Even though it was decanted about an hour before tasting, it never seemed to open up. Since a bottle I had last Christmas was terrific, I'm thinking this was just an "off" bottle. Nevertheless, it was still pretty decent - well balanced, good structure, and a very good finish.
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A lot of red fruits and some darker. Other than some baking spices, not a whole lot of secondary flavors and notes. Fairly rich, but not over-the-top. Very good finish, fine tannins, and a sense of polish, refinement, and sophistication. By itself, I would probably score it higher, but it suffered in comparison to the 2004 Spottswoode and the 2006 Quilceda Creek that we also drank.
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Definitely improved compared to 6 years ago. Full bodied. Decanted 4 hours. Tannins on the finish are still firm. Red fruit throughout nut restrained a bit by the firm finish. Drink now-2025.
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Lovely floral aromas burst from the glass. Dark fruit flavors of blackberry and dark cherry cordial. Finish is soft, smooth, and integrated. Round tannins (and still grippy) braced by perfect acidity. Long finish. Lovely.
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Drinking beautifully right now. Deep red color, well balanced, enough fruit remains with chocolate and light baking spices coming through. 30 -40 second finish
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With Lamb Loin Chops and Roasted Asparagus…. Definitely recommend the decant as it started opening at around 45 minutes… Beautiful round soft tannins Black licorice, creamy red currants and black fruits. Slight smoke and glycerin. Don’t know if it will get any better….2 bottles left! Beautiful!
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Deep, blood red color. Jammy, mixed berries that evolve into saddle leather, charred marshmallow and sweet white oak. Red fruits, lilac, perfume and wet stone. This wine needs a good decant and some air to really showcase an evolution of flavors - quite interesting to try over a few hours.
p.s. leftovers
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Inky purple. Intense black and blue fruit aromas. Deliciously rich black fruits, plum, vanilla and leather on the palate. Full bodied. Structured and balanced with fine grained tannins and a long finish. Classic Oakville cabernet. Short decant. Paired well with ribeye steak.
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A bit blah...not unpleasant, but has not developed and my guess is that it won't improve and likely will slowly decline. A wine meant to be drunk young
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When first opened, the blueberry/leather aromas burst from the bottle, along with notes of oak and tar. Palate had very drying tannins that did moderate over time. I do wonder if the tannins will continue to overtake the fruit, or if the wine is in a bit of a “dumb” stage. There were nice blueberry, cassis, and plum fruit flavors in the medium/full body. The finish is a bit short, with more drying tannins. Definitely the most austere Mascot I have had. I think/hope it will get better with more time.
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Loved it! Needs a multiple hour decant and has many years ahead of it. Very Bordeaux like and reminded me of the ‘05 Chateau Dassault’s I have been drinking, although this is at a slightly higher price point. Rustic, Smokey nose. Great power and balance between fruit and tar. Higher OH at 14.5% for a red blend and definitely higher than most Bordeaux’s. Paired great with Pork Chops and pumpkin grits.
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Opened and decanted 3 hours ahead of apple mash BBQ pork loin. Consistent with previous notes a year ago - dark blue fruit with hints of herbs and leather - but was slightly more open and brought more red cherry notes this time. Drink 2020 - 2030. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 91.
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Served at Somni out of 375mL with wagyu. What impressed me was the impeccable balance and the precision despite the density, like a ball bearing with no friction. Just slides effortlessly. Maybe it was the fatty cut of meat, but no problem at all with the tannins right now. Pretty tame and fine. Unapologetically Napa, with ripeness and a bit of chocolate, though not flabby. Really enjoyed this wine despite it not being in the style I typically seek.
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Opened and decanted an hour before consuming on its own. Dark, inky purple with a crimson hue. Nose brings blackcurrant, boysenberries, huckleberries, and whiffs of blueberry pie and cinnamon sticks. The palate is square, compact, coarse, and concentrated, bringing similar dark fruit along with chocolate cherries, chocolate almonds, raspberry kirsch, dried leather, soy sauce, and wild herbs into a finish that is a tannic wall. Seems somewhat muted at the moment. Drink after 2019-20. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 90.
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My first bottle of the 2009 vintage. Aggressive tannins, though not necessarily harsh. Medium body. Fruit is good, if a bit elusive in this bottle. The 2009 needs a few years aging to make this worthwhile. Like others, I hope the fruit survives sufficiently to warrant further drinking.
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More tannins and alcohol than fruit. When first opened we only picked up an aroma of alcohol - no fruit. A couple hours of air time didn't do much to help. Clearly needs more time in the bottle but I'm not sure that much, if any, fruit will be left when this wine finally settles out.
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Medium bodied, lighter than other similar Napa cabs. Lots of vanilla and blackberries on the nose, the oak is stronger than the fruit. Medium plus acid, grippy tannins still. Had it with a steak - we enjoyed it, but not sure the value is there. Could be better in a few years when the tannins mellow and the other characteristics are easier to enjoy.
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Good wine. Lots of red fruits with medium gripping tannin. Probably better in two years.
Mascot is hard for me to understand. It's marketed as young-vines from Harlan properties (Harland, Bond, Promontory) but it's not the 2nd wine because that's The Maiden. I'd place it in line with $60-$85 Napa cabs but Mascot has a Harlan premium that puts it closer to $100/bottle.
Anyone have any thoughts?
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Decanted 2+ hrs and drank with prime ribeye for dinner. Too tight and big to drink alone in my opinion but with the decant and the food it really pops. Will keep others cellared a few more years.
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This should have been better based on the pedigree, price & hype. It's a great wine. No doubt there. It can age much longer & I wonder how much better this will get in 5+ years. Right now it shows firm tannins & needs a serious decant. Thick dark fruit & spice coat the palate. Doesn't show much finesse currently. Long finish of black cherry but that's about all. If it was half the price I'd enjoy it more. At $115 from last bottle it's not a great qpr at all.
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Pretty nice. Better than what I was expecting. The red fruit dominated for me but the acidity balanced this out well. Not a fruit bomb. Well balanced. Crushed red berries, dark chocolate. A touch of blue fruit there along with spice.
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A savory, somewhat rustic CA Cabernet in the Old World style that has aged well. Dark red in color, full in body, nose of leather and blackberry. Tastes of tar, plum, rosemary, graphite, and cedar. 14.5% alcohol. This reminds me of "traditional" Napa producers like Dominus or Togni (read: more structure, less fruit) - a little on the herbal and prickly side for my taste, but the wine is clearly well-made. Drink in next few years.
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A fair wine. Dark cherry and chocolate, some liqueur. Not overly rich in body. Tannins more than sharp and overbearing. May just need more time in bottle. Hold 89-90
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Blood red. Chocolate, red raspberry nose, with a little alcoholic heat. Great creamy rich mouthfeel yields to milk chocolate, a hint of cherry, camphor, cigar box and a hint of apple that gets washed away by tannins. Structure and complexity are remarkable for the young vines, and the finish goes on for a minute or more. Punching well above its weight class and drinking well now.
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Really enjoyed this bottle. Gave it about 3 hours to breath. Deep mocha and dark chocolate notes. Oak was noticeable but didn't bother me. Thought it was a step up from the last time I popped a bottle.
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Still needs time in the bottle to integrate and for tannins to soften. Very dark in the glass with concentrated aromas of dark fruit and plum. Flavors mirrored the nose and tannins seemed to be covering up additional complexities. Enjoyable now, but given a few more years in the bottle I think it will show much better. Too many people are comparing this to Harlan and I don't understand why. Harlan painstakingly chooses the exact grapes they want from each vine. This wine has fruit from vines that "Might" eventually end up in Harlan wines, but they are young and not yet of the pedigree Harlan would use. Different winemaker as well. Give Will Harlan a break and understand that he is not working with the same fruit or wine-making budget that goes into the MUCH more expensive wines. You will enjoy this wine more if you do so.
A bit disappointing and a step down for Harlan on this new project. This can never opened up and is a mess even after 4 hour decant. I even put the 2nd half of the bottle in the magic bullet to hyper oxygenate it. The tannins were still over expressive and there was not a well integrated flavor profile. I'll save the other 5 bottles for a while to hope it develops but there must be a reason that the 2009 was released so late - that the wine never developed well with increased time in the barrel?
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This is a good Cali Cab at the $90 price point. I enjoyed the wine. I recommended decanting the wine for two to three hours. The wine has more balance than I expected.
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Deep and concentrated wine. Tight and tannic initially. Opened up nicely with 1-2 hours in decanter. Oak is present but not overbearing for my tastes. Will decant next for 3-4 hours if I drink the next bottles within the next 3-5 years
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Vacation Trip; 4/8/2015-4/29/2015 (Beverly Hills / Scottsdale, AZ): P'nP: dark color. Nose of black currant, vanilla, cherries. Still tannic, less power than the 2008. actually I do think the wine changed quite a bit against the 2008, it feels that the 09 is more elegant but at the same time lacking the power, complexity and depth of the initial offering. I will retaste shortly but at the current phase falls a bit behind expectations. On the next bottle I'll give a 2-3 hr decant...
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This is good wine that is a bit overpriced. Dark purple, pencil shavings, jam. The wine tastes as it's stated: young vines. The wine is a bit unbalanced - the tannins are in the forefront with fruit following and acid behind. I don't suspect this wine will age gracefully. It should be drunk in it's youth, the components will fall apart like a game of jenga.
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Tannins felt softer this time compared to my first bottle opened on December 5. Otherwise my note applies. I still believe that this wine will benefit from 3-5 years of cellaring.
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Has the terroir as we know (Harlan, Bond, Promontory). Benefits from a 2 hour decent then softens and opens nicely. Blueberries, violets and blackberries along with dusty tannins and medium+ body. Better than I expected.
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This is very close in style to the 2008 The Maiden I had several times. Very dark, opaq color. Expressive nose with dark plum, licorice, anise, chocolate, blackberries, hints of menthol and sweet spices. Full-bodied with very rich fruit, firm, somewhat dusty tannins and balancing acidity. Very long aftertaste. Drinks nicely already despite the dustyness of tannins but will improve with cellaring. I have scored the 2008 The Maiden 95 and this gets one point less due to the inferior tannin management but in terms of qpr I would vote for the Mascot.
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Nose screams of a nice big cab but once in the mouth, was not the density that I hoped for. Decanted for 3 hrs and wasn't until hr 6 that it started to mellow and start to show well. Probably other wines that I would prefer at $90 but will give the others a chance to redeem themselves in a couple of years.
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Received from FedEx and poured (admittedly not fair but I was thirsty). Not much on the nose right out of the bottle. Hints of cassis, tobacco and dark fruit. It's labeled a "Red Wine" (verses a Cabernet) which explains why it feels light in the mouth like a Merlot compared to a typical Napa Cab. The fruit is reserved on the front end and the tannins readily assert but interesting, remained balanced through the back end. After a few minutes in the glass, the nose was more pronounced and the fruit was more balanced with the tannins. Great wine for those wanting a Cab experience without being as heavy.
1/8/2024 - Bjb81 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Old school cab. Blue/black fruit that does not overwhelm, oak, earth, tobacco, minerality, dried leaves. Was fantastic with a meat and cheese plate
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12/25/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 93 Points
Took to a Charistmas dinner, so no detailed notes. 2007 Quilceda Creddk was WOTN, but the Mascot was not chopped liver. Holding up well.
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9/26/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 90 Points
Even though it was decanted about an hour before tasting, it never seemed to open up. Since a bottle I had last Christmas was terrific, I'm thinking this was just an "off" bottle. Nevertheless, it was still pretty decent - well balanced, good structure, and a very good finish.
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4/30/2023 - Leinike Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delish. Still needed a few hours to decant. Still hot without decanting.
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1/11/2023 - kcp Likes this wine: 93 Points
A more refined experience. As might be expected.
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12/26/2022 - Night Train Likes this wine: 91 Points
A lot of red fruits and some darker. Other than some baking spices, not a whole lot of secondary flavors and notes. Fairly rich, but not over-the-top. Very good finish, fine tannins, and a sense of polish, refinement, and sophistication. By itself, I would probably score it higher, but it suffered in comparison to the 2004 Spottswoode and the 2006 Quilceda Creek that we also drank.
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10/22/2022 - WineCPA wrote: 94 Points
Definitely improved compared to 6 years ago. Full bodied. Decanted 4 hours. Tannins on the finish are still firm. Red fruit throughout nut restrained a bit by the firm finish. Drink now-2025.
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6/24/2022 - Tym4wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely floral aromas burst from the glass. Dark fruit flavors of blackberry and dark cherry cordial. Finish is soft, smooth, and integrated. Round tannins (and still grippy) braced by perfect acidity. Long finish. Lovely.
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6/12/2022 - Tonythefish wrote: 94 Points
Drinking beautifully right now. Deep red color, well balanced, enough fruit remains with chocolate and light baking spices coming through. 30 -40 second finish
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3/28/2022 - JoeDwine Likes this wine: 94 Points
With Lamb Loin Chops and Roasted Asparagus….
Definitely recommend the decant as it started opening at around 45 minutes…
Beautiful round soft tannins
Black licorice, creamy red currants and black fruits.
Slight smoke and glycerin. Don’t know if it will get any better….2 bottles left!
Beautiful!
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2/21/2022 - dkentaustin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep, blood red color. Jammy, mixed berries that evolve into saddle leather, charred marshmallow and sweet white oak. Red fruits, lilac, perfume and wet stone. This wine needs a good decant and some air to really showcase an evolution of flavors - quite interesting to try over a few hours.
p.s. leftovers
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8/23/2021 - LenzWine Likes this wine:
Great after about an hour decant.
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12/6/2020 - DBenke wrote: 94 Points
Drinking fantastic
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11/24/2020 - fournet Likes this wine:
This continues to improve with age. Had one in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Took an hour or so to open up.
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7/12/2020 - Steven DiFiore Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent steak wine. Old school but big. Delicious dark brooding wine.
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7/10/2020 - EvanRose wrote: 93 Points
Dark earthy with lots of black fruit modest tannins and a rich round finish.
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6/21/2020 - mvande21 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Inky purple. Intense black and blue fruit aromas. Deliciously rich black fruits, plum, vanilla and leather on the palate. Full bodied. Structured and balanced with fine grained tannins and a long finish. Classic Oakville cabernet. Short decant. Paired well with ribeye steak.
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5/1/2020 - jswine15 wrote: 90 Points
A bit blah...not unpleasant, but has not developed and my guess is that it won't improve and likely will slowly decline. A wine meant to be drunk young
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3/15/2020 - Nanda wrote:
The Last Supper (Before the Covid-19 Shutdown) (El Ideas): Very rich and toasty in a forward, ripe and overt style. For all the flashy fruit this has good balance. But not my cup of tea.
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3/15/2020 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Last Wine Dinner Before the Coronavirus Shutdown (EL Ideas - Chicago IL): Ripe black plum and liqueur with medium depth but clear richness. A wine I can understand others enjoy, but absolutely not what thrills me.
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2/15/2020 - DickMull Likes this wine: 90 Points
When first opened, the blueberry/leather aromas burst from the bottle, along with notes of oak and tar. Palate had very drying tannins that did moderate over time. I do wonder if the tannins will continue to overtake the fruit, or if the wine is in a bit of a “dumb” stage. There were nice blueberry, cassis, and plum fruit flavors in the medium/full body. The finish is a bit short, with more drying tannins. Definitely the most austere Mascot I have had. I think/hope it will get better with more time.
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1/30/2020 - Frank Ski wrote: 92 Points
93 pts
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10/15/2019 - PDavisMarble wrote: 91 Points
Exactly what The Mascot delivers. Despite being released when it can be drunk, it always improves with some bottle age.
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6/8/2019 - Daisy1995 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Phenomenal as always.
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3/30/2019 - TMethvin1 wrote:
Rated a 4-5
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12/22/2018 - fournet wrote: 90 Points
I have enjoyed other vintages of Mascot more so than the 2009. A bit thin.
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11/15/2018 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Loved it! Needs a multiple hour decant and has many years ahead of it. Very Bordeaux like and reminded me of the ‘05 Chateau Dassault’s I have been drinking, although this is at a slightly higher price point. Rustic, Smokey nose. Great power and balance between fruit and tar. Higher OH at 14.5% for a red blend and definitely higher than most Bordeaux’s. Paired great with Pork Chops and pumpkin grits.
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11/11/2018 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened and decanted 3 hours ahead of apple mash BBQ pork loin. Consistent with previous notes a year ago - dark blue fruit with hints of herbs and leather - but was slightly more open and brought more red cherry notes this time. Drink 2020 - 2030. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 91.
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10/28/2018 - juleesan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Luscious, lovely soft tannins, delightful finish
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9/3/2018 - rougeamore wrote: 93 Points
Still a bit young but a powerful and complex wine. Blackberry, graphite and cedar notes. Tannins still prominent.
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5/20/2018 - Justin S wrote: 92 Points
Served at Somni out of 375mL with wagyu. What impressed me was the impeccable balance and the precision despite the density, like a ball bearing with no friction. Just slides effortlessly. Maybe it was the fatty cut of meat, but no problem at all with the tannins right now. Pretty tame and fine. Unapologetically Napa, with ripeness and a bit of chocolate, though not flabby. Really enjoyed this wine despite it not being in the style I typically seek.
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12/5/2017 - Tonythefish wrote: 95 Points
Lovely - see prior notes
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10/7/2017 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened and decanted an hour before consuming on its own. Dark, inky purple with a crimson hue. Nose brings blackcurrant, boysenberries, huckleberries, and whiffs of blueberry pie and cinnamon sticks. The palate is square, compact, coarse, and concentrated, bringing similar dark fruit along with chocolate cherries, chocolate almonds, raspberry kirsch, dried leather, soy sauce, and wild herbs into a finish that is a tannic wall. Seems somewhat muted at the moment. Drink after 2019-20. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 90.
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9/29/2017 - kcp Likes this wine: 90 Points
My first bottle of the 2009 vintage. Aggressive tannins, though not necessarily harsh. Medium body. Fruit is good, if a bit elusive in this bottle. The 2009 needs a few years aging to make this worthwhile. Like others, I hope the fruit survives sufficiently to warrant further drinking.
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9/5/2017 - G_H wrote: 92 Points
Good fruit, plums, cherries, lots of tannin, mid-weight
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8/19/2017 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great nose of fruit and earthiness. Opened to reveal big fat red cherry, soft tannins, long luciousfinish.
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7/4/2017 - jswine15 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice, but not very complex and a bit thin
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5/28/2017 - Tonythefish wrote: 94 Points
See prior notes - wine is really hitting it stride now. Great color has always been there but the nose is evolving nicely. Solid finish and smooth
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5/14/2017 - jpmo wrote: 89 Points
More tannins and alcohol than fruit. When first opened we only picked up an aroma of alcohol - no fruit. A couple hours of air time didn't do much to help. Clearly needs more time in the bottle but I'm not sure that much, if any, fruit will be left when this wine finally settles out.
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4/29/2017 - Philman15 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Agree with others, tannins need time. Not a lot of fruit here, lighter Napa can style. Enjoyed after long decant
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3/11/2017 - Mbornitz12 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tannins still need time to settle and create a more balanced wine. Medium bodied red which show grow into itself over the next 3-5 years
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3/4/2017 - ChristyLeighNY wrote:
Medium bodied, lighter than other similar Napa cabs. Lots of vanilla and blackberries on the nose, the oak is stronger than the fruit. Medium plus acid, grippy tannins still. Had it with a steak - we enjoyed it, but not sure the value is there. Could be better in a few years when the tannins mellow and the other characteristics are easier to enjoy.
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3/2/2017 - jswine15 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very nicely, a full bodied CAli Cab that punches far about its weight. Nice fruit, well balanced, just a very nice drinking wine
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2/19/2017 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lot of smoke, it Scoty your mouth and will trapped you in a very complex feeling!
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2/16/2017 - Tonythefish wrote: 94 Points
See prior notes - evolving very nicely
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10/23/2016 - Mike Bosco Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smooth and enjoyable to drink
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9/3/2016 - ppearson9 wrote: 94 Points
Let have 2 hours of air. Brought to steakhouse. Really really really enjoyed. Very cabby.
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8/7/2016 - Hricko Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fabulous wine. 6 years of aging was needed. Recommend decanting. Tannins had smoothed wonderfully.
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8/1/2016 - PopularCar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good wine. Lots of red fruits with medium gripping tannin. Probably better in two years.
Mascot is hard for me to understand. It's marketed as young-vines from Harlan properties (Harland, Bond, Promontory) but it's not the 2nd wine because that's The Maiden. I'd place it in line with $60-$85 Napa cabs but Mascot has a Harlan premium that puts it closer to $100/bottle.
Anyone have any thoughts?
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7/30/2016 - wlcoleman Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 2+ hrs and drank with prime ribeye for dinner. Too tight and big to drink alone in my opinion but with the decant and the food it really pops. Will keep others cellared a few more years.
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7/4/2016 - Tonythefish wrote: 92 Points
See prior notes - really solid wine
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6/18/2016 - WineCPA wrote: 92 Points
This should have been better based on the pedigree, price & hype. It's a great wine. No doubt there. It can age much longer & I wonder how much better this will get in 5+ years. Right now it shows firm tannins & needs a serious decant. Thick dark fruit & spice coat the palate. Doesn't show much finesse currently. Long finish of black cherry but that's about all. If it was half the price I'd enjoy it more. At $115 from last bottle it's not a great qpr at all.
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5/21/2016 - jrobs7777 wrote:
Pretty nice. Better than what I was expecting. The red fruit dominated for me but the acidity balanced this out well. Not a fruit bomb. Well balanced. Crushed red berries, dark chocolate. A touch of blue fruit there along with spice.
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5/8/2016 - mkoss Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great, chewy, chocolate and dark berry flavors, and earthy, almost having a real gritty tannic texture to it. Needs air, then it blossoms.
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3/29/2016 - msuwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
A savory, somewhat rustic CA Cabernet in the Old World style that has aged well. Dark red in color, full in body, nose of leather and blackberry. Tastes of tar, plum, rosemary, graphite, and cedar. 14.5% alcohol. This reminds me of "traditional" Napa producers like Dominus or Togni (read: more structure, less fruit) - a little on the herbal and prickly side for my taste, but the wine is clearly well-made. Drink in next few years.
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3/6/2016 - Mrp2008 wrote: 89 Points
A fair wine. Dark cherry and chocolate, some liqueur. Not overly rich in body. Tannins more than sharp and overbearing. May just need more time in bottle. Hold 89-90
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2/18/2016 - mkoss Likes this wine: 93 Points
Needs 2 hours minimum. Then it explodes in your mouth. Big. Juicy. Tannic. Wonderfully balanced.
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2/7/2016 - Tonythefish wrote: 92 Points
Very good wine. Chocolate overtones and dark fruits with cedar hints and cassis
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2/6/2016 - PDavisMarble wrote: 91 Points
Blood red. Chocolate, red raspberry nose, with a little alcoholic heat. Great creamy rich mouthfeel yields to milk chocolate, a hint of cherry, camphor, cigar box and a hint of apple that gets washed away by tannins. Structure and complexity are remarkable for the young vines, and the finish goes on for a minute or more. Punching well above its weight class and drinking well now.
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2/5/2016 - Drankthewholebottle Likes this wine: 91 Points
Looks pretty and smells nice. On the drier side with chocolate and currant notes. I saved half bottle for night 2 and it was still good.
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11/8/2015 - Zuperdaave Likes this wine: 95 Points
Delicious! This was the highlight of our wine tasting party. Deep, full bodied. Just awesome.
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10/18/2015 - russdan60 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I really liked this wine. Seemed somewhat like the 12 Caymus. Hints of cocoa initially. A keeper.
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10/15/2015 - Knicksfan wrote: 92 Points
Very nice; approachable now and well balanced. Makes me want more.
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9/4/2015 - Bodes Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really enjoyed this bottle. Gave it about 3 hours to breath. Deep mocha and dark chocolate notes. Oak was noticeable but didn't bother me. Thought it was a step up from the last time I popped a bottle.
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8/11/2015 - Buhever Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still needs time in the bottle to integrate and for tannins to soften. Very dark in the glass with concentrated aromas of dark fruit and plum. Flavors mirrored the nose and tannins seemed to be covering up additional complexities. Enjoyable now, but given a few more years in the bottle I think it will show much better. Too many people are comparing this to Harlan and I don't understand why. Harlan painstakingly chooses the exact grapes they want from each vine. This wine has fruit from vines that "Might" eventually end up in Harlan wines, but they are young and not yet of the pedigree Harlan would use. Different winemaker as well. Give Will Harlan a break and understand that he is not working with the same fruit or wine-making budget that goes into the MUCH more expensive wines. You will enjoy this wine more if you do so.
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8/8/2015 - rylanreynolds wrote: 88 Points
A bit disappointing and a step down for Harlan on this new project. This can never opened up and is a mess even after 4 hour decant. I even put the 2nd half of the bottle in the magic bullet to hyper oxygenate it. The tannins were still over expressive and there was not a well integrated flavor profile. I'll save the other 5 bottles for a while to hope it develops but there must be a reason that the 2009 was released so late - that the wine never developed well with increased time in the barrel?
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6/6/2015 - SimpleBoyFromD Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is a good Cali Cab at the $90 price point. I enjoyed the wine. I recommended decanting the wine for two to three hours. The wine has more balance than I expected.
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5/23/2015 - meatbomb013 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep and concentrated wine. Tight and tannic initially. Opened up nicely with 1-2 hours in decanter. Oak is present but not overbearing for my tastes.
Will decant next for 3-4 hours if I drink the next bottles within the next 3-5 years
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5/19/2015 - Drankthewholebottle Likes this wine:
Decent wine, but tannic and clunky. Hopefully will benefit from some rest.
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4/14/2015 - Wine_lvr wrote: 91 Points
Vacation Trip; 4/8/2015-4/29/2015 (Beverly Hills / Scottsdale, AZ): P'nP: dark color. Nose of black currant, vanilla, cherries. Still tannic, less power than the 2008. actually I do think the wine changed quite a bit against the 2008, it feels that the 09 is more elegant but at the same time lacking the power, complexity and depth of the initial offering. I will retaste shortly but at the current phase falls a bit behind expectations. On the next bottle I'll give a 2-3 hr decant...
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3/31/2015 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
This is good wine that is a bit overpriced. Dark purple, pencil shavings, jam. The wine tastes as it's stated: young vines. The wine is a bit unbalanced - the tannins are in the forefront with fruit following and acid behind. I don't suspect this wine will age gracefully. It should be drunk in it's youth, the components will fall apart like a game of jenga.
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3/1/2015 - Philman15 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lighter than '08, needed a lot of air. Medium finish slight earth, red fruits.
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2/24/2015 - jeffm_fla wrote: 87 Points
Disappointing. No real fruit on the nose or palate. Tannic, but softened with time and air, acidic, a little cedar and a little green wood.
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2/14/2015 - Yiannis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tannins felt softer this time compared to my first bottle opened on December 5. Otherwise my note applies. I still believe that this wine will benefit from 3-5 years of cellaring.
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2/4/2015 - El Tej wrote: 94 Points
Has the terroir as we know (Harlan, Bond, Promontory). Benefits from a 2 hour decent then softens and opens nicely. Blueberries, violets and blackberries along with dusty tannins and medium+ body. Better than I expected.
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1/20/2015 - Bodes Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good bottle, just not a great one. There are better values out there at this price point.
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12/5/2014 - Yiannis Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is very close in style to the 2008 The Maiden I had several times. Very dark, opaq color. Expressive nose with dark plum, licorice, anise, chocolate, blackberries, hints of menthol and sweet spices. Full-bodied with very rich fruit, firm, somewhat dusty tannins and balancing acidity. Very long aftertaste. Drinks nicely already despite the dustyness of tannins but will improve with cellaring. I have scored the 2008 The Maiden 95 and this gets one point less due to the inferior tannin management but in terms of qpr I would vote for the Mascot.
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11/30/2014 - complextra wrote: 94 Points
upgraded earlier review, must have been in bottle shock. It was really in a bad place, but now it has come around quite nicely.
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11/29/2014 - Petiger wrote: 91 Points
Nose screams of a nice big cab but once in the mouth, was not the density that I hoped for. Decanted for 3 hrs and wasn't until hr 6 that it started to mellow and start to show well. Probably other wines that I would prefer at $90 but will give the others a chance to redeem themselves in a couple of years.
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11/19/2014 - Hoffer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Received from FedEx and poured (admittedly not fair but I was thirsty). Not much on the nose right out of the bottle. Hints of cassis, tobacco and dark fruit. It's labeled a "Red Wine" (verses a Cabernet) which explains why it feels light in the mouth like a Merlot compared to a typical Napa Cab. The fruit is reserved on the front end and the tannins readily assert but interesting, remained balanced through the back end. After a few minutes in the glass, the nose was more pronounced and the fruit was more balanced with the tannins. Great wine for those wanting a Cab experience without being as heavy.
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