Cork fully intact, no issues. Wine is fairly bricked, nose muted, but flavors are pronounced. Fruit is lessening and wine is at peak if not just past. Would suggest drinking within a year or two
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Poured from magnum and decanted for 30 minutes, this wine is dusty ruby in color and showed Bordeaux-like aromas of cigar box, saddle leather, red currant and truffle. The mouth feel brought soft, aged tannins and elements of Asian plum sauce and creme de cassis. The finish was firm and plump but somewhat short, with the flavors ending quickly and not lingering.
Shared with my boss at The Blue Bottle Cafe in Hopewell, NJ (an outstanding BYOB in the Central NJ countryside), this wine has reached its peak. Drink now - 2016.
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Graceful and elegant. Had with rib roast. Great compliment. Happy to have waited to enjoy this gem! Opened an hour, no decant, from magnum. Plenty of fruit, well integrated tannins and a superb finish. Clearly at its peak, so drink up.
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Although this had been purchased in magnum directly from the winery, I was a bit concerned given my recent "mediocre" experience with this producers vintage 2000 Estate Cab and a less than stellar 1998 vintage in Napa. The cork was in pristine condition upon opening, but there was lots of sediment in the bottle neck. Poured into a large magnum decanter and enjoyed over a two hour period with a Christmas smoked prime rib. Much to my surprise and to the enjoyment of my dinner guests, the wine was very good and displayed considerable complexity with flavors of spicy red currant, dried red plum, tobacco, leather, chocolate, and some vestiges of black fruit. Wine has definitely peaked, is still enjoyable, and very drinkable for the foreseeable future. Solid finish. I wouldn't wait too much longer on drinking this.
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Opened this magnum for a delayed birthday celebration with my family. Decanted about 3 hours before dinner -- filets with a madeira and mushroom sauce over the top.I don't know if the wine had improved since the last tasting notes a few years ago, but we all thought this was definitely better than an 87 rating. To each his own.....
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Pleasent bottle of wine. Came and went several times while drinking over two hours. Mediuim ruby color. Smells of cherries and leather. Raspberries at one point. Short finish on the tongue.
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Very nice....drinking well right now......the best thing about this wine is the intensely floral nose, and how balanced and nice the texture feels in the mouth.
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Opened with NY Strip, baked potato and squash casserole.
Ruby purple in the glass. Sweet plum nose with some oak showing through. Tannins are fairly resolved.. fruit is semi-sour but interesting with some strawberry notes. Acids are fairly high. On the palate, the oak is mostly integrated. Some light dusty tannins on the finish. Good but not overwhelming. Little secondary development at this time. Perhaps it will get a little better but there isn't a lot of fruit to suggest a long life ahead.
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12/25/2021 - chuckos77 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cork fully intact, no issues. Wine is fairly bricked, nose muted, but flavors are pronounced. Fruit is lessening and wine is at peak if not just past. Would suggest drinking within a year or two
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10/9/2021 - norsktorsk wrote: 94 Points
this is great right now.
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10/3/2021 - Burgundy Biased Likes this wine: 86 Points
Clearly past its best days, but this wine still commands respect. It was best within 30 minutes of opening. Very enjoyable.
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4/15/2015 - marc_chance@hotmail.com Does not like this wine:
Maybe waited too long to drink. Cork was soft and broke upon opening. Wine did not taste corked but was without fruit and had vinegar notes.
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11/13/2014 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 90 Points
Poured from magnum and decanted for 30 minutes, this wine is dusty ruby in color and showed Bordeaux-like aromas of cigar box, saddle leather, red currant and truffle. The mouth feel brought soft, aged tannins and elements of Asian plum sauce and creme de cassis. The finish was firm and plump but somewhat short, with the flavors ending quickly and not lingering.
Shared with my boss at The Blue Bottle Cafe in Hopewell, NJ (an outstanding BYOB in the Central NJ countryside), this wine has reached its peak. Drink now - 2016.
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8/3/2014 - Outplaying wrote:
Enjoyed this. Some earthy tobacco notes, light tannin. A nice, if slightly simple, aged cab.
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1/12/2014 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 92 Points
Graceful and elegant. Had with rib roast. Great compliment. Happy to have waited to enjoy this gem! Opened an hour, no decant, from magnum. Plenty of fruit, well integrated tannins and a superb finish. Clearly at its peak, so drink up.
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12/26/2013 - wmccone54 wrote: 91 Points
Although this had been purchased in magnum directly from the winery, I was a bit concerned given my recent "mediocre" experience with this producers vintage 2000 Estate Cab and a less than stellar 1998 vintage in Napa. The cork was in pristine condition upon opening, but there was lots of sediment in the bottle neck. Poured into a large magnum decanter and enjoyed over a two hour period with a Christmas smoked prime rib. Much to my surprise and to the enjoyment of my dinner guests, the wine was very good and displayed considerable complexity with flavors of spicy red currant, dried red plum, tobacco, leather, chocolate, and some vestiges of black fruit. Wine has definitely peaked, is still enjoyable, and very drinkable for the foreseeable future. Solid finish. I wouldn't wait too much longer on drinking this.
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11/25/2010 - kevbert wrote: 84 Points
Decent 2nd bottle - I waited too long on this one.
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11/7/2010 - mouton45 wrote: 90 Points
Opened this magnum for a delayed birthday celebration with my family. Decanted about 3 hours before dinner -- filets with a madeira and mushroom sauce over the top.I don't know if the wine had improved since the last tasting notes a few years ago, but we all thought this was definitely better than an 87 rating. To each his own.....
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10/7/2006 - WVWine wrote: 88 Points
Pleasent bottle of wine. Came and went several times while drinking over two hours. Mediuim ruby color. Smells of cherries and leather. Raspberries at one point. Short finish on the tongue.
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3/19/2006 - luko wrote:
Very nice....drinking well right now......the best thing about this wine is the intensely floral nose, and how balanced and nice the texture feels in the mouth.
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2/2/2005 - ssouth wrote: 87 Points
Opened with NY Strip, baked potato and squash casserole.
Ruby purple in the glass. Sweet plum nose with some oak showing through. Tannins are fairly resolved.. fruit is semi-sour but interesting with some strawberry notes. Acids are fairly high. On the palate, the oak is mostly integrated. Some light dusty tannins on the finish. Good but not overwhelming. Little secondary development at this time. Perhaps it will get a little better but there isn't a lot of fruit to suggest a long life ahead.
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