This wine seems to be kicked at this point. Fruit is gone and it has an unpleasant finish. I switched to a different wine and let this one sit for 2 hours to see if there would be a positive change. There was a change, but unfortunately, not for the better.
I have one left and won't be waiting long to try it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby, meidum body, prominent aromas of dark red fruit and cassis,bit'o funk, delicious dark fruit, cassis, and zippy acid, medium finish, better than my expectations... drink now - 22...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This one is like the Energizer Bunny. It just keeps going. Still a youthful-looking bright purple in the glass, right up to the edge. The Sonoma nose is still there - subtle hints of earth, bramble and spice that entice. Remains surprisingly fruity despite its now advancing age. Softer now, displaying a pleasing roundness. Finishes with very good length and silky tannins that are almost fully resolved. Satisfying and delicious. Might still be the best under $25 Sonoma Cabernet I've tasted in the past five years. You would pay at least twice as much for anything close to this from Napa. 50+5+12+17+7=91
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bought a 12b case for 17.50/b four years ago; this is #3. No decant, none needed--a little surprising. Dark purple; fragrant blackcurrant nose, hint of oak; good fruit, good mouthfeel, perhaps some fruit fade--will try again. Certainly tasty. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: For me, scores on a "100-point scale" are misleading. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. This is notable when considering quality, age, and price.
Dark violet color, medium body. Needs a good hour or two to breath. Currants, blackberry and oak. Smooth tannins. The wine evolved nicely over the evening and eventually finished with a slight vanilla note. Delicious, wish I had more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Black fruit and red fruit intermingle in the glass, but the wine remains too sweet until the very end. After an hour, it opens up a little and seductive black current leaf dominates the palate but for the short period of time. My score is 89.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
To me this shows just as well as the majority of the higher end Alexander Valley who's who. With a slight chill and a little air this really shines undeniably varietaly true.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This continues to improve. Noticeably better and more complex now than when originally tasted back in January, 2016. Still effusively fruity, but not quite as flamboyant as before. Full-bodied and very silky in texture. Immediately saturates the palate with a huge burst of ripe, opulent plum, dark currant and boysenberry fruit. Shows excellent depth and intensity on the mid-palate, followed by a lingering, lip-smacking finish. The velvety tannins are integrating nicely. Notes of vanilla, oak and bramble add complexity at the very end. Yes, it's still a bit of a fruit-bomb - but undeniably delicious and surprisingly polished. May get even better as its abundant fruit continues to fade. You simply cannot do any better in a Sonoma Cabernet for under $25. 50+5+12+17+7=91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
rich dark fruit the first day more about the undertones and earth on the second and third day would have never tried this one except for wine spectator rating
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like black currant (cassis), forest floor and oak. It tastes like blackberry and plum. The body is medium/full. The wine has leathery texture, finishes long and has medium acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blackberry aromas with plum, hoisin sauce and chocolate flavors and a nice core of black fruit with a medium finish. A nice wine that is a crowd pleaser and can be enjoyed without food but would pair well with burgers and chops
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
excellent QPR very well made not-fruit-bomb cab. dark fruit - blackberry and cassis in evidence. Nice tannins. Nice touch of oak. Some earth. good complexity. Very good now, and I think this will be better with some age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A youthful-looking, dark, opaque purple in color. Hints of Sonoma earth, oak and spice on the nose. Full-bodied and very fruity. Offers a ripe mouthful of juicy boysenberry and dark currant fruit, with good intensity and definition on the mid-palate. There's more sweet, opulent fruit and lots of oak and vanilla on the long, slightly tannic finish. Delicious and approachable now, this has the structure to age well, but is still quite primary. Should be even better in a few years once the oak has integrated and its flamboyant fruit has toned down a bit. Just needs some cellar time to come into balance. A very nice Sonoma Cabernet - especially at this price point. 50+5+12+16+7=90
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Love the structure. More rigid acid and tannin than many 2012's ive had. Drinking well young but not overripe or extracted.
Full body, juicy acid, and muscular but not jarring tannins. Fruit is mouth filling and plush but not jammy or overdone. A modest use of oak and complex minerality add enough nuance to really make this standout from the crowd.
Nose of cool black, with greener mint and pine but no pyrazine. Ash and charred minerality are prominant while the oak(french?) is mild with faint whiffs of pastry and chocolate.
Creamy full body is balanced by leathery but slightly sweet tannins. Palate of cassis, black and blueberry jam, green herbs and cinnamin. Despite the richness, this never feels cloying, candied, or flabby like many 2012's i've tasted at this price point. The minerality is as strong on the tongue as the nose, presenting a refreshing slate and pencil shaving finish that cuts through the fruit.
I've had a lot of 2012s from big names that tasted more like mass consumer blends than Cali Cabs this year, but this has an old school edge more reminiscent of 05,09,10.
Must Try.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured, youthful ruby/purple. Lovely aromas of black and blue fruits, cassis, anise, fresh mint, hints of tobacco and minerals. Moderate body. Bright and fresh on the palate, with upfront fruit flavors of blackberry and black raspberry accompanied by minty black currant and an impression of stoney minerals; if there is oak, it's nearly imperceptible. Shows a touch of the 2012 vintage's aggressive, chewy tannins on the moderate-plus close but the fruit easily outlasts any astringency and aeration helps everything smooth out. Pure, transparent and beautifully balanced, this is an exceptional CA Cabernet and a ridiculous QPR to boot...so good!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/22/2021 - joet626 Likes this wine: 90 Points
very tasty. Still lots of life
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2020 - Intellectual Sasquatch Does not like this wine: 88 Points
This wine seems to be kicked at this point. Fruit is gone and it has an unpleasant finish. I switched to a different wine and let this one sit for 2 hours to see if there would be a positive change. There was a change, but unfortunately, not for the better.
I have one left and won't be waiting long to try it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2020 - EdKz@comcast.net Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ruby, meidum body, prominent aromas of dark red fruit and cassis,bit'o funk, delicious dark fruit, cassis, and zippy acid, medium finish, better than my expectations... drink now - 22...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2020 - Bam_Man wrote: 91 Points
This one is like the Energizer Bunny. It just keeps going. Still a youthful-looking bright purple in the glass, right up to the edge. The Sonoma nose is still there - subtle hints of earth, bramble and spice that entice. Remains surprisingly fruity despite its now advancing age. Softer now, displaying a pleasing roundness. Finishes with very good length and silky tannins that are almost fully resolved. Satisfying and delicious. Might still be the best under $25 Sonoma Cabernet I've tasted in the past five years. You would pay at least twice as much for anything close to this from Napa.
50+5+12+17+7=91
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2020 - elevwine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well-priced alternative to Napa. Full-bodied, dark. Good structure. Would not hold much longer as fruit seems to be fading a bit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2019 - Oenecnist wrote:
Bought a 12b case for 17.50/b four years ago; this is #3. No decant, none needed--a little surprising. Dark purple; fragrant blackcurrant nose, hint of oak; good fruit, good mouthfeel, perhaps some fruit fade--will try again. Certainly tasty. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: For me, scores on a "100-point scale" are misleading. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. This is notable when considering quality, age, and price.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/12/2019 - sam_rosato@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drink now, very ft tannins, nice fruit
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2019 - joet626 Likes this wine: 90 Points
VG! Fruity and smooth
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2018 - schicker-not wrote: 91 Points
Dark violet color, medium body. Needs a good hour or two to breath. Currants, blackberry and oak. Smooth tannins. The wine evolved nicely over the evening and eventually finished with a slight vanilla note. Delicious, wish I had more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2018 - rrush Likes this wine: 92 Points
our 13th bottle is as good as every other
Fruity medium body
Smooth and bright
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2018 - tbrader Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep aromas of licorice with a hint of spice. Full-bodied earthy blackberry and perhaps a bit of olive. A rich satisfying cab.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2018 - trayhumphrey Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fabulous wine. Aging nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2017 - Al de Vino wrote: 89 Points
Black fruit and red fruit intermingle in the glass, but the wine remains too sweet until the very end. After an hour, it opens up a little and seductive black current leaf dominates the palate but for the short period of time. My score is 89.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2017 - zinfomaniac Likes this wine: 90 Points
To me this shows just as well as the majority of the higher end Alexander Valley who's who. With a slight chill and a little air this really shines undeniably varietaly true.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2017 - Bam_Man Likes this wine: 91 Points
This continues to improve. Noticeably better and more complex now than when originally tasted back in January, 2016. Still effusively fruity, but not quite as flamboyant as before. Full-bodied and very silky in texture. Immediately saturates the palate with a huge burst of ripe, opulent plum, dark currant and boysenberry fruit. Shows excellent depth and intensity on the mid-palate, followed by a lingering, lip-smacking finish. The velvety tannins are integrating nicely. Notes of vanilla, oak and bramble add complexity at the very end. Yes, it's still a bit of a fruit-bomb - but undeniably delicious and surprisingly polished. May get even better as its abundant fruit continues to fade. You simply cannot do any better in a Sonoma Cabernet for under $25.
50+5+12+17+7=91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2017 - Basicallyjones wrote: 94 Points
Oops. Counter balancing my giving this an 84. This wine is an absolute 89. Good juice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2017 - Bobedmonds79 wrote:
Good decant required. And, slightly chilled 60 deg
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2016 - kingboo wrote: 88 Points
Needs a good 2 hour decant. Was a pnp and was not impressed. Improved significantly overnight. 88+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2016 - Marcolivierguerin Likes this wine: 88 Points
Was getting better after a few hours open, still highly tannic... would recommend to wait a few more years. Sadly, was my only bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2016 - nicking Does not like this wine:
J'ai retourné la bouteille au vendeur , il gouttait que l'alcool , défaut ???
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2016 - Jump29 wrote: 90 Points
Great QPR! Drinks way above its price point. Solid with filet and fried red potatoes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2016 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
Russk. 90+. Not too sweet. Good QPR. Reminds me of a Portuguese red.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2016 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 88 Points
new world with some earth
better on the third day
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2016 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 90 Points
rich dark fruit the first day
more about the undertones and earth on the second and third day
would have never tried this one except for wine spectator rating
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2016 - jps3@columbia.edu Likes this wine:
Still young and a little disjointed, will only get better. Has all the ingredients, fruit, tannins, acidity; nice mouthfeel, great QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2016 - trayhumphrey Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wow, awesome wine. I've had as good for less money, though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2016 - Twopawsup Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like black currant (cassis), forest floor and oak. It tastes like blackberry and plum. The body is medium/full. The wine has leathery texture, finishes long and has medium acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2016 - mikeywines Likes this wine: 90 Points
Blackberry aromas with plum, hoisin sauce and chocolate flavors and a nice core of black fruit with a medium finish. A nice wine that is a crowd pleaser and can be enjoyed without food but would pair well with burgers and chops
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2016 - NapaTom Likes this wine: 90 Points
excellent QPR very well made not-fruit-bomb cab. dark fruit - blackberry and cassis in evidence. Nice tannins. Nice touch of oak. Some earth. good complexity. Very good now, and I think this will be better with some age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2016 - Lar F wrote: 91 Points
WS 91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2016 - Bam_Man Likes this wine: 90 Points
A youthful-looking, dark, opaque purple in color. Hints of Sonoma earth, oak and spice on the nose. Full-bodied and very fruity. Offers a ripe mouthful of juicy boysenberry and dark currant fruit, with good intensity and definition on the mid-palate. There's more sweet, opulent fruit and lots of oak and vanilla on the long, slightly tannic finish. Delicious and approachable now, this has the structure to age well, but is still quite primary. Should be even better in a few years once the oak has integrated and its flamboyant fruit has toned down a bit. Just needs some cellar time to come into balance. A very nice Sonoma Cabernet - especially at this price point.
50+5+12+16+7=90
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2016 - BBerzin Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Tannic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2016 - E1855 wrote: 84 Points
Too sweet, too fruity, too oaky. Not interesting. Disappointing winemaking in a great year in California.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2015 - Merky_Waters Likes this wine: 91 Points
90-91
Tremendous Value (~$20)
Love the structure. More rigid acid and tannin than many 2012's ive had. Drinking well young but not overripe or extracted.
Full body, juicy acid, and muscular but not jarring tannins. Fruit is mouth filling and plush but not jammy or overdone. A modest use of oak and complex minerality add enough nuance to really make this standout from the crowd.
Nose of cool black, with greener mint and pine but no pyrazine. Ash and charred minerality are prominant while the oak(french?) is mild with faint whiffs of pastry and chocolate.
Creamy full body is balanced by leathery but slightly sweet tannins. Palate of cassis, black and blueberry jam, green herbs and cinnamin. Despite the richness, this never feels cloying, candied, or flabby like many 2012's i've tasted at this price point. The minerality is as strong on the tongue as the nose, presenting a refreshing slate and pencil shaving finish that cuts through the fruit.
I've had a lot of 2012s from big names that tasted more like mass consumer blends than Cali Cabs this year, but this has an old school edge more reminiscent of 05,09,10.
Must Try.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2015 - *Vine* wrote:
Popped and poured, youthful ruby/purple. Lovely aromas of black and blue fruits, cassis, anise, fresh mint, hints of tobacco and minerals. Moderate body. Bright and fresh on the palate, with upfront fruit flavors of blackberry and black raspberry accompanied by minty black currant and an impression of stoney minerals; if there is oak, it's nearly imperceptible. Shows a touch of the 2012 vintage's aggressive, chewy tannins on the moderate-plus close but the fruit easily outlasts any astringency and aeration helps everything smooth out.
Pure, transparent and beautifully balanced, this is an exceptional CA Cabernet and a ridiculous QPR to boot...so good!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2015 - Craigss wrote: 92 Points
A bit on the fruity side, but very smooth and tasty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2015 - Jobu wrote: 91 Points
Blackberries, blueberries, dried herbs, and decent tannins. Good value at $25.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment