At home at dinner (pizza). Ruby-purple color, red rim. Excellent, complex nose. Chocolate and plenty of oak. On the palate, black licorice and anise flavors, very nice. Excellent now, but better when the tannins abate. 5-12-16-8: 91/100.
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Really quite impressed by this one. Overheard someone talking about having 12 of these and not cracking a single one in the case. Well, apparently they were serious about giving one a try, and I happened to be at the right place at the right time! Wine friends are good friends! This one poured a nice dark maroon into the glass. Definitely some bricking to the meniscus. The nose was a combination of some mild vegetable roads, but had a lot of brambly black cherry. The entry and mid palate of this wine shows its age. There is a vegetal note, weedy, straw and hay. However, raspberry black cherry notes are definitely there. This one has started to lose its fruit, and the middle and finish were a little bit one dimensional. A fair amount of grit on the finish and still a bit of black pepper. Definitely over the hill, but not in the ditch just yet! If you have these, it is definitely time to start drinking. These are starting to lose their fruit, or at least this one is. I expect an extreme amount of bottle diversity at this age.
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Wine Group Tasting of Old Cabernet Sauvignon vintages. (Yan's China Bistro, Walnut Creek, Ca.): Wine Group Tasting of Old Cabernet Sauvignon vintages. Nose of black cherry, mocha, earth, coffee grounds, and hints of bell pepper, same on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, elegant, improved throughout the meal and was clearly the winner based on comments received, just delicious, was well paired with the steak and beef clay pot, mouth filling fruit, got richer and richer with mocha and black cherry during dinner, wish I owned more than 3 bottles, and a long, flavorful finish and aftertaste. My #1 of 5.
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3L bottle, cork crumbled, decent amount of sediment stuck to side of the bottle but it didn't get into the wine.
There was not great complexity to the wine and it is probably just past its peak. Very little tannins or acid. Took about 30 minutes in a decanter to fully hit its stride and drank well for hours. Silky texture with ripe red fruit taste and a nice bouquet. My 95 is probably a bit high but the fact that the wine tasted this good after over 30 years, in addition to the novelty for me in drinking a wine this old and well made, allowed me to really appreciate it. I would gladly trade some of the 95 point rated wines in my cellar for more bottles of this.
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Stored at 55 degrees, humidity controlled, since release. Relatively little sediment upon decanting. Nose is lovey cabernet cassis, elegant but subdued. On the palate, this wine follows the nose -- elegant but not deep or complex enough to reach the 95 + level. Still drinking well, but probably will not improve, although 24 hours later (gassed) this bottle was almost as good as an hour after opening.
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KenK's BDay (Wildfire Chicago il): Out of magnum and side by side with the Bonny's. Napa was sweet, yet heavy in the glass. Good depth and surprising color. They don't make wine like this anymore.
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What a beautiful bottle of wine. Fabulous sweet cherry fruit, soft tannins, complex. Started to fade after two and a half hours, but this is a great Silver Oak.
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Nice. Color only modestly bricked. Modest nose that is more in line with a bottle of this age. I found this best at the pop and pour phase and decreased in quality with extended air time (750 ml bottle). Mild tannins, though a touch more than typical for a Cali cab of this age. Nice bottle from a nice year, though I preferred a couple other 85s I had recently (Forman and Phelps Backus Vineyard). This is holding up well and probably has a few more years. I wish there was a bit more complexity.
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The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Raisin, Blackberry, and Raspberry. It tastes like Blackberry, Red Currant, and Flint. The body is Full. The wine has Satin-like texture. The wine finishes Medium. It did not need to breath for more than 15 minutes and had a visible brown aged ring on surface. Still held it's flavor. Very Nice
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At La Bocca with Tim S, drank after a Pott Pour Ma Guelle. Great choice, my guest has a lot of history with Silver Oak.
Consistent with my prior notes, this one seemed a shade better, more fresh. Cork took some doing and had to be pushed through, no problems with the bottle. Wine has mellowed, tannins fully integrated, fruits have aged to a Bordeaux-like palate.
You can still taste the Silver oak vanilla/oak on mid palate, its more in the background. Hope they all age this gracefully...great wine. Well stored bottles have a few years left at this level
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Purchased directly from the vineyard four years ago. Served at a charity food/wine pairing event at our house with 24 guests. This wine was a big hit, decanted three hours paired with pistachio encrusted rack of lamb. Not yet past its peak, this bottling drank like a finely pedigreed Pauillac, not a California cab. A real credit to the winemaker. Perhaps the 3.0 liter format helped with the bottle aging.
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Medium garnet color with long slow legs. Rich earthy nose, with less oak than I expected though still clearly evident. Initially the nose was very restrained but after several hours it opened up nicely. More Bordeaux-like than I ever remember a Silver Oak tasting. Flavors include oak/vanilla, leather, black plum, a touch of Brett-like earth, mushrooms, maybe even truffle, and a long coffee in the aftertaste.very well balanced and luscious.
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Surprised to the upside, wasn't sure what to expect, havent had this vimtage previously, Silver Oaks from the 83,84,86 vintages i have had had not held up like this. Cork was a little dried but decent shape. Color was slightly faded garnet, no browning. Nose was fragrant, floral and fruity out of the bottle.
Would have mistaken for an aged Bordeaux. Dusted cherries, red fruits, herbs, plums, tart berries. California fruit comes though on the mid palate and finish. Cedar and mild oak on the finish, no sign of the signature SO vanilla oak.Probably past it's prime but a beautiful wine. Sophisticated and elegant, classic aged California cab.
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Dark with no hint of age. Hints of plum and eucalyptus on the nose. Bordeaux like. Sweet aroma and taste. Sweet cherry and dark chocolate taste. At its peak. The body is Medium/Full. The wine is textured Silky. The wine finishes Long.
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Mature classic Silver Oak Napa. Straightforward, pure fruit still dominant and an explosive bouquet upon uncorking, showing some elegance in maturity. Oak is balanced and distinctively American. Great color with no orange edge. Still wants for a little more complexity.
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Decanted one hour. Youthful in the glass for 24 years, dark crimson, but no browning. Nose of plums, currants, cocoa, tobacco and eucalyptus. Cassis on the palate, with red fruits, gravel and cut cigar. Lovely, bordeaux-like structure. Long finish. Nice new years bottle.
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Cork in great shape, aged nicely. Very rounded and smooth, a real treat. Probably better 2-3 years ago but still a very balanced 24 year old cab. If you have any left in your cellar I would enjoy them soon.
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Wow, bought from winebid the cork was in amazing shape I'm guessing the provenance was as good as it gets. Distinct new world nose (when compared to the 82 bdxs we were drinking prior), but very mature. Beautiful mature dark fruits, with a subtle sweetness. Refined vanilla and redfruit palate, fully integrated tannins. My first 20+ year old CA cab, I was suprised by the elegance.
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Delicious, big perfume of berries on the nose that translated to the first taste...lot's of strawberry and vanilla...Very well balanced, medium bodied and still quite lively for 21 year old cab
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Poker night at Ray's: This was a delicious, silky bottle of wine. On the nose this was showing cassis, toasty oak and something sweet. The mouth feel was elegant and overall the wine was exceptionally well balanced. The finish was shorter than I would have liked, but I kept wondering why Silver Oak doesn't make wine like this anymore?
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CHERRIES, LICORICE, BLACKBERRIES IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH, ELEGANT WINE WITH NICE COMPLEXITY. FULLER THAN THE '85 ALEXANDER WE DRANK IT WITH
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dark red/purple, no orange at edge, deep rich nose of mature jammy fruit & vanilla, bit of spice, lots of rich fruit, berry & cherry, fine tannins, no signs of going over the hill
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At the winery. Great ruby color. Perfect legs. nose is ethereal. Very complex. Fruit is bigger and more assertive than the A.V stablemate of the same vintage. Excellent, although prefer the A.V. now. 5-10-15-7: 87/100.
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With MPL and BLR at S&F survey of '85 Cabs. Lovely dark ruby color. Rich, thick, coats the glass. Nose on this one is complex and very attractive. Cocoa, lovely fruit. Better than the Alexander Valley nose. Very good flavor too, though somewhat more angular and sharp on the palate. Hopefully, the tannins will abate. Needs time. 5-13-14-7: 89/100.
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2/20/2023 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 91 Points
At home at dinner (pizza). Ruby-purple color, red rim. Excellent, complex nose. Chocolate and plenty of oak. On the palate, black licorice and anise flavors, very nice. Excellent now, but better when the tannins abate. 5-12-16-8: 91/100.
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4/9/2022 - Matt T wrote: 91 Points
Still alive and kicking with a lot of bell pepper, cherry, and vanilla and a good bit of depth. Pleasant nose and medium length finish.
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12/26/2021 - mflesh wrote: 92 Points
Really quite impressed by this one. Overheard someone talking about having 12 of these and not cracking a single one in the case. Well, apparently they were serious about giving one a try, and I happened to be at the right place at the right time! Wine friends are good friends! This one poured a nice dark maroon into the glass. Definitely some bricking to the meniscus. The nose was a combination of some mild vegetable roads, but had a lot of brambly black cherry. The entry and mid palate of this wine shows its age. There is a vegetal note, weedy, straw and hay. However, raspberry black cherry notes are definitely there. This one has started to lose its fruit, and the middle and finish were a little bit one dimensional. A fair amount of grit on the finish and still a bit of black pepper. Definitely over the hill, but not in the ditch just yet! If you have these, it is definitely time to start drinking. These are starting to lose their fruit, or at least this one is. I expect an extreme amount of bottle diversity at this age.
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6/29/2019 - Satoshi Nakamoto Likes this wine: 92 Points
WX Dinner: Drank from a magnum.
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6/23/2018 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wine Group Tasting of Old Cabernet Sauvignon vintages. (Yan's China Bistro, Walnut Creek, Ca.): Wine Group Tasting of Old Cabernet Sauvignon vintages. Nose of black cherry, mocha, earth, coffee grounds, and hints of bell pepper, same on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, elegant, improved throughout the meal and was clearly the winner based on comments received, just delicious, was well paired with the steak and beef clay pot, mouth filling fruit, got richer and richer with mocha and black cherry during dinner, wish I owned more than 3 bottles, and a long, flavorful finish and aftertaste. My #1 of 5.
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12/3/2016 - justceg Likes this wine: 95 Points
3L bottle, cork crumbled, decent amount of sediment stuck to side of the bottle but it didn't get into the wine.
There was not great complexity to the wine and it is probably just past its peak. Very little tannins or acid. Took about 30 minutes in a decanter to fully hit its stride and drank well for hours. Silky texture with ripe red fruit taste and a nice bouquet. My 95 is probably a bit high but the fact that the wine tasted this good after over 30 years, in addition to the novelty for me in drinking a wine this old and well made, allowed me to really appreciate it. I would gladly trade some of the 95 point rated wines in my cellar for more bottles of this.
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7/25/2015 - jsander Likes this wine: 95 Points
Upon opening tannins still pronounced. After an hour of air fruit still alive and singing. Very nice old cab with life still in it.
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4/25/2015 - Dennis Graves wrote: 93 Points
Stored at 55 degrees, humidity controlled, since release. Relatively little sediment upon decanting.
Nose is lovey cabernet cassis, elegant but subdued.
On the palate, this wine follows the nose -- elegant but not deep or complex enough to reach the 95 + level.
Still drinking well, but probably will not improve, although 24 hours later (gassed) this bottle was almost as good as an hour after opening.
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12/1/2014 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 92 Points
KenK's BDay (Wildfire Chicago il): Out of magnum and side by side with the Bonny's. Napa was sweet, yet heavy in the glass. Good depth and surprising color. They don't make wine like this anymore.
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5/21/2014 - ronte bello Likes this wine: 95 Points
What a beautiful bottle of wine. Fabulous sweet cherry fruit, soft tannins, complex. Started to fade after two and a half hours, but this is a great Silver Oak.
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1/7/2014 - fournet Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice. Color only modestly bricked. Modest nose that is more in line with a bottle of this age. I found this best at the pop and pour phase and decreased in quality with extended air time (750 ml bottle). Mild tannins, though a touch more than typical for a Cali cab of this age. Nice bottle from a nice year, though I preferred a couple other 85s I had recently (Forman and Phelps Backus Vineyard). This is holding up well and probably has a few more years. I wish there was a bit more complexity.
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12/3/2013 - mgunderson wrote: 96 Points
The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Raisin, Blackberry, and Raspberry.
It tastes like Blackberry, Red Currant, and Flint. The body is Full. The wine has Satin-like texture. The wine finishes Medium. It did not need to breath for more than 15 minutes and had a visible brown aged ring on surface. Still held it's flavor. Very Nice
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10/8/2013 - walkerjfw wrote: 95 Points
At La Bocca with Tim S, drank after a Pott Pour Ma Guelle. Great choice, my guest has a lot of history with Silver Oak.
Consistent with my prior notes, this one seemed a shade better, more fresh. Cork took some doing and had to be pushed through, no problems with the bottle. Wine has mellowed, tannins fully integrated, fruits have aged to a Bordeaux-like palate.
You can still taste the Silver oak vanilla/oak on mid palate, its more in the background. Hope they all age this gracefully...great wine. Well stored bottles have a few years left at this level
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6/1/2013 - JMLoree Likes this wine: 94 Points
Purchased directly from the vineyard four years ago. Served at a charity food/wine pairing event at our house with 24 guests. This wine was a big hit, decanted three hours paired with pistachio encrusted rack of lamb. Not yet past its peak, this bottling drank like a finely pedigreed Pauillac, not a California cab. A real credit to the winemaker. Perhaps the 3.0 liter format helped with the bottle aging.
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1/12/2013 - oldwines wrote: 92 Points
Medium garnet color with long slow legs. Rich earthy nose, with less oak than I expected though still clearly evident. Initially the nose was very restrained but after several hours it opened up nicely. More Bordeaux-like than I ever remember a Silver Oak tasting. Flavors include oak/vanilla, leather, black plum, a touch of Brett-like earth, mushrooms, maybe even truffle, and a long coffee in the aftertaste.very well balanced and luscious.
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11/24/2012 - walkerjfw Likes this wine: 94 Points
Surprised to the upside, wasn't sure what to expect, havent had this vimtage previously, Silver Oaks from the 83,84,86 vintages i have had had not held up like this. Cork was a little dried but decent shape. Color was slightly faded garnet, no browning. Nose was fragrant, floral and fruity out of the bottle.
Would have mistaken for an aged Bordeaux. Dusted cherries, red fruits, herbs, plums, tart berries. California fruit comes though on the mid palate and finish. Cedar and mild oak on the finish, no sign of the signature SO vanilla oak.Probably past it's prime but a beautiful wine. Sophisticated and elegant, classic aged California cab.
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11/18/2012 - shiel wrote: 90 Points
Drank this birth year wine at my daughter's wedding. Clean cork and little sentiment. Enjoyable.
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7/2/2012 - SkeBum wrote: 92 Points
Light oak with fruit on the nose, light tannins balanced with fruit in the mouth, nicely elegant wine. Well balanced and drinking very well.
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4/15/2011 - rdsboca wrote: 95 Points
This wine was all about the nose. Rose pedals and mature cherries. Earthy and medium oak. Still very alive. Better than last bottle.
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1/29/2011 - rdsboca wrote: flawed
Not corked, but fruit was dead
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1/20/2011 - ljl Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark with no hint of age. Hints of plum and eucalyptus on the nose. Bordeaux like. Sweet aroma and taste. Sweet cherry and dark chocolate taste. At its peak.
The body is Medium/Full.
The wine is textured Silky.
The wine finishes Long.
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12/30/2010 - Burghound56 wrote: 91 Points
Mature classic Silver Oak Napa. Straightforward, pure fruit still dominant and an explosive bouquet upon uncorking, showing some elegance in maturity. Oak is balanced and distinctively American. Great color with no orange edge. Still wants for a little more complexity.
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12/31/2009 - Fielding wrote: 94 Points
Decanted one hour. Youthful in the glass for 24 years, dark crimson, but no browning. Nose of plums, currants, cocoa, tobacco and eucalyptus. Cassis on the palate, with red fruits, gravel and cut cigar. Lovely, bordeaux-like structure. Long finish. Nice new years bottle.
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4/8/2009 - rremiker wrote: 90 Points
Cork in great shape, aged nicely. Very rounded and smooth, a real treat. Probably better 2-3 years ago but still a very balanced 24 year old cab. If you have any left in your cellar I would enjoy them soon.
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1/3/2009 - craigi wrote: flawed
devastated by this bottle -- CORKED! ugh.
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10/2/2007 - jryoung wrote: 94 Points
Wow, bought from winebid the cork was in amazing shape I'm guessing the provenance was as good as it gets. Distinct new world nose (when compared to the 82 bdxs we were drinking prior), but very mature. Beautiful mature dark fruits, with a subtle sweetness. Refined vanilla and redfruit palate, fully integrated tannins. My first 20+ year old CA cab, I was suprised by the elegance.
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7/17/2007 - SBA Guru wrote: 94 Points
Well ages california cab. Integrated tannins, smooth and textured.
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11/25/2006 - stevewine wrote:
This wine lost it fruit but still a great wine
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2/9/2006 - jmd60611 wrote: 92 Points
Delicious, big perfume of berries on the nose that translated to the first taste...lot's of strawberry and vanilla...Very well balanced, medium bodied and still quite lively for 21 year old cab
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2/19/2005 - DelYap wrote: 93 Points
Poker night at Ray's: This was a delicious, silky bottle of wine. On the nose this was showing cassis, toasty oak and something sweet. The mouth feel was elegant and overall the wine was exceptionally well balanced. The finish was shorter than I would have liked, but I kept wondering why Silver Oak doesn't make wine like this anymore?
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3/14/2003 - buckeye76 wrote: 94 Points
CHERRIES, LICORICE, BLACKBERRIES IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH, ELEGANT WINE WITH NICE COMPLEXITY. FULLER THAN THE '85 ALEXANDER WE DRANK IT WITH
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10/20/2000 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasting of 8 Silver Oak Napa Cabernet Sauvignons at Silver Oak. (Napa): At Silver Oak, lovely, sweet rich fruit on the nose and palate, rich, sweet/sour cherry fruit today, tasty, well balanced, great fruit, hints of slight tannins, nice, long finish.
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1/28/1998 - dbg wrote:
dark red/purple, no orange at edge, deep rich nose of mature jammy
fruit & vanilla, bit of spice, lots of rich fruit, berry & cherry,
fine tannins, no signs of going over the hill
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11/9/1995 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 86 Points
1985 Vintage (Lafayette, Ca.): Touch of mint, chocolate, tobacco, lovely rich berry fruit, tasty, great acid, and long finish.
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7/27/1995 - dbg wrote:
showing beautifully
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11/19/1991 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 87 Points
At the winery. Great ruby color. Perfect legs. nose is ethereal. Very complex. Fruit is bigger and more assertive than the A.V stablemate of the same vintage. Excellent, although prefer the A.V. now. 5-10-15-7: 87/100.
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4/12/1991 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 89 Points
With MPL and BLR at S&F survey of '85 Cabs. Lovely dark ruby color. Rich, thick, coats the glass. Nose on this one is complex and very attractive. Cocoa, lovely fruit. Better than the Alexander Valley nose. Very good flavor too, though somewhat more angular and sharp on the palate. Hopefully, the tannins will abate. Needs time. 5-13-14-7: 89/100.
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