1997 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Retrospective (Omaha, NE): Presented single-blind; no formal notes. This was super similar to wine #4. The most striking characteristic for both wines was a powerful note of finely ground cumin on the nose. Fruit is mostly desiccated at this point; the structure keeping everything together. While dimming, this seemed to show indications that this was a slightly more powerful wine earlier in its life. I called “Dalle Valle”. Drink now.
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Brick at the edges mature nose of leather and tobacco leaf. Perhaps there is a hint of sherry The wine is leathery with tobacco leaf and sweet cherries. The fruit is definitely still there but I sense it has started its decline A very nice fully mature wine. I would not wait long to drink any remaining bottles (and we have 2!)
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Tons of life left. Huge black fruit present on the nose and in the mouth. This was an absolutely stunning bottle. It's in a perfect place and certainly worthy of pulling a cork now, but could wait for up to another decade.
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There is still plenty of life here. Ripe and structured with some secondary caramelized notes emerging. Cherry, pipe tobacco, cassis and leather. Very good and loving the 13.5% abv.
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Excellent fully mature Cab, peak drinking, dark fruit still very much alive with lots of secondary and tertiary aromas: truffle, barnyard, tobacco, cocoa, allspice and cardamom. Palate is medium bodied, mouth coating black fruit laced with truffle and spices. Long finish. Excellent!
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Mature, balanced, it complemented roast beef, and went down smoothly and evenly. This has aged very well and retained its fruit, graphite and a touch of savory notes after being opened for several hours. I did decant it. Marvelous,
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Fully mature but fresh and good drinking. Crushed herbs and ripe plum fruit on the palate. Drank along with the 97’ Pahlmeyer which showed better but this was still a great wine.
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2.5 hour decant which is still required- very reminiscent of 1997 and immediately drew comparisons to Cathy Corison’s 97’s. The balance is great. Good high tone cherry notes with a long lasting finish. Certainly in prime but will easily hold for another 5 plus years. I would suggest a 4 hour decant.
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Still holding on to a good amount of fruit and tannins. Some development, but less than one would expect for a 22 year old wine. A bit stern on day one, but much more open-knit and giving on day two. Based on this well-stored bottle, this can still be cellared for a bit.
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A little funky whe first opened but became beautiful mature cab flavors of anise, cigar box and red fruits. Sweet and long in the finish with a beautiful nose after 20 minutes.
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Popped, breathed in bottle 90 minutes, poured. Still holding well, but I think it was better three and a half years ago. Could just be a phase, but I wouldn’t bet on it. More likely it will continue to gradually decline. If you have some, I’d drink up.
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On the first pour, the nose had strong nail polish smell. Did not effect the taste. It took a bit to open, the nail polish smell bacame faint very quickly, and almost went away. The wine opened up beautifully, no big fruit, very well balanced. A little lacking on the finish
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Seems like an odd bottle, cork was great, lots of sediment, had an unusual minty, super fruity characteristic with cherry cough syrup. Unlike the other bottles I've had, all are from the same case. Had a little ripe plum / prune in the mid palate. Will need to open another bottle soon to recheck.
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Wine Flock Intro Retro - Cabs (Jordan's): Served blind in what turned out to be a flight of 97 Cali Cabs. This was clearly the cream of the crop. The nose is full of big rich plum fruit. The palate is rich, and densely concentrated. Youthful and big, but good underlying structure to balance and pull it off. Excellent with room to go.
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Will withhold score. Lots of debate on if the bottle was flawed; general conclusion was not. Storage seemed perfect, cork certainly so. None-the-less, a very baked quality. Heavy roasted dark coffee beans, almost stewed blackberries. Did this see too much heat in its life, of is it a function of how some wine's from this hot vintage are evolving? Very good acidity and some tannic structure still in place. Despite what was said above, it was not a bad wine, in fact quite interesting. I have loved previous vintages of late (especially the 1994), but leaving my opinion open on this one, would love to have another.
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This wine shows all the signs of a wine subjected to heat at some point in its life. Still crimson, but shows advanced browning. Stewed, baked, prune notes, carmalized, but still has hints of red fruit poking through, as though showing what could have been. Drying out on the palate, the wine is completely lacking in freshness. Too bad. Not rated.
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Perfect cork and fill. I agree with Diane on this one. I usually love the 90s Dalla Valle's but this one was hot and partially oxidized. My guess is the warm 97 vintage is was the culprit.
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1990's California Cabernet - Blind: Still deep purple. Medium nose of currants, baked cherries, glycerin, jammy, very hot. Some red liquorice. Pleasant texture and comparable to some '96 Dominus enjoyed recently, but too much toasty oak and too young. Syrupy fruit.
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What a disappointment. The nose was sherried. The palate was slightly better, with huge tannins, dark fruit, chocolate, but pruney. After a few sips, it went down the drain. A producer I love, but this may have been a product of the vintage and it just didn't hold up.
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Popped and poured. Perfect fill and cork. This was great and might have been even better with a decant. Rich, concentrated red fruit and a long finish. Holding well but I would drink now - yet I have to save my last bottle to taste against my last bottle of the 96 which I have always loved as much or more than the 97. A-/A
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Purple color with a bouquet and flavor reminiscent of bullion, with some cherry notes in the finish. Balance a bit off, with modest depth and a moderate finish. Nothing to identify it as a Cabernet Sauvignon. I hope that the other bottles are better.
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OK, while this is not close to the level of quality found in the sublime Maya, it’s a lot less money! And as you can see, this is super in its right and it’s in the perfect place, if you like fresh, sweet, juicy, ripe fruits, cedar, earth and a blast of cherries in your concentrated, full bodied, deep wine.
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Pop and pour, beautiful nose that continually opens and the show continues on the palate. 13.5% ABV. 15% Cab Franc. Full bodied, complex, perfectly ripe fruit, with a core of juicy acids lending it an elegance that extends into a succulent expanding finish.
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Coravin 5/26/15: Deep purple-ruby color with minimal bricking for its age; nose of blackcurrant fruit wafted out of the decanter while decanting, in the glass is decidedly less primary with much more capsicum, green vegetal, slight damp forest floor; palate is full bodied, blackberry fruit, slight green vegetal, tannins are well integrated but just a tad rough through the midpalate; finish is medium length. My third bottle, and this is very similar to the last two: A good wine with good components of fruit and green, but it has a slight cardboard-ness to it that is just very slightly unpleasant and it makes the whole wine seem just a little bit off balance. Unfortunate, since the 1994 version of this strikes the perfect balance and is a near-perfect wine. Not likely to improve. 90 5/31/15: Unchanged from when first opened. Maybe just a tad drying on the palate and a bit more fig on the nose.
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Decanted an hour this was dark, ripe, full bodied, and open - but with structure to hold. I think best to be drinking now but this is still in very good shape. A-/A
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I've had this bottle since its infancy. Drank it tonight at Lucky's in Montecito. CA Cab at its finest. Firm but softening tannins, great fruit, balance and depth. Beautiful tonight but still many years left before it begins to wane.
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Having patience paid off big time on this wine. Its aroma of deep dark colored berries even after a 90 minute decant was amazing. On the nose there were huge cherries, some eucalyptus, and some medium oak.
Huge tannins and over a 30 second finish. This wine is in great shape and drinking very very well.
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Pristine condition, decanted two hours, heavy sediment, cherries, menthol, eucalyptus on the nose, bright acid and deep tannins, which integrated over the two hours. No bricking. Still alive and well. Quite good.
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Still good ruby color with no fading. Really expressive nose of blackberries, licorice, menthol and spices. I'm not a fan of the way many '97 Napa Cabs have aged but this is one that has aged beautifully. Still full-bodied and satiny with wonderful flavors of boysenberry, licorice, black currants and a slight hint of green beans in a good way. The finish is where this wine rises above showing a fantastic complexity with strong notes of spicebox, eucalyptus and minerals. Perhaps it's the Cab Franc in this wine that makes it work so well but it avoids all the pitfalls of overdone Napa Cabs. Really delicious and eye-opening.
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Soft cork, crumbled but showed no seepage. Very musty, funky nose (cab franc coming through?). Decanted four hours, and it found its stride. Dark cherries and lots of dirt on the nose, smooth and mature with enough tannic structure to carry it through into a long, earthy finish.
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Tasted blind: Still youthful in color. Nose of coffee, walnut and black licorice. Nice sweetness, the tannins are still present. It seems almost too young (?).
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Because the majority of 1997 Mayas are over the edge I hoped for better luck with the regular Cabernet. Unfortunately, the wine was barely approachable, very tannic, plum jam, wood. A pleasant drink but not great. A pity.
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Deep red in color and fading to rust on the edges. 13.5% AVB. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. High toned nose of glycerine, tobacco, cherry and eucalyptus. Rich, structured and full bodied. Still somewhat tightly wound. Currants, cassis, menthol, chocolate, tar and licorice on the palate. Chalky, dusty tannins. I have little doubt this wine will age well for another decade.
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Dark red in color, tobacco on nose followed by dark cherry and eucalyptus. Full body, good acid, good earthy tanins. Good harmony, layers of earth with fruit, smooth texture and nice medim-long finish.
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Dark colored on the eye with violet hues on the edge, very concentrated and dense on the nose showing dark cherries, blackberries, plums, cassis, licorice, sweet tobacco, dried flowers, and exotic spices. Smooth entry on the palate showing plums, blackberries, raspberries with some dark chocolate that extends to the midpalate. The finish is medium to long length, it shows more dark fruits, sweet vanilla, chewy tannins, and baking spices. A concentrated wine that still seems tightly coiled, however the underlying material is quite impressive.
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Rich, chewy, red cherry. Big tannic backbone with nice long finish. The cab franc (15%) complements the cab fruit, especially noticeable in the mid palate.
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Cellared since release. Popped and poured; perfect cork barely wetted above the bottom. Deep red with no signs of bricking. Seems to be a bit of volatile acidity in the nose initially; very high toned - will have to see if this passes. On the palate - this is quite thick but with drying tannins on the finish - will decant and see if that helps. After 30 minutes in the decanter the nose has cleaned up and the wine seems sound; still quite thick and tannic on the finish, though. Decided to double-decant and wait til tomorrow – now nose has cleaned up and the wine has some nice chocolate notes on the palate but still a boatload of drying tannins on the finish. If this wine was 5 years old or Old World, I would say it just needs time but at 15 for a California Cab?! Flawed.
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Dinner at Marc's (Marc's House - Bellingham, WA): A pretty nice Cabernet. Big and juicy this had a lot of dark fruits, spicy oak, and wild flowers. Palate was still powerful and dense, loads of dark fruit, oak and floral notes. Still young, this needs some time for further develop.
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I am not that generous with points usually, but this was flat out terrific. Cannot say much about bottle variation since this is the first of six bottles. Intense nose of dark fruits, glycerin, tar, liquorice. Some spices like cloves and nutmeg, too. Mid to almost heavy weight mouthfeel, massive tannins, vibrant acidity even. A little dry at the end maybe. A great wine that still seems young, I reckon this has at least another good ten years of great drinking ahead.
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I can only describe this as an 'angel pissing on my tongue'. Nectar! I could go broke for this wine. Great grip and structure. Fruit is still dominant, but leather overtones beginning to emerge. Dark fruit now abundant.
Shared with a friend of mine in London at Wimbledon Wince Cellars. This wine represents some of the best napa has to offer. Drinking wonderfully now and will keep for another 5 years easily. In my mind, best enjoyed now.
:0)
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Great bottle (vs. some previous variations) and in a great place. Dark, rich fruit and plenty of structure and body with a great finish. Really all I want in Cali Cab. Well done - only wish it was more consistent bottle to bottle in this vintage. A
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On the bottle variation scale, I think this was middle of the pack. Not one of the best bottles I have had, but was much better than some of the flawed bottles. Big wine, showing dark fruit, cassis, oak, and soft tannins on the finish. A step short of the great ones, but very nice to drink along side the '97 Cab Franc (which some preferred but I did not). A-
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Dinner at MB at The Omphoy (Palm Beach, FL): Tough to follow the 96 Branaire. Oh well, once again a context wine It was relatively disappointing because I had high hopes. They were somewhat dashed. It was a juice bomb. Nice dark chocolate on the nose with some mocha latte. Plum and black cherry on the palate but not as mature as I had hoped. The mature fruit just wasn't there yet. Mid-palate was very tight. This wine needs a ribeye. It was decanted for about two hours and didn't budge. Finish was flat, tannic and backward. I think it will resolve itself and if I owned more (I don't, boo!), I would revisit in three years. Maybe it was overshadowed by all of the other wines tonight, unsure. The 94 that I drank recently was quite memorable so I have hope.
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Not decanted. Disappointed with the extent of bottle variation as reported in other notes, and I'm afraid I'm suffering from this as well, on the down side. Appears to be a bit thin upon initial pour , and while there was definately some nice fruit when I first popped the cork, the aroma's quickly resembled those of an aged bordeaux that might be slightly corked. A little alcohol and raisin as well. Some red fruit evident on the palate but this is overall a dead wine. Again, faint hint of wet newspaper lead me to believe that this is corked. Not rated as a result.
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After last night's corked bottle, this showed well. Popped and poured and showed a lot of structure compared to the bottle earlier in the year (which was decanted for a while). I see some notes on bottle variation, and I think that is true. Not good and bad, all good, but more advanced vs. less advanced bottles. I will revisit this tomorrow to see how it holds up. A-/A
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First bottle of this that felt like it has peaked. Still great, but did not show the concentrated fruit and finish of previous bottles. Should try another soon to see if this was a slightly off bottle, as previous bottles have been among my favorite cabs. A-?
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My 2nd bottle tonight. In comparison, this is showing more freshness on the nose, less heat, hint of bell pepper, subtle black fruits, overall more complexity on the nose; palate shows similar structure to the last bottle but less dryness on the finish and a bit more juicy fruit. Finish is moderate in length. Showing better than the first bottle (which may have been very slightly corked or have some poor bottle variation), though still not a challenge to the glory of the 94 Dalla Valle Cab or the 92 Maya. Has the structure to last a bit longer, but will likely not improve much, if at all. 90-91
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Still quite dark with mild bricking; nose is showing a bit of heat, raisined, some cacao/coffee; palate has nice structure with integrated tannins, not showing too much heat on the palate and has some good fruit; finish is a bit drying. Overall this wine is not even close to the brilliance of the 94 cab or the 92 maya, and it may be because this wine is made in a warmer modern style than vintages that preceded it (I prefer a hint of mint or green in my wines). Also, I'm suspicious that this wine is a bit corked. I'm rating this flawed, but it's still very drinkable and enjoyable at 87 pts.
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We have seen a bit of bottle variation with this vintage over the past six months and found this bottle to be spectacular. In a great spot. Large amount of sediment when decanted. Tannins were still present, but essentially integrated. Lush cocoa and black currant along with graphite flavors and smells. Fruit is wonderful and I can highly recommend the wine at this point.
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Delicious. Hints of mocha, black currant. Tannins are integrated. Fruit is still rich, but not as much as it was a year ago or so. Definitely ready to be drunk at this point.
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I was looking forward to trying this, have had Dalla valle's in the past and have been pleased, but this was bit disappointing, there are simply too many wines out there for less then $50 that are much better then this particular vintage from Dalla Valle. I think this is another case of a 1997 fading quickly after the 10 year mark. I haven't had a really nice 1997 since the BV Georges Latour about 2 1/2 years ago.
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Garnet. Beef consume and cat fir mixed with red/blue fruit. Was very upfront on the palate – ripe but finished poorly. I think this might also be past its prime. (80)
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Second time this year that I have had this and come away feeling it is underrated. Served blind with the 97 Dominus and the 97 Catena, it was a clear favorite for me and for the group. Dark color, great dark fruit on the nose but with some complexity to it. On the palate this is rich and expansive, shwing great concentration with structure to go for a while. Great showing again. A
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Rick's Wedding Reception: My last wine of the evening, but what a showstopper. The fruit was simply perfect. Velvety texture, slick, silky acidity. Amazing sweetness of tannins, but the wine was fully dry. Earth, loam, dirt, dust, complexity, and nuance. Cherry fruit. Very tannic still, but ready to drink at the same time. What a wine...intellectual and keeps you guessing at all times.
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1994 and 1997 California Cabernet Retrospective (Chicago, IL): Roasted on the nose, with dark, overripe fruits. Better on the palate, where a gripping tannic profile keeps the fruit from being too heavy. Porty. Not my style, and unclear whether this is what it should be. Rated 14/20.
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Greatly enjoyed this wine last night at the monthly meeting of the Hickory Wine Club at Lake Hickory CC as part of a '92 - '97 vertical tasting, what a flight. Big nose of oak, dark fruit and underlying molasses. Inky black, very well balanced, very full bodied, muscular and complex with enough structural tannins remaining for many years of cellaring. Very multi-dimensional. Primary flavors included cassis, strong dark fruit, well balanced oak with development of smoke, black pepper and terroir on a long aftertaste. Very very good, highly recommend this wine.
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Tasted at Clos Wine Bar. This wine was a really nice treat. Color was dark red/garnet with some signs of its age. Nose of Eucalyptus, Mint, Cherry, Raspberry and herbs that kept changing. Very Perfumed. The attack was full of nice fruit, silky texture, that ended in a drying chalky finish. But not unpleasantly so. The mint/eucalyptus carried through the finish nicely. In its peak right now. Drink up.
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Drank with a "97 BV Geo. deLatour. Palate of red fruits, with a bit of spice and herbs.This complex, wonderful cabernet. Slight bricking in the color of deep garnet. Quite a bit of sediment. Absolutely wonderful wine.
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There simply are not sufficient adjectives to do this bottle justice -- smooth, bold, but perfectly balanced; this was a cab drinker's heaven. I shared with J.C. Chen and others at Alexanders at my Father's Day dinner. What a treat!!
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A beautiful Cali Cab that's rich and intense but also balanced and not over-the-top. Silky-smooth texture but with plenty of suave tannins. Full-bodied and rich with classic flavors of cassis and eucalyptus. Just entering its peak drinking window.
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Had as part of my birthday celebration - decanted for one hour. More old world in style due to its earthiness, finesse and complexity. A little more fruit and this wine would be absolutely off the charts.
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Dark inky violet, with 15% cabernet franc this has a bordeaux nose, with gorgeous cedar, polished leather, spice box. In the mouth this is extremely smooth and elegant with perfectly ripe tannins making for a nice medium lengthed finish.
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Slight va on the nose. This one was not in as good a shape as the one I had last week. Still bright red in the glass with ripe fruits and strong tannins but the nose was definitely off on this one.
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Big nose of red fruits with some earth and tobacco. Still chewy and fully bodied with tons of fruit remaining. Long smooth finsih. This is drinking nicely.
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Fanblous. Berries, cassis, jammy scent. Full mouth feel still some tannin but integrated and complex. Layers of fruit, earth, tabacco. Pure CalCab at its best. Long finish. chewy 'til the end.
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Ripe black fruit on nose. Plum flavors on palate, perhaps a hint overripe, then with less nuance and complexity than some of the better wines also tasted tonight.
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Klingenstein Dinner w/Stephan Blicker (Custom House): Full opaque black color. Big bright light red/black fruit on the nose. Full round black fruit with a long coffee finish on the palate. Good, but nothing special.
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Concentrated berries & cassis nose upon opening. Very dense and chewy with lots of blackberyy, boisenberry, & smoke. Still good amount of tannn and residue at the bottom. Layers of taste that you slid though my teeth. Almost pulp like in consitency but vaporish on swallowing. A little tart on the aftertaste was the only rub. Overall a wonderful wine.
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Blind Night (Enotria, Scottsdale): Blackcurrant and flowers on the nose. A little menthol or mint. Beautiful long finish. Very elegant. Excellent wine. Easily holds it's own against any of Napa's finest '97s. Brought by Jeff.
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nose of raspberry, cassis, some leather. very well intergrated wine. medium bodied with a little too much of a high toned note for me, but my wife went gaga over it. doubt it will gain more by holding.
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A great showing for this wine, it gave the 97 Montelena and Pahlmeyer a run for its money. I love the house style of the "regular" Dalla Valle cab, and this is a great rendition. Great attack, complex midpalate and a very nice, balanced finish, this is a pretty special cab.
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This wine is dark purple in color and so dense, when you tilt the wine in the glass to get a sense of color variation, you can barely see your fingers under the dark hue. On the nose, rasberry, plum and sweet, blackfruit. This baby explodes in your mouth with massive tannins and copious gobs of dark fruit, espresso, leather and roast that get overshadowed by a palate full of pucker that hangs and hangs for well over 40 seconds. In its first hour of life it is a wine that would dominate virtually any food pairing that I can think of... I will play with this bottle for the next few days, but on first glance, I won't be touching another one of my bottles for at least 24 months.
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<Press, Napa -- RJB, Monene, Elise> Well crafted, with layers of interesting nuances. Nice Black cherry and currants, some tobacco elements, and still has plenty of tannins on the back end.
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Outstanding cabernet! Although it tasted more like a meritage (15% Cabernet Franc). Elegant, rich, with great balance and drinking perfectly now (decanted more than an hour).
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Nice soft nose of blackerries and cedar box. The palate was lush and balanced. Nuanced, steakspice, tobacco, touch of olive, but little to no fruit. Soft tannins and and balanced acidity led to a finish that kinda comes and goes real quick. Note quite the wine I remember by any stretch, failed to inspire tonite.
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Dan's Dalla Valle Vertical @ XXXX: Dark and inky. A bit muted on the nose. Nice chocolatey flavors. Plums, blueberry pie, vanilla and violets. Nice finish. Needs a bit of time to resolve tannins, but not unapproachable. I would give this wine more cellar time, but it appears to have a promising future.VERY GOOD.
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1/18/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 92 Points
1997 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Retrospective (Omaha, NE): Presented single-blind; no formal notes. This was super similar to wine #4. The most striking characteristic for both wines was a powerful note of finely ground cumin on the nose. Fruit is mostly desiccated at this point; the structure keeping everything together. While dimming, this seemed to show indications that this was a slightly more powerful wine earlier in its life. I called “Dalle Valle”. Drink now.
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1/11/2024 - Ruby99 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Brick at the edges
mature nose of leather and tobacco leaf. Perhaps there is a hint of sherry
The wine is leathery with tobacco leaf and sweet cherries. The fruit is definitely still there but I sense it has started its decline
A very nice fully mature wine. I would not wait long to drink any remaining bottles (and we have 2!)
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10/3/2023 - Mdubnik Likes this wine: 98 Points
Tons of life left. Huge black fruit present on the nose and in the mouth. This was an absolutely stunning bottle. It's in a perfect place and certainly worthy of pulling a cork now, but could wait for up to another decade.
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6/11/2022 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 95 Points
There is still plenty of life here. Ripe and structured with some secondary caramelized notes emerging. Cherry, pipe tobacco, cassis and leather. Very good and loving the 13.5% abv.
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7/25/2021 - advinm41 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent fully mature Cab, peak drinking, dark fruit still very much alive with lots of secondary and tertiary aromas: truffle, barnyard, tobacco, cocoa, allspice and cardamom. Palate is medium bodied, mouth coating black fruit laced with truffle and spices. Long finish. Excellent!
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2/28/2021 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Mature, balanced, it complemented roast beef, and went down smoothly and evenly. This has aged very well and retained its fruit, graphite and a touch of savory notes after being opened for several hours. I did decant it. Marvelous,
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5/16/2020 - fdub wrote: 93 Points
Fully mature but fresh and good drinking. Crushed herbs and ripe plum fruit on the palate. Drank along with the 97’ Pahlmeyer which showed better but this was still a great wine.
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4/22/2020 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 93 Points
2.5 hour decant which is still required- very reminiscent of 1997 and immediately drew comparisons to Cathy Corison’s 97’s. The balance is great. Good high tone cherry notes with a long lasting finish. Certainly in prime but will easily hold for another 5 plus years. I would suggest a 4 hour decant.
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1/26/2020 - Steve Bird wrote: 92 Points
Still has a floral aroma. More licorice and baking spices on the pallette. Probably past it’s peak.
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10/10/2019 - Francophile1 wrote: flawed
Acker Merrall & Condit Bordeaux vs. California Tasting (Michelangelo Hotel): Tasted blind. Must have been a flawed bottle. Tasted oxidized and a glass full of prunes.
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7/27/2019 - WinoRick wrote: 92 Points
Good to go!
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6/21/2019 - mdefreitas wrote: 92 Points
Still holding on to a good amount of fruit and tannins. Some development, but less than one would expect for a 22 year old wine. A bit stern on day one, but much more open-knit and giving on day two. Based on this well-stored bottle, this can still be cellared for a bit.
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5/16/2019 - Drrobjo Likes this wine: 94 Points
A little funky whe first opened but became beautiful mature cab flavors of anise, cigar box and red fruits. Sweet and long in the finish with a beautiful nose after 20 minutes.
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12/26/2018 - rsbeck wrote: 93 Points
Popped, breathed in bottle 90 minutes, poured. Still holding well, but I think it was better three and a half years ago. Could just be a phase, but I wouldn’t bet on it. More likely it will continue to gradually decline. If you have some, I’d drink up.
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8/27/2018 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Soft, round, rich blackberry fruit, excellent structure, ample finish, showing bottle age, drink up
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3/23/2018 - MC wrote:
Past its prime. B
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2/9/2018 - Gluzmaned Likes this wine: 92 Points
On the first pour, the nose had strong nail polish smell. Did not effect the taste. It took a bit to open, the nail polish smell bacame faint very quickly, and almost went away. The wine opened up beautifully, no big fruit, very well balanced. A little lacking on the finish
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2/2/2018 - andrewdodd86 wrote: flawed
NR. Tobacco. Baking spices, coffee, vanilla. Green pepper funky thing going on. Spearmint? This is odd. Black currant. Fig.
Isn’t really a fair representation based on past bottles. Off bottle? Not bad, just weird. May open up (fingers crossed)
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2/2/2018 - rustyRudy wrote: 90 Points
Seems like an odd bottle, cork was great, lots of sediment, had an unusual minty, super fruity characteristic with cherry cough syrup. Unlike the other bottles I've had, all are from the same case. Had a little ripe plum / prune in the mid palate. Will need to open another bottle soon to recheck.
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12/10/2017 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Wine Flock Intro Retro - Cabs (Jordan's): Served blind in what turned out to be a flight of 97 Cali Cabs. This was clearly the cream of the crop. The nose is full of big rich plum fruit. The palate is rich, and densely concentrated. Youthful and big, but good underlying structure to balance and pull it off. Excellent with room to go.
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12/10/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Chicago Wine Flock..."Bordeaux and Cali Cab from Jordan" (Chez Whitehead - Northbrook IL): Tasted double blind in what turned out to be 1997 Cali Cab flight, all open 4 hours in advance with a quick double decant. Easily the best of the flight. Rich and powerfully ripe, yet balanced and refined. Big, bold, harmonious. Easy identifiable as Cali Cab.
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12/10/2017 - cadamson wrote:
Will withhold score. Lots of debate on if the bottle was flawed; general conclusion was not. Storage seemed perfect, cork certainly so. None-the-less, a very baked quality. Heavy roasted dark coffee beans, almost stewed blackberries. Did this see too much heat in its life, of is it a function of how some wine's from this hot vintage are evolving? Very good acidity and some tannic structure still in place. Despite what was said above, it was not a bad wine, in fact quite interesting. I have loved previous vintages of late (especially the 1994), but leaving my opinion open on this one, would love to have another.
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11/4/2017 - G_H wrote: 96 Points
Coke-hard-candy, black berries, coffee, beef seasoning, thick meat broth, tobacco, empty cigar box,
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4/23/2017 - MicklethePickle wrote: flawed
This wine shows all the signs of a wine subjected to heat at some point in its life. Still crimson, but shows advanced browning. Stewed, baked, prune notes, carmalized, but still has hints of red fruit poking through, as though showing what could have been. Drying out on the palate, the wine is completely lacking in freshness. Too bad. Not rated.
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1/16/2017 - plitton wrote: 92 Points
Cherries steeped in fine, firm tannins. Supple mouthfeel. Very enjoyable.
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5/19/2016 - Geaux Tigers wrote: flawed
Ugh, no bueno
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5/4/2016 - Geaux Tigers wrote: flawed
Corked! No Bueno!
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4/3/2016 - DarinC Does not like this wine: 70 Points
Perfect cork and fill. I agree with Diane on this one. I usually love the 90s Dalla Valle's but this one was hot and partially oxidized. My guess is the warm 97 vintage is was the culprit.
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3/23/2016 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 89 Points
1990's California Cabernet - Blind: Still deep purple. Medium nose of currants, baked cherries, glycerin, jammy, very hot. Some red liquorice. Pleasant texture and comparable to some '96 Dominus enjoyed recently, but too much toasty oak and too young. Syrupy fruit.
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3/20/2016 - dream wrote:
A bit of brett kept this from showing it's best. Seems quite mature
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3/6/2016 - Diane (LI) wrote:
What a disappointment. The nose was sherried. The palate was slightly better, with huge tannins, dark fruit, chocolate, but pruney. After a few sips, it went down the drain. A producer I love, but this may have been a product of the vintage and it just didn't hold up.
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12/16/2015 - MC wrote:
Popped and poured. Perfect fill and cork. This was great and might have been even better with a decant. Rich, concentrated red fruit and a long finish. Holding well but I would drink now - yet I have to save my last bottle to taste against my last bottle of the 96 which I have always loved as much or more than the 97. A-/A
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10/18/2015 - tcosgriff wrote: 85 Points
Purple color with a bouquet and flavor reminiscent of bullion, with some cherry notes in the finish. Balance a bit off, with modest depth and a moderate finish. Nothing to identify it as a Cabernet Sauvignon. I hope that the other bottles are better.
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9/23/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
OK, while this is not close to the level of quality found in the sublime Maya, it’s a lot less money! And as you can see, this is super in its right and it’s in the perfect place, if you like fresh, sweet, juicy, ripe fruits, cedar, earth and a blast of cherries in your concentrated, full bodied, deep wine.
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9/16/2015 - ctjared wrote:
needs a decent amount of air
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8/8/2015 - no leashes wrote: 92 Points
Elegant, with black fruit, tar and earth, nicely balanced with a long finish.
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7/27/2015 - rsbeck wrote: 95 Points
Pop and pour, beautiful nose that continually opens and the show continues on the palate. 13.5% ABV. 15% Cab Franc. Full bodied, complex, perfectly ripe fruit, with a core of juicy acids lending it an elegance that extends into a succulent expanding finish.
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5/26/2015 - aagrawal wrote: 90 Points
Coravin 5/26/15: Deep purple-ruby color with minimal bricking for its age; nose of blackcurrant fruit wafted out of the decanter while decanting, in the glass is decidedly less primary with much more capsicum, green vegetal, slight damp forest floor; palate is full bodied, blackberry fruit, slight green vegetal, tannins are well integrated but just a tad rough through the midpalate; finish is medium length. My third bottle, and this is very similar to the last two: A good wine with good components of fruit and green, but it has a slight cardboard-ness to it that is just very slightly unpleasant and it makes the whole wine seem just a little bit off balance. Unfortunate, since the 1994 version of this strikes the perfect balance and is a near-perfect wine. Not likely to improve. 90
5/31/15: Unchanged from when first opened. Maybe just a tad drying on the palate and a bit more fig on the nose.
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5/22/2015 - MC wrote:
Decanted an hour this was dark, ripe, full bodied, and open - but with structure to hold. I think best to be drinking now but this is still in very good shape. A-/A
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5/8/2015 - MC wrote:
Popped and poured. Solid wine, with no complaints. Just not fair to evaluate it without a decant, but seems in good shape but drink now. A-/A
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3/17/2015 - fdub wrote: 91 Points
Well made but a bit stewed.
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1/9/2015 - 2masvino wrote: 97 Points
I've had this bottle since its infancy. Drank it tonight at Lucky's in Montecito. CA Cab at its finest. Firm but softening tannins, great fruit, balance and depth. Beautiful tonight but still many years left before it begins to wane.
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12/28/2014 - charleshetzel Likes this wine: 98 Points
Having patience paid off big time on this wine. Its aroma of deep dark colored berries even after a 90 minute decant was amazing. On the nose there were huge cherries, some eucalyptus, and some medium oak.
Huge tannins and over a 30 second finish. This wine is in great shape and drinking very very well.
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12/14/2014 - ctjared wrote:
muted, dusty tannins, medium plus finish. fair.
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12/4/2014 - maxfischer wrote: 92 Points
Pristine condition, decanted two hours, heavy sediment, cherries, menthol, eucalyptus on the nose, bright acid and deep tannins, which integrated over the two hours. No bricking. Still alive and well. Quite good.
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11/14/2014 - ctjared Likes this wine:
decent
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8/16/2014 - RockinCabs wrote: 93 Points
Showed really young on Saturday night with beautiful mouth feel, herbal notes and sweet cassis. Showing quite dark, but not reduced.
Really nice 97 that is in a good plateau.
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7/15/2014 - Tarun Patel wrote:
Great. Decant for 1 hr and the drink. It will fade after a while
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7/14/2014 - Sharmajd wrote: 93 Points
After an hour of decanting this really started shining with layers of fruit. The tannins got softer as the wine opened up.
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5/13/2014 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 97 Points
It may get better, but not by much. Gorgeous nose. Black fruit. Nice earth and leather. Wow.
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3/14/2014 - dream Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still good ruby color with no fading. Really expressive nose of blackberries, licorice, menthol and spices. I'm not a fan of the way many '97 Napa Cabs have aged but this is one that has aged beautifully. Still full-bodied and satiny with wonderful flavors of boysenberry, licorice, black currants and a slight hint of green beans in a good way. The finish is where this wine rises above showing a fantastic complexity with strong notes of spicebox, eucalyptus and minerals. Perhaps it's the Cab Franc in this wine that makes it work so well but it avoids all the pitfalls of overdone Napa Cabs. Really delicious and eye-opening.
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1/26/2014 - maxfischer wrote: 91 Points
Soft cork, crumbled but showed no seepage. Very musty, funky nose (cab franc coming through?). Decanted four hours, and it found its stride. Dark cherries and lots of dirt on the nose, smooth and mature with enough tannic structure to carry it through into a long, earthy finish.
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12/26/2013 - awineo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice older cab. Fruit was still solid and tannins mellow.
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12/10/2013 - Wine_lvr wrote: 92 Points
Tasted blind: Still youthful in color. Nose of coffee, walnut and black licorice. Nice sweetness, the tannins are still present. It seems almost too young (?).
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9/4/2013 - mwanasheria wrote: 88 Points
Because the majority of 1997 Mayas are over the edge I hoped for better luck with the regular Cabernet. Unfortunately, the wine was barely approachable, very tannic, plum jam, wood. A pleasant drink but not great. A pity.
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8/30/2013 - tomlee wrote: 93 Points
Deep red in color and fading to rust on the edges. 13.5% AVB. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. High toned nose of glycerine, tobacco, cherry and eucalyptus. Rich, structured and full bodied. Still somewhat tightly wound. Currants, cassis, menthol, chocolate, tar and licorice on the palate. Chalky, dusty tannins. I have little doubt this wine will age well for another decade.
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8/29/2013 - SeagreenWench Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark red in color, tobacco on nose followed by dark cherry and eucalyptus. Full body, good acid, good earthy tanins. Good harmony, layers of earth with fruit, smooth texture and nice medim-long finish.
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6/25/2013 - Gobi wrote: 93 Points
Dark colored on the eye with violet hues on the edge, very concentrated and dense on the nose showing dark cherries, blackberries, plums, cassis, licorice, sweet tobacco, dried flowers, and exotic spices. Smooth entry on the palate showing plums, blackberries, raspberries with some dark chocolate that extends to the midpalate. The finish is medium to long length, it shows more dark fruits, sweet vanilla, chewy tannins, and baking spices. A concentrated wine that still seems tightly coiled, however the underlying material is quite impressive.
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4/16/2013 - rdsboca Likes this wine: 95 Points
Rich, chewy, red cherry. Big tannic backbone with nice long finish. The cab franc (15%) complements the cab fruit, especially noticeable in the mid palate.
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4/4/2013 - kenv Likes this wine: 93 Points
WCC 1997 California Cabernet Blind Tasting (Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY): Dark, tannic. Still quite backward. After an hour, it is starting to open up. Serious wine. 93-95
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1/18/2013 - Brett wrote: 95 Points
Fantastic!!
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12/24/2012 - rosenst1 wrote: flawed
Cellared since release. Popped and poured; perfect cork barely wetted above the bottom. Deep red with no signs of bricking. Seems to be a bit of volatile acidity in the nose initially; very high toned - will have to see if this passes. On the palate - this is quite thick but with drying tannins on the finish - will decant and see if that helps.
After 30 minutes in the decanter the nose has cleaned up and the wine seems sound; still quite thick and tannic on the finish, though.
Decided to double-decant and wait til tomorrow – now nose has cleaned up and the wine has some nice chocolate notes on the palate but still a boatload of drying tannins on the finish. If this wine was 5 years old or Old World, I would say it just needs time but at 15 for a California Cab?! Flawed.
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12/3/2012 - tooch wrote: 89 Points
Dinner at Marc's (Marc's House - Bellingham, WA): A pretty nice Cabernet. Big and juicy this had a lot of dark fruits, spicy oak, and wild flowers. Palate was still powerful and dense, loads of dark fruit, oak and floral notes. Still young, this needs some time for further develop.
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6/29/2012 - fdub wrote: flawed
Cooked
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6/28/2012 - seanness wrote: 95 Points
Worth the wait!
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6/23/2012 - Brett wrote: 96 Points
Great bottle of wine!!!
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5/11/2012 - Brett wrote: 96 Points
Fantastic wine!!
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4/26/2012 - tmiller Likes this wine: 94 Points
I am not that generous with points usually, but this was flat out terrific. Cannot say much about bottle variation since this is the first of six bottles. Intense nose of dark fruits, glycerin, tar, liquorice. Some spices like cloves and nutmeg, too. Mid to almost heavy weight mouthfeel, massive tannins, vibrant acidity even. A little dry at the end maybe. A great wine that still seems young, I reckon this has at least another good ten years of great drinking ahead.
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1/29/2012 - TheDarkPrince wrote: 91 Points
I can only describe this as an 'angel pissing on my tongue'. Nectar! I could go broke for this wine. Great grip and structure. Fruit is still dominant, but leather overtones beginning to emerge. Dark fruit now abundant.
Shared with a friend of mine in London at Wimbledon Wince Cellars. This wine represents some of the best napa has to offer. Drinking wonderfully now and will keep for another 5 years easily. In my mind, best enjoyed now.
:0)
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1/8/2012 - MC wrote:
Great bottle (vs. some previous variations) and in a great place. Dark, rich fruit and plenty of structure and body with a great finish. Really all I want in Cali Cab. Well done - only wish it was more consistent bottle to bottle in this vintage. A
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1/1/2012 - ecola Likes this wine: 93 Points
A stunning wine. Classy red berries with leather and tobacco. Soft and silky mouthfeel. Tannins are softening, but this is still very much alive.
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10/1/2011 - MC wrote:
On the bottle variation scale, I think this was middle of the pack. Not one of the best bottles I have had, but was much better than some of the flawed bottles. Big wine, showing dark fruit, cassis, oak, and soft tannins on the finish. A step short of the great ones, but very nice to drink along side the '97 Cab Franc (which some preferred but I did not). A-
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9/18/2011 - rdsboca wrote: 90 Points
Dinner at MB at The Omphoy (Palm Beach, FL): Tough to follow the 96 Branaire. Oh well, once again a context wine It was relatively disappointing because I had high hopes. They were somewhat dashed. It was a juice bomb. Nice dark chocolate on the nose with some mocha latte. Plum and black cherry on the palate but not as mature as I had hoped. The mature fruit just wasn't there yet. Mid-palate was very tight. This wine needs a ribeye. It was decanted for about two hours and didn't budge. Finish was flat, tannic and backward. I think it will resolve itself and if I owned more (I don't, boo!), I would revisit in three years. Maybe it was overshadowed by all of the other wines tonight, unsure. The 94 that I drank recently was quite memorable so I have hope.
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9/5/2011 - davidandrose wrote:
Not decanted. Disappointed with the extent of bottle variation as reported in other notes, and I'm afraid I'm suffering from this as well, on the down side. Appears to be a bit thin upon initial pour , and while there was definately some nice fruit when I first popped the cork, the aroma's quickly resembled those of an aged bordeaux that might be slightly corked. A little alcohol and raisin as well. Some red fruit evident on the palate but this is overall a dead wine. Again, faint hint of wet newspaper lead me to believe that this is corked. Not rated as a result.
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7/5/2011 - MC wrote:
After last night's corked bottle, this showed well. Popped and poured and showed a lot of structure compared to the bottle earlier in the year (which was decanted for a while). I see some notes on bottle variation, and I think that is true. Not good and bad, all good, but more advanced vs. less advanced bottles. I will revisit this tomorrow to see how it holds up. A-/A
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6/24/2011 - cenberra21 wrote: flawed
I was so looking forward to this. Opened and nothing. No fruits but drinkable. Very disappointing, poured into the sink.
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6/12/2011 - MC wrote:
First bottle of this that felt like it has peaked. Still great, but did not show the concentrated fruit and finish of previous bottles. Should try another soon to see if this was a slightly off bottle, as previous bottles have been among my favorite cabs. A-?
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6/10/2011 - aagrawal wrote: 91 Points
My 2nd bottle tonight. In comparison, this is showing more freshness on the nose, less heat, hint of bell pepper, subtle black fruits, overall more complexity on the nose; palate shows similar structure to the last bottle but less dryness on the finish and a bit more juicy fruit. Finish is moderate in length. Showing better than the first bottle (which may have been very slightly corked or have some poor bottle variation), though still not a challenge to the glory of the 94 Dalla Valle Cab or the 92 Maya. Has the structure to last a bit longer, but will likely not improve much, if at all. 90-91
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6/10/2011 - aagrawal wrote: flawed
Still quite dark with mild bricking; nose is showing a bit of heat, raisined, some cacao/coffee; palate has nice structure with integrated tannins, not showing too much heat on the palate and has some good fruit; finish is a bit drying. Overall this wine is not even close to the brilliance of the 94 cab or the 92 maya, and it may be because this wine is made in a warmer modern style than vintages that preceded it (I prefer a hint of mint or green in my wines). Also, I'm suspicious that this wine is a bit corked. I'm rating this flawed, but it's still very drinkable and enjoyable at 87 pts.
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5/28/2011 - rdsboca wrote: 94 Points
This wine is in such a great spot. cassis, mature cherry and smooth sweet tannins. Patience is a virtue.
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5/21/2011 - Tight Lines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still holding nicely.
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2/15/2011 - kenthargis wrote: 96 Points
We have seen a bit of bottle variation with this vintage over the past six months and found this bottle to be spectacular. In a great spot. Large amount of sediment when decanted. Tannins were still present, but essentially integrated. Lush cocoa and black currant along with graphite flavors and smells. Fruit is wonderful and I can highly recommend the wine at this point.
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1/1/2011 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Coffee central upon popping the cork. Fig/licorice.
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12/7/2010 - kenthargis wrote: 92 Points
Delicious. Hints of mocha, black currant. Tannins are integrated. Fruit is still rich, but not as much as it was a year ago or so. Definitely ready to be drunk at this point.
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9/21/2010 - tjsmiller wrote:
wine was excellent. great flavor and fruit
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7/27/2010 - jonnyoro wrote: 97 Points
almost a perfect wine- aging gracefully and slowly; great fruit and structure-brought to Cole's chop house-
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3/16/2010 - Phin wrote: 97 Points
1 hr decant. Sweet black layers and layers creamy fruit. Finished forever!!! Awesome blend of ripe fruit, chocolate, earth.
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1/16/2010 - cabrnay wrote: 89 Points
I was looking forward to trying this, have had Dalla valle's in the past and have been pleased, but this was bit disappointing, there are simply too many wines out there for less then $50 that are much better then this particular vintage from Dalla Valle. I think this is another case of a 1997 fading quickly after the 10 year mark. I haven't had a really nice 1997 since the BV Georges Latour about 2 1/2 years ago.
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1/16/2010 - martuna wrote: 91 Points
Rather subdued nose but nice sweet fruit to go with soft tannins.
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11/16/2009 - jimmythesaint wrote: 93 Points
Awesome bottle of wine!
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10/26/2009 - dbkitc wrote: 80 Points
Garnet. Beef consume and cat fir mixed with red/blue fruit. Was very upfront on the palate – ripe but finished poorly. I think this might also be past its prime. (80)
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6/7/2009 - MC wrote:
Second time this year that I have had this and come away feeling it is underrated. Served blind with the 97 Dominus and the 97 Catena, it was a clear favorite for me and for the group. Dark color, great dark fruit on the nose but with some complexity to it. On the palate this is rich and expansive, shwing great concentration with structure to go for a while. Great showing again. A
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5/14/2009 - Michael wrote: 90 Points
really nice and rich. I would weight a few more years still to drink.
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5/2/2009 - steffenpelz wrote:
Rick's Wedding Reception: My last wine of the evening, but what a showstopper. The fruit was simply perfect. Velvety texture, slick, silky acidity. Amazing sweetness of tannins, but the wine was fully dry. Earth, loam, dirt, dust, complexity, and nuance. Cherry fruit. Very tannic still, but ready to drink at the same time. What a wine...intellectual and keeps you guessing at all times.
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4/28/2009 - psmith wrote:
1994 and 1997 California Cabernet Retrospective (Chicago, IL): Roasted on the nose, with dark, overripe fruits. Better on the palate, where a gripping tannic profile keeps the fruit from being too heavy. Porty. Not my style, and unclear whether this is what it should be. Rated 14/20.
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4/14/2009 - ikkaariainen wrote: 94 Points
Greatly enjoyed this wine last night at the monthly meeting of the Hickory Wine Club at Lake Hickory CC as part of a '92 - '97 vertical tasting, what a flight. Big nose of oak, dark fruit and underlying molasses. Inky black, very well balanced, very full bodied, muscular and complex with enough structural tannins remaining for many years of cellaring. Very multi-dimensional. Primary flavors included cassis, strong dark fruit, well balanced oak with development of smoke, black pepper and terroir on a long aftertaste. Very very good, highly recommend this wine.
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2/3/2009 - RockinCabs wrote: 92 Points
Tasted at Clos Wine Bar. This wine was a really nice treat. Color was dark red/garnet with some signs of its age. Nose of Eucalyptus, Mint, Cherry, Raspberry and herbs that kept changing. Very Perfumed. The attack was full of nice fruit, silky texture, that ended in a drying chalky finish. But not unpleasantly so. The mint/eucalyptus carried through the finish nicely. In its peak right now. Drink up.
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12/2/2008 - carnyc wrote: 93 Points
BYO Dinner at Tribeca Grill (Organized by Acker Merrall): Flavors of cassis, blackberry, plums, leather and earth are in beautiful harmony; juicy fruit; medium tannin; low/medium acid; excellent!
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11/7/2008 - wpd wrote: 94 Points
Drank with a "97 BV Geo. deLatour. Palate of red fruits, with a bit of spice and herbs.This complex, wonderful cabernet. Slight bricking in the color of deep garnet. Quite a bit of sediment. Absolutely wonderful wine.
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6/15/2008 - rtjohnson wrote: 97 Points
There simply are not sufficient adjectives to do this bottle justice -- smooth, bold, but perfectly balanced; this was a cab drinker's heaven. I shared with J.C. Chen and others at Alexanders at my Father's Day dinner. What a treat!!
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4/23/2008 - dream wrote: 94 Points
A beautiful Cali Cab that's rich and intense but also balanced and not over-the-top. Silky-smooth texture but with plenty of suave tannins. Full-bodied and rich with classic flavors of cassis and eucalyptus. Just entering its peak drinking window.
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3/1/2008 - zimmy07 wrote: flawed
absolute shame! I really wanted this to be on. massive brett, metallic acidity, not good
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2/10/2008 - MC wrote:
WOTN on NYE, blowing away '97 Insignia. Plenty of time left, but great now. A
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1/4/2008 - JOsgood wrote: 93 Points
Had as part of my birthday celebration - decanted for one hour. More old world in style due to its earthiness, finesse and complexity. A little more fruit and this wine would be absolutely off the charts.
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1/4/2008 - sosgoodjhu wrote: 94 Points
Dark inky violet, with 15% cabernet franc this has a bordeaux nose, with gorgeous cedar, polished leather, spice box. In the mouth this is extremely smooth and elegant with perfectly ripe tannins making for a nice medium lengthed finish.
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12/20/2007 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
French Bakery BYO 1990's Cali Cab Sauv dominant wines; 12/19/2007-12/20/2007: Craig's wine. Had the misfortune of going up against the 97 Caymus, and Insignia. Flight of the night, but the other two were more evolved tonight. Still excellent, meriting 93 points. Agree w comment slight VA on the nose.
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11/23/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 90 Points
Slight va on the nose. This one was not in as good a shape as the one I had last week. Still bright red in the glass with ripe fruits and strong tannins but the nose was definitely off on this one.
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11/18/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 94 Points
Big nose of red fruits with some earth and tobacco. Still chewy and fully bodied with tons of fruit remaining. Long smooth finsih. This is drinking nicely.
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11/10/2007 - tonyo123 wrote: 95 Points
Fanblous. Berries, cassis, jammy scent. Full mouth feel still some tannin but integrated and complex. Layers of fruit, earth, tabacco. Pure CalCab at its best. Long finish. chewy 'til the end.
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11/4/2007 - dbkitc wrote: 91 Points
Deep brick color. Cherry and anis and a weird cheesiness. Lovely attack, but falls off. (91)
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9/14/2007 - Burgundy Al wrote: 88 Points
Ripe black fruit on nose. Plum flavors on palate, perhaps a hint overripe, then with less nuance and complexity than some of the better wines also tasted tonight.
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9/14/2007 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
Klingenstein Dinner w/Stephan Blicker (Custom House): Full opaque black color. Big bright light red/black fruit on the nose. Full round black fruit with a long coffee finish on the palate. Good, but nothing special.
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9/12/2007 - BeavisCC wrote: 92 Points
Very good, but not quite the equal of the 94 tonight.
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3/2/2007 - tonyo123 wrote: 95 Points
Concentrated berries & cassis nose upon opening. Very dense and chewy with lots of blackberyy, boisenberry, & smoke. Still good amount of tannn and residue at the bottom. Layers of taste that you slid though my teeth. Almost pulp like in consitency but vaporish on swallowing. A little tart on the aftertaste was the only rub. Overall a wonderful wine.
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11/28/2006 - jeff nowak wrote: 96 Points
dynamite fruit and the most satisfying, long finish. fab.
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11/28/2006 - kstoddard wrote: 96 Points
Blind Night (Enotria, Scottsdale): Blackcurrant and flowers on the nose. A little menthol or mint. Beautiful long finish. Very elegant. Excellent wine. Easily holds it's own against any of Napa's finest '97s. Brought by Jeff.
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7/27/2006 - goofy Yno wrote: 92 Points
nose of raspberry, cassis, some leather. very well intergrated wine. medium bodied with a little too much of a high toned note for me, but my wife went gaga over it. doubt it will gain more by holding.
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5/31/2006 - BeavisCC wrote: 95 Points
A great showing for this wine, it gave the 97 Montelena and Pahlmeyer a run for its money. I love the house style of the "regular" Dalla Valle cab, and this is a great rendition. Great attack, complex midpalate and a very nice, balanced finish, this is a pretty special cab.
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2/19/2006 - Melli wrote: 96 Points
awesome wine....still a baby
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12/9/2005 - Buyer and cellar wrote: 93 Points
This wine is dark purple in color and so dense, when you tilt the wine in the glass to get a sense of color variation, you can barely see your fingers under the dark hue. On the nose, rasberry, plum and sweet, blackfruit. This baby explodes in your mouth with massive tannins and copious gobs of dark fruit, espresso, leather and roast that get overshadowed by a palate full of pucker that hangs and hangs for well over 40 seconds. In its first hour of life it is a wine that would dominate virtually any food pairing that I can think of... I will play with this bottle for the next few days, but on first glance, I won't be touching another one of my bottles for at least 24 months.
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9/19/2005 - lorenzo wrote: 92 Points
<Press, Napa -- RJB, Monene, Elise>
Well crafted, with layers of interesting nuances.
Nice Black cherry and currants, some tobacco elements, and still has plenty of tannins on the back end.
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5/5/2005 - bdenuyl wrote: 96 Points
Outstanding cabernet! Although it tasted more like a meritage (15% Cabernet Franc). Elegant, rich, with great balance and drinking perfectly now (decanted more than an hour).
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11/20/2004 - Koods wrote: 88 Points
Nice soft nose of blackerries and cedar box. The palate was lush and balanced. Nuanced, steakspice, tobacco, touch of olive, but little to no fruit. Soft tannins and and balanced acidity led to a finish that kinda comes and goes real quick. Note quite the wine I remember by any stretch, failed to inspire tonite.
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10/9/2004 - anthonyiez wrote: 95 Points
wow, what a wine. typical dalla valle. i sure wish all cali cabs tasted this way. i have more on the way and couldn't be happier.
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1/30/2004 - mnh wrote:
deep purple, very ripe, big complex and delicious. Long life ahead
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5/4/2001 - mdefreitas wrote: 90 Points
Dan's Dalla Valle Vertical @ XXXX: Dark and inky. A bit muted on the nose. Nice chocolatey flavors. Plums, blueberry pie, vanilla and violets. Nice finish. Needs a bit of time to resolve tannins, but not unapproachable. I would give this wine more cellar time, but it appears to have a promising future.VERY GOOD.
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