This time served at dinner with a slow roasted beef rib roast and sides and the leisurely pace gave an opportunity for a much more objective evaluation. No green notes or vegetative components (and I am fairly sensitive to those to the point I dislike most Carmeniere or many 2004 red Burgundies). There is no question this does not fit the mold of other classic Cab regions such as Bordeaux or Napa, it is a well made wine with blue black and red fruit components at a mature point of it's evolution. I would have liked to see more focus and structure to the flavor components but not sure what would have caused this -perhaps better phenolic maturity. That said I expect it to have enough stuffing to drink well for several more years. A small amount remaining enjoyed the following afternoon watching the superbowl and help up well.
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A quick double decant for sediment before a Chilean tasting this showed plush and soft with no signs of over maturity or fading. Still some notes of the wood treatment but not to a point of distraction. Overall much nicer showing then anticipated based on reading CT notes of recent bottles consumed. This from a 6 pack perfectly stored since release. Re tasted several hours later with similar results. Well received overall #3 of some 20 wines tasted.
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Very disappointed. Probably past its prime, but I was still expecting a lot more from this bottle. Lots of vegetable flavors with very little fruit. Leather became more apparent as the bottle breathed. Very muted tannins. Nicely acidic.
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Liked it. Cassis, barnyard and some slightly bitter, green notes. Tannins are not too firm, though. Bordeaux-like, but slightly sweeter/fuller bodied.. Long finish.
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Decanted one hour. Some vegetal and plastic on the nose. Palate is black currant,black cherry, mixed with some greenness, leather,tobacco, cedar. Good acidity and tannic structure. The longer it was open the more old world earthy it got.
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2001 Viña Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Casa Real Alto Santa Rita Old Vines Vineyard (Chili, Central Valley, Maipo Valley) Kleur: Diep robijnrood. Aroma / bouquet: Expressief, boordevol donker cassisfruit en bessenlikeur, gaat bijna de kant van Shiraz op, ook wat kruidig, potloodslijpsel en grafiet, Smaak / Afdronk: Ook in de mond opvallend 'zwoel' en rijk, verleidelijk, klein alcoholisch zoetje, maar mooi in balans met krachtige tannines en frisse zuren. Veel concentratie en dikte. Algemeen / potentieel: Kindermoord in de Nieuwe Wereld. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 11 + Smaak / Afdronk: 17 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 91/100
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I've held this for a long time, waiting for the tannins to subside. They have, but so has some of the fruit. The nose has a black olive and slightly burnt component. Some red fruit is hiding in the background. Some tertiary flavors have started to come forward with some musty forest floor. The palate is no change from the nose except the burnt element is gone. The finish is moderate. I don't think this will get any better with time, so drink up.
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2001 Viña Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Casa Real Alto Santa Rita Old Vines Vineyard (Chili, Central Valley, Maipo Valley) Kleur: Diep robijnrood Aroma / bouquet: Expressief: bessenjenever / kersenbrandewijn, tabak, gedroogde vijgen, vanille / eiken. Smaak / Afdronk: Zoetige aanzet, rond, zachte zuren en dito tannines. Commercieel en gelikt, maar mist structuur en diepgang. Algemeen / potentieel: Flesfout? Vorig jaar trof ik nog krachtige tannines aan, op dit moment is de wijn superrond en zacht. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 8 + Smaak / Afdronk: 10 + Algemeen / potentieel: 7 = 80/100
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Very interesting. Smell had black olive and rubber almost barnyard quality. Taste of mint, herbs and green pepper, lots of seductive fruit and good tannic structure. Really enjoyed but different
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2001 Viña Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Casa Real Alto Santa Rita Old Vines Vineyard (Chili, Central Valley, Maipo Valley) Kleur: Diep donkerrood met een oranje rand. Aroma / bouquet: Expressief, rijp rood fruit, zwarte bessen (als in bessen-jenever), port-achtig, gepronunceerde houttonen. Veel en heavy. Smaak / Afdronk: Dik en geconcentreerd, zeer zachte zuren, veel en krachtige tannines maar wel van een prachtige rijpheid, beetje 'gronderige' nuances. Algemeen / potentieel: Wow, een neus èn een bek vol eet-wijn. Beetje teveel van hetzelfde, hoewel ik dol ben op concentratie is dit toch net te eenzijdig. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 7 + Smaak / Afdronk: 11 + Algemeen / potentieel: 7 = 80/100
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Decanted 1/2 hour. Deep ruby core, narrow pale ruby rim. Nose shows dense blackcurrant fruit, lots of green pepper, some mint, notes of tar. Full bodied on the palate, a little heavy with only moderate acidity and slightly clumsy tannins. Dark, spicy with green pepper, green pepper and more green pepper, some notes of chocolate - decent complexity and mid-palate length but with evident green tannins showing on the rather charmless finish. No better than good now and don't think it will improve either.
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The Jug is done fooling around (Suite 100): Santa Rita wines are always distinct to me for that tarry, almost hints of rubber, black olive note. This one is no different. Although with time, that element, which I rather enjoy, blew off. An really nice juiciness to this wine. The tannins have integrated nicely. Drinking quite well and harmonious right now, but still seems very young. Sit or wait, it's a win win situation with this wine. It's a $50 Chilian Cab, but that seems fairly priced to me.
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South American Wines (Rios de Sudamerica): Fully open nose is singing with red currants, green herbs, spice, minerals, tar and tobacco. Totally seductive. Palate is full-bodied with a good dose of herb-infused red currants. Gripping tannins clamp down the mid-palate and finish. Decanted 2 hours - and back in the bottle for another 5. Still needs time - but this is special.
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Lots of green vegetables on the nose, along with a healthy dose of spicy oak from the cork. This had an amazingly aromatic cork--it was spicy like a cedar cigar box. High acidity and still pretty heavy tannins, but a big backplane of dark fruit on the palate. A lot going on, but kind of awkward. Certainly has the oomph to age longer, so perhaps it will come together better given more time in the bottle. We normally "pop-and-pour", but this bottle definitely benefited from decanting.
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Deep dark and earthy exuding mushroom and leather. Flavors continue to palate mixed with very dark and sour fruits. Tannins are very well integrated at this point.
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Aromas marcados por brett, que foi se intensificando com o tempo, além de cassis e eucalípto. Em boca, apesar da boa acidez e de um fundo de cassis, repete a presença de brett com mais intensidade. Ótimo.
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No decanting. Deep purple color with thick juicy ripe fruits and great balance. Wonderful earthy undertones which I like. I would consider this a big cabernet with juicy tannins. A real pleasure to drink. I will buy a few more bottles
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Very dense, with espresso, bittersweet chocolate, dark current and tar flavors buttressed by thick, loamy tannins. Notes of tobacco and mineral flash on the finish, which is muscular but supported by ample acidity. A brute now, so cellar. Wine Spectator
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2/10/2024 - bon vivant wrote: 92 Points
This time served at dinner with a slow roasted beef rib roast and sides and the leisurely pace gave an opportunity for a much more objective evaluation. No green notes or vegetative components (and I am fairly sensitive to those to the point I dislike most Carmeniere or many 2004 red Burgundies). There is no question this does not fit the mold of other classic Cab regions such as Bordeaux or Napa, it is a well made wine with blue black and red fruit components at a mature point of it's evolution. I would have liked to see more focus and structure to the flavor components but not sure what would have caused this -perhaps better phenolic maturity. That said I expect it to have enough stuffing to drink well for several more years. A small amount remaining enjoyed the following afternoon watching the superbowl and help up well.
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12/27/2023 - bon vivant wrote: 93 Points
A quick double decant for sediment before a Chilean tasting this showed plush and soft with no signs of over maturity or fading. Still some notes of the wood treatment but not to a point of distraction. Overall much nicer showing then anticipated based on reading CT notes of recent bottles consumed. This from a 6 pack perfectly stored since release. Re tasted several hours later with similar results. Well received overall #3 of some 20 wines tasted.
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6/10/2015 - Papies wrote: 88 Points
Decanter's Great Cabernets of the world with Steven Spurrier, Brian Croser and Cecilia Torres (Bluefin Building, London): Tasted blind (from a disclosed list of 10 possible wines though).
The age gave it away so it was easy to pin down. Not really impressed albeit better than the 2010 (Papies 87) but not much better. Evolved but still with that black currant heavy side, earthy yet too sweet, caramel and definitely not a wine for us. 88?
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8/10/2013 - scottmlew wrote: 83 Points
Very disappointed. Probably past its prime, but I was still expecting a lot more from this bottle. Lots of vegetable flavors with very little fruit. Leather became more apparent as the bottle breathed. Very muted tannins. Nicely acidic.
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5/11/2012 - Bak wrote: 93 Points
Super flot vin, med saft og kraft, men stadig en perfekt balance.
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10/24/2010 - IB71 wrote: 92 Points
Liked it. Cassis, barnyard and some slightly bitter, green notes. Tannins are not too firm, though. Bordeaux-like, but slightly sweeter/fuller bodied.. Long finish.
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12/20/2009 - J2K wrote: 92 Points
Decanted one hour. Some vegetal and plastic on the nose. Palate is black currant,black cherry, mixed with some greenness, leather,tobacco, cedar. Good acidity and tannic structure. The longer it was open the more old world earthy it got.
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11/20/2009 - WildeMeeuw wrote: 91 Points
2001 Viña Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Casa Real Alto Santa Rita Old Vines Vineyard (Chili, Central Valley, Maipo Valley) Kleur: Diep robijnrood. Aroma / bouquet: Expressief, boordevol donker cassisfruit en bessenlikeur, gaat bijna de kant van Shiraz op, ook wat kruidig, potloodslijpsel en grafiet, Smaak / Afdronk: Ook in de mond opvallend 'zwoel' en rijk, verleidelijk, klein alcoholisch zoetje, maar mooi in balans met krachtige tannines en frisse zuren. Veel concentratie en dikte. Algemeen / potentieel: Kindermoord in de Nieuwe Wereld. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 11 + Smaak / Afdronk: 17 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 91/100
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11/12/2009 - Rayburn wrote: 89 Points
I've held this for a long time, waiting for the tannins to subside. They have, but so has some of the fruit. The nose has a black olive and slightly burnt component. Some red fruit is hiding in the background. Some tertiary flavors have started to come forward with some musty forest floor. The palate is no change from the nose except the burnt element is gone. The finish is moderate. I don't think this will get any better with time, so drink up.
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10/22/2009 - WildeMeeuw wrote: 80 Points
2001 Viña Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Casa Real Alto Santa Rita Old Vines Vineyard (Chili, Central Valley, Maipo Valley) Kleur: Diep robijnrood Aroma / bouquet: Expressief: bessenjenever / kersenbrandewijn, tabak, gedroogde vijgen, vanille / eiken. Smaak / Afdronk: Zoetige aanzet, rond, zachte zuren en dito tannines. Commercieel en gelikt, maar mist structuur en diepgang. Algemeen / potentieel: Flesfout? Vorig jaar trof ik nog krachtige tannines aan, op dit moment is de wijn superrond en zacht. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 8 + Smaak / Afdronk: 10 + Algemeen / potentieel: 7 = 80/100
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5/2/2009 - gschneider wrote: 90 Points
Very interesting. Smell had black olive and rubber almost barnyard quality. Taste of mint, herbs and green pepper, lots of seductive fruit and good tannic structure. Really enjoyed but different
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12/16/2008 - WildeMeeuw wrote: 80 Points
2001 Viña Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Casa Real Alto Santa Rita Old Vines Vineyard (Chili, Central Valley, Maipo Valley) Kleur: Diep donkerrood met een oranje rand. Aroma / bouquet: Expressief, rijp rood fruit, zwarte bessen (als in bessen-jenever), port-achtig, gepronunceerde houttonen. Veel en heavy. Smaak / Afdronk: Dik en geconcentreerd, zeer zachte zuren, veel en krachtige tannines maar wel van een prachtige rijpheid, beetje 'gronderige' nuances. Algemeen / potentieel: Wow, een neus èn een bek vol eet-wijn. Beetje teveel van hetzelfde, hoewel ik dol ben op concentratie is dit toch net te eenzijdig. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 7 + Smaak / Afdronk: 11 + Algemeen / potentieel: 7 = 80/100
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11/22/2008 - Paul D wrote: 82 Points
Decanted 1/2 hour. Deep ruby core, narrow pale ruby rim. Nose shows dense blackcurrant fruit, lots of green pepper, some mint, notes of tar. Full bodied on the palate, a little heavy with only moderate acidity and slightly clumsy tannins. Dark, spicy with green pepper, green pepper and more green pepper, some notes of chocolate - decent complexity and mid-palate length but with evident green tannins showing on the rather charmless finish. No better than good now and don't think it will improve either.
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7/25/2008 - hutch wrote: 92 Points
The Jug is done fooling around (Suite 100): Santa Rita wines are always distinct to me for that tarry, almost hints of rubber, black olive note. This one is no different. Although with time, that element, which I rather enjoy, blew off. An really nice juiciness to this wine. The tannins have integrated nicely. Drinking quite well and harmonious right now, but still seems very young. Sit or wait, it's a win win situation with this wine. It's a $50 Chilian Cab, but that seems fairly priced to me.
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6/11/2008 - horwitzj wrote: 92 Points
Deep dark purple, decanted 2hrs. but didn't need it. Lots of coffee and dark chocolate. Cedar, herbs and sour cherries on the nose. Loved it!
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5/7/2008 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
South American Wines (Rios de Sudamerica): Fully open nose is singing with red currants, green herbs, spice, minerals, tar and tobacco. Totally seductive. Palate is full-bodied with a good dose of herb-infused red currants. Gripping tannins clamp down the mid-palate and finish. Decanted 2 hours - and back in the bottle for another 5. Still needs time - but this is special.
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2/8/2008 - winekitchen wrote: 89 Points
Lots of green vegetables on the nose, along with a healthy dose of spicy oak from the cork. This had an amazingly aromatic cork--it was spicy like a cedar cigar box. High acidity and still pretty heavy tannins, but a big backplane of dark fruit on the palate. A lot going on, but kind of awkward. Certainly has the oomph to age longer, so perhaps it will come together better given more time in the bottle. We normally "pop-and-pour", but this bottle definitely benefited from decanting.
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8/19/2007 - LPskeleton wrote: 91 Points
Deep dark and earthy exuding mushroom and leather. Flavors continue to palate mixed with very dark and sour fruits. Tannins are very well integrated at this point.
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7/22/2007 - Vinho wrote: 88 Points
Aromas marcados por brett, que foi se intensificando com o tempo, além de cassis e eucalípto. Em boca, apesar da boa acidez e de um fundo de cassis, repete a presença de brett com mais intensidade. Ótimo.
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6/3/2007 - PapaBoomBoom wrote: 92 Points
No decanting. Deep purple color with thick juicy ripe fruits and great balance. Wonderful earthy undertones which I like. I would consider this a big cabernet with juicy tannins. A real pleasure to drink. I will buy a few more bottles
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10/5/2006 - PapaBoomBoom wrote: 92 Points
Very dense, with espresso, bittersweet chocolate, dark current and tar flavors buttressed by thick, loamy tannins. Notes of tobacco and mineral flash on the finish, which is muscular but supported by ample acidity. A brute now, so cellar. Wine Spectator
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