2004 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (6) Avg Score: 93.9 points

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  11/27/2014 - Bcw1989 wrote: 96 Points

  Impressive wine!! This wine was singing from the moment I pulled the cork. Huge nose of dark red fruits and very little alcohol approach . Tannins have subsided and this is just showing fruit, with some leather charactistics. Over the course of Thanksgiving meal, this wine became better and better. I truly believe that magnums age wine better than 750mls. It certainly showed. Finish was uber long-lasting at least 45 seconds to 1 minute. Disappointed there are no more 2004s in my cellar. My reflection of this Schrader was stunning wine and possibly the best Schrader I have had to date!

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  3/2/2014 - clutj wrote: 90 Points

  Not much nose, which was first surprise compared to prior Old Sparkys and other bottles. On palate, was smooth, integrated tannins, but not as much depth as I have come to expect. Same group had another Sparky 6 months ago and were blown away. This was just good.

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  5/1/2011 - tp096255 wrote: 95 Points

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  COLOR: Deep crimson center with a medium ruby rim, slight haze but otherwise brilliant
  NOTE: If you don't like long notes, please move along now...
  
  I brought out the magnum decanter, double-rinsed it with purified water and gave it a thorough dry. Then I pulled the cork on this bad boy and thus began my adventure...
  
  I got my first waft before I could insert the pourer into the neck. Faint, but a sweet concentrate of black fruits, always a good sign. I was nervous about this bottle because it was purchased on WineBid for the same price as the current vintage of Old Sparky was being sold to the mailing list. Best buy ever!!! I started decanting this very lightly into the side of the decanter for minimal oxygenation (it's a magnum and since I only share Old Sparky's with my wife we had to siphon off half of it for the next day), stopping as soon as I began to see sediment enter the stream through the crystal pourer (SOP). Unfortunately this left around 3 ounces in the bottle! With a current retail value of about $22/ounce I wasn't about to just pour it out. So I got a natural, unbleached tea filter bag and poured the dregs through that. The deep, hazy purple emulsion that emerged was so soft, velvety, full of ripe black fruts and balanced that it merited a 93+ score of it's own with no decant! THE DREGS!!! Un-be-lievable! I poured half the decanter into a separate bottle so we could sin and have it with In-And-Out burgers the next day.
  
  After a 4-hour decant this coalesced into Schrader magic. A voluptuous, seductive and hedonistic bombshell in my glass!!! (Apologies for all the exclamation points, but hey). Even in this huge bowl (Riedel Sommelier Series Grand Cru Bordeaux) the nose wafts out 6 inches beyond the rim. The nose is rich with blackberry jam, grilled black plum, black currant, cassis, melted brown sugar, oiled leather, hints of nutmeg/cinnamon/cracked black pepper, 60% dark cocoa powder (is that Rutherford dust?) all poured over hot cracked granite. Mouth is rich with blackberry liqueur, raspberry jam, creme de cassis, velvety tannins, superfine and sweet, just ever so slightly rough and subtle heat. It feels like a high-quality raspberry-infused dark chocolate bar melting on my tongue. This is in such a sweet spot, so fully present and gratifying that it's unbelievable. The wine just kept adding nuances over time and it was mind-blowing. Tasting history here folks! Finish is a real yin & yang of black fruits and dark chocolate for the first 20 seconds. It goes on for 60 seconds and the dark chocolate wins. Such a wonderful melange, so balanced. Without that hint of heat it would be a 96+ wine for me.
  
  For you diehards that read this far, it was still great the next day, but the heat was slightly more pronounced. Went great with the burgers & fries though!!! Sinning!!!
  
  DECANT: 4+ hours
  GLASS USED: Sommelier Series Grand Cru Bordeaux
  TASTE: 9.5+
  COST: 330
  VALUE: 8.2
  PREVIOUSLY TASTED: n/a
  TRY AGAIN: n/a
  PAIRING: Fennel & caramelized onion potatoes gratin, smothered in Gruyere & heavy cream. Grilled hangar steak marinated in EVOO, 2006 McCrea Sirocco Blanc (white Rhone blend), Zahtar, Fleur de Sel and cracked black pepper. Asparagus roasted in EVOO, lemon juice, sea salt & black pepper.
  
  Inquiries can be addressed to troypeterson@usa.net
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  11/22/2007 - rouseb wrote: 94 Points

  Decanted ~3 hours

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  3/24/2007 - Paul Lin wrote: 90 Points

  The Wines of Thomas Rivers Brown (Orange County, CA): Notes of black currant, tobacco, lead pencil, and herbs. Creamy texture. Palate seems quite mature for such a young wine.

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