Last one...wanted to see how it aged. Overall, no improvement...maybe degrades a little. starts off a bit medicinal/syrupy, then after an hour or so settles. muted prune, boysenberry, then softer tannins. Not adding too much complexity or range with 10 years.
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I am so dissapointed with this wine! I've had previous vintages of this bottling that I really enjoyed but this one represents all that can be wrong with Cali Cab. HUGE Vanilla from all the oak and over-extracted fruit with no structure. What were they thinking?
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Last bottle. popped and poured by itself. Still a big Calif cab with all the wood and stuff you expect. Very enjoyable. Nothing to add from my last notes. If you still have some of this, drink or hold for a couple years. This was a great value and I'm glad I got several bottles when it was around. Will look for some more of it, even though I'm focusing more on Washington state and European wines now days.
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Still terrific, as good as it is likely to get though. It can hold antoher year easily enough. Lots of fruit, some wood, not quite dust or leather in finish, but rather understated notes. Round and mellow tannins. A bit of acidity left in it too, and perhaps a bit more than I would like, but not really out of balance.
A pretty good wine.
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Wow....aging slowly. Opens over time....starts off a bit medicinal/syrupy. then smooths out to a cherry, blueberry deep fruit core surrounded by brambles and cinammon. Pretty concentrated and good smooth tannins in a long finish.
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Popped and poured. Opened up very quickly. Beautifully complex nose bursting with red fruit, cedar, currents, and spicy oak. Perfectly balanced acidity that complimented the firm and persistent finish. Smooth, mouth coating texture with refined tannins. Always a house favorite, and an exceptional value. Will reward the impatient wine collector. Drink or hold for the next two years.
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Oak!!!! - vanilla, Black Cherry. Oak showing some signs of integration, but still intrusive imo. A little heat on the finish - but not as hot as I recall my past bottle was. Drink 'em if you've got 'em (and serve them cold).
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Have had several bottles of this wine and must admit that this one was the most disappointing. All the fruit seemed to be covered up by the alcohol. Maybe I drank it too warm (room temperature) This wine was muddled and not very interesting. The color has moved on to that garnet stage. Shows no purple whatsoever. The tannins seemed almost non existent. I think this wine was drinking was better in its youth. Luckily it was my last and I can move on to better bottles. It did taste better with food (fillet and truffled mash potatoes. Over all I don't think it waiting in a dead phase ready to move on to better flavor profiles. Highly recommend drinking now. I have had better success with this wine in the past.
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Oak, More Oak, Black Cherries, Vanilla, Black Pepper, Tobacco & a hot finish (alcohol). Nice mouthfeel . I'm afraid the alcohol won't dissipate - and will drink my other bottle soon. Showed well at a cooler temperature, which tempered the heat. Drink 'em up!
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Poped and poured from my 55 degree cellar. Eggplant color and a modest nose and palate in the beginning due to the chill. As it warms it opens up into a delicious expression of dark fruits and tobacco. Initially revealed great balance, but as the wine continued to warm, the high alcohol (14.3 on the bottle) began to rear its ugly head. In short, the wine became hot on the nose and palate. I soon lost interest in all the heat and placed the last of the bottle in the fridge under a vaccu-vin. 9/16, Day two: Cold from the fridge, the wine regained it composure, only to loose it again as it warmed. Basically, a delicious wine, marred by unbalanced alcohol level.
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The best one of these I've had in a while. Nice deep purplue hue. Blueberry, cherry, rasberry fruit...nicer integration and medium weight than the last couple of these I've had. Tar, pine, long finish...
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I fear this wine has peaked. The flavors went more to raisin and less fruit, allowing a little heat to come through on the palate, not previously noticed. Maybe an off bottle, but I am glad I only have one more.
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Medium garnet red in color. Chocolate, raspberry & a hint of vanilla on the nose. Medium to full bodied wine with flavors of cherry, pepper & mint. On the finish the tannins were well rounded and smooth. The oak and heat from prior tastings has dissipated. This wine was showing very well. 50+5+13+15+7=90pts
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A "dark" wine initially overshadowed by smokey notes and oak. However, is settled down through out the night to reveal black cherries, plum, smoke, cigar box and more integrated oak.
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Needs some time, I think. Pretty closed with oak dominating to start, but opened over an hour or two to provide plum, licorice, more oak. Good value for the $, but I don't think quite 90 pts. I do think this may improve a bit with 6-12 months.
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Wonderful balance and texture. Full bodied, well structured cab from Alex Valley. Plenty of fruit in the nose, deep plum coloring with a great palate feel. This was the second bottle following a BV coastal Pinot Noir that was served at dinner. A great constrast between the two as you'd expect, made this cab that much more appealing.
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Chewy, fruit, oak, vanilla and spice. A bit hot now. Tannins firmly under control here. Finish is shorter than the 01. It is a noteable wine and certainly enjoyable.
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Bought one to see how it compared to the 2001. So far a big disappointment. Initially vanilla oak and smoke on the nose, mute fruit and some chocolate in the first taste, which was at cellar temp. With about an hour of air some fruit peeked through and with meatloaf it wasn't half bad, definitley showed a little more sweet fruit. Once the meal was over it faded to a swallow of alcoholic heat. Reminded me of an Marquis Philips shiraz that is past its prime. Saved a glass to try tomorrow but I'm not holding out much hope. Given how good the 01 was I will pick up one more and put it away for a year, just for curiousity's sake.
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Decanted 1 hr. Comparing to the 2001, color was less vibrant, less of the jewel ruby color of the 01. As in 01, powerful vanilla oak nose upfront with a strong presence of butterscotch imparted by the oak. Fruit is more subdued at this time. After a time in the glass, the floral aromas came through along with cassis and blackberry. It a nice drink in the Sebastiani style, no mistaking this CaliCab.
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Delicious wine with a great bouquet right from the bottle. Deep, rich fruit with nice oak shadings. I think this is better than the highly regarded 01 vintage. Great cab for the price.
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7/4/2012 - DesMarteau wrote: 89 Points
Last one...wanted to see how it aged. Overall, no improvement...maybe degrades a little. starts off a bit medicinal/syrupy, then after an hour or so settles. muted prune, boysenberry, then softer tannins. Not adding too much complexity or range with 10 years.
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10/16/2011 - Leejgreen wrote: 91 Points
Drinking very well right now. Smooth and full.
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5/9/2011 - DesMarteau wrote: 90 Points
aged plum, prune, vanilla hues. Doesn't seem to have aged at all.
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11/26/2010 - MountainMak Likes this wine: 88 Points
pretty decent, getting a bit too mellow, but still a nice bottle. drink em if you got them.
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9/8/2010 - GGinSF wrote: 84 Points
Over-oaked and a bit too sweet. Not bad for a $12 cab, but nowhere near 90 pt wine. Any heat that was there before is gone, so it's pretty smooth.
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4/2/2010 - team-blackburn wrote: 89 Points
In it's prime drink now.
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3/26/2010 - bwillia wrote: 82 Points
I am so dissapointed with this wine! I've had previous vintages of this bottling that I really enjoyed but this one represents all that can be wrong with Cali Cab. HUGE Vanilla from all the oak and over-extracted fruit with no structure. What were they thinking?
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3/13/2010 - stevenc.rees@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
Last bottle. popped and poured by itself. Still a big Calif cab with all the wood and stuff you expect. Very enjoyable. Nothing to add from my last notes. If you still have some of this, drink or hold for a couple years.
This was a great value and I'm glad I got several bottles when it was around. Will look for some more of it, even though I'm focusing more on Washington state and European wines now days.
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2/6/2010 - Jkwapis wrote: 87 Points
Smooth with solid fruit and chocolate notes. Nice.
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9/27/2009 - stevenc.rees@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
Still terrific, as good as it is likely to get though. It can hold antoher year easily enough.
Lots of fruit, some wood, not quite dust or leather in finish, but rather understated notes. Round and mellow tannins. A bit of acidity left in it too, and perhaps a bit more than I would like, but not really out of balance.
A pretty good wine.
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12/26/2008 - sachsen wrote: 87 Points
Our last of several, and by far, the least impressive. Fruit seemed to be fading--drink up now!
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12/7/2008 - DesMarteau wrote: 91 Points
Wow....aging slowly. Opens over time....starts off a bit medicinal/syrupy. then smooths out to a cherry, blueberry deep fruit core surrounded by brambles and cinammon. Pretty concentrated and good smooth tannins in a long finish.
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10/21/2008 - jnastynebr wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Opened up very quickly. Beautifully complex nose bursting with red fruit, cedar, currents, and spicy oak. Perfectly balanced acidity that complimented the firm and persistent finish. Smooth, mouth coating texture with refined tannins. Always a house favorite, and an exceptional value. Will reward the impatient wine collector. Drink or hold for the next two years.
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6/27/2008 - dwmcubed wrote:
Oak!!!! - vanilla, Black Cherry. Oak showing some signs of integration, but still intrusive imo. A little heat on the finish - but not as hot as I recall my past bottle was. Drink 'em if you've got 'em (and serve them cold).
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1/6/2008 - Jack wrote: 88 Points
The oak that was intrusive before has integrated. A little sweeter than I like and just a touch of heat on the back end keeps the score down.
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10/24/2007 - docmckay wrote: 82 Points
Have had several bottles of this wine and must admit that this one was the most disappointing. All the fruit seemed to be covered up by the alcohol. Maybe I drank it too warm (room temperature) This wine was muddled and not very interesting. The color has moved on to that garnet stage. Shows no purple whatsoever. The tannins seemed almost non existent. I think this wine was drinking was better in its youth. Luckily it was my last and I can move on to better bottles. It did taste better with food (fillet and truffled mash potatoes. Over all I don't think it waiting in a dead phase ready to move on to better flavor profiles. Highly recommend drinking now. I have had better success with this wine in the past.
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9/16/2007 - dwmcubed wrote:
Oak, More Oak, Black Cherries, Vanilla, Black Pepper, Tobacco & a hot finish (alcohol). Nice mouthfeel . I'm afraid the alcohol won't dissipate - and will drink my other bottle soon. Showed well at a cooler temperature, which tempered the heat. Drink 'em up!
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9/15/2007 - vintage61 wrote: 85 Points
Poped and poured from my 55 degree cellar. Eggplant color and a modest nose and palate in the beginning due to the chill. As it warms it opens up into a delicious expression of dark fruits and tobacco. Initially revealed great balance, but as the wine continued to warm, the high alcohol (14.3 on the bottle) began to rear its ugly head. In short, the wine became hot on the nose and palate. I soon lost interest in all the heat and placed the last of the bottle in the fridge under a vaccu-vin. 9/16, Day two: Cold from the fridge, the wine regained it composure, only to loose it again as it warmed. Basically, a delicious wine, marred by unbalanced alcohol level.
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7/4/2007 - DesMarteau wrote: 93 Points
The best one of these I've had in a while. Nice deep purplue hue. Blueberry, cherry, rasberry fruit...nicer integration and medium weight than the last couple of these I've had. Tar, pine, long finish...
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3/27/2007 - Jack wrote: 90 Points
Tannin and oak have begun to integrate. Good fruit with a little mocha. Tasted with the 2002 Paul Hobbs and while not as good was respectable.
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2/25/2007 - cafeweston wrote: 89 Points
Classic smoke and leather flavors. A great red meat / barbecue wine.
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1/23/2007 - vintage61 wrote: 88 Points
I fear this wine has peaked. The flavors went more to raisin and less fruit, allowing a little heat to come through on the palate, not previously noticed. Maybe an off bottle, but I am glad I only have one more.
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11/22/2006 - Cheers_mate! wrote: 90 Points
Very well structured, well balanced, delicious wine.
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10/19/2006 - ScottS wrote: 90 Points
50+5+13+15+7=90 pts
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9/21/2006 - ScottS wrote: 90 Points
Medium garnet red in color. Chocolate, raspberry & a hint of vanilla on the nose. Medium to full bodied wine with flavors of cherry, pepper & mint. On the finish the tannins were well rounded and smooth. The oak and heat from prior tastings has dissipated. This wine was showing very well.
50+5+13+15+7=90pts
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8/14/2006 - DesMarteau wrote: 91 Points
Deep cherry fruit, layers of blue fruit complexity...nice oak vanilla..not overly tannic or structured...but nice.
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6/11/2006 - DesMarteau wrote: 92 Points
Great cherry and blueberry fruit. Nice vanilla oak edges. great integration and sweet tannins.
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12/11/2005 - raadams wrote: 89 Points
A "dark" wine initially overshadowed by smokey notes and oak. However, is settled down through out the night to reveal black cherries, plum, smoke, cigar box and more integrated oak.
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12/10/2005 - ChillyWino wrote:
Nice wine, last taste was the best. Needs some time to integrate the oak. Nose of oak, vanilla, cherry, and chocolate.
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12/9/2005 - DesMarteau wrote: 92 Points
Great QPR
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10/21/2005 - jvalanti wrote: 88 Points
Needs some time, I think. Pretty closed with oak dominating to start, but opened over an hour or two to provide plum, licorice, more oak. Good value for the $, but I don't think quite 90 pts. I do think this may improve a bit with 6-12 months.
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10/15/2005 - MCrawford wrote: 90 Points
Wonderful balance and texture. Full bodied, well structured cab from Alex Valley. Plenty of fruit in the nose, deep
plum coloring with a great palate feel. This was the second bottle following a BV coastal Pinot Noir that was served
at dinner. A great constrast between the two as you'd expect, made this cab that much more appealing.
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8/18/2005 - N2Vin wrote: 90 Points
Chewy, fruit, oak, vanilla and spice. A bit hot now. Tannins firmly under control here. Finish is shorter than the 01. It is a noteable wine and certainly enjoyable.
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6/26/2005 - Jack wrote: 88 Points
Needs Time. At first extremely closed with oak and alch. - yuck. After 2 hours of air it does open up. Wait a couple of years before trying again.
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2/21/2005 - BonnieM wrote:
Bought one to see how it compared to the 2001. So far a big disappointment. Initially vanilla oak and smoke on the nose, mute fruit and some chocolate in the first taste, which was at cellar temp. With about an hour of air some fruit peeked through and with meatloaf it wasn't half bad, definitley showed a little more sweet fruit. Once the meal was over it faded to a swallow of alcoholic heat. Reminded me of an Marquis Philips shiraz that is past its prime. Saved a glass to try tomorrow but I'm not holding out much hope. Given how good the 01 was I will pick up one more and put it away for a year, just for curiousity's sake.
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2/4/2005 - N2Vin wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 1 hr. Comparing to the 2001, color was less vibrant, less of the jewel ruby color of the 01. As in 01, powerful vanilla oak nose upfront with a strong presence of butterscotch imparted by the oak. Fruit is more subdued at this time. After a time in the glass, the floral aromas came through along with cassis and blackberry. It a nice drink in the Sebastiani style, no mistaking this CaliCab.
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12/22/2004 - texaswino wrote: 92 Points
Delicious wine with a great bouquet right from the bottle. Deep, rich fruit with nice oak shadings. I think this is better than the highly regarded 01 vintage. Great cab for the price.
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