Boston Wine & Poker, Brookline, NH: Tasted blind. This wine is shouting, "Napa Cab!" Super minty. Tannic. Very dark. No sweetness. Complex and delicious. This would be my wife's dream wine. Not surprised to learn what it is. From Michael C.'s cellar.
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Unremarkable but drinkable. The fruit seemed a little muted compared to the acidity. Missing the complexity that I expect and enjoy in what is now a 14yo Cabernet blend.
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SO NICE! Wish we had more in our cellar. It was perfect just poured through a Vinturi. Amazing 13 years after vintage that it has this much fruit presence.
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Purple color, inky. Slow-O for 6 hours and then poured into the decanter and served. Drank 2 glasses over the next 90 minutes. Opened this for my Dad for Father's Day hoping for big things. This has really come a long way from the last time I had it two years ago. I didn't realize that RP had raised his score on this from 95 to 99pts last year when he did a 10 year retrospective tasting. It was fun to have my Dad drink a "99pt" RP wine and read his note. The wine is dense and layered with inky black currant and blackberry liqueur, oak, and hints of alcohol that pop in and out. There's plenty of glycerin and anise as well as relaxed tannins and this finishes long. The nose is focused on the black currant and oak tones with spice more in the background. This really is a nice wine now, very concentrated; and the oak has mellowed and integrated more and the herbaceous character that I found distracting has gone away. The alcohol was in check today with the extra air. I would be curious to see this at age 20 just to see what happens.
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Dark garnet in color, it has medium jump from the glass. In the mouth, I get dark charred pork, cassis, violets, and a bit of farm and toasted marshmellow. The tannins force a little puker, and there is lots of life left in this bottle.
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A big wine that is in a weird place right now. Fruit forward style with a bit of alcohol. Minerals and earth. Long finish and I would hope this wine will come around over time. Potential is there to be a 94 pointer but not on this night.
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Pop/pour, no detailed notes. This came after opening a bottle of '04 Pahlmeyer Jayson, and suffered in comparison. Initial, quite one dimensional, with an almost spoofed sweetness that was quite distracting to whatever else might have been going on with this wine. Overall, the wine was quite linear and uncomplicated on the palate. It did improve significantly on Day 2, when that awkward sweetness seemed to integrate better (and diminish a bit). Perhaps this will age nicely, but the first two I've had over the last several years have been disappointing.
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Napa Cabs (Edina, MN): Very dark purple color. Decanted for 3 hrs. Followed 2 glasses over 3 hours. I'm sorry to say that I did not care for this wine tonight. Unfortunately I couldn't get past the green, herbaceous quality on the nose that just would not subside for me. That character really does not sit well with me. There is plenty to like here, deep ripe black fruits on the nose, oak and spice. The palate shows dark fruits, very concentrated, powerful, pepper, herbal, oak, and alcohol on the finish. Others liked this more than me, but I was disappointed since I do have some. For me, I'm going to hope that several years will mellow this out, we shall see.
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Incredible nose on opening. Rich, dark fruit; sweet, full, and velvety. Only thing missing was some of the complexity seen other vintages, even in the normal cuvee cab. I'm not sure this will develop that way, but holding a few more years wouldn't hurt and might answer the question.
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Ruby and purple colors are rich and vibrant in the glass, showing no signs of aging. The aromatics, there was cassis, pencil shavings and some spice, not quite mint, but leaning in that direction. The wine is elegant, and somewhat floral. In the mouth, it is expansive and really balanced. Texturally, aromatically, weight, it has no obvious flaws. This is a well made wine, that is enjoyable, more like a symphony than a rock band.
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I think I'm moving away from this style of wine, which is disturbing, in that I have countless bottles of fruit forward, young, big Napa reds. That said, this is a nice one. Fruit forward yes, but a underlying structure that suggests that there could be more to come with some add'l bottle age. Nevertheless, I do have a hard time seeing how a bottle of this shows the same kind of elegance 20 years from now as happens with the best of 1970/1980 Napa offerings.
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Terrific wine that has concentration of mixed berries and while fruit forward, is more refined than other Solari Reserve's I have had in the past. Beautifully balanced and fruit filled nose...a wine to really enjoy.
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14.7% ABV. Dark black garnet, slightly opaque in the glass. Plush smelling black currant and cedar nose. Rich, full bodied and very smooth with classy ripe black currant fruit. This has soft tannins and a silky velvet texture. Quite nice. I could quibble over complexity, but won't.
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Full bodied packed with an array of berries and a very nice smooth finish. While this wine was delicious today, it will only get better with age. Finish has nice fruit and current that last for 30 seconds.
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I think Tim was expecting I would hate this... actually, I thought it was really pleasant. Everyone around me seemed to agree. A bit simple and distinctly zinny California fruit nose. The wine had nice sweet and fresh fruit flavors that helped to clear the palate of all that had come before it. Not overbearing by any means, this was refreshing and super tasty. I'd drink up -- expecting that this is as good as it's going to get. Why not enjoy all of that sexy fruit before it fades away?
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3/26/2024 - talbot61 Likes this wine:
Boston Wine & Poker, Brookline, NH: Tasted blind. This wine is shouting, "Napa Cab!" Super minty. Tannic. Very dark. No sweetness. Complex and delicious. This would be my wife's dream wine. Not surprised to learn what it is. From Michael C.'s cellar.
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9/30/2018 - Kevnzworld wrote: 90 Points
Unremarkable but drinkable. The fruit seemed a little muted compared to the acidity.
Missing the complexity that I expect and enjoy in what is now a 14yo Cabernet blend.
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11/4/2017 - kennyd wrote: 95 Points
SO NICE! Wish we had more in our cellar. It was perfect just poured through a Vinturi. Amazing 13 years after vintage that it has this much fruit presence.
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6/21/2015 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Purple color, inky. Slow-O for 6 hours and then poured into the decanter and served. Drank 2 glasses over the next 90 minutes. Opened this for my Dad for Father's Day hoping for big things. This has really come a long way from the last time I had it two years ago. I didn't realize that RP had raised his score on this from 95 to 99pts last year when he did a 10 year retrospective tasting. It was fun to have my Dad drink a "99pt" RP wine and read his note. The wine is dense and layered with inky black currant and blackberry liqueur, oak, and hints of alcohol that pop in and out. There's plenty of glycerin and anise as well as relaxed tannins and this finishes long. The nose is focused on the black currant and oak tones with spice more in the background. This really is a nice wine now, very concentrated; and the oak has mellowed and integrated more and the herbaceous character that I found distracting has gone away. The alcohol was in check today with the extra air. I would be curious to see this at age 20 just to see what happens.
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2/15/2014 - Roentgen Ray Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark garnet in color, it has medium jump from the glass. In the mouth, I get dark charred pork, cassis, violets, and a bit of farm and toasted marshmellow. The tannins force a little puker, and there is lots of life left in this bottle.
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4/26/2013 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 91 Points
A big wine that is in a weird place right now. Fruit forward style with a bit of alcohol. Minerals and earth. Long finish and I would hope this wine will come around over time. Potential is there to be a 94 pointer but not on this night.
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3/24/2013 - vanpe003 wrote: 90 Points
Pop/pour, no detailed notes. This came after opening a bottle of '04 Pahlmeyer Jayson, and suffered in comparison. Initial, quite one dimensional, with an almost spoofed sweetness that was quite distracting to whatever else might have been going on with this wine. Overall, the wine was quite linear and uncomplicated on the palate. It did improve significantly on Day 2, when that awkward sweetness seemed to integrate better (and diminish a bit). Perhaps this will age nicely, but the first two I've had over the last several years have been disappointing.
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3/17/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 89 Points
Napa Cabs (Edina, MN): Very dark purple color. Decanted for 3 hrs. Followed 2 glasses over 3 hours. I'm sorry to say that I did not care for this wine tonight. Unfortunately I couldn't get past the green, herbaceous quality on the nose that just would not subside for me. That character really does not sit well with me. There is plenty to like here, deep ripe black fruits on the nose, oak and spice. The palate shows dark fruits, very concentrated, powerful, pepper, herbal, oak, and alcohol on the finish. Others liked this more than me, but I was disappointed since I do have some. For me, I'm going to hope that several years will mellow this out, we shall see.
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9/1/2012 - tp096255 Likes this wine: 92 Points
9.2+
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12/30/2011 - EMTAME wrote: 92 Points
Incredible nose on opening. Rich, dark fruit; sweet, full, and velvety. Only thing missing was some of the complexity seen other vintages, even in the normal cuvee cab. I'm not sure this will develop that way, but holding a few more years wouldn't hurt and might answer the question.
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11/11/2011 - Roentgen Ray wrote: 93 Points
Ruby and purple colors are rich and vibrant in the glass, showing no signs of aging. The aromatics, there was cassis, pencil shavings and some spice, not quite mint, but leaning in that direction. The wine is elegant, and somewhat floral. In the mouth, it is expansive and really balanced. Texturally, aromatically, weight, it has no obvious flaws. This is a well made wine, that is enjoyable, more like a symphony than a rock band.
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12/8/2010 - vanpe003 wrote: 93 Points
I think I'm moving away from this style of wine, which is disturbing, in that I have countless bottles of fruit forward, young, big Napa reds. That said, this is a nice one. Fruit forward yes, but a underlying structure that suggests that there could be more to come with some add'l bottle age. Nevertheless, I do have a hard time seeing how a bottle of this shows the same kind of elegance 20 years from now as happens with the best of 1970/1980 Napa offerings.
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12/3/2010 - Schiffy wrote: 93 Points
Terrific wine that has concentration of mixed berries and while fruit forward, is more refined than other Solari Reserve's I have had in the past. Beautifully balanced and fruit filled nose...a wine to really enjoy.
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10/26/2010 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 94 Points
14.7% ABV. Dark black garnet, slightly opaque in the glass. Plush smelling black currant and cedar nose. Rich, full bodied and very smooth with classy ripe black currant fruit. This has soft tannins and a silky velvet texture. Quite nice. I could quibble over complexity, but won't.
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2/27/2010 - Bakek wrote: 95 Points
Still a little tannic out of the bottle, but immense depth and complexity. Won the night of five bottles.
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11/7/2009 - Schiffy wrote: 95 Points
Full bodied packed with an array of berries and a very nice smooth finish. While this wine was delicious today, it will only get better with age. Finish has nice fruit and current that last for 30 seconds.
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9/27/2008 - JR_Boston wrote: 92 Points
Good deep red, heavy tanins, bit too much acidity
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7/20/2008 - BordeauxNut wrote: 91 Points
I think Tim was expecting I would hate this... actually, I thought it was really pleasant. Everyone around me seemed to agree. A bit simple and distinctly zinny California fruit nose. The wine had nice sweet and fresh fruit flavors that helped to clear the palate of all that had come before it. Not overbearing by any means, this was refreshing and super tasty. I'd drink up -- expecting that this is as good as it's going to get. Why not enjoy all of that sexy fruit before it fades away?
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