January 5, 2024 - 1 hour slow ox. Nose: Same Spring Mountain minerality as previous bottles. Cherries abound with mint hints. Palate: Red fruits with the minerals showing. Fabulous just like previous bottles and does not show any of the 15.2 % alc level. Given how soft the tannins are I would not decant this but rather slow ox it to eliminate the risk of over oxidation.
April 20, 2023 - Coravined a glass off last night, 95 to start. Big, juicy dark red ripe fruit, excellent acidity and integrating tannins. Nothing harsh, but perhaps a little of the 15.2% alc prominent. Two hours later, juicy leaves, blacker fruit emerges, it calms down and drops a point or two in my book to a 93.
Opened the rest of the bottle tonight to have with Carol's awesome Miso Sea Bass and wild rice with mushrooms. Heaven in a glass. Smooth, dark red fruit, chalky minerality and it's juicy and flavorful....lots of sweet tobacco, and loads of barrel spice, too. 95 pts once more. Two hours in again and some of the juicy leaves and it starts to replay like night #1......but the tobacco seems to be hanging on longer and stronger, which is a profile I really like, and the acidic backbone lends a certain energy and much length to the finish with spice all the way through past the finish. This wine made by Richard Arrowood is just fantastic. Not a fruit bomb Napa cab (it's actually Sonoma) but it has staying power and def aging potential. I hope in 20 more years at the age of 85, I'll be popping the last of my then, 28 yo bottles and enjoying a great aged wine of his as I do now with his 30+ yo Arrowood bottles.......averaging out my score to a 94 for this bottle. Make no mistake this is an 'in between' wine. It's not old enough or resolved enough to be a hit with the Bdx Left Bank or old time Napa crowd yet and it's not a big enough fruit bomb for the New World Cali Hedons.....
October 12, 2022 - Still young, with gritty and unresolved tannins, this could stand a couple more years. By day 4 (!) it was drinking better, the rough edges starting to smooth.
February 2, 2022 - 2 1/2 hour decant (mag decanter). Nose: The same sweet red, perfumy fruits show with good mineral presence. Palate: Soft styled w/ cherries showing and a touch of bitterness not shown on the last bottle. Minerals show with good acid levels and an elegant finish. Not quite as good as the last bottle (notes on 10/13/20) but still a solid 91 points. Can't go wrong with anything by Richard Arrowood IMO.
January 8, 2022 - This is quite good. Tart cherries, pipe tobacco, black olives, and cloves. Still huge, but very approachable right now. I'll give the next one a year or so.
February 12, 2021 - Decanted for two hours and consumed over the following three. Deep violet in the glass with aromas of dark fruits, toasted bread and earth tones. Big, round, medium-full mouthfeel delivering flavors of black fruits, spice, dark chocolate, cedar and tea. Polished, with sufficient acidity and tannic structure to go for years. Moderately long finish with a hint of mint and menthol as mentioned by another CT reviewer.
Dick Arrowood wines are made for aging and this cab is no exception. Those willing to wait will be rewarded, but it is a challenge to keep from raiding the cellar early. Decant and enjoy!
January 9, 2021 - Tannins are still pretty strong, but just softened enough to drink reasonably well. Fairly powerful acidity, and outstanding presence. Very good along with a big chunk of meat, and very good aging potential. Try again in a year or two.
October 24, 2020 - A refined Cabernet from Richard Arrowood with 7% petite verdot. It is purple garnet in color with aromas of blackberry, blueberry and raspberries. It’s bold and dry with a good structure and deliciously smooth throughout. It has a good tannic structure with balance and a lingering finish. Highly recommend this one.
October 13, 2020 - 2 1/2 hour decant (mag decanter). Nose: Red fruited with initial fresh mint, prominent sweet dusty aromas and butter. Very cool aromas. Palate: Soft and ready tannins (with proper aeration), fresh cherries and an almost perfumy quality I often see in Spring Mountain cabs. Only criticism is it’s a bit thin on the mid palate. Elegant finish. Solid QPR cab and ready to go now w/ a decent decant. 91+ points.
September 14, 2020 - Excellent Cab!
Definitely buy again!
From Wine Mine