This has aged very nicely. Ready to go upon popping the cork and held steady for 3 hours. Lots of dark flavors and nice complexity. The fruit was nicer than my last bottle a couple of years ago. Good backbone to it and long spicy, earthy finish. Sorry too see this last bottle go.
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Lots of dark flavors and nice complexity. The fruit was very subdued and hurt the pleasure factor. Good backbone to it and long spicy, earthy finish. Complete opposite of a 2009 Fortunate Son which I had alongside this. Linked this a touch better as this seemed more interesting.
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Just entering the prime drinking window, still young. Tons of eucalyptus and black fruit. Tannins still need to fully integrate. Wait on this one a few more years and reap the rewards!
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A blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot, this opaque red wine offers aromas and flavors of kirsch, allspice, smoked meat, tobacco and loamy earth. Full-bodied, freshly acidic and with nicely integrated alcohol (15.2%), it wraps its flavors with sweet tannins and is dense in the middle. Finishing with good length, it promises another decade of enjoyment. Drink now-2026.
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Dark fruited and leaning to the over-ripe side. Not showing a lot freshness or complexity, similar to my experience with the "regular" 2005 Cliff Lede cab. I'd hoped for more.
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Popped and poured - took some time to come together and is a rather large-framed example of Stags Leap Cab. Dark fruits dominate, with hints of oak; deep red color with no hint of its age; fruit-forward, round, somewhat dense texture; modest finish. Would go well with a nice charred steak. Life left in this.
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Popped and poured. Wow!!! An absolutely beautiful napa cab. Great nose of chocolate, cigar, earth, cassis. Flavors of dark berries, tobacco, chocolate.... beautiful. Needs time and/or air. I wish I ahd more than one left. Next one in 3-5 years. Lede knows wine.
50+5+13+17+8
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Midnight color leads to a huge nose of cherry, vanilla, and cassis. Medium large body has gobs of gorgeous black and blue fruit. The huge sweet tannins last almost a minute. Great now but will only improve with age. Yum!
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Tasted this wine earlier this summer. In spite of knowing it needs a few years to cellar, I couldn't wait. I should have waited. Decanted and drank over 6 hours. Much better later in the night. Way too tight. A big bold wine with robust fruit, oak and chocolate flavor. Like the top of the bottle, Nigel says," this wine goes to 11."....at least in will in a couple of years.
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This is going to be an amazing bottle in a few years...unfortunately, at the moment it is closed and tight on opening. After having been opened 2 hours, it finally had a nose of black fruit and vanilla. It is an extremely dark wine, thick on the palate. It has a short, tannic finish.
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Inky purple with dense nose of dark fruit, currant, and molassas. Palate was wonderfully balanced and complex with structure provided by some nice tannins. Long finish. Not as up front and fruit forward as most cliff lede's. This one is more complex and reveals more of place/terroir. Should age well for the next 5-10 years.
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Huge nose of red and black fruits. Was expecting the same in the mouth but was extremely tight. Huge acidic spine with substantial tannins. Not as approachable as other Cliff Lede wines. Plenty of structure but i wont touch my other one for a couple of years.
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This wine promises a lot. Initially on the nose tight as a drum, even after a significant decanting. Definitely opened some more on the nose later in the night. Later on the nose notes of dark red fruits, tobacco, some chocolate and a subtle touch of oak. In the mouth, moisture stripping tannins along with abundant fruit to balance it out. Would love to try this in 5 years, it should blossum by then. If you are compelled to open now, there is a need for a robust meat to complement.
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Exceptional bottle of wine that can use to be cellared for a couple of years. Very ride, smooth tannins, rich with lingering flavors that go on for a long time. I could sit and drink this for a very long time. It needed some time to open up. I am going back to buy more of this. Not cheap and the $9+ per bottle for shipping was choking me.
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8/29/2022 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 93 Points
This has aged very nicely. Ready to go upon popping the cork and held steady for 3 hours. Lots of dark flavors and nice complexity. The fruit was nicer than my last bottle a couple of years ago. Good backbone to it and long spicy, earthy finish. Sorry too see this last bottle go.
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2/20/2020 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lots of dark flavors and nice complexity. The fruit was very subdued and hurt the pleasure factor. Good backbone to it and long spicy, earthy finish. Complete opposite of a 2009 Fortunate Son which I had alongside this. Linked this a touch better as this seemed more interesting.
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10/13/2018 - Doctor Koulodare Likes this wine: 94 Points
A Cabernet Sauvignon blend with Merlot/Malbec/PV. Very dark, black currant, tobacco, spicy, opulent mouthfeel. Great finish.
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7/6/2018 - ejca wrote:
Excellent, nice lingering finish.
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7/6/2018 - ejca Likes this wine:
Excellent
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1/5/2017 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Just entering the prime drinking window, still young.
Tons of eucalyptus and black fruit.
Tannins still need to fully integrate.
Wait on this one a few more years and reap the rewards!
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4/29/2016 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
A blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot, this opaque red wine offers aromas and flavors of kirsch, allspice, smoked meat, tobacco and loamy earth. Full-bodied, freshly acidic and with nicely integrated alcohol (15.2%), it wraps its flavors with sweet tannins and is dense in the middle. Finishing with good length, it promises another decade of enjoyment. Drink now-2026.
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6/16/2015 - EMTAME wrote: 89 Points
Dark fruited and leaning to the over-ripe side. Not showing a lot freshness or complexity, similar to my experience with the "regular" 2005 Cliff Lede cab. I'd hoped for more.
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1/3/2014 - KarrieS Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not a typical cliff lede but very good. Not as oaky as I expected it to be. The more air the better.
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12/7/2013 - surfcityusa Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured - took some time to come together and is a rather large-framed example of Stags Leap Cab. Dark fruits dominate, with hints of oak; deep red color with no hint of its age; fruit-forward, round, somewhat dense texture; modest finish. Would go well with a nice charred steak. Life left in this.
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11/3/2013 - wineguy58 wrote: 91 Points
good red berry acidity with a mocha toast finish.
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12/30/2012 - jebewines Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smooth, dark and delicious. Plenty of life left.
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9/3/2011 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Consistent notes
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6/22/2010 - Blue Shorts wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Wow!!! An absolutely beautiful napa cab. Great nose of chocolate, cigar, earth, cassis. Flavors of dark berries, tobacco, chocolate.... beautiful. Needs time and/or air. I wish I ahd more than one left. Next one in 3-5 years. Lede knows wine.
50+5+13+17+8
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2/11/2010 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Big dark red wine with dark fruit, cedar, vanilla and chocolate notes. Still young. Needs another year or two in the bottle.
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8/21/2009 - J-Sho wrote: 92 Points
see previous
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7/29/2009 - flashvictor wrote: 94 Points
Midnight color leads to a huge nose of cherry, vanilla, and cassis. Medium large body has gobs of gorgeous black and blue fruit. The huge sweet tannins last almost a minute. Great now but will only improve with age. Yum!
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5/18/2009 - terroir wrote: 91 Points
excellent fruit,good structure, may need 2 more years if I can wait
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4/4/2009 - elamasters wrote: 94 Points
Outstanding wine. Very dark and complex. Tannins were smooth and not overwhelming. Might develop more with age, but terrific right now.
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11/23/2008 - higap wrote: 94 Points
Tasted this wine earlier this summer. In spite of knowing it needs a few years to cellar, I couldn't wait. I should have waited. Decanted and drank over 6 hours. Much better later in the night. Way too tight. A big bold wine with robust fruit, oak and chocolate flavor. Like the top of the bottle, Nigel says," this wine goes to 11."....at least in will in a couple of years.
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11/9/2008 - Cortona5 wrote: 92 Points
Happy I have more. Will be great in a few years. Tons of rich blackberry notes and great structure.
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10/1/2008 - itsallgone wrote: 90 Points
This is going to be an amazing bottle in a few years...unfortunately, at the moment it is closed and tight on opening. After having been opened 2 hours, it finally had a nose of black fruit and vanilla. It is an extremely dark wine, thick on the palate. It has a short, tannic finish.
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7/12/2008 - J-Sho wrote: 94 Points
Inky purple with dense nose of dark fruit, currant, and molassas. Palate was wonderfully balanced and complex with structure provided by some nice tannins. Long finish. Not as up front and fruit forward as most cliff lede's. This one is more complex and reveals more of place/terroir. Should age well for the next 5-10 years.
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6/17/2008 - WineForRob wrote: 92 Points
Huge nose of red and black fruits. Was expecting the same in the mouth but was extremely tight. Huge acidic spine with substantial tannins. Not as approachable as other Cliff Lede wines. Plenty of structure but i wont touch my other one for a couple of years.
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6/7/2008 - bubbachumps wrote: 94 Points
This wine promises a lot. Initially on the nose tight as a drum, even after a significant decanting. Definitely opened some more on the nose later in the night. Later on the nose notes of dark red fruits, tobacco, some chocolate and a subtle touch of oak. In the mouth, moisture stripping tannins along with abundant fruit to balance it out. Would love to try this in 5 years, it should blossum by then. If you are compelled to open now, there is a need for a robust meat to complement.
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5/19/2008 - parathesis wrote: 94 Points
Exceptional bottle of wine that can use to be cellared for a couple of years. Very ride, smooth tannins, rich with lingering flavors that go on for a long time. I could sit and drink this for a very long time. It needed some time to open up. I am going back to buy more of this. Not cheap and the $9+ per bottle for shipping was choking me.
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