Upon opening, powerfully structured nose with intense fruits, oak and earthy notes. As one would expect with an old Cabernet outside of its prime drinking window, the tannin structure dominated upon first taste.
Several hours after decanting, this wine opened well, with significantly mellowed tannins, with forest floor and fermented fruit notes dominating. Medium finish, so-so mouthfeel. Pleasant, but by no means spectacular at this age, and clearly past its prime.
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Really held up nicely, the wine is surprisingly youthful with soft tobacco, chocolate and stone fruit qualities. The finish was round even when the fruit was a bit tart toward the end. Overall an exceptional value. Now is the time to drink what you have in the cellar.
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You have to love $15 aged, Napa cabs that drink like this. Spicy cassis nose with hints of blueberry. Spicy, pepper, blueberry, moderately fine tannins. Really quite good but great at $15.
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Nose of chocolate, currant and anise. Enters ith fruity raspberry and finishes with chocolate and drying tannin. A bit hot with about 30 seconds on the finish. Dries up a tad. Not terrible for $15. Should be consumed over the next two years.
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Not as good as I expected. Kind of a one dimensional napa cab. Good finish, but a bit overly grapey. Would likely buy others instead at this price point.
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Opened not knowing what to expect. Great on the nose with a hint of cedar and currant. Well balanced with fruit forward and tannins on mid palate. All in all a nice solid cab.
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Found this wine to be showing extremely well. Classic Napa cab with dark fruits, cassis, tobacco, earth and some graphite on the nose. Chewy firm tannins on the full bodied palate with a mouth coating, 30+ second finish.
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Still not that friendly of a wine to me. It's good, but I don't understand the popularity of this wine, unless it's just an offshoot of the Chard and Zin. I've enjoyed wines that I think he's consulted on more then this. I thought the body a little thin. Nothing about this wine jumped out at me. I considered it a mid 80's wine.
9/7/07: Nothing much has changed, although it doesn't seem thin at this point. I'd describe it as a well made cab, but forgetable.
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93% Cab Sauv, 4% Cab Franc and 3% Merlot. Deep blood red color. Notes of dark fruit, menthol and plum. Puckering, dense tannins. Flavors of dark fruit and mineral. Nice acidity - would be a better wine with food than the 2001.
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11/7/2020 - rdgs1234 wrote: 80 Points
Upon opening, powerfully structured nose with intense fruits, oak and earthy notes. As one would expect with an old Cabernet outside of its prime drinking window, the tannin structure dominated upon first taste.
Several hours after decanting, this wine opened well, with significantly mellowed tannins, with forest floor and fermented fruit notes dominating. Medium finish, so-so mouthfeel. Pleasant, but by no means spectacular at this age, and clearly past its prime.
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3/26/2017 - Miamidivorcelawyer Likes this wine: 89 Points
Really held up nicely, the wine is surprisingly youthful with soft tobacco, chocolate and stone fruit qualities. The finish was round even when the fruit was a bit tart toward the end. Overall an exceptional value. Now is the time to drink what you have in the cellar.
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11/3/2013 - guitarguy wrote: 91 Points
You have to love $15 aged, Napa cabs that drink like this. Spicy cassis nose with hints of blueberry. Spicy, pepper, blueberry, moderately fine tannins. Really quite good but great at $15.
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10/26/2011 - guitarguy wrote: 89 Points
Nose of chocolate, currant and anise. Enters ith fruity raspberry and finishes with chocolate and drying tannin. A bit hot with about 30 seconds on the finish. Dries up a tad. Not terrible for $15. Should be consumed over the next two years.
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10/29/2010 - TEDL wrote: 89 Points
Good spice. Not as fruity as I would have expected based on the other reviews.
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10/24/2010 - AJG wrote: flawed
Super-Duper corked.
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7/3/2009 - MurphyCellar wrote: 91 Points
Wonderfully smooth and velevety, with an almost zin-like fruit/spice finish.
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4/26/2009 - Neandergrant wrote: 90 Points
Nice wine.
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10/10/2007 - jedly wrote: 85 Points
Not as good as I expected. Kind of a one dimensional napa cab. Good finish, but a bit overly grapey. Would likely buy others instead at this price point.
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8/23/2007 - Always4wine wrote: 91 Points
Opened not knowing what to expect. Great on the nose with a hint of cedar and currant. Well balanced with fruit forward and tannins on mid palate. All in all a nice solid cab.
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8/20/2007 - bmarshall wrote: 92 Points
Found this wine to be showing extremely well. Classic Napa cab with dark fruits, cassis, tobacco, earth and some graphite on the nose. Chewy firm tannins on the full bodied palate with a mouth coating, 30+ second finish.
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5/26/2007 - basis wrote: 85 Points
(from 375) Black pepper and candied cherry on the nose. Spice on the palate, but kinda simple/one-note. Decent finish.
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8/23/2006 - hutch wrote: 86 Points
Still not that friendly of a wine to me. It's good, but I don't understand the popularity of this wine, unless it's just an offshoot of the Chard and Zin. I've enjoyed wines that I think he's consulted on more then this. I thought the body a little thin. Nothing about this wine jumped out at me. I considered it a mid 80's wine.
9/7/07: Nothing much has changed, although it doesn't seem thin at this point. I'd describe it as a well made cab, but forgetable.
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8/19/2006 - LeechDogg wrote:
Bit of a let-down, maybe opened too young, tasted closed, little on the sweet side.
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4/2/2006 - jjclips2 wrote: 89 Points
Nice creamy palate of cassis, black plums, and some big tannins. Touch of eucalyptus on nose. Somewhat higher acidity on finish.
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4/2/2006 - hutch wrote: 87 Points
Peppery dark fruit. Rich, slightly gritty tannins. Some earth running through. It's a well made, if unremarkable cab.
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3/21/2006 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
93% Cab Sauv, 4% Cab Franc and 3% Merlot. Deep blood red color. Notes of dark fruit, menthol and plum. Puckering, dense tannins. Flavors of dark fruit and mineral. Nice acidity - would be a better wine with food than the 2001.
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