanted two hours. This wine has an old world feel on the nose and palate. Certainly plum, dark fruit dominate the palate, altho they are faded. I agree with wineguy25 about the hint of orange peel.
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The wine is showing signs of aging, with a slight red/orangish rim; on the nose hints of leather, and anise. The palette is a little tired, but does still have fresh acidity. Flavors of plum and slight caramel with hints of orange peel and wet soft leather. The wine is still alive but not as big as we had hoped for. Mellowing quickly and recommend drinking very soon.
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A very pleasant surprise. Finding a 2003 SoCo Cabernet Sauvignon that still holds complexity and character without oxidation is unusual but all the better when you do. Deep leather and dark stone fruit aromas pair with dark plum acidity with thin tannins alongside tobacco and leather with a hint of vanilla. Very nice indeed.
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Much better than my last bottle and drinking very well. Deep, inky color and a medium floral nose highlighted by lavender notes. Robust with more earthy characteristics rather than fruit. Evidence of cedar, tobacco and chocolate on the palate. Medium bodied with smooth tannins and a lingering finish. This bottle is in the sweet spot but my mixed experiences with this vintage suggest it is time to drink up.
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From 375. A bit on the dark side and brooding, with a nose of blackberry and a hint of mocha. Rich on the palate with still tons of fruit. The hint of grip on the back end hints at some more aging potential. Outstanding. thedrunkencyclist.com
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very dark color, not visually showing any age. nose of dark fruit and some floral notes. good mouthfeel, still quite tannic. fruit on the front of the palate and little flat on the finish.
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Expressive bouquet - almost floral ... roses then blueberry / dark fruit, raspberries and anise. Silky / velvety texture. Flavor - touches of vanilla, finishes with some oak. Flavors of dark fruit throughout, but finishes with a bit of alcohol, and some dryness.
Had a bottle several years ago - must have been in a lull at that time, because this is hitting its stride.
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Tasted twice, once when first opened and again after 24 hours (held in cellar with cork). Consistent notes: bland and a bit bitter. Doubt more aging will help
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Blind Italian Reds at the Ballingtons' (Great Falls, VA): non-blind, had been open 24 hours when tasted. mild and pleasant, if not particularly expressive. nicely balanced, with blue/black fruits and the alcohol well integrated. coarse mouthfeel.
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Dark brooding fruit almost sanpaper like in the mouth with dry dark tannins and minerality - nose was nondescript - powerful dryness with front and middle palate - stays at the front of your mouth - only a hint of cabernet/cassis at the beginning of the finish - not really a cab and far more a less full bodied cab franc - I will have to see what the actual blend is? I am not sure it is worth the $45 or so.
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- Garnet color and aromas of black currant. It's balanced and has flavours of black currant and alcohol with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a medium finish.
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Very enjoyable wine. Cedar nose, cherry-tart/tannic taste, dark fruits balanced the wine with long finish. Terrific with our meal. Time to drink-- it's banging right now.
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A little disapointed in this bottle. Lists itself as a Cabernet, but is more of a Bordeaux blend. A little tight when first opened, but became nicer with a little air. Would recommend at least an hour to breathe before drinking.
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Decanted several hours before dinner. Complex nose...cedar, pine, forest evergreen, leather, some smoke, spice and tart fruit; very dark red in colour; nicely balanced with unripe plum on palate. Medium finish. Have three more bottles that could easily cellar 4-5 years more.
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Popped and poured. Nice Cali cab nose with some leather and mint. Oak, fruit and tannins nicely integrated. Smoothed out even more after an hour. Easy-drinking.
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Should have reread my earlier notes. Only decanted this for 30 min or so before drinking. Nice, dark fruit aroma. Well balanced but not much of a finish and not much character. Probably needs 90 min to 2 hrs of air at least.
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delicious but not complex. crushed stone, leather, dried dark fruits on the nose. cassic, kirsch, leather, tobacco on the finish. drink now. 90+. I would rate this higher but it's not complex enough to merit a higher rating. it's a fine wine.
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Very nice. Gave this a vinturi into a decanter, then drank 2 hours later. Elegance and balance with new world fruit, tempered with the complexity of a very nice blending effort. This has enough acid to support the deep dark fruit and tannins that are now fine and smooth. This drank well tonight.
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Definitely hitting right now. Black fruit and floral dominated nose, with solid oak and medium tannins. Touches of currant, blackberry, vanilla. Two hrs in the decanter before drinking. Held up well over a few nights.
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started out as a 91, nice fruit, no Sonoma grit. After 3 hours it died off to a 87. Averaged it out. I'm done with Cinq Cepages after multiple vintages consumed. It's not my bag baby.
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I normally love this wine, but for some reason its in a weird state right now. Nice boquet, but a little thin and alc on the finish. Will try again in a year or two.
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Alcoholic mess turned into a very pleasant if straightforward Cab on day 2. Big cassis and plum, a dollop of cedar-oak, lingering finish, orange peel, mint.
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Very nice. Nice bordeaux nose with a herbaceous, green pepper, oak and chocolate palate. Needs another two/three years. Beautiful wine with steak- a marbled ripeyewith bone in the best.
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I thought 2003 was an off year but this wine really is drinking well right now. Very powerful, more oak than I sometimes like but it was the splash of the birthday dinner and improved as the night progressed. I would give it at least 1 hr before consuming
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Decanted 90 minutes. First few sips had some austere complexity that I appreciated. After that, I got some minty notes and then the heaviness of the oak began to set in. The oak progressively coats the palate in a way that makes the wine monolithic and hard to notice any of the other characteristics anymore (or your entree). Awful food wine even though the varietal pairing and acid level should have been a good match. Definitely a lesson to be had here about run-and-gun wine tasting. Way over-oaked and really just a one glass cocktail wine.
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Plenty of oak but it's well integrated. 2+ hours of air and this becomes a beautiful Sonoma cab blend that's expressive and complex. Really drinking well now.
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Reminiscent of a nice bordeaux, this is a great food wine. Medium to full bodied with dark cherry, currant and cedar flavors. This has enough acidity to play off a wide range of foods.
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decanted one hour and drank over the next two. Drinking very well right now.Dark fruit and vanilla/oak nose. Palate was dark fruit,blue/blackberry, chocolate, mixed with balanced vanilla/oak, touch of mint. Zapping acidity followed by gripping tannnins. Wine just kept getting better as it was opened. Bottle says "bordeaux style wine" but I thought it was more California style. Outstanding wine, drink now with at least an hour decant or it will hold for another few years.
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Very pleasant wine, popped and Vinturi'd from half bottle. Dark chocolate and cherries on the nose, with a little currant as well. Tart cherry flavors on the palate and very smooth and silky. Love this wine.
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Popped (but not poured) for one hour. Nice aromas of currant, spice - nice freshness. A hint of the right bank. Beautiful purple/blue color. Flavors of cherry with a mid-palate hint of mint and chocolate. Served with pasta with a turkey sausage red sauce and drunk over two hours. There was nothing special about this wine and for me the biggest thing was how light (thin?) it was both with and without food. It was more enjoyable when first opened. The 2004 is much better.
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Satisfying. Black cherry, blueberry (?), dirt (a/k/a terroir), chocolate (?), all bathed in a liquid of smoothed, balanced tannins. Nice finish, just complex enough to be interesting.
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I have read mixed reviews on this wine, and not just this vintage. However, my experience was very positive. Garnett color. An inviting nose of blueberries, chocolate, and sweet vanilla; some mint and herbal notes developing with time in the glass. Very lithe on the palate with blueberries, blackberries, nice acidity, and delicious, gripping tannins. The finish was a little short, but overall a very pleasant glass of wine. I will open my next one in 2010.
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Nice wine. Nose of leather and black fruit, a bit of dark chocolate. Incredibly smooth, balanced wine. Nothing overwhelmingly special, but nice to sit and drink while talking with friends. I remeber this wine in other years being much better.
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Deep garnet color. A lot of spice in the nose. Coffee, cocoa and dark berry flavors. Decanted this about 3 hours before serving resulting in a huge flavor improvement from the last time. Was very soft and round with air but closed up a bit after 5 hours. Very nice bottle of wine. Fully approachable now but will likely peak in another 2 to 3 years. Accompanied by stuffed chicken breast, fresh asparagus and sauteed potatoes. Consumed with George, Colleen, Alyssa and Drew.
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Dark red/purple Takes time to open. 30 mins of decanting reveals complex berry aromas. Slight earthy/oak scents Smooth texture, balanced acidity/tannins. Tastes of dark cherries, blackberries, and slight earth. Finish was just medium length Soft Tannins means drink now. Good wine to have now. Enjoyed this, especially when compared to the Stags Leap Winery Cab which we had the same night
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Nice deep dark garnet color. Still taking its time to open, with hints of earth, herbs, and mostly red fruits. Dark cherries, plum, smoke, herbs on the palate. Nicely balanced with a smooth texture and a little grip. Has time.
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A lip staining dark purple blend, which takes about a three hour decant to open up. This wine is evolving into something pretty special. Grape cola, graphite & black currant aromas make this an addicting nose. Initially the mid palate is a bit shallow, but eventually you'll get a nice layer of chocolate, with the black fruit following close behind. A tiny bit hot on the back end, which finishes very dry, with tongue coating tannins.
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This is a nicely made, well balanced wine that pleases but does not knok your socks off. Beautiful garnet hue for the eye. The nose is greeted with an enticing mix of cedar, sour cherry and an undertone of frankincense (or is it myrr?). Unfortunately, after that build-up the tongue was a bit disappointed that the complexity was really only on the nose and the finish was short and unremarkable. The wine does have soft tannins which afford rather easy drinking now, but brings some doubt about longer term cellaring at this point. This wine will probably peak within the next year, so drink up.
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A very nice cab...worth the money? That is another argument. This wine is a little reductive, but still showing some varietal character. Black cherries, oak, cassis, red bell pepper. There is a little bit of stemmy character in this wine as well.
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Highly aromatic nose, complex, with violets, cassis, and a bit of cracked stone. Flavor for to spare, but elegant, with cherries, cassis, violet, a bit of smoke, and some earthy notes blending beautifully together into an amazingly-balanced wine. Lingering finish, like a slow kiss goodnight.
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Opens with strong green pepper and quickly settling with subtle vanilla, blueberry, and eucalyptus aromas. Nicely balanced tanins with licrice flavor and rich lasting finish.
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Very nice aromas. Young and primary as well. At around $60 I won't repurchase. I like the Betz bordeaux Blends much better. I can see this improving with age but just a little harsh for me.90+pts
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Needs a longer decant at this point. Got better as the night went on, but a lot of alcohol at the start. Gave the first bottle I tasted a higher score, but am not as confident in this bottle. Have a few mnore bottles and will sit on them for a while before opening.
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Typical CSJ, which is a good thing, because it means a smooth, clean, balanced wine and solid QPR. This one is $45 well spent: it shows typical currant, mocha, and graphite notes, along with an extra grape-jam kick. The tannins are polished and easygoing. It's a straightforward wine, sure, but not in a boring way. With CaliCabs of equivalent quality topping three figures regularly these days, this is a breath of fresh air.
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not alot going on here- some nice fruit; medium bodied; a touch of drying bitterness to the tannins and a relatively short finish- not really unpleasant but not much to it either.
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Smooth drinking, yet a complex, classic cabernet that is drinking well right now. Not too tannic, but should last a few more years. Somewhat pricey, but obviously based on its long-standing reputation. Dark, deep purple in color. Nice aromas. Nice currant, berry, and tobacco flavors with some oak in there.
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Young but promising. Nice fruit on the nose, though not the complexity of the last two vintages The tannins partially conceal the fruit in the mouth, and if a .375's not completely ready to drink, I'd gather a .750 would need at least one year of cellar time before popping. (88-91)
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After 30 minutes of air, this wine opened up and became quite good. Slight tobacco under a delicious berry mix. Medium dry. Way too expensive for the taste, however. There are others I would rather buy that are just as good and 1/2 teh price.
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Binny's California Night (Highland Park): nose: nice light nose with cranberry and blueberry mostly. After opening it up a bit though there is a ton of oak coming through, really brings down the niceities of the fruit
taste: big amount of tannins, oak, and heat. The mouth is a bit disjointed
overall: this most likely needs time. The flavors are there, but they're hiding behind oak and tannins. Hopefully the oak will blow over with time
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very fruit forward -- seemed more so than past years, and a little too much so for me. Big nose and taste of ripe red berries and cassis. Hint of sweet brown tobacco and "sweet" molten sulfur. Was hoping to find more of the cedar, tobacco and rum-raisin that I liked so much in prior vintages.
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Earthy cedar and black licorice on the nose. Well integrated tannins with cedar, pencil lead, black currant and anise notes. Dry tannins could allow more aging.
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Pop and pour at Willie's in Eugene, OR. Found the color dark purple and near opaque. Nose was fairly muted. Big red fruit, black cherry and tobacco on the palate. Hints of something vegetal skittering around the edges, but mostly very pleasurable. Tannins need some time. Really, the whole bottle needs some 2+ years and this should come together and rate in the low 90s.
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Consumed without benefit of any decanting. There's a lot going on, I just didn't give it much of a chance. A bit out of balance yet one could see that the structure may provide for some solid potential for improvement.
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Deep reddish-purple in color with raspberry and plum nose. Opens up nicely after an hour or so. Tannins are a little harsh but aren't too bad. I knew it needed to age, but curiosity made me try a bottle early. This is going to be wonderful in a few years.
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3/10/2024 - Handy1 wrote: 91 Points
Pop n poured. This bottle more tired than last a year ago fruit falling off. Drink up
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2/25/2024 - Winokdub wrote: 92 Points
Definitely mature but still has fruit and some structure. Super smooth and balanced. Flavors peaked after 30 minutes and did fall off a bit after around 2 hours. Overall very enjoyable 92+
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8/27/2023 - Handy1 wrote: 93 Points
Pop n pour. Well balanced with fruit and acidity and some residual tannins. Drinking very nice no rush
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5/7/2023 - brouigu1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Enjoyed another bottle and staying with the same rating and comments. Although this bottle displayed more bricking the nose and the taste were fantastic.
Amazingly the red fruits are still very present while the secondary and even some tracheary flavors are emerging. Nicely balanced and still delivering.
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2/6/2023 - brouigu1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
The Cinq Cepages has been our comfort Cabernet for many years. I first tasted this 2003 vintage in 2007 and almost every year this wine delivers. On this occasion we enjoyed a glass by itself and then paired with a grill filet, just perfect. The edges display the initial hints of bricking while the fruits and spices feel like its 2017! The dark fruits hang so nice on the tannin and acids with enough oak aging to mellow the wine and really soften the edges. No alcohol heat just flavor and enjoyment.
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12/25/2022 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still full, dark, and rich. Smoothness without being soft, maintaining wonderful balance. I love this wine right where it's at, easily 3-5 excellent yrs ahead of it.
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8/20/2022 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Mid-Aged Zinfandel and Cali Cab Dinner (Casa Garard - Northfield IL): Tasted double blind in vertical. Rich and powerful, yet wonderfully balanced and charming with very good weight. At a wonderful place now with Lots of life still remaining. Shocked to see the vintage. My fav or the 4 vintages.
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8/20/2022 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 92 Points
Chez Garard older Zinfandels and Cali Cabs: More balance with the fruit. Quite enjoyable.
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6/5/2022 - Fat1Wombat wrote:
Medium deep color.
Nose is still fresh and fruit driven. A nice varietal profile with nice balance of berry, herb and a touch of mint.
Good acidity, structure and weight. Long and fine.
Lovely Cabernet and a great example from California of what can be achieved without being overripe.
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5/14/2022 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine: 94 Points
How does Wine Speculator intially rate this as 86 pts without being taken to task by the subsequent CT community in our 90-95 pt impressions at this late stage? Zero faults in this wine. Mildly opage, color presents as 6-8 yrs old. Blackberry, blueberry, and baking spice nose. Round mouthfeel with grip preventing softness. Layers of blue, red, and black fruit are each easily identified. 20+ sec finish, slightly drying aspect to provide additional interest. The height of 20 year-old Sonoma red wine.
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11/20/2021 - Tym4wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice soft floral bouquet. Well rounded tannins. Dark fruit flavors of blackberry and blueberry. Medium finish.
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5/17/2021 - Old Joe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Surprisingly the wine is still superb but definitely at or just past its peak..last one
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12/30/2020 - brasstab Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is why I love CellarTracker. I kind of blew past the early tastes of this wine and was going to give it a lower rating and review. But I took a look at what others had to say and went back and paid more attention. While I wouldn’t agree that this wine has decades of life left in it, I did find its savory notes, muted but elegant fruit and solid structure very compelling, especially when paired with food.
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9/19/2020 - Don Roberto wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful. Dark garnet, lighter on the rim. Classic aged cab nose. Complex-terciary flavors. Totally integrated tannins. I’d say it’s at its peak.
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2/23/2019 - Ara Kafafian Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine blew me away, wasn't expecting so much richness from a 15 year old wine. My notes contain words like "think, unctuous and husky" to describe it. Still in infancy, another 20 years of life is expected here. Another wine I wish I owned more of.
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12/23/2018 - Old Joe Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine just gets better decanted for about two hours and it was like silk on the palet. Nice lingering finish. Great balance of tannins, acid and berry flavors.
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8/28/2018 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 90 Points
Medium mix of garnet and ruby red with lighter edges. Lovely aged nose with cedar, lavender, dark cherries, herbal, blackberries and licorice. Medium tannins (5.5/10) and well integrated with a medium to medium plus body. Rounded palate with blackberries, dusted cherries, herbs and spices. Medium plus to longboard finish. Drink till 2020.
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8/28/2018 - cab blends wrote: 88 Points
Light cedar nose N4
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8/24/2018 - dclaggett Likes this wine: 93 Points
14.4% abv. Purple in glass but showing signs of bricking/age. Bordeaux blend of 5 grapes. Cherry, flowers, coffee, dark chocolate, oak on nose. Full in mouth, still well structured and lively with mouthwatering acid and tannins. Berries, cocoa, charcoal, layered and long finish, quite enjoyable. In prime window now and has 5+ years left. Nothing beats well cellared old California Cabernets like this one.
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2/3/2018 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 95 Points
Enduze decant for about an hour. Ever so slight indication of stewed fruit but an incredible nose: Coffee grounds with black raspberry and cassis. Whoa. On the palate? Whoa again. Rich and full, this is close to mind blowing. This is still fruity, deep, and velvet on the tongue with a length finish. Whoa again and again. thedrunkencyclist.com
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3/16/2017 - bruce61 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Surprisingly vibrant; a very nice box blend.
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9/21/2016 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark purple, voluptuous wine, but slightly peaked. Big dark fruits on the nose that translated to blueberry/blackberry but now with a prune-plum taste. Medium bodied. Don't hold off -- DRINK NOW!
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9/21/2016 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep full-bodied nose -- not too fruity, not too oak-y, not too distinguishable. Unremarkable but good structure and drinking. Don't hold for too much longer.
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8/7/2016 - ocfriday Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium-bodied with slight herb, soft tannins. Very good with easygoing finish.
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6/1/2016 - danscellar wrote: 91 Points
Well structured cinq, some nice complexity and solid tannins. Not a ton of fruit but some good oak with some nice boysenberry tones. Enjoy!!
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5/22/2016 - danscellar wrote: 89 Points
Some good complexity and sure does not feel like it is at the end of it's drinking window. Good tannins after being open 2 - 3 hours! Not a ton of fruit, has good oak and certainly enough alcohol! A good cinq but not a great cinq!
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11/28/2015 - azwino Likes this wine: 90 Points
90+. This was my last bottle - and it did not disappoint. Previous notes indicating chocolate and leather are dead on, with some earth and maybe vanilla / oak nuance. Cherry / raspberry as well - this was well worth the $36 I paid for it back in 2007, and showing great for being 12 years old. Wish I had a couple more ...
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10/9/2015 - Jwd12 wrote: 90 Points
Last bottle, better than previous. Nose has lots of berries chocolate and leather. Long finish smooth and blackberry tart cherry coffee. Bought a case at really good price, not sure I would pay full price
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7/7/2015 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 93 Points
Right up front this gets a Whoa. No green pepper but tons of intrigue. Blackberry, cassis, and a hint of vanilla. On the palate this is incredible--balance, fruit, finish. Whoa. 93. thedrunkencyclist.com
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4/4/2015 - rwilk_2000 wrote: 90 Points
Drinking really well. Some Tanin still present, but wine is well balanced overall. A little smoke and dark fruit. 12th anniversary wine. A lot has happened between 2003 and 2015. Wine is good to go now and confident it is good for a few more years if stored well.
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1/20/2015 - Jwd12 wrote: 88 Points
Dark purple opaque. Nose had little fruit and still had some alcohol, not big. On the palette some berry and short finish. Maybe waited too long to open
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12/16/2014 - fritza wrote: 89 Points
Still holding up ok. Decanted two hours. This wine has an old world feel on the nose and palate. Certainly plum, dark fruit dominate the palate, altho they are faded. I agree with wineguy25 about the hint of orange peel.
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11/28/2014 - toddleone wrote:
Still tasting well. Drink now with a nice filet or seasoned prime rib roast. Should be drank within 6-9 months with good cellaring.
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11/24/2014 - ocfriday Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium-bodied with slight herb, soft tannins. Very good with easygoing finish.
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11/9/2014 - Wineguy25 wrote: 87 Points
The wine is showing signs of aging, with a slight red/orangish rim; on the nose hints of leather, and anise. The palette is a little tired, but does still have fresh acidity. Flavors of plum and slight caramel with hints of orange peel and wet soft leather. The wine is still alive but not as big as we had hoped for. Mellowing quickly and recommend drinking very soon.
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10/4/2014 - BillyRayValentine Likes this wine: 93 Points
From magnum. Delicious well balanced wine that still has legs. As far as tasting notes go, Gingerbreadman nailed it. See below.
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6/7/2014 - gingerbreadman wrote: 89 Points
A very pleasant surprise. Finding a 2003 SoCo Cabernet Sauvignon that still holds complexity and character without oxidation is unusual but all the better when you do. Deep leather and dark stone fruit aromas pair with dark plum acidity with thin tannins alongside tobacco and leather with a hint of vanilla. Very nice indeed.
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2/1/2014 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 88 Points
Much better than my last bottle and drinking very well. Deep, inky color and a medium floral nose highlighted by lavender notes. Robust with more earthy characteristics rather than fruit. Evidence of cedar, tobacco and chocolate on the palate. Medium bodied with smooth tannins and a lingering finish. This bottle is in the sweet spot but my mixed experiences with this vintage suggest it is time to drink up.
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11/17/2013 - ocfriday Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wonderful fruit - aging well. Not sure it will get much better, but will take my chances with my other half ...
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11/9/2013 - The Drunken Cyclist wrote: 91 Points
From 375. A bit on the dark side and brooding, with a nose of blackberry and a hint of mocha. Rich on the palate with still tons of fruit. The hint of grip on the back end hints at some more aging potential. Outstanding. thedrunkencyclist.com
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10/21/2013 - rrmcnees Likes this wine: 89 Points
very dark color, not visually showing any age. nose of dark fruit and some floral notes. good mouthfeel, still quite tannic. fruit on the front of the palate and little flat on the finish.
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9/22/2013 - wconnolly wrote: 84 Points
Opened soft and round with some fruit on the front palate but closed pretty quickly. Hopefully just a bad bottle but probably on its last legs.
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8/11/2013 - azwino Likes this wine: 90 Points
Expressive bouquet - almost floral ... roses then blueberry / dark fruit, raspberries and anise. Silky / velvety texture. Flavor - touches of vanilla, finishes with some oak. Flavors of dark fruit throughout, but finishes with a bit of alcohol, and some dryness.
Had a bottle several years ago - must have been in a lull at that time, because this is hitting its stride.
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6/1/2013 - macawmom&dad Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent blend with great fruit and aged well. Drinking very nice
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4/6/2013 - jjh49 wrote: 86 Points
Tasted twice, once when first opened and again after 24 hours (held in cellar with cork). Consistent notes: bland and a bit bitter. Doubt more aging will help
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3/22/2013 - grayfont wrote: 89 Points
Blind Italian Reds at the Ballingtons' (Great Falls, VA): non-blind, had been open 24 hours when tasted. mild and pleasant, if not particularly expressive. nicely balanced, with blue/black fruits and the alcohol well integrated. coarse mouthfeel.
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3/21/2013 - cab blends wrote: 91 Points
Dark brooding fruit almost sanpaper like in the mouth with dry dark tannins and minerality - nose was nondescript - powerful dryness with front and middle palate - stays at the front of your mouth - only a hint of cabernet/cassis at the beginning of the finish - not really a cab and far more a less full bodied cab franc - I will have to see what the actual blend is? I am not sure it is worth the $45 or so.
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2/5/2013 - sacprod wrote:
- Garnet color and aromas of black currant. It's balanced and has flavours of black currant and alcohol with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a medium finish.
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11/18/2012 - macawmom&dad Likes this wine: 92 Points
aged beautifully. No tanins, smooth blend with some fruit. Deep color
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10/24/2012 - rmgambrel wrote: 92 Points
Very nice ... Smooth, well integrated, good fruit, wish I had more but this was the last bottle.
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9/27/2012 - Winepartnersb wrote:
Very nice!
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9/11/2012 - wabi47 wrote: 89 Points
medium body; very good dark currant with some mineral; good acidity; a bit of heat but otherwise very nice.
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8/16/2012 - WDSteers wrote: 87 Points
pedestrian. well made, balanced but fruit fading and lacking intensity. went fine with lamb loin chops la scotta dita
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7/27/2012 - lviehmyer wrote: 92 Points
Let it decant! It was amazing with a roasted loin of pork and a cognac mustard sauce. Brick red in color. Long finish. A great cab.
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5/15/2012 - imastew wrote: 91 Points
needs an hour to open up and mellow the oak. good with steak and chocolate.nothing great.but a solid bottle of wine
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5/5/2012 - williamswhine wrote: 92 Points
Very enjoyable wine. Cedar nose, cherry-tart/tannic taste, dark fruits balanced the wine with long finish. Terrific with our meal. Time to drink-- it's banging right now.
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5/2/2012 - macawmom&dad wrote: 92 Points
Showing age well. Intense fruit, deep color.
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3/18/2012 - Foodievines Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice napa cab. slight dark berry, tobacco, and dusty tannnins. in the mouth nicely layered with a hint of blueberry and firm tannins. rustic napa cab.
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1/2/2012 - djreme wrote: 88 Points
A little disapointed in this bottle. Lists itself as a Cabernet, but is more of a Bordeaux blend. A little tight when first opened, but became nicer with a little air. Would recommend at least an hour to breathe before drinking.
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12/25/2011 - larryw wrote: 91 Points
Decanted several hours before dinner. Complex nose...cedar, pine, forest evergreen, leather, some smoke, spice and tart fruit; very dark red in colour; nicely balanced with unripe plum on palate. Medium finish. Have three more bottles that could easily cellar 4-5 years more.
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12/19/2011 - Gcashman wrote: 91 Points
Delicious. Give time to breathe and open up. Pretty much at peak right now.
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10/13/2011 - BodegaDan wrote: 90 Points
A wine consumed in earnest after too many before it. Still recall it fondly.
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9/14/2011 - KeithSurg wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Nice Cali cab nose with some leather and mint. Oak, fruit and tannins nicely integrated. Smoothed out even more after an hour. Easy-drinking.
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9/10/2011 - wconnolly wrote: 84 Points
Should have reread my earlier notes. Only decanted this for 30 min or so before drinking. Nice, dark fruit aroma. Well balanced but not much of a finish and not much character. Probably needs 90 min to 2 hrs of air at least.
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9/3/2011 - prp@jwko.net wrote: 90 Points
opened for 1 hr then decanted. Good balance but no complexity, blackberry and tobacco, smooth finish that only lasted for an hour.
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8/27/2011 - Nedder_travels_the_world wrote: 90 Points
delicious but not complex. crushed stone, leather, dried dark fruits on the nose. cassic, kirsch, leather, tobacco on the finish. drink now. 90+. I would rate this higher but it's not complex enough to merit a higher rating. it's a fine wine.
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8/27/2011 - Nedder_travels_the_world wrote: 90 Points
delicious but not complex. crushed stone, leather, dried dark fruits on the nose. cassic, kirsch, leather, tobacco on the finish. drink onw
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8/17/2011 - KeyMaster Likes this wine: 94 Points
vraiment super e
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7/25/2011 - stevenc.rees@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Very good right now. Well balanced with a nice long finish. Wish I had some more.
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6/11/2011 - krmcgrath wrote: 92 Points
Very nice. Gave this a vinturi into a decanter, then drank 2 hours later. Elegance and balance with new world fruit, tempered with the complexity of a very nice blending effort. This has enough acid to support the deep dark fruit and tannins that are now fine and smooth. This drank well tonight.
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6/10/2011 - marcellevi Likes this wine: 92 Points
Definitely hitting right now. Black fruit and floral dominated nose, with solid oak and medium tannins. Touches of currant, blackberry, vanilla. Two hrs in the decanter before drinking. Held up well over a few nights.
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6/2/2011 - BinVA wrote: 89 Points
started out as a 91, nice fruit, no Sonoma grit. After 3 hours it died off to a 87. Averaged it out. I'm done with Cinq Cepages after multiple vintages consumed. It's not my bag baby.
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5/8/2011 - Rickyd007 wrote:
Bottle not good - 1 left... Too bad as it is usually very good
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1/29/2011 - korkd wrote: 89 Points
I normally love this wine, but for some reason its in a weird state right now. Nice boquet, but a little thin and alc on the finish. Will try again in a year or two.
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12/30/2010 - rwilk_2000 wrote: 90 Points
Drinking really nicely. Tannnins well integrated. Cab stands out in this blend. Don't hesitate to drink now.
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12/25/2010 - wconnolly wrote: 86 Points
Not as fruit forward as expected. Wonder if the blend involved less Cab Sauv than usual. Was softer than other bottles/vintages previously consumed.
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12/22/2010 - Bradford wrote: 88 Points
Alcoholic mess turned into a very pleasant if straightforward Cab on day 2. Big cassis and plum, a dollop of cedar-oak, lingering finish, orange peel, mint.
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12/11/2010 - emdub wrote: 89 Points
Better than last time I tried this wine. Very French in style. Complex, oak, vanilla, red fruits, minerals. Great wine.
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11/6/2010 - Scottlmatthews wrote: 90 Points
Very nice. Nice bordeaux nose with a herbaceous, green pepper, oak and chocolate palate. Needs another two/three years. Beautiful wine with steak- a marbled ripeyewith bone in the best.
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10/2/2010 - nate's cellar wrote: 89 Points
Needed a while to open up, probably needs a few more years
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5/17/2010 - stevenc.rees@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Pretty tasty but a bit young yet. Deep red with a nice meritage nose and fairly rounded tannins. fairly big.
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4/21/2010 - JustOneMore wrote: 89 Points
At first, notes of vanilla and leather, with some spice. After 8 hours, mouth feel and tasted as though Ricola honey cough drops had been dissolved.
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3/13/2010 - littletimmy wrote: 92 Points
I thought 2003 was an off year but this wine really is drinking well right now. Very powerful, more oak than I sometimes like but it was the splash of the birthday dinner and improved as the night progressed. I would give it at least 1 hr before consuming
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1/11/2010 - DollarMenunaire wrote: 87 Points
Decanted 90 minutes. First few sips had some austere complexity that I appreciated. After that, I got some minty notes and then the heaviness of the oak began to set in. The oak progressively coats the palate in a way that makes the wine monolithic and hard to notice any of the other characteristics anymore (or your entree). Awful food wine even though the varietal pairing and acid level should have been a good match. Definitely a lesson to be had here about run-and-gun wine tasting. Way over-oaked and really just a one glass cocktail wine.
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1/9/2010 - krmcgrath wrote: 91 Points
Plenty of oak but it's well integrated. 2+ hours of air and this becomes a beautiful Sonoma cab blend that's expressive and complex. Really drinking well now.
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1/7/2010 - Nedder_travels_the_world wrote: 92 Points
drinking beautifully right now. Superb Bordeaux style nose and taste. Drink now or hold...you can't go wrong.
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1/3/2010 - JoeCompton wrote:
Silky oak, vanilla undertones. Plum and black cherry, very Bordeaux style mouthfeel
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12/17/2009 - williamswhine wrote: 91 Points
Nice dark cherry appearance with hints of cherry and vanilla. Popular bottle at the dinner table.
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8/15/2009 - Urodude wrote: 91 Points
consistently good. worth the price
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8/14/2009 - krmcgrath wrote: 90 Points
Reminiscent of a nice bordeaux, this is a great food wine. Medium to full bodied with dark cherry, currant and cedar flavors. This has enough acidity to play off a wide range of foods.
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7/19/2009 - J2K wrote: 93 Points
decanted one hour and drank over the next two. Drinking very well right now.Dark fruit and vanilla/oak nose. Palate was dark fruit,blue/blackberry, chocolate, mixed with balanced vanilla/oak, touch of mint. Zapping acidity followed by gripping tannnins. Wine just kept getting better as it was opened. Bottle says "bordeaux style wine" but I thought it was more California style. Outstanding wine, drink now with at least an hour decant or it will hold for another few years.
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7/18/2009 - BYOB wrote: 90 Points
Rich dark cherry and chocolate notes. Deep purple in color, and some nice earthy qualities.
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7/2/2009 - wirelesswine wrote: 91 Points
Very pleasant wine, popped and Vinturi'd from half bottle. Dark chocolate and cherries on the nose, with a little currant as well. Tart cherry flavors on the palate and very smooth and silky. Love this wine.
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6/14/2009 - rwstorer wrote: 89 Points
Popped (but not poured) for one hour. Nice aromas of currant, spice - nice freshness. A hint of the right bank. Beautiful purple/blue color. Flavors of cherry with a mid-palate hint of mint and chocolate. Served with pasta with a turkey sausage red sauce and drunk over two hours. There was nothing special about this wine and for me the biggest thing was how light (thin?) it was both with and without food. It was more enjoyable when first opened. The 2004 is much better.
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6/13/2009 - ELH wrote: 92 Points
Satisfying. Black cherry, blueberry (?), dirt (a/k/a terroir), chocolate (?), all bathed in a liquid of smoothed, balanced tannins. Nice finish, just complex enough to be interesting.
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5/23/2009 - gigabit wrote: 91 Points
Started out tight but opened up nicely with a 1-2 hour decant. Nice fruit, some herbal notes, and sweet, gripping tannins.
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5/15/2009 - krmcgrath wrote: 91 Points
Full bodied with ripe, dark fruit and a nice acid profile playing against moderate tannic structure. A very competent and tasty Sonoma Cab.
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5/1/2009 - krmcgrath wrote: flawed
Corked
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2/8/2009 - gigabit wrote: 92 Points
I have read mixed reviews on this wine, and not just this vintage. However, my experience was very positive. Garnett color. An inviting nose of blueberries, chocolate, and sweet vanilla; some mint and herbal notes developing with time in the glass. Very lithe on the palate with blueberries, blackberries, nice acidity, and delicious, gripping tannins. The finish was a little short, but overall a very pleasant glass of wine. I will open my next one in 2010.
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2/5/2009 - rwstorer wrote: 91 Points
Nice wine. Nose of leather and black fruit, a bit of dark chocolate. Incredibly smooth, balanced wine. Nothing overwhelmingly special, but nice to sit and drink while talking with friends. I remeber this wine in other years being much better.
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1/31/2009 - rmcnees wrote: 92 Points
Sophisticated, complex, elegant, black cherry, berry, hint of oak, leathery, tea and smooth polished firm tannins on the finish.
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1/16/2009 - wconnolly wrote: 87 Points
Deep garnet color. A lot of spice in the nose. Coffee, cocoa and dark berry flavors. Decanted this about 3 hours before serving resulting in a huge flavor improvement from the last time. Was very soft and round with air but closed up a bit after 5 hours. Very nice bottle of wine. Fully approachable now but will likely peak in another 2 to 3 years. Accompanied by stuffed chicken breast, fresh asparagus and sauteed potatoes. Consumed with George, Colleen, Alyssa and Drew.
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11/28/2008 - mye wrote: 91 Points
Dark red/purple
Takes time to open. 30 mins of decanting reveals complex berry aromas. Slight earthy/oak scents
Smooth texture, balanced acidity/tannins. Tastes of dark cherries, blackberries, and slight earth. Finish was just medium length
Soft Tannins means drink now. Good wine to have now. Enjoyed this, especially when compared to the Stags Leap Winery Cab which we had the same night
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11/20/2008 - Grinner wrote: 91 Points
Nice deep dark garnet color. Still taking its time to open, with hints of earth, herbs, and mostly red fruits. Dark cherries, plum, smoke, herbs on the palate. Nicely balanced with a smooth texture and a little grip. Has time.
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10/6/2008 - Hollowleg wrote: 92 Points
A lip staining dark purple blend, which takes about a three hour decant to open up.
This wine is evolving into something pretty special. Grape cola, graphite & black currant aromas make this an addicting nose.
Initially the mid palate is a bit shallow, but eventually you'll get a nice layer of chocolate, with the black fruit following close behind.
A tiny bit hot on the back end, which finishes very dry, with tongue coating tannins.
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10/5/2008 - Gringo wrote: 88 Points
This is a nicely made, well balanced wine that pleases but does not knok your socks off. Beautiful garnet hue for the eye. The nose is greeted with an enticing mix of cedar, sour cherry and an undertone of frankincense (or is it myrr?). Unfortunately, after that build-up the tongue was a bit disappointed that the complexity was really only on the nose and the finish was short and unremarkable. The wine does have soft tannins which afford rather easy drinking now, but brings some doubt about longer term cellaring at this point. This wine will probably peak within the next year, so drink up.
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10/5/2008 - winelovr2001 wrote: 90 Points
A very nice cab...worth the money? That is another argument. This wine is a little reductive, but still showing some varietal character. Black cherries, oak, cassis, red bell pepper. There is a little bit of stemmy character in this wine as well.
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9/11/2008 - THaas wrote: 93 Points
Highly aromatic nose, complex, with violets, cassis, and a bit of cracked stone. Flavor for to spare, but elegant, with cherries, cassis, violet, a bit of smoke, and some earthy notes blending beautifully together into an amazingly-balanced wine. Lingering finish, like a slow kiss goodnight.
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8/30/2008 - corkscrewy wrote: 92 Points
Opens with strong green pepper and quickly settling with subtle vanilla, blueberry, and eucalyptus aromas. Nicely balanced tanins with licrice flavor and rich lasting finish.
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8/16/2008 - beachnic wrote: 90 Points
Very nice aromas. Young and primary as well. At around $60 I won't repurchase. I like the Betz bordeaux Blends much better. I can see this improving with age but just a little harsh for me.90+pts
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8/10/2008 - ruddy wrote: 86 Points
Somewhat generic, albeit pleasant. Tasted like California Cab at least.
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8/7/2008 - snic_124 wrote: 88 Points
Needs a longer decant at this point. Got better as the night went on, but a lot of alcohol at the start. Gave the first bottle I tasted a higher score, but am not as confident in this bottle. Have a few mnore bottles and will sit on them for a while before opening.
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8/4/2008 - Sandyshoe30@gmail.com wrote:
loved it - again!
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6/9/2008 - Stephan O wrote: 91 Points
Typical CSJ, which is a good thing, because it means a smooth, clean, balanced wine and solid QPR. This one is $45 well spent: it shows typical currant, mocha, and graphite notes, along with an extra grape-jam kick. The tannins are polished and easygoing. It's a straightforward wine, sure, but not in a boring way. With CaliCabs of equivalent quality topping three figures regularly these days, this is a breath of fresh air.
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5/31/2008 - jonnyoro wrote: 86 Points
not alot going on here- some nice fruit; medium bodied; a touch of drying bitterness to the tannins and a relatively short finish- not really unpleasant but not much to it either.
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3/8/2008 - Squilber wrote: 91 Points
Smooth drinking, yet a complex, classic cabernet that is drinking well right now. Not too tannic, but should last a few more years. Somewhat pricey, but obviously based on its long-standing reputation. Dark, deep purple in color. Nice aromas. Nice currant, berry, and tobacco flavors with some oak in there.
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2/14/2008 - Hollowleg wrote: 90 Points
Young but promising. Nice fruit on the nose, though not the complexity of the last two vintages The tannins partially conceal the fruit in the mouth, and if a .375's not completely ready to drink, I'd gather a .750 would need at least one year of cellar time before popping. (88-91)
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1/27/2008 - NOLA Bob wrote: 90 Points
Fruity aroma. Medium bodied. Nice wine but less complexity and body than one a few months ago
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12/8/2007 - NPBWineGuy wrote: 89 Points
After 30 minutes of air, this wine opened up and became quite good. Slight tobacco under a delicious berry mix. Medium dry. Way too expensive for the taste, however. There are others I would rather buy that are just as good and 1/2 teh price.
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12/8/2007 - sosgoodjhu wrote: 89 Points
medium saturation, decent nose, lots of red fruits and peppery spices, medium bodied, heavily oaked with well structured tannins.
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11/29/2007 - KeithAkers wrote: 86 Points
Binny's California Night (Highland Park): nose: nice light nose with cranberry and blueberry mostly. After opening it up a bit though there is a ton of oak coming through, really brings down the niceities of the fruit
taste: big amount of tannins, oak, and heat. The mouth is a bit disjointed
overall: this most likely needs time. The flavors are there, but they're hiding behind oak and tannins. Hopefully the oak will blow over with time
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11/23/2007 - EMichels wrote: 92 Points
Red Carpet Wine Tasting: Nearly Merlot like in softness; Good depth; Good strength
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11/23/2007 - rloomis wrote: 85 Points
very fruit forward -- seemed more so than past years, and a little too much so for me. Big nose and taste of ripe red berries and cassis. Hint of sweet brown tobacco and "sweet" molten sulfur. Was hoping to find more of the cedar, tobacco and rum-raisin that I liked so much in prior vintages.
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11/18/2007 - cookie7 wrote: 87 Points
A little thin and and notes of vegetables on the palate. Not the plushness I want. A step below other vintages.
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11/10/2007 - pfrichar wrote: 91 Points
Earthy cedar and black licorice on the nose. Well integrated tannins with cedar, pencil lead, black currant and anise notes. Dry tannins could allow more aging.
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10/7/2007 - Grinder wrote: 90 Points
Pop and pour at Willie's in Eugene, OR. Found the color dark purple and near opaque. Nose was fairly muted. Big red fruit, black cherry and tobacco on the palate. Hints of something vegetal skittering around the edges, but mostly very pleasurable. Tannins need some time. Really, the whole bottle needs some 2+ years and this should come together and rate in the low 90s.
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6/17/2007 - cck wrote: 88 Points
Consumed without benefit of any decanting. There's a lot going on, I just didn't give it much of a chance. A bit out of balance yet one could see that the structure may provide for some solid potential for improvement.
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6/10/2007 - NOLA Bob wrote: 90 Points
Really enjoyed this bottle. It had more depth and complexity than we expected. It evolved and improved through the evening.
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4/2/2007 - terrier wrote: 92 Points
Deep reddish-purple in color with raspberry and plum nose. Opens up nicely after an hour or so. Tannins are a little harsh but aren't too bad. I knew it needed to age, but curiosity made me try a bottle early. This is going to be wonderful in a few years.
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10/19/2006 - GolferChris wrote: 90 Points
Wine Spectator Grand Tasting (Marriott Hotel, San Francisco, CA): Nice well made bordeaux blend with plenty of red fruit and nice, supple tannins. Just didn't stand up to the great Napa cabs tasted.
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