Excellent Howell wine as always from OS. Tannins seemed to have mellowed since last year. The HM terroir is evident in this bottle. Improves dramatically in the glass over 1.5 hours
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I think AG was on the mark with this one. It remains dense, tannic, and unbalanced. Opens with a great nose of blueberries, but the dark fruit is hidden behind a wall of dense tannins. This wine is a blend of all 7 Bordeaux grapes, but comes across fairly one dimensional.
I m usually a big fan of this wine, just an off year (or bottle), I’ll try my final bottle in another year
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Typical Howell Mountain fruit-kind of dark with notes of licorice and blackberries. Much better after decanting and waiting 2 hours. Still needs some time.
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This is a magnificent CS. Howell Mountain fruit with bold floral and black fruit aromas. Blackberry, black cherry, licorice, cedar and spice on the palate. Grippy tannins and a 20-second finish. At $100, I don’t know a wine that can beat it.
Hmmm. a bit of a disappointment. This is the first of my 3 bottles that I get every year on release in the fall, stored at cellar temps. I don't recall any previous vintages being "off". This particular bottle was decanted for an hour, drunk over next 3, and finished up the following day. fruit and nose were muted, and there was a distinct medicinal quality to the wine. fairly tannic. My wife, Maria, sent me back to the cellar for a "better" wine, which only adds to the emotional (and financial) angst. It did show a bit better on day 2. I won't rate it because I am a bit perplexed. My angst now is that I have two additional bottles, from the same shipment. do I dare open another to see if this was simply an off bottle, or do I hold for another year, and pray. O'shaughnessy almost never lets me down in the past.
Deep garnet violet color. Scents of damp soil, tobacco, cedar with some floral notes. Expressive wallop of ripe blackberry, cassis, creamy chocolate, with a slightly white pepper finish. Firm grainy tannins throughout this drink is robust and very concentrated. 96 points.
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Very good. Slow ox 24 hrs. Then decanted 4 hours. Very good. Balanced, smooth tannins decent complexity, length isn't quite there yet. Needs time, just like the 2010.
Simple solution, just be more patient....kinda hard though.
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Friend's birthday party at one of our favorite steak places in Atlanta - Little Alley Steak in Roswell. Decanted about an hour - nose of blackberry jam, touch of menthol and tobacco. Long finish of dark fruits and vanilla. Tannins are nicely integrated with good richness but not over the top opulence. Long future ahead of this one....
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This might be my favorite Napa cab. It’s a big wine lead by ripe cassis, but the complimentary notes of smoke, game, furniture polish, and singed herbs are strong enough to power through the fruit for added complexity. Abundant granular tannins and balanced acidity provide for a lingering finish.
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Five hour decant. Nearly opaque magenta color. Burnt maple syrup, eggplant, black currant and boysenberry on the deep, rich nose. Super smooth palate, with refined acidity. Plush, modest intensity tannins on the long finish.
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Amazing wine. One of my favorites. Decanted for two hours prior to drinking. Not too much sediment. Very dark wine, both in color and flavor. Big and full with a long finish. Really happy I have more to drink over the next couple of years.
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When these wines were shipped to me a few months ago I knew the heat got to them. They were leaking wine from the capsules, one bottle was completely ruined, but I held this bottle for a few weeks to try very early. The cork was heavily stained and soft, but the wine was wonderful, as if aged 10 years. Only a slight bit of tannins with great blue berry fruit notes.
Had some leftover for a second night and this was over the hill. Almost no structure, not oxidized, still had good purity of fruit but no body, nothing left to hold this together.
To me this is a testament to the fortitude of Howell Mountain wines. Right out of the bottle this was easily 93 pts, but it was clearly a flawed bottle so I won't rate it.
Will buy again.
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This comes surging out of the glass with cassis, smoke, and feral animal on initial pour, but then it shut down after about 10 minutes. Despite being intense and ripe, the wine maintains great balance with good structure and moderate acidity. Considering how this shut down, i'll refrain from opening my other bottles for some time.
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This is one of my favorite wines hands down but surprisingly shut down this time. Muted fruit from pop and pour but much better after 3 hours of air time. This wine is one of the most consistent “wow” wines I know buy a little disappointed on this try. Good thing I have another bottle - will wait a little longer for the next one
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Ten hour decant. Nearly opaque ruby magenta color. Anise, tobacco, black cherry, vanilla and eucalyptus on the deep, complex nose. Velvety, tongue coating palate, with wonderful acidity. Full tannins on the medium long finish. This is absolutely my style of Cabernet.
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Popped and poured into a decanter and drank over two hours with dinner. The potential is there but never opened up. Can definitely gain a couple of points down the road. Would wait, not as approachable young as most Oshaughnessy Howell mountain wines.
Deep ruby in color with slow legs. Toasted oak, cassis and blackberry on the nose. Plum, lead pencil and stoniness on the palate. Long leathery finish.
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Still young but explosive blackberry and cherry fruit with a number of different flavors including licorice, mocha and a mineral ott that defines Howell Mountain fruit. Decant for at least 90 minutes.
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94 pts today, 95+ pts in 5 yrs with some age. Point is, this is drinking incredibly well now with only a one hour decant. All it needs now is some age to bring out its personality and character. Delicious!
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Had at a restaurant with a 30 minute decant. Might have been a little better if it had a longer decant. I echo other reviewers......this is a great wine, but will improve. I would put it aside for a couple of years.
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Five hour decant. Very deep dark magenta color. Blueberry, milk chocolate covered malt balls, prune and cola on the ripe, rich fruit forward nose. Smooth, succulent palate with good acidity. Full, round tannins on the medium long finish.
This is already terrific with a good decant, but time in the cellar will add three more points. It’s a bit primary and this finish has some youthful heat at the moment.
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Wonderfully structured and balanced wine. Still very much on the young side, this will age well and become an outstanding wine. Patience will be rewarded. Lovely!
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Aroma: blackberry jam with menthol, roasted almond, tobacco, rose petal, baking spice and aged leather notes. Palate: spicy blackberry, cherry and plum flavors with vanilla, herbs, graphite, and a touch of mint. Lots of youthful puckery tannin. Juicy acidity. Good richness. Excellent structure and length. Age for at least three years.
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Christmas walk around wine store tasting. No careful tasting notes possible. WOTN for me. Great cab with mountain fruit, surprisingly drinking well in its youth. Superb, everything I look for in a Cali cab , expensive but reasonably priced for the complexity and quality.
2/15/2024 - jeffshomerun wrote:
Excellent Howell wine as always from OS. Tannins seemed to have mellowed since last year. The HM terroir is evident in this bottle. Improves dramatically in the glass over 1.5 hours
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9/30/2023 - Rasmussenbrent Likes this wine: 93 Points
Love this bottle of wine! Ready to drink
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4/9/2023 - Franken Berry Does not like this wine:
I think AG was on the mark with this one. It remains dense, tannic, and unbalanced. Opens with a great nose of blueberries, but the dark fruit is hidden behind a wall of dense tannins. This wine is a blend of all 7 Bordeaux grapes, but comes across fairly one dimensional.
I m usually a big fan of this wine, just an off year (or bottle), I’ll try my final bottle in another year
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5/20/2022 - bobt@teacherstax.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
Typical Howell Mountain fruit-kind of dark with notes of licorice and blackberries. Much better after decanting and waiting 2 hours. Still needs some time.
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12/28/2021 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great at this price point as always
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10/23/2021 - jcampano Likes this wine: 97 Points
This is a magnificent CS. Howell Mountain fruit with bold floral and black fruit aromas. Blackberry, black cherry, licorice, cedar and spice on the palate. Grippy tannins and a 20-second finish. At $100, I don’t know a wine that can beat it.
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9/11/2021 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 94 Points
So good. Open and enjoyable even with no decanting
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9/7/2021 - Franken Berry wrote:
Hmmm. a bit of a disappointment. This is the first of my 3 bottles that I get every year on release in the fall, stored at cellar temps. I don't recall any previous vintages being "off". This particular bottle was decanted for an hour, drunk over next 3, and finished up the following day.
fruit and nose were muted, and there was a distinct medicinal quality to the wine. fairly tannic. My wife, Maria, sent me back to the cellar for a "better" wine, which only adds to the emotional (and financial) angst. It did show a bit better on day 2. I won't rate it because I am a bit perplexed.
My angst now is that I have two additional bottles, from the same shipment. do I dare open another to see if this was simply an off bottle, or do I hold for another year, and pray. O'shaughnessy almost never lets me down in the past.
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7/30/2021 - pvewino Likes this wine: 95 Points
Consistent with my prior note. Continues to be a tour de force.
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5/8/2021 - Venezia wrote: 95 Points
Boysenberry pie, meadow flowers, mental, and cedar box on the nose. Well integrated tannins with dark berry, cacao, and a hint of mint
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3/21/2021 - CoryDean44 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Deep garnet violet color. Scents of damp soil, tobacco, cedar with some floral notes. Expressive wallop of ripe blackberry, cassis, creamy chocolate, with a slightly white pepper finish. Firm grainy tannins throughout this drink is robust and very concentrated. 96 points.
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1/2/2021 - jimyeni Likes this wine:
NR as this bottle was not what I usually expect from O’Shaugnessy. Still enjoyable but missing the depth. Not flawed but an off bottle
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12/18/2020 - zanzabar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very good. Slow ox 24 hrs. Then decanted 4 hours. Very good. Balanced, smooth tannins decent complexity, length isn't quite there yet. Needs time, just like the 2010.
Simple solution, just be more patient....kinda hard though.
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11/11/2020 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 94 Points
Napa trip November 2020; 10/31/2020-11/14/2020 (Napa, CA): Starting to open up, such a beautiful wine.
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11/7/2020 - gsiokis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Friend's birthday party at one of our favorite steak places in Atlanta - Little Alley Steak in Roswell. Decanted about an hour - nose of blackberry jam, touch of menthol and tobacco. Long finish of dark fruits and vanilla. Tannins are nicely integrated with good richness but not over the top opulence. Long future ahead of this one....
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7/19/2020 - Billiken wrote:
Sarah's 38th birthday party night.
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7/18/2020 - poppacork Likes this wine: 95 Points
This might be my favorite Napa cab. It’s a big wine lead by ripe cassis, but the complimentary notes of smoke, game, furniture polish, and singed herbs are strong enough to power through the fruit for added complexity. Abundant granular tannins and balanced acidity provide for a lingering finish.
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6/1/2020 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 94 Points
Five hour decant. Nearly opaque magenta color. Burnt maple syrup, eggplant, black currant and boysenberry on the deep, rich nose. Super smooth palate, with refined acidity. Plush, modest intensity tannins on the long finish.
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5/29/2020 - SBLouis Likes this wine:
Good
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5/3/2020 - pvewino Likes this wine: 95 Points
Amazing wine. One of my favorites. Decanted for two hours prior to drinking. Not too much sediment. Very dark wine, both in color and flavor. Big and full with a long finish. Really happy I have more to drink over the next couple of years.
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1/11/2020 - Tym4wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Stand out wine of the evening. Smooth tannins, full bodied mouthfeel, very round, very flavorful, long lasting finish.
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12/26/2019 - zanzabar Likes this wine:
When these wines were shipped to me a few months ago I knew the heat got to them. They were leaking wine from the capsules, one bottle was completely ruined, but I held this bottle for a few weeks to try very early. The cork was heavily stained and soft, but the wine was wonderful, as if aged 10 years. Only a slight bit of tannins with great blue berry fruit notes.
Had some leftover for a second night and this was over the hill. Almost no structure, not oxidized, still had good purity of fruit but no body, nothing left to hold this together.
To me this is a testament to the fortitude of Howell Mountain wines. Right out of the bottle this was easily 93 pts, but it was clearly a flawed bottle so I won't rate it.
Will buy again.
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12/1/2019 - poppacork Likes this wine: 94 Points
This comes surging out of the glass with cassis, smoke, and feral animal on initial pour, but then it shut down after about 10 minutes. Despite being intense and ripe, the wine maintains great balance with good structure and moderate acidity. Considering how this shut down, i'll refrain from opening my other bottles for some time.
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11/3/2019 - Grungenir182 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is one of my favorite wines hands down but surprisingly shut down this time. Muted fruit from pop and pour but much better after 3 hours of air time. This wine is one of the most consistent “wow” wines I know buy a little disappointed on this try. Good thing I have another bottle - will wait a little longer for the next one
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10/16/2019 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 95 Points
Ten hour decant. Nearly opaque ruby magenta color. Anise, tobacco, black cherry, vanilla and eucalyptus on the deep, complex nose. Velvety, tongue coating palate, with wonderful acidity. Full tannins on the medium long finish. This is absolutely my style of Cabernet.
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9/29/2019 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured into a decanter and drank over two hours with dinner. The potential is there but never opened up. Can definitely gain a couple of points down the road. Would wait, not as approachable young as most Oshaughnessy Howell mountain wines.
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9/1/2019 - Twopawsup Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep ruby in color with slow legs. Toasted oak, cassis and blackberry on the nose. Plum, lead pencil and stoniness on the palate. Long leathery finish.
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8/11/2019 - Merrick Kleeman wrote:
x
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7/9/2019 - jcampano Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still young but explosive blackberry and cherry fruit with a number of different flavors including licorice, mocha and a mineral ott that defines Howell Mountain fruit. Decant for at least 90 minutes.
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4/30/2019 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
94 pts today, 95+ pts in 5 yrs with some age. Point is, this is drinking incredibly well now with only a one hour decant. All it needs now is some age to bring out its personality and character. Delicious!
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4/20/2019 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had at a restaurant with a 30 minute decant. Might have been a little better if it had a longer decant. I echo other reviewers......this is a great wine, but will improve. I would put it aside for a couple of years.
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4/6/2019 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 92 Points
Five hour decant. Very deep dark magenta color. Blueberry, milk chocolate covered malt balls, prune and cola on the ripe, rich fruit forward nose. Smooth, succulent palate with good acidity. Full, round tannins on the medium long finish.
This is already terrific with a good decant, but time in the cellar will add three more points. It’s a bit primary and this finish has some youthful heat at the moment.
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10/21/2018 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderfully structured and balanced wine. Still very much on the young side, this will age well and become an outstanding wine. Patience will be rewarded. Lovely!
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9/22/2018 - kosinski wrote:
Aroma: blackberry jam with menthol, roasted almond, tobacco, rose petal, baking spice and aged leather notes.
Palate: spicy blackberry, cherry and plum flavors with vanilla, herbs, graphite, and a touch of mint. Lots of youthful puckery tannin. Juicy acidity. Good richness. Excellent structure and length. Age for at least three years.
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12/16/2017 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 97 Points
Christmas walk around wine store tasting. No careful tasting notes possible.
WOTN for me. Great cab with mountain fruit, surprisingly drinking well in its youth. Superb, everything I look for in a Cali cab , expensive but reasonably priced for the complexity and quality.
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