Very dark red/purple color. PNP, drank a couple glasses over 4 hours. Great nose; perfumed, violets, high pitched, wood spice, cassis, forest floor, scorched earth, toasted barrel. The scorched earth aspect was a bit distracting at times, though as this sat in glass it would integrate more and by the time we were a good 90 minutes in this was really singing. The palate was a little slower to fully develop: creme de cassis, blackberry, wood, scorched earth, sappy cherry, full bodied, spicy, pepper, moderate round tannins. This peaked about 3 hours in and was going strong. No rush.
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Very dark red color. PNP. Split bottle over 3 hours. Opened this for my Dad on Father's Day up at the Ranch. This was another exceptional example of this wine. The perfumed nose is a provocative mix of focused cassis and bright blackberries, ground pencil, earth and scorched earth with nuanced dried American oak. The palate shows impeccable balance and finesse, with the signature harmony of a Dick Arrowood wine. While this has a long life ahead of it, it is drinking beautifully now. The palate shows a purity and lift from the wild mountain fruits of black currants, blackberries and tart boysenberry. The tar and pencil is woven into the dark fruits in a seamless fashion with the dried wood notes forging the perfect accent. As good as this is, and it is very good; I find the '02 to be even slightly more compelling. Maybe a few more years will swing the pendulum. I'm happy to find out. This paired great with our pan seared Magret duck breast and morels. 95pts.
Started off the evening's wine retreat with this bottle and great friends who enjoy these wonderfully aged Cali Cabs. This wine never disappoints (unless you get a counterfeit one!). Just wonderfully aged red/black cab fruit. Still some oak and gentle acidity to back it up. Great with Medjool dates wrapped in bacon, stuffed with chorizo......
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Wow! After probably 2000 bottles, my very first counterfeit bottle of wine!
Had another '05 earlier this evening. A legit aged Dick Arrowood cab/wine. Coravined a glass of another bottle. Cork was depressed a good quarter inch. This wine is dark, reeking of American oak and is NOT a Dick Arrowood cab, let alone an '05 rendition. At most it is from 2014 and reeks of Alexander Valley Silver Oak. Or something similar. Wish I could remember where I got this from. I'd raise Holy Hell!
Oh my......been a fan of Dick Arrowood for awhile now. My first '05 in nearly 2 years. Initial impression? Cork dried out, two thirds broke off. Couldn't remove the rest so pushed it down into the bottle and used a finer to pour into the decanter. Medium garnet red with slight bricking at the edges.
Initial nose? Insecticide, wayyyy too much cork and wood. We actually thought it was bad at first!
30 min later? Lead pencil and a light earth, mushroom, briar component.
30 min later? Heaven in a glass......silky smooth medium weight mouth feel, perfectly aged red/black fruit. A hint of cedar, perfectly integrated tannins and acidity throughout. This is another great Arrowood cab from the legendary Dick Arrowood. If Millennials only knew what they were missing by not knowing or experiencing history.....
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Rated 95 points by RP and 92 points by WE. Slow ox for four hours. Dark, almost black in the glass with aromas of violets, cherry pie, cranberry and blackberry. Flavors included blue and black fruits, sweet cherry, anise, vanilla, mocha and cigar box with secondary notes of baking spice, white pepper, graphite and pencil shavings. Retained a youthful, medium-full and decadent mouthfeel that was carried on an elegant, resolved and impeccably balanced texture. A generous, silky, moderately long finish. Ready to drink now or will go another five years in a proper cellar. Absolutely wonderful!
Excellent full bodied wine, classic and complex Cab flavors with a nice long finish. Contains the perfect amount of tannic byte to balance with the fruit flavors. No sign of any browning or over aging. Bought from the winery tasting room for $90; jealous of those that found this wine for $75, or for the lucky few who found this even cheaper. Wish I had a case!
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Decanted and tasted through the evening, with a seared ribeye and oven roasted vegetables. Nose of raspberry, blackberry, cigar box, white pepper. On the palate, you want small sips to avoid being overwhelmed. Everything you smelled is there on the palate, plus cassis coming to the fore, classic cabernet profile. Mouth-filling tannin and acid, moving to a bit of pumpkin pie spice on the finish. Oh boy, do I wish this wasn't my last bottle. Superb.
An excellent experience. Drank with no food after a decant. Excellent nose of fruit, rocks and pencil lead. Full bodied, complex flavors with very long finish that was just the slightest bit harsh. By second glass with more air time, all complexity remained but finish had completely rounded off and easily lasted over a minute. Paid $75 for this recently, probably best enjoyment per dollar wine I’ve had all year
Very dark red color. PNP, split bottle over 3 hours. I opened this up for my Dad's birthday and we enjoyed it with some awesome tenderloins. I have to say I was very impressed with how this was drinking. It was open and giving right from the start. A classic Reserve Speciale from Arrowood that shows so much poise and grace in a more restrained style. The nose shows blackcherry, cedarbox, cigar, cassis and spices. The palate has a killer texture with with very polished tannins and a mix of red and black fruits and graphite that is quite beguiling. Lots of lift and nice length too. I found myself constantly thinking, boy this so nice and well balanced. Hard to pace yourself with this honey. These are in a great window, but there's no hurry, these can go for years.
My "kids" love CA cabernet as does my wife and the Arrowwood style is a nice compromise for my old school Burg / BDX palate. That said, I still much prefer the extra structure and lower Alc associated with BDX. On the other hand this is already solidly in its prime drinking window while most '05 BDXs are still at least 3 years away from prime drinking. I opened this a little over 4 hours prior to dinner, took a pour in a Riedel BDX glass and decided a decant wasn't needed. It was immediately aromatic, open and fairly placid. So, I just left out the cork and made sure it didn't get warm. This is best served around 58-62 degrees due to the elevated 14.9% Alc. This a dark ruby red color with an opaque center and lightening edges. Not purple. You are greeted with an expansive nose of cigar box, cedar and light smoke. The cigar box carries over to the palate where you immediately get a sense of depth and complexity. I tasted a rich and yet well focused array of red and dark fruit, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, cedar, and spice. This has enough structure to keep from feeling like a big slutty cult Cab. For me personally, I'd still like a little more acid but this mostly feels lifted, fresh and not heavy or ponderous. The only knock is the 14.9%alc which at times is noticeable. Really wish this was more around 13%. All in all a killer btl that went great with the steaks and found me taking measured pours as it was a hit just before and with dinner tonight.
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Napa/Sonoma Trip With Some Exceptional Gems; 11/1/2017-11/5/2017 (1800ft Up Cavedale Road, Glen Ellen, CA): Tasted at the winery. A blend of four vineyards: Smothers-Remick Ridge, Monte Rosso, Justee, & Murray Ranch. Splendid nose with a perfume a dried roses, dried earth, high toned cigar, cassis, blackberry and hints of blue fruit. The palate is balanced, with depth and focus, complex and full with lift and energy. This is outstanding. I love the weight and complexity and the old school construction. I think it will show even better in another 2-3 years. 94-95pts.
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Ahhhhh, classic Dick Arrowood. PnP to a great nose of black fruit, cassis and cedar.....followed by a pure, clean entry of more ripe fruit, tannins that are still very much there but integrating nicely and some beautiful smokey oak. There is plenty of acid backbone here to go for many years more. Just a great bottle of wine!
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Next bottle up from what's left of my stash of this particular beauty.....PnP. A muted cab nose on this one, graded only slightly lower than the last bottle given that this one seems to harbor quite a bit more wood/cedar throughout from start to finish. Perhaps a bit less fruit throughout overall than the last bottle, but still going strong. What fruit there is, is definitely black. Improves with time in the glass. Some licorice notes on the back end with what seems like espresso as well. A very unique and well-aging wine.
Important addendum....keeps opening with more time over the course of a long evening, more fruit emerges and the upfront cedar/wood recedes, along with the heavy coffee notes. Cool wine. Love seeing this kind of evolution in a wine throughout an evening.
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I absolutely have no clue, but Dick Arrowood's wines, ring my bell. The profile is very traditional cab nose, lots of red and black fruit, tobacco, perhaps some eucalyptus, perfectly integrated tannin and cedar, some menthol and coffee. This is a stupendous effort by Dick. I could drink all of this I could get my hands on but it is in short supply....lengthy finish just goes on for a minute or more.....drink them if you got them or maybe hold for another 5 years.....his wines have a way of going on and on and on.......
Addendum...just picked up another 6 bottles from a wine shop. The last they had. This was Dick's last vintage at Arrowood for their new owners before he started his own Amapola Creek Winery. Even though he was making this for somebody else, it is unmistakenly Arrowood. Love this wine!
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I'd rate it higher if it were younger. Tastes young for a 10 year old wine. Could age more and maybe should. Garnet not brick in color. Light dark fruits, hint of leather, and medium tannin. Expected more from this wine at this age.
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A phenomenal bottle of wine. Still hugely structured at 10yrs old, with the backbone to go at least another 10. Dick Arrowwood made some of the most well respected wines in Sonoma County; this, proof of just that.
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I think the really wonderful Arrowood Reserves were made prior to 2005, but this is still a solid high quality if somewhat generic Sonoma cab. Tasting very young, not showing the slightest signs of age in appearance or in taste. Very ripe and juicy with a decade to go before reaching its prime window. This one time $100 bottle can be found for a song since the winery has been defanged under the newest regime and they are liquidating the legacy of the brilliant Dick Arrowood.
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Jennifer like the wine, got some oak, berries on the palate really liked the finish. Barbara like the wine too but was a little more subdued about it and agreed with Jen on the finish. Ben like the wine but was less impressed than the rest of us. I thought it was a well made wine nice notes on the nose of flowers and berries, berries and cherries on the palate with very long legs. The consensus was a 92.
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Decanted about 4 hours before tasting. Ruby red color, very nice fruit aromas on the nose, soft, but dusty tannins. Not enough depth or intensity for this price point, but still a very enjoyable wine, drinking well right now.
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11/2/2022 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Very dark red/purple color. PNP, drank a couple glasses over 4 hours. Great nose; perfumed, violets, high pitched, wood spice, cassis, forest floor, scorched earth, toasted barrel. The scorched earth aspect was a bit distracting at times, though as this sat in glass it would integrate more and by the time we were a good 90 minutes in this was really singing. The palate was a little slower to fully develop: creme de cassis, blackberry, wood, scorched earth, sappy cherry, full bodied, spicy, pepper, moderate round tannins. This peaked about 3 hours in and was going strong. No rush.
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6/21/2020 - rocknroller wrote: 95 Points
Very dark red color. PNP. Split bottle over 3 hours. Opened this for my Dad on Father's Day up at the Ranch. This was another exceptional example of this wine. The perfumed nose is a provocative mix of focused cassis and bright blackberries, ground pencil, earth and scorched earth with nuanced dried American oak. The palate shows impeccable balance and finesse, with the signature harmony of a Dick Arrowood wine. While this has a long life ahead of it, it is drinking beautifully now. The palate shows a purity and lift from the wild mountain fruits of black currants, blackberries and tart boysenberry. The tar and pencil is woven into the dark fruits in a seamless fashion with the dried wood notes forging the perfect accent. As good as this is, and it is very good; I find the '02 to be even slightly more compelling. Maybe a few more years will swing the pendulum. I'm happy to find out. This paired great with our pan seared Magret duck breast and morels. 95pts.
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8/18/2019 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 93 Points
Started off the evening's wine retreat with this bottle and great friends who enjoy these wonderfully aged Cali Cabs. This wine never disappoints (unless you get a counterfeit one!). Just wonderfully aged red/black cab fruit. Still some oak and gentle acidity to back it up. Great with Medjool dates wrapped in bacon, stuffed with chorizo......
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7/26/2019 - Mark1npt Does not like this wine:
Wow! After probably 2000 bottles, my very first counterfeit bottle of wine!
Had another '05 earlier this evening. A legit aged Dick Arrowood cab/wine. Coravined a glass of another bottle. Cork was depressed a good quarter inch. This wine is dark, reeking of American oak and is NOT a Dick Arrowood cab, let alone an '05 rendition. At most it is from 2014 and reeks of Alexander Valley Silver Oak. Or something similar. Wish I could remember where I got this from. I'd raise Holy Hell!
Buyer beware out there!
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7/26/2019 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 95 Points
Oh my......been a fan of Dick Arrowood for awhile now. My first '05 in nearly 2 years. Initial impression? Cork dried out, two thirds broke off. Couldn't remove the rest so pushed it down into the bottle and used a finer to pour into the decanter. Medium garnet red with slight bricking at the edges.
Initial nose? Insecticide, wayyyy too much cork and wood. We actually thought it was bad at first!
30 min later? Lead pencil and a light earth, mushroom, briar component.
30 min later? Heaven in a glass......silky smooth medium weight mouth feel, perfectly aged red/black fruit. A hint of cedar, perfectly integrated tannins and acidity throughout. This is another great Arrowood cab from the legendary Dick Arrowood. If Millennials only knew what they were missing by not knowing or experiencing history.....
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6/18/2019 - Tahlequahdave1972 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rated 95 points by RP and 92 points by WE. Slow ox for four hours. Dark, almost black in the glass with aromas of violets, cherry pie, cranberry and blackberry. Flavors included blue and black fruits, sweet cherry, anise, vanilla, mocha and cigar box with secondary notes of baking spice, white pepper, graphite and pencil shavings. Retained a youthful, medium-full and decadent mouthfeel that was carried on an elegant, resolved and impeccably balanced texture. A generous, silky, moderately long finish. Ready to drink now or will go another five years in a proper cellar. Absolutely wonderful!
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3/10/2019 - bjwca Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent full bodied wine, classic and complex Cab flavors with a nice long finish. Contains the perfect amount of tannic byte to balance with the fruit flavors. No sign of any browning or over aging.
Bought from the winery tasting room for $90; jealous of those that found this wine for $75, or for the lucky few who found this even cheaper. Wish I had a case!
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12/2/2018 - tautlinehitch Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted and tasted through the evening, with a seared ribeye and oven roasted vegetables. Nose of raspberry, blackberry, cigar box, white pepper. On the palate, you want small sips to avoid being overwhelmed. Everything you smelled is there on the palate, plus cassis coming to the fore, classic cabernet profile. Mouth-filling tannin and acid, moving to a bit of pumpkin pie spice on the finish. Oh boy, do I wish this wasn't my last bottle. Superb.
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9/12/2018 - GJVines Likes this wine: 95 Points
An excellent experience. Drank with no food after a decant. Excellent nose of fruit, rocks and pencil lead. Full bodied, complex flavors with very long finish that was just the slightest bit harsh. By second glass with more air time, all complexity remained but finish had completely rounded off and easily lasted over a minute. Paid $75 for this recently, probably best enjoyment per dollar wine I’ve had all year
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7/1/2018 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Very dark red color. PNP, split bottle over 3 hours. I opened this up for my Dad's birthday and we enjoyed it with some awesome tenderloins. I have to say I was very impressed with how this was drinking. It was open and giving right from the start. A classic Reserve Speciale from Arrowood that shows so much poise and grace in a more restrained style. The nose shows blackcherry, cedarbox, cigar, cassis and spices. The palate has a killer texture with with very polished tannins and a mix of red and black fruits and graphite that is quite beguiling. Lots of lift and nice length too. I found myself constantly thinking, boy this so nice and well balanced. Hard to pace yourself with this honey. These are in a great window, but there's no hurry, these can go for years.
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2/3/2018 - MLR Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice Wine. Big nose. Big flavors. dark fruit, tar, deep spice. And long finish.
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1/6/2018 - chablis28 wrote: 94 Points
My "kids" love CA cabernet as does my wife and the Arrowwood style is a nice compromise for my old school Burg / BDX palate. That said, I still much prefer the extra structure and lower Alc associated with BDX. On the other hand this is already solidly in its prime drinking window while most '05 BDXs are still at least 3 years away from prime drinking. I opened this a little over 4 hours prior to dinner, took a pour in a Riedel BDX glass and decided a decant wasn't needed. It was immediately aromatic, open and fairly placid. So, I just left out the cork and made sure it didn't get warm. This is best served around 58-62 degrees due to the elevated 14.9% Alc. This a dark ruby red color with an opaque center and lightening edges. Not purple. You are greeted with an expansive nose of cigar box, cedar and light smoke. The cigar box carries over to the palate where you immediately get a sense of depth and complexity. I tasted a rich and yet well focused array of red and dark fruit, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, cedar, and spice. This has enough structure to keep from feeling like a big slutty cult Cab. For me personally, I'd still like a little more acid but this mostly feels lifted, fresh and not heavy or ponderous. The only knock is the 14.9%alc which at times is noticeable. Really wish this was more around 13%. All in all a killer btl that went great with the steaks and found me taking measured pours as it was a hit just before and with dinner tonight.
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11/4/2017 - rocknroller wrote: 95 Points
Napa/Sonoma Trip With Some Exceptional Gems; 11/1/2017-11/5/2017 (1800ft Up Cavedale Road, Glen Ellen, CA): Tasted at the winery. A blend of four vineyards: Smothers-Remick Ridge, Monte Rosso, Justee, & Murray Ranch. Splendid nose with a perfume a dried roses, dried earth, high toned cigar, cassis, blackberry and hints of blue fruit. The palate is balanced, with depth and focus, complex and full with lift and energy. This is outstanding. I love the weight and complexity and the old school construction. I think it will show even better in another 2-3 years. 94-95pts.
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11/2/2017 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ahhhhh, classic Dick Arrowood. PnP to a great nose of black fruit, cassis and cedar.....followed by a pure, clean entry of more ripe fruit, tannins that are still very much there but integrating nicely and some beautiful smokey oak. There is plenty of acid backbone here to go for many years more. Just a great bottle of wine!
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9/10/2017 - MLR Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice fruit and soft in the mouth after some decanting. Would decant longer on next bottle.
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7/2/2017 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 93 Points
Next bottle up from what's left of my stash of this particular beauty.....PnP. A muted cab nose on this one, graded only slightly lower than the last bottle given that this one seems to harbor quite a bit more wood/cedar throughout from start to finish. Perhaps a bit less fruit throughout overall than the last bottle, but still going strong. What fruit there is, is definitely black. Improves with time in the glass. Some licorice notes on the back end with what seems like espresso as well. A very unique and well-aging wine.
Important addendum....keeps opening with more time over the course of a long evening, more fruit emerges and the upfront cedar/wood recedes, along with the heavy coffee notes. Cool wine. Love seeing this kind of evolution in a wine throughout an evening.
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3/1/2017 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 94 Points
I absolutely have no clue, but Dick Arrowood's wines, ring my bell. The profile is very traditional cab nose, lots of red and black fruit, tobacco, perhaps some eucalyptus, perfectly integrated tannin and cedar, some menthol and coffee. This is a stupendous effort by Dick. I could drink all of this I could get my hands on but it is in short supply....lengthy finish just goes on for a minute or more.....drink them if you got them or maybe hold for another 5 years.....his wines have a way of going on and on and on.......
Addendum...just picked up another 6 bottles from a wine shop. The last they had. This was Dick's last vintage at Arrowood for their new owners before he started his own Amapola Creek Winery. Even though he was making this for somebody else, it is unmistakenly Arrowood. Love this wine!
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2/14/2016 - rjmonti Likes this wine: 91 Points
I'd rate it higher if it were younger. Tastes young for a 10 year old wine. Could age more and maybe should. Garnet not brick in color. Light dark fruits, hint of leather, and medium tannin. Expected more from this wine at this age.
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11/26/2015 - golfwine wrote: 92 Points
A phenomenal bottle of wine. Still hugely structured at 10yrs old, with the backbone to go at least another 10. Dick Arrowwood made some of the most well respected wines in Sonoma County; this, proof of just that.
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4/11/2015 - JCGuthrie wrote: 92 Points
Enjoyed this bottle. Picked up some interesting notes - eucalyptus or mint, perhaps? Nice, soft tannins.
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1/1/2015 - Winecat Likes this wine: 92 Points
New Years Day in Santa Fe
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7/6/2014 - Decanting fool wrote: 90 Points
I think the really wonderful Arrowood Reserves were made prior to 2005, but this is still a solid high quality if somewhat generic Sonoma cab. Tasting very young, not showing the slightest signs of age in appearance or in taste. Very ripe and juicy with a decade to go before reaching its prime window. This one time $100 bottle can be found for a song since the winery has been defanged under the newest regime and they are liquidating the legacy of the brilliant Dick Arrowood.
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12/11/2013 - Mscruggs wrote: 93 Points
A very impressive example of the varietal long finish with dark fruit and we'll softened tannins.
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11/21/2013 - Oakjeff wrote: 93 Points
A beautiful, elegant and expressive Cab. Not overpowering.
Probably has another 3-5 years in it.
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8/13/2013 - bzell Likes this wine: 92 Points
Jennifer like the wine, got some oak, berries on the palate really liked the finish. Barbara like the wine too but was a little more subdued about it and agreed with Jen on the finish. Ben like the wine but was less impressed than the rest of us. I thought it was a well made wine nice notes on the nose of flowers and berries, berries and cherries on the palate with very long legs. The consensus was a 92.
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5/11/2013 - gmmilani Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really love Arrowood cabernets. Decanted and let sit for an hour before drinking. Wonderful full-bodied Sonoma cabernet.
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2/15/2013 - redrules Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful now. Polished, dusty, intense currant and mocha. Black cherry finish that lingers. A little acidic, but perfect offset to upfront mouthful.
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1/12/2013 - webbaker Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted about 4 hours before tasting. Ruby red color, very nice fruit aromas on the nose, soft, but dusty tannins. Not enough depth or intensity for this price point, but still a very enjoyable wine, drinking well right now.
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