Overall, I have not been impressed with the 2018 vintage and unfortunately I’m beginning to think that Carter’s Cabs have joined that category. With few exceptions, this vintage is tricky and many of the wines are showing awkward in my experience. Although this wine is good, it doesn’t quite preform to the level of previous vintages. This was a Coravin pour and much like my last bottle, it showed somewhat awkward, lacking the complexity , elegant intensity and nuance that l’ve enjoyed and come to expect from the Carter brand. Dark, berry, fruits, acidity but lacking 5 years past the release in my opinion. I’ve been drinking on this bottle for the past three days, and it not much change even with extended air. It will be a while before I crack another bottle. 93/94 Points for now.
Short decant later on in the evening....slow ox for an hour or two. Deep purple in the glass with that unmistakable Carter nose of rich dark raspberry fruit, cinnamon a hint of anise and a slight burnt caramel barrel note. The palate reflects smooth liqueur like raspberry fruit, a bit of grainy tannins on the tongue and an excellent and long finish backed up by the acidity. This one really needed about another hour to settle in at a 95-96 for me....however, by the end of the evening, it started to mute a good bit on the nose and palate so I drew my score back a point to a 95. Not sure what it would have done with even more airtime. A very nice wine, but one style that is beginning to wane, for my palate.
Deer Valley Palooza in 3 stages with Mark1npt and Agelvis; 6/25/2023-7/1/2023 (8,100 ft): Score is for day 3 at the airport. Mark generously supplied this bottle but we opened it late in the evening and probably did not give it enough air. My notes were limited and I noted that I liked it, plus raspberries , spices and caramel. It really didn’t seem at the calibre that I expected. However, saved a vial and drank it at sea level. Not sure if it was the extra air or being at sea level. But now it was delicious with berry liquor and saline on the palate and a lingering finish.
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One hour decant. Deep dark electric magenta color. Dark raspberry, cinnamon, gardenia, burnt caramel, orange meringue, and dark baker’s chocolate. Smooth, dry palate. Firm, full tannins on the long finish.
This was a bit astringent and needs more time, but the nose is quite wonderful. It’s very well built. My score is just a placeholder. Very nice wine supplied by Mark1NPT at Decanting Queen’s place. Very fun night.
Decanted for 3-4 hours and quickly consumed on our first Ooni pizza night. The pizza was a challenge but the wine was certainly good! I think I drank this too soon. Classic Carter BTK, but still dense and tannic. I think this will be better in 3 years.
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7/2/2023 - Yack Man wrote: 93 Points
Overall, I have not been impressed with the 2018 vintage and unfortunately I’m beginning to think that Carter’s Cabs have joined that category. With few exceptions, this vintage is tricky and many of the wines are showing awkward in my experience. Although this wine is good, it doesn’t quite preform to the level of previous vintages. This was a Coravin pour and much like my last bottle, it showed somewhat awkward, lacking the complexity , elegant intensity and nuance that l’ve enjoyed and come to expect from the Carter brand. Dark, berry, fruits, acidity but lacking 5 years past the release in my opinion. I’ve been drinking on this bottle for the past three days, and it not much change even with extended air. It will be a while before I crack another bottle. 93/94 Points for now.
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7/1/2023 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 95 Points
Short decant later on in the evening....slow ox for an hour or two. Deep purple in the glass with that unmistakable Carter nose of rich dark raspberry fruit, cinnamon a hint of anise and a slight burnt caramel barrel note. The palate reflects smooth liqueur like raspberry fruit, a bit of grainy tannins on the tongue and an excellent and long finish backed up by the acidity. This one really needed about another hour to settle in at a 95-96 for me....however, by the end of the evening, it started to mute a good bit on the nose and palate so I drew my score back a point to a 95. Not sure what it would have done with even more airtime. A very nice wine, but one style that is beginning to wane, for my palate.
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6/30/2023 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deer Valley Palooza in 3 stages with Mark1npt and Agelvis; 6/25/2023-7/1/2023 (8,100 ft): Score is for day 3 at the airport.
Mark generously supplied this bottle but we opened it late in the evening and probably did not give it enough air. My notes were limited and I noted that I liked it, plus raspberries , spices and caramel. It really didn’t seem at the calibre that I expected. However, saved a vial and drank it at sea level. Not sure if it was the extra air or being at sea level. But now it was delicious with berry liquor and saline on the palate and a lingering finish.
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6/30/2023 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 95 Points
One hour decant. Deep dark electric magenta color. Dark raspberry, cinnamon, gardenia, burnt caramel, orange meringue, and dark baker’s chocolate. Smooth, dry palate. Firm, full tannins on the long finish.
This was a bit astringent and needs more time, but the nose is quite wonderful. It’s very well built. My score is just a placeholder. Very nice wine supplied by Mark1NPT at Decanting Queen’s place. Very fun night.
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4/14/2023 - sean7711 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for 3-4 hours and quickly consumed on our first Ooni pizza night. The pizza was a challenge but the wine was certainly good! I think I drank this too soon. Classic Carter BTK, but still dense and tannic. I think this will be better in 3 years.
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