On the nose roasted chestnut,nutmeg, allspice. On the palate dried cranberries, leather, tobacco. Earthy, deep, brooding. Still drinking young. Sad this is my last bottle from my case. Truly a great wine with character.
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Wow, this wine is in an amazing place. Mouthful of rich currants, plums and berries that just lingers in the mouth. Finishes with a little hint of stones and spice.
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Opened my last bottle of 2005 and this one was better. Just goes to show bottle variation. Still suggest drinking the non reserve '05 very soon f you have any left
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A bit of a funk developed on the nose and slightly on the front end. I've been following ZD for over 25 years and this is the first questionable bottle I have had. At first I thought it could be the glass. Tried three different glasses all were the same. That said, still drinkable just not the wine it normally is. Whether a bad bottle or more indicative of where this wine is, drink them soon. The non-reserve won't get better with age.
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RRV and Napa Visit; 7/7/2014-8/30/2014 (Napa and Sonoma): 14.5% Not just Rutherford fruit. 2 years in barrel. Wow fruit aromas. Holy blackberry, batman. Med Tannin. A classic fruit appeal with modest iron. They’ve been making Cab since 1978.
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This Cab really needs 1 or 2 hour of decanting to open up. Initially very tight, lacking any strong aromas or much flavor. Afterward 2 hours, this was a really nice cab. Tastes very mature. Plenty of fruit and flavor left in this cab.
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This wine is really entering the drinking window. I'm sad I'm through two-thirds of my case. Secondary flavors starting to peek it's head - leather and coffee over the plum, fruit. Tannins are melowing out.
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Decanted 4 hours. A big wine. Brooding deep rich dark black color. Barely any purple. Totally opaque at the center. The wine was removed a bit cold from the cellar so it was aromatically closed at first. But after the decanting it emerged from its shell. Dark cherries, blueberries, medium light roast coffee, powdered cocoa, and black and green vegetables - bell pepper and black and green olives. The palate is balanced and finishes with soft tannins, a touch of enjoyable spice and some acidity to prove further ageing will be possible. I really enjoyed this wine and was ready for a dissapointment - but I'm not sure why. ZD has brought me joy over the years since I got into wine, and I'm reminded after a while why I am a fan of their fairly price and high quality wines.
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Dark garnet red color aroma of cassis and dusty earth. Taste is bold ripe currant and very ripe red and highly concentrated fruit but gives way to earth and coffee undertones. Amazing structure with a beautiful long finish. Tannins are round and pleasurable. Acid is moderate to high which gives this wine its structure and balance. Not very complex but this is a subtle beauty.
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Deep color, great fruit on the nose, but fades quickly into deep flavors - leather and coffee. Low tannins and acidity. Very interesting wine, but not what I was expecting at this age.
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Dark fruit driven nose and palate good use of oak. This wine to me was a disappointment it lacked the "x" factor I would have hoped for. Weakest of the tasting (05 Larkmead, 06 Chappellet).
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Needs decanting. After an hour is was excellent. After day it was better. Dark red color, soft tannins. big cab fruit. This could age, but it is drinking nicely now.
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Wine Watch Best of 2008 Tasting (Ft. Lauderdale, FL): Ripe fruit with low levels of tannin and acidity that push this more towards a soft fruit driven style that I am not particularly fond of but has its fans.
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A solid cab from ZD. Deep dark red color with smells of berry and tobacco and heavy/thick flavors, red fruit, oak, vanilla and tobacco. Got better with time in the decanter.
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An enjoyable wine, but with little varietal character. Blind I called it as syrah... Shows some nice red raspberry, oak, and overripe fruit. Nothing to write home about buy nice drinking.
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6/25/2023 - Superfly008 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great ZD! Well cellared and ready to drink.
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3/31/2023 - EMMF40 wrote:
Sadly is was way gone despite proper cellaring. Disappointing.
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11/16/2016 - 82Latour Likes this wine: 92 Points
On the nose roasted chestnut,nutmeg, allspice. On the palate dried cranberries, leather, tobacco. Earthy, deep, brooding. Still drinking young. Sad this is my last bottle from my case. Truly a great wine with character.
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10/17/2016 - mckillop Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking very well!
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9/15/2016 - mlawren1 wrote: 94 Points
Wow, this wine is in an amazing place. Mouthful of rich currants, plums and berries that just lingers in the mouth. Finishes with a little hint of stones and spice.
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12/25/2015 - mlawren1 wrote: 90 Points
Starting to fade. Bit of stewed cherries and blackberries with a sharp finish.
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3/28/2015 - 82Latour Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely leather earthy, wonderful after a two hour decant.
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2/28/2015 - jdpearse wrote: 89 Points
Opened my last bottle of 2005 and this one was better. Just goes to show bottle variation. Still suggest drinking the non reserve '05 very soon f you have any left
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12/30/2014 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
Big, bold fruit driven wine.
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12/7/2014 - jdpearse wrote: 88 Points
A bit of a funk developed on the nose and slightly on the front end. I've been following ZD for over 25 years and this is the first questionable bottle I have had. At first I thought it could be the glass. Tried three different glasses all were the same. That said, still drinkable just not the wine it normally is. Whether a bad bottle or more indicative of where this wine is, drink them soon. The non-reserve won't get better with age.
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8/3/2014 - nzinkgraf wrote:
RRV and Napa Visit; 7/7/2014-8/30/2014 (Napa and Sonoma): 14.5%
Not just Rutherford fruit. 2 years in barrel.
Wow fruit aromas. Holy blackberry, batman. Med Tannin. A classic fruit appeal with modest iron. They’ve been making Cab since 1978.
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2/2/2014 - CLOrta wrote: 94 Points
Just drank this bottle and without even decanting it was delicious! Full aroma of spices, cherry, vanilla, and a hint of coconut.
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12/2/2013 - gmat5497 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Solid
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11/9/2013 - Krakajack wrote: 92 Points
Drank at Rebecca's. Delicious cinnamon profile and ruby color.
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10/12/2013 - Krakajack wrote: 90 Points
Needed to open up longer but was fruit forward and dry. Delicious closure.
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12/17/2012 - rhfactor Likes this wine: 91 Points
This Cab really needs 1 or 2 hour of decanting to open up. Initially very tight, lacking any strong aromas or much flavor. Afterward 2 hours, this was a really nice cab. Tastes very mature. Plenty of fruit and flavor left in this cab.
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11/18/2012 - rhfactor wrote: 90 Points
Good wine. Needs a good 2 hours to open up. Drinks older then its age.
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11/7/2012 - 82Latour wrote: 92 Points
This wine is really entering the drinking window. I'm sad I'm through two-thirds of my case. Secondary flavors starting to peek it's head - leather and coffee over the plum, fruit. Tannins are melowing out.
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7/21/2012 - 82Latour wrote: 91 Points
Better than the last bottle. Drinks older than its age - secondary flavors coming in - cocoa, coffee. Full integrated tannins.
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4/28/2012 - vdv115 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 3 hours, this is a very big wine and paired perfectly with Rib Eye steaks. It is drinking perfect right now.
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1/1/2012 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Blackberry, plum and a bit floral in the nose. Nice mineral notes on the palate. Very solid!
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8/22/2010 - Cphofmann wrote: 92 Points
Delicious, big fruit, ripe and velvety on the finish.
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8/17/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 4 hours. A big wine. Brooding deep rich dark black color. Barely any purple. Totally opaque at the center. The wine was removed a bit cold from the cellar so it was aromatically closed at first. But after the decanting it emerged from its shell. Dark cherries, blueberries, medium light roast coffee, powdered cocoa, and black and green vegetables - bell pepper and black and green olives. The palate is balanced and finishes with soft tannins, a touch of enjoyable spice and some acidity to prove further ageing will be possible. I really enjoyed this wine and was ready for a dissapointment - but I'm not sure why. ZD has brought me joy over the years since I got into wine, and I'm reminded after a while why I am a fan of their fairly price and high quality wines.
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7/5/2010 - Teejay3726 wrote: 86 Points
Not up to ZD standards, but good nonetheless. Lacks the intensity of the reserve.
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7/5/2010 - viejo322 wrote: 90 Points
Dark garnet red color aroma of cassis and dusty earth. Taste is bold ripe currant and very ripe red and highly concentrated fruit but gives way to earth and coffee undertones. Amazing structure with a beautiful long finish. Tannins are round and pleasurable. Acid is moderate to high which gives this wine its structure and balance. Not very complex but this is a subtle beauty.
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5/16/2010 - wpd wrote: 89 Points
This wine needs hours of decanting. Very tannic upon opening, but is very good after several hours in the decanter. Lovely nose.
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10/29/2009 - 82Latour wrote: 90 Points
Deep color, great fruit on the nose, but fades quickly into deep flavors - leather and coffee. Low tannins and acidity. Very interesting wine, but not what I was expecting at this age.
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8/6/2009 - Venturifan wrote: 90 Points
Excellent bottle. Had with Chicken and Ribs. Better than expected.
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6/12/2009 - SoCal wrote:
Dark fruit driven nose and palate good use of oak. This wine to me was a disappointment it lacked the "x" factor I would have hoped for. Weakest of the tasting (05 Larkmead, 06 Chappellet).
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6/9/2009 - wpd wrote: 90 Points
Needs decanting. After an hour is was excellent. After day it was better. Dark red color, soft tannins. big cab fruit. This could age, but it is drinking nicely now.
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1/14/2009 - vinole wrote: 88 Points
Wine Watch Best of 2008 Tasting (Ft. Lauderdale, FL): Ripe fruit with low levels of tannin and acidity that push this more towards a soft fruit driven style that I am not particularly fond of but has its fans.
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1/10/2009 - bigdogflow wrote: 88 Points
3rd or 4th time I have had a ZD Cab. Very easy to drink. Nice big fruit forward taste with a balanced finished.
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10/12/2008 - bigdomer wrote: 87 Points
Not bad. A little sweet for me.
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10/10/2008 - Aztec94 wrote: 90 Points
A solid cab from ZD. Deep dark red color with smells of berry and tobacco and heavy/thick flavors, red fruit, oak, vanilla and tobacco. Got better with time in the decanter.
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8/12/2008 - winelovr2001 wrote: 88 Points
An enjoyable wine, but with little varietal character. Blind I called it as syrah...
Shows some nice red raspberry, oak, and overripe fruit. Nothing to write home about buy nice drinking.
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2/26/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 88 Points
nose: nice fruit forward perfumed nose of cherry with some blackberry and anise
taste: nice weight on the palate with a good amount of cherry and black currant
overall: a good nice solid cab. Doesn't really excite, but it does well what it's supposed to do
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2/10/2008 - EMichels wrote: 88 Points
2008 Loyola Marymount Wine Classic: Good ripe fruit nose; Solid; Medium body
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