Last bottle of the 3. Now at 20 years. Smooothed out. This is what a solid valued 20 year old Cali Cab should be. Easy drinking with a lot of complexity, but not showing any signs of old age.
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In a Christmas Eve cab lineup which included 2012 VHR, 2016 Carter The O.G. and 2018 Memento Mori Dr. Crane. All these wines were so different but each amazing in their own way -- all required 2-8 hours of double decanting to reach their max potential on this night. This has aged really well as this was bottle 14 of my 15 bottles I've drank of this wine since its initial release. This 2004 was initially a flavor bomb (like Carter The O.G.) but has become more refined with age. This bottle was a bit flabby upon opening but with 2 hours of air (in a smaller narrow decanter) its fine tannin and some acidity stepped forward to support the "juicy" fruit and layers of flavor and elevate the finish. I'd drink up if you have them because I'm worried whether how much longer the tannins and acidity will survive.
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Could not agree more with the previous comment. I have documented this wine (2004 Vintage) over the years and it is a different wine now. From what was once a fruit bomb, in a very special way, has matured into a beautifully structured wine. I had one a couple of years ago and it seemed as if it had peaked but not this one. It was incredible. I have followed this winery over the years and I still feel this is the absolute best they have ever produced. Celia knocked this vintage out of the park. Rocca Family makes great wines, but this one is just special!
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Its aging so well. It is so smooth, balanced and nuanced now. Some of the in-your-face flavors are still there but dialed back to be in concert with everything else going on in this wine. Just beautiful.
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This drank very well with minimal decanting. Waves of flavors and nice complexity. Chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, black cherry, cassis all glide over the palate. Only distraction was the excessive alcohol on the finish. Nice viscous mouthfeel but not heavy. Drink up.
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This one was singing tonight. Preferred it slightly chilled from room temperature as the alcohol pokes through and seems slightly stewed when too warm. Lots of waves of flavor as you drink this. Nice viscous mouthfeel but not heavy. Very fine tannins are completely integrated. I'd drink sooner than later.
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Had some bottle variation with my auction purchase of this wine but this was a good one! At 15 years old it's still rich with a vast array of flavors and layers. I do prefer this wine with a slight chill as it maximizes its balance. Also find it peaks within the first hour.
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This is an outstanding Cab. Deep red color, full bodied, rich complex fruit, subtle tannins, smooth and delicious. No deterioration from aging. Wish I had more.
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Really drinking well but suffered a little up against a 2014 Tor BTK cab. Lots of cassis and and darker fruits in a mouth coating wine. Missing some acidity to bring more brightness. Fairly complex with some earthiness, vanilla, cedar and spice. Smooth finish.
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I took a flier on this one at a good price and it was a good move. Still nice but it's peaking and probably a bit past it zenith, but still shows pretty well. Nice dark color with no bricking at all, revealing mildly sweet, ripe fruit a purple reddish ruby color and on the palate dark berry fruit and black currant, tobacco and light oak. 91.6 points.
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My last and still an amazing bottle of wine. As good as much more expensive NAPA cult wines. Still Rich, crazy complex and great tannins to back it all up. Looong finish. Decades of life left. I'll buy anyone's bottles they care to part with!
Started nicely, but after about an hour in the glass, this was pretty special, loaded with red fruit and black currant and cigar box spices. The next three hours were just as nice. Powerful aromas and flavors, still possessing fine tannins providing structure, and with a finish that won't quit.
Looking back at previous tasting notes, it appears I was wrong about its aging potential. This is probably at peak now, and probably has at least five years left. Definitely a case of "the last bottle is the best."
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I have been a huge fan of Rocca Family wines. I had documented this 2004 vintage on several occasions as the one I think is the best to date. However, the last two bottles I have had are starting to fade a bit. Still fabulous but drink them now.
Wow, just a lot of pleasure here. I'm not drawn to analyze all the components alive in my mouth right now, just want to sit back and let it wash over me. 93-94.
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Just as fresh as when I first tasted this beauty six years ago, and with added complexity. The flavors just keep on coming: chocolate, tobacco, barbecue sauce, cherry, apricots, papaya, tropical fruits. It's like an everlasting gobstopper! I am a huge fan of this wine.
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TN after this has been open for 24 hours, recorked overnight. 14.5% ABV
Very smooth, sweet tannins and body, and seemed very fruit forward for an almost 10 year old wine. Classic youthful Cab aromas and flavors, showing ripe, jammy blackberry and blueberry, vanilla, plum, hints of graphite, cassis.
Really good stuff, and drinking well now. The aromas and flavors really seem so youthful still, didn't notice any of the secondary or tertiary notes that develop with age. Not sure if it has the tannic backbone and structure left for another 10 years though.
Another 9 months past, and my last bottle of the 04. I'm really going to miss it. Still as good as ever. Absolutely my favorite vintage. Still the most fruit driven vintage, but I still maintain it is the most balanced. It just works. Thanks Mary and Celia!
Popped and poured 30 min later. Beautiful deep purple-crimson color. Lots of strawberries, cherries, red fruit on the nose. Full bodied, but soft around the edges with finesse - balanced. Tannins are fine, but its structure is beginning to yield to a bit of maturity. Medium length.
This has really come around since I last had it--in a good way. The tannins have melted, and there's a lovely blend of black cherry-meets-vanilla on the palate (ya still gotta like the oak, though :). Definitely new-world & not a lot of secondary complexity, but undeniably delicious.
In many ways, it's unlike any other California Cab I've ever tasted. If you want the typical oak, black and red fruit, tannic middle aged cab, this is definitely not for you. If you want something with funk and earth and veggies, this is not it. If you want a fruit bomb in the way that many New World wines have styled themselves, this actually is NOT it.
It manages to ride the fine line of fruit bomb and BALANCE, making this an absolute JOY to drink (depending not only on your taste, but on your mood!). Lots of strawberries, cherries, raspberries, and red fruit, mixed with the feint sweetness of really ripe tropical fruit (not the citrusy kind, but the really sweet, ripe fruit that you wish all fruit we get from the supermarket tasted like -- kind of like when you finally taste what ripe papaya is ACTUALLY supposed to taste like). Your empty glass will smell like fresh figs and cocoa. And while it's sweet to the taste, it's not TOO sweet like many other fruit bombs can find themselves to be. It's like you can taste the FLAVOR of a sweet, ripe fruit as opposed to tasting the sweetness from the fruit... does that make sense? (i.e. A great, perfectly ripe strawberry is not just a sweet version of an unripe strawberry -- it actually tastes entirely different.)
It's certainly not for everyone. But for those who tend to shy away from (stereo)typical fruit bombs because they are too sweet and unbalanced, this is perhaps the one wine I would say "take a chance with this one" because it's totally worth it. I tend to lean toward less New World wine and more Old World, but whenever I feel like having something that is fruity and unique, I drink this.
However, I will agree that I think you should drink it now. It's calmed down and the tannins have integrated. The wine is EXTREMELY SMOOTH. I don't think this is a wine that will become more enjoyable than it already is. If anything, its relative youth actually lends itself very well to its character. So drink it now.
I might rate it higher, but it's honestly just not in the same "league" as many other wonderfully built / made wines. However, once in a while, it's a spectacular departure from my normal tastes.
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Did not disappoint. Good both days. Nice complexity to this. Balanced with some cranberry and orange notes to the fruit. Earth undertones. Not as velvety or dense in body as past bottles.
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Drank really well over two days. Initially some oak and plush red and blue fruit, but there was nice herbal note balancing out the fruit and enough acidity. Good depth on the palate. Very nice concentration. Good balance. The tannins are fine, although this probably is not a long term wine. This was confirmed by the next day, when we drank the remainder of the bottle. Smooth with secondary development, btu the tannins had fully integrated. Terrific drink it now Cab while you let some of the burly heavy hitters gain some age.
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P&P at rays the steaks. Blue and dark fruit nose, cassis, plum, coffee, its very deep. Candied fruits on the palate, but its not flabby nor is it overly sweet. A touch of oak, but it's integrated. Some cotton candy on the finish. Seems a little hot? A little akward perhaps? Either way, it's definitly a nice wine, but doesn't get to that classic level.
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An extraordinary Napa Cabernet made in a modern, fruit-forward style. Complex, deep, and rich aromas and flavors. Full bodied, but soft around the edges with finesse. Its structure is beginning to yield to a bit of maturity. Best modern styled Cabernet I've had in several months.
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Lost all its tannic structure. Just a fruit bomb now. If this is how this wine ages, well, drink now. Don't understand these other ratings. As I have more, hoping this was a bad bottle.
Popped and poured. Refined, not bombastic, nose. Good acid, firm tannin. Pleasant, approachable, drinking now. Hints of complexities to come: alas, we finished the bottle before we could determine whether this was great potential or over-hype.
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Better than I remember it from last drinking. Nicely complex, very earthy and a smooth and subtle finish. Classic in California Cabernet tradition and as I understand it the land borders on that of Screaming Eagle.
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Blind Red Throw Down! (Our House (2033 Brandywine St., Philadelphia)): Could this have been a slightly off bottle? I do not think so. Tasted blind right after 04 Caymus. I included this bottle so it was single blind as opposed to double blind. Dense opaque color. Good fruit and pepper, but a bit of heat. Syrah like profile? Went back and forth between Bordeaux and Syrah. Burnt wood, smoked meat with chocolate and raspberries. Nice tannic structure. Some heat on mid-palate and it interferes with finish. This was confounding. When revealed to be the 04 Rocca, I was mildly disappointed. It came right after the Caymus and I would have expected a somewhat similar profile. This was all over the map and disjointed. Will give the remaining bottles some more time to hopefully come together, because the potential is there.
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Blind Reds (Roberts House): tasted blind. black pepper, plum, and spice. very fruity, with red cherry, raspberry, and clove notes. medium finish. my guess: $30-$40 Australian Shiraz. This did not seem varietally correct to me and was a bit of a disappointment at reveal, but still a nice wine.
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Made by cult wine mistress, Celia Masyczek, this wine boasts an explosion of violets, blackberries, blueberries, white chocolate, and mocha buttercream on the nose. The palate exhibits dense notes of chocolate covered toffee (think Skor bars), ripe plums, boysenberries, chambord, and black cherries. As hedonistic as this wine is, with its lush and concentrated fruit, it's totally in balance and crazy good. 93-94 points.
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Let me preface by writing that Rocca's Syrah was one of the best of that varietal I've had in the past five years. We decanted their 2004 Cabernet for two hours and immediately noticed a lot of heat from the American oak. The cork was in perfect condition. The wine had a gorgeous garnet color and legs on the glass that informed this was going to be big. On the palate pleasant dark cherries gave way to unnervingly small doses of coffee and bittersweet chocolate. No secondary mid-palate dimensions, mocha, nor chocolate notes to speak of. The finish was extremely hot in the esophagus, short, and astringent. After two hours it opened up into a sweet one-dimensional plum wine. The most disappointing aspect for me was the light, as opposed to lush mouthfeel experienced by other CellarTrackers as well as Gary V. I was hoping for the ultimate QPR/Napa Cabernet and so I was expecting much more... this one was surprisingly disappointing.
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Popped and poured and drank over two nights. Medium to dark garnet color, very inviting nose of dark cherry, black fruit and cocoa. The fruit-forward entry is soft with a definite chocolate note on the mid-palate, partially integrated tannins and a seamless finish. I could have used a touch more acid, but this is a well-made wine that is a short term cellar candidate.
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I keep on drinking and it's just consistently good. Wonderful up front blueberry blackberry and even a hint of cherry. Goos structure and balance with a reasonable but long finish. Beautiful and drinking very well now.
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Election night. This was the best Cabernet at the party. Had the 2004 Rocca , 2002 Arcturus Astrale Terra, 2003 Solabal Rioja Reseva. Nice nose with lots of chocolate. Nice balance. Just tasty stuff. Well priced in the $50's. overpriced in the $70's which is what I paid for it. The Arcturus was surprisingly similar to the Rocca albeit a little dryer but for $27 is a great value. Bought the Rocca for $75 locally which is too high to repurchase. I'm going back to get several more of the 2002 Arcturus though. The Solabal Reserva was also a great Rioja to seek out. Great concentration and beautiful pencil shaving aromas and very balanced. A great value even for Rioja at $24.
I love Chocolate and this has lots of sexy chocolate tones to it. Need to sit down with it next time and study without all the crowd noises of an election party.92Pts
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Not your typical cab but everyone loved drinking it. Tannins and acid hidden behind a dense, layered, velvety fruit on the palate. One of the more interesting cabs I've ever tasted. Not sure how it will age.
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Delicious. Decanted half an hour and drank over two hours. Lots of chocolate, and plenty of black cherry, currant, marachino cherry, and frangrances of orange peel on the nose, something green in between bell pepper and herb but not quite either... Tasty in the mouth but relatively primary. The tannins are soft and submerged, but the wine still has structure. This is hedonistic, and somewhat confectionery. Much more purely cabernet in profile than my previous note.
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Really good--cherry compote for days. Gorgeous, complex long finish. Noticeable oak. Tannins were a bit rough for half of us, though. One comment was "This is more of a winter wine to sip in front of a fireplace." Odd, considering the reviews here (though we popped and poured--maybe that's what it was). Don't know if it's quite the best QPR out there, but I really dug it.
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This was a very interesting wine. Light to medium ruby in color. Medium bodied (relatively light bodied in comparison to typical CA cabs these days. Somewhat restrained nose, but it gives pure milk chocolate, but also lighter notes of dried apricot, both of which repeat in the mouth, along with elegant and pure, pure, pure flavors red currant, strawberry, raspberry syrup, finishing with delicate, spicy notes on the herbal side. In fact, this struck me as an remarkably beautiful grenache, and I had trouble recognizing it as a cabernet sauvignon. The tannins seemed almost nonexistent, making this an extremely easy-drinking wine, but it was structured well enough. I wouldn't age it much, though. If typicity counts (and it does, in my book), I can't give this more than a 91, even though one could rightly argue that in pure drinking pleasure, it deserves higher...
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Serious plum and dark berries on the nose. In fact, I found the nose just a bit awkward at first. As for the wine, it was delicious. Dark with alot of ripe fruit but not over the top. Low acidity and very well balanced. Drank with pizza and it was great. Would probably be more suited for steak. Enjoy!
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Decanted for 4 hours. Classic nose, cassis, plum, some vanilla. A LOT of oak throughout the palate, a little bothersome. There is some very good fruit, notably blackberry and blueberry, this masks the oak a bit but I fear this will only get worse when the fruit starts to die off. The tannins are soft and the acidity low, so I don't think it will age past 10 years. I had high hopes for this wine.
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Drank after Carter 05 so this was difficult for me to be objective but this did not disappoint. Blackberry and mocha nose with those same flavors with chocolate coming through on the palate. Wine is fat and sweet but not over the top. Firm acidity and tannins but ultra smooth.
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Family Winemakers of California (Pasadena, CA): Beautiful aromas introduce a luscious core of plum jam, cherry liqueur, cassis, and dark chocolate. Like drinking Godiva chocolate truffles. --PL
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1/27/2024 - jrobs7777 wrote:
Last bottle of the 3. Now at 20 years. Smooothed out. This is what a solid valued 20 year old Cali Cab should be. Easy drinking with a lot of complexity, but not showing any signs of old age.
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12/26/2023 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 94 Points
In a Christmas Eve cab lineup which included 2012 VHR, 2016 Carter The O.G. and 2018 Memento Mori Dr. Crane. All these wines were so different but each amazing in their own way -- all required 2-8 hours of double decanting to reach their max potential on this night.
This has aged really well as this was bottle 14 of my 15 bottles I've drank of this wine since its initial release. This 2004 was initially a flavor bomb (like Carter The O.G.) but has become more refined with age. This bottle was a bit flabby upon opening but with 2 hours of air (in a smaller narrow decanter) its fine tannin and some acidity stepped forward to support the "juicy" fruit and layers of flavor and elevate the finish. I'd drink up if you have them because I'm worried whether how much longer the tannins and acidity will survive.
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2/22/2022 - RJurman Likes this wine: 93 Points
Could not agree more with the previous comment. I have documented this wine (2004 Vintage) over the years and it is a different wine now. From what was once a fruit bomb, in a very special way, has matured into a beautifully structured wine. I had one a couple of years ago and it seemed as if it had peaked but not this one. It was incredible. I have followed this winery over the years and I still feel this is the absolute best they have ever produced. Celia knocked this vintage out of the park.
Rocca Family makes great wines, but this one is just special!
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11/28/2021 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 94 Points
Its aging so well. It is so smooth, balanced and nuanced now. Some of the in-your-face flavors are still there but dialed back to be in concert with everything else going on in this wine. Just beautiful.
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10/24/2021 - norsktorsk wrote: 95 Points
awesome wine.
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9/22/2020 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 93 Points
This drank very well with minimal decanting. Waves of flavors and nice complexity. Chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, black cherry, cassis all glide over the palate. Only distraction was the excessive alcohol on the finish. Nice viscous mouthfeel but not heavy. Drink up.
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12/26/2019 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 93 Points
This one was singing tonight. Preferred it slightly chilled from room temperature as the alcohol pokes through and seems slightly stewed when too warm. Lots of waves of flavor as you drink this. Nice viscous mouthfeel but not heavy. Very fine tannins are completely integrated. I'd drink sooner than later.
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9/4/2019 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had some bottle variation with my auction purchase of this wine but this was a good one! At 15 years old it's still rich with a vast array of flavors and layers. I do prefer this wine with a slight chill as it maximizes its balance. Also find it peaks within the first hour.
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6/8/2019 - jeginmt Likes this wine: 96 Points
This is an outstanding Cab. Deep red color, full bodied, rich complex fruit, subtle tannins, smooth and delicious. No deterioration from aging. Wish I had more.
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12/30/2018 - iamandyc Likes this wine:
No detailed notes. Lots of flavor and bright aromatics. Seemed ready as PnP
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9/6/2018 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really drinking well but suffered a little up against a 2014 Tor BTK cab. Lots of cassis and and darker fruits in a mouth coating wine. Missing some acidity to bring more brightness. Fairly complex with some earthiness, vanilla, cedar and spice. Smooth finish.
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6/2/2018 - Yack Man wrote: 92 Points
I took a flier on this one at a good price and it was a good move. Still nice but it's peaking and probably a bit past it zenith, but still shows pretty well. Nice dark color with no bricking at all, revealing mildly sweet, ripe fruit a purple reddish ruby color and on the palate dark berry fruit and black currant, tobacco and light oak. 91.6 points.
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12/23/2017 - iamandyc Likes this wine:
Sadly opened by company at a party - but at least there was an ounce left in the bottle for me to taste.
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4/5/2017 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 95 Points
My last and still an amazing bottle of wine. As good as much more expensive NAPA cult wines. Still Rich, crazy complex and great tannins to back it all up. Looong finish. Decades of life left. I'll buy anyone's bottles they care to part with!
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6/15/2015 - pgm Likes this wine: 94 Points
Started nicely, but after about an hour in the glass, this was pretty special, loaded with red fruit and black currant and cigar box spices. The next three hours were just as nice. Powerful aromas and flavors, still possessing fine tannins providing structure, and with a finish that won't quit.
Looking back at previous tasting notes, it appears I was wrong about its aging potential. This is probably at peak now, and probably has at least five years left. Definitely a case of "the last bottle is the best."
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2/13/2015 - RJurman Likes this wine: 90 Points
I have been a huge fan of Rocca Family wines. I had documented this 2004 vintage on several occasions as the one I think is the best to date. However, the last two bottles I have had are starting to fade a bit. Still fabulous but drink them now.
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5/23/2014 - MOCGator wrote: 96 Points
Just drinking wonderfully. Great balance. A Celia gem.
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3/12/2014 - TGLeroy wrote: 93 Points
Wow, just a lot of pleasure here. I'm not drawn to analyze all the components alive in my mouth right now, just want to sit back and let it wash over me. 93-94.
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3/7/2014 - RJurman Likes this wine: 94 Points
Can't help myself. This wine, and this vintage just makes me smile. Every time! Mama, I'm home... Perfect!
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10/20/2013 - Pipcelot Likes this wine: 95 Points
Just as fresh as when I first tasted this beauty six years ago, and with added complexity. The flavors just keep on coming: chocolate, tobacco, barbecue sauce, cherry, apricots, papaya, tropical fruits. It's like an everlasting gobstopper! I am a huge fan of this wine.
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10/7/2013 - wineberg Likes this wine: 92 Points
TN after this has been open for 24 hours, recorked overnight. 14.5% ABV
Very smooth, sweet tannins and body, and seemed very fruit forward for an almost 10 year old wine. Classic youthful Cab aromas and flavors, showing ripe, jammy blackberry and blueberry, vanilla, plum, hints of graphite, cassis.
Really good stuff, and drinking well now. The aromas and flavors really seem so youthful still, didn't notice any of the secondary or tertiary notes that develop with age. Not sure if it has the tannic backbone and structure left for another 10 years though.
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9/10/2013 - RJurman Likes this wine: 94 Points
Another 9 months past, and my last bottle of the 04. I'm really going to miss it. Still as good as ever. Absolutely my favorite vintage. Still the most fruit driven vintage, but I still maintain it is the most balanced. It just works. Thanks Mary and Celia!
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12/26/2012 - RJurman Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic! As good if not better than ever. This vintage is the absolute best vintage to date. Try it, if you can find it.
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11/22/2012 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 93 Points
This was spectacular, no formal notes taken.
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7/8/2012 - iamandyc wrote: 93 Points
Another great bottle. Smooth, deep and balanced right out of the bottle. Agree with all the recent comments. Never disappoints.
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4/23/2012 - KenPlace wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured 30 min later. Beautiful deep purple-crimson color. Lots of strawberries, cherries, red fruit on the nose. Full bodied, but soft around the edges with finesse - balanced. Tannins are fine, but its structure is beginning to yield to a bit of maturity. Medium length.
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11/20/2011 - rockguit wrote: 93 Points
This has really come around since I last had it--in a good way. The tannins have melted, and there's a lovely blend of black cherry-meets-vanilla on the palate (ya still gotta like the oak, though :). Definitely new-world & not a lot of secondary complexity, but undeniably delicious.
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10/21/2011 - markelee wrote: 92 Points
In many ways, it's unlike any other California Cab I've ever tasted. If you want the typical oak, black and red fruit, tannic middle aged cab, this is definitely not for you. If you want something with funk and earth and veggies, this is not it. If you want a fruit bomb in the way that many New World wines have styled themselves, this actually is NOT it.
It manages to ride the fine line of fruit bomb and BALANCE, making this an absolute JOY to drink (depending not only on your taste, but on your mood!). Lots of strawberries, cherries, raspberries, and red fruit, mixed with the feint sweetness of really ripe tropical fruit (not the citrusy kind, but the really sweet, ripe fruit that you wish all fruit we get from the supermarket tasted like -- kind of like when you finally taste what ripe papaya is ACTUALLY supposed to taste like). Your empty glass will smell like fresh figs and cocoa. And while it's sweet to the taste, it's not TOO sweet like many other fruit bombs can find themselves to be. It's like you can taste the FLAVOR of a sweet, ripe fruit as opposed to tasting the sweetness from the fruit... does that make sense? (i.e. A great, perfectly ripe strawberry is not just a sweet version of an unripe strawberry -- it actually tastes entirely different.)
It's certainly not for everyone. But for those who tend to shy away from (stereo)typical fruit bombs because they are too sweet and unbalanced, this is perhaps the one wine I would say "take a chance with this one" because it's totally worth it. I tend to lean toward less New World wine and more Old World, but whenever I feel like having something that is fruity and unique, I drink this.
However, I will agree that I think you should drink it now. It's calmed down and the tannins have integrated. The wine is EXTREMELY SMOOTH. I don't think this is a wine that will become more enjoyable than it already is. If anything, its relative youth actually lends itself very well to its character. So drink it now.
I might rate it higher, but it's honestly just not in the same "league" as many other wonderfully built / made wines. However, once in a while, it's a spectacular departure from my normal tastes.
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10/17/2011 - iamandyc wrote: 92 Points
Did not disappoint. Good both days. Nice complexity to this. Balanced with some cranberry and orange notes to the fruit. Earth undertones. Not as velvety or dense in body as past bottles.
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8/20/2011 - MOCGator wrote: 95 Points
A brilliant effort. Goes on for minutes. Better than when I had it last year.
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8/19/2011 - drbdorfman wrote: 94 Points
Much better than 1 year ago. Tamed tannins, cassis, cocoa, dark cherry. Very nice
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8/9/2011 - jrobs7777 wrote: 93 Points
Drank really well over two days. Initially some oak and plush red and blue fruit, but there was nice herbal note balancing out the fruit and enough acidity. Good depth on the palate. Very nice concentration. Good balance. The tannins are fine, although this probably is not a long term wine. This was confirmed by the next day, when we drank the remainder of the bottle. Smooth with secondary development, btu the tannins had fully integrated. Terrific drink it now Cab while you let some of the burly heavy hitters gain some age.
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8/3/2011 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 92 Points
P&P at rays the steaks. Blue and dark fruit nose, cassis, plum, coffee, its very deep. Candied fruits on the palate, but its not flabby nor is it overly sweet. A touch of oak, but it's integrated. Some cotton candy on the finish. Seems a little hot? A little akward perhaps? Either way, it's definitly a nice wine, but doesn't get to that classic level.
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12/11/2010 - THA wrote: 95 Points
An extraordinary Napa Cabernet made in a modern, fruit-forward style. Complex, deep, and rich aromas and flavors. Full bodied, but soft around the edges with finesse. Its structure is beginning to yield to a bit of maturity. Best modern styled Cabernet I've had in several months.
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7/2/2010 - Gene_Mo wrote: 88 Points
Lost all its tannic structure. Just a fruit bomb now. If this is how this wine ages, well, drink now. Don't understand these other ratings. As I have more, hoping this was a bad bottle.
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2/2/2010 - Nico P. wrote:
Popped and poured. Refined, not bombastic, nose. Good acid, firm tannin. Pleasant, approachable, drinking now. Hints of complexities to come: alas, we finished the bottle before we could determine whether this was great potential or over-hype.
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1/31/2010 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 93 Points
balanced and complex. very nice.
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1/10/2010 - brich wrote: 94 Points
Better than I remember it from last drinking. Nicely complex, very earthy and a smooth and subtle finish. Classic in California Cabernet tradition and as I understand it the land borders on that of Screaming Eagle.
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10/3/2009 - jrobs7777 wrote: 90 Points
Blind Red Throw Down! (Our House (2033 Brandywine St., Philadelphia)): Could this have been a slightly off bottle? I do not think so. Tasted blind right after 04 Caymus. I included this bottle so it was single blind as opposed to double blind. Dense opaque color. Good fruit and pepper, but a bit of heat. Syrah like profile? Went back and forth between Bordeaux and Syrah. Burnt wood, smoked meat with chocolate and raspberries. Nice tannic structure. Some heat on mid-palate and it interferes with finish. This was confounding. When revealed to be the 04 Rocca, I was mildly disappointed. It came right after the Caymus and I would have expected a somewhat similar profile. This was all over the map and disjointed. Will give the remaining bottles some more time to hopefully come together, because the potential is there.
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10/3/2009 - ews3 wrote: 90 Points
Blind Reds (Roberts House): tasted blind. black pepper, plum, and spice. very fruity, with red cherry, raspberry, and clove notes. medium finish. my guess: $30-$40 Australian Shiraz. This did not seem varietally correct to me and was a bit of a disappointment at reveal, but still a nice wine.
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9/4/2009 - Paul Lin wrote: 93 Points
Made by cult wine mistress, Celia Masyczek, this wine boasts an explosion of violets, blackberries, blueberries, white chocolate, and mocha buttercream on the nose. The palate exhibits dense notes of chocolate covered toffee (think Skor bars), ripe plums, boysenberries, chambord, and black cherries. As hedonistic as this wine is, with its lush and concentrated fruit, it's totally in balance and crazy good. 93-94 points.
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4/12/2009 - KWC3141 wrote:
again great
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4/2/2009 - PMac-redwine wrote: 89 Points
Let me preface by writing that Rocca's Syrah was one of the best of that varietal I've had in the past five years. We decanted their 2004 Cabernet for two hours and immediately noticed a lot of heat from the American oak. The cork was in perfect condition. The wine had a gorgeous garnet color and legs on the glass that informed this was going to be big. On the palate pleasant dark cherries gave way to unnervingly small doses of coffee and bittersweet chocolate. No secondary mid-palate dimensions, mocha, nor chocolate notes to speak of. The finish was extremely hot in the esophagus, short, and astringent. After two hours it opened up into a sweet one-dimensional plum wine. The most disappointing aspect for me was the light, as opposed to lush mouthfeel experienced by other CellarTrackers as well as Gary V. I was hoping for the ultimate QPR/Napa Cabernet and so I was expecting much more... this one was surprisingly disappointing.
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2/28/2009 - brich wrote: 94 Points
This is a total winner. It's fruity nose, balanced and well heeled. Very enjoyable.
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1/30/2009 - ebrown35 wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured and drank over two nights. Medium to dark garnet color, very inviting nose of dark cherry, black fruit and cocoa. The fruit-forward entry is soft with a definite chocolate note on the mid-palate, partially integrated tannins and a seamless finish. I could have used a touch more acid, but this is a well-made wine that is a short term cellar candidate.
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1/16/2009 - KWC3141 wrote: 93 Points
Again bright and fun
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1/13/2009 - KWC3141 wrote: 93 Points
I keep on drinking and it's just consistently good. Wonderful up front blueberry blackberry and even a hint of cherry. Goos structure and balance with a reasonable but long finish. Beautiful and drinking very well now.
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12/16/2008 - B Paul wrote: 92 Points
Aromas of smoke, anise, and cherry. Long, fruity finish with the cherry flavors lingering on. 92+ pts.
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11/5/2008 - beachnic wrote: 92 Points
Election night. This was the best Cabernet at the party. Had the 2004 Rocca , 2002 Arcturus Astrale Terra, 2003 Solabal Rioja Reseva. Nice nose with lots of chocolate. Nice balance. Just tasty stuff. Well priced in the $50's. overpriced in the $70's which is what I paid for it. The Arcturus was surprisingly similar to the Rocca albeit a little dryer but for $27 is a great value. Bought the Rocca for $75 locally which is too high to repurchase. I'm going back to get several more of the 2002 Arcturus though. The Solabal Reserva was also a great Rioja to seek out. Great concentration and beautiful pencil shaving aromas and very balanced. A great value even for Rioja at $24.
I love Chocolate and this has lots of sexy chocolate tones to it. Need to sit down with it next time and study without all the crowd noises of an election party.92Pts
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10/28/2008 - ocattorney wrote: 94 Points
nose is full of red fruit. Silky smooth taste. Well intigrated tannins with red fruit and no oak. Great wine.
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10/27/2008 - iamandyc wrote: 93 Points
Not your typical cab but everyone loved drinking it. Tannins and acid hidden behind a dense, layered, velvety fruit on the palate. One of the more interesting cabs I've ever tasted. Not sure how it will age.
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10/13/2008 - brewking wrote: 95 Points
this is fabulous, dark purple, smooth tannins, balanced, touch of oak. Highly recommend this.
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9/15/2008 - pgm wrote: 92 Points
Delicious. Decanted half an hour and drank over two hours.
Lots of chocolate, and plenty of black cherry, currant, marachino cherry, and frangrances of orange peel on the nose, something green in between bell pepper and herb but not quite either... Tasty in the mouth but relatively primary. The tannins are soft and submerged, but the wine still has structure. This is hedonistic, and somewhat confectionery. Much more purely cabernet in profile than my previous note.
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8/23/2008 - Paul Lin wrote: 92 Points
Cali Winemakers Offline - Barrett, Browne, Kurtzman, Melka and Masyczek (Brentwood, CA): Rich and dense with notes of cassis, plum, dark chocolate, and a hint of sweet tobacco. Needed more decanting on this night, but still an excellent wine.
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7/5/2008 - rockguit wrote: 92 Points
Really good--cherry compote for days. Gorgeous, complex long finish. Noticeable oak. Tannins were a bit rough for half of us, though. One comment was "This is more of a winter wine to sip in front of a fireplace." Odd, considering the reviews here (though we popped and poured--maybe that's what it was). Don't know if it's quite the best QPR out there, but I really dug it.
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7/3/2008 - THA wrote: 91 Points
After one hour in the decanter, this wine started to wake up. After two hours, it was outstanding. Tight. Smooth finish.
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6/28/2008 - Paul Lin wrote: 94 Points
A wow wine! Caramel and cassis, smoke and graphite. Dense and luxurious. 93-94 points.
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6/17/2008 - brich wrote: 93 Points
This wine "Roc"s. Wonderful full bodied cabernet. I think WL got it right on this one.
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6/17/2008 - pgm wrote: 91 Points
This was a very interesting wine. Light to medium ruby in color. Medium bodied (relatively light bodied in comparison to typical CA cabs these days. Somewhat restrained nose, but it gives pure milk chocolate, but also lighter notes of dried apricot, both of which repeat in the mouth, along with elegant and pure, pure, pure flavors red currant, strawberry, raspberry syrup, finishing with delicate, spicy notes on the herbal side. In fact, this struck me as an remarkably beautiful grenache, and I had trouble recognizing it as a cabernet sauvignon. The tannins seemed almost nonexistent, making this an extremely easy-drinking wine, but it was structured well enough. I wouldn't age it much, though.
If typicity counts (and it does, in my book), I can't give this more than a 91, even though one could rightly argue that in pure drinking pleasure, it deserves higher...
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6/8/2008 - RJurman wrote: 93 Points
Serious plum and dark berries on the nose. In fact, I found the nose just a bit awkward at first. As for the wine, it was delicious. Dark with alot of ripe fruit but not over the top. Low acidity and very well balanced. Drank with pizza and it was great. Would probably be more suited for steak. Enjoy!
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5/30/2008 - drgrape wrote: 93 Points
Smooth with lush, full body. Very drinkable. Dark color. Good fruit.This should be wonderful for 10 years.
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5/28/2008 - pakabear wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 4 hours. Classic nose, cassis, plum, some vanilla. A LOT of oak throughout the palate, a little bothersome. There is some very good fruit, notably blackberry and blueberry, this masks the oak a bit but I fear this will only get worse when the fruit starts to die off. The tannins are soft and the acidity low, so I don't think it will age past 10 years. I had high hopes for this wine.
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5/27/2008 - WineForRob wrote: 93 Points
Nothing new
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5/25/2008 - WineForRob wrote: 93 Points
Drank after Carter 05 so this was difficult for me to be objective but this did not disappoint. Blackberry and mocha nose with those same flavors with chocolate coming through on the palate. Wine is fat and sweet but not over the top. Firm acidity and tannins but ultra smooth.
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3/18/2008 - Paul Lin wrote: 93 Points
Family Winemakers of California (Pasadena, CA): Beautiful aromas introduce a luscious core of plum jam, cherry liqueur, cassis, and dark chocolate. Like drinking Godiva chocolate truffles. --PL
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