Drinking well now, this has overtones of loam and earthy berries. Tannins are nicely integrated, and there is just a touch of heat. Pairs well with pork tenderloin. Should drink well for another 1-3 years.
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Quite disappointing wine. I have always been a big fan of Dick Arrowood but we opened three bottles of this for a big Christmas Eve dinner and no one was excited to drink themafter tasting. I'm not sure what happened because the last bottle I opened, in August of 2020, was very enjoyable. No score or tasting notes because I've waited to long to remove these bottles from my CT inventory, but I'm not looking forward to drinking the last bottle. I entered "I like it" because, although it was disappointing, it was drinkable and not horrible.
This is going to be a beautiful wine, but it needs more time. Decanted two hours, should have done four hours. Wonderful on the palate with a long finish. Cork in great shape.
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A step up from the last time I had this, and could taste some of the underlying cassis that could play a much bigger role in a couple more years. But still a tannic beast (even with long decants) so hard to enjoy without food. I'd wait a while yet.
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Decanted 3.5 hrs to start. Very dark purple in the glass. Creme de menthe nose. Big and strong flavors of chocolate, cassis, tobacco, espresso, and more in a very complex mouthful. Long and unfolding finish. Firm but not overwrought tannins, nicely balanced with acid. This will have many years left, and with the decant tastes great now. The only down credit for me is the alcohol, at the buzzkill level of 15.7%.
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This wine needs time! At the pnp, tons of oak......a little lead pencil. The wine is a bit thin in the mouth. Over the course of 3 hours this changes dramatically. It puts on weight, it loses 90% of the oak, the dark red fruit and lead pencil open up. Loads of sweet tobacco. The tannins still have some grip. This wine is prodigious. It has 10-20 years more to go and reflects on the Arrowood legacy. Beautiful.......
Addendum: later in the evening after about 5 hours of air, the tannins become a little coarser and the fruit a little blacker, fwiw. At 7+ hours it changes yet again into a powerhouse of a wine as the tannins smooth out and lose some of their astringency. The alcohol seems most prominent at this point at 15.5%, yet not to the point of being overbearing. The fruit seems even more extracted and juicy now. This transformation just re-affirms that this wine has a long, long way to go.
Addendum: Next day 11/8......Taking more good advice from Agelvis on decanting so left the last glass of the bottle on the table overnight to full air, so now 18+ hours open to the elements.
Wow.....just wow......the nose is classic red fruited lead pencil...the mouth feel has changed completely, now thicker, smoother, creamier? That's not usually an adjective reserved for a cab.....the alcohol has receded, tannins have melted into the background. Acidity is about 10% higher on the finish than the rest of the wine in its current form and lends to a great elongated mouthwatering ending. Why was I drinking this yesterday, when it is so much better today? Changing my score from the previous 93 to a right now 95+.....and this may just be a starting point going forward, it feels like there is plenty of lifespan here, more density here, more 'here' here. I now have to wonder if other vintages of Richard Arrowood's cabs will respond to air like this? Wines which were made to age for 30 years, being this enjoyable, this early on? Should be quite the experiment!
This was much improved since my last bottle in April. Suspect it will be close to its prime by summer or fall of 2021. Started drinking this bottle after a half hour decant. Good deal of sediment so always a good idea to decant this, plus the air helps while this is still relatively young. Very nice nose. Delicious, well blended cab, which now retains only a touch of the heat it displayed in April. Medium bodied, with a nice long finish. Very good value at around $60. In my opinion, this could be close to a classic wine if it had more mouthfeel, but it is a good one.
Big fan of Richard Arrowood when he had his eponymous winery, so bought several of these. In my opinion, needs another year or two in cellar. Took some time in the decanter for nose to open, and slightly hot and harsh finish should round into form with more time. I suspect I will rate it higher than a 90 next time I drink some.
Good first experience for this label, especially given it's way too young. Good initial flavors and not at all overly tannic, so this should be really nice in another year or two.
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Camphor, blackberry, cassis, violets, wet leather, cough syrup and spicy chalk. Exceptionally long and the tannins fold upon entry - they also fold upon exit. The fruit is a little subdued after three hours in the decanter, and then the resonant tone shines through. This reminds me of drinking young '05 Bordeaux from Paulliac: a slumber is beckoned, yet you get to witness the utter brilliance. A classic wine in every capacity. Drink 2020 - 2040.
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After 24 hours this is a very different wine. Roof tannins have softened and integrated. More fruit, black cherry and some smoky spice. Notes of bell pepper. Remarkable transformation.
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Ruby red with big legs. First nose was red fruit, second after a bit was a bit whiff of vanilla. Everything in the mouth is somewhat overwhelmed by the tannins front and center. Guessing there was a lot of American oak. Pretty soft from an acid perspective. Round mouth feel excluding the astringency. Not sure wine will balance with age because of the tannins but I'm no expert. Will try again I suppose.
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Opened, took a sip and put away for the next day. It was not at all ready to consume. Now having it a day later. Nose of blackberries, oak and licorice. Strong biting tannins on the pallet, with fairly intense concentration but way too much prominent oak. Lots of minerality with a bit of an austere hole in the center where I would expect a nice explosion of flavor. Big currently astringent finish. Not in love with the flavor profile here, but overall clearly a well made wine. This is going to take some time to come together, and certainly shows aging potential. Not sure that I can ever seeing this getting to the 96pts RP ascribed to it however.
Update: Had some left on Day 3 and damn if it didn't round out and show some fruit. Indicates to me this will age well and certainly has a bit more potential than I thought. Up from 91 to 92+
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PnP. Screams 'Cabernet Sauvignon' from start to finish. Complex nose of mint, blueberry, stewed dark fruit and herbs. Tastewise, this is a bit of a letdown. Very down the middle, uninteresting, and unbalanced. I also expected a little more in the texture department (grippy but thats it). Maybe this comes around in a year or two?
My rating takes into account the average online price.
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1/26/2024 - jedwilson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking well now, this has overtones of loam and earthy berries. Tannins are nicely integrated, and there is just a touch of heat. Pairs well with pork tenderloin. Should drink well for another 1-3 years.
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12/24/2023 - GJVines Likes this wine:
Quite disappointing wine. I have always been a big fan of Dick Arrowood but we opened three bottles of this for a big Christmas Eve dinner and no one was excited to drink themafter tasting. I'm not sure what happened because the last bottle I opened, in August of 2020, was very enjoyable. No score or tasting notes because I've waited to long to remove these bottles from my CT inventory, but I'm not looking forward to drinking the last bottle. I entered "I like it" because, although it was disappointing, it was drinkable and not horrible.
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6/27/2023 - CRL Stc Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is going to be a beautiful wine, but it needs more time. Decanted two hours, should have done four hours. Wonderful on the palate with a long finish. Cork in great shape.
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4/2/2023 - levinml wrote: 93 Points
Finally getting there. Underlying flavor is really good, but tannins still big. Maybe best 4th night under pump. Wait longer if you can.
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2/18/2022 - levinml wrote: 92 Points
A step up from the last time I had this, and could taste some of the underlying cassis that could play a much bigger role in a couple more years. But still a tannic beast (even with long decants) so hard to enjoy without food. I'd wait a while yet.
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12/18/2021 - redz wrote: 91 Points
Pnp, probably a mistake. Still tight, muted oak nose and palate. I enjoyed the 2010 more. Should improve with time.
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11/14/2021 - andrewdl Likes this wine: 93 Points
Muted fruit but good finish
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9/25/2021 - btwine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 3.5 hrs to start. Very dark purple in the glass. Creme de menthe nose. Big and strong flavors of chocolate, cassis, tobacco, espresso, and more in a very complex mouthful. Long and unfolding finish. Firm but not overwrought tannins, nicely balanced with acid. This will have many years left, and with the decant tastes great now. The only down credit for me is the alcohol, at the buzzkill level of 15.7%.
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9/20/2021 - rogernn@aol.com wrote: 90 Points
Big and bold. Slightly sweet.
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11/22/2020 - cellaradvisors wrote: 100 Points
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11/7/2020 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine needs time! At the pnp, tons of oak......a little lead pencil. The wine is a bit thin in the mouth. Over the course of 3 hours this changes dramatically. It puts on weight, it loses 90% of the oak, the dark red fruit and lead pencil open up. Loads of sweet tobacco. The tannins still have some grip. This wine is prodigious. It has 10-20 years more to go and reflects on the Arrowood legacy. Beautiful.......
Addendum: later in the evening after about 5 hours of air, the tannins become a little coarser and the fruit a little blacker, fwiw. At 7+ hours it changes yet again into a powerhouse of a wine as the tannins smooth out and lose some of their astringency. The alcohol seems most prominent at this point at 15.5%, yet not to the point of being overbearing. The fruit seems even more extracted and juicy now. This transformation just re-affirms that this wine has a long, long way to go.
Addendum: Next day 11/8......Taking more good advice from Agelvis on decanting so left the last glass of the bottle on the table overnight to full air, so now 18+ hours open to the elements.
Wow.....just wow......the nose is classic red fruited lead pencil...the mouth feel has changed completely, now thicker, smoother, creamier? That's not usually an adjective reserved for a cab.....the alcohol has receded, tannins have melted into the background. Acidity is about 10% higher on the finish than the rest of the wine in its current form and lends to a great elongated mouthwatering ending. Why was I drinking this yesterday, when it is so much better today? Changing my score from the previous 93 to a right now 95+.....and this may just be a starting point going forward, it feels like there is plenty of lifespan here, more density here, more 'here' here. I now have to wonder if other vintages of Richard Arrowood's cabs will respond to air like this? Wines which were made to age for 30 years, being this enjoyable, this early on? Should be quite the experiment!
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8/15/2020 - GJVines Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was much improved since my last bottle in April. Suspect it will be close to its prime by summer or fall of 2021. Started drinking this bottle after a half hour decant. Good deal of sediment so always a good idea to decant this, plus the air helps while this is still relatively young. Very nice nose. Delicious, well blended cab, which now retains only a touch of the heat it displayed in April. Medium bodied, with a nice long finish. Very good value at around $60. In my opinion, this could be close to a classic wine if it had more mouthfeel, but it is a good one.
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6/15/2020 - crooksie Likes this wine: 90 Points
Hot needed dacanting and a few more years in cellar.
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4/18/2020 - GJVines Likes this wine: 90 Points
Big fan of Richard Arrowood when he had his eponymous winery, so bought several of these. In my opinion, needs another year or two in cellar. Took some time in the decanter for nose to open, and slightly hot and harsh finish should round into form with more time. I suspect I will rate it higher than a 90 next time I drink some.
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12/14/2019 - Mr T wrote:
Very tasty
Gone fast
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11/29/2019 - Pluecht Likes this wine: 94 Points
Perfect. Hold
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8/29/2019 - cubswinws wrote: 88 Points
Perfectly servicable cabernet but nothing special.
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8/25/2019 - levinml wrote: 90 Points
Drank with Suttons in Bayfield. Going with the crowd on this one. Good drinking, but nothing stuck out as special.
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8/27/2018 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Much better this time around. Very precise and great minerality. Reminds me of a wine from Graves.
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11/2/2017 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 90 Points
Delightful wine. First time with this new Dick Arrowood project.
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9/1/2017 - levinml wrote: 92 Points
Good first experience for this label, especially given it's way too young. Good initial flavors and not at all overly tannic, so this should be really nice in another year or two.
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6/9/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 86 Points
Chicago Wine Flock...Ken Goes Cult Cab (Chez Kailin - Northbrook IL): Tasted double blind. Open and decanted several hours in advance. Red and black fruit with lots of earth, making me think it older. Subtle spice hints. Firm finish, slightly coarse.
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4/16/2017 - Frank_A_M wrote: 90 Points
Deep purple, strong tannins evident from the 1st sip, alcohol strong but good balance. Good heavy cab. Nice lingering finish.
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12/22/2016 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 95 Points
Camphor, blackberry, cassis, violets, wet leather, cough syrup and spicy chalk. Exceptionally long and the tannins fold upon entry - they also fold upon exit. The fruit is a little subdued after three hours in the decanter, and then the resonant tone shines through. This reminds me of drinking young '05 Bordeaux from Paulliac: a slumber is beckoned, yet you get to witness the utter brilliance. A classic wine in every capacity. Drink 2020 - 2040.
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12/18/2016 - mlfrancoeur Likes this wine: 90 Points
After 24 hours this is a very different wine. Roof tannins have softened and integrated. More fruit, black cherry and some smoky spice. Notes of bell pepper. Remarkable transformation.
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12/17/2016 - mlfrancoeur wrote: 86 Points
Ruby red with big legs. First nose was red fruit, second after a bit was a bit whiff of vanilla. Everything in the mouth is somewhat overwhelmed by the tannins front and center. Guessing there was a lot of American oak. Pretty soft from an acid perspective. Round mouth feel excluding the astringency. Not sure wine will balance with age because of the tannins but I'm no expert. Will try again I suppose.
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12/6/2016 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened, took a sip and put away for the next day. It was not at all ready to consume. Now having it a day later. Nose of blackberries, oak and licorice. Strong biting tannins on the pallet, with fairly intense concentration but way too much prominent oak. Lots of minerality with a bit of an austere hole in the center where I would expect a nice explosion of flavor. Big currently astringent finish. Not in love with the flavor profile here, but overall clearly a well made wine. This is going to take some time to come together, and certainly shows aging potential. Not sure that I can ever seeing this getting to the 96pts RP ascribed to it however.
Update: Had some left on Day 3 and damn if it didn't round out and show some fruit. Indicates to me this will age well and certainly has a bit more potential than I thought. Up from 91 to 92+
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10/7/2016 - Bobby_B wrote: 87 Points
PnP. Screams 'Cabernet Sauvignon' from start to finish. Complex nose of mint, blueberry, stewed dark fruit and herbs. Tastewise, this is a bit of a letdown. Very down the middle, uninteresting, and unbalanced. I also expected a little more in the texture department (grippy but thats it). Maybe this comes around in a year or two?
My rating takes into account the average online price.
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