14.8% abv. Clear garnet, long clear legs. Higher toned red fruit, Christmas tree, cocoa nib, bramble. Med weight, grainy tannins, 60 sec finish, layered; cerebral and very enjoyable. Has 10 years to go.
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Not decanted, 1:45 after pulling the cork. Shows more elegance (and maturity) from Somm stems. Nose is totally Bordeaux....there's earth mixed with gravel, mushroom, old wood, leather and cigar that's impregnated into the fabric on grandma's couch.
Well-resolved, there's still sufficient youth with fine grained tannins that fully coat the front-to-mid palate and leave a polished finish that lingers for 20-30 secs.
While this was my last bottle id happily buy a fre more to drink over the next 3-5 years for exquisite enjoyment.
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From half bottle. Dark, with nose of cherries, cedar, spice. Brooding on the palate, very good balance between acidity and tannins. Young but ready to drink, mouthwatering with bramble, cherries, cocoa, radish notes to give it a earthy bitterness; long ending with incense and spice - very good. Drink now or wait - no rush.
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Purchased upon release and cellared under ideal conditions, this bottle was decanted off of its sediment and serially tasted over the ensuing three hours. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot and and 4% Malbec, it retains a youthful deep ruby color. Fully opening aromatically after the first hour in decanter, it serves up an enticing bouquet of cassis, Morello cherries, mulling spices, graphite, licorice and loamy earth. Medium-to-full-bodied, freshly acidic, seamlessly alcoholic (14.8%) and with well-integrated wood, it delivers flavors mirroring the aromas, wrapping them with a modicum of silky residual tannins. Plump on the mid-palate and lengthy on the back end, this is a terrific Bordeaux-style blend that has plenty of gas left in the tank. Comparaby cellared bottles should sail through the remainder of this decade and beyond. My recommended drinking window is conservative, as this possesses an abundance of residual fruit. Drink now-2032.
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Bottle variation in play within the recent 6 pack purchase. This bottle was more primary, acid driven and fresh. Overall another great bottle for the price paid.
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Fruit has slightly this makes for an interesting wine that isn't taxing on the palate like young Napa. Tasted side by side with 2010 Cheval Blanc.
I would say this wine is slightly over the hill for most readers but for those who love BDX this might be right in your wheel house. It will be interesting to see if there is bottle variation as I have 5 more of these I'll be following over the next few years. At the right price this is a good one to drink now.
94
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After seeing this on two restaurant wine lasts and sampling it two weeks ago, asked my local wine merchant to investigate if there was a close out and picked up a few bottles.
Mrs. Davidandrose's initial comment was "you can taste Jesus's footsteps in the earthy nose and minerality that hits every part of my tongue." After 40 mins there's mushroom on the nose and more crushed stone and fine-grained tannins that provide a long finish across the entire palate. Really an excellent wine the exudes balances in its age.
We'd be inclined to drink remaining bottles by 2025 out of uncertainty if it's fruit much later in life
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Ordered the 2018 vintage in a restaurant but they brought out a 2012 for the same price. Wow. Great balance of strength and finesse, invisible tannins that leave no grit and medium dark fruit with just the right level of maturity. Only my second experience with this wine, and a real treat.
Took the first glass straight from the bottle without decanting, and it had a bit more weight to it, more California like. I'd have take my last glass, after 2.5 hours decant, for a Bordeaux.
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Short open time - 20 mins or so. Vibrant blend of cab sauv, cab franc, PV, merlot and Malbec. Great complexity and balance and velvety mouth feel. Great now but will cellar.
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This is hands down the best wine I've had the experience of drinking. Dark and concentrated color. Thick mouthfeel. Perfectly balanced with noticeable spice. Dry with a unique combination of fruit and spice that almost reminds me of wintergreen.
Paired with sous vide Kobe steak to celebrate my son’s 5th bday! Perfect for the occasion and in a great spot right now. 2 hour slow ox and splash decant.
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This wine is just now starting to show secondary and tertiary elements. The fruit has integrated well and the nose is starting to show some earthiness. I have a couple more of these that I'll give another year, but I think the 2022 window end is probably fairly accurate. Love this wine and producer. Will be interesting to see how the new French owners treat the product. I have several more recent years in my vertical.
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End of the Coravin bottle. The wine has developed into something pretty special- except for the bitterness at the end. The palate and tannins are so smooth and velvety with 7 years of age (plus a little seepage of air via Coravin) its a shame it ends with the pronounced bittnerness. All heavy dark fruit on approach with a wonderful mid palate enveloped with soft velvet palate- blackberries and some cassis intertwined with dark cherries and some cigar/tobacco notes.
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PnP. There is a good amount of fruit but not the fruit bomb, not even in great Bordeaux year’s version never mind Napa, recently commented by a few. Alcohol starts to burn off the nose after about 30 minutes allowing the distraction to begin to fade and the profile to develop.
Acid is a bit sharper that a 2012 should be in comparison to the rest of the wine. Palate offers a red fruit steak with a touch of sweetness followed by a noticeable bitterness. Wine is still not together, unfortunately not sure it ever will. This is not the best version of this wine however the following years are far ahead of this level.
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Strawberry and cherry on the nose. On the palate, intense red fruit, black currant, and plum, with slight jamminess and notes of anise and bitter tobacco on the medium finish, with light tannins and moderate acidity. This is a fruit bomb wine, at least in this vintage, and although it was arguably an average value at a little over $80 it is not a good value at the $120+ I see it going for now. It is in its drinking window, and it's not clear whether it will improve - it seems a little unbalanced, and that could become more noticeable as it ages.
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Decanted and monitored over a good hour. No real change and the wine is very young at this stage and we would suggest a long decant to let it open. This been Napa of course, the ripeness ( not overdone) helps give the wine a welcoming side even at this young age but we kept on commenting that this is young over and over. Still very primary and on the dark fruit, soft herbal side but really at this stage its for lovers of dark rich fruit. Needs easily another 5 years and for the moment one pays more for the name than the wine. 91
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This bottle drank younger than the first. The heat was there, along with the big, round fruit palate. A little disappointing to see a powerful cherry note that ran through the wine. As the wine opened, this dropped back a bit, and the licorice that others mention comes forward. The wine is not well balanced at this stage and needs more time in bottle. I'd guess try in a year out of the 1/2 bottles.
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Beautiful deep red garnet with shiny semi-translucency, red raspberry just at the edge. Nose is very clean and dominated by caramel creamy toasted spiced American oak Powerful at first pour with gradual release of youthful intensity, fruit is there but in the mouth not the nose, yet this fragrance is intoxicating in its balanced exotics, intriguing and magnetic. on the palette, dark jammy black raspoberry, black currant, spice (juniper, bitter acidic) white pepper, very feminine, floral, soft, round, medium finsih, very complex, perhaps a bit too much we think due to petit verdot and malbec combo. Still very well crafted. Cheers. Great quaffing all by itself with appetizers of filet of beef with cream cheese chive garlic on toasties.
Ceres thinks this wine is quite delicious Bacchus more skeptical and finds it confused but gives a 90ish Bacchus expresses desire to taste in 2-3 years and or the essence of petit verdot overly contributing and responsible for the floral violet aromatic notes that trample upon the Cab rendering an out of balance for Bacchus's liking.
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Celebrating Good Health (R&D's): Single blind. Cedar, black fruit, cassis, spice, pepper and plum liqueur aromas. Medium-bodied, with nice dark fruit and turning red through the finish. As it sits, it develops a nice herbal note. On the palate it gains weight as it opens too, shows nice balance and depth. 93+ pts.
My #4, Domino's #3 Group #5, 43 pts
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Deep ox-blood. Full bodied Candied apple. Sweet cherries. Light oak. Red licorice Super smooth. Amazing structure. Sublime. Tastes like nose An absolute wonderful experience. Amazing value for second lable
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WOTN in a little wine tasting I conducted! Lovely nose, followed by a nice balance of fruit and spice. Hits the palate softly and has a medium finish. Very nice!
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4th Saturday Group: Uptown Brown Bag (M&R's): Double blind. Aromas of spice, black raspberry, plum and five spice powder. With air the oak and vanilla tones become dominant and the fruit fades. Dark fruit and spice qualities with a nice finish but here again the wood begins to dominate.
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The wood and cedar sawdust elements of this wine far over-shadowed the red and black currant fruit flavors struggling to pop out. Reminded me of having to clean my hamster cage when I was a little boy.
It wasn't undrinkable or horrible necessarily, and it wasn't corked, but the wood was just too much for me. Mid-palate was thin, and the finish...well, the finish never started.
Ultimately, it was surely an inferior representation of the varietal, especially when sporting the Araujo name (even as a second label). Maybe worth it as a $20 house bottle of Cab at the local Cheesecake Factory. But at $125-$150 a pop?!... Well, that's just crazy talk.
Pretty weak and disappointing in my opinion. I'm not sure where others are getting the bold, thick, and rich display of fruit, as I experienced this as a simple, classically crafted domestic Cabernet. And even in that regard, it was instantly forgettable. Pass for me.
Dinner with Friends (3x82 BDX, and lot of other stuff) (The Trout Club): IIRC, this is the second wine from Araujo. It was pop and pour. Pretty much everything one would expect. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, sawdust, chocolate, slight tobacco and charred wood. On the palate, this is thick and rich. A lot of fruit, but so much oak. Like many 2012's, its upfront, but the oak may be an issue for some (and a treat for others). I would lay these down for a while to allow it to integrate. Seems to have plenty of stuffing for that. Score should improve a point or two.
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Fresh, woodsy nose. Tiny hint of bell pepper. Exceptionally soft palate, like satin. White pepper, coriander, bergamot, blueberry pie, strawberries, and nutmeg. This is spectacular and I'm frankly pissed off that I haven't encountered it before.
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Very tight and backward now a a P&P but holds a lot of promise with layers of terroir, tannins a little smoke and loads of fruit that only began to unfold in my first five minutes of the wine swirling in my glass.
Not drinking a 94 now but will in 3-5 years.
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Decanted for several hours. Refined, ultra silky, impeccably balanced red wine that would compete in substance and style with the best Bordeaux. Cedar, blackcurrant, licorice and moist earth in perfect balance. The body glides over the palate, notable for subtle fruit with the softest caress of tannins on a beautiful finish.
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Lot going on here. Nose of forest floor, rosemary, menthol and spice. Elevated alcohol evident as well. Needs more time in the bottle, but very good regardless.
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70/11/8/6/4 Cab/Petit Verdot/Cab Franc/Merlot/Malbec. Incredible nose, a little sweet but huge, baking spice, vanilla, dark fruit, dark chocolate, cassis, black plum, fresh tobacco, roses. Palate matches, lots of layers, black fruit, vanilla, dark chocolate, oak notes like cedar, sweet earth, slight herbs sage (?), this has lots to say and probably says it differently each time. What a high end wine should taste like.
800 6 packs made.
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Very good wine. Drank from a 1/2 bottle. Complex and layered. Very rich and smooth. Many nuances all put together very well. This is very well made. 94+
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3/16/2024 - dclaggett Likes this wine: 94 Points
14.8% abv. Clear garnet, long clear legs. Higher toned red fruit, Christmas tree, cocoa nib, bramble. Med weight, grainy tannins, 60 sec finish, layered; cerebral and very enjoyable. Has 10 years to go.
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12/23/2023 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big and bold. Good but will prob get better with more time.
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12/9/2023 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 94 Points
Not decanted, 1:45 after pulling the cork. Shows more elegance (and maturity) from Somm stems. Nose is totally Bordeaux....there's earth mixed with gravel, mushroom, old wood, leather and cigar that's impregnated into the fabric on grandma's couch.
Well-resolved, there's still sufficient youth with fine grained tannins that fully coat the front-to-mid palate and leave a polished finish that lingers for 20-30 secs.
While this was my last bottle id happily buy a fre more to drink over the next 3-5 years for exquisite enjoyment.
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11/21/2023 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 93 Points
From half bottle. Dark, with nose of cherries, cedar, spice. Brooding on the palate, very good balance between acidity and tannins. Young but ready to drink, mouthwatering with bramble, cherries, cocoa, radish notes to give it a earthy bitterness; long ending with incense and spice - very good. Drink now or wait - no rush.
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6/2/2023 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 94 Points
Purchased upon release and cellared under ideal conditions, this bottle was decanted off of its sediment and serially tasted over the ensuing three hours. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot and and 4% Malbec, it retains a youthful deep ruby color. Fully opening aromatically after the first hour in decanter, it serves up an enticing bouquet of cassis, Morello cherries, mulling spices, graphite, licorice and loamy earth. Medium-to-full-bodied, freshly acidic, seamlessly alcoholic (14.8%) and with well-integrated wood, it delivers flavors mirroring the aromas, wrapping them with a modicum of silky residual tannins. Plump on the mid-palate and lengthy on the back end, this is a terrific Bordeaux-style blend that has plenty of gas left in the tank. Comparaby cellared bottles should sail through the remainder of this decade and beyond. My recommended drinking window is conservative, as this possesses an abundance of residual fruit. Drink now-2032.
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4/30/2023 - Pixelm Likes this wine: 96 Points
Truly excellent - classic cab; dark purple; notes of mint, tobacco, dark fruit, mature but still fleshy.
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12/23/2022 - bigbass250 Likes this wine:
took from the xmas eve lineup very nice
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12/17/2022 - GTFreek wrote:
In a great place. Bordeaux like and gorgeous.
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12/7/2022 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bottle variation in play within the recent 6 pack purchase. This bottle was more primary, acid driven and fresh. Overall another great bottle for the price paid.
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12/3/2022 - PDavisMarble wrote: 88 Points
A bit disappointing. The fruit was a touch stewed, and a short finish. Could be the bottle since part bottles have seemed so primary.
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12/2/2022 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 94 Points
Recently purchase six pack from double p imports.
Fruit has slightly this makes for an interesting wine that isn't taxing on the palate like young Napa. Tasted side by side with 2010 Cheval Blanc.
I would say this wine is slightly over the hill for most readers but for those who love BDX this might be right in your wheel house. It will be interesting to see if there is bottle variation as I have 5 more of these I'll be following over the next few years. At the right price this is a good one to drink now.
94
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9/24/2022 - davidandrose wrote: 95 Points
After seeing this on two restaurant wine lasts and sampling it two weeks ago, asked my local wine merchant to investigate if there was a close out and picked up a few bottles.
Mrs. Davidandrose's initial comment was "you can taste Jesus's footsteps in the earthy nose and minerality that hits every part of my tongue." After 40 mins there's mushroom on the nose and more crushed stone and fine-grained tannins that provide a long finish across the entire palate. Really an excellent wine the exudes balances in its age.
We'd be inclined to drink remaining bottles by 2025 out of uncertainty if it's fruit much later in life
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9/15/2022 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ordered the 2018 vintage in a restaurant but they brought out a 2012 for the same price. Wow. Great balance of strength and finesse, invisible tannins that leave no grit and medium dark fruit with just the right level of maturity. Only my second experience with this wine, and a real treat.
Took the first glass straight from the bottle without decanting, and it had a bit more weight to it, more California like. I'd have take my last glass, after 2.5 hours decant, for a Bordeaux.
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9/10/2022 - KAYSERC wrote:
Fabulous
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9/2/2022 - cdp1276 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Short open time - 20 mins or so. Vibrant blend of cab sauv, cab franc, PV, merlot and Malbec. Great complexity and balance and velvety mouth feel. Great now but will cellar.
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6/28/2022 - PaulWilson00 Likes this wine: 97 Points
This is hands down the best wine I've had the experience of drinking. Dark and concentrated color. Thick mouthfeel. Perfectly balanced with noticeable spice. Dry with a unique combination of fruit and spice that almost reminds me of wintergreen.
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3/3/2022 - esw423 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Paired with sous vide Kobe steak to celebrate my son’s 5th bday! Perfect for the occasion and in a great spot right now. 2 hour slow ox and splash decant.
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9/24/2021 - Niagara wrote: 85 Points
Out of balance, too much alcohol.
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7/9/2021 - brasstab Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lived up to the hype. Amazing mouthfeel, with an exquisite balance of sweet and savory. Damned good.
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6/17/2021 - socidelvino wrote: 88 Points
Dad's and Cabs 2021 - hosted by Pappas Bros. Steakhouse (Pappas Bros. Steakhouse - Houston Westheimer): Quick tasting note - enjoyable, some depth, believe it can still age for another few years and get better. Medium to long finish - nice mouth feel.
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12/4/2020 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really like this. Should have read my own notes to hold off. Oh well. Good juice.
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10/6/2020 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 92 Points
Stop drinking these for another two years... yummy great with food.
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9/6/2020 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 92 Points
Day 2 (recork in regular fridge). Still strong only lost a point or two.
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9/5/2020 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 93 Points
Same notes apply drinking really well. At its peak, drink now.
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7/11/2020 - srwatters Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still tasing marvelous and probably close to peak. Love this wine from Araujo. Still have a couple more to enjoy as it evolves.
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2/20/2020 - Dr. Bee Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very french in style & design. Needs time to open but when it does, flowers, leather, subtle fruits. A bit pricey for the quality
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11/30/2019 - mikemboutiquewines wrote: 87 Points
Great nose, bitter on palate. Disapointing given its vintage and pedigree.
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10/14/2019 - johnregan wrote:
This bottle from Pete
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10/11/2019 - srwatters Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is just now starting to show secondary and tertiary elements. The fruit has integrated well and the nose is starting to show some earthiness. I have a couple more of these that I'll give another year, but I think the 2022 window end is probably fairly accurate. Love this wine and producer. Will be interesting to see how the new French owners treat the product. I have several more recent years in my vertical.
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6/24/2019 - Kdad Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great flavor. Balanced. Fruit stands out but not a bomb.
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2/14/2019 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 92 Points
End of the Coravin bottle. The wine has developed into something pretty special- except for the bitterness at the end. The palate and tannins are so smooth and velvety with 7 years of age (plus a little seepage of air via Coravin) its a shame it ends with the pronounced bittnerness. All heavy dark fruit on approach with a wonderful mid palate enveloped with soft velvet palate- blackberries and some cassis intertwined with dark cherries and some cigar/tobacco notes.
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2/8/2019 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 91 Points
Coravin- Same notes apply.
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2/3/2019 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP. There is a good amount of fruit but not the fruit bomb, not even in great Bordeaux year’s version never mind Napa, recently commented by a few. Alcohol starts to burn off the nose after about 30 minutes allowing the distraction to begin to fade and the profile to develop.
Acid is a bit sharper that a 2012 should be in comparison to the rest of the wine. Palate offers a red fruit steak with a touch of sweetness followed by a noticeable bitterness. Wine is still not together, unfortunately not sure it ever will. This is not the best version of this wine however the following years are far ahead of this level.
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1/30/2019 - esw423 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Agree with prior notes. Very fruit forward and developed well through the night. Tasted single blind with wine group at Casta Diva.
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1/3/2019 - RichardP wrote: 92 Points
Strawberry and cherry on the nose. On the palate, intense red fruit, black currant, and plum, with slight jamminess and notes of anise and bitter tobacco on the medium finish, with light tannins and moderate acidity. This is a fruit bomb wine, at least in this vintage, and although it was arguably an average value at a little over $80 it is not a good value at the $120+ I see it going for now. It is in its drinking window, and it's not clear whether it will improve - it seems a little unbalanced, and that could become more noticeable as it ages.
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12/29/2018 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Decanted and monitored over a good hour. No real change and the wine is very young at this stage and we would suggest a long decant to let it open. This been Napa of course, the ripeness ( not overdone) helps give the wine a welcoming side even at this young age but we kept on commenting that this is young over and over. Still very primary and on the dark fruit, soft herbal side but really at this stage its for lovers of dark rich fruit. Needs easily another 5 years and for the moment one pays more for the name than the wine. 91
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11/19/2018 - PDavisMarble wrote: 91 Points
This bottle drank younger than the first. The heat was there, along with the big, round fruit palate. A little disappointing to see a powerful cherry note that ran through the wine. As the wine opened, this dropped back a bit, and the licorice that others mention comes forward. The wine is not well balanced at this stage and needs more time in bottle. I'd guess try in a year out of the 1/2 bottles.
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9/2/2018 - B Paul wrote:
Out of half bottle. Shows a good bit of oak, but it integrated with a bit of air. Good now, but I’d hold another couple of years.
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8/31/2018 - winecadence Likes this wine: 89 Points
This was better on the second day. Nice bottle. Glad I didn't pay full price. Enjoyable, but for the actual price I expect more.
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7/21/2018 - Bacchus&Ceres Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beautiful deep red garnet with shiny semi-translucency, red raspberry just at the edge. Nose is very clean and dominated by caramel creamy toasted spiced American oak Powerful at first pour with gradual release of youthful intensity, fruit is there but in the mouth not the nose, yet this fragrance is intoxicating in its balanced exotics, intriguing and magnetic. on the palette, dark jammy black raspoberry, black currant, spice (juniper, bitter acidic) white pepper, very feminine, floral, soft, round, medium finsih, very complex, perhaps a bit too much we think due to petit verdot and malbec combo. Still very well crafted. Cheers. Great quaffing all by itself with appetizers of filet of beef with cream cheese chive garlic on toasties.
Ceres thinks this wine is quite delicious Bacchus more skeptical and finds it confused but gives a 90ish
Bacchus expresses desire to taste in 2-3 years and or the essence of petit verdot overly contributing and responsible for the floral violet aromatic notes that trample upon the Cab rendering an out of balance for Bacchus's liking.
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2/25/2018 - SAS54 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark fruit, hint of chocolate and green pepper (if you just has a bite of veggie pizza), and a smooth even finish.
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11/11/2017 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Celebrating Good Health (R&D's): Single blind. Cedar, black fruit, cassis, spice, pepper and plum liqueur aromas. Medium-bodied, with nice dark fruit and turning red through the finish. As it sits, it develops a nice herbal note. On the palate it gains weight as it opens too, shows nice balance and depth. 93+ pts.
My #4, Domino's #3
Group #5, 43 pts
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10/23/2017 - Genghis88 wrote: 94 Points
At Hawksworth with Ian
Deep ox-blood. Full bodied
Candied apple. Sweet cherries. Light oak. Red licorice
Super smooth. Amazing structure. Sublime. Tastes like nose
An absolute wonderful experience. Amazing value for second lable
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8/16/2017 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 93 Points
WOTN in a little wine tasting I conducted! Lovely nose, followed by a nice balance of fruit and spice. Hits the palate softly and has a medium finish. Very nice!
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6/24/2017 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
4th Saturday Group: Uptown Brown Bag (M&R's): Double blind. Aromas of spice, black raspberry, plum and five spice powder. With air the oak and vanilla tones become dominant and the fruit fades. Dark fruit and spice qualities with a nice finish but here again the wood begins to dominate.
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3/11/2017 - csimm wrote: 87 Points
The wood and cedar sawdust elements of this wine far over-shadowed the red and black currant fruit flavors struggling to pop out. Reminded me of having to clean my hamster cage when I was a little boy.
It wasn't undrinkable or horrible necessarily, and it wasn't corked, but the wood was just too much for me. Mid-palate was thin, and the finish...well, the finish never started.
Ultimately, it was surely an inferior representation of the varietal, especially when sporting the Araujo name (even as a second label). Maybe worth it as a $20 house bottle of Cab at the local Cheesecake Factory. But at $125-$150 a pop?!... Well, that's just crazy talk.
Pretty weak and disappointing in my opinion. I'm not sure where others are getting the bold, thick, and rich display of fruit, as I experienced this as a simple, classically crafted domestic Cabernet. And even in that regard, it was instantly forgettable. Pass for me.
86-87 points?
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6/25/2016 - NorCal1849 wrote: 91 Points
Big, bold, too early to drink. Better choices from this vintage for the money.
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4/18/2016 - mmrosen Likes this wine: 93 Points
Oaky and pepper on the nose, a lot of fruit, blackberries, chocolate, tabaco and wood
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3/31/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Dinner with Friends (3x82 BDX, and lot of other stuff) (The Trout Club): IIRC, this is the second wine from Araujo. It was pop and pour. Pretty much everything one would expect. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, sawdust, chocolate, slight tobacco and charred wood. On the palate, this is thick and rich. A lot of fruit, but so much oak. Like many 2012's, its upfront, but the oak may be an issue for some (and a treat for others). I would lay these down for a while to allow it to integrate. Seems to have plenty of stuffing for that. Score should improve a point or two.
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12/26/2015 - Recoveringimporter Likes this wine: 91 Points
Silky and elegant. A very refined Cali Cab.
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12/12/2015 - partylikeakennedy wrote: 94 Points
Fresh, woodsy nose. Tiny hint of bell pepper. Exceptionally soft palate, like satin. White pepper, coriander, bergamot, blueberry pie, strawberries, and nutmeg. This is spectacular and I'm frankly pissed off that I haven't encountered it before.
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9/22/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Medium bodied, fresh, licorice, black cherry nose, soft, lush, forward, fresh, spicy, sweet blackberry finish, that shows just a slight touch of heat.
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9/12/2015 - Rick 4 Wine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very tight and backward now a a P&P but holds a lot of promise with layers of terroir, tannins a little smoke and loads of fruit that only began to unfold in my first five minutes of the wine swirling in my glass.
Not drinking a 94 now but will in 3-5 years.
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8/15/2015 - Zoomin Z Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted for several hours. Refined, ultra silky, impeccably balanced red wine that would compete in substance and style with the best Bordeaux. Cedar, blackcurrant, licorice and moist earth in perfect balance. The body glides over the palate, notable for subtle fruit with the softest caress of tannins on a beautiful finish.
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8/3/2015 - SteveN100 wrote: 92 Points
Lot going on here. Nose of forest floor, rosemary, menthol and spice. Elevated alcohol evident as well. Needs more time in the bottle, but very good regardless.
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5/14/2015 - GTFreek wrote:
70/11/8/6/4 Cab/Petit Verdot/Cab Franc/Merlot/Malbec. Incredible nose, a little sweet but huge, baking spice, vanilla, dark fruit, dark chocolate, cassis, black plum, fresh tobacco, roses. Palate matches, lots of layers, black fruit, vanilla, dark chocolate, oak notes like cedar, sweet earth, slight herbs sage (?), this has lots to say and probably says it differently each time. What a high end wine should taste like.
800 6 packs made.
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4/30/2015 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very good wine. Drank from a 1/2 bottle. Complex and layered. Very rich and smooth. Many nuances all put together very well. This is very well made. 94+
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4/13/2015 - pdemaio wrote: 94 Points
Medium bodied and elegant. Extremely integrated with fruit in tannins in excellent balance. Good acid drives a long, elegant finish.
PQ94+
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10/1/2013 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brown Bag Wine Dinner at Two Chefs - Double Blind (TWO CHEFS, MIAMI, FL): The wine looks Purple colored. It tastes like Blackberry, Black currant (cassis), and Cedar. The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Long. David's wine.
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