Ripe and plush, a bit one dimensional and obvious, maybe will integrate and evolve, unsure. Drank alongside good bordeaux over 4 hours, was stuttering in that company.
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If the wife likes it, I guess it is great. Ok, review: Dark color; aromas of blackberries, forest and flint; flavors of blackberry, currant, and boysenberry; a very smooth body wine with mild acidity and tannins. I easily see another 3-5 years in bottle, however, this wine is drinking very well now, so enjoy. Is it worth the money...Yes.
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From 375ml. Drank upon PNP and finished within a few hours. Nose is mostly primary but already very well balanced. No dominating vanilla or woody notes. Beautifully layered blueberry, cassis palate with a nice mocha and licorice underbelly. Yogurt-y finish, acidic and creamy.
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Balanced and fragrant bouquet, ripe black and blue fruits, dark chocolate, cigar box, star anise and graphite. Classy and sophisticated nose. Persistent palate, rich, fresh and harmonious. Almost full-bodied structure which is polished and open. Seamless transition from entry to finish. Aftertaste of gentle ripe fruit, clove and licorice. This needs an hour in the decanter, potential for further aging for the next 3 years. A wine that will last for at least 15 years.
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Opened on a Saturday and finished on Monday. At PNP the dark cherry was front and center with bright acidity. On day three after slow ox in the bottle developed dark broadening bramble, tobacco, roasted espresso notes. The sweet spot might have been day two which I did not approach. 15 Altagracia deliveries the goods if you like quality Calistoga fruit from a storied vineyard at a second wine price. Yes please!
Decanted 2 hrs. Still very tannic. I like Jancis Robinson's comment that the is a savory element to the wine. I wonder if this is a result of the 5% Petite Verdot in the blend. This wine shows nice potential and will merit a higher score in a few years. There is character lurking beneath the tannins. Drink 2024-2029.
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PNP- Consumed over two days. Takes a few hours to open up and was most enjoyable on day two. Very approachable for a 2015 so no downside on enjoying now. Very balanced acids and smooth tannin structure. Fruit is not overpowering considering the vintage.
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Courtesy of R&D, popped and poured. Cassis, black currant and chocolate notes. Full-bodied with fine, sweet tannins. The palate mirrors the bouquet, with wonderful ripe black fruit and a lingering finish. There's a lushness to the wine that, for Domino and I both, pushes this ahead of the Derenoncourt for red of the night honors. Excellent.
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Pure, lean and balanced. I think this will improve with some bottle age and integration of the wood. Tightly wound at this time. This bottling has a lot to give. Next time more air. Took this from cocktails (swiss cheese) thru dinner baked cod and then incredibly delicious with an almond coconut torte after dinner.
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It’s fairly light and easy-going for a Napa Cab but lacks real depth and much character. There are ripe and somewhat jammy flavors of cassis and dark berries with a nice kick of Napa earthiness and a moderate finish with smooth tannins. I had this sandwiched in between an ‘09 Calon-Segur and ‘15 Saffredi La Pupille and those wines were much more interesting and kept drawing me back for another sip while this just laid in the glass.
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Eisele truly is a grand cru vineyard of California. Featuring chocolate, licorice, tobacco leaf, mint, fig, and dark cherries. Finishes long with dusty tannins. Initially shy, this opened up after all day slow ox. It is hard to believe this is the second wine.
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No notes. PnP wonderful bouquet with a great palate however this time around, finishes with a touch of bitterness not previously identified. Would assume this will integrate but not sure. I would hold another year to see how this develops. Curious as I have really enjoyed these thus far.
30 minutes in the glass. This wine is already velvety with wonderful structure showing this has years left. Can’t believe how good this second wine is- super excited for estate Cabernet it is that good. Dry black cherries, fresh plums, maybe a touch of earth. Very very good. Best Altagracia (‘15 or earlier).
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Fresh, live, elegant and pure, the wine offers refined, sweet, dark cherry notes, licorice, thyme and cigar leaf notes. You can enjoy this wine on release and for at least another 10-15 more years.
Winorama: A winter in Wineland III; 1/4/2019-1/13/2019 (Portland/Willamette, Eureka, Napa): For me the surprise of the tasting. First time visiting the property and I feel like I understand it a lot better now. I had always thought of the Altagracia as the second wine and in fact I think it's better described as the blend versus the straight cab. From some different vineyards on the property. A place where both CF and PV are planted. This wine really had a nice elegance to it. It's both fruity and floral in nature. A bit darker in style. Very approach able now. The blend seems to soften the cab down some. I think though there's a lot to be said for waiting on this one.
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This is a really well made bottle with very interesting and evolving characters.
Medium body. Initially, it smells ripe green pepper, tastes slightly subdued and covered by tannin at first, quite close and actually a little surprising given the vintage. After around 40 minutes in the decanter, started to show high tone red fruit on the nose, a little bitter mocha on the tongue but still very little fruit. After an hour an half in the decanter, it started to really opened now, showing bright red fruit flavor and very nice acidity. Three hours after opening, it showed gorgeous plum, spice and cassis. Well balanced with mellow tannin.
Given the initial closeness of the wine, it should stay in cellar for a year or so longer, but very enjoyable once opens up.
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Now this is a great second label. 375 so it will have aged faster than the 750.
PnP 30 minutes in glass. First sip nothing but dark cassis and then maybe black cherries and licorice pinned to a earthy underdone. Surprised how much I enjoyed as the Altagracia has not really gained my interest in the past. Really enjoyable 93-94.
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5/9/2024 - jaxpaj wrote: 95 Points
Wonderful wine to start the night. Gentle yet plenty of character and depth.
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1/15/2024 - mzises wrote:
2hr decant!
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5/20/2023 - jmoon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ripe and plush, a bit one dimensional and obvious, maybe will integrate and evolve, unsure. Drank alongside good bordeaux over 4 hours, was stuttering in that company.
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3/23/2023 - Mortgage92 Likes this wine: 94 Points
If the wife likes it, I guess it is great. Ok, review: Dark color; aromas of blackberries, forest and flint; flavors of blackberry, currant, and boysenberry; a very smooth body wine with mild acidity and tannins. I easily see another 3-5 years in bottle, however, this wine is drinking very well now, so enjoy. Is it worth the money...Yes.
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11/21/2022 - Stufonhead Likes this wine: 94 Points
From 375ml. Drank upon PNP and finished within a few hours. Nose is mostly primary but already very well balanced. No dominating vanilla or woody notes. Beautifully layered blueberry, cassis palate with a nice mocha and licorice underbelly. Yogurt-y finish, acidic and creamy.
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7/16/2022 - Psdycp Likes this wine: 94 Points
Balanced and fragrant bouquet, ripe black and blue fruits, dark chocolate, cigar box, star anise and graphite. Classy and sophisticated nose. Persistent palate, rich, fresh and harmonious. Almost full-bodied structure which is polished and open. Seamless transition from entry to finish. Aftertaste of gentle ripe fruit, clove and licorice. This needs an hour in the decanter, potential for further aging for the next 3 years. A wine that will last for at least 15 years.
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7/11/2022 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened on a Saturday and finished on Monday. At PNP the dark cherry was front and center with bright acidity. On day three after slow ox in the bottle developed dark broadening bramble, tobacco, roasted espresso notes. The sweet spot might have been day two which I did not approach. 15 Altagracia deliveries the goods if you like quality Calistoga fruit from a storied vineyard at a second wine price. Yes please!
Drink or hold.
94+
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6/21/2022 - Stufonhead Likes this wine: 94 Points
From a half bottle, this is still young. Took about 4 hours of air before it opened up fully, and when it did, oh my it was so well-rounded.
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9/19/2021 - Cigar Dave wrote:
By 2023
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7/31/2021 - curtr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 2 hrs. Still very tannic. I like Jancis Robinson's comment that the is a savory element to the wine. I wonder if this is a result of the 5% Petite Verdot in the blend. This wine shows nice potential and will merit a higher score in a few years. There is character lurking beneath the tannins. Drink 2024-2029.
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4/4/2021 - RonniePiemonte wrote: 90 Points
Still tight and little hard. Softened up with time in the glass. Easter dinner crown roast of pork.
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9/25/2020 - Kenny_Powers wrote: 88 Points
This is probably closer to 90 but for this price point I won't be getting any more compared to others in this range. Disappointing.
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7/6/2020 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 94 Points
PNP- Consumed over two days. Takes a few hours to open up and was most enjoyable on day two. Very approachable for a 2015 so no downside on enjoying now. Very balanced acids and smooth tannin structure. Fruit is not overpowering considering the vintage.
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6/13/2020 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Courtesy of R&D, popped and poured. Cassis, black currant and chocolate notes. Full-bodied with fine, sweet tannins. The palate mirrors the bouquet, with wonderful ripe black fruit and a lingering finish. There's a lushness to the wine that, for Domino and I both, pushes this ahead of the Derenoncourt for red of the night honors. Excellent.
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5/8/2020 - RonniePiemonte wrote: 90 Points
Pure, lean and balanced. I think this will improve with some bottle age and integration of the wood.
Tightly wound at this time. This bottling has a lot to give. Next time more air.
Took this from cocktails (swiss cheese) thru dinner baked cod and then incredibly delicious with an almond coconut torte after dinner.
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5/8/2020 - dream wrote: 87 Points
It’s fairly light and easy-going for a Napa Cab but lacks real depth and much character. There are ripe and somewhat jammy flavors of cassis and dark berries with a nice kick of Napa earthiness and a moderate finish with smooth tannins. I had this sandwiched in between an ‘09 Calon-Segur and ‘15 Saffredi La Pupille and those wines were much more interesting and kept drawing me back for another sip while this just laid in the glass.
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4/9/2020 - jgreco Likes this wine: 97 Points
Eisele truly is a grand cru vineyard of California. Featuring chocolate, licorice, tobacco leaf, mint, fig, and dark cherries. Finishes long with dusty tannins. Initially shy, this opened up after all day slow ox. It is hard to believe this is the second wine.
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3/14/2020 - tonyhuang Likes this wine: 93 Points
Packed with power, enjoyed over 3 days and kept on evolving, getting more and more lovely as it opens up.
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1/23/2020 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 91 Points
No notes. PnP wonderful bouquet with a great palate however this time around, finishes with a touch of bitterness not previously identified. Would assume this will integrate but not sure. I would hold another year to see how this develops. Curious as I have really enjoyed these thus far.
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11/1/2019 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted at Halpern Grand Cru; favourite wine of the show - concentrated cocoa and black licorice - amazing finish
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9/13/2019 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 93 Points
30 minutes in the glass. This wine is already velvety with wonderful structure showing this has years left. Can’t believe how good this second wine is- super excited for estate Cabernet it is that good. Dry black cherries, fresh plums, maybe a touch of earth. Very very good. Best Altagracia (‘15 or earlier).
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2/9/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Fresh, live, elegant and pure, the wine offers refined, sweet, dark cherry notes, licorice, thyme and cigar leaf notes. You can enjoy this wine on release and for at least another 10-15 more years.
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2/2/2019 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 92 Points
Way to tight and didn't show much after two days of sampling. I would leave this one alone and give it some time.
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1/10/2019 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Winorama: A winter in Wineland III; 1/4/2019-1/13/2019 (Portland/Willamette, Eureka, Napa): For me the surprise of the tasting. First time visiting the property and I feel like I understand it a lot better now. I had always thought of the Altagracia as the second wine and in fact I think it's better described as the blend versus the straight cab. From some different vineyards on the property. A place where both CF and PV are planted. This wine really had a nice elegance to it. It's both fruity and floral in nature. A bit darker in style. Very approach able now. The blend seems to soften the cab down some. I think though there's a lot to be said for waiting on this one.
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12/7/2018 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 93 Points
Hasn’t changed in two months (obviously). 93-94
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10/30/2018 - tonyhuang Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is a really well made bottle with very interesting and evolving characters.
Medium body. Initially, it smells ripe green pepper, tastes slightly subdued and covered by tannin at first, quite close and actually a little surprising given the vintage. After around 40 minutes in the decanter, started to show high tone red fruit on the nose, a little bitter mocha on the tongue but still very little fruit. After an hour an half in the decanter, it started to really opened now, showing bright red fruit flavor and very nice acidity. Three hours after opening, it showed gorgeous plum, spice and cassis. Well balanced with mellow tannin.
Given the initial closeness of the wine, it should stay in cellar for a year or so longer, but very enjoyable once opens up.
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10/12/2018 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 93 Points
Now this is a great second label. 375 so it will have aged faster than the 750.
PnP 30 minutes in glass. First sip nothing but dark cassis and then maybe black cherries and licorice pinned to a earthy underdone. Surprised how much I enjoyed as the Altagracia has not really gained my interest in the past. Really enjoyable 93-94.
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2/21/2018 - mattiasjansson wrote: 92 Points
Eisele Vineyard Tasting (Gordon's): Medium-dark red. Great fruit. A bit angular. More interesting than the 2013
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