May 24, 2024 - This is not a pop and pour type of Cabernet, this wine shows better with food. The color is a bright and lively, purple, reddish with a candy like, attractive nose. On the palate, dark red berry fruits, dark tart cherry and cranberry, currents, tobacco, tannins and acidic. A decent wine that’s holding up pretty well for Cali Cab that’s 20 years old. There’s still some considerable life to this wine. 90-91 Points, maybe higher for those who like this style.
February 24, 2024 - An excellent showing for this wine. Nose was stuffed with tobacco, dusty red fruit, and earth. Palate was still showing vibrant red and black cherry fruit balanced by just a touch of oak and earth. Tannin was still not completely resolved giving the wine plenty of structure. Power, yet with elegance and a fantastic long finish. Decanted for about an hour, could have used more time, the last sips were the best. Mature, but this bottle would have still been great at 25 years of age. Drink now - 2030.
March 8, 2021 - Steak, after Mark wine.
Still fairly fruit-forward, suggesting 3-4 more.
December 23, 2017 - It is 2.5 hours after decanting and this wine is still opening up. Huge wine with massive fruit flavors, primarily dark cherry and blackberry plus vanilla and spice. Some mocha. Strong tannins. No need to drink this anytime soon. Years left on this one.
May 23, 2017 - This is my first of this wine and I think it still may benefit from additional time. The color is deep garnet with just a slight cloudiness. Expressive nose has lots of black cherry fruit, graphite, a little earthiness and vanilla. The palate is very fruity and primary for a 12+ year old wine. Black cherry and other dark fruit flavors, current, spice. A little heat. The tannin is still very evident and for my taste the wines balance could improve. Long finish. There is a lot going on here and I believe potential for improvement so I will hold my other bottle for 5+ years to see if this wine mellows out a bit.
April 2, 2016 - Outstanding. Could go longer but in a great place now.
March 25, 2015 - Amazing! It opened up more and more, minute by minute. Drink now!
December 14, 2014 - Wow. Explosive wine. Could smell the amazing flavors right from the bottle once the cork popped. Very dark. Crazy nose. Fruits and spice galore. Great mouthfeel. Probably as good as it can get right now but could cellar another 2-5 years too. Yummy
December 6, 2014 - A California classic and a great representation of the 2004 vintage. Drinking excellently right now but could go another 5 years for sure. Broad flavors of exotic cherry liquor, cassis, ceder. Parker had it right. Rib eye steak with a cherry reduction sauce?
February 29, 2012 - Too much oak for my taste, but a very nice full-bodied wine. Not a highly nuance nose or palate; pretty much straight-forward, big fruit. Drinking very smooth, now.