Hollow upon opening ....tart raisin ...after 2-3 hours of air improves greatly....gains weight and depth. Chocolate covered cherries, blueberries, kirsch, spice, long finish and tannins in check. A little heat...very slight.
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Pours a deep purple with aromas of purple fruits tinged with green herbal notes.
Flavors follow the nose and the tannins are well-integrated. There's a harshness to the palate that wasn't there in its youth. My last of a case -- the wine was smoother and more red-fruited in its youth but last few bottles have been less enjoyable.
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Drank over 3 days, think the wine has aged well and probably needs to be consumed sooner than later. Was a strange evolution once exposed to oxygen compared to other cabs of similar structure.
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Slow-ox'd for 1+ hours. A little lackluster compared next to the '84 Raymond PR Cab at dinner table, yet was decent. Fruit-forward w/cassis, black cherry, spice & hint of leather notes. Round & medium:full bodied w/soft tannins, light acidity, and a moderate finish.
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Woody nose that was a bit closed and I was concerned on opening but the fruit came quick, even without a decant. Delicious, slightly understated, napa cab
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really nice wine now. tastes exactly like a well-made cabernet with a few years on it should. polished tannins, nice cassis, balanced and ready to go with only 10-15 minutes of air.
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Finally opened up after 2+ hours of decanting. Started with tight sour fruit notes and then segued into a more developed Cabernet expression of fruit and rock.
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Dark ruby. Raspberry, blueberry, cedar and a touch of smoke on the nose. Medium to full bodied, well-aged, chocolate covered cherries, blackberry pie, baking spices, lively acid, wonderfully sweet tannins, and a long finish that evolves. Smooth, balanced, and complex. Tastes as good as wines costing twice as much or more.
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Good, dark, but slightly translucent ruby red with a trace of purpling. Tremendous, if heavily fruit-forward, nose of blackberries, vanilla, and dust. On the palate, blackberries and currants dominate the opening, but the tannins rise on the mid-palate, which then also shows more secondary notes of basil, leather, and coriander. The mouthfeel shows some moderate graininess, which perhaps isn't perfect, but which I did not find especially detracting. Some nice citrus comes out on the finish, which is medium-long. Overall, this is a really nice, well-balanced cabernet which is good both with food, and for sipping afterward. We rarely finish a bottle all in one night, but that wasn't a problem with this one. $35 nominal purchase price, and it would have been worth it, even for that. With Lot18 vouchers, the actual purchase price was about half that, and that made it a complete steal. I should have bought a half case of these, at least.
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a strong showing from this wine. nicely integrated and in a good drinking window right now. tough to rate this in the 90s, but still solid with chocolate-covered green pepper dominating the nose and flavors, mixed with blackberries and blackcurrants. good stuff and although lot18.com kind of pisses me off, i am glad i bought these bottles.
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(A) Eye opening wine, wasn't expecting this level of complexity and body. Very well crafted. Palate coating and still slightly granular tannis, but the fruit is lingering and delicious. Still has a good amount of time left to age.
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Needs some time. Tannins masked the fruit for the first night and most of the second. About an hour of time in the glass on the second night and this just started opening and showing fruit. Nice cherry profile with a long finish. Can see this drinking well over the next 5 years.
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decanted for one hour on day 1 then poured back into the bottle and enjoyed over 2 days.
color is medium saturated with translucent ruby throughout. the nose on day one was plummy with nice oak spice and good black fruit. the palate had decent if a little watery black fruits, and the finish was short and boring. pretty nonplussed on day 1.
day 2 saw the wine showing deliciously. cassis, creosote, black raspberry and blackberry on the nose, with a nice dose of oaky chocolate. the palate was densely packed with black fruit and much better weight than day 1. the finish was all about ripe black cherries.
very good stuff for $20-ish
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Ran a glass through the venturi and warmed it a bit. On the nose, light red fruit with bit of tobacco and new oak. On the palate more red fruit cherry/raspberry and oak. Dry with a bit of tartness. Quite a bit of tannins on the finish, chewy almost, in fact quite a long finish with full mouth feel and lingering berry. I think I just committed infanticide as this wine is probably a bit too young, it needs to be decanted for longer I think to bring out more fruit. Well balanced wine.
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Open for 1 hr before consumption.On the nose cassis, blackberry with a hint of licorice. On the palate a pure conglomerate of dark fruit,chocolate and a nuance of asparagus. A beautiful balanced wine. Hats off to the winemaker.
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Silky and rich, very nice balance of fruit and tannins. Dark chocolate in the nose, cranberries and plum in the mouth. Opened about an hour before drinking, did not decant. Am interested to see what a few years might add, perhaps bringing the acid down a touch, but is very lush and nice now.
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Novovino's spring portfolio: nose: very pure and deep tones of of chocolate, red currants, bits of oak, dark cherries and rich tones of cranberries. very sumptuous and pure that is a real delight to smell with a good classy air about it
taste: excellent silky and polished medium/full feel with rich and pure tones of chocolate, dark cherries, red currants, and cranberries. Very expressive on the palate with a nice plushness to it that very attractive
overall: what I really enjoy about california cabernet. Great pure expression of fruit with good body to it and a good polished feel to it that really brings out the expression
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12/17/2017 - DesMarteau Likes this wine:
Hollow upon opening ....tart raisin ...after 2-3 hours of air improves greatly....gains weight and depth. Chocolate covered cherries, blueberries, kirsch, spice, long finish and tannins in check. A little heat...very slight.
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2/10/2016 - CMN wrote: 83 Points
Pours a deep purple with aromas of purple fruits tinged with green herbal notes.
Flavors follow the nose and the tannins are well-integrated. There's a harshness to the palate that wasn't there in its youth. My last of a case -- the wine was smoother and more red-fruited in its youth but last few bottles have been less enjoyable.
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12/6/2014 - annerk wrote: 87 Points
Very average, and not getting better. 50+5+12+14+6
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11/12/2013 - gullsnest wrote: 90 Points
Drank over 3 days, think the wine has aged well and probably needs to be consumed sooner than later. Was a strange evolution once exposed to oxygen compared to other cabs of similar structure.
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11/2/2013 - SeaSmoke wrote: 88 Points
PNP with pork chops. Nice dark ruby red color, fruit forward with hints of black fruit, tannins are almost non-existent, short finish. Good QPR.
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10/13/2013 - team-blackburn wrote: 88 Points
PNP went nicely with Pizza
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12/25/2012 - DRS-Inc wrote: 88 Points
Slow-ox'd for 1+ hours. A little lackluster compared next to the '84 Raymond PR Cab at dinner table, yet was decent. Fruit-forward w/cassis, black cherry, spice & hint of leather notes. Round & medium:full bodied w/soft tannins, light acidity, and a moderate finish.
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11/17/2012 - tequilajake wrote: 90 Points
decant for at least 1 hour prior to consuming. very bright fruit up front and finishes with deep extracted flavors. Wonderful effort from Celia Welch.
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10/30/2012 - liteagilis wrote: 89 Points
Woody nose that was a bit closed and I was concerned on opening but the fruit came quick, even without a decant. Delicious, slightly understated, napa cab
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8/30/2012 - team-blackburn wrote: 90 Points
Still very young, pnp gripping tannins big ripe fruit. Paired very well with NY strips!!!!
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6/12/2012 - mtaczak wrote: 91 Points
really nice wine now. tastes exactly like a well-made cabernet with a few years on it should. polished tannins, nice cassis, balanced and ready to go with only 10-15 minutes of air.
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5/26/2012 - bvanbower wrote: 90 Points
Decanted one hour. Very smooth with decent structure. Best wine of the night!
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3/30/2012 - jperez68 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Smooth soft tannins with blazzing fruit. A good value for 30 bucks will try to find some more.
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12/28/2011 - nlassow wrote:
Finally opened up after 2+ hours of decanting. Started with tight sour fruit notes and then segued into a more developed Cabernet expression of fruit and rock.
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12/24/2011 - zinfomaniac wrote: 91 Points
A rare combination of intesity and finesse. Wonderful aromas of cherry and cinnamon with a soft berry filled finish.
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10/8/2011 - caeleric wrote:
see previous notes. great showing again.
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8/24/2011 - dlstrauss wrote: 91 Points
Actually enjoyed more after vinturi over the first hour than hours 2/3. Went from a 91 to 90, but I rate it at its highest.
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7/22/2011 - Mattvino wrote: 88 Points
Still lots of big rich fruit. A lot of cherry, tobacco, mocha, and leather. Just wishing I had a steak to pair with it
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7/15/2011 - merryberry wrote: 91 Points
Dark ruby. Raspberry, blueberry, cedar and a touch of smoke on the nose. Medium to full bodied, well-aged, chocolate covered cherries, blackberry pie, baking spices, lively acid, wonderfully sweet tannins, and a long finish that evolves. Smooth, balanced, and complex. Tastes as good as wines costing twice as much or more.
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5/15/2011 - Phredd Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good, dark, but slightly translucent ruby red with a trace of purpling. Tremendous, if heavily fruit-forward, nose of blackberries, vanilla, and dust. On the palate, blackberries and currants dominate the opening, but the tannins rise on the mid-palate, which then also shows more secondary notes of basil, leather, and coriander. The mouthfeel shows some moderate graininess, which perhaps isn't perfect, but which I did not find especially detracting. Some nice citrus comes out on the finish, which is medium-long. Overall, this is a really nice, well-balanced cabernet which is good both with food, and for sipping afterward. We rarely finish a bottle all in one night, but that wasn't a problem with this one. $35 nominal purchase price, and it would have been worth it, even for that. With Lot18 vouchers, the actual purchase price was about half that, and that made it a complete steal. I should have bought a half case of these, at least.
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5/2/2011 - caeleric Likes this wine:
a strong showing from this wine. nicely integrated and in a good drinking window right now. tough to rate this in the 90s, but still solid with chocolate-covered green pepper dominating the nose and flavors, mixed with blackberries and blackcurrants. good stuff and although lot18.com kind of pisses me off, i am glad i bought these bottles.
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4/7/2011 - prettydeceextrap wrote: 93 Points
(A) Eye opening wine, wasn't expecting this level of complexity and body. Very well crafted. Palate coating and still slightly granular tannis, but the fruit is lingering and delicious. Still has a good amount of time left to age.
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4/2/2011 - jktaylor wrote: 92 Points
Needs some time. Tannins masked the fruit for the first night and most of the second. About an hour of time in the glass on the second night and this just started opening and showing fruit. Nice cherry profile with a long finish. Can see this drinking well over the next 5 years.
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4/1/2011 - caeleric Likes this wine: 88 Points
decanted for one hour on day 1 then poured back into the bottle and enjoyed over 2 days.
color is medium saturated with translucent ruby throughout. the nose on day one was plummy with nice oak spice and good black fruit. the palate had decent if a little watery black fruits, and the finish was short and boring. pretty nonplussed on day 1.
day 2 saw the wine showing deliciously. cassis, creosote, black raspberry and blackberry on the nose, with a nice dose of oaky chocolate. the palate was densely packed with black fruit and much better weight than day 1. the finish was all about ripe black cherries.
very good stuff for $20-ish
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3/26/2011 - BeachBum_73 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for a couple of hours. Silky and leggy. Hints of cocoa on the finish.
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2/14/2011 - AGenochio wrote: 91 Points
blackberry and cherry are prevalent. Smooth with good balance of tannins. Drinking really well right now.
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2/9/2011 - Matteo's wrote: 92 Points
One hour decant. Nice nose chocolate and dark cherry.
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1/26/2011 - Josh and Jody S. wrote: 91 Points
Ran a glass through the venturi and warmed it a bit. On the nose, light red fruit with bit of tobacco and new oak. On the palate more red fruit cherry/raspberry and oak. Dry with a bit of tartness. Quite a bit of tannins on the finish, chewy almost, in fact quite a long finish with full mouth feel and lingering berry. I think I just committed infanticide as this wine is probably a bit too young, it needs to be decanted for longer I think to bring out more fruit. Well balanced wine.
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9/9/2010 - zeppo55 wrote: 92 Points
Open for 1 hr before consumption.On the nose cassis, blackberry with a hint of licorice. On the palate a pure conglomerate of dark fruit,chocolate and a nuance of asparagus.
A beautiful balanced wine. Hats off to the winemaker.
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6/18/2010 - bigdomer wrote: 91 Points
Excellent. Silky smooth.
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5/22/2009 - BeachMBA wrote: 90 Points
Silky and rich, very nice balance of fruit and tannins. Dark chocolate in the nose, cranberries and plum in the mouth. Opened about an hour before drinking, did not decant. Am interested to see what a few years might add, perhaps bringing the acid down a touch, but is very lush and nice now.
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3/16/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
Novovino's spring portfolio: nose: very pure and deep tones of of chocolate, red currants, bits of oak, dark cherries and rich tones of cranberries. very sumptuous and pure that is a real delight to smell with a good classy air about it
taste: excellent silky and polished medium/full feel with rich and pure tones of chocolate, dark cherries, red currants, and cranberries. Very expressive on the palate with a nice plushness to it that very attractive
overall: what I really enjoy about california cabernet. Great pure expression of fruit with good body to it and a good polished feel to it that really brings out the expression
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