Retail $100? This wine comes from the near-universally panned 1998 vintage in Napa Valley. I was actually living in the Bay Area then and 1998 was a El Niño year, quite wet and, well, not very pleasant. So I get the vintage assessment. But. This wine, today? In the glass, nearly 25 years later? Yeah, giddy-up. Surprisingly darker in both color and aromas than the previous vintages in this tasting (given the rough year) with peppery and herbal notes. While not much fruit on the nose, there is lovely fruit on the palate, along with great balance and silky, integrated tannins. Lovely. 93.
Very smooth and still drinkable. Decanted for an hour. Initial tast of chocolate and cherry. Dry. Fruit did not hold up and finish was flat. DRINK NOW.
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Very impressed with this. I had some '98 reserve a few years Go and this is almost as good. Despite what was a challenging vintage, you would not know it from this wine; so much fruit and flavor, but also so much weight and complexity. Well worthwhile, and no signs of fading any time soon.
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12/7/2022 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 93 Points
Retail $100? This wine comes from the near-universally panned 1998 vintage in Napa Valley. I was actually living in the Bay Area then and 1998 was a El Niño year, quite wet and, well, not very pleasant. So I get the vintage assessment. But. This wine, today? In the glass, nearly 25 years later? Yeah, giddy-up. Surprisingly darker in both color and aromas than the previous vintages in this tasting (given the rough year) with peppery and herbal notes. While not much fruit on the nose, there is lovely fruit on the palate, along with great balance and silky, integrated tannins. Lovely. 93.
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12/9/2012 - jtcoolaidman wrote: 76 Points
Ok, but nothing special. Decanted for an hour and opened up a bit, but still pretty dead. Drinking it on a Sunday night with spaghetti and meat balls.
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11/11/2012 - wailes wrote: 87 Points
Very smooth and still drinkable. Decanted for an hour. Initial tast of chocolate and cherry. Dry. Fruit did not hold up and finish was flat. DRINK NOW.
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10/7/2012 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
Very impressed with this. I had some '98 reserve a few years Go and this is almost as good. Despite what was a challenging vintage, you would not know it from this wine; so much fruit and flavor, but also so much weight and complexity. Well worthwhile, and no signs of fading any time soon.
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9/3/2011 - amflinn wrote:
still delicious
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