Ruby core, bricking at the edges. Intense, savory, Bing cherry bouquet of leather, pencil lead, and cinnamon bark. The fully integrated palate flaunted, a smooth texture, soft tannins, black and red fruit, balsamic vinegar, umami, and mocha dust on the long finish. This was well-balanced and delicious.
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A nice dark garnet coloring; Did not decant. Very smooth with no tannins. Dried fruit, particularly blueberry along with some tea, chocolate and bit of white peppe. Amazingly at its peak 22 years laterwith a measly 13.2 % alcohol!!! Last bottle.
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Opened about 30 mintues before serving but did not decant. A nice dark garnet coloring in the glass. A muted nose that never opened much. While lacking much in the way a fruit, a bit of dried blueberry, but lots of mature cab flavors: chocloate, leather,tea and white pepper in an extremely smooth wine. Amazingly, probably still at it's peak. (86% Cab. Sauv.; 8% Cab Franc; 6% merlot). A perfect example for those who question the longevity of California cabs.
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Still alive and kicking... Cork exploded as I attempted to remove, had to push down a good 50% of it into the bottle. Color showed the bricking on the outer edge of a gracefully aged wine. Even though the bottling shows 8% cab franc, it really showed it's colors with strawberry, cherry, bell pepper, violet on the nose. Mouthfeel was a little thin but came with expressive cherry, smoke, some earth tones and a little more dried herbs. Finish had no tannins to speak of but a hint of acidity and lasted a good 15 - 20 seconds.
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Beautiful complex nose of cherry, currant, and cedar but unfortunately that is all this bottle had to gice. There was no fruit left on the palate only oak and acid. Waited to long to drink this one.
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Dinner with Julien at Fringale. On opening, it had a heady and definate peppery nose, almost like a syrah. The taste, however, was classic cabernet. Color was brick red without any lightening at the edge. Early on, the tannins seemed a bit astringent and drying, but as the night wore on, they became softer and integrated. The nose was consistent and a just a bit closed. This ended up tasting very much like a left bank Bordeaux from 1990. The finish was a bit abbreviated, but satisfying. This bottle would have lasted for another five to eight years. Certainly a great bargain for the $14.77 that I paid for it.
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4/7/2018 - tcarter Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still holding up beautifully. Really showing well right now. Classic old school Napa cab flavors.
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3/16/2014 - Baron Slick wrote: 92 Points
Ruby core, bricking at the edges. Intense, savory, Bing cherry bouquet of leather, pencil lead, and cinnamon bark. The fully integrated palate flaunted, a smooth texture, soft tannins, black and red fruit, balsamic vinegar, umami, and mocha dust on the long finish. This was well-balanced and delicious.
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12/31/2012 - jpwines Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine still has room to go. no bricking. soft, lt. tannins with good fruit. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
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5/28/2012 - vinolovers wrote: 95 Points
A nice dark garnet coloring; Did not decant. Very smooth with no tannins. Dried fruit, particularly blueberry along with some tea, chocolate and bit of white peppe. Amazingly at its peak 22 years laterwith a measly 13.2 % alcohol!!! Last bottle.
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9/10/2010 - vinolovers wrote: 95 Points
Opened about 30 mintues before serving but did not decant. A nice dark garnet coloring in the glass. A muted nose that never opened much. While lacking much in the way a fruit, a bit of dried blueberry, but lots of mature cab flavors: chocloate, leather,tea and white pepper in an extremely smooth wine. Amazingly, probably still at it's peak. (86% Cab. Sauv.; 8% Cab Franc; 6% merlot). A perfect example for those who question the longevity of California cabs.
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7/4/2009 - cabdrinker wrote: 87 Points
Still alive and kicking... Cork exploded as I attempted to remove, had to push down a good 50% of it into the bottle. Color showed the bricking on the outer edge of a gracefully aged wine. Even though the bottling shows 8% cab franc, it really showed it's colors with strawberry, cherry, bell pepper, violet on the nose. Mouthfeel was a little thin but came with expressive cherry, smoke, some earth tones and a little more dried herbs. Finish had no tannins to speak of but a hint of acidity and lasted a good 15 - 20 seconds.
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12/11/2007 - flashvictor wrote:
Beautiful complex nose of cherry, currant, and cedar but unfortunately that is all this bottle had to gice. There was no fruit left on the palate only oak and acid. Waited to long to drink this one.
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12/3/2003 - PaulH wrote: 91 Points
Dinner with Julien at Fringale. On opening, it had a heady and definate peppery nose, almost like a syrah. The taste, however, was classic cabernet. Color was brick red without any lightening at the edge. Early on, the tannins seemed a bit astringent and drying, but as the night wore on, they became softer and integrated. The nose was consistent and a just a bit closed. This ended up tasting very much like a left bank Bordeaux from 1990. The finish was a bit abbreviated, but satisfying. This bottle would have lasted for another five to eight years. Certainly a great bargain for the $14.77 that I paid for it.
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7/31/1993 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
1984, 1987, and 1990 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignons (Hi-Time Wine Cellars, Costa Mesa, Ca.): Pepper nose, lovely taste, opened fruit forward, nice big body Cabernet, long finish.
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