Utterly delightful! This 1996 Bordeaux-like blend at approximately 20 years of age proved once again that well made aged Napa CABs perform exactly as designed. Perfectly smooth, silky and slightly lush, with minimal fruit. Your guests will enjoy this unique find!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Palate is consistent with the nose having cherries, leather, figs, menthol, good balance with well integrated structure, noticeable fruit acid still prevalent lending a slightly sour cherry note on the 10 second finish.
This is a good, mature California cab that is at it's peak or just beyond in graceful decline, depending how well aged you like your wine. The balance and fruit tells me that it has some age-ability left in it. For me, this is why I bought and aged California Cab. Consistent with other '96's and previous vintages of SVR.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
3L that was opened 4 hrs prior to tasting. Barely showing its age with a good amount of fruit and silky tannins. Stronger flavors of cedar and leather along with notes of black cherry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was found hidden in the cellar. It has stood up very well. Dark red, planty of cassis on the nose with some smoke and earth. Rich and full bodied, soft tannins. Still alive the next day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well balanced. Fresh black fruit, smooth barnyard hint of cedar, gentle caressing tannins mellowed into a finely integrated long finish. Wholly pleasureable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What an excellent wine.It had been a while since my last bottle of this and I don't remember it being this powerful. Loads of dark fruit,touch of cola and black olive w/ integrated, sweet tannins and a lengthy finish. For my taste, this is as good as Cali Cab gets. Glad i have 1 left. Going to drink it this year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner with Jack and Innis. Just about perfect! Complex, intricate, balanced, harmonious, flavorful, lengthy. If I had another bottle, I'd be drinking it right now...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Got this from sales, never seen or heard of this label before. Drank half of it with friend during dinner, it appeared in a pretty dark colour, we thought it's pretty young looking for it's age. The nose had a typical cabernet smell of Napa, but the palate is a bit thin with a straight forward and offer no complexity. But it's still better than most of the common supermarket labels.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nicely aged. The tannins and Cali Cab flavor persist, but are offset by the benefits of proper aging. Which means, smooth and balanced, yet tasty with that slight tannic finish. While not my all time favorite aged Cab - I would never be disappointed if all of my aged 90s Cabs turned out like this. Nice job Sterling!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very fine perfectly aged cab. The nose is classic CA cab. This is my last bottle of this and I wish I had a few more. It has never failed to impress me over the last few years. Supple and harmonious with touches of cedar to go along with blackberry, currant and anise. I think I paid aroung $50 for this and it is worth every penny. It's a shame that Sterling isn't making reds this nice recently.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
For some reason our local wine store still has these in stock. For my tastes this is a fine bottle of cab for $50. We have consumed 10 of these over the years and will continue to do so as long as the supply lasts!!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
10/11/2023 - Elkcims wrote: 92 Points
Nice treat-bright acidity and light tannins, plum, dark cherry. Truly a blast from the past!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2021 - VDLT Wine Likes this wine:
An enjoyable, quality bottle that is mostly resolved. This must have experienced lots of new oak because it remains too lush and plush
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2018 - Ravi Deshpande Likes this wine: 92 Points
Have to agree with Nerdy boy - lush, beautiful, rounded Bordeaux like. Mountain fruit can make the long haul. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2015 - Nerdy Earth Boy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Utterly delightful! This 1996 Bordeaux-like blend at approximately 20 years of age proved once again that well made aged Napa CABs perform exactly as designed. Perfectly smooth, silky and slightly lush, with minimal fruit. Your guests will enjoy this unique find!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2013 - rpenn77 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cedar, cigarbox with an obvious maturity. If you have this wine I would drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2012 - H*3 wrote: 86 Points
Past peak
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2012 - epmd wrote:
The cork was dry when decanted
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2011 - rpenn77 wrote: 93 Points
Delightful mature cabernet. Leather and cigarbox on the nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2011 - elise wrote: 92 Points
Brickish red color
Nose of leather, dust, red berries, eucalyptus,
Palate is consistent with the nose having cherries, leather, figs, menthol, good balance with well integrated structure, noticeable fruit acid still prevalent lending a slightly sour cherry note on the 10 second finish.
This is a good, mature California cab that is at it's peak or just beyond in graceful decline, depending how well aged you like your wine. The balance and fruit tells me that it has some age-ability left in it. For me, this is why I bought and aged California Cab. Consistent with other '96's and previous vintages of SVR.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2011 - ADiamond Likes this wine: 93 Points
Absolutely marvelous, may be at it's peak. Silky tannis, nice fruit, leather, cassis. We didn't finish 3L bottle can't wait until tomorrow.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2011 - rpenn77 wrote: 93 Points
Excellent mature Cabernet. Cedar and cigar box with delightful mature tannins
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2011 - rpenn77 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted and tasted over several hours. Very nice complex secondary flavors from bottle aging. Leather, cedar and lots of cassis.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2011 - Dtjohnson wrote: 93 Points
3L that was opened 4 hrs prior to tasting. Barely showing its age with a good amount of fruit and silky tannins. Stronger flavors of cedar and leather along with notes of black cherry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2011 - VinoKep wrote: 93 Points
agree with rpenn77 comments
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2010 - rpenn77 wrote: 94 Points
Silky soft tannins, good structure, tobacco and cedar notes. This is really ready to drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2010 - RR47 wrote: 92 Points
This was found hidden in the cellar. It has stood up very well. Dark red, planty of cassis on the nose with some smoke and earth. Rich and full bodied, soft tannins. Still alive the next day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2009 - jmh st louis wrote: 95 Points
Well balanced. Fresh black fruit, smooth barnyard hint of cedar, gentle caressing tannins mellowed into a finely integrated long finish. Wholly pleasureable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2009 - Bobo N wrote: flawed
What a bummer -- high expectations after my previous bottle. So flawed (nail polish remover) that it was undrinkable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2009 - Wino from Michigan wrote: 94 Points
Great Cab blend -- what a surprise this magnum was. It was well balanced and wonderful in both taste and smell.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2009 - Bobo N wrote: 94 Points
What an excellent wine.It had been a while since my last bottle of this and I don't remember it being this powerful. Loads of dark fruit,touch of cola and black olive w/ integrated, sweet tannins and a lengthy finish. For my taste, this is as good as Cali Cab gets.
Glad i have 1 left. Going to drink it this year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2009 - jlib77 wrote: 91 Points
Bricking at the edge, tannins are nearly gone, nice fruit but near the end of its life
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2008 - Nanook wrote: 94 Points
Dinner with Jack and Innis. Just about perfect! Complex, intricate, balanced, harmonious, flavorful, lengthy. If I had another bottle, I'd be drinking it right now...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2008 - yeoman wrote:
Got this from sales, never seen or heard of this label before. Drank half of it with friend during dinner, it appeared in a pretty dark colour, we thought it's pretty young looking for it's age. The nose had a typical cabernet smell of Napa, but the palate is a bit thin with a straight forward and offer no complexity. But it's still better than most of the common supermarket labels.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2008 - dino_mike wrote: 95 Points
Remarkably almost perfect. Finish is long, super smooth and fresh dark berry flavors are a real suprise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2007 - lskim wrote: 89 Points
In magnum. Earthy nose, not super fruity but smooth on the palate, with a medium finish. Has held up well but definitely ready to drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2007 - Mallards wrote: 90 Points
Nicely aged. The tannins and Cali Cab flavor persist, but are offset by the benefits of proper aging. Which means, smooth and balanced, yet tasty with that slight tannic finish. While not my all time favorite aged Cab - I would never be disappointed if all of my aged 90s Cabs turned out like this. Nice job Sterling!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2006 - hifiwine wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic thanksgiving wine, smooth and elegant, ready to drink
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2006 - mrabinowitz wrote:
Decanted and it opened up very nicely
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2005 - How wrote: 94 Points
Much better than anticipated! Classic Cali Cab and ready to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2005 - texaswino wrote: 93 Points
A very fine perfectly aged cab. The nose is classic CA cab. This is my last bottle of this and I wish I had a few more. It has never failed to impress me over the last few years. Supple and harmonious with touches of cedar to go along with blackberry, currant and anise. I think I paid aroung $50 for this and it is worth every penny. It's a shame that Sterling isn't making reds this nice recently.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2004 - dsimmons wrote: 93 Points
For some reason our local wine store still has these in stock. For my tastes this is a fine bottle of cab for $50. We have consumed 10 of these over the years and will continue to do so as long as the supply lasts!!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment