From glass. Nose at first cool and somewhat vegetal, followed by a sense of being suspended from a helicopter and having your nose over a lake of cool, creamy, mellow cab fruit - like there's a lot there, but it's a bit far away. Similar, delicious palate. Rather youthful still, I would say; tannins still gripping. Quite nice indeed. Maybe just another hour or so in glass for it to warm up?
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Stunning, really, not much sign of age. The new oak has matured into a work of Napa art. This is drinking at apex now, seriously good juice here for a basement $$ Wow-
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I am no expert . Drank with rib eye steak and found it a fine match. A bit muggy , cloudy and diffuse but pleasant enough. Good berry fruit, subtle nose and decent legs. Decanted two hours and was improving as the night wore on. All in all easy drinking, nothing harsh or astringent , perfectly mellow if a little simple. It was better than I had expected after reading previous reviews and found it competent if uninspiring..
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Decanted about 3 hours/strained out sediment ... A deep purple in the glass, this was a true, chewy Napa Cab. A definite "big" wine, it's rich but not as complex or deep as I would have expected. Totally solid and very nice, but not spectacular.
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As others have noted, this is a nicely balanced wine that is drinking very well right now. Restrained fruit on the palate, with some nice secondary flavors of chocolate and eucalyptus. Silky smooth through the finish.
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As the say, patience is a virtue. A classic Clos du Val that is now in it's prime drinking window. Has the usual bordeaux like qualities of more restrained fruit, higher acidity, and a bit more earthiness. The tannins are still present but smooth. Really a fantastic wine for the price. Enjoy!!!
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Didn't get to decant for too long (30 minutes) - Very Bordeaux like; rich velvety texture with great earthy nose. Taste of deep, dark cherries, with vanilla in the background. Well balanced wine. Had this wine about a year ago when it was just emerging from the "dumb" stage; well worth the wait. Should drink nicely over the next 1-2 years.
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An nice compliment to the beef tenderloin. Based on other reviews I allowed to breath almost 3 hours before serving. Nice flavors of cocoa, smoke & dark fruit. Tannins were soft. Not the most complex cab nor as full as I had hoped but very nice and an excellent value.
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This wine is truly exceptional. I believe the reviewers below must have bought off-bottles or ones that were not stored properly - or, at least I hope to think so. Otherwise, they are simply part of the push towards "port-style wines" being made that are ruining the California wine industry. I am a huge fan of Clos du Val and bought several of these bottles direct from the winery. For anyone who wrote a review and said the fruit is diminished (or this wine is past its prime) does not understand Bordeaux-crafted wines. This wine is clearly in a prime drinking window, which will probably last another 3-5 years or more from today (and beyond if you like soft, matured wines).
The color is brilliant ruby with a dark core with a gorgeous purple rim. The color is the essence of Cabernet Sauvignon. And the nose...ohhh, the nose!! Don't rush with this wine. Let your olfactory senses really appreciate this before you start guzzling - please! The nose, if this were a blind tasting, would tell me this was a 5-10 year old Bordeaux - most likely Saint Julien due to the red fruit intertwined with the cassis, but could pass for a slightly older Paulliac that has a complex structure. Truly beautiful and tantalizing - cassis, plums, black cherry, herbs, earth, minerals and cedar envelop your mind with a big whiff. Wow!
The palate is equally gorgeous - how the hell is this not the Reserve bottling???? Balance is the key here - with tremendous fruit on the front palate (similar to nose - cassis/black currant, satsuma plums, black cherries) and the finish fills your taste buds with the complex secondary notes of cedar, tobacco, earth, and a hint of eucalyptus and mint (ie. uplifting, not flat on the finish).
Mr. Portet, as noted in other reviews I have contributed, is a Frenchman (who worked at Lafite Rothschild) who transplanted himself to Napa's prime real estate - Stag's Leap District. He, thank the Lord in Heaven, has stayed true to his heritage and not given in to the high-alcohol/roasted fruit cabernet that is being pushed on the American market. He believes in wine that are well-crafted, balanced and age-worthy. Everything I look for in a wine is found in this bottle - at an amazing price point.
Cheers!
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I agree 100% with Beezer6. The experience I had with this wine was almost identical. I really enjoyed the nose of aged fruit and bit of earth. Flavors were a bit thin and muted, this wine is definitely in a decline, which is probably why it was so cheap at the restaurant we went to. Still quite enjoyable, and I say drink'em up soon.
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Lots of dark fruit. The wine has definitely undergone some minor aging. The fruit is a little muted with the wine showing some interesting Old World characteristics. Dark fruit, gravel and some nice darker licorice aromas and flavors on the palate. Not bad, but this was probably a bit past its prime. Still enjoyed by most.
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I was really pleasantly suprised by this bottle. The color was youtful with a deep ruby-purple hue. The nose was med. intense with notes of smoky green pepper, blueberry, tobacco, bk, fruits, dk. cherry and candied berries. The alcohol was high and the tannins seemed a touch green and the texture/style reminded me of young Bordeaux. On the day two, the wine was more balanced and fruit-filled. Can drink now but I would give it 2-3 more years in bottle.
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Decent effort from a winery that has dissapointed more often than not over the last few years. Good representation of a Rutherford Cab with some good black cherry fruit, backed up by some earthiness and cedar. Ready to drink now and may get better over the next few years.
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This wine is starting to come along. Smoother then when tasted last year, but still tannic. I would wait two years before tasting again. It should be quite good then porobably rating in the 90s.
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Liked this, though another couple years would improve it. Solid rich red, no bricking, nose a touch funky with earth notes on top of cherry. On the palate, still tannic but not a beast.
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Had at a friends wine store & I must say this isn't a puppy anymore. The nose still had that toasty scent along with ripe fruit. The body actually had some depth to it & the wine filled the mouth with its' beautiful fruit flavors. The finish was a bit hot, but in a good way, and it smoothed out a bit as time went on. Unfortunately for me, now that the wine's approachable my friend has raised the price by about 10 bucks.....some friend.
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Opened for about 20 mins. and consumed over the next 2 hours. Nose started off with a little barnyard,cedar, and earth. Medium body, lacking intensity and complexity overall. Green vegetables- the kind left in your fridge too long with a little dark cherry comming through on the palate. This wine had no mid-palate at all and finishes with fine tannins and more cedar and dark cherry.
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OK wine, but not great. Everything about it seemed a little thin, did not come off as a Napa Cabernet. Would be a good (not great) deal if it were $10 (which of course it's not), but there was nothing worth noting about the wine. Drank at Scioto 12/06.
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I'm with spacewrangler on this one. A friend of mine swears by the "subtleties" of this wine, but this is way too subtle for me to appreciate. I decanted for a couple of hours, then poured it back into the bottle so I could transport it to a family gathering. For a brief period I could taste a bit of mocha on the tongue & got a whiff of berries on the nose, however, it was fleeting. Maybe time will help this puppy, but I've got '02's I don't have to wait for or cuddle so much that I can drink today at the same price point & 3x the quality, so why bother?
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Clos du Val makes great, consistent wines I find. For the 2004 vintage, I've enjoyed the Pinot and Chardonnay equally. However, the 2002 seems to be tart, with a very toasty nose. I can smell herbs and green olive as well. Compared to other Clos du Val vintages, this one is thin with no structure to speak of. The palate is of dark berry, a hint of spice. Finish is hot and short. I cellar all my wines at 55 degrees - however, this bottle was transported in my carryon luggage on a plane from Napa to Boston. However, I believe wine "travels" and have never had a problem with a bottle being spoiled from travelling. Clos du Val has had MUCH better vintages - perhaps the 2003 will be better. Not a bad wine, but not good either.
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Very good. Needed a couple of hours after decanting to open up, but once it opened this one showed flavors of cocoa, smoke, and black fruit. Great mouthfeel, soft and supple tannins, and an ability to cellar for a little while. Well worth the $20.
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Not bad, but not one for the ages. Significant sediment in the bottom of the bottle already and turning slightly acidic. Good fruit and the tannins are still firm. Better cabs are out there for the price.
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Suprisingly good - good thick taste with nice dark cherry fruit. Balanced with nice tannins that blended together as the bottle was opened. Very good with food.
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12/6/2021 - Necowine wrote: 90 Points
From glass. Nose at first cool and somewhat vegetal, followed by a sense of being suspended from a helicopter and having your nose over a lake of cool, creamy, mellow cab fruit - like there's a lot there, but it's a bit far away. Similar, delicious palate. Rather youthful still, I would say; tannins still gripping. Quite nice indeed. Maybe just another hour or so in glass for it to warm up?
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12/31/2020 - Steve500 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Amazing Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. French style. Beautiful color, flavor and slight tannins with nice acid.
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10/7/2019 - wino121 wrote: 93 Points
Stunning, really, not much sign of age.
The new oak has matured into a work of Napa art.
This is drinking at apex now, seriously good juice here for a basement $$
Wow-
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9/26/2018 - wino121 wrote: 92 Points
Wow, and more life left...2-4years,
But really good now.
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10/31/2015 - spacewrangler wrote:
Huge improvement over the last bottle. Still stacked and ripe, I'd give this another 2-4 years.
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4/5/2013 - WCH3GA Likes this wine: 92 Points
This bottle was definitely due. Peppery with some fruit. Decanted for 6 hours.
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3/21/2013 - ESCO wrote: 88 Points
I am no expert .
Drank with rib eye steak and found it a fine match. A bit muggy , cloudy and diffuse but pleasant enough. Good berry fruit, subtle nose and decent legs. Decanted two hours and was improving as the night wore on. All in all easy drinking, nothing harsh or astringent , perfectly mellow if a little simple. It was better than I had expected after reading previous reviews and found it competent if uninspiring..
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2/17/2013 - gkohne Likes this wine: 90 Points
Past its peak. Time to drink it. It was good but not great. About what you would expect for twenty bucks.
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8/12/2012 - Tarpon222 wrote: 90 Points
Very enjoyable. Smooth
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10/16/2011 - Weston3220 Likes this wine:
med Intensity, Developing
T: Med+ acid, med+ tannin, meD+ body, med+ intensity
nice red fruit coming across, nice subtle hint of veg, Coffee, Mint
Conc: Good Balance, picking up a touch of age notes which is good,
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7/30/2011 - Winecat wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyable bordeaux style. Even better the second day
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4/29/2010 - markandsusanw Likes this wine: 87 Points
Decanted about 3 hours/strained out sediment ... A deep purple in the glass, this was a true, chewy Napa Cab. A definite "big" wine, it's rich but not as complex or deep as I would have expected. Totally solid and very nice, but not spectacular.
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4/24/2010 - JPH104 wrote: 91 Points
As others have noted, this is a nicely balanced wine that is drinking very well right now. Restrained fruit on the palate, with some nice secondary flavors of chocolate and eucalyptus. Silky smooth through the finish.
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1/18/2010 - eSchrag wrote: 90 Points
As the say, patience is a virtue. A classic Clos du Val that is now in it's prime drinking window. Has the usual bordeaux like qualities of more restrained fruit, higher acidity, and a bit more earthiness. The tannins are still present but smooth. Really a fantastic wine for the price. Enjoy!!!
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7/19/2009 - Fozziedoggie wrote: 90 Points
Didn't get to decant for too long (30 minutes) - Very Bordeaux like; rich velvety texture with great earthy nose. Taste of deep, dark cherries, with vanilla in the background. Well balanced wine. Had this wine about a year ago when it was just emerging from the "dumb" stage; well worth the wait. Should drink nicely over the next 1-2 years.
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5/20/2009 - TannicBeast wrote: 92 Points
dark inky and concentrated alcohol black fruit typical napa valley eucalyptus. fruit acidity tannins still very young, yet s lovely wine.
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4/24/2009 - NaturalizedTexan wrote: 90 Points
An nice compliment to the beef tenderloin. Based on other reviews I allowed to breath almost 3 hours before serving. Nice flavors of cocoa, smoke & dark fruit. Tannins were soft. Not the most complex cab nor as full as I had hoped but very nice and an excellent value.
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4/5/2009 - ericrico wrote: 91 Points
This wine is truly exceptional. I believe the reviewers below must have bought off-bottles or ones that were not stored properly - or, at least I hope to think so. Otherwise, they are simply part of the push towards "port-style wines" being made that are ruining the California wine industry. I am a huge fan of Clos du Val and bought several of these bottles direct from the winery. For anyone who wrote a review and said the fruit is diminished (or this wine is past its prime) does not understand Bordeaux-crafted wines. This wine is clearly in a prime drinking window, which will probably last another 3-5 years or more from today (and beyond if you like soft, matured wines).
The color is brilliant ruby with a dark core with a gorgeous purple rim. The color is the essence of Cabernet Sauvignon. And the nose...ohhh, the nose!! Don't rush with this wine. Let your olfactory senses really appreciate this before you start guzzling - please! The nose, if this were a blind tasting, would tell me this was a 5-10 year old Bordeaux - most likely Saint Julien due to the red fruit intertwined with the cassis, but could pass for a slightly older Paulliac that has a complex structure. Truly beautiful and tantalizing - cassis, plums, black cherry, herbs, earth, minerals and cedar envelop your mind with a big whiff. Wow!
The palate is equally gorgeous - how the hell is this not the Reserve bottling???? Balance is the key here - with tremendous fruit on the front palate (similar to nose - cassis/black currant, satsuma plums, black cherries) and the finish fills your taste buds with the complex secondary notes of cedar, tobacco, earth, and a hint of eucalyptus and mint (ie. uplifting, not flat on the finish).
Mr. Portet, as noted in other reviews I have contributed, is a Frenchman (who worked at Lafite Rothschild) who transplanted himself to Napa's prime real estate - Stag's Leap District. He, thank the Lord in Heaven, has stayed true to his heritage and not given in to the high-alcohol/roasted fruit cabernet that is being pushed on the American market. He believes in wine that are well-crafted, balanced and age-worthy. Everything I look for in a wine is found in this bottle - at an amazing price point.
Cheers!
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12/19/2008 - jhannah27 wrote: 87 Points
I agree 100% with Beezer6. The experience I had with this wine was almost identical. I really enjoyed the nose of aged fruit and bit of earth. Flavors were a bit thin and muted, this wine is definitely in a decline, which is probably why it was so cheap at the restaurant we went to. Still quite enjoyable, and I say drink'em up soon.
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10/29/2008 - beezer6 wrote: 89 Points
Lots of dark fruit. The wine has definitely undergone some minor aging.
The fruit is a little muted with the wine showing some interesting Old World characteristics.
Dark fruit, gravel and some nice darker licorice aromas and flavors on the palate.
Not bad, but this was probably a bit past its prime. Still enjoyed by most.
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9/19/2008 - Wineholio wrote: 85 Points
This wine was OK, but really nothing special or that stood out for me. Very austere. Nothing wrong with it, but just nothing of note.
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8/9/2008 - BigTarheel wrote: 89 Points
I was really pleasantly suprised by this bottle. The color was youtful with a deep ruby-purple hue. The nose was med. intense with notes of smoky green pepper, blueberry, tobacco, bk, fruits, dk. cherry and candied berries. The alcohol was high and the tannins seemed a touch green and the texture/style reminded me of young Bordeaux. On the day two, the wine was more balanced and fruit-filled. Can drink now but I would give it 2-3 more years in bottle.
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6/21/2008 - ScubaSommelier wrote: 84 Points
This was good, but there is better value in the market and overall a below average year for Clos Du Val imho.
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3/23/2008 - capnkirk wrote: 86 Points
always good quality for the price, slight berry and currant flavors, well balanced and pleasant to drink.
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1/16/2008 - eSchrag wrote: 88 Points
Decent effort from a winery that has dissapointed more often than not over the last few years. Good representation of a Rutherford Cab with some good black cherry fruit, backed up by some earthiness and cedar. Ready to drink now and may get better over the next few years.
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12/24/2007 - fred3f wrote: 88 Points
This wine is starting to come along. Smoother then when tasted last year, but still tannic. I would wait two years before tasting again. It should be quite good then porobably rating in the 90s.
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12/15/2007 - Wino73 wrote:
Still quite tannic. Keep in cellar for at least another 1-2 years.
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10/9/2007 - vpoms wrote: 87 Points
OK wine, slightly tannic,
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8/29/2007 - Squirreljam wrote: 88 Points
Liked this, though another couple years would improve it. Solid rich red, no bricking, nose a touch funky with earth notes on top of cherry. On the palate, still tannic but not a beast.
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5/17/2007 - Hollowleg wrote: 88 Points
Had at a friends wine store & I must say this isn't a puppy anymore. The nose still had that toasty scent along with ripe fruit. The body actually had some depth to it & the wine filled the mouth with its' beautiful fruit flavors. The finish was a bit hot, but in a good way, and it smoothed out a bit as time went on. Unfortunately for me, now that the wine's approachable my friend has raised the price by about 10 bucks.....some friend.
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5/14/2007 - yowens44 wrote: 87 Points
Black Cherry; oak; delicious on a chilly night!
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4/21/2007 - EricB wrote: 89 Points
Love this wine - fruit perfectly balanced with dirt.
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2/5/2007 - aes0300 wrote: 87 Points
Opened for about 20 mins. and consumed over the next 2 hours. Nose started off with a little barnyard,cedar, and earth. Medium body, lacking intensity and complexity overall. Green vegetables- the kind left in your fridge too long with a little dark cherry comming through on the palate. This wine had no mid-palate at all and finishes with fine tannins and more cedar and dark cherry.
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12/22/2006 - Coleman wrote: 87 Points
OK wine, but not great. Everything about it seemed a little thin, did not come off as a Napa Cabernet. Would be a good (not great) deal if it were $10 (which of course it's not), but there was nothing worth noting about the wine. Drank at Scioto 12/06.
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12/11/2006 - Hollowleg wrote: 79 Points
I'm with spacewrangler on this one. A friend of mine swears by the "subtleties" of this wine, but this is way too subtle for me to appreciate. I decanted for a couple of hours, then poured it back into the bottle so I could transport it to a family gathering. For a brief period I could taste a bit of mocha on the tongue & got a whiff of berries on the nose, however, it was fleeting. Maybe time will help this puppy, but I've got '02's I don't have to wait for or cuddle so much that I can drink today at the same price point & 3x the quality, so why bother?
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8/7/2006 - spacewrangler wrote: 79 Points
Clos du Val makes great, consistent wines I find. For the 2004 vintage, I've enjoyed the Pinot and Chardonnay equally.
However, the 2002 seems to be tart, with a very toasty nose. I can smell herbs and green olive as well. Compared to other Clos du Val vintages, this one is thin with no structure to speak of.
The palate is of dark berry, a hint of spice. Finish is hot and short.
I cellar all my wines at 55 degrees - however, this bottle was transported in my carryon luggage on a plane from Napa to Boston. However, I believe wine "travels" and have never had a problem with a bottle being spoiled from travelling.
Clos du Val has had MUCH better vintages - perhaps the 2003 will be better. Not a bad wine, but not good either.
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6/27/2006 - EricB wrote: 87 Points
Very nice smooth wine with strong dark cherry flavors.
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6/2/2006 - cafeweston wrote: 90 Points
Very good. Needed a couple of hours after decanting to open up, but once it opened this one showed flavors of cocoa, smoke, and black fruit. Great mouthfeel, soft and supple tannins, and an ability to cellar for a little while. Well worth the $20.
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5/19/2006 - BooBoo wrote: 89 Points
Very good wine - especially for the price. Clos du Val is always an exceptional value.
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5/16/2006 - bberg wrote: 84 Points
Not bad, but not one for the ages. Significant sediment in the bottom of the bottle already and turning slightly acidic. Good fruit and the tannins are still firm. Better cabs are out there for the price.
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1/23/2006 - EricB wrote: 88 Points
Suprisingly good - good thick taste with nice dark cherry fruit. Balanced with nice tannins that blended together as the bottle was opened. Very good with food.
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12/7/2005 - jmd60611 wrote: 90 Points
Delicious and rich, a much better table wine than I anticipated....Very drinkable now although slightly tannic.
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