Definitely past its prime. Decanted for an hour. Initially the nose was promising but first taste indicated that the fruit had faded significantly. Once it opened up in the glass things leveled out and the wine started to show some interesting notes, but (at least with this bottle) ultimately I wish that I had opened this 5 or even 10 years ago where the fruit could be fully on display from this generally great and consistent winemaker.
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Pop and pour. Bright red fruit, chocolate, and tobacco in the nose. Rich cocoa and dark red berries. Open over 2 hours, it gets better and better. Long finish of red currants with a hint of autumn leaves. Amazing how beautiful a $15 bottle of wine can be at 24 years old.
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Based on recent tasting notes, my expectations were low, although this magnum had been well cellared for 20 years. Notes of leather, dust, and licorice on the nose, the wine was lush, dark, and big, offering a mouthful of plum and cocoa after only 30 minutes of opening. The ruby color of the wine was just starting to fade to garnet on the edges. but only minimally. As the night went on, it just got better, the surprise of the night.
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WineFest in Toronto (Mike Grammer); 7/10/2016-7/12/2016 (Mike Grammer's (parents home) in Toronto): I was told by a few people this wasn't any good. After tasting it, I get why they said that, but it was a matter of taste and that it was with some bigger younger cabs. Like a Spottswoode from 94 I had a few weeks back, this is also drinking like a well aged but still in the peak years, Bordeaux. The nose is tobacco, cassis, slight bell pepper and dust. On the palate, the fruit is fading but still there, some cassis, dried cherries, with leather and some damp forest floor. Good balance. This would certainly show better on its own, but still has plenty to offer the person interested in listening to what it has to say.
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Strained for splash decant ... This was brick red in color, with noticeable legs upon swirling. Aroma quite muted and acid a bit out of balance (sharp) on initial open. Came together better after about an hour in the glass, turning into a pleasant, if unremarkable aged drinking experience. Definitely past its prime though: quite fruit shy, overall extremely muted. Not bad, but definitely not something that's improved with age.
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We opened this bottle for Valentine's Day and weren't sure what to expect. The moment we popped the cork, I was amazed at the rich, floral bouquet coming from the bottle. Deep, dark fruit that hadn't seemed to lose a bit of its vibrance in 20 years! I expected more muted tones and softer, almost fading flavors for a cab of this age and price range. I was wrong. We poured straight to a decanter and drank immediately. Hints of plum and black currant with an undercurrent of what I'm tempted to describe as wet forest. I'll be looking out for more of this one if I can find it.
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Great wine, took a little time to open up. I would recommend at least an hour of decanting. Not sure how much this wine has left but it was very enjoyable at this point.
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I love exploring the recesses of the cellar, found another older wine . Held up great after 17 years, full neck, heavy sediment. An ok wine if drank in the 1990's, and still ok today, just less fruit, more gravel/lead both to taste and smell.
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The last bottle I had of this was flawed/corked. This bottle is stunning. Bright cab fruit on the nose with the starts of some secondary characteristics. Remarkably young, the fruit is still right there on the palate with not much in secondary evolution. Some acidic/tannic structure also still in play. A chalky / mineral note on the palate. The finish is a bit tight initially, but opens up with about 30-60 minutes. Well treated bottles are in no danger of decline in the near term. I'd score this a point or two higher if the palate was a bit more lush.
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Some nice funk on the nose that blew off and turned into sprearmint and rye bread. Not overly complex but amazingly fresh on the palate. Lively acidity and a long silky cherry finish.
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This bottle was remarkably close to the ’91 I had a few months ago. Heavy plum on the nose and I also pick up some subtle veggies with a kicker of bellpepper. Silky smooth mouth feel and on the palate the bellpepper is even more pronounced for me but this also came with a little more fruit than the elder bottle. Finish was better as the night progressed.
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Unfortunately these are beginning to fade. This was one of my favorite vintages of this perennial choice. The nose is still fabulous but the fruit is starting to go away.
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I have had four bottles of this wine over the years and I'm down to my last two. This wine consistently gets rave reviews from everyone I open it up for. Not every year of Phelps normale Cab is this good but this year stood out for me.
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Well this was a refreshing surprise. Still own a few bottles of this wine as I have lost interest over the years. The wine is in perfect shape and I will totally admit it has not been well cellared. The bottle has been in and out of a proper cellar since I purchased it on its release in the low $20's, the last few months back in proper storage. The cork was perfect. Nose; subtle sweet notes of oak, dark fruit and an herbal hint. The color has lost a bit of brightness a touch of brick orange at the edges. The flavors pretty well equal the nose with the dark fruit in the middle and very soft flavors that are completely integrated. The finish is more than pleasant, not extraordinarily long. I will serve this as a good example of CA at its best. Glad I pulled it you to try.
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All i like about aged Napa Cab is apparent here -- the fruit, the depth, the structure, but certainly toward the end of its life. i had several of these and this one had a perfectly sealed cork and the wine was fantastic while others have been near dead due to too much communication with outside world.
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Opened up nicely. Soft velevet smooth with very little hints of tannis. Great nose with nice ripe fruit. Finish was not very long lasting, however still good. Time to drink up now...
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Delicious, smooth and rich. Lovely balance of cedary oak and loads of plum and blackcurrent fruit with no tannins to speak of. If you have any of this stuff left, drink it now because it is not going to get better and this bottle had been well stored since release.
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Not sure what to make of this wine other than to say it was just blah. Bland fruit flavors, soft tannin, some acidity. Nothing really special. Dissappointing for such a good vintage. Saving the rest to cook with.
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6/8/2020 - Milovino Likes this wine: 89 Points
Definitely past its prime. Decanted for an hour. Initially the nose was promising but first taste indicated that the fruit had faded significantly. Once it opened up in the glass things leveled out and the wine started to show some interesting notes, but (at least with this bottle) ultimately I wish that I had opened this 5 or even 10 years ago where the fruit could be fully on display from this generally great and consistent winemaker.
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10/12/2018 - kenv Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pop and pour. Bright red fruit, chocolate, and tobacco in the nose. Rich cocoa and dark red berries. Open over 2 hours, it gets better and better. Long finish of red currants with a hint of autumn leaves. Amazing how beautiful a $15 bottle of wine can be at 24 years old.
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2/20/2017 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Based on recent tasting notes, my expectations were low, although this magnum had been well cellared for 20 years. Notes of leather, dust, and licorice on the nose, the wine was lush, dark, and big, offering a mouthful of plum and cocoa after only 30 minutes of opening. The ruby color of the wine was just starting to fade to garnet on the edges. but only minimally. As the night went on, it just got better, the surprise of the night.
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11/5/2016 - Neecies Does not like this wine:
Others praised this wine, but I found it oxidative.
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7/11/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 90 Points
WineFest in Toronto (Mike Grammer); 7/10/2016-7/12/2016 (Mike Grammer's (parents home) in Toronto): I was told by a few people this wasn't any good. After tasting it, I get why they said that, but it was a matter of taste and that it was with some bigger younger cabs. Like a Spottswoode from 94 I had a few weeks back, this is also drinking like a well aged but still in the peak years, Bordeaux. The nose is tobacco, cassis, slight bell pepper and dust. On the palate, the fruit is fading but still there, some cassis, dried cherries, with leather and some damp forest floor. Good balance. This would certainly show better on its own, but still has plenty to offer the person interested in listening to what it has to say.
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6/7/2014 - Dave Canada wrote: flawed
Year 2 - Super Tasting 3 of 5 - Maciej and Steve do 1994 Napa Cabernet (George Restaurant, Toronto, ON): Popped and poured, served blind
Bruised apple dominates the nose here...there is some nice fruit there but this is definitely past its best.
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6/7/2014 - Wine Canuck wrote: flawed
1994 California Cabernet Horizontal (Super Tasting Year 2, 3 of 5) (George Restaurant, Toronto, ON): (tasted single blind) This wine showed a really stewed profile: raisins, prune, plum. To the point that we all suspected some degree of oxidation. With air some baking spice and brown sugar came through. Still not great. Palate has heavy plum and prune on the finish.
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6/7/2014 - alittle wrote: flawed
Super Tasting 3 of 5; Going, going, back, back, to Cali, Cali (Maciej and Steve host a 1994 California Horizontal) (George, Toronto, ON): Popped and poured, served blind. Garnet in the glass with a moderate brick. On the nose, this is a touch stewed, leaning quite oxidative, with notes of raisin, bruised apple, baked plum, brown sugar and a touch of heat noted. On the palate, a sense of lushness, but this is quite astringent, carrying quite a bit of heat through the finish. No pleasant; either flawed, or drink 10 years ago.
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3/14/2014 - Jsds wrote:
N
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2/16/2014 - markandsusanw wrote: 89 Points
Strained for splash decant ... This was brick red in color, with noticeable legs upon swirling. Aroma quite muted and acid a bit out of balance (sharp) on initial open. Came together better after about an hour in the glass, turning into a pleasant, if unremarkable aged drinking experience. Definitely past its prime though: quite fruit shy, overall extremely muted. Not bad, but definitely not something that's improved with age.
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2/14/2014 - mfortunek Likes this wine: 95 Points
We opened this bottle for Valentine's Day and weren't sure what to expect. The moment we popped the cork, I was amazed at the rich, floral bouquet coming from the bottle. Deep, dark fruit that hadn't seemed to lose a bit of its vibrance in 20 years! I expected more muted tones and softer, almost fading flavors for a cab of this age and price range. I was wrong. We poured straight to a decanter and drank immediately. Hints of plum and black currant with an undercurrent of what I'm tempted to describe as wet forest. I'll be looking out for more of this one if I can find it.
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11/11/2013 - Pvinbrock wrote: 94 Points
- It's balanced with a medium/full body. Polished texture with a medium finish.
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10/16/2013 - Pvinbrock Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great wine, took a little time to open up. I would recommend at least an hour of decanting. Not sure how much this wine has left but it was very enjoyable at this point.
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5/27/2013 - John McCabe wrote: 90 Points
Quite nice - holding up pretty well, though I don't see any benefit in holding longer. Slightly astringent at first, but some decanting opens it up.
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7/16/2011 - Heart Plumber wrote: 85 Points
I love exploring the recesses of the cellar, found another older wine . Held up great after 17 years, full neck, heavy sediment. An ok wine if drank in the 1990's, and still ok today, just less fruit, more gravel/lead both to taste and smell.
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4/29/2011 - vanpe003 wrote: 92 Points
The last bottle I had of this was flawed/corked. This bottle is stunning. Bright cab fruit on the nose with the starts of some secondary characteristics. Remarkably young, the fruit is still right there on the palate with not much in secondary evolution. Some acidic/tannic structure also still in play. A chalky / mineral note on the palate. The finish is a bit tight initially, but opens up with about 30-60 minutes. Well treated bottles are in no danger of decline in the near term. I'd score this a point or two higher if the palate was a bit more lush.
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1/8/2011 - WinstonWolfe wrote: 92 Points
Some nice funk on the nose that blew off and turned into sprearmint and rye bread. Not overly complex but amazingly fresh on the palate. Lively acidity and a long silky cherry finish.
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11/7/2010 - Badgermitch wrote:
Seems to have lost a little of it's pop
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2/5/2010 - pea wrote: 91 Points
Still on the plateau, but maybe not for so long. All the nice mature aromas are there but slightly dryish on the finish.
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12/20/2009 - kenv wrote: 91 Points
Classic Napa nose of ripe red and black berries with hints of coffee. Full and rich in the mouth. A touch tart, but quite smooth and appealing.
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2/28/2009 - vanpe003 wrote: flawed
Impromptu White Burgundy Tasting; 2/28/2009-3/1/2009 (Lake Elmo): Damn. Corked. Badly. Underneath seemed to be a nice texture.
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7/4/2008 - wcgarrett wrote: 93 Points
Drinking very well in 2008....min. fruit. Balance with tannin aromas
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5/2/2008 - cabdrinker wrote: 91 Points
This bottle was remarkably close to the ’91 I had a few months ago. Heavy plum on the nose and I also pick up some subtle veggies with a kicker of bellpepper. Silky smooth mouth feel and on the palate the bellpepper is even more pronounced for me but this also came with a little more fruit than the elder bottle. Finish was better as the night progressed.
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4/12/2008 - MadDog2020 wrote: 84 Points
drink this off....not much left here...odd finish
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4/12/2008 - MadDog2020 wrote: 84 Points
Time to finish this off...pretty faded; still pleasant, but very reserved....
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1/5/2008 - bwillia wrote: 90 Points
Unfortunately these are beginning to fade. This was one of my favorite vintages of this perennial choice. The nose is still fabulous but the fruit is starting to go away.
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11/16/2007 - bwillia wrote: 92 Points
I have had four bottles of this wine over the years and I'm down to my last two. This wine consistently gets rave reviews from everyone I open it up for. Not every year of Phelps normale Cab is this good but this year stood out for me.
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8/25/2007 - cellar2303 wrote: 89 Points
Well this was a refreshing surprise. Still own a few bottles of this wine as I have lost interest over the years. The wine is in perfect shape and I will totally admit it has not been well cellared. The bottle has been in and out of a proper cellar since I purchased it on its release in the low $20's, the last few months back in proper storage. The cork was perfect. Nose; subtle sweet notes of oak, dark fruit and an herbal hint. The color has lost a bit of brightness a touch of brick orange at the edges. The flavors pretty well equal the nose with the dark fruit in the middle and very soft flavors that are completely integrated. The finish is more than pleasant, not extraordinarily long. I will serve this as a good example of CA at its best. Glad I pulled it you to try.
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5/13/2007 - Bobo N wrote: 93 Points
All i like about aged Napa Cab is apparent here -- the fruit, the depth, the structure, but certainly toward the end of its life. i had several of these and this one had a perfectly sealed cork and the wine was fantastic while others have been near dead due to too much communication with outside world.
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5/9/2005 - jhngo wrote: 93 Points
Opened up nicely. Soft velevet smooth with very little hints of tannis. Great nose with nice ripe fruit. Finish was not very long lasting, however still good. Time to drink up now...
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5/2/2005 - michael47 wrote: 90 Points
Delicious, smooth and rich. Lovely balance of cedary oak and loads of plum and blackcurrent fruit with no tannins to speak of. If you have any of this stuff left, drink it now because it is not going to get better and this bottle had been well stored since release.
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11/9/2004 - TripDaddy wrote: 83 Points
Not sure what to make of this wine other than to say it was just blah. Bland fruit flavors, soft tannin, some acidity. Nothing really special. Dissappointing for such a good vintage. Saving the rest to cook with.
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3/21/2003 - SadEdjo wrote:
dark garnet, white rim. rich, smooth dark cherry, blackberry & cedar.
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