This wine is still progressing after another 2 years. Leather is really dominant with more pronounced cigar flavors. The fruits profiles is intense but takes a backseat to the leather.
This is drinking like a super culty cab.
An absolute winner.
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Four years in the bottle has done this wine a lot of good. On the nose the fruit is much more mellow and leather more expressive. In the mouth it's still pretty tight with tart cherries to start and ends with loads cedar and tobacco.
This wine should be rockin in another 2-3 years.
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Popped and poured out of a 3L. Nice fresh cherry and leather aroma with flavors of red fruits, a streak of earth and a medium finish. Very drinkable and a nicely made wine.
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Not as sugary as three years ago. I would say they should be consumed in the next year. Howell Mountain love as usual. Fruit is fading somewhat, but very good. Give it an hour decant.
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More earthy than the '07 and much more approachable than the '06 right now. A really nice, powerful, integrated wine that has depth, character and grace.
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Definitely don't agree with other reviewers. Opened this with a prime rib. Nice nose, cherries and prunes with tannin on the finish. Nice long finish, a very classic California Cab. It might get better with another year in the cellar, but definitely driinkable now.
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This wine is either still extremely young or was badly assembled. Given Celia Welch is the wine maker, she also makes Scarecrow, Revena, Babour, and Staglin. Fruit is virtually nonexistent on this wine. The nose is heavy with smoke, cedar and dry spices. In the mouth the tannin grips your tongue like a vise and not on a good way. Just loads of minerals and wood. Finishes moderately long.
There is a group of people that this wine appeals to and I used to be one of them. I just prefer a little more fruit these days.
Remember you don't drink the label.
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Overall, this is a very nice wine. It is black as coal in the glass - makes it feel like I'm about to step into a dark alley, with a very large, broad-shouldered wine, wearing a dark trench coat and leather boots, and it's up to me to pull myself back out to safety. I can seriously get lost in a wine like that. But, it's much more nuanced that I expected. Yes, it's a big California Cabernet, but it's not a fruit or oak bomb. The tannins are ample, the acidity brings some life to it and the finish is long and lingering. A little hot on the finish, but not nearly as much as I expected from a wine with a 14.9% alcohol level. This is a very well-rounded effort...hard to describe, but it's heavy and light at the same time. One of the more interesting and complex Cabs I've tried in a while.
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Very unimpressive for the cost and pedigree. Single dimensional. For the money, look towards Lail Blueprint or White Cottage for a Howell Mountain Cab/Blend.
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4/18/2021 - ppearson9 Likes this wine: 95 Points
still drinking beautifully. improved with age. wish i had a few more botts
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7/12/2017 - kietkopelli Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is still progressing after another 2 years. Leather is really dominant with more pronounced cigar flavors. The fruits profiles is intense but takes a backseat to the leather.
This is drinking like a super culty cab.
An absolute winner.
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9/7/2015 - kietkopelli Likes this wine: 92 Points
Four years in the bottle has done this wine a lot of good. On the nose the fruit is much more mellow and leather more expressive. In the mouth it's still pretty tight with tart cherries to start and ends with loads cedar and tobacco.
This wine should be rockin in another 2-3 years.
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2/2/2014 - rwstorer wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured out of a 3L. Nice fresh cherry and leather aroma with flavors of red fruits, a streak of earth and a medium finish. Very drinkable and a nicely made wine.
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12/25/2013 - MemorialWineFan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not as sugary as three years ago. I would say they should be consumed in the next year. Howell Mountain love as usual. Fruit is fading somewhat, but very good. Give it an hour decant.
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5/15/2013 - Foodievines Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice fruit forward wine with good complexity.
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4/6/2013 - Foodievines Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great wine w steak. Nice ripe fruit and quite plush.
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3/2/2013 - ppearson9 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 2.5 Hours. Flavors really starting to open up. Enjoyed it thoroughly. Not overly oaky. Great on the back palate.
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7/13/2011 - anonymoose12345 Likes this wine: 91 Points
More earthy than the '07 and much more approachable than the '06 right now. A really nice, powerful, integrated wine that has depth, character and grace.
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7/1/2011 - jerwin wrote: 91 Points
Definitely don't agree with other reviewers. Opened this with a prime rib. Nice nose, cherries and prunes with tannin on the finish. Nice long finish, a very classic California Cab. It might get better with another year in the cellar, but definitely driinkable now.
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6/9/2011 - kietkopelli wrote: 90 Points
This wine is either still extremely young or was badly assembled. Given Celia Welch is the wine maker, she also makes Scarecrow, Revena, Babour, and Staglin. Fruit is virtually nonexistent on this wine. The nose is heavy with smoke, cedar and dry spices. In the mouth the tannin grips your tongue like a vise and not on a good way. Just loads of minerals and wood. Finishes moderately long.
There is a group of people that this wine appeals to and I used to be one of them. I just prefer a little more fruit these days.
Remember you don't drink the label.
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10/24/2010 - John McCabe wrote: 85 Points
Seemed quite off - almost like coffee that had been left for too long.
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8/21/2010 - cartime wrote: 87 Points
Block 7 Wine Co. 1 Year Anniversary Tasting (Houston, TX): I found this to be over-oaked and too hot. Not a good value.
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3/6/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:
Overall, this is a very nice wine. It is black as coal in the glass - makes it feel like I'm about to step into a dark alley, with a very large, broad-shouldered wine, wearing a dark trench coat and leather boots, and it's up to me to pull myself back out to safety. I can seriously get lost in a wine like that. But, it's much more nuanced that I expected. Yes, it's a big California Cabernet, but it's not a fruit or oak bomb. The tannins are ample, the acidity brings some life to it and the finish is long and lingering. A little hot on the finish, but not nearly as much as I expected from a wine with a 14.9% alcohol level. This is a very well-rounded effort...hard to describe, but it's heavy and light at the same time. One of the more interesting and complex Cabs I've tried in a while.
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1/21/2010 - JonesBlairR wrote: 88 Points
Very unimpressive for the cost and pedigree. Single dimensional. For the money, look towards Lail Blueprint or White Cottage for a Howell Mountain Cab/Blend.
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