Deep dark center, dark red rim with some signs of age. Rich, plasticine, canned corn, dense black and red fruit, oiled black olives, rosemary and tarragon. Smooth, plums and black cherries, blueberries, oaky, balanced acid and tannin (modest at this point), a touch of greenness, some Szechuan peppercorn, marzipan, great long finish. Excellent Elivette, drinking well now but will last a few more years.
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A beautifully balanced wine that delivered on every level. After an hour decant this was singing. First time I’ve gotten mint on the nose. Sublime experience. 97+
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I am really enjoying this wine for my birthday. It is smooth and no funk for a 2006. I am a spring mountain member and really enjoy their cabs. I think this bottle could age another 10 years.
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Came out a bit disappointed here given the strong reviews. Did not decant as long as the others, so this was probably my fault. Overall expected flavor, mouthfeel, complexity for a Napa blend.
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Spring Mountain Vineyard wines are probably my favorite California cabs because they are consistently both very very good and affordable. This 06 Elivette took a while to get there. After 90 minutes in the decanter it was a little bitter so we game it another 30 minutes. Same, so let it sit and opened a '12 Tom Eddie Cab decanted an hour before the steaks came off the grill. My wife loves Tom's wines so she started with it while I didn't want to give up on the Elivette. At the three hour mark it was like a totally different wine. Very nice. Not nearly as big and the young Tom Eddie but we both enjoyed them together with a perfectly seared filet, lobster mac and cheese and Fleming's potatoes.
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Decanted for 4 hours then re-bottled. Dark and Inky - Earth tones with Leather and Dark Cherry on the nose. Flavours of Cherry with White Pepper, tannins have softened but still prevalent. Good balance and a medium finish. Has aged fairly well.
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Getting better with some age. Black cherry, smoke and mineral flavor profile; modest tannins at this point allowed this to smooth out; fairly short finish. Decanted for 90 minutes.
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Tight and astringent. Despite showing some black currant and gunpowder flavors, this is a fairly unyielding wine even after five hours in the decanter. Most of what we got from this bottle was oak and alcohol. 2006 is a less fruit forward vintage in Napa, but this wine is even more reticent than others I have had.
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Deep garnet color. Aromas of stink, oak and fructose. Off dry with medium-full body. Smooth acidity with medium, round tannins. Good balance. Flavorful with berries and sour. Medium. finish. Typical.
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This is a very good wine, no doubt, but it is not worth the price of admission in my mind. Foley Claret at a similar price and David Ramey cabs at a lower price are consistently better wines, with more fruit and intensity, and plenty of character like the Elivette.
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12/29/2023 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quite mature. Excellent. Drink now and over the next few years.
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11/4/2023 - cyc wrote: flawed
Not stored in ideal conditions.
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7/31/2022 - Dsahoo wrote:
Shared with Jen after BBQ
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9/18/2021 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Keeps getting better with age. Excellent drinking now.
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9/10/2021 - tfesmgk Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking great. Full dark in color, smooth tannins. Big fruit. Drank next to a premier cru Paulliac and this wine was preferred hands down.
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8/8/2020 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep dark center, dark red rim with some signs of age.
Rich, plasticine, canned corn, dense black and red fruit, oiled black olives, rosemary and tarragon.
Smooth, plums and black cherries, blueberries, oaky, balanced acid and tannin (modest at this point), a touch of greenness, some Szechuan peppercorn, marzipan, great long finish.
Excellent Elivette, drinking well now but will last a few more years.
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5/19/2020 - cbajustin Likes this wine: 97 Points
A beautifully balanced wine that delivered on every level. After an hour decant this was singing. First time I’ve gotten mint on the nose. Sublime experience. 97+
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12/14/2019 - Drpetrik wrote:
I am really enjoying this wine for my birthday. It is smooth and no funk for a 2006. I am a spring mountain member and really enjoy their cabs. I think this bottle could age another 10 years.
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10/11/2019 - CRao wrote: 89 Points
Came out a bit disappointed here given the strong reviews. Did not decant as long as the others, so this was probably my fault. Overall expected flavor, mouthfeel, complexity for a Napa blend.
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4/28/2019 - Dartdog Likes this wine: 97 Points
Had this for birthday celebration, very smooth well rounded deep flavor, no harshness, excellent.
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11/23/2017 - winejnky wrote: 90 Points
Nice one for Thanksgiving. Black fruits, well structured, has smoothed out with time, but still has nice grip and a medium length finish.
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10/16/2017 - jen&pat Likes this wine: 84 Points
Spring Mountain Vineyard wines are probably my favorite California cabs because they are consistently both very very good and affordable. This 06 Elivette took a while to get there. After 90 minutes in the decanter it was a little bitter so we game it another 30 minutes. Same, so let it sit and opened a '12 Tom Eddie Cab decanted an hour before the steaks came off the grill. My wife loves Tom's wines so she started with it while I didn't want to give up on the Elivette. At the three hour mark it was like a totally different wine. Very nice. Not nearly as big and the young Tom Eddie but we both enjoyed them together with a perfectly seared filet, lobster mac and cheese and Fleming's potatoes.
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9/29/2017 - pommieba@cox.net Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 4 hours then re-bottled. Dark and Inky - Earth tones with Leather and Dark Cherry on the nose. Flavours of Cherry with White Pepper, tannins have softened but still prevalent. Good balance and a medium finish. Has aged fairly well.
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9/24/2016 - ciesel wrote: 91 Points
All wines were stored together under cellar conditions, but this seemed remarkably better than the one just a few months ago. Nice long finish.
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9/11/2016 - winejnky wrote: 90 Points
Getting better with some age. Black cherry, smoke and mineral flavor profile; modest tannins at this point allowed this to smooth out; fairly short finish. Decanted for 90 minutes.
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6/26/2016 - BeachBum_73 wrote: 91 Points
- Ruby color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a light/medium body. Smooth texture with a short finish - Not worth the price point.
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5/9/2016 - ciesel wrote: 86 Points
nothing special especially for the price. never really came together for me.
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11/1/2015 - winejnky wrote: 88 Points
Tight and astringent. Despite showing some black currant and gunpowder flavors, this is a fairly unyielding wine even after five hours in the decanter. Most of what we got from this bottle was oak and alcohol. 2006 is a less fruit forward vintage in Napa, but this wine is even more reticent than others I have had.
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1/17/2015 - ColluraJ wrote: 84 Points
Deep garnet color. Aromas of stink, oak and fructose. Off dry with medium-full body. Smooth acidity with medium, round tannins. Good balance. Flavorful with berries and sour. Medium. finish. Typical.
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1/11/2015 - gryz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Give it a bit to open up and then it will taste beautiful. Incredible nose and color.
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11/17/2013 - winejnky wrote: 89 Points
This is a very good wine, no doubt, but it is not worth the price of admission in my mind. Foley Claret at a similar price and David Ramey cabs at a lower price are consistently better wines, with more fruit and intensity, and plenty of character like the Elivette.
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3/3/2012 - mstrickland wrote: 91 Points
Could use more time in the cellar. Loads of complex flavor that will evolve more over time. Hints of orange, rich berries.
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