Deep opaque, ruby at the rim Huge dark fruited, leather aromas Broad shouldered on the palate, quite dense and not close to resolved. Huge fruit of 07, but seems like this still needs a ton of time to open up. 95+ Will revisit in 2 hours
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Might be best Napa red I've ever had, if not best wine period. In a perfect place evolution wise. Hard to envision it having further peak. Incredible length in finish, tannin and fruit in perfect sync. A triumph.
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My favorite Napa producer. Although this bottle seemed over the top, rich and cloying. Not surprising given the vintage. Will mark it off as an off experience.
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Masculine and slightly out of balance. Huge black fruits which need to settle over time. I thought the wine was terrific, but needed time to mellow out and be more approachable. It is special today, but in three to five years better and more resolved.
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Did not figure this one for an '07, it was still very broad shouldered and big fruited and dark, felt like it could have been a '10, '11 or '12. Still has some grippy tannins and some herbaceous qualities on the nose but those dropped off almost completely after about 90 minutes. Plenty of acidity for a while longer, this wine seems in between a few stages at the present time. Migrating toward a fine aged Napa cab down the road. Maybe past its peak already for HMC......
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In a beautiful spot. Currently this is elegant and bright- fruit perfectly balanced with earthen tones. Blueberries and strains of light tobacco combined with a palpable chalky-mineral sensation on the mid plate. This is as fine of a cab as I have had all year.
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Decanted for 2 hours, returned to bottle & recorked for ride to restaurant. Opened & poured 2 hours later. Double blind of 6 reds. Everyone thought it was a Bordeaux. Ever changing in the glass. Balanced fruit, minerals, earth, dense yet approachable. Delicious treat. WOTN.
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2018 Villa d’Este Wine Symposium – Kelly, RJ, Justin and Kevin's excellent adventure; 11/7/2018-11/11/2018 (Villa D’este, Lake Como): Expressive nose displaying very youthful concentrated black and blue fruit, blueberry concentrate, crème de cassis, strong ink, lavender, dark milk chocolate, espresso bean, cedar and earth. Incredible concentration, 10W-40, coiled packed blue and black fruit, bright acidity, strong earthy mineral, tannins are mostly masked by opulent fruit, and a long intense cassis driven finish with lavender and milk chocolate at the end. Excellent cult cab but certainly not for everyone, i.e. for some folks 97+, others undrinkable. Impressive wine.
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Hommage a DryCab - Washington Wines release; 5/3/2018-5/5/2018 (Various spots in Walla Walla): On day 2 and I like it even better this day. We had a bit left over after dinner on Friday and brought to the event. The wine is more muted now which creates a touch more balance. No longer quite so fruit predominant. I think it's still fairly young. Will hold on our other bottles.
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Hommage a DryCab - Washington Wines release; 5/3/2018-5/5/2018 (Various spots in Walla Walla): Another wine we brought and one of my favorites of the night. We'd decanted for maybe an hour and a half, then rebottled and brought to restaurant. This was just well done (as most of Brad's wines are). It's more old world in nature than the others. A bit more of the savory notes as a result in addition to the fruit. Cigar and leather and all of that. True to the 2007 vintage there is more fruit than in some others. But overall just a very nice wine. Still on the young side so needs a bit decant if drinking now.
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Corked and drank all wines over 3 hours, no decant . Limited notes, all 07's, all wines were excellent. First flight Abreu Howell mtn had better fruit, more concentrated and some appealing perfumey notes. Continuum overshadowed by Abreu but still terrific. 2nd flight beckstoffer crane more ripe and rich versus insignia, which was more balanced in style. Not sure why, but last glass of insignia became a touch flat.
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Coffee-espresso, hint of cherry syrup, some herbal notes; silky, plush, complex, long, just a bit heavy and extracted at this point, but still super nice. 10 years on dinner at Conrads.
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Drank without decanting at a local restaurant, this deep garnet red wine was clear and had a strong nose of overripe grapes and vanilla. In the glass were flavours of dark berries, some peppery spices and caramel. The tannins were still very strong and the acidity was mid level. Finally, the wine had a good and long finish to it.
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big tannins upon opening, decided to decant and after an hour or two the tannins yielded to dark purple/black fruits w/ hints of sweet coffee. a bit of heat and persistent searing tannins. underlying extraordinary concentration of fruit is undeniable, but behind the tannins and some heat. drink with a few hour decant, or hold a few years - hopefully will soften a bit. now 94-96, with time 98+?
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Opened and decanted and then drank over the next few hours. It started off quite accessible and brighter fruit, but the evolution in the glass continued to increase the complexity. Went from the more bright napa fruit to get some cigar and leather and herbal characteristics and all of that. Tasted next to an '84 Grange and I must say this held its own. It was beautiful. Many more years to go.
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Leather, sage, tobacco, flowers on the nose with a blissful core of dark fruits, charcoal and minerality backed up by firm but approachable tannins. Epic. Give it a 2 hour decant.
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Some might quibble about the price but surely nobody can dispute this is a great wine. Mineral and floral, great balance for such a young wine. Long long finish with subtle development over the duration.
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would be fine for $35 but alias, at $300ish this wine was quite a let down. Disjointed with pruny fruit that lacked the unctious pleasure expected.. I know this wine is young but I have trouble seeing it come around. The group of 4 was in agreement - poor showing for Abreu.
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3/11/2023 - Dunwall Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great wine, smooth, velvet mouthfeel, fruit notes, like jelly
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2/28/2023 - MariusA wrote: 91 Points
Somewhat disappointing - one-dimensional with strong sense of alcohol. Still enjoyable.
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2/12/2023 - cos65 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep opaque, ruby at the rim
Huge dark fruited, leather aromas
Broad shouldered on the palate, quite dense and not close to resolved. Huge fruit of 07, but seems like this still needs a ton of time to open up. 95+
Will revisit in 2 hours
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12/27/2022 - bmartz1 Likes this wine: 100 Points
Might be best Napa red I've ever had, if not best wine period. In a perfect place evolution wise. Hard to envision it having further peak. Incredible length in finish, tannin and fruit in perfect sync. A triumph.
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3/2/2022 - j@$0n p€++y wrote: 92 Points
My favorite Napa producer. Although this bottle seemed over the top, rich and cloying. Not surprising given the vintage. Will mark it off as an off experience.
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1/18/2020 - Jimaronson Likes this wine: 96 Points
Masculine and slightly out of balance. Huge black fruits which need to settle over time. I thought the wine was terrific, but needed time to mellow out and be more approachable. It is special today, but in three to five years better and more resolved.
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1/17/2020 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 94 Points
Forgot to add this one to last night's portfolio.
Did not figure this one for an '07, it was still very broad shouldered and big fruited and dark, felt like it could have been a '10, '11 or '12. Still has some grippy tannins and some herbaceous qualities on the nose but those dropped off almost completely after about 90 minutes. Plenty of acidity for a while longer, this wine seems in between a few stages at the present time. Migrating toward a fine aged Napa cab down the road. Maybe past its peak already for HMC......
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12/31/2019 - ledwards wrote: 97 Points
In a beautiful spot. Currently this is elegant and bright- fruit perfectly balanced with earthen tones. Blueberries and strains of light tobacco combined with a palpable chalky-mineral sensation on the mid plate. This is as fine of a cab as I have had all year.
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12/27/2019 - patwjr Likes this wine: 98 Points
Decanted for 2 hours, returned to bottle & recorked for ride to restaurant. Opened & poured 2 hours later. Double blind of 6 reds. Everyone thought it was a Bordeaux. Ever changing in the glass. Balanced fruit, minerals, earth, dense yet approachable. Delicious treat. WOTN.
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11/9/2018 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
2018 Villa d’Este Wine Symposium – Kelly, RJ, Justin and Kevin's excellent adventure; 11/7/2018-11/11/2018 (Villa D’este, Lake Como): Expressive nose displaying very youthful concentrated black and blue fruit, blueberry concentrate, crème de cassis, strong ink, lavender, dark milk chocolate, espresso bean, cedar and earth. Incredible concentration, 10W-40, coiled packed blue and black fruit, bright acidity, strong earthy mineral, tannins are mostly masked by opulent fruit, and a long intense cassis driven finish with lavender and milk chocolate at the end. Excellent cult cab but certainly not for everyone, i.e. for some folks 97+, others undrinkable. Impressive wine.
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5/5/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Hommage a DryCab - Washington Wines release; 5/3/2018-5/5/2018 (Various spots in Walla Walla): On day 2 and I like it even better this day. We had a bit left over after dinner on Friday and brought to the event. The wine is more muted now which creates a touch more balance. No longer quite so fruit predominant. I think it's still fairly young. Will hold on our other bottles.
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5/4/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Hommage a DryCab - Washington Wines release; 5/3/2018-5/5/2018 (Various spots in Walla Walla): Another wine we brought and one of my favorites of the night. We'd decanted for maybe an hour and a half, then rebottled and brought to restaurant. This was just well done (as most of Brad's wines are). It's more old world in nature than the others. A bit more of the savory notes as a result in addition to the fruit. Cigar and leather and all of that. True to the 2007 vintage there is more fruit than in some others. But overall just a very nice wine. Still on the young side so needs a bit decant if drinking now.
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3/5/2018 - bonedoc wrote: 97 Points
Corked and drank all wines over 3 hours, no decant . Limited notes, all 07's, all wines were excellent. First flight Abreu Howell mtn had better fruit, more concentrated and some appealing perfumey notes. Continuum overshadowed by Abreu but still terrific. 2nd flight beckstoffer crane more ripe and rich versus insignia, which was more balanced in style. Not sure why, but last glass of insignia became a touch flat.
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1/14/2018 - peternelson wrote: 93 Points
Coffee-espresso, hint of cherry syrup, some herbal notes; silky, plush, complex, long, just a bit heavy and extracted at this point, but still super nice. 10 years on dinner at Conrads.
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6/8/2017 - Rosengoo wrote: 92 Points
Drank without decanting at a local restaurant, this deep garnet red wine was clear and had a strong nose of overripe grapes and vanilla. In the glass were flavours of dark berries, some peppery spices and caramel. The tannins were still very strong and the acidity was mid level. Finally, the wine had a good and long finish to it.
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4/24/2017 - bonedoc wrote:
big tannins upon opening, decided to decant and after an hour or two the tannins yielded to dark purple/black fruits w/ hints of sweet coffee. a bit of heat and persistent searing tannins. underlying extraordinary concentration of fruit is undeniable, but behind the tannins and some heat. drink with a few hour decant, or hold a few years - hopefully will soften a bit. now 94-96, with time 98+?
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3/25/2017 - tbushnell Likes this wine: 99 Points
One amazing bottle of wine. Decanter and drank over 5 hours. So so good. Glad I have 3 more
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11/11/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Opened and decanted and then drank over the next few hours. It started off quite accessible and brighter fruit, but the evolution in the glass continued to increase the complexity. Went from the more bright napa fruit to get some cigar and leather and herbal characteristics and all of that. Tasted next to an '84 Grange and I must say this held its own. It was beautiful. Many more years to go.
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2/13/2015 - El Tej wrote: 99 Points
Leather, sage, tobacco, flowers on the nose with a blissful core of dark fruits, charcoal and minerality backed up by firm but approachable tannins. Epic. Give it a 2 hour decant.
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1/1/2014 - andyrowe wrote: 98 Points
Some might quibble about the price but surely nobody can dispute this is a great wine. Mineral and floral, great balance for such a young wine. Long long finish with subtle development over the duration.
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9/9/2013 - sjolna wrote: 95 Points
Drank with Freddy Sosnik at Spago
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1/20/2013 - bonedocnine Does not like this wine: 87 Points
would be fine for $35 but alias, at $300ish this wine was quite a let down. Disjointed with pruny fruit that lacked the unctious pleasure expected.. I know this wine is young but I have trouble seeing it come around. The group of 4 was in agreement - poor showing for Abreu.
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