Blinded some family members on this. They are not experienced tasters -- one guessed 2009 Napa Merlot, one guessed 2009 Right Bank Bordeaux, one guessed 2008 Napa Cabernet. I found this again to have a little liqueur feel to it, but the fruit appears to be fading which led the one taster to go to the old world with his guess. Still a good amount of smoky oak presence. This is clearly a well-made, high-quality wine - I enjoy one glass of this, but my palate tires quickly of wines like this. If scoring, 88 - 90.
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14.5% abv. Recent auction purchase. Big and rich Cabernet made in a "Parker-ized" style. The 14.5% abv must be closer to 15.5% as this really had a liqueur feel to it. Slightly elevated VA detracted a bit as well. Traces of oak still there, but almost fully integrated, thankfully. Still, this was a decent pairing with KFC and all the fixins', though it became a little heavy and tired out the palate after the second glass. Can't imagine what a monster this would have been like in it's youth. Not really a style I seek out, but I'd score this 88 - 89 at this time.
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Double decanted for three hours, tasted blind initially. Melded nose of red and black fruit, integrated, very saturated nose. Medium plus body, medium acidity, gripping tannins, flat on the back end, overall, very impressive.
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Great bottle of wine! Beautiful nose with lots of bright cherry and a little dark cherry. Very tasty on the approach and a long nice finish. Only two bottles left in my cellar :(
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Good heavens this is good! Actually the Premiere Napa X 2004 vintage blend, but seems very similar to what was released as the very good 2004 Stags Leap reserve as well. Smooth, sophisticated and complex. Dinner companions (very good steaks and accompanying dishes) compared to a very nice Caymus reserve cab. I suggested that they were short-changing the wine. I wished that I had been more greedy (in the end settled for what was left of the Robert Craig 2004 Veeder instead--not bad itself).
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Glorious.Decanted for 1 hour and consumed over the next 3. Really opened after 2 hours of air. I'm not a great describer of wine but felt compelled to leave a public post. One of the best bottles I've had in my life. Drink! I've never tasted a 100, but this has to be darn close. Wish I had more.
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Tasted at the winery -- without decanting the wine was in almost perfect balance from the beginning. Very refined with just the right amount of richness to make this a reserve. Beautiful nose of classic Napa Cab including: cherry, cassis, oak, white pepper and tobacco. This wine has enough structure and tannin to possibly age for another 10 years, but I just didn't get the impression it is a 20 year wine. The taste was wonderful with a medium fruit forward profile. This wine has presence and potential for a 95+ score from me in the future if it keeps developing. For $90 this is not an everyday drinking wine, but for special occasions you WILL not be disappointed. 6 bottles are now proudly mine.
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As lovely and rich as one would hope to imagine. Consumed at a restaurant last night with a wide variety of shared foods (although was especially nice with cheeses & figs and hangar steak). Patiently waited while it opened--it probably would have continued to open for some time longer, but patience will only last so long when fragrance is so full and initial sips are so rewarding. Tanins slightly on a small portion of the tongue--but mostly a massive, full-bodied, but nicely smooth experience.
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Wow what a nose! I wish I could give a detailed tasting note, but I tasted this in a restaurant with some other wines and was really impressed. Incredible nose and an unmistakable Stags's Leap texture, power and elegance.
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I thought this was great cab and would buy more at $80 price point considering the 2005 has moved up to $115. Great structure and complexity, loved the deep jaminess from the front to the finish which lingered on for a good time. Well balanced and strong fruit forward style. Flavors: my sense was blackberry with hints of sweet cherry, midpalate to finish had a balanced dark chocolate with hints of vanilla and maybe licorice toward the finish. Drinking great now but will likely get even better with age.
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Barrel Sample. Dark purple color. Aromas/flavors of blackberry, currant, black cherry, chocolate and vanilla. Young, firm tannins need time to integrate. Long, lingering finish. The pieces are in place for a very good wine. (92-94)
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8/20/2022 - PIntag wrote:
Blinded some family members on this. They are not experienced tasters -- one guessed 2009 Napa Merlot, one guessed 2009 Right Bank Bordeaux, one guessed 2008 Napa Cabernet. I found this again to have a little liqueur feel to it, but the fruit appears to be fading which led the one taster to go to the old world with his guess. Still a good amount of smoky oak presence. This is clearly a well-made, high-quality wine - I enjoy one glass of this, but my palate tires quickly of wines like this. If scoring, 88 - 90.
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5/19/2022 - PIntag wrote:
14.5% abv. Recent auction purchase.
Big and rich Cabernet made in a "Parker-ized" style. The 14.5% abv must be closer to 15.5% as this really had a liqueur feel to it. Slightly elevated VA detracted a bit as well. Traces of oak still there, but almost fully integrated, thankfully. Still, this was a decent pairing with KFC and all the fixins', though it became a little heavy and tired out the palate after the second glass. Can't imagine what a monster this would have been like in it's youth. Not really a style I seek out, but I'd score this 88 - 89 at this time.
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9/27/2015 - Napacablover Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious bottle. Still lots of life in this bottle.
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7/10/2015 - research1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like nutmeg.
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11/2/2014 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 90 Points
Double decanted for three hours, tasted blind initially. Melded nose of red and black fruit, integrated, very saturated nose. Medium plus body, medium acidity, gripping tannins, flat on the back end, overall, very impressive.
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6/14/2014 - Napacablover Likes this wine: 94 Points
Outstanding - better than 2010 Mica, 2003 Dominus and 2006 Larkmead tonight
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5/27/2013 - vkcellars wrote: flawed
Corked
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8/12/2012 - Napacablover wrote: 94 Points
Great bottle of wine! Beautiful nose with lots of bright cherry and a little dark cherry. Very tasty on the approach and a long nice finish. Only two bottles left in my cellar :(
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6/29/2012 - red guy wrote: 93 Points
still wonderful--deep and challenging.
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5/3/2011 - red guy wrote: 94 Points
Good heavens this is good! Actually the Premiere Napa X 2004 vintage blend, but seems very similar to what was released as the very good 2004 Stags Leap reserve as well. Smooth, sophisticated and complex. Dinner companions (very good steaks and accompanying dishes) compared to a very nice Caymus reserve cab. I suggested that they were short-changing the wine. I wished that I had been more greedy (in the end settled for what was left of the Robert Craig 2004 Veeder instead--not bad itself).
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7/30/2010 - zonker17 wrote:
Glorious.Decanted for 1 hour and consumed over the next 3. Really opened after 2 hours of air. I'm not a great describer of wine but felt compelled to leave a public post. One of the best bottles I've had in my life. Drink! I've never tasted a 100, but this has to be darn close. Wish I had more.
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1/9/2010 - phlegls wrote: 94 Points
a beauty - hit at it's peak
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9/2/2009 - bowmanbc wrote: 96 Points
96 - that just happened... seriously this was a great wine and glad we held onto it for 2 years bc it was well worth it.
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6/9/2009 - 60secondfinish wrote: 93 Points
Tasted at the winery -- without decanting the wine was in almost perfect balance from the beginning. Very refined with just the right amount of richness to make this a reserve. Beautiful nose of classic Napa Cab including: cherry, cassis, oak, white pepper and tobacco. This wine has enough structure and tannin to possibly age for another 10 years, but I just didn't get the impression it is a 20 year wine. The taste was wonderful with a medium fruit forward profile. This wine has presence and potential for a 95+ score from me in the future if it keeps developing. For $90 this is not an everyday drinking wine, but for special occasions you WILL not be disappointed. 6 bottles are now proudly mine.
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12/21/2008 - red guy wrote: 95 Points
As lovely and rich as one would hope to imagine. Consumed at a restaurant last night with a wide variety of shared foods (although was especially nice with cheeses & figs and hangar steak). Patiently waited while it opened--it probably would have continued to open for some time longer, but patience will only last so long when fragrance is so full and initial sips are so rewarding. Tanins slightly on a small portion of the tongue--but mostly a massive, full-bodied, but nicely smooth experience.
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10/19/2008 - PHIL74AU@ICLOUD.COM wrote: 94 Points
Started off 5 Star dinner at one of Atlanta's Finest spots - Simply one of the best Cab I have ever had! Thanks to the Reynolds family
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9/25/2008 - ebrown35 wrote:
Wow what a nose! I wish I could give a detailed tasting note, but I tasted this in a restaurant with some other wines and was really impressed. Incredible nose and an unmistakable Stags's Leap texture, power and elegance.
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4/10/2008 - sasvino wrote: 95 Points
I thought this was great cab and would buy more at $80 price point considering the 2005 has moved up to $115. Great structure and complexity, loved the deep jaminess from the front to the finish which lingered on for a good time. Well balanced and strong fruit forward style. Flavors: my sense was blackberry with hints of sweet cherry, midpalate to finish had a balanced dark chocolate with hints of vanilla and maybe licorice toward the finish. Drinking great now but will likely get even better with age.
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10/17/2007 - vijayk416 wrote: 92 Points
Drank from private label of Annapurna vineyard owner. Great fruit, power and balance. An outstanding wine with a long finish.
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5/25/2006 - GolferChris wrote: 93 Points
Barrel Sample. Dark purple color. Aromas/flavors of blackberry, currant, black cherry, chocolate and vanilla. Young, firm tannins need time to integrate. Long, lingering finish. The pieces are in place for a very good wine. (92-94)
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