Decanted and showing light to moderate sediment. Aromas show an array of scents that include toasty oak nuances, cigar box, vanilla bean, spices, sage, cherry, cassis, currant, coffee, leather, forest floor and camphor. On the palate the wine reveals completely integrated tannins that are full and smooth in texture. The mid-palate still shows density and penetrating fruit. Acidity is alive and provides structure to the wine. Flavors show cherry, cassis, plum and red currant notes that weave seamlessly into sage, cedar, camphor, vanilla, coffee, toast, burnt sugar, leather and forest floor. Long and lingering through the finish where the tannins gently build.
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Exemplary as a down-the-middle Washington Cabernet that's evolved a nice salty edge. And again, classic cabernet profile on the palate. Would be perfect with a grilled new York strip. This has achieved a beautiful maturity calling on a resource of classic soft fruit. Drink these while they’re in perfect plateau -2018.
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A nice well-balanced Washington Cabernet with great dark fruit complemented by prominent notes of spice and chocolate. The nose first hits with flora (rose?) but is then is followed by dark fruit and chocolate notes. Drank over two days--seemed to have a longer finish on day two. Very enjoyable wine.
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Espie, Art, Steph and Nick at Tavalota. Been a number of years since I tasted this. What a change! Beautiful nose of mixed black fruit and similar palate without overwhelming tannins which were very prominent in the past. Balanced acid and alcohol. Medium to full body. Nice finish. Probably good for a few more years. Popped and poured. Did not need air. Magnum.
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This was really good and kept getting better over the 60 minutes it took to finish the bottle. Lots of chocolate on the palate and a hint of mint on the finish. Wished I had more of this.
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Surprisingly long with chocolate echoes. 48-hour update: oxidizing a little faster than the '08 but remaining nice and bright; might even prefer it now.
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floral notes but they quickly transition to darker notes, spice, dark fruit, with chocolate notes. I like the nose. Palate is smooth and complex chocolate notes are evident but the fruit is perfectly balanced with the barrel notes. finish is long and enjoyable. Would buy again.
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Decanted one hour, tiny bit of sediment. Still delicious, but a bitter oakiness got in the way for me this time. Great concentration, smoothed-out tannins, balanced acid, medium body. At peak? Dark fruit, graphite, a little bit of cola. Awesome, and a steal on clearance for $18.
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nose had rose petal laced plum and blackberry. palate had dark fruit, mainly blackberry with a dark minerality and spice. good acid for balance. fairly one dimensional but the fruit on the midpalate was dense making the wine very enjoyable. seems to have lost a bit of barrell complexity with a couple years in the cellar but still nice.
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A little raw - not very complicated - fruit is a bet overwhelmed by the oak - may need time to mature - will try another bottle in 6-9 months. Corked half of it and will try again in two days
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I opened it up one night and had half a bottle over several hours. Nice, but nothing all that memorable. I corked the other half, put it in the fridge, and forgot about it. One week later, I happen upon the bottle, pour it into a glass, and wow, what a change. Very open, with rich chocolate, vanilla and a good amount of oak. I suspect I missed the optimal window several days ago. This wine needs some air, and I suspect that right now, it's tasting better on day two. Will wait a year or two to open the last bottle.
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Do you believe in a one dimensional universe? A buddy of mine and I opened a bottle with great anticipation. Smiles of what was to come quickly faded as we headed into the dreaded one dimensional universe. We swirled our glasses trying to get to warp drive to cure this anomaly, to no avail. We were greeted with pleasant blackberry aromas and lush mouth feel. However, the simple nose presaged the simple fruit flavors. This is a monotone Cabernet. Charitably, it could have been a fluke, but not for $30.
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Outstanding wine - esp. for the price! Deep, dense, solid dark plumb/blueberry color with explosive nose of fruit and vanilla. Well rounded mouthfeel with nice balance and structure. Dark fruits, vanilla, spice mixed well with medium tannins and acidity. The heat was well integrated into this wine. Medium to long finish. Overall, quite elegant.
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Plum and some caramel-vanilla on the nose. Burst of big fruit on the attack mysteriously disappears leaving an almost nonexistent finish. Pretty good but really a bit of a disappointment.
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Loads of vanilla/oak on the nose. On the palate, the vanilla is a primary flavor, but somehow doesn't completely overpower the wine. Rather, a terrific, silky mouthfeel emerges with some cassis riding shotgun, and a skosh of dark fruit joins the party. Very, very good for the price.
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Remarkably subdued. Maybe some modest TCA, or perhaps I'm coming down with something, but I got almost nothing but some generic red flavors in this. Not off-putting or obviously defective, but something seems amiss relative to the other bottle of this I've had. Hmmm...
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Nice deep purple with modest nose of chocolat. Nice mouthful with butterscotch/caramel highlights. Ultra-smooth and silky. Took to one of our favorite restaurants....great match with duck breast. I'm very happy with my 6 bottle purchase.
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Started out nicely with mild but deep plum fruit and earth tones, with a lasting finish; closed down shortly after opening (bottle shock?) and did not return; wine left was light to medium-bodied, with fresh, tart fruit, but without the richness, depth or lasting flavor of the initial sips.
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8/14/2020 - DaneM Likes this wine:
1.5L. This. Is. Stunning. Rich, dusty, dark fruit everywhere, medium acid. This is the wine I would drink every day for the rest of my life.
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2/16/2020 - bjamesclark wrote: 92 Points
Decanted and showing light to moderate sediment.
Aromas show an array of scents that include toasty oak nuances, cigar box, vanilla bean, spices, sage, cherry, cassis, currant, coffee, leather, forest floor and camphor.
On the palate the wine reveals completely integrated tannins that are full and smooth in texture. The mid-palate still shows density and penetrating fruit. Acidity is alive and provides structure to the wine. Flavors show cherry, cassis, plum and red currant notes that weave seamlessly into sage, cedar, camphor, vanilla, coffee, toast, burnt sugar, leather and forest floor. Long and lingering through the finish where the tannins gently build.
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2/14/2018 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
Nicely aged Cab that is ready to drink. Nicely in the transition zone from primary to secondary flavors.
Would buy again
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4/21/2016 - Rollerball wrote: 93 Points
Exemplary as a down-the-middle Washington Cabernet that's evolved a nice salty edge. And again, classic cabernet profile on the palate. Would be perfect with a grilled new York strip. This has achieved a beautiful maturity calling on a resource of classic soft fruit. Drink these while they’re in perfect plateau -2018.
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12/21/2015 - sesalmon Likes this wine: 91 Points
A nice well-balanced Washington Cabernet with great dark fruit complemented by prominent notes of spice and chocolate. The nose first hits with flora (rose?) but is then is followed by dark fruit and chocolate notes. Drank over two days--seemed to have a longer finish on day two. Very enjoyable wine.
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11/26/2015 - Rollerball wrote: 92 Points
Stately; plush but not voluptuous. But less Cabernet-specific than the 08.
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3/4/2015 - perlasteve Likes this wine: 92 Points
Espie, Art, Steph and Nick at Tavalota. Been a number of years since I tasted this. What a change! Beautiful nose of mixed black fruit and similar palate without overwhelming tannins which were very prominent in the past. Balanced acid and alcohol. Medium to full body. Nice finish. Probably good for a few more years. Popped and poured. Did not need air. Magnum.
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12/31/2014 - joet626 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was really good and kept getting better over the 60 minutes it took to finish the bottle. Lots of chocolate on the palate and a hint of mint on the finish. Wished I had more of this.
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1/23/2014 - Rollerball wrote: 91 Points
Surprisingly long with chocolate echoes. 48-hour update: oxidizing a little faster than the '08 but remaining nice and bright; might even prefer it now.
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5/13/2013 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
floral notes but they quickly transition to darker notes, spice, dark fruit, with chocolate notes. I like the nose.
Palate is smooth and complex chocolate notes are evident but the fruit is perfectly balanced with the barrel notes.
finish is long and enjoyable.
Would buy again.
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7/24/2012 - mnoljo wrote: 90 Points
a smooth and supple cab. chocolate and floral notes with a long finish.
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2/11/2012 - joet626 wrote: 90 Points
Huge amount of chocolate taste which I am finding to be in most Washington State Cabs. Very full-bodied and rich
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1/17/2012 - magic2coop Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice purple. Nose of rose and chocolate. Good depth, some spice. Not sure it will age much longer - drink within next 3 years.
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8/11/2011 - jagmundi wrote: 90 Points
good example of a washington cab. good dark fruit. fully integrated at this point. possible a little too much oak. very good qpr
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8/3/2011 - joshwoodward wrote: 91 Points
Decanted one hour, tiny bit of sediment. Still delicious, but a bitter oakiness got in the way for me this time. Great concentration, smoothed-out tannins, balanced acid, medium body. At peak? Dark fruit, graphite, a little bit of cola. Awesome, and a steal on clearance for $18.
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8/26/2010 - Gargamel wrote: 91 Points
nose had rose petal laced plum and blackberry. palate had dark fruit, mainly blackberry with a dark minerality and spice. good acid for balance. fairly one dimensional but the fruit on the midpalate was dense making the wine very enjoyable. seems to have lost a bit of barrell complexity with a couple years in the cellar but still nice.
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8/14/2010 - Jordan7T wrote: 86 Points
A little raw - not very complicated - fruit is a bet overwhelmed by the oak - may need time to mature - will try another bottle in 6-9 months. Corked half of it and will try again in two days
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7/15/2010 - Mark wrote: 90 Points
I opened it up one night and had half a bottle over several hours. Nice, but nothing all that memorable. I corked the other half, put it in the fridge, and forgot about it. One week later, I happen upon the bottle, pour it into a glass, and wow, what a change. Very open, with rich chocolate, vanilla and a good amount of oak. I suspect I missed the optimal window several days ago. This wine needs some air, and I suspect that right now, it's tasting better on day two. Will wait a year or two to open the last bottle.
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11/22/2009 - DTWOB wrote: 91 Points
This wine suits my palate very well!
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8/2/2009 - vintage1949 wrote: 85 Points
Do you believe in a one dimensional universe? A buddy of mine and I opened a bottle with great anticipation. Smiles of what was to come quickly faded as we headed into the dreaded one dimensional universe. We swirled our glasses trying to get to warp drive to cure this anomaly, to no avail.
We were greeted with pleasant blackberry aromas and lush mouth feel. However, the simple nose presaged the simple fruit flavors. This is a monotone Cabernet. Charitably, it could have been a fluke, but not for $30.
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7/21/2009 - DTWOB wrote: 93 Points
sim notes
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7/21/2009 - DTWOB wrote: 92 Points
Outstanding wine - esp. for the price! Deep, dense, solid dark plumb/blueberry color with explosive nose of fruit and vanilla. Well rounded mouthfeel with nice balance and structure. Dark fruits, vanilla, spice mixed well with medium tannins and acidity. The heat was well integrated into this wine. Medium to long finish. Overall, quite elegant.
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3/15/2009 - mreinitz wrote: 89 Points
Plum and some caramel-vanilla on the nose. Burst of big fruit on the attack mysteriously disappears leaving an almost nonexistent finish. Pretty good but really a bit of a disappointment.
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1/3/2009 - GZ3 wrote: 88 Points
a nice bottle. a little too much acid for my taste.
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12/11/2008 - joshwoodward wrote: 95 Points
RICH body. Very complex, black fruit. Long. Pencil lead, huge. Light acidity. Charmer. Creamy. Good standalone wine.
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12/11/2008 - ziavino wrote: 92 Points
Loads of vanilla/oak on the nose. On the palate, the vanilla is a primary flavor, but somehow doesn't completely overpower the wine. Rather, a terrific, silky mouthfeel emerges with some cassis riding shotgun, and a skosh of dark fruit joins the party. Very, very good for the price.
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9/30/2008 - VinoGreenBay wrote:
Agreed with below, I can't taste this wine... Just lacking any punch. Have one more to check with later.
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9/29/2008 - KevinS wrote: 83 Points
Remarkably subdued. Maybe some modest TCA, or perhaps I'm coming down with something, but I got almost nothing but some generic red flavors in this. Not off-putting or obviously defective, but something seems amiss relative to the other bottle of this I've had. Hmmm...
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9/20/2008 - cpowell wrote: 91 Points
Nice deep purple with modest nose of chocolat. Nice mouthful with butterscotch/caramel highlights. Ultra-smooth and silky. Took to one of our favorite restaurants....great match with duck breast. I'm very happy with my 6 bottle purchase.
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7/18/2008 - Traxx wrote: 90 Points
Solid, tannic, balanced wine. I think the value when compared to California Cabs really comes out.
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4/7/2008 - wineislife wrote: 86 Points
Nice chocolate bouquet. Fairly simple cabernet, really nothing special. Particularly disapointing given the winemaker (Mike Januik).
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4/6/2008 - Ecbatana wrote: 87 Points
2008 Taste of Washington (Qwest Field Event Center, Seattle): Wanted to like this wine more and may yet be generous with my rating anyway. A bit austere and somewhat tart. The fruit was somewhat muted.
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3/16/2008 - tairanosaurus wrote: 88 Points
Plum and port nose. Plum, mocha chalky in the mouth with some anise. Agree that wine closed down with air, leaving a somewhat tart, thin experience.
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2/12/2008 - jtcseventysix wrote: 88 Points
Started out nicely with mild but deep plum fruit and earth tones, with a lasting finish; closed down shortly after opening (bottle shock?) and did not return; wine left was light to medium-bodied, with fresh, tart fruit, but without the richness, depth or lasting flavor of the initial sips.
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