Method: splash decant then back into the bottle and tasted 2ish hours later; semi-blind; Grassl 1855
Look: deep tawny garnet
Nose: Balsamic, tomato, subtle iron, new leather, tomato leaf, vanilla, dry cherry; complex and expressive
Palate: cherry, cherry cola, blood, subtle vanilla; long finish of brown sugar, balsamic, and vanilla; low tannin; medium+ acidity
Overall thoughts: Excellent, complex nose with a palate that wasn't quite as complex or interesting, but more lively than expected and fully integrated. I haven't had this wine before now, but it seems to be in its prime for me. Great wine!
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Good call for a Tuesday night unwind with a steak. Purchased from very reputable wine shop which still had their original sticker on that back. Popped and poured after the cork split in two towards the bottom. No signs of seepage. Bricking color present with clear rim. Beautiful on the nose with some methyl/eucalyptus, cherries and cedar. A full-bodied wine (but not compared to today's CA cabs) that has nice long complex finish. Of the acidity and tannins, the acidity is a bit more noticeable, but the tannins are certainly still present. This is similar to some of the Dehlinger cabs I've had from the late 70s. Classic cab. Still demonstrating great structure...I'll be calling the store to see if they have another.
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Pnp, the cork was a little dry and showed slight signs of seepage. Moderate sediment, definitely bricking. Still fruit, but tart. Dusty minty finish. Good tannins and acid, medium body. Past peak, but I suspect this bottle was mishandled.
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Fading a bit. Still nicely fruity and acidic. The fading made the whole thing a little lighter than i would have liked but it wasn't unpleasant. Enjoyable. Very easy to drink.
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I am so in love with this wine. So much fruit, acidity, balanced with subtle tannins. Big but not overwhelming. Just beautiful. This bottle was particularly good.
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This bottle was a little bit more raw than the first. Still could get all the potential in a mouthful, with strong tannings, and forward fruit, but it probably needed more time to open up. We probably drank it too quickly.
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This was just beautiful. Another consistently great bottle of Kalin Sonoma Reserve Cab. Beautiful fruit flavors. Gentle tannins. Slight acidity. Not too big, but super presence.
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11/19/2022 - jviz wrote: 90 Points
Baked fruit, a little sharp but well integrated. A little mint, In good form today
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5/14/2022 - JRockEsq Likes this wine: 93 Points
Method: splash decant then back into the bottle and tasted 2ish hours later; semi-blind; Grassl 1855
Look: deep tawny garnet
Nose: Balsamic, tomato, subtle iron, new leather, tomato leaf, vanilla, dry cherry; complex and expressive
Palate: cherry, cherry cola, blood, subtle vanilla; long finish of brown sugar, balsamic, and vanilla; low tannin; medium+ acidity
Overall thoughts: Excellent, complex nose with a palate that wasn't quite as complex or interesting, but more lively than expected and fully integrated. I haven't had this wine before now, but it seems to be in its prime for me. Great wine!
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9/10/2013 - Matthew B Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good call for a Tuesday night unwind with a steak. Purchased from very reputable wine shop which still had their original sticker on that back. Popped and poured after the cork split in two towards the bottom. No signs of seepage. Bricking color present with clear rim. Beautiful on the nose with some methyl/eucalyptus, cherries and cedar. A full-bodied wine (but not compared to today's CA cabs) that has nice long complex finish. Of the acidity and tannins, the acidity is a bit more noticeable, but the tannins are certainly still present. This is similar to some of the Dehlinger cabs I've had from the late 70s. Classic cab. Still demonstrating great structure...I'll be calling the store to see if they have another.
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1/13/2012 - joshwoodward wrote: 86 Points
Pnp, the cork was a little dry and showed slight signs of seepage. Moderate sediment, definitely bricking. Still fruit, but tart. Dusty minty finish. Good tannins and acid, medium body. Past peak, but I suspect this bottle was mishandled.
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12/19/2007 - Hillel wrote: 93 Points
Fading a bit. Still nicely fruity and acidic. The fading made the whole thing a little lighter than i would have liked but it wasn't unpleasant. Enjoyable. Very easy to drink.
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8/1/2006 - Hillel wrote: 93 Points
So light and fruity. Amazing for a 16 year old wine.
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12/31/2005 - Hillel wrote: 93 Points
Bright berries. Surprisingly light given the age, but not without character. Very enjoyable.
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5/13/2005 - Hillel wrote: 95 Points
My kind of wine. Tart, acidic, but not thin. Really nice base of fruit. All around super enjoyable. Drank it at Craftsteak in Las Vegas.
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11/22/2004 - Hillel wrote: 94 Points
Chewy tannins. Delicious acidity. Yummy.
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4/6/2004 - Hillel wrote: 96 Points
I am so in love with this wine. So much fruit, acidity, balanced with subtle tannins. Big but not overwhelming. Just beautiful. This bottle was particularly good.
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2/18/2004 - Hillel wrote: 89 Points
This bottle was a little bit more raw than the first. Still could get all the potential in a mouthful, with strong tannings, and forward fruit, but it probably needed more time to open up. We probably drank it too quickly.
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1/28/2004 - Hillel wrote: 94 Points
This was just beautiful. Another consistently great bottle of Kalin Sonoma Reserve Cab. Beautiful fruit flavors. Gentle tannins. Slight acidity. Not too big, but super presence.
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