Black in color. Graphite, leather and spice on the nose. Still young and tannic, dark fruit, blackberry and dark fruits, but very nice with a big finish. After four hours this was really singing
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Did not realize this was a TRB wine. Knowing that, I would say this is somewhat restrained for a Cali cab although quite pleasant. Not sure it would stand on its own but pairs well with food.
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Black cherry, creme di cassis, oak and spice with silky tannins and a finish that lasted for 20 seconds. Definitely a very good Cabernet, but missing the complexity that I’ve tasted in higher rated wines.
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Drinking very well. The oak is well integrated, the tanins are soft but there is still structure, I'm also getting some gravel and maybe a bit of cedar in the finish. A very solid wine that is drinking well and probably has a good window in front of it.
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This wine was pleasant enough, but it lacked the concentration or nuance that I'd been hoping for, given the vintage and winemaker. I don't think this was an off-bottle (purchased from a reputable retailer, stored properly, etc.), but this wine just seemed a bit straightforward.
Cherry red in color, full in body, nose of plum, cedar, and vanilla. Tastes of cherry pie, raspberry, mocha, and baking spices, with a sugary finish that still carried some dusty tannins. 14.2% alcohol. The 100% Cabernet Sauvignon got less candied and more interesting with a few hours of air, but it never quite shook that confectionary dimension (e.g., rock candy, licorice) common in far cheaper wines. This was more diffuse than a 2013 I tasted earlier this year, which was more compact and savory (almost surely a function of the different vintages).
Big picture, this wine lost me a bit on the nose and finish (too sweet), but even more on the mid-palate, which just seemed hollow. The fruit is quite nice, but the wine didn't seem very complex or integrated, something that is hard to understand at this point. Maybe this was just an awkward phase, but I'm not planning on buying this one again.
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Same as previous notes. Held up nicely over two days. Best after a couple hour decant after PnP. 93-94 points. Likely to level out at this point and start to gracefully age. Has plenty of life left in it, but drinking fine with a little air. Drink now and over the next 5-7 years.
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Same as my notes from 10/19/2016. A well crafted Cabernet with still some nice energy behind it to push the flavors forward. Fell off just a tad on the back end, but was otherwise a very giving style.
Compared to the phenomenal 2012 Kingly, the standard Cabernet is a distant placeholder when tasted side by side. In its own right, however, this is a fine Cabernet priced about right given the quality. The Kingly is more my preferred profile (bigger, vastly more concentrated, and a bit more extracted). This standard Cabernet has some classical austerity that some will find pleasure in.
93 points.
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Decanted for 90 minutes, showed loads of upfront deep berry fruit and raspberries in the nose and flavor with some earthiness and a touch of spice and tobacco. A very well balanced wine with nice complexity and a long finish. This should get better with a few more years in the cellar.
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I either scored this poorly the first time or it was an off bottle. Still really young with tannin poking through but not overly obtrusive. Mineral driven with precise notes graphite and slate. Chalky black fruit, strawberry jam, and anise accompany in the background. Opened in the bottle a couple hours. Needs time/years to unwrap but I like it now.
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Opened in bottle for a couple hours and decanted a couple more. All the elements are not in harmony with the nose being much more open than the palate. Almost a prune like smell and taste on the front. Fairly mineral driven with stewed blackfruit and leather. Has a youthfully acidic tart but otherwise would have guessed several years older. Needs a few more years to come together.
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did not give this the full decant it probably needed, so assess the note and score accordingly - basically popped and poured into a large glass and consumed over an hour. Nose is fantastic, and got even better over time - a harbinger of things to come. Tasted disjointed to me, like all the elements are there, but not quite coming together yet. Seem thin in the mid-palate and tart at first taste, but did get better with time. Try again in a year, have plenty in the cellar. 92 now only because it is early, fully expect a higher score as it evolves.
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Same as my previous notes almost a year ago. A solid wine to be sure, with still some youthful restraint keeping it from coming to full fruition. Decanted for a total of three hours. Time/air helped coax out some more of the nuanced licorice and earth flavors, but the fruit was a hair restrained. Quality and purity of fruit was still evident (gained points for that).
93-94 points. Not sure if it will ever reach heights beyond what it is putting out currently, but checking it out in another year (late 2017) would be the best advice. A very nice Cabernet. Not an earth-shattering Cabernet.
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Popped and poured...dark fruit on the nose...not nearly the fruit-forward profile of other 2012's, but I think all the right parts are there and this will improve with age unlike other 2012's that are drinking well early...smooth finish.
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Recommend not drinking until 2017; tannins are very noticeable and will coat your mouth, however silky; Wine is well balanced and enjoyable. Can't wait to try this wine in a few years. 94 now, but think it will score much higher in 2 to 4 years. Very enjoyable.
Similar to my CT notes on 8/29/15. PnP with tight berry and mineral flavors. An hour in the decanter brought out dark currant, black cherry, deep plum, and other purple berry notes. Some black licorice and chalky tannins framed out the finish nicely.
As previously mentioned, best after 2017, but with a decent decant, enjoyable now. A very good Napa Cabernet from TRB.
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Solid wine, great dark blue fruit. I do like TRB's cabs, but this one seems to fall a little short. Might improve with some age, but the stuffing doesn't seem to be there. Short in the mid-palate, a bit of a one trick pony.
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Second tasting pour from a wine store. Again from a Coravin sample. Tight, good fruit, big tannins, definitely needs time . Has a lot of stuffing, just needs time to come together.
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PnP with a bit of a restrained nose of black fruits, black licorice, and stone. Initial palate entry showed notes of tightly coiled-up black and red fruits, blackberry, black and red licorice, and slate. After two hours in the decanter, the flavors began to open up, with more black and purple fruits, black licorice, ink, and hints of cedar and spice. There is a very faint chalky minerality that frames the fruit. A bit of pleasant alcohol on the back end, with the acid completely in check, which keeps it from becoming jammy.
Has a ways to go before truly developing into something magnificent, but shows that it might just have the stuffing to be a really fascinating wine. Only youth seems to be holding it back at the moment. Hold at least until after 2017. 94+ for now.
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Tasting pour, PNP from Coravin. Gorgeous nose, swirled for about thirty minutes. Tight, but I did not have time to let it open up. Multiple layers of well balanced fruit, mineral, smoke and firm tannins. Will need try a whole bottle with a long decant to more accurately rate this.
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1/12/2024 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 96 Points
Black in color. Graphite, leather and spice on the nose. Still young and tannic, dark fruit, blackberry and dark fruits, but very nice with a big finish. After four hours this was really singing
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8/2/2022 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Did not realize this was a TRB wine. Knowing that, I would say this is somewhat restrained for a Cali cab although quite pleasant. Not sure it would stand on its own but pairs well with food.
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9/20/2021 - Mr T wrote:
Better than last bottle
Big ripe cab although can’t say it was all that interesting
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12/5/2020 - Mr T wrote:
Didn’t do much for me
Muddled flavors and a little bitter
Others enjoyed
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5/16/2020 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Purple. Luscious rich nose. PNP Coravin glass with blackberry barbecue pork loin. Super well made complex Cabernet that everything in its place.
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5/1/2020 - jcampano Likes this wine: 94 Points
Black cherry, creme di cassis, oak and spice with silky tannins and a finish that lasted for 20 seconds. Definitely a very good Cabernet, but missing the complexity that I’ve tasted in higher rated wines.
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3/26/2020 - laetulos Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking very well. The oak is well integrated, the tanins are soft but there is still structure, I'm also getting some gravel and maybe a bit of cedar in the finish. A very solid wine that is drinking well and probably has a good window in front of it.
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1/13/2018 - mikemboutiquewines wrote: 89 Points
Disappointing considering the hype, price, vintage and wine maker.
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12/21/2017 - msuwine wrote: 92 Points
This wine was pleasant enough, but it lacked the concentration or nuance that I'd been hoping for, given the vintage and winemaker. I don't think this was an off-bottle (purchased from a reputable retailer, stored properly, etc.), but this wine just seemed a bit straightforward.
Cherry red in color, full in body, nose of plum, cedar, and vanilla. Tastes of cherry pie, raspberry, mocha, and baking spices, with a sugary finish that still carried some dusty tannins. 14.2% alcohol. The 100% Cabernet Sauvignon got less candied and more interesting with a few hours of air, but it never quite shook that confectionary dimension (e.g., rock candy, licorice) common in far cheaper wines. This was more diffuse than a 2013 I tasted earlier this year, which was more compact and savory (almost surely a function of the different vintages).
Big picture, this wine lost me a bit on the nose and finish (too sweet), but even more on the mid-palate, which just seemed hollow. The fruit is quite nice, but the wine didn't seem very complex or integrated, something that is hard to understand at this point. Maybe this was just an awkward phase, but I'm not planning on buying this one again.
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12/8/2017 - Corrie Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really delivers at $100
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11/28/2017 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Same as previous notes. Held up nicely over two days. Best after a couple hour decant after PnP. 93-94 points. Likely to level out at this point and start to gracefully age. Has plenty of life left in it, but drinking fine with a little air. Drink now and over the next 5-7 years.
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9/30/2017 - Bigtuna Likes this wine:
Decanted 5 hours and still barked like a dog. This bottle was more tannic than a bottle I opened in 2015. Try next bottle in 2019
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9/10/2017 - pdemaio Likes this wine: 94 Points
Smooth and easy to drink.
PDQ94+
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6/17/2017 - csimm wrote: 93 Points
Same as my notes from 10/19/2016. A well crafted Cabernet with still some nice energy behind it to push the flavors forward. Fell off just a tad on the back end, but was otherwise a very giving style.
Compared to the phenomenal 2012 Kingly, the standard Cabernet is a distant placeholder when tasted side by side. In its own right, however, this is a fine Cabernet priced about right given the quality. The Kingly is more my preferred profile (bigger, vastly more concentrated, and a bit more extracted). This standard Cabernet has some classical austerity that some will find pleasure in.
93 points.
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3/14/2017 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for 90 minutes, showed loads of upfront deep berry fruit and raspberries in the nose and flavor with some earthiness and a touch of spice and tobacco. A very well balanced wine with nice complexity and a long finish. This should get better with a few more years in the cellar.
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1/30/2017 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 95 Points
I either scored this poorly the first time or it was an off bottle. Still really young with tannin poking through but not overly obtrusive. Mineral driven with precise notes graphite and slate. Chalky black fruit, strawberry jam, and anise accompany in the background. Opened in the bottle a couple hours. Needs time/years to unwrap but I like it now.
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1/21/2017 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 92 Points
Opened in bottle for a couple hours and decanted a couple more. All the elements are not in harmony with the nose being much more open than the palate. Almost a prune like smell and taste on the front. Fairly mineral driven with stewed blackfruit and leather. Has a youthfully acidic tart but otherwise would have guessed several years older. Needs a few more years to come together.
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12/23/2016 - AngryPrez Likes this wine: 92 Points
did not give this the full decant it probably needed, so assess the note and score accordingly - basically popped and poured into a large glass and consumed over an hour. Nose is fantastic, and got even better over time - a harbinger of things to come. Tasted disjointed to me, like all the elements are there, but not quite coming together yet. Seem thin in the mid-palate and tart at first taste, but did get better with time. Try again in a year, have plenty in the cellar. 92 now only because it is early, fully expect a higher score as it evolves.
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10/19/2016 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Same as my previous notes almost a year ago. A solid wine to be sure, with still some youthful restraint keeping it from coming to full fruition. Decanted for a total of three hours. Time/air helped coax out some more of the nuanced licorice and earth flavors, but the fruit was a hair restrained. Quality and purity of fruit was still evident (gained points for that).
93-94 points. Not sure if it will ever reach heights beyond what it is putting out currently, but checking it out in another year (late 2017) would be the best advice. A very nice Cabernet. Not an earth-shattering Cabernet.
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5/27/2016 - hanasowner wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured...dark fruit on the nose...not nearly the fruit-forward profile of other 2012's, but I think all the right parts are there and this will improve with age unlike other 2012's that are drinking well early...smooth finish.
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12/4/2015 - Bigtuna Likes this wine: 94 Points
Recommend not drinking until 2017; tannins are very noticeable and will coat your mouth, however silky; Wine is well balanced and enjoyable. Can't wait to try this wine in a few years. 94 now, but think it will score much higher in 2 to 4 years. Very enjoyable.
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11/5/2015 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Similar to my CT notes on 8/29/15. PnP with tight berry and mineral flavors. An hour in the decanter brought out dark currant, black cherry, deep plum, and other purple berry notes. Some black licorice and chalky tannins framed out the finish nicely.
As previously mentioned, best after 2017, but with a decent decant, enjoyable now. A very good Napa Cabernet from TRB.
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10/3/2015 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Solid wine, great dark blue fruit. I do like TRB's cabs, but this one seems to fall a little short. Might improve with some age, but the stuffing doesn't seem to be there. Short in the mid-palate, a bit of a one trick pony.
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10/3/2015 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Second tasting pour from a wine store. Again from a Coravin sample. Tight, good fruit, big tannins, definitely needs time . Has a lot of stuffing, just needs time to come together.
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8/29/2015 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
PnP with a bit of a restrained nose of black fruits, black licorice, and stone. Initial palate entry showed notes of tightly coiled-up black and red fruits, blackberry, black and red licorice, and slate. After two hours in the decanter, the flavors began to open up, with more black and purple fruits, black licorice, ink, and hints of cedar and spice. There is a very faint chalky minerality that frames the fruit. A bit of pleasant alcohol on the back end, with the acid completely in check, which keeps it from becoming jammy.
Has a ways to go before truly developing into something magnificent, but shows that it might just have the stuffing to be a really fascinating wine. Only youth seems to be holding it back at the moment. Hold at least until after 2017. 94+ for now.
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8/15/2015 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasting pour, PNP from Coravin. Gorgeous nose, swirled for about thirty minutes. Tight, but I did not have time to let it open up. Multiple layers of well balanced fruit, mineral, smoke and firm tannins. Will need try a whole bottle with a long decant to more accurately rate this.
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