Blackberries, blueberries, dark chocolate, graphite, dried herbs and some sweet tobacco leafs. Full bodied with a nice, mineral and medium intense acidity. Velvety texture with beautiful integrated tannins. Very complex fruit structure an amazing overall complexity. The high alcohol (14.5%) is perfectly integrated. Super long finish, quite elegant. Powerful and still quite young for a 12 year aged wine. Make sure to decant it for 2-3 hours. At least 15 more great years ahead. 95 points for now but with an even higher potential. (IG)
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Napa 2023: the quieter version; 2/6/2023-2/11/2023 (Napa/Sonoma California): Unlike the Melbury almost ready to go from the beginning. There’s this kindof pretty dark, almost peachy note that I am liking in wines at the moment. Some freshness, good tannin, lots of softness and very easy to drink. Still too young and while there’s a bit of secondary it’s more primary in style.
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Decanted 2hrs. Beautiful wine. Fruit, but lots more. Herbs, ink. Dried herbs on roast meat, mushrooms, cedar, graphite, blackberry, tar, dark chocolate. Chocolate covered fruit, fig, mint and the famous dill that Bond and Harlan have. Well defined nose. Great mouth feel. Velvety. This could be one of the best bonds I have ever had. 96+
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This rich and elegant Cabernet is yet another fantastic 2012 from Bond - such great (and expensive) wines in such a great vintage. Ruby red in color and medium in body, the wine offers incredibly fresh aromas of blueberry, graphite, herbs, and fresh flowers. Incredibly integrated tastes of blackberry, mocha, gravel, and bay leaf, with a finish that goes on and on. The power and precision are just magical. 14.5% alcohol. Drink in next few years.
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Macerated red and black fruit. Cassis, and a touch of spice. Intense on the palate, tannin, fruit, and acidity are all firing. Body is lacking a bit giving the intensity of everything else. Not necessarily a bad thing as this will likely pick up more weight in time. It was served a bit warm which amplified the abrasiveness. Let it rest for a few more years if you can wait.
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Inky on color, the wine is intensely concentrated, opulent, round and powerful. There is a depth of flavor combining black and blue fruits, smoke, vanilla bean, licorice and dark chocolate. The layers of deep fruits are impossible not to notice. But it's the lusty, luscious styling on the palate, with grace, roundness and purity, that leave the biggest impression. Drink now, if you enjoy primary fruit, or age it, for more earthness. Either way, this is a special bottle of California Cabernet Sauvignon.
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The nose was closed at first, yet time in the glass revealed dark red fruits, pretty violet tones, baking spice and a hint of orange peel. It was graceful and silky on the palate, with a mix of spiced red and blue fruits, which seemed to coat the senses and slowly taper off to reveal savory minerality and a lasting impression of blueberry on the back palate. The ‘12 Quella is an understated wine and comes across with beautiful refinement and elegance.
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2/11/2024 - DrZett wrote: 95 Points
Blackberries, blueberries, dark chocolate, graphite, dried herbs and some sweet tobacco leafs. Full bodied with a nice, mineral and medium intense acidity. Velvety texture with beautiful integrated tannins. Very complex fruit structure an amazing overall complexity. The high alcohol (14.5%) is perfectly integrated. Super long finish, quite elegant.
Powerful and still quite young for a 12 year aged wine. Make sure to decant it for 2-3 hours. At least 15 more great years ahead. 95 points for now but with an even higher potential. (IG)
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2/9/2023 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Napa 2023: the quieter version; 2/6/2023-2/11/2023 (Napa/Sonoma California): Unlike the Melbury almost ready to go from the beginning. There’s this kindof pretty dark, almost peachy note that I am liking in wines at the moment. Some freshness, good tannin, lots of softness and very easy to drink. Still too young and while there’s a bit of secondary it’s more primary in style.
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10/12/2022 - Bearhead wrote:
mislabeled
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8/23/2020 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted 2hrs. Beautiful wine. Fruit, but lots more. Herbs, ink. Dried herbs on roast meat, mushrooms, cedar, graphite, blackberry, tar, dark chocolate. Chocolate covered fruit, fig, mint and the famous dill that Bond and Harlan have. Well defined nose. Great mouth feel. Velvety. This could be one of the best bonds I have ever had. 96+
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4/23/2020 - Niagara wrote: 92 Points
Just not great. Good. Very good, even.
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1/10/2020 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Another Year, Another Napa (aka Winter in Wineland IV); 1/5/2020-1/11/2020 (Napa/Sonoma California): Nose on this was wonderful but the wine itself was a lot shyer than the nose would suggest. Kindof dark and brooding and almost a bit elemental in style. Can almost taste a rocky terrain to it. Very balanced. I fully expect this wine to be awesome, but it was a bit quieter today.
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2/22/2019 - msuwine wrote: 97 Points
This rich and elegant Cabernet is yet another fantastic 2012 from Bond - such great (and expensive) wines in such a great vintage. Ruby red in color and medium in body, the wine offers incredibly fresh aromas of blueberry, graphite, herbs, and fresh flowers. Incredibly integrated tastes of blackberry, mocha, gravel, and bay leaf, with a finish that goes on and on. The power and precision are just magical. 14.5% alcohol. Drink in next few years.
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4/19/2018 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Macerated red and black fruit. Cassis, and a touch of spice. Intense on the palate, tannin, fruit, and acidity are all firing. Body is lacking a bit giving the intensity of everything else. Not necessarily a bad thing as this will likely pick up more weight in time. It was served a bit warm which amplified the abrasiveness. Let it rest for a few more years if you can wait.
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11/12/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
Inky on color, the wine is intensely concentrated, opulent, round and powerful. There is a depth of flavor combining black and blue fruits, smoke, vanilla bean, licorice and dark chocolate. The layers of deep fruits are impossible not to notice. But it's the lusty, luscious styling on the palate, with grace, roundness and purity, that leave the biggest impression. Drink now, if you enjoy primary fruit, or age it, for more earthness. Either way, this is a special bottle of California Cabernet Sauvignon.
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5/25/2017 - jswine15 Likes this wine: 91 Points
I liked it, although it was a bit lean and austere. Probably would benefit from a few more years of aging
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5/31/2016 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 93 Points
The nose was closed at first, yet time in the glass revealed dark red fruits, pretty violet tones, baking spice and a hint of orange peel. It was graceful and silky on the palate, with a mix of spiced red and blue fruits, which seemed to coat the senses and slowly taper off to reveal savory minerality and a lasting impression of blueberry on the back palate. The ‘12 Quella is an understated wine and comes across with beautiful refinement and elegance.
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