This bottle was in even better shape than the last one. Didn't show really any tertiary character. Just a lovely, balanced, perfectly aged Napa Cabernet. Not a blockbuster style - more middle of the road. No hurry on this at all -- should hold for several more years at least.
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14.5% abv. 1st of 2 bottles from a recent auction purchase. This bottle was in good shape and delivered a very good aged Napa Cabernet experience. Probably a year or three past peak, but still in a good drinking window. This struck me as a middle of the road Napa Cabernet - not too ripe and rich, not too austere -- which suits my palate just fine. Perhaps drying out just a bit, as some oak tannin was evident and the fruit was a little subdued. If I had tasted this blind, I probably would have guessed Tempranillo-dominant based on the flavor profile, so not exactly classic Napa Cabernet. Still very good and enjoyable.
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I’m starting to get old, find more and more wines I don’t remember where I bought them. Luckily this lovely Napa CabSauv is still in good shape (good cellar;-)). Bouquet of some cassis and eucalyptus, one could have almost placed it into Barossa Valley. Quite powerful but balanced in itself this was an enjoyable Burger Wine and graciously aged.
What a treat! This is what a balanced and mature Napa cab should be. Drank at Yves Bistro for our New Years celebration, so it was a pop and pour. It blossomed over the two hours. Solid cassis and blueberry fruit supported by silky and well-integrated tannins. The wine showed lovely legs in the glass and had an opulent mouth feel. This is, in my opinion, at its peak but will last several more years. It clearly benefits from the modest addition of cab franc and merlot; it leaves one with the impression of a second growth Bordeaux in a great vintage.
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Very French style nose, great, ripe fruit, hint of cassis, hint of mint, fully integrated and very tasty. Not the big fruit bomb of its youth. Perhaps this can age a bit longer, but it is showing great now. Solid, balanced Napa Cab.
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The baby fat has fallen off this wine now, and it is a clear ruby red. Medium intensity nose of cassis, red currants, and herbs. The wine needed two hours to come together in the decanter and show its best. Good medium weight, with similar flavors, but simpler than I had hoped, with red fruit and a general herbaceousness. Wish I could have spent more time with this. Still, a very good wine.
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A very interesting wine. Decanted for an hour before dinner. We had with steak and neither one of us could quite put our finger on the exact flavors we were tasting. The wine's tannins are perfectly integrated. There were notes of plum , cedar and spice, but none that were predominate. Our overall impression was that this was a BIG wiine, but perfectly balanced. I have 2 more bottles and, like the previous review, can't wait to try another bottle in a year. Overall, I liked the wine very much.
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A touch rustic, with plummy blackberry fruit and firm tannins, this seems still two to three years away from opening its optimal drinking window. Notes of oriental spices and a touch of mint are coming out adding interest to the still primary flavors. Very tasty, and I can't wait to try the next one...in a year.
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Started out with medium body and concentration. The fruit deepened somewhat during the first hour, but never got to the "massive wine" described on the back label. Apparently there is a touch of merlot and cab franc in the blend. Alcohol was a little to apparent on the nose and palate throughout the evening.
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1/22/2022 - PIntag wrote: 92 Points
This bottle was in even better shape than the last one. Didn't show really any tertiary character. Just a lovely, balanced, perfectly aged Napa Cabernet. Not a blockbuster style - more middle of the road. No hurry on this at all -- should hold for several more years at least.
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12/25/2021 - PIntag wrote: 91 Points
14.5% abv. 1st of 2 bottles from a recent auction purchase.
This bottle was in good shape and delivered a very good aged Napa Cabernet experience. Probably a year or three past peak, but still in a good drinking window. This struck me as a middle of the road Napa Cabernet - not too ripe and rich, not too austere -- which suits my palate just fine. Perhaps drying out just a bit, as some oak tannin was evident and the fruit was a little subdued. If I had tasted this blind, I probably would have guessed Tempranillo-dominant based on the flavor profile, so not exactly classic Napa Cabernet. Still very good and enjoyable.
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11/15/2020 - Klugi Wine wrote: 91 Points
I’m starting to get old, find more and more wines I don’t remember where I bought them. Luckily this lovely Napa CabSauv is still in good shape (good cellar;-)). Bouquet of some cassis and eucalyptus, one could have almost placed it into Barossa Valley. Quite powerful but balanced in itself this was an enjoyable Burger Wine and graciously aged.
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5/26/2012 - Raja wrote: 92 Points
Drank at delfina pizzeria in SF. Agree with other reviews here. Absolutely gorgeous.
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1/1/2011 - OCWino wrote: 93 Points
What a treat! This is what a balanced and mature Napa cab should be. Drank at Yves Bistro for our New Years celebration, so it was a pop and pour. It blossomed over the two hours. Solid cassis and blueberry fruit supported by silky and well-integrated tannins. The wine showed lovely legs in the glass and had an opulent mouth feel. This is, in my opinion, at its peak but will last several more years. It clearly benefits from the modest addition of cab franc and merlot; it leaves one with the impression of a second growth Bordeaux in a great vintage.
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3/31/2008 - ginfizz wrote: 91 Points
Very French style nose, great, ripe fruit, hint of cassis, hint of mint, fully integrated and very tasty. Not the big fruit bomb of its youth. Perhaps this can age a bit longer, but it is showing great now. Solid, balanced Napa Cab.
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2/10/2008 - ginfizz wrote: 91 Points
The baby fat has fallen off this wine now, and it is a clear ruby red. Medium intensity nose of cassis, red currants, and herbs. The wine needed two hours to come together in the decanter and show its best. Good medium weight, with similar flavors, but simpler than I had hoped, with red fruit and a general herbaceousness. Wish I could have spent more time with this. Still, a very good wine.
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2/8/2008 - wine guy wrote: 92 Points
A very interesting wine. Decanted for an hour before dinner. We had with steak and neither one of us could quite put our finger on the exact flavors we were tasting. The wine's tannins are perfectly integrated. There were notes of plum , cedar and spice, but none that were predominate. Our overall impression was that this was a BIG wiine, but perfectly balanced. I have 2 more bottles and, like the previous review, can't wait to try another bottle in a year. Overall, I liked the wine very much.
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7/27/2007 - ginfizz wrote: 92 Points
A touch rustic, with plummy blackberry fruit and firm tannins, this seems still two to three years away from opening its optimal drinking window. Notes of oriental spices and a touch of mint are coming out adding interest to the still primary flavors. Very tasty, and I can't wait to try the next one...in a year.
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9/29/2005 - GlenD wrote: 91 Points
Started out with medium body and concentration. The fruit deepened somewhat during the first hour, but never got to the "massive wine" described on the back label. Apparently there is a touch of merlot and cab franc in the blend. Alcohol was a little to apparent on the nose and palate throughout the evening.
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11/25/2004 - JJA wrote:
Very good, but not as good as the Mosaique. I also prefer the regular Cab to this. Not a repurchase. Drinkable now.
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