Slow ox 45 minutes. Fairly dark. Youthful sweet cassis and French oak aromas. Warm, rich, slightly ripe fruit yet balancing tannins and acid. Long, sweet finish. Most experienced blind tasters thought this was a 20 yr old left bank BDX! Still has a few miles on it before the warranty expires :)
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2 hour Slow ox: A bit old and tired - damp earth, old tobacco, plum. Drank half the 2nd night and it was 2 pts better with blackberry and plum framed by leather, cedar, earth, sweet tannin. Best to decant for 5-6 hours, maybe more. Definitely one that held up nicely. At the right price I'd buy another if I knew the provenance and didn't have so much other wine!
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Deep dark red center, red rim with some signs of age. Sweet cherries, balsam, cedar, blackcurrants, stones from a bonfire, some lighter strawberry notes, toasted leaves, great intensity. Smooth, cassis, plums, creamy, black raspberries, kirsch, powerful and subtle at the same time, complex - black olives, rosemary, black pepper, bell pepper, piperazine, amazing length of ripe fruit. Fantastic Spring Mountain Cabernet, drinking very well now.
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Excellent bottle of wine. This bottle was an absolute brute in its youth, massively tannic and extracted, but always classy and balanced. This has gotten friendlier, but still seems young for a 10+ year old napa, but it is pedigreed. This wine exudes class with a silky feel and fantastic earthy minerally leathery notes to balance out the understated fruit. A great example of balanced spring mountain cab. This may have another decade in it if stored well. 92-93.
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Really outstanding the second night. Give it time out of the bottle or more time in the bottle.Dark, dark fruits, integrated tannins and a long finish. Comparable to a 2003 La Mondotte drunk two nights previouslt
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Excellent bottle. Pie-plate decanted for 1 hour, served at roughly 65 degrees. Tannins resolved, and smooth as velvet. Almost buttery. Nearly black in the glass. Memorable seemless drifting between earthiness, minerality, and black fruits. Fantastic concentration with just an occasional hint of acidity. Had the structure to last at least another 5 years. Paired nicely with pan seared filet mignon and butternut squash soup. 10th Anniversary Dinner.
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Day 1. Extremely closed and minerally/earthy. I would have guessed bordeaux or super tuscan blind. Recorked to see what's happening day 2. Day 1 is SO closed for business. Day 2: So much better. Outstanding fruit, still overwhelming minty/minerally/earthy nuances. Great winemaking and fruit. This will drink well for 7-10 more years. Day 3: Softer, but not quite as interesting.
This has great potential and will be long lived. 91-94 points. Wish more napa was made like this.
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Very closed and tight on the first night, even with aereation. By the second night it opened up nicely with subdued red fruits, leather and a hint of licorice.
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Interesting bottle. Upon open it was pretty tight, but had some interest. With some air, it seemed to close down with the fruit taking a step back and the earthiness/minerality becoming prominent. Good, but definitely not fruit forward. Tannins were very substantial although pretty fine and not too rough. A real teeth stainer. On day 2, seemed to open up with the fruit getting sweeter, but still retaining some of the herby minerality. Definitely better and very interesting and nicely complex. An interesting and quite a nice wine. Probably will be long-lived and when the tannins settle out a bit more, will be even more enjoyable. Wouldn't be surprised if this turns into a 92-93 pointer with some time. Maybe not for everyone, but i like it a lot.
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4/19/2024 - BHRH Likes this wine: 93 Points
Slow ox 45 minutes. Fairly dark. Youthful sweet cassis and French oak aromas. Warm, rich, slightly ripe fruit yet balancing tannins and acid. Long, sweet finish. Most experienced blind tasters thought this was a 20 yr old left bank BDX! Still has a few miles on it before the warranty expires :)
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1/31/2022 - Elkcims Likes this wine: 93 Points
2 hour Slow ox: A bit old and tired - damp earth, old tobacco, plum. Drank half the 2nd night and it was 2 pts better with blackberry and plum framed by leather, cedar, earth, sweet tannin. Best to decant for 5-6 hours, maybe more. Definitely one that held up nicely. At the right price I'd buy another if I knew the provenance and didn't have so much other wine!
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5/23/2014 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep dark red center, red rim with some signs of age.
Sweet cherries, balsam, cedar, blackcurrants, stones from a bonfire, some lighter strawberry notes, toasted leaves, great intensity.
Smooth, cassis, plums, creamy, black raspberries, kirsch, powerful and subtle at the same time, complex - black olives, rosemary, black pepper, bell pepper, piperazine, amazing length of ripe fruit.
Fantastic Spring Mountain Cabernet, drinking very well now.
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3/16/2014 - winegr wrote: 93 Points
Excellent. Dry and earthy with great structure and density. Love it.
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2/18/2012 - winegr wrote: 93 Points
Excellent bottle of wine. This bottle was an absolute brute in its youth, massively tannic and extracted, but always classy and balanced. This has gotten friendlier, but still seems young for a 10+ year old napa, but it is pedigreed. This wine exudes class with a silky feel and fantastic earthy minerally leathery notes to balance out the understated fruit. A great example of balanced spring mountain cab. This may have another decade in it if stored well. 92-93.
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10/24/2011 - jbro wrote: 92 Points
Really outstanding the second night. Give it time out of the bottle or more time in the bottle.Dark, dark fruits, integrated tannins and a long finish. Comparable to a 2003 La Mondotte drunk two nights previouslt
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10/24/2011 - winecharmer wrote: 94 Points
Excellent bottle. Pie-plate decanted for 1 hour, served at roughly 65 degrees. Tannins resolved, and smooth as velvet. Almost buttery. Nearly black in the glass. Memorable seemless drifting between earthiness, minerality, and black fruits. Fantastic concentration with just an occasional hint of acidity. Had the structure to last at least another 5 years. Paired nicely with pan seared filet mignon and butternut squash soup. 10th Anniversary Dinner.
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9/10/2010 - PDXWineBuff Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent! Took a few minutes to open up after popping the cork but very well balanced and very enjoyable.
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12/13/2009 - winegr wrote:
Day 1. Extremely closed and minerally/earthy. I would have guessed bordeaux or super tuscan blind. Recorked to see what's happening day 2. Day 1 is SO closed for business.
Day 2: So much better. Outstanding fruit, still overwhelming minty/minerally/earthy nuances. Great winemaking and fruit. This will drink well for 7-10 more years.
Day 3: Softer, but not quite as interesting.
This has great potential and will be long lived. 91-94 points. Wish more napa was made like this.
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7/16/2008 - D.Callahan wrote: 87 Points
Very closed and tight on the first night, even with aereation. By the second night it opened up nicely with subdued red fruits, leather and a hint of licorice.
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11/13/2007 - winegr wrote: 91 Points
Interesting bottle. Upon open it was pretty tight, but had some interest. With some air, it seemed to close down with the fruit taking a step back and the earthiness/minerality becoming prominent. Good, but definitely not fruit forward. Tannins were very substantial although pretty fine and not too rough. A real teeth stainer. On day 2, seemed to open up with the fruit getting sweeter, but still retaining some of the herby minerality. Definitely better and very interesting and nicely complex. An interesting and quite a nice wine. Probably will be long-lived and when the tannins settle out a bit more, will be even more enjoyable. Wouldn't be surprised if this turns into a 92-93 pointer with some time. Maybe not for everyone, but i like it a lot.
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