Opaque purple in the glass. Somewhat muted/austere nose of black fruit, a little something floral and a lot of alcohol. Palate was full bodied, spicy, black fruited and hot. Again the alcohol at 15+% was not helping things in this case. Finish was somewhat hollow but balanced.
Overall this was not a good showing for what I was hoping would be a nice pairing with some beautiful ribeye steaks. Drinkable, and we finished the bottle, but overall disappointing.
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Method: decanted for about 30 minutes; Cab glass; 68 degress
Look: deep ruby
Nose: red fruit, faint tobacco leaf, faint cedar, faint mint; not very expressive
Palate: ripe, somewhat medicinal, cherry; medium+ finish of tobacco, cherry cough syrup, cedar; dry; medium body; medium+ drying tannins; medium acidity
Overall thoughts: Simple and presenting an, off-putting to me, medicinal taste. Tannins are lower quality, especially relative to Napa Cabs. Mediocre wine.
After 2 hours of air, it lost the medicinal note and gained some black pepper. 83 - 84 points.
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Nose of earth, wet mulch, and peppermint notes with a lift of black pepper. Chewy dark chocolate palate that adds cocoa and dark black fruits. Finish of herbs de Provence, black fruits, and massive oak.
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Solid, classy Napa Cab. Aromas of tobacco, mint and black raspberry. Well balanced on the palate between dark fruits, menthol, mint and black pepper. Enjoyed with a great dinner of steak with béarnaise sauce.
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Lots of dark fruits lead the way with a smooth mouth and good balance. To me it has a lot more to go to develop fully. Flavors blend together and not a touch of dryness hitting yet. Hope I can wait a few more years. Peak at 10 to 15 year of age.
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Been enjoying these wines over the years. Not this vintage. An unbalanced mess. On the nose was dark fruits, some oak (not horribly overoaked) and alcohol. The palate was harsh, hot (alcohol) with a rough finish. I read notes about it being better the 2nd day. Not to my taste. It softened somewhat, but the alcohol dominated. Like drinking black cherry cough syrup. Over extracted, overdone. 15.2% and showing every bit of it. Don’t remember this wine being so alcoholic and blowsy in the past.
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Seemed a little oaky the first day but better the second. Agree that this wine is young . If you drink it now definitely should decant for a couple of hours.
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Opened it while firing up the BBQ to reverse sear some ribeyes. Initially, I was thoroughly unimpressed. The fruit was off and the whole thing was just unbalanced. After about 1.5 hours, something changed and the wine became much more well integrates and far more enjoyable. Sadly by this point I was down to the last glass. Blaming myself for this one!
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Nose of cedar, spice, and dark chocolate. Black currant and black cherry oozing with peppery spice along with a firm pencil lead streak. Chewy tannins, black cherry, charcoal, and long lingering oak. Drink over the next 5 years.
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Dark cherry, currants, clove, cinnamon, pipe tobacco, cedar, sweet vanilla (definitely a lot of oak characteristics on this wine as usual). This wine is balanced and comes together well on the finish. This was a PnP, but I’ll check back in if my impressions change much after a couple hours or so. Very nice.
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Serious juice. Took 2 hours to hit its stride but once it got there is was superb. Chewy tannins, cherry pie nose and just a very balanced and well rounded wine. Will improve with cellaring. 94+. Classic napa cab.
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Coravin test run: Poured one glass using Coravin (thanks, Sue, Jon, Jess and Devin). Nearly opaque in the glass. Nose of cassis, vanilla, granite and a floral hint as well. Full bodied and very enjoyable. Palate was mouth coating and silky with the cassis and vanilla notes dominating a lengthy finish.
Was hard not to open the rest of the bottle.
Took a second glass somewhere in June/July - no notes.
Opened the rest of the bottle 10/8/20; still fresh (props to Coravin). Nose and palate still had cassis and vanilla but picked up a lot of dark red fruit as well. Great stuff. Had a little on its own but enjoyed it even more with TJ's cabernet marinated pot roast with red potatoes and broccoli.
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Seriously good. In comparison to last night's 2015 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (not estate reserve - which was really delicious), this offering takes things to the next level. It is elegant, rich and voluptuous (as someone else noted) with a nose of flowers and berry sweetness. First taste was cherry pie, blackberry, baking spices and stone fruit. Tannins, while present, are not strong which might indicate a shorter cellar life ahead, but by no means does that mean it will not get better in the years to come. With a grilled rib-eye, its a match made in heaven. Well done!
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Beautiful wine. Black cherry and leather aromas. Cherry preserves, oak, licorice, vanilla flavors with medium round tannins. Plush, medium to full body, not as full as I was expecting. Nice acidity with some effervescence in the beginning. Very long 30 second finish. 93-94 now, maybe this goes to 95+ with some time.
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Wow! This is not shy, nor meek. However, there is so much finesse, with a voluptuous body. Long and fleshy, with round tannins that continue to enrapture. Blackberry, black tea, clove, cave wall, granite and savory red fruit. Full-bodied and sublimely balanced. So much astounding character. Decant or wait a year. Drink now - 2034.
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This wine has nice dark fruit on the nose with a touch of leather. It is nicely balanced with a good level of acidity. A couple more years will make it even better, but I am not sure this one will be able to be cellared as long as some of their previous vintages. The tannins seem a little less prominent than I would expect at this age.
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My, oh my ... the purity of Cabernet fruit and kaleidoscope of flavor is utterly addicting. Black cherry, plumb sauce, blueberry, flower shop and chiseled cement. Not even in bottle yet, this is so approachable and well-defined it is almost ridiculous. This has to be the best Cabernet Reserve yet. Silky tannins and so tasty. 95 - 97 points.
2/18/2023 - Nbkat8 wrote: 93 Points
Dark berries surround gritty tannins that make this a very desirable wine. Would have guessed 100% cab here but this is cut with some Merlot.
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11/18/2022 - slulkin wrote: 87 Points
Opaque purple in the glass. Somewhat muted/austere nose of black fruit, a little something floral and a lot of alcohol. Palate was full bodied, spicy, black fruited and hot. Again the alcohol at 15+% was not helping things in this case. Finish was somewhat hollow but balanced.
Overall this was not a good showing for what I was hoping would be a nice pairing with some beautiful ribeye steaks. Drinkable, and we finished the bottle, but overall disappointing.
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11/10/2022 - lachord Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark ruby color with light buttery hints of blueberry and cherry.
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9/4/2022 - JRockEsq wrote: 83 Points
Method: decanted for about 30 minutes; Cab glass; 68 degress
Look: deep ruby
Nose: red fruit, faint tobacco leaf, faint cedar, faint mint; not very expressive
Palate: ripe, somewhat medicinal, cherry; medium+ finish of tobacco, cherry cough syrup, cedar; dry; medium body; medium+ drying tannins; medium acidity
Overall thoughts: Simple and presenting an, off-putting to me, medicinal taste. Tannins are lower quality, especially relative to Napa Cabs. Mediocre wine.
After 2 hours of air, it lost the medicinal note and gained some black pepper. 83 - 84 points.
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9/4/2022 - AlyssaRock12 Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Nose: red fruit, cedar, baking spices, very light mint
Taste: ripe, juicy red fruit; medicinal cherry; full - body; medium - acidity;
I don’t like this. It’s very fruity and the structure feels off.
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8/26/2022 - twither Likes this wine: 95 Points
Really good.
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11/17/2021 - VAGenius wrote: 90 Points
Nose of earth, wet mulch, and peppermint notes with a lift of black pepper. Chewy dark chocolate palate that adds cocoa and dark black fruits. Finish of herbs de Provence, black fruits, and massive oak.
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10/30/2021 - DrBad Likes this wine: 94 Points
Solid, classy Napa Cab. Aromas of tobacco, mint and black raspberry. Well balanced on the palate between dark fruits, menthol, mint and black pepper. Enjoyed with a great dinner of steak with béarnaise sauce.
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7/31/2021 - ascharff Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nicely balanced, good fruit and soft tannins, was a crowd pleaser.
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7/25/2021 - mafesa2 wrote:
With Joanne and Q
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6/18/2021 - John15:5 wrote: 95 Points
Wow. Fantastic Napa cab. Nose. Palate. Finish. It's all there. Beautiful. Well done. 95.
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5/23/2021 - Wine_in_HD wrote: 95 Points
Has much improved over the last year or two.
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3/28/2021 - dfusina wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic.
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3/16/2021 - NOClawz wrote: 93 Points
Decant for an hour. Give it till 2023
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3/2/2021 - wtianseter wrote: 92 Points
Lots of dark fruits lead the way with a smooth mouth and good balance. To me it has a lot more to go to develop fully. Flavors blend together and not a touch of dryness hitting yet. Hope I can wait a few more years. Peak at 10 to 15 year of age.
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11/30/2020 - WineDuq Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Been enjoying these wines over the years. Not this vintage. An unbalanced mess. On the nose was dark fruits, some oak (not horribly overoaked) and alcohol. The palate was harsh, hot (alcohol) with a rough finish. I read notes about it being better the 2nd day. Not to my taste. It softened somewhat, but the alcohol dominated. Like drinking black cherry cough syrup. Over extracted, overdone. 15.2% and showing every bit of it. Don’t remember this wine being so alcoholic and blowsy in the past.
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10/30/2020 - Wine_in_HD wrote: 91 Points
Seemed a little oaky the first day but better the second. Agree that this wine is young . If you drink it now definitely should decant for a couple of hours.
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8/14/2020 - HolyBejeesus Likes this wine:
Opened it while firing up the BBQ to reverse sear some ribeyes. Initially, I was thoroughly unimpressed. The fruit was off and the whole thing was just unbalanced. After about 1.5 hours, something changed and the wine became much more well integrates and far more enjoyable. Sadly by this point I was down to the last glass. Blaming myself for this one!
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7/26/2020 - VAGenius wrote: 91 Points
Nose of cedar, spice, and dark chocolate. Black currant and black cherry oozing with peppery spice along with a firm pencil lead streak. Chewy tannins, black cherry, charcoal, and long lingering oak. Drink over the next 5 years.
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6/12/2020 - shaw wrote: 91 Points
Overrated
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5/19/2020 - pakabear Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark cherry, currants, clove, cinnamon, pipe tobacco, cedar, sweet vanilla (definitely a lot of oak characteristics on this wine as usual). This wine is balanced and comes together well on the finish. This was a PnP, but I’ll check back in if my impressions change much after a couple hours or so. Very nice.
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5/13/2020 - pas.vino Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful wine. I agree it’s young and needs at least two hours to chill and reveal all of its goodness. It’s young! I wish I had more!
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4/12/2020 - Jqnt1077 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Serious juice. Took 2 hours to hit its stride but once it got there is was superb. Chewy tannins, cherry pie nose and just a very balanced and well rounded wine. Will improve with cellaring. 94+. Classic napa cab.
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3/18/2020 - slulkin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Coravin test run:
Poured one glass using Coravin (thanks, Sue, Jon, Jess and Devin). Nearly opaque in the glass. Nose of cassis, vanilla, granite and a floral hint as well. Full bodied and very enjoyable. Palate was mouth coating and silky with the cassis and vanilla notes dominating a lengthy finish.
Was hard not to open the rest of the bottle.
Took a second glass somewhere in June/July - no notes.
Opened the rest of the bottle 10/8/20; still fresh (props to Coravin). Nose and palate still had cassis and vanilla but picked up a lot of dark red fruit as well. Great stuff. Had a little on its own but enjoyed it even more with TJ's cabernet marinated pot roast with red potatoes and broccoli.
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12/23/2019 - kingboo wrote: 95 Points
Yeah, it's that good.
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12/16/2019 - jwhisler wrote: 95 Points
Bold, complex wine with exceptional finish. Lick-the-glass delicious.
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11/29/2019 - Bloms wrote:
Monica
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11/22/2019 - ChopperWine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Seriously good. In comparison to last night's 2015 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (not estate reserve - which was really delicious), this offering takes things to the next level. It is elegant, rich and voluptuous (as someone else noted) with a nose of flowers and berry sweetness. First taste was cherry pie, blackberry, baking spices and stone fruit. Tannins, while present, are not strong which might indicate a shorter cellar life ahead, but by no means does that mean it will not get better in the years to come. With a grilled rib-eye, its a match made in heaven. Well done!
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6/17/2019 - Disruptsmith Likes this wine: 94 Points
Black fruits, big tannins
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3/17/2019 - DrBad Likes this wine: 95 Points
Even better than last bottle. Cherry and menthol aromas. Big cherry jam and leather with mouth coating tannins and a long finish.
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11/16/2018 - DrBad Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful wine. Black cherry and leather aromas. Cherry preserves, oak, licorice, vanilla flavors with medium round tannins. Plush, medium to full body, not as full as I was expecting. Nice acidity with some effervescence in the beginning. Very long 30 second finish. 93-94 now, maybe this goes to 95+ with some time.
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7/14/2018 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow! This is not shy, nor meek. However, there is so much finesse, with a voluptuous body. Long and fleshy, with round tannins that continue to enrapture. Blackberry, black tea, clove, cave wall, granite and savory red fruit. Full-bodied and sublimely balanced. So much astounding character. Decant or wait a year. Drink now - 2034.
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4/15/2018 - dpohlman Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine has nice dark fruit on the nose with a touch of leather. It is nicely balanced with a good level of acidity. A couple more years will make it even better, but I am not sure this one will be able to be cellared as long as some of their previous vintages. The tannins seem a little less prominent than I would expect at this age.
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3/19/2017 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 96 Points
My, oh my ... the purity of Cabernet fruit and kaleidoscope of flavor is utterly addicting. Black cherry, plumb sauce, blueberry, flower shop and chiseled cement. Not even in bottle yet, this is so approachable and well-defined it is almost ridiculous. This has to be the best Cabernet Reserve yet. Silky tannins and so tasty. 95 - 97 points.
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