Mild sediment deposit on cork. Slight brick color on first pour. Closed off nose initially, but opened some after air, still austere and with graphite aroma. Color returned to claret purple after an hour or so. Lush black fruit with much structure and firm tannins. Caramel and pepper notes over river stones. Long lingering finish. Very nice, has many good years ahead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and allowed to sit for 2 hours before drinking. Some sediment in bottle captured by strainer. Deep purple in color. Lush dark fruit and perfectly mellowed tannins. Velvety finish. Paired with ribeyes. A beautiful bottle of wine that I waited for a special occasion to open and I am thrilled with my decision.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted two hours. Well-integrated tannins, with lots of bright fruit, but the lush fruit flavors never showed up. It still had good structure, but I doubt it improves from here. Not particularly impressive, considering its pedigree & price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
To be blunt, I wasn't expecting much as this wine was made during a tough period for SLV. Decanted 2 hours and it was wonderful. Great cab fruit , nice tannins, a big hit. Go ahead and try one if you haven't been that interested in trying one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted about 30 minutes before drinking. Somewhat reticent on the nose. Smells of chalk and dark berries. Some secondary notes of forest floor starting to develop, but not strong. Decent integration and balance. Oak is not too strong, and it's not the most concentrated with fruit flavors. Nothing stands out (in either a bad way or a particularly good way either). I like a wine with a little more acid in general, although this was far from flabby. A nice wine, but not the most interesting, especially for the price. Fairly well integrated now; I just don't see it improving greatly with more age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nothing wrong with this wine but nothing incredibly memorable either. Nice dark ruby color. Typical mid-level CA Carbernet nose and palate. Blackberry, black cherry...... Should hold well for another 5-10 years but I do not see if improving a great deal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Holy Brett Batman! Popped and poured and consumed over three days. At first whiff, I noticed some interesting aromas. I poked my nose into the glass to to try and figure it out and I was immersed in a stable. There may have been some fruit below all the hay and horse and poop, but I sure couldn't find it after that first inkling. On the palate it was slightly less overwhelming. The tannins were pretty strong and the barnyard became earth and leather. The finish was medium and a little dry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium dark ruby. Decanted several hours and served with USDA Prime strip steaks. On the nose there are layers of blackberry, plum, and dark cherry fruit, with freshly turned earth (which is certainly interesting for a Cali cab), tobacco leaf,some leather, and bay leaf. In the mouth it is medium in body with remarkable suppleness. Black fruits are joined by mocha espresso, and more earthiness. Tannins are well-behaved and supported by enough acidity to keep my salivary glands flowing. Began to fade after about six hours. I honestly think this is more old world than new world in character, but that is fine with me. Beautiful juice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (MUSE): On the fence with this one. Reminiscent of some left bankers. Lots of brett right off the bat, 2nd wine from these guys in this tasting to show brett. The palate shows great structure, plenty of rich black fruits, well integrated, spiced up oak. Mocha, lavender, herbs all incorporated into the richly structured creme de cassis. A little pencil lead, slight brett on palate as well, but not as strong as on nose. This is a serious wine that would please both Bordeaux aficionados and Napaphiles alike.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/27/2023 - SCosgrove Does not like this wine: 50 Points
Too old, too long, corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2019 - fredshouse Likes this wine: 93 Points
Mild sediment deposit on cork. Slight brick color on first pour. Closed off nose initially, but opened some after air, still austere and with graphite aroma. Color returned to claret purple after an hour or so. Lush black fruit with much structure and firm tannins. Caramel and pepper notes over river stones. Long lingering finish. Very nice, has many good years ahead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2017 - Na'oi wrote:
Deep, mature, supple. Smooth, wet, fantastic!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2015 - mlawren1 wrote: 91 Points
cherries, currants and plums with a finish of a bit of green pepper
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2015 - packinmn wrote: 92 Points
Decanted and allowed to sit for 2 hours before drinking. Some sediment in bottle captured by strainer. Deep purple in color. Lush dark fruit and perfectly mellowed tannins. Velvety finish. Paired with ribeyes. A beautiful bottle of wine that I waited for a special occasion to open and I am thrilled with my decision.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2015 - timdrex wrote: 90 Points
Decanted two hours. Well-integrated tannins, with lots of bright fruit, but the lush fruit flavors never showed up. It still had good structure, but I doubt it improves from here. Not particularly impressive, considering its pedigree & price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2014 - Bobc7had Likes this wine: 93 Points
To be blunt, I wasn't expecting much as this wine was made during a tough period for SLV.
Decanted 2 hours and it was wonderful.
Great cab fruit , nice tannins, a big hit.
Go ahead and try one if you haven't been that interested in trying one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2013 - djdaqm Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted about 30 minutes before drinking. Somewhat reticent on the nose. Smells of chalk and dark berries. Some secondary notes of forest floor starting to develop, but not strong. Decent integration and balance. Oak is not too strong, and it's not the most concentrated with fruit flavors. Nothing stands out (in either a bad way or a particularly good way either). I like a wine with a little more acid in general, although this was far from flabby. A nice wine, but not the most interesting, especially for the price. Fairly well integrated now; I just don't see it improving greatly with more age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2012 - Oskiwawa wrote: 88 Points
Nothing wrong with this wine but nothing incredibly memorable either. Nice dark ruby color. Typical mid-level CA Carbernet nose and palate. Blackberry, black cherry...... Should hold well for another 5-10 years but I do not see if improving a great deal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2011 - kthornton78 wrote: 89 Points
good old school cab. not worth the price of admission.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2010 - gbm wrote:
Holy Brett Batman! Popped and poured and consumed over three days. At first whiff, I noticed some interesting aromas. I poked my nose into the glass to to try and figure it out and I was immersed in a stable. There may have been some fruit below all the hay and horse and poop, but I sure couldn't find it after that first inkling. On the palate it was slightly less overwhelming. The tannins were pretty strong and the barnyard became earth and leather. The finish was medium and a little dry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2009 - MindMuse wrote: 91 Points
Medium dark ruby. Decanted several hours and served with USDA Prime strip steaks.
On the nose there are layers of blackberry, plum, and dark cherry fruit, with freshly turned earth (which is certainly interesting for a Cali cab), tobacco leaf,some leather, and bay leaf. In the mouth it is medium in body with remarkable suppleness. Black fruits are joined by mocha espresso, and more earthiness. Tannins are well-behaved and supported by enough acidity to keep my salivary glands flowing. Began to fade after about six hours. I honestly think this is more old world than new world in character, but that is fine with me. Beautiful juice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2009 - jjclips2 wrote:
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (MUSE): On the fence with this one. Reminiscent of some left bankers. Lots of brett right off the bat, 2nd wine from these guys in this tasting to show brett. The palate shows great structure, plenty of rich black fruits, well integrated, spiced up oak. Mocha, lavender, herbs all incorporated into the richly structured creme de cassis. A little pencil lead, slight brett on palate as well, but not as strong as on nose. This is a serious wine that would please both Bordeaux aficionados and Napaphiles alike.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment