I'm assuming that the negative notes had a bad bottle (and, judging by my experience with the '91 Geysers, bottle variation is not uncommon in this vintage). Cedar, black fruit, some mint, and some tertiary Bordeaux characteristics. Not going to improve, but certainly holding well here.
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From a bottle with a good fill, spinning capsule, and excellent cork. Past prime, volatile, extracted with a fair amount of tannin remaining but the fruit has mostly faded, leathery, anonymous and boring. Very disappointing.
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Lots of life in this. Red fruit, with excellent acidity and grippy tannins. Full-bodied, this drank well the night we opened and for two days after. If anything, seemed to improve over the three days it was open. Not yet showing all that much in the way of mature Bdx flavors, and maybe it won't ever, as there is such good fruit and acidity at work.
12.9% ABV which may be part of the reason that has aged some gracefully. I've now had a half dozen bottles of this vintage, and it has always showed very well. 82% Cabernet Sauvignon; 15% Merlot; 3% Cab Franc.
At Houston's with NWA and alongside some excellent other wines (83 Dominus, 97 Montelena, 00 Calon Segur, 03 Phelps Backus, 08 Maybach Materium).
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Mostly 1991 California Cabernet Blind (Berkeley): Group's #1; my #1; 4 first; 4 second; 4 third; 0 last. Aromas and flavors of dark fruits, plums, meat, cedar, oak, and some funk. Complex, smooth, well balanced, with a medium+ finish.
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Bobby's Birthday Bash (28-50): Softer, slightly minty, fragrant and slightly lifted nose. Similar on palate. Quite minty. Decent length, not that complex but very decent. Possible starting to fade slightly. ***1/2
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Among a bunch of Napa Cabs, and with mostly novice wine drinkers, this was a stand-out favorite. Complex, still plenty of fruit, but more dried than sweet, good acidity and balance. This is maybe my 4th or 5th time with this wine, and it continues to impress. At Ambrosa.
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Old Bordeaux and Cali Cabs at Dietz's (Chez Dietz): Lots of blackberries on the nose. Perfect Cali Cab palate with plenty of tart acidity. Still drinking well tonight showing a bit of oxidation but lots of richness left. Slight green qualities that add complexity. The "2nd" wine from this estate shows better than lots of other first wines at a similar age. Very nice and a bargain if you can find it.
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Vineyard Lunch Gand does Blind Cabs (Jason Hagen's office): Aged traditional Cab nose with some minerals. Tinge of greenish notes. Balanced with still good acidity and plenty of tannin. The fruit wasn't as expressive as my last go around with this bottle. Decent but not memorable.
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Medium purple color with some fading at the edges. Restrained nose of cedar, chocolate and a hint of licorice. Mouth filling flavors of dark cherry, a hint of blueberry, coffee and pencil lead. Moderate sweet finish. The wine seems to coat the entire mouth for a nice balance. At first I thought it was just past it's prime. After an hour, all the flavors seem to integrate and the berries became noticeable. This makes me think this wine has some years left. I'll never know as this was my last bottle.
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This would be worth looking for. Resolved tannins, big dark fruit with a potpourri of earth, leather, flowers, and damp moss. Continues to evolve in the glass, with cedar and mint aromas; fruit seems to actually build with some distinct cassis character. If this is the Santa Cruz bottling, what is the Monte Bello like?
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An awesome tamed wine that was in perfect balance and harmony now! The tannins were solved but the flavor.....wow. Lovely dark chrry and cinnamon, very solid midpallete with some cedar notes, just perfectly smooth and silky going down with a nice finish. You could not ask for more with stuffed(dried cranberry) pork tenderloin. At the price a bargain.
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8/6/2017 - finewinebuff57 wrote: 91 Points
This was a very good bottle indeed. Classy restrained, elegant. Ready, but time in hand. 82% Cabernet Sauvignon; 15% Merlot; 3% Cab Franc.
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10/4/2013 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
I'm assuming that the negative notes had a bad bottle (and, judging by my experience with the '91 Geysers, bottle variation is not uncommon in this vintage). Cedar, black fruit, some mint, and some tertiary Bordeaux characteristics. Not going to improve, but certainly holding well here.
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1/30/2013 - coremill wrote: 85 Points
From a bottle with a good fill, spinning capsule, and excellent cork. Past prime, volatile, extracted with a fair amount of tannin remaining but the fruit has mostly faded, leathery, anonymous and boring. Very disappointing.
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12/21/2011 - Colima74 wrote: 94 Points
Lots of life in this. Red fruit, with excellent acidity and grippy tannins. Full-bodied, this drank well the night we opened and for two days after. If anything, seemed to improve over the three days it was open. Not yet showing all that much in the way of mature Bdx flavors, and maybe it won't ever, as there is such good fruit and acidity at work.
12.9% ABV which may be part of the reason that has aged some gracefully. I've now had a half dozen bottles of this vintage, and it has always showed very well. 82% Cabernet Sauvignon; 15% Merlot; 3% Cab Franc.
At Houston's with NWA and alongside some excellent other wines (83 Dominus, 97 Montelena, 00 Calon Segur, 03 Phelps Backus, 08 Maybach Materium).
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12/18/2011 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Sweet, spicy, easy going; mixed berries, lower acidity, tangy finish and just a touch green.
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12/18/2011 - WetRock wrote:
EWG - 2001: A Taste Odyssey (Conrad Green's Abode): Complex nose with plenty of leafy SCM notes along with pipe tobacco and cigar aromas. Rich yet fresh and clean. Moe leafy notes. I always dig this.
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10/18/2011 - psrv wrote: 92 Points
Mostly 1991 California Cabernet Blind (Berkeley): Group's #1; my #1; 4 first; 4 second; 4 third; 0 last. Aromas and flavors of dark fruits, plums, meat, cedar, oak, and some funk. Complex, smooth, well balanced, with a medium+ finish.
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7/21/2011 - SimonG wrote:
Bobby's Birthday Bash (28-50): Softer, slightly minty, fragrant and slightly lifted nose. Similar on palate. Quite minty. Decent length, not that complex but very decent. Possible starting to fade slightly. ***1/2
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4/8/2011 - martinmerc wrote: 91 Points
Slight tannin. Berry notes long finish.
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9/19/2009 - Colima74 wrote: 93 Points
Among a bunch of Napa Cabs, and with mostly novice wine drinkers, this was a stand-out favorite. Complex, still plenty of fruit, but more dried than sweet, good acidity and balance. This is maybe my 4th or 5th time with this wine, and it continues to impress. At Ambrosa.
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4/11/2009 - jasonh wrote: 90 Points
Dinner at Chez DrVP Dietz: What a difference a bottle makes. The last bottle of this was overly dusty and dirty to me. This was clean yet rustic.
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4/11/2009 - Paul Lin wrote: 91 Points
Classic Bordeaux and California Cabs (Casa Dietz - Santa Ana, CA): Notes of cassis, cigar box, anise, and dried herbs. Balanced and elegant and probably the most ready to drink of the three. 91-92 points.
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4/11/2009 - WetRock wrote:
Old Bordeaux and Cali Cabs at Dietz's (Chez Dietz): Lots of blackberries on the nose. Perfect Cali Cab palate with plenty of tart acidity. Still drinking well tonight showing a bit of oxidation but lots of richness left. Slight green qualities that add complexity. The "2nd" wine from this estate shows better than lots of other first wines at a similar age. Very nice and a bargain if you can find it.
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2/19/2009 - WetRock wrote:
Vineyard Lunch Gand does Blind Cabs (Jason Hagen's office): Aged traditional Cab nose with some minerals. Tinge of greenish notes. Balanced with still good acidity and plenty of tannin. The fruit wasn't as expressive as my last go around with this bottle. Decent but not memorable.
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2/15/2009 - shine wrote: 90 Points
Medium purple color with some fading at the edges. Restrained nose of cedar, chocolate and a hint of licorice. Mouth filling flavors of dark cherry, a hint of blueberry, coffee and pencil lead. Moderate sweet finish. The wine seems to coat the entire mouth for a nice balance. At first I thought it was just past it's prime. After an hour, all the flavors seem to integrate and the berries became noticeable. This makes me think this wine has some years left. I'll never know as this was my last bottle.
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1/8/2007 - DaleW wrote: 93 Points
This would be worth looking for. Resolved tannins, big dark fruit with a potpourri of earth, leather, flowers, and damp moss. Continues to evolve in the glass, with cedar and mint aromas; fruit seems to actually build with some distinct cassis character. If this is the Santa Cruz bottling, what is the Monte Bello like?
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9/18/2004 - beachbum wrote: 92 Points
An awesome tamed wine that was in perfect balance and harmony now! The tannins were solved but the flavor.....wow. Lovely dark chrry and cinnamon, very solid midpallete with some cedar notes, just perfectly smooth and silky going down with a nice finish. You could not ask for more with stuffed(dried cranberry) pork tenderloin. At the price a bargain.
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6/8/2003 - beachbum wrote:
Carolyns birthday - amazing now, solid cherry fruit, no tannins, beautiful and smooth
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