When decanting the room was filled with classic QC dark fruit and blueberries. Consistently more approachable out of Sommelier vs standard stems.
At the three hour mark the nose shows dark fruit, leather, pencil shavings, and more stone than earth.....almost like I've got a great glass of wine and it's aroma is mixed into the smells of walking into a tight, damp cave. Smells better than it reads!
Super-fine-grained tannins hit far back-palate. The only reason not to guess this Bordeaux blend as left bank is the bright fruit that's extraordinarily well integrated. Leather, barrique, muted dark fruit. Just a super wine. I'd take three of these over a HSS any day.
Update: at the 4.5hr mark this has notable improved and is in a darned near ideal condition;still a bit rougher from std stems, it's times like this that the Somm stems shine.
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Generous pour from my neighbor. I could smell the Cab Franc immediately. Unfortunately for my old world palette this lacked complexity, bit mono toned w somewhat a very slight shoe polish edge to the finish. Was certainly drinkable just not what I prefer.
Decent balance with some intense charred berry notes. Did not wow me or move me at all. New world for sure, and with pasta the heat came thru big time. 15.2% is obnoxious, and really present with food for some reason.
I remember falling in love w QC when I had the 99 and 01 back in the day and bought cases of it. They haven't held up well unfortunately or my tastes have changed. Me thinks a bit of both!!
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I opened this last night and allowed it to decant about 2 hours before dinner and it could have used more time. The nose is very fragrant baking spice, cedar, earth, and leather, not especially floral, but darker notes. After 2 hours, the wine shows lots of dark black fruit on the palate like blackberry, cassis, hints of chocolate, tobacco, leather and pencil lead. This wine is not like a Napa fruit bomb, but very restrained. The acidity is starting to integrate and there is still some good tannic structure. I rushed to open this because my experience with a 2014 had a not so pleasant experience but this has a few more years left in it for sure. Just decant it and allow it to evolve. Odedis and Vinnut below also did a good job to capture this experience
This has evolved somewhat in the 2.5 years since my last bottle but I'm sticking with 94 pts. The acidity has been tamed and is in harmony. The oak is integrating adding more spice but there is still a disjointed vanilla note on the finish. Otherwise it drinks very clean with dark chocolatey flavors. Gorgeous.
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Deep, dark, reddish-purple garnet; essentially opaque in color. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & cassis with overtones of floral notes of violets & earthy/dusty notes, spices, herbs, minerals, iron, mint, dark cocoa/coffee & a hint of oak/vanilla & a slight hint of VA in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with spices, herbs, earthy, dark cocoa, minerals & a hint of oak/vanilla. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting and extended airing but still needs time as it will continue to develop further with additional aging at which time, it may merit a higher score (95+).
I would like to dedicate this bottle to SRH, a frequent commentator here who recently passed away. He would have thoroughly enjoyed this wine. Stanley, my dear friend, we will all miss you very much!
Wow! Love it right away. Nose of dark berry, tobacco, and dried flowers. Very balanced. Great acidity with palate elevation and nice long finish. Very enjoyable. I opened as a "daily drinker"....
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Red and dark fruit with toasty oak. Even after an hour decant, still pretty tight. Will see how the second half drinks tonight. May wait on drinking any more anytime soon. Wow! 2nd half of bottle on 2nd night. Truly opened up! Nose of red raspberry, floral notes, cedar and cardamom. Palate of red raspberry, cardamon, anise, and a spicy, medium finish. Will decant the next bottle longer!
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Lovely dark color. Opulent oak is balance by red and black fruits with high- acidity. Tannins are silky smooth. A little tart out of the bottle, this should improve slowly over time.
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Popped a bottle and drank after a work holiday party. Dark blueberry, baked rhubarb pie, spices, great balance and mouth feel; lovely finish. EVEN better 2 days later, which is the mark of a well-made wine. More balanced and integrated. Delicious. Might be a 97!
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15.2% abv.(!). 83% cab, 11% merlot, 6% cab franc. Dark purple, ruby rim. Leggy, purple tears. Berries, blue and black, menthol, plum, damp earth. Med+ mouthfeel, some acid, hint of tannins but dissipate quickly, med plus length. Fine, smooth and ready to drink. Quality wine, on par with many Napa bottles in ‘16.
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What can i say? Exceptionally remarkable wine does not do it justice. Perfect balance of dark fruit, grip, brightness, and oak from nose to palate thru the finish. Drink this wine now! Further aging will not make it any better.
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The nose was spicy and fresh, with bright red berry fruits, sweet herbs, hints of violets, brown sugar, and cedar dust. On the palate. I found soft elegant textures complemented by purple floral-tinged dark red fruits, zesty spices and energizing acidity. The finish was long, showing blue and red fruits while coating the senses in purple florals and sweet spice, with a hint of lingering tannin that was nearly enveloped by the wine’s textural depth.
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3/20/2024 - YankeeRobio Likes this wine: 97 Points
Incredible depth and texture, plush and settled tannins. Creamy black cherry, cassis, and mild sweet tobacco. Early part of prime drinking window.
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2/11/2024 - amiller68003@gmail.com wrote: 96 Points
An exceptional wine. PNP and even the first sip was great. Hope we have more.
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7/28/2023 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 95 Points
When decanting the room was filled with classic QC dark fruit and blueberries. Consistently more approachable out of Sommelier vs standard stems.
At the three hour mark the nose shows dark fruit, leather, pencil shavings, and more stone than earth.....almost like I've got a great glass of wine and it's aroma is mixed into the smells of walking into a tight, damp cave. Smells better than it reads!
Super-fine-grained tannins hit far back-palate. The only reason not to guess this Bordeaux blend as left bank is the bright fruit that's extraordinarily well integrated. Leather, barrique, muted dark fruit. Just a super wine. I'd take three of these over a HSS any day.
Update: at the 4.5hr mark this has notable improved and is in a darned near ideal condition;still a bit rougher from std stems, it's times like this that the Somm stems shine.
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7/26/2023 - essenceofreal wrote: 91 Points
Generous pour from my neighbor. I could smell the Cab Franc immediately. Unfortunately for my old world palette this lacked complexity, bit mono toned w somewhat a very slight shoe polish edge to the finish. Was certainly drinkable just not what I prefer.
Decent balance with some intense charred berry notes. Did not wow me or move me at all. New world for sure, and with pasta the heat came thru big time. 15.2% is obnoxious, and really present with food for some reason.
I remember falling in love w QC when I had the 99 and 01 back in the day and bought cases of it. They haven't held up well unfortunately or my tastes have changed. Me thinks a bit of both!!
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7/9/2023 - aerosol Likes this wine: 95 Points
I opened this last night and allowed it to decant about 2 hours before dinner and it could have used more time. The nose is very fragrant baking spice, cedar, earth, and leather, not especially floral, but darker notes. After 2 hours, the wine shows lots of dark black fruit on the palate like blackberry, cassis, hints of chocolate, tobacco, leather and pencil lead. This wine is not like a Napa fruit bomb, but very restrained. The acidity is starting to integrate and there is still some good tannic structure. I rushed to open this because my experience with a 2014 had a not so pleasant experience but this has a few more years left in it for sure. Just decant it and allow it to evolve. Odedis and Vinnut below also did a good job to capture this experience
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5/26/2023 - Odedis.Wine.reviews Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a gorgeous Bordeaux blend from Washington State.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity and mouthfeel.
Showing black fruits with cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, cola, black pepper, light vegetables, earth and licorice.
Feels like a Napa Cabernet with light age. Showing great complexity already.
Robert Parker 94 points.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.
Very yummy now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.
This is a fabulous Cabernet.
A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. Aged in new French oak barrels for 20 months.
94 points.
$120.
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4/9/2023 - Hendrix98 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful wine with more left…wish I had more!
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4/7/2023 - kelmarleblanc Likes this wine: 94 Points
A great value and a very nice surprise for a Washington Bordeaux blend. Decanted for 1 hour and it kept getting better through dinner.
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12/25/2022 - Portland Seth Likes this wine: 94 Points
This has evolved somewhat in the 2.5 years since my last bottle but I'm sticking with 94 pts. The acidity has been tamed and is in harmony. The oak is integrating adding more spice but there is still a disjointed vanilla note on the finish. Otherwise it drinks very clean with dark chocolatey flavors. Gorgeous.
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6/13/2022 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep, dark, reddish-purple garnet; essentially opaque in color. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & cassis with overtones of floral notes of violets & earthy/dusty notes, spices, herbs, minerals, iron, mint, dark cocoa/coffee & a hint of oak/vanilla & a slight hint of VA in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with spices, herbs, earthy, dark cocoa, minerals & a hint of oak/vanilla. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting and extended airing but still needs time as it will continue to develop further with additional aging at which time, it may merit a higher score (95+).
I would like to dedicate this bottle to SRH, a frequent commentator here who recently passed away. He would have thoroughly enjoyed this wine. Stanley, my dear friend, we will all miss you very much!
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11/26/2021 - beau11 wrote: 96 Points
This is the best palengat I've had. The higher percentage of cabernet works well here. Very creamy and lush. Dark fruits with some vanilla.
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10/15/2021 - dlcass Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wow! Love it right away. Nose of dark berry, tobacco, and dried flowers. Very balanced. Great acidity with palate elevation and nice long finish. Very enjoyable. I opened as a "daily drinker"....
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10/9/2021 - JHuseby1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 6 hours. Deep, dark fruit dominates, but a very well integrated wine. Wonderful now and will likely continue to improve.
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9/19/2021 - royalscam Likes this wine: 94 Points
Outstanding.....this vintage seems to be underrated. I don't agree. In a beautiful place. Previous impressions unchanged.
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1/1/2021 - akpace wrote: 93 Points
Berry pepper vanilla
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8/20/2020 - Swanywawa Likes this wine: 96 Points
Red and dark fruit with toasty oak. Even after an hour decant, still pretty tight. Will see how the second half drinks tonight. May wait on drinking any more anytime soon. Wow! 2nd half of bottle on 2nd night. Truly opened up! Nose of red raspberry, floral notes, cedar and cardamom. Palate of red raspberry, cardamon, anise, and a spicy, medium finish. Will decant the next bottle longer!
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6/7/2020 - Portland Seth Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely dark color. Opulent oak is balance by red and black fruits with high- acidity. Tannins are silky smooth. A little tart out of the bottle, this should improve slowly over time.
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12/20/2019 - dlcass Likes this wine: 96 Points
Popped a bottle and drank after a work holiday party. Dark blueberry, baked rhubarb pie, spices, great balance and mouth feel; lovely finish. EVEN better 2 days later, which is the mark of a well-made wine. More balanced and integrated. Delicious. Might be a 97!
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10/29/2019 - dclaggett Likes this wine: 93 Points
15.2% abv.(!). 83% cab, 11% merlot, 6% cab franc. Dark purple, ruby rim. Leggy, purple tears. Berries, blue and black, menthol, plum, damp earth. Med+ mouthfeel, some acid, hint of tannins but dissipate quickly, med plus length. Fine, smooth and ready to drink. Quality wine, on par with many Napa bottles in ‘16.
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9/20/2019 - Teamrehfeld wrote: 98 Points
What can i say? Exceptionally remarkable wine does not do it justice. Perfect balance of dark fruit, grip, brightness, and oak from nose to palate thru the finish. Drink this wine now! Further aging will not make it any better.
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6/29/2019 - Eric Guido wrote: 95 Points
The nose was spicy and fresh, with bright red berry fruits, sweet herbs, hints of violets, brown sugar, and cedar dust. On the palate. I found soft elegant textures complemented by purple floral-tinged dark red fruits, zesty spices and energizing acidity. The finish was long, showing blue and red fruits while coating the senses in purple florals and sweet spice, with a hint of lingering tannin that was nearly enveloped by the wine’s textural depth.
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