What a fabulous expression of California Cabernet Sauvignon. Just over the mountain ridge on the Sonoma side. This wine has the characteristics of a Napa Valley “Grand Cru,” if I can respectfully use that term. Layers upon layers of goodness. This wine is one of the best Cabernet Sauvignons I have ever tasted. Great juice.
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Better with air and pivot time. Still inky black in color, Chocolate, coffee, spice and cigar box on the nose, softened, rich, full bodied, with black cherry, chocolate, cola, and moderating tannins with a gorgeous finish. Better at this stage, opened up more, pretty marvelous
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Almost black in color. Lots going on in the nose, cedar, coffee, and baking spice. Still young, tannic, blackberry fruit, barbecue, some oak and needed more time than I gave it
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Dark purple color with very slight fading at the edges. Plums and cherries on the nose. Smooth yet intense on the palate, plums, black cherries, blackberries, licorice, bitter-sweet chocolate. Sweet tobacco notes on the mid-palate with soft, warm spices. Fine tannins, vibrant acidity, great balance. Persistent finish of bitter chocolate and black cherries. Gorgeous wine. Drink next 10 years.
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For the 1st 30 seconds lovely nose of black tea and red/black fruit. Plunged downhill by the time I poured a glass into black tea and wet cardboard. Emergency air and extended time in the decanter ICU could not save her. Rest in peace last bottle!
Savory nose of sweet tobacco and red fruit. Vibrant fruit, black cherry and currants on the palate, anise, chocolate. A bright streak of fruit on the midpalate. Fine tannins, bright acidity, lovely balance. Finishes long with dark fruits and cleansing acidity. Lovely cabernet, drinking beautifully now and I’d guess for at least 4 to 5 years more.
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I found this absolutely open for business after breathing for three hours in the bottle. Still too young to show much in the way of tertiary flavors, but the fruit is in balance with the earth/tea elements and tannin. A good wine that the whole holiday crowd could enjoy.
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Pen ink and camphor on the nose. On the palate, blackberry, black cherry, currants, and notes of pen ink, earth, and tobacco on the medium to long finish, with moderate tannins and strong acidity. Although this is excellent now, it is early in its drinking window and should improve for some years; however, it's only a good to average value at a little under $120.
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Wonderful notes of mountainous dark fruits are highlighted by iron ore and underbrush. An X factor of a 9.5 here! Great texture and depth. Decanted for four hours. An intellectual wine that is complex yet easy for everyone to enjoy. I won't touch the next bottle for another five years. Amazing juice!!!
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Still very young, blackberries, black cherries, licorice, and earthiness in the nose with deep berry fruits and a hint of chocolate in the favor. Nice complexity, well balanced, and a long smooth finish
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Decanted for 4 hrs and drank over 90 min. Never hit its stride, needs more cellar time. Tasted like young Merlot at first in early stages, got hints of wood and black fruit after 5 hrs. Save em if you got em, needs 5 yrs min. Felt like I killed an infant. Structure is there, RP got it right, just not right now
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The best hidden ridge I have rated. Had with porter house steak at Ruth Chris. Floral nose and spice. 30 second finish. Still going the second day. One of the best qpr wines I have come across. Expect this wine to increase in value. Drinking well now and will do so for another 7 to 10 years. Wow.
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96+ decanted for 3 hours. What a delicious, knockout wine this is. It will become a classic. I highly recommend, especially at the $80 price point. Drinks like a $200 and above extraordinary wine.
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96+, Robert Parker got this right. The best Hidden Ridge to date. Plenty of dark fruit, along with balanced acidity & smooth sweet tannins, with the most exquisite chocolate berry flavors, that are unimaginable. Highly Recommended.
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12/18/2023 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 97 Points
What a fabulous expression of California Cabernet Sauvignon. Just over the mountain ridge on the Sonoma side. This wine has the characteristics of a Napa Valley “Grand Cru,” if I can respectfully use that term. Layers upon layers of goodness. This wine is one of the best Cabernet Sauvignons I have ever tasted. Great juice.
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8/16/2023 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 98 Points
Give an hour of air and then enjoy this hedonistic Cab. Still early in its development. drink or hold
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8/12/2023 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Better with air and pivot time. Still inky black in color, Chocolate, coffee, spice and cigar box on the nose, softened, rich, full bodied, with black cherry, chocolate, cola, and moderating tannins with a gorgeous finish. Better at this stage, opened up more, pretty marvelous
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7/20/2023 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Almost black in color. Lots going on in the nose, cedar, coffee, and baking spice. Still young, tannic, blackberry fruit, barbecue, some oak and needed more time than I gave it
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6/16/2023 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark purple color with very slight fading at the edges. Plums and cherries on the nose. Smooth yet intense on the palate, plums, black cherries, blackberries, licorice, bitter-sweet chocolate. Sweet tobacco notes on the mid-palate with soft, warm spices. Fine tannins, vibrant acidity, great balance. Persistent finish of bitter chocolate and black cherries. Gorgeous wine. Drink next 10 years.
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1/17/2022 - mckillop Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is at peaking drinking for me. Given the color and acidity, it’s going to last another 10 years but no reason to wait!
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4/17/2020 - Geaux Tigers wrote: flawed
For the 1st 30 seconds lovely nose of black tea and red/black fruit. Plunged downhill by the time I poured a glass into black tea and wet cardboard. Emergency air and extended time in the decanter ICU could not save her. Rest in peace last bottle!
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9/1/2019 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 95 Points
Savory nose of sweet tobacco and red fruit. Vibrant fruit, black cherry and currants on the palate, anise, chocolate. A bright streak of fruit on the midpalate. Fine tannins, bright acidity, lovely balance. Finishes long with dark fruits and cleansing acidity. Lovely cabernet, drinking beautifully now and I’d guess for at least 4 to 5 years more.
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12/26/2018 - Vinomnivore Likes this wine: 95 Points
I found this absolutely open for business after breathing for three hours in the bottle. Still too young to show much in the way of tertiary flavors, but the fruit is in balance with the earth/tea elements and tannin. A good wine that the whole holiday crowd could enjoy.
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9/2/2018 - RichardP wrote: 93 Points
Pen ink and camphor on the nose. On the palate, blackberry, black cherry, currants, and notes of pen ink, earth, and tobacco on the medium to long finish, with moderate tannins and strong acidity. Although this is excellent now, it is early in its drinking window and should improve for some years; however, it's only a good to average value at a little under $120.
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6/11/2018 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wonderful notes of mountainous dark fruits are highlighted by iron ore and underbrush. An X factor of a 9.5 here! Great texture and depth. Decanted for four hours. An intellectual wine that is complex yet easy for everyone to enjoy. I won't touch the next bottle for another five years. Amazing juice!!!
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3/11/2017 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still very young, blackberries, black cherries, licorice, and earthiness in the nose with deep berry fruits and a hint of chocolate in the favor. Nice complexity, well balanced, and a long smooth finish
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5/13/2016 - Geaux Tigers wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 4 hrs and drank over 90 min. Never hit its stride, needs more cellar time. Tasted like young Merlot at first in early stages, got hints of wood and black fruit after 5 hrs. Save em if you got em, needs 5 yrs min. Felt like I killed an infant. Structure is there, RP got it right, just not right now
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1/16/2016 - Jphowarth Likes this wine: 96 Points
The best hidden ridge I have rated. Had with porter house steak at Ruth Chris. Floral nose and spice. 30 second finish. Still going the second day. One of the best qpr wines I have come across. Expect this wine to increase in value. Drinking well now and will do so for another 7 to 10 years. Wow.
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5/1/2015 - maitredgreg2 Likes this wine: 98 Points
98+
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4/17/2015 - maitredgreg2 Likes this wine: 96 Points
96+ decanted for 3 hours. What a delicious, knockout wine this is. It will become a classic. I highly recommend, especially at the $80 price point. Drinks like a $200 and above extraordinary wine.
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3/28/2015 - maitredgreg2 Likes this wine: 96 Points
96+, Robert Parker got this right. The best Hidden Ridge to date. Plenty of dark fruit, along with balanced acidity & smooth sweet tannins, with the most exquisite chocolate berry flavors, that are unimaginable. Highly Recommended.
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