I listened to others and decanted 3 1/2 hours, which was needed given the power and richness of the wine. Dark berries and a wonderful finish. This was a bit lost drinking with insanely good, old Napa cabs, so next time I will focus on the wine over a juicy steak.
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outstanding! I decanted 7 hours+ and it came out wonderfully with the turkey. Dark color, some fruit first, light tannin and long and smooth. Delicious.
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Just now starting to get integrated. Drank one glass the first night and put it in a decanter overnight. Sooooo much better the second day! Very elegant, but still youthful and powerful.
licorice, vanilla, blackberries, blue florals, plum, spice box, chocolate, red cherries, black currant, cedar and savory herb
AO's ERA certainly is a style of wine, one that I used to be super fond of. Bold rich fruit, certainly california muscle, maybe a flash of elegance at the end. Maybe years ago I'd give this a 97 but for now I wish it had more acid. Ironically I think their single vineyards taste better and have better structure
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So hard to score because this was tasted next to more mature, and more elegant Napa wines. The Era is a thick, chewy, black-fruited wine that is powerful in many ways, but this just isn't my style these days. Consequently, I believe the price is insulting, especially when purchased directly from the winery. Can be purchased for less from retailers.
Maybe it's just too young. Maybe the vintage is a brute relative to 2012 and 13. I've enjoyed the 2013 more in past tastings and I've not enjoyed many 2014s from other producers. Regardless, if I want to consume Beckstoffer fruit, I prefer Carter (less $) or Schrader (about the same $).
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Three hour decant. Very deep dark magenta color. Sweet potato, blueberry pie with graham cracker crust, lilac and maraschino cherry on the beautiful, rich, fruit forward nose. Smooth, voluptuous, full bodied palate, with nice acidity. Very full tannins on the long finish. Actually drinks like it’s price.
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We drank this one out of a magnum and it really never opened unfortunately on day one, it showed very tight, inhibited restraint. On the pallet, the suppressed flavors, something was there flavor wise, but it never showed up. Day 2 revealed the reason why I like Alpha Omega wines. Strikingly dark inky purple blueish color. On the palate, enhance flavors of dark extracted berry fruits, cassis dark berry fruit flavors and purity. Nice structure, elegance and depth came to the fore.... with air time. A winner in the 2014 lineup for Alpha Omega. 95.7 points tonight. Give this wine a long decanting for maximum enjoyment.
Twelve hour decant (only needed three). Very deep dark magenta color. Boysenberry, dried raspberry, sweet potato pie, beets and fudge on the voluptuous, complex nose. Super lush, weighty palate, with soft lingering acidity. Some thyme developed on the palate over an hour of drinking. Very full tannins on the very long finish.
This is a beautiful wine that I think I decanted too long. Would be 95+ pts with a shorter decant (2 - 4 hours).
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Three hour decant. Deep, dark magenta color. Anise, vanilla, cologne, black cherry, blackberry, red beets and subtle cocoa on the nose. Lush, smooth, dry, satiny palate. Firm, full tannins on the long mouth/throat filling finish.
This well-made red has lots of upside. It’s just at the front end of it’s drinking window. It’s still a touch hot and tight, but there’s already bountiful dark fruit. This was a wine to celebrate the honorary doctorate I’m receiving in France on Wednesday.
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Rich wet wool and powerful black fruit in the nose, black and inky. Fascinating flavors: ginger ale, black tar, baked plum, plenty of acid and heat on finish. Will be special in 5 years, but keep it cool!
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Inky in color, this is full bodied, powerful, fresh, sweet and fleshy. With equal portions of black and blue fruits, licorice, vanilla tones and the structure/tannins, along with density and lift to demand some ageing. This will be much better in 3-5 years. The wine was made from a barrel selection from all of their top vineyards.
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The 2nd bottle of 3 had a much stronger fruit forward taste. Also 2 glasses and you felt the alcohol content. Tough bottle to get open. Takes 10 minutes to get the top off.
Stunning inky purple blueish almost black color. In the palate, soft and elegant ripe dark fruit, extremely smooth with great purity and focus. This is clearly a baby and from good stock. 94+ points tonight. This wine should greatly benefit with bottle age by a few points.
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Barrel Tasting at Alpha Omega. First time drinking Era and my favorite wine of the weekend. What a great wine already. Rich, pure fruit but smooth and in balance. Absolutely loved it.
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The Era was indeed the top sample of the entire tasting. A "best blend" of all the AO SVDs, the Era kicked out amazing purity of fruit, beautiful dark berry, plum, currant, earth, spice box, and splashes of candied red fruit and black cherry notes that elevated this above the others. The soil/earth note repeated itself on the back end.
This definitely seems like a wine that will have longevity...especially when compared to its single vineyard counterparts. This should certainly be a special wine in a number of years.
96+ points for now.
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Barrel tasting. Candy like flowery nose, nice dark fruit, dark berries with a nice finish. My favorite ot the day was the 2014 Beckstoffer. Love those A/O Cabs and 2014 should be a good year.
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10/24/2023 - dkwins Likes this wine: 95 Points
I listened to others and decanted 3 1/2 hours, which was needed given the power and richness of the wine. Dark berries and a wonderful finish. This was a bit lost drinking with insanely good, old Napa cabs, so next time I will focus on the wine over a juicy steak.
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8/13/2022 - jdelalamo Likes this wine: 96 Points
Excellent
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11/25/2021 - Seneg Likes this wine: 95 Points
outstanding! I decanted 7 hours+ and it came out wonderfully with the turkey.
Dark color, some fruit first, light tannin and long and smooth. Delicious.
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8/18/2021 - R&R Likes this wine: 95 Points
Just now starting to get integrated. Drank one glass the first night and put it in a decanter overnight. Sooooo much better the second day! Very elegant, but still youthful and powerful.
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5/1/2021 - Robacchus wrote: 96 Points
Luscious, complex
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4/15/2021 - michigan dogs Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent. dark berries, smooth, balanced, long, vanilla. I would not pay $250, though.
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1/28/2021 - pkouchu wrote: 94 Points
licorice, vanilla, blackberries, blue florals, plum, spice box, chocolate, red cherries, black currant, cedar and savory herb
AO's ERA certainly is a style of wine, one that I used to be super fond of. Bold rich fruit, certainly california muscle, maybe a flash of elegance at the end. Maybe years ago I'd give this a 97 but for now I wish it had more acid. Ironically I think their single vineyards taste better and have better structure
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9/19/2020 - erictayl wrote:
So hard to score because this was tasted next to more mature, and more elegant Napa wines. The Era is a thick, chewy, black-fruited wine that is powerful in many ways, but this just isn't my style these days. Consequently, I believe the price is insulting, especially when purchased directly from the winery. Can be purchased for less from retailers.
Maybe it's just too young. Maybe the vintage is a brute relative to 2012 and 13. I've enjoyed the 2013 more in past tastings and I've not enjoyed many 2014s from other producers. Regardless, if I want to consume Beckstoffer fruit, I prefer Carter (less $) or Schrader (about the same $).
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4/10/2020 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 97 Points
Three hour decant. Very deep dark magenta color. Sweet potato, blueberry pie with graham cracker crust, lilac and maraschino cherry on the beautiful, rich, fruit forward nose. Smooth, voluptuous, full bodied palate, with nice acidity. Very full tannins on the long finish. Actually drinks like it’s price.
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12/13/2019 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 96 Points
We drank this one out of a magnum and it really never opened unfortunately on day one, it showed very tight, inhibited restraint. On the pallet, the suppressed flavors, something was there flavor wise, but it never showed up. Day 2 revealed the reason why I like Alpha Omega wines. Strikingly dark inky purple blueish color. On the palate, enhance flavors of dark extracted berry fruits, cassis dark berry fruit flavors and purity. Nice structure, elegance and depth came to the fore.... with air time. A winner in the 2014 lineup for Alpha Omega. 95.7 points tonight. Give this wine a long decanting for maximum enjoyment.
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11/22/2019 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 92 Points
Twelve hour decant (only needed three). Very deep dark magenta color. Boysenberry, dried raspberry, sweet potato pie, beets and fudge on the voluptuous, complex nose. Super lush, weighty palate, with soft lingering acidity. Some thyme developed on the palate over an hour of drinking. Very full tannins on the very long finish.
This is a beautiful wine that I think I decanted too long. Would be 95+ pts with a shorter decant (2 - 4 hours).
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6/17/2019 - Mironearth Likes this wine: 99 Points
Delicious wine. Anise, vanilla, powerful black fruit, caramel.
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6/22/2018 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 93 Points
Three hour decant. Deep, dark magenta color. Anise, vanilla, cologne, black cherry, blackberry, red beets and subtle cocoa on the nose. Lush, smooth, dry, satiny palate. Firm, full tannins on the long mouth/throat filling finish.
This well-made red has lots of upside. It’s just at the front end of it’s drinking window. It’s still a touch hot and tight, but there’s already bountiful dark fruit. This was a wine to celebrate the honorary doctorate I’m receiving in France on Wednesday.
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12/6/2017 - OenoEd wrote: 92 Points
Rich wet wool and powerful black fruit in the nose, black and inky. Fascinating flavors: ginger ale, black tar, baked plum, plenty of acid and heat on finish. Will be special in 5 years, but keep it cool!
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9/8/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
Inky in color, this is full bodied, powerful, fresh, sweet and fleshy. With equal portions of black and blue fruits, licorice, vanilla tones and the structure/tannins, along with density and lift to demand some ageing. This will be much better in 3-5 years. The wine was made from a barrel selection from all of their top vineyards.
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5/1/2017 - TerryinSoCalif Likes this wine: 92 Points
The 2nd bottle of 3 had a much stronger fruit forward taste. Also 2 glasses and you felt the alcohol content. Tough bottle to get open. Takes 10 minutes to get the top off.
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4/12/2017 - TerryinSoCalif Likes this wine: 99 Points
Caramel and blackberry notes on the nose, flavored even no after, long dry and smooth finish. Love it
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3/19/2017 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 95 Points
Stunning inky purple blueish almost black color. In the palate, soft and elegant ripe dark fruit, extremely smooth with great purity and focus. This is clearly a baby and from good stock. 94+ points tonight. This wine should greatly benefit with bottle age by a few points.
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1/29/2017 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 95 Points
This one is improving and the future is bright. It will be difficult to keep my hands off of this wine, it's very good. See prior notes. 94.5 Points.
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10/13/2016 - RayT Likes this wine: 96 Points
Barrel Tasting at Alpha Omega. First time drinking Era and my favorite wine of the weekend. What a great wine already. Rich, pure fruit but smooth and in balance. Absolutely loved it.
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9/6/2016 - mye Likes this wine: 96 Points
Best out of the 2014 reserve cab bottlings.
Deep purple. Tons of fruit intensity but also great structure/acidity. Well balanced although certainly tannic.
love this wine.
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7/5/2016 - csimm wrote: 96 Points
Alpha Omega Single Vineyard Tasting (AO St. Helena): Barrel sample.
The Era was indeed the top sample of the entire tasting. A "best blend" of all the AO SVDs, the Era kicked out amazing purity of fruit, beautiful dark berry, plum, currant, earth, spice box, and splashes of candied red fruit and black cherry notes that elevated this above the others. The soil/earth note repeated itself on the back end.
This definitely seems like a wine that will have longevity...especially when compared to its single vineyard counterparts. This should certainly be a special wine in a number of years.
96+ points for now.
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5/30/2016 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 93 Points
Same notes as the previous. This is still very young with great potential.
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4/17/2016 - Yack Man wrote: 93 Points
Barrel tasting. Candy like flowery nose, nice dark fruit, dark berries with a nice finish. My favorite ot the day was the 2014 Beckstoffer. Love those A/O Cabs and 2014 should be a good year.
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