Big Cali Cab. Well made and enjoyable but this needs 10 more years. Built for the long haul. Was nice to check in but I have confidence this will better in 2030 and beyond. Still a massive wine.
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1998 was a challenging year however Paradigm did a beautiful job on this wine. Almost 20 years later it is drinking well. Dark velvet with opulent deep flavors. Fruit still present and great finish and balanced. Edges browning slightly. Nice wine. Opened and decanted for 2 hours prior. Do not hold for much longer.
**Edit** after 24 hours it is fantastic! Great finish and opulent. Wow, open well ahead.
Rich. Opulent. Plush. Big time flavors. Deep purple color. Very well made wine. Good balance and integration at this point. Bottle purchased on our trip the winery. Very nice.
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This was a very nice wine. Took to dinner at a Northern Italian style restaurant and the group (6) all liked it a lot. It was our third or fourth bottle, so we weren't clinical about it, but it had lots of sweet cassis flavors that are typical of the winery,a nice nose and a generous finish. Plus it went well with a variety of dishes. Definitely not over the hill.
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A real mocha element on the nose, but it takes awhile to emerge. Some really nice tobacco leaf notes too. Soft entry of lean red currant & black raspberry. A nice puckery finish with mild tannins. Another '98 CA Cab that is aging well. An underappreciated vintage.
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Reserved at first, this wine opened up with time in the decanter to reveal a nicely balanced, layered, classic Oakville cab. The oak was prominent, but not overpowering. The tannins were soft and well-integrated. Dark fruit predominated, with earth, leather, wood and mocha notes. There may be more to come for this one. 89-91
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I was half expecting this bottle to be on its way out, but it was still a lovely bottle of wine. I think it may have cellared another year or so. Rich and opulent, with flavors of black currant and cedar. Toasty vanilla on the finish. Salud!
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Cellar organization bottle. Very nice fruit on bottle open, still drinking well. Good cassis nose off the top, followed by ripe cherries after about 30 minutes. Tannins present and evident, but very well integrated. nicely balanced. Little hints of vanilla. All in all, much better than I had anticipated. Despite the reports to the contrary, I think this bottle would have gone another couple of years. 90 points.
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Picking up some old cabernet aromas of leather & earth. Dried out herbal fruit flavors with leathery tannins. This wine is falling apart fast. Not much left.
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Some complexity, classic cab flavors, but very prickly and hot, especially at the finish. Cork was pushed out and there was a little leakage, so clearly not a fair showing for this wine.
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5/26/2020 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big Cali Cab. Well made and enjoyable but this needs 10 more years. Built for the long haul. Was nice to check in but I have confidence this will better in 2030 and beyond. Still a massive wine.
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3/30/2017 - Ron6830 wrote: 91 Points
1998 was a challenging year however Paradigm did a beautiful job on this wine. Almost 20 years later it is drinking well. Dark velvet with opulent deep flavors. Fruit still present and great finish and balanced. Edges browning slightly. Nice wine. Opened and decanted for 2 hours prior. Do not hold for much longer.
**Edit** after 24 hours it is fantastic! Great finish and opulent. Wow, open well ahead.
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11/26/2015 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rich. Opulent. Plush. Big time flavors. Deep purple color. Very well made wine. Good balance and integration at this point. Bottle purchased on our trip the winery. Very nice.
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12/20/2014 - H*3 wrote: 90 Points
From 1.5L, Showed nicely especially given it's age and being from a weaker vintage. Very balanced. Enjoyed the earthiness and tobacco notes.
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7/28/2014 - rhanke wrote: 89 Points
past its prime, slight signs of oxidation (slight smell of soy)
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3/24/2014 - john@draneaslaw.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was a very nice wine. Took to dinner at a Northern Italian style restaurant and the group (6) all liked it a lot. It was our third or fourth bottle, so we weren't clinical about it, but it had lots of sweet cassis flavors that are typical of the winery,a nice nose and a generous finish. Plus it went well with a variety of dishes. Definitely not over the hill.
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6/18/2013 - Bfield10 wrote: 90 Points
Spicy bouquet and initial taste. Light tannins with brighter, drier finish.
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3/3/2012 - winebot wrote:
Wonderful Nose. Outstanding with filet. 90 Points
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8/28/2010 - ed-d wrote: 89 Points
A real mocha element on the nose, but it takes awhile to emerge. Some really nice tobacco leaf notes too. Soft entry of lean red currant & black raspberry. A nice puckery finish with mild tannins. Another '98 CA Cab that is aging well. An underappreciated vintage.
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12/2/2008 - JDRFoster wrote: 90 Points
Reserved at first, this wine opened up with time in the decanter to reveal a nicely balanced, layered, classic Oakville cab. The oak was prominent, but not overpowering. The tannins were soft and well-integrated. Dark fruit predominated, with earth, leather, wood and mocha notes. There may be more to come for this one. 89-91
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12/2/2008 - armchairsommelier wrote: 90 Points
I was half expecting this bottle to be on its way out, but it was still a lovely bottle of wine. I think it may have cellared another year or so. Rich and opulent, with flavors of black currant and cedar. Toasty vanilla on the finish. Salud!
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11/25/2008 - stevei01 wrote: 90 Points
Cellar organization bottle. Very nice fruit on bottle open, still drinking well. Good cassis nose off the top, followed by ripe cherries after about 30 minutes. Tannins present and evident, but very well integrated. nicely balanced. Little hints of vanilla. All in all, much better than I had anticipated. Despite the reports to the contrary, I think this bottle would have gone another couple of years. 90 points.
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12/29/2007 - ed-d wrote: 87 Points
Picking up some old cabernet aromas of leather & earth. Dried out herbal fruit flavors with leathery tannins. This wine is falling apart fast. Not much left.
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12/25/2005 - cab wrote:
Some complexity, classic cab flavors, but very prickly and hot, especially at the finish. Cork was pushed out and there was a little leakage, so clearly not a fair showing for this wine.
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