From Art's cellar. Having drank all the Simi Reserves, I am drinking the non-reserve cabs. This was not a great wine, well-past its prime. Wine was still clear, 45-minute (or so) decant. During decant and later in the glass, the nose was sour choke cherries and burnt pits with a hint of anisette. Wine was clear, some sediment, dark bowl radiating to amber on the rim. The nose was a good harbinger of the wine's flavor. On the palate, same sour cherry flavor predominated, with some burnt fruit and bad licorice at the end. A little better with food, but just barely hanging on. In another year, it will be even worse and totally gone.
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Starting to brick. Nice nose of oak and fruit. At first I thought the wine was dead, but after an hour or so of decanting it came back to life. The backbone never quite came back. I would say it is several years past its prime, but still enjoyable. Drink up.
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Chocolate, dark currents and snuff. Long follow. Red, no bricking. Tannins are still very present. Could easily go for a few more years. This is delicious!
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Decant. Losing a bit of color now. Nose has some faint cedar, tar & blackberry. Tannins still grip but the notable fruit has faded. This wine was better 5 years ago. If you have it, drink it now. My last bottle & still a positive experience.
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I like my CA cabs with some age but this one clearly did not have the stuffing to last nine years. A little sour, somewhat hot and not very interesting. Tannins are still pretty prevalent but the cherry fruit and oak are very much in the background now. Either keep it for a while to see if it is dumb now or drink quickly, they ain't gettin' any better.
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Better than another recent bottle. This one still has some dark fruits with soft tannins. The nose has some nice dirt and some evergreen. Still, drink up.
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This wine is on the downside of its career. Drink up. Tar and berries in the nose. Tannins are still relatively high but the fruit is fading. There are fading flavors of berry, brambles and eucalyptus. I expected more.
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Proof that California cabs, even cheap ones, can age well. This ligher-style Meritage blend features red fruit, earth and mushrooms flavours and and a nice long finish. Probably at its peak right now.
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Black cherry notes with a bit of currant and vanilla. A little on the dull side - not a lot of tannin or acidity - but not bad. This was my only bottle. I wouldn't hold these much longer.
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A good wine but not quite as good as I thought it might be. A bit less full bodied than the Rodney Strong which we drank. A nice bottle, with some lingering notes. Smooth texture. But not overly powerful.
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11/27/2017 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 78 Points
From Art's cellar. Having drank all the Simi Reserves, I am drinking the non-reserve cabs. This was not a great wine, well-past its prime. Wine was still clear, 45-minute (or so) decant. During decant and later in the glass, the nose was sour choke cherries and burnt pits with a hint of anisette. Wine was clear, some sediment, dark bowl radiating to amber on the rim. The nose was a good harbinger of the wine's flavor. On the palate, same sour cherry flavor predominated, with some burnt fruit and bad licorice at the end. A little better with food, but just barely hanging on. In another year, it will be even worse and totally gone.
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2/2/2014 - lovemycab Likes this wine: 89 Points
solid wine given the age. just enough fruit left to mix with the now mellow tannins. drink up.
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12/16/2012 - Colima74 wrote: flawed
Oxidized/cooked.
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3/16/2010 - gkrueger wrote: 90 Points
Still excellent! even though past its supposed prime.
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6/28/2009 - rbazinet wrote:
Starting to brick. Nice nose of oak and fruit. At first I thought the wine was dead, but after an hour or so of decanting it came back to life. The backbone never quite came back. I would say it is several years past its prime, but still enjoyable. Drink up.
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4/12/2009 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 89 Points
Still good
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6/14/2008 - rbazinet wrote: flawed
TCA
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3/2/2008 - Deryl wrote: 91 Points
Very nice and drinking well, but will not get any better.
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9/17/2007 - storm1969 wrote: 90 Points
Chocolate, dark currents and snuff. Long follow. Red, no bricking. Tannins are still very present. Could easily go for a few more years. This is delicious!
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7/16/2007 - mlawren1 wrote:
Nice cherry and plum flavors, a bit velvety at first like there is more then just a hint of merlot. Nice wine but not going to get any better.
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4/14/2007 - rwilk_2000 wrote: 85 Points
Starting to turn a bit funky. Dring now. Very tannic.
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3/13/2007 - Lando wrote: 84 Points
Decant. Losing a bit of color now. Nose has some faint cedar, tar & blackberry. Tannins still grip but the notable fruit has faded. This wine was better 5 years ago. If you have it, drink it now. My last bottle & still a positive experience.
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1/2/2007 - guitarguy wrote: 85 Points
I like my CA cabs with some age but this one clearly did not have the stuffing to last nine years. A little sour, somewhat hot and not very interesting. Tannins are still pretty prevalent but the cherry fruit and oak are very much in the background now. Either keep it for a while to see if it is dumb now or drink quickly, they ain't gettin' any better.
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12/16/2006 - mraabpfg wrote: 92 Points
Very solid cab with nice soft tannins and a chewy full flavor of soft fruit mingling with earth and a light wood flavor
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11/29/2006 - guitarguy wrote: 88 Points
Better than another recent bottle. This one still has some dark fruits with soft tannins. The nose has some nice dirt and some evergreen. Still, drink up.
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11/13/2006 - guitarguy wrote: 85 Points
This wine is on the downside of its career. Drink up. Tar and berries in the nose. Tannins are still relatively high but the fruit is fading. There are fading flavors of berry, brambles and eucalyptus. I expected more.
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11/1/2006 - vancouvermatt wrote: 90 Points
Proof that California cabs, even cheap ones, can age well. This ligher-style Meritage blend features red fruit, earth and mushrooms flavours and and a nice long finish. Probably at its peak right now.
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4/30/2006 - kmack wrote:
Black cherry notes with a bit of currant and vanilla. A little on the dull side - not a lot of tannin or acidity - but not bad. This was my only bottle. I wouldn't hold these much longer.
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9/5/2005 - goofy Yno wrote: 85 Points
over oaked, rasberry nose. alittle thin. came in last of 6 in a blind tasting.
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6/16/2002 - TaitaJidou wrote: 85 Points
We had it tonight with pepper dish, and it doesn’t hold up quite as well with the stronger flavors of the sausage. Will keep trying.
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6/15/2002 - TaitaJidou wrote: 85 Points
A good wine but not quite as good as I thought it might be. A bit less full bodied than the Rodney Strong which we drank. A nice bottle, with some lingering notes. Smooth texture. But not overly powerful.
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