Two and a half hour decant. Deep dark, mostly ruby color. Plush, ripe blackberries, raspberry, tea, praline, cinnamon sugar old fashioned donut, and subtle hydrangea. Dry, velvety palate, with nice, granular acidity. Firm, medium intensity tannins on the long finish.
Such a nice drinker. Not nearly as confectionery as I’ve made it sound. This is a serious CS, with no extracted notes.
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Two hour decant. Deep dark ruby magenta core, with some fading beyond. Blackberry, plum, black walnut, marshmallow, graphite, turmeric, and tangerine rind. Dry, wonderfully textured, full bodied palate. Firm, full tannins on the longish finish.
The mouthfeel is so great that you don’t want to swallow (get your mind out of the gutter). Terrific complexity. This is must be what drinking a great wine at its peak feels like.
See prior notes - age has treated this well. Drinking just beautifully right now, with minimal sediment, lots of fruit and 30 second plus finish. Hints of roses and chocolate too
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Love the profound aromas on this Kings Row. Somewhat brooding, toasted cedar, firewood, roasted dark fruits, burnt tobacco, slate and flint. Smooth palate, adding some mint, dark chocolate and gravel. Tannins are resolved, so focused with long finish.
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Medium ripe red and dark mountain fruit. Hints of vanilla, cedar and tobacco came through as it opened in the glass after about 30 minutes. Must decant to get it opening up. Medium weight on the palate and finish lasted about 30-40 seconds. Great spot in Napa Valley to visit
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Decanted for 1.5 hrs. Aromatic nose. Overpowering flavors on initial taste with little finesse. Strong flavors of dark cherry, vanilla, tobacco. Tanins seem well managed but strong overpowering initial flavors mixed with a strong alcohol component lead to an disappointing experience. Finish with bitterness.
At 2.5 hr decant much smoother with less harshness in taste and finish. Will try longer decant in future
Second bottle: just a different experience. I have found checkerboard wines do not pair well for me with garlic as it pulls a strong bitter taste from their wines. Was easily a 94-95 wine on this sampling.
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This ripe Cabernet needs another year or so to calm down, since it presents as a bit too sweet and linear at the moment. Bright red in color; medium in body; aromas of cherry pie, graphite, and black licorice. Tastes of blueberry, mocha, Jolly Rancher, and anise, with a sugary and lingering finish. Blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot. 14.9% alcohol. Better on second day, with a more earthy element that balanced well with the ripeness. 93 for now, with upside in 2021 or later.
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5/12/2023 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 96 Points
Two and a half hour decant. Deep dark, mostly ruby color. Plush, ripe blackberries, raspberry, tea, praline, cinnamon sugar old fashioned donut, and subtle hydrangea. Dry, velvety palate, with nice, granular acidity. Firm, medium intensity tannins on the long finish.
Such a nice drinker. Not nearly as confectionery as I’ve made it sound. This is a serious CS, with no extracted notes.
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1/27/2023 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 98 Points
Two hour decant. Deep dark ruby magenta core, with some fading beyond. Blackberry, plum, black walnut, marshmallow, graphite, turmeric, and tangerine rind. Dry, wonderfully textured, full bodied palate. Firm, full tannins on the longish finish.
The mouthfeel is so great that you don’t want to swallow (get your mind out of the gutter). Terrific complexity. This is must be what drinking a great wine at its peak feels like.
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12/31/2022 - Tonythefish Likes this wine: 95 Points
See prior notes - age has treated this well. Drinking just beautifully right now, with minimal sediment, lots of fruit and 30 second plus finish. Hints of roses and chocolate too
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11/10/2022 - Cablover1982 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Love the profound aromas on this Kings Row. Somewhat brooding, toasted cedar, firewood, roasted dark fruits, burnt tobacco, slate and flint. Smooth palate, adding some mint, dark chocolate and gravel. Tannins are resolved, so focused with long finish.
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9/18/2021 - greg@newsomehh.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
AEN Wedding wine
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6/23/2021 - greg@newsomehh.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Love this bottle, enjoyed with pizza,
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10/7/2020 - Tonythefish Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium ripe red and dark mountain fruit. Hints of vanilla, cedar and tobacco came through as it opened in the glass after about 30 minutes.
Must decant to get it opening up. Medium weight on the palate and finish lasted about 30-40 seconds. Great spot in Napa Valley to visit
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1/18/2020 - watersfamily Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hrs. Aromatic nose. Overpowering flavors on initial taste with little finesse. Strong flavors of dark cherry, vanilla, tobacco. Tanins seem well managed but strong overpowering initial flavors mixed with a strong alcohol component lead to an disappointing experience. Finish with bitterness.
At 2.5 hr decant much smoother with less harshness in taste and finish. Will try longer decant in future
Second bottle: just a different experience. I have found checkerboard wines do not pair well for me with garlic as it pulls a strong bitter taste from their wines. Was easily a 94-95 wine on this sampling.
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7/5/2019 - tunaguy wrote: 92 Points
3 hour decant was needed. ripe red and black cherry, vanilla, fresh herbs, tobacco. palate followed nose. good wine but not the greatest qpr
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4/28/2019 - msuwine wrote: 93 Points
This ripe Cabernet needs another year or so to calm down, since it presents as a bit too sweet and linear at the moment. Bright red in color; medium in body; aromas of cherry pie, graphite, and black licorice. Tastes of blueberry, mocha, Jolly Rancher, and anise, with a sugary and lingering finish. Blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot. 14.9% alcohol. Better on second day, with a more earthy element that balanced well with the ripeness. 93 for now, with upside in 2021 or later.
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