Decanted. Initially very closed, but with air and coming to proper temp the wine opened. Started really hitting its stride after about 2 to 3 hours. Nice, soft tannins, resolved acidity. Soft dark fruit, with warm winter spice. The alcohol is not hot but keeps it warm.
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Was able to drink without decanting. Very smooth, and a good finish. I have not had much experience with the Stags Leap district, but this bottle is cause to change that. There were 5 people, so even though it drank well immediately after opening, it did not last long enough to see how it evolved. So it is difficult to gauge to see if this vintage should age more years. But it is certainly ready to drink now.
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Gosh darn it I wish I had more. Smooth velvety tannins with delightful fruit. What a finish and drank beautifully. Kicking myself for not buying more. Oh well onto the next one
Cork & Taylor Wine Podcast
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Retai $125. By the time we had proceeded to the 2012 (the previous vintage was the 2006), it was clear that the Terlatos made the right choice in elevating Elizabeth Vianna to head winemaker shortly after purchasing the winery in 2003. This 2012, just over a decade out, is magnificent; it's loaded with fruit (red currant, cassis, plum), herbs (sage), and spice (anise). Whoa. The palate, while full and juicy, is also wonderfully zingy and balanced. After layer upon layer of complexity rushes over the taste buds, there is a bit of tannin, although supple, that suggest another 5-10 years of aging is possible. Whoa.
First of 2, this and a '13 ($44@) from a private party purchase about 4.5 years ago. On the nose and palate, sweet red and black cherries and currants, cassis and lesser notes of mixed dark berries, smoke, forest spice, leather, anise, and some coffee on the back end. Dark purple with a brownish hue, medium bodied, medium to thick legs. Medium- acidity, well integrated tannins, no heat. Good complexity, VG persistence, medium+ intensity. This came out of the bottle slightly tannic but more than drinkable on the initial 1 oz pour, but after letting it sit for a couple of hours, this was singing (NB: I think 30 mins-hour would be ideal): a well-balanced, well-structured, elegant wine. Consumed initially with the usual Wednesday snacks after the walk with Dennis, this was excellent on its own, but it really excelled with a broiled pork chop, roasted veggies and couscous afterward. This is the kind of wine which, IMO, is perpetually underscored on CT (see my notes for the '09 Merryvale Profile and '04 Dominus): more Bordeaux than Napa, more subtle than powerful, not particularly fruit forward, without undue sweetness, alcohol, vanilla or oak. Fully integrated at this point, this likely is in the middle to latter stages of its optimal drinking window, although for those more interested in secondary notes and less in fruit, this should continue to show strongly for years to come. This wine falls in a funny price niche, above the entry level wines of the larger Napa houses like Chappellet, Frank Family, Heitz, Merryvale, etc., but below most of the SVDs and blends like Hewitt, BV George, Beringer PR, etc., and that feels about right at where it's priced, solidly better than an every night drinker, but also not at the level of the more special occasion, at least for me, wines. Under the circumstances I picked it up, a great choice and more than solid if you see it at Costco, but probably not something I'd generally buy at full boat, even though I'm really enjoying it tonight.
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Decanted 1hour, lovely stags leap cab, floral nose, rich, yet balanced, currants, cassis, plum, dark cherry, complex smooth long finish. I have four bottles left of this vintage and see no hurry to consume.
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Outstanding bottle, best of the long weekend, Chimney Rock never disappoints. Dark cherry coloring, bold fruit flavors without any sweetness. Not sure how it could have been better.
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Nice smooth cab. Decanted for 2 hr. The wine has subtle fruit flavors that develop during the decant. It is not jammy like a caymus as mentioned by another reviewer, but it is quite good in its own way. Glad I have more.
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PNP, this bottle was loaded with currants, Cassie, dark cherry, cola notes, soft tannins. Though ready to drink should last for several more years in a cool environment.
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It’s nice, but pretty mediocre. Oak is strong but fruit and acid are basically dead. I know it’s a bad vintage and it’s their base blend, but this is nowhere near worth the value of the price ($80). Drink yesterday.
Decanted I hr, phenomenal bottle of stags leap fruit, so well balanced between fruit and minerals, silky smooth long finish. Bravo and I still have six bottles left.
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Pop and pour, light aromas . Decanted for one hour and explode to prunes, black berries and young leather. At taste round, smooth with a medium time finishing.
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really good acidity mixed in with lots of fruit. Napa cabs are consumed to early. They really hit their stride 10 years in. Lots of life left in this high end cab.
Alcohol minor distraction tonight. And missing the tannins of old world wines.
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Decanted for an hour then drank over the next 3. Some sediment in bottle. Fine aromas on first glass, good fruit and a smooth finish. Then the wine seemed to close down - didn’t give away much on the nose and was fairly bitter on the palate for a while. The good news is that the wine mproved significantly by the final glass, the nose and fruit returned and the bitterness faded.
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Fermented in s/s with 26-40 days skin contact time; Aged 18 mos in 100% FR oak (50% new). Bottled 6/1/2014, released 3/1/2015; 8,971 cs; 14.50% ABV
Private Preserve used after Days 1 & 2.
N: Berries, earth, but with other things going on; A creamy nature to the oak with notes of pyrazines
P: Med, poss MF, body; Rndish entry with LOVELY, black olive tinged fruit BEAUTIFULLY counterbalanced by a firming structure which SEAMLESSLY transitions into QUITE a LONG, exquisitely balanced finish. Based upon drinking the remainder Days 2 & 3, I'd drink this over the next 1-2 yrs because of the level it's @ right now. (Yet with its still ample frt & BALANCE it could well approach its 15th.) My EXC/EXC+, & one could EASILY argue for Exceptional- based upon the COSTCO price I pd. 94 pts WE @ $75, 92 Suckling, 91-93 Vinous, 89 Galloni, 88 WA, 87 WS, Gold @ '16 S.F. Chronicle Wine Comp, Silver Outstanding @ ’16 Int'l Wine & Spirit Comp, & Silver @ ’16 TEXSOM Int'l Wine Awards.
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Dark red full body,. We had it with grilled beef and it paired extremely well. The meat was spice with garlic, black pepper and a very small portion of chili. Delicious
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if this 2012 Chimney Cab has been stored properly its a Solid 95.....as it airs through a few hours it aproaches 96..youll be the Hit of the party....even if your up against some other $100 plus bottles....Lol.. if you Look hard enough you can even get it for $68...Lol...at Vons or Pavilions...Lol.....just make sure ta check their super little Liquor locker and pull out all the 2014's.....you might find one Lingering at the end ...like i did
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Drinking beautifully right now. Perfect combo of tannin and fruit right now. Chimney Rock is never tannic but as it gets older the tannins fade and it can become dull. Wonderful, medium weight Napa Cab that is easy to drink and everybody loves.
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Nose of black berry, black cherry, and charcoal, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, starting to show well, touch subdued, could be richer, and a long, long, finish.
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Decanted for sediment only. Sublime and fruity with light tannins and a full body. Damn good. A little bit cocktail- like but flavors make up for it. Dark fruit spectrum. Drink now.
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The wine was fruit forward with blackberry and cherry. The light tannins provide for a smooth entry with hints of smoke, charcoal and tobacco in the finish. very enjoyable wine with complex flavors.
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Dark purplish red. Rather tight on the nose with dark and sweet spices, cinnamon, brown sugar, asian spices and dark raspberries. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and medium to medium plus bodied. Solid acidity with a fruity attack, dark red berries, spices, cinnamon and gravel. A touch of heat with a dry and long finish. Needed an hour and a half plus decant. Drink till 2024. (91+)
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Little to light nose. This was tasted blind and I thought it may be a fruity Cab Franc. Dry and strong body must come from excessive new french oak which I do enjoy.
For me this is at its prime. After unveiling opened an 07 to compare and I like the youthfulness and body of the 12
365887
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Drinking great right now. Bright red raspberry and black cherry on the smooth and very approachable palate. Full body with fine grained tannins. Drink now or over the next five to eight years.
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Textbook Stag's Leap Cab. Lot of Chocolate/Cherry on the palate. Good effort, in a good year. Seems to be at the early end of the drinking window, should show well for 3 to 4 more years.
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Quick 45 minute decant poured through an aerator. Deep red to purple in color. Nose of oak, cedar and blackberries. Very soft initial taste followed by dark fruits, blackberries and currants. Finishes with some chalky tannins but has a bit of an acidic tartness and bite. Full bodied and long finish. Good, not great.
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Thoroughly enjoyed this bottle, paired with a filet. Abundant blue & dark purple fruit, balanced & well integrated oak, minimal alcohol on the nose. Deep inky purple in the glass with a full velvet body on the palate. Drinking great now & will continue to do so for several years.
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Drank as pop and pour over a couple hours. Dusty texture with lots of bitter cherry, black fruit, plums, and cassis. Would not seek this out but definately high enough quality to enjoy anytime. After a few hours it did develop a unpleasant mustiness.
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PNP, nice nose of flowers, currants cassis, similar on the palette, with plums and raspberry, soft tannins, elegant and refined. I love Stags leap fruit from the 2012 vintage!
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deep purple color almost blue black. Knows of violets blue and black fruit black cherry earth leather and spice. on the palate mocha black fruit baking spice. A beautiful balance of fruit and fine grained tannins, richness without being flabby. Long mouth watering finish. A $75 wine thats worth it
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Dark ruby red with a purplish core. Nose is coated in baking spices, cinnamon, brown sugar and dark cherries. Moderate plus tannins (7.5/10) and full bodied. Dark cherries with dark cocoa and bark. Slightly dry and long finish. Drink till 2028.
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Ditto my previous note from 12/2015, very nice complexity and structure, nice rich dark nose, loads of plum, dark currants, cassis, cocoa, hints of cedar, still some secondary flavors that have yet to show there full potential. Hold for a year or two and then should easily last another decade with reasonable storage.
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For this vintage, I expected more, just ok. HAVE 2 more and will let cellar, but would not purchase again. Furthermore, there are plenty of better wines at this price point. Sub-standard QPR, IMHO
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Médium TO dark red WITH subtons Of purple. Lots of long legs, short spaced. Bouquet of licorice and black berries. At taste is round, smooth and well balanced tannins and acidity . Finish is long and slightly dry. A generous cab to be enjoyed with peppery salami, truffle cheeses, hard and strong taste food. We had ossobuco al fungi and it pairs extraordinarily well.
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As with the other 2012 I have tasted I find them slightly dull. The fruit is adequate but not intense, the tannins are already soft, I tend to think this vintage in NAPA may be critically overrated for my tasting. I don't see and extreme aging potential in this bottle.
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For some reason the second bottle of this stuff didn't taste quite as delightful as my first run-in with it. Still a solid Cab, nonetheless, but not what I remembered.
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Tasted at a dinner party; it was substantive but not expressive or particularly memorable. It was being poured from the bottle, which I assume hadn't been open long, so it probably needs decanting in addition to being young (I'll give it the benefit of the doubt since I really couldn't give it more than 88 Points right now). I have this Cab in a 2011 which I'm now wary to open.
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Decanted for an hour. Deep garnet in color, medium body, long clear legs. Plumb and jammy on the nose. Fruity with hints of sweet plumb on the palate. Very smooth and not overpowering with a long finish. A wonderful wine.
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Decanted 1hr, fine stags leap juice here, nose is a touch muted, but the palate is full of all the usual dark fruit, black cherry, currants and cassis in abundance, there is a tartness to the finish that adds a much needed boost in complexity. I think it is worth noting that tannins are quite integrated even at this early stage and structure appears to be lacking. This seems to be the MO when talking about the 2012 vintage in general. But I like it!
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Nose that needed coaxing at first, oak/vanilla, blackberry, and blueberry, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, slightly fruit forward, touch simple, subdued on the palate, probably will improve the next three years, although I am unsure if I would buy it again, long, long, fruity finish.
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This developed well over dinner. Popped and power decanted in the restaurant.
Initially the finish had a light metallic taste and that quickly blew off. Great tannins 7.5/10. Full bodied yet already with a smoothness that makes this drinkable early (as a Napa fruit bomb).
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Very good, BIG napa Cab, Chimney Rock style. I decanted for several hours the day before and sealed it back up to drink the next day and it was great. Enjoyed with 3 other friends and all liked it. Will definitely cellar my other bottle longer as the time will bring out more of the fruit and complexity. At first taste it was a bit tight.
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12/3/2023 - azwino wrote:
Decanted. Initially very closed, but with air and coming to proper temp the wine opened. Started really hitting its stride after about 2 to 3 hours. Nice, soft tannins, resolved acidity. Soft dark fruit, with warm winter spice. The alcohol is not hot but keeps it warm.
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10/21/2023 - jzebrack Likes this wine: 92 Points
Was able to drink without decanting.
Very smooth, and a good finish.
I have not had much experience with the Stags Leap district, but this bottle is cause to change that.
There were 5 people, so even though it drank well immediately after opening, it did not last long enough to see how it evolved.
So it is difficult to gauge to see if this vintage should age more years. But it is certainly ready to drink now.
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12/20/2022 - bootaylor76 Likes this wine:
Gosh darn it I wish I had more. Smooth velvety tannins with delightful fruit. What a finish and drank beautifully. Kicking myself for not buying more. Oh well onto the next one
Cork & Taylor Wine Podcast
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12/7/2022 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 95 Points
Retai $125. By the time we had proceeded to the 2012 (the previous vintage was the 2006), it was clear that the Terlatos made the right choice in elevating Elizabeth Vianna to head winemaker shortly after purchasing the winery in 2003. This 2012, just over a decade out, is magnificent; it's loaded with fruit (red currant, cassis, plum), herbs (sage), and spice (anise). Whoa. The palate, while full and juicy, is also wonderfully zingy and balanced. After layer upon layer of complexity rushes over the taste buds, there is a bit of tannin, although supple, that suggest another 5-10 years of aging is possible. Whoa.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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12/7/2022 - The Drunken Cyclist wrote: flawed
Corked. Bummer.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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9/11/2022 - bradfriedlander Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark blackberry taste. Little or no cherry. Tannins are a little harsh. Deep extraction and flavor. Long finish. Great food wine.
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2/2/2022 - Flamengo65 Likes this wine:
92
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11/8/2021 - Hymie Likes this wine:
Delicious
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11/3/2021 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
First of 2, this and a '13 ($44@) from a private party purchase about 4.5 years ago. On the nose and palate, sweet red and black cherries and currants, cassis and lesser notes of mixed dark berries, smoke, forest spice, leather, anise, and some coffee on the back end. Dark purple with a brownish hue, medium bodied, medium to thick legs. Medium- acidity, well integrated tannins, no heat. Good complexity, VG persistence, medium+ intensity. This came out of the bottle slightly tannic but more than drinkable on the initial 1 oz pour, but after letting it sit for a couple of hours, this was singing (NB: I think 30 mins-hour would be ideal): a well-balanced, well-structured, elegant wine. Consumed initially with the usual Wednesday snacks after the walk with Dennis, this was excellent on its own, but it really excelled with a broiled pork chop, roasted veggies and couscous afterward. This is the kind of wine which, IMO, is perpetually underscored on CT (see my notes for the '09 Merryvale Profile and '04 Dominus): more Bordeaux than Napa, more subtle than powerful, not particularly fruit forward, without undue sweetness, alcohol, vanilla or oak. Fully integrated at this point, this likely is in the middle to latter stages of its optimal drinking window, although for those more interested in secondary notes and less in fruit, this should continue to show strongly for years to come. This wine falls in a funny price niche, above the entry level wines of the larger Napa houses like Chappellet, Frank Family, Heitz, Merryvale, etc., but below most of the SVDs and blends like Hewitt, BV George, Beringer PR, etc., and that feels about right at where it's priced, solidly better than an every night drinker, but also not at the level of the more special occasion, at least for me, wines. Under the circumstances I picked it up, a great choice and more than solid if you see it at Costco, but probably not something I'd generally buy at full boat, even though I'm really enjoying it tonight.
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8/28/2021 - Bobcat 31 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Let it cellar for several years and worth the wait.
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6/28/2021 - Bob23 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nowhere near the end of its life - still vibrant fruit and structure. Quite tasty.
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5/10/2021 - libero wrote: 92 Points
I love this wine .
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3/27/2021 - JB12 wrote: 92 Points
Very nice. Big deep flavor. Getting smooth after 3 hr decant and drink time. One left, save to 2024...
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12/12/2020 - wineshaman wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1hour, lovely stags leap cab, floral nose, rich, yet balanced, currants, cassis, plum, dark cherry, complex smooth long finish. I have four bottles left of this vintage and see no hurry to consume.
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11/14/2020 - Bobcat 31 Likes this wine: 90 Points
did not need any lengthly decanting
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10/14/2020 - libero wrote: 92 Points
It requires at least 3 hours decant .
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10/8/2020 - sweez1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Outstanding bottle, best of the long weekend, Chimney Rock never disappoints. Dark cherry coloring, bold fruit flavors without any sweetness. Not sure how it could have been better.
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9/14/2020 - JB12 wrote: 92 Points
Nice smooth cab. Decanted for 2 hr. The wine has subtle fruit flavors that develop during the decant. It is not jammy like a caymus as mentioned by another reviewer, but it is quite good in its own way. Glad I have more.
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6/30/2020 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Appears to have improved since last bottle. Definitely a few years left.
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4/21/2020 - Jaerre7588 Likes this wine:
Shawn’s 50th Zoom Birthday Party
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4/19/2020 - Steven DiFiore Likes this wine: 90 Points
Easy. Fruit forward. Jammy but not as jammy as Caymus.
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2/15/2020 - Torrano-Mills wrote:
Tasted and loved can drink now.
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10/26/2019 - libero wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour. Too tied...let us wait two hours.Three hours later , not yet opened. Let me wait until tomorrow.
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10/20/2019 - wineshaman wrote: 91 Points
PNP, this bottle was loaded with currants, Cassie, dark cherry, cola notes, soft tannins. Though ready to drink should last for several more years in a cool environment.
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9/22/2019 - Château de Farmer Likes this wine: 86 Points
It’s nice, but pretty mediocre. Oak is strong but fruit and acid are basically dead. I know it’s a bad vintage and it’s their base blend, but this is nowhere near worth the value of the price ($80). Drink yesterday.
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9/13/2019 - fdb023 wrote:
Ok, don't buy again
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9/8/2019 - Ben&Sarah Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking well now. Still very deep purple. Soft mouthfeel, still plenty of fruit, tannins have faded. Nice wine
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5/11/2019 - wineshaman wrote: 93 Points
Decanted I hr, phenomenal bottle of stags leap fruit, so well balanced between fruit and minerals, silky smooth long finish. Bravo and I still have six bottles left.
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5/7/2019 - nmcandrew Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep purple color, cinnamon, blackberry and slightly pepper spice. Lingers on the tongue with a silky smooth finish.
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5/5/2019 - jrhonda160 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fine Napa dirt! Pepper, fruit, smoothness. Drinking well now.
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3/3/2019 - libero wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour, light aromas . Decanted for one hour and explode to prunes, black berries and young leather. At taste round, smooth with a medium time finishing.
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2/17/2019 - libero wrote: 92 Points
This bottle by now 7 years old has a dark purple color, incredibly complex aromas, round and balanced acidity and tannin.
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2/14/2019 - rickspicks wrote: 90 Points
Very dark fruits with a medium plus body, good balance, earth and spice.
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1/5/2019 - greedy Likes this wine: 92 Points
really good acidity mixed in with lots of fruit. Napa cabs are consumed to early. They really hit their stride 10 years in. Lots of life left in this high end cab.
Alcohol minor distraction tonight. And missing the tannins of old world wines.
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11/2/2018 - Frank-H wrote: 94 Points
Drank over two days. Wonderful wine, sorryI only had one left.
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10/18/2018 - libero wrote: 92 Points
Pretty nice flavor wine . A solid 92 rating .
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10/12/2018 - Jarndyce wrote:
Decanted for an hour then drank over the next 3. Some sediment in bottle. Fine aromas on first glass, good fruit and a smooth finish. Then the wine seemed to close down - didn’t give away much on the nose and was fairly bitter on the palate for a while. The good news is that the wine mproved significantly by the final glass, the nose and fruit returned and the bitterness faded.
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9/30/2018 - mattspeiser Likes this wine: 94 Points
Big cherry, dark fruit and tobacco, smooth and bold with balanced acidity and tannins - still has time to sit but delicious
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8/22/2018 - libero wrote: 92 Points
This 6 years old bottle, is a dark red, full body cab with aromas of young leather and tobacco. A taste is round ending with a tannin taste .
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7/25/2018 - Rossdhu House wrote: 90 Points
Dark full body, consistent with others.
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6/26/2018 - libero wrote: 92 Points
This 6 years old bottle shows a dark red with violets subton, smooth with spice at the end.
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4/30/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Fermented in s/s with 26-40 days skin contact time; Aged 18 mos in 100% FR oak (50% new). Bottled 6/1/2014, released 3/1/2015; 8,971 cs; 14.50% ABV
Private Preserve used after Days 1 & 2.
N: Berries, earth, but with other things going on; A creamy nature to the oak with notes of pyrazines
P: Med, poss MF, body; Rndish entry with LOVELY, black olive tinged fruit BEAUTIFULLY counterbalanced by a firming structure which SEAMLESSLY transitions into QUITE a LONG, exquisitely balanced finish. Based upon drinking the remainder Days 2 & 3, I'd drink this over the next 1-2 yrs because of the level it's @ right now. (Yet with its still ample frt & BALANCE it could well approach its 15th.) My EXC/EXC+, & one could EASILY argue for Exceptional- based upon the COSTCO price I pd. 94 pts WE @ $75, 92 Suckling, 91-93 Vinous, 89 Galloni, 88 WA, 87 WS, Gold @ '16 S.F. Chronicle Wine Comp, Silver Outstanding @ ’16 Int'l Wine & Spirit Comp, & Silver @ ’16 TEXSOM Int'l Wine Awards.
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4/7/2018 - Rossdhu House wrote: 90 Points
See my previous
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4/6/2018 - libero wrote: 92 Points
Dark red full body,. We had it with grilled beef and it paired extremely well. The meat was spice with garlic, black pepper and a very small portion of chili. Delicious
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4/1/2018 - rockit vino wrote: 95 Points
if this 2012 Chimney Cab has been stored properly its a Solid 95.....as it airs through a few hours it aproaches 96..youll be the Hit of the party....even if your up against some other $100 plus bottles....Lol..
if you Look hard enough you can even get it for $68...Lol...at Vons or Pavilions...Lol.....just make sure ta check their super little Liquor locker and pull out all the 2014's.....you might find one Lingering at the end ...like i did
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3/10/2018 - Reese Wines wrote:
Drank at G. Alston during Memphis Black Restaurant Week. ✊
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12/30/2017 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Pure black fruit and liquid lava and tons of graphite. Delicious.
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12/29/2017 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Same notes as last bottle. Drinking beautifully right now but can easily go another 3 years plus.
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12/12/2017 - Vino Me wrote: 91 Points
Magnum opened by LostVerse at our holiday party. No formal notes but it was well balanced and restrained in style. 91 points.
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12/2/2017 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking beautifully right now. Perfect combo of tannin and fruit right now. Chimney Rock is never tannic but as it gets older the tannins fade and it can become dull. Wonderful, medium weight Napa Cab that is easy to drink and everybody loves.
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10/24/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose of black berry, black cherry, and charcoal, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, starting to show well, touch subdued, could be richer, and a long, long, finish.
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10/8/2017 - bradjohn9 Likes this wine: 93 Points
The wine looks crimson colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like black pepper. It tastes like black pepper.
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9/18/2017 - blaine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pop and pour, no decant, great bottle of wine. No formal notes. Great nose. Fully open for business at this young age. I am going so seek out more!
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9/12/2017 - Mech-E wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for sediment only. Sublime and fruity with light tannins and a full body. Damn good. A little bit cocktail- like but flavors make up for it. Dark fruit spectrum. Drink now.
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8/15/2017 - Frank-H wrote: 93 Points
The wine has low acidity. The body is full and the wine finishes long. Drink it slow and make it last. Outstanding!!! 93
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8/12/2017 - jrhonda160 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great
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8/4/2017 - Vita Vinum Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine was fruit forward with blackberry and cherry. The light tannins provide for a smooth entry with hints of smoke, charcoal and tobacco in the finish. very enjoyable wine with complex flavors.
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7/26/2017 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 91 Points
Dark purplish red. Rather tight on the nose with dark and sweet spices, cinnamon, brown sugar, asian spices and dark raspberries. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and medium to medium plus bodied. Solid acidity with a fruity attack, dark red berries, spices, cinnamon and gravel. A touch of heat with a dry and long finish. Needed an hour and a half plus decant. Drink till 2024. (91+)
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7/26/2017 - cab blends wrote: 90 Points
Little to light nose. This was tasted blind and I thought it may be a fruity Cab Franc. Dry and strong body must come from excessive new french oak which I do enjoy.
For me this is at its prime. After unveiling opened an 07 to compare and I like the youthfulness and body of the 12
365887
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6/28/2017 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bright fruit, tannins still strong. Standard Stag's Leap cab, should improve with a few years cellar time.
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5/16/2017 - ecola Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking great right now. Bright red raspberry and black cherry on the smooth and very approachable palate. Full body with fine grained tannins. Drink now or over the next five to eight years.
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5/5/2017 - stschutz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big fruit, moderate finish. Nice with chocolate.
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4/1/2017 - greedy wrote: 90 Points
Dry. Medium acidity. Decent tannins. Big alcohol finish. Alcohol and oak dominated tonight.
Sadly my taste buds are changing...
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2/15/2017 - ScottPreston wrote: 92 Points
Textbook Stag's Leap Cab. Lot of Chocolate/Cherry on the palate. Good effort, in a good year. Seems to be at the early end of the drinking window, should show well for 3 to 4 more years.
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2/10/2017 - RockyII Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quick 45 minute decant poured through an aerator. Deep red to purple in color. Nose of oak, cedar and blackberries. Very soft initial taste followed by dark fruits, blackberries and currants. Finishes with some chalky tannins but has a bit of an acidic tartness and bite. Full bodied and long finish. Good, not great.
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1/11/2017 - Rktekt3 wrote: 92 Points
in a lovely place right now.
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12/25/2016 - Vinum18 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Full body with fruity notes at end
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12/23/2016 - adrenalin112 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Thoroughly enjoyed this bottle, paired with a filet. Abundant blue & dark purple fruit, balanced & well integrated oak, minimal alcohol on the nose.
Deep inky purple in the glass with a full velvet body on the palate. Drinking great now & will continue to do so for several years.
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12/19/2016 - Rollout925 Likes this wine: 91 Points
From a 375ml, very nice bottle. Pop and Pour. Rich, smokey, fruity without being over the top.
Purchased for $34/375ml and would buy again at this price.
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12/16/2016 - Iacs wrote: 85 Points
Not a favorite. Somewhat of a harsh finish
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12/13/2016 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 90 Points
Drank as pop and pour over a couple hours. Dusty texture with lots of bitter cherry, black fruit, plums, and cassis. Would not seek this out but definately high enough quality to enjoy anytime. After a few hours it did develop a unpleasant mustiness.
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12/10/2016 - wineshaman wrote: 92 Points
PNP, nice nose of flowers, currants cassis, similar on the palette, with plums and raspberry, soft tannins, elegant and refined. I love Stags leap fruit from the 2012 vintage!
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12/5/2016 - barbierWL wrote:
deep purple color almost blue black. Knows of violets blue and black fruit black cherry earth leather and spice. on the palate mocha black fruit baking spice. A beautiful balance of fruit and fine grained tannins, richness without being flabby. Long mouth watering finish. A $75 wine thats worth it
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11/11/2016 - mntebolt wrote: 85 Points
good
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10/25/2016 - Cabernetking wrote: 92 Points
Just so good. Similar to 2013 in style and texture just a bit more refined, which fits the vintage.
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9/30/2016 - greedy Likes this wine: 93 Points
What a cab.
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9/18/2016 - Rktekt3 wrote: 91 Points
Really good cabernet. Glad i have more of these
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9/14/2016 - Rktekt3 wrote: 92 Points
This wine is so yummy.
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9/11/2016 - Rktekt3 wrote: 92 Points
Decant this wine for two hours. It was a bit shut down at furst when pnp. But started to show afyer a bit.
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9/6/2016 - IndyEater Likes this wine:
Drank with Annie ....day before Steven says he is coming---the second time'
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9/3/2016 - greedy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Confirmed one more time I love this wine. W S got this one wrong. It's great.
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8/16/2016 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 91 Points
Dark ruby red with a purplish core. Nose is coated in baking spices, cinnamon, brown sugar and dark cherries. Moderate plus tannins (7.5/10) and full bodied. Dark cherries with dark cocoa and bark. Slightly dry and long finish. Drink till 2028.
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8/12/2016 - wineshaman wrote: 92 Points
Ditto my previous note from 12/2015, very nice complexity and structure, nice rich dark nose, loads of plum, dark currants, cassis, cocoa, hints of cedar, still some secondary flavors that have yet to show there full potential. Hold for a year or two and then should easily last another decade with reasonable storage.
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7/20/2016 - maitredgreg2 wrote: 90 Points
For this vintage, I expected more, just ok. HAVE 2 more and will let cellar, but would not purchase again. Furthermore, there are plenty of better wines at this price point. Sub-standard QPR, IMHO
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7/2/2016 - greedy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Outstanding. Not a big fruit bomb cab. Smokey, earthier feel. Wine spectator did not like this. I disagree. Will be picking more of this up.
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6/1/2016 - libero wrote: 92 Points
Médium TO dark red WITH subtons Of purple. Lots of long legs, short spaced. Bouquet of licorice and black berries. At taste is round, smooth and well balanced tannins and acidity . Finish is long and slightly dry.
A generous cab to be enjoyed with peppery salami, truffle cheeses, hard and strong taste food. We had ossobuco al fungi and it pairs extraordinarily well.
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5/27/2016 - Winowhyno Likes this wine: 91 Points
Mellow and Bold at the same time....very smooth...
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5/10/2016 - skurtz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted in Baker Street in Fort Wayne. Well made, extracted red wine, but with too much juiciness. Good but not great.
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4/29/2016 - Ou7475 wrote: 88 Points
Semi big fruit forward , blackberry start with leather and oak middle slightly more tannins than I like at ending
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4/13/2016 - libero wrote: 92 Points
I Love this wine, it is not a typical Cult, but have many components of a good one.
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4/9/2016 - jperez68 Likes this wine: 92 Points
As with the other 2012 I have tasted I find them slightly dull. The fruit is adequate but not intense, the tannins are already soft, I tend to think this vintage in NAPA may be critically overrated for my tasting. I don't see and extreme aging potential in this bottle.
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4/8/2016 - bmartz1 wrote: 89 Points
Stereotypical Stag's Leap AVA cab -- soft front end, tannic back end. Enjoyable now.
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3/27/2016 - Iceman611 wrote: 92 Points
Very full and enjoyable. Could be a bit more complex but perhaps it needs time.
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3/14/2016 - libero wrote: 92 Points
It is not a Cult cabernet, but, has its style.
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2/20/2016 - jmcmchi wrote:
Dark in glass - really dark... Heavy tannin, lots of chocolate and ripe fruit.
Decanting not optional
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2/8/2016 - libero wrote: 92 Points
Very representativa Of Th bests cabs in Mapa Valley. Delicious
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1/25/2016 - Ryan.Vento Likes this wine: 92 Points
For some reason the second bottle of this stuff didn't taste quite as delightful as my first run-in with it. Still a solid Cab, nonetheless, but not what I remembered.
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1/25/2016 - Ryan.Vento Likes this wine: 95 Points
Really enjoyed drinking this wine. As a pop & pour it really sang out dinner. Elegant, complex, and full of life with plenty of aging potential.
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1/20/2016 - CameronSumpter Likes this wine:
Tasted at a dinner party; it was substantive but not expressive or particularly memorable. It was being poured from the bottle, which I assume hadn't been open long, so it probably needs decanting in addition to being young (I'll give it the benefit of the doubt since I really couldn't give it more than 88 Points right now). I have this Cab in a 2011 which I'm now wary to open.
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1/15/2016 - Rktekt3 wrote: 92 Points
This is a very nice $55-$60 bottle of cab and with a few years will be very very nice. Putting the rest in the back of the cellar.
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1/3/2016 - Hoppert Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for an hour. Deep garnet in color, medium body, long clear legs. Plumb and jammy on the nose. Fruity with hints of sweet plumb on the palate. Very smooth and not overpowering with a long finish. A wonderful wine.
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12/18/2015 - wineshaman wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1hr, fine stags leap juice here, nose is a touch muted, but the palate is full of all the usual dark fruit, black cherry, currants and cassis in abundance, there is a tartness to the finish that adds a much needed boost in complexity. I think it is worth noting that tannins are quite integrated even at this early stage and structure appears to be lacking. This seems to be the MO when talking about the 2012 vintage in general. But I like it!
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11/22/2015 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose that needed coaxing at first, oak/vanilla, blackberry, and blueberry, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, slightly fruit forward, touch simple, subdued on the palate, probably will improve the next three years, although I am unsure if I would buy it again, long, long, fruity finish.
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9/6/2015 - mpmullic wrote:
This is disappointing for the vintage. Not offensive but flat and muted. I don't think this will get better with age either.
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6/15/2015 - cab blends Likes this wine: 93 Points
This developed well over dinner. Popped and power decanted in the restaurant.
Initially the finish had a light metallic taste and that quickly blew off. Great tannins 7.5/10. Full bodied yet already with a smoothness that makes this drinkable early (as a Napa fruit bomb).
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4/9/2015 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
I am aloof with my Cabernet notes Dan. A pillow of rich full fruit.
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2/27/2015 - smileBD Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good, BIG napa Cab, Chimney Rock style. I decanted for several hours the day before and sealed it back up to drink the next day and it was great. Enjoyed with 3 other friends and all liked it. Will definitely cellar my other bottle longer as the time will bring out more of the fruit and complexity. At first taste it was a bit tight.
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2/7/2015 - pjiacobelli wrote: flawed
Very Nice
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