Consistent tasting note from when I posted a note on this wine back in December. This is hands down one of my favorite bottles of California Cabernet. This is an incredibly well made wine that is drinking so well right now even after a short 30 minute decant. Loved it.
As a guy who prefers old world wine vs new world, I absolutely loved this bottle of wine. It is probably one of the best bottles of California Cabernet that I’ve had in recent memory. Incredibly balanced where fruit, acidity, alcohol, and tannin were in an almost perfect measure. This is how California Cabernet should be made. The finish was so pure and so long that it went on for over a minute. Decanted for an hour but it was great straight out of the bottle too.
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Decanted this 3 hours and took to a wine bar to drink for Friendsgiving. This wasn't as smooth as my last bottle nor as powerful. This could have used more air.
Purple in color with flavors of black currant, blackberry, dark cherry violets, and cedar. The fruit didn't have the same burst as the last bottle I had 18 months ago. I feel like maybe the bottle is transitioning a bit. I will hold my last bottle for another year.
This bottle was a 95+ for me. Just a touch better then a Realm Bard which is not good enough at this price point.
I went to a Staglin tasting of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 estate bottling and 2017, 2018 Salus (Staglin's second label) at A Hidden Vine wine bar. The 2016 was by far the best vintage for me and I went home with a couple of bottles.
Cracked this bottle about 6 months ago. This was a stunning wine but it definitely needed some air. I decanted this 4 hours before drinking. This is a full bodied wine with great fruit but also the structure that the 2016 vintage provides you. A dark purple wine that is black fruited with juicy blackberry, black currant, and black cherry. This adds notes of tobacco, cedar and a touch of rosemary. This is at the top of my wine buying at $300 but for me was worth every penny. As a side note the Salus is also one of my go to wines at a $100. I am always appreciative of the opportunity to taste a wine in this price range before buying.
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Beautiful! Restrained fruit on the nose and palate but still expressive and well balanced. Nice acidity. Decanter and drank over 1.5 hours. Would decant 2 and drink over 2.
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2/27/2024 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Consistent tasting note from when I posted a note on this wine back in December. This is hands down one of my favorite bottles of California Cabernet. This is an incredibly well made wine that is drinking so well right now even after a short 30 minute decant. Loved it.
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1/18/2024 - Blue Jay Likes this wine: 98 Points
Silky smooth tannins and flavors of blackberries, plum, mocha and leather with complex layers and a long finish
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12/14/2023 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 96 Points
As a guy who prefers old world wine vs new world, I absolutely loved this bottle of wine. It is probably one of the best bottles of California Cabernet that I’ve had in recent memory. Incredibly balanced where fruit, acidity, alcohol, and tannin were in an almost perfect measure. This is how California Cabernet should be made. The finish was so pure and so long that it went on for over a minute. Decanted for an hour but it was great straight out of the bottle too.
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11/22/2023 - RayT Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted this 3 hours and took to a wine bar to drink for Friendsgiving. This wasn't as smooth as my last bottle nor as powerful. This could have used more air.
Purple in color with flavors of black currant, blackberry, dark cherry violets, and cedar. The fruit didn't have the same burst as the last bottle I had 18 months ago. I feel like maybe the bottle is transitioning a bit. I will hold my last bottle for another year.
This bottle was a 95+ for me. Just a touch better then a Realm Bard which is not good enough at this price point.
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10/29/2023 - Bwallace Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wow, just an amazing cab! Clicking on all cylinders all the way to the last sip.
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5/22/2023 - Isaac L Likes this wine: 91 Points
Napa Walkabout Tasting @ Park 90 – richer undertones compared to the Salus. Vanilla, integrated tannins.
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1/23/2023 - RayT Likes this wine: 97 Points
I went to a Staglin tasting of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 estate bottling and 2017, 2018 Salus (Staglin's second label) at A Hidden Vine wine bar. The 2016 was by far the best vintage for me and I went home with a couple of bottles.
Cracked this bottle about 6 months ago. This was a stunning wine but it definitely needed some air. I decanted this 4 hours before drinking. This is a full bodied wine with great fruit but also the structure that the 2016 vintage provides you. A dark purple wine that is black fruited with juicy blackberry, black currant, and black cherry. This adds notes of tobacco, cedar and a touch of rosemary. This is at the top of my wine buying at $300 but for me was worth every penny. As a side note the Salus is also one of my go to wines at a $100. I am always appreciative of the opportunity to taste a wine in this price range before buying.
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9/4/2022 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 96 Points
Beautiful! Restrained fruit on the nose and palate but still expressive and well balanced. Nice acidity. Decanter and drank over 1.5 hours. Would decant 2 and drink over 2.
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3/25/2022 - Bwallace Likes this wine: 94 Points
Not an overpowering cab which was fantastic with our lighter meal.
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3/6/2020 - cawineaux Likes this wine: 97 Points
CA Cab tasting @HiTimes. Nose of cedar, being cherry, black currant. Silky palate. Unbelievable balance. Fruit, acid, tannin all in perfect harmony.
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