1997 Cardinale

Community Tasting Notes (70) Avg Score: 93.1 points

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  2/25/2024 - lesz wrote: flawed

  flawed

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  8/20/2022 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points

  Mid-Aged Zinfandel and Cali Cab Dinner (Casa Garard - Northfield IL): Rich black plum with background earth and faint mushroom., all in good balance. Good weight and length, complexity is replacing the wine's previous youthful exuberance, but not necessarily making this better vs its performance a decade ago. Still, very good.

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  8/20/2022 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Chez Garard older Zinfandels and Cali Cabs: Good fruit and mellow, soft palate taste. Good balance with the merlot.

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  8/7/2021 - rudygari Likes this wine: 97 Points

  Deep dark cherry bold flavors. Can age another 10 years. One of best Napa Cabernets I have tasted this year

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  12/4/2020 - Somm David T Likes this wine: 96 Points

  Dessert Steak Wine that follows the St. Emilion nicely. Allen Brothers Ribeye just pulls apart with a fork.
  
  Certainly one of the very best Napa vintages in my lifetime.
  
  The first thing I would say is...the 97 has not achieved its peak. However, it is grand.
  
  The nose reveals; cinnamon stick, dark currants, ripe, ruby, blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plums, dark expresso grounds, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit tea, limestone to sandstone, incense, fire ambers, moist clay with amazing, yet understated, ruby, candied florals that are withering; dark, red, purple & blue framed in an equally divided field of violets & lavender.
  
  The palate is; full, round, velvety, sexy, glorious and flat out elegant. The silky tannins are seriously round and tarry/meaty. The structure, tension, balance & length are in the realm of “walk off grand slam.” Dark currants, ripe, ruby, blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum that is skin dominate, dark expresso grounds, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, dates, figs, dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit tea, limestone to sandstone, river stone, incense, fire ambers, notes of savory seasoned prime rib, moist clay with amazing, yet understated, ruby, candied florals that are withering; dark, red, purple & blue framed in an equally divided field of violets & lavender. The acidity is dead on. The finish is; juicy, lush, rich fruits that slide into mid spice and grippy balanced earth.
  
  There is nothing about this wine that says tired.
  
  Amazing follow up Allen’s Brothers steak wine.
  
  Best Napa Cabernet I’ve had this year.

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