I thought this was beautiful. Acquired just after release from a local shop. From Magnum, decanted for a large family Holiday party and enjoyed over 6 hours. I really liked this and thought this was the best red wine tonight. Just the right amount of Napa power but more restrained and elegant than “in your face.” Red and black fruited with some balanced oak induced flavors. Lovely texture and still modestly tannin oriented at first but this faded with air. Long finish with some soft pipe tobacco and chocolate. It was a really nice wine to drink and eat food with.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slow ox for 2 hours. Tannins are fully integrated, but there's only a hint of brick on the rim. Still loads of acidity, especially the first few hours, but it was a little thin. Filled out after 3 or 4 hours and 24 hours later was still drinking nicely (although not as well as the end of the night before). If its been stored well I think it should last another 10 years, but I think its a bit of a gamble after that.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cherry with a hint of orange at the rim. Luscious black fruit still with freshness as it crosses the pallet to a moderately long finish Full bodied with barely a hint of tannins. Tastes much as it did 5 years ago but much softer and can see that there is an end in site. Suspect this is best over the next 2 to 3 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is still drinking beautiful, the cork fell apart and we almost lost hope. Last bottle enjoyed in 2020, may my dad Rest In Peace for leaving this gem for us. We love Larkmead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
wow, what a showing for this 19 year old wine. Nice rubbery nose with iodine, some signatures of age. The wine has bing cherry, leather, and mulled red fruits. Soft, integrated, and a pleasure to drink. Food not necessary for this complex and stimulating wine. Just as good on day #2. A reminder that classically made Napa Cabernet can age gracefully and develop tertiary character.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fantastic rendition of Napa Cab. Classic flavor profile with still quite substantial fruit that is letting go of secondary characters. Just the right amount of wood. Bold and intriguing. Quite open now. Stuffing for more aging present though I'm not certain the there is the heft for improvement. Held up over two night. Very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose showed mineral-laced cherry, crushed blueberry, sweet herbs, tobacco, and a hint of allspice. On the palate, I found silky textures complemented by refreshing acidity, which gave a bright and lifted personality to it's cherry and raspberry fruit, as notes of sweet cream and spice coated the senses. The finish was long as sweat dark red and blue fruits slowly faded from the palate. This has wonderful energy and such purity of fruit. I could drink this all night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful nose of black fruit. Still young with cherry on the rim and still dark throughout smooth minerals and black fruit with a silky tannic finish that lasted and lasted. Will wait another year to try again
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose was gorgeously layered and highly expressive showing crushed violet, tobacco, blackberry, blueberry, floral undergrowth with hints of spice, dark soil and minerals peaking out. It was perfectly balanced with resolved tannin on the palate and flavors of dark fruit, currants, saline minerality and blueberry skins. Inner florals lingered long on the finish with refined dark-blue and red fruits. THis is beautiful from start to finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Full bodied opaque deep ruby/purple color. Cedar, black cherry , black berry on the nose with a hint of cigar box/smoke. Dense wine opened up nicely in the glass (we did not decant). I like older napa cabs especially from the northern half of the valley. Nice effort and should still drink nicely for 5-7 years. recommended
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Seemed like it might be past peak on opening, but this really came on with 2+ hrs in the decanter. At that point, there was a fine balance of fruit, tannins, alcohol, and acidity. Very nice, lacking only in the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A better showing tonight than my last bottle a couple of years ago. Still Im not really sure this is a wine that has benefitted from age for my palate. Sure its not a fruity and big, but the time just doesnt seem to have added any interest or complexity. A nice wine, but fairly simple and straight foward, not one to search out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great nose and very lively fruit make a fine first impression and truly distinguish this wine. However, a lack of commensurate depth and complexity constrains my rating.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent. Nose of deep black cherry, with notes of blueberry, chocolate, pencil lead and flowers. Palate is black cherry, currant, and chocolate. Tannins largely resolved, enough acidity to provide some lift. Very long finish. Well balanced. A great bottle and an excellent example of an 9 year old California cabernet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very monolithic right now and a disappointing showing. Grapey, simple and finishing very smooth, no tannin/grip. Just an average cab, like it better on release.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop & pour. Developed nicely in the glass, with a little barnyard & black fruit on the nose. Pairs very well with 60% cocoa chocolate. Full bodied with an acidic bite. Will probably hold for at least a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Larkmead does it again...probably my favorite to date. Rich and velvety tannins, pure concentration without any lack of balance with acidity and alcohol. Notes of cola, sugarplums, deep black cherry, and smoke. This bottle tasted great with no decant and improved slightly over time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
14.5% alcohol. Not decanted but tasted over the course of 2 hours. Complex nose of cassis, cured meats, fennel seed, tree bark, and toward the end of the second hour, mocha and a bit of cedar. On the palate, nice depth and intensity in this still young wine, with cassis, cherry, black tea, crushed rocks, and dried leaf flavors. Balanced and very enjoyable. 89-90 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
nice napa cab. Big and thick although the fruit was some what muted was drinking pretty good. 2 hour decant then drank over 3 hr period. leather wood with black fruit in the background. Big and mouth coating with a Long silky finsh
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It has been 8 months and this Larkmead has shown a distinct improvement. Beautiful integration of the oak and black fruits with some fresh leather and pencil shaving. Plenty of backbone and tightness, this wine, more than any I have drank recently, reminds me of the great Napa cabs from the late 1970 and early '80s, reminiscent of Heitz, Caymus and BV GDL. Really classic California from vines that must have 35-40 years of age. Really nice, and capable of more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Prototypical Napa cab, everything pleasing is in place, but at the same time missing something distinctive about it. I do like this cabernet, the nose is of soft ripe wild cherry cola with vanilla oak. Pleasurable on the palate and kind on the finish with soft round tannin. This would be an excellent example of a $25-$30 Napa cab but only a good $40 cabernet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose was a wonderful medley of sweet rasberry, oak, and vaniila. The palate contained the same tastes as the nose, with very strong tannins and hot acidity.
This was the best wine of the tasting, but the $45 price was more than I was willing to pay.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 3 hours, consumed over another hour. Initial taste was shut down, but the aroma began developing in the decantor quickly. Great smell of dark cherries, sweet vanilla and maybe flowers (violets?) after decanting. Bursting with dark fruit flavors like plums, dark cherries and blackberries with a lasting sweet fully integrated finish. Very solid wine. Reminded me of the '01 Lewelling and a step more complex than the '02 Merlot consumed last week.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine was a dark red with solid legs. It had a full mouth feel and excellent texture. Notes of cocoa, wet soil and light oak. Soft tannins. It finished rather smooth. 90 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed at home with beef tenderloin. Bright disc. Opaque purple robe with ruby rim. Clean nose, showing moderately intense aromas of creme de cassis, licorice, tar and vanilla. Full-bodied on the palate, with low acidity and big tannins which are somehwhat dry. Similar flavors as for the nose. Medium, somewhat dry finish. Short-term cellaring is in order before this reaches plateau.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/30/2023 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
I thought this was beautiful. Acquired just after release from a local shop. From Magnum, decanted for a large family Holiday party and enjoyed over 6 hours. I really liked this and thought this was the best red wine tonight. Just the right amount of Napa power but more restrained and elegant than “in your face.” Red and black fruited with some balanced oak induced flavors. Lovely texture and still modestly tannin oriented at first but this faded with air. Long finish with some soft pipe tobacco and chocolate. It was a really nice wine to drink and eat food with.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2022 - haqofeta Likes this wine:
Slow ox for 2 hours. Tannins are fully integrated, but there's only a hint of brick on the rim. Still loads of acidity, especially the first few hours, but it was a little thin. Filled out after 3 or 4 hours and 24 hours later was still drinking nicely (although not as well as the end of the night before). If its been stored well I think it should last another 10 years, but I think its a bit of a gamble after that.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2022 - bobh22314 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cherry with a hint of orange at the rim. Luscious black fruit still with freshness as it crosses the pallet to a moderately long finish Full bodied with barely a hint of tannins. Tastes much as it did 5 years ago but much softer and can see that there is an end in site. Suspect this is best over the next 2 to 3 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2020 - PAWS wrote:
This is still drinking beautiful, the cork fell apart and we almost lost hope. Last bottle enjoyed in 2020, may my dad Rest In Peace for leaving this gem for us. We love Larkmead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2020 - Tbernie Likes this wine: 91 Points
Breathed 45 minutes to an hour it goes from okay to pretty damned amazing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2020 - jviz wrote: 95 Points
wow, what a showing for this 19 year old wine. Nice rubbery nose with iodine, some signatures of age. The wine has bing cherry, leather, and mulled red fruits. Soft, integrated, and a pleasure to drink. Food not necessary for this complex and stimulating wine. Just as good on day #2. A reminder that classically made Napa Cabernet can age gracefully and develop tertiary character.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2019 - WetRock wrote:
Fantastic rendition of Napa Cab. Classic flavor profile with still quite substantial fruit that is letting go of secondary characters. Just the right amount of wood. Bold and intriguing. Quite open now. Stuffing for more aging present though I'm not certain the there is the heft for improvement. Held up over two night. Very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2018 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 94 Points
The nose showed mineral-laced cherry, crushed blueberry, sweet herbs, tobacco, and a hint of allspice. On the palate, I found silky textures complemented by refreshing acidity, which gave a bright and lifted personality to it's cherry and raspberry fruit, as notes of sweet cream and spice coated the senses. The finish was long as sweat dark red and blue fruits slowly faded from the palate. This has wonderful energy and such purity of fruit. I could drink this all night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2016 - bobh22314 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful nose of black fruit. Still young with cherry on the rim and still dark throughout smooth minerals and black fruit with a silky tannic finish that lasted and lasted.
Will wait another year to try again
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2015 - EMTAME wrote: 93 Points
Been open for 3.5 hrs now and it's beautiful. This has really transformed with air and it continues to improve. I'm sorry to say it's my last bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2015 - GA Likes this wine: 90 Points
6/15 Cherry fruit - resolved tannins - good drinking window. 90 pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2015 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 94 Points
The nose was gorgeously layered and highly expressive showing crushed violet, tobacco, blackberry, blueberry, floral undergrowth with hints of spice, dark soil and minerals peaking out. It was perfectly balanced with resolved tannin on the palate and flavors of dark fruit, currants, saline minerality and blueberry skins. Inner florals lingered long on the finish with refined dark-blue and red fruits. THis is beautiful from start to finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2015 - eschaefer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Full bodied opaque deep ruby/purple color. Cedar, black cherry , black berry on the nose with a hint of cigar box/smoke. Dense wine opened up nicely in the glass (we did not decant). I like older napa cabs especially from the northern half of the valley. Nice effort and should still drink nicely for 5-7 years. recommended
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2015 - EMTAME wrote: 91 Points
Seemed like it might be past peak on opening, but this really came on with 2+ hrs in the decanter. At that point, there was a fine balance of fruit, tannins, alcohol, and acidity. Very nice, lacking only in the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2014 - capacious Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very well, fruit muted, well integrated tannins, lengthy, held its own alongside a 2001 matriarch, and 2001 special select.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2012 - eastover wrote:
Sunday night at home with steaks. A very nice Cali Cab drinking at its peak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/2/2012 - Ekoostik wrote:
A better showing tonight than my last bottle a couple of years ago. Still Im not really sure this is a wine that has benefitted from age for my palate. Sure its not a fruity and big, but the time just doesnt seem to have added any interest or complexity. A nice wine, but fairly simple and straight foward, not one to search out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2011 - jpstough wrote: 89 Points
Very good, but a little disappointing. Probably should have drank it sooner. Tannins are gone, very smooth. A little earthy in the aftertaste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2011 - geneswine wrote: 93 Points
Really excellent right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2010 - sirswami wrote: 89 Points
Great nose and very lively fruit make a fine first impression and truly distinguish this wine. However, a lack of commensurate depth and complexity constrains my rating.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2010 - JOJ wrote: 95 Points
Excellent. Nose of deep black cherry, with notes of blueberry, chocolate, pencil lead and flowers. Palate is black cherry, currant, and chocolate. Tannins largely resolved, enough acidity to provide some lift. Very long finish. Well balanced. A great bottle and an excellent example of an 9 year old California cabernet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2009 - rlleigh wrote: 92 Points
Exceptionally good cab, drank at Secession w Sprotte/Tubergen/Hasse
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2009 - Hollowleg wrote: 89 Points
Not as impressive as last time.Much better when paired with grilled prime shell steaks. Lacking on it's own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2009 - Ekoostik wrote: 87 Points
Very monolithic right now and a disappointing showing. Grapey, simple and finishing very smooth, no tannin/grip. Just an average cab, like it better on release.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2009 - sterin wrote: 91 Points
Still incredibly youthful...wait another 5 years before drinking this bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2008 - eastover wrote:
Wine of the night at Lisa's Napa tasting for the girls.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2008 - Texas Pete wrote: 92 Points
Excellent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2008 - Hollowleg wrote: 90 Points
Pop & pour. Developed nicely in the glass, with a little barnyard & black fruit on the nose. Pairs very well with 60% cocoa chocolate. Full bodied with an acidic bite. Will probably hold for at least a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2008 - napaJ6 wrote: 93 Points
Larkmead does it again...probably my favorite to date. Rich and velvety tannins, pure concentration without any lack of balance with acidity and alcohol. Notes of cola, sugarplums, deep black cherry, and smoke. This bottle tasted great with no decant and improved slightly over time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2007 - Paul Lin wrote: 89 Points
14.5% alcohol. Not decanted but tasted over the course of 2 hours. Complex nose of cassis, cured meats, fennel seed, tree bark, and toward the end of the second hour, mocha and a bit of cedar. On the palate, nice depth and intensity in this still young wine, with cassis, cherry, black tea, crushed rocks, and dried leaf flavors. Balanced and very enjoyable. 89-90 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2007 - N2Vin wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful creamy smooth wine. Balanced and elegant with nice fruit purity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2007 - hiltondg wrote: 90 Points
Great bottle. Decanted for 30 mins prior. Classic Napa Cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2006 - charbo wrote:
nice napa cab. Big and thick although the fruit was some what muted was drinking pretty good. 2 hour decant then drank over 3 hr period. leather wood with black fruit in the background. Big and mouth coating with a Long silky finsh
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2006 - N2Vin wrote: 92 Points
It has been 8 months and this Larkmead has shown a distinct improvement. Beautiful integration of the oak and black fruits with some fresh leather and pencil shaving. Plenty of backbone and tightness, this wine, more than any I have drank recently, reminds me of the great Napa cabs from the late 1970 and early '80s, reminiscent of Heitz, Caymus and BV GDL. Really classic California from vines that must have 35-40 years of age. Really nice, and capable of more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2006 - vy#10 wrote:
Drank with bbq at Browns house in Beaulah. Excellent nose was muted because we didn't decant. Very lush mouthfeel, lots of black fruit. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2006 - samurai wrote: 91 Points
Over priced and very typical
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2006 - N2Vin wrote: 91 Points
I think all this wine needs is several years in the cellar to round out. Loaded with tannin, fruit, and oak. Will check back in a year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2006 - N2Vin wrote: 91 Points
Prototypical Napa cab, everything pleasing is in place, but at the same time missing something distinctive about it. I do like this cabernet, the nose is of soft ripe wild cherry cola with vanilla oak. Pleasurable on the palate and kind on the finish with soft round tannin. This would be an excellent example of a $25-$30 Napa cab but only a good $40 cabernet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2006 - mmurry wrote:
The nose was a wonderful medley of sweet rasberry, oak, and vaniila. The palate contained the same tastes as the nose, with very strong tannins and hot acidity.
This was the best wine of the tasting, but the $45 price was more than I was willing to pay.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2006 - win wrote: 88 Points
A bit hot, with the fruit screened a bit, but still an interesting wine that could have been outstanding--seem to slightly miss the mark somewhere.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2005 - Elkiholic wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 3 hours, consumed over another hour. Initial taste was shut down, but the aroma began developing in the decantor quickly. Great smell of dark cherries, sweet vanilla and maybe flowers (violets?) after decanting. Bursting with dark fruit flavors like plums, dark cherries and blackberries with a lasting sweet fully integrated finish. Very solid wine. Reminded me of the '01 Lewelling and a step more complex than the '02 Merlot consumed last week.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2005 - Ekoostik wrote: 92 Points
Dark bright purple. Decent fruit and a good follow to the finish but I kept getting a hint of green. Green Pepper? Medium bodied.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2005 - buckeye76 wrote: 90 Points
TOOK ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO OPEN UP, THEN BLACKBERRIES AND CURRANTS IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2005 - Vino Me wrote: 90 Points
This wine was a dark red with solid legs. It had a full mouth feel and excellent texture. Notes of cocoa, wet soil and light oak. Soft tannins. It finished rather smooth. 90 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2005 - jmcmchi wrote:
Lovely; chewable and long lasting
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2004 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 89 Points
Consumed at home with beef tenderloin. Bright disc. Opaque purple robe with ruby rim. Clean nose, showing moderately intense aromas of creme de cassis, licorice, tar and vanilla. Full-bodied on the palate, with low acidity and big tannins which are somehwhat dry. Similar flavors as for the nose. Medium, somewhat dry finish. Short-term cellaring is in order before this reaches plateau.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment