11/12/2021 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully. Opened and let breathe for an hour. Lovely feminine round flavors with boysenberry and apricot notes.

4/26/2020 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Really good. Well-balanced, still a little heat but wonderful notes of wood, leather, cassis. Drinking terrifically right now.

9/15/2019 - Wineandsports wrote:

Spicy, hints of vanilla but not overbearing.Still pretty hot, wait another couple of years before opening the next one

7/28/2019 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Opened and let breathe. Tasted after about an hour. Relatively thin, both in terms of look and initial taste. Decided to let it breathe in the glasses-marked improvement. Filled out beautifully. Spicy with enough fruit remaining to provide depth. Definitely time to drink!

5/29/2019 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Still a solid cab. But just that. Has lost some of its nose and fruit, replaced by a more peppery tone. Very enjoyable. Still exhibits some of the heat that characterizes the 2005 vintage.

12/31/2016 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully right now. Flavors blend in perfectly.

4/27/2016 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Peppery plum! Initially the pepper was dominant but as it opened, plum almost prune flavors developed. Almost a sugared candy nose. Nicely matured.

4/16/2016 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

At its peak. Lovely coordinated flavors. No one dominant characteristic. Just a really nice bottle

3/12/2016 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Opened and decanted. Initial flavors were a bit sharp and peppery. After about 30 mins, began to cool a bit. Cherry and herbal flavors (Rosemary, thyme) a hint of smoke and leather. As it continues to open, it smoothed out and developed an almost creamy profile. Think it still has a bit of aging to do.

3/3/2016 - Wineandsports wrote:

Musty aroma. Thought this would have developed more depth of flavor by now. Somewhat flat and one-dimensional. No promise. Meh+

1/30/2016 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Smoooooth. Decanted and let breathe for 30-45 mins. Typical fruit for caymus but nicely balanced. Really enjoyed, seems to be a wine meant to drink fairly young.

1/15/2016 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

What a lovely, balanced cab drinking perfectly right now.

8/10/2015 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Brilliant color. Understated nose. Lots of sour cherry upfront. Still a bit hot. Hoping it will mellow over the next couple of years.

7/12/2015 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Opened and poured after about an hour. Somewhat tight and thin initially. Opened beautifully after another 30+ mins. A really nice cab. Typical of other 2005s I've had-a little hot-but nice sour cherry and leather flavors and a lovely nose.

5/30/2015 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

opened and decanted. Took over an hour to begin to open, but when it did, wow. Beautifully balanced, smooth. Really enjoyed

5/23/2015 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Terrific. Huge California Bordeaux style red. Beautiful color. Nose with chocolate and mineral tones. Similar flavors backed by great jammy fruit and leather. Seems to be peaking.

5/10/2015 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

opened, decanted and let breathe for about 45 min. Opened nicely with wood, earth and caramel notes underneath solid fruit. A tad sour. The nose was odd-musty, ashy almost powdery. Maybe nearing the end, maybe a tad off. As it sat, more chocolate and syrup qualities. I will open my remaining bottles soon...

4/25/2015 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Outstanding. Had another bottle a year or so ago and it was somewhat closed. Opened, decanted. After about 45 minutes poured. A wonderful blend of slate, leather and a damp wood flavor. Plenty of currant or cherry throughout. Drinking very well and seems to have life remaining.

2/28/2015 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Opened and decanted. Minimal sediment. Beautiful color. A bit closed and overly spicy at first, but opened beautifully over next hour. Broad and smooth flavors. Still a big wine with a bit of time left.

1/23/2015 - Wineandsports wrote:

decanted. Took a very long time to open. Had a bottle four years ago that was in better shape. This one did not seem to have the depth of flavor and the variety of notes that the prior one had. Didn't show other signs of age but flavor was one-dimensional. Concerned about others in collection.

12/15/2014 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Overpowering fruit and tannins initially. Smoothed out a bit after some time in the glass. Still young. Too hot. Hope it has enough depth to age b

11/30/2014 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

The only bottle from a disastrous shipment that survived. Jammy, some pepper, but big, fruity and delicious. Slight veg on the nose, but that's not unusual for central Cal. Great with tomato-based sauces or other savory dishes.

9/7/2014 - Wineandsports wrote:

This is another lesson in "don't rush to drink a bottle..." Opened and decanted about 30 mins. Very mild nose but hints of alcohol. First taste was almost jarring-bitter, tannic. Let it sit for another 45 mins or so. Began to improve but still a little muddy and acidic. Probably should have waited another 3 years to open....

8/16/2014 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

A great bottle. Decanted and allowed to breathe for 45 minutes. Wonderful nose from opening. Initial flavors of cherry, licorice and graphite. As it continued to open and broaden, flavors of blueberries and wood began to emerge. Enjoyed every drop.

7/24/2014 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Opened. Let stand for 30-45 mins. Started out spicy and peppery. Almost startlingly so. After some time in the glass, smoothed and mellowed very nicely.

7/19/2014 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

I love it when a terrific wine is at its peak. Soft without being mushy, perfectly balanced fruit and earth tones. A full, lovely cab.

7/1/2014 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

A smooth example of a very good cab. Pomegranate and white pepper up front with a very pleasant silky finish. Look forward to drinking more.

4/27/2014 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Terrifically balanced cab drinking beautifully right now.

3/30/2014 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Took a while to open but very nice when it did . Overwhelming fruit early, but leather and soil tones emerged later, along with a hint of graphite. Should be good for another couple of yrs.

3/22/2014 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Really enjoyed this wine. Took a surprisingly long time to open up and smooth out but once it did, it was great. Fruit and some almost salt-air notes in the nose. Currant and white pepper tones with enough earth to tie them together.

2/9/2014 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

A lovely wine. Berries and pepper in great balance. Broad and solid across the palate. A can't miss.

2/8/2014 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Just a glorious cab. Smokey, peppery nature has smoothed some and now a beautiful combo of cherry and deep rich wood underneath have emerged. Not the most complex cab I have had, but drinking perfectly right now. Wow.

12/31/2013 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Might be a little tight right now. Going to give other bottles I have some time.

12/31/2013 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Really nice blend. Combo of fruit and some smokey notes. Probably still has some life left

12/29/2013 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Reaching its prime. Last of my 4 bottles. Opens up nicely with a mix of pepper and fruit. Gets a bit flatter over time. Overall a very nice cab.

12/22/2013 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Decanted and let stand about 30 mins. After initial musty odor dissipated, lovely nose of vanilla and cherry. Initially, flavor dominated by sour cherry, but as it opened, the vanilla, crushed rock and slight tobacco and chocolate notes began to emerge. I think this wine still has a little work to do.

11/18/2013 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Opened and let breathe for an hour or so. Seems at or near peak. Cassis and coffee notes-smoothed out in the glass. Very enjoyable.

10/28/2013 - Wineandsports wrote:

This wine continues to improve. Cherry predominates in both the nose and flavor. Leather undertones. No sign of fading.

9/24/2013 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

never disappoints. Beginning to reach that ideal stage--broadening, softening but still with that wonderful characteristic nose...

8/31/2013 - Wineandsports wrote:

Decanted and let breathe for 45 mins. Lovely, well-rounded, smoke, leather, cassis, a hint of graphite. Just really really good.

8/11/2013 - Wineandsports wrote:

Another great bottle.

8/3/2013 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Took quite a while to open. Once it did, lovely fruit with some complexity underneath. A very good value.

6/23/2013 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Terrific. Decanted and poured about 30 mins later. Continued to improve in the glass. Lovely, almost rose-like nose. Beautiful deep color. Well-balanced flavors of cherry, leather, a hint of smoke and earth tones. I was surprised at just how mature this wine had become, especially for the 2005's....

4/7/2013 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Just terrific. As well balanced a blend as you will find. Opened for over an hour prior to pouring. Plenty of berry in the nose and palate. But enough depth and earthiness to make the overall impression really solid. Might still improve.

2/16/2013 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Decanted. Poured after almost an hour. Still tightly knotted flavor. Dense, peppery almost sharp. Beautiful deep color. Over the next two hours, began to soften and open. Fruit and leather tones began to emerge. Wound up really enjoying this wine. Not as complex as I hoped, but maybe if we had waited even longer for it to open.

2/1/2013 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

This wine has really evolved in the year plus since I tried it last. Beautiful deep color. Nice nose with spicy overtones. White pepper and cherry flavors with just enough earth and leather to balance. Big. Great with a savory dinner

12/25/2012 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Very nice blend. Smooth, with plenty of fruit and a nice balanced finish. Very good value

12/25/2012 - Wineandsports Likes this wine:

Must must let this open in the glass. Opened. Decanted after an hour and still was a bit closed. After pouring and letting it sit a bit, it blossomed I to a truly terrific wine. Some graphite, earthy and smoother by the minute.

11/22/2012 - Wineandsports wrote:

Wow. Big, Jammy nose and color with great currant and cherry flavors, some chocolate tones as well. Seems to just be reaching its prime.

11/22/2012 - Wineandsports wrote:

Took a little while after decanting, but once it opened up this was a very good bottle of wine. Leather and earth tones underlying a pleasant amount of berry and cassis. Might be near the end of its best years but right now very very good.