Slightly funky nose/taste in the first glass. Opened up very nicely after 15-30 minutes. Dark fruit with just the right amount of residual backend acid/tannin. Early in the downhill side of the drinking curve though
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Very dark in the glass without the slightest trace of bricking, this may actually still have purple hues. The nose is rich, sweet cassis, blackberry reduction, and a background of vanilla custard. There is maybe a faint trace of light herbs - Italian parsley, perhaps, or maybe cilantro. The palate is all about sweet black fruits on the initial attack. The tannins show themselves on the rich mid-palate, but they are sweet and smooth, and there is good acidity to balance the drying effect. The finish is long and balanced, and just beginning to show a trace of secondary tobacco leaf and freshly-soaped leather. Overall, this wine is stunningly youthful for 12 years of age, and I will be hard pressed to leave my only other bottle for a few more years. I paid $65 for this bottle, and it is well worth it at that price. This is an outstanding wine that is a great example of what California has to offer. Highly recommended.
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Brought this to dinner at STK with friends. Enjoyed this bottle with a really nice pinot (Melville Carrie's 2009 pinot - very good) but this was the winner to me. I love the Perry's blend bc it's 89% cab. I was bold, dark ruby color and silky smooth. Was like drinking a great Cal Cab and equally as great as the bottle I enjoyed in Jan. 2010.
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(A-) Nose is deep and evolves from fruit forward to quite floral over a couple hours. Dark cherry fruit, a bit of over-ripe blackberry. Vanilla and rich double-cream work beautifully with the fruit. Touch of leather percolates through the palate. Overall, it's smooth and silky from front to back with just enough acid left to tickle the side palate, though it is hardly noticeable unless you look for it Tannins have softened even since my last bottle creating a nice pillow-y finish. Another solid performance from a wine I will miss dearly. To briefly get off topic, this wine has ridiculous pedigree to the fruit, especially for the price. Even in an "off" vintage, the power of these prestige vineyards comes through ... I wish they had continued to source this blend from these vineyards. Alas. Drink, or hold, but not for long.
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(A-) Dark cherries, and a bit of vanilla and cream. Trace floral element I don't recall in this wine before. Smooth tannins, well balanced, silky on the back palate. Lovely, as always.
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This is a very meaty wine. Really smoky on the pop-n-pour so poured through a Vinturi into a decanter and let it sit for an hour. Smoky eat and jerky flavors comes through on the nose. In the moth it's rich cream de cassis and toasty oak wrapped around grilled steak. Finishes really well for its age.
For some this may be over oaked and typical of the big Cali cab but for me it stays just short of that borderline. Not something I knock people over for but a good pursuit at $30 and below.
Remember you don't drink the label.
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(A-) Lots of fruit, with dark cherries predominating. Slight vanilla in the background. Great viscosity, finishes for a good 15 seconds. Plenty of back-palate, with hints of leather and cream.
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I would agree w/tvmama & gromi. A nice wine , not too fancy. We had it as a sipper not up against food and it did its roll well. Nice balance of fruits and tannins, none too sharp.
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(A) Wonderful wine, drinking perfectly right now. Very fruit forward, tannins integrated beautifully. Just enough oak to support the fruit. New style napa cab done right.
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First time with this winery. So far so good!! Typical Cali nose of cassis, black cherry, and cedar. Unique asphalt, scorched earth thing shows through. Firm dusty tannins with nice acid, moderate richness, and full body. Good Napa blend.
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Dark ruby red, full body bordeaux blend with concentrated dark fruit, mocha, earth with smooth tannins and vanilla oak. A very nice red that paired great with grilled veal chop.
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Hans tastes some wines: Rich, blackberry fruit on the nose. Rich and extracted. Pretty big tannins. Good solid cab, but doesn't hit the next height that I expect from this price point. 88-89
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4/30/2016 - DesMarteau Likes this wine: 94 Points
validating my last tasting note!
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9/6/2015 - M2quared wrote: 90 Points
Slightly funky nose/taste in the first glass. Opened up very nicely after 15-30 minutes. Dark fruit with just the right amount of residual backend acid/tannin. Early in the downhill side of the drinking curve though
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3/8/2015 - Phredd Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very dark in the glass without the slightest trace of bricking, this may actually still have purple hues. The nose is rich, sweet cassis, blackberry reduction, and a background of vanilla custard. There is maybe a faint trace of light herbs - Italian parsley, perhaps, or maybe cilantro. The palate is all about sweet black fruits on the initial attack. The tannins show themselves on the rich mid-palate, but they are sweet and smooth, and there is good acidity to balance the drying effect. The finish is long and balanced, and just beginning to show a trace of secondary tobacco leaf and freshly-soaped leather. Overall, this wine is stunningly youthful for 12 years of age, and I will be hard pressed to leave my only other bottle for a few more years. I paid $65 for this bottle, and it is well worth it at that price. This is an outstanding wine that is a great example of what California has to offer. Highly recommended.
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7/20/2014 - DesMarteau wrote: 94 Points
perfect aging window to drink! Nice integration, fruit, complexity....not overpowering but interesting
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6/14/2014 - gbremner wrote: 91 Points
Breathed for a few hours
Beautiful balance
Wonderful in old age
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2/1/2013 - smileBD Likes this wine: 92 Points
Brought this to dinner at STK with friends. Enjoyed this bottle with a really nice pinot (Melville Carrie's 2009 pinot - very good) but this was the winner to me. I love the Perry's blend bc it's 89% cab. I was bold, dark ruby color and silky smooth. Was like drinking a great Cal Cab and equally as great as the bottle I enjoyed in Jan. 2010.
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10/19/2012 - prettydeceextrap wrote: 92 Points
(A-) Nose is deep and evolves from fruit forward to quite floral over a couple hours. Dark cherry fruit, a bit of over-ripe blackberry. Vanilla and rich double-cream work beautifully with the fruit. Touch of leather percolates through the palate. Overall, it's smooth and silky from front to back with just enough acid left to tickle the side palate, though it is hardly noticeable unless you look for it Tannins have softened even since my last bottle creating a nice pillow-y finish. Another solid performance from a wine I will miss dearly. To briefly get off topic, this wine has ridiculous pedigree to the fruit, especially for the price. Even in an "off" vintage, the power of these prestige vineyards comes through ... I wish they had continued to source this blend from these vineyards. Alas. Drink, or hold, but not for long.
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2/11/2012 - prettydeceextrap wrote: 92 Points
(A-) Dark cherries, and a bit of vanilla and cream. Trace floral element I don't recall in this wine before. Smooth tannins, well balanced, silky on the back palate. Lovely, as always.
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12/11/2011 - kietkopelli wrote: 91 Points
This is a very meaty wine. Really smoky on the pop-n-pour so poured through a Vinturi into a decanter and let it sit for an hour. Smoky eat and jerky flavors comes through on the nose. In the moth it's rich cream de cassis and toasty oak wrapped around grilled steak. Finishes really well for its age.
For some this may be over oaked and typical of the big Cali cab but for me it stays just short of that borderline. Not something I knock people over for but a good pursuit at $30 and below.
Remember you don't drink the label.
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1/14/2011 - prettydeceextrap wrote: 92 Points
(A-) Lots of fruit, with dark cherries predominating. Slight vanilla in the background. Great viscosity, finishes for a good 15 seconds. Plenty of back-palate, with hints of leather and cream.
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12/31/2010 - smileBD Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really nice
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12/23/2010 - TEDL wrote: 89 Points
I would agree w/tvmama & gromi. A nice wine , not too fancy. We had it as a sipper not up against food and it did its roll well. Nice balance of fruits and tannins, none too sharp.
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10/14/2010 - prettydeceextrap wrote: 93 Points
(A) Wonderful wine, drinking perfectly right now. Very fruit forward, tannins integrated beautifully. Just enough oak to support the fruit. New style napa cab done right.
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8/29/2010 - gromi wrote: 91 Points
very nice wine
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12/25/2009 - tvmama wrote: 90 Points
good blend
not too fancy
very easy drinking
decant!
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9/20/2009 - phasenfus wrote: 90 Points
Very nice, well rounded blend. Good to drink now.
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9/13/2008 - jjclips2 wrote: 90 Points
First time with this winery. So far so good!! Typical Cali nose of cassis, black cherry, and cedar. Unique asphalt, scorched earth thing shows through. Firm dusty tannins with nice acid, moderate richness, and full body. Good Napa blend.
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9/12/2008 - spendergast wrote: 93 Points
Dark ruby red, full body bordeaux blend with concentrated dark fruit, mocha, earth with smooth tannins and vanilla oak. A very nice red that paired great with grilled veal chop.
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9/10/2008 - hutch wrote: 88 Points
Hans tastes some wines: Rich, blackberry fruit on the nose. Rich and extracted. Pretty big tannins. Good solid cab, but doesn't hit the next height that I expect from this price point. 88-89
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8/17/2008 - DTWOB wrote: 92 Points
Great color, mouth feel, big taste yet light and silky.
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