Again beautifully. Beautiful plush texture, nice acidity and velvety tannins. Great mouthfeel dark chocolate covered cherry and blackberry flavors. Highly recommended now and still plenty of room for aging.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The community got this wrong by saying this should be drank by 2015. I pulled this from the cellar for that reason but this wine still has a lot of life to it. Round and smooth but enough residual tannins to make this drinkable for at least another 3 years, maybe 5. But it is drinking beautifully right now but no rush to pop open the bottles if the wine has been properly cellared. Outstanding with our Christmas prime rib.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very well balanced but with a hint of remaining tannins and acid to indicate that a bit of lay down could still be done. Very good dark fruit with a rich full mouth feel and good intensity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An incredible nose of chocolate, cherry and cedar. So smooth on the palate with dark chocolate, express, cherry and cedar. This Wine is right in the zone right now. Seems like 9 years is the magic point for this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 2 hours, this wine opened into a deep, complex delight. Mouthfeel slightly dry, but with intense flavor. Slightly earthy with tar, tobacco and berries. At its peak now-don't wait!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted the magnum about 1.5 hours. On the nose, obvious this big boy has matured nicely. Huge dark red fruit and very chewy. Hints of coffee. Great color and full body. Paired very well with a big NY Strip, but stood out on its own. Drinking extremely well right now, sorry to see this one go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Smells of tar, coffee, and dark chocolate, but flavor is currant, pistachio, earth. Developing 2nd stage cab nuances that meld together boldly. Nice balance and finish. Part of a 05, 06, 07 Oracle vertical in honor of the America's Cup victory.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted a little over an hour. Very muscular and chewy. Nice big Cab that won't let you down. Lot's of jammy notes with the fruit a bit muted. Drinking well now but should still have some time left in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted a little over an hour. Very muscular and chewey. Lot's of jammy notes with the fruit a bit muted from the last time we had this about 1 1/2 years ago. Drinking well and pairs with grilled meat excellently.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank a couple of weeks ago and forgot to post. From what I can remember it had a lot of dark fruit with hints of chocolate. Probably should have waited to drink it could have used some more time in the bottle. Enjoyed it but not very good on the PQR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep purple colour. Initial smell was a bit of funk with some plums but over time opened up to show more dark fruits and some tobacco. Great smooth mouthfeel showing lots of plum, earth, tobacco, and some pleasant vegetal flavours. Good finish, medium light acidity. The 17% cab franc really showed through on this in contrast to the 2004 which tasted more cab sauv driven.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent cab! No way deserving the 87 point ratings it got from Wine Enthusiast and Connoiosseur's Guide. Not sure what they were drinking. Maybe it was when, not what, that made the difference. Nice fruits, not over the top but well balanced with oak and tannins. No bitterness to the tannins as they were soft and subtle but there enough to know you were drinking a good cabernet. Nice finish of 30 seconds or more. I guess part of my liking it was the super deal I got on the bottle but not sure I would be as pleased if I had paid the $70 release price ... as much as I very much liked the wine there are several that would beat it handily at that price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Could taste fruit at the outset, but has the potential to substantially improve as the significant tannins smooth out. Hints of leather, and cherries. Pairs very favorably with a blue cheese blend of cheeses
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On vacation, Aviara, California--As dark as night. Plum on the nose. Seems a little extracted with not a lot of structure. Nice fruit of plums and cherries. I liked it but seems like a steep price for what's in the bottle. Decant for at least an hour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine changed a lot over the course of two hours. It was jammy and dense and uninspiring at first, but after a couple of hours it gained a lot of balance and restraint. Interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Napa Valley, July 2009; 7/9/2009-7/11/2009 (Napa Valley, CA): The nose leaps out at you, and you know right away that you're in for a rich, heavy cab. Plums lurk in the nose along with some tannic notes and some alcohol. The wine is quite well integrated with delicate blackberries and some oak that plays well with the other flavors. The tannins are gentle, but still full and sustaned through the experience. Unfortunately, the heat noticed on the nose comes through on the palate as well, and with some drier oak flavors, really prevents this wine from delivering to its potential. Some time in bottle would likely help.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My first trip to Napa, Ca.; 7/9/2009-7/11/2009: Smells like your typical fruit-forward California cabernet blend with some oak present. Fruit forward palate, big and plush early on then dies quickly on the finish leaving only strong acid and distinct alcoholic heat and bite. The tannins are the front end are nice and dusty but thats about this wine's only great quality. To sharp and obtuse on the finish due to the alcohol. Again a circumstance where you can sense that the wine maker was really trying for quality here but the wine was just not showing it today.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Notes consistent with prior impressions...this bottle had a significant amount of sediment in it, but an excellent cab overall. Still question the value, though given the higher price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very young cab, with flavors still trying to meld together. Less oak than the 2004 Oracle with plenty of tannins. Nice fruit upfront with a lingering finish. This one will probably develop over time much better than the '04, but needs some bottle age. Miner also raised the pricepoint for their Oracle wines by about 50% this year - while it's an excellent cab, I'm not sure from a value perspective that it's worth the additional cost.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
6/7/2019 - cblinstrub Likes this wine: 93 Points
Again beautifully. Beautiful plush texture, nice acidity and velvety tannins. Great mouthfeel dark chocolate covered cherry and blackberry flavors. Highly recommended now and still plenty of room for aging.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2018 - Colpete Likes this wine: 96 Points
Drinking perfectly now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2016 - Sheldog Likes this wine: 93 Points
The community got this wrong by saying this should be drank by 2015. I pulled this from the cellar for that reason but this wine still has a lot of life to it. Round and smooth but enough residual tannins to make this drinkable for at least another 3 years, maybe 5. But it is drinking beautifully right now but no rush to pop open the bottles if the wine has been properly cellared. Outstanding with our Christmas prime rib.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2016 - M2quared Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very well balanced but with a hint of remaining tannins and acid to indicate that a bit of lay down could still be done. Very good dark fruit with a rich full mouth feel and good intensity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2015 - AeroSKI5150 wrote: 92 Points
So good, 60 degrees and decant an hour... Can only wish I had more...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2014 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 92 Points
An incredible nose of chocolate, cherry and cedar. So smooth on the palate with dark chocolate, express, cherry and cedar. This Wine is right in the zone right now. Seems like 9 years is the magic point for this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2014 - Ranndy wrote: 95 Points
Exceeded my expectations. Long finish with a lot of black cherry. Velvety on the tongue.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2014 - 1H2oMan wrote: 93 Points
Wow! This was really good wish I had more
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2014 - ademarge wrote: 91 Points
full boby, complexe, long, tanins fins, petits fruits sauvages, excellent avec canard.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2013 - Calhounmi wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours, this wine opened into a deep, complex delight. Mouthfeel slightly dry, but with intense flavor. Slightly earthy with tar, tobacco and berries. At its peak now-don't wait!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2013 - krhaugh Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted the magnum about 1.5 hours. On the nose, obvious this big boy has matured nicely. Huge dark red fruit and very chewy. Hints of coffee. Great color and full body. Paired very well with a big NY Strip, but stood out on its own. Drinking extremely well right now, sorry to see this one go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2013 - magic2coop Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smells of tar, coffee, and dark chocolate, but flavor is currant, pistachio, earth. Developing 2nd stage cab nuances that meld together boldly. Nice balance and finish. Part of a 05, 06, 07 Oracle vertical in honor of the America's Cup victory.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2012 - krhaugh Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted a little over an hour. Very muscular and chewy. Nice big Cab that won't let you down. Lot's of jammy notes with the fruit a bit muted. Drinking well now but should still have some time left in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2012 - krhaugh wrote: 92 Points
Decanted a little over an hour. Very muscular and chewey. Lot's of jammy notes with the fruit a bit muted from the last time we had this about 1 1/2 years ago. Drinking well and pairs with grilled meat excellently.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2012 - pcotton wrote:
94 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2011 - jpbc wrote: 95 Points
Rich dark fruit, smooth, velvety incredibly well integrated!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2011 - pfortier2 wrote:
Drank a couple of weeks ago and forgot to post. From what I can remember it had a lot of dark fruit with hints of chocolate. Probably should have waited to drink it could have used some more time in the bottle. Enjoyed it but not very good on the PQR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2011 - kultcha wrote: 91 Points
Deep purple colour. Initial smell was a bit of funk with some plums but over time opened up to show more dark fruits and some tobacco. Great smooth mouthfeel showing lots of plum, earth, tobacco, and some pleasant vegetal flavours. Good finish, medium light acidity. The 17% cab franc really showed through on this in contrast to the 2004 which tasted more cab sauv driven.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2010 - krhaugh wrote: 92 Points
Big Cab. Decanted for only about 30 minutes but opened up well. Finished off a huge T-Bone and this one didn't shy away from the challenge.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2010 - jonwill wrote: 90 Points
Does not seem to be evolving much, but still a baby.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2010 - calicabnut wrote: 93 Points
Excellent cab! No way deserving the 87 point ratings it got from Wine Enthusiast and Connoiosseur's Guide. Not sure what they were drinking. Maybe it was when, not what, that made the difference. Nice fruits, not over the top but well balanced with oak and tannins. No bitterness to the tannins as they were soft and subtle but there enough to know you were drinking a good cabernet. Nice finish of 30 seconds or more. I guess part of my liking it was the super deal I got on the bottle but not sure I would be as pleased if I had paid the $70 release price ... as much as I very much liked the wine there are several that would beat it handily at that price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2010 - Colima74 wrote: 94 Points
Just excellent with grilled steak. Bright red fruit, balanced, nothing out of place. Right amount of tannin and acid. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2010 - ckinv368 wrote:
Could taste fruit at the outset, but has the potential to substantially improve as the significant tannins smooth out. Hints of leather, and cherries. Pairs very favorably with a blue cheese blend of cheeses
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2010 - Brsed wrote: 91 Points
On vacation, Aviara, California--As dark as night. Plum on the nose. Seems a little extracted with not a lot of structure. Nice fruit of plums and cherries. I liked it but seems like a steep price for what's in the bottle. Decant for at least an hour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2010 - drycab wrote:
Not a bad bottle for a yong Cali Cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2010 - scott78 wrote: 93 Points
Very good, went well with pork dish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2010 - Hazeo wrote: 90 Points
This wine changed a lot over the course of two hours. It was jammy and dense and uninspiring at first, but after a couple of hours it gained a lot of balance and restraint. Interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2010 - mliszt wrote: 94 Points
smooth and got better and better as it opemed up
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2009 - jonwill wrote: 91 Points
Notes consistent with prior tastings. Better balance of fruit and oak versus 04.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2009 - remy wrote: 89 Points
Started very nicely--fruity nose 1/2 hour after decanting. About an hour later, very tannic. Two hours later it mellowed out again--very odd.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 83 Points
Big Red! (Sportsman's): Dark ruby color. Black fruit nose. Blackberry, black cherry and violets. Rich, tart finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2009 - jeff nowak wrote:
this is WAY too expensive for what it is...overmanipulated, but i'll stop short of saying it's spoofilated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2009 - Weston3220 wrote: 90 Points
Taste Napa Valley [Vancouver, Canada] (Fairmont Hotel, Waterfront): A: Herbaceous, Minty
T: Good Sweet Tannins, Ripe Fruit [not over done] Good Acidity, BIg Wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2009 - subtlet wrote: 88 Points
Napa Valley, July 2009; 7/9/2009-7/11/2009 (Napa Valley, CA): The nose leaps out at you, and you know right away that you're in for a rich, heavy cab. Plums lurk in the nose along with some tannic notes and some alcohol. The wine is quite well integrated with delicate blackberries and some oak that plays well with the other flavors. The tannins are gentle, but still full and sustaned through the experience. Unfortunately, the heat noticed on the nose comes through on the palate as well, and with some drier oak flavors, really prevents this wine from delivering to its potential. Some time in bottle would likely help.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2009 - gripNsip wrote: 87 Points
My first trip to Napa, Ca.; 7/9/2009-7/11/2009: Smells like your typical fruit-forward California cabernet blend with some oak present. Fruit forward palate, big and plush early on then dies quickly on the finish leaving only strong acid and distinct alcoholic heat and bite. The tannins are the front end are nice and dusty but thats about this wine's only great quality. To sharp and obtuse on the finish due to the alcohol. Again a circumstance where you can sense that the wine maker was really trying for quality here but the wine was just not showing it today.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2009 - wino_tim wrote: 91 Points
Very meaty with flavors of black cherry, plum, raspberry, and currants, mid-grain tannins and a dusty, earthy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2008 - soyhead wrote: 86 Points
This wine was a disappointment - i preferred the straight out Cab. I found this a touch flat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2008 - jonwill wrote: 91 Points
Notes consistent with prior impressions...this bottle had a significant amount of sediment in it, but an excellent cab overall. Still question the value, though given the higher price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2008 - jonwill wrote: 91 Points
A very young cab, with flavors still trying to meld together. Less oak than the 2004 Oracle with plenty of tannins. Nice fruit upfront with a lingering finish. This one will probably develop over time much better than the '04, but needs some bottle age. Miner also raised the pricepoint for their Oracle wines by about 50% this year - while it's an excellent cab, I'm not sure from a value perspective that it's worth the additional cost.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment