Decanted 30 minutes. This was better in its youth, or at least in 2016 and likely before that. The interest seems to have faded away, leaving a serviceable, steak-friendly but unexciting cabernet.
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This bottle was just a bit of a disappointment. I really liked this younger, and thought it has the stuff to age and develop a bit. Like some calcabs, it seems to be fading as much as evolving with time. There was a slight 'porty' not to the flavor profile. Sufficient structure to go longer, but I don't know if that will mean much development.
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Really pleasant and well balanced, very new world cab. Dark fruit and a palate coating mouth feel. Bit of menthol on the back end as well. After reading some of the notes below I was reluctant to decant it so opened at the restaurant with 6 from my wine group. All seemed to agree it was great and some had it as best of night's 4 bottles.
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As galewskj had this earlier in the night it showed better. That is the problem I am finding with wine. Two much decanting, not enough, too much air, etc. My experience later in the night was hot, alcoholic, big fruit and not showing well. No score as the recommendation on this wine is a quick decant and consume. Do not let this sit over the course of the night.
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The King is in the House (Cabernet) (Mike's house): Decanted for an hour. This wine is no longer big, and it is still unquestionably Napa. The flavor profile remains a cocktail wine, while time has removed some of the extreme flavors from it, and added a touch of elegance. At the tasting, we had some discussions about this style and whether they would age. I personally feel this was better when it was younger, when it had rich ripe interesting fruit. This wine was passed to another group a couple hours after we had it, and they claim it was worse for the wear. 91-92
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The King is in the House -- Cabernet (Mike's House, Prior Lake MN): Small tasting pour. I've had Rudius cab before and I was a bit disappointed in this bottle -- perhaps age was not too kind to this 2007? Fruit is present but not wow. Has some strength yet still a touch tannic. Good length on finish.
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Provided 2 hours to open. Menthol, spice and blue fruit, followed by lingering floral notes, dominate the nose. Dark fruits and black cherry on the palate, with more menthol on the finish. The tannin is still very present, but have softened with age. This still has legs (should rock for 5 years easy), but sadly is my last bottle of this vintage.
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Leans a bit more toward sweet vanilla aspects than I'd prefer, but overall a good example of Napa cab. Dark red fruits, some anise, med+ weight. Worked well on its own on a night with football & a bit of chill in the air.
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A little disappointed with this. Drank next to '11 outpost cab. Didn't fare well. Not as pleasing aromatically or in mouth. Fruits red/black, needed some oomph. Balanced.
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Non-Blind Very Nice Reds (St. Genevieve): Decanted for 2 hours, then slow o'd for a couple hours. Big, over the top, and delicious. This isn't a behemoth like so many Napa cabs are, but there is no mistaking that it is Napa cab. Perfumed, loaded with flavor, more of a cocktail wine than anything else. Ends with some acid and minerals that keep it in check. 92-93, I could see others scoring it higher if they like modern Napa cabernet.
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Showing more structure and less plushness than the bottle last year. Black currants, vanilla, and a little cab herbaceousness on the nose. Medium finish with some chocolate. A large scaled wine that needs lots of air. Just a hint of heat mixed in on the palate.
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Dark red center with violet rim. Nose - cassis, dark cherry, playdoh, herbal, and spice. Palate - cassis, dark cherry, bay leaf, woody with dill Structure - moderate acidity, well-managed tannins Overall, this is bigger than the 07 August Briggs Two Moons and less herbal initially, but with time, it was more difficult to differentiate the two.
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This was a really nice bottle of wine. Reminiscent of some of the Napa cabs I remember and liked drinking so much in the mid 90's. Dark voluptuous fruit, with great mouth feel and texture, really caresses the palate and fills out. Still very primary and youthful with a nice touch of oak providing some additional notes to complement the fruit. Was awesome with a Flannery ribeye and marinated skirt steak (which were also awesome). No harsh edges and for 15% alcohol (on label) did not interfere or stand out.
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Great bottle of wine. Decanted it over an hour and then drank it over the next hour. Nice balance of fruit and across the palate leading to a good, though not long finish.
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15.4% abv. Dark ruby. Very expressive Cab aromas. Deep, rich and penetrating on the palate. Lingering aftertaste. This is a beautifully made cab in the modern style. In a great place right now, it should hold well for several more years.
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Almost 5yrs from last bottle. Drinking well with some air. Flamboyant sweet nose of plum, spice and currants. Palate is smooth and lush, though plenty of tannin present. Darker fruit profile than I expected. Some mocha and subtle vanilla on the finish. Very nice. Drink or hold.
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Popped and poured, and I'd say this is the best regular Rudius that I have had. Everything was working in perfect balance, but everything just seemed to be a bit better than prior bottles - nose, mouthfeel, finish. Certainly a more modern style, but if that's what you like, this is a great bottle.
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Gave this about an hour decant at the restaurant before pouring...some faint notes of spice, dark fruit and coffee, but nothing prominent...medium mouthfeel with a smooth finish...don't know if more time would have allowed for it to open up or not, but will wait a couple years before opening last bottle.
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This needed a lot of air. Won't even post about what it was like upon opening. light ruby in color a lot lighter than I expected but seemed to really change with air. After a few hours this was like drinking liquid german chocolate cake with a nice chalky espresso/coffee flavor to it. Have no idea if this is peaking or even needs more time. Only time will tell I guess.
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e&e Christmas party. poured off a large glass and let everything slow o for 6 hours. all in all, a pretty flat showing from this wine. it just didn't deliver enough of anything. subtle black cherry, faint spice, plenty of alcohol burn. not great. hoping this is just shut down. revisit in 3-5 years.
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3 hour decant. In a great place. Brooding blackberry compote, cassis, spice box, subtle hint of mint and leather. Amazingly well balanced, long finish. Just an outstanding cab with a long life ahead.
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A WOW cab that no one wanted to put down and immediately looked to refill their glasses. Classy yet intense cassis fruit. Really well balanced and fresh to drink yet with nice body. Oak creates a slight creamy nature without dominating. Long finish.
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Napa Cabs (Edina, MN): Very dark, purple-red color. 3hr decant. Drank 2 glasses over 2 hrs. I like the nose, grows in the glass, dry earth, bright cassis, mulberry, blackberry, mint, slightly herbal. The palate show great fruit, ripe, concentrated, cassis, blackberry, oak, spices, velvety tannins, rich and smooth, with a robust finish. This should prove to be even better as this evolves over the next 3 years. My and group #2 WOTN.
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Decanted for about 90 minutes before drinking over the course of about 2 more hours. Really dark fruit of blackberry. The taste has a good amount of acidity. I think this has some structure to go on for 5-10 years but is still enjoyable now.
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Shows much differently than the last bottle I had. Decanted 5 hours and consumed across 2 days. Notes of bell pepper, minerals, strong core of red raspberry and a touch of vanilla on the nose. Seriously structured, but a nice burst of fruit showing in the mouth. Needs more time to develop, but very interesting and pleasing with a serious decant.
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A very nice cab that needs at least two hours of decanting. Probably will improve at least a couple of points over the next 2 or 3 years. Starts with a very nice nose and drinks very nicely. Obviously a very well made wine that I really enjoyed.
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Opened and double decanted 10 hours before consumption. An absolutely incredible nose -- rich, ripe blackberries, boysenberries, black twizzlers, coffee, chocolate, lavender & other herbs, and mentholyptus. A seamless wine on the palate -- bright acid, soft tannins that taste like chocolate dust, and incredible texture. An awesome wine.
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~ 5 hour decant. Stunning. This note is for a bottle consumed a couple weeks ago, but what I recall from memory was a deftly balanced, incredibly powerful cab. Compelling nose of black fruits and spice, followed on the palate with ripe dark fruits, black currant, cocoa, and sweet tannins. Heat was somewhat noticeable on the finish, but overall this was a killer bottle drinking well above its price point. Outstanding.
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april fools wine tasting; 4/1/2012-4/2/2012 (Scott & Todd's): 0/2/1/3 1st/2nd/3rd/4th place votes in this flight, but also #2 WOTD from Lee who otherwise didn't rank. A plush, full bodied and delicious Napa Cab with a powerful nose and generally sweet profile. I wonder how this would have fared against the other plush Cabs that dominated the next flight. Not exactly complicated but this floated an ocean of plump fruit effortlessly across the transom.
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Frightened after seeing "decanted for 4 hours" so I aerated and decanted for.....5 minutes. Dark purple in color the nose was expressive and full of dark fruit such as blackberries, boysenberries along with smooth chocolate. Palate was complete, full and complex with soft, well integrated tannins that gave some structure but were not tough or overly drying. Supple finish. This wine is drinking well but has legs to age.
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If you plan on drinking one of these then I suggest a minimum of four hours of decant time. This starts of very tight but is yielding more and more as it opens up. There are gobs of black fruits, chocolate, currant, tobacco and a touch of pencil lead. Big and bold in mouth but with surprisingly soft tannin's. There is a lot of structure and complexity to this wine and I am really enjoying watching this bottle evolve as I drink it. I really think this wine will get better with another year or two of aging and it has a long life ahead of it.
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Aromas of black licorice, blackberry, smoke and tobacco. Taste has blackberries, a bit of cocoa, and more of the black licorice. But, it all doesn't seem to come together - perhaps this is an awkward phase right now. Drank over the course of two nights with consistent notes - decanted the first night for a couple hours, then drank out of the bottle the next night. No score, as I think and hope the flavors will integrate in the coming years. I will try to wait for the next one until a couple years.
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fantastic and better drinking than the 2006 - well rounded and balanced displaying dark fruit and chocolate; smooth yet precise; nice hybrid - new world fruit and the acidity of bordeaux; just as good on day 2
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4 hour decant and drank over 4 hours. Sweet nose of cassis and purple flowers. Palate is black fruits with a nice hint of red fruits on the finish. Tannins are not intrusive and actually have resolved to the point that that this is drinking very well now. A rich wine with a nice medium+ mouthfeel that doesn't show the level of sweetness that I've experienced with the handfull of other '07 Napa Cabs I've tasted. Very nice .
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This is in a great place right now. The last bottle was inpenetrable, but now loosens up quite nicely with a reasonable hour or two in the decanter. Insanely rich, defying any sense of cloying fruit or heat. Loaded with rich, roasted black, red/black fruit. Long finish with a hint of sweet cassis and malolactic butter. Tannin and acid are completely transparent, yet the wine displays great structure and balance. Pretty notes of purple flowers emerge with additional air time. Fantastic cab.
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New Years Eve Lobsterfest! (Roberts House, Philadelphia PA): decanted 6 hours. this had a very dark profile. the nose showed black pepper, black olive, and licorice. there is quite a bit of fruit, but it is more curranty and less juicy. this is likely starting to shut down and will go into a long slumber. the medium length finish brings the wine together with well balanced alcohol and medium tannins. in fact, the finish is probably where the most fruit shows.
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another gorgeous Rudius wine. Popped early AM, poured off a tall glass and let the rest aerate (not decant) for 12 hours. The nose is beautiful, with gobs of dark berry fruit, cassis liquer, and that cotton candy-esque feature I keep getting out of 07 Napa cabs. The mouth is supple and chewy. The finish is long, purely fruit-driven without many secondaries at this early stage. I loved it and am looking forward to see what 5 years does and then what 10 years does. I wish Jeff made more of this so I could have gotten more than my 3-bottle allocation.
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Opened this at noon, and poured a bit in a glass and didn't touch either until close to 9PM. The open glass was singing, gobs of black fruit, currants, and maybe even the tiniest hint of butterscotch. The wine from the bottle was definitely still very tight, and the tannins although very smooth were certainly more noticeable. Even with the long airtime, I think I would have preferred a bit of a decant. Really excellent wine though and this is definitely going to continue to develop. Now if I can just keep my hands off my one remaining bottle.
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The wine is showing well after roughly 3 hours of air (1 hr in bottle 2 in decanter.) A soft sweet nose of spiced mocha and sweet fruit that really picks up on the Indian spices over time. Long silky texture on the palate of expansive dark brooding fruit accompanies by fine grained tannins and on the finish with just a touch of oak and leather. I love the texture on the palate for this wine, it's easy to drink and not abrasive as so many cabs are.
Followed the wine over 4 hours. Sweet and simple on the pop and pour, closed down and short at roughly 1-3 hours and then just blossomed at the three hour mark
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Floral nose with violets, cherry, and sweet vanilla cream. Palate is quite ripe with candied fruit--cassis, raspberry, and black cherry, maybe a mint note in the background. A touch of heat on the back end of the finish and while quite tannic, wasn't difficult to drink. Dry fine finish with vanilla, cassis, and a little spice. Highly extracted, concentrated, and tight even after several hours in the glass. Has good potential though maybe a little more ripe and "sweet" than I tend to prefer, but a solidly built cab overall. Next bottle in 3-5yrs.
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Day 1 Delicious cab. Surprisingly approachable. Deep dark fruits, with notes of cassis and toasty oak. The oak treatment reminded me of the kind schrader uses. Enormous fruit hides the structure, but it is apparent. Re-corked and stuck in the fridge. To be continued on day 2.
Day 2 Tannins show a little harsher today. This wine is not as enjoyable as day 1. One glass left to try on day 3
Day3 Much better than both prior days. Delicious! The wine has rounded out. Drink now with some serious decanting or try again in 3 - 5 years.
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This cab although very young was never the less very tasty. Definitely need the 3 hour decanting I gave it. A serious cab that is an excellent qpr in these days of crazy cab prices. Wait at least a year to try another bottle. Kudos Jeff this wine is a very serious effort that I thoroughly enjoyed.
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An uber structured 07, demanding more time to shed some of it's phenol load. Refined, dusty tannin dominates sleek, red fruit with cassis, crushed rock and tobacco nuances. Nice acid to brighten the concentrated fruit. Nice balance lurking.
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Decanted for one hour and mostly drunk over the next 2. I guess I just need to buy more Cabernet because I loved this. Tannins are ripe if not quite velvety. Superb, chocolate-currant finish goes on forever. This might be a touch on the sweet side for some people. I look forward to the next bottle several years from now, when it should be spectacular. 92 now, +?
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This is what really good Napa Cabernet is like. Great nose of strong cassis, black cherries, a little spice, and thankfully not oaky. Taste has cream de cassis, cedar box, a little bit of dark chocolate. A medium-long finish. Definitely will improve over time. I wish I had more than I have of this stuff!
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This thing was tight as a drum upon opening about a week ago. I opened it about an hour before dinner of a big fat dry-aged grilled ribeye, but despite swirling, waiting, and more swirling, this didn't budge all night. Really, other than a somewhat promising nose, this wine was thin, hollow, and downright unpleasant. I gassed it, threw it in the back of the fridge and forgot about it. One week later (tonight), we're grilling Berkshire pork loin, so I figure I'll give it another shot. Wow, what a difference! Jeff was right that this needs time. Dark crimson but not black/tongue-staining. Cassis, lavender and blackberry on the nose, with some noticeable heat that gained intensity as it warmed. Full bodied, but not a total bruiser, with big but smooth tannin on the back end. More heat on the finish (15.4%!) but great length, with lingering notes of cassis, vanilla, and black fruit. Much improved, but still a bit one-dimensional for my tastes, and I like a bit more mineral/leather/lead pencil in my cab. 90 pts with room for improvement.
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This needs time most definitely, but it has good length, structure and balance. Could use more complexity, but it shows it will age well it be a very good wine when aged.
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The nose on this Cab was just awesome! Just packed with cassis, black cherry, and a note of white peppercorn aromas. The palate was very rich and smooth with cassis, and chocolate flavors with nuances of some spice and maybe even black olive. Excellent mouthfeel and a very long finish. I'm not sure if it was the rich fruit, the chocolate note, or the mouthfeel, but something here really reminded me of the 06 Maybach Materium that I had tasted earlier in the year. That's not too bad for company in my book. Definitely a producer that I will want to taste more Cabs from in the future!
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a restrained cab with a powerful dark berry core and a mix of soft wood,tobacco, good acidity with a long finish of cigar and blackberries. grippy tannins. the wine will do good with age.. tasted before release. I welcome the half a year Jeff will be holding this.
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2/27/2024 - Wine Sparty wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured and rank over the following few hours. This probably was out of its prime, but still an enjoyable wine, if not too exciting.
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2/11/2023 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 30 minutes. This was better in its youth, or at least in 2016 and likely before that. The interest seems to have faded away, leaving a serviceable, steak-friendly but unexciting cabernet.
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10/25/2021 - thalver wrote:
This bottle was just a bit of a disappointment. I really liked this younger, and thought it has the stuff to age and develop a bit. Like some calcabs, it seems to be fading as much as evolving with time. There was a slight 'porty' not to the flavor profile. Sufficient structure to go longer, but I don't know if that will mean much development.
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11/27/2019 - msny98 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really pleasant and well balanced, very new world cab. Dark fruit and a palate coating mouth feel. Bit of menthol on the back end as well.
After reading some of the notes below I was reluctant to decant it so opened at the restaurant with 6 from my wine group. All seemed to agree it was great and some had it as best of night's 4 bottles.
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9/16/2019 - 3daywinereview.com wrote:
As galewskj had this earlier in the night it showed better. That is the problem I am finding with wine. Two much decanting, not enough, too much air, etc. My experience later in the night was hot, alcoholic, big fruit and not showing well. No score as the recommendation on this wine is a quick decant and consume. Do not let this sit over the course of the night.
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9/16/2019 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
The King is in the House (Cabernet) (Mike's house): Decanted for an hour. This wine is no longer big, and it is still unquestionably Napa. The flavor profile remains a cocktail wine, while time has removed some of the extreme flavors from it, and added a touch of elegance. At the tasting, we had some discussions about this style and whether they would age. I personally feel this was better when it was younger, when it had rich ripe interesting fruit. This wine was passed to another group a couple hours after we had it, and they claim it was worse for the wear. 91-92
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9/14/2019 - GoBlue2002 wrote: 90 Points
The King is in the House -- Cabernet (Mike's House, Prior Lake MN): Small tasting pour.
I've had Rudius cab before and I was a bit disappointed in this bottle -- perhaps age was not too kind to this 2007?
Fruit is present but not wow. Has some strength yet still a touch tannic. Good length on finish.
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3/30/2019 - B&T Likes this wine: 93 Points
Provided 2 hours to open. Menthol, spice and blue fruit, followed by lingering floral notes, dominate the nose. Dark fruits and black cherry on the palate, with more menthol on the finish. The tannin is still very present, but have softened with age. This still has legs (should rock for 5 years easy), but sadly is my last bottle of this vintage.
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1/25/2019 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 95 Points
Amazing how lively it was! A lot of life left in it.
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5/7/2018 - jrobs7777 wrote:
This was good on the first night but really shined on the second night. Fully integrated. Silky smooth. Really nice.
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8/31/2017 - cobbpa wrote:
Leans a bit more toward sweet vanilla aspects than I'd prefer, but overall a good example of Napa cab. Dark red fruits, some anise, med+ weight. Worked well on its own on a night with football & a bit of chill in the air.
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8/27/2017 - texaswinelover wrote:
A little disappointed with this. Drank next to '11 outpost cab. Didn't fare well. Not as pleasing aromatically or in mouth. Fruits red/black, needed some oomph. Balanced.
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8/5/2016 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
Non-Blind Very Nice Reds (St. Genevieve): Decanted for 2 hours, then slow o'd for a couple hours. Big, over the top, and delicious. This isn't a behemoth like so many Napa cabs are, but there is no mistaking that it is Napa cab. Perfumed, loaded with flavor, more of a cocktail wine than anything else. Ends with some acid and minerals that keep it in check. 92-93, I could see others scoring it higher if they like modern Napa cabernet.
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5/13/2016 - jrobs7777 wrote:
Exhibiting a lot more structure. This has lost that initial blast of fruit that it had back in 2010. Should continue to go through some develop.
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2/16/2016 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Showing more structure and less plushness than the bottle last year. Black currants, vanilla, and a little cab herbaceousness on the nose. Medium finish with some chocolate. A large scaled wine that needs lots of air. Just a hint of heat mixed in on the palate.
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1/23/2016 - Meerlust wrote: 90 Points
Dark red center with violet rim.
Nose - cassis, dark cherry, playdoh, herbal, and spice.
Palate - cassis, dark cherry, bay leaf, woody with dill
Structure - moderate acidity, well-managed tannins
Overall, this is bigger than the 07 August Briggs Two Moons and less herbal initially, but with time, it was more difficult to differentiate the two.
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9/27/2015 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sames notes as July. Awesome QPR
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7/18/2015 - davidsm Likes this wine: 93 Points
Awesome after a two hour decant. Still has some years left to it but no reason to wait.
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5/7/2015 - Uglypinga wrote: flawed
Corked
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5/4/2015 - JOEABR wrote: 93 Points
This was a really nice bottle of wine. Reminiscent of some of the Napa cabs I remember and liked drinking so much in the mid 90's. Dark voluptuous fruit, with great mouth feel and texture, really caresses the palate and fills out. Still very primary and youthful with a nice touch of oak providing some additional notes to complement the fruit. Was awesome with a Flannery ribeye and marinated skirt steak (which were also awesome). No harsh edges and for 15% alcohol (on label) did not interfere or stand out.
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4/26/2015 - stconner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great bottle of wine. Decanted it over an hour and then drank it over the next hour. Nice balance of fruit and across the palate leading to a good, though not long finish.
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4/5/2015 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 93 Points
15.4% abv. Dark ruby. Very expressive Cab aromas. Deep, rich and penetrating on the palate. Lingering aftertaste. This is a beautifully made cab in the modern style. In a great place right now, it should hold well for several more years.
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1/30/2015 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Almost 5yrs from last bottle. Drinking well with some air. Flamboyant sweet nose of plum, spice and currants. Palate is smooth and lush, though plenty of tannin present. Darker fruit profile than I expected. Some mocha and subtle vanilla on the finish. Very nice. Drink or hold.
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1/11/2015 - budman Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lots of good red fruit... tastes much younger than an 07. Great job, Jeff!!
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1/8/2015 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured, and I'd say this is the best regular Rudius that I have had. Everything was working in perfect balance, but everything just seemed to be a bit better than prior bottles - nose, mouthfeel, finish. Certainly a more modern style, but if that's what you like, this is a great bottle.
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12/26/2014 - hanasowner wrote: 90 Points
Gave this about an hour decant at the restaurant before pouring...some faint notes of spice, dark fruit and coffee, but nothing prominent...medium mouthfeel with a smooth finish...don't know if more time would have allowed for it to open up or not, but will wait a couple years before opening last bottle.
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10/11/2014 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 92 Points
A good example of a modern-styled cab from an excellent vintage.
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9/16/2014 - twelch wrote: 93 Points
This needed a lot of air. Won't even post about what it was like upon opening. light ruby in color a lot lighter than I expected but seemed to really change with air. After a few hours this was like drinking liquid german chocolate cake with a nice chalky espresso/coffee flavor to it. Have no idea if this is peaking or even needs more time. Only time will tell I guess.
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12/14/2013 - caeleric Likes this wine:
e&e Christmas party. poured off a large glass and let everything slow o for 6 hours. all in all, a pretty flat showing from this wine. it just didn't deliver enough of anything. subtle black cherry, faint spice, plenty of alcohol burn. not great. hoping this is just shut down. revisit in 3-5 years.
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11/25/2013 - Grape Stuff wrote: 94 Points
3 hour decant. In a great place. Brooding blackberry compote, cassis, spice box, subtle hint of mint and leather. Amazingly well balanced, long finish. Just an outstanding cab with a long life ahead.
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8/2/2013 - Brian1970 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rich, resonant fruit. Very well balanced, with a lingering finish. Beautifully made.
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7/10/2013 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 90 Points
Ripe black fruit flavor. intense cassis note. Decent QPR in the world of over priced Cali Cab.
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5/27/2013 - thalver wrote:
drinking well with a generous. Plenty enough structure to go longer. I was struck by how nicely balanced the wine is. Try again in a couple years
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4/26/2013 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 94 Points
Complex wine and enjoyable with ripe fruit, spices and minerals. Medium to long finish and should drink well for a decade.
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4/1/2013 - J-Sho Likes this wine: 93 Points
See previous note for characteristics. Not drinking quite as well as before -- seemed a bit more closed. Still a fine glass of wine.
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3/26/2013 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 94 Points
A WOW cab that no one wanted to put down and immediately looked to refill their glasses. Classy yet intense cassis fruit. Really well balanced and fresh to drink yet with nice body. Oak creates a slight creamy nature without dominating. Long finish.
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3/17/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Napa Cabs (Edina, MN): Very dark, purple-red color. 3hr decant. Drank 2 glasses over 2 hrs. I like the nose, grows in the glass, dry earth, bright cassis, mulberry, blackberry, mint, slightly herbal. The palate show great fruit, ripe, concentrated, cassis, blackberry, oak, spices, velvety tannins, rich and smooth, with a robust finish. This should prove to be even better as this evolves over the next 3 years. My and group #2 WOTN.
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3/16/2013 - Wine Sparty wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for about 90 minutes before drinking over the course of about 2 more hours. Really dark fruit of blackberry. The taste has a good amount of acidity. I think this has some structure to go on for 5-10 years but is still enjoyable now.
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3/9/2013 - bubbachumps wrote: 91 Points
Shows much differently than the last bottle I had. Decanted 5 hours and consumed across 2 days. Notes of bell pepper, minerals, strong core of red raspberry and a touch of vanilla on the nose. Seriously structured, but a nice burst of fruit showing in the mouth. Needs more time to develop, but very interesting and pleasing with a serious decant.
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3/1/2013 - mbenz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted. Enjoyed. Smooth mouth feel. Nice finish. Well made wine.
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12/25/2012 - kthornton78 Likes this wine: 93 Points
great wine. sweet, dark fruit, chocolate, roasted coffee. velvety in the mouth, this is just drinking wonderfully. decanted for about 2 hours.
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10/2/2012 - Screameagle wrote: 91 Points
A very nice cab that needs at least two hours of decanting. Probably will improve at least a couple of points over the next 2 or 3 years. Starts with a very nice nose and drinks very nicely. Obviously a very well made wine that I really enjoyed.
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9/10/2012 - DTWOB wrote: 93 Points
Big and powerful - great example of a big Cali Cab.
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8/9/2012 - davidwhitedc wrote: 95 Points
Opened and double decanted 10 hours before consumption. An absolutely incredible nose -- rich, ripe blackberries, boysenberries, black twizzlers, coffee, chocolate, lavender & other herbs, and mentholyptus. A seamless wine on the palate -- bright acid, soft tannins that taste like chocolate dust, and incredible texture. An awesome wine.
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8/4/2012 - Niagara wrote:
Just not my bag, baby. Way over the top, almost syrup. Can't rate it because it may be great, I just don't dig it.
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7/14/2012 - iamandyc wrote: 94 Points
Super cab IMHO. Nice depth and texture. The fruit is the standout and it had elements of plum and cassis with some vanilla.Very balanced. Young
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6/24/2012 - Grape Stuff wrote: 95 Points
~ 5 hour decant. Stunning. This note is for a bottle consumed a couple weeks ago, but what I recall from memory was a deftly balanced, incredibly powerful cab. Compelling nose of black fruits and spice, followed on the palate with ripe dark fruits, black currant, cocoa, and sweet tannins. Heat was somewhat noticeable on the finish, but overall this was a killer bottle drinking well above its price point. Outstanding.
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4/7/2012 - DTWOB wrote: 92 Points
Passed thru vinaerator 4 times then consumed 30 min. later. Sim. notes to all, but noticed the heat in this bottle.
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4/1/2012 - silton wrote: 92 Points
april fools wine tasting; 4/1/2012-4/2/2012 (Scott & Todd's): 0/2/1/3 1st/2nd/3rd/4th place votes in this flight, but also #2 WOTD from Lee who otherwise didn't rank. A plush, full bodied and delicious Napa Cab with a powerful nose and generally sweet profile. I wonder how this would have fared against the other plush Cabs that dominated the next flight. Not exactly complicated but this floated an ocean of plump fruit effortlessly across the transom.
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1/27/2012 - J-Sho wrote: 95 Points
See previous note. Drinking beautifully
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9/23/2011 - J-Sho Likes this wine: 95 Points
Frightened after seeing "decanted for 4 hours" so I aerated and decanted for.....5 minutes. Dark purple in color the nose was expressive and full of dark fruit such as blackberries, boysenberries along with smooth chocolate. Palate was complete, full and complex with soft, well integrated tannins that gave some structure but were not tough or overly drying. Supple finish. This wine is drinking well but has legs to age.
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8/12/2011 - daveo6313 wrote: 96 Points
If you plan on drinking one of these then I suggest a minimum of four hours of decant time. This starts of very tight but is yielding more and more as it opens up. There are gobs of black fruits, chocolate, currant, tobacco and a touch of pencil lead. Big and bold in mouth but with surprisingly soft tannin's. There is a lot of structure and complexity to this wine and I am really enjoying watching this bottle evolve as I drink it. I really think this wine will get better with another year or two of aging and it has a long life ahead of it.
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5/22/2011 - Wine Sparty wrote:
Aromas of black licorice, blackberry, smoke and tobacco. Taste has blackberries, a bit of cocoa, and more of the black licorice. But, it all doesn't seem to come together - perhaps this is an awkward phase right now. Drank over the course of two nights with consistent notes - decanted the first night for a couple hours, then drank out of the bottle the next night. No score, as I think and hope the flavors will integrate in the coming years. I will try to wait for the next one until a couple years.
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4/2/2011 - S. Lorin wrote: 94 Points
fantastic and better drinking than the 2006 - well rounded and balanced displaying dark fruit and chocolate; smooth yet precise; nice hybrid - new world fruit and the acidity of bordeaux; just as good on day 2
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3/13/2011 - glaze3 wrote:
4 hour decant and drank over 4 hours. Sweet nose of cassis and purple flowers. Palate is black fruits with a nice hint of red fruits on the finish. Tannins are not intrusive and actually have resolved to the point that that this is drinking very well now. A rich wine with a nice medium+ mouthfeel that doesn't show the level of sweetness that I've experienced with the handfull of other '07 Napa Cabs I've tasted. Very nice .
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1/20/2011 - Jody Smith wrote:
This is in a great place right now. The last bottle was inpenetrable, but now loosens up quite nicely with a reasonable hour or two in the decanter. Insanely rich, defying any sense of cloying fruit or heat. Loaded with rich, roasted black, red/black fruit. Long finish with a hint of sweet cassis and malolactic butter. Tannin and acid are completely transparent, yet the wine displays great structure and balance. Pretty notes of purple flowers emerge with additional air time. Fantastic cab.
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12/31/2010 - jrobs7777 wrote: 93 Points
New Years Eve Cabernet and Dom Blowout (Our House (2033 Brandywine St., Philadelphia)): Darker fruit on the nose. Austere. Terrific balance on palate. Framed by good oak. Palate exhibits darker fruit with great acidity and tannic balance. Smooth and silky. Very long finish. Well constructed wine.
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12/31/2010 - ews3 wrote: 95 Points
New Years Eve Lobsterfest! (Roberts House, Philadelphia PA): decanted 6 hours. this had a very dark profile. the nose showed black pepper, black olive, and licorice. there is quite a bit of fruit, but it is more curranty and less juicy. this is likely starting to shut down and will go into a long slumber. the medium length finish brings the wine together with well balanced alcohol and medium tannins. in fact, the finish is probably where the most fruit shows.
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12/19/2010 - caeleric Likes this wine: 93 Points
another gorgeous Rudius wine. Popped early AM, poured off a tall glass and let the rest aerate (not decant) for 12 hours. The nose is beautiful, with gobs of dark berry fruit, cassis liquer, and that cotton candy-esque feature I keep getting out of 07 Napa cabs. The mouth is supple and chewy. The finish is long, purely fruit-driven without many secondaries at this early stage. I loved it and am looking forward to see what 5 years does and then what 10 years does. I wish Jeff made more of this so I could have gotten more than my 3-bottle allocation.
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12/18/2010 - DTWOB wrote: 92 Points
I agree, this wine needs more time.
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11/16/2010 - Zonk wrote: 93 Points
Opened this at noon, and poured a bit in a glass and didn't touch either until close to 9PM. The open glass was singing, gobs of black fruit, currants, and maybe even the tiniest hint of butterscotch. The wine from the bottle was definitely still very tight, and the tannins although very smooth were certainly more noticeable. Even with the long airtime, I think I would have preferred a bit of a decant. Really excellent wine though and this is definitely going to continue to develop. Now if I can just keep my hands off my one remaining bottle.
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10/15/2010 - clayfu wrote:
The wine is showing well after roughly 3 hours of air (1 hr in bottle 2 in decanter.) A soft sweet nose of spiced mocha and sweet fruit that really picks up on the Indian spices over time. Long silky texture on the palate of expansive dark brooding fruit accompanies by fine grained tannins and on the finish with just a touch of oak and leather. I love the texture on the palate for this wine, it's easy to drink and not abrasive as so many cabs are.
Followed the wine over 4 hours. Sweet and simple on the pop and pour, closed down and short at roughly 1-3 hours and then just blossomed at the three hour mark
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9/12/2010 - cubswinws wrote: 94 Points
Big and bold. Still primary,but lots of potential. Would try again in 4-5 years
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7/4/2010 - hkfoebee wrote:
Delicious! WOTN!
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6/19/2010 - Nutty08 wrote: 92 Points
Floral nose with violets, cherry, and sweet vanilla cream. Palate is quite ripe with candied fruit--cassis, raspberry, and black cherry, maybe a mint note in the background. A touch of heat on the back end of the finish and while quite tannic, wasn't difficult to drink. Dry fine finish with vanilla, cassis, and a little spice. Highly extracted, concentrated, and tight even after several hours in the glass. Has good potential though maybe a little more ripe and "sweet" than I tend to prefer, but a solidly built cab overall. Next bottle in 3-5yrs.
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6/11/2010 - bubbachumps wrote: 93 Points
Day 1
Delicious cab. Surprisingly approachable. Deep dark fruits, with notes of cassis and toasty oak. The oak treatment reminded me of the kind schrader uses. Enormous fruit hides the structure, but it is apparent. Re-corked and stuck in the fridge. To be continued on day 2.
Day 2
Tannins show a little harsher today. This wine is not as enjoyable as day 1. One glass left to try on day 3
Day3
Much better than both prior days. Delicious! The wine has rounded out. Drink now with some serious decanting or try again in 3 - 5 years.
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5/23/2010 - Screameagle Likes this wine: 92 Points
This cab although very young was never the less very tasty. Definitely need the 3 hour decanting I gave it. A serious cab that is an excellent qpr in these days of crazy cab prices. Wait at least a year to try another bottle. Kudos Jeff this wine is a very serious effort that I thoroughly enjoyed.
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5/21/2010 - Jody Smith wrote:
An uber structured 07, demanding more time to shed some of it's phenol load. Refined, dusty tannin dominates sleek, red fruit with cassis, crushed rock and tobacco nuances. Nice acid to brighten the concentrated fruit. Nice balance lurking.
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5/8/2010 - silton wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for one hour and mostly drunk over the next 2. I guess I just need to buy more Cabernet because I loved this. Tannins are ripe if not quite velvety. Superb, chocolate-currant finish goes on forever. This might be a touch on the sweet side for some people. I look forward to the next bottle several years from now, when it should be spectacular. 92 now, +?
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5/1/2010 - Justin B wrote: 94 Points
This is what really good Napa Cabernet is like. Great nose of strong cassis, black cherries, a little spice, and thankfully not oaky. Taste has cream de cassis, cedar box, a little bit of dark chocolate. A medium-long finish. Definitely will improve over time. I wish I had more than I have of this stuff!
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4/28/2010 - GrapeScott wrote: 90 Points
This thing was tight as a drum upon opening about a week ago. I opened it about an hour before dinner of a big fat dry-aged grilled ribeye, but despite swirling, waiting, and more swirling, this didn't budge all night. Really, other than a somewhat promising nose, this wine was thin, hollow, and downright unpleasant. I gassed it, threw it in the back of the fridge and forgot about it. One week later (tonight), we're grilling Berkshire pork loin, so I figure I'll give it another shot. Wow, what a difference! Jeff was right that this needs time. Dark crimson but not black/tongue-staining. Cassis, lavender and blackberry on the nose, with some noticeable heat that gained intensity as it warmed. Full bodied, but not a total bruiser, with big but smooth tannin on the back end. More heat on the finish (15.4%!) but great length, with lingering notes of cassis, vanilla, and black fruit. Much improved, but still a bit one-dimensional for my tastes, and I like a bit more mineral/leather/lead pencil in my cab. 90 pts with room for improvement.
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4/18/2010 - pakabear wrote: 94 Points
This needs time most definitely, but it has good length, structure and balance. Could use more complexity, but it shows it will age well it be a very good wine when aged.
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12/5/2009 - last chance wrote: 95 Points
The nose on this Cab was just awesome! Just packed with cassis, black cherry, and a note of white peppercorn aromas. The palate was very rich and smooth with cassis, and chocolate flavors with nuances of some spice and maybe even black olive. Excellent mouthfeel and a very long finish. I'm not sure if it was the rich fruit, the chocolate note, or the mouthfeel, but something here really reminded me of the 06 Maybach Materium that I had tasted earlier in the year. That's not too bad for company in my book. Definitely a producer that I will want to taste more Cabs from in the future!
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10/14/2009 - clayfu wrote: 92 Points
a restrained cab with a powerful dark berry core and a mix of soft wood,tobacco, good acidity with a long finish of cigar and blackberries. grippy tannins. the wine will do good with age.. tasted before release. I welcome the half a year Jeff will be holding this.
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