Drank for 31st anniversary dinner. Lovely bottle. Fully mature cab. A rich mature plum/dark fruit offering. Totally resolved tannins. Likely better 5 years earlier but a fun bottle. Drink up if you have a bottle.
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Had a not great bottle of this a couple of years ago. Was hoping it was an off bottle! (it was)
Beautiful nose of black currant, creme de cassis, charred oak and mint. Medium-bodied, this is fully mature but absolutely delicious at this moment! Drink now.
After dinner: This is still holding up very well, hasn't faded a bit. Some richer black cherry fruit has emerged and that lovely mind and cassis has gotten a bit more vivid. So delicious! Concentration wise 93, delicious-wise 94
Tatiana says 94.
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Score - delicious. Rewarding. Worth cellaring. Coior still magenta hued. Smooth, balanced aromas are classic cabernet -w the RIGHT kind of green component-olive not b pepper. Day 2 2/3 bottle. Rich generous texture w Spicey oak (still) and Classic cab flavors. M/F body. Maraschino Cherries, great balance between LUSH and pleasing acidity w fine grip. Just excellent length- balanced w slightly charred tannins - bright - not astringent at all, and echoed fruit and ripe stems. Dont tell me this was destemmed lol. Pro cellar since release, 60 degree home cellar past 2 years. Ashbury Mkt.
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Dinner with Friends (Reserve 22, Glen Ellyn): Double decanted off its sediment a little over three hours before service. On first pour there’s dark fruit and leather notes, but also something along the lines cedar, but not quite, almost a musty bark note. It took a while to fully reveal itself, but yes, there is definitely some TCA lurking in there, and it became more evident on the palate before it really showed up in the bouquet.
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A little seepage on top of the cork, which came out very softly and quietly. The density and structure of the wine are still there, but the vinegary flavors show the impact of the faulty seal.
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Tasted together with a range of "petits chateaux" from Bordeaux in 2003 and 2004 and Vik 2009, this came out as one of the best. Mature aromas dominated by tobacco, cedar and warm, earth, but also with some underlying blackcurrant and dried fruits. Surprisingly fresh, smooth tannins, and a nice aftertaste dominated by dried fruit and tobacco. Clearly old, but this has really kept well. Was probably best 10 years ago, but the descent is clearly going slow. The surprise of the tasting (although none placed in in Bordeaux).
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1992 & Older Napa Cabs - Blind - With a Few Ringers (Siggy & Jenny's Place, Mpls, MN): Dark red color, 1cm transition at margin. Drank 1 glass blind over 75 minutes. This blind flight contained the '92 Laurel Glen, '92 Montelena, and an '89 Pichon Baron ringer. This was maybe the biggest surprise of the night. A gorgeous wine that really had everything going for it. The nose was sharp with dark fruits, anise seed, funk and earth, wood and graphite. The palate has very juicy dark fruits, very tasty, dark red berries and some soft blue fruits, sleek tannins and a medium plus body. Perfectly balanced and showing a lot more life to be had. 93+ to 94pts.
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Took to buddies 92 & older Cab themed dinner. Popped at the venue and tasted in smaller BDX style glass. This is not the 2nd coming of older Mondavi Reserves but it is a great btl of aged Cali Cab that leans more BDX than CA. In fact it outperformed a big name Paulliac ringer in the flight. Very happy with this btl.
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Beautiful mature and classical Bdx bouquet with some pleasant barnyard which blows off after a while. On the palate cassis, plum, some pleasant bell pepper, leather, tobacco, mint, eucalyptus and sweet spices. Good acidity and silky soft tannin with just a little very pleasant bite. With the low alcohol this wine could easily be mistaken with a Bordeaux. The eucalyptus and that little bit of extra sweetness tell that this is California. At day 2 the little leftover was still very much alive; the sweetness showed a bit more, but it is still a lovely wine with a great length.
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This is really good. Still holding up well, with lots of creosote and black currants, good brightness. This has some pine resin a la Dunn Howell Mtn, and better depth than other Laurel Glen cabs. The tannins are gone. Not complex, but very nice, the acidity kept together. I would drink these now. A-
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Wow. This was an excellent cab. Beautiful coloring - dark garnet/ruby colored. Plum notes hit hard on front end and has a nice finish. Full body wine but more elegant than powerful. Very well balanced. Was delicious for pizza nite, but maybe even better paired with a juicy bone in ribeye.
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Threw some fine sediment during decanting. Crimson core, turning lighter toward the edge. Notes of mint, tobacco, leather and plum. Balanced and nicely integrated, with flavors of plum, dark fruit, leather and tobacco. Nice finish.
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Gorgeous Cabernet. Intensely perfumed (very Paulliac in style - pencil, plum and currants) with a background of dense earth. In the mouth very direct and intense - superb acid balance. In middle maturity - brilliantly defined fruit quality - but with tremendous ripeness apparent - although never in an over the top way. This wine displays textbook balance - feels like a great bordeaux in the mouth. Closer to bordeaux in style than Californian to my taste. This wine opened beautifully. Easily one of my favorite wines of 2010. Years of life ahead of it - I'm sad this was my last bottle.
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The last of my marvelous '92s, which I think was Patrick Campbell's greatest vintage. Gratefully, this was a wonderful bottle. Nose of cassis, earth, pipe tobacco. Full-bodied, richly-textured but with compensating structure provided by mild tannins. Well-balanced in total. On the palate, earthiness, leather, cassis, a touch of eucalyptus and coffee. Medium, complex finish.
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A dark shimmering beauty. Nose of graphite, cedar, blackberries and currant, with a hint of sweat. The impression on the palate is youthful and vibrant, with ripe (but not overripe) dark fruit. Tannins are smooth. Nice lingering finish.
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Unusually dark for an older LG cab. Showed terrific aroma of tobacco, leather, cherry, menthol. Flavors repeat the cherry and mint. It's very very tannic, not pleasing at all. Tightened up over four hours. Ouch. Bottle #2 of two.
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Quite a bit of sediment in the bottle. Decanted through a stainless funnel and screen. Color is dark, almost black, lightening to deep brown/brick, on the meniscus. Essence of tobacco leads dark fruits, and leather on the nose. On tasting, flavor of plum on the front leading to a hint of anise in the middle and a medium finish with red fruits. Tannins were well balanced with fruit and acidity. It felt soft and round with a nice medium body.
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Very good wine. Cherries and earth on the nose. Pretty color. Tannins are well integrated. A very balanced wine. Stood up well with the NY strip we had.
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Double decanted and then took to steak restaurant. Beautiful nose with smells of dried oak leaves, mushrooms, dark fruits, tobacco and chocolate. Very well balanced on the palate. Fruit still holding strong and well concentrated with nice earthiness too. Fine tannins still remain and I would think this wine could continue to last for another few years. I was very impressed with this wine. Not over the top in any way and very harmonious.
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Better than the last bottle, this was the essence of black cherry mixed with olives. A delicous expression of fruit with very fine tannins, this seemed youthful. I don't think it will improve in the sense of giving more complexity. This is abolut the pleasure, in the same vein as CSJ Cinq Cepages.
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An evening in Tucson: Gorgeous and elegant nose, with great red fruits and some earthy notes. On the palate, this is elegant mountain fruit. Silky and pure. Only a touch of earthiness. Some silky tannins on the finish.
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part of our wine dinner line up. Big wine very earthy, heavy tannins and very acidic. Not a wine to sip. Bring on the red meat to accompany it. Let's just say it isn't my cup of tea it made my mouth pucker. I have never tasted a Laurel Glen before and this wouldn't entice me to buy it. perhaps in a year or two.
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Dark red. Big nose, showing fruit and earth. One of the more fruit-packed of the Laurel Glens, but rich and full-bodied with great structure. Drinking really well right now, but should hold for a few years. Nice wine. A-
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Simply outstanding! Full nose of blackberry and black currant with hints of spicy oak, leather and earthy notes. Full body with a long aftertaste. Complex palate, heavy but very well balanced. Smooth and very enjoyable. It's great for drinking now but it should last another 10+ years. Drink 2006-2016.
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10/4/2023 - Rixley Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank for 31st anniversary dinner. Lovely bottle. Fully mature cab. A rich mature plum/dark fruit offering. Totally resolved tannins. Likely better 5 years earlier but a fun bottle. Drink up if you have a bottle.
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7/22/2023 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had a not great bottle of this a couple of years ago. Was hoping it was an off bottle! (it was)
Beautiful nose of black currant, creme de cassis, charred oak and mint. Medium-bodied, this is fully mature but absolutely delicious at this moment! Drink now.
After dinner: This is still holding up very well, hasn't faded a bit. Some richer black cherry fruit has emerged and that lovely mind and cassis has gotten a bit more vivid. So delicious! Concentration wise 93, delicious-wise 94
Tatiana says 94.
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5/30/2022 - Allan Randall Likes this wine: 94 Points
Score - delicious. Rewarding. Worth cellaring. Coior still magenta hued. Smooth, balanced aromas are classic cabernet -w the RIGHT kind of green component-olive not b pepper. Day 2
2/3 bottle. Rich generous texture w Spicey oak (still) and Classic cab flavors. M/F body. Maraschino Cherries, great balance between LUSH and pleasing acidity w fine grip. Just excellent length- balanced w slightly charred tannins - bright - not astringent at all, and echoed fruit and ripe stems. Dont tell me this was destemmed lol.
Pro cellar since release, 60 degree home cellar past 2 years. Ashbury Mkt.
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1/30/2022 - Vino Me wrote: flawed
Opened by AllRed. Mildly corked. No score.
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1/29/2022 - AllRed wrote: flawed
Dinner with Friends (Reserve 22, Glen Ellyn): Double decanted off its sediment a little over three hours before service. On first pour there’s dark fruit and leather notes, but also something along the lines cedar, but not quite, almost a musty bark note. It took a while to fully reveal itself, but yes, there is definitely some TCA lurking in there, and it became more evident on the palate before it really showed up in the bouquet.
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12/28/2018 - Snowryeder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark fruit & Tobacco. Still very enjoyable.
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10/27/2018 - coremill wrote: flawed
A little seepage on top of the cork, which came out very softly and quietly. The density and structure of the wine are still there, but the vinegary flavors show the impact of the faulty seal.
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1/22/2018 - dagij Likes this wine: 85 Points
Tasted together with a range of "petits chateaux" from Bordeaux in 2003 and 2004 and Vik 2009, this came out as one of the best. Mature aromas dominated by tobacco, cedar and warm, earth, but also with some underlying blackcurrant and dried fruits. Surprisingly fresh, smooth tannins, and a nice aftertaste dominated by dried fruit and tobacco. Clearly old, but this has really kept well. Was probably best 10 years ago, but the descent is clearly going slow. The surprise of the tasting (although none placed in in Bordeaux).
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12/18/2016 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
1992 & Older Napa Cabs - Blind - With a Few Ringers (Siggy & Jenny's Place, Mpls, MN): Dark red color, 1cm transition at margin. Drank 1 glass blind over 75 minutes. This blind flight contained the '92 Laurel Glen, '92 Montelena, and an '89 Pichon Baron ringer. This was maybe the biggest surprise of the night. A gorgeous wine that really had everything going for it. The nose was sharp with dark fruits, anise seed, funk and earth, wood and graphite. The palate has very juicy dark fruits, very tasty, dark red berries and some soft blue fruits, sleek tannins and a medium plus body. Perfectly balanced and showing a lot more life to be had. 93+ to 94pts.
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12/18/2016 - chablis28 wrote: 93 Points
Took to buddies 92 & older Cab themed dinner. Popped at the venue and tasted in smaller BDX style glass. This is not the 2nd coming of older Mondavi Reserves but it is a great btl of aged Cali Cab that leans more BDX than CA. In fact it outperformed a big name Paulliac ringer in the flight. Very happy with this btl.
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11/8/2015 - AllRed wrote: flawed
Second Sunday Group: Laurel Glen Sonoma Mountain Vertical 1986-1996 (Our house): Has a noticeable streak of volatile acidity; bouillon cube and a mélange of red & dark fruit underneath. Red berry fruit on the palate with a short, clipped finish. Definitely not a pristine bottle.
My #8, Domino's #8
Group #8, 57 pts
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6/5/2015 - Loekkeboe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very fine cabernet. Classic aromatics with currant, cedar, bell pepper, mint, herb.
Nicely smoothout but still a good tannic bite. Lean in the best sens possible.
Still at least a decade left in it, if well stored.
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10/30/2014 - Uncle John wrote: 92 Points
This was a very nice aged Cali Cab. Very smooth with spices and dark fruits. This was balanced and showed very well tonight.
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10/26/2013 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful mature and classical Bdx bouquet with some pleasant barnyard which blows off after a while. On the palate cassis, plum, some pleasant bell pepper, leather, tobacco, mint, eucalyptus and sweet spices. Good acidity and silky soft tannin with just a little very pleasant bite. With the low alcohol this wine could easily be mistaken with a Bordeaux. The eucalyptus and that little bit of extra sweetness tell that this is California. At day 2 the little leftover was still very much alive; the sweetness showed a bit more, but it is still a lovely wine with a great length.
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3/25/2013 - blanquito wrote:
This is really good. Still holding up well, with lots of creosote and black currants, good brightness. This has some pine resin a la Dunn Howell Mtn, and better depth than other Laurel Glen cabs. The tannins are gone. Not complex, but very nice, the acidity kept together. I would drink these now. A-
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6/28/2012 - gsb88 wrote: 93 Points
Wow. This was an excellent cab. Beautiful coloring - dark garnet/ruby colored. Plum notes hit hard on front end and has a nice finish. Full body wine but more elegant than powerful. Very well balanced. Was delicious for pizza nite, but maybe even better paired with a juicy bone in ribeye.
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7/30/2011 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Threw some fine sediment during decanting. Crimson core, turning lighter toward the edge. Notes of mint, tobacco, leather and plum. Balanced and nicely integrated, with flavors of plum, dark fruit, leather and tobacco. Nice finish.
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9/30/2010 - Marc wrote: 95 Points
Gorgeous Cabernet. Intensely perfumed (very Paulliac in style - pencil, plum and currants) with a background of dense earth. In the mouth very direct and intense - superb acid balance. In middle maturity - brilliantly defined fruit quality - but with tremendous ripeness apparent - although never in an over the top way. This wine displays textbook balance - feels like a great bordeaux in the mouth. Closer to bordeaux in style than Californian to my taste. This wine opened beautifully. Easily one of my favorite wines of 2010. Years of life ahead of it - I'm sad this was my last bottle.
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9/3/2010 - cdunn wrote: 93 Points
The last of my marvelous '92s, which I think was Patrick Campbell's greatest vintage. Gratefully, this was a wonderful bottle. Nose of cassis, earth, pipe tobacco. Full-bodied, richly-textured but with compensating structure provided by mild tannins. Well-balanced in total. On the palate, earthiness, leather, cassis, a touch of eucalyptus and coffee. Medium, complex finish.
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6/16/2010 - HenryW wrote: 94 Points
A dark shimmering beauty. Nose of graphite, cedar, blackberries and currant, with a hint of sweat. The impression on the palate is youthful and vibrant, with ripe (but not overripe) dark fruit. Tannins are smooth. Nice lingering finish.
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6/3/2010 - Hodby wrote: 83 Points
Unusually dark for an older LG cab. Showed terrific aroma of tobacco, leather, cherry, menthol. Flavors repeat the cherry and mint. It's very very tannic, not pleasing at all. Tightened up over four hours. Ouch. Bottle #2 of two.
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11/28/2009 - JBever1 wrote: 91 Points
Quite a bit of sediment in the bottle. Decanted through a stainless funnel and screen. Color is dark, almost black, lightening to deep brown/brick, on the meniscus. Essence of tobacco leads dark fruits, and leather on the nose. On tasting, flavor of plum on the front leading to a hint of anise in the middle and a medium finish with red fruits. Tannins were well balanced with fruit and acidity. It felt soft and round with a nice medium body.
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10/19/2009 - michal wrote: 91 Points
Very good wine. Cherries and earth on the nose. Pretty color. Tannins are well integrated. A very balanced wine. Stood up well with the NY strip we had.
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1/31/2009 - djdaqm wrote: 94 Points
Double decanted and then took to steak restaurant. Beautiful nose with smells of dried oak leaves, mushrooms, dark fruits, tobacco and chocolate. Very well balanced on the palate. Fruit still holding strong and well concentrated with nice earthiness too. Fine tannins still remain and I would think this wine could continue to last for another few years. I was very impressed with this wine. Not over the top in any way and very harmonious.
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2/19/2007 - rmodak wrote: 93 Points
Better than the last bottle, this was the essence of black cherry mixed with olives. A delicous expression of fruit with very fine tannins, this seemed youthful. I don't think it will improve in the sense of giving more complexity. This is abolut the pleasure, in the same vein as CSJ Cinq Cepages.
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2/18/2007 - trankin wrote: 93 Points
An evening in Tucson: Gorgeous and elegant nose, with great red fruits and some earthy notes. On the palate, this is elegant mountain fruit. Silky and pure. Only a touch of earthiness. Some silky tannins on the finish.
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2/14/2007 - oaxaca90049 wrote:
part of our wine dinner line up. Big wine very earthy, heavy tannins and very acidic. Not a wine to sip. Bring on the red meat to accompany it. Let's just say it isn't my cup of tea it made my mouth pucker. I have never tasted a Laurel Glen before and this wouldn't entice me to buy it. perhaps in a year or two.
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1/6/2007 - MC wrote:
Dark red. Big nose, showing fruit and earth. One of the more fruit-packed of the Laurel Glens, but rich and full-bodied with great structure. Drinking really well right now, but should hold for a few years. Nice wine. A-
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7/9/2006 - rmodak wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful notes of sage, cassis, leather, slightly chalky finish. Very youthful.
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2/15/2006 - jakob.krummenacher@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Simply outstanding! Full nose of blackberry and black currant with hints of spicy oak, leather and earthy notes. Full body with a long aftertaste. Complex palate, heavy but very well balanced. Smooth and very enjoyable. It's great for drinking now but it should last another 10+ years. Drink 2006-2016.
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