Delish mature napa cab. Oak has smoothed out and there is still great rich earth and fruit. Quite an enjoyable bottle with plum, graphite and dark cherry notes. Nice drying finish to cut through fat. This would be lovely with a flavorful cut of beef.
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Very good flavor initially out of the bottle. I thought this to be initially past prime. The nose initially was that of wood and earth with fruit notes of cherries and strawberry. Not too much oak. Long lingering finish. Opened up quickly with decant under 30 minutes. Still good, drink up.
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Splash decanted - Wow! This is hitting on all cylinders tonight. By far the best bottle of this vintage I have drunk. I believe this to be in it peak which I expect to last another 5 years. Enjoy!
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Surprisingly good. I expect good things from Cliff Lede, but it still put a big smile on my face with the first taste. Sadly I only had one bottle of this, so I only have it in my memories now.
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A friend asked me to open a bottle, so I opened up the wine fridge and this is the first one that I came across. Poured it in a decanter, but it wasn't in there for long, we drank it in about an hour. Scent of blackberry and chocolate, no harsh tannins. Good grab for us!
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We decided at the last minute to open this bottle so no time to decant. I used my Vinturi wine aerator and was pleasantly surprised. Right out of the bottle strong floral scent on the nose. In the mouth the tannins were soft and seemed well integrated with the fruit. I wasn't expecting that so soon with such a young wine with not much air. Nice long finish; excellent wine! I'd put this up there with Napa cabs costing twice as much.
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had after 05 Lewis with no decant and they were very similar. More red ffruits than Lewis but similar mouth feel and subtley oaked finish. Always a pleasure to drink one of their wines.
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Wonderful nose of rich cassis and spice and some blueberries. Decanted for several hours and plums spice and more cassis came through in the mouth. Medium to full bodied and soft with nice acidity and a wonderful finish. Always can count on these guys to give you a great wine experience.
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11/26/2019 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delish mature napa cab. Oak has smoothed out and there is still great rich earth and fruit. Quite an enjoyable bottle with plum, graphite and dark cherry notes. Nice drying finish to cut through fat. This would be lovely with a flavorful cut of beef.
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6/26/2015 - Cholera Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good flavor initially out of the bottle. I thought this to be initially past prime. The nose initially was that of wood and earth with fruit notes of cherries and strawberry. Not too much oak. Long lingering finish. Opened up quickly with decant under 30 minutes. Still good, drink up.
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4/22/2015 - flashvictor Likes this wine: 93 Points
Splash decanted - Wow! This is hitting on all cylinders tonight. By far the best bottle of this vintage I have drunk. I believe this to be in it peak which I expect to last another 5 years. Enjoy!
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3/2/2014 - winejnky wrote: flawed
Corked ... Has real fruit character, but wet cardboard/moldy nose and aftertaste. Disappointing.
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3/31/2013 - ejca Likes this wine:
We liked this very much, decanted and poured. Will sit on the other for a few years.
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2/16/2013 - Cadby wrote: 92 Points
++++ $60
Napa Cab accouterments very well represented. Very youthful.
http://8wordsonwine.blogspot.com/2013/02/2005-cliff-lede-cabernet-diamond.html
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1/25/2013 - zenithon Likes this wine: 92 Points
Surprisingly good. I expect good things from Cliff Lede, but it still put a big smile on my face with the first taste. Sadly I only had one bottle of this, so I only have it in my memories now.
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2/14/2012 - Blue Shorts wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful. More later
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1/7/2012 - flashvictor wrote: 92 Points
Big black fruit with a good amount of oak. Needs a couple of hours air to really sing.
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12/24/2011 - HBvino wrote: 90 Points
Solid wine. Not as outstanding as other CL's, but nice effort.
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12/17/2011 - Soche wrote: 93 Points
Excellent wine drinking very well right now. Paired with rib eye. Perfect!
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11/20/2011 - winopops3 wrote: 91 Points
The last year has been kind to this bottle. Slight bricking, fruit and tannins well integrated, fairly complex with decent finish.
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9/10/2011 - Fishboy wrote: 89 Points
Really good cab
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8/27/2011 - winejnky wrote: 91 Points
Full bodied, but smooth with a long finish; big and chewy yet polished tannins are well integrated;heady, showing loads of cherry flavor.
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1/16/2011 - iamandyc wrote: flawed
Something off about this bottle. Hope for better with other ones.
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12/27/2010 - winopops3 wrote: 89 Points
Still fairly tannic with prominent oak. Nice fruit, but its over shadowed. This may be in better balance in a couple of years. Will see.
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2/14/2010 - Blue Shorts wrote:
Way too big, young and tannic.
I was a bit displeased. This wine was on the pruney/raisoney side..... something that I don't like much. Will rate later.
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1/9/2010 - ShakerPM wrote: 90 Points
Testing from iTouch appt
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5/1/2009 - seanness wrote: 92 Points
A friend asked me to open a bottle, so I opened up the wine fridge and this is the first one that I came across. Poured it in a decanter, but it wasn't in there for long, we drank it in about an hour. Scent of blackberry and chocolate, no harsh tannins. Good grab for us!
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2/12/2009 - Scott's Cellar wrote: 93 Points
We decided at the last minute to open this bottle so no time to decant. I used my Vinturi wine aerator and was pleasantly surprised. Right out of the bottle strong floral scent on the nose. In the mouth the tannins were soft and seemed well integrated with the fruit. I wasn't expecting that so soon with such a young wine with not much air. Nice long finish; excellent wine! I'd put this up there with Napa cabs costing twice as much.
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1/19/2009 - WineForRob wrote: 92 Points
had after 05 Lewis with no decant and they were very similar. More red ffruits than Lewis but similar mouth feel and subtley oaked finish. Always a pleasure to drink one of their wines.
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12/11/2008 - WineForRob wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful nose of rich cassis and spice and some blueberries. Decanted for several hours and plums spice and more cassis came through in the mouth. Medium to full bodied and soft with nice acidity and a wonderful finish. Always can count on these guys to give you a great wine experience.
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