Tasted next to the 15 Quilceda Creek and I much preferred this to the QC. Decanted for 30 minutes with wonderfully balanced reddish fruit, incense and spice on the nose and a long smooth but structured finish. Really good juice!
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This did improve with air, but it came across as too plum driven and heavy for me. Dark fruit notes were present, but were obscured by the heavy plum notes I got from it. Disappointing given the label
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Nose The wine exhibits pronounced, developing aromas of dried red blossoms, black cherry, black plum, blackberry jam, vanilla, cedar, coconut, dusty earth, roasted red meat, and tried thyme.
Palate The wine is dry with a full body, high acid, medium (+) tannins, medium (+) alcohol, and exhibits pronounced flavors of black cherry, red cherry, blackberry, black plum, currant, bell pepper, white pepper, and sage with a long finish.
Conclusion The quality of this wine is outstanding. Not as full bodied as some of its Napa Valley cabernet neighbors. Excellent finesse, great balance. Excellent now and will age well. Delicious. Life and wine are good!
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2 hour decant and firing on all cylinders. Complex wine with good depth. Everything in place for a Cabernet. Excellent wine and not even their Dalla Valle Maya.
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(at Roots Steakhouse - Summit NJ) Just fantastic. Ripe for sure yet red fruited with nice balancing structure. Evolved over a few hours and complexity emerged. Great finish. My favorite of the California trio this evening. (95)
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Four hour decant. Rich dried raisin, cacao, sugar cookie, cinnamon, honey tobacco, violet, green pepper, anise, banana peel, and subtle black pepper on the complex nose. Smooth, dry, somewhat spicy palate, with lush acidity. Firm, full tannins on the long finish. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
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4/27/2024 - AboveAvgBro wrote: 93 Points
Great valley floor Cabernet from a world-class vineyard. Complex and finessed once the wine got some air.
Blackberry, cassis, spice, tobacco, violet, light mature herbs and light earth. Powerful oakville fruit with a more finessed approach. Well done!
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12/22/2023 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted next to the 15 Quilceda Creek and I much preferred this to the QC. Decanted for 30 minutes with wonderfully balanced reddish fruit, incense and spice on the nose and a long smooth but structured finish. Really good juice!
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6/10/2023 - Bryanb2002 wrote: 92 Points
This did improve with air, but it came across as too plum driven and heavy for me. Dark fruit notes were present, but were obscured by the heavy plum notes I got from it. Disappointing given the label
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4/27/2022 - Libbidog wrote: 95 Points
Appearance
The wine is a clear deep ruby.
Nose
The wine exhibits pronounced, developing aromas of dried red blossoms, black cherry, black plum, blackberry jam, vanilla, cedar, coconut, dusty earth, roasted red meat, and tried thyme.
Palate
The wine is dry with a full body, high acid, medium (+) tannins, medium (+) alcohol, and exhibits pronounced flavors of black cherry, red cherry, blackberry, black plum, currant, bell pepper, white pepper, and sage with a long finish.
Conclusion
The quality of this wine is outstanding. Not as full bodied as some of its Napa Valley cabernet neighbors. Excellent finesse, great balance. Excellent now and will age well. Delicious. Life and wine are good!
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8/11/2021 - KTelaak_Buffalo Likes this wine: 95 Points
2 hour decant and firing on all cylinders. Complex wine with good depth. Everything in place for a Cabernet. Excellent wine and not even their Dalla Valle Maya.
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7/20/2021 - dbkitc wrote: 95 Points
(at Roots Steakhouse - Summit NJ) Just fantastic. Ripe for sure yet red fruited with nice balancing structure. Evolved over a few hours and complexity emerged. Great finish. My favorite of the California trio this evening. (95)
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5/18/2021 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 97 Points
Four hour decant. Rich dried raisin, cacao, sugar cookie, cinnamon, honey tobacco, violet, green pepper, anise, banana peel, and subtle black pepper on the complex nose. Smooth, dry, somewhat spicy palate, with lush acidity. Firm, full tannins on the long finish. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
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10/20/2020 - DWStyle Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still young, needs 3 years at least. Great potential!
Needs more bottle time to unlock its tremendous potential IMO.
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10/31/2018 - Mascarello59 wrote:
Cool retrained style more towards Bordeaux. No notes taken. Check out if you get a chance.
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10/27/2018 - SlimShaney Likes this wine: 92 Points
Super drinkable straight up the fairway cab.
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