From a magnum. Surprisingly fresh with ample acidity and almost no bricking at the rim. Shared at my wine club and nobody thought it was 20 years old. A testament to the ageability of a well made Napa Cabernet. Dark fruits with cassis and just a hint of leather. A very well made wine.
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Had this with tenderloin last evening. Delicious, balanced, still loads of fruit, graphite, leather. If you have these they are drinking well now.. Drink or hold.
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Clean cork with no saturation. Color is still dark with no bricking. Blackberry and currant fruit, cigar and spice. Secondary character was going strong. Could go awhile longer but hard to top now.
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Dark ruby color showing just a hint of bricking leads to a nose cedar, cherry and a hint of asparagus. Medium full body shows more cedar, dark cherry and asparagus. Vanilla, cola, and Asian spice complete complex palate. Dusty strong tannins finish wine. This is a really enjoyable bottle of wine and easily the best Neal we've had in several years. I believe this is drinking at peak but will remain on this plateau for another 8-10 years.
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4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (Our house): Dark color. Notes of cassis and black currants, pepper, cherry and spice. The palate follows the bouquet, with herbal undertones adding complexity. Shows just a bit hot. Good fruit and structure.
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My contribution to 4th Saturday group. This was initially tannic, but softened during the course of the evening. Dark fruits with a bit of mocha and a green note similar to Chilean cab.
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These seem to be in a pretty good place right now. Still fairly primary but mellowed enough where it is very approachable. Still has the big dark, dense fruit typical of of Neal. A little dusty and spicy on the nose, nice fruit follows on the mid palate and just a bit of mild tannin to finish. I think this SVD is just a slight step up from the 02 Napa bottling, but not the huge one you might expect really.
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This bottle that was perfectly stored since release has way too much tannin and too little fruit for me. I just don't like the Neal style. I'm drinking my last bottle in the next 6 months.
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Opened not decanted. Letting sit on the counter to let it breathe right now while I prepare a steak. Blood colored with a trace of clarity at the edge. On the nose: oak, vanilla and sweet, dark fruit. On the palate: a trace watery entry with blackberry jam notes, and black fruit; tannins are still prevalent but not puckering, just dry; ends with spice and a sweet orange finish. Very Good. This tastes like it is just entering it's drinking window and can easily last years.
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Wouldnt guess this is a 7 yr old CA cab. Still very primary with just gobs of depth and fruit on the front end. Starts to fall off a bit quick on the mid palate though, hopefully that will round out with some more time. Very much like the regular Napa bottling though with maybe a bit more structure and tannin.
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Well just when you know everything...... This wine seemed light compared to the other 8 bottles, cherry, vanilla, anise slight pepper on a well integrated finish. oh ya and it had the most alcohol at a monstrous 16.0% (probably closer to 17)
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Neal Family SVD (My House): Day 1 - Decanted for 4 hrs. Served with buffalo meatloaf, roasted garlic mashed potatoes and organic green beans. Very approachable with firm sweet tannins. Full bodied wine with a good core of red fruit, cedar and creamy vanilla. This wine is right in my sweet spot and has a complex profile. Day 2 - Again as the 02's get a little air they lose the sweetness and pick up a little weight. This wine has terrific balance and is gaining in complexity. 50+5+13+16+7=92+
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Neal Tasting (Scott): Aromatics of red fruit. Tastes of black cherry, blueberry, earth and charred oak. Firm tannins. Great structure and depth in the mid palate. Nicely balanced with fresh acidity unlike most of the other Neal's tonight. Layered finish with good complexity. This wine is drinking exceptionally well right now. Impressive. 16.0% alcohol.
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Off-line Dinner with Mark Neal & Gove (Atlanta - Bone's): Bottle decanted 1 hr before I tasted it. Solid, deep nose. Black fruits with abundant chocolate and some red fruit at the core. A dusty edge with vanilla underpinnings along with nice, slightly chalky tannins. A terrific rich and full finish.
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Dark, mocha nose with cassis and spicy cinnamon and oak. Full, big fruit with fine tannins that interrupt on the finish. Noticeable heat on the finish. Needs a few years to round out. ***-/5
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4/5/2022 - srwatters Likes this wine: 94 Points
From a magnum. Surprisingly fresh with ample acidity and almost no bricking at the rim. Shared at my wine club and nobody thought it was 20 years old. A testament to the ageability of a well made Napa Cabernet. Dark fruits with cassis and just a hint of leather. A very well made wine.
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12/15/2016 - dougie Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark cherry, earth, big and rich. Beautiful!
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9/13/2016 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had this with tenderloin last evening. Delicious, balanced, still loads of fruit, graphite, leather. If you have these they are drinking well now.. Drink or hold.
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5/7/2016 - gmbdds wrote: 92 Points
Clean cork with no saturation. Color is still dark with no bricking. Blackberry and currant fruit, cigar and spice. Secondary character was going strong. Could go awhile longer but hard to top now.
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11/8/2013 - brianofthevine wrote: 90 Points
Black cherry and chocolate, decent finish.
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7/20/2013 - flashvictor Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark ruby color showing just a hint of bricking leads to a nose cedar, cherry and a hint of asparagus. Medium full body shows more cedar, dark cherry and asparagus. Vanilla, cola, and Asian spice complete complex palate. Dusty strong tannins finish wine. This is a really enjoyable bottle of wine and easily the best Neal we've had in several years. I believe this is drinking at peak but will remain on this plateau for another 8-10 years.
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6/22/2013 - AllRed wrote:
4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (Our house): Dark color. Notes of cassis and black currants, pepper, cherry and spice. The palate follows the bouquet, with herbal undertones adding complexity. Shows just a bit hot. Good fruit and structure.
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6/22/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 92 Points
My contribution to 4th Saturday group. This was initially tannic, but softened during the course of the evening. Dark fruits with a bit of mocha and a green note similar to Chilean cab.
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7/10/2012 - EMichels wrote: 88 Points
Big tannins; A bit of cherry; Big; Tannic
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11/23/2011 - Haggis wrote: 92 Points
Loads of berry, earth, and muted oak and tannin. At peak, I'd say.
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10/25/2011 - Vino Me wrote: 92 Points
Opened by Otis at his cdp. Notes of toasted oak, smoke, and charcoal. Full bodied with firm tannins. 91-92 points.
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9/5/2010 - dougie wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours. After another hour, this stuff was awesome. Full flavored and beautiful. Could use a couple of more years.
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5/14/2010 - Ekoostik wrote: 91 Points
These seem to be in a pretty good place right now. Still fairly primary but mellowed enough where it is very approachable. Still has the big dark, dense fruit typical of of Neal. A little dusty and spicy on the nose, nice fruit follows on the mid palate and just a bit of mild tannin to finish. I think this SVD is just a slight step up from the 02 Napa bottling, but not the huge one you might expect really.
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1/18/2010 - Screameagle wrote: 88 Points
This bottle that was perfectly stored since release has way too much tannin and too little fruit for me. I just don't like the Neal style. I'm drinking my last bottle in the next 6 months.
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1/17/2010 - budman wrote: 93 Points
Hitting on all cylinders. Smooth tannins. Deep dark blackberry fruit. Long finish.
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10/30/2009 - goofy Yno wrote: 92 Points
drank nicely, decanted for 1 hour. vanilla blackberry nose, nice mouth with good balance, nice feel. medium finish.
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6/4/2009 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Letting sit on the counter to let it breathe right now while I prepare a steak. Blood colored with a trace of clarity at the edge. On the nose: oak, vanilla and sweet, dark fruit. On the palate: a trace watery entry with blackberry jam notes, and black fruit; tannins are still prevalent but not puckering, just dry; ends with spice and a sweet orange finish. Very Good. This tastes like it is just entering it's drinking window and can easily last years.
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5/15/2009 - Ekoostik wrote: 91 Points
Wouldnt guess this is a 7 yr old CA cab. Still very primary with just gobs of depth and fruit on the front end. Starts to fall off a bit quick on the mid palate though, hopefully that will round out with some more time. Very much like the regular Napa bottling though with maybe a bit more structure and tannin.
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1/9/2009 - Phin wrote: 93 Points
Black cherry and dark fruits. Fresh and well balanced. Not quite as full and ripe as I'd hoped knowing the Neal wines well.
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9/23/2008 - jivey wrote: 90 Points
Well just when you know everything...... This wine seemed light compared to the other 8 bottles, cherry, vanilla, anise slight pepper on a well integrated finish. oh ya and it had the most alcohol at a monstrous 16.0% (probably closer to 17)
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9/23/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 92 Points
decanted. this was drinking well. ripe, but racy enough to have rounded out a bit, and show it's pedigree.
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9/23/2008 - ScottS wrote: 92 Points
Neal Family SVD (My House): Day 1 - Decanted for 4 hrs. Served with buffalo meatloaf, roasted garlic mashed potatoes and organic green beans.
Very approachable with firm sweet tannins. Full bodied wine with a good core of red fruit, cedar and creamy vanilla. This wine is right in my sweet spot and has a complex profile.
Day 2 - Again as the 02's get a little air they lose the sweetness and pick up a little weight. This wine has terrific balance and is gaining in complexity.
50+5+13+16+7=92+
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9/23/2008 - kstoddard wrote: 91 Points
Neal Tasting (Scott): Aromatics of red fruit. Tastes of black cherry, blueberry, earth and charred oak. Firm tannins. Great structure and depth in the mid palate. Nicely balanced with fresh acidity unlike most of the other Neal's tonight. Layered finish with good complexity. This wine is drinking exceptionally well right now. Impressive. 16.0% alcohol.
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3/17/2008 - Winetex wrote: 90 Points
90+
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3/7/2006 - GreenDrazi wrote: 94 Points
Off-line Dinner with Mark Neal & Gove (Atlanta - Bone's): Bottle decanted 1 hr before I tasted it. Solid, deep nose. Black fruits with abundant chocolate and some red fruit at the core. A dusty edge with vanilla underpinnings along with nice, slightly chalky tannins. A terrific rich and full finish.
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11/12/2005 - psmith wrote:
Dark, mocha nose with cassis and spicy cinnamon and oak. Full, big fruit with fine tannins that interrupt on the finish. Noticeable heat on the finish. Needs a few years to round out. ***-/5
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