I sat on this for seven years and am glad I did. 73% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv, 5% PV. Drinks beautifully today, a wonderful match with a herb marinated grilled flank steak. Bravo Ben!
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This had a nice floral and black fruited bouquet The chocolate and other oak influences from the past have integrated into lovely textural elements that add to the richness of the fruit on the palate and finish.
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Medium deep ruby - nose of brambly red and black fruit, some oak - smooth, ripe, round entry - dark smoky berry fruit-lots of sweet fruit, but dry-very good to exc length, but slightly hot- it is a bit chocolatey...for fans of the style - v. pleasurable, if slightly one dimensional
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Initially, stong notes of olive and menthol which lead into very ripe plum on the midpalate with firm tannins clamping down. Over time, a dusty edge developed, but this is a very concentrated ripe wine, perhaps too much for some.
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My goodness this is delicious wine! Right out of the bottle it displayed a lovely bouquet of mint, currant and - I've never used this term before - chocolate covered cherries. (but in a good way) The palate was deep and rich with more chocolaty red fruit but it remained balanced and elegant with juicy acidity and sweet long tannic structure. The finish was long with beautiful red to almost blue/black fruit, mint, and lingering bitter chocolate.
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This was my only 2001 Klipsun and I am really disappointed at that. This was fabulous. Very deep and rich with a lovely sweet black cherry and currant nose, almost reduced it was so deep and rich. Palate was more of the same but with a nice vein of currant acidity and a lovely long sweet finish. There was good dark chocolately tannins and currant and plum acidity to offset the very sweet chocolately cherry fruit. This is a spectacular wine with a delicious finish.
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From a 375. Wow, intense, concentrated red fruit with caramel notes on the nose followed by chocolate on the palate. Big and full yet focused on the palate with fine long tannins on a persistent finish. This is still quite young even from a 375 from my ambient cellar.
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Tasted from 375ml. 73% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv and 5% Petit Verdot. Wow, this was lovely! On the nose, somewhat stemmy for the first 30 minutes, then bright, lifted aromas of red fruit are intermingled with oaky notes of sawdust. The palate delivers though, smooth yet intense, loads of crushed raspberry and cocoa greet you on this surprisingly lush and polished youngster of a wine. Terrific stuff Ben!
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(Tasted at McCarthy & Schiering with Ben Smith 'pouring'.) This is the one wine in the Cadence 2001 lineup which is even close to enjoyable drinking right now. It seems as if Ben aims for one approachable wine each year, and whereas last year it was the Spring Valley this year it is the Klipsun which is basically a Merlot. A nice, herbal edge with a sweet, sappy entry. This is hugely concentrated but showing great balance. Very dusty, tooth-coating tannins. Really nice Melot character with just a bit of edginess on the long finish.
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2/18/2019 - DaneM Likes this wine:
Still going strong.
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12/26/2016 - Montecalvo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dense and concentrate black fruit on the second day. Still dark red in color. Still quite primary but developing. Wish I had more.
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3/14/2013 - Gary wrote: 90 Points
drinking beautifully right now!
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11/21/2011 - FLI Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very enjoyable. Great rich silky fruit - more than I'd usually expect in a merlot. Tannins smoothed out. Drinking great right now.
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8/14/2011 - CP wrote: 93 Points
I sat on this for seven years and am glad I did. 73% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv, 5% PV. Drinks beautifully today, a wonderful match with a herb marinated grilled flank steak. Bravo Ben!
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4/4/2009 - greenblanket wrote:
This had a nice floral and black fruited bouquet The chocolate and other oak influences from the past have integrated into lovely textural elements that add to the richness of the fruit on the palate and finish.
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3/27/2009 - winot wrote: 90 Points
Medium deep ruby - nose of brambly red and black fruit, some oak - smooth, ripe, round entry - dark smoky berry fruit-lots of sweet fruit, but dry-very good to exc length, but slightly hot- it is a bit chocolatey...for fans of the style - v. pleasurable, if slightly one dimensional
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9/27/2008 - rmodak wrote: 86 Points
Initially, stong notes of olive and menthol which lead into very ripe plum on the midpalate with firm tannins clamping down. Over time, a dusty edge developed, but this is a very concentrated ripe wine, perhaps too much for some.
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12/6/2007 - greenblanket wrote:
My goodness this is delicious wine! Right out of the bottle it displayed a lovely bouquet of mint, currant and - I've never used this term before - chocolate covered cherries. (but in a good way) The palate was deep and rich with more chocolaty red fruit but it remained balanced and elegant with juicy acidity and sweet long tannic structure. The finish was long with beautiful red to almost blue/black fruit, mint, and lingering bitter chocolate.
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11/24/2007 - Grinder wrote: 93 Points
Big, rich wine, yet very smooth. Cherries dipped in dark chocolate. Fine tannins, medium length finish. Excellent. Drink now or hold a year or three.
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7/4/2007 - norsktorsk wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful. This would have been one to buy a case of.
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7/3/2007 - thebonnydooner wrote: 93 Points
This was my only 2001 Klipsun and I am really disappointed at that. This was fabulous. Very deep and rich with a lovely sweet black cherry and currant nose, almost reduced it was so deep and rich. Palate was more of the same but with a nice vein of currant acidity and a lovely long sweet finish. There was good dark chocolately tannins and currant and plum acidity to offset the very sweet chocolately cherry fruit. This is a spectacular wine with a delicious finish.
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1/28/2007 - Eric wrote:
A Cadence tasting (Seattle, WA): Big chocolate notes. A round, pleasing wine.
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9/24/2006 - greenblanket wrote: 90 Points
From a 375. Wow, intense, concentrated red fruit with caramel notes on the nose followed by chocolate on the palate. Big and full yet focused on the palate with fine long tannins on a persistent finish. This is still quite young even from a 375 from my ambient cellar.
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6/27/2005 - Eric wrote: 92 Points
Tasted from 375ml. 73% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv and 5% Petit Verdot. Wow, this was lovely! On the nose, somewhat stemmy for the first 30 minutes, then bright, lifted aromas of red fruit are intermingled with oaky notes of sawdust. The palate delivers though, smooth yet intense, loads of crushed raspberry and cocoa greet you on this surprisingly lush and polished youngster of a wine. Terrific stuff Ben!
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11/15/2003 - Eric wrote: 91 Points
(Tasted at McCarthy & Schiering with Ben Smith 'pouring'.) This is the one wine in the Cadence 2001 lineup which is even close to enjoyable drinking right now. It seems as if Ben aims for one approachable wine each year, and whereas last year it was the Spring Valley this year it is the Klipsun which is basically a Merlot. A nice, herbal edge with a sweet, sappy entry. This is hugely concentrated but showing great balance. Very dusty, tooth-coating tannins. Really nice Melot character with just a bit of edginess on the long finish.
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