Last bottle. Drinking well with our braised bison short ribs. Of course most anything would drink well with that, but in this case, even wifey - who doesn't like much of any red wine - is asking for a pour after sipping mine. Tannins are largely resolved, but not vacant. Fruit fading, but present, and in balance with everything else. Every time I've opened a 90's era Snowden, even with advance decanting, it seems the last glass is always the best - like even after all these years, it takes that long to open up. This 2005 is much more approachable as a teenager ....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not as well balanced as a bottle earlier this year with more sweet oak (coconut and vanilla) that was obtrusive on the nose and palate. Otherwise fairly classic Napa Cab that has good textural balance with plenty of life ahead. I hope other bottles aren't as oaky.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double blind, seemed very Napa Cab with good richness, slightly sweet spice and oak notes that slightly detracted from the overall experience. Good enough for now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Knock you out of your chair good. Soaring pristine aromas of florals, bell pepper, and pure black cherry and plum. Velvety fruit with well integrated structure. Enough stuffing and balance to hold for a decade+.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened an hour before first pour...to sum up, wow this was mighty tasty...still medium red color, though certainly youthful looking...dark red fruit followed by tobacco...other than the integrated tannins, would never had guessed this was a 15 year old bottle...more like a 2013...recommend drinking up if you have any left...this was my last and a great showing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clear medium garnet. Nose is clean. Medium + intensity. Dry, medium acidity, medium tannins and medium body. Red and dark berries, currant, leather, and cedar. Medium + finish. Very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted a few hours. Very strong and powerful nose of dark fruit, cedar, roses, tobacco and acetone. Earthy notes on the palate as well as black currant, plums, liquorice, tobacco. High on acidity but with fading tannins. Not in a perfect balance. Improved with food though. Not my style. Too dark and concentrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My rating is somewhat arbritary as my thoughts were lower at the onset. Definitely needed to brief. Started tasting tobacco and cedar about 30 minutes in. Very drinkable after an hour. Beginning to fade as compared to my last tasting in 2015.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice - drink up with hour decant. Fell apart after 2nd day. Dark, rich cab with earthy undertone. Some graphite and tobacco on the finish. Not much acidity left. Really good QPR at original pricing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Smooth and lithe, this wine is beautiful. Lots of red and black fruits, still tons of fruit with great balance and well integrated tannins. Drinking very well right now, great balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great Cabernet. Opened 4 hours ahead - beautiful nose of tobacco, dark chocolate and currants. Broad, rich mouthfeel with dark fruits, minerals and spice. Complex wine with a great finish - Entering prime drinking window. 94 points.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Our February 2015 notes still apply. I am sad that this is our last 2005 bottle in our cellar. We have other vintages and we will stock up on the 2012's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We decanted for about an hour before pouring. Garnet red with a slightly brown hue. Nose of casis, loam, figs and toast. Very well integrated tannins and acidity. Soft layers of figs, black cherries, bell peppers and mint.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Holy crap was this good. Napa valley at its finest hr. Still a fruit forward bountiful cab with tons of tannins. Very big & bold & could stand to be cellared for another 3-5 yrs. I popped & poured & it was impressive. Youthful, elegant & no where near maturity. Great structure & depth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big Cali Cab. I just loved this. This just screamed high quality California Cabernet. The nose was amazing with the type of red and black fruit that Cali cabs are famous for. The tannins were still massive and added some weight and depth to an already interesting and complex wine. Outstanding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened three hours prior to consumption. Beautiful dark red fruit, hints of leather and oak. Smooth. Wonderful. We do love our Snowden. If scoring 92-94.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PNP. Exceptionally nice. Restrained black fruit and earth - picked up a distinct green pepper note on both the nose and palate. Smooth and tasty. In a very good place. If scoring 92-94.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red fruits; great mouthfeel. Nice plum nose. This is perhaps a bit heavy (medium body compared to California cabs) but thoroughly enjoyable with steak and while preparing a marinara sauce. This has years left.
4 on the AF scale.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PNP, consumed over two hours. I like the description "big, round and chewy". A lot of substance here, with black and red fruit, plenty of dirt, herbs and vanilla. Smooth with some lingering tannins. Very easy to drink and just tastes damn good. If scoring 93-95.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Veryu good right from the bottle and improved with air. Medium bodies and the fruit profile displayed cassis and some cranberry edges. A bit chewy but fairly well balanced. A touch of earthiness but overall was bright wine. Nice red fruited nose and long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
opened for mom's day dinner and paired well with fillet....personally thought this was good to go....tannin pretty much gone/resolved and the wine very sweet and soft....really nice drink...complex? Maybe not but goes down very easily without competing with the food .....would buy again
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The structure and overall quality of this wine was impressive. It had aged nicely since purchase, displaying a nice balance of jammy fruit, fairly soft tannins, and delicate oak. The nose and palate just weren't my favorite - a little too dominated by a bell pepper, cedary element that detracted from my enjoyment a bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a very nice cab that is still young and will put on some weight and complexity with age. Well worth the money....looking forward to seeing how the other bottles develop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened and decanted 5 hours before drinking. Drank with grilled ribeye and bakers. Kind of rough and disjointed with some strong tannins and serious oak. Left half until tonight and it's a completely different wine! Whole, big, round, integrated tannins and complexity up the wazoo!! This stuff is great for the price but needs bottle time. Or just open it the day before and enjoy!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a beautifully crafted wine, with gorgeous ripe fruit and classy wood treatment. The powerful alcohol creates considerable heat but does not spoil the overall impression. It will be interesting to see if it holds together long enough for the sticky tannins to integrate a bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
** Color: Deep Garnet Nose: Jammy with red fruit Palate: Black Cherry, red fruit and some spice with a hint of oak. This is a big wine with nice balance and good depth and nice finish with vlvety tannin. Very Plush. We just kept sipping and sipping and suddenly it was all gone!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Unreal wine. Huge nose of Cassis, Cedar and blackberries. We let it sit for a couple of hours before we drank this. Had it with steaks. Big wine. Dark fruits predominating with some not too overpowering toasty oak and a long, silky smooth finish with sweet tannins. Brilliant wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bought a bottle of this to try and really glad that I did. The wine is a purple black from the bottle with aroma of rich earthy spice and dark fruit. The palate is all fruit and spice with cherry, black currant. Excellent balance and depth, the tannin is sweet. the wine has a nice finish and I think it will get better. Nice effort!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/7/2022 - Adventr.us wrote: 91 Points
Last bottle. Drinking well with our braised bison short ribs. Of course most anything would drink well with that, but in this case, even wifey - who doesn't like much of any red wine - is asking for a pour after sipping mine. Tannins are largely resolved, but not vacant. Fruit fading, but present, and in balance with everything else. Every time I've opened a 90's era Snowden, even with advance decanting, it seems the last glass is always the best - like even after all these years, it takes that long to open up. This 2005 is much more approachable as a teenager ....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2021 - Nanda wrote:
Not as well balanced as a bottle earlier this year with more sweet oak (coconut and vanilla) that was obtrusive on the nose and palate. Otherwise fairly classic Napa Cab that has good textural balance with plenty of life ahead. I hope other bottles aren't as oaky.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2021 - Burgundy Al wrote: 88 Points
Double blind, seemed very Napa Cab with good richness, slightly sweet spice and oak notes that slightly detracted from the overall experience. Good enough for now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2020 - Nanda wrote:
Knock you out of your chair good. Soaring pristine aromas of florals, bell pepper, and pure black cherry and plum. Velvety fruit with well integrated structure. Enough stuffing and balance to hold for a decade+.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2020 - hanasowner wrote: 94 Points
Opened an hour before first pour...to sum up, wow this was mighty tasty...still medium red color, though certainly youthful looking...dark red fruit followed by tobacco...other than the integrated tannins, would never had guessed this was a 15 year old bottle...more like a 2013...recommend drinking up if you have any left...this was my last and a great showing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2019 - pinotlui wrote: 93 Points
Clear medium garnet. Nose is clean. Medium + intensity. Dry, medium acidity, medium tannins and medium body. Red and dark berries, currant, leather, and cedar. Medium + finish. Very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2018 - Tartiflette wrote: 91 Points
Decanted a few hours. Very strong and powerful nose of dark fruit, cedar, roses, tobacco and acetone. Earthy notes on the palate as well as black currant, plums, liquorice, tobacco. High on acidity but with fading tannins. Not in a perfect balance. Improved with food though. Not my style. Too dark and concentrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2018 - Birddog29 wrote: 92 Points
My rating is somewhat arbritary as my thoughts were lower at the onset. Definitely needed to brief. Started tasting tobacco and cedar about 30 minutes in. Very drinkable after an hour. Beginning to fade as compared to my last tasting in 2015.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2017 - WineWright Likes this wine: 96 Points
Fabulous aromas, with layers of flavor and power. Brilliant!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2017 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice - drink up with hour decant. Fell apart after 2nd day. Dark, rich cab with earthy undertone. Some graphite and tobacco on the finish. Not much acidity left. Really good QPR at original pricing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2017 - Hamersly Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still needs a lot of air. Fine nose of blue fruit, cedar and tobacco, big dark plums on the palette. Medium finish with a bit more acid than I like.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2016 - aaronfeigin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smooth and lithe, this wine is beautiful. Lots of red and black fruits, still tons of fruit with great balance and well integrated tannins. Drinking very well right now, great balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2015 - sastewart wrote: 94 Points
Great Cabernet. Opened 4 hours ahead - beautiful nose of tobacco, dark chocolate and currants. Broad, rich mouthfeel with dark fruits, minerals and spice. Complex wine with a great finish - Entering prime drinking window. 94 points.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2015 - juicejammer wrote: 88 Points
Not much going on here. Lacks the structure for further development. Drink it if you got it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2015 - Snag One Likes this wine: 93 Points
Our February 2015 notes still apply. I am sad that this is our last 2005 bottle in our cellar. We have other vintages and we will stock up on the 2012's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2015 - Snag One Likes this wine: 93 Points
We decanted for about an hour before pouring. Garnet red with a slightly brown hue. Nose of casis, loam, figs and toast. Very well integrated tannins and acidity. Soft layers of figs, black cherries, bell peppers and mint.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2014 - VinoRosso wrote: 94 Points
Slow to open up, but once it did - very enjoyable. Rich tobacco, coffee, leather notes. Smooth tannins. 50 sec finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2014 - JDV.DDSPHD Likes this wine: 93 Points
Holy crap was this good. Napa valley at its finest hr. Still a fruit forward bountiful cab with tons of tannins. Very big & bold & could stand to be cellared for another 3-5 yrs. I popped & poured & it was impressive. Youthful, elegant & no where near maturity. Great structure & depth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2014 - themki wrote: 94 Points
Smooth and rich, with pain grille and concentrated fruit. Delicious tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2014 - rwerner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Balanced tannins, nice finish with hints of chocolate and coffee
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2014 - Mallards wrote: 96 Points
Big, bold, strong tannins. Wouldn't call this a drink now, but you will be rewarded if you do.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2013 - JDV.DDSPHD wrote: 93 Points
Big Cali Cab. I just loved this. This just screamed high quality California Cabernet. The nose was amazing with the type of red and black fruit that Cali cabs are famous for. The tannins were still massive and added some weight and depth to an already interesting and complex wine. Outstanding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2013 - dontime wrote:
Opened three hours prior to consumption. Beautiful dark red fruit, hints of leather and oak. Smooth. Wonderful. We do love our Snowden. If scoring 92-94.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2013 - dontime wrote:
PNP. Exceptionally nice. Restrained black fruit and earth - picked up a distinct green pepper note on both the nose and palate. Smooth and tasty. In a very good place. If scoring 92-94.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2013 - littlefoot Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Tasted blind per usual- thought it could be a $25 sangiovese. Tight, narrow, lean, not my style
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2013 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 91 Points
Dark red fruits; great mouthfeel. Nice plum nose. This is perhaps a bit heavy (medium body compared to California cabs) but thoroughly enjoyable with steak and while preparing a marinara sauce. This has years left.
4 on the AF scale.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2012 - kingboo wrote: 93 Points
Complex with some pecil lead seeping through. Very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2012 - pjsalem wrote: 89 Points
Strong licorice flavor
Tannin still too strong. Needs more time
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2012 - dontime wrote:
PNP, consumed over two hours. I like the description "big, round and chewy". A lot of substance here, with black and red fruit, plenty of dirt, herbs and vanilla. Smooth with some lingering tannins. Very easy to drink and just tastes damn good. If scoring 93-95.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2012 - Wino from Michigan wrote: 94 Points
WOW -- first time I ever drank this wine and it was amazing! Loved it -- jammy but not over the top fruit -- thick and jammy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2012 - iamandyc wrote: 92 Points
Veryu good right from the bottle and improved with air. Medium bodies and the fruit profile displayed cassis and some cranberry edges. A bit chewy but fairly well balanced. A touch of earthiness but overall was bright wine. Nice red fruited nose and long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2012 - pkatz wrote: 94 Points
Blind 05-07 Napa Cab tasting. Big round and chewy. Excellent. Drinking great now and should improve for years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2011 - Mr T wrote:
opened for mom's day dinner and paired well with fillet....personally thought this was good to go....tannin pretty much gone/resolved and the wine very sweet and soft....really nice drink...complex? Maybe not but goes down very easily without competing with the food .....would buy again
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2011 - pkatz wrote: 92 Points
Assorted Napa Cabs Blind (4/9/11): Tannic and young. Lots of upside here but needs time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2010 - torcams wrote: 89 Points
The structure and overall quality of this wine was impressive. It had aged nicely since purchase, displaying a nice balance of jammy fruit, fairly soft tannins, and delicate oak. The nose and palate just weren't my favorite - a little too dominated by a bell pepper, cedary element that detracted from my enjoyment a bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2009 - Mr T wrote:
This is a very nice cab that is still young and will put on some weight and complexity with age. Well worth the money....looking forward to seeing how the other bottles develop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2009 - drycab wrote: 94 Points
Should have read my prior notes! Better early than before but still needs more time. But again, it has the stuffing to get there!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2009 - drycab wrote: 94 Points
Opened and decanted 5 hours before drinking. Drank with grilled ribeye and bakers. Kind of rough and disjointed with some strong tannins and serious oak. Left half until tonight and it's a completely different wine! Whole, big, round, integrated tannins and complexity up the wazoo!! This stuff is great for the price but needs bottle time. Or just open it the day before and enjoy!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2008 - gigem91 wrote: 92 Points
A very balanced wine. Very good front to back fruit with a little bit of oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2008 - petitblanc wrote: 92 Points
This is a beautifully crafted wine, with gorgeous ripe fruit and classy wood treatment. The powerful alcohol creates considerable heat but does not spoil the overall impression. It will be interesting to see if it holds together long enough for the sticky tannins to integrate a bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2008 - smahk wrote: 93 Points
**
Color: Deep Garnet
Nose: Jammy with red fruit
Palate: Black Cherry, red fruit and some spice with a hint of oak. This is a big wine with nice balance and good depth and nice finish with vlvety tannin. Very Plush. We just kept sipping and sipping and suddenly it was all gone!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2008 - yonster24 wrote: 93 Points
Unreal wine. Huge nose of Cassis, Cedar and blackberries. We let it sit for a couple of hours before we drank this. Had it with steaks. Big wine. Dark fruits predominating with some not too overpowering toasty oak and a long, silky smooth finish with sweet tannins. Brilliant wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2008 - beezer6 wrote: 90 Points
The Sorting Table / Glunz Grand Wine Tasting (Webster's Wine Bar - Chicago, IL): Tasted at the Sorting Table / Glunz event @ Webster's Wine Bar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2008 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
California Wine Night (Sam's South Loop - Chicago, IL): Tasted at the 2008 Sam's South Loop Grand California Night Event.
Very robust nose and palate. Extremely enjoyable. Nice mouthfeel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2008 - dsimmons wrote: 95 Points
Bought a bottle of this to try and really glad that I did. The wine is a purple black from the bottle with aroma of rich earthy spice and dark fruit. The palate is all fruit and spice with cherry, black currant. Excellent balance and depth, the tannin is sweet. the wine has a nice finish and I think it will get better. Nice effort!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2008 - EMichels wrote: 89 Points
Wine Exchange - Silver Oak Day: Adds a second dimension; Dark; Earth
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 Points
nose: nice big, bold, and jammy nose. almost zin like on teh nose. Cedar, cherry, and some cranberry and dustiness on the nose
taste: big and well structured. A lot of dark fruit and some toasted oak
overall: nice and bold. great structure and a very nice and lasting finish. Hits all parts of the palate
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2008 - tanglenet wrote:
Served at a tasting at the Wine Club SF. Quick notes: musty fruit with super dry tannins. Fair.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment