This wine is definitely in its prime for a California meritage/Bordeaux blend. Wonderful balance of fruit and acid with just the right amount of oak. This is a BIG meritage blend with plenty of firm tannins left but not so much as to over power the fruit. Beautiful garnet/ruby color and rich, complex density. I have no idea why this vintage is rated undr 90 points by CT community - well worth the current $46 price from the winery for this vintage and it has plenty of time left.
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This wine has really hit a sweet spot. Velvety tannins, deep fruit on the palate and nice, long finish. One hour in the decanter and it was a perfect experience.
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Dark Garnet core that fades to a dark red rim with dark cherry hues. viscosity is high with the legs taking over a minute to form before trickling down. Day bright reflections and high concentration.
Aromas present more on the mature side with earth and loam in front of old wood, currant, plum, dark fruits, dried herbs, dried cherry and coffee. Upon entry flavors of currant and plum are coated with flavors of leather, tobacco, wood, coffee, herbs and cocoa powder. The tannins are moderate, mature and drying without being chewy. The acidity is moderate keeping structure. Mid palate density is moderate as well. In the maturity of its peak. Not a tired wine and food friendly
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Deep garnet color with lifted dark fruit, anise, and earthy aromas. On the palate it medium-full bodied and smooth with well integrated tannins, cassis, black cherry, and vanilla flavors. Long finish.
Bordeaux style blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot.
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This is an excellent Bordeaux-style blend at a fraction of the price. The color is medium plus to deep ruby, without any detectable signs of ageing, other than some sediment on the cork. The nose is clean, medium plus in intensity and developing complex aromas. Black fruit, vanilla, tobacco and pencil shavings. The palate is dry but lush, and consistent with the nose, with black cherry and black currant prevailing. The acidity, alcohol, tannins, body, flavor intensity and length are all medium plus. This is a very balanced, elegant blend. It is in its prime drinking window now, with food, but has the potential for improving with ageing another 2-3 years. The acidity and tannins will keep it going for quite a while. I bought this on sale a couple years ago, but would gladly pay full fare for a wine of this quality and value.
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much better than the last bottle we opened 18 months ago. still heavy tannins though despite 45 min of decanting. by the last glass, wine had mellowed with deep cherry finish.
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Wow, what another year or two has done for this wine. It really opened up and developed secondary nuances since the last bottle that I opened. Lovely, plum and black cherry notes with sweet tobacco and dark chocolate. Velvety tannins. Juicy and ripe. Lingering finish.
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Big, bold wine. Still young and slightly tannic but already drinking very nicely. Definitely new-world style. Enjoyed it quite a bit, but a little overpriced.
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Really dark color. On the nose, definitely get some vanilla oak, slightly egg-noggy. Black cherry and currant, little tobacco as well. On the palate, very dusty tasting, like a windowsill, nice black currant, blackberry, blueberry. A little weak on the mid-palate and finish. Has some tannin left definitely, so you can still lay it down for a few more year, but pleasant to drink now.
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Tour - Napa / Sonoma 2009; 8/25/2009-8/29/2009 (Napa / Sonoma, CA): One of the better wines tasted at this winery. Bouquet earthy, blackberry. Taste a little dry, berries, chocolate middle and finish, sweet middle, pepper fish, moderate to long finish. Full body. Wife rated it much lower (85) and did not like it. Bordeaux Style blend. 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot. 20 months in French oak. $58 / bottle - over priced. Tasted at Ferrari-Carano winery on Napa / Sonoma trip. $15 for 4 tastings
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Drinking really well. This wine has calmed down signficantly since release. The vanilla and toasted oak has become more integrated. This wine offers ripe cherry and raspberry falvors with a hint of mineral and sweet tobacco.
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4/5/2016 - alexachipman wrote:
- Garnet color and aromas of blackberry and burnt toast and has flavours of walnut - Tasting notes here.
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4/27/2015 - Coachron13 wrote: 88 Points
Not much primary notes left in this one. Very earthy. No reason to wait any longer.
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1/4/2014 - Alfaro wrote: 91 Points
Drinking very well right now
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12/6/2013 - Blankje Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is definitely in its prime for a California meritage/Bordeaux blend. Wonderful balance of fruit and acid with just the right amount of oak. This is a BIG meritage blend with plenty of firm tannins left but not so much as to over power the fruit. Beautiful garnet/ruby color and rich, complex density. I have no idea why this vintage is rated undr 90 points by CT community - well worth the current $46 price from the winery for this vintage and it has plenty of time left.
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10/19/2013 - jvm79 Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine has really hit a sweet spot. Velvety tannins, deep fruit on the palate and nice, long finish. One hour in the decanter and it was a perfect experience.
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6/30/2013 - bjamesclark wrote: 90 Points
Dark Garnet core that fades to a dark red rim with dark cherry hues. viscosity is high with the legs taking over a minute to form before trickling down. Day bright reflections and high concentration.
Aromas present more on the mature side with earth and loam in front of old wood, currant, plum, dark fruits, dried herbs, dried cherry and coffee.
Upon entry flavors of currant and plum are coated with flavors of leather, tobacco, wood, coffee, herbs and cocoa powder. The tannins are moderate, mature and drying without being chewy. The acidity is moderate keeping structure. Mid palate density is moderate as well. In the maturity of its peak. Not a tired wine and food friendly
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4/15/2013 - bigredPA Likes this wine: 89 Points
Aromas and flavors of black cherry, currant, tea, as well as a green/veg aspect; smooth, with prominent tannin.
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10/19/2012 - bowmanbc wrote: 89 Points
give it a point higher bc it got good comments from those we shared with. really tasted much better after opening a bit. comes out pretty tight.
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8/30/2012 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep garnet color with lifted dark fruit, anise, and earthy aromas. On the palate it medium-full bodied and smooth with well integrated tannins, cassis, black cherry, and vanilla flavors. Long finish.
Bordeaux style blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot.
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6/3/2012 - TannicBeast wrote: 92 Points
This is an excellent Bordeaux-style blend at a fraction of the price. The color is medium plus to deep ruby, without any detectable signs of ageing, other than some sediment on the cork. The nose is clean, medium plus in intensity and developing complex aromas. Black fruit, vanilla, tobacco and pencil shavings. The palate is dry but lush, and consistent with the nose, with black cherry and black currant prevailing. The acidity, alcohol, tannins, body, flavor intensity and length are all medium plus. This is a very balanced, elegant blend. It is in its prime drinking window now, with food, but has the potential for improving with ageing another 2-3 years. The acidity and tannins will keep it going for quite a while. I bought this on sale a couple years ago, but would gladly pay full fare for a wine of this quality and value.
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4/2/2012 - nieuwoudt Likes this wine: 90 Points
much better than the last bottle we opened 18 months ago. still heavy tannins though despite 45 min of decanting. by the last glass, wine had mellowed with deep cherry finish.
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2/14/2012 - stocksandbondage wrote: 91 Points
Drinking beautifully. Throwing lots of sediment. Velvety mouthfeel. Jammy and ripe yet velvety and restrained.
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1/18/2012 - iwadasn wrote: 87 Points
Raisins and cranberries on opening. A bit heavy, needs some time to open up.
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12/30/2011 - stocksandbondage wrote: 92 Points
Wow, what another year or two has done for this wine. It really opened up and developed secondary nuances since the last bottle that I opened. Lovely, plum and black cherry notes with sweet tobacco and dark chocolate. Velvety tannins. Juicy and ripe. Lingering finish.
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12/17/2011 - ChipperDFW wrote: 88 Points
Still very strong tannins, otherwise good palate
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8/12/2011 - bowmanbc wrote: 88 Points
not too shabby. had at the winery a year ago and wasnt a fan. oak, tobacco box type smell with some fruit. tasted very nice.
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2/12/2011 - limule wrote:
Cadeau Monique et Serge
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12/25/2010 - slavpetrov wrote: 92 Points
Big, bold wine. Still young and slightly tannic but already drinking very nicely. Definitely new-world style. Enjoyed it quite a bit, but a little overpriced.
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3/8/2010 - jasonmalumed wrote: 88 Points
Really dark color. On the nose, definitely get some vanilla oak, slightly egg-noggy. Black cherry and currant, little tobacco as well. On the palate, very dusty tasting, like a windowsill, nice black currant, blackberry, blueberry. A little weak on the mid-palate and finish. Has some tannin left definitely, so you can still lay it down for a few more year, but pleasant to drink now.
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8/28/2009 - Wine Gent wrote: 92 Points
Tour - Napa / Sonoma 2009; 8/25/2009-8/29/2009 (Napa / Sonoma, CA): One of the better wines tasted at this winery. Bouquet earthy, blackberry. Taste a little dry, berries, chocolate middle and finish, sweet middle, pepper fish, moderate to long finish. Full body. Wife rated it much lower (85) and did not like it. Bordeaux Style blend. 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot. 20 months in French oak. $58 / bottle - over priced. Tasted at Ferrari-Carano winery on Napa / Sonoma trip. $15 for 4 tastings
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8/25/2009 - stocksandbondage wrote: 91 Points
Drinking really well. This wine has calmed down signficantly since release. The vanilla and toasted oak has become more integrated. This wine offers ripe cherry and raspberry falvors with a hint of mineral and sweet tobacco.
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9/20/2008 - mmurry wrote: 91 Points
The Customer is the Critic (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had black currant, boysenberry, and cherry. The palate had blackberry, raspberry, mocha, and vanilla.
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