Sorry to see the brand be discontinued. Decanted and enjoyed with braised, red wine short ribs with vegetables and riced cauliflower. Immediately, I was drawn to the wonderful balance of rich fruits, mild tannin, and medium plus acidity….something lacking in many California Meritages. Good concentration, but a bit hollow at mid palate. Very good pairing with the food. Mid-way though development with a great mix of primary and secondary notes, not much complexity at this juncture. Decent finish. Enjoyable and appropriate for the meal, but we’ll see how this progresses. Drink now and through 2027.
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3 hour decant, drank over the evening. Has improved since my last notes 2 yrs ago, cedar and oak are still present, dark cherries and still lots of fruit to this one, bits of cocoa are coming forward. Sadly, this was my last bottle. Would like to try this again in a year or two.
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Very nice wine from 2014 vintage. Blackberry and dark cherry on the nose, as well as a cocoa note; dark fruits, cocoa, and vanilla on the palate. A smooth mouthfeel and medium acidity. Definitely drinkable now and guessing it will not improve much from here.
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Dark and ripe with loads of black cherries. Pretty well balanced with soft tannins and juicy acidity. Not hugely complex but very tasty and drinking very well. Fruit forward and direct but excellent for what it is. Good value too.
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Eye: deep garnet color. Nose: cherries, herbal notes, nutmeg, spices. Palate: fresh yet very solid structure that gives way to good fruit and a full body. Medium finish - very nice cab franc notes holds up the structure.
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After an hour, or so, in the decanter, the first sensation was Montmorency cherry pie, i.e., tart, but sweet, cherries. Very well mannered CA Cab, with chocolatey fruit flavors, good acidity, and medium tannins. Very smooth. Really good Cali Cab for the price. Just giving it 90 today, but I think I could go 91 if I spent a little more time contemplating it. QPR+.
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Dense bright red color. Loads of black fruit. Bold. Ripe. No herb. Very dense. Sweet fruit. Plush tannin. Excellent intensity and length. Bold ripe Napa Cabernet.
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Inky Ana dark. Rich nose with some heat and medicinal notes. Jammy fruit as well on the back. Palate is full bodied with a weak mid palate. More steeed fruit and berries. Some hints of forest. Not bad for a Napa at $30ish
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Aromas of pipe tobacco, oak, and smoke. Well balanced textured wine. Flavors of fleshy fruit andRosemary caress the palate with a slightly earthy finish. Wine is very concentrated with velvety tannins.
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Deep purple color. Dark fruit nose. Full body. This is a big wine, but has good balance. Cassis, loam, a touch of tobacco, and a bit of oaky vanilla. This is still very primary with fairly pronounced tannins. A touch of alcohol heat. 14.6%abv. I'd wait 2 years until the next tasting. Has another 10 years ahead of it. Nice classic Napa Cab that is not a fruit bomb.
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I had this after work on 8/2/18. It had a deep, rich, slightly jammy bouquet of black cherry, black currant, plum, mocha, cocoa, licorice and spice aromas. The palate was big, rich, dense and tightly structured…flavors of black currant, plum, mocha and cocoa. It will improve with time.
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6/3/2023 - wmccone54 wrote: 90 Points
Sorry to see the brand be discontinued. Decanted and enjoyed with braised, red wine short ribs with vegetables and riced cauliflower. Immediately, I was drawn to the wonderful balance of rich fruits, mild tannin, and medium plus acidity….something lacking in many California Meritages. Good concentration, but a bit hollow at mid palate. Very good pairing with the food. Mid-way though development with a great mix of primary and secondary notes, not much complexity at this juncture. Decent finish. Enjoyable and appropriate for the meal, but we’ll see how this progresses. Drink now and through 2027.
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2/13/2023 - dgcaldwell Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking perfectly. One more bottle and then it’s all gone. To bad this wine isn’t around anymore .
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10/1/2022 - Gooddummy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still scrumptious. If you like Caymus you’ll like this one.
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8/3/2022 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking very well with room to further integrate and improve.
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5/20/2022 - mark.gularte@gmail.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
3 hour decant, drank over the evening. Has improved since my last notes 2 yrs ago, cedar and oak are still present, dark cherries and still lots of fruit to this one, bits of cocoa are coming forward. Sadly, this was my last bottle. Would like to try this again in a year or two.
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4/9/2022 - 716_cellar Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice wine from 2014 vintage. Blackberry and dark cherry on the nose, as well as a cocoa note; dark fruits, cocoa, and vanilla on the palate. A smooth mouthfeel and medium acidity. Definitely drinkable now and guessing it will not improve much from here.
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2/11/2022 - thebonnydooner wrote: 91 Points
Dark and ripe with loads of black cherries. Pretty well balanced with soft tannins and juicy acidity. Not hugely complex but very tasty and drinking very well. Fruit forward and direct but excellent for what it is. Good value too.
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12/7/2021 - socidelvino Likes this wine: 89 Points
Eye: deep garnet color. Nose: cherries, herbal notes, nutmeg, spices. Palate: fresh yet very solid structure that gives way to good fruit and a full body. Medium finish - very nice cab franc notes holds up the structure.
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10/17/2021 - Caberto wrote:
Mpne
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9/21/2021 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 90 Points
After an hour, or so, in the decanter, the first sensation was Montmorency cherry pie, i.e., tart, but sweet, cherries. Very well mannered CA Cab, with chocolatey fruit flavors, good acidity, and medium tannins. Very smooth. Really good Cali Cab for the price. Just giving it 90 today, but I think I could go 91 if I spent a little more time contemplating it. QPR+.
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7/11/2021 - ddingley Likes this wine: 92 Points
Better than expected for the low (by Napa standards) price--was a solid typical Napa effort with medium body and plenty of fruit.
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5/16/2021 - Eatmypixels Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fruity. Some depth. Lots of berry. Yum.
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4/4/2021 - Gooddummy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice and jammy. Smooth, the whole family loved it at Easter dinner.
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1/19/2021 - GalenP Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great with an hour decant.
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11/5/2020 - Bert’s Stache wrote: 90 Points
Very nice tasting & fruity Meritage blend. Rich dark fruits, medium body and a refined finish made this unspecified blend a delight to drink.
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7/12/2020 - thebonnydooner wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyed this - deep and ripe fruit with well balanced dark fruit and acidity, not super complex but long and very tasty.
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3/21/2020 - mark.gularte@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark red and very dense, cedar and oak, still lots of tannin to it, a bit of wood, and full bodied
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3/17/2020 - Fat1Wombat wrote: 92 Points
Dense bright red color.
Loads of black fruit. Bold. Ripe. No herb.
Very dense. Sweet fruit. Plush tannin. Excellent intensity and length.
Bold ripe Napa Cabernet.
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2/8/2020 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very well now and could go several more years.
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8/29/2019 - T.E.D. wrote: 89 Points
Inky Ana dark. Rich nose with some heat and medicinal notes. Jammy fruit as well on the back. Palate is full bodied with a weak mid palate. More steeed fruit and berries. Some hints of forest. Not bad for a Napa at $30ish
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6/12/2019 - jhanne8 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good. Didn’t think it was 100% cab. Lovely nose and drinking at perfection.
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1/27/2019 - CoryDean44 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Aromas of pipe tobacco, oak, and smoke. Well balanced textured wine. Flavors of fleshy fruit andRosemary caress the palate with a slightly earthy finish. Wine is very concentrated with velvety tannins.
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12/17/2018 - davidspieker wrote: 88 Points
Dark red color. Dark cherry and chocolate aromas. Consistent flavors but the finish turns to graphite and mud. Could use a bit more time.
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12/14/2018 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 91 Points
Double decant. Whoa this baby’s got fruit! Thoroughly enjoyed this one. A great QPR from Napa.
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11/3/2018 - djarcara wrote: 90 Points
Deep purple color. Dark fruit nose. Full body. This is a big wine, but has good balance. Cassis, loam, a touch of tobacco, and a bit of oaky vanilla. This is still very primary with fairly pronounced tannins. A touch of alcohol heat. 14.6%abv. I'd wait 2 years until the next tasting. Has another 10 years ahead of it. Nice classic Napa Cab that is not a fruit bomb.
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9/18/2018 - wabi47 wrote: 88 Points
Grapey fruit that hides the underlying structure right now. Dark in color. Easy drinker but likely has upside
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8/2/2018 - garambler Likes this wine: 92 Points
I had this after work on 8/2/18. It had a deep, rich, slightly jammy bouquet of black cherry, black currant, plum, mocha, cocoa, licorice and spice aromas. The palate was big, rich, dense and tightly structured…flavors of black currant, plum, mocha and cocoa. It will improve with time.
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7/16/2018 - fastpt Likes this wine: 95 Points
Gave to C & T
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