95% Cab and 5% Malbec Black fruit and blackberry cassis is the backbone of this wine. Starting to show a faint hint of iodine and bacon fat. Hint of vanilla bean, dark fruit density, with softened tannins add to a beautiful finish with a modest amount of black pepper. These wines when young are really good because of their intense fruit core and that jagged neutral oak, and are great with age due to the push/pull of young and aged character. Drink now with a 30 minute decant or you can certainly hold this wine for another 10 years but I do definitely expect some secondary and tertiary characteristics kicking in within 5 years.
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Pop & pour. So glad I had the opportunity to taste this beyond its drinking window. I would do it again and again and again. Wish I had another bottle that I could keep for five more years.
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Wish I had more. This bottle has been stored at 55 degrees all it's life. Decanted 6 hours. The legs running down the glass were of a triple crown winner. No astringency, smooth great balance. A great experience. If you have any bottles out there now is the time to pop.
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Drinking well right now. It's in a sweet spot for me- the tannins, alcohol, fruit seemed to be in a good balance. I recall notes of black fruits, cassis, dark chocolate and slate. Long finish.The wine had enough acid and tannin to pair well with lamb rib chops. We drank the bottle after a 3 hour decant. We purchased this bottle from the winery's collection of older vintages in December. It seemed to be well stored and likely would have been able to age without ill effect for a few more years.
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(Scored based on 24 hr slow-o) At pop and pour, this had a great cab nose on it, but on initial taste, a bit of a vegetal character that I'm not a fan of, coupled with a little tough time integrating the alcohol. Had a glass and walked away for 24 hours, trying again at that point. It is literally night and day. The vegetal character is gone, the alcohol has seemed to integrate, while the killer nose remains. If you can sit on this for 2-4 years, you'll be rewarded, but if not, get as much air as you can put on it and thank me later.
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Popped one hour before first pour, consumed over three hours. Nose: Expressive aromas of eucalyptus, cassis, black berry, licorice, and dark chocolate. Palate: Medium to full bodied, ripe dark fruit and spice attack, very clean and smooth with no harshness, good balance and mid-palate intensity with a nice backend kick. Finish: Medium-plus length dominated by spicy dark fruit. Definitely big, but not over the top.
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After an hour of decanting, this Cab has a nice mix of dark berry fruit with a strong perfumed finish that is both smooth and soft to the palette. After two hours there is greater complexity with currant, spice and a touch of leather. Very interesting wine that was more complex this time.
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Inky in the glass with rich, clear garnet color on the edge. Very leggy and viscous. Elegant velvety texture. When freshly opened from a controlled cellar, it had a mineral nose, with a leathery palate, overlayed with cassis and brioche, and long, lingering notes of violet and herbs. As it warmed up, it's nose developed into berries, but still had opening notes of dry, steel and minerals, followed by the jammy berries, and ending with lite anise tones. When it fully opens, huge jammy notes prevail, but the lovely violets persist at the end. Complex. And delightful.
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Rich red fruits, some licorice and a touch of smoke on the nose. Medium to full bodied in the mouth, noticeable tannin balanced with a nice wall of fruit - hard to put down!
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A great bottle of wine from a great vintage. Sweet dark fruits with fine tannins that mellow quickly with air. I wish I had another case of this but alas, this was my last bottle. Great now and for another few years.
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A nice example of a Cali cab. Rather textbook and certainly not going to win over those who are not fans of the style, but I the same breath, it is a nice wine.
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Dark matter. Not a physicist but this is thick and thick. Coffee. Blueberries. More fruit at palate. Strong tannic structure but quite accessible even if a big cab.
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Nose of toasted brioche and strawberry jam; well balanced and pleasant with no huge notes. Tastes of mascerated oranges and almonds and leather. As it warmed up, notes of berry. Lingers on the palate with delicious, clean tastes. Would be excellent with juicy steak or game meats.
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WS Grand Tour Boston (Copley Marriott): Nose: blueberry, blackberry, vanilla bean, sweet oak and a bit of cassis. Jammy. Palate: more blue/black fruits. Significant oak presence. Long finish. Needs to develop. Promising plush cab.
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7/15/2023 - mflesh wrote: 93 Points
95% Cab and 5% Malbec
Black fruit and blackberry cassis is the backbone of this wine. Starting to show a faint hint of iodine and bacon fat. Hint of vanilla bean, dark fruit density, with softened tannins add to a beautiful finish with a modest amount of black pepper. These wines when young are really good because of their intense fruit core and that jagged neutral oak, and are great with age due to the push/pull of young and aged character. Drink now with a 30 minute decant or you can certainly hold this wine for another 10 years but I do definitely expect some secondary and tertiary characteristics kicking in within 5 years.
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1/31/2023 - AJCowen wrote: 95 Points
Just delightful. Ripe black cherry, very slight mineral. Tasted like a mellowed St. Emilion.
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6/16/2022 - cooker315 wrote: 93 Points
Pop & pour. So glad I had the opportunity to taste this beyond its drinking window. I would do it again and again and again. Wish I had another bottle that I could keep for five more years.
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10/6/2018 - Fargondog Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wish I had more. This bottle has been stored at 55 degrees all it's life. Decanted 6 hours. The legs running down the glass were of a triple crown winner. No astringency, smooth great balance. A great experience. If you have any bottles out there now is the time to pop.
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1/23/2017 - Vinomnivore Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking well right now. It's in a sweet spot for me- the tannins, alcohol, fruit seemed to be in a good balance. I recall notes of black fruits, cassis, dark chocolate and slate. Long finish.The wine had enough acid and tannin to pair well with lamb rib chops. We drank the bottle after a 3 hour decant. We purchased this bottle from the winery's collection of older vintages in December. It seemed to be well stored and likely would have been able to age without ill effect for a few more years.
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9/9/2016 - sixblade40 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very good, but needs to open up. Also needs to lay down a bit more to reach full potential. Great with my steak.
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3/27/2016 - iwadasn wrote: 90 Points
Still a little tart after about an hour breathing in the bottle.
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6/19/2015 - Whodeyinsea wrote: 93 Points
Decant two hours. Exactly what you'd expect from a quality winery in a great vintage. Classic Napa fruit with a touch of Bordeaux notes.
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3/16/2015 - BinVA wrote: 90 Points
Much different than I remember from 18 months ago. Good bottle but can't point to anything that stood out.
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3/15/2015 - Jack667 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured. No time to decant but maybe should have put through Venturi. Seemed a bit hot.
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1/29/2015 - JackieTreehorn wrote: 93 Points
Good bottle of wine. Lots of red and blue fruit. Good structure and finish. Drinking very well now.
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1/21/2015 - Jack667 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another great bottle, from 375. Big Cali Cab.
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1/18/2015 - mrmedoes wrote: 93 Points
(Scored based on 24 hr slow-o) At pop and pour, this had a great cab nose on it, but on initial taste, a bit of a vegetal character that I'm not a fan of, coupled with a little tough time integrating the alcohol. Had a glass and walked away for 24 hours, trying again at that point. It is literally night and day. The vegetal character is gone, the alcohol has seemed to integrate, while the killer nose remains. If you can sit on this for 2-4 years, you'll be rewarded, but if not, get as much air as you can put on it and thank me later.
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9/13/2014 - prasm wrote: flawed
Slightly corked unfortunately - still drinkable but definitely an off bottle. :-(
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9/12/2014 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with my prior notes and a go to $60 napa cab that seems to always hit the right spots. Great qpr!
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1/14/2014 - prasm Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped one hour before first pour, consumed over three hours. Nose: Expressive aromas of eucalyptus, cassis, black berry, licorice, and dark chocolate. Palate: Medium to full bodied, ripe dark fruit and spice attack, very clean and smooth with no harshness, good balance and mid-palate intensity with a nice backend kick. Finish: Medium-plus length dominated by spicy dark fruit. Definitely big, but not over the top.
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7/20/2013 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 93 Points
After an hour of decanting, this Cab has a nice mix of dark berry fruit with a strong perfumed finish that is both smooth and soft to the palette. After two hours there is greater complexity with currant, spice and a touch of leather. Very interesting wine that was more complex this time.
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7/6/2013 - bfisher wrote:
easy drinking, low tannins, cinnamon and brown sugar, black cherry, long finish
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7/5/2013 - CASEBIER KENNETH wrote: 92 Points
Inky in the glass with rich, clear garnet color on the edge. Very leggy and viscous. Elegant velvety texture. When freshly opened from a controlled cellar, it had a mineral nose, with a leathery palate, overlayed with cassis and brioche, and long, lingering notes of violet and herbs. As it warmed up, it's nose developed into berries, but still had opening notes of dry, steel and minerals, followed by the jammy berries, and ending with lite anise tones. When it fully opens, huge jammy notes prevail, but the lovely violets persist at the end. Complex. And delightful.
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6/4/2013 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Rich red fruits, some licorice and a touch of smoke on the nose. Medium to full bodied in the mouth, noticeable tannin balanced with a nice wall of fruit - hard to put down!
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5/28/2013 - meatbomb013 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A great bottle of wine from a great vintage. Sweet dark fruits with fine tannins that mellow quickly with air. I wish I had another case of this but alas, this was my last bottle. Great now and for another few years.
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2/24/2013 - Plus Ultra Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very rich and smooth. Aroma and taste of sweet blueberry and vanilla.
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1/21/2013 - George Lopez Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely bottle. 30 minute decant. Probably peaking.
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1/12/2013 - Brianlev412 wrote: 88 Points
Decent. Good. Not great. Certainly drinkable but not worth the $
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1/2/2013 - Schiffy wrote: 92 Points
Plum like dark fruit with a nice spice finish. Excellent structure and complexity which requires an hour of decanting to fully enjoy.
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12/25/2012 - meganh86 Likes this wine: 100 Points
This is my favorite!!
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12/22/2012 - mrmedoes Likes this wine: 91 Points
A nice example of a Cali cab. Rather textbook and certainly not going to win over those who are not fans of the style, but I the same breath, it is a nice wine.
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12/8/2012 - Porchino wrote: 90 Points
Tight tannic
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5/13/2012 - leonardo_de_araujo wrote: 90 Points
Dark matter. Not a physicist but this is thick and thick.
Coffee. Blueberries.
More fruit at palate. Strong tannic structure but quite accessible even if a big cab.
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1/21/2012 - cck wrote: 92 Points
Give this some time to open up -- at least 2 hours. Last half glass 4 hours in was best.
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12/5/2011 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Big wine with spice, dark fruits and firm tannins. Medium to long finish and really needs some decanting to open up. 90-93.
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11/26/2011 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 91 Points
Nice overall with cherry, spice, oak, blackberries and vanilla. Medium finish.
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11/5/2011 - raydawgone wrote: 88 Points
Drank at winery. Needs a few years to lay down. Much too tannic at this stage.
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8/12/2011 - CASEBIER KENNETH wrote: 90 Points
Nose of toasted brioche and strawberry jam; well balanced and pleasant with no huge notes. Tastes of mascerated oranges and almonds and leather. As it warmed up, notes of berry.
Lingers on the palate with delicious, clean tastes.
Would be excellent with juicy steak or game meats.
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5/19/2011 - RockinCabs wrote: 92 Points
WS Grand Tour Boston (Copley Marriott): Nose: blueberry, blackberry, vanilla bean, sweet oak and a bit of cassis. Jammy. Palate: more blue/black fruits. Significant oak presence. Long finish. Needs to develop. Promising plush cab.
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