Decanted over cocktails. I haven't had the single-vineyard Clos du Val before but the regular bottling ages so well. This still had quite a bit of fruit and oak on the palate -- perhaps the Oak Vineyard is aptly named. Showing well and possible upside if it progresses to velvety integration as some older vintages have. These seem to retain their fruit in aging better than some other mature Napa cabs, perhaps because of the intensity of Stag's Leap grapes. I can imagine decades ago buying a case of these every year and enjoying them slowly over my lifetime.
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Really needs to decant for an hour - resinous notes recede allowing secondary characteristics and still-vigorous fruit to come through. Enjoyed with prime rib.
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Started out a bit funky, so I decanted for an hour. No change, so corked it for day 2. Better then, but still some mild funk and a green pepper streak that didn't do much for me, despite some otherwise nice fruit elements. Just not my style.
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Tasted at winery from magnum. Well-balanced with a nice full mid-palate and medium finish. Obviously a strong vintage for this producer, it is significantly better than the 01, which comes across as more austere and lacking the fruit of the 02. Dark cassis fruit with the trademark stags leap notes of pine tar and cedar. Was told that this vintage was unique in being 100% cabernet sauvignon, whereas other years have been blends. Drink over the next 5-10 years.
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Popped & poured. Lots of bright cherries and cassis. Tannins not yet resolved and clearly exhibits Stags Leap dusty characteristics. This is a juicy wine; probably needs a few more years to come together better.
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Really nice. Big fruit on nose - dry and well structured; like a bordeaux. Very good finish but short of remarkable. Glad I have a few of these left; should continue to improve for a number of years.
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NobleRottersSydney - California (mostly) (Alio's, Surry Hills): [14.5%, cork] {Gordon} Double-decanted four hours earlier, but on this evidence, needs more treatment than that for current drinking. Intense yet tight nose of pure, unadulterated cassis. All ripe fruit, but not a bomb. The palate is rich yet compact, packed with dense, brooding cabernet fruit. Unobtrusive oak. Lots of chalky tannin. Medium-full bodied in weight, intense, with a long, even palate. Great structure and balance. Serious, full-bodied, aristocratic cabernet which needs another ten years to bloom properly. Outstanding.
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This wine really surprised me as I had tasted it at the winery where I purchased this bottle and I didn't remember it being THIS good. A really pleasant cabernet, full of flavor and big--but very restrained on the alcohol.
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Big Napa style. Oak, plum, pencil shaving. Juicy plum in the mouth with decent acidity.14.1 % alcohol. Firm tannin. Still somewhat primary. Will improve.
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10/28/2022 - Steve500 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Beautiful aged Cabernet Sauvignon. Excellent balance of fruit and tannins that will age for years.
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8/11/2020 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted over cocktails. I haven't had the single-vineyard Clos du Val before but the regular bottling ages so well. This still had quite a bit of fruit and oak on the palate -- perhaps the Oak Vineyard is aptly named. Showing well and possible upside if it progresses to velvety integration as some older vintages have. These seem to retain their fruit in aging better than some other mature Napa cabs, perhaps because of the intensity of Stag's Leap grapes. I can imagine decades ago buying a case of these every year and enjoying them slowly over my lifetime.
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12/31/2018 - Drogers08121 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Great bottle of wine. Dried cork, had to filter.
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2/10/2018 - kmforster Likes this wine: 90 Points
Really needs to decant for an hour - resinous notes recede allowing secondary characteristics and still-vigorous fruit to come through. Enjoyed with prime rib.
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4/19/2015 - EMTAME wrote: 86 Points
Started out a bit funky, so I decanted for an hour. No change, so corked it for day 2. Better then, but still some mild funk and a green pepper streak that didn't do much for me, despite some otherwise nice fruit elements. Just not my style.
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5/20/2013 - WCH3GA Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good grapes!
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12/31/2011 - JS199 wrote: 92 Points
last bottle and it delivered. Strong and youthful cabernet that has plenty of time left.
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3/21/2011 - JS199 wrote: 91 Points
Similar to previous note.
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3/20/2011 - smp24 wrote: 91 Points
Very good 100% cab - smooth wine with hints of cigar. JS199 brought this one - perfect addition to a dinner party!
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2/20/2011 - zinfidel wrote: 91 Points
Tasted at winery from magnum. Well-balanced with a nice full mid-palate and medium finish. Obviously a strong vintage for this producer, it is significantly better than the 01, which comes across as more austere and lacking the fruit of the 02. Dark cassis fruit with the trademark stags leap notes of pine tar and cedar. Was told that this vintage was unique in being 100% cabernet sauvignon, whereas other years have been blends. Drink over the next 5-10 years.
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12/19/2010 - Fozziedoggie wrote: 88 Points
Popped & poured. Lots of bright cherries and cassis. Tannins not yet resolved and clearly exhibits Stags Leap dusty characteristics. This is a juicy wine; probably needs a few more years to come together better.
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11/29/2010 - JS199 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 30 minutes. First thought was why is this so much better than the '01? More fruit. Dry, dusty dirt, bordeaux style wine. Delicious.
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11/28/2010 - spv wrote: 93 Points
Really nice. Big fruit on nose - dry and well structured; like a bordeaux. Very good finish but short of remarkable. Glad I have a few of these left; should continue to improve for a number of years.
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10/11/2010 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - California (mostly) (Alio's, Surry Hills): [14.5%, cork] {Gordon} Double-decanted four hours earlier, but on this evidence, needs more treatment than that for current drinking. Intense yet tight nose of pure, unadulterated cassis. All ripe fruit, but not a bomb. The palate is rich yet compact, packed with dense, brooding cabernet fruit. Unobtrusive oak. Lots of chalky tannin. Medium-full bodied in weight, intense, with a long, even palate. Great structure and balance. Serious, full-bodied, aristocratic cabernet which needs another ten years to bloom properly. Outstanding.
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9/16/2009 - ebrumby wrote: 92 Points
This wine really surprised me as I had tasted it at the winery where I purchased this bottle and I didn't remember it being THIS good. A really pleasant cabernet, full of flavor and big--but very restrained on the alcohol.
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9/11/2009 - HOS wrote: 84 Points
I was disappointed based on the other reviews. Good wine but not better than that. Oh well.
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5/10/2009 - acheng wrote: 91 Points
Big Napa style. Oak, plum, pencil shaving. Juicy plum in the mouth with decent acidity.14.1 % alcohol. Firm tannin. Still somewhat primary. Will improve.
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11/13/2008 - LOML2008 wrote: 95 Points
excellent cabernet - dry finish, strong wine
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11/13/2008 - LOML2008 wrote: 92 Points
Full bodied, great balance, excellent representation of what a fine cabernet should taste like. Nice, dry finish
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4/11/2007 - hiltondg wrote: 92 Points
This was a great bottle. Not overdone at all. No formal notes, but I remember it being very BDX in style.
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