20 min decant at table, nose was pretty closed, dark fruit up front but a bit disjointed & not well balanced. After 90 min started to improve somewhat.
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decanted at the table for about 40 minutes, expressive nose, dark CA fruited but not overly so, nice round mouthfeel, velvety tannins, softened by a touch of oak, med finish. everyone enjoyed, paired well with rich steaks and sides.
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Decanted and consumed over several hours. Pretty good, more my style of Cabernet, not in your face overly worked juice. This wine was actually enjoyable throughout the evening, paired well with grilled ribeye…of course. Drink now thru 2025.
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Black fruit, cedar,Smokey oak, has some complexity with layered herbal notes. Finishes with some acidity and tannins. A/A- It’s just coming into it’s drinking window.
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Medium plus nose shows mocha, black plum, cassis, espresso, crushed violets, baking spice. Palate shows lovely expression, soft but complex layers, matches nose, cassis, fresh herbs, blackberry, more floral tones, hint of blue fruit, dark chocolate, some fresh earth tones. Medium tannins are surprisingly smooth, medium plus alcohol is integrated well. Well done drink now style that could also age well.
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Purple color reflective of age, color fades to dark red after time, very nice wine, slight boldness, but has some light and fruity characteristics, notes of leather, cedar, more red fruits than dark fruits, black cherry, raspberry, very nice wine will buy again
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Bit of an earthy nose with some dark fruit but more muted and musty than I anticipated. Drinks soft, I agree with a fellow taster who suggested this might resemble some CA pinot noirs. Fruit is present and resilient but not as bold as the stereotype Napa cab. The acidity holds up late palate then finishes with a juicy sweetness.
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Medium bodied, early drinking, finesse styled, smoky, black raspberry oriented wine that is already open for business. Soft and polished this is ready for drinking.
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This is a very respectable and fulfilling St Helena Cabernet at its price point in the low $40 range. Nice bouquet of candied violet, dark fruit, and some faint plum skin. Medium on the palate with delicious cherry and blackberry fruit in this primary stage. A tad clipped on the back end with some bitterness. This will probably improve slightly with a few years age. Very nice in this price range.....
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P: Med body; Rndish entry with ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by an astringent pucker which surprises by the amount it works itself out as it evolves into a LONG finish with a slight tanginess & faint swtness to the very fine tannins. Needs/DESERVES into EARLY '19, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. Reasonably done in its flirting with R.S. style. My VG, poss VG+ with a bit of cellaring? 92 pts Vinous (Galloni, 1/18/18). [As of late Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 1 source @ $60].
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2/19/2024 - Wrkolbeck wrote: 89 Points
20 min decant at table, nose was pretty closed, dark fruit up front but a bit disjointed & not well balanced. After 90 min started to improve somewhat.
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9/7/2023 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 88 Points
disappointing.. from previous tasted. lots of oak
Black fruit, spice, cedar, and herbal notes, complexity, lots of smokey oak. B+
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9/5/2023 - wino121 wrote: 92 Points
See previous notes, just slightly more mature..a peak?
Drink now thru 2025/7
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5/2/2023 - dlowrey99 Likes this wine: 92 Points
decanted at the table for about 40 minutes, expressive nose, dark CA fruited but not overly so, nice round mouthfeel, velvety tannins, softened by a touch of oak, med finish. everyone enjoyed, paired well with rich steaks and sides.
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4/8/2023 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 93 Points
Black fruit, spice, cedar, and herbal notes, complexity, smokey oak A
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6/25/2022 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 93 Points
Red fruit, vanilla, acidity, herbal notes, spice, finishes with big tannins A /A- (93)
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6/28/2021 - wino121 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted and consumed over several hours.
Pretty good, more my style of Cabernet, not in your face overly worked juice.
This wine was actually enjoyable throughout the evening, paired well with grilled ribeye…of course.
Drink now thru 2025.
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6/12/2021 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 93 Points
Black fruit, cedar,Smokey oak, has some complexity with layered herbal notes. Finishes with some acidity and tannins. A/A- It’s just coming into it’s drinking window.
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5/29/2021 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big black fruit, cassis, herbal notes, leather, tobacco, finishes with Smokey oak. A-
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3/4/2021 - corkcellar wrote: 92 Points
Agree with last commentator - did not know what to expect with this wine, very pleasant - wish I had grabbed more.
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9/1/2020 - Winowhyno Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bought on sale at the PLCB for $44.00. Bought one to try so it looks like I need to buy more for the cellar. Definitely a great value at $44.00
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7/31/2020 - EvanJB wrote:
Nice fruit, medium body and tannins
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8/4/2019 - Dionysusx Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still a bit young, austere at times. After 3+ hr decant the wine really opened up.
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3/7/2019 - WineSnob7 wrote: 93 Points
Great cab
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7/26/2018 - GTFreek wrote:
Medium plus nose shows mocha, black plum, cassis, espresso, crushed violets, baking spice. Palate shows lovely expression, soft but complex layers, matches nose, cassis, fresh herbs, blackberry, more floral tones, hint of blue fruit, dark chocolate, some fresh earth tones. Medium tannins are surprisingly smooth, medium plus alcohol is integrated well. Well done drink now style that could also age well.
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6/12/2018 - kandrfairview Likes this wine: 89 Points
Really good wine!!!
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4/9/2018 - Teaky Likes this wine:
Purple color reflective of age, color fades to dark red after time, very nice wine, slight boldness, but has some light and fruity characteristics, notes of leather, cedar, more red fruits than dark fruits, black cherry, raspberry, very nice wine will buy again
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4/8/2018 - Justinneal654 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bit of an earthy nose with some dark fruit but more muted and musty than I anticipated. Drinks soft, I agree with a fellow taster who suggested this might resemble some CA pinot noirs. Fruit is present and resilient but not as bold as the stereotype Napa cab. The acidity holds up late palate then finishes with a juicy sweetness.
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4/1/2018 - WineSnob7 wrote: 92 Points
Needs a tad bit
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4/1/2018 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 92 Points
Blackberries, blueberries, leather, cassis, tobacco and charcoal. A-
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3/15/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Medium bodied, early drinking, finesse styled, smoky, black raspberry oriented wine that is already open for business. Soft and polished this is ready for drinking.
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3/3/2018 - drdan8 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is a very respectable and fulfilling St Helena Cabernet at its price point in the low $40 range. Nice bouquet of candied violet, dark fruit, and some faint plum skin.
Medium on the palate with delicious cherry and blackberry fruit in this primary stage. A tad clipped on the back end with some bitterness.
This will probably improve slightly with a few years age.
Very nice in this price range.....
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2/3/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [2 Whts & 8 Reds] from 2/2/18 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): N: Straw/brambleberry JAM
P: Med body; Rndish entry with ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by an astringent pucker which surprises by the amount it works itself out as it evolves into a LONG finish with a slight tanginess & faint swtness to the very fine tannins. Needs/DESERVES into EARLY '19, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. Reasonably done in its flirting with R.S. style. My VG, poss VG+ with a bit of cellaring? 92 pts Vinous (Galloni, 1/18/18). [As of late Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 1 source @ $60].
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12/31/2017 - webreg Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is a really fine cab. So delicious now. Makes me wonder what I'm missing by not having the patience to let this age for a few years.
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