In my cellar since release. Decanted at 5:30pm and tasted over the next 4-5 hours. The color is medium to dark slightly translucent garnet with a brick meniscus. It looks less than its age and by no means "over the hill" though clearly not a young wine. Initially the nose is all earthy, cedar, tobacco and licorice, then it begins to give up some plum and red berry. On first taste it is still slightly tannic and has decent acidity with a tart cranberry and tar on the palate and tobacco on the finish which lasts 30+ seconds. After about 3 hours it had a bit more red berry and cranberry fruit with lots of leather. I think this was better than most other tasters have indicated recently. While not the best Cali Cab year, this was very enjoyable.
A bit cloudy, would have benefited from being stood up before opening. Classic Cedar and earth-driven notes. Real old school Napa character, if past its best. Medium bodied, with some high-pitched acids coming through on the finish. Enjoyable enough.
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3/3/2020 - The Beldens Likes this wine: 90 Points
Stellar bottle. Obviously past prime, but still solid!
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2/8/2019 - The Beldens Likes this wine: 89 Points
Delicious yet certainly past prime.
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6/24/2017 - oldwines Likes this wine: 92 Points
In my cellar since release. Decanted at 5:30pm and tasted over the next 4-5 hours. The color is medium to dark slightly translucent garnet with a brick meniscus. It looks less than its age and by no means "over the hill" though clearly not a young wine. Initially the nose is all earthy, cedar, tobacco and licorice, then it begins to give up some plum and red berry. On first taste it is still slightly tannic and has decent acidity with a tart cranberry and tar on the palate and tobacco on the finish which lasts 30+ seconds. After about 3 hours it had a bit more red berry and cranberry fruit with lots of leather. I think this was better than most other tasters have indicated recently. While not the best Cali Cab year, this was very enjoyable.
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8/4/2016 - CMN wrote:
Hanging on by a thread. Decent traditional Cabernet, but probably 5+ years past its expiration date. Drink whatever you have left ASAP.
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7/31/2016 - psmith wrote: 87 Points
A bit cloudy, would have benefited from being stood up before opening. Classic Cedar and earth-driven notes. Real old school Napa character, if past its best. Medium bodied, with some high-pitched acids coming through on the finish. Enjoyable enough.
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