This is why we drink Napa cabs. The tannins have mellowed a bit from it's initial release, but that only confirms the masterful balance crafted by the wine maker. At 10 years old, it's ready to drink now.
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Quick decant to remove a small amount of sediment and give the wine a touch of air. The nose was smoky and a bit oaky. The palate had some red fruit, some smoke, a dose of oak, too much acidity, and a touch of tannin. Either this wine is on the downside, or it needs more air up front. Nowhere near as good a showing as the 2010 consumed one year ago.
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How far the once mighty wine makers at Hess have fallen, squandering some of the best mountainside vineyards to produce this truly unremarkable wine. Once one of the outstanding value wines from Mount Veeder, this simple, over ripe, crowd pleaser of a wine offers very one dimensional jammy flavors of boysenberry, blackberry and plum with some residual sweetness. At $65 a bottle, it has the flavor profile of a valley floor Cabernet usually offered at a third the price.
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85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec. 80% New French for 20 months. more nunaced aromas than Allomi, the lack of Petite Sirah is quite apparent here. more stoney mineral in place of the depth of fruit in the mid palate. does start to show it's oak, but not to the level I'd expect from 80% new French. some purple flower to the palate. What does Malbec do to the Cab? In a mountain context, it softens the Cab, lots of mid-palate richness without all the tannin. otherwise, he'd have to fine the sh** out the Cab. More accessible younger. Best drank 8-9 years, but give it 20 if you want.
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11/27/2021 - herbtcat Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is why we drink Napa cabs. The tannins have mellowed a bit from it's initial release, but that only confirms the masterful balance crafted by the wine maker. At 10 years old, it's ready to drink now.
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8/7/2019 - CabinConnoisseur wrote: 89 Points
A dark wine. Oak and mild cherry on the nose. Cherry and dark berry on the palate with a lot of spice. Getting better after a 2.5 hour decant.
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4/2/2019 - VlgJeff wrote: 87 Points
Quick decant to remove a small amount of sediment and give the wine a touch of air. The nose was smoky and a bit oaky. The palate had some red fruit, some smoke, a dose of oak, too much acidity, and a touch of tannin. Either this wine is on the downside, or it needs more air up front. Nowhere near as good a showing as the 2010 consumed one year ago.
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7/21/2018 - sattergowski wrote: 89 Points
Not as bad as others are saying for its age. I’ve enjoyed other vintages more at this age.
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6/29/2018 - Chefofthewoods wrote: 88 Points
Not particularly impressed, more stewed plum and grape flavors, and disjointed oak. Nose was unimpressive.
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6/11/2017 - BostonWino Likes this wine: 84 Points
Murky color, funky off flavors, almost corked, fruit fallen out, deeply flawed wine.
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3/30/2017 - BostonWino Likes this wine: 84 Points
How far the once mighty wine makers at Hess have fallen, squandering some of the best mountainside vineyards to produce this truly unremarkable wine. Once one of the outstanding value wines from Mount Veeder, this simple, over ripe, crowd pleaser of a wine offers very one dimensional jammy flavors of boysenberry, blackberry and plum with some residual sweetness. At $65 a bottle, it has the flavor profile of a valley floor Cabernet usually offered at a third the price.
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4/14/2016 - ecola Likes this wine: 90 Points
Red berry and herbal qualities coming through. Medium to full body. Easy to drink. Smooths out after an hour of decanting.
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2/15/2016 - BostonWino Likes this wine: 86 Points
Horrible year for Northern California but this is a noble effort. Full bodied but closed right now, maybe forever.
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5/15/2015 - nzinkgraf wrote:
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec. 80% New French for 20 months.
more nunaced aromas than Allomi, the lack of Petite Sirah is quite apparent here. more stoney mineral in place of the depth of fruit in the mid palate. does start to show it's oak, but not to the level I'd expect from 80% new French. some purple flower to the palate.
What does Malbec do to the Cab? In a mountain context, it softens the Cab, lots of mid-palate richness without all the tannin. otherwise, he'd have to fine the sh** out the Cab. More accessible younger. Best drank 8-9 years, but give it 20 if you want.
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