4-10-21: another great bottle from HDH auction win. So far all of these 95 bottles have been pristine and youthful. Impeccable storage to still be showing @10 years of age. This bottle was elegant and refined. Great balance and finish. Not overly complex, but a fine aged red. 94
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Medium garnet red, light at the edges. Deep black cherries with a strange saline undertone. Strong black cherry notes with an almost as strong earthiness. Cherry notes last forever and have amazing purity of fruit. Not overly complex with a soft texture. Seriously delicious.
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Nose is hanging in there, but barely. Singed wood and black currant fruit. A bit of fresh mint. Medium-full bodied with just a little tannin left. Flavors are slightly stewed and definitely faded. Milk chocolate. Well, still a neat way to celebrate our 21st anniversary! 85
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Always a pleasure to have mature Napa meritage/Bordeaux blends. This bottle more mature and less robust than other notes but still enjoyable if rather past its peak
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Deep color. Still looks young int he glass. In the mouth you can taste the age. Tannins are still present but very balanced. Deep dark fruit with some smoke, leather, and spice. Still fruit dominated though. Very satisfying with my bone-in tenderloin.
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Good bye (buy) to an old friend. In 1998 I loved this wine. It enticed me from the aromatics to the palate. I probably should have drank all of them before 2000. But I had to know what it would be come. My last taste about 3.5 years ago, I found the wine kind of boring, I don't think I could get past the memories. Well tonight it was about having Cali Claret with a little bit of age. The wine has held its color well. Aromatics have transitioned. Leather, cedar and just a touch of perfumy flowers. The aromas got better as the night went on and with the food. Sweet and tart attack. Followed by an earthy and meaty middle. You need food to deal with the drying tannins ... but that is a good thing. The wine has matured well. It has been a great wine for me. Sad to see it go. I did stand the wine up for 2 weeks but still had to be very careful with the sediment.
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6/20/2021 - klezman wrote:
Fantastic aged Bdx blend. Very classic in style, lots of fruit, some earth, leafy goodness, and everything I like in a mature Bdx blend from Napa.
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4/11/2021 - JOEABR wrote: 94 Points
4-10-21: another great bottle from HDH auction win. So far all of these 95 bottles have been pristine and youthful. Impeccable storage to still be showing @10 years of age. This bottle was elegant and refined. Great balance and finish. Not overly complex, but a fine aged red. 94
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9/24/2017 - TexasBob Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium garnet red, light at the edges. Deep black cherries with a strange saline undertone. Strong black cherry notes with an almost as strong earthiness. Cherry notes last forever and have amazing purity of fruit. Not overly complex with a soft texture. Seriously delicious.
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8/25/2016 - WineGuyX wrote: 85 Points
Nose is hanging in there, but barely. Singed wood and black currant fruit. A bit of fresh mint. Medium-full bodied with just a little tannin left. Flavors are slightly stewed and definitely faded. Milk chocolate. Well, still a neat way to celebrate our 21st anniversary! 85
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2/13/2016 - brummy7 wrote: 89 Points
Opened this and let it sit for an hour or so. Still had nice berry flavors and long finish. Not bad for a Thursday after work.
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1/17/2014 - Blankje wrote: 87 Points
Unfortunately this one is past it's prime.
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7/27/2013 - finewinebuff57 wrote: 88 Points
Always a pleasure to have mature Napa meritage/Bordeaux blends. This bottle more mature and less robust than other notes but still enjoyable if rather past its peak
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3/7/2013 - svpandae Likes this wine: 92 Points
Juicy fruit backed by smooth tanins, with just enough edge to make things interesting. Succulent.
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1/24/2013 - affordableCollector wrote: 89 Points
amber in color. black fruit, spice, tobacco, wet earth on the nose. blackberry, earth, cedar on the palate. big acid and tannins on the finish.
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11/29/2012 - svpandae Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pretty good, plenty of fruit and tanin left. A bit disjointed, and a bit shaky on day 2. Drink now.
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4/27/2009 - play36 wrote: 92 Points
Deep color. Still looks young int he glass. In the mouth you can taste the age. Tannins are still present but very balanced. Deep dark fruit with some smoke, leather, and spice. Still fruit dominated though. Very satisfying with my bone-in tenderloin.
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1/9/2008 - dbg wrote:
excellent! pure cassis, later showing plum, layered ripe fruit, bit
of tarry, smoky spice, full body, nice balance, good finish
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1/6/2008 - dbg wrote:
horribly corked
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11/18/2007 - jasonh wrote: 92 Points
Good bye (buy) to an old friend. In 1998 I loved this wine. It enticed me from the aromatics to the palate. I probably should have drank all of them before 2000. But I had to know what it would be come. My last taste about 3.5 years ago, I found the wine kind of boring, I don't think I could get past the memories. Well tonight it was about having Cali Claret with a little bit of age. The wine has held its color well. Aromatics have transitioned. Leather, cedar and just a touch of perfumy flowers. The aromas got better as the night went on and with the food. Sweet and tart attack. Followed by an earthy and meaty middle. You need food to deal with the drying tannins ... but that is a good thing. The wine has matured well. It has been a great wine for me. Sad to see it go. I did stand the wine up for 2 weeks but still had to be very careful with the sediment.
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6/9/2007 - mappleton wrote: 93 Points
amazing dark fruit and cedar nose. hints of oak very well integrated. drinking very well. too bad its the last one...
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1/14/2007 - beaunehead wrote: 90 Points
At peak - nowhere to go but down. Drink up.
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9/1/1999 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
September 1999 Wine Country: Best of the bunch but still not terribly impressive. Still very tannic. A Meritage blend predominantly of …
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