90 minute decant. Strong nose of oak and smoke with some red currant, and a touch of macadamia nut. On the supple palate, black cherry, black raspberry, and blueberry fruit washes over the tongue, adding minerals, asphalt, and touches of anise, red licorice, and red bell pepper. Finish is quite soft and peters out quickly, with fully resolved tannins, red raspberry fruit, and gentle earth flavors. The finish is lacking both intensity and energy at this point. Drink soon.
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Lovely layered experience with a texture of crushed velvet. Has started upon its maturity path, so engaging and very attractive. (No formal notes taken, just enjoying.)
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I was going back and forth between an 89 (decent everyday wine), and a 90 (worthy of proudly serving to mid-week company. It was short on the nose on initial opening, and I was hoping it would open up to have more depth and be longer on the palate. However, it did not change much after even an hour. Hint of cassis, charcoal and very subtle black truffles. This wine may be slightly past maturity.
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Dark red, high intensity. Developed plus, almost mature, fruity medium intensity nose. Cassis, some oak, a touch of sweet lightly dried fruit. A nice tone of mint shimmering above. On the palate a very slight sweetness, medium plus acidity, medium plus tannins, fine grained to silkiness, medium plus body. Fruity and concentrated juicy in tight costume. Dark fruit, plums, blackcurrant, well integrated oak. Very good length with dark fruit and dark chocolate. Silky texture. Elegance. Day 2 very interwoven bouquet and flavours, with more of the dried fruit on the nose.
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93% Cab, 7% Merlot. 2 Hr. Decant. A lot of sediment, coarse and fine. This is in a really good place. Nose was fruity and forward on opening, more subdued after 2 hours. That said, perfumed nose of cedar, black currants and a bit of cherry. All the components are working well. Tannins resolved, but acid and balance are excellent. Great wine with Steak salad. Med-long finish. This one has rewarded the wait. I'd say that it has some years to go.
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Popped and poured. Rich aroma of cedar and black fruit. Intense flavors of cherry, cassis, and a whiff of tobacco. Green plums in the finish. Lovely, balanced, fresh. In a very good place, and leaning toward the bordeaux/old world end of the spectrum.
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Hitting perfect on the day they declare Biden the President. Smooth. Medium body. Don't drink past 2020. NY prime beef and Canadian lobster tall with drawn butter, sauteed onions, brussel sprouts, and horseradish.
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The first of three that I have opened...relatively closed on opening, progressively transitioning to a lovely blueberry, blackberry and sour cherry nose starting about about 30 minutes post opening. Green pepper, tobacco notes on the palate, quite earthy...Bordeaux-like and lighter than the typical Cali (and even Sonoma) cab. Very long finish but not overly hot. Very well made wine, showing lots of evolution over the course of a 4 hour "drink" with secondary layers revealing themselves by the hour. Great wine for a second label.
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Color of a Dehlinger Pinot Noir from the same vintage. Lovely glycerine in evidence with initial streaks of sweet cedar-laced red fruit floating up from the glass in the nose. Medium bodied mouthfeel not unlike the excellent revelations of CRANBURGUNDY’s April 13, 2018 review, however with the wine’s attributes slightly diminished with the passing two years with a solitary identity of very pleading unctuous fruit. There is a viscous, quasi-savory sweetness throughout the tiers of palate, accompanied by subtle contributory tannins. My wife gives the initial score of 87 (she is drinking from a 10 ounce glass as opposed to the Riedel Cabernet Sauvignon glass from which I am enjoying this wine.). We look forward to seasoned beef and tomato kabobs, upon which a further revisit of this wine will ensue. With dinner, my blunder being a bit too much cumin in the kabobs, the sweet red fruit is the principal protagonist with balancing acidity enlivening the components of this deliciously unidimensional wine. I have yet to enjoy the “Estate” level of this producer, as Maine is the end of the wine pipeline, but from the comments of CellarTracker contributors, I look forward to the experience.
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Light for a Napa cab. Lovely aromatics. Mostly red fruit and smooth tannins. Very feminine. Decent cab, but terrible QPR. More similar to Cali Pinot than Napa cab. Bummer
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Quick 30 min decant. Deep opaque eggplant with a clear magenta rim. Nose of necco wafers, strawberry leaves, raspberry and blackberry. Taste is very similar with medium to low tannins. Acidity still pretty high leading to a long tart finish. Nice soft mouthfeel.
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A little funky on the pull of the cork. That mostly blew off in 45 minutes or so, revealing dark red, purple, and black fruit with some spice and a little bit of lighter herbs on the nose. Nice pungent dark fruits on the palate, with some of the same herbs & spice showing on the finish. After 20 or 30 seconds, there's a hint of licorice too. Decent acidity that helps extend the finish for over a minute. The only drawback on this first night is a tiny smidge of alcohol heat on the finish.
Will refrain from scoring for a night or two.
On the second night, the funk is gone and the nose is mostly nice dark fruit. The herbal element has settled down somewhat, and there's much less discernible licorice on the finish. The alcohol heat is gone too. A wee bit of cedar / oak has entered the fray while some of the acidity & pungency is retained. Overall, it's a much better drink tonight than last night.
This is one of the best of the second label Napa Cabs in the sub-$50 price range.
Drinking splendidly but holds something back in reserve. Old School, Napa bouquet. Black fruit, cardamom and coriander spice, licorice, and cola over notes of eucalyptus and garrigue. Bright and resonant, with classic structure and umami character, the palate turns richer and denser the longer it decants. Picks up garam masala on the long and flavorsome finish. Classic.
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Restrained cab. Did not decant. Medium-dark crimson. Closed nose and opened up a bit with some air. Floral and tart berry aroma. Tart berries, violets, earth on palate. Sweet tannins and very nice acidity left me wanting another sip.
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Cassis and blue fruits try to sneak in the picture but the forest floor, minerality and earthiness hold on as the main show. Medium weight and descent texture. Not much complexity.
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Benefited from 4 hour decant. On the nose, dusty cherry, red berries, cinnamon, a little vanilla bean. On the palate, medium bodied, more cherries, plum, herbs and bell pepper. A little spice on the back end. Probably better in a few more years, but I like it now. Old school style. Not the best QPR, but it's nostalgic.
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Disappointed. More in myself than the wine. 93% Cab, 7% Merlot. 2 hour decant (as usual for 7 yr. Napa Cab). Nice nose of cherry and fruit on decanting. Glass just before dinner had flat nose, muted fruit, earthy, vegetal, some barnyard. Tasted much the same. Long lingering finish of the same uninteresting flavors. Dull plonk worth all of $15.00. And then... at end of last glass, 3-1/2 hours in, it opens up to a very nice wine. Nice, lightly perfumed nose of cherry and currants. some earth, good acid, some tannin yet (well balanced overall) and the same long finish. Remaining bottle will be banished for 3-4 more years. 90 now, but will improve.
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Color is nice....odd vegetal green pepper smell....WTF is up with the aroma....flavor is some berry on the tongue finish...some cinnamon.. Tannin chocolate finish...$50=bad QPR.. Montelena is waaaaay overrated
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If not my worst QPR purchase ever, this is in the running. $50 at the winery during a visit in 2013. The tasting room sample was really excellent but perhaps that was the experience talking. This is pleasant enough but as others have noted there's a green pepper streak here that detracts from the otherwise nice red fruits. Nose is ok.
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Good solid cab. Age has taken the sharp corners off this one. Its drifting towards becoming a bit flabby but the remaining fruit core still has enough punch to keep it together. Not sure how much longer this one has left in the tank.
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Consistent with my first tasting in January, this wine is good, but not overly big. The wine is best about three hours in, which is when it starts to really open up. Try to be patient and wait for it.
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Very vegetal even after full 1 hour decant. After 4 hours open, had some promise. Unfortunately, very little left by then. Suggest holding several more years, or very long decant.
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Quite ok wine according to the quality, but this is so boring. When popped and poured it feels unbalanced and a bit artificial. But with time in decanter it improves. To me it is best the day after (+ 24h). Pure cab, lots of cassis, lots of wood, some cedar and spices, oak spice. With time more dark fruit like dark cherries. Good acidity but the fruit is a bit flabby. The tannins are ok, quite soft. But the alcohol and fruit is not in balance. 84-86p
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Classical Napa Cab profile. On the nose we have vanilla, oak barrels, smoke, chocolate, bramble, coffee, mint, herbs and blackcurrants. Palate goes hand in hand with nose, lot’s of fruit , barrels, brambles and dark fruit. A bit too sweet on the finish, but within the limits of acceptable, and a good overall balance to level out the sweetness. Quite nice Cali Cab, with the alcohol somewhat in balance (14% according to label) and stuffed enough to cellar, should you want too. Went fine with a mixed grill plate and some cheese.
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Restaurant purchase with dinner. Decanted, Dark, and fullbodied. First hour this wine was very tight, tannic, and oaky. Still almost too young to drink. Air, hearty beef, and time eventually help make this an enjoyable wine. As the oak and tannic grip start to loosen, the black fruit, spicy currant, and early vestiges of complexity start to show. Big, and concentrated culminating with a long finish. Highly recommend either a long decant or another 2-3 years in the bottle, really needs more time, but shows lots of upside potential.
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PnP through a vinturi. Lots of notes capture it well. Big fruit and grippy tannins. Much better as it opened over two hours and even better the next day. A CA Cab pleaser, and great with food. But at £45 in the UK, not especially good QPR in my book.
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Good acid and tannin. Softened and opened up considerably after about an hour and became very fruit forward with lots of blackberry, cherry, and new oak.
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It's a little young...needed at least an hour and a half of decanting to really focus in on the fruit. As far as the fruit goes, it's definitely ample but presented in a softer fashion that subtly diverges from the powerhouses more common in the napa region. Behind the softness there are definitely rough edges. Faint aromas of dirty earthy cherry translate to hints of soil on the palate. Great cab but the price is a bit steep for what you get.
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Smith & Wollensky, Chicago. Dark ruby towards the rim, glowing. Approachable from the start, but opened up beautifully over 2 hours in the decanter. Quite complex nose, bramble, sweet, creme de cassis, smoke, hints of chocolate. Not massively complex, but very well balanced on the palate, pure dark fruit, very fresh and acidic, slightly spicy and pretty long and lingering. More on the elegant side, not too powerful. I would definitely recommend to decant this wine and believe it should improve for 4+ years. Very nice with steaks. 91-92
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Second bottle of the night and it would be hard to follow the Januik Reserve. This was heavy bodied, lots of earth tones slightly tannic probably at its optimum in 2 years but a great effort for a napa cab.
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Lots of black fruit, tannins not so noticeable, but the acidity provides the backbone. Complex nose initially with chocolate tones, then gradually more black tea. Some vegetable notes. Good overall.
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Medium to full body. Dark cherry, cassis, and toasty cedar. Needs some time in the glass to open up. Subtle and fine tannins. Drinking well now or for seven years.
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magenta body, ruby red rim, in the color. plum, dark fruit, blackberry, cedar, espresso, campfire, spice, vanilla, oak, on the nose. medium acid, medium tannins, on the finish.
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Post-holiday dinner w/eyesintime (Anvil Club): Inky crimson color. Cassis, blackberry and chocolate aromas. Vanilla, red and black fruit, chocolate and herbal qualities on the palate. Shows just a bit of alcohol; firm tannins.
Not giving a score as I think (hope) I opened it too early ... there was just really not much going on in this glass. Lovely mouthfeel - which is an important consideration for me - but very little fruit coming through, either through the nose or on the tongue. Highly disappointed for the price. Tasted blind against 2 other much cheaper 2010 cal cabs and an '07 Brunello (long story). This was the least favorite bottle for 3 of the 5 people. And 2 guessed it to be the least expensive bottle (it was at least 2x the price of any of the others). I bought two of these at the winery and will wait at least a few years to open the other one.
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Nose of roasted plums, black currants, a hefty dose of tobacco leaf and oak as well, a lot going on but this clearly needs a lot of air to open up. On the palate, grippy tannins provide structure, and there’s some fresh acid. The black currant and pomegranate fruit is both tart and rich at the same time. I’m getting a lot of tobacco, some mint, loam, some toasted nuts as well. This is put together extremely well, and it’ll reward some patience in the cellar. A gorgeous young Cabernet. with 7% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc.
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Medium to full body red color with a nice glistening hue. Interesting bouquet of dark fruit, lees, tea leaves, bell pepper, and some leather. Palate is fleshy with smooth tannins, but a tad imbalanced with rough and bitter edges. Short to medium finish with some fruit reduction. The wine is fleshy but a bit overextracted and perhaps tart.
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4th Saturday Group brown bagger (M/M thelostverse): Brought this as a nonblind dinner wine to accompany tlv's strip steaks. Garnet color with notes of raspberry, red currants, oak spices and vanilla. Medium-bodied, with flavors of red currants, vanilla and black cherry. Tannins are understated and not obtrusive. Finishes nicely, with red fruit and herb nuances.
Decanted & rebottled about 4 hours prior to dinner.
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4th Saturday Group. Opened by Allred as a dinner wine non-blind. Drinking well already, with black fruits violet and cassis. No hurry, but can easily be enjoyed now with some air. 90 pts.
Day two. This has fleshed out and rounded off some of the angular edges from yesterday. I'm upping my score from 90 to 92. Let them sleep for a few years and you will be rewarded. Really a relative bargain at release price.
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Drank this following a 2004 Corison while eating steak at Manny's. This wine is too young - still hot with alcohol, but appears to have plenty of fruit and structure. I would expect in 3-5 years, this will be a very nice wine. Recommend to hold. GOOD.
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Tasted at winery. Muted nose of cassis. Semi-opaque body. Good mouthfeel and very nice balance. Good but not great concentration, moderately long finish. Tastes fresh. The tannins are integrating nicely.
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Decent entry level Cabernet. Menthol and a hint of alcohol on the nose. Mostly blackberry and a bit of sour cherry leads to a slightly dusty, but nice 10 second finish.
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Black fruit, liqueur, tarragon aromas with good intensity. same flavor profiles with moderate concentration, very good persistence and balance, moderate length. Great glass pour at the United Club.
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Two sitting tasting with a span of 5 days. First tasting was really tight and closed down. Had nose and palate of a cool climate Syrah. Second tasting, which was five days later, showed the cali cab character of this wine. First glass was still a bit closed and simplistic. Pleasant smokey cab based nose. Smooth, but thin palate. Two hours later, this puppy was rocking. Really hit it's stride. Stronger nose, complex mid palate and lingering finish. So, I would say wait 2 to 3 years or decant for a couple of hours.
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Aromas of fresh black currants, cherries, bell peppers, spices with hints of smoke and minerals. Well-structured with gorgeous tannins and a beautiful velvety texture which carries over onto the long finish.
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Pop and poured; nice easy drinking wine, a little toasted oak but not overwhelming; I like this one, boast well for 2010 vintage ; not as good as phelps but good nevertheless. Would buy more
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Slight anise aroma with red and black currant, cassis. Big currant flavor with tart cherry. More red in profile. Nice style but has big acid so really calls for food.
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A bit closed with the only thing coming through right now are green brambly elements and Oak. It is almost assuredly going to get better as it unwinds, but I'm not sure how much better.
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12/5/2023 - j77bman wrote: 94 Points
Excellent- vintage is aging well
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3/9/2023 - philtheone wrote: 92 Points
note tertiaire, tanin fondu,très bon, il est temps de le boire...
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1/14/2023 - VAGenius Likes this wine: 91 Points
90 minute decant. Strong nose of oak and smoke with some red currant, and a touch of macadamia nut. On the supple palate, black cherry, black raspberry, and blueberry fruit washes over the tongue, adding minerals, asphalt, and touches of anise, red licorice, and red bell pepper. Finish is quite soft and peters out quickly, with fully resolved tannins, red raspberry fruit, and gentle earth flavors. The finish is lacking both intensity and energy at this point. Drink soon.
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7/17/2022 - Anna@WineCellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely layered experience with a texture of crushed velvet. Has started upon its maturity path, so engaging and very attractive.
(No formal notes taken, just enjoying.)
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5/8/2022 - JHalvorson Likes this wine: 90 Points
VERY ready to drink. The color has faded and upon first opening this wine seemed flat but after some time in the glass it livened up.
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1/31/2022 - Don Roberto wrote: 93 Points
Dark garnet fading at the rim. Medium bodied. Classic can nose. Tannins have integrated Balanced acidity. Black currants
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1/17/2022 - Cellartracker@drkayem.com Likes this wine: 89 Points
I was going back and forth between an 89 (decent everyday wine), and a 90 (worthy of proudly serving to mid-week company. It was short on the nose on initial opening, and I was hoping it would open up to have more depth and be longer on the palate. However, it did not change much after even an hour. Hint of cassis, charcoal and very subtle black truffles. This wine may be slightly past maturity.
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10/23/2021 - Anna@WineCellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark red, high intensity. Developed plus, almost mature, fruity medium intensity nose. Cassis, some oak, a touch of sweet lightly dried fruit. A nice tone of mint shimmering above. On the palate a very slight sweetness, medium plus acidity, medium plus tannins, fine grained to silkiness, medium plus body. Fruity and concentrated juicy in tight costume. Dark fruit, plums, blackcurrant, well integrated oak. Very good length with dark fruit and dark chocolate. Silky texture. Elegance.
Day 2 very interwoven bouquet and flavours, with more of the dried fruit on the nose.
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10/2/2021 - manny651 Likes this wine: 90 Points
delicious and elegant, the age shows
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8/30/2021 - timbobwhite Likes this wine: 92 Points
93% Cab, 7% Merlot. 2 Hr. Decant. A lot of sediment, coarse and fine. This is in a really good place. Nose was fruity and forward on opening, more subdued after 2 hours. That said, perfumed nose of cedar, black currants and a bit of cherry. All the components are working well. Tannins resolved, but acid and balance are excellent. Great wine with Steak salad. Med-long finish. This one has rewarded the wait. I'd say that it has some years to go.
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4/30/2021 - wineshlub wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Rich aroma of cedar and black fruit. Intense flavors of cherry, cassis, and a whiff of tobacco. Green plums in the finish. Lovely, balanced, fresh. In a very good place, and leaning toward the bordeaux/old world end of the spectrum.
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12/31/2020 - Gladstone Lake Likes this wine: 91 Points
Well integrated and smooth. Drinking well, but drink it soon.
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12/25/2020 - bootaylor76 Likes this wine:
What a great wine and paired nicely with our flank steak and it’s juicy marinade. Definitely am I huge fan and a ton of beautiful fruit still on it.
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11/7/2020 - Irienet Likes this wine: 91 Points
Hitting perfect on the day they declare Biden the President. Smooth. Medium body. Don't drink past 2020. NY prime beef and Canadian lobster tall with drawn butter, sauteed onions, brussel sprouts, and horseradish.
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8/22/2020 - Maznoc Likes this wine: 90 Points
Round and integrated at this time - medium body, medium-long finish.
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7/5/2020 - agsdlswine wrote: 92 Points
Very enjoyable well made wine aged to perfection.
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6/6/2020 - Mnawacki Likes this wine: 91 Points
The first of three that I have opened...relatively closed on opening, progressively transitioning to a lovely blueberry, blackberry and sour cherry nose starting about about 30 minutes post opening. Green pepper, tobacco notes on the palate, quite earthy...Bordeaux-like and lighter than the typical Cali (and even Sonoma) cab. Very long finish but not overly hot. Very well made wine, showing lots of evolution over the course of a 4 hour "drink" with secondary layers revealing themselves by the hour. Great wine for a second label.
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5/21/2020 - SandNJ wrote:
London broil with Cahill during coronavirus
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3/20/2020 - Josch48 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Color of a Dehlinger Pinot Noir from the same vintage.
Lovely glycerine in evidence with initial streaks of sweet cedar-laced red fruit floating up from the glass in the nose. Medium bodied mouthfeel not unlike the excellent revelations of CRANBURGUNDY’s April 13, 2018 review, however with the wine’s attributes slightly diminished with the passing two years with a solitary identity of very pleading unctuous fruit. There is a viscous, quasi-savory sweetness throughout the tiers of palate, accompanied by subtle contributory tannins.
My wife gives the initial score of 87 (she is drinking from a 10 ounce glass as opposed to the Riedel Cabernet Sauvignon glass from which I am enjoying this wine.). We look forward to seasoned beef and tomato kabobs, upon which a further revisit of this wine will ensue.
With dinner, my blunder being a bit too much cumin in the kabobs, the sweet red fruit is the principal protagonist with balancing acidity enlivening the components of this deliciously unidimensional wine.
I have yet to enjoy the “Estate” level of this producer, as Maine is the end of the wine pipeline, but from the comments of CellarTracker contributors, I look forward to the experience.
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12/19/2019 - danscellar wrote: 91 Points
Very solid Cab!! Nice balance, good structure and complexity!! Enjoy!
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10/19/2019 - Greg and Linda wrote: 93 Points
Smooth and jammy...very nice. Enjoyed at sunset.
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7/26/2019 - ddgd Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still young and in need of airation if looking to P&P. Smooth presentation, deep garnet coloring and long finish.
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5/26/2019 - yowser wrote: 92 Points
A wonderful cab, more bordeuax style than big CA, drinking very well right now.
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2/23/2019 - wiscgrad wrote: 87 Points
Light for a Napa cab. Lovely aromatics. Mostly red fruit and smooth tannins. Very feminine. Decent cab, but terrible QPR. More similar to Cali Pinot than Napa cab. Bummer
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9/30/2018 - RockyII Likes this wine: 90 Points
Quick 30 min decant. Deep opaque eggplant with a clear magenta rim. Nose of necco wafers, strawberry leaves, raspberry and blackberry. Taste is very similar with medium to low tannins. Acidity still pretty high leading to a long tart finish. Nice soft mouthfeel.
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4/13/2018 - CranBurgundy wrote: 90 Points
A little funky on the pull of the cork. That mostly blew off in 45 minutes or so, revealing dark red, purple, and black fruit with some spice and a little bit of lighter herbs on the nose. Nice pungent dark fruits on the palate, with some of the same herbs & spice showing on the finish. After 20 or 30 seconds, there's a hint of licorice too. Decent acidity that helps extend the finish for over a minute. The only drawback on this first night is a tiny smidge of alcohol heat on the finish.
Will refrain from scoring for a night or two.
On the second night, the funk is gone and the nose is mostly nice dark fruit. The herbal element has settled down somewhat, and there's much less discernible licorice on the finish. The alcohol heat is gone too. A wee bit of cedar / oak has entered the fray while some of the acidity & pungency is retained. Overall, it's a much better drink tonight than last night.
This is one of the best of the second label Napa Cabs in the sub-$50 price range.
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3/11/2018 - Baron Slick wrote: 92 Points
Drinking splendidly but holds something back in reserve. Old School, Napa bouquet. Black fruit, cardamom and coriander spice, licorice, and cola over notes of eucalyptus and garrigue. Bright and resonant, with classic structure and umami character, the palate turns richer and denser the longer it decants. Picks up garam masala on the long and flavorsome finish. Classic.
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2/25/2018 - kcsteve Likes this wine: 90 Points
Restrained cab. Did not decant. Medium-dark crimson. Closed nose and opened up a bit with some air. Floral and tart berry aroma. Tart berries, violets, earth on palate. Sweet tannins and very nice acidity left me wanting another sip.
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12/25/2017 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very elegant.
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12/25/2017 - yipen wrote:
correctly varietal of Napa Cab, fresh berry. But it did not wow'd me
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10/8/2017 - Oldmanzin wrote: 88 Points
Cassis and blue fruits try to sneak in the picture but the forest floor, minerality and earthiness hold on as the main show. Medium weight and descent texture. Not much complexity.
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6/11/2017 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
Second Sunday Group: Chateau Montelena Cabernet (Non-Estate) Vertical, 2005-2012 (Our house): Red berry fruit, plum and black currant aromas with herbal undertones. Vanilla and earthy clay qualities emerge as it opens. Somewhat firm tannins and good acidity. Cherry, currant and vanilla flavors. Finishes well, with good length and balance. 89+ pts.
My #3, Domino's #5
Group #7, 72 pts
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5/14/2017 - Eric.S Likes this wine: 90 Points
Benefited from 4 hour decant. On the nose, dusty cherry, red berries, cinnamon, a little vanilla bean. On the palate, medium bodied, more cherries, plum, herbs and bell pepper. A little spice on the back end. Probably better in a few more years, but I like it now. Old school style. Not the best QPR, but it's nostalgic.
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3/4/2017 - timbobwhite Likes this wine: 90 Points
Disappointed. More in myself than the wine. 93% Cab, 7% Merlot.
2 hour decant (as usual for 7 yr. Napa Cab). Nice nose of cherry and fruit on decanting. Glass just before dinner had flat nose, muted fruit, earthy, vegetal, some barnyard. Tasted much the same. Long lingering finish of the same uninteresting flavors. Dull plonk worth all of $15.00. And then... at end of last glass, 3-1/2 hours in, it opens up to a very nice wine. Nice, lightly perfumed nose of cherry and currants. some earth, good acid, some tannin yet (well balanced overall) and the same long finish. Remaining bottle will be banished for 3-4 more years. 90 now, but will improve.
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12/27/2016 - no leashes wrote: 89 Points
Nice easy drinking cab.
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11/12/2016 - Angle Gold Likes this wine: 92 Points
Earthy, slight green pepper, berry, quite balanced.
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10/23/2016 - KJD45$ wrote: 86 Points
Color is nice....odd vegetal green pepper smell....WTF is up with the aroma....flavor is some berry on the tongue finish...some cinnamon..
Tannin chocolate finish...$50=bad QPR..
Montelena is waaaaay overrated
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8/22/2016 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 90 Points
Silky smooth and elegant. Not over complex, but what is there is wonderful. Tasty blueberry fruit, a little pepper and mild cedar.
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7/1/2016 - Chip Merlot wrote: 88 Points
If not my worst QPR purchase ever, this is in the running. $50 at the winery during a visit in 2013. The tasting room sample was really excellent but perhaps that was the experience talking. This is pleasant enough but as others have noted there's a green pepper streak here that detracts from the otherwise nice red fruits. Nose is ok.
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5/21/2016 - Anders C J wrote: 88 Points
Still very young and loads of fruit. Need another year at least.
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3/19/2016 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very decent Napa-cab, good but without any surprises. Sweet fruit, almost fudge, long, good tannin, Went well with steak.
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2/2/2016 - LWI wrote: 88 Points
US Cabernet Sauvignon: A bit short, something artificial about it, camphor, dark berries, some minerals.
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11/13/2015 - Ceo wrote: 90 Points
Very nice wine!!
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10/23/2015 - Dgordon1216 Likes this wine: 99 Points
Wow, beings tears to the eyes. Phenomenal wine. $150
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9/22/2015 - cristian_m wrote: 88 Points
Good solid cab. Age has taken the sharp corners off this one. Its drifting towards becoming a bit flabby but the remaining fruit core still has enough punch to keep it together. Not sure how much longer this one has left in the tank.
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5/23/2015 - pvewino Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistent with my first tasting in January, this wine is good, but not overly big. The wine is best about three hours in, which is when it starts to really open up. Try to be patient and wait for it.
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4/3/2015 - JCGuthrie wrote: 85 Points
Very vegetal even after full 1 hour decant. After 4 hours open, had some promise. Unfortunately, very little left by then. Suggest holding several more years, or very long decant.
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3/24/2015 - Cosmo3 wrote:
A bit flabby, good fruit but soft tannins that don't hold it together.
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1/14/2015 - Checkerpants wrote:
Coravin'd in Sept and late Oct, couldn't get passed the green bell pepper nose. Wasn't my favorite. Finished in January and had lost some of the nose.
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1/11/2015 - pvewino Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good daily wine. Great with dinner. Used aerator and wine opened up well. Not an overly big wine.
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11/25/2014 - Double-A wrote: 90 Points
Black currant, toasted bread and mineral nose. Fresh, focused, well-balanced palate. Youthful with good potential.
4/5
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9/18/2014 - Tenuta Stefan wrote: 86 Points
Quite ok wine according to the quality, but this is so boring.
When popped and poured it feels unbalanced and a bit artificial. But with time in decanter it improves. To me it is best the day after (+ 24h).
Pure cab, lots of cassis, lots of wood, some cedar and spices, oak spice. With time more dark fruit like dark cherries.
Good acidity but the fruit is a bit flabby. The tannins are ok, quite soft. But the alcohol and fruit is not in balance.
84-86p
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8/16/2014 - Ceo wrote: 90 Points
A early peek at this wine. Showing well with nice finish!
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7/27/2014 - ekenneth wrote: 92 Points
Good food wine, clearly california but not overly made or jammy.
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5/18/2014 - ekenneth wrote: 91 Points
Better the second night - a classic cab; not to oaky or too extracted. Great with food.
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5/17/2014 - Ramberg wrote: 89 Points
Classical Napa Cab profile.
On the nose we have vanilla, oak barrels, smoke, chocolate, bramble, coffee, mint, herbs and blackcurrants.
Palate goes hand in hand with nose, lot’s of fruit , barrels, brambles and dark fruit.
A bit too sweet on the finish, but within the limits of acceptable, and a good overall balance to level out the sweetness.
Quite nice Cali Cab, with the alcohol somewhat in balance (14% according to label) and stuffed enough to cellar, should you want too.
Went fine with a mixed grill plate and some cheese.
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5/9/2014 - wmccone54 wrote: 91 Points
Restaurant purchase with dinner. Decanted, Dark, and fullbodied. First hour this wine was very tight, tannic, and oaky. Still almost too young to drink. Air, hearty beef, and time eventually help make this an enjoyable wine. As the oak and tannic grip start to loosen, the black fruit, spicy currant, and early vestiges of complexity start to show. Big, and concentrated culminating with a long finish. Highly recommend either a long decant or another 2-3 years in the bottle, really needs more time, but shows lots of upside potential.
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5/9/2014 - Swajln Likes this wine: 90 Points
Smooth, mild fruit, pencil shavings, satin finish.
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5/2/2014 - JimN wrote: 89 Points
PnP through a vinturi. Lots of notes capture it well. Big fruit and grippy tannins. Much better as it opened over two hours and even better the next day. A CA Cab pleaser, and great with food. But at £45 in the UK, not especially good QPR in my book.
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3/23/2014 - Matt T Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good acid and tannin. Softened and opened up considerably after about an hour and became very fruit forward with lots of blackberry, cherry, and new oak.
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3/21/2014 - trulowine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dyp rød farge, god fylde, solbær, tobakk, bra lengde, trenger lufting for å dempe tanniner.
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3/17/2014 - ateghipc Likes this wine: 91 Points
It's a little young...needed at least an hour and a half of decanting to really focus in on the fruit. As far as the fruit goes, it's definitely ample but presented in a softer fashion that subtly diverges from the powerhouses more common in the napa region. Behind the softness there are definitely rough edges. Faint aromas of dirty earthy cherry translate to hints of soil on the palate. Great cab but the price is a bit steep for what you get.
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3/17/2014 - brianspross wrote: 92 Points
Rebuy - $35.29. This was a very good bottle young once it opened up.
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3/6/2014 - afketter wrote: 90 Points
Had at 801 chophouse in Clayton. Nice wine. Young. Sweet, cream de cassis. Great with my veal chop. Very consistent across both bottles.
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2/28/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 91 Points
Smith & Wollensky, Chicago. Dark ruby towards the rim, glowing. Approachable from the start, but opened up beautifully over 2 hours in the decanter. Quite complex nose, bramble, sweet, creme de cassis, smoke, hints of chocolate. Not massively complex, but very well balanced on the palate, pure dark fruit, very fresh and acidic, slightly spicy and pretty long and lingering. More on the elegant side, not too powerful. I would definitely recommend to decant this wine and believe it should improve for 4+ years. Very nice with steaks. 91-92
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2/27/2014 - jperez68 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Second bottle of the night and it would be hard to follow the Januik Reserve. This was heavy bodied, lots of earth tones slightly tannic probably at its optimum in 2 years but a great effort for a napa cab.
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2/24/2014 - Jalvemo Likes this wine: 89 Points
complex on the nose.
still young, medium tannins, put i cellar for at least a few years.
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2/23/2014 - blanquito wrote:
Round, fruity, herby nose. Quaffable with good brightness. A little tannin right now, not heavy but the fruit profile is bit cloying. Pleasant.
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2/23/2014 - Chasse_spleen wrote: 90 Points
Lots of black fruit, tannins not so noticeable, but the acidity provides the backbone. Complex nose initially with chocolate tones, then gradually more black tea. Some vegetable notes. Good overall.
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2/16/2014 - gsmfan wrote: 92 Points
Needs some more time in the cellar or at the very least a minimum of 2 hours in the decanter.
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1/31/2014 - Bob in NC Likes this wine:
Smooth drinking still on the young side
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1/31/2014 - Jeffrey Scott wrote: 90 Points
Drinking well. Good tannic structure if you choose to continue cellaring.
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1/26/2014 - mxpbuy Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Boring and thin with a finish that disappears more than fades. A disappointment for this vintage.
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1/26/2014 - brianspross wrote: 89 Points
It was pretty good, but I like other bottles at this price point. $44.99.
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1/20/2014 - ecola Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium to full body. Dark cherry, cassis, and toasty cedar. Needs some time in the glass to open up. Subtle and fine tannins. Drinking well now or for seven years.
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1/15/2014 - gkjrs Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great mouthfeel. Good fruit, red fruit, hint of plum. hint of oak on nose, not in taste.
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1/4/2014 - affordableCollector wrote: 92 Points
magenta body, ruby red rim, in the color. plum, dark fruit, blackberry, cedar, espresso, campfire, spice, vanilla, oak, on the nose. medium acid, medium tannins, on the finish.
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1/4/2014 - rhanke wrote: 89 Points
came in 8th out of 8 in a blind tasting of 2010 California Cabs.
Green vegetable taste.
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12/30/2013 - Tonythefish wrote: 92 Points
Very dark ruby color; appealing, wild tart berry with chocolate hints and tight tannins. Once it opens it's fabulous
Can take 2-3 years of cellaring
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12/22/2013 - DSR wrote: 88 Points
No flaws, but fairly unremarkable for this producer.
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11/29/2013 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Post-holiday dinner w/eyesintime (Anvil Club): Inky crimson color. Cassis, blackberry and chocolate aromas. Vanilla, red and black fruit, chocolate and herbal qualities on the palate. Shows just a bit of alcohol; firm tannins.
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11/28/2013 - Chip Merlot Likes this wine:
Not giving a score as I think (hope) I opened it too early ... there was just really not much going on in this glass. Lovely mouthfeel - which is an important consideration for me - but very little fruit coming through, either through the nose or on the tongue. Highly disappointed for the price. Tasted blind against 2 other much cheaper 2010 cal cabs and an '07 Brunello (long story). This was the least favorite bottle for 3 of the 5 people. And 2 guessed it to be the least expensive bottle (it was at least 2x the price of any of the others). I bought two of these at the winery and will wait at least a few years to open the other one.
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11/23/2013 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 92 Points
Nose of roasted plums, black currants, a hefty dose of tobacco leaf and oak as well, a lot going on but this clearly needs a lot of air to open up. On the palate, grippy tannins provide structure, and there’s some fresh acid. The black currant and pomegranate fruit is both tart and rich at the same time. I’m getting a lot of tobacco, some mint, loam, some toasted nuts as well. This is put together extremely well, and it’ll reward some patience in the cellar. A gorgeous young Cabernet. with 7% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc.
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11/17/2013 - pernety wrote: 81 Points
With beef fillet from Fairway.
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11/3/2013 - yofog wrote:
A very nice, typical, well put-together wine, lacking excitement.
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11/2/2013 - farinas wrote: 89 Points
Medium to full body red color with a nice glistening hue. Interesting bouquet of dark fruit, lees, tea leaves, bell pepper, and some leather. Palate is fleshy with smooth tannins, but a tad imbalanced with rough and bitter edges. Short to medium finish with some fruit reduction. The wine is fleshy but a bit overextracted and perhaps tart.
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11/2/2013 - Samsara Likes this wine:
Montréal Passion Vin
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10/26/2013 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
4th Saturday Group brown bagger (M/M thelostverse): Brought this as a nonblind dinner wine to accompany tlv's strip steaks. Garnet color with notes of raspberry, red currants, oak spices and vanilla. Medium-bodied, with flavors of red currants, vanilla and black cherry. Tannins are understated and not obtrusive. Finishes nicely, with red fruit and herb nuances.
Decanted & rebottled about 4 hours prior to dinner.
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10/26/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 92 Points
4th Saturday Group. Opened by Allred as a dinner wine non-blind. Drinking well already, with black fruits violet and cassis. No hurry, but can easily be enjoyed now with some air. 90 pts.
Day two. This has fleshed out and rounded off some of the angular edges from yesterday. I'm upping my score from 90 to 92. Let them sleep for a few years and you will be rewarded. Really a relative bargain at release price.
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10/9/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote: 88 Points
Plum, blackberry aromas and flavors with some liqueur hints. Very charming and enjoyable with good overall balance. Good now.
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9/19/2013 - BigTex22 Likes this wine:
Drank this following a 2004 Corison while eating steak at Manny's. This wine is too young - still hot with alcohol, but appears to have plenty of fruit and structure. I would expect in 3-5 years, this will be a very nice wine. Recommend to hold. GOOD.
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9/4/2013 - tenor12bucks wrote: 92 Points
Tasted at winery. Muted nose of cassis. Semi-opaque body. Good mouthfeel and very nice balance. Good but not great concentration, moderately long finish. Tastes fresh. The tannins are integrating nicely.
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9/2/2013 - Iceman611 wrote: 93 Points
Tasted against Jordan cab. I preferred the montelana.
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8/18/2013 - sandwich Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decent entry level Cabernet. Menthol and a hint of alcohol on the nose. Mostly blackberry and a bit of sour cherry leads to a slightly dusty, but nice 10 second finish.
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8/9/2013 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 94 Points
Very dark ruby color; appealing, wild berry, mulberry, tart blackberry, violets nose; tight, tasty, ripe mulberry, violets, tart black currant, blackberry palate with sweet tannins; needs 3 years; medium-plus finish (91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc; 14 months in French and Eastern European oak, 12% new; 13.9% alcohol; sample provided by winery) 94+ points
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7/28/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Black fruit, liqueur, tarragon aromas with good intensity. same flavor profiles with moderate concentration, very good persistence and balance, moderate length. Great glass pour at the United Club.
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7/28/2013 - Vervelb wrote: 90 Points
Smoky, almost savory quality with currants, bramble. Nice balance, full soft tannins and relatively high acidity.
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7/4/2013 - Ilikadajuice wrote: 90 Points
Two sitting tasting with a span of 5 days. First tasting was really tight and closed down. Had nose and palate of a cool climate Syrah. Second tasting, which was five days later, showed the cali cab character of this wine. First glass was still a bit closed and simplistic. Pleasant smokey cab based nose. Smooth, but thin palate. Two hours later, this puppy was rocking. Really hit it's stride. Stronger nose, complex mid palate and lingering finish. So, I would say wait 2 to 3 years or decant for a couple of hours.
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7/4/2013 - Hoffmnron Likes this wine: 89 Points
Solid Cab. A little harsh, but easy to drink. May be too young.
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6/29/2013 - BMCKIE99 wrote: 90 Points
Berry, caramel accents. Smooth. Not much on the backend. Probably could have benefitted from waiting longer before opening.
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6/26/2013 - Tharso wrote: 92 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs - Excellente
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6/18/2013 - InternationalWineReport wrote:
Aromas of fresh black currants, cherries, bell peppers, spices with hints of smoke and minerals. Well-structured with gorgeous tannins and a beautiful velvety texture which carries over onto the long finish.
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6/9/2013 - jeanluc07 wrote: 91 Points
Pop and poured; nice easy drinking wine, a little toasted oak but not overwhelming; I like this one, boast well for 2010 vintage ; not as good as phelps but good nevertheless. Would buy more
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5/9/2013 - vegasoenophile wrote: 87 Points
Slight anise aroma with red and black currant, cassis. Big currant flavor with tart cherry. More red in profile. Nice style but has big acid so really calls for food.
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4/29/2013 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 80 Points
Floral nose with a hint of caramel. Tobacco, smoke, leather and charcoal fill the palate. Dry finish with a medium body.
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2/10/2013 - mxpbuy wrote: 88 Points
A bit closed with the only thing coming through right now are green brambly elements and Oak. It is almost assuredly going to get better as it unwinds, but I'm not sure how much better.
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2/5/2013 - vespasian wrote: 85 Points
A little out of sorts today, green supple palate with a harsh finish.
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