From a magnum purchased at Wine Exchange last year. Fantastic bottle, a mature claret with complexity, balance, poise. Well admired in a diverse group of wine and non-wine people.
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Mushrooms and dark berries on the nose with a hint of vanilla. Mellowed tannins make for a plush silky mouth feel. Tart blueberry, pencil lead, leather, black current, and pomegranate make for a lovely experience. Drinking beautifully.
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Holding up well. This is a nice mellow left bank like experience. Soft integrated tannins with black fruit, herbs, graphite and vanilla. Drinking well now so I would recommend drinking up.
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Smooth plummy flavors with hints of green tobacco courtesy of the generous proportion of cabernet franc. I'd say this is in an enjoyable place now but will probably continue to develop for years.
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Deep color, fragrant nose, nice combination of Cab, Cab Franc and Merlot, initially week on the palate, but over time a real depth of flavor appeared. Very nice.
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Still drinking well, but probably not for much longer. No green notes, good fruit, nice smoky aroma from the cabernet franc. I was impressed at how good this was compared to some other 95 California blends I've had recently.
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Big on the nose, very californian. Some umami and earth. body has mellowed. With some air it developed complexity. Still had significant fruit on the body. Though clearly an older wine it had held up well. mid palate was probably it's weekest link as the profile was somewhat canoe shaped.
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Wow! for a '95, which I had since release, but it wasn't stored properly, this was simply amazing! Intensly ripe fruit, lots of dark chocolate, mocha, espresso and some still very fresh herbal notes. Impressive on the palate, and quite long on the finish. A real surprise, and quite a treat!
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11/2/2023 - Counselor Chris wrote:
From a magnum purchased at Wine Exchange last year. Fantastic bottle, a mature claret with complexity, balance, poise. Well admired in a diverse group of wine and non-wine people.
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11/5/2016 - Tannic Monster Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mushrooms and dark berries on the nose with a hint of vanilla. Mellowed tannins make for a plush silky mouth feel. Tart blueberry, pencil lead, leather, black current, and pomegranate make for a lovely experience. Drinking beautifully.
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9/18/2016 - Tannic Monster Likes this wine: 92 Points
Holding up well. This is a nice mellow left bank like experience.
Soft integrated tannins with black fruit, herbs, graphite and vanilla.
Drinking well now so I would recommend drinking up.
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3/18/2016 - MC2 Wines wrote:
Tampa Spring Break (the abridged version); 3/17/2016-3/18/2016 (Various Tampa locations (Mise en Place, Ocean Prime, etc.)): Still youngish although age comes through on the mid-palette. Some oak. Interesting wine and going stronger than I would have expected.
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2/3/2015 - DSP Likes this wine:
Smooth plummy flavors with hints of green tobacco courtesy of the generous proportion of cabernet franc. I'd say this is in an enjoyable place now but will probably continue to develop for years.
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11/11/2013 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep color, fragrant nose, nice combination of Cab, Cab Franc and Merlot, initially week on the palate, but over time a real depth of flavor appeared. Very nice.
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11/30/2011 - Catnapped wrote: 91 Points
Still drinking well, but probably not for much longer. No green notes, good fruit, nice smoky aroma from the cabernet franc. I was impressed at how good this was compared to some other 95 California blends I've had recently.
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3/30/2011 - pdemaio wrote: 92 Points
Big on the nose, very californian. Some umami and earth. body has mellowed. With some air it developed complexity. Still had significant fruit on the body. Though clearly an older wine it had held up well. mid palate was probably it's weekest link as the profile was somewhat canoe shaped.
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7/9/2005 - beaunehead wrote: 92 Points
Wow! for a '95, which I had since release, but it wasn't stored properly, this was simply amazing! Intensly ripe fruit, lots of dark chocolate, mocha, espresso and some still very fresh herbal notes. Impressive on the palate, and quite long on the finish. A real surprise, and quite a treat!
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