About 3-4 yr ago, I said that the best years of this wine were 4-5 yr ahead of it. I still believe that today, although today on the revisit of this wine I will definitely tell you that this one has come a LONG LONG WAY to making up that unpreparedness. I think I was a little late to the party, as this wine had been opened for about 1-2 hours. But that's definitely what it needed (and could have benefitted from a decant for that time as well). Purple and blue fruits on the nose and palate. Had a youthful density to the nose and palate, and even a little bit of a restrained character here yet this wine is definitely still on the way up. With each 10 minutes, this wine improved quite a bit, and finished with a black pepper that shows this wine has huge upside potential still, with a definite improvement expected here in the next 1-2 years. A monster of a wine, and very layered and dense. I've had other vintages of the SS Cabernet, and I don't think I've historically enjoyed the others as much as I have this one. Drink from 2024-2030.
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Linear and a little "typical" at this price point. Fruit is a little thin without much complexity. Vanilla notes are a little overwhelming for my taste. Not sure if there is any upside on this vintage/bottling. Don't get me wrong as this is not bad wine it's just for the price I can think of a handful of other wines I'd rather have. For the money I'd grab Pott's Greer. Or, grab the 2015 vintage which has more concentration.
Served along side NV Salmon Brut Rose', 16 Outpost T.V. Immigrant & 13 Mending Wall Petite Sirah.
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3 hr decant at 55. Purple to ruby rimmed red fruit in the glass. Tannins silky and acids in balance. New oak influence still a little more than i personally enjoy. Overall a good wine but compared to other recent Napa 14's, this wine in comparison lacks depth, complexity and minerality. Hopefully more time in the cellar will tone down some of the sweet red fruit.
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12/12/2022 - mflesh wrote:
About 3-4 yr ago, I said that the best years of this wine were 4-5 yr ahead of it. I still believe that today, although today on the revisit of this wine I will definitely tell you that this one has come a LONG LONG WAY to making up that unpreparedness. I think I was a little late to the party, as this wine had been opened for about 1-2 hours. But that's definitely what it needed (and could have benefitted from a decant for that time as well). Purple and blue fruits on the nose and palate. Had a youthful density to the nose and palate, and even a little bit of a restrained character here yet this wine is definitely still on the way up. With each 10 minutes, this wine improved quite a bit, and finished with a black pepper that shows this wine has huge upside potential still, with a definite improvement expected here in the next 1-2 years. A monster of a wine, and very layered and dense. I've had other vintages of the SS Cabernet, and I don't think I've historically enjoyed the others as much as I have this one. Drink from 2024-2030.
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1/16/2021 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 92 Points
Linear and a little "typical" at this price point. Fruit is a little thin without much complexity. Vanilla notes are a little overwhelming for my taste. Not sure if there is any upside on this vintage/bottling. Don't get me wrong as this is not bad wine it's just for the price I can think of a handful of other wines I'd rather have. For the money I'd grab Pott's Greer. Or, grab the 2015 vintage which has more concentration.
Served along side NV Salmon Brut Rose', 16 Outpost T.V. Immigrant & 13 Mending Wall Petite Sirah.
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9/27/2020 - eschuldt wrote: 94 Points
Needs airtime. 4 hour decant.
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9/19/2020 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 93 Points
3 hr decant at 55. Purple to ruby rimmed red fruit in the glass. Tannins silky and acids in balance. New oak influence still a little more than i personally enjoy. Overall a good wine but compared to other recent Napa 14's, this wine in comparison lacks depth, complexity and minerality. Hopefully more time in the cellar will tone down some of the sweet red fruit.
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12/14/2019 - 1964vintage wrote: 94 Points
Needs a decant or time in the glass to blow off a little heat, then, outstanding. Fragrant, deep, rich, lingering finish.
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