After an 4 hour decanting, intense note of berry and a hint of flora on the nose. Earthy , tobacco . Long and smooth finish. Excellent with filets on the grille.
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Pnp'd this for the two of us after a busy week and partly celebrating Carol getting her palate back after months of painkillers and now back surgery!....my last '14 from this producer. Enjoyed over 2-3 hours and it got better and better over time with air. 92-93 at the start and an easy rich, deep juicy 95 at the end. May have hit 96 if we'd had any left in our glasses by the time dinner rolled around. I know some think the Napa '14s were not good but I have had near 100 bottles of various '14s the last 3-4 years that have all been exceptional. This one is classic Howell Mtn fruit. There's weight, depth, layers, acidity, soft, round integrated tannins, etc. Very nice balance right now with all elements. My own personal wine journey is less focused on wine scores and more focused on when/how to drink a bottle and get the best out of it. This one is in a really good place right now with 1-3 hours of air. 95, near 96 for this bottle. Enjoy!
Head to head with the O'Shaughnessy 2014 Mt. Veeder. Critics say the Howell is better than the Mt. Veeder until the 10 year point, and they were right, although by a narrow margin: 6/5 tasters favored the Howell over the Mt. Veeder
This wine drank well right out of the gate, but continued to improve throughout the evening. Typical profile of full-bodied wine with dark fruit profiles. The drinking window is definitely open for this one now.
Will be so much better in 3-5 years. Drank half the bottle, then pulled the air out and drank the other half the next night. So much better on night two.
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2012-2014 Napa Cabs (and blends) Night (Bobby Van's on Park, NYC): Part of a 2012-2014 Napa Cabernet and Blend night with my wine group. Opened but not decanted for over 90 minutes before pouring. My favorite of the night. Long finish. It just seemed to have more of everything going for it than the others. Great nose. I generally prefer the Howell Mountain blend to the Mt. Veeder until they get about 10 years past the vintage. This is in the sweet spot for me on the Howell Mountain blend.
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This bottle didn't taste as young, seems to be right in the drinking window. I do have a few more so going to see if just this bottle or not, but drinking great
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It's been a couple years since I opened one of these and it has progressed nicely. Pop and pour with a perfect balance of tannins and fruit . It continued to improve over the hour it was open (big group). I think it's in the perfect drinking window now but will continue to age well.
A big crowd pleaser at a restaurant. The bottle was open for 45+ minutes. Do not believe it would have benefited from a decant. This is the third of 6 bottles and was very slightly better than the prior 2. I doubt this one will improve from here. Time to enjoy. As is usually the case with O'Shaughnessy, it is a very deep/dark CS but exhibits some notes of softness.
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Almost a year since my last bottle of this one...suffice it to say that the score and the notes are almost identical, especially with regard to the needed air time. 2-3 hours minimum is required for this to really blossom in the glass. Very well rounded and complete, well balanced with good dark fruit and acidity to go quite a while longer yet.
Two hour slow ox, then splash decant, and drunk with dinner over an hour. I would say this is drinking at its peak. Two hours seemed to be about right. This is a very balanced wine, medium in weight, good depth, and a fine representation of a Howell mountain cab. Cassis, black raspberries on the nose and palate, with smooth, well integrated tannins and a lingering finish. Well done
It is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest tiny quantities of Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, Petit Verdot, and St. Macaire
This was purchased from the winery on release as part of my annual allocation
Last minute pull and PnP—wow, not often mountain grapes show like this on PnP! especially at 8 yrs! If you’ve had Howell Mtn you’ve had this beauty! Not exactly helpful, but if you’ve had Howell Mtn you know! Elicited a WTF! from fellow drinker—added a point due to that—warranted 2 pts but I’m a tough scorer! Excited I have more!
Right out of the bottle this came off as being a little overdone. But after a few hours it settled down and lost its baby fat. On day-2 this was drinking incredibly and paired fantastically with grilled filet mignon, sautéed mushrooms, and potatoes au gratin. Lots of life in this, for sure. If drinking now, give at least an hour of air.
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(at Del Frisco's - Boston) Frankly, this was a bit disappointing. Overdone. Way too much oak. Creamed cassis. There is some nice fruit there, I just feel it was obliterated... others may like this way more. (88)
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Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of cassis, talc, plum and black raspberries. Flavors of black raspberries, black cherries, plums and currants. Medium to tart acidity, medium to firm tannin, full bodied. Drink with air or hold.
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Decanted for several hours and rewarded w a beautiful, mouth watering experience. The 14 still has decades of life, but I wanted to check in on them. Nose was elegant dusty dark berries w touches of lead and herbs. Balanced palette that gives both a hint of sweetness and loads of acidity. Really softened up through the evening, but this structure will hold up for a good long while. Paired w rosemary lamb chops.
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So here we are nearly 3 years after my last tasting. This has sat in a 61 Degree wine cellar for the last 3 years. The wine is still improving but I get such structure tonight without much decant (under 5 minutes). The wine is beautiful and still only an adolescent worth holding for another few years. Blackberry, some ripe plum, cedar wood, and a vegetable finish at the start. After an hour the mid palette and finish are more closed with tannins overtaking the fruit. Worth holding for 3-5 more years
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Simply a delicious well made Howell Mountain Cab. Couple hour opening before dinner w/beef tenderloin helped as it continued to open up over the next couple hours. Look forward to revisiting w/others going forward. The 2014s are aging well.
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Ummm, ummmm, good! Pnp prior to burgers for dinner, maybe a 92-93. Right from the start, power from the nose and the palate.....jammy, dense cassis in spades! Rich, ripe dark berry fruit, some smokey barrel char and spice. One hour in and everything comes together in better proportion and integration, maybe a 94, but in the 2nd hour it backs off and tightens up a bit, more fennel(?) appears. Fast forward to 4 hours later so 6 hours of air total and this is a real beauty....power and sophistication in one. Nose of classic violets and lead pencil, palate of dark red cherry, raspberry fruit and lingering Chinese 5 spice throughout. It has all come together with a little chalky minerality lending a silky smooth feel to the mouth and it's a 95 in my book given the extended mouth watering finish with just the right amount of acidity. It is amazing how good so many '14s, (thought by many upon release to be the weak link in the glory years of '12 through '16) are now out performing every other vintage, at least in my book. It is perfectly rounded and balanced, with 6 hours of air.
ps....Carol's scoring is in reverse of mine, as she's nothing but a fruit whore and loved the overwhelming cassis up front in that first hour after opening. Her score is 95 at the pnp down to a 93 after 6 hours of air. Obviously, she is wrong.
Great Cabernet Sauvignon. Typical Howell Mountain cab, aromas of crushed rocks and black cherries. Tasty flavors of licorice, blackberry and black cherry with firm tannins and a nice mineral-laced finish.
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Despite the following notes this was disappointing versus other wines I have tried by this producer. Soft seductive velvet tannin, fully ready to drink now. Mainly black fruits, accompanied by notes of tobacco, leather and pepper. Zingy acidity provides some lift. Medium length and simple. Drink now and over the next decade.
Floral aromas with black cherry, graphite and raspberry. Flavors of blackberry, plum, black cherry and dark chocolate. Grippy tannins and a nice finish.
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Nose of black berry, black cherry, allspice, and spring flowers, same on the palate, big body, mouth filling fruit, very tasty, still young but hard to resist enjoying now, especially with a modest decant, tasted better the second night which suggests drinking over the next 10 years, medium/long finish, 2 photos uploaded, one shows sediment deposits on bottle from first 3 years in the cellar.
Nose of black berry, rich fruit, and earth, same on the palate, big body, mouth filling fruit, very tasty, still young, and a long finish. Photo uploaded.
Black berries, floral nose with strong notes of vanilla, sweet dark licorice, spices with a 30 second finish. Missing a bit of complexity in the mid palate that is likely due to age. Took awhile for the alcohol to burn off and probably could sit for another 3 to 5 years. Solid 94 with upside of maybe a point with age.
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Floral and black fruit aromatics. On the palate, rich dark chocolate with blackberry, plum and black cherry. Some oak and crushed rocks. Silky tannins with a 10-second finish of plum and black cherries.
Enjoyed over 2 nights, better the second night, nose of freshly baked black berry pie, very floral, and black cherry, same om the palate, big body, very tasty, enjoy by itself or with grilled steak, will merit a higher score with 2 years in the cellar, showing well, and a long finish. Photo uploaded.
Nose of black berry, black cherry, briar, and black berry baked pie, on the palate, big body, mouth filling fruit, very tasty, second day and shows peak drinking, enjoy the next year or so, and long, flavorful finish. Photo of the bottle, wine in my glass and freshly cut roses from my garden uploaded.
Decanted for 3 hours. Enjoyed with steak and then after dinner. Beautiful wine. Huge nose of blackberry, plum, some earth and grit, black cherry. Full bodied, well balanced.
Consistent with prior tastings. Opened for about 1 and a half hours. No decant. That seemed to be enough to enjoy this wine. Drinking very well right now. …...and am not sure it will improve from here. While it will last for a long time, there is no reason not enjoy now.
Tasted blind, with a group of heavyweight Napa Cabs. Opened, but not decanted. This was the youngest wine of the group. The 2014s seem to be very approachable young. Almost outstanding, with loads of red fruit and some notes of licorice. It doesn't feel like there was a lot of new oak used. Full bodied with a long finish.
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Amazing wine, An hour after opening the wine really starts to show it's stuff. I saved a glass for the second day, however wasn't as good, I'm sure it won't be hard to drink a bottle in one night! Big, deep, dark, complex. Long finish. Other notes have gone into good detail on the flavor profile, so no need to duplicate that here. This wine is certainly ready to start enjoying now.
Informal dinner, no detailed notes. I love how most of the 2014 Napa Cabs are showing these days: ready to drink and less flesh, ripeness and concentration than the 2013s or 2015s. With a good amount of acidity this makes them very balanced and enjoyable at such an early stage while many 2013s seem not yet tamed and ready and the 2015s have often too much baby fat and an overwhelming concentration. This 2014 O’Shaughnessy is no exception: layers of ripe (and rather red) fruit (cherries), violets and minerality in the background embedded in a cool, classic frame with velvety tannins and a perfect acidity. Points deducted for the medium- complexity and delineation. For the elusive 95+ category I missed that special "something". Nevertheless, a very good wine which brings a lot of joy. This wine got roughly one hour in the decanter which seems about right.
Took a little over an hour in the decanter to open up at which point it was quite good. Nice acidity through the midddle, nicely balanced and built on a foundation of red and black fruit.
PnP. ruby/purple color. Slow legs. Raspberry, cherry, strawberry and other deep red fruit on the nose. Strawberry, coffee and rich fruit palate. Leather texture. Very good balance.
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Really liked how this wine has already come together. Good fruit balanced with modest tannins. Structured for the long haul. Looking to replace my one and only bottle with more!
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Opened 3+ hrs in advance. No decant. Great dark fruit nose. Similar palate with added earthiness. Long finish. Perfectly integrated. Young and fresh with room for improvement with more age. This is why I love Howell Mountain juice. Glad I have more.
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An excellent young Howell Mountain wine. The wine is translucent dark ruby and silky. It is fresh and mouth-watering with nice acidity and ultra fine tannins. Long finish. Missing a little complexity at this stage but potential to age and add more layers.
Color of dark red. Scents of blackberry. Tastes of blackberry and other dark fruit, with some oak, acidity and wound up tannins. Either opened too young or not as good as other prior years such as 2012.
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opened this on my 40th birthday along side a 2012 Dunn Howell Mtn and while both were good, the crowd liked this O'Shaughnessy better.
Tasting was several days ago, so no score or details, but I recall the major difference being approachability. I tasted some diacetyl so the ML may help soften this one earlier than Dunn.
First stop on our ninth day in Napa Valley is to O'Shaughnessy Wine Estate up on Howell Mountain. Second wine is their Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain, which is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the remainder made up of Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, Petit Verdot, and St. Macaire.
Deep ruby red. A touch smokey on the nose with some cinnamon, cassis and red currants. Solid acidity with medium plus tannins (7.5/10) and a full body. Wild brambleberries on the palate with cinnamon, gravel, lavender and raspberries. Dry and long finish with baking spices. Drink till 2035.
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Still very young, dark fruits in the nose and flavor, blackberries and black currants, with licorice, and hints of floral in the nose. Showed nice complexity and a long finish. Wait at least 4-5 years.
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Great balance of fruity and earthy. Very good now but I think the tannins will smooth out a bit more over the next year or two. Will probably be buying some more to hold a while
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Attractive, deep rich purple reddish ruby color with a soft but muted nose. On the palate dark extracted tart fruit. Dark berry and dark sour cherry fruit. Showing tight and acidic at this point, but it’s still developing and very young. This one needs bottle age but I do think that it has the stuffing for a much better future. This one reminds me of some of the Rivers Marie Cabernets that l’ve tried before (older vintages, not 2015). Decanting is a must.
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Purple fruit - blackberry, dark currants, dark raspberry, and dark cherry. Smooth mid-palate with nice depth/concentration. Rich flavors of dark berries, some spice, and a little mineral component. Decent finish but not overly long nor deep. Decanted for two hours and drank over another three. Improved with time but drinking pretty well after the decant. However, I believe this vintage will benefit from some more time (another year or two) to let the fruit soften and open-up a little more which is no surprise in light of its youth and quality of fruit. 79% cabernet sauvignon and the rest a blend of malbec, merlot, cabernet franc, carmenère, petit verdot, and St. Macaire.
Amazing. The O'Shaughnessy Howell Mountain always always and I mean ALWAYS steals the crowd. Every single Damn time I am at a wide tasting event, people ALWAYS say "Did you try the O'Shaughnessy?" "The O'Shaughnessy was the best by far."
What's up with that? Sick and tired of hearing that shit.
Yes, it was the best of the night @ Wine House Napa tasting event. ($300 Cardinale Cab was a close second for me).
Family-owned. Smooth and sated. When I think of wine, THIS is what I imagine. Also, while all the others seemed to race to the finish, the slow pace of this caught me off-guard...beautiful and slow. I might just drink O'Shaughnessy from now on. 100% serious.
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Reminds me of one of the great Lake County cabs, hard to imagine a cabernet getting much better than this. Once a wine rises to this height, it's more about subtle flavor profiles and personal taste. This 2014 cab has all the right elements, in spades. Wonderful, but very young. Was tight upon opening, drinking beautifully the next day, and after 48 hours had become a saint. I would give it 100 points, but people would talk...
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The real deal Cabernet but not the perfect example. Decanted for 2 hours and aerated through a vinoturi, the wine is simply not ready. Rather tannic after 2 hours and still closed. That said it is remarkably rich and worthy of the praise I have read. Notes of charchol blackberry and bell pepper. Finish is closed but I can sense its presence with Ceder wood and graphite which holds back the fruit. ........for now. A winner worth finding !
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Nose: a surprisingly refreshing Cab nose of oak, black currant, black berry Taste: you can tell this has mixtures of other wines I. A cab without making it a blend no am guessing Syrah and Petite star. Good finish with flavors of blackberry, black cherry and a light tannin.
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Winorama: A winter in Wineland II; 1/6/2018-1/14/2018 (Portland, Eureka, Napa): Tasted at the winery. Agree with the previous note - this is still a complete and total baby. There's a nice tannic backbone to it that I imagine will mellow with time but lends the wine some good structure. Lots of red fruits. A bit woodsy. And some black pepper. Very well balanced. Drank next to the Veeder and while I tend to prefer that a bit more, this is always very nice.
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Great wine, great balance. High toned red fruits, tight structure, really nice finish. Well rouded complete wine that is still very much a baby. Needs time int he bottle and it should improve.
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Christmas walk around wine store tasting. No careful tasting notes possible. WOTN for me. Great cab with mountain fruit, surprisingly drinking well in its youth. Superb, everything I look for in a Cali cab , expensive but reasonably priced for the complexity and quality.
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Dark in color, full bodied, powerful, concentrated wine with a dusty, earthy, black fruit, smoke, licorice nose. There is good fatness to the wine, finishing with juicy, blackberries, blue fruit and chocolate. This should rest for at least a few years, to soften the tannins and bring things further together.
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Popped and poured at The Dialogue for anniversary dinner. Color: opaque purple with ruby rim. Nose: Wow! Ripe Blue and back fruit, spring flowers, vanilla and slight oak. Very intoxicating without the high alcohol common in some mountain fruit. Palate: great balance between sugar and acidity. Very mild tannins (shocking for Howell fruit) yet silky mouth feel. Medium body. Very elegant.
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Black cherry, slate and pencil shavings. A touch closed but very enjoyable. I really like the fruit out of the 2014s. Very good, lots of upside potential.
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Brought to a steakhouse dinner to celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday. Popped and decanted at the table. The initial nose had beautiful primary notes of black fruits (blackberries, black currant), oak, and hints of eucalyptus and licorice. After 1/2 hour in the glass developed more sweet dried fruit notes such as fig and prunes, herbs, and hints of chocolate. Well-balanced despite the near 15% alcohol, smooth and rich with supple tannins. Paired very well with our steaks.
Very drinkable now, but will definitely get a couple more bottles to cellar and see how this evolves over the next 5-10 years.
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Howell Mountain Spring Wine Tasting, SF, nose of black cherry, black berry, briar, and a touch of licorice, same on the palate, big body, delicious wine, needs 4 years to peak, one of the top cabernet Sauvignons tasted today, long finish.
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2/29/2024 - NapaCabSavLover Likes this wine: 95 Points
After an 4 hour decanting, intense note of berry and a hint of flora on the nose. Earthy , tobacco . Long and smooth finish. Excellent with filets on the grille.
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12/22/2023 - Mark1npt wrote: 95 Points
Pnp'd this for the two of us after a busy week and partly celebrating Carol getting her palate back after months of painkillers and now back surgery!....my last '14 from this producer. Enjoyed over 2-3 hours and it got better and better over time with air. 92-93 at the start and an easy rich, deep juicy 95 at the end. May have hit 96 if we'd had any left in our glasses by the time dinner rolled around. I know some think the Napa '14s were not good but I have had near 100 bottles of various '14s the last 3-4 years that have all been exceptional. This one is classic Howell Mtn fruit. There's weight, depth, layers, acidity, soft, round integrated tannins, etc. Very nice balance right now with all elements. My own personal wine journey is less focused on wine scores and more focused on when/how to drink a bottle and get the best out of it. This one is in a really good place right now with 1-3 hours of air. 95, near 96 for this bottle. Enjoy!
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11/12/2023 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 94 Points
Last bottle. The bottle was open for a little over one and a half hours. This is a very good wine and is drinking well.
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10/31/2023 - JDowdy wrote:
Head to head with the O'Shaughnessy 2014 Mt. Veeder. Critics say the Howell is better than the Mt. Veeder until the 10 year point, and they were right, although by a narrow margin: 6/5 tasters favored the Howell over the Mt. Veeder
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10/27/2023 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a great CS......but might be slightly off from prior bottles. Open for 45 minutes in a restaurant before drinking.
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8/19/2023 - pvewino Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine drank well right out of the gate, but continued to improve throughout the evening. Typical profile of full-bodied wine with dark fruit profiles. The drinking window is definitely open for this one now.
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7/6/2023 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wonderful cab certainly entering prime drinking window
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5/12/2023 - Rasmussenbrent wrote: 95 Points
Amazing. One of my favorite wines. So many years left
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5/1/2023 - Mdubnik Likes this wine: 93 Points
Will be so much better in 3-5 years. Drank half the bottle, then pulled the air out and drank the other half the next night. So much better on night two.
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4/28/2023 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 95 Points
2012-2014 Napa Cabs (and blends) Night (Bobby Van's on Park, NYC): Part of a 2012-2014 Napa Cabernet and Blend night with my wine group. Opened but not decanted for over 90 minutes before pouring. My favorite of the night. Long finish. It just seemed to have more of everything going for it than the others. Great nose. I generally prefer the Howell Mountain blend to the Mt. Veeder until they get about 10 years past the vintage. This is in the sweet spot for me on the Howell Mountain blend.
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4/23/2023 - Wino from Michigan wrote: 94 Points
This is drinking perfect - it was really really good. Great QPR ... just love this wine and consistently delights
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4/23/2023 - Rasmussenbrent Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bottle didn't taste as young, seems to be right in the drinking window. I do have a few more so going to see if just this bottle or not, but drinking great
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4/9/2023 - ClaytonDave Likes this wine: 96 Points
Dark purple, intense nose, full-bodied. Softening tannins that give it structure. Black raspberry, licorice and chocolate notes. Excellent.
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2/9/2023 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 94 Points
Took to a big Cigar Dinner. Was a big hit at my table.
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2/5/2023 - mcwinecellar1 Likes this wine: 96 Points
These wines are excellent. Entering a great spot.
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12/10/2022 - VINNICK Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistently good wine.
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12/2/2022 - PDXWineO Likes this wine: 95 Points
It's been a couple years since I opened one of these and it has progressed nicely. Pop and pour with a perfect balance of tannins and fruit . It continued to improve over the hour it was open (big group). I think it's in the perfect drinking window now but will continue to age well.
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9/23/2022 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 95 Points
A big crowd pleaser at a restaurant. The bottle was open for 45+ minutes. Do not believe it would have benefited from a decant. This is the third of 6 bottles and was very slightly better than the prior 2. I doubt this one will improve from here. Time to enjoy. As is usually the case with O'Shaughnessy, it is a very deep/dark CS but exhibits some notes of softness.
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9/19/2022 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 95 Points
Almost a year since my last bottle of this one...suffice it to say that the score and the notes are almost identical, especially with regard to the needed air time. 2-3 hours minimum is required for this to really blossom in the glass. Very well rounded and complete, well balanced with good dark fruit and acidity to go quite a while longer yet.
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9/4/2022 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice Howell mtn cab. Slowoxed for two hours and drinking quite well
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9/3/2022 - VINNICK Likes this wine: 92 Points
Always consistently solid. Left half the bottle over night and it didn’t completely disintegrate as California wines often do.
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8/22/2022 - Franken Berry Likes this wine: 94 Points
Two hour slow ox, then splash decant, and drunk with dinner over an hour. I would say this is drinking at its peak. Two hours seemed to be about right. This is a very balanced wine, medium in weight, good depth, and a fine representation of a Howell mountain cab. Cassis, black raspberries on the nose and palate, with smooth, well integrated tannins and a lingering finish. Well done
It is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest tiny quantities of Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, Petit Verdot, and St. Macaire
This was purchased from the winery on release as part of my annual allocation
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8/18/2022 - Geaux Tigers wrote: 95 Points
Last minute pull and PnP—wow, not often mountain grapes show like this on PnP! especially at 8 yrs! If you’ve had Howell Mtn you’ve had this beauty! Not exactly helpful, but if you’ve had Howell Mtn you know! Elicited a WTF! from fellow drinker—added a point due to that—warranted 2 pts but I’m a tough scorer! Excited I have more!
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6/11/2022 - VinhoVerde Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cassis-like bouquet. Broad fresh ripe fruit flavor. Mild tannins, it can be drunk now or aged a couple of more years. Long aftertaste.
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5/8/2022 - Sniffy-Sniff Likes this wine: 94 Points
Right out of the bottle this came off as being a little overdone. But after a few hours it settled down and lost its baby fat. On day-2 this was drinking incredibly and paired fantastically with grilled filet mignon, sautéed mushrooms, and potatoes au gratin. Lots of life in this, for sure. If drinking now, give at least an hour of air.
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5/4/2022 - dbkitc wrote: 88 Points
(at Del Frisco's - Boston) Frankly, this was a bit disappointing. Overdone. Way too much oak. Creamed cassis. There is some nice fruit there, I just feel it was obliterated... others may like this way more. (88)
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4/7/2022 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of cassis, talc, plum and black raspberries. Flavors of black raspberries, black cherries, plums and currants. Medium to tart acidity, medium to firm tannin, full bodied. Drink with air or hold.
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3/4/2022 - robmatic wrote: 94 Points
Massive and on the young side.
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1/22/2022 - Birks cellar Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fantastic. Dark, Powerfull and smooth. Elegant tannins. Do not drink this wine without eating some protein based food. Special
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1/8/2022 - paul.guerrero.co Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for several hours and rewarded w a beautiful, mouth watering experience. The 14 still has decades of life, but I wanted to check in on them. Nose was elegant dusty dark berries w touches of lead and herbs. Balanced palette that gives both a hint of sweetness and loads of acidity. Really softened up through the evening, but this structure will hold up for a good long while. Paired w rosemary lamb chops.
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12/22/2021 - tomoem Likes this wine: 94 Points
So here we are nearly 3 years after my last tasting. This has sat in a 61 Degree wine cellar for the last 3 years. The wine is still improving but I get such structure tonight without much decant (under 5 minutes). The wine is beautiful and still only an adolescent worth holding for another few years. Blackberry, some ripe plum, cedar wood, and a vegetable finish at the start. After an hour the mid palette and finish are more closed with tannins overtaking the fruit. Worth holding for 3-5 more years
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12/18/2021 - agsdlswine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Simply a delicious well made Howell Mountain Cab. Couple hour opening before dinner w/beef tenderloin helped as it continued to open up over the next couple hours. Look forward to revisiting w/others going forward. The 2014s are aging well.
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11/7/2021 - VinhoVerde Likes this wine: 90 Points
Smoky vanilla, dill, and dark fruit bouquet. Supple ripe fruit in a mild oak framework. Good length and complexity.
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10/20/2021 - VinoRosso wrote: 92 Points
Somewhat muted although decanted for almost 2 hours. A bit disappointing.
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10/9/2021 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 95 Points
Ummm, ummmm, good! Pnp prior to burgers for dinner, maybe a 92-93. Right from the start, power from the nose and the palate.....jammy, dense cassis in spades! Rich, ripe dark berry fruit, some smokey barrel char and spice. One hour in and everything comes together in better proportion and integration, maybe a 94, but in the 2nd hour it backs off and tightens up a bit, more fennel(?) appears. Fast forward to 4 hours later so 6 hours of air total and this is a real beauty....power and sophistication in one. Nose of classic violets and lead pencil, palate of dark red cherry, raspberry fruit and lingering Chinese 5 spice throughout. It has all come together with a little chalky minerality lending a silky smooth feel to the mouth and it's a 95 in my book given the extended mouth watering finish with just the right amount of acidity. It is amazing how good so many '14s, (thought by many upon release to be the weak link in the glory years of '12 through '16) are now out performing every other vintage, at least in my book. It is perfectly rounded and balanced, with 6 hours of air.
ps....Carol's scoring is in reverse of mine, as she's nothing but a fruit whore and loved the overwhelming cassis up front in that first hour after opening. Her score is 95 at the pnp down to a 93 after 6 hours of air. Obviously, she is wrong.
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7/14/2021 - jcampano Likes this wine: 96 Points
Same notes as prior bottles. Fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon.
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7/14/2021 - jcampano Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great Cabernet Sauvignon. Typical Howell Mountain cab, aromas of crushed rocks and black cherries. Tasty flavors of licorice, blackberry and black cherry with firm tannins and a nice mineral-laced finish.
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7/4/2021 - Philip67 wrote: 90 Points
Despite the following notes this was disappointing versus other wines I have tried by this producer. Soft seductive velvet tannin, fully ready to drink now. Mainly black fruits, accompanied by notes of tobacco, leather and pepper. Zingy acidity provides some lift. Medium length and simple. Drink now and over the next decade.
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6/26/2021 - jcampano Likes this wine: 94 Points
Floral aromas with black cherry, graphite and raspberry. Flavors of blackberry, plum, black cherry and dark chocolate. Grippy tannins and a nice finish.
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1/25/2021 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose of black berry, black cherry, allspice, and spring flowers, same on the palate, big body, mouth filling fruit, very tasty, still young but hard to resist enjoying now, especially with a modest decant, tasted better the second night which suggests drinking over the next 10 years, medium/long finish, 2 photos uploaded, one shows sediment deposits on bottle from first 3 years in the cellar.
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12/7/2020 - bestdamncab wrote: 93 Points
Nose of black berry, rich fruit, and earth, same on the palate, big body, mouth filling fruit, very tasty, still young, and a long finish. Photo uploaded.
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11/13/2020 - jdrhyne Likes this wine: 94 Points
Black berries, floral nose with strong notes of vanilla, sweet dark licorice, spices with a 30 second finish. Missing a bit of complexity in the mid palate that is likely due to age. Took awhile for the alcohol to burn off and probably could sit for another 3 to 5 years. Solid 94 with upside of maybe a point with age.
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10/18/2020 - jcampano Likes this wine: 93 Points
Floral and black fruit aromatics. On the palate, rich dark chocolate with blackberry, plum and black cherry. Some oak and crushed rocks. Silky tannins with a 10-second finish of plum and black cherries.
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9/2/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Enjoyed over 2 nights, better the second night, nose of freshly baked black berry pie, very floral, and black cherry, same om the palate, big body, very tasty, enjoy by itself or with grilled steak, will merit a higher score with 2 years in the cellar, showing well, and a long finish. Photo uploaded.
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6/5/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 95 Points
Nose of black berry, black cherry, briar, and black berry baked pie, on the palate, big body, mouth filling fruit, very tasty, second day and shows peak drinking, enjoy the next year or so, and long, flavorful finish. Photo of the bottle, wine in my glass and freshly cut roses from my garden uploaded.
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4/18/2020 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very nice as always. Benefits from a decant to help open up.
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9/22/2019 - agsdlswine wrote: 93 Points
Young but excellent w/delicious and vibrant fruit shining.
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9/4/2019 - DDempsey wrote:
Steve Herlihy’s Birthday
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8/31/2019 - Lesliewine wrote:
K15
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8/17/2019 - wdcwineguys Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Enjoyed with steak and then after dinner. Beautiful wine. Huge nose of blackberry, plum, some earth and grit, black cherry. Full bodied, well balanced.
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6/2/2019 - kwn70 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Paired with a Ribeye cap. Perfect pairing. Drinking very well right now.
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6/1/2019 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 94 Points
Consistent with prior tastings. Opened for about 1 and a half hours. No decant. That seemed to be enough to enjoy this wine. Drinking very well right now. …...and am not sure it will improve from here. While it will last for a long time, there is no reason not enjoy now.
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5/27/2019 - goldendomer2001 wrote: 94 Points
Wonderfulness in a glass. Hitting on all cylinders.
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5/24/2019 - Dmiller3 wrote: 94 Points
Drinking superbly- will do so for a number of years
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5/20/2019 - EKass Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for an hour and was delicious. Definitely ready to drink with a short decant.
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5/16/2019 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted blind, with a group of heavyweight Napa Cabs. Opened, but not decanted. This was the youngest wine of the group. The 2014s seem to be very approachable young. Almost outstanding, with loads of red fruit and some notes of licorice. It doesn't feel like there was a lot of new oak used. Full bodied with a long finish.
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4/13/2019 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great bottle. Red and black fruit, beautiful nose and vibrant and elegant palate. Wonderful and great for the price point.
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4/6/2019 - pvewino Likes this wine: 94 Points
Amazing wine, An hour after opening the wine really starts to show it's stuff. I saved a glass for the second day, however wasn't as good, I'm sure it won't be hard to drink a bottle in one night! Big, deep, dark, complex. Long finish. Other notes have gone into good detail on the flavor profile, so no need to duplicate that here. This wine is certainly ready to start enjoying now.
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3/30/2019 - Cailles wrote: 94 Points
Informal dinner, no detailed notes. I love how most of the 2014 Napa Cabs are showing these days: ready to drink and less flesh, ripeness and concentration than the 2013s or 2015s. With a good amount of acidity this makes them very balanced and enjoyable at such an early stage while many 2013s seem not yet tamed and ready and the 2015s have often too much baby fat and an overwhelming concentration. This 2014 O’Shaughnessy is no exception: layers of ripe (and rather red) fruit (cherries), violets and minerality in the background embedded in a cool, classic frame with velvety tannins and a perfect acidity. Points deducted for the medium- complexity and delineation. For the elusive 95+ category I missed that special "something". Nevertheless, a very good wine which brings a lot of joy. This wine got roughly one hour in the decanter which seems about right.
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3/17/2019 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 93 Points
Took a little over an hour in the decanter to open up at which point it was quite good. Nice acidity through the midddle, nicely balanced and built on a foundation of red and black fruit.
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2/16/2019 - sabrage Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP. ruby/purple color. Slow legs. Raspberry, cherry, strawberry and other deep red fruit on the nose. Strawberry, coffee and rich fruit palate. Leather texture. Very good balance.
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1/23/2019 - Howdog2001 wrote:
Anniversary wine at Del Frisco’s. Umptious
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1/14/2019 - Dagman Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really liked how this wine has already come together. Good fruit balanced with modest tannins. Structured for the long haul. Looking to replace my one and only bottle with more!
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11/15/2018 - mstag1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened 3+ hrs in advance. No decant. Great dark fruit nose. Similar palate with added earthiness. Long finish. Perfectly integrated. Young and fresh with room for improvement with more age. This is why I love Howell Mountain juice. Glad I have more.
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11/9/2018 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 94 Points
An excellent young Howell Mountain wine. The wine is translucent dark ruby and silky. It is fresh and mouth-watering with nice acidity and ultra fine tannins. Long finish. Missing a little complexity at this stage but potential to age and add more layers.
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11/6/2018 - madalyn Likes this wine: 92 Points
still young but I liked it
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9/3/2018 - dase13 wrote: 88 Points
Color of dark red. Scents of blackberry. Tastes of blackberry and other dark fruit, with some oak, acidity and wound up tannins. Either opened too young or not as good as other prior years such as 2012.
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8/24/2018 - danhenry11 Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Like drinking maple syrup.
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7/6/2018 - DougSamuel Likes this wine:
opened this on my 40th birthday along side a 2012 Dunn Howell Mtn and while both were good, the crowd liked this O'Shaughnessy better.
Tasting was several days ago, so no score or details, but I recall the major difference being approachability. I tasted some diacetyl so the ML may help soften this one earlier than Dunn.
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6/4/2018 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 93 Points
First stop on our ninth day in Napa Valley is to O'Shaughnessy Wine Estate up on Howell Mountain. Second wine is their Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain, which is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the remainder made up of Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, Petit Verdot, and St. Macaire.
Deep ruby red. A touch smokey on the nose with some cinnamon, cassis and red currants. Solid acidity with medium plus tannins (7.5/10) and a full body. Wild brambleberries on the palate with cinnamon, gravel, lavender and raspberries. Dry and long finish with baking spices. Drink till 2035.
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4/24/2018 - Roger Patterson wrote: 93 Points
Baked red cherry cassis jam bramble vanilla. Big flavor balanced with big well integrated tannins.
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4/20/2018 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still very young, dark fruits in the nose and flavor, blackberries and black currants, with licorice, and hints of floral in the nose. Showed nice complexity and a long finish. Wait at least 4-5 years.
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4/17/2018 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened in a restaurant for about 45 minutes....no decant. Might have been better with a decant, but was very good. Classic O'Shaughnessy Cab.
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3/17/2018 - Cellar of Griego Likes this wine: 88 Points
First bottle from EuroCave. Drank very well before dinner and with food.
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3/15/2018 - Noah Wexler Likes this wine: 90 Points
Slightly sweet. May need more time to mellow. Would pair well with steak.
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2/14/2018 - gregbohn Likes this wine: 96 Points
Great balance of fruity and earthy. Very good now but I think the tannins will smooth out a bit more over the next year or two. Will probably be buying some more to hold a while
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2/10/2018 - wineduggery wrote: 93 Points
Bad Monkey nailed the flavor profile. Has potential, but drinking very young now. Hold.
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2/4/2018 - Yack Man wrote:
Attractive, deep rich purple reddish ruby color with a soft but muted nose. On the palate dark extracted tart fruit. Dark berry and dark sour cherry fruit. Showing tight and acidic at this point, but it’s still developing and very young. This one needs bottle age but I do think that it has the stuffing for a much better future. This one reminds me of some of the Rivers Marie Cabernets that l’ve tried before (older vintages, not 2015). Decanting is a must.
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1/28/2018 - Badmonkey wrote: 94 Points
Purple fruit - blackberry, dark currants, dark raspberry, and dark cherry. Smooth mid-palate with nice depth/concentration. Rich flavors of dark berries, some spice, and a little mineral component. Decent finish but not overly long nor deep. Decanted for two hours and drank over another three. Improved with time but drinking pretty well after the decant. However, I believe this vintage will benefit from some more time (another year or two) to let the fruit soften and open-up a little more which is no surprise in light of its youth and quality of fruit. 79% cabernet sauvignon and the rest a blend of malbec, merlot, cabernet franc, carmenère, petit verdot, and St. Macaire.
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1/22/2018 - Keeping It Real wrote: 97 Points
Amazing. The O'Shaughnessy Howell Mountain always always and I mean ALWAYS steals the crowd. Every single Damn time I am at a wide tasting event, people ALWAYS say "Did you try the O'Shaughnessy?" "The O'Shaughnessy was the best by far."
What's up with that? Sick and tired of hearing that shit.
Yes, it was the best of the night @ Wine House Napa tasting event. ($300 Cardinale Cab was a close second for me).
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1/21/2018 - All Is Whale Likes this wine:
@ Wine House (LA) Napa Tasting
Family-owned.
Smooth and sated. When I think of wine, THIS is what I imagine.
Also, while all the others seemed to race to the finish, the slow pace of this caught me off-guard...beautiful and slow. I might just drink O'Shaughnessy from now on. 100% serious.
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1/20/2018 - driz wrote: 96 Points
Reminds me of one of the great Lake County cabs, hard to imagine a cabernet getting much better than this. Once a wine rises to this height, it's more about subtle flavor profiles and personal taste. This 2014 cab has all the right elements, in spades. Wonderful, but very young. Was tight upon opening, drinking beautifully the next day, and after 48 hours had become a saint. I would give it 100 points, but people would talk...
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1/16/2018 - tomoem Likes this wine: 95 Points
The real deal Cabernet but not the perfect example. Decanted for 2 hours and aerated through a vinoturi, the wine is simply not ready. Rather tannic after 2 hours and still closed. That said it is remarkably rich and worthy of the praise I have read. Notes of charchol blackberry and bell pepper. Finish is closed but I can sense its presence with Ceder wood and graphite which holds back the fruit. ........for now. A winner worth finding !
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1/13/2018 - ewasowicz wrote: 95 Points
Nose: a surprisingly refreshing Cab nose of oak, black currant, black berry
Taste: you can tell this has mixtures of other wines I. A cab without making it a blend no am guessing Syrah and Petite star.
Good finish with flavors of blackberry, black cherry and a light tannin.
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1/12/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Winorama: A winter in Wineland II; 1/6/2018-1/14/2018 (Portland, Eureka, Napa): Tasted at the winery. Agree with the previous note - this is still a complete and total baby. There's a nice tannic backbone to it that I imagine will mellow with time but lends the wine some good structure. Lots of red fruits. A bit woodsy. And some black pepper. Very well balanced. Drank next to the Veeder and while I tend to prefer that a bit more, this is always very nice.
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12/31/2017 - bubbachumps wrote: 94 Points
Great wine, great balance. High toned red fruits, tight structure, really nice finish. Well rouded complete wine that is still very much a baby. Needs time int he bottle and it should improve.
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12/26/2017 - rustyRudy wrote: 95 Points
Christmas walk around wine store tasting. No careful tasting notes possible.
WOTN for me. Great cab with mountain fruit, surprisingly drinking well in its youth. Superb, everything I look for in a Cali cab , expensive but reasonably priced for the complexity and quality.
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11/25/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
Dark in color, full bodied, powerful, concentrated wine with a dusty, earthy, black fruit, smoke, licorice nose. There is good fatness to the wine, finishing with juicy, blackberries, blue fruit and chocolate. This should rest for at least a few years, to soften the tannins and bring things further together.
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11/12/2017 - Fishtillidie Likes this wine: 96 Points
Popped and poured at The Dialogue for anniversary dinner.
Color: opaque purple with ruby rim.
Nose: Wow! Ripe Blue and back fruit, spring flowers, vanilla and slight oak. Very intoxicating without the high alcohol common in some mountain fruit.
Palate: great balance between sugar and acidity. Very mild tannins (shocking for Howell fruit) yet silky mouth feel. Medium body. Very elegant.
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10/28/2017 - Boss of the Sauce Likes this wine: 98 Points
Beautiful full-bodied but slightly jammy without being too dry or fruity
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10/17/2017 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 93 Points
Black cherry, slate and pencil shavings. A touch closed but very enjoyable. I really like the fruit out of the 2014s. Very good, lots of upside potential.
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10/13/2017 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Brought to a steakhouse dinner to celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday. Popped and decanted at the table. The initial nose had beautiful primary notes of black fruits (blackberries, black currant), oak, and hints of eucalyptus and licorice. After 1/2 hour in the glass developed more sweet dried fruit notes such as fig and prunes, herbs, and hints of chocolate. Well-balanced despite the near 15% alcohol, smooth and rich with supple tannins. Paired very well with our steaks.
Very drinkable now, but will definitely get a couple more bottles to cellar and see how this evolves over the next 5-10 years.
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3/29/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 94 Points
Howell Mountain Spring Wine Tasting, SF, nose of black cherry, black berry, briar, and a touch of licorice, same on the palate, big body, delicious wine, needs 4 years to peak, one of the top cabernet Sauvignons tasted today, long finish.
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