7/21/2012 - ilm-pape wrote:

Agree with many previous comments. Light body but very well integrated tannins and subtle oak. My first impression on the nose was cherry cola. Palate is cherry, licorice and a nice slight minerality to the finish. Very smooth and goes down way too easily. Popped and drank -- but my overall impression is 3 glasses over about 2 hours.

1/17/2012 - ilm-pape wrote:

I have drank a lot of the different Kosta pinots, and this bottle on this particular night was hands down the best that I have had. Just a little bit of spice, ripe dark fruits with maybe a hint of prune (yes, prune - no laxative effect thank goodness), cola, and just a hint of oak. All integrated to smooth perfection -- what balance! The finish was ridiculously long. Not sure what the experts are saying, but I can't imagine this bottle will get any better or how much longer it will stay in this sweet spot? Bottoms up!

7/6/2011 - ilm-pape wrote:

Not like most '06 Napa cabs in that the tannins are more subtle. I have had two bottles now (first, popped & drank), and the second I put through the Vinturi and let sit in the decanter for about an hour -- it really seemed to bring the wine together into a more smooth well-balanced drink. Deep purple color, nice early ripe dark fruit, oak is there in just the right amount, not as much heat as would be expected at close to 15% EtOH, and a pretty nice lingering slightly tangy finish.

6/14/2011 - ilm-pape wrote:

I rated this a 90 because I think it has a lot more potential. Drank too young in my opinion. It opened with time but was still very tannic. Leave this one be for another 3-4 years.

6/8/2011 - ilm-pape wrote:

Got this wine as a gift. Not a lot of nose on this one. First impression was "hello grapey grape" -- not in a bad way but just overpowered any other discernible flavors in the wine. I wish that the "earthy" flavors others have mentioned were there for me. Goes down easy and has a decent linger to the finish. The overripe fruit would go well with some acidic or spicy tomato sauce based dish.

11/10/2010 - ilm-pape wrote:

Agree with the majority. Popped, ran through the venturi and drank right away. Nice berry fruit (I get a lot of raspberry on this one?), goes down easy with a decent finish. Solid everyday value wine.

8/16/2010 - ilm-pape wrote:

Amazing in my amateur opinion. I got more musky, cedar & tobacco on the nose than others it seems (oddly, almost would have sworn it was a Chateau-neuf or Syrah if I hadn't known better). I agree with the palate -- lots of lucious dark fruits (overripe blackberry, dark cherry). The fruit was so well balanced with the mellowing tannins, and the finish lingered for quite some time. I disagree with the CT drinking window ending in 2009 -- to me, this bottle is very much in its prime. As a point of reference, to me, it well exceeded the 2006 Saxum Bone Rock we had the same night (with age, the Saxum will likely be just as good).

7/22/2010 - ilm-pape wrote:

Repeat performance on this second bottle -- great!

5/17/2010 - ilm-pape wrote:

I cannot agree more with the more recent reviews posted. One of the best value cabs that I have had. Sweet plum and blackberries with some earthy tones as well. Very nice balance and a lingering finish. I just popped and drank, but I might decant the next bottle that I pick up just to see if it gets any better?! Total surprise on this one.

3/14/2010 - ilm-pape wrote:

In a blind tasting of cabs and zins with 7 other people, 6 of 8 us confused this one for a zin vs. a cab. Most at the tasting are very experienced and nailed most of the others on the head (Pride Vinter's Reserve Cab, Beringer Reserve, Seghesio Zin, Marietta Angeli, etc.). A solid wine overall, very nice fruit just not full bodied and a lot of heat for 14.5% alcohol. I think the heat actually threw people off for "spice" on a zin? Again, very good but just confusing -- guess I am drinking too much California cab to understand the Chileans yet. Or, this one just may need more time to live up to the higher published ratings that I have seen...

3/12/2010 - ilm-pape wrote:

Could not agree more with Zweder (see below). All you expect from a great second growth starting to hit its prime.

3/11/2010 - ilm-pape wrote:

This was my third and sadly last bottle. Absolutely the best cabernet sauvignon I have had to date. Very full bodied, perfectly integrated and a finish that lingers forever. Deep purple-red color with a little funk on the nose (good to me being a huge Chateau-neuf fan), but the taste is all deep rich berries with hints of vanilla and little pepper at the end. Worth every nickel!

11/16/2009 - ilm-pape wrote:

Solid anyday drinker. Pretty much what I would expect from an inexpensive zin.

1/11/2010 - ilm-pape wrote:

At first, very deconstructed and intense with an odd finish (despite aerating and then decanting for an hour). Deep purple-red color. A little leather and "funk" on the nose. Another hour or so later, like a completely different wine with all the typical amarone raisin, black cherry and bitter chocolate flavors coming into balance with a nice lingering finish. Drank a second bottle about 2 weeks later and exactly same result.

12/23/2009 - ilm-pape wrote:

Aerated into a decanteur and drank right away. Agree with many of the prior reviews in terms of this bottle tasting like a Bordeaux should and being a solid value.

11/8/2009 - ilm-pape wrote:

Good wine but did not live up to what others were telling me about this wine. Of course, I have never been a huge fan of Super Tuscans anyway. Aerated and then decanted for 2 hours and still was very "deconstructed" on first drink -- just not coming together well at all -- that changed after another hour and improved dramatically. Nice spice on the tongue and cherry/raspberry type fruit. Farily light and not too complex. Probably just needs some more years to rest...

11/8/2009 - ilm-pape wrote:

Textbook amarone -- lots of tasty dark fruit, beautiful deep purple color, and a little bit of that almost Chateau-neuf-du-pape like funk. Very well integrated full bodied wine with a finish that lingers and lingers.

10/30/2009 - ilm-pape wrote:

Slightly above average "table wine" in my opinion. Not much nose, nondescript but nice fruit, little acidic and short finish. Sort of wine that you drink and kinda forget what you are drinking (i.e., a good closer).

10/2/2009 - ilm-pape wrote:

Outstanding bottle. Nice burnt red color, tasty dark fruit, very well-balanced & a finish that lingers nicely!

1/1/2009 - ilm-pape wrote:

Corked. Lots of musty, mildew on the nose. Limited bubbles remaining. Very sad 20th anniversary for this bottle!

12/5/2008 - ilm-pape wrote:

Nose was plum, oak and vanilla for me. American oak is there but not overpowering. Decanted for an hour and had another glass after 2 hours. Very soft subtle tannins. Decent fruit but just a little too much tang for me and a bit thin in the mouth. Long lingering finish.

11/20/2008 - ilm-pape wrote:

Strong nose of American Oak but the dark berries are certainly there too. Like others have noted, fruit bomb but with the high alcohol and obvious oak it works. Would be a definite "party pleaser". If you have issues with American Oak, avoid this one -- not me, as you can see by my 92 points.

11/13/2008 - ilm-pape wrote:

Very nice complex balance between blueberry/cherry fruit with a syrupy hint of molasses along with the muskiness that others have noted. A bit of spice rounds it out. Long lingering finish. Reminds me a lot of the Kosta style Pinots. So good, we are going to open another bottle tonight for a blind tasing against a Kanzler -- will be interesting to see how it pans out.