This is a nice wine, but not great for price. Filtered and decanted for about 45 minutes, this allowed the wine to open up, very small/ fine sediment. When it did open up, it showed its full youth. I'm hesitant to say this wine can age for a good amount of time based on taste after almost 15 years in bottle, but it was enjoyable after 16 years. A bit ightweight CS. Beautiful dark ruby red color. Nose of heavy earthy raspberry and licorice with late hint of dark chocolate. Front taste of bright, tart plum and strawberries with little tobacco. Very tight tannins and nice depth. Doesn't have a heavy linger on palate. EDIT: This wine gained a lot more depth after almost 2 hours decanted. Recommend giving this wine some time after opening
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Got three bottles from ZD's library allocation. Been drinking them over the holidays. Round and polished, this is a classic ZD Cab and has a lot of life left in it. Showing secondary characteristics but still good structure and excellent acidity.
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I bought -6- along time ago, and this was the best of the bunch so far, Vinturied into decant, in a really good spot for such an old dog, the 13.5abv was a nice change from the usual Napa fruit bombs made nowadays. My take.. No bricking, still vibrant fruit with the oak that has totally matured, holding it together seamlessly thru the finish. I have one left and will drink within 6-12 months, the window could close fast depending on the closure/cork. Drink now thru 2022.
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A tuff vintage has not helped this wine, Underwhelming, soft tannins, lack luster finish. Not past prime, just not a lot going on. I'd drink it by 2018.
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RRV and Napa Visit; 7/7/2014-8/30/2014 (Napa and Sonoma): Sediment. The first bottle of 03 seemed off, hinted at cork taint, so, lets move onto another bottle. Stylistically the 04 seemed like THE bump in the road. Here with the 03, we have blackberry fruit and a slight diversion from primary fruit notes. Wonderfully consistent fruit from vintage to vintage here.
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Decanted 1hr, showing more chocolate on both the nose and palate than previous bottles. There is certainly undertones of graphite, red fruit, earth and vanilla. Very smooth finish and ready to drink, with several more years of life left is this well made cab.
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This was fantastic. As good as I've had in awhile. Beautiful cab with all the fruit, smoothness, and complexity you could want. Could have waited a little longer, but no real reason to wait. I'm lowering other scored because of this wine.
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This wine was smooth right out of the bottle, the tannins were soft and totally integrated. Has a beautiful bright fruit with notes of cassis... medium finish Not overly complex but a real pleaser... I have one more left and I think this this wine is at it's peak.
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Decanted one hour. Wasn't the best pairing with the bagel and cream cheese, but after the food it really started to show its true colors. Lovely aromas of preserved black and blueberries, creme de cassis, lovely earth and some black truffles. A distinct purple Crayola crayon play on the nose as well. The palate shows more dried currants, charred wood and the same Crayola flavors experienced on the nose. Finish is a nice medium full bodied weight with very pleasing acidity and overall well integrated tannins that are not at all drying.
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Double decated, tasted after 1hr, drank over next 3 hrs. Dark fruits, tar, smoke and earth on the nose Balanced dark fruits and chocolate on the palate, a liittle tart toward the finish, should drink well over the next 5 years.
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Rich nose of dark fruits, chocolate, tar and earth. Old world on the palate, with dark fruits, earth and a good dose of oak, very smooth finish and ready to drink.
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Friends pulled this out as a special CS they enjoyed and bought while touring Napa. Exellent CS characteristics on the nose and palate,with fruit verging on the blackberries and dark sweet cherries mentioned by reviewer Wineismylife below. Also some fresh bell pepper and a bit of spice in the bouquet, which was nice. The tannins are quite soft, and the fruit is "sweet" new world style. If you have one, it will hold a while longer but not seem like a long term wine.
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Came home and found this bottle opened. Finished it by myself with a mix of nuts and dried cranberries. Poured a glass and decanted the rest. First glass...lots of tannis. Second and third..yum! May I come home to a bottle as good as this every night!
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Tasted August 19, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of potpourri, blackberries and a smidge of cocoa. Flavors of blackberries, black cherries and sweet red cherries. Medium acidity with firm tannins. Medium body. I’d let this one cellar for a year to see if the tannins soften a little. Drink over the short to medium term. Based on the current retail price of $30.99 I’d say the value here is acceptable. It has the potential to become better with a little time in bottle in my opinion.
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12/24/2019 - MRGeo Likes this wine: 88 Points
This is a nice wine, but not great for price. Filtered and decanted for about 45 minutes, this allowed the wine to open up, very small/ fine sediment. When it did open up, it showed its full youth. I'm hesitant to say this wine can age for a good amount of time based on taste after almost 15 years in bottle, but it was enjoyable after 16 years. A bit ightweight CS. Beautiful dark ruby red color. Nose of heavy earthy raspberry and licorice with late hint of dark chocolate. Front taste of bright, tart plum and strawberries with little tobacco. Very tight tannins and nice depth. Doesn't have a heavy linger on palate.
EDIT: This wine gained a lot more depth after almost 2 hours decanted. Recommend giving this wine some time after opening
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12/23/2019 - mckillop Likes this wine: 92 Points
Got three bottles from ZD's library allocation. Been drinking them over the holidays. Round and polished, this is a classic ZD Cab and has a lot of life left in it. Showing secondary characteristics but still good structure and excellent acidity.
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12/13/2019 - wino121 wrote: 92 Points
I bought -6- along time ago, and this was the best of the bunch so far,
Vinturied into decant, in a really good spot for such an old dog, the 13.5abv was a nice change from the usual Napa fruit bombs made nowadays.
My take..
No bricking, still vibrant fruit with the oak that has totally matured, holding it together seamlessly thru the finish.
I have one left and will drink within 6-12 months, the window could close fast depending on the closure/cork.
Drink now thru 2022.
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2/15/2017 - wino121 wrote: 88 Points
A tuff vintage has not helped this wine,
Underwhelming, soft tannins, lack luster finish.
Not past prime, just not a lot going on.
I'd drink it by 2018.
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8/3/2014 - nzinkgraf wrote:
RRV and Napa Visit; 7/7/2014-8/30/2014 (Napa and Sonoma): Sediment. The first bottle of 03 seemed off, hinted at cork taint, so, lets move onto another bottle. Stylistically the 04 seemed like THE bump in the road. Here with the 03, we have blackberry fruit and a slight diversion from primary fruit notes. Wonderfully consistent fruit from vintage to vintage here.
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3/30/2014 - wino121 wrote: 90 Points
Holding up well, teetering on a 91, just not to complex over all.
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8/3/2013 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Nice Bordeaux style, currants/cassis, graphite minimum amounts of oak. Smooth and ready to drink, but based on this bottle no hurry to consume.
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10/16/2012 - Rhessian wrote: 97 Points
Delicious
Still had Adair bit of berry character
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5/7/2012 - chateaumiller wrote:
VERY GOOD
Solid tannins still left with plenty of black fruit. Aged just a tad and is in a great drinking window. Solid finish.
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3/5/2011 - reddogcoach wrote: 93 Points
Superior cab. Drank with friends
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12/11/2010 - wineshaman wrote: flawed
Mildly corked
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7/17/2010 - wineshaman wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 1hr, showing more chocolate on both the nose and palate than previous bottles. There is certainly undertones of graphite, red fruit, earth and vanilla. Very smooth finish and ready to drink, with several more years of life left is this well made cab.
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6/29/2010 - McArthur wrote: 92 Points
This was fantastic. As good as I've had in awhile. Beautiful cab with all the fruit, smoothness, and complexity you could want. Could have waited a little longer, but no real reason to wait. I'm lowering other scored because of this wine.
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4/25/2010 - sonodoc wrote: 90 Points
Very nice, well-balanced and smooth. Still has some fruit taste, but has lost some of the big fruit taste it had in its earlier years.
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4/5/2010 - gmat5497 wrote: 92 Points
Well balanced. Full of fruit. Very enjoyable.
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11/6/2009 - brucerob wrote: 91 Points
This wine was smooth right out of the bottle, the tannins were soft and totally integrated. Has a beautiful bright fruit with notes of cassis... medium finish Not overly complex but a real pleaser... I have one more left and I think this this wine is at it's peak.
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11/3/2009 - gmat5497 wrote: 91 Points
Great nose, smooth tannins, full of fruit, nice finish. Wow.
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10/28/2009 - gmat5497 wrote: 91 Points
Very nice
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10/4/2009 - beezer6 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted one hour. Wasn't the best pairing with the bagel and cream cheese, but after the food it really started to show its true colors.
Lovely aromas of preserved black and blueberries, creme de cassis, lovely earth and some black truffles.
A distinct purple Crayola crayon play on the nose as well.
The palate shows more dried currants, charred wood and the same Crayola flavors experienced on the nose.
Finish is a nice medium full bodied weight with very pleasing acidity and overall well integrated tannins that are not at all drying.
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10/2/2009 - gmat5497 wrote: 90 Points
ZD a very nice producer. Nicely balanced and full of fruit.
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8/19/2009 - ptelgenh wrote: 86 Points
A bit lean and herbal. Soft tannins. Drink now.
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8/13/2009 - gmat5497 wrote: 91 Points
Very impressed. Great nose, smooth tannins, fruit forward, great finish. What's not to like.
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3/22/2009 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Plenty of life left in this well balanced claret like cab.
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12/31/2008 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Double decated, tasted after 1hr, drank over next 3 hrs. Dark fruits, tar, smoke and earth on the nose Balanced dark fruits and chocolate on the palate, a liittle tart toward the finish, should drink well over the next 5 years.
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12/25/2008 - jwells wrote: 91 Points
We shared this with friends who agreed that it was initially good and then after about 1/2 hour it opened up and dazzled.
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5/17/2008 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Rich nose of dark fruits, chocolate, tar and earth. Old world on the palate, with dark fruits, earth and a good dose of oak, very smooth finish and ready to drink.
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4/24/2008 - Vinacull wrote: 90 Points
Friends pulled this out as a special CS they enjoyed and bought while touring Napa. Exellent CS characteristics on the nose and palate,with fruit verging on the blackberries and dark sweet cherries mentioned by reviewer Wineismylife below. Also some fresh bell pepper and a bit of spice in the bouquet, which was nice. The tannins are quite soft, and the fruit is "sweet" new world style. If you have one, it will hold a while longer but not seem like a long term wine.
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3/8/2007 - seanness wrote: 90 Points
Came home and found this bottle opened. Finished it by myself with a mix of nuts and dried cranberries. Poured a glass and decanted the rest. First glass...lots of tannis. Second and third..yum! May I come home to a bottle as good as this every night!
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8/19/2006 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
DAWGS Offline - August 19, 2006 (just a skosh's house in Dallas, TX): WIML90,NOWA,NOWS
Tasted August 19, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of potpourri, blackberries and a smidge of cocoa. Flavors of blackberries, black cherries and sweet red cherries. Medium acidity with firm tannins. Medium body. I’d let this one cellar for a year to see if the tannins soften a little. Drink over the short to medium term. Based on the current retail price of $30.99 I’d say the value here is acceptable. It has the potential to become better with a little time in bottle in my opinion.
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8/19/2006 - win wrote: 90 Points
Skosh OL: From a large tasting. Minimal notes. Have always liked ZD wines. Very good Napa Cabernet Sauvignon with a hint of oak on the nose. 88-92
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12/17/2005 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Heritage: Smokey black raspberry, cassis; med. to full body; lots of fruit and soft t’s. Nice bal. in mth, long, fruity-a’s fin.
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