Day 3. The most balanced of the three days. Little wine left just enough for 1/2 glass (4 oz). Has held incredibly well, better than I expected.
Tonight's notes are still beginning with an an acidic dominance which quickly disappears and leaves an aged cherry pit, and prune pit flavor. The finish like the other her nights is long with lingering fruit.
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More melancholy tonight as I begin to sense the turn of the wine to a more acidic dominant start with less evident fruit. Mid palette is where this wine begins to shine as the dust begins to settle at that back end of the mid palette revealing all blackberry, some cherry.
Finish begins to close as a slight "taint" begins to appear given its 48+ hours opened nature.
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From a magnum. A fully ripened and melancholy wine which is still drinking so well.
Aromas are all Napa Cab with blackberry, cherry, some sulpher like background aroma. On the palette it is tobacco leaf, jammy blackberry, cherry, mushroom, and earth on the finish.
I did not expect this to be still so rich and evocative. The wine finishes with berry fruit laden lingering taste for 30 + seconds.
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Past its prime but was surprised by how good it still was. Still a nice ruby color. Opened up very nicely during dinner and afterwards. The mocha has really come forward on this one.
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Anothervin my drive to clear out some 'lost' bottles. Decanted for an hour or so. Still drinking OK but the fruit is definitely in decline. Not bad, but wish I'd drunk it a few years ago.
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Opened with dinner. Savory and floral notes on a mature bo-kay - brick to some oranging, plum, must, and compost notes. Tannins fully resolved, on a plush, smooth palate showing mature notes of plum, black cherry, currant and cranberry. Some highly port-like, madierized notes when there is very little in the glass to smell. Acidity is there, and may render this harsh by day two. Day two this was holding ok, similar to day 1 notes though slightly more oxidized.
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- Ruby color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Round texture with a medium finish - Decanted for 2 hrs. Love the wine. Had it with lamb. Just past it's peak but very good. Enjoy!
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Opened following a '97 Spring Mountain so day two notes might be more accurate. Dark ruby, fine sediment. Revealing a freshness on the nose of forest floor, earth, dust new oak. A bit restrained to coax out the aromas. Very well structured, clean yet throwing a lot of sediment. Smooth, focused and subdued elements of cherry, kirsch, tannins fully resolved. This has been a winner throughout its tenure in the cellar. 1 left. Day two more of the same - a bit more volatility, less nuance, more fruit. We liked this very much.
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A bit port like upon opening that looked brown and caramel chocolate like but once it got air it settled down. A nice bottle with a dark crimson or ruby color, showing age at the edge. Some sediment built up but I did not have a strainer. Strong bodied and fully integrated as someone mentioned earlier. Strong taste of red fruit on the palate with a spice note again as mentioned in one of the recent postings coming in at the end. Great finish and drank with some friends at Rutherford Grill in Napa. If you have any, I would suggest decanting for an hour and straining to ensure sediment is removed. I certainly would drink any you have soon as this is certainly not going to hold much longer in my opinion.
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Harmonious, generous red that is showing little signs of age from it's sleek burgundy color to it's beautifully orchestrated combination of pure fruit, deft balance and sturdy frame. Juicy wild berry coats the palate, followed by creme de cassis, red currant and wilted rose. Firm, oaky tannins with an earthy edge, display all the fascinating characteristics this wine has to offer. A touch of sweetness and nutmeg folds into the finish that is long and detailed. In a nice place now - drink up.
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Crimson core, showing age at the edge. Aromas of red currants, cedar violets; maybe a little tired. Light- to medium-bodied and fully integrated. Flavors of plums and red fruit with a subtle spice note coming in at the end. Medium finish. Nice pairing with the mild flavor of a bone-in veal chop and roasted fingerlings. Welcome back NFL.
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PnP. Dark ruby to pink on the rim, this nice '97 showing a restrained boquet of prune, blueberry, mineral, licorice, oak and dust. Well integrated and smooth, medium body with pure if not mature flavors of cherry, plum, strawberry. Showing its age in a graceful and refined way.
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Clear rim; has some age. Notes of licorice, plum, dried curants and green tobacco. Flavors of black cherry and plum, hint of leather.
Decanted briefly for sediment, rebottled and corked back up about an hour before it was tasted. This particular bottle, while still nice, seemed to be starting its decline. One left, will drink this year.
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Somewhat light bodied, medium purple red in the glass with slight brick to the edge. Blueberry, iron, meat, violets and fresh cut flowers on the nose. Smooth finish, well integrated tannins. The nose has a lot going on, changing with air. The fruit has mostly faded from its early days when this was jam packed. Day 2+ the plums have really come out, with some strong iron minerality and subtle cassis, creosote, and tar.
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Ripe warm fruits, soft tannins, but initially marred by VA. It seems to mostly blow off, leaving a pleasant mature Cab, but the volatility never quite disappears, and I find it distracting/irritating. B-/C+
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wonderful experience to drink this wine so many years after laying it down. nice balance between fruit and acid. heavy mouth feel, smooth tannins. not much nose, but med to long finish.
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This was very good. Deep dark purple in color. Drank over 2 days and it the second day was just as good as the first. This was a rich multi-layered wine that was complex and flavorful. Nice plum and cherry flavors mixed with cedar and tobacco. Well structured and smooth on the finish.
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Very good. Dark plum and cherry in colour, with still only a little lightening on the rim. Nose was not that intense, showing a little mature notes long with blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. Palate is very smooth and rounded, tannins are resolved, some acidity, but mainly smooth blackberry and currant fruit, with some dark chocolate on the finish. Good length, very smooth. Definitely mature.
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Middle of the pack in blind tasting of '97's, with sweet red > black fruit, good depth and length. A very nice wine for the price considering what some of the other's are going for...90 pts on day 2.
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Slight bricking on the edges. Nose of stewed prunes, raisins and licorice-ditto on the palate. Last bottle of a case. Never really seemed to find its stride, consistently disjointed with unpleasant fumes of chemical/alcohol. 86
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Taseted November 15, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Garnet color in the glass, slight dusty looking. Hot nose. Some aromas of blackberries and fennel. Flavors of blackberries, black licorice and a little bitters on the finish. Light to medium acidity and clunky tannins. Medium bodied. Seems out of balance. Drink now.
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If you like Cal Cabs that aren't fruit/tannin Bunker Buster's ... then this is drinking perfectly. This was never a big wine, but it did have a good deal of acidity ... it is now very well balanced. I think this is drinking as good as it ever will. I loved it.
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Group last, My last - Opaque purple/crimson. Medium slightly sour cedar aroma. Stewed tomato. Jammy somewhat cloying black fruit with a sour mid palate and a bitter finish. Hot. 5/05
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Smooth and delicious. Some of the more vibrant fruit of its youth is gone but there is still plenty left to make this interesting. Bright garnet color with a touch of bricking at the rim. Plum and anise flavors are very nicely integrated and the finish is smooth and almost delicate. Holding up well, this has a few more years of life left. Now -2009
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This was very good. Opened on 3/29, but didn't consume the rest of the bottle and write a note until 4/1. I think the extra time in half bottle really helped smooth this out. Deep and dark plum in colour with little bricking at the rim. Not particularly intense nose - pretty nondescript actually - dark fruits, some cedar, tobcacco notes. Very smooth and lush on the palate, lots of blackberry and currant fruit, very smooth soft tannins and well balanced acidity - this was a very nice drop. Seems to be progressing well.
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Similar to other experiences with this vintage. Great garnet color. Lots of CA cab typcity with blackberry and anise notes. Developing secondary mature cab nuances with some leather and tobacco. Nice wine; hitting its peak.
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A little coarser than I remember it being last time and slightly hollow in the mid palate. Still a good drinking cab and tasty, but I am a little curious as to where it is going.
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Tasted in double-blind fashion at Vintage Wines, Ltd. Bottle provided by Doug Harrigan. Bright disc. Opaque black robe with purple rim. Clean nose, showing moderately intense aromas of chocolate, cassis, black cherry and dust. Full-bodied on the palate, with low acidity, big sweet tannins and similar flavors as for the nose. Long, smooth finish.
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This wine still has a very deep ruby-red color and great intensity. Aromas of black current and blackberry, as well as spice, violet, and dark chocolate. Medium bodied, with flavors of blueberries, with a well balanced and medium to long finish.
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Med blackish ruby, aromas of coffe, currant, green herbs, alcohol, toast, cedar, b3+, a3, t3+, thick, slightly coarse, good fruit at entry, turns a touch bitter & rustic on finish w/gritty drying tannins, simple but pleasant enough, d2, passable but hot & simple (4.5-5)
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Deep red garnet color. Typical cabernet nose of cassis; solid, mouthcoating entry. Noticeable oak, but fairly balanced with the fruit. Lingering finish. Improves further with air, becoming richer, more complex. With grilled filet mignon from Serafina. Decanted for 1 hr+.
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Amanda made a great dinner of steak with homemade tarragon sauce which called for a nice wine. Frankly, the house is so full of aromas right now--the steak, and the shallots and vinegar that go in the sauce--that I cannot fully smell the wine. Deep, powerful purple-black color, nearly opaque. Balance is the word that comes to mind on the palate. Solid, fruity entry, highly extracted; a mouth-coating, viscous mouthfeel; and a solid, lingering finish.
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Extremely deep, opaque purple-black color. Fruity nose of plum, cassis, berries, and spice cake that I associate with Flora Springs. Solid mid-palate, with more gushing fruit. Medium body, great balance. High extraction, but not overripe. Lingering finish, friendly tannins. A wine with power, grace, and finesse.
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8/28/2019 - tomoem Likes this wine: 91 Points
From a magnum.
Day 3. The most balanced of the three days. Little wine left just enough for 1/2 glass (4 oz). Has held incredibly well, better than I expected.
Tonight's notes are still beginning with an an acidic dominance which quickly disappears and leaves an aged cherry pit, and prune pit flavor. The finish like the other her nights is long with lingering fruit.
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8/27/2019 - tomoem Likes this wine: 92 Points
From a magnum and now 2 days later.
More melancholy tonight as I begin to sense the turn of the wine to a more acidic dominant start with less evident fruit. Mid palette is where this wine begins to shine as the dust begins to settle at that back end of the mid palette revealing all blackberry, some cherry.
Finish begins to close as a slight "taint" begins to appear given its 48+ hours opened nature.
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8/25/2019 - tomoem Likes this wine: 91 Points
From a magnum.
A fully ripened and melancholy wine which is still drinking so well.
Aromas are all Napa Cab with blackberry, cherry, some sulpher like background aroma. On the palette it is tobacco leaf, jammy blackberry, cherry, mushroom, and earth on the finish.
I did not expect this to be still so rich and evocative. The wine finishes with berry fruit laden lingering taste for 30 + seconds.
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3/20/2016 - Deanloveswine Likes this wine:
Enjoyed it. Lots of flavour. Fun night with group of friends trying a bunch of different wines including this one.
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1/15/2016 - Nothung wrote: 89 Points
Nice bottle.
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12/26/2015 - KiBoo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Past its prime but was surprised by how good it still was. Still a nice ruby color. Opened up very nicely during dinner and afterwards. The mocha has really come forward on this one.
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8/22/2015 - bcmatthias wrote: 90 Points
Still quite good
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8/1/2015 - Nothung Likes this wine: 88 Points
This bottle was definitely past its prime.
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12/24/2014 - Bil Likes this wine: 87 Points
Anothervin my drive to clear out some 'lost' bottles. Decanted for an hour or so. Still drinking OK but the fruit is definitely in decline. Not bad, but wish I'd drunk it a few years ago.
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3/27/2014 - Senso-beak wrote: 89 Points
Opened with dinner. Savory and floral notes on a mature bo-kay - brick to some oranging, plum, must, and compost notes. Tannins fully resolved, on a plush, smooth palate showing mature notes of plum, black cherry, currant and cranberry. Some highly port-like, madierized notes when there is very little in the glass to smell. Acidity is there, and may render this harsh by day two. Day two this was holding ok, similar to day 1 notes though slightly more oxidized.
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3/20/2014 - Mtlavery wrote:
- Ruby color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Round texture with a medium finish - Decanted for 2 hrs. Love the wine. Had it with lamb. Just past it's peak but very good. Enjoy!
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2/3/2013 - mxpbuy Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Fading but not yet vinegar.
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12/22/2012 - JPL Likes this wine: 88 Points
decanted for an hour before drinking; paired well with filet mignon, but a bit past its prime; lost its vibrancy as the night wore on.
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6/1/2012 - joshwoodward wrote: 88 Points
Pnp. Initial attack has a lot of oak, but it has a sweet quality ala Rioja. The fruit is a little tired, but it's not totally dead. Decent structure.
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4/12/2012 - Senso-beak wrote: 90 Points
Opened following a '97 Spring Mountain so day two notes might be more accurate. Dark ruby, fine sediment. Revealing a freshness on the nose of forest floor, earth, dust new oak. A bit restrained to coax out the aromas. Very well structured, clean yet throwing a lot of sediment. Smooth, focused and subdued elements of cherry, kirsch, tannins fully resolved. This has been a winner throughout its tenure in the cellar. 1 left. Day two more of the same - a bit more volatility, less nuance, more fruit. We liked this very much.
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3/30/2012 - travelme wrote: 90 Points
A bit port like upon opening that looked brown and caramel chocolate like but once it got air it settled down. A nice bottle with a dark crimson or ruby color, showing age at the edge. Some sediment built up but I did not have a strainer. Strong bodied and fully integrated as someone mentioned earlier. Strong taste of red fruit on the palate with a spice note again as mentioned in one of the recent postings coming in at the end. Great finish and drank with some friends at Rutherford Grill in Napa. If you have any, I would suggest decanting for an hour and straining to ensure sediment is removed. I certainly would drink any you have soon as this is certainly not going to hold much longer in my opinion.
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1/28/2012 - wine maestro wrote: 91 Points
Harmonious, generous red that is showing little signs of age from it's sleek burgundy color
to it's beautifully orchestrated combination of pure fruit, deft balance and sturdy frame.
Juicy wild berry coats the palate, followed by creme de cassis, red currant and wilted rose.
Firm, oaky tannins with an earthy edge, display all the fascinating characteristics this wine
has to offer. A touch of sweetness and nutmeg folds into the finish that is long and detailed.
In a nice place now - drink up.
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9/8/2011 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
Crimson core, showing age at the edge. Aromas of red currants, cedar violets; maybe a little tired. Light- to medium-bodied and fully integrated. Flavors of plums and red fruit with a subtle spice note coming in at the end. Medium finish. Nice pairing with the mild flavor of a bone-in veal chop and roasted fingerlings. Welcome back NFL.
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3/21/2011 - Old Course 72 wrote: 88 Points
A bit port like on the nose and on the palate. Cork looked good maybe just a strange bottle.
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1/11/2011 - Senso-beak wrote: 90 Points
PnP. Dark ruby to pink on the rim, this nice '97 showing a restrained boquet of prune, blueberry, mineral, licorice, oak and dust. Well integrated and smooth, medium body with pure if not mature flavors of cherry, plum, strawberry. Showing its age in a graceful and refined way.
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8/15/2010 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
Clear rim; has some age. Notes of licorice, plum, dried curants and green tobacco. Flavors of black cherry and plum, hint of leather.
Decanted briefly for sediment, rebottled and corked back up about an hour before it was tasted. This particular bottle, while still nice, seemed to be starting its decline. One left, will drink this year.
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5/22/2010 - Taajo wrote: 89 Points
Should not have kept it that long. Well balanced, smooth, but faded.
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4/16/2010 - snowine wrote: 84 Points
Past its prime. Not much left in the nose. Lots of prune flavors. Not unpleasant, but fruit has faded. Drink it up if you have it!
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3/12/2010 - Senso-beak wrote: 89 Points
Somewhat light bodied, medium purple red in the glass with slight brick to the edge. Blueberry, iron, meat, violets and fresh cut flowers on the nose. Smooth finish, well integrated tannins. The nose has a lot going on, changing with air. The fruit has mostly faded from its early days when this was jam packed. Day 2+ the plums have really come out, with some strong iron minerality and subtle cassis, creosote, and tar.
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11/13/2009 - drstack wrote:
world series of wine tasting 2009
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11/2/2009 - DaleW wrote:
Ripe warm fruits, soft tannins, but initially marred by VA. It seems to mostly blow off, leaving a pleasant mature Cab, but the volatility never quite disappears, and I find it distracting/irritating. B-/C+
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11/1/2009 - rkrynski wrote:
Brick edges, ready to drink. Somewhat biased - purchased this from the vineyard ten years ago.
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8/11/2009 - 9 and 3/4 wrote: 94 Points
Great terroir, classic cabernet. Enjoyed with salad, cheese, and grilled halibut. Mature now, but still solid!
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10/3/2008 - Yak wrote: 92 Points
wonderful experience to drink this wine so many years after laying it down. nice balance between fruit and acid. heavy mouth feel, smooth tannins. not much nose, but med to long finish.
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9/21/2008 - rfras wrote: 92 Points
This was very good. Deep dark purple in color. Drank over 2 days and it the second day was just as good as the first. This was a rich multi-layered wine that was complex and flavorful. Nice plum and cherry flavors mixed with cedar and tobacco. Well structured and smooth on the finish.
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1/12/2008 - thebonnydooner wrote: 91 Points
Very good. Dark plum and cherry in colour, with still only a little lightening on the rim. Nose was not that intense, showing a little mature notes long with blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. Palate is very smooth and rounded, tannins are resolved, some acidity, but mainly smooth blackberry and currant fruit, with some dark chocolate on the finish. Good length, very smooth. Definitely mature.
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12/4/2007 - Yak wrote:
drank with jenny
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11/27/2007 - Grinner wrote: 92 Points
Middle of the pack in blind tasting of '97's, with sweet red > black fruit, good depth and length. A very nice wine for the price considering what some of the other's are going for...90 pts on day 2.
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7/19/2007 - ejca wrote:
First glass was thin, but after 2 hours, this wine really showed. Wish I had more.
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4/25/2007 - Arcturus wrote: 86 Points
Slight bricking on the edges. Nose of stewed prunes, raisins and licorice-ditto on the palate. Last bottle of a case. Never really seemed to find its stride, consistently disjointed with unpleasant fumes of chemical/alcohol. 86
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4/1/2007 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 90 Points
Very tasty, nice, mature cab, still very much alive
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1/5/2007 - Senso-beak wrote: 90 Points
Still good. Not pumping out the intensity or pure fruit like it did, but more refined and restrained. Liked it better young I think.
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12/1/2006 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 82 Points
D5, decent but a bit dull, muted
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11/15/2006 - win wrote: 87 Points
Dallas OL Il Sole (Il Sole, Dallas): 13.6% alcohol. Nice wine, but I was a little distracted by a bit of raisin aroma. Finished nicely.
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11/15/2006 - wineismylife wrote: 87 Points
Dallas Offline - 1996 & 1997 California Cabernet Tasting (Il Sole, Dallas, TX): WIML87(?),NOWA,WS93
Taseted November 15, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Garnet color in the glass, slight dusty looking. Hot nose. Some aromas of blackberries and fennel. Flavors of blackberries, black licorice and a little bitters on the finish. Light to medium acidity and clunky tannins. Medium bodied. Seems out of balance. Drink now.
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1/8/2006 - tdoggy1 wrote: 91 Points
If you like Cal Cabs that aren't fruit/tannin Bunker Buster's ... then this is drinking perfectly. This was never a big wine, but it did have a good deal of acidity ... it is now very well balanced. I think this is drinking as good as it ever will. I loved it.
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10/1/2005 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 88 Points
Very nice, mature cab, smooth balanced, simple but good
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5/29/2005 - Yak wrote:
earthy, spicy, currants and minerals, complex
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5/1/2005 - winefool wrote: 83 Points
Group last, My last - Opaque purple/crimson. Medium slightly sour cedar aroma. Stewed tomato. Jammy somewhat cloying black fruit with a sour mid palate and a bitter finish. Hot. 5/05
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4/5/2005 - texaswino wrote: 92 Points
Smooth and delicious. Some of the more vibrant fruit of its youth is gone but there is still plenty left to make this interesting. Bright garnet color with a touch of bricking at the rim. Plum and anise flavors are very nicely integrated and the finish is smooth and almost delicate. Holding up well, this has a few more years of life left. Now -2009
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4/2/2005 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
This was very good. Opened on 3/29, but didn't consume the rest of the bottle and write a note until 4/1. I think the extra time in half bottle really helped smooth this out. Deep and dark plum in colour with little bricking at the rim. Not particularly intense nose - pretty nondescript actually - dark fruits, some cedar, tobcacco notes. Very smooth and lush on the palate, lots of blackberry and currant fruit, very smooth soft tannins and well balanced acidity - this was a very nice drop. Seems to be progressing well.
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2/6/2005 - RAD wrote: 91 Points
Similar to other experiences with this vintage. Great garnet color. Lots of CA cab typcity with blackberry and anise notes. Developing secondary mature cab nuances with some leather and tobacco. Nice wine; hitting its peak.
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12/8/2004 - TripDaddy wrote: 90 Points
A little coarser than I remember it being last time and slightly hollow in the mid palate. Still a good drinking cab and tasty, but I am a little curious as to where it is going.
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10/1/2004 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 82 Points
Med dark ruby, faint nose of black currant, cedar, some charred wood, b3, a2+, t2, moderate intensity, slightly reicent, charred, simple & straightforward w/slightly dried out fruit, d2, minimal nose, faint dusty fruit, soft & round mouthfeel, decent structure, slightly green?, possible 4-5
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4/2/2004 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 90 Points
Tasted in double-blind fashion at Vintage Wines, Ltd. Bottle provided by Doug Harrigan. Bright disc. Opaque black robe with purple rim. Clean nose, showing moderately intense aromas of chocolate, cassis, black cherry and dust. Full-bodied on the palate, with low acidity, big sweet tannins and similar flavors as for the nose. Long, smooth finish.
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4/1/2004 - Tom_B wrote: 91 Points
This wine still has a very deep ruby-red color and great intensity. Aromas of black current and blackberry, as well as spice, violet, and dark chocolate. Medium bodied, with flavors of blueberries, with a well balanced and medium to long finish.
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2/4/2004 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 87 Points
Med blackish ruby, aromas of coffe, currant, green herbs, alcohol, toast, cedar, b3+, a3, t3+, thick, slightly coarse, good fruit at entry, turns a touch bitter & rustic on finish w/gritty drying tannins, simple but pleasant enough, d2, passable but hot & simple (4.5-5)
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7/16/2003 - Vino Me wrote: 90 Points
Medium bodied. I think this needs some more time. Notes of black fruit, coffee and crushed grape skins. 90 points.
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6/3/2002 - RAD wrote: 92 Points
Deep red garnet color. Typical cabernet nose of cassis; solid, mouthcoating entry. Noticeable oak, but fairly balanced with the fruit. Lingering finish. Improves further with air, becoming richer, more complex. With grilled filet mignon from Serafina. Decanted for 1 hr+.
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7/16/2001 - RAD wrote: 93 Points
Amanda made a great dinner of steak with homemade tarragon sauce which called for a nice wine. Frankly, the house is so full of aromas right now--the steak, and the shallots and vinegar that go in the sauce--that I cannot fully smell the wine. Deep, powerful purple-black color, nearly opaque. Balance is the word that comes to mind on the palate. Solid, fruity entry, highly extracted; a mouth-coating, viscous mouthfeel; and a solid, lingering finish.
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7/1/2001 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 92 Points
Very nice, classic cab flavors with a delicate finesse, should age
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3/3/2001 - RAD wrote: 93 Points
Extremely deep, opaque purple-black color. Fruity nose of plum, cassis, berries, and spice cake that I associate with Flora Springs. Solid mid-palate, with more gushing fruit. Medium body, great balance. High extraction, but not overripe. Lingering finish, friendly tannins. A wine with power, grace, and finesse.
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