This selection was stored unopened in my cellar since 2004 and opened it today, my reward for that is that its wonderfully surprising. Big nose with big fruit (cab franc style) and only moderate tannin. On the tongue, it is fruity with some unexpected black cherry flavor, but also with cedar in the background, which is reminiscent of a 2006 Sequoia Grove cab. My only regret is that I did not buy more of this excellent wine to store. My assessment of this one is that it significantly improves with age.
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Initially big tannins with petrol. After a halfhour- tannins mellow, black olive notes begin, and leather is present. Delicious- must have cab franc - barnyard notes
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Fairly big nose anticipates big fruit and big mountain tannins. On the tongue, though, it is quite restrained--some typical cab blackberry flavors, but it does not blow you away. It is quit mellow and, while not a complex wine, easy to drink. Tannin does rear up a bit at the back of the palate. Also, there is an annoying sourness in the finish.
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this bottle was really quite good. Lots going on with the nose..tobacco leaf, dark fruit, plum. Palate brought the same with cassis flavors and mint. Finish was drying. Nice wine
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. C: typical dark napa cab color N: hints of dark fruit, plum P: good structure still remains. Fruit is plum with touch of prune. alcohol peaks its head on the finish. swirl on the glass with lots of fine legs confirms. Toasted, burnt oak showing. F: a bit drying in the back of the throat.
Decent QPR for a mid week quaffer. I would agree with the drinking window, this has a number of years ahead of it.
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This bottle appears to be in a dumb phase. I think secondary characteristics are just presenting themselves. I think this have some more maturation and will look forward to this as an aged cabernet - albeit premature. This got smoked by an 03 Flora Springs Trilogy ( i know the cost delta..) I'm going to hide this for a few years.
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Popped and poured into a decanter. Very nice wine. Smooth, elegant, great balance. This is my last bottle of 2004. Will have to try a 2005 to compare. 5,12,16,6=89
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With Les and Sandy. Last bottle, wish I had more. Drinking great now with dark fruit and a strong backbone. Could last a couple more years but I doubt it will improve.
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Perplexing in that this bottle had overtly ripe front-end fruit, though not at all prevalent in the nose, which was a real nice balance between dark red fruit and herbal spice; this time, leaning more towards the holiday variety - think slightly savory, mulled berry cider. A this stage, just a step shy of a crowd pleaser, which this wine is intended to be anything but (see my previous notes). The acidity's still there and the finish is respectably long. Imagine that!..$15 bucks, 7 years old, with so much to think & talk about, and still something left! Certain that my source for this wine is long out of this '04' I'm gonna' have to give the '05 another spin. (88 just because it appears to have passed it's prime.)
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Still a great "go to" wine that is not overly expensive. For $23, hard to find better. Decant 1 hour, big and bold, with nice oak and a bit of smoke and cedar.
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Needs plenty of time to open, starts off very tight with a lot of earth but opens up very nicely with layers of blackberry and cassis balanced with good structure and a nice finish.
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(I appear to be 'stuck' on 89pts, of late...just an observation.) What started out as muted aromatics and a considerably austere palate impression, blossomed into Spring Mtn.-typical aromatics and a flavor profile that was very Bordeaux-like in it's lithe structure and well integrated roundness (note: after 2hrs. plus). This would be a great opener for a meal/evening including Reignac, Verite Le Muse, and other Cali-Bordeaux fence riders. An amazing QPR but likely only appreciated by the well initiated.
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Opened, strained and decanted for 1 hour. This is a great QPR. There are plenty of bright red fruits right at the front end, and nice balance with the acidity. In the middle, there is a slight hint of toast and spice, and it finishes medium with a slight acidic backlash, and little mocha and oak. Well integrated tannins, well balanced, and really a nice drinkable bottle.
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I totally agree with "golfwine." As a QPR, this wine rocks. Dark Spring Mountain fruit w/ dusty tannins and nice earthiness. Good acid, fruit, and the flavor is there at every stage in the palate. Great for the price. Very Napa but not big and bombastic. More reserved, and right bank Bordeaux in that right.
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Pop and pour and ready for more. At this price I could buy all day long and have become a bit of a Spring Mountain Fruit Snob as I can't recall a bad bottle from the mountain. The nose has a bit of bell pepper and cedar while the palate is full of dusty black fruit and medium tannins. The finish is long and has an "old world" feel to it.
A fantastic find at under $20
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Really nice bottle, especially at 16 bucks. This has enough age on it now and is drinking nicely. There was a little sediment in the bottle as some others have commented, but no issues pouring without it being obtrusive (the wine is unfined/unfiltered). Really great nose and good balance - better than a lot of other Napa Cabernet I've had. Has enough age for the tannins to be well integrated. Would be good to pick up a little more for the near term but not sure I'd age it much farther.
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This one really teetered on Outstanding and strictly as a QPR, easily deserving of that! Amazing aromatics - Bordeaux-like, herbal, wild dark-red berry fruit with an earthy complexity so characteristic of its Spring Mtn. upbringing. It had great mid-weight fruit, rich, round, sweet (and lengthy) tannin structure, and a nice, integrated though definitely present acidity that just made for a really impressive and thoroughly enjoyable bottle of wine. This is clearly a well-made effort and although I've never had their 'first label' bottlings, the experience has me pining to go there yet, at this Quality to Price Point (and the current economy), I'm not sure how I could justify it...more likely, I'll just grab up a bunch more of this! Equally or perhaps more impressive, than the '03. (And, I must now admit, an all-around better wine than the Ghost Pines...)
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Ruby with a garnet rim. Inviting nose of raspberry, cassis, and some oaky/cedary notes. Bountiful, powerful flavors of raspberry, cassis, blueberry, some more woody notes, with some earth and pipe tobacco underneath. Very tasty. Harmoniously balanced. Long finish.
Drink now through 2012.
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3/7/2020 - LBC1 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Day 1 - little rough
Day 2 - much improved
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12/25/2015 - WinePalate Likes this wine: 90 Points
This selection was stored unopened in my cellar since 2004 and opened it today, my reward for that is that its wonderfully surprising. Big nose with big fruit (cab franc style) and only moderate tannin. On the tongue, it is fruity with some unexpected black cherry flavor, but also with cedar in the background, which is reminiscent of a 2006 Sequoia Grove cab. My only regret is that I did not buy more of this excellent wine to store. My assessment of this one is that it significantly improves with age.
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6/17/2015 - vinovin wrote: 89 Points
Initially big tannins with petrol. After a halfhour- tannins mellow, black olive notes begin, and leather is present. Delicious- must have cab franc - barnyard notes
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7/7/2014 - EMark Likes this wine: 86 Points
Fairly big nose anticipates big fruit and big mountain tannins. On the tongue, though, it is quite restrained--some typical cab blackberry flavors, but it does not blow you away. It is quit mellow and, while not a complex wine, easy to drink. Tannin does rear up a bit at the back of the palate. Also, there is an annoying sourness in the finish.
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5/7/2012 - arthrovine wrote: 88 Points
this bottle was really quite good. Lots going on with the nose..tobacco leaf, dark fruit, plum. Palate brought the same with cassis flavors and mint. Finish was drying. Nice wine
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1/7/2012 - brigcampbell wrote: 86 Points
.
C: typical dark napa cab color
N: hints of dark fruit, plum
P: good structure still remains. Fruit is plum with touch of prune. alcohol peaks its head on the finish. swirl on the glass with lots of fine legs confirms. Toasted, burnt oak showing.
F: a bit drying in the back of the throat.
Decent QPR for a mid week quaffer. I would agree with the drinking window, this has a number of years ahead of it.
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8/22/2011 - arthrovine wrote: 88 Points
This bottle appears to be in a dumb phase. I think secondary characteristics are just presenting themselves. I think this have some more maturation and will look forward to this as an aged cabernet - albeit premature. This got smoked by an 03 Flora Springs Trilogy ( i know the cost delta..) I'm going to hide this for a few years.
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8/16/2011 - rodsjuice wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured into a decanter. Very nice wine. Smooth, elegant, great balance. This is my last bottle of 2004. Will have to try a 2005 to compare. 5,12,16,6=89
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4/12/2011 - shank wrote: 89 Points
With Les and Sandy. Last bottle, wish I had more. Drinking great now with dark fruit and a strong backbone. Could last a couple more years but I doubt it will improve.
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3/9/2011 - golfwine wrote: 88 Points
Perplexing in that this bottle had overtly ripe front-end fruit, though not at all prevalent in the nose, which was a real nice balance between dark red fruit and herbal spice; this time, leaning more towards the holiday variety - think slightly savory, mulled berry cider. A this stage, just a step shy of a crowd pleaser, which this wine is intended to be anything but (see my previous notes). The acidity's still there and the finish is respectably long. Imagine that!..$15 bucks, 7 years old, with so much to think & talk about, and still something left! Certain that my source for this wine is long out of this '04' I'm gonna' have to give the '05 another spin. (88 just because it appears to have passed it's prime.)
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2/21/2011 - arthrovine wrote: 90 Points
Can't beat the value. Benefitted from 1 hour of decanting
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2/20/2011 - shank wrote: 89 Points
Still a great "go to" wine that is not overly expensive. For $23, hard to find better. Decant 1 hour, big and bold, with nice oak and a bit of smoke and cedar.
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2/14/2011 - JoshA wrote: 91 Points
Lovely, dark fruit in a Bordeaux-like firm but smooth tannic structure. Very long, luscious finish.
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1/2/2011 - shank wrote: 88 Points
Dark and almost inky. Fruit is dark with oak and cedar coming through nicely. Great value at this price for a big bold cab!
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11/11/2010 - tahaus wrote: 90 Points
Always one of the best and my favorite value Cabs from Napa...
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11/1/2010 - wongkevins wrote: 88 Points
Needs plenty of time to open, starts off very tight with a lot of earth but opens up very nicely with layers of blackberry and cassis balanced with good structure and a nice finish.
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9/22/2010 - golfwine wrote: 89 Points
(I appear to be 'stuck' on 89pts, of late...just an observation.) What started out as muted aromatics and a considerably austere palate impression, blossomed into Spring Mtn.-typical aromatics and a flavor profile that was very Bordeaux-like in it's lithe structure and well integrated roundness (note: after 2hrs. plus). This would be a great opener for a meal/evening including Reignac, Verite Le Muse, and other Cali-Bordeaux fence riders. An amazing QPR but likely only appreciated by the well initiated.
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4/23/2010 - rodsjuice wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes then tasted. Nose was dark fruit. Taste was smooth, balanced, nice finish. Drinks very well. Awesome QPR. Will buy again.
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4/18/2010 - swanson.art Likes this wine: 89 Points
Opened, strained and decanted for 1 hour. This is a great QPR. There are plenty of bright red fruits right at the front end, and nice balance with the acidity. In the middle, there is a slight hint of toast and spice, and it finishes medium with a slight acidic backlash, and little mocha and oak. Well integrated tannins, well balanced, and really a nice drinkable bottle.
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2/12/2010 - gkohne wrote: 88 Points
Definitely needs decanting. Has a good nose and some complexity to it. A bit too dry for my taste but very enjoyable with good flavor.
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1/31/2010 - shank wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes, but needs at least 60. Cedar and smoke up front that settles after being open. Throws off sediment. Will buy more.
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1/28/2010 - jdt112 wrote: 87 Points
Good, not amazing
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1/17/2010 - 330america wrote: 91 Points
One of our favorite wines. Decanted, drank almost right away. Very smooth, nice finish.
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12/6/2009 - shank wrote: 87 Points
a bit muted compared with other reviewers
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12/4/2009 - PVTerroir wrote: 90 Points
I totally agree with "golfwine." As a QPR, this wine rocks. Dark Spring Mountain fruit w/ dusty tannins and nice earthiness. Good acid, fruit, and the flavor is there at every stage in the palate. Great for the price. Very Napa but not big and bombastic. More reserved, and right bank Bordeaux in that right.
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12/2/2009 - chateaumiller wrote:
VERY GOOD
Pop and pour and ready for more. At this price I could buy all day long and have become a bit of a Spring Mountain Fruit Snob as I can't recall a bad bottle from the mountain.
The nose has a bit of bell pepper and cedar while the palate is full of dusty black fruit and medium tannins. The finish is long and has an "old world" feel to it.
A fantastic find at under $20
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11/29/2009 - rvaughan515 wrote:
Really nice bottle, especially at 16 bucks. This has enough age on it now and is drinking nicely. There was a little sediment in the bottle as some others have commented, but no issues pouring without it being obtrusive (the wine is unfined/unfiltered). Really great nose and good balance - better than a lot of other Napa Cabernet I've had. Has enough age for the tannins to be well integrated. Would be good to pick up a little more for the near term but not sure I'd age it much farther.
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10/23/2009 - golfwine wrote: 89 Points
This one really teetered on Outstanding and strictly as a QPR, easily deserving of that! Amazing aromatics - Bordeaux-like, herbal, wild dark-red berry fruit with an earthy complexity so characteristic of its Spring Mtn. upbringing. It had great mid-weight fruit, rich, round, sweet (and lengthy) tannin structure, and a nice, integrated though definitely present acidity that just made for a really impressive and thoroughly enjoyable bottle of wine. This is clearly a well-made effort and although I've never had their 'first label' bottlings, the experience has me pining to go there yet, at this Quality to Price Point (and the current economy), I'm not sure how I could justify it...more likely, I'll just grab up a bunch more of this! Equally or perhaps more impressive, than the '03. (And, I must now admit, an all-around better wine than the Ghost Pines...)
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6/10/2009 - fmoehl@yahoo.com wrote: 89 Points
nice Cab, well worth it's money
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5/15/2009 - THaas wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with prior note.
I'll add, though, that both bottles that I've had of this vintage have thrown a LOT of sediment. So... strain or decant.
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4/25/2009 - maxmanx wrote: 87 Points
OK wine. not worth $15.
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3/26/2009 - ZR1001 wrote: 89 Points
Beautiful nose of cherries. Very well balanced with short smooth finish.
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3/26/2009 - THaas wrote: 89 Points
Ruby with a garnet rim. Inviting nose of raspberry, cassis, and some oaky/cedary notes. Bountiful, powerful flavors of raspberry, cassis, blueberry, some more woody notes, with some earth and pipe tobacco underneath. Very tasty. Harmoniously balanced. Long finish.
Drink now through 2012.
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3/11/2009 - Mr France wrote: 77 Points
Decent start, but had an acrid finish. Will wait and see if it is any better tomorrow, but somehow I think not.
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1/28/2009 - sbrockmeier wrote: 84 Points
DECENT WINE.. HAD A NICE FINISH, BUT NEVER SOMETHING I WILL REMEMBER..
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9/1/2008 - Traxx wrote: flawed
Corked=sad
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