Inky smooth goodness. This one took a long time to be released and even longer to come into its own. It is only just now leaving the backward stage and leaping into its own. Dark and smoldering, semi sweet but also rich and satisfying. Pair it or pour it. Either way it is smoking goodness. Well done Les. This one can rest and reward for years to come.
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Drinking beautifully right now. Popped and poured. The nose jumps out with dark fruits and cassis. Such a smooth palate filled with fruit and spice. As others mentioned, the high alcohol is not detectable. Possibly time in the bottle has helped to balance it out.
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Needed 30 mins in the decanter to get its act together - tasted a little off immediately after opening ... it more than came around. Deep, rich color. Beautiful nose. Lots of dark fruit with just a little spice, flirts with being jammy but does not cross the line, the high alcohol is well integrated so not a distraction ... there is a clear B&H lineage in this bottle. Full discolsure - my wife would have rated this higher.
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Drank this back to back with a Quintessa and it more than held its own. Decanted and drank with food. Beautiful nose and the fruit to back it up. Structured but elegant with an long finish. This wine is drinking very well right now. Hard to believe it was over 15% alcohol - very balanced.
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beautiful deep purple color. aromas of fig, strawberry jam, dried fruits, and blueberry also follow through in the taste profile. Cinnamon, sweet cherry, chocolate and white pepper on the palate as well. the wine is pretty massive and nearly jammy and it hovers the line between balance and over the top.
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Nose: Cassis, black cherry, spice, whiffs of dusty mocha and violets.
Palate: Rich, but not too much, good balance of lush fruit, supple tannins, with a bright beam of acidity that keeps things fresh. The nose comes through on the palate.
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Wow. Aromas of crushed blueberries and sweet oak dominate and rise out of the glass without any coaxing whatsoever. The same follows through to the palate into the smooth finish. The aromas and flavors are like great music that has been turned up too loud. Sometimes only when great music is turned down a bit can one truly appreciate the nuances in the background. This is how I felt with this wine. The first few whiffs and sips are extraordinary; but after a while become boring after you realize that this wine actually offers no complexity. The wine is soft and round, but not fat; and stays focused. This is a very well made wine, no doubt. I just wish it came with a volume knob.
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Rich, dark, bold without being over the top. A great balance of structure and finess. Dark fruit aromas up front intermix with cedar and leather. Dark fruit plays with spice, espresso, and tannin in the mouth. A nice lingering finish.
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Dark rich color, wonderful nose of chocolate and dark fruit which translates to the palate. The oak is well integrated and the finish is 1min+ with some slight pencil on the finish. Very good wine, much better after 1hr of being opened.
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Fruity and acidic. Some plums and onions (weird, I know), long finish, very concentrated flavor. Makes me crave something sweet for dessert, dark chocolate or warm chocolate cake. .... Opened another bottle several months later. Pretty consistent reaction. Honeysuckle and roses. Beautiful finish.
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OK, I would have bet serious money that this had a huge dollop of Merlot, as it reminded me of the stellar '03 B&H Merlot, that I enjoyed multiple bottles of. Appreciative of the fact that I've been pretty critical of Erna Schein's offerings of late, I must say that these B&H offerings are more to my current tastes - unctuous, rich...and although a tad ripe, void of that "sameness" and quirky acidity. 100% Cab? I can hardly believe it!
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Deep red with a purple hue. Nose of raspberry, flowers & tobacco. Ripe red berry and milk chocolate on the pallet with nicely pronounced tannins-the party's favorite by far last evening. Opened this alongside 00 Pine Ridge Howell Mtn Cab to contrast wines from the eastern & western ridges above the north end of Napa Valley. http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=44416 You can look directly across the valley from Spring Mtn to Howell Mtn (or the reverse). Both lovely wines but with very different character.
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9/27/2017 - Vitis Maximus Likes this wine: 94 Points
Inky smooth goodness. This one took a long time to be released and even longer to come into its own. It is only just now leaving the backward stage and leaping into its own. Dark and smoldering, semi sweet but also rich and satisfying. Pair it or pour it. Either way it is smoking goodness. Well done Les. This one can rest and reward for years to come.
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11/14/2014 - Drankthewholebottle Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank after a 2006 bucella. Fine looking deep ruby. Dark fruit and spice on the nose. Sleek mouthfeel with very long finish. Can age 5+ more years.
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10/9/2012 - shellylowen wrote: 92 Points
Inky dark, unbelievable nose, black current and black cherry. Silky tannins and good persistence.
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6/2/2012 - Mel-o-Vino wrote: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully right now. Popped and poured. The nose jumps out with dark fruits and cassis. Such a smooth palate filled with fruit and spice. As others mentioned, the high alcohol is not detectable. Possibly time in the bottle has helped to balance it out.
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2/4/2012 - lv2tri wrote: 93 Points
Needed 30 mins in the decanter to get its act together - tasted a little off immediately after opening ... it more than came around. Deep, rich color. Beautiful nose. Lots of dark fruit with just a little spice, flirts with being jammy but does not cross the line, the high alcohol is well integrated so not a distraction ... there is a clear B&H lineage in this bottle. Full discolsure - my wife would have rated this higher.
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11/20/2011 - Rolster72 wrote: 95 Points
Drank this back to back with a Quintessa and it more than held its own. Decanted and drank with food. Beautiful nose and the fruit to back it up. Structured but elegant with an long finish. This wine is drinking very well right now. Hard to believe it was over 15% alcohol - very balanced.
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9/4/2011 - Ellenkf Likes this wine: 92 Points
beautiful deep purple color. aromas of fig, strawberry jam, dried fruits, and blueberry also follow through in the taste profile. Cinnamon, sweet cherry, chocolate and white pepper on the palate as well. the wine is pretty massive and nearly jammy and it hovers the line between balance and over the top.
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8/19/2011 - tkoby11 wrote: 93 Points
Color: Purple red core, red edges
Nose: Cassis, black cherry, spice, whiffs of dusty mocha and violets.
Palate: Rich, but not too much, good balance of lush fruit, supple tannins, with a bright beam of acidity that keeps things fresh. The nose comes through on the palate.
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7/31/2011 - Yack Man wrote: 91 Points
Full, deep purple red color, rich on the palate with slight chocolate, plesant aroma. Drinking very well right now. 91+++
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7/25/2011 - THA wrote:
Wow. Aromas of crushed blueberries and sweet oak dominate and rise out of the glass without any coaxing whatsoever. The same follows through to the palate into the smooth finish. The aromas and flavors are like great music that has been turned up too loud. Sometimes only when great music is turned down a bit can one truly appreciate the nuances in the background. This is how I felt with this wine. The first few whiffs and sips are extraordinary; but after a while become boring after you realize that this wine actually offers no complexity. The wine is soft and round, but not fat; and stays focused. This is a very well made wine, no doubt. I just wish it came with a volume knob.
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5/28/2011 - Xtriguy wrote: 93 Points
Rich, dark, bold without being over the top. A great balance of structure and finess. Dark fruit aromas up front intermix with cedar and leather. Dark fruit plays with spice, espresso, and tannin in the mouth. A nice lingering finish.
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5/22/2011 - PANYC wrote: 92 Points
Dark rich color, wonderful nose of chocolate and dark fruit which translates to the palate. The oak is well integrated and the finish is 1min+ with some slight pencil on the finish. Very good wine, much better after 1hr of being opened.
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4/12/2011 - iwadasn wrote: 88 Points
Fruity and acidic. Some plums and onions (weird, I know), long finish, very concentrated flavor. Makes me crave something sweet for dessert, dark chocolate or warm chocolate cake. .... Opened another bottle several months later. Pretty consistent reaction. Honeysuckle and roses. Beautiful finish.
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3/28/2011 - calgarywino wrote: 92 Points
A bit hot off the start - the alcohol wafts right out of the glass. Some fruit after that makes it more palatable. Very smooth on the palate.
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3/12/2011 - Fishboy wrote: 85 Points
Very ripe with some noticeable heat on the nose and a short finish. Others liked it.
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2/5/2011 - gcubanl wrote: 90 Points
Words can't describe how good this is.
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2/4/2011 - golfwine wrote: 89 Points
OK, I would have bet serious money that this had a huge dollop of Merlot, as it reminded me of the stellar '03 B&H Merlot, that I enjoyed multiple bottles of. Appreciative of the fact that I've been pretty critical of Erna Schein's offerings of late, I must say that these B&H offerings are more to my current tastes - unctuous, rich...and although a tad ripe, void of that "sameness" and quirky acidity. 100% Cab? I can hardly believe it!
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1/11/2011 - brianofthevine wrote: 90 Points
Red/black cherry and chocolate. Smooth tannins, nice finish.
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7/30/2010 - jpasmore wrote: 85 Points
Don't do it....
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5/8/2010 - FPNova wrote: 92 Points
Deep red with a purple hue. Nose of raspberry, flowers & tobacco. Ripe red berry and milk chocolate on the pallet with nicely pronounced tannins-the party's favorite by far last evening. Opened this alongside 00 Pine Ridge Howell Mtn Cab to contrast wines from the eastern & western ridges above the north end of Napa Valley. http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=44416 You can look directly across the valley from Spring Mtn to Howell Mtn (or the reverse). Both lovely wines but with very different character.
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3/10/2010 - THA wrote: 92 Points
Napa 2010; 3/10/2010-3/13/2010 (Napa Valley USA): Abreu grapes
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7/31/2009 - gcubanl wrote: 92 Points
Excellent
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6/20/2009 - Fishboy wrote: 89 Points
Good structure, fruit forward, drank over two days and tannins were still strong on day two.
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5/16/2009 - gcubanl wrote: 95 Points
Awesome - ordered another case
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