Last one. Cork intact and no infiltration, thanks Bond for the primo cork. Fruit forward and beautiful at 16 years. Deep ruby and brilliant in the glass. Really good cabernet. Juicy. Medium bodied wine. slightly dry. Tannins present but integrated. The 2006's keep outperforming the 2005 somehow. CT window indicated only to 2020 but it has gone beyond this, and can make it perhaps 5 more years. But it's in a good place now, why risk missing it's prime?
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I gave this a 93 back in 2011 and have done so again even though there was a slight drop off in fruit intensity. To be fair, over a day or so more fruit showed up and it was very nice. I think time in bottle had allowed flavors to integrate more and that is why it seemed softer. Cork did break in half but was able to extract it whole and it did its job. These are ready now and need a bit of air for all the flavors to come forward, but think drinkers will enjoy and be pleased.
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Medium garnet color. Nose of plums and lavender. This was pretty tight upon opening, something I did not expect after reviewing other current notes. Began to open at the one hour mark to reveal dark fruit, chocolate, cranberry and charred oak. Medium bodied with a big mouth feel. Felt like this was a bit disjointed compared to previous experiences with the 2004, 2007 and 2008 Matriarch.
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Clear and very deep garnet. Clean nose of pronounced intensity. Aromas of earth, mushrooms, vanilla, prunes, licorice, dried cherry. Wine is fully developed. Palate: dry, high acidity, well integrated and mellow tannins. High alcohol, medium plus body, medium plus flavor intensity of bitter chocolate, dried cranberries, charred wood, leather. Finish is long, satisfying, with a good mouthfeels that is very pleasant. Very good wine that is very good now and can last for 5 plus more years.
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This plummy and round wine tastes a bit past its prime, but it is still quite enjoyable and layered in its twilight years. Dark red in color; full in body; nose of prune, graphite, and baking spices. Tastes of ripe blueberry, mocha, and bay leaf, with a lingering, almost sour finish that gains lift only after a few hours. This lacks the precision of more recent vintages - not a complete surprise for a second wine at the 13-year mark - but it's plenty tasty, especially after decanting at least an hour. 14.5% alcohol.
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i] Kleur: Diep donkerrood Aroma / bouquet: Verleidelijk bouquet. Eerste indruk: donker fruit in combinatie met verfijnd hout met een zacht-zoete indruk. Zuiver. Zwarte bessen, overrijpe kers, cederhout, zoethout, Smaak / Afdronk: Mooi. Mondvullend. Verfijnd en tegelijkertijd krachtig. Prachtige balans. Zachte zuurgraad, krachtige tannines met een duidelijke bittertoon. Stoere wijn. Geweldig krachtige afdronk waarin het bittertje nog aanwezig is. Algemeen / potentieel: Fantastische krachtpatser met nog enkele jaren toekomst voor zich. Op dit moment een briljante eetwijn! 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Smaak / Afdronk: 16 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 91/100
Google Translate:
Color: Deep dark red Aroma / bouquet: Seductive bouquet. First impression: dark fruit combined with refined wood with a soft-sweet impression. Pure. Blackcurrants, overripe cherry, cedarwood, licorice, Taste / Finish: Beautiful. Mouthfilling. Sophisticated and powerful at the same time. Beautiful balance. Soft acidity, powerful tannins with a clear bitterness. Tough wine. Great powerful finish in which the bitterness is still present. General / potential: Fantastic powerhouse with a few more years ahead. At the moment a brilliant eating wine! 50 + Color: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Taste / Finish: 16 + General / potential: 8 = 91/100
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This is really good. Excellent mouthfeel, Blueberry pie, light oak nuance, cassis ... classic Napa CS notes. What I would expect from a premier producer. Fantastic fruit, full, very long lingering finish. A little alcohol on the nose but no offensive. Around $100 you could probably find better QPR, but regardless, a Great bottle...cheers.
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Pop and pour. Consumed over the next two hours. Very dark and tobacco like taste. It became softer over time, albeit the dark berry taste endured. Very enjoyable.
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Friend's 50th Birthday Party (Boston, MA): From magnum - Popped and poured, but sat in glass for about 30 minutes prior to tasting. Dark fruits and some herbal notes on the nose. On the palate ripe blackberries, fresh herbs and a bit of a mint note. Nice weight in the mid palate and a very long finish with some sweet tannins.
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Perfect balance of light and dark right now. This wine was uncorked to VERY little stain, and poured a DENSE color into the glass (almost black). The nose out of this one is blackberry pie and a hint of herb, some mint. The entry is thick and dark. Smoke and blackberry, a little plum, some fig, some jam, mint, all kind of mixing into the middle of the wine that dances into a darker wine. Every sip seemed like this one got darker and more serious...a dark chocolate note started to emerge after an hour of being open (aka when it was almost gone). The wine finished with a soft oak tannin, quite a bit of black pepper that was exponential with food, and more tame when consumed alone. Nice wine by Mr. Harlan indeed, with a lot of life left, but probably much darker now than it was 5 years ago.
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50+5+14+18+8. Intense nose of black fruit, ripe blackberry, ripe cassis, slight jam mines and hints of pie crust and baking spice. Palate confirms nose, surprising lack of sediment, well balanc d acid, fruit, French oak, tannin. Secondary characteristics beginning to show but still fruit driven with hints of sweetness. Very pleasurable. Will hold last bottle for at least another five years.
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smoky, a little earthy, very much floral, definitely lots of concentration here. Very tannic, actually. Underneath the tannins the palate was definitely sweet.
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Deep ruby colored. Nose is very expressive and youthful with ample fruit, top quality oak, mineral notes, licorice, mint and anise. Palate has an amazing smooth texture, solid structure, depth of fruit, complexity, freshness and a bitter-chocolaty finish which was long. Alcohol was a little warm. An amazing wine!
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Dark garnet. Expressive nose with blueberries, anise, liquorice, chocolate and noticeable minerality. Medium to full-bodied with firm tannins, nicely integrated oak, some heat, balancing acidity and a long aftertaste. At a nice stage to enjoy but the tannins are still quite firm.
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Popped this juice mid afternoon for a 6 hour decant. As expected, it was full of berry flavors and tannin's with hints of licorice. Very solid juice at $75, but not $500!
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Dark ruby. Explosive nose with top quality new oak, licorice, blackcurrant, espresso coffee, dark chocolate and mint. Palate is medium to full bodied with supple texture, tannins hidden behind the fruit but still firm and quite high in acidity. Very flavorful with a nice elegant bitter edge balancing sweet fruit. Long aftertaste of vanilla, blackcurrant and licorice. Fantastic balanced and elegant Napa Cab.
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Last had a bottle of this back in Dec 2010 so a little over 18 months ago. Little change in that time. Just a short decant is all this needs to show well. Lots of ripe fruit with an amazingly voluptuous yet smooth texture. Easily competes with wines over the $100 price point despite being well under that price itself.
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This features gobs of blue/black fruit, but also with plenty of green pepper and menthol impressions. Has good acidity and a nice closing kick on the finish as well, with active but civilized tannins at this stage. Overall it has good balance and power...I'd be surprised if this wasn't mountain fruit. This was clearly superior to the 2009 Caymus Special Selection and 2009 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon tasted blind alongside. Refreshing to see some Bordeaux qualities from a Napa wine.
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Served double blind with a flight of other 2006s of similar pedigree. No formal notes, but was WOTN. Still young and could use more time in the bottle.
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A great example of a former brute from this 2006 vintage that is softening into something very special. Not much of a nose but a beautiful palate, medium to long finish, coffee leather, not too sweet. Very nice.
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Not quite sure about this wine. Great nose, but very tannic (my tongue still feels fuzzy). Hard to get past the tannins to taste the wine, but it did soften with time and air. I will try decanting my last bottle for a couple hours before I drink it.
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I almost weep every time I drink this. It is just so nicely balanced, complex and seducing at the same time. A very nice buy indeed compared to the more expensive Harlan offering. This time it was drunk with 1 kilo american cote de beauf, pommes anna and homemade sauce Bearnaise on new years eve.
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Dark a bit sweet fruit but with a great structure. Bigger than I expected it to be. Quite complex with layers of aromas. Great wine served with a massive steak and fois gras with some mushroom risotto. Quite a treat.
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I am stunned. P&P with a follow over a day. Took about 3 hours to really hit stride, and when it did.... wow. I couldn't keep my nose out of the glass. Not gonna take the time with common descriptors, it was really that good.
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One of the biggest wines I've ever tasted. Aroma of chocolate shortly after opening, with tastes of coffee and leather. After being opened and paired with food, the fruit and aging came forward with notes of cherry and vanilla coming to the forefront. Ridiculously long finish. Throughout the meal, would get different tastes on different sips, ranging from bell peppers to raspberries.
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Drank at The Harbord Room with DMK and Lucas. This bottle had a very strong, almost overpowering bouquet of alcohol to it. This was a pre-tasting concern that got me worried. In the end, it wasn't even a slight concern as the wine was very well balanced with lots of cherry jam flavours and mid level tannins. I really enjoyed this bottle and wish more California cabernets would not be such strong "in your face" wines.
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very disappointing. Taste of stewed fruit and none of the firmness and cedar hints I expect from this wine. Stored on the top shelf of my cellar -- hope the temp. didn't get too high and cook my wine. I have two left -- we'll see. Score would be 87-88, but disappointment makes it feel more like 77, since this is usually one of my favorites.
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A worthy follow up to the Schrader. This is the first time I've tried the Matriarch and I was very impressed. Red fruits seemed to come through more for me. This is very well made and in the style of the Bond wines. Supposedly made for nearer term drinking, this has the stuffing to age for several years.
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Day One: First opened, long cork, built for aging. Smells just like FRESH grape jelly. Nose in glass, faint but dense. Initially very tight but now these traits emerging. Legs run medium slow and perfect teardrop. Nice ruby red and color that goes close to the edge of the glass. Cork stained light magenta. How does that work? A wine looks real deep colored yet the cork is light? Syrah and Malbec tend to stain deeply in my experience. Very well balance wine. Wife says powerful, as in alcohol strong, but not tasting it. Nice fruit, tannins, low and in check, but that's what makes this wonderfully balanced. Tannins, fruit, and alcohol all in harmony. Now about an hour or so down the road. Wife says it's changing; that's the indication this is a good wine and evolving. Oh, and I did think there was some vegetal flavors in my first sips...but what? Asparagus? Beans? Not certain.
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Opened and not decanted. Consumed over the next two hours. Amazing how good this was right from the start. The fruit is just luscious and juicy but still retains a complexity of flavors that dazzles the palate from start to finish. Full bodied and ever so smooth through to the finish. Awesome wine.
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Really enjoyed. Had with Christmas eve dinner...juicy prime rib!! Wine was really good alone with the rib got even better. Smell of darker fruits cherry and blackberry with a small hint of vanilla. Great finish. Not too long, but great nonetheless
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Popped and poured at a restaurant. Very thin and muted at first. Opened up beautifully after a couple hours. This one really needs time and air before drinking -- definitely should be decanted.
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This wine is a deep, dark ruby red colored wine with medium-heavy body and a 14.5% alcohol. The aromas and flavors I got were from a very extended decanting. This was more like a young Bordeaux than a New World wine. It gave off aromas of baking spices, cassis, mineral, chocolate, berries, and some earth. It has a flavor profile that matches the aromas. It is a balanced wine, and it was a pleasure to drink. This one clearly will benefit from time in the cellar. My guess for a drinking window, 2014 to 2026, maybe even a bit longer. Rating this 93+
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Saturdays at One - Volume 36 - Double Blind!: Tasted double blind. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of thatch, rose petals, potpourri and plums. Flavors of boysenberries, plums, black berries and a hint of plums. Medium acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold. 91-92?
My guesses were Cabernet Sauvignon, United States, Napa, 2007 and Harris Estates.
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Good, solid example of a well made California Cab. Mocha and rich berry notes on the nose. The palate adds cedar and a soft, round oakiness that's very enjoyable.
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Monthly Double Blind Tasting - 10/3/2010 (Farpointe Cellar): The wine was deep red. The nose had black currant and raspberry, mocha and spice, and a big shot of oak. The palate was soft, with chocolate and black currant, raspberry and spice, and a good vanilla finish.
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The noise is interesting, smells a bit like dirt and tobacco, but it has an elegance to it. The wine greets you with some aged tobacco, like a fine un-lit cigar, leather and anise. There is a hint of red currant and spice on the mid-palate. It finishes with a smokey oak which very much matches the initial taste. It's well balanced and definitely complex. The color is more of a ruby. It was decanted for 1 1/2 hours and it really opened up from my initial sip and smell. It was consumed over the next hour or so. It's definitely an outstanding wine a solid A-.
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Decanted for an hour then drank over the next two. Great flavors, smoothing tannins and a memorable finish. Cant wait to try it again next year. Maybe the best $85 Napa cab out there...
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Decanted for an hour then drank over the next two. Great flavors, smoothing tannins and a memorable finish. Cant wait to try it again next year. Maybe the best $85 Napa cab out there...
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Second bottle opened. Decanted for about an hour before consumption. This wine appears to haev shut dow a bit since tasted. Still a very Bordelaise nose with lots of sweet dark fruit and dark chocolate. The palate was somewhat backward with the structure really evident. Tannins seemed a littel harsher than what I remember from the last bottle and mid palate closed down. I still think these are pretty delicious and very old world in style.
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Drank straight from bottle. Very tannic at first, but smoothed out a bit in time. Great nose and bright flavors, but this is no Napa fruit bomb. Lots going on here. I think I opened a little early, but I had the good sense this year to buy 6 rather than last year's 3 bottles. It will be fun to see how this one develops.
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Drank straight from bottle. Very tannic at first, but smoothed out a bit in time. Great nose and bright flavors, but this is no Napa fruit bomb. Lots going on here. I think I opened a little early, but I had the good sense this year to buy 6 rather than last year's 3 bottles. It will be fun to see how this one develops.
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*from memory with no formal notes* This bottle could fool many a great Bordeaux connoisseur. The nose and palate were a dead ringer for a young Bordeaux. Explosive mid palate that just oozed with sweet red cassis and cherries on day one. Day two had more of the same but wine was better integrated. I am not sure if I want to age these babies long term or drink them all over the next couple of years.
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4/22/2023 - gesusser Likes this wine: 93 Points
Time to drink up..finished my last of 6.
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3/28/2022 - pmarlo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Last one. Cork intact and no infiltration, thanks Bond for the primo cork. Fruit forward and beautiful at 16 years. Deep ruby and brilliant in the glass. Really good cabernet. Juicy. Medium bodied wine. slightly dry. Tannins present but integrated.
The 2006's keep outperforming the 2005 somehow. CT window indicated only to 2020 but it has gone beyond this, and can make it perhaps 5 more years. But it's in a good place now, why risk missing it's prime?
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10/24/2020 - pmarlo Likes this wine: 93 Points
I gave this a 93 back in 2011 and have done so again even though there was a slight drop off in fruit intensity. To be fair, over a day or so more fruit showed up and it was very nice. I think time in bottle had allowed flavors to integrate more and that is why it seemed softer. Cork did break in half but was able to extract it whole and it did its job. These are ready now and need a bit of air for all the flavors to come forward, but think drinkers will enjoy and be pleased.
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9/21/2020 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium garnet color. Nose of plums and lavender. This was pretty tight upon opening, something I did not expect after reviewing other current notes. Began to open at the one hour mark to reveal dark fruit, chocolate, cranberry and charred oak. Medium bodied with a big mouth feel. Felt like this was a bit disjointed compared to previous experiences with the 2004, 2007 and 2008 Matriarch.
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6/21/2020 - vpoms wrote: 93 Points
Clear and very deep garnet. Clean nose of pronounced intensity. Aromas of earth, mushrooms, vanilla, prunes, licorice, dried cherry. Wine is fully developed. Palate: dry, high acidity, well integrated and mellow tannins. High alcohol, medium plus body, medium plus flavor intensity of bitter chocolate, dried cranberries, charred wood, leather. Finish is long, satisfying, with a good mouthfeels that is very pleasant. Very good wine that is very good now and can last for 5 plus more years.
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6/23/2019 - rafimama wrote: 99 Points
Exceptional. Drink now.
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3/11/2019 - msuwine wrote: 93 Points
This plummy and round wine tastes a bit past its prime, but it is still quite enjoyable and layered in its twilight years. Dark red in color; full in body; nose of prune, graphite, and baking spices. Tastes of ripe blueberry, mocha, and bay leaf, with a lingering, almost sour finish that gains lift only after a few hours. This lacks the precision of more recent vintages - not a complete surprise for a second wine at the 13-year mark - but it's plenty tasty, especially after decanting at least an hour. 14.5% alcohol.
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12/9/2018 - WildeMeeuw Likes this wine: 91 Points
i] Kleur: Diep donkerrood Aroma / bouquet: Verleidelijk bouquet. Eerste indruk: donker fruit in combinatie met verfijnd hout met een zacht-zoete indruk. Zuiver. Zwarte bessen, overrijpe kers, cederhout, zoethout, Smaak / Afdronk: Mooi. Mondvullend. Verfijnd en tegelijkertijd krachtig. Prachtige balans. Zachte zuurgraad, krachtige tannines met een duidelijke bittertoon. Stoere wijn. Geweldig krachtige afdronk waarin het bittertje nog aanwezig is. Algemeen / potentieel: Fantastische krachtpatser met nog enkele jaren toekomst voor zich. Op dit moment een briljante eetwijn! 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Smaak / Afdronk: 16 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 91/100
Google Translate:
Color: Deep dark red Aroma / bouquet: Seductive bouquet. First impression: dark fruit combined with refined wood with a soft-sweet impression. Pure. Blackcurrants, overripe cherry, cedarwood, licorice, Taste / Finish: Beautiful. Mouthfilling. Sophisticated and powerful at the same time. Beautiful balance. Soft acidity, powerful tannins with a clear bitterness. Tough wine. Great powerful finish in which the bitterness is still present. General / potential: Fantastic powerhouse with a few more years ahead. At the moment a brilliant eating wine! 50 + Color: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Taste / Finish: 16 + General / potential: 8 = 91/100
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3/2/2018 - Cphofmann Likes this wine: 91 Points
Black fruit, spice, vanilla, anise. A little Hot when first opened, starting to integrate after about 45mins.
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6/28/2017 - carstenf wrote: 94 Points
Cassis and cigarbox and prunes. Mature but not old in taste.
I prefer them like now....not more mature. Elegant wood handling.
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4/14/2017 - Wine G Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is really good. Excellent mouthfeel, Blueberry pie, light oak nuance, cassis ... classic Napa CS notes. What I would expect from a premier producer. Fantastic fruit, full, very long lingering finish. A little alcohol on the nose but no offensive. Around $100 you could probably find better QPR, but regardless, a Great bottle...cheers.
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9/10/2016 - Brownvino wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour. Consumed over the next two hours. Very dark and tobacco like taste. It became softer over time, albeit the dark berry taste endured. Very enjoyable.
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6/11/2016 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Friend's 50th Birthday Party (Boston, MA): From magnum - Popped and poured, but sat in glass for about 30 minutes prior to tasting. Dark fruits and some herbal notes on the nose. On the palate ripe blackberries, fresh herbs and a bit of a mint note. Nice weight in the mid palate and a very long finish with some sweet tannins.
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4/15/2016 - mflesh wrote:
Perfect balance of light and dark right now. This wine was uncorked to VERY little stain, and poured a DENSE color into the glass (almost black). The nose out of this one is blackberry pie and a hint of herb, some mint. The entry is thick and dark. Smoke and blackberry, a little plum, some fig, some jam, mint, all kind of mixing into the middle of the wine that dances into a darker wine. Every sip seemed like this one got darker and more serious...a dark chocolate note started to emerge after an hour of being open (aka when it was almost gone). The wine finished with a soft oak tannin, quite a bit of black pepper that was exponential with food, and more tame when consumed alone. Nice wine by Mr. Harlan indeed, with a lot of life left, but probably much darker now than it was 5 years ago.
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12/25/2015 - annerk Likes this wine: 95 Points
50+5+14+18+8. Intense nose of black fruit, ripe blackberry, ripe cassis, slight jam mines and hints of pie crust and baking spice. Palate confirms nose, surprising lack of sediment, well balanc d acid, fruit, French oak, tannin. Secondary characteristics beginning to show but still fruit driven with hints of sweetness. Very pleasurable. Will hold last bottle for at least another five years.
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11/8/2015 - lucaslabelle wrote: 95 Points
Fabulous showing for this wine. A delicious, well balanced, and flavorful wine. Drink now.
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9/17/2015 - Peech Likes this wine: 91 Points
nice and sweet nose, a little oaky, plenty of cassis, smoky, cedar. Still a little too tannic.
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9/13/2015 - Peech Likes this wine: 92 Points
smoky, a little earthy, very much floral, definitely lots of concentration here. Very tannic, actually. Underneath the tannins the palate was definitely sweet.
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6/22/2015 - Diane (LI) wrote:
Spice, dark fruit, and tannins. Delicious on our first night on Fire Island.
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1/17/2015 - prism wrote:
A treat. No formal notes. Solidly in it's drinking window, secondary flavors joining the ripe fruit and fine tannins.
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9/27/2014 - Stefanos T. Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep ruby colored.
Nose is very expressive and youthful with ample fruit, top quality oak, mineral notes, licorice, mint and anise.
Palate has an amazing smooth texture, solid structure, depth of fruit, complexity, freshness and a bitter-chocolaty finish which was long. Alcohol was a little warm.
An amazing wine!
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9/27/2014 - Yiannis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark garnet. Expressive nose with blueberries, anise, liquorice, chocolate and noticeable minerality. Medium to full-bodied with firm tannins, nicely integrated oak, some heat, balancing acidity and a long aftertaste. At a nice stage to enjoy but the tannins are still quite firm.
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1/25/2014 - gesusser wrote: 93 Points
Short decant but this red blend was singing after a while in the glass, smooth long legged and excellent
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12/4/2013 - Japesurf wrote: 93 Points
Popped this juice mid afternoon for a 6 hour decant. As expected, it was full of berry flavors and tannin's with hints of licorice. Very solid juice at $75, but not $500!
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5/4/2013 - ghobby wrote: 94 Points
Awesome
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10/5/2012 - B Paul wrote: 92 Points
Drinking well -- has softened since last time I tried. I'd say drink now and over next few years.
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9/1/2012 - wineberg Likes this wine: 92 Points
3+ hour decant. Didn't take any formal notes on this, but did have it next to the 2007 Matriarch, which is definitely the better wine.
The 06 is still good though, with layers of flavors, aromas, and fine, smooth tannins. The 07 is very similar, just has more depth and complexity.
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8/26/2012 - Stefanos T. wrote: 94 Points
Dark ruby. Explosive nose with top quality new oak, licorice, blackcurrant, espresso coffee, dark chocolate and mint. Palate is medium to full bodied with supple texture, tannins hidden behind the fruit but still firm and quite high in acidity. Very flavorful with a nice elegant bitter edge balancing sweet fruit. Long aftertaste of vanilla, blackcurrant and licorice. Fantastic balanced and elegant Napa Cab.
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8/18/2012 - Rob MacKay wrote: 93 Points
Last had a bottle of this back in Dec 2010 so a little over 18 months ago. Little change in that time. Just a short decant is all this needs to show well. Lots of ripe fruit with an amazingly voluptuous yet smooth texture. Easily competes with wines over the $100 price point despite being well under that price itself.
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8/12/2012 - Robert Pavlovich wrote: 94 Points
This features gobs of blue/black fruit, but also with plenty of green pepper and menthol impressions. Has good acidity and a nice closing kick on the finish as well, with active but civilized tannins at this stage. Overall it has good balance and power...I'd be surprised if this wasn't mountain fruit. This was clearly superior to the 2009 Caymus Special Selection and 2009 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon tasted blind alongside. Refreshing to see some Bordeaux qualities from a Napa wine.
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7/16/2012 - mbwineguy wrote: 92 Points
Served double blind with a flight of other 2006s of similar pedigree. No formal notes, but was WOTN. Still young and could use more time in the bottle.
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7/12/2012 - jaylew1 wrote: 92 Points
A great example of a former brute from this 2006 vintage that is softening into something very special. Not much of a nose but a beautiful palate, medium to long finish, coffee leather, not too sweet. Very nice.
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1/20/2012 - jeffm_fla wrote: 90 Points
Not quite sure about this wine. Great nose, but very tannic (my tongue still feels fuzzy). Hard to get past the tannins to taste the wine, but it did soften with time and air. I will try decanting my last bottle for a couple hours before I drink it.
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12/31/2011 - gorm wrote: 95 Points
I almost weep every time I drink this. It is just so nicely balanced, complex and seducing at the same time. A very nice buy indeed compared to the more expensive Harlan offering. This time it was drunk with 1 kilo american cote de beauf, pommes anna and homemade sauce Bearnaise on new years eve.
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12/13/2011 - St Paul wrote: 94 Points
Dark a bit sweet fruit but with a great structure. Bigger than I expected it to be. Quite complex with layers of aromas. Great wine served with a massive steak and fois gras with some mushroom risotto. Quite a treat.
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11/27/2011 - cbero wrote:
I am stunned. P&P with a follow over a day. Took about 3 hours to really hit stride, and when it did.... wow. I couldn't keep my nose out of the glass. Not gonna take the time with common descriptors, it was really that good.
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9/19/2011 - Nprzybylo wrote: 95 Points
One of the biggest wines I've ever tasted. Aroma of chocolate shortly after opening, with tastes of coffee and leather. After being opened and paired with food, the fruit and aging came forward with notes of cherry and vanilla coming to the forefront. Ridiculously long finish. Throughout the meal, would get different tastes on different sips, ranging from bell peppers to raspberries.
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7/13/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote: 94 Points
Excellent Cab. Served at The Restaurant (Meadowood Resort) with a delicious beef terndorloin with smoked fat. Amazing pairing.
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6/24/2011 - Rosengoo wrote: 91 Points
Drank at The Harbord Room with DMK and Lucas. This bottle had a very strong, almost overpowering bouquet of alcohol to it. This was a pre-tasting concern that got me worried. In the end, it wasn't even a slight concern as the wine was very well balanced with lots of cherry jam flavours and mid level tannins. I really enjoyed this bottle and wish more California cabernets would not be such strong "in your face" wines.
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6/17/2011 - jeffm_fla wrote:
very disappointing. Taste of stewed fruit and none of the firmness and cedar hints I expect from this wine. Stored on the top shelf of my cellar -- hope the temp. didn't get too high and cook my wine. I have two left -- we'll see. Score would be 87-88, but disappointment makes it feel more like 77, since this is usually one of my favorites.
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4/24/2011 - B Paul wrote: 93 Points
A worthy follow up to the Schrader. This is the first time I've tried the Matriarch and I was very impressed. Red fruits seemed to come through more for me. This is very well made and in the style of the Bond wines. Supposedly made for nearer term drinking, this has the stuffing to age for several years.
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3/7/2011 - pmarlo wrote: 93 Points
Day One: First opened, long cork, built for aging. Smells just like FRESH grape jelly. Nose in glass, faint but dense. Initially very tight but now these traits emerging. Legs run medium slow and perfect teardrop. Nice ruby red and color that goes close to the edge of the glass. Cork stained light magenta. How does that work? A wine looks real deep colored yet the cork is light? Syrah and Malbec tend to stain deeply in my experience. Very well balance wine. Wife says powerful, as in alcohol strong, but not tasting it. Nice fruit, tannins, low and in check, but that's what makes this wonderfully balanced. Tannins, fruit, and alcohol all in harmony. Now about an hour or so down the road. Wife says it's changing; that's the indication this is a good wine and evolving. Oh, and I did think there was some vegetal flavors in my first sips...but what? Asparagus? Beans? Not certain.
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12/25/2010 - Rob MacKay wrote: 93 Points
Opened and not decanted. Consumed over the next two hours. Amazing how good this was right from the start. The fruit is just luscious and juicy but still retains a complexity of flavors that dazzles the palate from start to finish. Full bodied and ever so smooth through to the finish. Awesome wine.
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12/25/2010 - Bgoad72 wrote:
Really enjoyed. Had with Christmas eve dinner...juicy prime rib!! Wine was really good alone with the rib got even better. Smell of darker fruits cherry and blackberry with a small hint of vanilla. Great finish. Not too long, but great nonetheless
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12/24/2010 - jeffm_fla wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured at a restaurant. Very thin and muted at first. Opened up beautifully after a couple hours. This one really needs time and air before drinking -- definitely should be decanted.
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11/27/2010 - dferreir wrote: 93 Points
very good very young. won't open another for a while
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11/3/2010 - Renegade wrote: 93 Points
This wine is a deep, dark ruby red colored wine with medium-heavy body and a 14.5% alcohol. The aromas and flavors I got were from a very extended decanting. This was more like a young Bordeaux than a New World wine. It gave off aromas of baking spices, cassis, mineral, chocolate, berries, and some earth. It has a flavor profile that matches the aromas. It is a balanced wine, and it was a pleasure to drink. This one clearly will benefit from time in the cellar. My guess for a drinking window, 2014 to 2026, maybe even a bit longer. Rating this 93+
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10/9/2010 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 95 Points
Triskeles Foundation Wine Event (West Pikeland Township Cultural Building): Deep rich aroma. Wonderful wine with incredible balance.
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10/3/2010 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
Saturdays at One - Volume 36 - Double Blind!: Tasted double blind. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of thatch, rose petals, potpourri and plums. Flavors of boysenberries, plums, black berries and a hint of plums. Medium acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold. 91-92?
My guesses were Cabernet Sauvignon, United States, Napa, 2007 and Harris Estates.
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10/3/2010 - RedLoverJim Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good, solid example of a well made California Cab. Mocha and rich berry notes on the nose. The palate adds cedar and a soft, round oakiness that's very enjoyable.
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10/3/2010 - mmurry wrote: 90 Points
Monthly Double Blind Tasting - 10/3/2010 (Farpointe Cellar): The wine was deep red. The nose had black currant and raspberry, mocha and spice, and a big shot of oak. The palate was soft, with chocolate and black currant, raspberry and spice, and a good vanilla finish.
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10/2/2010 - BigBoy_Sonoma wrote: 92 Points
The noise is interesting, smells a bit like dirt and tobacco, but it has an elegance to it. The wine greets you with some aged tobacco, like a fine un-lit cigar, leather and anise. There is a hint of red currant and spice on the mid-palate. It finishes with a smokey oak which very much matches the initial taste. It's well balanced and definitely complex. The color is more of a ruby. It was decanted for 1 1/2 hours and it really opened up from my initial sip and smell. It was consumed over the next hour or so. It's definitely an outstanding wine a solid A-.
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9/2/2010 - jeffm_fla wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for an hour then drank over the next two. Great flavors, smoothing tannins and a memorable finish. Cant wait to try it again next year. Maybe the best $85 Napa cab out there...
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9/1/2010 - jeffm_fla wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for an hour then drank over the next two. Great flavors, smoothing tannins and a memorable finish. Cant wait to try it again next year. Maybe the best $85 Napa cab out there...
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8/12/2010 - stbasil wrote: 90 Points
Second bottle opened. Decanted for about an hour before consumption. This wine appears to haev shut dow a bit since tasted. Still a very Bordelaise nose with lots of sweet dark fruit and dark chocolate. The palate was somewhat backward with the structure really evident. Tannins seemed a littel harsher than what I remember from the last bottle and mid palate closed down. I still think these are pretty delicious and very old world in style.
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7/8/2010 - TheEngineer wrote: 90 Points
Tight, needed a couple of hours of decanting. Very nicely done, structured, dense deep fruit but with good acidity, needs a calm moment to appreciate.
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5/3/2010 - jeffm_fla wrote: 93 Points
Drank straight from bottle. Very tannic at first, but smoothed out a bit in time. Great nose and bright flavors, but this is no Napa fruit bomb. Lots going on here. I think I opened a little early, but I had the good sense this year to buy 6 rather than last year's 3 bottles. It will be fun to see how this one develops.
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4/28/2010 - jeffm_fla wrote: 93 Points
Drank straight from bottle. Very tannic at first, but smoothed out a bit in time. Great nose and bright flavors, but this is no Napa fruit bomb. Lots going on here. I think I opened a little early, but I had the good sense this year to buy 6 rather than last year's 3 bottles. It will be fun to see how this one develops.
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4/26/2010 - stbasil wrote: 93 Points
*from memory with no formal notes* This bottle could fool many a great Bordeaux connoisseur. The nose and palate were a dead ringer for a young Bordeaux. Explosive mid palate that just oozed with sweet red cassis and cherries on day one. Day two had more of the same but wine was better integrated. I am not sure if I want to age these babies long term or drink them all over the next couple of years.
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