Still very enjoyable, but for whatever reason this bottle, my last, seems to be on the down side. Picking up some of that port-y note that signals the end is near. Definitely not getting the power and glory it had previously. Glad I didn't wait any longer.
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A terrific cab that is still drinking well. Well-balanced acid and tannins create a structure that supports the dark fruits, tobacco, tire rubber and cedar that allows the flavors to shine brightly with a silky, lingering mouthfeel. Good stuff...
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Very nice. A nose of black fruit, cedar and leather and a palate of restrained fruit, great acidity and soft tannins all well balanced with bright acidity made for a excellent experience.
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Decanted right before drinking. A gorgeous, classic Cab. Dark fruit, pencil box, and just a touch of juniper or eucalyptus on the finish. Great with a steak dinner, and the second glass (which has sat in the decanter for an hour) is even better all by its lonesome.
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I really tried to like this, but I couldn't find anything in this wine that truly impressed me. Perhaps it was a flawed bottle, or perhaps it was too "old world" for me, but I found this lacking in several areas: Nose - Very subdued. Fruit - Thin and flabby. This never got my attention or lasted long enough to satisfy me. Structure - I got the rounded taninns on the tail end which I liked, but the front and mid-palates were seriously lacking. I have had other Corison's (which I consider to be one of my favorite cab producers), but the Helios label wine, imho, has not lived up to the hype.
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Decanted for over an hour and served with steak dinner, second glass enjoyed afterwards. Dark fruit on the nose, some vanila and oak. Not your typical over the top fruit bomb. Very complex and full bodied, dark chocolate, currants, oak. Great tannic finish that just keeps going. Awesome value wine for a 2nd label.
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Very smooth and elegant. I've never had a Cab with a better QPR than this. This is better than a lot of $100+ bottles I've had and it's astonishingly drinkable for it's young age. Made me wish I got more from my woot order. Corison goes into the list of must-go for my next Napa trip.
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The fact that this is a second label wine is lost on me... this is better than many first label and even reserve selections I've had, often at twice the price! If you don't feel you can justify Cathy's first label wines, you need to jump on these! Beautiful deep purple color. Wonderful spicy but tight nose upon opening. Initial taste is balanced with primarily black fruit expressions transitioning into a firm tannic pull across the tongue on the finish. As I sit with the glass in my hand and it warms a bit I get more of the traditional vanilla / oak flavors. This wine is very drinkable now, but needs time to breathe (preferably decant) upon opening to really get the full expression. Wonderfully approachable and balanced now, I think a year or 2 in the bottle will only improve things more.
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wine.woot.com labrat; lots of sediment on cork and around rim. Color is deep purple. The nose is initially closed, but hints of cassis and sasafrass. Initially, the same on the palate. Lots of structure, good acidity and a long finish with noticeable tannins. This is a wine that needs time to breathe at this stage and food. With some air, and salami, crackers and creamy cheeses, more fruit evident, but tannins also so. As it develops, a long finish devlops with vanilla and oak, which "piles up" the more you drink. Overall impressions: this struck me as a traditional style cab - not catering to a new-world palate, but made for food. The wine has good structure which needs time in the bottle to develop. I will wait a year or so, and serve with hearty fare.
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4/30/2017 - foobarski Likes this wine:
Still very enjoyable, but for whatever reason this bottle, my last, seems to be on the down side. Picking up some of that port-y note that signals the end is near. Definitely not getting the power and glory it had previously. Glad I didn't wait any longer.
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6/20/2014 - Quaffing in Colorado Likes this wine: 92 Points
A terrific cab that is still drinking well. Well-balanced acid and tannins create a structure that supports the dark fruits, tobacco, tire rubber and cedar that allows the flavors to shine brightly with a silky, lingering mouthfeel. Good stuff...
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9/22/2012 - Tudz Drkl wrote: 90 Points
Very nice. A nose of black fruit, cedar and leather and a palate of restrained fruit, great acidity and soft tannins all well balanced with bright acidity made for a excellent experience.
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11/21/2011 - foobarski wrote: 93 Points
Decanted right before drinking. A gorgeous, classic Cab. Dark fruit, pencil box, and just a touch of juniper or eucalyptus on the finish. Great with a steak dinner, and the second glass (which has sat in the decanter for an hour) is even better all by its lonesome.
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7/26/2011 - aces219 wrote:
This is drinking very well right now. Clearly well made. Pure classic style Napa cab. Cassis.
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6/4/2011 - AGenochio wrote: 90 Points
drinking well.
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12/26/2010 - foobarski wrote: 93 Points
Subtle, restrained. Not beating you over the head, shouting at you, but whispering delicious tastes in your mouth.
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12/26/2009 - vegaswino wrote: 86 Points
OK Cab, a little underwhelmed after the Corison Cab and Kronos Cab. I guess it is a good effort for the price though.
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6/10/2009 - schuey wrote: 86 Points
I really tried to like this, but I couldn't find anything in this wine that truly impressed me. Perhaps it was a flawed bottle, or perhaps it was too "old world" for me, but I found this lacking in several areas:
Nose - Very subdued.
Fruit - Thin and flabby. This never got my attention or lasted long enough to satisfy me.
Structure - I got the rounded taninns on the tail end which I liked, but the front and mid-palates were seriously lacking.
I have had other Corison's (which I consider to be one of my favorite cab producers), but the Helios label wine, imho, has not lived up to the hype.
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6/7/2009 - gvmoore wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for over an hour and served with steak dinner, second glass enjoyed afterwards. Dark fruit on the nose, some vanila and oak. Not your typical over the top fruit bomb. Very complex and full bodied, dark chocolate, currants, oak. Great tannic finish that just keeps going. Awesome value wine for a 2nd label.
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6/6/2009 - brombie wrote: 92 Points
Very smooth and elegant. I've never had a Cab with a better QPR than this. This is better than a lot of $100+ bottles I've had and it's astonishingly drinkable for it's young age. Made me wish I got more from my woot order. Corison goes into the list of must-go for my next Napa trip.
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3/30/2009 - RossR wrote: 92 Points
The fact that this is a second label wine is lost on me... this is better than many first label and even reserve selections I've had, often at twice the price! If you don't feel you can justify Cathy's first label wines, you need to jump on these!
Beautiful deep purple color. Wonderful spicy but tight nose upon opening. Initial taste is balanced with primarily black fruit expressions transitioning into a firm tannic pull across the tongue on the finish. As I sit with the glass in my hand and it warms a bit I get more of the traditional vanilla / oak flavors. This wine is very drinkable now, but needs time to breathe (preferably decant) upon opening to really get the full expression. Wonderfully approachable and balanced now, I think a year or 2 in the bottle will only improve things more.
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3/10/2009 - ewqcsl wrote: 90 Points
wine.woot.com labrat; lots of sediment on cork and around rim. Color is deep purple. The nose is initially closed, but hints of cassis and sasafrass. Initially, the same on the palate. Lots of structure, good acidity and a long finish with noticeable tannins. This is a wine that needs time to breathe at this stage and food. With some air, and salami, crackers and creamy cheeses, more fruit evident, but tannins also so. As it develops, a long finish devlops with vanilla and oak, which "piles up" the more you drink. Overall impressions: this struck me as a traditional style cab - not catering to a new-world palate, but made for food. The wine has good structure which needs time in the bottle to develop. I will wait a year or so, and serve with hearty fare.
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