-- decanted 45 min. before initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind over 2 to 3 hours --
NOSE: expressive; dark red fruits; hints of shoe polish and sweet black licorice; has that high-toned aged C.S. thing going on.
BODY: medium to medium-full bodied; dark red color with slight bricking throughout.
TASTE: sweet oak; a touch tannic; fruit likely falling away now, leaving the oak behind; "dark" (black licorice) when paired with steak -- the pairing was, to me surprise, poor. One of the longest-tenured wines in our cellar: I think this is already on its downslope. Drink Now.
50, 5, 12, 15, 7 = 89
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Tasted on day two. Very well integrated and softened. Solid dark berries on both the palate and the nose. A little bit of dirtiness ok the palate too. Moderate tannins (5.5/10) and moderate plus to full bodied. Lingering finish. Drink till 2018.
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Fully mature. A cali style although with a tamed fruit profile but still mouth filling. Love this producer at this price point. 4 to 5 years left. At its peak now.
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Double blind. Raspberry, chocolate, ripe and sweet, seems refined and well made but not sure I like it all that much. Had to deny the substance but there just isn't the layers or complexity, just gloss.
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Tasted blind. Nose of potting soil, delicious caramel, candied red fruit, and plumeria. Spicy, peppery, and briny on entrance. Black currant, olives, and mossy earth. The funk blows off after an hour to reveal berries and graham cracker. I think I actually liked it better when it was a bit funkier, but there's no denying the fruit is ripe and extracted, and it is aging well. This was one that deserved more attention, and it suffered from sharing the stage with half a dozen other wines.
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It's been a few years since I visited the '04 so I was thinking it was past its peak. Color of ripe bing cherry. Good aromatics.
Wow, this is one of the most port-like cabs I've had in the past five years. I've been a big fan of all Chappellet's red wines. Although the oak in this particular bottle has integrated, the abundant tannins let you know they're still there (not unlike a good port). Lots of black cherry, currents, some black berry dark chocolate and a little red raspberry. Not particularly thick but almost too rich. May be at peak or give it another 3yrs to see if it continues to knit. Some may find this a bit too much.
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Dark color, intense fruit on the nose, big, bold intense wine, silky, nicely structured, blueberry, raspberry, oak is there, subtle. Tannins rounded. Drinking very nicely, no signs of being over the hill, though may be at peak. Should be good for a few years.
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Took to a party. My favorite out of 20+ wines, and any number of other people agreed. Dark, with no signs of age. None of the earthiness I detected on a bottle several months ago - just dark fruit and a boatload of pumpkin pie spices. Nice texture and a good finish. I love the way Chappellet Cabernets age - long and well - and this was no exception.
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Was worried about heat damage as this bottle had evidence of a small leak. No problems. Top shoulder fill, fresh fruit, balanced and delicious. Was a very good $25 buy. Glad to have another bottle.
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Spontaneous pop and pour at the end of a party. Typical Chappellet (a good thing). Extremely rich and luxurious. Black fruit and pumpkin pie spice, but with a hint of earthiness I hadn't noticed with previous bottles. A francophile would think it was better for it, but I think it was slightly flawed,
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Drank this as part of a flight with the 05 and 06. This was the most fruit forward wine in the bunch despite being the oldest. It had a really young feel with dark fruit and long finish.
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Typical Chappellet (a good thing). First bottle in a little over a year. PNP at a party. Very rich, very balanced, very smooth. Berries and pumpkin pie spices. Nice rich finish. Holding up well (no surprise).
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Really impressive. Huge floral nose with some cherry and tropical notes. Bold mouth feel but well integrated and balanced with classic Napa character. Long finish.
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My last bottle of the wonderful '04 Chappellet Signature Cab. Almost opaque dark garnet. Nose of blackberry, blueberry, espresso, and mint. Ripe, delicious palate of sweet blackberry, plum, mint, graphite, and subtle oak. Excellent length. Silky texture. Pleasant acidity. Integrated tannins and oak. Superb.
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An Evening of Chappellet 1/25/2013 2003 Chappellet Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Signature - 90 30 mins decant drinking wonderfully still youthful amazing wine 2004 Chappellet Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Signature - 91 lush 30 mins decanted mouth coating red fruit gentle wine 2005 Chappellet Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Signature - 93 Home Run WOTN - wow fruit structure and mojo 2006 Chappellet Vineyard Mountain Cuvee - 88 Solid mellow cuvee more oak than fruit 2007 Chappellet Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Signature - 92 Outstanding - some citrus? But a long finish...great nose 2008 Chappellet Vineyard Mountain Cuvee - 90 Delightful probably right in the peak of drinking window 2008 Chappellet Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Signature 91 - Big wine, red fruit, cider, vanilla....love this wine 2010 Chappellet Vineyard Mountain Cuvee "Cervantes" 87 - Tannic needs a longer decant or cellar nap still enjoyable
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Another Magnum of this wine. The Magnum last year wasn't near as good as this one was. This Magnum was more like it. Slow Ox for 6 hours before drinking. This was much younger than the same wine from Magnum last year. I bought these at the same time upon release. Nice nose of cherries. Seamless on the palate. Much better finish with this bottle. Delicious!
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Rather tight at this point in time, nonetheless withsome coxing, this wine showed very well, crunchy and ripe berries, good floral component, elegant, power and yet balanced. Deft hands indeed.
Lovely wine.
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Wonderful. This big, full bodied cab was smoooooth beyond belief, rich, flavorful, just really nice. Dark fruits, tobacco, oak, pencils on the palate. Long finish. Deeeeep. Balanced.
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Down to the last few bottles of this case. Little to add to previous notes (most recent 3/26/12). This wine is probably close to its peak. Excellent. Drink up.
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Wow what a different experience from the last bottle. On pop and pour, this bottle was singing. This had tons of depth with layers of flavor. A unique combination of cherry and charcoal on the mid palate and a lengthy finish.
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Only a few bottles left. Dark garnet. Nose of dark fruit, licorice, cedar, and spice. Ripe palate that skews to the dark fruit/tar end of the Cabernet flavor spectrum. Spicy with graphite and minerals. Excellent length. Integrated oak. Racy acidity. Fading tannins. This excellent wine is unlikely to get better with more time in the cellar.
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From Magnum. Opened for several hours before drinking. Beautiful Cab. A little thin on the pallet and looks older than it is. I agree that this is probably at its peak or very close to it. Very enjoyable.
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On pop and pour or through Vinturi, this wine was an OK daily drinker but nothing special and certainly nothing stood out. Would consider giving the next bottle an extended decant to see if it coaxes anything out.
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First bottle I've tasted since right after its initial release. Took it to a party, and at least one guy (whose opinion I respect when he agrees with me) declared it the WOTN. Black fruit and pumpkin pie spices on the nose. Same components on the palate, along with a little chocolate and maybe a hint of coffee. Definitely not over-the-top, with no single element standing out - it was just beautifully balanced. Fairly rich, with a decent finish. It seems slightly past its peak, but with Chappellet's track record for age-worthiness, it's probably just getting warmed up.
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Maybe a little past it's peak. Dark red and black fruit with a little spice and acidity and resolved tannins. A little woody but what ultimately strikes me is the hollowness in the early to mid stages of tasting it.
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Aromas of raspberry, chocolate, blackberries with a hint of pepper. Tannins are very fine and smooth. Flavor of blackberry, spice, chocolate and cedar. Drinking great right now. Glad we opened now rather than wait. Agree with others that it's probably at it's peak. Mr Titus you are the best!
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NY/NJ Offline at Ciano (Ciano, NYC): Dark color. Red and blue fruit on the palate with black coffee and spicy oak on the nose. Similar notes on the palate. Medium to medium hi tannin, medium acidity, and a medium long finish.
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Very nice. Dark fruits with a bit of cedar and spice. Not as structured as I expected, making it more accessible without being a fruit bomb. Some fine tannins in the finish and a fair amount of sediment. I believe this is at peak.
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Drinking wonderful now. Rich old school bdx like with nose and palate. Balanced with rose pedals, sweet cigar, bitter chocolate, with enough fruit. Tannins are present but very silky due to aging. Had the CA vanaCouldn'the a good way. Couldn't get enough. I would say this year is the sweet spot
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Black. Roasted fruits off the glass. Licorice, deep blue black fruit fills the palate, this is a baby monster, nice sweet tannins, oak restrained, lingers deep.
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Chappellet Vertical 2000-2008 (The Twelves, West Grove PA): In the flight of 03, 04 and 05, I wrote that this was my favorite but not much else. Fruity but not over the top or too ripe. I'll try to sit on my remaining bottles for a while.
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pop and aerate (eventually twice). Over the top sweet; ALOT of Fruit, a little green in the background, but way in the background to really imapct the wine. Not for me. PASS
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Followed a World's End 08 Cab and before a Cliff Lede Poetry Cabernet, this bottle held it's own nicely. Opened up immediately and had a nice finish. Nice Napa Cab well made with nice fruit.
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Best wine in an evening of 6 really good wines. Very nicely matured Cab. Dark purple color. Great jammy blackberry & plum with silky smooth tannins on a great long finish. The clear favorite of the evening for all who were there.
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Popped and poured. Dark, opaque purple with a red rim. Nose of blackberry, fig, licorice, smoke and cedar. Lush, ripe palate of blackberry, hoisin, minerals, menthol, graphite, and some espresso. Outstanding length. Pleasant acidity. Sweet tannins. This wine is peaking!
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Served with Thanksgiving dinner. No notes. Excellent wine. Should have served before '04 Darioush Signature Shiraz. After such a big wine, it tasted lighter than it is.
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Popped and poured. Dark purple with reddish tint. Opulent nose of plum, fig, blackberry, smoke, and cedar. Full ripe palate of blackberry, licorice, spice, and minerals. Excellent length. Supple tannins. Nice tart acidity. Really drinking well. Beautiful balance. Enough structure to last another severals years in the cellar. But why wait?
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Outstanding on day #2. Rich, velvety on the palate with really dark fruits, chocolate and cedar. The lack of a nose keeps the score in check. Really good QPR.
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I have been wanting to open one of these for a while and with some of the recent notes about this not aging well it seemed like the time. Unfortunately, I have misplaced my notes. What I remember is that this was pretty soft and that the tannins had integrated nicely. We didn't find it very green or herbal as others had mentioned recently. This was very enjoyable and is drinking very well right now but should be able to go a couple more years.
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Color: deep plumb. Nose: weak and somewhat tight nose of leather, spice and some fruit. Taste: A austere palate of spice, tannins and some weak, faded fruit. Finish: Short-medium finish of fruits that seemed past their prime and more spice. This was a weak showing of one of my favorite wines. This has fallen off of a cliff since the last bottle I tasted. The cork also had fluid right up to the end, despite being properly stored. I agree with Winston Wolf, this is headed to a greenish, over the hill wine. Drink up!
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Decanted 60 minutes. This is a cab that is ready now. Soft tannins with an overall nice mouthfeel. A tad light on acidity, medium weight - just a slight flabbiness on the finish. Dark fruit, hints of cocoa. About at its prime - Drink.
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Decanted 1hr, gamy, earthy nose, nice red berrish fruit, sandwich between stewed tomatoes and toasty earthy woodsy flavors on the palate. Based on this bottle still quite primary with plenty of room for development. 90+
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A completely different wine from the last time we opened our last bottle a year and a half ago. Last time chocolate cherry - this time - green, dark fruit, dark chocolate and tobacco. I even got a little bit of rye bread on the nose. Not thrilled with the way this aged because this is headed toward the herbal, green ,fruitless cab that Cali cabs can turn into to. IMO, drink now!
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popped and left in bottle for 3hrs. then consumed over a 24hr period. surprisingly, this wine has really changed after my last btl a yr ago. still opens up to jammy sweet nose and now beginning to show some burnt orange/rust rim color. this wine has moved quickly from bold fruit bomb to a soft, supple and mellow wine. nice prevalent tannins, with dark fruit and nice hersey chocolate. the finish was a tad short. this wine has really thinned out and might be aging a bit too fast even with proper storage. we'll see where this one goes!
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popped and poured at a restaurant. Wow...this was great, and by my last glass about 2 hours in, it was unbelievable. Not an overly big nose. Dark fruit on the palate, with a black liquorish taste that gives it a little spice, Great velvetty mouthfeel. Good use of oak. This wine had great fruit yet great balance. Medium + body, and nice acidity. A great wine and a great value at <$39. Wish I had more
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Opened for playoff weekend. Only had a taste on day 1 but thought it was tight and a bit thin. Pumped and corked for day 2. Wow , this has picked up considerable weight. Deep purple, floral and still a bit shy on the nose. This is a stud of a Cab upon tasting. Cassis, purple fruit, licorice. Big but with plenty of weight and structure to balance everything out. Tannins are still pretty evident. No rush at all to drink this. Hold or long decant. will have to search out some more to store away. A great value.
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Out of the bottle this is almost stewed and prunish. With some air and time to open, say three hours, the nose turns to purple fruit and flowers and the wine is lovely in the mouth. Fruit, tobacco, inegrated tannis and oak with a modrately long finish. I say give it another year for the next bottle and see how it evolves.
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When first opened and poured, the nose of Vanilla Cream was commented upon by myself and another in our party. The red fruit, tobacco and musty dust present on the initial attach continued on to the mid palate. The tannins were smooth and sweet, with a great acid balance on the moderate finish. Simply a great wine for the money and a pleasure to drink....I am glad I have more.
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not sure i would rank this one up there with the in-ur-face cabs that i personally prefer, like neal, cliff lede, or oroppas. but gave it a 2-hr decant. & it was very very good. more refined & balanced on all fronts than most, simply not over the top.
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I've had this several times and my experiences have varied, but last night's bottle was great. Decanted for about 2 hours. Nice dark fruit, chocolate and some oak on the nose. Tannins are integrating nicely. Medium plus finish. Great value.
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Decanted 3 hours (probably a mistake). This is a restaurant wine - built to be consumed young. Medium weight with cherry fruit and just a hint of cocoa. Not tannic or overly-oaked. Overall a nice, young cab that can be consumed now.
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Color: Beautiful Nose: Nice nose of spices, herbs and certainly fruit with a hint of oak. Taste: Red and dark fruit with silky tannins and a nice integration of oak. I also detected spice and vanilla. Typical Napa flavor profile. Nice long complex finish. I had it against a 1999 Mondavi Reserve and I think it beat it by a point or 2. A screaming bargain at $40.00. For the below mentioned $31.00, I would have a case. I think Spectator nailed it at 93pts.
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At a wine tasting party we did five wines with dinner: a vertical tasting of 03, 04 and 05 Chappallet Cabernet, an 04 Costers del Siurana Priorat Clos de L'Obac, and an 01 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino. Each of these wines were huge hits with our guests but the Clos de L'Obac Priorat was the clear standout - the unanimous winner for all of our guests. The Poggio Antico Brunello was a clear number 2 choice, followed by the 04 Chappallet, then the 03 Chappallet and finally the 05.
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I was able to buy this for $31 with a coupon and wish I had gotten more at that price (though I just picked up another bottle of 03 Ladera for less than $31). I decanted this for an hour, and there are still prevalent tannins, but they are smooth and unobtrusive as there is good, solid fruit to offset and the wine is well balanced. There is both red and dark fruit with significant tannin and medium acidity on a finish of about 30-35 seconds. No heat either. Not quite the layers or complexity to score higher, but a very nice wine that is worth its price more so than most other Napa cabs.
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Shared at recent wine club outing. Well integrated, smooth, rich cherry, oak. Right time to taste, tannins have smoothed this one out, don't see much upside.
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The first thing you notice is the light red color, and then the mild nose. After a few hours of decanting, you also get to experience moderate bright red cherry and complementary spice flavors which seem light for a Napa cabernet. I didn't pick up other secondary flavors, and no changes through the finish. I might be missing the nuances of this wine, which for some will likely be a very enjoyable sophisticated cab, and I'll defer to them to give this wine the proper tasting notes it deserves. It's certainly well made, and in balance for what I experienced. But for me, I prefer big and chewy in a Napa cab.
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Popped and poured. Medium to dark, black cherry hue. Initially showing slightly tight, with aromas of fresh cherries, blackberries, currant, and some spice. After about 30 minutes in glass the nose gained additional nuances of cedar and fresh herbs. Medium-plus body. Flavorful, fruit driven palate mirrors the nose, but has a touch of elegance and refinement, with notes of earth and spice from the oak balancing out the flavors that might otherwise come across as simple. Tannins are smooth on the finish. This could definitely use another 3-5 years in the cellar but is drinking nicely right now for an '04.
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Poured half off into an empty .375 and decanted the balance. Medium in weight, still a tinge of green taste but hardly evident compared to LY. Nice well-balanced cab
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Dark color with intense aromas of ripe cassis, tabacco, scorched earth and bell peppers with some cocca. Full and concentrated, finishes up long, with polished tannins. (Best from 2008-2016)
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Decanted for 3 hours. Rich cherry on the nose predominated, with some currant balancing it out. Very fruit forward. Bright and smooth. Perfect compliment to the filet mignon we had.
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Dark and opaque color. Ripe fruit, and hints of bramble on the nose. Delicious and complex. Black cherry, blackberry, spice and hints of blueberry on the palate. Well-structured, with balanced fruit, tannins, and vibrant acidity. Drinkable now certainly, but this will develop with some age.
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This was a darn good bottle. Nice fruit and finish. I had to let it decant out some of the heat initially though. But after that, it all came together nicely.
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Color is opaque purple with ruby edges. Aromas of chocolate, plums, dried cherries, sage, oak and a little cedar. Flavors are chocolate, plum, and black cherry with a nice dose of earthiness and oak with a hint of mint. Finish is long, showing nice tannins, chocolate, coffee, and some oak and a bit of heat. Tannins are surprisingly tame for such a young wine. Good structure and balance.
Very nice. This is 91+. Still a glass or two to finish.
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Great concentration with amazing legs. Legs aren't supposed to be an indicator of quality, but every Cali cab ive found to be exceptional is had them in abundance. Deep blackberry color, nose of fruits and leather. No unripe flavors from grape or oak whatsoever.
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Decanted for 30 minutes prior to drinking and it could have used significantly longer time. Suggest 2-3 hours of decanting time so that the cherry, currant, spice, and oak will integrate better, and also so that the finish lasts longer (which it did, quite nicely, on the last glass of the evening). With proper decanting time this is ready to drink now, though I believe cellar time will allow it to improve even more. Overall this was a very nice Cab and at $37 or so, a good QPR in my opinion.
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Agree with most of the reviews. Bought for around $36, I would say this scores well from QPR perspective. The negatives are the nose (a bit thin) and there is some excess heat to the finish. Upsides, this is a concentrated and intense California Cab that out-performs the $50+ luxury brands. Bold, strong wine with present, integrated oak. Really enjoyed the long finish. Outstanding wine.
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One of the better value (under $40) california cabernets I've had. This has huge extraction with good fine grained tannins and good acidity. Everything is integrated extremely well. Nice cedar and oak to balance out the deep fruit and make it interesting. Rich but Elegant..lots of flavor. All the above makes for a Very nice nose on this. I've had $100 Cabs that weren't this good. I had the 2003 Lewis last night and was hoping for fruit like this but it didn't quite have it. 92-93Pts
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Popped and poured. I noticed lovely Cab aromas immediately after removing the cork. To me, that's always a good sign of what's in store. Left the bottle open for 45 minutes before pouring a glass...Just a great Cab...cassis, dark fruits, vanilla extract...even a hint of soy. Slightly chewy tannins suggest that this wine may even have some short term aging potential. Nice finish, more than I expected. My wife commented on how much she liked this wine - Really, in the end her comments are always my true gauge for how yummy any wine is!
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This is an exceptional bottle of wine. The scent is of burnt coffee and dark fruit. The mouthfeel is of finegrained tannins. The fruit and acid are blended beautifully, making this a multi-layered winner. One of the better California blends I've had.
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From start to finish this was a beautiful wine experience. I've been on a quest for reasonably priced Napa cabs recently and most in the $40 range don't tend to perform like those in the upper price ranges. This one does -- supple soft tannins, bursting cherry, well integrated oak, and possibly just a hint of vanilla. Can't wait until I can break open another one, but I'll be good and hold off for a year or two. Unless I see it in the store again and snag a few more bottles.
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This is a highly extracted, super dark cab with waves of dark berry fruit and a long and viscous finish. At times it reminded me of a rich syrah as much as a new-world california cab. I can't think of a better value than this wine at $40 - will definitely buy more.
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Drank with Debbie on our 5th anniversary. Very nice cabernet. Decanted 1 hour. Beautiful match with grilled ribeye steaks. Definately a young wine and should continue to improve in the cellar.
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Saw WS rating of 93 so had to try it. Upon opening it was all fruit upfront and short finish so decanted an hour. Wine opened up nicely, very well balanced, Moderate tannins without much dryness. Nose of Baked Cherries, blackberry, cassis with some anise, spice and subtle oak. The more air the wine got the more anise I noticed on the nose, which I don't really care for a lot of anise. Fairly complex on the palate with blackberries, black currants, anise, smokey oak and some starbucks peppermint mocha frappaccino on the finish. Very Smooth, medium to fullbodied, tight and slightly faint finish. Could use some cellaring.
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Dark ruby/purple in color. The nose is cedar and oaky. The fruit bursts through on the palate with ripe sweet cherry, plum and a slight hint of bell pepper. The finish is long and spicy with a hint of oak. Tannins are well integrated and will no doubt soften more over time but despite its age it's drinking well now.
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Decanted for an hour. Well integrated, bursting with blackberry and cassis with smooth vanilla and muted oak notes and a long finish. A very characteristic, well rounded Napa cab without the harsh tannins.
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a delight. The nose was filled with currents, but in a light springlike waft. Mouthfeel is medium with cassis, chocalate, and cedar notes. Tannin structure is firm without being in any way harsh. I think this will be even better in a couple years.
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1st one of these of my bunch of 4. Big fruit out the gates that softens somewhat with air. Strong tannin fills out a good backbone of red currant and cassis. Will only improve.
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Double decanted. Wine was gushing fruit upon opening, and stayed strong for several hours. Almost like a mixed fruit pop tart. Wine softened nicely about 3 hours into the bottle, showing some soft tanins and mice weight and mouthfeel. Probably has the potential to hit 90-91 with a few years of age, and may buy more. Fairly-priced, but not a great value @ $40.
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Much a primary wine showing good structure and very good potential. Nicely oaked with moderate tannin, the nose seemed closed to me. The fruit and Napa terroir are developing and will become a much better wine in 18 to 24 months I think.
I have not been able to taste their (approaching) ledgendary 2002 which will be this wine's benchmark for years to come.
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Great cabernet. Unfortunately not as ballsy as 2002 and 2003 vintages. Maybe it will develop a bit. I hope it isn't the result of the "generification" of CA wines...with some scientific "idea" of what exactly people want. In the past this was a unique wine that had a nice kick. It lacks it in this vintage...so far.
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woody lacked the signature profile of concentrated dark fruit. Good structure The wine held together over 3 days of sitting out. Had high hopes, but unfulfilled.
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Napa Valley Vintner's Big Nightlife Napa Valley Magnum Tasting Party (San Francisco, CA): A young gem that I expect will get better with a couple of years of bottle age. Aromas/flavors of black currant, blackberry, cassis, spice and vanilla. Big young tannins balance the fruit and deliver a well structured wine with a rich mouthfeel. Good depth and complexity. Long, lingering finish. For the price, the Chappellet Signature Cab has been one of my favorite Napa Cabs for the past 5 vintages and this vintage does not disappoint.
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5/20/2021 - TomFitz Likes this wine: 91 Points
A very nice mouth feel and structure but not much fruit left. I would say drink it now if you have it.
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5/10/2021 - grafstrb wrote: 89 Points
-- decanted 45 min. before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over 2 to 3 hours --
NOSE: expressive; dark red fruits; hints of shoe polish and sweet black licorice; has that high-toned aged C.S. thing going on.
BODY: medium to medium-full bodied; dark red color with slight bricking throughout.
TASTE: sweet oak; a touch tannic; fruit likely falling away now, leaving the oak behind; "dark" (black licorice) when paired with steak -- the pairing was, to me surprise, poor. One of the longest-tenured wines in our cellar: I think this is already on its downslope. Drink Now.
50, 5, 12, 15, 7 = 89
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2/29/2020 - BBinSC wrote: 93 Points
92-94: feels fully resolved; really fine, surprised at the amount of red fruit I find; smooth, silky, quite tasty. Went fast - wish I had more!
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12/30/2018 - Thompsons wrote:
Still very good
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1/1/2017 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 91 Points
Tasted on day two. Very well integrated and softened. Solid dark berries on both the palate and the nose. A little bit of dirtiness ok the palate too. Moderate tannins (5.5/10) and moderate plus to full bodied. Lingering finish. Drink till 2018.
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12/31/2016 - Skip4wine wrote: 92 Points
Fully mature. A cali style although with a tamed fruit profile but still mouth filling. Love this producer at this price point. 4 to 5 years left. At its peak now.
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12/30/2016 - cab blends wrote: 89 Points
Pnp - Needs a little decanting
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7/2/2016 - Combo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow! Still fabulous! I was concerned this might be past peak, but it's not. I wish this wasn't my last bottle.
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12/28/2015 - AlexHop Likes this wine: 93 Points
Awesome. Lush and rich with plenty of great dark fruit still and a long finish.
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12/13/2015 - Frijole wrote:
dark inky red, little clarity, slight brickish hue
Nose: cassis, blackberry, sweet tobacco, vanilla, cola, clove, black pepper, smoke, ethanol, toasted oak
Pal: cassis, blackberry, sweet tobacco, vanilla, cola, sawdust, clove, black pepper, iron, smoke, tannins, toasted oak
Feel: full, savory, touch cloying
Finish: long
TC8
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9/10/2015 - andtheodor wrote: 89 Points
Double blind. Raspberry, chocolate, ripe and sweet, seems refined and well made but not sure I like it all that much. Had to deny the substance but there just isn't the layers or complexity, just gloss.
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9/1/2015 - Doc90 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted blind. Nose of potting soil, delicious caramel, candied red fruit, and plumeria. Spicy, peppery, and briny on entrance. Black currant, olives, and mossy earth. The funk blows off after an hour to reveal berries and graham cracker. I think I actually liked it better when it was a bit funkier, but there's no denying the fruit is ripe and extracted, and it is aging well. This was one that deserved more attention, and it suffered from sharing the stage with half a dozen other wines.
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8/30/2015 - snaff Likes this wine: 92 Points
Part of a blind tasting. Still bursting with bright fruit, and fresh black currant. Long finish with black pepper and hints of earth.
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5/24/2015 - stevenrcagle wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with notes from 11/14.
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5/24/2015 - stevenrcagle wrote: 93 Points
See previous notes. Fantastic cab, at its peak.
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5/3/2015 - MoreWinePlease Likes this wine: 90 Points
It's been a few years since I visited the '04 so I was thinking it was past its peak. Color of ripe bing cherry. Good aromatics.
Wow, this is one of the most port-like cabs I've had in the past five years. I've been a big fan of all Chappellet's red wines. Although the oak in this particular bottle has integrated, the abundant tannins let you know they're still there (not unlike a good port). Lots of black cherry, currents, some black berry dark chocolate and a little red raspberry. Not particularly thick but almost too rich. May be at peak or give it another 3yrs to see if it continues to knit. Some may find this a bit too much.
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11/28/2014 - stevenrcagle Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark color, intense fruit on the nose, big, bold intense wine, silky, nicely structured, blueberry, raspberry, oak is there, subtle. Tannins rounded. Drinking very nicely, no signs of being over the hill, though may be at peak. Should be good for a few years.
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11/21/2014 - kcp Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still a bit young, surprised to say. Good, deep fruit. Tnnins are yet a bit dominant though not unpleasant.
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5/10/2014 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 Points
Took to a party. My favorite out of 20+ wines, and any number of other people agreed. Dark, with no signs of age. None of the earthiness I detected on a bottle several months ago - just dark fruit and a boatload of pumpkin pie spices. Nice texture and a good finish. I love the way Chappellet Cabernets age - long and well - and this was no exception.
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11/30/2013 - Volunteers76 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Truly a great wine for it's price point. Should age for another five years.
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11/20/2013 - Joegish Likes this wine: 90 Points
Was worried about heat damage as this bottle had evidence of a small leak. No problems. Top shoulder fill, fresh fruit, balanced and delicious. Was a very good $25 buy. Glad to have another bottle.
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11/18/2013 - Rollerball wrote: 92 Points
More dimensions, comfort, and amplitude than the '07 in a side-by-side.
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10/4/2013 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 93 Points
Simply fantastic...last one too. Sucks.
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9/22/2013 - Rollerball wrote: 90 Points
Deep and dense with medium complexity and just enough lift to keep it honest at the tip of the tongue. Yummy and without flaw.
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7/3/2013 - Night Train Likes this wine: 91 Points
Spontaneous pop and pour at the end of a party. Typical Chappellet (a good thing). Extremely rich and luxurious. Black fruit and pumpkin pie spice, but with a hint of earthiness I hadn't noticed with previous bottles. A francophile would think it was better for it, but I think it was slightly flawed,
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6/8/2013 - Vetluver Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank this as part of a flight with the 05 and 06. This was the most fruit forward wine in the bunch despite being the oldest. It had a really young feel with dark fruit and long finish.
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5/5/2013 - Rollerball wrote: 92 Points
Utterly delicious (if a little boozy next to a 12.5% '00 D'Armailhac).
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3/16/2013 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 Points
Typical Chappellet (a good thing). First bottle in a little over a year. PNP at a party. Very rich, very balanced, very smooth. Berries and pumpkin pie spices. Nice rich finish. Holding up well (no surprise).
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3/1/2013 - AlexHop wrote: 94 Points
Really impressive. Huge floral nose with some cherry and tropical notes. Bold mouth feel but well integrated and balanced with classic Napa character. Long finish.
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2/12/2013 - Tarokun wrote: 93 Points
Awesome big long leather fruit finish!
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2/8/2013 - Wink wrote: 92 Points
My last bottle of the wonderful '04 Chappellet Signature Cab. Almost opaque dark garnet. Nose of blackberry, blueberry, espresso, and mint. Ripe, delicious palate of sweet blackberry, plum, mint, graphite, and subtle oak. Excellent length. Silky texture. Pleasant acidity. Integrated tannins and oak. Superb.
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1/31/2013 - redman77 wrote: 91 Points
An Evening of Chappellet 1/25/2013
2003 Chappellet Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Signature - 90 30 mins decant drinking wonderfully still youthful amazing wine
2004 Chappellet Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Signature - 91 lush 30 mins decanted mouth coating red fruit gentle wine
2005 Chappellet Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Signature - 93 Home Run WOTN - wow fruit structure and mojo
2006 Chappellet Vineyard Mountain Cuvee - 88 Solid mellow cuvee more oak than fruit
2007 Chappellet Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Signature - 92 Outstanding - some citrus? But a long finish...great nose
2008 Chappellet Vineyard Mountain Cuvee - 90 Delightful probably right in the peak of drinking window
2008 Chappellet Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Signature 91 - Big wine, red fruit, cider, vanilla....love this wine
2010 Chappellet Vineyard Mountain Cuvee "Cervantes" 87 - Tannic needs a longer decant or cellar nap still enjoyable
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12/26/2012 - Lakersguy wrote: 93 Points
Another Magnum of this wine. The Magnum last year wasn't near as good as this one was. This Magnum was more like it. Slow Ox for 6 hours before drinking. This was much younger than the same wine from Magnum last year. I bought these at the same time upon release. Nice nose of cherries. Seamless on the palate. Much better finish with this bottle. Delicious!
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12/2/2012 - TheEngineer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rather tight at this point in time, nonetheless withsome coxing, this wine showed very well, crunchy and ripe berries, good floral component, elegant, power and yet balanced. Deft hands indeed.
Lovely wine.
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10/12/2012 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful. This big, full bodied cab was smoooooth beyond belief, rich, flavorful, just really nice. Dark fruits, tobacco, oak, pencils on the palate. Long finish. Deeeeep. Balanced.
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10/6/2012 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 93 Points
Only one bottle left...sigh.
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7/8/2012 - scooterdog wrote:
excellent
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7/7/2012 - Wink wrote:
Down to the last few bottles of this case. Little to add to previous notes (most recent 3/26/12). This wine is probably close to its peak. Excellent. Drink up.
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5/22/2012 - briquette wrote: 95 Points
- Ruby color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Smooth texture with a long finish.
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5/9/2012 - tfesmgk wrote: 91 Points
Surprised at the strength of this wine. Dark and full, tannic but balanced. All round very good.
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3/31/2012 - PSUSteve Likes this wine:
Wow what a different experience from the last bottle. On pop and pour, this bottle was singing. This had tons of depth with layers of flavor. A unique combination of cherry and charcoal on the mid palate and a lengthy finish.
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3/26/2012 - Wink wrote: 92 Points
Only a few bottles left. Dark garnet. Nose of dark fruit, licorice, cedar, and spice. Ripe palate that skews to the dark fruit/tar end of the Cabernet flavor spectrum. Spicy with graphite and minerals. Excellent length. Integrated oak. Racy acidity. Fading tannins. This excellent wine is unlikely to get better with more time in the cellar.
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1/24/2012 - Wink wrote: 92 Points
Little to add to prior notes. Ripe and delicious. At its peak.
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1/5/2012 - elbosco wrote: 92 Points
Nice complexity and balance. In a good place but not for long.
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12/26/2011 - Lakersguy wrote: 91 Points
From Magnum. Opened for several hours before drinking. Beautiful Cab. A little thin on the pallet and looks older than it is. I agree that this is probably at its peak or very close to it. Very enjoyable.
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12/14/2011 - PSUSteve wrote: 88 Points
On pop and pour or through Vinturi, this wine was an OK daily drinker but nothing special and certainly nothing stood out. Would consider giving the next bottle an extended decant to see if it coaxes anything out.
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12/10/2011 - Night Train wrote: 92 Points
First bottle I've tasted since right after its initial release. Took it to a party, and at least one guy (whose opinion I respect when he agrees with me) declared it the WOTN. Black fruit and pumpkin pie spices on the nose. Same components on the palate, along with a little chocolate and maybe a hint of coffee. Definitely not over-the-top, with no single element standing out - it was just beautifully balanced. Fairly rich, with a decent finish. It seems slightly past its peak, but with Chappellet's track record for age-worthiness, it's probably just getting warmed up.
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12/7/2011 - jad1964 wrote: 92 Points
at peak or just past it in my view. simply "medium" all the way around, but pretty darn good.
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12/3/2011 - krmcgrath wrote: 88 Points
Maybe a little past it's peak. Dark red and black fruit with a little spice and acidity and resolved tannins. A little woody but what ultimately strikes me is the hollowness in the early to mid stages of tasting it.
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11/29/2011 - rougeamore wrote: 93 Points
Aromas of raspberry, chocolate, blackberries with a hint of pepper. Tannins are very fine and smooth. Flavor of blackberry, spice, chocolate and cedar. Drinking great right now. Glad we opened now rather than wait. Agree with others that it's probably at it's peak. Mr Titus you are the best!
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11/14/2011 - amgryger wrote:
NY/NJ Offline at Ciano (Ciano, NYC): Dark color. Red and blue fruit on the palate with black coffee and spicy oak on the nose. Similar notes on the palate. Medium to medium hi tannin, medium acidity, and a medium long finish.
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10/18/2011 - EMTAME wrote: 90 Points
Very nice. Dark fruits with a bit of cedar and spice. Not as structured as I expected, making it more accessible without being a fruit bomb. Some fine tannins in the finish and a fair amount of sediment. I believe this is at peak.
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9/28/2011 - jimmythesaint wrote:
Nice bottle of wine but not outstanding.
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9/27/2011 - team-blackburn wrote: 90 Points
Still needs a good hour decant.
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7/9/2011 - ms808 wrote: 93 Points
Drinking wonderful now. Rich old school bdx like with nose and palate. Balanced with rose pedals, sweet cigar, bitter chocolate, with enough fruit. Tannins are present but very silky due to aging. Had the CA vanaCouldn'the a good way. Couldn't get enough. I would say this year is the sweet spot
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6/26/2011 - tplskylrk wrote: 92 Points
Black. Roasted fruits off the glass. Licorice, deep blue black fruit fills the palate, this is a baby monster, nice sweet tannins, oak restrained, lingers deep.
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6/12/2011 - Outplaying wrote:
Chappellet Vertical 2000-2008 (The Twelves, West Grove PA): In the flight of 03, 04 and 05, I wrote that this was my favorite but not much else. Fruity but not over the top or too ripe. I'll try to sit on my remaining bottles for a while.
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6/1/2011 - bruinesq84 wrote: 87 Points
pop and aerate (eventually twice). Over the top sweet; ALOT of Fruit, a little green in the background, but way in the background to really imapct the wine. Not for me. PASS
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5/8/2011 - davidwilliamson wrote: 89 Points
Nicely oaked - great black fruit. Hints of chocolate and tobacco went great with some grilled spare ribs!
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4/18/2011 - xboomer wrote: 90 Points
My last bottle of 04. A really good bottle of Cab for under $40. I'll miss it.
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4/16/2011 - russdan60 wrote: 92 Points
Followed a World's End 08 Cab and before a Cliff Lede Poetry Cabernet, this bottle held it's own nicely. Opened up immediately and had a nice finish. Nice Napa Cab well made with nice fruit.
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4/13/2011 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 93 Points
Drinking great...opens right up and full bodied.
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4/6/2011 - FPNova wrote:
Best wine in an evening of 6 really good wines. Very nicely matured Cab. Dark purple color. Great jammy blackberry & plum with silky smooth tannins on a great long finish. The clear favorite of the evening for all who were there.
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3/11/2011 - Wink wrote: 94 Points
Popped and poured. Dark, opaque purple with a red rim. Nose of blackberry, fig, licorice, smoke and cedar. Lush, ripe palate of blackberry, hoisin, minerals, menthol, graphite, and some espresso. Outstanding length. Pleasant acidity. Sweet tannins. This wine is peaking!
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2/26/2011 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Consistent notes
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12/24/2010 - sjk7 wrote: 92 Points
Consistently good.
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11/27/2010 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Still would benefit from a bit more time I think. Decanted and opened up nicely after an hour or so, but still evolving and needs more time.
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11/25/2010 - Wink wrote: 92 Points
Served with Thanksgiving dinner. No notes. Excellent wine. Should have served before '04 Darioush
Signature Shiraz. After such a big wine, it tasted lighter than it is.
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10/19/2010 - Wink wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Dark purple with reddish tint. Opulent nose of plum, fig, blackberry, smoke, and cedar. Full ripe palate of blackberry, licorice, spice, and minerals. Excellent length. Supple tannins. Nice tart acidity. Really drinking well. Beautiful balance. Enough structure to last another severals years in the cellar. But why wait?
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10/13/2010 - iamandyc wrote: 92 Points
Outstanding on day #2. Rich, velvety on the palate with really dark fruits, chocolate and cedar. The lack of a nose keeps the score in check. Really good QPR.
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10/10/2010 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 95 Points
Drinking great...no decant, pop and poured...balanced fruit, not over the top. As good an 04 cab as I've had.
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9/5/2010 - joshwoodward wrote: 90 Points
Just a solid Napa Cab. Nothing particularly special, but very well made. I'd like more structure all-around, but as a solo sipper it's good. Drink up.
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8/27/2010 - Outplaying wrote:
I have been wanting to open one of these for a while and with some of the recent notes about this not aging well it seemed like the time. Unfortunately, I have misplaced my notes. What I remember is that this was pretty soft and that the tannins had integrated nicely. We didn't find it very green or herbal as others had mentioned recently. This was very enjoyable and is drinking very well right now but should be able to go a couple more years.
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8/21/2010 - team-blackburn wrote: 90 Points
Agree with WinstonWolfe
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8/17/2010 - RDHudak wrote: 91 Points
Color: deep plumb. Nose: weak and somewhat tight nose of leather, spice and some fruit. Taste: A austere palate of spice, tannins and some weak, faded fruit. Finish: Short-medium finish of fruits that seemed past their prime and more spice. This was a weak showing of one of my favorite wines. This has fallen off of a cliff since the last bottle I tasted. The cork also had fluid right up to the end, despite being properly stored. I agree with Winston Wolf, this is headed to a greenish, over the hill wine. Drink up!
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8/7/2010 - Taylor56 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 60 minutes. This is a cab that is ready now. Soft tannins with an overall nice mouthfeel. A tad light on acidity, medium weight - just a slight flabbiness on the finish. Dark fruit, hints of cocoa. About at its prime - Drink.
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7/18/2010 - iamandyc wrote: flawed
Corked.
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6/26/2010 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 1hr, gamy, earthy nose, nice red berrish fruit, sandwich between stewed tomatoes and toasty earthy woodsy flavors on the palate. Based on this bottle still quite primary with plenty of room for development. 90+
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6/12/2010 - WinstonWolfe wrote: 90 Points
A completely different wine from the last time we opened our last bottle a year and a half ago. Last time chocolate cherry - this time - green, dark fruit, dark chocolate and tobacco. I even got a little bit of rye bread on the nose. Not thrilled with the way this aged because this is headed toward the herbal, green ,fruitless cab that Cali cabs can turn into to. IMO, drink now!
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5/9/2010 - tim m wrote: 92 Points
Great example of a fruit forward Napa cab. Raspberry on the palate. Nice finish. Well done.
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4/1/2010 - Ynelover wrote: 90 Points
popped and left in bottle for 3hrs. then consumed over a 24hr period. surprisingly, this wine has really changed after my last btl a yr ago. still opens up to jammy sweet nose and now beginning to show some burnt orange/rust rim color. this wine has moved quickly from bold fruit bomb to a soft, supple and mellow wine. nice prevalent tannins, with dark fruit and nice hersey chocolate. the finish was a tad short. this wine has really thinned out and might be aging a bit too fast even with proper storage. we'll see where this one goes!
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3/30/2010 - Wayne Richmon wrote: 91 Points
Same as earlier
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3/28/2010 - Wayne Richmon wrote: 91 Points
A rich ripe smooth easy drinking cab. Taiinis stayed in check, enjoyed by all.
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3/27/2010 - Wink wrote: 92 Points
Drank while vacationing on Perdido Key. Didn't take notes. This wine is always lush and delicious. Glad I have more bottles.
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3/16/2010 - jbro wrote: 89 Points
opened and consumed over two nights. Nowhere near as appealing as the previous bottle.
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3/6/2010 - Venezia wrote: 92 Points
A fruit bomb. Dark berries come through. light nose. quite impressive.
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3/2/2010 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 92 Points
Excellent...fruit forward, balanced and great finish...opened and let sit for 30 minutes with no decant. Ready to go.
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2/7/2010 - Coupe 60 wrote: 92 Points
popped and poured at a restaurant. Wow...this was great, and by my last glass about 2 hours in, it was unbelievable. Not an overly big nose. Dark fruit on the palate, with a black liquorish taste that gives it a little spice, Great velvetty mouthfeel. Good use of oak. This wine had great fruit yet great balance. Medium + body, and nice acidity. A great wine and a great value at <$39. Wish I had more
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1/13/2010 - sjk7 wrote: 92 Points
Consistent notes.
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1/11/2010 - fdaner wrote: 93 Points
Opened for playoff weekend. Only had a taste on day 1 but thought it was tight and a bit thin. Pumped and corked for day 2. Wow , this has picked up considerable weight. Deep purple, floral and still a bit shy on the nose. This is a stud of a Cab upon tasting. Cassis, purple fruit, licorice. Big but with plenty of weight and structure to balance everything out. Tannins are still pretty evident. No rush at all to drink this. Hold or long decant. will have to search out some more to store away. A great value.
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1/10/2010 - jbro wrote: 92 Points
Out of the bottle this is almost stewed and prunish. With some air and time to open, say three hours, the nose turns to purple fruit and flowers and the wine is lovely in the mouth. Fruit, tobacco, inegrated tannis and oak with a modrately long finish. I say give it another year for the next bottle and see how it evolves.
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1/2/2010 - gordoyflaca wrote: 92 Points
Blackberry and cherry, very round and smooth.
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12/11/2009 - Bacchusboy wrote: 92 Points
When first opened and poured, the nose of Vanilla Cream was commented upon by myself and another in our party. The red fruit, tobacco and musty dust present on the initial attach continued on to the mid palate. The tannins were smooth and sweet, with a great acid balance on the moderate finish. Simply a great wine for the money and a pleasure to drink....I am glad I have more.
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11/29/2009 - FPNova wrote: 91 Points
Blackberry and spice with still a bit of a little tannic edge - but very nice and will get better yet with age
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11/27/2009 - jad1964 wrote: 92 Points
not sure i would rank this one up there with the in-ur-face cabs that i personally prefer, like neal, cliff lede, or oroppas. but gave it a 2-hr decant. & it was very very good. more refined & balanced on all fronts than most, simply not over the top.
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11/15/2009 - skisdeeppow wrote:
I've had this several times and my experiences have varied, but last night's bottle was great. Decanted for about 2 hours. Nice dark fruit, chocolate and some oak on the nose. Tannins are integrating nicely. Medium plus finish. Great value.
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11/12/2009 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Well balanced with dark fruit, coffee and chocolate notes.
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10/18/2009 - dirtyharry wrote: 93 Points
Rich, lush dark fruit. Bold flavors. A great cab
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6/21/2009 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 90 Points
Nice but nothing special.
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6/14/2009 - Outplaying wrote:
Dinner with friends (Jeffs - Wilmington, Delaware): I didn't take notes on this one. Ann (and everyone else) really liked it.
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5/30/2009 - Taylor56 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 3 hours (probably a mistake). This is a restaurant wine - built to be consumed young. Medium weight with cherry fruit and just a hint of cocoa. Not tannic or overly-oaked. Overall a nice, young cab that can be consumed now.
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5/18/2009 - RDHudak wrote: 93 Points
Color: Beautiful Nose: Nice nose of spices, herbs and certainly fruit with a hint of oak. Taste: Red and dark fruit with silky tannins and a nice integration of oak. I also detected spice and vanilla. Typical Napa flavor profile. Nice long complex finish. I had it against a 1999 Mondavi Reserve and I think it beat it by a point or 2. A screaming bargain at $40.00. For the below mentioned $31.00, I would have a case. I think Spectator nailed it at 93pts.
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5/2/2009 - FPNova wrote: 91 Points
At a wine tasting party we did five wines with dinner: a vertical tasting of 03, 04 and 05 Chappallet Cabernet, an 04 Costers del Siurana Priorat Clos de L'Obac, and an 01 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino. Each of these wines were huge hits with our guests but the Clos de L'Obac Priorat was the clear standout - the unanimous winner for all of our guests. The Poggio Antico Brunello was a clear number 2 choice, followed by the 04 Chappallet, then the 03 Chappallet and finally the 05.
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3/22/2009 - vinole wrote: 91 Points
I was able to buy this for $31 with a coupon and wish I had gotten more at that price (though I just picked up another bottle of 03 Ladera for less than $31). I decanted this for an hour, and there are still prevalent tannins, but they are smooth and unobtrusive as there is good, solid fruit to offset and the wine is well balanced. There is both red and dark fruit with significant tannin and medium acidity on a finish of about 30-35 seconds. No heat either. Not quite the layers or complexity to score higher, but a very nice wine that is worth its price more so than most other Napa cabs.
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2/4/2009 - RDHudak wrote: flawed
Mildly corked. Smelled like it had promise, but couldn't get over the corked smell. First one of the 3 I have that I opened. Hope this isn't a trend.
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1/24/2009 - idrinkvino wrote: 93 Points
Cooling down a little with age. Still full of dark fruit and licorish, integrated tannins and coffee. A lovely lot of wine.
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12/29/2008 - dtirsell wrote: 90 Points
Shared at recent wine club outing. Well integrated, smooth, rich cherry, oak. Right time to taste, tannins have smoothed this one out, don't see much upside.
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12/27/2008 - ajaffee wrote: 89 Points
The first thing you notice is the light red color, and then the mild nose. After a few hours of decanting, you also get to experience moderate bright red cherry and complementary spice flavors which seem light for a Napa cabernet. I didn't pick up other secondary flavors, and no changes through the finish. I might be missing the nuances of this wine, which for some will likely be a very enjoyable sophisticated cab, and I'll defer to them to give this wine the proper tasting notes it deserves. It's certainly well made, and in balance for what I experienced. But for me, I prefer big and chewy in a Napa cab.
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12/24/2008 - Cibolo wrote:
Excellent! Balanced, smooth, not overdone.
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12/22/2008 - *Vine* wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Medium to dark, black cherry hue. Initially showing slightly tight, with aromas of fresh cherries, blackberries, currant, and some spice. After about 30 minutes in glass the nose gained additional nuances of cedar and fresh herbs. Medium-plus body. Flavorful, fruit driven palate mirrors the nose, but has a touch of elegance and refinement, with notes of earth and spice from the oak balancing out the flavors that might otherwise come across as simple. Tannins are smooth on the finish. This could definitely use another 3-5 years in the cellar but is drinking nicely right now for an '04.
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12/4/2008 - davidandrose wrote: 90 Points
Poured half off into an empty .375 and decanted the balance. Medium in weight, still a tinge of green taste but hardly evident compared to LY. Nice well-balanced cab
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11/28/2008 - pkbackman wrote: 91 Points
Let decant for about an hour for best results. This is a great Napa Cab "value" as you can't find this quality very often for under $40.
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11/24/2008 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 93 Points
Dark color with intense aromas of ripe cassis, tabacco, scorched earth and bell peppers with some cocca. Full and concentrated, finishes up long, with polished tannins. (Best from 2008-2016)
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11/11/2008 - Clarkmeister wrote: 85 Points
Not as good as last time. Super fruity upfront but the finish is short and crisp, disappointing.
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10/13/2008 - qualjohn wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Rich cherry on the nose predominated, with some currant balancing it out. Very fruit forward. Bright and smooth. Perfect compliment to the filet mignon we had.
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9/23/2008 - MRASHTIANMD wrote: 93 Points
just beautifull, excellent 2004 NAPA cab, as good as it can get
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9/7/2008 - idrinkvino wrote: 94 Points
Absolutely gorgeous wine tasting of burnt coffee, chocolate, tar presenting itself with waves of flavour.
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5/31/2008 - Grinder wrote: 92 Points
Dark and opaque color. Ripe fruit, and hints of bramble on the nose. Delicious and complex. Black cherry, blackberry, spice and hints of blueberry on the palate. Well-structured, with balanced fruit, tannins, and vibrant acidity. Drinkable now certainly, but this will develop with some age.
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3/22/2008 - shiraz guy wrote: 93 Points
This was a darn good bottle. Nice fruit and finish. I had to let it decant out some of the heat initially though. But after that, it all came together nicely.
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3/16/2008 - Jazzman wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured again.
Tannins initially. This really needs about 90 minutes in a decanter before touching. You won't be disappointed.
The nose on this wine shows coffee and chocolate notes. There's also a bit of a vegetal component (Green/red pepper).
Great wine. Highly recommented.
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3/1/2008 - Jazzman wrote: 91 Points
Decanted and poured a taste.
Initial notes:
Color is opaque purple with ruby edges.
Aromas of chocolate, plums, dried cherries, sage, oak and a little cedar.
Flavors are chocolate, plum, and black cherry with a nice dose of earthiness and oak with a hint of mint.
Finish is long, showing nice tannins, chocolate, coffee, and some oak and a bit of heat.
Tannins are surprisingly tame for such a young wine. Good structure and balance.
Very nice. This is 91+. Still a glass or two to finish.
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2/15/2008 - poptart_nyc wrote: 90 Points
Great concentration with amazing legs. Legs aren't supposed to be an indicator of quality, but every Cali cab ive found to be exceptional is had them in abundance. Deep blackberry color, nose of fruits and leather. No unripe flavors from grape or oak whatsoever.
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2/9/2008 - sjk7 wrote: 92 Points
An excellent cab at a an affordable price.
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2/7/2008 - DuckfaninMT wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes prior to drinking and it could have used significantly longer time. Suggest 2-3 hours of decanting time so that the cherry, currant, spice, and oak will integrate better, and also so that the finish lasts longer (which it did, quite nicely, on the last glass of the evening). With proper decanting time this is ready to drink now, though I believe cellar time will allow it to improve even more. Overall this was a very nice Cab and at $37 or so, a good QPR in my opinion.
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1/1/2008 - shiraz guy wrote: 93 Points
No notes taken, but this was very good. Nice complexity and long finish.
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12/30/2007 - momat wrote: 93 Points
Lots of fruit/ good balance of tannins and rich/bold
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12/30/2007 - hamiltonc wrote: 91 Points
Firm tannins. Dark fruit. Lots of Oak. Very nice.
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12/10/2007 - whynblog wrote: 93 Points
See previous notes. Still an outstanding wine and an excellent value.
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12/8/2007 - pkbackman wrote: 92 Points
Fabulous wine. Wasn't taking notes, but this is a great value at $39
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12/1/2007 - cab blends wrote: 91 Points
Good strong (more towards a French Cab) yet smooth complex tannins. Heavy dark chocolate. Chocolate and tannins were ahead of the fruit.
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11/25/2007 - LSKIII wrote: 91 Points
Agree with most of the reviews. Bought for around $36, I would say this scores well from QPR perspective. The negatives are the nose (a bit thin) and there is some excess heat to the finish. Upsides, this is a concentrated and intense California Cab that out-performs the $50+ luxury brands. Bold, strong wine with present, integrated oak. Really enjoyed the long finish. Outstanding wine.
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11/19/2007 - beachnic wrote: 93 Points
One of the better value (under $40) california cabernets I've had. This has huge extraction with good fine grained tannins and good acidity. Everything is integrated extremely well. Nice cedar and oak to balance out the deep fruit and make it interesting. Rich but Elegant..lots of flavor. All the above makes for a Very nice nose on this. I've had $100 Cabs that weren't this good. I had the 2003 Lewis last night and was hoping for fruit like this but it didn't quite have it. 92-93Pts
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11/18/2007 - bruceb wrote: 90 Points
Dominated by dark fruit, oak, and leather, this bottle proved to be enjoyable, if not overly complex.
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11/16/2007 - woodchuckwinemaker wrote:
tastes very hot. decent wine, maybe worth $30, not $40
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11/6/2007 - *Vine* wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. I noticed lovely Cab aromas immediately after removing the cork. To me, that's always a good sign of what's in store. Left the bottle open for 45 minutes before pouring a glass...Just a great Cab...cassis, dark fruits, vanilla extract...even a hint of soy. Slightly chewy tannins suggest that this wine may even have some short term aging potential. Nice finish, more than I expected. My wife commented on how much she liked this wine - Really, in the end her comments are always my true gauge for how yummy any wine is!
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10/12/2007 - whynblog wrote: 93 Points
Still outstanding. See previous notes.
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9/29/2007 - idrinkvino wrote: 95 Points
This is an exceptional bottle of wine. The scent is of burnt coffee and dark fruit. The mouthfeel is of finegrained tannins. The fruit and acid are blended beautifully, making this a multi-layered winner. One of the better California blends I've had.
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9/8/2007 - Schu wrote: 91 Points
From start to finish this was a beautiful wine experience. I've been on a quest for reasonably priced Napa cabs recently and most in the $40 range don't tend to perform like those in the upper price ranges. This one does -- supple soft tannins, bursting cherry, well integrated oak, and possibly just a hint of vanilla. Can't wait until I can break open another one, but I'll be good and hold off for a year or two. Unless I see it in the store again and snag a few more bottles.
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9/4/2007 - slippytoad wrote: 90 Points
Decent enough but not worth the $40. Was probably too drunk by the time we had this to be fair :)
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9/2/2007 - Frijole wrote:
clear, dark burgundy, clarity
Nose: oak, smoke, mint, burnt cherries
Pal: cherries, chalk, oak, mint, fennel
Feel: chalky, full and round
Finish: long
TC8
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8/28/2007 - LSKIII wrote: 94 Points
This is a highly extracted, super dark cab with waves of dark berry fruit and a long and viscous finish. At times it reminded me of a rich syrah as much as a new-world california cab. I can't think of a better value than this wine at $40 - will definitely buy more.
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8/9/2007 - ptheimer wrote: 92 Points
Needs some age, a bit more fruit forward than I expected, still very balanced with smooth tannins and very nice acidity. Want to try again next year
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7/23/2007 - Foster wrote:
Drank with Debbie on our 5th anniversary. Very nice cabernet. Decanted 1 hour. Beautiful match with grilled ribeye steaks. Definately a young wine and should continue to improve in the cellar.
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7/9/2007 - whynblog wrote: 93 Points
Similar to previous notes.
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6/21/2007 - LACERS wrote: 91 Points
Saw WS rating of 93 so had to try it. Upon opening it was all fruit upfront and short finish so decanted an hour. Wine opened up nicely, very well balanced, Moderate tannins without much dryness. Nose of Baked Cherries, blackberry, cassis with some anise, spice and subtle oak. The more air the wine got the more anise I noticed on the nose, which I don't really care for a lot of anise. Fairly complex on the palate with blackberries, black currants, anise, smokey oak and some starbucks peppermint mocha frappaccino on the finish. Very Smooth, medium to fullbodied, tight and slightly faint finish. Could use some cellaring.
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6/19/2007 - whynblog wrote: 93 Points
Dark ruby/purple in color. The nose is cedar and oaky. The fruit bursts through on the palate with ripe sweet cherry, plum and a slight hint of bell pepper. The finish is long and spicy with a hint of oak. Tannins are well integrated and will no doubt soften more over time but despite its age it's drinking well now.
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4/8/2007 - snaff wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for an hour. Well integrated, bursting with blackberry and cassis with smooth vanilla and muted oak notes and a long finish. A very characteristic, well rounded Napa cab without the harsh tannins.
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4/7/2007 - huntly wrote: 90 Points
a delight. The nose was filled with currents, but in a light springlike waft. Mouthfeel is medium with cassis, chocalate, and cedar notes. Tannin structure is firm without being in any way harsh. I think this will be even better in a couple years.
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3/24/2007 - tanglenet wrote:
At a tasting at the Wine Club SF. Quick notes: a little watery and hollow on the palate, with a dry, spicy finish that has touches of mold. Fair.
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1/28/2007 - Rayburn wrote: 90 Points
1st one of these of my bunch of 4. Big fruit out the gates that softens somewhat with air. Strong tannin fills out a good backbone of red currant and cassis. Will only improve.
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1/28/2007 - davidandrose wrote: 88 Points
Double decanted. Wine was gushing fruit upon opening, and stayed strong for several hours. Almost like a mixed fruit pop tart. Wine softened nicely about 3 hours into the bottle, showing some soft tanins and mice weight and mouthfeel. Probably has the potential to hit 90-91 with a few years of age, and may buy more. Fairly-priced, but not a great value @ $40.
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1/19/2007 - HT5 wrote:
Blind Tasting - no reorders:
* 04 Turnbull Cab
* 04 Sebastiani Secolo
* 04 Chappellet Signature Cab
* 03 Silverado Cab
* 04 Vineyard 29 Cru
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1/13/2007 - N2Vin wrote: 90 Points
Much a primary wine showing good structure and very good potential. Nicely oaked with moderate tannin, the nose seemed closed to me. The fruit and Napa terroir are developing and will become a much better wine in 18 to 24 months I think.
I have not been able to taste their (approaching) ledgendary 2002 which will be this wine's benchmark for years to come.
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12/29/2006 - ivsimler wrote: 87 Points
Great cabernet. Unfortunately not as ballsy as 2002 and 2003 vintages. Maybe it will develop a bit. I hope it isn't the result of the "generification" of CA wines...with some scientific "idea" of what exactly people want. In the past this was a unique wine that had a nice kick. It lacks it in this vintage...so far.
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12/2/2006 - Pablo T wrote:
Pleasant, but not as good as the 2003. I am not buying more than the 2 bottles that I have.
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11/20/2006 - GZ3 wrote: 88 Points
A nice medium bodied cabernet, but not as rich as the 2004 Coho or a Madrigal. Bought to contiue testing the 2004 vintage.
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11/13/2006 - 97mjr wrote:
woody lacked the signature profile of concentrated dark fruit. Good structure The wine held together over 3 days of sitting out. Had high hopes, but unfulfilled.
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10/18/2006 - GolferChris wrote: 91 Points
Napa Valley Vintner's Big Nightlife Napa Valley Magnum Tasting Party (San Francisco, CA): A young gem that I expect will get better with a couple of years of bottle age. Aromas/flavors of black currant, blackberry, cassis, spice and vanilla. Big young tannins balance the fruit and deliver a well structured wine with a rich mouthfeel. Good depth and complexity. Long, lingering finish. For the price, the Chappellet Signature Cab has been one of my favorite Napa Cabs for the past 5 vintages and this vintage does not disappoint.
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