December 16, 2023 - Dennis and Caroline holiday wine tasting. Let me start by stating that I love old wine. I love their unique flavors present only in old wine. Unlike anything in the food industry. This is a beautiful perfumed wine still. Light in color compared to young cabernet's. This wine was Berry driven and leads with strawberry, plum skin and blackberry jam. Lingering flavors went on for nearly 1 minute. Wish I had more.
September 3, 2021 - Very consistent tasting experience with 1st bottle. Recently acquired 2 of these as part of a much larger cellar contents purchase and sure wish we had more. Beautiful aged CA cabernet and drinking so well but tannins all gone, highly recommend but also time to drink up any remaining holdings. Paired beautifully with coq au vin.
March 29, 2021 - Loved these wines back in the day, the perfect dryness to sweet for my cab palate, at very attractive pricing! Been going through the last of my bottles cellared since release...the 94 was drinking ok 5 years ago, but nothing inspiring...after this 95, just the 91 will remain. Open in bottle for an hour...the little shorty cork did its job...bricking red plum color. Somewhat alarming nose as this has some maderized aromas, as well as dusty cedar, coffee, plum pudding, cherry liqueur, wood smoke. On the palate, BIG dose of oak spice, dried berries, dusty cedar pencil, bitter coffee. Hmmm? Color and nose seem to indicate a lighter bodied wine that might be shot...and on the palate it's an alive beast! Tannins are still quite strong and dusty with that good dollop of oak...fruit still quite sweet with a nice dryness of licorice and currants...aged nuances of leather, earth mulch, cigar box, menthol...the air really helps integrate this wine...and it starts to come together after an hour. VERY intriguing deep spices and earth florals...cinnamon stick, coffee grounds, persimmon pudding...even some Madeira. I actually thought I was going to dump the bottle at first because it being over the hill oxed or heat damaged...but it has come together to offer a pleasurable drink!
July 23, 2020 - Still showing well. Plenty of fruit, incense, leather and loam. Nice tannin and some acidity. Who says CaliCabs can't age a quarter of a century?!? Drink up soon if you still have this in you cellar.
November 24, 2018 - Ditto other reviews. A great representation of aged Cali cab. Soft and pillowy with stewed fruit, spices, tanned leather and red berry.
April 28, 2017 - Dark ruby with fading rim. Current, loam roasted oak. Delicious smooth mouth feel; some tannins but definitely on the downside. Delicious perfectly mature California cab.
February 9, 2016 - wow, what a beautiful bottle of wine, had never had altumura before so on the recommendation of a friend i bought a single bottle for $75 when i saw it at auction, this wine was med plus bodied, but had beautiful acid for perfect balance in the mouth, great red / plum fruit profile with hints of cinnamon and christmas spices, layered and deep without being heavy in any way... go baby!! stood head to head or better with a beautiful bottle of realm cellars beckstoffer tokalon '08
October 4, 2015 - magnum
March 29, 2015 - Dark red brick in color. Soft cork, but was intact. Fully mature Cali Cab with excellent depth and character. Black cherry, tobacco, and enough acidity to complement the flavors and hold it together.
October 2, 2014 - Enjoyed. Smooth with low acidity. Subtle fruit.