Lovely floral aromas. Dark black fruit. Tannins still showing some grip but wonderfully integrated. Perfect acidity.dark fruit with a long finish. Lovely.
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A specter is haunting this glass - the specter of fruit. Really, this wine is on its last legs, but not oxidized like a previous bottle. Dark red with brown rim in glass, aroma of leather, red fruit, and old wooden ship. Some fruit sweetness, some spice, some acidity, and some alcoholic heat on palate. The oak is a bit much though - all bitter chocolate and espresso on finish. What remains is drinkable, but not particularly pleasant.
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To me: smells of dead weasel wrapped in gym socks dunked in soy sauce. Very little fruit. To rest of table: "this wine is great, what's wrong with you?" Color of an ancient cru bourgeois, yet only 13 years old.
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Q3 Tasting - Aged Cali (The Apt): Wine #10: Fairly funny since if this wasn't the youngest of the tasting it was quite close to it and yet I was convinced it was older than its brethren. So much so that that was about all I wrote about it in my notes. (7 pennies)
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Q3 - 2016 Tasting - Aged California Wines - Pre 2006 (New York, NY): #10 of 20 wines tasted double blind. Slight bricking in the color. On the palate this has dark fruits playing backup to tertiary characteristics of leather, graphite and earth. Nicely resolved tannins with a medium plus finish. Really in a sweet spot right now. My guess was Cab Sauv from 95-2000 based on the color and the maturity on the palate. This was a top 5 for me. For the group it came in 7th place with 7 pennies voted.
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Best of the 3 bottles I had by far. Big wine, drinking very young; showed black fruit and solid oak backbone. Smooth despite size, with some depth and a nice finish that brings you back for next sip.
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Black cherry, mocha, charred wood; initially classic, sweet, minty stags leap flavor profile but then rolled into more of green pepper and heavy oak profile.
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Classic Pine Ridge, this wine is very alive right now changing rapidly over the course of an hour in the glass. Started with soft tannins and earthy herbal notes (anise? mint/pine? sage?) then moving into sweeter black fruit (plum jam) with a bit of dust. The last sips were turning almost chocolatey. Drink now if you have it!
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Fruit has softened, very earthy now. A good wine now but nothing special. Suggest drinking soon if you have still have some, not going to get any better.
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Decanted about 90 minutes and drank over an hour or so. Great smokey, woody flavors and aromas. Dark fruit, plumb mostly. Quite mellow. Went well with grilled steak and grilled asparagus.
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Excellent wine. Sweet integrated tannins back up spiced dark cherry fruit. Velvety long, seductive finish with a hint of cocoa. A great example of what makes Pine Ridge a stand out Napa property. Drink up!
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This was still very, very young, but showed excellent promise with its classic mocha/mint notes, purity and precision, and solidity. No empty mid-palate or clipped finish here.
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Subdued nose. Very soft palate with modest black currants and light backing of eucalyptus. Rounded tannins on finish. Fruit has become less distinctive than when tasted in 08. I'm thinking jspostles is right on past peak.
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Opened an hour prior to consumption. Initially was worried - a lot of barnyard funk and a very odd taste (upon opening). Even took a second bottle (something else) to the restaurant in case the Pink Ridge didn't work out. Once at the restaurant, it became a very different wine - much like I remember and so much better. Dark, lush fruit, hint of sweetness. Beautiful. If scoring 90-91.
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Really disappointing! Had a musty barnyard odor that was a bit over the top. Suspect this wine may be tainted. Beyond the taint the wine has no strong redeeming quality. Has some nice fruit and a bit of structure, but not enough to warrant this price. I would pass on this one!
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Very good, silky smooth, ready to drink right upon opening. medium-bodied, great balance, long finish. No hurry, but you might start to see the fruit fade a bit if you wait too long
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Dark, deep red. Very tannic and astringent. Saved for 2 days, hoping it would improve. No luck. Worse than barnyard, so doubt just a bad bottle, though possible since I have not tasted this previously to compare. Tastes like cigar butt - undrinkable.
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This bottle still has more years left if you want to hold longer, but is drinking very well right now. Hints of cherry vanilla mixed with tobacco leaves on the nose, and the cherry holds its own in the mouth with dark chocolate and a mix of berries. Fruitier and sweeter than most Cabs I love, but overly sweet in no way. The hint of sweetness gives it an identity all its own. I truly enjoyed the wine, and it never hurts to enjoy with friends.
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Deep, dark color. Others thought it was okay, but I found the saddle nose overpowering and likely Brett induced. I don't mind a bit of a barnyard smell, but this was so overwhelming it became a big distraction. There's a possibility this was a bottle flaw (which is why I'm giving it a 75 instead of a 60) because the last bottle was fine (but also tasted a year ago). Medium body, short finish.
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Straight out of the bottle, it was very tight with a fruity finish. Lots of what tasted like menthol through the middle. Ran it once through the Vinturi and it opened up nicely. Much more mellow with a smooth long finish. Much fruitier than the 06. Some spice on the finish. Yum!
As the night progressed and the bottle got to breathe more, it continued to open up beautifully with more fruit. Lovely cab.
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quite pleasing! Celebrated this beauty w/ thick lamb chops from the grill - perfectly paired with this cassis laden, smoky, tobacco tinted, big, licorice & cherry buttressed cab. Luckily, I have several more bottles in the cellar! Let it breathe for at least 1 hour to allow it to undress and open up; it's one sexy bottle!
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Nose of black fruit and spice. More spicy black fruit on the palate with additional hints of coffee and herbs. Smooth and satisfying finish. Holding up well.
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Rich in color with strong aromatics pushing spicy ripe berries, mocha, black olives and earth. Full body, round with mellow tannins, chewy. Layers and layers of currant, earth, ripe berries and sage. A concentrated wine with outstanding attributes.
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Solid Napa cab...Stag's Leap district 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 5% Merlot. Parker was more enthused than WS (JL); sorry but no way this wine should have received a score of 82.
Surprised it doesn't have more merlot...very round mouthfeel, deep red fruits up front, nice nose. Has seen lots of new oak, and tannins will carry it forward. This needs some bottle time
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Crown Fall 08 Upscale Tasting (Boca Raton, FL): Richer fruit than some previous Pine Ridge wines I have had, with some light acidity and smooth tannins that balance well. I find this has a little more intensity than some of the more restrained offerings in the past.
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Cassis, plum, and strawberry on the nose and mouth, with light mocha/chocolate notes on the finish. Classic Stag's Leap structure; velvety tannins covering a strong wine.
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Decanted one hour at a local restaurant paired with shrimp and filet. The nose was solid with leather, black currant, and black rasberry. The palate is generous with the fruit flavors but not over ripe. It's an elegant drinking quafer with a medium body, good complexity and soft tannins. The black fruit is nice but the complex smoke and tobacco in the secondary palate intrique. The finish is lacking and a bit on the short side but it does not detract from the palate.
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11/17/2023 - Tym4wine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely floral aromas. Dark black fruit. Tannins still showing some grip but wonderfully integrated. Perfect acidity.dark fruit with a long finish. Lovely.
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12/16/2021 - Michael_D Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still drinking well. No hurry to drink the remaining 05's in the cellar. Solid CabSav.
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1/22/2021 - MateusPetrus Does not like this wine:
Undrinkable, not corked or vinegar, just years past its prime.
This was a gift, so no idea how it had been cellared.
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11/8/2020 - doug374 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep red, drinking very well expresses rich fruit almost merlot like.
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1/4/2020 - colorflavorlocking wrote: 80 Points
A specter is haunting this glass - the specter of fruit. Really, this wine is on its last legs, but not oxidized like a previous bottle. Dark red with brown rim in glass, aroma of leather, red fruit, and old wooden ship. Some fruit sweetness, some spice, some acidity, and some alcoholic heat on palate. The oak is a bit much though - all bitter chocolate and espresso on finish. What remains is drinkable, but not particularly pleasant.
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12/25/2018 - colorflavorlocking Does not like this wine: 60 Points
To me: smells of dead weasel wrapped in gym socks dunked in soy sauce. Very little fruit. To rest of table: "this wine is great, what's wrong with you?" Color of an ancient cru bourgeois, yet only 13 years old.
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8/16/2018 - Smiths22 wrote: 92 Points
At the end of its window but smooth, rich and lovely!
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3/12/2017 - JC Cab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking beautifully. Silky smooth.
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9/10/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Q3 Tasting - Aged Cali (The Apt): Wine #10: Fairly funny since if this wasn't the youngest of the tasting it was quite close to it and yet I was convinced it was older than its brethren. So much so that that was about all I wrote about it in my notes. (7 pennies)
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9/10/2016 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Q3 - 2016 Tasting - Aged California Wines - Pre 2006 (New York, NY): #10 of 20 wines tasted double blind. Slight bricking in the color. On the palate this has dark fruits playing backup to tertiary characteristics of leather, graphite and earth. Nicely resolved tannins with a medium plus finish. Really in a sweet spot right now. My guess was Cab Sauv from 95-2000 based on the color and the maturity on the palate. This was a top 5 for me. For the group it came in 7th place with 7 pennies voted.
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7/24/2016 - winejnky wrote: 90 Points
Best of the 3 bottles I had by far. Big wine, drinking very young; showed black fruit and solid oak backbone. Smooth despite size, with some depth and a nice finish that brings you back for next sip.
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5/20/2016 - winejnky wrote: 89 Points
Black cherry, mocha, charred wood; initially classic, sweet, minty stags leap flavor profile but then rolled into more of green pepper and heavy oak profile.
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11/19/2015 - alohamahalo wrote:
Classic Pine Ridge, this wine is very alive right now changing rapidly over the course of an hour in the glass. Started with soft tannins and earthy herbal notes (anise? mint/pine? sage?) then moving into sweeter black fruit (plum jam) with a bit of dust. The last sips were turning almost chocolatey. Drink now if you have it!
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6/17/2015 - FLI Likes this wine: 88 Points
Fruit has gotten muted, tannins resolved. A touch of alcohol burn.
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6/10/2015 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Fruit has softened, very earthy now. A good wine now but nothing special. Suggest drinking soon if you have still have some, not going to get any better.
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5/2/2015 - stevegpg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted about 90 minutes and drank over an hour or so. Great smokey, woody flavors and aromas. Dark fruit, plumb mostly. Quite mellow. Went well with grilled steak and grilled asparagus.
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5/1/2015 - JC Cab wrote: 93 Points
Excellent wine. Sweet integrated tannins back up spiced dark cherry fruit. Velvety long, seductive finish with a hint of cocoa. A great example of what makes Pine Ridge a stand out Napa property. Drink up!
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6/18/2014 - pugblanc wrote: 91 Points
One of the best stag leap opens for me. Tanins just right. Nice balance. Good cab noise. Dark fruits. Sage. Slight earthiness.
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6/16/2014 - pugblanc wrote: 88 Points
Raspberry and cherry. Dark berry on the noise. Getting earthy. Velvet chocolate cake.
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5/26/2014 - pugblanc wrote: 90 Points
Earthy and mushroom. Dark cherry and plum. Slight hint of chocolate. Tannins gone. Still aome acid.
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12/31/2013 - JonGray Likes this wine: 89 Points
took an hour to open up - and the dusty dark grapes started to brighten. A very well balanced - not too much fruit blend - wine
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9/29/2012 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Mature and drinking very well right now.
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9/9/2012 - yofog wrote: 92 Points
This was still very, very young, but showed excellent promise with its classic mocha/mint notes, purity and precision, and solidity. No empty mid-palate or clipped finish here.
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2/14/2012 - Black Mikan wrote: 88 Points
Subdued nose. Very soft palate with modest black currants and light backing of eucalyptus. Rounded tannins on finish. Fruit has become less distinctive than when tasted in 08. I'm thinking jspostles is right on past peak.
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2/3/2012 - dontime wrote:
Opened an hour prior to consumption. Initially was worried - a lot of barnyard funk and a very odd taste (upon opening). Even took a second bottle (something else) to the restaurant in case the Pink Ridge didn't work out. Once at the restaurant, it became a very different wine - much like I remember and so much better. Dark, lush fruit, hint of sweetness. Beautiful. If scoring 90-91.
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1/12/2012 - Maddylu wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours and improved over the next two hours. A powerful wine with long finish. No fruit bomb here.
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11/13/2011 - semichee Likes this wine: 92 Points
Love this cab! It's super smooth with a nice fruit.
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10/29/2011 - eSchrag wrote: 80 Points
Really disappointing! Had a musty barnyard odor that was a bit over the top. Suspect this wine may be tainted. Beyond the taint the wine has no strong redeeming quality. Has some nice fruit and a bit of structure, but not enough to warrant this price. I would pass on this one!
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10/21/2011 - blaine wrote: 90 Points
Very good, silky smooth, ready to drink right upon opening. medium-bodied, great balance, long finish. No hurry, but you might start to see the fruit fade a bit if you wait too long
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9/17/2011 - WI WineLover wrote: 88 Points
Not as good as I remember. Is it past its prime?
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9/5/2011 - djump wrote: 90 Points
Smooth silky taste and earthy odor
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9/5/2011 - fudp wrote: 90 Points
Lovely structure and balance
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2/16/2011 - meatbomb013 wrote: 90 Points
Nice Stag's Leap Cabernet with good fruit backbone, structure and fine tannins.
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2/7/2011 - KeithSurg wrote: 68 Points
Dark, deep red. Very tannic and astringent. Saved for 2 days, hoping it would improve. No luck. Worse than barnyard, so doubt just a bad bottle, though possible since I have not tasted this previously to compare. Tastes like cigar butt - undrinkable.
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12/23/2010 - WI WineLover wrote: 80 Points
Surprisingly marginal...Last bottle was good, but this one is off.
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12/20/2010 - trautsnr wrote: 90 Points
This bottle still has more years left if you want to hold longer, but is drinking very well right now. Hints of cherry vanilla mixed with tobacco leaves on the nose, and the cherry holds its own in the mouth with dark chocolate and a mix of berries. Fruitier and sweeter than most Cabs I love, but overly sweet in no way. The hint of sweetness gives it an identity all its own. I truly enjoyed the wine, and it never hurts to enjoy with friends.
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11/27/2010 - dontime wrote: 91 Points
Similar notes as previous bottle. Just continues to get better.
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11/26/2010 - subir wrote: 75 Points
Deep, dark color. Others thought it was okay, but I found the saddle nose overpowering and likely Brett induced. I don't mind a bit of a barnyard smell, but this was so overwhelming it became a big distraction. There's a possibility this was a bottle flaw (which is why I'm giving it a 75 instead of a 60) because the last bottle was fine (but also tasted a year ago). Medium body, short finish.
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11/24/2010 - semichee Likes this wine: 90 Points
Straight out of the bottle, it was very tight with a fruity finish. Lots of what tasted like menthol through the middle. Ran it once through the Vinturi and it opened up nicely. Much more mellow with a smooth long finish. Much fruitier than the 06. Some spice on the finish. Yum!
As the night progressed and the bottle got to breathe more, it continued to open up beautifully with more fruit. Lovely cab.
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8/21/2010 - mcnfarmer wrote: 88 Points
quite pleasing! Celebrated this beauty w/ thick lamb chops from the grill - perfectly paired with this cassis laden, smoky, tobacco tinted, big, licorice & cherry buttressed cab. Luckily, I have several more bottles in the cellar! Let it breathe for at least 1 hour to allow it to undress and open up; it's one sexy bottle!
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7/5/2010 - dontime wrote: 91 Points
Nose of black fruit and spice. More spicy black fruit on the palate with additional hints of coffee and herbs. Smooth and satisfying finish. Holding up well.
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5/13/2010 - GreatLibations wrote: 92 Points
Rich in color with strong aromatics pushing spicy ripe berries, mocha, black olives and earth. Full body, round with mellow tannins, chewy. Layers and layers of currant, earth, ripe berries and sage. A concentrated wine with outstanding attributes.
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5/8/2010 - semichee wrote: 90 Points
Solid fruit with a nice nose. Low tannins. Lingering finish.
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4/29/2010 - Surfdoc wrote: 88 Points
Straightforward cassis flavor but felt a bit thin on the palate. Soft tannins and med finish.
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2/27/2010 - 907grapenut wrote: 89 Points
Very nice nose. Tannins and dryness on the finish.
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12/29/2009 - DTWOB wrote: 91 Points
Expected more.
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8/31/2009 - dontime wrote: 88 Points
Decanted. Smokey with lots of dark fruit. Nice mouth feel. Tannins on the finish.
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8/9/2009 - soyhead wrote: 90 Points
nose - tar, violets
mouth - tannic and tight. rich dark fruit hidden deep inside. Very good potential but needs a long time in the cellar.
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7/27/2009 - snaff wrote: 91 Points
Smoky / leathery nose. Plenty of black cherry and cassis with a rich lingering finish.
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6/19/2009 - 1800kidney wrote: 90 Points
Solid Napa cab...Stag's Leap district 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 5% Merlot. Parker was more enthused than WS (JL); sorry but no way this wine should have received a score of 82.
Surprised it doesn't have more merlot...very round mouthfeel, deep red fruits up front, nice nose. Has seen lots of new oak, and tannins will carry it forward. This needs some bottle time
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3/14/2009 - gdykema wrote: 90 Points
Toast, chocolate, and vanilla. Pleasing tannins, but not sure about the aging potential. Tasted at the winery.
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2/14/2009 - JJG1961 wrote: 91 Points
Chocolate, tobacco and lots of deep dark fruit taste. Very enjoyable, with mild tannins.
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12/26/2008 - Black Mikan wrote: 90 Points
Nose: Tobacco, red fruit Mouth: Cherry, red fruit with cherry finish, seed tannins. No typical black currant, eucalyptus or mint.
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11/8/2008 - vinole wrote: 91 Points
Crown Fall 08 Upscale Tasting (Boca Raton, FL): Richer fruit than some previous Pine Ridge wines I have had, with some light acidity and smooth tannins that balance well. I find this has a little more intensity than some of the more restrained offerings in the past.
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11/8/2008 - soyhead wrote: 91 Points
Nose - olive, tobacco, black tea. Mouth -chocolate, tobacco, dark fruit, chewy tannins. Needs to settle down a bit.
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10/20/2008 - erikes wrote: 75 Points
Pretty acidic without the tannins to help it further along. Finish just falls off.
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10/8/2008 - THaas wrote: 90 Points
Cassis, plum, and strawberry on the nose and mouth, with light mocha/chocolate notes on the finish. Classic Stag's Leap structure; velvety tannins covering a strong wine.
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9/23/2008 - beezer6 wrote: 90 Points
Southern Wine and Spirits Fall Fest (Navy Pier - Chicago, IL): Tasted at the 2008 Southern Wine and Spirits Fall Fest at Navy Pier.
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7/19/2008 - chateaumiller wrote: 88 Points
EXCELLENT
Decanted one hour at a local restaurant paired with shrimp and filet.
The nose was solid with leather, black currant, and black rasberry. The palate is generous with the fruit flavors but not over ripe. It's an elegant drinking quafer with a medium body, good complexity and soft tannins. The black fruit is nice but the complex smoke and tobacco in the secondary palate intrique. The finish is lacking and a bit on the short side but it does not detract from the palate.
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7/5/2008 - rds5 wrote: 95 Points
A beautiful wine. A surpisingly very fragrant and fruitful nose. Full-bodied, but soft tannins. More than we expected.
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