Turns out one more bottle was hiding in the cellar. Consistent with past notes. This 09 doesnt have the polish and finish to stack up to the 2012s, but enjoyable.
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Very good nose of currants up front. This plush and dense Cabernet is powerful. The black fruit is big. I get a lot of cola, baking spice and some star anise too. It’s pricy but it’s a great effort...
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Showy nose of black and blue fruit with smoke. licorice, toast, licorice and candied berries. Rich, fat and dense, but not overbearing. The fruit is lush, concentrated, sweet and fresh, with a long, fruit-filled flamboyant finish. Popped and poured, not sure it needs decanting. This is drinking great right now. If you have a bottle, why wait?
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after a 90 minute decant, I think it was simply not open enough. Good sweet fruit, but was just starting to hit its stride by the time we finished it. This needs a 3 hour decant IMHO. Sweeter bright red fruit, good body and balance. just didnt hit its full glory; wish I had given this more time to open...
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Double decanted for 2.5 hrs (& needed all of it), deep ruby, black cherry with a touch of cinnamon, med/firm tannins, long finish; outstanding, entering its plateau after the long decant, drink or preferably hold for at least another couple of yrs
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dark purple bomb...concentrated...needs 3 hours in a decanter to meld...with a bit of time...started off way hot but it fades as it opens. blueberries, cherry, cassis...long layered finish. Great new world wine that can use time.
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Took to a restaurant, PNP and drank over the next hour. Great balance, red and dark fruits, lots of blueberry and blackberries on the nose and palate. Was marvelous even with challenging food.
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100% cab. 14.6% ABV. I let it breathe for 45 minutes then drank over the next 2.5 hours. Solid acidity. Not as concentrated and ripe as many Napa cab. But, as WS says, focused and persistent. Has a long, juicy finish. Lots of sediment. As good on days 2 and 3.
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Excellent. As it should be at this price point. Poured a glass and let it sit for an hour. First impressions were abundant black fruit, tannins tame and enough acidity to keep it well out of flabby fruit bomb territory.Tannins are in check and provide backbone without any over-the-top barrel shenanigans being evident. Nose is classic mountain cab with some cassis and briar notes. Contrary to some other notes, I would rate the finish as medium - around 15 seconds for me.
This has a long life ahead of it. I didn't pick up anything other than a primary fruit profile that has settled down to a harmonious and balance wine. Not sure the QPR is in line right now though. I can think of a number of comparable California cabs that are equally as good at about half this price.
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Wonderful bottle of wine. Lots of fruits and tannins have relaxed asking this just right on the money wine. Very dark red look with a finish lasting longer than 45 seconds. Wish I had more of this vintage. This wine has many years left to cellar.
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Few wines at Tequila Revolucion (Tequila Revolucion): I decanted this for 4 hours before serving. Aromas of blackberry, currant, black cherry, plum and touch of iron. Flavors of cherry, currant, blackberry, grape and touch of earth. Ends with a large, long finish of 45+ seconds with blackberry notes. Had this last because it’s huge. It was an interesting evolution of styles, starting with the 04 Palmer, the 12 Dominus then this. I had this neck and neck with the Dominus. Schrader is always reliable to delivery a great wine drinking experience.
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WOW, simply a phenomenal bottle of cab! Layers of blackberry, cassis, vanilla, and spice notes on the nose and textured palate with a killer long finish.
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Rich and viscous wine with sweet dark fruit. Good backbone that is well integrated into the wall of fruit. Fairly light on its feet. Very smooth and nice complexity with mocha, milk chocolate dominating. Finish goes on forever with different tastes coming through as it lingers. Nose was fragrant with fruit dominating. Not any sense of place or terroir compared to a Macdonald for example from BTK.
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California Dreamin' - Double Blind - Zin/PS/Cab - 70's - 2009: Brief notes - part of a larger blind tasting. In a flight with an 09 Shafer Hillside Select and an 09 Tor Kenward 337 Beckstoffer To Kalon, this was the clear WOTF, and by far and away the WOTN. An absolutely incredible wine from start to finish. Slow-ox'd for 12 hours but it really started to open up after pouring and some vigorous swirling . This wine literally explodes from the glass with a haunting perfume of violets, blueberries, and black fruits. Easily the best nose on a cab that I've had the experience of smelling. And things just got better from there, as the wine is a sensory overload in the mouth with wave after wave of silky black, blue, and red fruits, cassis, and a hint of mint. Still plenty of tannin on the long, long finish, but they're very fine, and do not distract from the beauty and enjoyment of the wine. This should hold for many years, but damn was it good tonight. Easily cracks the list of my top 5 wines ever. Wish I had a lot more.
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Ditto other recent reviews. This wine is robust and packed with density. Very heavy on the fruit with black and blue berry compote, cassis, pie, some creamy creme, and hints of cigar and spice forest on the back end. Lush and rich. Truly a treat and exemplary of the best to come out of Napa.
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The last bottle from my first allocation on the list, and just the 4th bottle of Schrader I have opened ... I have 51 more through the 2016 vintage so even though this is still relatively young, I definitely need to be drinking a few as the collection grows.
Opening about 3 hours before service with a steak dinner at home and I am going to decant this in the cellar until then. Going to try to provide a few notes over the full night.
On opening - Deep, dark and inky in color. On the nose ... Wow!!! Right out of the gates this thing is powerful and ripe with currants, mocha and spice, with a little black pepper on the finish. This wine screams Napa with a capital N. Now let,s dump in into the decanter for a while.
2 1/2 hours in the decanter and softening up nicely. Even more fruit and less astringent tannin.
After dinner, 4 hours with air. Creme de cassis, dark chocolate, graphite, oak, slightly softer tannins but certainly could have continued evolving over the next 10-15 years. A beautiful wine.
On an interesting side note ... my first allocation was the last time I ever received “Schrader Schrader”. Since then, it has been all RBS, CCS, LPV and just receNtly T6, GIII and Old Sparky for the first time in the 2016 vintage. Wonder when I will get any Schrader Schrader again ...
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This bottle was saved for a special occasion and it did not disappoint. Dark and aromatic immediately upon opening. It had a muscular structure with concentrated black fruit, hints of chocolate and wood, yet a soft velvety finish. It lived up to the reputation of this vineyard and winemaker.
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Was looking forward to this wine since it was my first Schrader. This followed a 1995 first growth Bordeaux, which was to its disadvantage. From the first sniiff you could tell it was gonna be BIG, even after a 3 hour decant, and WOW, indeed it was (one taster described it as an "Anna Nicole Smith" wine). Awesome nose, fruit forward, and big tannins. Initially considered it borderline OTT, but after an hour in the glass, it unwound and the future potential could be appreciated. Clearly way too young, but fun to taste at this early stage. Thanks to Luis for sharing.
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PNP for first taste, then decanted an hour. Benefitted from the decant. Very aromatic with blueberry, blackberry, anise, cassis and a touch of vanilla and cigar box. Full bodied, a little heavier, than most other Schraders I've had, deemed to have more glycerin. The flavors mirrored the nose. Long finish. Tannins were present, but seemed smooth. a great compliment to a grilled steak. really good now, but may get even better. No hurry to open my last bottle.
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Decanted 30 min Blueberry, blackberry and raspberry all nose. Massive fruit. Creaminess, and oak. Tannins are strong. Alcohol is a bit strong, but as it opens up it does soften. Long finish, heavy body. Almost a thickness about it that is a little unusual. Blueberry pie, oak, buttery flavors. Smoke BBQ nose. Hand cream, some dried dates, and even a bit of cigar box also on the nose.
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9.3+ Lovely and typical Schrader with nice glycerin, just a bit tannic like all the other 2009's we have had. Honestly, I think we prefer the 2011's to the 2009s so far.
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I just love this wine. Served with a whole filet I prepared on the grill. sweetness brought out the best in the meat. doesn't get much better than this
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Big and a bit sweet, with red berry, red cherry, plum, and oak flavors. It was smooth and tasty but lacked the subtlety of some other schraders that I've had. A sip towards the end was almost cough mediciny.
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Spectacular, and will only get better. First bottle we have had from my initial allocation. Nose of raspberries, roses and plum. Soft tannins with black cherries and notes of chocolate - and face in wet planter... it was towards the end. If you don't have the patience to hold on, it is amazing right now, but I believe it still has even more potential.
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Popped and poured at BienTrucha - a Mexican Restaurant recommended by Chris Freemott in Geneva, Illinois. Not the best place to drink it, big clunky "O" type glasses, and too much aroma in the room, but we were celebrating my brother-in-law's elevation to a big fancy schmancy position at a major Ivy League University and I promised to bring something really good. This wine was absolutely exceptional despite all the bad conditions. Surprisingly integrated for its age. Lovely fruit but not a fruit bomb - but YMMV because it is a Thomas Rivers Brown, after all. Red fruit, ZERO harsh tannins, deep meaty flavor with something that might have been chocolate, might have been coffee, might have been who knows what, but definitely OUTSTANDING/EXCEPTIONAL. This was the first Schrader I was offered after time on the waiting list and unfortunately I only got one of them, but if this was so good, I can only imagine what the RBS in the same box will taste like, let alone the 2012 CCS that I got a few weeks ago.
As to those who think this was infanticide or a bad venue to drink such a wine, and who wonder about drinking a bottle of wine with a cost greater than the bill for the entire meal, with tip, for five people . . . enjoy it while you can and sometimes it's fun not to over-intellectualize the wine. PS - the restaurant was excellent and I recommend it highly.
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Decanted for 8 hours. This wine is still full of power and shows tremendous depth. The wine shows flavors of dark fruit, tar, licorice, and some floral characteristics. Very well balanced for the amount of power behind this wine. Very beautiful showing of To Kalon fruit.
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Decanted for about 8 hours and it needed it! Great structure, huge red currant flavors running throughout with incredible concentration. This had a good overall balance but what kept it from a higher rating was a very noticeable VA component.
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Wines from Schrader are consistently amazing. The wine is impeccably balanced with rich dark fruits. Wonderful for its lack of any green notes. Another home run for Thomas Brown and the team!!!
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Tasted non blind. Opened and run through a venturi before serving.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of light blueberries up front followed by currants, black cherries and plums. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and currants. Medium acidity, firm tannin, full bodied. I'd recommend holding a minimum of 5-6 years before opening. No rating at this time due to the overwhelming youth of this wine but it has all the guys to be a special bottle.
Return to San Anontio (Ducru Vertical); 2/21/2013-2/24/2013 (Monty): Popped and poured and revisited a couple times through the evening. Huge and massive wine, with layers of berries and spice with a black fruit profile. Fruit really dominated the nose and palate, but plenty of energy and soft very fine tannins underneath. Lengthy finish with a little mocha. Surprisingly light oak influence given the scale of this wine. Impressive, very polished and even elegant. Needs lots of time but very well made. My first Schrader (thanks ted)
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Tasted in a flight with the 2004. This 2009 is obviously quite young. Rich and fruit driven with black fruit, vanilla, crushed rocks and maple. Also, very tight. Take this note for what it's worth but I can say the wine was decanted before we poured it and so this speaks to the sheer youth in the bottle at this point.
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I didn't take notes... but figured it was worth sharing that I opened this at noon, poured a sip (which was open although oaky and tannic), corked it and left it for 6 hours. The next sip was very much closed, so into the decanter it went for another 2 hours. What emerged was fantastic Cali cab. Clearly young, but easy to drink and really enjoyable. Hold this for a while or give it some air and it's a real treat.
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9/28/2022 - mdvillaverde Likes this wine: 94 Points
Turns out one more bottle was hiding in the cellar. Consistent with past notes. This 09 doesnt have the polish and finish to stack up to the 2012s, but enjoyable.
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3/18/2021 - CV Griz Fan Likes this wine: 96 Points
Very good nose of currants up front. This plush and dense Cabernet is powerful. The black fruit is big. I get a lot of cola, baking spice and some star anise too. It’s pricy but it’s a great effort...
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3/13/2021 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Double decanted for 2 hrs, deep ruby, black cherry with some vanilla & cinnamon, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding, drink or hold
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9/5/2020 - mdvillaverde Likes this wine: 94 Points
My last bottle. This is for my 8/19-8/20 tasting. Tasting consistent w/past notes.
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8/7/2020 - mdvillaverde wrote: 94 Points
This note is for a tasting a week ago.. Consistent with my Oct 2019 note. Had it a day before the 09 t6 and the t6 was a cut above.
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4/26/2020 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
Showy nose of black and blue fruit with smoke. licorice, toast, licorice and candied berries. Rich, fat and dense, but not overbearing. The fruit is lush, concentrated, sweet and fresh, with a long, fruit-filled flamboyant finish. Popped and poured, not sure it needs decanting. This is drinking great right now. If you have a bottle, why wait?
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1/20/2020 - winelover1808 Likes this wine:
after a 90 minute decant, I think it was simply not open enough. Good sweet fruit, but was just starting to hit its stride by the time we finished it. This needs a 3 hour decant IMHO. Sweeter bright red fruit, good body and balance. just didnt hit its full glory; wish I had given this more time to open...
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12/14/2019 - n2wine Likes this wine: 97 Points
What a fantastic wine. Best that I have had in a long time. Jammy for a 10 year old.
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12/7/2019 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Double decanted for 2.5 hrs (& needed all of it), deep ruby, black cherry with a touch of cinnamon, med/firm tannins, long finish; outstanding, entering its plateau after the long decant, drink or preferably hold for at least another couple of yrs
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10/24/2019 - DesMarteau wrote: 96 Points
dark purple bomb...concentrated...needs 3 hours in a decanter to meld...with a bit of time...started off way hot but it fades as it opens. blueberries, cherry, cassis...long layered finish. Great new world wine that can use time.
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10/12/2019 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wonderful fruit, decent tannin. Raspberry and blackberry, long finish. Have liked other vintages of Schrader even better, but this is still fantastic.
Not over the top, more classic To Kalon of Iron Fist Velvet Glove.
Drank with challenging food at Rhubarb
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10/12/2019 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 98 Points
Took to a restaurant, PNP and drank over the next hour. Great balance, red and dark fruits, lots of blueberry and blackberries on the nose and palate. Was marvelous even with challenging food.
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10/9/2019 - mdvillaverde Likes this wine: 95 Points
100% cab. 14.6% ABV. I let it breathe for 45 minutes then drank over the next 2.5 hours. Solid acidity. Not as concentrated and ripe as many Napa cab. But, as WS says, focused and persistent. Has a long, juicy finish. Lots of sediment. As good on days 2 and 3.
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9/13/2019 - clayh55 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent. As it should be at this price point. Poured a glass and let it sit for an hour. First impressions were abundant black fruit, tannins tame and enough acidity to keep it well out of flabby fruit bomb territory.Tannins are in check and provide backbone without any over-the-top barrel shenanigans being evident. Nose is classic mountain cab with some cassis and briar notes. Contrary to some other notes, I would rate the finish as medium - around 15 seconds for me.
This has a long life ahead of it. I didn't pick up anything other than a primary fruit profile that has settled down to a harmonious and balance wine. Not sure the QPR is in line right now though. I can think of a number of comparable California cabs that are equally as good at about half this price.
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5/11/2019 - Bcw1989 wrote: 95 Points
Wonderful bottle of wine. Lots of fruits and tannins have relaxed asking this just right on the money wine. Very dark red look with a finish lasting longer than 45 seconds. Wish I had more of this vintage. This wine has many years left to cellar.
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4/7/2019 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Few wines at Tequila Revolucion (Tequila Revolucion): I decanted this for 4 hours before serving. Aromas of blackberry, currant, black cherry, plum and touch of iron. Flavors of cherry, currant, blackberry, grape and touch of earth. Ends with a large, long finish of 45+ seconds with blackberry notes. Had this last because it’s huge. It was an interesting evolution of styles, starting with the 04 Palmer, the 12 Dominus then this. I had this neck and neck with the Dominus. Schrader is always reliable to delivery a great wine drinking experience.
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12/29/2018 - pjhr Likes this wine: 98 Points
WOW, simply a phenomenal bottle of cab! Layers of blackberry, cassis, vanilla, and spice notes on the nose and textured palate with a killer long finish.
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11/3/2018 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 95 Points
Rich and viscous wine with sweet dark fruit. Good backbone that is well integrated into the wall of fruit. Fairly light on its feet. Very smooth and nice complexity with mocha, milk chocolate dominating. Finish goes on forever with different tastes coming through as it lingers. Nose was fragrant with fruit dominating. Not any sense of place or terroir compared to a Macdonald for example from BTK.
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5/23/2018 - RichEB1 Likes this wine: 97 Points
California Dreamin' - Double Blind - Zin/PS/Cab - 70's - 2009: Brief notes - part of a larger blind tasting. In a flight with an 09 Shafer Hillside Select and an 09 Tor Kenward 337 Beckstoffer To Kalon, this was the clear WOTF, and by far and away the WOTN. An absolutely incredible wine from start to finish. Slow-ox'd for 12 hours but it really started to open up after pouring and some vigorous swirling . This wine literally explodes from the glass with a haunting perfume of violets, blueberries, and black fruits. Easily the best nose on a cab that I've had the experience of smelling. And things just got better from there, as the wine is a sensory overload in the mouth with wave after wave of silky black, blue, and red fruits, cassis, and a hint of mint. Still plenty of tannin on the long, long finish, but they're very fine, and do not distract from the beauty and enjoyment of the wine. This should hold for many years, but damn was it good tonight. Easily cracks the list of my top 5 wines ever. Wish I had a lot more.
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4/29/2018 - royalscam Likes this wine: 96 Points
Extraordinary effort; drinking beautifully!
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3/2/2018 - T.E.D. wrote: 95 Points
Ditto other recent reviews. This wine is robust and packed with density. Very heavy on the fruit with black and blue berry compote, cassis, pie, some creamy creme, and hints of cigar and spice forest on the back end. Lush and rich. Truly a treat and exemplary of the best to come out of Napa.
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1/23/2018 - brianngibson wrote: 97 Points
The last bottle from my first allocation on the list, and just the 4th bottle of Schrader I have opened ... I have 51 more through the 2016 vintage so even though this is still relatively young, I definitely need to be drinking a few as the collection grows.
Opening about 3 hours before service with a steak dinner at home and I am going to decant this in the cellar until then. Going to try to provide a few notes over the full night.
On opening - Deep, dark and inky in color. On the nose ... Wow!!! Right out of the gates this thing is powerful and ripe with currants, mocha and spice, with a little black pepper on the finish. This wine screams Napa with a capital N. Now let,s dump in into the decanter for a while.
2 1/2 hours in the decanter and softening up nicely. Even more fruit and less astringent tannin.
After dinner, 4 hours with air. Creme de cassis, dark chocolate, graphite, oak, slightly softer tannins but certainly could have continued evolving over the next 10-15 years. A beautiful wine.
On an interesting side note ... my first allocation was the last time I ever received “Schrader Schrader”. Since then, it has been all RBS, CCS, LPV and just receNtly T6, GIII and Old Sparky for the first time in the 2016 vintage. Wonder when I will get any Schrader Schrader again ...
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10/11/2017 - kgh wrote: 97 Points
This bottle was saved for a special occasion and it did not disappoint. Dark and aromatic immediately upon opening. It had a muscular structure with concentrated black fruit, hints of chocolate and wood, yet a soft velvety finish. It lived up to the reputation of this vineyard and winemaker.
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7/13/2017 - liquid art wrote: 93 Points
Was looking forward to this wine since it was my first Schrader. This followed a 1995 first growth Bordeaux, which was to its disadvantage. From the first sniiff you could tell it was gonna be BIG, even after a 3 hour decant, and WOW, indeed it was (one taster described it as an "Anna Nicole Smith" wine). Awesome nose, fruit forward, and big tannins. Initially considered it borderline OTT, but after an hour in the glass, it unwound and the future potential could be appreciated. Clearly way too young, but fun to taste at this early stage. Thanks to Luis for sharing.
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4/7/2017 - gharter Likes this wine: 96 Points
PNP for first taste, then decanted an hour. Benefitted from the decant. Very aromatic with blueberry, blackberry, anise, cassis and a touch of vanilla and cigar box. Full bodied, a little heavier, than most other Schraders I've had, deemed to have more glycerin. The flavors mirrored the nose. Long finish. Tannins were present, but seemed smooth. a great compliment to a grilled steak. really good now, but may get even better. No hurry to open my last bottle.
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1/30/2017 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted 30 min
Blueberry, blackberry and raspberry all nose. Massive fruit. Creaminess, and oak. Tannins are strong. Alcohol is a bit strong, but as it opens up it does soften.
Long finish, heavy body. Almost a thickness about it that is a little unusual.
Blueberry pie, oak, buttery flavors.
Smoke BBQ nose. Hand cream, some dried dates, and even a bit of cigar box also on the nose.
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8/1/2016 - tp096255 Likes this wine: 93 Points
9.3+
Lovely and typical Schrader with nice glycerin, just a bit tannic like all the other 2009's we have had. Honestly, I think we prefer the 2011's to the 2009s so far.
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6/7/2016 - WineBum wrote: 93 Points
Came off as overly sweet, amazing in its complexity, but didn't show it's best with the wonderful dinner at Press.
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6/5/2016 - beezer6 wrote: 95 Points
While this didn't show as other Schraders, by the end of dinner I was really enjoying it.
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9/5/2015 - Bobc7had Likes this wine: 97 Points
I just love this wine.
Served with a whole filet I prepared on the grill.
sweetness brought out the best in the meat.
doesn't get much better than this
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8/14/2015 - B Paul wrote: 97 Points
Outstanding. Pop and pour - consumed over three hours, but great from the start. No rush, but don't see any reason to hold either.
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2/21/2015 - Dnathanson wrote: 93 Points
Needs time. Hold for another 3-5 years before trying again. Fruit bomb.
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2/15/2015 - mreinitz wrote: 94 Points
Big and a bit sweet, with red berry, red cherry, plum, and oak flavors. It was smooth and tasty but lacked the subtlety of some other schraders that I've had. A sip towards the end was almost cough mediciny.
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2/6/2015 - bhof2121 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Spectacular, and will only get better. First bottle we have had from my initial allocation. Nose of raspberries, roses and plum. Soft tannins with black cherries and notes of chocolate - and face in wet planter... it was towards the end. If you don't have the patience to hold on, it is amazing right now, but I believe it still has even more potential.
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11/26/2014 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 95 Points
Popped and poured at BienTrucha - a Mexican Restaurant recommended by Chris Freemott in Geneva, Illinois. Not the best place to drink it, big clunky "O" type glasses, and too much aroma in the room, but we were celebrating my brother-in-law's elevation to a big fancy schmancy position at a major Ivy League University and I promised to bring something really good. This wine was absolutely exceptional despite all the bad conditions. Surprisingly integrated for its age. Lovely fruit but not a fruit bomb - but YMMV because it is a Thomas Rivers Brown, after all. Red fruit, ZERO harsh tannins, deep meaty flavor with something that might have been chocolate, might have been coffee, might have been who knows what, but definitely OUTSTANDING/EXCEPTIONAL. This was the first Schrader I was offered after time on the waiting list and unfortunately I only got one of them, but if this was so good, I can only imagine what the RBS in the same box will taste like, let alone the 2012 CCS that I got a few weeks ago.
As to those who think this was infanticide or a bad venue to drink such a wine, and who wonder about drinking a bottle of wine with a cost greater than the bill for the entire meal, with tip, for five people . . . enjoy it while you can and sometimes it's fun not to over-intellectualize the wine. PS - the restaurant was excellent and I recommend it highly.
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5/17/2014 - branman Likes this wine: 97 Points
No detailed notes, but I thoroughly enjoyed the wine.
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1/23/2014 - Barbaro wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for 8 hours. This wine is still full of power and shows tremendous depth. The wine shows flavors of dark fruit, tar, licorice, and some floral characteristics. Very well balanced for the amount of power behind this wine. Very beautiful showing of To Kalon fruit.
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11/7/2013 - pakabear Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for about 8 hours and it needed it! Great structure, huge red currant flavors running throughout with incredible concentration. This had a good overall balance but what kept it from a higher rating was a very noticeable VA component.
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11/1/2013 - bonedocnine wrote: 95 Points
Wines from Schrader are consistently amazing. The wine is impeccably balanced with rich dark fruits. Wonderful for its lack of any green notes. Another home run for Thomas Brown and the team!!!
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4/26/2013 - wineismylife Likes this wine:
WIMLNR
Tasted non blind. Opened and run through a venturi before serving.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of light blueberries up front followed by currants, black cherries and plums. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and currants. Medium acidity, firm tannin, full bodied. I'd recommend holding a minimum of 5-6 years before opening. No rating at this time due to the overwhelming youth of this wine but it has all the guys to be a special bottle.
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2/24/2013 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Return to San Anontio (Ducru Vertical); 2/21/2013-2/24/2013 (Monty): Popped and poured and revisited a couple times through the evening. Huge and massive wine, with layers of berries and spice with a black fruit profile. Fruit really dominated the nose and palate, but plenty of energy and soft very fine tannins underneath. Lengthy finish with a little mocha. Surprisingly light oak influence given the scale of this wine. Impressive, very polished and even elegant. Needs lots of time but very well made. My first Schrader (thanks ted)
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6/2/2012 - Eros Coniglio wrote: 94 Points
Young but decanted for several hours. Finished behind 93 Colgin, 07 Bond and 99 Shafer at Bone's tasting.
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4/2/2012 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Tasted in a flight with the 2004. This 2009 is obviously quite young. Rich and fruit driven with black fruit, vanilla, crushed rocks and maple. Also, very tight. Take this note for what it's worth but I can say the wine was decanted before we poured it and so this speaks to the sheer youth in the bottle at this point.
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1/20/2012 - JP Likes this wine: 95 Points
I didn't take notes... but figured it was worth sharing that I opened this at noon, poured a sip (which was open although oaky and tannic), corked it and left it for 6 hours. The next sip was very much closed, so into the decanter it went for another 2 hours. What emerged was fantastic Cali cab. Clearly young, but easy to drink and really enjoyable. Hold this for a while or give it some air and it's a real treat.
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