I agree with the other recent reviews— this wine has aged quite well and I wish it wasn’t my last bottle. It paired exceptionally well with Hudson Valley magret duck breast served with a port/cherry reduction butter sauce.
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On PnP this was heavy on blueberries, oak, and dark soil, hint of incense, some under-ripened red cherry. At 21+ years this was still vibrant and primary to say the least, with more tannic structure in place than I ever could have imagined. Very unlike the mid-90s versions at this stage, which had plenty of secondary and tertiary notes. That being said it needed air and air it got. Hardly any bricking to speak of.
At 1 hr, it smoothed out a bit but still somewhat locked down, very little improvement. Mostly candied cherries.
At 2 hr, dried currant, cinnamon and caramel notes appeared on the palate, but the nose went silent.
I think this would have done better with food, along with 2 hrs of air. The ‘94s set an extremely high bar for these wines, this bottle wasn’t even close. So much for high expectations. Try again in 2027.
Decanted 1 hour and slow ox'd another hour. Leather, menthol, old briar and graphite on the nose. Nice, spicy fruit. Mulberry and cinnamon. Black fruit and a hint of caramel, so layered....if you like old Napa/Sonoma cabs this is a beauty.......my personal WOTN based on its complexity and still showing quite well at 22 years of age. Clear meniscus around the light reddish rim but no orange bricking to the wine as of yet.
One of Those Big Birthdays (Margaux's Table, White Bear Lake, MN): Very dark red/purple color. Drank a glass over 45 minutes. This wasn't quite as evolved as I expected it to be. Full bodied, dark cherry, graphite, plum, dark chocolate, blackberry, black currants, silky, dried earth, wood and some prominent tannins. I like this a lot, but this bottle could have used even more time or air. 92+ to 93pts.
Kevin's Big Six-OHhhhhhhhh Nooooo (Margaux's Table in White Bear Lake): This wine is in a nice drinking window right now. The color was still dark, turning more burgundy on the edge. Nose showed plenty of red and black currant, cigar and some earth and leather. Palate was really shining, with notes of violets, cassis, and bramble, followed by hints of cedar and dark chocolate. Tannins were present, but well integrated and silky. I can't imagine this drinking much better. Still excellent QPR, even at the current price of $120. Easy 93+, and I may be being conservative.
Friday Night Uptown Brown Bagger (R&D's): Double blind. A touch of bricking hinting that this is a bit older. Aromas of currant, black raspberry, dusty earth, tobacco and florals. This is very pretty aromatically and easily my favorite in this flight. Abundant fruit with dusty tannin and a slight astringency. Opens in the glass becoming more perfumed and elegant by the minute. Loads of red fruit and currants on the palate. (J&J)
Double decanted about 90 minutes prior to service due to the needs of travel.
The color was a very dark red with little bricking on the edges. The palate was tannic but not mouth puckeringly dry, with balanced acidity that made it really pleasant to drink. Pure California in style. Red fruits dominated along with a bit of cedar and tobacco.
This was my last bottle, bought on release at the winery one afternoon when I blew off a conference I was attending in Sonoma to hit some wineries. It did not disappoint. The wine is mature but still in its secondary stages of life to where it will stay for at least another 7-10 years. If I can find some properly stored bottles, I would certainly buy more.
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Old World from the New World (Amy & Scott's): Slow o'd 8 hours. This didn't quite measure up to the last bottle, but it was still pretty nice. Text book traditional California cabernet.
The wine is still on the upslope, but is close to fully mature. Great dark red color. The palate is filled with black fruits and integrated tannins. The wine will last many more years.
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Guys night - Futo (My house): Splash decant. This is probably at peak or very close. There is a dried earth and kind of a brambly woodsy element to it. Text book traditional California cabernet.
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Guys Night Featuring a Futo Trio (Joe & Khem's Place, Mpls, Mn): Very dark red color, quick splash decant; drank a glass over an hour. Another beautiful older vintage of Reserve Speciale. Pretty nose with orange peel, dried earth, crushed sandalwood, and as this unfolds the tobacco leaf is followed by smoldering black fruits with a hint of blue fruit as well. The palate is full bodied, poised, blackberry, dense, but still sleek, cassis and well integrated tannins. The wood treatment has this well integrated and showing nuanced wood notes too. A classic mature Arrowood with miles to go.
This wine is showing everything you want in a Sonoma Cab. Deep purple plum & dark grapes with a hint of black cherry fruit, with secondary flavors / aromas of earth, tobacco, and fallen leaves being just that - secondary, where they enhance and not overpower the fruit. Having followed the evolution of this over several years (including my time before CT), I'd say this has blossomed into a nearly perfect textbook example of what California can offer. It's going to be nearly impossible to exercise restraint with the remaining bottles.
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This is a solid wine! Initial aromas revealed bright red cherry, licorice, caramel, and butterscotch, followed by bursting flavors in the mouth, housed within what is still a fresh, acidic/tannic spine. It quickly closed up though, at which point we decanted. The wine re-emerged at the 3-4 hour mark to showcase notes of blueberry, blackberry, currant, leather, graphite, dark chocolate, mocha, eucalyptus and spice. It is dark and lush in the mouth, featuring a melding of red and blue fruits that lead to a long, suave finish. This is notably better than the 1997 was when last opened in 2014, but not quite as deep and dark as the 2002, opened one year ago. This was more complex though, and very enjoyable. I'd love to continue to track this over the next decade, but this was, sadly, my last bottle.
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This wine just keeps delivering, and might be even better than the last bottle. Earlier this year at my wine club, I said I was pretty sure the '01 would eventually surpass all the 90's Reserve Specialés and I believe that point has come. The tannins are mellowing but not quite gone yet, and the secondary flavors of tobacco and vanilla are blending nicely - the tobacco is a hair more pronounced, while the vanilla (oak?) is subsiding a bit, and an Earthy element is coming into play. The fruit is still very much in the foreground and the spice is just right. I'm not raising the score from the last time, but if this continues to evolve and improve it's going to be in rare territory (i.e. 98+ points) very soon. A brief inventory today showed that there is more than a case left in the cellar. Doing the happy dance tonight!
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What Cranburgundy says below! Exactly! Poured alongside many wonderful wines for the evening and this was right up there with an '87 Chateau Montelena and maybe even better. Just pure good Cali cab. Great nose, well balanced from start to finish. Nice long ending. Wish I had more!
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Up front transparency: Arrowood is one of my favorite Cabs. This might be the apex of Dick Arrowood's work while he was still associated with the winery. Incredible dark and red fruit, tannins still present but not interfering, light secondary notes of vanilla and very faint pepper, with a hint of cedar/oak and tobacco on the nose. Certainly well balanced too - not flabby and not over the top; nor is it lean or too green. I think I can taste Monte Rosso fruit in this blend. If there were an entry for "Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon" on Wikipedia, a picture of this would be on the page. Excellent!
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Tuesday Night Double Blind $50+ (Bin 75): Dark core, dark maroon rim; vanilla, red currant, green pepper, mocha, ripe yet restrained; chalky tannin, nice balance, Bordeaux style for CA; showing some age but should hold strong for years to come.
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The wine is full and well rounded, especially considering the still very present tannins. Still not at it's peak... I'm giving it another couple of years until the next one and it should be really excellent.
Just outstanding. Deep berry (cherry) and vanilla with a great smooth finish - hints of tobacco and cassis. Got better throughout the evening; everyone enjoyed tremendously with large steaks and purple potatoes.
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Reserved graphite and cassis on the nose. Deep and demure. Very Bordeaux in that this holds a lot of power in reserve. Very Cali in that there is an exuberance of fruit that is the wine's signature note. This will continue to improve form many years.
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From half bottle. Deep color, still opaque except at the rim. Slightly unforthcoming but correct nose. On the palate good body, moderate flavor intensity (restrained, not pinched) with a cool, claret-like aspect. On the long finish, fruit is just edging into secondary; some oak sweetness and slight heat are evident. Tannins almost fully resolved. Should hold for several years in this format, longer in 750ml.
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Bought on release from the winery. Slow ox about 4 hours before service. WOW!! This is one of the best Cali Cabs I've had in a very long time. Still purple even at the rim. The nose shows aromas of cedar and currant. The palate explodes with sweet black fruits and nicely integrated tannins with some acidity. This is drinking fabulously right now, but it has the stuffing to continue to develop. At least 10-15 years of life left.
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Drinking wonderfully. Between a red burgundy and deep Napa Cab purple in color. Interesting spice in the nose. Well-balanced medium red fruit and smooth, smooth, dried raspberry on the tongue...more light-to-medium spices. Mmmmmm...
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Blackberry and currant notes followed by cedar and herb aromas. Tannins have integrated nicely, though are still a bit dusty. Flavors of red currant, black cherry, cedar and tobacco.
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Lots of primary, silky, lush, sweet cedar, oak and black fruit and a touch of cocoa across the palate and on the finish. There's structure but it's hidden right now beneath the fat. This is a big wine but not overdone. The tannins and acidity are evident on the finish. This is a 15 to 20 year wine. It's very pleasant to drink now but has a lot more potential if you're patient.
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Very pure Cab notes of cassis, tobacco, earth and hint of dark chocolate while avoiding any hint of green character. Full but understated and graceful with fabulous balance. Still some structure but very approachable now.
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Decanted six hours ahead of time for Annual Rotary Wine Dinner. This really evolved during this time. Pretty subtle at opening but came out screaming during the tasting. Still plenty of tannins left in this. This was a lot more powerful than previous Arrowood's. Many in the group enjoyed this.
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Deep crimson color. Nose of dark fruits, tobacco, some smoke. Similar palate with some chocolate. Tannins still pretty prominent though pleasing. This is a beauty. Will wait a few years before drinking my other bottle. Paired nicely with a hearty lamb stew.
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Wine X: True shrooms, cigar, hint old cassis “creme de cassis”, balanced, very silky, bal earth, coffee mthm VERY nice, classic. Love it. CA cab at best.
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At Mark's South Beach w Paul & Arlene Rogoff, and Leonard & Annette Fassler. Not yet the = of the 97. Requires patience. Classic tobacco notes observed by the hypertasters, Ellen, Leonard, and Annette. Very good, but will wait uintil 2009 to try again.
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Big, powerful, backwards, and Loooong. This brute of a cabernet is nowhere near ready to drink, but other than its powerful and up-front tannins, has multiple layers of fruit, white pepper, vanilla, and cinnamin. Fantastic wine. Will be better in 5-8 years.
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This is an extremely long-lived cabernet. I think this wine will be best in 5+ years. It has all the characteristics of an exceptional cabernet but it needs time for the tanins to mellow and a little more of the fruit to emerge on the pallate. A tremendously well balanced cab that deserves your patience.
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2/12/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 96 Points
Been just over a year since my last bottle. Same notes, same score this time, too. Just a beautiful wine......still going strong.
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5/10/2023 - smcg Likes this wine: 93 Points
I agree with the other recent reviews— this wine has aged quite well and I wish it wasn’t my last bottle. It paired exceptionally well with Hudson Valley magret duck breast served with a port/cherry reduction butter sauce.
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4/11/2023 - Geaux Tigers wrote: 92 Points
On PnP this was heavy on blueberries, oak, and dark soil, hint of incense, some under-ripened red cherry. At 21+ years this was still vibrant and primary to say the least, with more tannic structure in place than I ever could have imagined. Very unlike the mid-90s versions at this stage, which had plenty of secondary and tertiary notes. That being said it needed air and air it got. Hardly any bricking to speak of.
At 1 hr, it smoothed out a bit but still somewhat locked down, very little improvement. Mostly candied cherries.
At 2 hr, dried currant, cinnamon and caramel notes appeared on the palate, but the nose went silent.
I think this would have done better with food, along with 2 hrs of air. The ‘94s set an extremely high bar for these wines, this bottle wasn’t even close. So much for high expectations. Try again in 2027.
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1/26/2023 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted 1 hour and slow ox'd another hour. Leather, menthol, old briar and graphite on the nose. Nice, spicy fruit. Mulberry and cinnamon. Black fruit and a hint of caramel, so layered....if you like old Napa/Sonoma cabs this is a beauty.......my personal WOTN based on its complexity and still showing quite well at 22 years of age. Clear meniscus around the light reddish rim but no orange bricking to the wine as of yet.
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11/23/2022 - cigar52 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Aged to perfection...copious full smooth fruit
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12/31/2021 - magic2coop Likes this wine: 94 Points
Amazing color and structure for 20 years. Impressive elegance and balance. Dried currant, black pepper, chocolate ganache. Happy new year! Enjoy.
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5/14/2021 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
One of Those Big Birthdays (Margaux's Table, White Bear Lake, MN): Very dark red/purple color. Drank a glass over 45 minutes. This wasn't quite as evolved as I expected it to be. Full bodied, dark cherry, graphite, plum, dark chocolate, blackberry, black currants, silky, dried earth, wood and some prominent tannins. I like this a lot, but this bottle could have used even more time or air. 92+ to 93pts.
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5/14/2021 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
Rocknroller has a special birthday (Margaux's Table): Splash decanted. This wine was pleasant enough, but to me no match for the 2 Burgundies and the 2 older Bordeaux wines we'd have earlier.
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5/14/2021 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Kevin's Big Six-OHhhhhhhhh Nooooo (Margaux's Table in White Bear Lake): This wine is in a nice drinking window right now. The color was still dark, turning more burgundy on the edge. Nose showed plenty of red and black currant, cigar and some earth and leather. Palate was really shining, with notes of violets, cassis, and bramble, followed by hints of cedar and dark chocolate. Tannins were present, but well integrated and silky. I can't imagine this drinking much better. Still excellent QPR, even at the current price of $120. Easy 93+, and I may be being conservative.
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4/2/2021 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Friday Night Uptown Brown Bagger (R&D's): Double blind. A touch of bricking hinting that this is a bit older. Aromas of currant, black raspberry, dusty earth, tobacco and florals. This is very pretty aromatically and easily my favorite in this flight. Abundant fruit with dusty tannin and a slight astringency. Opens in the glass becoming more perfumed and elegant by the minute. Loads of red fruit and currants on the palate. (J&J)
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4/2/2021 - Border Boss Likes this wine: 93 Points
Double decanted about 90 minutes prior to service due to the needs of travel.
The color was a very dark red with little bricking on the edges. The palate was tannic but not mouth puckeringly dry, with balanced acidity that made it really pleasant to drink. Pure California in style. Red fruits dominated along with a bit of cedar and tobacco.
This was my last bottle, bought on release at the winery one afternoon when I blew off a conference I was attending in Sonoma to hit some wineries. It did not disappoint. The wine is mature but still in its secondary stages of life to where it will stay for at least another 7-10 years. If I can find some properly stored bottles, I would certainly buy more.
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3/23/2021 - wilhelm.kurt wrote: 92 Points
Fading a little bit, but still great flavor. Pencil shavings and dark fruit.
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10/20/2020 - MotoMannequin Likes this wine:
This needed about an hour decant to really wake up. Excellent aged cab.
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10/13/2019 - Mark1npt wrote: flawed
Corked....but some great aged fruit, gentle cedar remains and I drank about half the bottle with dinner anyway.......
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4/15/2019 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
Old World from the New World (Amy & Scott's): Slow o'd 8 hours. This didn't quite measure up to the last bottle, but it was still pretty nice. Text book traditional California cabernet.
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4/15/2019 - sunalsorises wrote: 92 Points
Fully mature with a nice long finish.
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2/23/2019 - Border Boss wrote: 93 Points
The wine is still on the upslope, but is close to fully mature. Great dark red color. The palate is filled with black fruits and integrated tannins. The wine will last many more years.
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11/17/2018 - galewskj wrote: 94 Points
Guys night - Futo (My house): Splash decant. This is probably at peak or very close. There is a dried earth and kind of a brambly woodsy element to it. Text book traditional California cabernet.
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11/15/2018 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Guys Night Featuring a Futo Trio (Joe & Khem's Place, Mpls, Mn): Very dark red color, quick splash decant; drank a glass over an hour. Another beautiful older vintage of Reserve Speciale. Pretty nose with orange peel, dried earth, crushed sandalwood, and as this unfolds the tobacco leaf is followed by smoldering black fruits with a hint of blue fruit as well. The palate is full bodied, poised, blackberry, dense, but still sleek, cassis and well integrated tannins. The wood treatment has this well integrated and showing nuanced wood notes too. A classic mature Arrowood with miles to go.
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5/9/2018 - Hamersly wrote: 94 Points
Mature, elegant and complex. Years to go at this level.
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3/20/2018 - CranBurgundy Likes this wine: 98 Points
This wine is showing everything you want in a Sonoma Cab. Deep purple plum & dark grapes with a hint of black cherry fruit, with secondary flavors / aromas of earth, tobacco, and fallen leaves being just that - secondary, where they enhance and not overpower the fruit. Having followed the evolution of this over several years (including my time before CT), I'd say this has blossomed into a nearly perfect textbook example of what California can offer. It's going to be nearly impossible to exercise restraint with the remaining bottles.
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12/26/2017 - Apollo5710 wrote: 94 Points
This is a solid wine! Initial aromas revealed bright red cherry, licorice, caramel, and butterscotch, followed by bursting flavors in the mouth, housed within what is still a fresh, acidic/tannic spine. It quickly closed up though, at which point we decanted. The wine re-emerged at the 3-4 hour mark to showcase notes of blueberry, blackberry, currant, leather, graphite, dark chocolate, mocha, eucalyptus and spice. It is dark and lush in the mouth, featuring a melding of red and blue fruits that lead to a long, suave finish. This is notably better than the 1997 was when last opened in 2014, but not quite as deep and dark as the 2002, opened one year ago. This was more complex though, and very enjoyable. I'd love to continue to track this over the next decade, but this was, sadly, my last bottle.
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12/20/2016 - CranBurgundy Likes this wine: 97 Points
This wine just keeps delivering, and might be even better than the last bottle. Earlier this year at my wine club, I said I was pretty sure the '01 would eventually surpass all the 90's Reserve Specialés and I believe that point has come. The tannins are mellowing but not quite gone yet, and the secondary flavors of tobacco and vanilla are blending nicely - the tobacco is a hair more pronounced, while the vanilla (oak?) is subsiding a bit, and an Earthy element is coming into play. The fruit is still very much in the foreground and the spice is just right. I'm not raising the score from the last time, but if this continues to evolve and improve it's going to be in rare territory (i.e. 98+ points) very soon. A brief inventory today showed that there is more than a case left in the cellar. Doing the happy dance tonight!
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11/3/2016 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 96 Points
What Cranburgundy says below! Exactly! Poured alongside many wonderful wines for the evening and this was right up there with an '87 Chateau Montelena and maybe even better. Just pure good Cali cab. Great nose, well balanced from start to finish. Nice long ending. Wish I had more!
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12/8/2015 - CranBurgundy Likes this wine: 97 Points
Up front transparency: Arrowood is one of my favorite Cabs. This might be the apex of Dick Arrowood's work while he was still associated with the winery. Incredible dark and red fruit, tannins still present but not interfering, light secondary notes of vanilla and very faint pepper, with a hint of cedar/oak and tobacco on the nose. Certainly well balanced too - not flabby and not over the top; nor is it lean or too green. I think I can taste Monte Rosso fruit in this blend. If there were an entry for "Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon" on Wikipedia, a picture of this would be on the page. Excellent!
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9/15/2015 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
Tuesday Night Double Blind $50+ (Bin 75): Dark core, dark maroon rim; vanilla, red currant, green pepper, mocha, ripe yet restrained; chalky tannin, nice balance, Bordeaux style for CA; showing some age but should hold strong for years to come.
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6/24/2014 - fine137 wrote: 96 Points
All who tasted this were blown away. This is a great wine and still in need of more age. Glad I have 4 more.
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6/15/2014 - ldorf Likes this wine: 93 Points
The wine is full and well rounded, especially considering the still very present tannins. Still not at it's peak... I'm giving it another couple of years until the next one and it should be really excellent.
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5/11/2014 - Bsfoakdale wrote: 94 Points
Just outstanding. Deep berry (cherry) and vanilla with a great smooth finish - hints of tobacco and cassis. Got better throughout the evening; everyone enjoyed tremendously with large steaks and purple potatoes.
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9/2/2013 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted briefly. Rich, supple Cab with no faults. Good dark berry notes. Not a hint of Brett. A polished wine.
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4/8/2013 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 93 Points
Reserved graphite and cassis on the nose. Deep and demure. Very Bordeaux in that this holds a lot of power in reserve. Very Cali in that there is an exuberance of fruit that is the wine's signature note. This will continue to improve form many years.
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3/29/2013 - agebob wrote: 93 Points
Earthy with classic cab fruit, a long finish. This is holding up really well, drinking nicely, and shows no sign of fading.
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6/2/2012 - ldorf wrote: 92 Points
Massive and very, very focused. Late in the evening and was perfect following many other good bottles.
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6/1/2012 - darvid wrote:
From half bottle. Deep color, still opaque except at the rim. Slightly unforthcoming but correct nose. On the palate good body, moderate flavor intensity (restrained, not pinched) with a cool, claret-like aspect. On the long finish, fruit is just edging into secondary; some oak sweetness and slight heat are evident. Tannins almost fully resolved. Should hold for several years in this format, longer in 750ml.
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4/21/2012 - Border Boss wrote: 93 Points
Bought on release from the winery. Slow ox about 4 hours before service. WOW!! This is one of the best Cali Cabs I've had in a very long time. Still purple even at the rim. The nose shows aromas of cedar and currant. The palate explodes with sweet black fruits and nicely integrated tannins with some acidity. This is drinking fabulously right now, but it has the stuffing to continue to develop. At least 10-15 years of life left.
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3/17/2012 - bvanbower wrote: 92 Points
Unlike my last bottle, this one still had good fruit, blackberry nose and smooth finish. Decanted briefly. Went especially well with rack of lamb.
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1/25/2012 - fine137 wrote: 94 Points
Best yet for this wine and I think it will stay at this level for a few more years. Outstanding.
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12/20/2011 - TinMan wrote: 92 Points
Drinking wonderfully. Between a red burgundy and deep Napa Cab purple in color. Interesting spice in the nose. Well-balanced medium red fruit and smooth, smooth, dried raspberry on the tongue...more light-to-medium spices. Mmmmmm...
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12/14/2011 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Brown Bag 95+ Holiday Wine Dinner at Two Chefs(Double Blind); 12/13/2011-12/14/2011: - Purple color with fast forming legs and aromas of blackberry, black currant and oak. It's balanced and has flavours of blackberry and licorice anise with a full body. Polished texture with a long finish - Mark's Red(me).
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6/1/2011 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Hod, but I expected more> Seems to have lost fruit, and gained little nuance.
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1/31/2011 - bvanbower wrote: 92 Points
Berries and spice in the nose, deep ruby color, decent finish with good tannins. Starting to fade slightly from previous bottles.
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1/30/2011 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Blackberry and currant notes followed by cedar and herb aromas. Tannins have integrated nicely, though are still a bit dusty. Flavors of red currant, black cherry, cedar and tobacco.
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1/8/2011 - mdefreitas wrote: 91 Points
Football and 2001 Cabs @ Howard's 2011 (Old Greenwich, CT): Ripe fruit with some balsamic hints. Smokey and still structured. Loads of fruit in reserve.
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10/16/2010 - jasonkle wrote: 89 Points
Good. Rated higher than it tasted from the pros. Was not blown away by finish, complexity or flavors.
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5/19/2010 - kvswine wrote: 93 Points
Sigh.. last bottle of this gem. Wonderful nose, casis..elegant mouth feel and a terrific long finish...
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5/9/2010 - sdwineguru wrote: 92 Points
Dark garnet; ripe grape nose; berries, spice, wood; mid-body, round, good tannins; rich long Cabernet finish. Perfect with a fine cut of meat.
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4/22/2010 - Anonymous wrote: 93 Points
Balanced. Good black/red fruit with excellent structure, minerality and acid. Needs decanting for several hours.
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2/9/2010 - Anonymous wrote: 95 Points
Lots of primary, silky, lush, sweet cedar, oak and black fruit and a touch of cocoa across the palate and on the finish. There's structure but it's hidden right now beneath the fat. This is a big wine but not overdone. The tannins and acidity are evident on the finish. This is a 15 to 20 year wine. It's very pleasant to drink now but has a lot more potential if you're patient.
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1/20/2010 - remeny1 wrote: 94 Points
so good, and deep brooding nose, and soft tannins that coated the mouth.
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12/23/2009 - JScott wrote: 92 Points
Very pure Cab notes of cassis, tobacco, earth and hint of dark chocolate while avoiding any hint of green character. Full but understated and graceful with fabulous balance. Still some structure but very approachable now.
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1/24/2009 - Scooter wrote: 93 Points
Decanted six hours ahead of time for Annual Rotary Wine Dinner. This really evolved during this time. Pretty subtle at opening but came out screaming during the tasting. Still plenty of tannins left in this. This was a lot more powerful than previous Arrowood's. Many in the group enjoyed this.
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12/5/2008 - cgrimes wrote: 94 Points
Deep crimson color. Nose of dark fruits, tobacco, some smoke. Similar palate with some chocolate. Tannins still pretty prominent though pleasing. This is a beauty. Will wait a few years before drinking my other bottle. Paired nicely with a hearty lamb stew.
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11/17/2008 - jmd60611 wrote: 92 Points
Deep rich and very structured...This is really nicely layaered and complex with a richness and smoothness that is almost silky....excellent finish
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5/18/2008 - redsauced wrote: 92 Points
Big tannic sucker that needed 2 hours to mellow out, still needs a year or 2
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11/27/2007 - Bobo N wrote: 93 Points
Needs more time to peak, but drinking well now as a muscular Cal cab w/ layers of dark fruits, pepper and much more with long finish.
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9/15/2007 - peternelson wrote: 93 Points
Wine X: True shrooms, cigar, hint old cassis “creme de cassis”, balanced, very silky, bal earth, coffee mthm VERY nice, classic. Love it. CA cab at best.
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8/11/2007 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
At Mark's South Beach w Paul & Arlene Rogoff, and Leonard & Annette Fassler. Not yet the = of the 97. Requires patience. Classic tobacco notes observed by the hypertasters, Ellen, Leonard, and Annette. Very good, but will wait uintil 2009 to try again.
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9/20/2006 - DennisR wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful wine....will only get better with some much needed aging.
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8/27/2006 - mmyette wrote: 93 Points
Big, powerful, backwards, and Loooong. This brute of a cabernet is nowhere near ready to drink, but other than its powerful and up-front tannins, has multiple layers of fruit, white pepper, vanilla, and cinnamin. Fantastic wine. Will be better in 5-8 years.
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5/13/2006 - bergebr wrote: 93 Points
This is an extremely long-lived cabernet. I think this wine will be best in 5+ years. It has all the characteristics of an exceptional cabernet but it needs time for the tanins to mellow and a little more of the fruit to emerge on the pallate. A tremendously well balanced cab that deserves your patience.
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11/28/2005 - fine137 wrote:
Can't assign points at this time. The wine is sooo tight. I believe the potential is superb. Time is required.
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