This was a tough one for me. It came off as a simpleton that seemed displaced from any affiliation with the Araujo label. “Second wine” or not, this was a seemingly willowy example. Higher toned, red currant and cherry flavors, with additional notes of cedar and alcohol.
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This is an outstanding wine. One of my favorite second wines. It boasts pure fruits with hints of chocolate in a smooth yet fleshy and substantive delivery. It hints at being a CA first growth without the sticker shock. Excellent! 93+
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Really nice wine. Can see that it will go for a number of years. Tight on opening but began to show nice fruit and a somewhat silky mouth feel. Lots of fruit with tannins in the backbone to show it has years left. Developing complex aromas as a Bordeaux blend will have.
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93-94: big, tight, and intense. This wine tastes young, in spite of several hours of decanting. Everything is there, it just needs time. Oak is still powerful, fruit bright, long finish. Going to be outstanding, but wait a few more years.
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What a difference a year makes! Much improved over my initial tasting in November 2011, when the wine seemed closed down and disjointed. Two hour decant. Medium plus body, dark ruby hue. Opens with a Bordeaux like perfumed nose displaying flowers, earthy loam, ripe dark berries, spice, and red and black currant. Smooth, velvety texture with silky, well integrated tannins. Early notes of evolving complexity that will only improve with additional bottle age. Long finish that lasts for an eternity. Glad I waited a year, I look forward to the next bottle in another 12-18 months. Great wine with grilled ribeye.
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This is the first of four bottles that I purchased from Lot 18 and I've been looking forward to trying it. Dark, opaque, inky purple, full bodied. After a two hour decant, the nose is closed down; the wine could be in a dumb phase currently. Slight hints of violets, faint aromas of cassis, vanilla, and black currant. Clearly a Cabernet dominated Meritage with flavors of dark cherries and blackberries on the palate. Superb finish that lingers and lingers with layers of ground coffee and chocolate. I'm going to give the benefit that this is a much better wine than the closed nose shows. I will try again in 6-12 months to see how it's evolved.
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Opaque garnet blackish in color with aromas of spicy red berries, mocha, licorice, toasted crackers. Full body with mini velvet tannins and good acid for a nice balancing act. A rich wine with an expressively complex nature. The finish lasts.
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Misc CA tasting at Kenneth: Dense and concentrated black currant fruit with a lot of intensity. A little asphalt. The palate starts with a little burnt rubber and then shows gun powder and black currant. Young harsh tannin structure with a little dense and heavy aftertaste. Youthful and primary fruit but the tannins are too harsh for the wine to show well..
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4/14/2018 - csimm wrote: 81 Points
This was a tough one for me. It came off as a simpleton that seemed displaced from any affiliation with the Araujo label. “Second wine” or not, this was a seemingly willowy example. Higher toned, red currant and cherry flavors, with additional notes of cedar and alcohol.
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12/17/2015 - farinas Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is an outstanding wine. One of my favorite second wines. It boasts pure fruits with hints of chocolate in a smooth yet fleshy and substantive delivery. It hints at being a CA first growth without the sticker shock. Excellent! 93+
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7/9/2015 - Double D wrote: 93 Points
This has really improved over the last two years...balanced, smooth and elegant cab blend.
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12/16/2014 - MLR wrote: 91 Points
Really nice wine. Can see that it will go for a number of years. Tight on opening but began to show nice fruit and a somewhat silky mouth feel. Lots of fruit with tannins in the backbone to show it has years left. Developing complex aromas as a Bordeaux blend will have.
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5/18/2014 - BBinSC wrote: 94 Points
93-94: big, tight, and intense. This wine tastes young, in spite of several hours of decanting. Everything is there, it just needs time. Oak is still powerful, fruit bright, long finish. Going to be outstanding, but wait a few more years.
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5/17/2014 - Nate and Allison Likes this wine:
Tannins and fruits very good balance right now. Good to drink.
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12/14/2012 - Lord Rayas Does not like this wine: 86 Points
typical napa wine. all vanilla and oak. lacks personality. unexciting.
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10/20/2012 - wmccone54 wrote: 92 Points
What a difference a year makes! Much improved over my initial tasting in November 2011, when the wine seemed closed down and disjointed. Two hour decant. Medium plus body, dark ruby hue. Opens with a Bordeaux like perfumed nose displaying flowers, earthy loam, ripe dark berries, spice, and red and black currant. Smooth, velvety texture with silky, well integrated tannins. Early notes of evolving complexity that will only improve with additional bottle age. Long finish that lasts for an eternity. Glad I waited a year, I look forward to the next bottle in another 12-18 months. Great wine with grilled ribeye.
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6/16/2012 - pkbackman wrote: 91 Points
This is a big, bold, oaky, fruit driven blend, and if you are in the mood for that, this hits the mark perfectly. Great wine.
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11/5/2011 - wmccone54 wrote: 88 Points
This is the first of four bottles that I purchased from Lot 18 and I've been looking forward to trying it. Dark, opaque, inky purple, full bodied. After a two hour decant, the nose is closed down; the wine could be in a dumb phase currently. Slight hints of violets, faint aromas of cassis, vanilla, and black currant. Clearly a Cabernet dominated Meritage with flavors of dark cherries and blackberries on the palate. Superb finish that lingers and lingers with layers of ground coffee and chocolate. I'm going to give the benefit that this is a much better wine than the closed nose shows. I will try again in 6-12 months to see how it's evolved.
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6/24/2011 - Jay A wrote:
A little too young for my tastes, but has good potential.
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11/13/2010 - GreatLibations wrote: 91 Points
Opaque garnet blackish in color with aromas of spicy red berries, mocha, licorice, toasted crackers. Full body with mini velvet tannins and good acid for a nice balancing act. A rich wine with an expressively complex nature. The finish lasts.
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6/18/2010 - canan wrote: 92 Points
Misc CA tasting at Kenneth: Dense and concentrated black currant fruit with a lot of intensity. A little asphalt.
The palate starts with a little burnt rubber and then shows gun powder and black currant. Young harsh tannin structure with a little dense and heavy aftertaste. Youthful and primary fruit but the tannins are too harsh for the wine to show well..
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