Fairly consistent with first note. Drinks great the second you open. Blackberries on fire smell. Ripe, dark and well treated with what tastes like very expensive oak barrels. More a guilty pleasure than a true love but I have had these wines many times and always enjoyed them. Definitely at peak drinking because as the fruit stats to fade, that oak isnt going anywhere and it doesnt have the structure to come back full circle.
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Got this for just more than nothing. It was delicious for what I paid. I would run to $40 in cash money. Woody nose. Dark fruit. Very ripe but not unpleasantly so. Still fresh, I guess you might say. Black fruit. Lots of tannins but they're so ripe you can barely tell. Wish there was a big gob of Howell Mountain structure/soil on this but there doesnt seem to be. Finish is relatively long and the wine is clearly evolving. Good.
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Wow! a very nice and balanced wine out of Napa. This a combination of Howell Mountain and Napa Valley fruits. The wine maker is Celia Welch is the wine maker, she responsible for epic failures like Scarecrow, Revana, and Cora. This one is not of those caliber but extremely well structured. The nose make decent red fruits with a bit of dirt and cedar. In the mouth it's plenty of plums, cherry and fresh spices with decent tannin structure. Finsihes about average for wine in the $60-70 range.
Remember you don't drink the label.
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This was really appreciated for its really nice dark fruit purity and could have scored higher if given more decant time. This is new world as it is ripe but nicely backed by ample structure. Nice length on the finish.
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From 375mL. Black pepper and black tea on the nose... somewhat spicy. Dark fruit on the palate... I also got black tea. Very nice classic cabernet. Not as new world as I used to, but I like this a lot. Medium finish. Tannins present but mostly resolved. Smooth.
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The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like Cherry, and Black Pepper. The body is Full. The wine is textured Smooth. The wine finishes Long.
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Sweet fruits on the nose. Some cassis, some cardamom. the palate has black fruit leaning profile of pure currant, chocolate covers black cherries, creme de cassis, and hints of tar, lead pencil shavings and worn saddle leather. the mouth feel is of a medium weight. the tannins resolved. decent balance and structure, one that would make the clasic cab drinker smile, and the new world guy just wishing for a touch more 'show'. nice finish completes the package.
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Wow! The tannins are great and even got better with time. Still maintained a fruit forward attitude but drifted toward leather and tobacco through the evening.
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Novovino's spring portfolio: nose: very dark profile with a good amount of black fruits, black cherries, anise, and oak tones. Good depth, but not as expressive as the 05 was as there is a edge to this and a more pronounced oak influence
taste: full bodied with big tannins and rich tones of black cherries, anise, and black fruits. Almost like a sledgehammer on the palate
overall: extremely large and bold, but lacking the expressiveness that the other cornerstone's possesed. Big profile and very dark this could use some time to round out a bit and have the rough edges get smoothed out
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7/2/2013 - liteagilis wrote:
Fairly consistent with first note. Drinks great the second you open. Blackberries on fire smell. Ripe, dark and well treated with what tastes like very expensive oak barrels. More a guilty pleasure than a true love but I have had these wines many times and always enjoyed them. Definitely at peak drinking because as the fruit stats to fade, that oak isnt going anywhere and it doesnt have the structure to come back full circle.
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12/21/2012 - liteagilis Likes this wine:
Got this for just more than nothing. It was delicious for what I paid. I would run to $40 in cash money. Woody nose. Dark fruit. Very ripe but not unpleasantly so. Still fresh, I guess you might say. Black fruit. Lots of tannins but they're so ripe you can barely tell. Wish there was a big gob of Howell Mountain structure/soil on this but there doesnt seem to be. Finish is relatively long and the wine is clearly evolving. Good.
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11/16/2012 - Tonythefish wrote: 91 Points
Drinking beautifully now. Nice fruit, supple tannins and smooth finish
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9/21/2012 - ravbik wrote: 94 Points
Wonderful, full bodied cab. Balanced fruity supple, good depth and richness. Tannins have mellowed.
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6/6/2012 - Katie&Mike wrote: 90 Points
Drinking beautifully now. Patience rewarded.
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6/9/2011 - kietkopelli wrote:
Wow! a very nice and balanced wine out of Napa. This a combination of Howell Mountain and Napa Valley fruits. The wine maker is Celia Welch is the wine maker, she responsible for epic failures like Scarecrow, Revana, and Cora. This one is not of those caliber but extremely well structured. The nose make decent red fruits with a bit of dirt and cedar. In the mouth it's plenty of plums, cherry and fresh spices with decent tannin structure. Finsihes about average for wine in the $60-70 range.
Remember you don't drink the label.
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5/21/2011 - iamandyc wrote: 91 Points
This was really appreciated for its really nice dark fruit purity and could have scored higher if given more decant time. This is new world as it is ripe but nicely backed by ample structure. Nice length on the finish.
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4/16/2011 - NathanT wrote: 91 Points
From 375mL. Black pepper and black tea on the nose... somewhat spicy. Dark fruit on the palate... I also got black tea. Very nice classic cabernet. Not as new world as I used to, but I like this a lot. Medium finish. Tannins present but mostly resolved. Smooth.
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12/15/2010 - reela wrote: 90 Points
Drank at Camelot Club in BR at LSA President's Dinner
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10/23/2010 - shakedown wrote: 90 Points
Classic quality napa valley cabernet. 'textbook' nose, taste and mouthfeel. A joy to drink. drank in 375ml format.
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10/16/2010 - Robo148 Likes this wine: 90 Points
The wine looks Garnet colored.
The legs are Slow.
It smells like Cherry, and Black Pepper.
The body is Full.
The wine is textured Smooth.
The wine finishes Long.
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2/5/2010 - King Cab wrote: 90 Points
Sweet fruits on the nose. Some cassis, some cardamom. the palate has black fruit leaning profile of pure currant, chocolate covers black cherries, creme de cassis, and hints of tar, lead pencil shavings and worn saddle leather. the mouth feel is of a medium weight. the tannins resolved. decent balance and structure, one that would make the clasic cab drinker smile, and the new world guy just wishing for a touch more 'show'. nice finish completes the package.
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1/30/2010 - Always4wine wrote: 92 Points
Wow! The tannins are great and even got better with time. Still maintained a fruit forward attitude but drifted toward leather and tobacco through the evening.
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3/16/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 90 Points
Novovino's spring portfolio: nose: very dark profile with a good amount of black fruits, black cherries, anise, and oak tones. Good depth, but not as expressive as the 05 was as there is a edge to this and a more pronounced oak influence
taste: full bodied with big tannins and rich tones of black cherries, anise, and black fruits. Almost like a sledgehammer on the palate
overall: extremely large and bold, but lacking the expressiveness that the other cornerstone's possesed. Big profile and very dark this could use some time to round out a bit and have the rough edges get smoothed out
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9/13/2008 - Hollowleg wrote: 89 Points
I expected this to be more than just a one dimensional wine. While it's tasty, with nice spicy fruit, it lacks the nuances that would make it great.
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