Acquired on clearance sale almost a decade ago from the winery for a shockingly low price. Decanted for sediment and aeration for an hour or so and then tasted over another couple hours with grilled steaks. Labeled as 15.4% ABV, which usually is a big turn off for me, but strikingly this was balanced and not “hot” in the least. It is a medium to dark, slightly translucent garnet color. Rich ripe flavors led by dark chocolate, fresh mushroom, black cherry, some herbal/licorice notes on the nose, vanilla, cedar and a really smooth, rich long finish. Only the fourth “Reserve” bottling of Cab Franc since 1985 for Mitch Cosentino up to that point. Clearly a California wine but not unattractive with lots of depth and length. Seemed more “old school” despite the obvious ripeness and listed ABV. No sign of being tired.
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I am not going to get into the melancholy feeling I get every time I pop a bottle of "old-school" Cosentino, I have been down that road plenty of times. I am relieved, though, that this wine has held up so well--but that should really be no surprise. Vanilla blackberry pie, perhaps cubed. This is one of those wines I could sniff for ages. And I just might. This is not a food wine. This is a hedonistic patio, Cards Against Humanity kind of wine. Even a dozen years out this is a gangbusters in a blow your hair back "wow" kind of way. thedrunkencyclist.com
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100% Cabernet Franc fruit from St. Helena. 300 cases are made. Purchased at the winery in 2008 for $34.Opened but not decanted about 2 hours before dinner. Dark crimson color. Still very dry with herbs. black fruit and smokey oak. Firm tannins. Full bodied. A little rough around the edges and not sure this will become any smoother or better integrated than it is now so drink. 89-90 points.
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- Brick color. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Fleshy texture with a long finish - Dark and heavy. This was the wine of the night needed to decant for an hour before
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9/25/2021 - oldwines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Acquired on clearance sale almost a decade ago from the winery for a shockingly low price. Decanted for sediment and aeration for an hour or so and then tasted over another couple hours with grilled steaks. Labeled as 15.4% ABV, which usually is a big turn off for me, but strikingly this was balanced and not “hot” in the least. It is a medium to dark, slightly translucent garnet color. Rich ripe flavors led by dark chocolate, fresh mushroom, black cherry, some herbal/licorice notes on the nose, vanilla, cedar and a really smooth, rich long finish. Only the fourth “Reserve” bottling of Cab Franc since 1985 for Mitch Cosentino up to that point. Clearly a California wine but not unattractive with lots of depth and length. Seemed more “old school” despite the obvious ripeness and listed ABV. No sign of being tired.
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3/11/2017 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 92 Points
I am not going to get into the melancholy feeling I get every time I pop a bottle of "old-school" Cosentino, I have been down that road plenty of times. I am relieved, though, that this wine has held up so well--but that should really be no surprise. Vanilla blackberry pie, perhaps cubed. This is one of those wines I could sniff for ages. And I just might. This is not a food wine. This is a hedonistic patio, Cards Against Humanity kind of wine. Even a dozen years out this is a gangbusters in a blow your hair back "wow" kind of way. thedrunkencyclist.com
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5/18/2015 - Vino Me wrote: 89 Points
100% Cabernet Franc fruit from St. Helena. 300 cases are made. Purchased at the winery in 2008 for $34.Opened but not decanted about 2 hours before dinner. Dark crimson color. Still very dry with herbs. black fruit and smokey oak. Firm tannins. Full bodied. A little rough around the edges and not sure this will become any smoother or better integrated than it is now so drink. 89-90 points.
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8/10/2013 - wino365 wrote: 93 Points
- Brick color. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Fleshy texture with a long finish - Dark and heavy. This was the wine of the night needed to decant for an hour before
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11/24/2012 - Kurt and Ruthann wrote: 93 Points
Truly an outstanding wine. well balanced with lots of flavor.
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