Last bottle like an old friend, hate to see it go. Pretty much everything I love to experience from an excellent Napa cab, superb balance and integration, soft tannin, ample fruit...this improved nicely over the years.
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4th Saturday Brown Bagger (EBCC): Nonblind with dinner, pouring a youthful red color with no bricking. Cassis, blackberry and chocolate notes. Fine tannin with an abundance of dark fruit on the palate. Lovely. (SS)
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4th Saturday Group Cellar Diminishment (Sue’s): More red-fruited than dark, with a terrific resiny/eucalyptusy quality. I am enjoying that greenish quality here and the depth of the fruit. Balanced, with a lingering finish. (SS)
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Certainly drinkable at this stage; quite good with food. I drunk my first bottle of this about 4 years ago and found it desperately dissapointing given the price. It was bitter and unappealing. Significantly better now but to my mind doesn't really drink like a premium wine.
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Much more enjoyable than previous bottles. Sediment shows that the wine has mellowed out which it has. Much smoother ready to go. Enjoyable but still a little lacking in character and structure. Maybe I am expecting too much.
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Another great showing. I guess it just took a few years to come around. 5 hour decant. Very nice. Polished, smooth, nice mouth feel, and no heat on the finish. Red fruits, spices, a little wet wood and some espresso.
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Not impressive what so ever especially at its price point. Priced way to high. Not well balanced, rough edges, alcohol through out, and no redeeming qualities.
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Oaky vanilla on the nose. Light on the fruit on introduction to the tongue and palate—just the slightest cassis note. Some spice pops up after mid-palate—cinnamon, clove, maybe, coffee. Fairly light-bodied for a Cab. Almost no tannin. This one could definitely use more oomph.
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Great nose, Oak and Dark Fruit on the nose with slight tones of cedar and smoke. Full bodied with tannins slightly noticeable and acid has integrated well. Classic Napa Cab in the old world style. Excellent with dinner and could last a few more years but was ready now.
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unlike the one I had last year, this bottle was completely shut down, closed for renovations (hopefully not flat lining), gave up absolutely nothing on the nose or palate until the very end of the second night when , subdued dark dried fruit over leather and a hint of tar (if I had this in a blind tasting at that point I would have guessed petite syrah)
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Dark garnet in the glass with a nose of cassis. Medium-bodied wine with muted blackberries, oak and cedar with an herbaceous note. Medium-length finish with smooth (for Diamond Mountain anyway) tannins. Not a bad wine, but nothing compared to their reserve offerings. Lousy QPR.
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Nice with food. Tannins play second to the acidity and fruit follows both. Bordeaux without the funk or complexity. 5 more years who knows? (Decanted for 3 hours)
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A fairly mild wine, with currant and dark berry fruit that mixes with mild oak and violet flavors. Decent acid, fully submerged tannins, and a fairly short finish. It's more enjoyable than I expected given the reviews here. I don't think that it has a lot of life left.
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Very disappointing for the price. OK balance but not complex at all. Weak finish. Bought on glowing recommendation from local wine guy but based on this experience, this bottle will be my first and last Von Strasser (and last time I take this guy's advice). Would have preferred to just buy 4-5 bottles of Bogle instead.
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Blackberry and some black pepper to start. Some earthiness and oak with a hint of strawberry. Drank as we were cooking dinner very nice now. Still with some tannins that may allow it to age a little more.
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(pnp) opened right up with nice layers hinting pepper, spices, anise, on top of currant, plum and raspberry on the nose....full body, good balance and integration of black cherry, plum, cassis on the palate rides well on firm but smooth tannin with a tight little finish leaves you wanting more.....drinking very well right now
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Popped and poured. Medium-plus ruby. Aromas of blackberry, black currant, mint, earth, and just a touch of oak. An herbaceous, green note as well. Medium-plus body. The palate mirrors the nose, with uncomplicated flavors of mountain berries joined by notes of currant, herbs, and subtle oak. The tannins are on the coarse side. Nothing really speaks loudly from this wine, and, while it needs 3-5 years to shed some of the tannins, it's hard to say if anything will.
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diamond mountain + semi harsh vintage = keep driving into calistoga for a brewski. and a year later, can't the reps at least flip this to the 07s? if you can't sell it (what a surprise), stop pushing it on us.
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Nose is powerful with black rubber tires. Tannins soft and moderate structure but finishes too weak. Dry finish is not long enough or deep enough in the throat.
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Noticed lots of tartar on the cork and a fair amount of sediment in the bottle as I poured into the decanter. Color was deep, dark purple. Nose of oak, cigar box, I also got some vanilla as I tried a few glasses. This wine is still young and I found the tannin structure to be firm. Hopefully this will continue to soften over time. I honestly expected more from this wine. I have six more bottles and will leave them sit for a while before opening another.
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Glunz Wines Winter Portfolio tasting (union league club, chicago IL): nose: beautiful and balanced nose with bits of perfumes, red fruits, red cherries, cranberries, mineral laced soil tones and even some slight hints of floral tones. Extremely balanced and very lovely, almost smelling like a baby diamond creek
taste: big tannins with great medium/full body providing great rounded tones of perfumes, red currants, red cherries, and some good cranberry tones. The tannins are huge right now and definitely beg for this to be sideways for a while
overall: loads of promise on this. Great feel that pokes through the massive tannins. will definitely need a good 7 years sideways to become approachable, but this has the ability to be a long term ager
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3/7/2024 - drummer Likes this wine: 95 Points
Last bottle like an old friend, hate to see it go. Pretty much everything I love to experience from an excellent Napa cab, superb balance and integration, soft tannin, ample fruit...this improved nicely over the years.
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2/24/2024 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
4th Saturday Brown Bagger (EBCC): Nonblind with dinner, pouring a youthful red color with no bricking. Cassis, blackberry and chocolate notes. Fine tannin with an abundance of dark fruit on the palate. Lovely. (SS)
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2/26/2022 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
4th Saturday Group Cellar Diminishment (Sue’s): More red-fruited than dark, with a terrific resiny/eucalyptusy quality. I am enjoying that greenish quality here and the depth of the fruit. Balanced, with a lingering finish. (SS)
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6/17/2018 - hoops92 wrote: 86 Points
Definitely well past prime. Better than previous bottle, but still not as good as in its prime.
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6/9/2018 - hoops92 wrote: flawed
Hopefully didn't just wait too long on these. This bottle well on the way to becoming balsamic.
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3/1/2017 - Puligny33 wrote: 89 Points
Certainly drinkable at this stage; quite good with food. I drunk my first bottle of this about 4 years ago and found it desperately dissapointing given the price. It was bitter and unappealing. Significantly better now but to my mind doesn't really drink like a premium wine.
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7/6/2016 - JCurlee wrote: 91 Points
Vanilla on the nose at first but well integrated. Drinks well right now.
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6/14/2016 - drummer wrote: 91 Points
pnp, notes similar to 2012, but showing maturity hitting it's stride
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6/4/2016 - peeno wrote: 88 Points
Much more enjoyable than previous bottles. Sediment shows that the wine has mellowed out which it has. Much smoother ready to go. Enjoyable but still a little lacking in character and structure. Maybe I am expecting too much.
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5/2/2016 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine: 90 Points
very nice and soft. Well integrated. Dominate cherry flavor with some coffee notes, and asian spices. See previous notes
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12/25/2015 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Another great showing. I guess it just took a few years to come around. 5 hour decant. Very nice. Polished, smooth, nice mouth feel, and no heat on the finish. Red fruits, spices, a little wet wood and some espresso.
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11/23/2015 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Best bottle of this yet. Very smooth. Subtle red fruits and some oak. Well integrated. No heat what so ever. Very pleasant and easy to drink.
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10/16/2015 - hoops92 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Classic Napa Cab
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7/12/2015 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine: 85 Points
Not impressive what so ever especially at its price point. Priced way to high. Not well balanced, rough edges, alcohol through out, and no redeeming qualities.
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6/17/2015 - EMark wrote:
Oaky vanilla on the nose. Light on the fruit on introduction to the tongue and palate—just the slightest cassis note. Some spice pops up after mid-palate—cinnamon, clove, maybe, coffee. Fairly light-bodied for a Cab. Almost no tannin. This one could definitely use more oomph.
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11/29/2013 - West Coast Wine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great nose, Oak and Dark Fruit on the nose with slight tones of cedar and smoke. Full bodied with tannins slightly noticeable and acid has integrated well. Classic Napa Cab in the old world style. Excellent with dinner and could last a few more years but was ready now.
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4/15/2013 - drummer wrote:
unlike the one I had last year, this bottle was completely shut down, closed for renovations (hopefully not flat lining), gave up absolutely nothing on the nose or palate until the very end of the second night when , subdued dark dried fruit over leather and a hint of tar (if I had this in a blind tasting at that point I would have guessed petite syrah)
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3/18/2013 - Dagalaifus wrote: 85 Points
Dark garnet in the glass with a nose of cassis. Medium-bodied wine with muted blackberries, oak and cedar with an herbaceous note. Medium-length finish with smooth (for Diamond Mountain anyway) tannins. Not a bad wine, but nothing compared to their reserve offerings. Lousy QPR.
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3/16/2013 - krmcgrath wrote: 89 Points
Nice with food. Tannins play second to the acidity and fruit follows both. Bordeaux without the funk or complexity. 5 more years who knows? (Decanted for 3 hours)
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3/13/2013 - mreinitz wrote: 88 Points
A fairly mild wine, with currant and dark berry fruit that mixes with mild oak and violet flavors. Decent acid, fully submerged tannins, and a fairly short finish. It's more enjoyable than I expected given the reviews here. I don't think that it has a lot of life left.
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1/30/2013 - Americana wrote: 87 Points
Very disappointing for the price. OK balance but not complex at all. Weak finish. Bought on glowing recommendation from local wine guy but based on this experience, this bottle will be my first and last Von Strasser (and last time I take this guy's advice). Would have preferred to just buy 4-5 bottles of Bogle instead.
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9/9/2012 - Sabishop wrote: 88 Points
Blackberry and some black pepper to start. Some earthiness and oak with a hint of strawberry. Drank as we were cooking dinner very nice now. Still with some tannins that may allow it to age a little more.
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3/28/2012 - vancouvermatt wrote: 91 Points
Fully integrated tannins, drink up.
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3/7/2012 - drummer wrote: 91 Points
(pnp) opened right up with nice layers hinting pepper, spices, anise, on top of currant, plum and raspberry on the nose....full body, good balance and integration of black cherry, plum, cassis on the palate rides well on firm but smooth tannin with a tight little finish leaves you wanting more.....drinking very well right now
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2/14/2012 - Jgrubb wrote: 92 Points
Just keeps getting better with age in my opinion. Very smooth with a nice tobacco finish.
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11/11/2011 - rbtfrazier wrote: 82 Points
Not bad. Firm indeed. Wait awhile before opening again, if unable to give it away first.
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8/8/2011 - Ajtrader wrote: 88 Points
Not impressive at all.
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6/9/2011 - davidwilliamson wrote: 88 Points
Still too young - quite tannic and abrasive. Good body, but fruit still developing. Tobacco and oak linger on the finish.
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5/9/2011 - Mezz wrote: 89 Points
Strong raspberry nose with lots of oak. Firm, angular tannins. Needs more time to mellow, but would make a sterling dinner wine in a few years.
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2/6/2011 - *Vine* wrote:
Popped and poured. Medium-plus ruby. Aromas of blackberry, black currant, mint, earth, and just a touch of oak. An herbaceous, green note as well. Medium-plus body. The palate mirrors the nose, with uncomplicated flavors of mountain berries joined by notes of currant, herbs, and subtle oak. The tannins are on the coarse side. Nothing really speaks loudly from this wine, and, while it needs 3-5 years to shed some of the tannins, it's hard to say if anything will.
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10/16/2010 - jeff nowak wrote: 84 Points
diamond mountain + semi harsh vintage = keep driving into calistoga for a brewski. and a year later, can't the reps at least flip this to the 07s? if you can't sell it (what a surprise), stop pushing it on us.
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8/20/2010 - gkjrs wrote: 86 Points
Nose is powerful with black rubber tires. Tannins soft and moderate structure but finishes too weak. Dry finish is not long enough or deep enough in the throat.
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7/17/2010 - rodsjuice wrote: 88 Points
Noticed lots of tartar on the cork and a fair amount of sediment in the bottle as I poured into the decanter.
Color was deep, dark purple. Nose of oak, cigar box, I also got some vanilla as I tried a few glasses. This wine is still young and I found the tannin structure to be firm. Hopefully this will continue to soften over time. I honestly expected more from this wine. I have six more bottles and will leave them sit for a while before opening another.
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11/16/2009 - jeff nowak wrote:
characteristically diamond mountain harshness in the tannins, angular. can't drink this stuff.
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1/26/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 Points
Glunz Wines Winter Portfolio tasting (union league club, chicago IL): nose: beautiful and balanced nose with bits of perfumes, red fruits, red cherries, cranberries, mineral laced soil tones and even some slight hints of floral tones. Extremely balanced and very lovely, almost smelling like a baby diamond creek
taste: big tannins with great medium/full body providing great rounded tones of perfumes, red currants, red cherries, and some good cranberry tones. The tannins are huge right now and definitely beg for this to be sideways for a while
overall: loads of promise on this. Great feel that pokes through the massive tannins. will definitely need a good 7 years sideways to become approachable, but this has the ability to be a long term ager
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