Nose: Great red fruit, it'll be inaccurate to say strawberry but there's definitely really good red, ripe fruit with undertones of some minerality and slight oak. A little bit of heat but I think nothing a little decanting won't do..
Palate: Concentrated, brooding, dark red fruit. Almost sweet with a great integration of soft minerality with some soft forest floor (think soil).
Dark, garnet colored and 70% opaque. This one really surprised me, really good. Lots of fruit and it's almost sweet. A concentrated fruit taste with well integrated soil/mineral tastes. Almost vanilla tasting and/or creamy. The oak is not overpowering (thank goodness). Soft, approachable tannins.. the wine itself is very approachable. Decent finish of about 3-4 seconds. I may like this more than the Diamond Select.. I just wish it had a little big longer finish. Well made, balanced wine, really good wine.
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N: Vanilla with almost a creamy note, ripe berries underneath, poss pyrazines?
P: Med, poss LM, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by some puckerish astringency which loses the MAJORITY of its bite as it transitions into the LONG, very slightly spicy finish with a tangy/SWTNESS to the dusty tannins. An (arguably) "better", certainly < expensive, version of the Caymus Napa Valley C.S. for now & into (probably through) '21, plus MIGHT improve some through the rest of '18. 14.5% ABV; My VG/VG+, certainly MORE *if* one is a fan of the style! 90 pts Suckling. [This vendor's $51.95 puts it @ the VERY top of the 2nd quartile of wine-searcher's WILDLY skewed listings.]
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Perfumed floral nose with red cherry fruit. Smooth tannins with good acidity on the palate along with ripe fruit, oak, and spice. Accessible now with improvement potential. Finishes with vanilla and white pepper.
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10/29/2020 - CJM wrote: 88 Points
Clear, deep garnet with slight rim browning. Tobacco, chocolate, tar. Low acids, low tannins. White pepper short balanced finish.
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9/4/2019 - NavyVet6874 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Best with a light chill.
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12/15/2018 - BobMilton wrote: 89 Points
A decent wine, but not like most Rombauers - almost no residual sugar. Did OK in our price sensitive blind tasting
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12/8/2018 - BFemmel Likes this wine: 50 Points
One of my favorite Cabs. Slightly sweet for a Cabernet but stands up wonderfully to rich food.
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8/18/2018 - cufflink13 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent cabernet, consumed in restaurant with prime rib. Dark fruit, slight earthiness, then hints of licorice after opening up for an hour.
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8/3/2018 - WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose: Great red fruit, it'll be inaccurate to say strawberry but there's definitely really good red, ripe fruit with undertones of some minerality and slight oak. A little bit of heat but I think nothing a little decanting won't do..
Palate: Concentrated, brooding, dark red fruit. Almost sweet with a great integration of soft minerality with some soft forest floor (think soil).
Dark, garnet colored and 70% opaque. This one really surprised me, really good. Lots of fruit and it's almost sweet. A concentrated fruit taste with well integrated soil/mineral tastes. Almost vanilla tasting and/or creamy. The oak is not overpowering (thank goodness). Soft, approachable tannins.. the wine itself is very approachable. Decent finish of about 3-4 seconds. I may like this more than the Diamond Select.. I just wish it had a little big longer finish. Well made, balanced wine, really good wine.
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6/23/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 2 *shared* reds] from 06/22/18] (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 84% C.S., 10% Petit Verdot, & 6% C.F. from the Stags Leap, Atlas Peak, Mt. Veeder, St. Helena, Calistoga, & Rutherford AVAs; Tank & barrel fermented, then aged 16 mos in 80% new FR oak.
N: Vanilla with almost a creamy note, ripe berries underneath, poss pyrazines?
P: Med, poss LM, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by some puckerish astringency which loses the MAJORITY of its bite as it transitions into the LONG, very slightly spicy finish with a tangy/SWTNESS to the dusty tannins. An (arguably) "better", certainly < expensive, version of the Caymus Napa Valley C.S. for now & into (probably through) '21, plus MIGHT improve some through the rest of '18. 14.5% ABV; My VG/VG+, certainly MORE *if* one is a fan of the style! 90 pts Suckling. [This vendor's $51.95 puts it @ the VERY top of the 2nd quartile of wine-searcher's WILDLY skewed listings.]
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6/23/2018 - WineGuyX Likes this wine:
Young and unformed, but quite drinkable for it's primary qualities of cedar, cigar box, spices and masses of sweet black fruits. Drink now-2027 90-93
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4/13/2018 - GQG Likes this wine: 91 Points
Perfumed floral nose with red cherry fruit. Smooth tannins with good acidity on the palate along with ripe fruit, oak, and spice. Accessible now with improvement potential. Finishes with vanilla and white pepper.
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