Just a quick splash decant mostly for some sediment, but was ready on first pour. Was very pleasantly surprised that the structure is still intact unlike the 2008 of this I recently had. In fact, it was a strong combination of rich dark fruit with very well proportioned tannin and acidity. I am thankful as I still have two bottles left (none left of the 08) and looking forward to them now. Tonight's bottle was drinking beautifully (did have a perfect cork), and I hope yours will as well.
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Popped and poured. Should have decanted for sediment. This has improved slightly by the alcohol being toned down and more integrated but still a bit overripe for me. Missing some acidity. Plenty of fruit and oak and finish has improved but not my favorite from Stefania.
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A nice sweetness in the fruit is supported by a gentle charcoal frame that becomes apparent on the mid-palate. Fine yet grippy tannins take it from there into a juicy satisfying finish.
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This was a strange one. The first night it tasted like it was starting to fail, a little pruny, a little tart, but still a lot of fruit. The second day I went back expecting worse and it had actually improved. Round and lush, the tartness was gone. Lots of sediment. I'll reserve judgement on this one, I think it was atypical for this particular wine.
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Generally consistent with my last note, but had a heavier mouthfeel this time without some of the litheness and juiciness I expect from this. Needs a 20 to 30 minute decant to fully open and address the sediment present.
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Another gorgeous showing for this wine. Perhaps a little volatile acidity on the nose, but in a good way. Very fruity, luscious nose. In the mouth it's full of dark fruit, high acidity, and still some tannin although the fruit characteristics have become a little secondary. Minty overtone. Slightly biting on the end, that could be the one flaw of this wine, but overall I find this particular vineyard to be my favorite of the Stefania lineup year after year.
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I agree with Rich S. This is my least favorite Stefania wine to date. Is there Syrah in this? Way too much olive for a Cabernet. And don't get me wrong, I love olive. I love it in my Syrah, and in my cab franc, but this just felt wrong. Moreover, there was none of that fresh berry thing I get from Stefania's SCM wines. So, 2009 was a really hot year and this is a really hot site. The result was an anonymous wine that I wouldn't have pegged as Cab if tasted blind, rather I'd have thought it a Rhone blend.
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My first bottle of this vintage, and it was really outstanding. It had the juiciness I often get from Stefania cabs, and by that I mean lighter body, more acidity, and less oak than you get from Napa cabs. Bright, focused currant fruit profile with excellent balance. A joy to drink. This has become my favorite vineyard for Stefania by far. Drinking very well with just a short decant.
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Sat in the dining room for a few weeks until i got to it. This was absolutely delicious, although I think the few weeks in in the dining room affected this- it showed more age that I expected. Really great secondaries, this wine has softened but still has so much structure. What a joy.
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There is not much to add to my 9/26/15 note. However, for the first 15 min or so, this had a quite noticeable acidic, tangy bite. This blew off, leaving a delicious, fruit-laden, lightly tannic/oaky wine. Fantastic. Well-structured.
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Popped and poured. Out of the gate, this wine showed the alcohol which was not a good sign. On the nose this showed dark, ripe black and red fruit, slightly stewed, with a peppery spice and a blast of alcohol. Mostly dark fruit driven on the palate with some creme de cassis, pepper and sweet baking spices. Medium acid, medium+ tannin with a slight chewiness to the wine and finishes with high alcohol. This is probably the ripest, highest abv cabernet I have had from Stefania and while I can see some liking this, it is not on par with other cabernet I have had from this winery. The grapes for this wine were from Santa Clara and clearly do not have the freshness of the cooler, coastal vineyards Stefania sources many of their other wines from.
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Explosive nose of red currants, flowers, a bit of tar and menthol at the end. On the palate this is layered wine bursting with young fruit flavors, tobacco, leather, menthol and even a bit of spiciness (pepper). This is very complex for the price range and although it is a young wine it is drinking great but has much more potential to mature. Blew a Keenan 2009 Napa Valley Cab away big time.
Well done Paul.
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Opened first bottle of my 6-pack after reading some comments on the WS forums. This is in a beautiful place. Complex nose a la Bordeaux (which had Mrs. Haggis exultant), with dark cherry, blackberry, hints of licorice, leather, and menthol. Elegant and powerful, yet restrained.
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Popped and poured one night, then finished off the next night. The first night this was pretty rough, seeming like the dark fruit was stewed. The second night things had improved, but the blackberry on the nose had some green to it. I'm amazed at how much better this is on the second night than the first. Also a bit confused, since I loved it so much the first time and not sure what to make of the first night's showing.
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PnP, this wine is in a pretty nice place right now but still has the structure to be held for several more years. Good dark fruit, with some tobacco on the pallet. Nice floral hints and fruit on the nose. Medium to full body with medium to long finish, and good balance. Tannins are a bit on the light side for a Cali cab but that is my preference.
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Drank semi-unintentionally, as I meant to grab a 2007 Uvas...pretty tight right now, but very tasty nonetheless. Give it 30 mins in a decanter or hold for 12-18 months.
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This one is even more delicious. I drank it because it was brought up from the cellar with the last one and I was too lazy to take it back, despite my feeling that it needs more time. I'm on the bottles 4th night right now- opened Monday, vacuvin and back in the fridge, this note is from Thursday. It's rich, beautiful, silky, minty dark, and luscious. It finishes well, & I just want to keep drinking it. What a great wine. I wonder if the 3rd one I brought upstairs will make it back to the cellar...
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Bill brought this to dinner. Drank side by side with the '08, and this is behind in my opinion. While still outstanding, it suffered only in comparison to the '08. If it had been on its own, it may have scored better. Inky dark color with black fruits. This needs time in the cellar.
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Decanted, and driank over the next four hours. Dark fruit and tobacco aromas. Taste is rather tannic, with the similar dark fruit (blackberry) and tobacco flavors. This seems like it could be very nice, but I woudln't recommend drinking for at least a year. Since I had 6, I didn't mind cracking one to check it out. I think this has potential to go at least a few points higher, but it really needs some time.
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Another stunner from Paul & Stef. Very dark, quite opaque. Nose of deep rich fruit, some high tones there too. This is smooth as silk on the palate- rich & deep but balanced by good acidity. Medium tannins, this could benefit from some time but it's really delicious now. If I tasted this blind I'd probably guess 97 or 2001 Napa cab, not because of the age but because of the rich but elegant fruit. Some of the Santa Cruz high tones are there, but it's deeper than that and doesn't have that eucalyptus profile. Drink now or hold for a dozen or so years.
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Tasted non blind with Paul and Stef at their house. PnP. Very bright nose with elements of floral, spice and dark berries. More of the same on the palate but still very tannic and was a bit difficult to assess at this stage among a lineup of several wines. Hold for at least another year or two. No rating at this point but seems to have 92-94 potential.
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9/19/2021 - vinole wrote: 92 Points
Just a quick splash decant mostly for some sediment, but was ready on first pour. Was very pleasantly surprised that the structure is still intact unlike the 2008 of this I recently had. In fact, it was a strong combination of rich dark fruit with very well proportioned tannin and acidity. I am thankful as I still have two bottles left (none left of the 08) and looking forward to them now. Tonight's bottle was drinking beautifully (did have a perfect cork), and I hope yours will as well.
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11/2/2019 - Rich S wrote: 86 Points
Popped and poured. Should have decanted for sediment. This has improved slightly by the alcohol being toned down and more integrated but still a bit overripe for me. Missing some acidity. Plenty of fruit and oak and finish has improved but not my favorite from Stefania.
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10/14/2019 - sleepyhaus wrote: flawed
Faulty cork, broke in half upon extraction with crumbling in the middle/lower part of cork. The wine was oxidized.
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1/19/2019 - Primordialsoup Likes this wine: 92 Points
A nice sweetness in the fruit is supported by a gentle charcoal frame that becomes apparent on the mid-palate. Fine yet grippy tannins take it from there into a juicy satisfying finish.
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4/28/2018 - grossie wrote:
This was a strange one. The first night it tasted like it was starting to fail, a little pruny, a little tart, but still a lot of fruit. The second day I went back expecting worse and it had actually improved. Round and lush, the tartness was gone. Lots of sediment. I'll reserve judgement on this one, I think it was atypical for this particular wine.
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6/18/2017 - vinole wrote: 91 Points
Generally consistent with my last note, but had a heavier mouthfeel this time without some of the litheness and juiciness I expect from this. Needs a 20 to 30 minute decant to fully open and address the sediment present.
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6/30/2016 - grossie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another gorgeous showing for this wine. Perhaps a little volatile acidity on the nose, but in a good way. Very fruity, luscious nose. In the mouth it's full of dark fruit, high acidity, and still some tannin although the fruit characteristics have become a little secondary. Minty overtone. Slightly biting on the end, that could be the one flaw of this wine, but overall I find this particular vineyard to be my favorite of the Stefania lineup year after year.
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5/15/2016 - Clrv wrote: 90 Points
- Garnet color and aromas of strawberry and cloves and has flavours of strawberry and black pepper with a medium finish.
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3/31/2016 - sleepyhaus wrote:
I agree with Rich S. This is my least favorite Stefania wine to date. Is there Syrah in this? Way too much olive for a Cabernet. And don't get me wrong, I love olive. I love it in my Syrah, and in my cab franc, but this just felt wrong. Moreover, there was none of that fresh berry thing I get from Stefania's SCM wines. So, 2009 was a really hot year and this is a really hot site. The result was an anonymous wine that I wouldn't have pegged as Cab if tasted blind, rather I'd have thought it a Rhone blend.
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3/27/2016 - vinole Likes this wine: 93 Points
My first bottle of this vintage, and it was really outstanding. It had the juiciness I often get from Stefania cabs, and by that I mean lighter body, more acidity, and less oak than you get from Napa cabs. Bright, focused currant fruit profile with excellent balance. A joy to drink. This has become my favorite vineyard for Stefania by far. Drinking very well with just a short decant.
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3/4/2016 - grossie wrote: 93 Points
Sat in the dining room for a few weeks until i got to it. This was absolutely delicious, although I think the few weeks in in the dining room affected this- it showed more age that I expected. Really great secondaries, this wine has softened but still has so much structure. What a joy.
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1/8/2016 - Haggis Likes this wine: 93 Points
There is not much to add to my 9/26/15 note. However, for the first 15 min or so, this had a quite noticeable acidic, tangy bite. This blew off, leaving a delicious, fruit-laden, lightly tannic/oaky wine. Fantastic. Well-structured.
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12/5/2015 - Rich S Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Popped and poured. Out of the gate, this wine showed the alcohol which was not a good sign. On the nose this showed dark, ripe black and red fruit, slightly stewed, with a peppery spice and a blast of alcohol. Mostly dark fruit driven on the palate with some creme de cassis, pepper and sweet baking spices. Medium acid, medium+ tannin with a slight chewiness to the wine and finishes with high alcohol. This is probably the ripest, highest abv cabernet I have had from Stefania and while I can see some liking this, it is not on par with other cabernet I have had from this winery. The grapes for this wine were from Santa Clara and clearly do not have the freshness of the cooler, coastal vineyards Stefania sources many of their other wines from.
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11/11/2015 - Merengue wrote: 91 Points
Explosive nose of red currants, flowers, a bit of tar and menthol at the end. On the palate this is layered wine bursting with young fruit flavors, tobacco, leather, menthol and even a bit of spiciness (pepper). This is very complex for the price range and although it is a young wine it is drinking great but has much more potential to mature. Blew a Keenan 2009 Napa Valley Cab away big time.
Well done Paul.
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9/26/2015 - Haggis Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened first bottle of my 6-pack after reading some comments on the WS forums. This is in a beautiful place. Complex nose a la Bordeaux (which had Mrs. Haggis exultant), with dark cherry, blackberry, hints of licorice, leather, and menthol. Elegant and powerful, yet restrained.
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4/8/2014 - jfont123 wrote:
Sad that this was my last bottle...
a little bit oaky but still delish..
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12/21/2013 - Wine Sparty wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured one night, then finished off the next night. The first night this was pretty rough, seeming like the dark fruit was stewed. The second night things had improved, but the blackberry on the nose had some green to it. I'm amazed at how much better this is on the second night than the first. Also a bit confused, since I loved it so much the first time and not sure what to make of the first night's showing.
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12/20/2013 - RLP805 wrote: 91 Points
PnP, this wine is in a pretty nice place right now but still has the structure to be held for several more years. Good dark fruit, with some tobacco on the pallet. Nice floral hints and fruit on the nose. Medium to full body with medium to long finish, and good balance. Tannins are a bit on the light side for a Cali cab but that is my preference.
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10/9/2012 - T.J.Burn wrote:
Drank semi-unintentionally, as I meant to grab a 2007 Uvas...pretty tight right now, but very tasty nonetheless. Give it 30 mins in a decanter or hold for 12-18 months.
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9/27/2012 - grossie wrote: 93 Points
This one is even more delicious. I drank it because it was brought up from the cellar with the last one and I was too lazy to take it back, despite my feeling that it needs more time. I'm on the bottles 4th night right now- opened Monday, vacuvin and back in the fridge, this note is from Thursday. It's rich, beautiful, silky, minty dark, and luscious. It finishes well, & I just want to keep drinking it. What a great wine. I wonder if the 3rd one I brought upstairs will make it back to the cellar...
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9/20/2012 - grossie wrote: 92 Points
Really rich and delicious but still pretty tight. Will benefit from another couple of years in the bottle.
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7/17/2012 - thelostverse wrote: 92 Points
Bill brought this to dinner. Drank side by side with the '08, and this is behind in my opinion. While still outstanding, it suffered only in comparison to the '08. If it had been on its own, it may have scored better. Inky dark color with black fruits. This needs time in the cellar.
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4/20/2012 - Wine Sparty wrote: 90 Points
Decanted, and driank over the next four hours. Dark fruit and tobacco aromas. Taste is rather tannic, with the similar dark fruit (blackberry) and tobacco flavors. This seems like it could be very nice, but I woudln't recommend drinking for at least a year. Since I had 6, I didn't mind cracking one to check it out. I think this has potential to go at least a few points higher, but it really needs some time.
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4/1/2012 - grossie wrote: 93 Points
Another stunner from Paul & Stef. Very dark, quite opaque. Nose of deep rich fruit, some high tones there too. This is smooth as silk on the palate- rich & deep but balanced by good acidity. Medium tannins, this could benefit from some time but it's really delicious now. If I tasted this blind I'd probably guess 97 or 2001 Napa cab, not because of the age but because of the rich but elegant fruit. Some of the Santa Cruz high tones are there, but it's deeper than that and doesn't have that eucalyptus profile. Drink now or hold for a dozen or so years.
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3/25/2012 - floydtp wrote:
Tasted non blind with Paul and Stef at their house. PnP. Very bright nose with elements of floral, spice and dark berries. More of the same on the palate but still very tannic and was a bit difficult to assess at this stage among a lineup of several wines. Hold for at least another year or two. No rating at this point but seems to have 92-94 potential.
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