N: Initially VERY Madeira-like: IF tasted blindly, I'd have guessed 'twas fortified. However, over time carmelized notes emerged, & eventually raisins. Not at all "classic", but distinctive nonetheless, & seemingly > attractive with addt'l air.
P: LM body; Rndish entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a BIT of astringent pucker which stays in contact with the init frt as it fairly seamlessly transitions into a LONG, beautifully BALANCED finish with an attractive tangy/swtness (55:45) to the few, TOTALLY unoffensive, yet still firming, very, VERY fine tannins. For now, + should still work with lighter fare (though not improving) through '21, poss '22. My EXC+, & I might even consider more save for the unusual aromas.
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Port like flavors with a lighter body would have had me guessing a Portuguese red table wine. Significant acidity and tannin for the age. Way outplayed a 1993 from earlier in the evening.
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Popped poured. Similar to my previous notes on 1/1/2013. Not a whole lot has changed since I last visited this wine...maybe it's lost a little bit of steam? It's still a great drink right now. Take advantage while you can. Sadly, this was my last bottle.
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Wow. I never expected this to be more than a decent, well-aged Cab. But it blew my mind. Popped and poured -- the nose is aged cab, but could easily pass for a ripe-ish Bordeaux or a much more expensive Cali Cab. Fresh, young, and in a perfect spot. Lots of fruit and every developed note you could want. Very impressed.
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Popped and poured; consumed over 16 hours. Cork was saturated halfway through and pulled apart below that point. Some careful fishing got most of the remaining cork out of the neck. Color is showing some visual sign of age but only just a hint of browning; still very nice looking wine though! Just a small amount of sediment. The bouquet was a little reticent upon the initial pour...with a little old funk mixed in with the fruit. I think temperature was also a factor as I didn't give this any time to warm up from cellar temp which is currently around 10C. With half a bottle remaining, I put the remaining half of the cork back in to see how she faired over night. The next day, with the wine up to temperature, this was really hitting its stride. Forest floor, ripe dark fruit, cocoa, leather, some spice box...most of this following suit on the palette. Tannins are still present but soft and fine at this point. Sufficient acid for food and went very nicely with pork butt, beans and potatoes. This wine is outrageously good for being 28 years old. It's not getting better but it should hold for a few more years I would suspect. Drink now but decant for a few hours for maximum pleasure.
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Let sit for 45 minutes after uncorking, and consumed over 1.5 hours. Cork was halfway saturated, but intact upon uncorking. Amber brick hue & moderate amount of sediment in bottle. So smooth & velvety with good life yet. Nice bouquet & complex flavors of cassis fruit, black cherry, black olive, cocoa caramel, leather and toast. Tannins present & well integrated, moderately soft acidity, rich & balanced, full-bodied & nice lingering finish. WOTN among most at dinner table.
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Popped, and filtered into a glass as the cork was 3/4 saturated and broke. Slight bricking around the edges. The nose is definitely aged Cali cab, but seems fresh and young. Blueberry, dark cherry, dill, and chocolate all can be smelled from a few feet from the glass. Moderate in mouthfeel, there are polished tannins and firm acidity present. The fruit is still alive and kicking, while secondary characteristics really shine through - tobacco, damp earth, leather, and tar. Very interesting wine, and definitely a well cared for bottle that was a great qpr at $40 from invino.
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9/20/2020 - rjquillin Likes this wine:
Really can't add much to prior notes, just a wonderful aged cab now 36. Foolishly only purchased three in '11.
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11/30/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 7 *shared* bottles] from 11/29/19 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Oscar & José, THANK you for making it possible for me to taste this! :)
N: Initially VERY Madeira-like: IF tasted blindly, I'd have guessed 'twas fortified. However, over time carmelized notes emerged, & eventually raisins. Not at all "classic", but distinctive nonetheless, & seemingly > attractive with addt'l air.
P: LM body; Rndish entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a BIT of astringent pucker which stays in contact with the init frt as it fairly seamlessly transitions into a LONG, beautifully BALANCED finish with an attractive tangy/swtness (55:45) to the few, TOTALLY unoffensive, yet still firming, very, VERY fine tannins. For now, + should still work with lighter fare (though not improving) through '21, poss '22. My EXC+, & I might even consider more save for the unusual aromas.
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10/13/2018 - BrunelloBob wrote: 90 Points
Port like flavors with a lighter body would have had me guessing a Portuguese red table wine. Significant acidity and tannin for the age. Way outplayed a 1993 from earlier in the evening.
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11/26/2014 - Apollo_Creed wrote: 92 Points
Hard to believe this wine is 30 years old.
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5/13/2014 - thesternowl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped poured. Similar to my previous notes on 1/1/2013. Not a whole lot has changed since I last visited this wine...maybe it's lost a little bit of steam? It's still a great drink right now. Take advantage while you can. Sadly, this was my last bottle.
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11/18/2013 - davidwhitedc wrote:
Wow. I never expected this to be more than a decent, well-aged Cab. But it blew my mind. Popped and poured -- the nose is aged cab, but could easily pass for a ripe-ish Bordeaux or a much more expensive Cali Cab. Fresh, young, and in a perfect spot. Lots of fruit and every developed note you could want. Very impressed.
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7/13/2013 - heimbach wrote: 93 Points
Agree with review from January 2013. This wine is outstanding for a wine and that is now 28 years old absolutely still has time to go.
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1/1/2013 - thesternowl Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured; consumed over 16 hours. Cork was saturated halfway through and pulled apart below that point. Some careful fishing got most of the remaining cork out of the neck. Color is showing some visual sign of age but only just a hint of browning; still very nice looking wine though! Just a small amount of sediment. The bouquet was a little reticent upon the initial pour...with a little old funk mixed in with the fruit. I think temperature was also a factor as I didn't give this any time to warm up from cellar temp which is currently around 10C. With half a bottle remaining, I put the remaining half of the cork back in to see how she faired over night. The next day, with the wine up to temperature, this was really hitting its stride. Forest floor, ripe dark fruit, cocoa, leather, some spice box...most of this following suit on the palette. Tannins are still present but soft and fine at this point. Sufficient acid for food and went very nicely with pork butt, beans and potatoes. This wine is outrageously good for being 28 years old. It's not getting better but it should hold for a few more years I would suspect. Drink now but decant for a few hours for maximum pleasure.
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12/25/2012 - DRS-Inc wrote: 93 Points
Let sit for 45 minutes after uncorking, and consumed over 1.5 hours. Cork was halfway saturated, but intact upon uncorking. Amber brick hue & moderate amount of sediment in bottle. So smooth & velvety with good life yet. Nice bouquet & complex flavors of cassis fruit, black cherry, black olive, cocoa caramel, leather and toast. Tannins present & well integrated, moderately soft acidity, rich & balanced, full-bodied & nice lingering finish. WOTN among most at dinner table.
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6/8/2012 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 92 Points
Popped, and filtered into a glass as the cork was 3/4 saturated and broke. Slight bricking around the edges. The nose is definitely aged Cali cab, but seems fresh and young. Blueberry, dark cherry, dill, and chocolate all can be smelled from a few feet from the glass. Moderate in mouthfeel, there are polished tannins and firm acidity present. The fruit is still alive and kicking, while secondary characteristics really shine through - tobacco, damp earth, leather, and tar. Very interesting wine, and definitely a well cared for bottle that was a great qpr at $40 from invino.
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12/2/2011 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Leather and cab and just perfect and beautiful.
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