M's w the girls. Delicious, outshined the 9i8 Raff. This is in such a nice place. DStill rich and powerful, even youthful. Has time to last, just sittting at its second phase here for a while.
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Amazing ausarity at this age for another great cali wine. This is drinking youthful, full bodied, on its own or w a great piece of beef, or heaty winer fare. Balanced, powerful experience. The blend is great, deliverers layered flavors and finish across the varietals. Yummy blend. Balanced, youthful. Easy 10 years left. Entering peak window
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Update: forgot about this bottle, vacuvined it and opened 2 days later. And I was surprised in that time, the entire flavour profile had really opened up. It felt hollow in the mid palette upon opening after a 1 hour decant. But by day 2 now, it had become quite lush, rounded and full. The nose was probably more muted and still with some grippy tannin. But a very nice wine.
Again that's what I find so fascinating about wine and its evolution. Just a mere day or 2 in the fridge can rapidly change its expression. Sometimes a decline and in this case something open and full.
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Nicely balanced wine. Medium body. Nose of toasty oak, orange peel, red berries. On the palette, slight grippy tannins, medium red fruit finish. At a good drinking period. Solid Napa Red.
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Well balanced and focused. Had with Merryvale's coffee rub strip steaks. Dark fruits but none readily identifiable. Opened and decanted about 1 hour before drinking
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Needs a good 2 hr decant. There is some heat at first, after a couple of hours it gives way to the fruit. On day two, it had smoothed out and was much better. If rated day one, I'd say 89, day two, 91.
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The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Medium. It tastes like Strawberry Jam, Cherry, and Oak. The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Medium. Aged well, drink now.
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Fantastic Cali cuvee! HUGE bold wine, with utterly dominant cherry and oak flavors. If you don't love the cherry-oak vibe, then pass, but I enjoyed this bottle immensely!
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This is a tastefully structured and well balanced wine. Deep purple color. Huge fruity and spicy nose. Flavors of spices, daek berries, licorice, and cassis. There is a fine balance in the tannins, acidity, alcohol, and texturebof the wine. It was a delight to drink my first and third glass at dinner with a bone in rib eye steak. Highly recommended fot the price!
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Dark crimson/purple in color. The nose is full of red fruit and cedar, graphite. Across the palate there are currant, cherry and pronounced mineral notes. The tannins hang on through the long, dry finish.
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Dark red-violet color with a full body and currant and pencil shavings on the nose; well-balanced and elegant blend, with the predominance of the Cabs showing through -- currant and sweet pepper with a nice nose of cedar and pencil lead as the wine opened up; glassy and clean on the palate; definitely more restrained in style, but an excellent balance of sweet and savory that would go really well with an herbed meat.
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Not bad, but not great either. nice nose with black fruit and some coffee notes. Black cherry and mineral notes. Palate is not as expressive as the nose. The wine is rather simple and forward on the palate. Nothing to write home about, probably wouldnt buy again.
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54% Cab Sauv., 21% Cab Franc, 14% PV, 9% Malbec and a dash of Merlot for good measure. N: Dark chocolate, deep cherries and a pronounced lilac note on the finish. Great nose It was still tight on the palate, with very firm tannins and a dry finish. This wine needs food - roast fowl or meat.
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The petit vedot and the cab franc show strongly right now. I would reccomend laying it down for a year to calm those two out. Nice bing cherry and grip. Well made. Nice at $40.
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(2) Drank at Roxie’s cabin along with Dan, Mom & Monica. This wine is fine but just never impresses me that much - thus the downgrade. I think I’ve overrated this wine the first two times. This meets the “baseline” but nothing more.
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10/9/2023 - Winokdub wrote: 92 Points
Still has some tannin but fruit is starting to fade. Pleasant overall and the group I was with were impressed at 18 years out.
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12/24/2019 - tplskylrk wrote:
M's w the girls. Delicious, outshined the 9i8 Raff. This is in such a nice place. DStill rich and powerful, even youthful. Has time to last, just sittting at its second phase here for a while.
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12/19/2019 - tplskylrk wrote:
Amazing ausarity at this age for another great cali wine. This is drinking youthful, full bodied, on its own or w a great piece of beef, or heaty winer fare. Balanced, powerful experience. The blend is great, deliverers layered flavors and finish across the varietals. Yummy blend. Balanced, youthful. Easy 10 years left. Entering peak window
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6/13/2014 - jfarley3 wrote: 89 Points
Softer style cab with black fruit, anise and cassis. Soft relaxed tannins balance well with fruit and alcohol. Medium length finish.
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4/19/2014 - The Raven Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely wine with a rich silky body. Great tasting with hints of blackberry and licorice.
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11/26/2013 - winemanintheden wrote: 90 Points
Update: forgot about this bottle, vacuvined it and opened 2 days later. And I was surprised in that time, the entire flavour profile had really opened up. It felt hollow in the mid palette upon opening after a 1 hour decant. But by day 2 now, it had become quite lush, rounded and full. The nose was probably more muted and still with some grippy tannin. But a very nice wine.
Again that's what I find so fascinating about wine and its evolution. Just a mere day or 2 in the fridge can rapidly change its expression. Sometimes a decline and in this case something open and full.
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11/22/2013 - winemanintheden wrote: 89 Points
Nicely balanced wine. Medium body. Nose of toasty oak, orange peel, red berries. On the palette, slight grippy tannins, medium red fruit finish. At a good drinking period. Solid Napa Red.
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8/16/2013 - Janstan Likes this wine: 89 Points
Well balanced and focused. Had with Merryvale's coffee rub strip steaks. Dark fruits but none readily identifiable. Opened and decanted about 1 hour before drinking
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5/20/2013 - The Bossman wrote:
Needs a good 2 hr decant. There is some heat at first, after a couple of hours it gives way to the fruit. On day two, it had smoothed out and was much better. If rated day one, I'd say 89, day two, 91.
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1/29/2013 - dcomerford wrote:
Took a while to open up but once it did was quite nice. I would drink it now if you have it though!
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1/27/2013 - Mike G Likes this wine: 91 Points
The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Medium. It tastes like Strawberry Jam, Cherry, and Oak. The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Medium. Aged well, drink now.
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8/13/2011 - jpstough wrote: 89 Points
Aged very well; much better than initial tasting upon purchase. Flavors of dark fruits, spice and tobacco.
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5/20/2010 - mikev101 wrote: 89 Points
Very good...settled tannins, dark cherry-like fruit, smooth and easy drinking...but short on the finish...not worth $40 IMO
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4/12/2010 - littletimmy wrote: 89 Points
widely accepted wine at the dinner party. Very polished sleek, velvety with some oak.
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4/10/2010 - OTTnMIA wrote: 91 Points
Fantastic Cali cuvee! HUGE bold wine, with utterly dominant cherry and oak flavors. If you don't love the cherry-oak vibe, then pass, but I enjoyed this bottle immensely!
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1/6/2010 - gee0001 wrote: 93 Points
This is a tastefully structured and well balanced wine. Deep purple color. Huge fruity and spicy nose. Flavors of spices, daek berries, licorice, and cassis. There is a fine balance in the tannins, acidity, alcohol, and texturebof the wine. It was a delight to drink my first and third glass at dinner with a bone in rib eye steak. Highly recommended fot the price!
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11/8/2009 - kburie wrote:
Love this wine! Smooth oak with black cherry and other dark fruit flavors. Velvety
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8/9/2009 - sdatl wrote: 92 Points
Still elegant, complex, rich, but great with food...
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5/11/2009 - whynblog wrote: 88 Points
Dark crimson/purple in color. The nose is full of red fruit and cedar, graphite. Across the palate there are currant, cherry and pronounced mineral notes. The tannins hang on through the long, dry finish.
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1/24/2009 - sdatl wrote: 92 Points
Dark red-violet color with a full body and currant and pencil shavings on the nose; well-balanced and elegant blend, with the predominance of the Cabs showing through -- currant and sweet pepper with a nice nose of cedar and pencil lead as the wine opened up; glassy and clean on the palate; definitely more restrained in style, but an excellent balance of sweet and savory that would go really well with an herbed meat.
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1/13/2009 - pian0_player wrote: 88 Points
Not bad, but not great either. nice nose with black fruit and some coffee notes. Black cherry and mineral notes. Palate is not as expressive as the nose. The wine is rather simple and forward on the palate. Nothing to write home about, probably wouldnt buy again.
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1/5/2009 - RWilkinson wrote:
This needs some time, nice nose, firm tannis and lacks complexity...revisit in a year.
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11/10/2008 - Hershey in CA wrote: 88 Points
54% Cab Sauv., 21% Cab Franc, 14% PV, 9% Malbec and a dash of Merlot for good measure.
N: Dark chocolate, deep cherries and a pronounced lilac note on the finish. Great nose
It was still tight on the palate, with very firm tannins and a dry finish. This wine needs food - roast fowl or meat.
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10/23/2008 - AZ Cat wrote:
(1) Best bottle of this I’ve had. Beautiful nose and strong and fruity on the palate. Average finish and no “wow” factor but very nice.
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10/13/2008 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
The petit vedot and the cab franc show strongly right now. I would reccomend laying it down for a year to calm those two out. Nice bing cherry and grip. Well made. Nice at $40.
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7/4/2008 - AZ Cat wrote:
(2) Drank at Roxie’s cabin along with Dan, Mom & Monica. This wine is fine but just never impresses me that much - thus the downgrade. I think I’ve overrated this wine the first two times. This meets the “baseline” but nothing more.
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5/10/2008 - AZ Cat wrote:
(2+) Much like last bottle. Very nice but I’m not positive that there aren’t better bottles at this price.
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4/21/2008 - AZ Cat wrote:
(2+) Tasty. Finish could be better - need to try another bottle but might be a 1. Nice wine for the price.
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