Drinking beautifully right now. Plush mouthfeel and some nice secondary characteristics to complement the fruit, which is still going strong. A fine effort in a difficult vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep Red color with no brown on the edges. Rich blackberry with a chocolate backdrop. Dense and rich yet smooth as silk. And the classic Winston Hill nose in spades. This may be approaching its peak, but I am saving one more bottle for next year. California Cab doesn't get any better than this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just spectacular. Last bottle of a case of this wine and I wish I had bought 5 cases. TONS of ripe, rich cassis with a hint of oak, vanilla, some Rutherford dust and a bit of earth & leather that emerge after an hour or two. Medium body with a super-silky/velvety texture and a long, long, long fruity (cassis), smooth finish. Plenty of structure to balance out all the extremely concentrated and ripe fruit. Big, but not overdone and reminds me of a 2nd growth bordeaux. Enjoyed it with veal chops and it was an absolutely perfect match. Seems to be improving with age - not losing any fruit or concentration, but mellowing and adding texture . Best cabernet I have in a long, long time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I can't put my finger on it but this wine seemed corked but not exactly. This is the third bottle that I have consumed over the past three years and not one of them has intrigued me. I may have to donate to a local charity as I doubt I will return to this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Yet another great bottle. Big nose as usual with dark berry, cassis, oak and vanilla dominating. Rich, full, smooth mouthfeel with good structure and a nice, medium and slightly acidic finish. Again just slightly rough tannins, and just a bit more of a blockbuster style than prior bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another terrific bottle! This was the best bottle yet - and the others have been outstanding. BIG, full, rich nose of dark berry, cassis, vanilla, oak and what I think of as Rutherford "dust" -- really enticing. Big, plush mouthfeel and concentrated flavors that match the nose. Very nice medium long, and just slightly acidic, finish that extends the flavors. My only negatives with this bottle were the acidic finish and the slightly rough tannins. This is just short of spectacular - and may reach that level with more bottle time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another great bottle. Rich, plush red and dark berry flavors with a full, rich mouthfeel. No hint of age, perfectly balanced and drinking perfectly. A spectacular wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow - what a great wine! It has some of the most vibrant, concentrated dark berry fruit I have ever had. There is also cassis, blueberry, and a LOT of dust. The tannins are just slightly drying, but balance very nicely with the fruit. It is medium to full bodied, very concentrated and made in an "in-your-face" style. I suspect it will improve with a couple of more years of bottle time, but I doubt my remaining bottles will last very long -- it is just too enjoyable now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I drank this a couple of days ago and what I remember is a big, rich California cab. Loads of dark berry fruit on the nose. Flavors match the nose - with the addition of a bit of dust. The fruit flavors combined with a rich, velvety mouth feel made this a very enjoyable wine. The tannins are soft and the finish is long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still fairly tannic. Really reminded me more of a Bordeaux wine than a California wine. Will be interesting to see if it refines with age. Well made, not over oaked, but with good acidity. Will it have enough fruit to add to the complexity? Typical 2000 California Cabernet Sauv -- everything is there, but just does not stand out for some reason.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
11/18/2018 - ROrmand Likes this wine: 91 Points
Welcoming, warm, seductive. A wine of grace and finesse rather than power and flash. A delight. In great shape. A triumph for the vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2018 - kmforster Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking beautifully right now. Plush mouthfeel and some nice secondary characteristics to complement the fruit, which is still going strong. A fine effort in a difficult vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2015 - WeinBaum Likes this wine: 96 Points
Deep Red color with no brown on the edges. Rich blackberry with a chocolate backdrop. Dense and rich yet smooth as silk. And the classic Winston Hill nose in spades. This may be approaching its peak, but I am saving one more bottle for next year. California Cab doesn't get any better than this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2012 - rickspicks wrote: 96 Points
Just spectacular. Last bottle of a case of this wine and I wish I had bought 5 cases. TONS of ripe, rich cassis with a hint of oak, vanilla, some Rutherford dust and a bit of earth & leather that emerge after an hour or two. Medium body with a super-silky/velvety texture and a long, long, long fruity (cassis), smooth finish. Plenty of structure to balance out all the extremely concentrated and ripe fruit. Big, but not overdone and reminds me of a 2nd growth bordeaux. Enjoyed it with veal chops and it was an absolutely perfect match. Seems to be improving with age - not losing any fruit or concentration, but mellowing and adding texture . Best cabernet I have in a long, long time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2011 - bulldurham wrote: 79 Points
I can't put my finger on it but this wine seemed corked but not exactly. This is the third bottle that I have consumed over the past three years and not one of them has intrigued me. I may have to donate to a local charity as I doubt I will return to this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2010 - rickspicks wrote: 94 Points
Yet another great bottle. Big nose as usual with dark berry, cassis, oak and vanilla dominating. Rich, full, smooth mouthfeel with good structure and a nice, medium and slightly acidic finish. Again just slightly rough tannins, and just a bit more of a blockbuster style than prior bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2009 - rickspicks wrote: 95 Points
Another terrific bottle! This was the best bottle yet - and the others have been outstanding. BIG, full, rich nose of dark berry, cassis, vanilla, oak and what I think of as Rutherford "dust" -- really enticing. Big, plush mouthfeel and concentrated flavors that match the nose. Very nice medium long, and just slightly acidic, finish that extends the flavors. My only negatives with this bottle were the acidic finish and the slightly rough tannins. This is just short of spectacular - and may reach that level with more bottle time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2009 - rickspicks wrote: 94 Points
Another great bottle. Rich, plush red and dark berry flavors with a full, rich mouthfeel. No hint of age, perfectly balanced and drinking perfectly. A spectacular wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2009 - micser1733 wrote: 92 Points
Great nose even better taste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2008 - rickspicks wrote: 94 Points
Wow - what a great wine! It has some of the most vibrant, concentrated dark berry fruit I have ever had. There is also cassis, blueberry, and a LOT of dust. The tannins are just slightly drying, but balance very nicely with the fruit. It is medium to full bodied, very concentrated and made in an "in-your-face" style. I suspect it will improve with a couple of more years of bottle time, but I doubt my remaining bottles will last very long -- it is just too enjoyable now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2008 - rickspicks wrote: 91 Points
I drank this a couple of days ago and what I remember is a big, rich California cab. Loads of dark berry fruit on the nose. Flavors match the nose - with the addition of a bit of dust. The fruit flavors combined with a rich, velvety mouth feel made this a very enjoyable wine. The tannins are soft and the finish is long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/12/2008 - win wrote: 88 Points
Better than previous bottle -- oak is becoming more integrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2007 - win wrote: 87 Points
Still fairly tannic. Really reminded me more of a Bordeaux wine than a California wine. Will be interesting to see if it refines with age. Well made, not over oaked, but with good acidity. Will it have enough fruit to add to the complexity? Typical 2000 California Cabernet Sauv -- everything is there, but just does not stand out for some reason.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2007 - BWebb wrote: 90 Points
excellent wine - big Napa cab about right for the price $135 ish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment