I never expected this to hold up as well as it has for a 1997 that cost me $25 (price sticker still on the bottle). No tannins to speak of and fruit is still very prominent (though not "bright"). Went extremely well with sous vide medium rare New York strip steaks finish-seared in a cast iron skillet.
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This one was my fault. Laid down too long in the cellar. Now pruney and just old. Tasted two bottles, so I feel certain my remaining two are awful as well.
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- Brick color and aromas of black pepper and smokey. It's lacking fruit and has flavours of tobacco, black pepper, smokey and dusty with a medium/full body. Coarse texture with a medium finish.
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darker than expected; dry black cherry nose; smooth, almost velvety mouth feel, medium body but good fruit density; sl sweet with dry black cherry and mix currant, also has some sandalwood, tobacco complexity; medium acidity, not flabby; surprisingly good and better than i recall from prev bottles
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bricking at edges; cigar box nose; medum body; still has adequate tannins and acid; sandalwood nose; cranberry, currant, dark cherry fruit is fading; minor cigar box notes; still a nice match with thanksgiving dinner
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4 wine blind tasting. This was the poorest performer by far. Both bottles opened tasted the same. The nose was ok with some nice fruit. The wine was a dark ruby color with some brick red tones around the edge. Unfortunately, the flavors were very muddled and there was nothing that really stood out.
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lighter style; red raspberry and currant notes with clean acidity; minor cedar and tobacco notes; a good food wine at this time; still fresh, but it is lighter that last bottle and should be drunk
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I bought 2 bottles of this wine after it won the first Jungers/Jacquart Wine Club Cab tasting back in '99. The first was consumed in 2000 and now this was the second, over 9 years later. We did not decant. The Raymond Reserve (at least from the stellar '97 Vintage) is still a very good wine - particularly for the money. It did show signs that it is not getting better as it had less fruit than it certainly used to but it has aged into a far more subtle wine - more french in character than California I thought.
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My last bottle. Decanted for an hour and still very good. Dark red color, with good balance of cherry fruit flavor and notes of leather and earthiness. Still a very good wine.
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Solid California cab. Cherry and currants flavors are nicely balanced with a hint of leather as well. Well integrated tannins and a nice smooth finish.
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Still possessed a deep ruby color. Decanted for about 30 minutes, and likely not really necessary. Was very open very quickly. No mustiness, and definitely no tightness. Deep fruit tones - cherry...? Definitely a quintensential Napa taste, and at peak, or just a hair beyond - cellaring beyond this point will be a bit of a gamble. Finish not overly long, but does not tail off into any vegetal directions. A solid wine, and quite the enjoyable drink.
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Very nice wine with typical Napa fruit and earth profile. Wine has aged well and will probably be on this plateau for some time. I doubt it gets any better from here.
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nice currant and plum fruit; still fresh and is aging well; medium to full bodied claret style with integrated smoke and tobacco/earth notes; good with bbq pork;
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The color is a shimmering brick red. The nose is very nice, with strawberry, blackberry, herb, and a slight lavandar. In the mouth this is extremely thick with dark roasted fruit, licorice, and earth. The attack is a little hot, but this smoothes out and coats the palate. Not much tannin left and the finish is very nice -- although slightly medicinal. A very nice wine. Desiree rated this even higher than me.
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Currants on the nose. Dark purple in color. Lively tannins for this 9 year old. Very dry in the mouth-feel. Lacks fruit but still enjoyable. Don't think further cellaring needed...remaining fruit may not hold out.
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This is a rare Naps cab where the 1998 was better than this 97. The color remains fresh and stout, but the fruit in the nose has faded a bit as has the freshness. It sitll works ups a good dose of red cherry and oak, but is light on the finish and shows a funky vegatal or something wierd at the end.
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This was oaky and simple the night I opened it, but it improved dramatically by the next night. The oak integrated completely, and it really gained in complexity. Lots of dark fruit, coffee, menthol, and leather on the nose. Balanced, enjoyable Napa cab. I would drink this wine over the next several years, but be sure to vigorously decant it.
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11/28/2019 - wabi47 Likes this wine: 91 Points
day one;elegant and balanced, though straightforward; very nice with thanksgiving meal. Surprisingly better on day two--more open and complex
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10/23/2019 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine has always outperformed itself... wonderful bottle
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3/3/2015 - skinut Likes this wine: 91 Points
I never expected this to hold up as well as it has for a 1997 that cost me $25 (price sticker still on the bottle). No tannins to speak of and fruit is still very prominent (though not "bright"). Went extremely well with sous vide medium rare New York strip steaks finish-seared in a cast iron skillet.
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12/25/2014 - david4061 wrote: 85 Points
No fruit, somewhat thin, needed to be drank a few years ago
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2/11/2014 - foneil Does not like this wine: 60 Points
Probably my fault for waiting too long, But this one can't even see the hill that it was over some years ago.
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12/9/2013 - foneil Does not like this wine: 70 Points
This one was my fault. Laid down too long in the cellar. Now pruney and just old. Tasted two bottles, so I feel certain my remaining two are awful as well.
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12/26/2011 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is still showing remarkably well... especially if you serve it blind amongst wines far more expensive than it is!
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10/2/2011 - Timbo63 wrote: 88 Points
- Brick color and aromas of black pepper and smokey. It's lacking fruit and has flavours of tobacco, black pepper, smokey and dusty with a medium/full body. Coarse texture with a medium finish.
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12/31/2010 - vanpe003 wrote:
Mature Midrange Cabs; 12/30/2010-12/31/2010 (Northwoods): Very nice, and among the top 3 wines (of 9) opened. Well balanced fruit, no rough edges. Fell apart Day 2. 91+ points.
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10/6/2010 - wabi47 wrote: 91 Points
darker than expected; dry black cherry nose; smooth, almost velvety mouth feel, medium body but good fruit density; sl sweet with dry black cherry and mix currant, also has some sandalwood, tobacco complexity; medium acidity, not flabby; surprisingly good and better than i recall from prev bottles
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2/18/2010 - LZ wrote: 92 Points
Drank with Brian and Darci
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12/25/2009 - Jht wrote: 91 Points
Very good. Smooth. I would buy more. Not as big as some cabs.
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11/28/2009 - wabi47 wrote: 86 Points
bricking at edges; cigar box nose; medum body; still has adequate tannins and acid; sandalwood nose; cranberry, currant, dark cherry fruit is fading; minor cigar box notes; still a nice match with thanksgiving dinner
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4/23/2009 - Grenik wrote: 83 Points
4 wine blind tasting. This was the poorest performer by far. Both bottles opened tasted the same. The nose was ok with some nice fruit. The wine was a dark ruby color with some brick red tones around the edge. Unfortunately, the flavors were very muddled and there was nothing that really stood out.
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4/11/2009 - wabi47 wrote: 87 Points
lighter style; red raspberry and currant notes with clean acidity; minor cedar and tobacco notes; a good food wine at this time; still fresh, but it is lighter that last bottle and should be drunk
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4/10/2009 - Breguet wrote: 90 Points
I bought 2 bottles of this wine after it won the first Jungers/Jacquart Wine Club Cab tasting back in '99. The first was consumed in 2000 and now this was the second, over 9 years later. We did not decant. The Raymond Reserve (at least from the stellar '97 Vintage) is still a very good wine - particularly for the money. It did show signs that it is not getting better as it had less fruit than it certainly used to but it has aged into a far more subtle wine - more french in character than California I thought.
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3/9/2009 - rfras wrote: 90 Points
My last bottle. Decanted for an hour and still very good. Dark red color, with good balance of cherry fruit flavor and notes of leather and earthiness. Still a very good wine.
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9/13/2008 - GA wrote: 82 Points
9/08 Past its window - nothing there - 82 pts.
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8/6/2008 - rfras wrote: 90 Points
Solid California cab. Cherry and currants flavors are nicely balanced with a hint of leather as well. Well integrated tannins and a nice smooth finish.
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3/5/2008 - KLIST wrote: 88 Points
Surprisingly still going strong. Much more fruit than expected both in nose and flavor.
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2/9/2008 - grimalkincat wrote: 90 Points
Still possessed a deep ruby color. Decanted for about 30 minutes, and likely not really necessary. Was very open very quickly. No mustiness, and definitely no tightness. Deep fruit tones - cherry...? Definitely a quintensential Napa taste, and at peak, or just a hair beyond - cellaring beyond this point will be a bit of a gamble. Finish not overly long, but does not tail off into any vegetal directions. A solid wine, and quite the enjoyable drink.
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10/15/2007 - winemaker wrote: 90 Points
Very nice wine with typical Napa fruit and earth profile. Wine has aged well and will probably be on this plateau for some time. I doubt it gets any better from here.
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8/18/2007 - thomasme wrote: 80 Points
Inky purple-black color, nose of sweet cherries. Smooth, integrated wine, varietal flavors. Slightly on the downard arc, drink up.
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7/24/2007 - wabi47 wrote: 90 Points
nice currant and plum fruit; still fresh and is aging well; medium to full bodied claret style with integrated smoke and tobacco/earth notes; good with bbq pork;
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7/15/2007 - rfras wrote: 91 Points
Really enjoyed this wine. Cherry and plum aroma in the nose. Smooth finish with Chery and some smoke flavors. It is holding up nicely.
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4/2/2007 - Mallards wrote: 92 Points
Very good wine. Aged well, with tannins and fruit blending nearly perfectly.
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3/15/2007 - sailcappy wrote: 94 Points
Sad to see my last bottle go price and quality will never be avail for a calif cab again
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2/18/2007 - wabi47 wrote: 90 Points
good currant leather and spice on day one; a bit heavier and slightly raisiny on day 3; still with enough tannin and fruit
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12/29/2006 - wabi47 wrote: 90 Points
medium bodied with good red currant and cranberry well balanced with leather/mineral and just enough acidity; a nice match with christmas prime rib
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10/20/2006 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 91 Points
The color is a shimmering brick red. The nose is very nice, with strawberry, blackberry, herb, and a slight lavandar. In the mouth this is extremely thick with dark roasted fruit, licorice, and earth. The attack is a little hot, but this smoothes out and coats the palate. Not much tannin left and the finish is very nice -- although slightly medicinal. A very nice wine. Desiree rated this even higher than me.
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9/16/2006 - klutchman wrote: 87 Points
smelled like rasberry at first opening up to slight hints of chocolate. not a lot of fruit in the mouth...light to medium body with a lot of heat.
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4/8/2006 - Lando wrote: 85 Points
Currants on the nose. Dark purple in color. Lively tannins for this 9 year old. Very dry in the mouth-feel. Lacks fruit but still enjoyable. Don't think further cellaring needed...remaining fruit may not hold out.
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2/3/2006 - N2Vin wrote: 87 Points
This is a rare Naps cab where the 1998 was better than this 97. The color remains fresh and stout, but the fruit in the nose has faded a bit as has the freshness. It sitll works ups a good dose of red cherry and oak, but is light on the finish and shows a funky vegatal or something wierd at the end.
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9/22/2005 - N2Vin wrote: 91 Points
Holding up beautifully. Got some time. Just delightful right now.
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6/27/2005 - Spencer wrote: 90 Points
This was oaky and simple the night I opened it, but it improved dramatically by the next night. The oak integrated completely, and it really gained in complexity. Lots of dark fruit, coffee, menthol, and leather on the nose. Balanced, enjoyable Napa cab. I would drink this wine over the next several years, but be sure to vigorously decant it.
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3/14/2001 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
8 Cabernet Sauvignon from 1987 and 1997 (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Nose of vanilla, oak, sweet fruit, medium/big body, rich fruit, great taste, lovely, medium/long finish, with very soft tannins, needs 2 more years to peak. My #5 of 8.
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