Last of several bottles. This needed time and is now drinking beautifully. Blackcurrant and coffee on the nose with cedar, tobacco and leather joining on the palate. Fine and complex. Good weight of fruit and a decent finish that goes on longer than you first think. At its peak now as there is a touch of acidity starting to show through.
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Got this from the vineyard several years ago while it was a little soft and not a long as I’d hoped for, the nose was excellent, tannins and acidity still present, and 4 hours in it’s still very tasty. The best part about this wine is that it’s not showing it’s age in the least. Still looks, smells and tastes like a youthful wine.
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Noticed there was some mold outside of the capsule so figured it was aboutvtime to drink, and the wine showed beautifully. Everything you want from aged napa cab, showing mature yet fresh dark fruit, with leather, tobacco, complex spice and cassis accents. Drinking brilliantly now, outshining a 2007 Quilceda Creek alongside.
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This wine had a berry aroma, noticeable but subtle. Flavor was berry as well, with a medium body, but silky smooth. Finish was long and flavorful. The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. The body is light/medium. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
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Has gone into its shell since my other bottle two years ago and needs coaxing out. Surprisingly little sediment. Blackcurrant pastil nose, medium weight, good length of finish. A little simple. Still has several years ahead of it so no great rush to drink.p.s. on day 3 the wine seemed to have put on weight and lost its sharp edge so this may still be improving.
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Two hour double decant. Fragrant on opening, toned down with first glass but still good fruit and good flavors. Drank well, a bit muted, but good sense of place (Rutherford). This bottle was better than last 1-1/2 years ago, but not as good as I had hoped. Tannins crept back in at the end (not that there's anything wrong with that) and a bit of a musty note as well. Hoped for better from this.
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Same score as the 2011 Napa yet a very different style. This is more serious in the Bordeaux style and lacks some of the grace of the '11. Whereas the 11 is completely ready now the 12 will benefit from some further age and has the potential to improve in score. Big blackcurrant and cedar nose with coffee and some greenery on the palate. Tannins would benefit from further age. Excellent long finish. Give it a couple of years.
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Clear, deep ruby color. Showing lively aromatics of cassis & black currant, green peppercorns, roasted coffee, pipe tobacco, worn cedar and smoked paprika. Luscious high-toned black fruits on the attack with stately secondary depth consistent with the nose. Elegant on entry with open textures and nicely developed middle palate weight. Terrifically balanced ripeness and acid, supported with round smooth tannins and finishing with juicy mouthwatering length. In a great place right now, beautiful classic style. 92+
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Two hour, double decant, no sediment. No notes. Somewhat muted, a little corked? Cherry predominate, a bit of Rutherford Cab character, structure for 4-5 years more. 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc. Hope second bottle shows better at this price point.
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Sweet cherry on the nose and red currant at first taste turning to jolly rancher cherry candy at the finish, with lots in between - tobacco, pie spices, and leather. Definitely hitting its peak now.
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Cherry on the nose and in the glass, very smooth, started round and got rounder- the balance here is so nice. Tanins present but integrated. Medium finish.
July 1 2019 update: have had a few bottles now. Tasting notes consistent on each one, adding reminder to myself that I like it much better after an hour or so of decant. Also benefits from being cellar temp as opposed to room temp.
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Medium body, with classic Rutherford dust profile. Opened up considerably after 90 minutes in the decanter, showing cherry fruit and plenty of structure though tannins wel ntegrated at this point.
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Bu au resto AVV l’Entreamis de Sherbrooke avec Headless, Bulle, Meursault et MikeLM. Fait de 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc. Assez moderne et beaucoup trop boisé pour moi. Le nez est intense, sur le cassis, les prunes, le bois et une pointe de vanille. En bouche, ça clash avec les autres vins, un brin sucré, assez soyeux et velouté avec du gros fruit. Il y a beaucoup trop de bois en ce moment. Les tannins sont charnus et la finale longue avec un peu d’asséchement. Je n’ai pas terminé mon seul verre…j’en ai repris en fin de dégustation, un gros 4 heures après l’avoir versé et il n’a pas bougé! A revoir possiblement dans 20-30 ans, je passes mon tour.
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Medium body wine with black fruit flavors and the earthy Rutherford flavor you come to expect from a quality Napa Cabernet. This wine delivers all you could expect at a good QPR. Would benefit from more cellar time but drinking very well now.
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Wonderful. Silky, dark and luscious. Rich Cab that is not too jammy. Everything a Napa Cab aspires to be--and quite affordable when compared to the others in the same class.
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leafy, Bordelais sort of nose, pencil shaving, no obvious oak light, refreshing, some firm tannins juicy red fruit elegant with a great finish Total class Drinking well now, think it'll be incredible in a few years
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Deep ruby color. Nose of blackberry and smoky spice. Medium bodied on the palate with good grip and presence, a touch woody but overall a friendly wine.
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Pnp. Admitted, I did not get all this wine has to offer according to fellow ct notes. But I did save half the bottle for tomorrow. Right now, with no decant, this wine is good, fruit forward, smooth but no layers or complexity. We'll see what tomorrow brings......Answer:.....more enjoyable on night #2 but not great.
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After a 1.5 hour decant, hints of tobacco and I'm guessing the renowned Rutherford Dust. I'm not exactly sure what that is but kind of earthy with a touch of cocoa. For being so young, it's not tannic, is very layered and smoothed out over time to be a very nice, unique (not a fruit bomb) wine. Great with a ribeye as expected.
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Tasting at Frog's Leap: Clear, deep ruby color. Aromas of cassis, black cherry, anise, cedar, earth and tobacco. Medium acid, tannin and body- all in balance with flavors of juicy red and black cherry/cassis, clove, vanilla bean, cedar and violets. Silky and rich tannin. Rich full finish. Very elegant but with plenty gumption. Excellent.
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Nice complexity at this price range. Earth, leather, herbal notes complement the concentrated dark fruits. Pnp a split at the restaurant and needed an hour in the glass to open up. Elegant style with medium texture so those looking for that plush/velvet mouthfeel with ripe Napa fruit should look elsewhere.
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I've been all over $40-50 2012 Cal cabernets, and I find they provide a lot to talk about. This was recommended as a fine contender. Didn't seem like it upon the PnP. It was just fine with a good steak and Brussels sprouts, but nothing special. Two hours later I came back for my glass and it was like someone put a different wine in there. They emptied a whole vacuum cleaner bag of Rutherford dust into it while I wasn't looking. Errr...In a good way. So I tend to believe those folks below who say to Hold or Decant for 4 hours. Reminds me a bit of the 2010 Chalk Hill.
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A pretty cab that is dry, dusty and elegant in style. This 2012 will need time to assimilate. For some, this can be enjoyed now with a good decant. I enjoy a more prominent cabernet, but I will try this one again in a few years as I foresee significant improvement. 88 points.
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This is the culmination of a career long crusade by the winemaker to get land in the Rutherford Bench in the Rutherford region of Napa Valley.
Carries the dry, dusty characteristic of the Rutherford region through a long finish.
Excellent today, but don't drink it yet. The acid will let this age for many, many years. If you wait until 2020 and beyond to drink this, you will not be disappointed. 92 now, but when properly aged will move to 94, maybe even 95.
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Giant Wine Sale & Tasting 11/15/2014 Cellar in Greene, Columbia, SC (Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC): An absolute mouth full of Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet pleasure. Has all you can expect and more from one of the best places in California for Cabernet. Just the epitome of what Cabernet should be. You can tell by the nose it was picked at almost perfect brix. The is slight musty, green pepper aroma assuring us the grapes were not over ripe. The mouth feel is superb; full bodied but so elegant and light on it's feet. Still very young, there is plenty of acid which will allow decades of age, but is so well balanced, it tastes fine now. Layers of fruit with all kinds of interesting tidbits of flavor. Starts with blackberry, plum and cassis, then fig, cocoa, graphite, brown spice and cedar. Easily handles lots of big new oak. Superb, a real treat.
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10/15/2023 - wineforth Likes this wine: 93 Points
Last of several bottles. This needed time and is now drinking beautifully. Blackcurrant and coffee on the nose with cedar, tobacco and leather joining on the palate. Fine and complex. Good weight of fruit and a decent finish that goes on longer than you first think. At its peak now as there is a touch of acidity starting to show through.
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8/28/2022 - PhillyVine2112 Likes this wine: 93 Points
No rush
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8/27/2022 - rebarton3 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Got this from the vineyard several years ago while it was a little soft and not a long as I’d hoped for, the nose was excellent, tannins and acidity still present, and 4 hours in it’s still very tasty. The best part about this wine is that it’s not showing it’s age in the least. Still looks, smells and tastes like a youthful wine.
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5/28/2022 - Robert Pavlovich Likes this wine:
Noticed there was some mold outside of the capsule so figured it was aboutvtime to drink, and the wine showed beautifully. Everything you want from aged napa cab, showing mature yet fresh dark fruit, with leather, tobacco, complex spice and cassis accents. Drinking brilliantly now, outshining a 2007 Quilceda Creek alongside.
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6/13/2021 - TheGoat wrote:
This wine had a berry aroma, noticeable but subtle. Flavor was berry as well, with a medium body, but silky smooth. Finish was long and flavorful.
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. The body is light/medium. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
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3/18/2021 - wineforth Likes this wine: 90 Points
Has gone into its shell since my other bottle two years ago and needs coaxing out. Surprisingly little sediment. Blackcurrant pastil nose, medium weight, good length of finish. A little simple. Still has several years ahead of it so no great rush to drink.p.s. on day 3 the wine seemed to have put on weight and lost its sharp edge so this may still be improving.
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10/8/2020 - sweez1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium body Cab, got better as it opened up. Dark coloring, fruit flavored, very drinkable.
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10/3/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine: 91 Points
Two hour double decant. Fragrant on opening, toned down with first glass but still good fruit and good flavors. Drank well, a bit muted, but good sense of place (Rutherford). This bottle was better than last 1-1/2 years ago, but not as good as I had hoped. Tannins crept back in at the end (not that there's anything wrong with that) and a bit of a musty note as well. Hoped for better from this.
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9/5/2020 - Lindsaykomlos Likes this wine:
Oak flavor gets better as it breathes. Not too heavy
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2/17/2020 - Swmrush Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wonderful berry, smooth balance
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10/29/2019 - danscellar wrote: 87 Points
This is a “Drinker” at best, pretty tanic and woody! Not much fruit popped out on this nor did it settle down much with air.
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10/4/2019 - wineforth Likes this wine: 92 Points
Same score as the 2011 Napa yet a very different style. This is more serious in the Bordeaux style and lacks some of the grace of the '11. Whereas the 11 is completely ready now the 12 will benefit from some further age and has the potential to improve in score. Big blackcurrant and cedar nose with coffee and some greenery on the palate. Tannins would benefit from further age. Excellent long finish. Give it a couple of years.
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9/21/2019 - MattMauldin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Clear, deep ruby color. Showing lively aromatics of cassis & black currant, green peppercorns, roasted coffee, pipe tobacco, worn cedar and smoked paprika. Luscious high-toned black fruits on the attack with stately secondary depth consistent with the nose. Elegant on entry with open textures and nicely developed middle palate weight. Terrifically balanced ripeness and acid, supported with round smooth tannins and finishing with juicy mouthwatering length. In a great place right now, beautiful classic style. 92+
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1/20/2019 - timbobwhite wrote:
Two hour, double decant, no sediment. No notes. Somewhat muted, a little corked? Cherry predominate, a bit of Rutherford Cab character, structure for 4-5 years more. 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc. Hope second bottle shows better at this price point.
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12/27/2018 - highprioraty Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sweet cherry on the nose and red currant at first taste turning to jolly rancher cherry candy at the finish, with lots in between - tobacco, pie spices, and leather. Definitely hitting its peak now.
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11/24/2018 - drinkmore Likes this wine: 91 Points
nice dark color, fruity and delicious. tannins but well integrated at this point. good value for the quality.
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9/3/2018 - Nfmds Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fruit in nose, star anise and other warm spices in midrange, lingering finish with some tannins. Lots of tobacco. Nice with beef ribs.
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7/28/2018 - lundmc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cherry on the nose and in the glass, very smooth, started round and got rounder- the balance here is so nice. Tanins present but integrated. Medium finish.
July 1 2019 update: have had a few bottles now. Tasting notes consistent on each one, adding reminder to myself that I like it much better after an hour or so of decant. Also benefits from being cellar temp as opposed to room temp.
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2/14/2018 - winejnky wrote: 90 Points
Medium body, with classic Rutherford dust profile. Opened up considerably after 90 minutes in the decanter, showing cherry fruit and plenty of structure though tannins wel ntegrated at this point.
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8/20/2017 - tastark Likes this wine:
Last bottle must have been an outlier. This bottle was much more in line with the first and was fantastic.
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8/4/2017 - Grouper wrote: 92 Points
Superb
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7/21/2017 - maxima wrote: 85 Points
Bu au resto AVV l’Entreamis de Sherbrooke avec Headless, Bulle, Meursault et MikeLM.
Fait de 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc. Assez moderne et beaucoup trop boisé pour moi.
Le nez est intense, sur le cassis, les prunes, le bois et une pointe de vanille.
En bouche, ça clash avec les autres vins, un brin sucré, assez soyeux et velouté avec du gros fruit. Il y a beaucoup trop de bois en ce moment. Les tannins sont charnus et la finale longue avec un peu d’asséchement. Je n’ai pas terminé mon seul verre…j’en ai repris en fin de dégustation, un gros 4 heures après l’avoir versé et il n’a pas bougé! A revoir possiblement dans 20-30 ans, je passes mon tour.
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6/26/2016 - Grouper wrote: 93 Points
The Estate Cab is the best yet from Frog's Leap. Full body, deep color and a lingering taste on the palate
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6/16/2016 - tastark Likes this wine:
Slight bottle variation from the last one. Seemed a little less ripe. Still great, just different.
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4/17/2016 - Aldhib Likes this wine: 91 Points
Herbs, cherries, leather and a finish that is all Rutherford.
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1/31/2016 - danstrings Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely inky dark eucalyptus meets black cherry and tar Napa cab, yum!
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12/5/2015 - Tiderunner22 wrote: 90 Points
Medium body wine with black fruit flavors and the earthy Rutherford flavor you come to expect from a quality Napa Cabernet. This wine delivers all you could expect at a good QPR. Would benefit from more cellar time but drinking very well now.
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11/13/2015 - seanman Likes this wine:
What a nice, well balanced, flavorful, smooth wine. Solid value. They decanted with aerator - seemed to work very nicely.
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11/1/2015 - tastark Likes this wine:
Drinking magnificently right now, though it likely has enough substance to cellar 10-15 years. A very pure expression of Rutherford Cabernet.
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10/28/2015 - BigGDaddy wrote:
Wonderful. Silky, dark and luscious. Rich Cab that is not too jammy. Everything a Napa Cab aspires to be--and quite affordable when compared to the others in the same class.
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10/3/2015 - henrygjeffreys Likes this wine:
leafy, Bordelais sort of nose, pencil shaving, no obvious oak
light, refreshing, some firm tannins
juicy red fruit
elegant with a great finish
Total class
Drinking well now, think it'll be incredible in a few years
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7/11/2015 - toscavita Likes this wine: 90 Points
Enjoyable, but will likely improve with time.
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6/12/2015 - dougsmith Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep ruby color. Nose of blackberry and smoky spice. Medium bodied on the palate with good grip and presence, a touch woody but overall a friendly wine.
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5/19/2015 - Vailman Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pnp. Admitted, I did not get all this wine has to offer according to fellow ct notes. But I did save half the bottle for tomorrow. Right now, with no decant, this wine is good, fruit forward, smooth but no layers or complexity. We'll see what tomorrow brings......Answer:.....more enjoyable on night #2 but not great.
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4/18/2015 - psundberg Likes this wine: 91 Points
After a 1.5 hour decant, hints of tobacco and I'm guessing the renowned Rutherford Dust. I'm not exactly sure what that is but kind of earthy with a touch of cocoa. For being so young, it's not tannic, is very layered and smoothed out over time to be a very nice, unique (not a fruit bomb) wine. Great with a ribeye as expected.
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4/18/2015 - JWH6 wrote: 86 Points
An over priced Rutherford Napa Valley Cab. Thin more like a Chianti or Pinot, much better wines available for the price.
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3/17/2015 - MattMauldin Likes this wine:
Tasting at Frog's Leap: Clear, deep ruby color. Aromas of cassis, black cherry, anise, cedar, earth and tobacco. Medium acid, tannin and body- all in balance with flavors of juicy red and black cherry/cassis, clove, vanilla bean, cedar and violets. Silky and rich tannin. Rich full finish. Very elegant but with plenty gumption. Excellent.
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3/13/2015 - Vietty Likes this wine:
Nice complexity at this price range. Earth, leather, herbal notes complement the concentrated dark fruits. Pnp a split at the restaurant and needed an hour in the glass to open up. Elegant style with medium texture so those looking for that plush/velvet mouthfeel with ripe Napa fruit should look elsewhere.
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2/4/2015 - ledocq Likes this wine:
I've been all over $40-50 2012 Cal cabernets, and I find they provide a lot to talk about. This was recommended as a fine contender. Didn't seem like it upon the PnP. It was just fine with a good steak and Brussels sprouts, but nothing special. Two hours later I came back for my glass and it was like someone put a different wine in there. They emptied a whole vacuum cleaner bag of Rutherford dust into it while I wasn't looking. Errr...In a good way. So I tend to believe those folks below who say to Hold or Decant for 4 hours. Reminds me a bit of the 2010 Chalk Hill.
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1/11/2015 - Yack Man wrote: 88 Points
A pretty cab that is dry, dusty and elegant in style. This 2012 will need time to assimilate. For some, this can be enjoyed now with a good decant. I enjoy a more prominent cabernet, but I will try this one again in a few years as I foresee significant improvement. 88 points.
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1/11/2015 - taddiken Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is the culmination of a career long crusade by the winemaker to get land in the Rutherford Bench in the Rutherford region of Napa Valley.
Carries the dry, dusty characteristic of the Rutherford region through a long finish.
Excellent today, but don't drink it yet. The acid will let this age for many, many years. If you wait until 2020 and beyond to drink this, you will not be disappointed. 92 now, but when properly aged will move to 94, maybe even 95.
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11/15/2014 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 93 Points
Giant Wine Sale & Tasting 11/15/2014 Cellar in Greene, Columbia, SC (Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC): An absolute mouth full of Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet pleasure. Has all you can expect and more from one of the best places in California for Cabernet. Just the epitome of what Cabernet should be. You can tell by the nose it was picked at almost perfect brix. The is slight musty, green pepper aroma assuring us the grapes were not over ripe. The mouth feel is superb; full bodied but so elegant and light on it's feet. Still very young, there is plenty of acid which will allow decades of age, but is so well balanced, it tastes fine now. Layers of fruit with all kinds of interesting tidbits of flavor. Starts with blackberry, plum and cassis, then fig, cocoa, graphite, brown spice and cedar. Easily handles lots of big new oak. Superb, a real treat.
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9/10/2014 - Glenn92 wrote:
Pretty color- nice spiced oak on the nose
cherry overtones with oak background. Young right now. Should age well.
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