PnP'd but needed a bit of time and air so decanted remainder for ~1hr. Definitely coming into its drinking window but throwing off a lot of sediment or flotsam as a wine-loving sailing friend likes to say about the residue in his bottles and glasses! Fruit is evolving from secondary to tertiary - blackcurrant jelly and fig paste. Unavoidable vanilla layer from the oak treatment. Medium plus body and finish. Paired well with charcuterie and some homemade split pea and ham soup with sourdough boule. Great winter wine.
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Dark purple bowl, fading lighter to the rim. Forest floor, tobacco, plums, cooked berries on the nose. Palate is graphite, musty wet leaves, cooked cherries, blackberries, hints of spice. Medium acidity and tannins.
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Never quite developed into a deep flavor. Tastes of cherry but not real smooth or silky to this bottle. gave it another hour of aeration time and was just disappointing .
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Pleasing to the nose. Full body. Very pleasant to the palate. The tannins however were overpowering leaving a less than pleasing aftertaste. I would not buy more.
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Terrific. I keep buying this, and keep drinking this. This has years ahead of it. I hope I have the willpower to leave several to give them a chance to evolve. Fingers crossed.
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Sequoia grove is so consistent for me. Very nice bottle. I smell black fruit. So dark and rich. Still young. Needs some time for the tannins to mellow. I get black fruit, tobacco, earth tones. Really good with a steak. Probably going to get more bottles. Needs 2-3 years in the bottle I think. Will only get better.
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S & W in NYC (NYC): Dark color, grainy tannins interfere with the fruit, full bodied, drank with steak, $120 in restaurant, real crowd pleaser, would not drink again.
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This has potential to score higher in a few years. I see hints that creme de cassis notes could really develop with time. Currently this felt kind of heavy on the second day. I can think of better Cab wines for less in this vintage.
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This is really good, especially since it’s so young. Just had a Coravin glass to finish off the night. Raising this a point, to 92, lovely!
Even with no decanting, this bottle had a great, rich aroma. The taste was big and fresh with fruit, great depth and body. Tannins are there, but nicely balanced and already smoothing out. This is great and has several years ahead of it. At $37, this is a Superb QPR!
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Another solid bottle. Love the consistency. Check my early reviews for my thoughts. I’m going to go out and get a few more to lay down. I thought the ‘16 Vintage was awesome, but I think this ‘18 Vintage is one for the ages!!!
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Blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 1% Syrah, 1% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot. The highly aromatic nose delivers very attractive aromas of sweet, ripe black cherry, red berry, blackberry, currant, and cassis liqueur accented with gentle oak spices. The full-bodied, structured palate is rich and ripe with lovely aroma replays of black cherry, blackberry, currant, cassis, and woody notes supported by fresh and juicy acidity. Youthful tannins are chalky, yet approachable. Woody, earthy, and cocoa notes linger on the finish, with excellent length.
Another solid 91 Pointer. Very similar to the last bottle, but this bottle had some great aroma, which I sometimes find lacking with their CS, but an Excellent QPR. Need to get more before they move onto the 2019 vintage.
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Tar leather alcohol on the nose. Fresh with pleasant beach run upfront through finish. Good red with some blue fruit. Steph liked a lot but not as much as Freemark Abbey.
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Really good & solid! Minimal aroma (common for SG annual CS). Taste was great though… balanced, smooth with great acidity and nice tannins. Dark fruit, vanilla and oak. Best standard CS since their 2015, maybe even earlier. Getting more before it’s gone.
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Amazed with how good this vintage is. Had a ‘16 a month ago and was nowhere close to being this well made. Let is air in the bottle for one hour before pouring it through an aerator. Long drawn out finish. Case worthy.
Sedona Spring Break with the family. Picked up some 18 S.G. at Total Wine in Phoenix. We needed some back up wines so we wouldn't plow through our cellar pulls. Overall fantastic value for Napa Cabernet. PNP, ready to go. Even sampled a glass this morning from the night stand and it held together really well. Ha!
Drank next to a 14 Odette Estate & 16 Outpost Estate.
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1/28/2024 - Canoehead Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP'd but needed a bit of time and air so decanted remainder for ~1hr. Definitely coming into its drinking window but throwing off a lot of sediment or flotsam as a wine-loving sailing friend likes to say about the residue in his bottles and glasses! Fruit is evolving from secondary to tertiary - blackcurrant jelly and fig paste. Unavoidable vanilla layer from the oak treatment. Medium plus body and finish. Paired well with charcuterie and some homemade split pea and ham soup with sourdough boule. Great winter wine.
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10/14/2023 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
I've been to the winery many times and am fond of the tines. They are solid, balanced and attractive cabs at a nice price, and this is no exception.
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6/15/2023 - beeg612 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark purple bowl, fading lighter to the rim. Forest floor, tobacco, plums, cooked berries on the nose. Palate is graphite, musty wet leaves, cooked cherries, blackberries, hints of spice. Medium acidity and tannins.
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1/14/2023 - Marthaga wrote:
Bought at vineyard January 2023
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12/12/2022 - EdKz@comcast.net Likes this wine: 88 Points
New world dark red fruit with burnt toast and a touch of oak and earth, modest complexity and finish
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12/11/2022 - Bohica1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cherry, blackberry, vanilla. Tannins are quite smooth.
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11/28/2022 - alcw62 wrote: 88 Points
Never quite developed into a deep flavor. Tastes of cherry but not real smooth or silky to this bottle. gave it another hour of aeration time and was just disappointing .
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10/17/2022 - BergerKing Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really good stuff. Enjoyed a bottle at a wonderful Universal, Orlando restaurant at Portofino (Mama Della's)
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9/6/2022 - Double-A Likes this wine: 90 Points
Black currant, mineral/graphite, toast and smoke nose. Ripe and assertive palate; warming and gripping, sweet-centred finish.
4/5
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8/19/2022 - BurgherJon Likes this wine:
Nice standard cab sauv
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7/26/2022 - tlogan9 wrote: 80 Points
Pleasing to the nose. Full body. Very pleasant to the palate. The tannins however were overpowering leaving a less than pleasing aftertaste. I would not buy more.
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6/10/2022 - Vespera wrote:
Wrong wine
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5/21/2022 - patprovost@ymail.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Best at the 2.5-3hr mark. $42 at grocery store. Smooth and jammy. Will buy again
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5/21/2022 - patprovost@ymail.com wrote: 92 Points
Best at 2-3 hr mark. $42 at grocery store. Jammy, smooth and will buy again
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5/16/2022 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
A very drinkable wine today. Low tannins. Fruit is present. Nice wine. First time having this one. Cheers
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4/16/2022 - Hwis Likes this wine:
타닌은 약한듯 느껴지고 라이트 바디에 부드러운 질감. 피니쉬 끝에 올라오는 쓴맛
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2/2/2022 - sparkledarkly Likes this wine:
Black cherry, pleasing but not earth-shattering
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1/27/2022 - Stemidoc Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent
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1/25/2022 - wino121 wrote: 91 Points
Never to complex, but always easy to drink, a crowd pleaser ++.
Drink or hold.
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1/22/2022 - kevrob822 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Terrific. I keep buying this, and keep drinking this. This has years ahead of it. I hope I have the willpower to leave several to give them a chance to evolve. Fingers crossed.
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12/30/2021 - Frijole wrote:
inky black, little clarity, ruby hue
Nose: cassis, blackberry, licorice, tar, tobacco, fennel, black pepper, anise, pine
Pal: cassis, blackberry, licorice, tar, fennel, tar, cigar, anise, black pepper, cola, vanilla, pine
Feel: medium, full
Finish: medium
T7
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12/28/2021 - LMArcher wrote:
Deep plum robe.
Backberyy, blueberry, cedar, tobacco, plum, cocoa,
well-balanced. LM body.
Lingering finish.
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12/25/2021 - ftsai71@gmail.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sequoia grove is so consistent for me. Very nice bottle. I smell black fruit. So dark and rich. Still young. Needs some time for the tannins to mellow. I get black fruit, tobacco, earth tones. Really good with a steak. Probably going to get more bottles. Needs 2-3 years in the bottle I think. Will only get better.
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12/19/2021 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 91 Points
As AGELVIS coined these are great cellar defenders bottlings. A very good crowd pleasing option. Held together well over several days.
91+
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12/15/2021 - Svmurray Likes this wine: 95 Points
We loved this wine
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12/14/2021 - mwneil wrote: 85 Points
S & W in NYC (NYC): Dark color, grainy tannins interfere with the fruit, full bodied, drank with steak, $120 in restaurant, real crowd pleaser, would not drink again.
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12/8/2021 - wineotim wrote: 91 Points
This has potential to score higher in a few years. I see hints that creme de cassis notes could really develop with time. Currently this felt kind of heavy on the second day. I can think of better Cab wines for less in this vintage.
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12/6/2021 - kevrob822 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is really good, especially since it’s so young. Just had a Coravin glass to finish off the night. Raising this a point, to 92, lovely!
Even with no decanting, this bottle had a great, rich aroma. The taste was big and fresh with fruit, great depth and body. Tannins are there, but nicely balanced and already smoothing out. This is great and has several years ahead of it. At $37, this is a Superb QPR!
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10/29/2021 - kevrob822 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Another solid bottle. Love the consistency. Check my early reviews for my thoughts. I’m going to go out and get a few more to lay down. I thought the ‘16 Vintage was awesome, but I think this ‘18 Vintage is one for the ages!!!
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10/23/2021 - cono_sur Likes this wine: 93 Points
Blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 1% Syrah, 1% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot. The highly aromatic nose delivers very attractive aromas of sweet, ripe black cherry, red berry, blackberry, currant, and cassis liqueur accented with gentle oak spices. The full-bodied, structured palate is rich and ripe with lovely aroma replays of black cherry, blackberry, currant, cassis, and woody notes supported by fresh and juicy acidity. Youthful tannins are chalky, yet approachable. Woody, earthy, and cocoa notes linger on the finish, with excellent length.
Full report: http://vintagewinepicks.blogspot.com/2021/10/california-sommelier-sessions-cakebread-cellars-st-francis-sequoia-grove.html
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10/8/2021 - Hendrickson Likes this wine:
Really dark, smooth, ready now
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8/19/2021 - kevrob822 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Another solid 91 Pointer. Very similar to the last bottle, but this bottle had some great aroma, which I sometimes find lacking with their CS, but an Excellent QPR. Need to get more before they move onto the 2019 vintage.
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7/26/2021 - Mark4w wrote: 91 Points
Tar leather alcohol on the nose. Fresh with pleasant beach run upfront through finish. Good red with some blue fruit. Steph liked a lot but not as much as Freemark Abbey.
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6/30/2021 - kevrob822 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really good & solid! Minimal aroma (common for SG annual CS). Taste was great though… balanced, smooth with great acidity and nice tannins. Dark fruit, vanilla and oak. Best standard CS since their 2015, maybe even earlier. Getting more before it’s gone.
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5/18/2021 - Rosey133 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Amazed with how good this vintage is. Had a ‘16 a month ago and was nowhere close to being this well made. Let is air in the bottle for one hour before pouring it through an aerator. Long drawn out finish. Case worthy.
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3/15/2021 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sedona Spring Break with the family. Picked up some 18 S.G. at Total Wine in Phoenix. We needed some back up wines so we wouldn't plow through our cellar pulls. Overall fantastic value for Napa Cabernet. PNP, ready to go. Even sampled a glass this morning from the night stand and it held together really well. Ha!
Drank next to a 14 Odette Estate & 16 Outpost Estate.
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1/31/2021 - eyouman Likes this wine: 92 Points
I have always enjoyed wines from this winery. We’ve actually toured the winery. The 2018 is fruity smooth on the pallet and smooth on the finish.
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