I’m a big fruit forward California cab guy. Maybe too much sometime. This was a perfect balance of fruit and a little tannin. Smooth but not too smooth if that makes sense. A bit of sediment but that’s expected in an 08 I think. Made a couple Costco steaks that we sous vide beforehand then finished on the grill. Perfect. Probably a bit much for a Tuesday!
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Drank over 3 days. Needed only about 20 minutes to open up. A little tannic at first but good with a long chocolate, mocha finish. Got better with time. Great on the third day. Still a lot of life left and good now
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Dark purple colored with aromas of lavender, violets, and dark berries; it almost has the same perfumed nose as a Cabernet Franc. It tastes fruit forward, with cassis, black cherries, and vanilla. This wine is medium bodied with good acidity and gritty tannins. Drink now! Excellent QPR ($24).
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Decanted 3 hours. Drank really well, somewhat more approachable than the others that night. Paired well with the short ribs. Re-bottled after a total of 5 hours in the decanter and then pumped, the last couple of glasses were still quite good two days later (though everything was understandably less intense). A nice bottle of cabernet.
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Boy, what a little bit of time did for this baby! Nice dark fruits - some plum, blackberries, currant. Tannins have mellowed, but could still use a bit more integration. Overall a great wine, at a great price.
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My wife and I really appreciate the producers on Spring Mountain. If your wine nirvana is mountain grown Cab Sauv, Spring Mountain will be one of your go-to AVA’s (wine growing region). We have been meaning to try Terra Valentine for quite some time. We see their sign every time down the mountain from Pride Mountain Vineyards… On our last visit, we spoke to the family over at Schweiger and they shared the story of the Wine Growers Association’s effort to keep resort development out of the Spring Mountain area. A great story of family owned wineries who love the beauty and character of their home, trying to keep it that way. The fight prompted an agreement between the wineries to allow a last right of refusal – in case of a principal’s death, the surviving winery owners would be able to purchase the land, before a sale to an outside party. I have not been able to confirm this, but I hope it is true.
Wine Tasting Note - Fruit forward nose with with black plum, blackberry, mint, cinnamon, oak and alcohol. On the palate, has not quite come together yet. Needs another 2-3 years in the bottle to hit its stride. Good structure, high tannins and medium-high acidity… plenty of mojo for continued bottle aging. I would put the prime drinking window at 2016 – 2019. This is moving towards a silky texture and soft tannins… I will try my other bottle in a couple of years. Strong fruit forward flavors of black fruits that follow the nose. Really enjoy the mid-palate of cinammon, vanilla, leather and a touch of mint that comes through. The oak is present, but does not overpower. A bit of milk chocolate on the finish, but it is weak. Perhaps it will improve as the fruit calms down and the tannins soften. At $30/btl. this is a great value for wine from Spring Mountain Estate fruit!
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Nice cab from Spring Mtn. I haven't had a TV bottling for a few years. Nothing memorable to speak of. Mellow tannins. Unfortunately didn't have the pop to compete against a '09 Pride cab and '10 Epoch Authenticity.
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Clear, garnet color. Clean nose with black fruits and spice. Good balance with a medium finish. Classic Napa cabernet sauvignon. Good with a lot of things.
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Persuasive nose, dark and full bodied. Rich & hardy with berries, plum and the right amount of oak for me. Chewy tannins complemented by a dense mouth feel. A compelling, modestly priced cali cab, I like this one 90++
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PnP. Solid cab. A real mouthful with plenty of dark fruits, cherry, earth, spice, dusty tannins and acidity. Medium finish. Drinking nice now, but will improve with additional time in the cellar.
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Opened late at night, and was impressed right out of the decanter. Dark red-black in the glass. Warm earth, green peppers, spice and slight licorice in the nose with not a lot of fruit. Day two on the palate, dark blackberry and plum revealed. Tannin provides chew and highlight a thick mouth feel. Somewhat dry finish. Food allows this wine to soar! Some more bottle age will help, but still a pleasure now.
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Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley (Blind Tasting) (Plymouth, MN): Color: Hazy Purple Aromas/Flavors: Moderately strong aromas of plum, bell pepper, earth, with some black pepper -- not a lot of fruit. High tannins, but still in balance, with a full body. Finish: Moderately long with some complexity. This was the 2nd favorite of most at the tasting, and really set itself apart from the other wines with a taste which really grew on you.
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11/17/2020 - Ed8888 Likes this wine:
I’m a big fruit forward California cab guy. Maybe too much sometime. This was a perfect balance of fruit and a little tannin. Smooth but not too smooth if that makes sense. A bit of sediment but that’s expected in an 08 I think. Made a couple Costco steaks that we sous vide beforehand then finished on the grill. Perfect. Probably a bit much for a Tuesday!
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7/10/2020 - rcdyer wrote: 82 Points
Might have been past it's optimum life
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5/8/2020 - gjv115 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank over 3 days. Needed only about 20 minutes to open up. A little tannic at first but good with a long chocolate, mocha finish. Got better with time. Great on the third day. Still a lot of life left and good now
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1/15/2018 - libero wrote: 91 Points
Full body, complex aromas and it is time to drink it up.
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7/25/2017 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 93 Points
Loved every sip! Still plenty of life left in these bottles. Thx Sam Baxter!
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2/19/2017 - Endodr Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark purple colored with aromas of lavender, violets, and dark berries; it almost has the same perfumed nose as a Cabernet Franc. It tastes fruit forward, with cassis, black cherries, and vanilla. This wine is medium bodied with good acidity and gritty tannins. Drink now! Excellent QPR ($24).
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10/12/2016 - Martnmac wrote: 91 Points
Excellent.
We got at a bargain
Didn't realize what a gem this would be
Drinking amazingly well right now
Big beautiful spring mountain cab
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9/12/2016 - FoxStreet55356 wrote:
- Garnet color.
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1/9/2016 - libero wrote: 90 Points
Too Tied . It requires AT least 2,hours decanting
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12/6/2015 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 91 Points
Remains consistent with previous notes. Not yet near peak.
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10/14/2015 - Steve Baxter wrote: 91 Points
This was excellent. Still has some life to it. Drinking wonderfully right now.
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5/1/2015 - MLD70 Likes this wine:
Decanted 3 hours. Drank really well, somewhat more approachable than the others that night. Paired well with the short ribs. Re-bottled after a total of 5 hours in the decanter and then pumped, the last couple of glasses were still quite good two days later (though everything was understandably less intense). A nice bottle of cabernet.
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3/24/2015 - UofM Likes this wine: 92 Points
Boy, what a little bit of time did for this baby! Nice dark fruits - some plum, blackberries, currant. Tannins have mellowed, but could still use a bit more integration. Overall a great wine, at a great price.
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10/26/2014 - srshane Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great fruit flavors with a balance of tannin and acids. Drinking very well immediately out of the bottle.
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7/10/2014 - djlevin Likes this wine: 90 Points
My wife and I really appreciate the producers on Spring Mountain. If your wine nirvana is mountain grown Cab Sauv, Spring Mountain will be one of your go-to AVA’s (wine growing region). We have been meaning to try Terra Valentine for quite some time. We see their sign every time down the mountain from Pride Mountain Vineyards… On our last visit, we spoke to the family over at Schweiger and they shared the story of the Wine Growers Association’s effort to keep resort development out of the Spring Mountain area. A great story of family owned wineries who love the beauty and character of their home, trying to keep it that way. The fight prompted an agreement between the wineries to allow a last right of refusal – in case of a principal’s death, the surviving winery owners would be able to purchase the land, before a sale to an outside party. I have not been able to confirm this, but I hope it is true.
Wine Tasting Note -
Fruit forward nose with with black plum, blackberry, mint, cinnamon, oak and alcohol. On the palate, has not quite come together yet. Needs another 2-3 years in the bottle to hit its stride. Good structure, high tannins and medium-high acidity… plenty of mojo for continued bottle aging. I would put the prime drinking window at 2016 – 2019. This is moving towards a silky texture and soft tannins… I will try my other bottle in a couple of years. Strong fruit forward flavors of black fruits that follow the nose. Really enjoy the mid-palate of cinammon, vanilla, leather and a touch of mint that comes through. The oak is present, but does not overpower. A bit of milk chocolate on the finish, but it is weak. Perhaps it will improve as the fruit calms down and the tannins soften. At $30/btl. this is a great value for wine from Spring Mountain Estate fruit!
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6/20/2014 - UofM wrote: 89 Points
Nice cab from Spring Mtn. I haven't had a TV bottling for a few years. Nothing memorable to speak of. Mellow tannins. Unfortunately didn't have the pop to compete against a '09 Pride cab and '10 Epoch Authenticity.
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2/12/2014 - srshane Likes this wine: 90 Points
Clear, garnet color. Clean nose with black fruits and spice. Good balance with a medium finish. Classic Napa cabernet sauvignon. Good with a lot of things.
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9/7/2013 - Whooah wrote: 91 Points
nice
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2/24/2013 - Tednitka wrote: 91 Points
Sally sez equal in red to Rombauer in white
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2/16/2013 - Tednitka wrote: 90 Points
Full & moderately heavy. Rombauer quality
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1/22/2013 - 1961Vintage wrote: 90 Points
Nicely layered and full of extracted deep red fruits. Excited to see how much more this develops with each remaining bottle
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12/19/2012 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 90 Points
Persuasive nose, dark and full bodied. Rich & hardy with berries, plum and the right amount of oak for me. Chewy tannins complemented by a dense mouth feel. A compelling, modestly priced cali cab, I like this one 90++
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11/24/2012 - Blue Shorts wrote: flawed
Badly corked. Didn't need to taste it after smelling the cork, but I did. Yuck. Terrible. Hopefully the vendor will take it back
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9/22/2012 - Stevecci wrote: 90 Points
PnP. Solid cab. A real mouthful with plenty of dark fruits, cherry, earth, spice, dusty tannins and acidity. Medium finish. Drinking nice now, but will improve with additional time in the cellar.
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9/18/2012 - cab blends wrote: 93 Points
Dark fruit and chocolate with smooth heavy tannins and a French dry finish. More French than California fruit forward.
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4/16/2012 - noahbw Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened late at night, and was impressed right out of the decanter. Dark red-black in the glass. Warm earth, green peppers, spice and slight licorice in the nose with not a lot of fruit. Day two on the palate, dark blackberry and plum revealed. Tannin provides chew and highlight a thick mouth feel. Somewhat dry finish. Food allows this wine to soar! Some more bottle age will help, but still a pleasure now.
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2/21/2012 - SABRCW wrote: 90 Points
Excellent fruit. Soft tannins, and lots of future in the bottle.
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2/18/2012 - GoBlue2002 wrote: 90 Points
Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley (Blind Tasting) (Plymouth, MN): Color: Hazy Purple
Aromas/Flavors: Moderately strong aromas of plum, bell pepper, earth, with some black pepper -- not a lot of fruit.
High tannins, but still in balance, with a full body.
Finish: Moderately long with some complexity.
This was the 2nd favorite of most at the tasting, and really set itself apart from the other wines with a taste which really grew on you.
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10/7/2011 - Cantina Hill's wrote: 84 Points
not fruit forward is good for my taste. the unbalanced tannins and oak disappointed.
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