Had one of my last 3 of these with Prime Rib on the Pit Barrel Cooker. Tannins perfectly integrated, still bursting with fresh fruit. Probably at its peak of longevity but no signs of being on the downtown. Well done for an 18-year old Cab
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delicious, still has nice fruit, while I don't think it needs anymore time it is still has plenty of nice dark fruit even though past the posted drinking window. drink up!
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Fully mature and likely slightly past peak. Showing elements consistent with the Larkmead style, with less fruit than vintages 2002 to present. Still a lovely wine, although I would not continue to hold.
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My last bottle and I'm sorry. This one kept getting better and better with more time in bottle. Ended up being an example of classic cal cab with great flavor, balance, aroma and mouthfeel. Great with food. Just an all-round lovely bottle of wine.
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Leather, Cocoa and Oak in the nose but nothing exciting on the palate. Little or no finish at all. This particular bottle may have been past the drinking window or spoiled. Didn't compliment my belated Christmas Prime Rib as something more full bodied.
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Pulled from vinotemp, opened for 1 hour, not decanted, drank in Riedel wineline Bordeaux glasses. Big, deep slightly hot nose of dried cherry with a little menthol and jalapeno/bell pepper. Tart fruit of more dried cherry with a slight vegetal note that blew off after about an hour. The tannins are quite firm and slightly drying. Medium long finish. A little tart for my taste and the tannins kept getting more aggressive in the glass. Not enough experience with this wine to make predictions about further aging, but overall a slight disapointment. Worked fairly well with ribeyes.
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Quite a mouthful of Cab. Rich and full with loads of cassis, blackberry, coffee and earth flavors. Very open despite not being decanted. Drink or hold.
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I've found that most 99 CS from Napa are still pretty tight requiring vigorous decanting or more cellar timing. That's not the story with the 1999 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon. From the get-go, this wine showed beautiful berry fruit, cassis, and pleasant oak notes. Substantial tannic structure is there, promising that it's best days (+2-3 years) are still ahead, but everything is so well balanced, that we enjoyed it tremendously now. It passed the "wife sip test" -- where my wife takes a sip from my glass to check out what I'm drinking and then she keeps coming back to my glass for more. Lovely coffee and chocolate flavors are just below the surface. Great wine, made even greater by the friendly price I paid of $30. Highly recommended.
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I tried this blind at Otis' house. This was a very nice well built wine but it did not stand out from the crowd. Elegant if not somewhat simple fruit notes including mulberry. 90-91 points.
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Ruby red color. Nose had some vegetal undertones, maybe sun-dried tomatoes. Delicate, delicious fruit and a light and silky mouthfeel. Tannins are soft and well-integrated. Solidly in its drinking window.
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Bright disc. Opaque purple with purple/red rim. Clean nose, showing intense currants, coffee, blackberry and oak. Full-bodied on the palate, with a good attack and evolution. Similar fruit-forward flavors as the nose. Massive but very sweet tannins. Long, slightly hot finish. Already drinking quite nice, but should improve over the next year and then hold for a few more years thereafter.
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9/20/2020 - Matty Likes this wine: 93 Points
Much better than expected at this time un its evolution
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12/26/2017 - RCS73 wrote: 93 Points
Had one of my last 3 of these with Prime Rib on the Pit Barrel Cooker. Tannins perfectly integrated, still bursting with fresh fruit. Probably at its peak of longevity but no signs of being on the downtown. Well done for an 18-year old Cab
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4/11/2014 - madalyn Likes this wine: 92 Points
delicious, still has nice fruit, while I don't think it needs anymore time it is still has plenty of nice dark fruit even though past the posted drinking window.
drink up!
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6/30/2013 - EMTAME wrote: 92 Points
Fully mature and likely slightly past peak. Showing elements consistent with the Larkmead style, with less fruit than vintages 2002 to present. Still a lovely wine, although I would not continue to hold.
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4/3/2010 - Zonk wrote: 92 Points
Smooth and nicely integrated. Lots of red fruit still
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12/5/2009 - GA wrote: 92 Points
12/09 Dark Cherry fruit - resolved refined integrated tannins - wonderful dinner wine - in its window. 92 pts.
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9/7/2009 - darius wrote: 95 Points
Still drinking very well. Classic california cab. Superb balance. Last of my 3 cases held up better than the initial 94 ws rating.
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8/15/2009 - GA wrote: 92 Points
8/09 Dark purple - cherry nose - good fruit and oak milk chocolate finish - decanted about 1 1/2 hours - in a good window now. 92 pts.
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8/14/2009 - Topper wrote: 93 Points
My last bottle and I'm sorry. This one kept getting better and better with more time in bottle. Ended up being an example of classic cal cab with great flavor, balance, aroma and mouthfeel. Great with food. Just an all-round lovely bottle of wine.
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12/29/2007 - Billyray wrote: 82 Points
Leather, Cocoa and Oak in the nose but nothing exciting on the palate. Little or no finish at all. This particular bottle may have been past the drinking window or spoiled. Didn't compliment my belated Christmas Prime Rib as something more full bodied.
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12/18/2007 - AZ Cat wrote:
Very, very good but not quite outstanding. Almost a 1+.
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10/1/2007 - Chidainey wrote: 87 Points
Pulled from vinotemp, opened for 1 hour, not decanted, drank in Riedel wineline Bordeaux glasses. Big, deep slightly hot nose of dried cherry with a little menthol and jalapeno/bell pepper. Tart fruit of more dried cherry with a slight vegetal note that blew off after about an hour. The tannins are quite firm and slightly drying. Medium long finish. A little tart for my taste and the tannins kept getting more aggressive in the glass. Not enough experience with this wine to make predictions about further aging, but overall a slight disapointment. Worked fairly well with ribeyes.
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5/3/2007 - sgamiz wrote: 94 Points
This bottles is tasting great at the moment; Highly recommend it.
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9/3/2005 - 6831 wrote: 91 Points
Quite a mouthful of Cab. Rich and full with loads of cassis, blackberry, coffee and earth flavors. Very open despite not being decanted. Drink or hold.
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5/25/2005 - babnik wrote:
I've found that most 99 CS from Napa are still pretty tight requiring vigorous decanting or more cellar timing. That's not the story with the 1999 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon. From the get-go, this wine showed beautiful berry fruit, cassis, and pleasant oak notes. Substantial tannic structure is there, promising that it's best days (+2-3 years) are still ahead, but everything is so well balanced, that we enjoyed it tremendously now. It passed the "wife sip test" -- where my wife takes a sip from my glass to check out what I'm drinking and then she keeps coming back to my glass for more. Lovely coffee and chocolate flavors are just below the surface. Great wine, made even greater by the friendly price I paid of $30. Highly recommended.
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9/11/2004 - anthonyiez wrote: 93 Points
awesome cali cab that is just hitting its stride. bummed i only have 3 more. this wine has yet to fail.
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8/7/2004 - Vino Me wrote: 90 Points
I tried this blind at Otis' house. This was a very nice well built wine but it did not stand out from the crowd. Elegant if not somewhat simple fruit notes including mulberry. 90-91 points.
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8/3/2004 - otisabdul wrote: 92 Points
Ruby red color. Nose had some vegetal undertones, maybe sun-dried tomatoes. Delicate, delicious fruit and a light and silky mouthfeel. Tannins are soft and well-integrated. Solidly in its drinking window.
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3/15/2004 - Siggy wrote: 90 Points
Medium body, lively fruit, tanninns have mellowed from last year.
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9/27/2002 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 92 Points
Bright disc. Opaque purple with purple/red rim. Clean nose, showing intense currants, coffee, blackberry and oak. Full-bodied on the palate, with a good attack and evolution. Similar fruit-forward flavors as the nose. Massive but very sweet tannins. Long, slightly hot finish. Already drinking quite nice, but should improve over the next year and then hold for a few more years thereafter.
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