Dark fruits with blackcurrant and spicy blackberry. The body is silky and smoky. Lively acidity and smooth mild tannins add lift. Hints of oak remain. This is a nice mature, balanced Napa Cabernet.
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Dark red, harmonious in every aspect. Representing well my expectation of a very good cab. Only wishing This was not the last bottle. Ratings for following vintages are same or worse and price is just double, from $45 I paid to $94 for a 2015 & 2016 vintages.
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The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Fast. It smells like Bell Pepper, and Violet. It tastes like Black currant (cassis), and Vanilla. The body is Full. The wine has Round texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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Very fruit lacks complexity. Light aroma of berries. Just a little to the sweet side. For dinning with people with a variety of tastes, will please most of them. For connoisseurs not a good choice.
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Tasted non blind at home. PnP and followed over several hours. One dimensional hot nose of cassis. Mostly sweet cherries and some berries on the palate along with vanilla. Sour cherry on the medium length finish. Full bodied with a thick, chewy texture. Mostly resolved tannins. Drink now and over the next few years. Terrible QPR at $50 in Dallas. Was recommended by a retailer as a very traditional and Old World styled wine. It is in fact, the opposite.
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Exceptional value for quality. Perhaps a slightly high fruit content keeps it from hitting higher ratings. Received one as a gift, bought a case and have had several guests write it down and go add it to their collection.
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Very fruity on the nose. Big, silky snd mouthfilling. Dark fruit and a hint of chocolate. A bit simple without much complexity. Its a crowdpleaser, but not a great wine. Drinks very good now and probably won't improve anymore.
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Big nose, almost pinot like. Lots of fresh fruit on the nose, velvety rich palate with fully integrated tannins and notes of dark cherries. Great wine, very approachable, but one dimensional.
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Lighter styled cab with dubious aging potential. Sweet and creamy with cassis and raspberry notes. Medium finish. This is a hedonistic wine without typical cab structure. Indeed, tannins are barely noticeable. Don't wait.
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Had this twice since my last note in May of last year and to my disappointment it didn't improve, in fact I'm lowering my score on it from 88 to 86. Very one dimensional, not a hint of any oak influence, and any finish that may be there would be better if it wasn't. More like Welch's Prune Juice than a Napa Cab, and that's a consistent note over 3 bottles over a period of nearly 8 months. It might be passable for $16 to $18 a bottle but that would be the extent of it.
Note to self to definitely not repeat. I have the Hestan Stephanie on the shelf .. hopefully it's much better built than this wine.
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Full, mouth filling fruit. Decent structure, with tannins fully integrated. Tastes fully mature, but doesn't have secondary flavors yet. I think if you kept it longer it would start getting flabby before it develops in flavors further. Good fruit forward cab.
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Still drinking very well. Caramel on the nose. Plush, rich, velvety fruit. Resolved tannins. Certainly of a particular style, but a very good case for that style too.
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Super aromatic with rich dark fruit. Very ripe nose. Smooth, rich and creamy up front. Blackberry, black cherry, wild berry with subtle hints of anise and mocha. Velvety rich and decadent, but not unbalanced. Polished tannin. Nice structure throughout and great finish! - Tasted at Marché Bacchus 9/18/10
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Great light Cab ... Lots of fruit and sweet but underlying hints of chocolate/cocoa. Has mild tannins probably ready to drink now. Went great with a juicy cowboy ribeye.
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Good fruits and smooth mouth feel are nice but this wine is a bit too sweet, very light bodied and seriously lacking in complexity. The bottle says the wine spent 18 months in French oak barrels but I'm guessing they were minimally once or twice used as they imparted little if any character on the wine. It also says bottled unfined and unfiltered (which I prefer) but while there was some there was very little sediment in the bottle so not sure where that goes. Certainly not an unpleasant wine, simply not a very interesting one.
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really good stuff here. Allow some air time, but it was real elegant and lovely integrated tannins going on. a liitle cocoa flavor going on mid palate. Some real "Wow " was heard after sipping this fine Cabernet.
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Splash decanted for 30 mins. This has come a long way over the last year. Nose of cassis with notes of leather and cedar. Nicely balanced with blackcurrant and dark cherry on the palate with a medium body. Not much complexity but less sweet and candyesque than a year ago with secondary flavors of dark chocolate and tobacco beginning to show. Finish is somewhat short although tannins are pretty well integrated. Very good now and will probably continue to improve in the short term. Wouldn't buy this again though at $50.
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This bottle was better than the last, and as I had expected was very well received by my family. Might lack some complexity, but very rich, chocolate, lush fruit, soft and round but not flabby.
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Napa Valley Vintners Association (Fleming's Steak House): nose: real good nose filled with red and black currants, red cherries, dark red fruits and some nice tones of red licorice. Good depth with real nice expression on the fruit
taste: Full bodied with big and chewy tannins along with excellent and deep tones of red and black currants, red cherries, dark red fruits, and dark berries. Coming off young on the palate with a real silky texture as well
overall: A real lovely young cab. Needs a bit of time to fully show itself. Good depth on both the nose and palate with some real style to it
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I liked this more than the previous tasters. It is simple and forward, but the fruit is nice, pleasant Napa cabernet. It reminded me a bit of an aged Mondavi Reserve Cab really. Nice medium weight and body. Not too thick like some. The tannins are not that strong so I expect that this is a short term drinker, but I think it will also be a good crowd pleaser. Did begin to find it a bit fatiguing by the end of the second glass, but that is not unusual for me with Napa cabernet.
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Decanted 1 hour. Took a couple of hours more to open up. The nose pretty much shows what this wine is all about. Candied red fruit with a little oak and also a subtle vegetal component. On the palate this is a fruit bomb full of candied red fruit which persists throughout the medium length finish. There are no noticeable tannins or heat on the finish. Very enjoyable but a little too sweet for my taste. I feel it is a nice wine if drinking a single glass but after a while i find the sweet candy profile becomes a little irritating. I appreciate there are lots of people who will appreciate this style more than me. Overall this is a very good, fruit forward, easy drinking wine which many people will enjoy in the right setting although i feel there are much better cabs out there for $50. Drink now or over the short term.
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4/13/2021 - spv Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still really excellent. Well balanced, smooth and full bodied. Dark fruits; long finish.
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4/4/2021 - richardkim wrote: 93 Points
Dark fruits with blackcurrant and spicy blackberry. The body is silky and smoky. Lively acidity and smooth mild tannins add lift. Hints of oak remain. This is a nice mature, balanced Napa Cabernet.
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2/2/2018 - libero wrote: 92 Points
Dark red, harmonious in every aspect. Representing well my expectation of a very good cab. Only wishing This was not the last bottle. Ratings for following vintages are same or worse and price is just double, from $45 I paid to $94 for a 2015 & 2016 vintages.
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1/29/2017 - blank213 Likes this wine:
Loved. Buy again
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11/27/2016 - Acohen Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice body with lots of dark fruit and cassis and integrated tannins with a medium finish
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1/7/2016 - libero wrote: 92 Points
second bottle, same night , Same dinner ( grilled thin beef
with onion) This wine is rounded , balanced perfect a great wine.
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1/7/2016 - libero wrote: 92 Points
Round and delicious
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1/1/2016 - KJD45$ Likes this wine: 93 Points
Aroma large right out of the gate....flavor just right with berries...
Fine tannins....excellent
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12/20/2013 - Eguielebron Likes this wine: 93 Points
The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Fast. It smells like Bell Pepper, and Violet. It tastes like Black currant (cassis), and Vanilla. The body is Full. The wine has Round texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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12/1/2013 - wine247365 wrote: 87 Points
semi-sweet. dark berries, bit of a cloying sensation the palate. seemed like a typical, well-made, Napa Cab. med body and finish.
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2/6/2013 - sgamiz wrote: 94 Points
Wow ! the best showing of this wine so far.
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11/1/2012 - libero wrote: 89 Points
Very fruit lacks complexity. Light aroma of berries. Just a little to the sweet side. For dinning with people with a variety of tastes, will please most of them. For connoisseurs not a good choice.
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6/23/2012 - floydtp wrote: 85 Points
Tasted non blind at home. PnP and followed over several hours. One dimensional hot nose of cassis. Mostly sweet cherries and some berries on the palate along with vanilla. Sour cherry on the medium length finish. Full bodied with a thick, chewy texture. Mostly resolved tannins. Drink now and over the next few years. Terrible QPR at $50 in Dallas. Was recommended by a retailer as a very traditional and Old World styled wine. It is in fact, the opposite.
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5/25/2012 - libero wrote: 92 Points
Low tannin, fruity, dense, ruby, smooth aroma, similar to shiraz taste while it is a cabernet sauvugnon
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5/20/2012 - Enjoy_Now_Collect_Later Likes this wine: 94 Points
Exceptional value for quality. Perhaps a slightly high fruit content keeps it from hitting higher ratings. Received one as a gift, bought a case and have had several guests write it down and go add it to their collection.
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3/18/2012 - ChadRS wrote: 92 Points
Loads of fruit on the nose, dark fruit on the palate, chewy tannins on the finish. Great wine. Should have bought more.
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1/20/2012 - shellywine wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for two hours. A nice fruit forward nose with a very smooth and long finish. We like this wine. Very drinkable right now.
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1/14/2012 - degrandcru wrote: 87 Points
Very fruity on the nose. Big, silky snd mouthfilling. Dark fruit and a hint of chocolate. A bit simple without much complexity. Its a crowdpleaser, but not a great wine. Drinks very good now and probably won't improve anymore.
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11/18/2011 - ChadRS wrote: 91 Points
Big nose, almost pinot like. Lots of fresh fruit on the nose, velvety rich palate with fully integrated tannins and notes of dark cherries. Great wine, very approachable, but one dimensional.
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11/5/2011 - sleepyhaus wrote:
Drink this up if you have it. A very sweet and creamy style of cab. Not my personal style, but all of my guests liked it.
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8/27/2011 - mgstull Likes this wine: 89 Points
Lighter styled cab with dubious aging potential. Sweet and creamy with cassis and raspberry notes. Medium finish. This is a hedonistic wine without typical cab structure. Indeed, tannins are barely noticeable. Don't wait.
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5/8/2011 - gdenton wrote: 91 Points
Excellent. A little light tasty with a big nose at first. Opened up well after decanting for a little over an hour. Opened up even more in the glass.
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4/29/2011 - spv wrote: 93 Points
Awesome - has improved since I last had this 2 years ago
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1/27/2011 - dacomovi wrote: 92 Points
I just love this stuff...smooth as silk...drinking great but will likely hold for several more years.
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1/6/2011 - calicabnut Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Had this twice since my last note in May of last year and to my disappointment it didn't improve, in fact I'm lowering my score on it from 88 to 86. Very one dimensional, not a hint of any oak influence, and any finish that may be there would be better if it wasn't. More like Welch's Prune Juice than a Napa Cab, and that's a consistent note over 3 bottles over a period of nearly 8 months. It might be passable for $16 to $18 a bottle but that would be the extent of it.
Note to self to definitely not repeat. I have the Hestan Stephanie on the shelf .. hopefully it's much better built than this wine.
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12/26/2010 - Hugene1 wrote: 90 Points
Full, mouth filling fruit. Decent structure, with tannins fully integrated. Tastes fully mature, but doesn't have secondary flavors yet. I think if you kept it longer it would start getting flabby before it develops in flavors further. Good fruit forward cab.
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12/26/2010 - sleepyhaus wrote:
Still drinking very well. Caramel on the nose. Plush, rich, velvety fruit. Resolved tannins. Certainly of a particular style, but a very good case for that style too.
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12/21/2010 - HaraldS wrote: 94 Points
Velvedy, chocalate
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9/27/2010 - vegasoenophile wrote: 99 Points
Super aromatic with rich dark fruit. Very ripe nose. Smooth, rich and creamy up front. Blackberry, black cherry, wild berry with subtle hints of anise and mocha. Velvety rich and decadent, but not unbalanced. Polished tannin. Nice structure throughout and great finish!
- Tasted at Marché Bacchus 9/18/10
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9/25/2010 - drdrewrodg wrote: 90 Points
Great light Cab ... Lots of fruit and sweet but underlying hints of chocolate/cocoa. Has mild tannins probably ready to drink now. Went great with a juicy cowboy ribeye.
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9/20/2010 - dgillham wrote: 90 Points
Very ripe fruit, sweet oak, almost too sweet, but the tannins keep it all ( barely) in check.
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7/14/2010 - calicabnut wrote: 88 Points
Good fruits and smooth mouth feel are nice but this wine is a bit too sweet, very light bodied and seriously lacking in complexity. The bottle says the wine spent 18 months in French oak barrels but I'm guessing they were minimally once or twice used as they imparted little if any character on the wine. It also says bottled unfined and unfiltered (which I prefer) but while there was some there was very little sediment in the bottle so not sure where that goes. Certainly not an unpleasant wine, simply not a very interesting one.
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7/5/2010 - winelover1 wrote: 93 Points
really good stuff here. Allow some air time, but it was real elegant and lovely integrated tannins going on. a liitle cocoa flavor going on mid palate. Some real "Wow " was heard after sipping this fine Cabernet.
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5/14/2010 - Yamadori wrote: 89 Points
Splash decanted for 30 mins. This has come a long way over the last year. Nose of cassis with notes of leather and cedar. Nicely balanced with blackcurrant and dark cherry on the palate with a medium body. Not much complexity but less sweet and candyesque than a year ago with secondary flavors of dark chocolate and tobacco beginning to show. Finish is somewhat short although tannins are pretty well integrated. Very good now and will probably continue to improve in the short term. Wouldn't buy this again though at $50.
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11/8/2009 - 8trigram wrote: 93 Points
Great concentration of fruit. Fine super smooth tannins, a great moothfeel and finish.
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10/2/2009 - sleepyhaus wrote:
This bottle was better than the last, and as I had expected was very well received by my family. Might lack some complexity, but very rich, chocolate, lush fruit, soft and round but not flabby.
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9/21/2009 - Michael6296 wrote: 90 Points
With Dot,s special new salad. Yum.
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9/16/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 Points
Napa Valley Vintners Association (Fleming's Steak House): nose: real good nose filled with red and black currants, red cherries, dark red fruits and some nice tones of red licorice. Good depth with real nice expression on the fruit
taste: Full bodied with big and chewy tannins along with excellent and deep tones of red and black currants, red cherries, dark red fruits, and dark berries. Coming off young on the palate with a real silky texture as well
overall: A real lovely young cab. Needs a bit of time to fully show itself. Good depth on both the nose and palate with some real style to it
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9/2/2009 - sleepyhaus wrote: 89 Points
I liked this more than the previous tasters. It is simple and forward, but the fruit is nice, pleasant Napa cabernet. It reminded me a bit of an aged Mondavi Reserve Cab really. Nice medium weight and body. Not too thick like some. The tannins are not that strong so I expect that this is a short term drinker, but I think it will also be a good crowd pleaser. Did begin to find it a bit fatiguing by the end of the second glass, but that is not unusual for me with Napa cabernet.
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8/31/2009 - Yamadori wrote: 87 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Took a couple of hours more to open up. The nose pretty much shows what this wine is all about. Candied red fruit with a little oak and also a subtle vegetal component. On the palate this is a fruit bomb full of candied red fruit which persists throughout the medium length finish. There are no noticeable tannins or heat on the finish. Very enjoyable but a little too sweet for my taste. I feel it is a nice wine if drinking a single glass but after a while i find the sweet candy profile becomes a little irritating. I appreciate there are lots of people who will appreciate this style more than me. Overall this is a very good, fruit forward, easy drinking wine which many people will enjoy in the right setting although i feel there are much better cabs out there for $50. Drink now or over the short term.
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12/16/2007 - Smyrna Vinings wrote: 84 Points
Didn't live expectations - much better cabs for the money
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