Cellar update: Drank this just before Christmas, but forgot to update CT. Always a good QPR, by Cali Cab standards. Decanted and served with steak, which is always a good pairing. Not the wine it used to be, but still reliably good.
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As others have pointed out, this is underwhelming. Excessively ripe, juicy, black fruits; there’s significant unresolved structure to provide a sense of balance, but unfortunately, this just tastes concocted and manufactured. Still on the youthful side, so this might improve with additional cellaring. Right now it just tastes artificial and somewhat alcoholic.
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Continue to be underwhelmed by Stags leaps productions lately. It is a solid wine nice color aromatic nose but then it just seems flabby and without structure at these price points. Bright berries and a bit acidic. Quaffable but without any need to revist this anytime soon.
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Had a solid evening with friends drinking California cabs and eating prime steaks. This was the second of three bottles (the others were a 2014 Silverado and a 2019 Beau Vigne Juliet), which were consumed in order from what we anticipated to be softest to boldest. We were correct in our sequence. Several of the evening's participants enjoyed this one. I personally preferred the other two wines more than this one, but all of them hit the right notes for the occasion.
The wine had a dark redish-purple color and decanted for about 45 minutes before pouring. The nose was pleasantly fruity, mostly with fresh plums and red cherries. These qualities carried over to the taste profile, and were accompanied by semi-firm tannins and a short-ish finish.
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Aromas of cream, vanilla, oak, and violet. Flavours of blackberry, cassis, chocolate, oak, and vanilla with some green medium tannins. Quick finish with medium acidity, I did not enjoy this bottle as much as before.
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Dark red fruit, cassis. Cocoa. Elegant. Oak present, but reasonably well integrated. Drinking well now... don't think it has more than 5 years ahead. (Tasted/rated blind, guessed it to be R bank Bordeaux, which on unblinded tasting felt silly because this is pretty classic Napa cab).
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91 Apr 2023 PnP 👃 perfumed, a little closed. 👅ripe Black plum, velvety tannin, earthy leaves, maybe of the tobacco variety, dark chocolate and dark roast coffee. Totally balanced right now. Not sure how long it will be good for but very good now.
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From 375. Opened this young Napa Cab from split to see its potential. Tasted over 3 nights (alongside a flight of other open bottles to assess aging progression). Nose shows tobacco and pencil shavings followed rich, dark fruit. Ripe cherries intermingled with cacao, moderately wound at this point while not overly tannic. On nights 2-3 this finished with a little of the Napa Valley dust on the palate which I enjoy.
More settled on night 2, acid and tannins have eased somewhat to improve textural enjoyment. Similar thoughts on night 3.
Likely has at least 8-10 good years ahead of it, try again in 2025.
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I have enjoyed the 2017 vintage of this wine. This young vintage is very approachable now. Short decant and into the glass. On the nose, dark fruit pie, vanilla and oak. Initial sips were warm blackberry, plum, and black cherry. Slight hints of vanilla and baking spices, though not overly confectionery. Great depth, with opening notes of tobacco, leather and tree bark. Pleasant, lingering finish. Med+ bodied, young tannins, well balanced sugar and very smooth. This is a winner, but could lay down for some time.
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Unfortunately I could smell a bit of cardboard here, a little TCA. It didn't totally bury the fruit, I could tell it was there with some gentle blackberry and violet floral tones, and having it with food definitely helped also, but I don't really want to rate this as it was.
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Had this at a local restaurant over a holiday lunch. Thin at first, then opened up nicely within half an hour or so; presented with fruit forward dark berries but not much nuance beyond that. Well balanced, middle of the road Cabernet but nothing distinct that would cause me to purchase again.
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Aromas of violet, cassis, herbs, black fruits and dark chocolate. Palate of plum, vanilla , soft oak, mint, cocoa with some earthy and violet notes as it opens up. Dry tannins with medium plus acidity. Best after 2024
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Purchased at Blues Alley in Georgetown DC, zero air, paired with Cesar salad & Cheesecake, drank over a 90 minutes show, this actually paired quite well and would do it again. An amazing nose , that was reminiscent of many young great Cabernet based wines regardless of origin that I have been fortunate to have tasted. This Cabernet was very, very young, yes, there was noticeable amounts of dusty tannins and it needs to integrate to show its pedigree. Desperately needs time in a cool, consistent environment. Five years, 94 plus!!
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4/1/2024 - winespine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Cellar update: Drank this just before Christmas, but forgot to update CT. Always a good QPR, by Cali Cab standards. Decanted and served with steak, which is always a good pairing. Not the wine it used to be, but still reliably good.
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3/22/2024 - Golfer70 wrote:
Very good well balanced
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2/24/2024 - whudock Likes this wine: 90 Points
still needs some cellar time, but good now and better potential in about 1-2 years
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2/12/2024 - Tsaitaeu wrote: 86 Points
nose: river stones, acidity, oaky
Taste: empty, no structure, watery, cucumber, acid sharp like a paper cut, cassis.
tldr; mouthful of embarrassment.
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1/3/2024 - mediadls Likes this wine:
A little tart. Putting others down for a year or two more
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12/24/2023 - drmilkweed Likes this wine: 90 Points
earthy, concentrated black currant, blackberry, moderate tannins, cocoa, tobacco, clove, medium finish
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12/22/2023 - Urging1831 wrote: 88 Points
blackberry, black fruit, black cherry, plum, medium tannins, alcoholic, decanted 3-4 hrs does not improve much or maybe not long enough.
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12/3/2023 - DravlaH wrote: 88 Points
Eh. Not impressed.
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11/19/2023 - wmccone54 wrote: 86 Points
As others have pointed out, this is underwhelming. Excessively ripe, juicy, black fruits; there’s significant unresolved structure to provide a sense of balance, but unfortunately, this just tastes concocted and manufactured. Still on the youthful side, so this might improve with additional cellaring. Right now it just tastes artificial and somewhat alcoholic.
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10/31/2023 - PKvector Likes this wine:
J&P 4/5
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9/28/2023 - gamlingman Likes this wine: 88 Points
Continue to be underwhelmed by Stags leaps productions lately. It is a solid wine nice color aromatic nose but then it just seems flabby and without structure at these price points. Bright berries and a bit acidic. Quaffable but without any need to revist this anytime soon.
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9/21/2023 - BuckeyeBenS wrote: 88 Points
Had a solid evening with friends drinking California cabs and eating prime steaks. This was the second of three bottles (the others were a 2014 Silverado and a 2019 Beau Vigne Juliet), which were consumed in order from what we anticipated to be softest to boldest. We were correct in our sequence. Several of the evening's participants enjoyed this one. I personally preferred the other two wines more than this one, but all of them hit the right notes for the occasion.
The wine had a dark redish-purple color and decanted for about 45 minutes before pouring. The nose was pleasantly fruity, mostly with fresh plums and red cherries. These qualities carried over to the taste profile, and were accompanied by semi-firm tannins and a short-ish finish.
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8/29/2023 - cliffkol wrote: 91 Points
young, bright. deep flavors, surprisingly good!
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8/24/2023 - Jonnhy99 wrote: 89 Points
Aromas of cream, vanilla, oak, and violet. Flavours of blackberry, cassis, chocolate, oak, and vanilla with some green medium tannins. Quick finish with medium acidity, I did not enjoy this bottle as much as before.
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8/19/2023 - derekvangen@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Typical cab. Lower acidity and tannin, lots of dark fruits with a hair of tobacco. Well rounded
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8/16/2023 - Jenex14 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasty. Being a cab- let it sit a bit once opened before enjoying.
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6/18/2023 - mats13 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Steady.
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6/12/2023 - yaanik Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark red fruit, cassis. Cocoa. Elegant. Oak present, but reasonably well integrated. Drinking well now... don't think it has more than 5 years ahead. (Tasted/rated blind, guessed it to be R bank Bordeaux, which on unblinded tasting felt silly because this is pretty classic Napa cab).
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4/29/2023 - YackAttack213 Likes this wine: 91 Points
91 Apr 2023 PnP 👃 perfumed, a little closed. 👅ripe Black plum, velvety tannin, earthy leaves, maybe of the tobacco variety, dark chocolate and dark roast coffee. Totally balanced right now. Not sure how long it will be good for but very good now.
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4/26/2023 - GA_Seattle Likes this wine: 91 Points
From 375. Opened this young Napa Cab from split to see its potential. Tasted over 3 nights (alongside a flight of other open bottles to assess aging progression). Nose shows tobacco and pencil shavings followed rich, dark fruit. Ripe cherries intermingled with cacao, moderately wound at this point while not overly tannic. On nights 2-3 this finished with a little of the Napa Valley dust on the palate which I enjoy.
More settled on night 2, acid and tannins have eased somewhat to improve textural enjoyment. Similar thoughts on night 3.
Likely has at least 8-10 good years ahead of it, try again in 2025.
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4/20/2023 - TBaylog Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice. Good solid fruit and smooth.
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4/2/2023 - Srabkin90 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I have enjoyed the 2017 vintage of this wine. This young vintage is very approachable now. Short decant and into the glass. On the nose, dark fruit pie, vanilla and oak. Initial sips were warm blackberry, plum, and black cherry. Slight hints of vanilla and baking spices, though not overly confectionery. Great depth, with opening notes of tobacco, leather and tree bark. Pleasant, lingering finish. Med+ bodied, young tannins, well balanced sugar and very smooth. This is a winner, but could lay down for some time.
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3/29/2023 - sid_loves_wine wrote: flawed
Unfortunately I could smell a bit of cardboard here, a little TCA. It didn't totally bury the fruit, I could tell it was there with some gentle blackberry and violet floral tones, and having it with food definitely helped also, but I don't really want to rate this as it was.
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3/5/2023 - Julie’s cellar Likes this wine: 90 Points
Assez Corsé
Une référence de Greg
Bon avec de la viande et des pâtes
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1/13/2023 - Sp@rk wrote: 88 Points
Had a half bottle. Dry and acidic. Too young at the moment.
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12/20/2022 - Scavers wrote:
Jjjj
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12/17/2022 - Martymart8864 wrote: 91 Points
Soft tannins. Flavors of Worcestershire sauce, cloves, tobacco, cola. Not too dry and not much of an oak taste. Nice medium/long finish.
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12/14/2022 - Vailman Likes this wine: 89 Points
Had this at a local restaurant over a holiday lunch. Thin at first, then opened up nicely within half an hour or so; presented with fruit forward dark berries but not much nuance beyond that. Well balanced, middle of the road Cabernet but nothing distinct that would cause me to purchase again.
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12/6/2022 - tbrader wrote: 90 Points
Nose reveals little. The wine delivers a focused, well-structured core of black currant and plum, cedar, and black licorice. Moderate length finish.
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11/11/2022 - Hyatts Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still young. Shows promise.
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11/1/2022 - Irish_Wine wrote: 89 Points
Deep ruby.
Medium plus intensity on the nose with blackcurrant, blackberry, licorice, vanilla, clove, cedar and graphite. Youthful.
Medium plus intensity on and dry on the palate. Medium plus acidity, high tannins, high alcohol, medium finish.
Enjoyable wine. Suitable for further aging. Only let down by the medium finish.
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10/29/2022 - Nadav.Narkiss Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drunk at Shlomit
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9/14/2022 - Henrybenjamin Likes this wine:
95
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9/12/2022 - umazz Likes this wine: 88 Points
thought it was a bit too peppery for my taste.
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9/2/2022 - PackersMakeMeDrink Likes this wine: 91 Points
The aroma is out of this world. And the taste isn't far behind. Yeah, I'll have another. Cheers!
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8/27/2022 - sjfunkenhauser wrote: 89 Points
Deep purple colour.
Medium (+) intensity aromas of dark plum, smoke, cedar, cranberry, vanilla, graphite.
Medium (+) palate.
Full body, medium (+) acidity, medium finish, high tannin.
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7/14/2022 - Jonnhy99 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aromas of violet, cassis, herbs, black fruits and dark chocolate. Palate of plum, vanilla , soft oak, mint, cocoa with some earthy and violet notes as it opens up. Dry tannins with medium plus acidity. Best after 2024
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6/19/2022 - rickycambier wrote: 87 Points
87
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4/17/2022 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Purchased at Blues Alley in Georgetown DC, zero air, paired with Cesar salad & Cheesecake, drank over a 90 minutes show, this actually paired quite well and would do it again.
An amazing nose , that was reminiscent of many young great Cabernet based wines regardless of origin that I have been fortunate to have tasted.
This Cabernet was very, very young, yes, there was noticeable amounts of dusty tannins and it needs to integrate to show its pedigree. Desperately needs time in a cool, consistent environment. Five years, 94 plus!!
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