After the first couple hours, this wine was an 89-point wine with too much alcohol, but after the third hour the alcohol dissipated on the nose and palate the the wine really softened and rounded out on the palate, with the black fruits and black currant becoming more layered and seamless; Vanilla Oak emerged and became a bit creamy with background touches of tar.
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Purple in color. 15.9% ABV. Heady nose of black and blue fruits, Whitman Sampler box and molten licorice. Full bodied with notable balance. Big, rich and incredibly plush. Blueberry liqueur, creme de cassis, black currants and chocolate on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Completely over the top and completely delicious at the same time. Best over the next 6-8 years.
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Not hot, mellow and amazingly smooth. Silky with subtle oak and faded fruit. Still bright and with bidy and depth. Not complex, but still a crowd pleaser.
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Had quite a few bottles of this wine in the past years and many of them were supposed to be their best vintages. Never liked any of them. Too jammy and too much alcohol for my taste. Some Ramey and Tor wines are also too sweet for my taste, but they are still drinkable. I couldnt even finish most SBR wines I opened and had to give any remaining bottles away to people who enjoyed this wine more than I did.
Found a half case of this in my cellar and had to try a bottle before deciding to give away. Well I am keeping them all. Unlike the previous bottles I tried, this wine is quite smooth and balanced. Will see how this develops over a day or two.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of black currants, dried plums and black cherries. Flavors of dried plums, black currants and black raspberries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the short term.
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Absolutely amazing classic Napa. It still has plenty of time left & no heat from high alcohol which I might have expected from 15.9%. Soft red fruit, mellow tannins & excellent full palette with a long finish. The last of my 750ml.. just a 3l left of the 07s before moving on to my 10s
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Intense crushed black currant and violets rise from the glass like a perfume. While still quite youthful a bit of olive and leather lie in the background hinting at the 12 year old age of the wine. The palate is balanced, smooth with a nice balance of richness and freshness. While not overly complex this is a very appealing wine because of its pure fruit and floral elements.
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Enjoyed with BBQ lamb chops. Very plush berry flavor and a softness that I really enjoy. I don't see this as getting any better - it is in a great place right now, so I'll be drinking my remaining bottles in the next 1-2 years. Maybe it's provenance (bought on release and stored at 57*), but I think this bottle is a great value and reminds me of the 02 SWB CS...soft, plush and wanting more. Kudos to Bob Foley, the crew and the Petersons!
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A bit of a disappointment. Still tasty as all get out - black cherries, coffee, etc. - and still quite rich. However, what structure it may have once had is GONE, and it frankly seems to be falling apart. It's past the time to drink up, in my opinion. I suspect its premature demise is attributable to the (excessively) fruity vintage.
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Might have been my last bottle of the '07. Very pleasant but not as bold and full bodied as I remember. Integrated, complex, not shy. Paired well with food.
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A short decant would help but in a pretty good place. A bit of licorice, plenty of plush black fruits and nice minerality. Some tannins help balance the wine which has just a bit of alcohol and liqueur on the finish. 91 points
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Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of boysenberries, currants, smoke and plums. Flavors of dried plums, black currants and a bit of Golden raisin. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the short term, next 2-3 years.
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Gave it about two hours of air. Paired with filet. Opaque. Pleasant nose. Full-bodied. Complex dark blue and purple fruit. Perhaps a tad too much. Long teeth staining finish.
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Cork broke. Pop and pour, followed over two hours.Dark cherries, rich dark fruit on the nose. Tannins are dissipating on the pallet at the rich fruit remains in good form and is dominated by black cherry and BlackBerry. Dusty tannins coat the front to mid-palate and leave a finish a 15 to 25 seconds. In a really nice place and definitely time to drink to enjoy in its peak window.
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A very smooth and silky wine at this point. Rich blackberry, black cherry and boysenberry fruit. Wonderful texture to it with a solid core of licorice, earth, and dark chocolate. Tannins have softened a bit over time but still present with a great long finish. Wonderful wine.
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Opened about 90 minutes before tasting. Has Bob Foley's fingerprints all over it. Extremely rich, with a solid finish. Slightly better than the 2007 Cade Howell Mountain it was matched against. However, surprising (and somewhat disappointing) lack of tannins indicate that it's probably time to drink up.
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Gave it about two hours of air. It might not need it. About as opaque as wine gets. Pleasant nose. Black and dark purple and deep red fruit. Full bodied but complexity of fruit dissipates with time. Remarkably weak finish. Very different from an identical bottle about a month ago.
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Delicious. Let breathe for about two hours. Opaque with deep purple around the rim. Pleasant new world nose. Ripe luscious purple and deep blue and red fruit. Full bodied, integrated. Looonng finish, still with a little heat. Sucked up quickly by those at dinner (lamb).
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University Club Christmas Buffet - My only bottle. Purchased upon release from winery and stored at 55 degrees in Eurocave. Thrilling. Still very young and rich but well balanced. Silky texture. Wish I had bought more.
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Pop and pour. After three hours the nose shows muted forest floor, Pineneedles, brush, old wood.
The wines flavor profile is definitely in the “back nine” of its lifespan.-nicely balanced, clearly aged, with tobacco/wood, Red cherries,
While not nearly as rich and full as this was a few years ago (duh), this is aging extremely well.While few bordeaux start off as enjoyable as this was seven years ago, This is aging as well as any top-notch French wine Eight years after release. Will drink my remaining bottle in the next 1 to 2 years.
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This Switchback Ridge was great, but not outstanding. It lacked a bit of the indulgent quality I expect from Bob Foley wines, and Switchback Ridge in particular. Compared with previous vintages of the Cabernet, it felt a little more one-dimensional, dominated by sweet, dried red fruits, and lacking structure. Later, with more air, a very nice minerality emerged, so it's possible it just needs more time.
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High/Low Blind Tasting - Can you taste the difference? (Amy and Scott's house): A 2 hour decant, served blind alongside a 2009 Treasure cellars napa cab. This wine was preferred by 9 out of 14 people, although there were grumblings that it was an unusual Napa cab. The switchback drinks like a Napa wine, but it is so soft that it doesn't really drink like a cabernet. I agree with other tasters and people present at this tasting that it could easily be merlot or grenache. Soft, pillowy red fruit, quite feminine and plush. This is my first Switchback Ridge cabernet, and as nice as this is, I think I prefer their Petite Sirah or their merlot.
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better now than when I just got it. Still young, pretty good lengthy structure...still a little more on the sweet, fruit, vanilla side but this works a lot more than when I first had it 5 or 6 years ago...it's really the structure that makes this wine and the fact that it should get even better over the next few years...
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Not sure where the fruit went on this. Was expecting a fruit bomb and got a wine featuring tobacco and earth and more Bordeaux like. Bought at auction so perhaps not properly stored but no obvious flaw. Not terrible by any means but not what I was expecting.
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Open1.5 hours. Nose of ripe blackberries. Smooth and silky in the mouth. Super ripe and extracted, but soft and delicious. Easy to drink. In a blind tasting, it would be hard to identify the grape in this. Tastes more like Syrah than Cabernet.
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Tasted blind. Rich and fruit-forward. Ultra-ripe blueberries and prunes with tobacco and smoked meat far in the background. In the mouth, all about the fruit. Big tannins, not yet integrated. Surely New World, but the winemaker had the good sense to include tannins. Probably California syrah. But it’s good; this is a style I can appreciate. Rating: 91
Non-blind p.s.: I don’t feel bad about mis-identifying the varietal. It's very hard to discern the varietal in California wines because most of them taste like ultra-ripe fruit or jam. It’s pretty easy to tell Bordeaux from Cote Rotie, but with California syrah versus California cabernet—I have no clue unless there are pyrazines (green notes), and I perceived none in this wine.
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Wow, drinking great right now. Rich black cherry, blackberry, and plum fruit with a nice core of licorice, earth, and dark chocolate. Firm tannins here with a long finish. Should be great over the next few year still, well done.
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At Vic's Restaurant NYC, great food, excellent staff, corkage friendly place...Third wine of the evening, decanted 2 bottles for about 90 minutes prior to drinking, drank over an hour. Decant really helped the wine open...the depth and complexity wasn't showing when first opened. These bottles had a fair amount of sediment, straining was in order Drank this after a Fontodi Flaccianello
Dark, inky garnet color. Huge nose of dark fruits, plums, cedar, pencil/graphite and oak. Plate of Blackberry, dark cherry, spices, chocolate. Rich, viscous mouth feel. a little heat on the finish...Medium/Long finish.
This is a dark and brooding Cab. Nicely aged and in a good spot right now. I am seeing some variation in the 07 Napa vintage at this stage. This is in a really good spot right now, tannins are softening, secondary characteristics coming through.
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Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of balsam, currant, plum and black berries. Flavors of currants, plums and cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink with air or hold.
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Really enjoyed this wine. Decanted about two hours. Inky purple hue. Nose pleasant. Very rich complex black and blue fruit. Integrated tannins, alcohol muted. Long > 30 second finish. Big wine, but very enjoyable.
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Drank alongside a 2009 Lewis Reserve Cabernet, 2010 L'Aventure Estate Cuvée, and a 2012 Bevan Ontogeny. The SBR came in #4 among the competition.
PnP, the SBR was initially very coiled-up, throwing out some high-pitched red berry fruit flavors: red currant, ripe cranberry, sweet pomegranate, red and black licorice, and some spice. A little alcohol on the finish, but not distractingly so.
After two hours in the decanter (at cellar temperature - 54 degrees), the true depth and complexity of this wine started to really emerge. Darker fruit flavors emerged: blackberry, dark plum, raspberry liqueur, red and black licorice, cacao, and some cedar. Became smoother over time in the glass.
I definitely recommend decanting this wine for a couple of hours (possibly up to 4 hours prior to consumption), or hold for another couple of years. Had a decent amount of sediment, so it helped to strain/filter when pouring into the decanter. 94+
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Not much nose, but a fantastic body. Big fruit, dry and fresh, but very little acidity and tannin, which suits its age. Plum and berries, with a little cedar. A little heat, but considering its 15.9%, this is extremely well balanced with decent complexity and a great finish. Fantastic wine that is drinking perfectly now.
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4 hour decant. Purple black and viscous. Cassis, black fruit, mint, cinnamon, dark chocolate, and lead pencil. Smooth integrated tannins. Drinking really well.
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This is a dark giant brooding wine, but missing some backbone. Dark fruit and spicy black licorice make this easy to drink, but lacking the structure I expect from a wine of this caliber.
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Awesome Napa Cabernet Tasting (Hillside, Montelena, Mayback and more) (Minneapolis, MN): Young. Decanted 3hours and is extremely dark in color. Blackberries, violets, spices and tobacco. Medium to long finish and firm tannins still present. This was very good with the long decant but might benefit five more years in the cellar. My third favorite wine of the night. 93 +
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Hi End Napa Cabs with an Haut Brion Kicker (Gary's Place, Hudson, WI): Purple color. Three hour decant. The nose is has big dark fruits, cassis, plum, black cherry, subtle tobacco, herbs and lots of cedar wood. The palate is ripe and shows mint, eucalyptus, slightly sour black cherry, blackberry, lots of mouth coating glycerin, moderate oak, spices, and at times touches of heat. 92+pts.
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Bottle variation or in a dead zone. This was not up to snuff relative to the 3 bottles I've had previously. Tight fruit, reticent nose overpowering oak.
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Seriously dark wine. On the nose, notes of cassis, graphite and a touch of oak. In the mouth, loaded with structure, but a nice texture underneath that coats the palate. I was hoping for more complexity on the nose, but I've had this wine 6 times now and it is what it is. A nicely structured, flavorful wine that is somewhat simplistic for its price point. Still very enjoyable! Decanted 5 hours before consumption.
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Softer than expected based on my experience with other vintages of this producer. Decanted for an hour and rebottled for a restaurant - it was ready to go once reopened. Integrated tannins with high toned fruit and a round, pleasant finish that didn't last as long as I had hoped. It was paired with fresh shaved white truffle pasta - so, everything gets a bump from that - but this was legitimately good wine on its own. It is ready to drink well before the 05 or 06 of the same label.
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Decanted for 1+ hour and then followed over 2 hours. This wine is soft, feminine, and powerful. Pillowy red fruit, cocoa, and ends with black licorice. Soft well integrated tannins make me think it isn't made for the long haul. But then the wine kept improving with time, which makes me want to see how it will taste in 5-7 years. We all agreed that this is a different, soft, forward and charming style of cabernet. I will save my 1 bottle for another 3 years. 92 with room for improvement.
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Amazing. Not a decant for a long while kind of wine dude. Just after opening, was big and red fruit and tobacco but a bit strong/angular and not quite integrated.....was drinking to test the waters for when to open my 3l. Tried again on second night, 24hrs in fridge and vacuum sealed. Amazing. Balanced out and flavors pulled together. Superb.
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Splash decanted at Flemings for some bone-in fillet. This was a stunner, especially relative to a bottle I had a while back. The wine has really fleshed out. Still a big boy, with gobs of black fruit, currant and muscular tannin. Layers of additional flavors across the palate including licorice, mocha and toasty oak.
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not decanted, but the wine showed nice development in the glass over three hours. i was tepid, but complimentary, the last time i tasted this, and i am enjoying it more with some modest bottle age of almost three years. strong willed and modestly tannic. the fruit is superb and consistent with the portfolio. past readers of my notes will understand that i am an unabashed fan of the winery. since my last tasting note, i finally was able to meet kelly, and she is everything you can imagine and want in a family owned representative. this wine has miles of spectacular and pleasing performance ahead of it. drink now with air - 2022. for my friend bob wood. yeah, i could have drunk an oregon pinot in his honor, but i don't as a rule drink that crap, and i loved the PM debates with him about wine and golf. he wasn't for everyone, and that is what endeared him to me; he flew by his own compass. i'd like to think he's giving somebody shit right now in the big vineyard in the sky. here's to ya.
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Decanted for 3 hours, then followed over 2.5 hours. Plum and blackberry on the nose along with creosote and a hint of oak. Mouthfeel is rough silk, and the profile is watered-down blueberry and light overall, similar in profile to a cab franc. Elegantly youthful might be my best overall descriptor; this is extremely approachable, but still has 4-5+ years ahead of it.
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Currently tasting on the third night. Even better than the first night. Smooth, balanced and nice dark berry flavors. I had thought this wine had reached its peak....maybe not. Will hold off a bit on my other bottles.
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very sexy and silky wine. Great tannin structure and a great mid palate of mocha, vanilla, coffee, and currant. These wines are really good and fun to drink, not sure age will improve this wine too much. May tame the tannin a bit, but in a good place now
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02-07 6-bottle SBR CS vertical. Unfortunately drank all day so taste buds shot for the flight tasting. From what I've been told, the 02, 04, 06 and 07 stood out...
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Big, ripe and powerful, but not over the top. Not as tasty as I last remembered, lacked the comlexity from my prior notes. Probably could've used some more time in the decanter (2 hr decant).
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Big, ripe and powerful, this wine is stuffed with jammy black and blue fruit, coffee, vanilla and milk chocolate. This is showing well today. It's a style of Cabernet Sauvignon that drinks well young but I doubt it will gain much complexity with bottle age.
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Beserkerfest Napa Halloween Party (Napa Valley Wine & Cigar): This was served blind and I seemed to like it more than most. After seeing the label, I suspect it is shut down now. It was popped and poured. Lots of Hershey milk chocolate notes and some cherries. I was guessing Merlot. Its nice but one would expect more.
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A big bold masculine wine. There is a definite mineral element that helps give the wine some character, cassis, coffee beans, and oak. This is a huge wine that has the tannins to support it. Wine is in a good phase now but if this can mellow with a few years in the cellar, it will become a great bottle.
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West Coast Wines On The East Coast (Sonata BYO (Philadelphia)): This probably needs a few years in bottle and/or some air time. This drank very well tonight. Forward and easy drinking. Chocolate covered red fruit, pepper. Lush and silky smooth. After some time in the glass, the fruit really emerges. Finish could have been a bit better. Solid wine, although it was trumped a bit by the Pott Arsenal.
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Dark ripe currants on the nose with a hint of eucalyptus, some black figs and black cherries. The palate is big with ripe dark fruit. A tab boozy today with notable tannins. Like it.
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Opened and left to air for about an hour prior to drinking. Lisa calls this wine a "big chocolate covered cherry bomb" and while it does have gobs of fruit, there's a nice underlying complexity provided by the chocolaty oak notes a midpalate and despite being 15.9% abv, it doesn't come off overly hot so extra credit for being able to conceal that alcohol behind everything else. I think this has some potential to improve but as a few other CT notes mention, you really have to love massive CA Cabernet to enjoy this one.
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Soft and elegant, certainly fruity, but soft none the less. The nose has some mocha and dark fruits, and the palate holds on to the dark fruits with some smoke. Velvety texture and smooth finish. Ive learned from previous bottles to drink it quickly, because it seems to fall appart. Didnt have time to this time ;)
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Glass and teeth staining purple-black in color. Blackberry, blueberry, and molasses. Cedar and pine needles. Fading it canilla and licorice on the finish. Huge wine. Powerful. Not for everyone, but I am a fan.
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This one is a beast! Huge black cherry and blackberry fruit, intense boldness and great balance. Also has some chocolate and tar notes. Long finish, chewy tannins, great wine.
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This wine has some of the right ingredients but the recipe is off. Lots of heat hide the nice blueberry and vanilla that hits you at first glance. The best part of the wine is the floral nose of lilac and some rose pedals. The wine coats the glass and your mouth in a purple haze. It is too high octane too keep it balanced. Maybe in a few years some of the heat will dissipate; however, at this price point, I wouldn't risk buying more.
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15.9% alcohol. run thru a vinturi and decanted for 4+ hours. needed a good 60 minutes to shed a rough exterior. nose was promising during the decant, solid black color to the rim. ultimately, this is too alcoholic and tannic, somewhat over ripe, to rise above the good level for me. it's not tight in a way that makes me think it is ever going to be well balanced. no doubt a style that may capture the attention of the unwashed masses, and i think SR deserves some credit for holding the line with their pricing. eighty smackers still ain't cheap, but i recognize the effort and commitment to the ethos. there's a boat load of more expensive wine that doesn't achieve this level. nevertheless, i like the 05 a whole lot better. the parker descriptions of asphalt and scorched earth come to mind (was he at mount st. helens? maybe that's what happened to his palate). worth cellaring. hope i'm wrong, and it will blossom. i pretty much just type my thoughts as a free flowing manifesto. however, rereading this note, it seems more negative than i actually mean. i think. i've enjoyed the wine for what it is, but i wanted more, especially from this vintage. make sense? probably not. i've decided to bump my score one point. you have to like big ass napa cab to like this, perhaps more than i did.
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As before. This wine is nice, not great and not on par with the 06 or 05. Sweet nose of currants and raspberries. The palate is correct, balanced with some raspberries and nice acid but nothing to write home about. A little lacking in complexity and overall oomph. A nice drink but Ill be killing my remaining two soon.
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A floral type of incense in the aromatic. Black currant, black cherry, berry and cedar with a lift of nice acidity on the end, with the expected vanilla. Not as big as I was expecting. Drinks young still but nice too.
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Popped and poured, no aeration. Deep, youthful purple/red hue. Forward aromas of ripe black currant, blackberry liqueur, raisin, and a bit of heat. Nose evolves to show notes of cocoa powder, anise, and a touch of cedar. Medium-plus to full body, super concentrated. On the palate, this youthful 2007 Cabernet shows a solid core of dark, spicy fruit that initially comes off a touch overripe. However, the fruit quickly evolves in glass to show surprising freshness, especially given the level of ripeness, and is complemented by notes of dark chocolate, black licorice, and a kiss of toasted oak (the latter of which shows surprising restraint). The tannins are chalky and a bit astringent on the long finish. Comes off as a hypothetical blend of the ripe 2005 and the more structured, classic 2006. Not rated, but clearly stacked with potential...just demands a good 2-3 years in the cellar! (93-96+)
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Great effort. Notes of creosote, dark fruits, licorice and some chocolate. Very complex nose. Big wine in the mouth, with serious extraction with lots of fruit. No surprise there. Decanted for an hour and consumed over 2 the 1st night. Put the cork back and stored in the fridge. Not much changed on day 2, although a little smoother on the entry. The extraction of this wine is balanced out well by the tannin. I thnk this will improve a point or 2, but its ready to drink now. I'm glad to be on this list.
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Decanted for about 1 hour, and opened up more throughout the night. Nice dark purple inky color. Young, but still complex, strong blackberry and dark fruit, maybe even a touch smokey with some chocolate as well. Some heat on the finish for sure, but it calmed down after a few hours. Will get better with age, but I think this is drinking well at the moment (just let it breath for several hours). I'm always a fan of Foley wines.
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GAIS wine tasting. Decanted for about 8 hours. A baby but I think it will open up well over the next couple of years. Cassis, blackberry a mocha. Strong tannic grip.
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Popped and decanted through Venturi. Still extremely young and tight. After about 3+ hours started showing itself a bit. All the pieces are in place for this to be a stellar wine. Fruit, complexity, balance. Looking forward to tasting again after they've had a nice long slumber.
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Had to open one as I am trying to decide whether to purchase more...Decanted for 1 hour. Amazing nose of black fruits and extremely fruit forward on the palette. A touch of heat (15.9%!) but even at this young age it is integrated well. Tight tannins at present. This will certainly get better.
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7/26/2023 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
After the first couple hours, this wine was an 89-point wine with too much alcohol, but after the third hour the alcohol dissipated on the nose and palate the the wine really softened and rounded out on the palate, with the black fruits and black currant becoming more layered and seamless; Vanilla Oak emerged and became a bit creamy with background touches of tar.
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3/19/2022 - capacious Likes this wine: 94 Points
Evolved, secondaries, great balance, pretty classical Napa, some bricking, still has a decade to give.
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1/24/2022 - tomlee wrote: 95 Points
Purple in color. 15.9% ABV. Heady nose of black and blue fruits, Whitman Sampler box and molten licorice. Full bodied with notable balance. Big, rich and incredibly plush. Blueberry liqueur, creme de cassis, black currants and chocolate on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Completely over the top and completely delicious at the same time. Best over the next 6-8 years.
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11/25/2021 - Rhone Rick Likes this wine: 92 Points
From a 3L.
Not hot, mellow and amazingly smooth. Silky with subtle oak and faded fruit. Still bright and with bidy and depth. Not complex, but still a crowd pleaser.
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11/19/2021 - jfkwines wrote: 88 Points
Accesible now, on the downside at this point 07 fruitiness still present
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2/11/2021 - Dearborn1977 wrote: flawed
Corked. Booooooo
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9/18/2020 - Rbtrage wrote: 93 Points
Great wine. Better than the previous bottle. Paired with ribeye steaks and grilled pork belly at 1080.
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9/17/2020 - Rbtrage wrote: 92 Points
Feels like this wine hit its peak 2-3 years ago but still drinking fine for a 13 year old wine. Full body and a bit syrupy.
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8/19/2020 - Rbtrage wrote: 92 Points
Had quite a few bottles of this wine in the past years and many of them were supposed to be their best vintages. Never liked any of them. Too jammy and too much alcohol for my taste. Some Ramey and Tor wines are also too sweet for my taste, but they are still drinkable. I couldnt even finish most SBR wines I opened and had to give any remaining bottles away to people who enjoyed this wine more than I did.
Found a half case of this in my cellar and had to try a bottle before deciding to give away. Well I am keeping them all. Unlike the previous bottles I tried, this wine is quite smooth and balanced. Will see how this develops over a day or two.
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8/1/2020 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of black currants, dried plums and black cherries. Flavors of dried plums, black currants and black raspberries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the short term.
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5/8/2020 - gsquireh wrote:
TO Adam
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4/9/2020 - mrmedoes wrote: flawed
Solid cork line, stored well, but literally something off. Total VA nose. What a shame. Smelled like a port, total disjointed.
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4/3/2020 - budman Likes this wine: 93 Points
Best bottle yet!!
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11/10/2019 - PSUSteve wrote: 93 Points
From magnum. 1 hour decant. Great cab that has settled down from intense fruit stage to a very balanced and wonderful aged cab.
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8/31/2019 - budman wrote: 89 Points
Nice, but no wow factor.
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8/23/2019 - Rhone Rick Likes this wine: 95 Points
Absolutely amazing classic Napa. It still has plenty of time left & no heat from high alcohol which I might have expected from 15.9%. Soft red fruit, mellow tannins & excellent full palette with a long finish. The last of my 750ml.. just a 3l left of the 07s before moving on to my 10s
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5/13/2019 - brettay wrote: 92 Points
Intense crushed black currant and violets rise from the glass like a perfume. While still quite youthful a bit of olive and leather lie in the background hinting at the 12 year old age of the wine. The palate is balanced, smooth with a nice balance of richness and freshness. While not overly complex this is a very appealing wine because of its pure fruit and floral elements.
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1/14/2019 - Elkcims wrote: 94 Points
Enjoyed with BBQ lamb chops. Very plush berry flavor and a softness that I really enjoy. I don't see this as getting any better - it is in a great place right now, so I'll be drinking my remaining bottles in the next 1-2 years. Maybe it's provenance (bought on release and stored at 57*), but I think this bottle is a great value and reminds me of the 02 SWB CS...soft, plush and wanting more. Kudos to Bob Foley, the crew and the Petersons!
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12/17/2018 - Night Train Likes this wine: 89 Points
A bit of a disappointment. Still tasty as all get out - black cherries, coffee, etc. - and still quite rich. However, what structure it may have once had is GONE, and it frankly seems to be falling apart. It's past the time to drink up, in my opinion. I suspect its premature demise is attributable to the (excessively) fruity vintage.
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11/18/2018 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Might have been my last bottle of the '07. Very pleasant but not as bold and full bodied as I remember. Integrated, complex, not shy. Paired well with food.
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11/7/2018 - sastewart wrote: 91 Points
A short decant would help but in a pretty good place. A bit of licorice, plenty of plush black fruits and nice minerality. Some tannins help balance the wine which has just a bit of alcohol and liqueur on the finish. 91 points
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7/30/2018 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of boysenberries, currants, smoke and plums. Flavors of dried plums, black currants and a bit of Golden raisin. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the short term, next 2-3 years.
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6/24/2018 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gave it about two hours of air. Paired with filet. Opaque. Pleasant nose. Full-bodied. Complex dark blue and purple fruit. Perhaps a tad too much. Long teeth staining finish.
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5/20/2018 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cork broke. Pop and pour, followed over two hours.Dark cherries, rich dark fruit on the nose. Tannins are dissipating on the pallet at the rich fruit remains in good form and is dominated by black cherry and BlackBerry. Dusty tannins coat the front to mid-palate and leave a finish a 15 to 25 seconds. In a really nice place and definitely time to drink to enjoy in its peak window.
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5/8/2018 - brianofthevine Likes this wine: 93 Points
A very smooth and silky wine at this point. Rich blackberry, black cherry and boysenberry fruit. Wonderful texture to it with a solid core of licorice, earth, and dark chocolate. Tannins have softened a bit over time but still present with a great long finish. Wonderful wine.
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4/1/2018 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened about 90 minutes before tasting. Has Bob Foley's fingerprints all over it. Extremely rich, with a solid finish. Slightly better than the 2007 Cade Howell Mountain it was matched against. However, surprising (and somewhat disappointing) lack of tannins indicate that it's probably time to drink up.
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3/19/2018 - invein Likes this wine:
.
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3/18/2018 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Gave it about two hours of air. It might not need it. About as opaque as wine gets. Pleasant nose. Black and dark purple and deep red fruit. Full bodied but complexity of fruit dissipates with time. Remarkably weak finish. Very different from an identical bottle about a month ago.
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3/4/2018 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delicious.
Let breathe for about two hours. Opaque with deep purple around the rim. Pleasant new world nose. Ripe luscious purple and deep blue and red fruit. Full bodied, integrated. Looonng finish, still with a little heat. Sucked up quickly by those at dinner (lamb).
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12/23/2017 - Brsed Likes this wine: 94 Points
University Club Christmas Buffet - My only bottle. Purchased upon release from winery and stored at 55 degrees in Eurocave. Thrilling. Still very young and rich but well balanced. Silky texture. Wish I had bought more.
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12/15/2017 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pop and pour. After three hours the nose shows muted forest floor, Pineneedles, brush, old wood.
The wines flavor profile is definitely in the “back nine” of its lifespan.-nicely balanced, clearly aged, with tobacco/wood, Red cherries,
While not nearly as rich and full as this was a few years ago (duh), this is aging extremely well.While few bordeaux start off as enjoyable as this was seven years ago, This is aging as well as any top-notch French wine Eight years after release. Will drink my remaining bottle in the next 1 to 2 years.
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11/25/2017 - MJTed wrote: 88 Points
Fruit is fading on this, but still tasty and flashing savory secondary notes. Time to drink up.
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9/17/2017 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 60-90 minutes. Very dense and opaque. Thick and chewy black, blue, and dark red fruit. Very pleasant and complex but a mouthful. Long finish.
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8/3/2017 - leadpencil wrote: 92 Points
Boysenberry liqueur, touch of vanilla, tobacco
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5/23/2017 - Jonathan T wrote: 90 Points
This Switchback Ridge was great, but not outstanding. It lacked a bit of the indulgent quality I expect from Bob Foley wines, and Switchback Ridge in particular. Compared with previous vintages of the Cabernet, it felt a little more one-dimensional, dominated by sweet, dried red fruits, and lacking structure. Later, with more air, a very nice minerality emerged, so it's possible it just needs more time.
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2/11/2017 - Acohen Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark and rich with currant, tar and coffee
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1/15/2017 - galewskj wrote: 91 Points
High/Low Blind Tasting - Can you taste the difference? (Amy and Scott's house): A 2 hour decant, served blind alongside a 2009 Treasure cellars napa cab. This wine was preferred by 9 out of 14 people, although there were grumblings that it was an unusual Napa cab. The switchback drinks like a Napa wine, but it is so soft that it doesn't really drink like a cabernet. I agree with other tasters and people present at this tasting that it could easily be merlot or grenache. Soft, pillowy red fruit, quite feminine and plush. This is my first Switchback Ridge cabernet, and as nice as this is, I think I prefer their Petite Sirah or their merlot.
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12/13/2016 - richshoes Likes this wine: 93 Points
better now than when I just got it. Still young, pretty good lengthy structure...still a little more on the sweet, fruit, vanilla side but this works a lot more than when I first had it 5 or 6 years ago...it's really the structure that makes this wine and the fact that it should get even better over the next few years...
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11/24/2016 - yeti575rider wrote: 88 Points
Not sure where the fruit went on this. Was expecting a fruit bomb and got a wine featuring tobacco and earth and more Bordeaux like. Bought at auction so perhaps not properly stored but no obvious flaw. Not terrible by any means but not what I was expecting.
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11/23/2016 - kenv Likes this wine: 92 Points
Open1.5 hours. Nose of ripe blackberries. Smooth and silky in the mouth. Super ripe and extracted, but soft and delicious. Easy to drink. In a blind tasting, it would be hard to identify the grape in this. Tastes more like Syrah than Cabernet.
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10/8/2016 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Excellent Napa cab, good balance, judicious oak, ripe cassis and berry fruit, cigar notes, really nice. 92+
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9/23/2016 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted blind. Rich and fruit-forward. Ultra-ripe blueberries and prunes with tobacco and smoked meat far in the background. In the mouth, all about the fruit. Big tannins, not yet integrated. Surely New World, but the winemaker had the good sense to include tannins. Probably California syrah. But it’s good; this is a style I can appreciate. Rating: 91
Non-blind p.s.: I don’t feel bad about mis-identifying the varietal. It's very hard to discern the varietal in California wines because most of them taste like ultra-ripe fruit or jam. It’s pretty easy to tell Bordeaux from Cote Rotie, but with California syrah versus California cabernet—I have no clue unless there are pyrazines (green notes), and I perceived none in this wine.
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9/11/2016 - brianofthevine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow, drinking great right now. Rich black cherry, blackberry, and plum fruit with a nice core of licorice, earth, and dark chocolate. Firm tannins here with a long finish. Should be great over the next few year still, well done.
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6/9/2016 - walkerjfw wrote: 93 Points
At Vic's Restaurant NYC, great food, excellent staff, corkage friendly place...Third wine of the evening, decanted 2 bottles for about 90 minutes prior to drinking, drank over an hour. Decant really helped the wine open...the depth and complexity wasn't showing when first opened. These bottles had a fair amount of sediment, straining was in order Drank this after a Fontodi Flaccianello
Dark, inky garnet color. Huge nose of dark fruits, plums, cedar, pencil/graphite and oak. Plate of Blackberry, dark cherry, spices, chocolate. Rich, viscous mouth feel. a little heat on the finish...Medium/Long finish.
This is a dark and brooding Cab. Nicely aged and in a good spot right now. I am seeing some variation in the 07 Napa vintage at this stage. This is in a really good spot right now, tannins are softening, secondary characteristics coming through.
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2/18/2016 - khunchris Likes this wine: 93 Points
Love these wines and this one was singing. Magnum enjoyed with friends and Bandon Dunes. Cant get much better
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2/8/2016 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of balsam, currant, plum and black berries. Flavors of currants, plums and cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink with air or hold.
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1/24/2016 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really enjoyed this wine. Decanted about two hours. Inky purple hue. Nose pleasant. Very rich complex black and blue fruit. Integrated tannins, alcohol muted. Long > 30 second finish. Big wine, but very enjoyable.
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1/9/2016 - pakabear Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark fruit, great acidity with background oak that has calmed down. There is a slight hole in the middle, I don't see this as getting better.
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11/26/2015 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Drank alongside a 2009 Lewis Reserve Cabernet, 2010 L'Aventure Estate Cuvée, and a 2012 Bevan Ontogeny. The SBR came in #4 among the competition.
PnP, the SBR was initially very coiled-up, throwing out some high-pitched red berry fruit flavors: red currant, ripe cranberry, sweet pomegranate, red and black licorice, and some spice. A little alcohol on the finish, but not distractingly so.
After two hours in the decanter (at cellar temperature - 54 degrees), the true depth and complexity of this wine started to really emerge. Darker fruit flavors emerged: blackberry, dark plum, raspberry liqueur, red and black licorice, cacao, and some cedar. Became smoother over time in the glass.
I definitely recommend decanting this wine for a couple of hours (possibly up to 4 hours prior to consumption), or hold for another couple of years. Had a decent amount of sediment, so it helped to strain/filter when pouring into the decanter. 94+
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10/24/2015 - bplant13 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not much nose, but a fantastic body. Big fruit, dry and fresh, but very little acidity and tannin, which suits its age. Plum and berries, with a little cedar. A little heat, but considering its 15.9%, this is extremely well balanced with decent complexity and a great finish. Fantastic wine that is drinking perfectly now.
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9/17/2015 - Mike V wrote: 91 Points
Exactly the great California Cab That I expect. Dark fruit still a little tannic. Nice and a good value.
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5/23/2015 - mgstull Likes this wine: 93 Points
4 hour decant. Purple black and viscous. Cassis, black fruit, mint, cinnamon, dark chocolate, and lead pencil. Smooth integrated tannins. Drinking really well.
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4/4/2015 - cawineaux wrote: 90 Points
This is a dark giant brooding wine, but missing some backbone. Dark fruit and spicy black licorice make this easy to drink, but lacking the structure I expect from a wine of this caliber.
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3/3/2015 - hawkeye54 wrote: 90 Points
Drank at Christmas. Consumed over 5 hours. Improved some over time. Good, not great.
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8/10/2014 - maitredgreg2 Likes this wine: 98 Points
98+ had the Maybach Materium 2008 @ 96pts, Robert Foley Claret 2004 @ 97pts, but clearly to me it won out on all, by a point or two. 99+.
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7/28/2014 - tkoby11 wrote:
1 week later and the #coravin has kept this in good shape, better even, though its noticeably different, like it was decanted.
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7/3/2014 - Mr T wrote:
bib big wine...probably not really my style
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4/13/2014 - awise45 wrote: 93 Points
Sad that this is the last bottle of this beauty. Always wonderful.
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3/23/2014 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 93 Points
Awesome Napa Cabernet Tasting (Hillside, Montelena, Mayback and more) (Minneapolis, MN): Young. Decanted 3hours and is extremely dark in color. Blackberries, violets, spices and tobacco. Medium to long finish and firm tannins still present. This was very good with the long decant but might benefit five more years in the cellar. My third favorite wine of the night. 93 +
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3/22/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Hi End Napa Cabs with an Haut Brion Kicker (Gary's Place, Hudson, WI): Purple color. Three hour decant. The nose is has big dark fruits, cassis, plum, black cherry, subtle tobacco, herbs and lots of cedar wood. The palate is ripe and shows mint, eucalyptus, slightly sour black cherry, blackberry, lots of mouth coating glycerin, moderate oak, spices, and at times touches of heat. 92+pts.
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3/16/2014 - MJTed wrote:
Bottle variation or in a dead zone. This was not up to snuff relative to the 3 bottles I've had previously. Tight fruit, reticent nose overpowering oak.
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1/4/2014 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Seriously dark wine. On the nose, notes of cassis, graphite and a touch of oak. In the mouth, loaded with structure, but a nice texture underneath that coats the palate. I was hoping for more complexity on the nose, but I've had this wine 6 times now and it is what it is. A nicely structured, flavorful wine that is somewhat simplistic for its price point. Still very enjoyable! Decanted 5 hours before consumption.
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12/23/2013 - gsquireh Likes this wine: 94 Points
Licorice, cappaccino, rich dense blackberry, creme de cassis, and roasted nuts merge to create a blockbuster power house.
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12/21/2013 - PASimon wrote: 91 Points
Softer than expected based on my experience with other vintages of this producer. Decanted for an hour and rebottled for a restaurant - it was ready to go once reopened. Integrated tannins with high toned fruit and a round, pleasant finish that didn't last as long as I had hoped. It was paired with fresh shaved white truffle pasta - so, everything gets a bump from that - but this was legitimately good wine on its own. It is ready to drink well before the 05 or 06 of the same label.
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12/8/2013 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 1+ hour and then followed over 2 hours. This wine is soft, feminine, and powerful. Pillowy red fruit, cocoa, and ends with black licorice. Soft well integrated tannins make me think it isn't made for the long haul. But then the wine kept improving with time, which makes me want to see how it will taste in 5-7 years. We all agreed that this is a different, soft, forward and charming style of cabernet. I will save my 1 bottle for another 3 years. 92 with room for improvement.
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8/3/2013 - leadpencil wrote: 94 Points
Boysenberry, vanilla
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7/4/2013 - Rhone Rick wrote: 95 Points
Amazing. Not a decant for a long while kind of wine dude. Just after opening, was big and red fruit and tobacco but a bit strong/angular and not quite integrated.....was drinking to test the waters for when to open my 3l. Tried again on second night, 24hrs in fridge and vacuum sealed. Amazing. Balanced out and flavors pulled together. Superb.
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4/17/2013 - MJTed wrote: 94 Points
Splash decanted at Flemings for some bone-in fillet. This was a stunner, especially relative to a bottle I had a while back. The wine has really fleshed out. Still a big boy, with gobs of black fruit, currant and muscular tannin. Layers of additional flavors across the palate including licorice, mocha and toasty oak.
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3/26/2013 - jeff nowak Likes this wine: 92 Points
not decanted, but the wine showed nice development in the glass over three hours. i was tepid, but complimentary, the last time i tasted this, and i am enjoying it more with some modest bottle age of almost three years. strong willed and modestly tannic. the fruit is superb and consistent with the portfolio. past readers of my notes will understand that i am an unabashed fan of the winery. since my last tasting note, i finally was able to meet kelly, and she is everything you can imagine and want in a family owned representative. this wine has miles of spectacular and pleasing performance ahead of it. drink now with air - 2022. for my friend bob wood. yeah, i could have drunk an oregon pinot in his honor, but i don't as a rule drink that crap, and i loved the PM debates with him about wine and golf. he wasn't for everyone, and that is what endeared him to me; he flew by his own compass. i'd like to think he's giving somebody shit right now in the big vineyard in the sky. here's to ya.
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3/23/2013 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 3 hours, then followed over 2.5 hours. Plum and blackberry on the nose along with creosote and a hint of oak. Mouthfeel is rough silk, and the profile is watered-down blueberry and light overall, similar in profile to a cab franc. Elegantly youthful might be my best overall descriptor; this is extremely approachable, but still has 4-5+ years ahead of it.
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3/23/2013 - awise45 wrote: 94 Points
Love this wine. Pop and pour, and definitely got better after 30 minutes. Rich, full, lots of red and dark fruits. Smooth, lingering finish.
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12/24/2012 - sjdcellar wrote: 95 Points
really good - had this magnum at a holiday dinner with family - vanilla, cassis, smooth tannins. got better throughout the dinner.
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12/9/2012 - 2loyal wrote: 88 Points
Plenty of fruit, and I enjoyed drinking this with my ribeye, but it was somewhat disjointed, and disappointing for the price.
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8/14/2012 - Vitispulmonus Likes this wine: 91 Points
Currently tasting on the third night. Even better than the first night. Smooth, balanced and nice dark berry flavors. I had thought this wine had reached its peak....maybe not. Will hold off a bit on my other bottles.
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6/18/2012 - awise45 wrote: 94 Points
Rich and powerful, long and lingering finish with lots of dark fruit. Excellent and ready now.
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6/3/2012 - Acohen wrote: 92 Points
Rich and lush with a big nose of dark fruit and a palate of cassis, berry and currants and a killer finish
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4/10/2012 - brianngibson wrote: 94 Points
Still full of power. Creme de cassis and mocha. Blackberry and licorice. Wow, this thing is still bringing it.
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3/24/2012 - zimmy07 wrote:
very sexy and silky wine. Great tannin structure and a great mid palate of mocha, vanilla, coffee, and currant. These wines are really good and fun to drink, not sure age will improve this wine too much. May tame the tannin a bit, but in a good place now
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3/22/2012 - Jack wrote: 94 Points
Same as last note.
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2/25/2012 - hkfoebee wrote:
02-07 6-bottle SBR CS vertical. Unfortunately drank all day so taste buds shot for the flight tasting. From what I've been told, the 02, 04, 06 and 07 stood out...
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2/12/2012 - bubbachumps wrote: 91 Points
Big, ripe and powerful, but not over the top. Not as tasty as I last remembered, lacked the comlexity from my prior notes. Probably could've used some more time in the decanter (2 hr decant).
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1/7/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Big, ripe and powerful, this wine is stuffed with jammy black and blue fruit, coffee, vanilla and milk chocolate. This is showing well today. It's a style of Cabernet Sauvignon that drinks well young but I doubt it will gain much complexity with bottle age.
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10/31/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 90 Points
Beserkerfest Napa Halloween Party (Napa Valley Wine & Cigar): This was served blind and I seemed to like it more than most. After seeing the label, I suspect it is shut down now. It was popped and poured. Lots of Hershey milk chocolate notes and some cherries. I was guessing Merlot. Its nice but one would expect more.
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9/30/2011 - CK6865 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted 1 hour ,nice deep red pour, nose is nice, dark black cherries with chocolate, finish was a tad weak but overall a very nice everyday wine.
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7/26/2011 - jaxpaj wrote: 93 Points
A big bold masculine wine. There is a definite mineral element that helps give the wine some character, cassis, coffee beans, and oak. This is a huge wine that has the tannins to support it. Wine is in a good phase now but if this can mellow with a few years in the cellar, it will become a great bottle.
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6/25/2011 - ews3 wrote: 94 Points
nice peppery palate. chocolate, sweet spice, clove. in a really good place now, but this should continue to evolve. delicious lingering finish.
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6/25/2011 - jrobs7777 wrote: 92 Points
West Coast Wines On The East Coast (Sonata BYO (Philadelphia)): This probably needs a few years in bottle and/or some air time. This drank very well tonight. Forward and easy drinking. Chocolate covered red fruit, pepper. Lush and silky smooth. After some time in the glass, the fruit really emerges. Finish could have been a bit better. Solid wine, although it was trumped a bit by the Pott Arsenal.
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6/23/2011 - Uglypinga wrote:
Dark ripe currants on the nose with a hint of eucalyptus, some black figs and black cherries. The palate is big with ripe dark fruit. A tab boozy today with notable tannins. Like it.
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5/21/2011 - Rob MacKay wrote: 91 Points
Opened and left to air for about an hour prior to drinking. Lisa calls this wine a "big chocolate covered cherry bomb" and while it does have gobs of fruit, there's a nice underlying complexity provided by the chocolaty oak notes a midpalate and despite being 15.9% abv, it doesn't come off overly hot so extra credit for being able to conceal that alcohol behind everything else. I think this has some potential to improve but as a few other CT notes mention, you really have to love massive CA Cabernet to enjoy this one.
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5/6/2011 - Uglypinga wrote:
Big Ass American Cabs blind with shocking results! (Montana's Rib and Chop House): Wine #9
Chocolate, iced tea and lemon notes on the nose. The nose is less ripe that most so far but the palate if ripe, with dark fruit and vanilla flavors. Good balance. Good to great wine.
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4/30/2011 - dontime wrote: 91 Points
PA Wine Talk Number 17 - Big Ass Napa Cabs/Blends (Montana's Rib & Chop House - Meadville, PA): Chocolate and black fruit on the nose. Smooth blackberries and tobacco on the palate. Rich in texture.
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4/4/2011 - Uglypinga wrote:
Soft and elegant, certainly fruity, but soft none the less. The nose has some mocha and dark fruits, and the palate holds on to the dark fruits with some smoke. Velvety texture and smooth finish. Ive learned from previous bottles to drink it quickly, because it seems to fall appart. Didnt have time to this time ;)
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3/12/2011 - flying_wineau wrote: 91 Points
Attractive blueberry, coffee, and vanilla.
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2/2/2011 - gcubanl wrote: 91 Points
Good wine to have during a blizzard : )
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12/16/2010 - Dasher wrote: 95 Points
Awesome wine, unreal to say the least! This bottle in 3 years will be off the charts. It can be popped and poured now!
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11/19/2010 - Jack wrote: 94 Points
Big, bold and rich. Good structure and lots of personality. 2 bottles.
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11/3/2010 - brianngibson wrote: 93 Points
Glass and teeth staining purple-black in color. Blackberry, blueberry, and molasses. Cedar and pine needles. Fading it canilla and licorice on the finish. Huge wine. Powerful. Not for everyone, but I am a fan.
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10/10/2010 - brianofthevine wrote: 94 Points
This one is a beast! Huge black cherry and blackberry fruit, intense boldness and great balance. Also has some chocolate and tar notes. Long finish, chewy tannins, great wine.
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10/10/2010 - gcubanl wrote: 91 Points
Does not get any better. Yum
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9/6/2010 - rdsboca wrote: 86 Points
This wine has some of the right ingredients but the recipe is off. Lots of heat hide the nice blueberry and vanilla that hits you at first glance. The best part of the wine is the floral nose of lilac and some rose pedals. The wine coats the glass and your mouth in a purple haze. It is too high octane too keep it balanced. Maybe in a few years some of the heat will dissipate; however, at this price point, I wouldn't risk buying more.
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9/3/2010 - MJTed wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured, with a quick 30 minute decant at quattro. Big and bold blue fruit, vanilla, and chunkiness. Really good stuff in the Foley style.
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9/1/2010 - jeff nowak wrote: 90 Points
15.9% alcohol. run thru a vinturi and decanted for 4+ hours. needed a good 60 minutes to shed a rough exterior. nose was promising during the decant, solid black color to the rim. ultimately, this is too alcoholic and tannic, somewhat over ripe, to rise above the good level for me. it's not tight in a way that makes me think it is ever going to be well balanced. no doubt a style that may capture the attention of the unwashed masses, and i think SR deserves some credit for holding the line with their pricing. eighty smackers still ain't cheap, but i recognize the effort and commitment to the ethos. there's a boat load of more expensive wine that doesn't achieve this level. nevertheless, i like the 05 a whole lot better. the parker descriptions of asphalt and scorched earth come to mind (was he at mount st. helens? maybe that's what happened to his palate). worth cellaring. hope i'm wrong, and it will blossom. i pretty much just type my thoughts as a free flowing manifesto. however, rereading this note, it seems more negative than i actually mean. i think. i've enjoyed the wine for what it is, but i wanted more, especially from this vintage. make sense? probably not. i've decided to bump my score one point. you have to like big ass napa cab to like this, perhaps more than i did.
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8/28/2010 - Uglypinga wrote:
As before. This wine is nice, not great and not on par with the 06 or 05. Sweet nose of currants and raspberries. The palate is correct, balanced with some raspberries and nice acid but nothing to write home about. A little lacking in complexity and overall oomph. A nice drink but Ill be killing my remaining two soon.
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6/2/2010 - TripDaddy wrote: 95 Points
Good god this is good stuff. Big, juicy, dark fruits, great mouthfeel, just singing!
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4/25/2010 - Frank Murray III wrote:
A floral type of incense in the aromatic. Black currant, black cherry, berry and cedar with a lift of nice acidity on the end, with the expected vanilla. Not as big as I was expecting. Drinks young still but nice too.
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4/24/2010 - redno5 wrote: 86 Points
Alcohol too high. Kind of upset I purchased 3. Never again. Out of balance. Day 2 much the same.
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4/23/2010 - *Vine* wrote:
Popped and poured, no aeration. Deep, youthful purple/red hue. Forward aromas of ripe black currant, blackberry liqueur, raisin, and a bit of heat. Nose evolves to show notes of cocoa powder, anise, and a touch of cedar. Medium-plus to full body, super concentrated. On the palate, this youthful 2007 Cabernet shows a solid core of dark, spicy fruit that initially comes off a touch overripe. However, the fruit quickly evolves in glass to show surprising freshness, especially given the level of ripeness, and is complemented by notes of dark chocolate, black licorice, and a kiss of toasted oak (the latter of which shows surprising restraint). The tannins are chalky and a bit astringent on the long finish. Comes off as a hypothetical blend of the ripe 2005 and the more structured, classic 2006. Not rated, but clearly stacked with potential...just demands a good 2-3 years in the cellar! (93-96+)
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4/16/2010 - bubbachumps wrote: 94 Points
Great effort. Notes of creosote, dark fruits, licorice and some chocolate. Very complex nose. Big wine in the mouth, with serious extraction with lots of fruit. No surprise there. Decanted for an hour and consumed over 2 the 1st night. Put the cork back and stored in the fridge. Not much changed on day 2, although a little smoother on the entry. The extraction of this wine is balanced out well by the tannin. I thnk this will improve a point or 2, but its ready to drink now. I'm glad to be on this list.
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3/23/2010 - marcw23 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for about 1 hour, and opened up more throughout the night. Nice dark purple inky color. Young, but still complex, strong blackberry and dark fruit, maybe even a touch smokey with some chocolate as well. Some heat on the finish for sure, but it calmed down after a few hours. Will get better with age, but I think this is drinking well at the moment (just let it breath for several hours). I'm always a fan of Foley wines.
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2/28/2010 - MJTed wrote: 90 Points
GAIS wine tasting. Decanted for about 8 hours. A baby but I think it will open up well over the next couple of years. Cassis, blackberry a mocha. Strong tannic grip.
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12/19/2009 - etherscreen wrote:
closed for business. components are there for some stellar juice down the road.
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12/18/2009 - Wineholio wrote:
Popped and decanted through Venturi. Still extremely young and tight. After about 3+ hours started showing itself a bit. All the pieces are in place for this to be a stellar wine. Fruit, complexity, balance. Looking forward to tasting again after they've had a nice long slumber.
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11/21/2009 - scravis wrote: 95 Points
Had to open one as I am trying to decide whether to purchase more...Decanted for 1 hour. Amazing nose of black fruits and extremely fruit forward on the palette. A touch of heat (15.9%!) but even at this young age it is integrated well. Tight tannins at present. This will certainly get better.
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