Drinking nicely, I'll give this one an 89.6 Smooth, nicely integrated with with elegant structure. Medium to dark color, dark adequate fruit, earth elements and funk (good funk).
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My final bottle of this, and consumed in time as its fading - NOTE Purchased on secondary market so storage for first 4 years unknown. Pours from the bottle with a light consistency, what grips the glass drips quickly down. Creosote, pipe tobacco and leather on the nose; flavor is largely dark fruit, blackberry and plum with tannic structure mostly broken down.
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Virtually identical to a bottle a year and a half ago. After about an hour of air, the nose and flavor profile were dominated by licorice. After another hour, the licorice had receded somewhat, balanced by a little cassis, a lot of plum, and a bit of forest floor. Delicious, but with plenty of complexity. Rich texture and a very nice finish. It's obviously holding up quite well.
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Pop and pour, drunk over 3+ hours. Blue fruit and oak on the nose, seems "brighter" (fruit is fresher, more prominent) than I'd expect. Wine is in its wheelhouse right now but is on the downswing, with nice balance between structure and fruit, but the tanins are beginning to lose the battle. Really nice and very enjoyable, but I'll dpown my remaining bottle before the year is out.
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Not decanted but allowed air over the course of 3 hours. 30 mins after opening this is a dark garnet in color with red cherry, cassis, leather on the nose. Flavor profile shows calicab fruit, but it comes across in a softer manner that is more bordeaux-blend in style. Approaching 3 hours the nose is cigar and a little oak; tannins are more evident and offer a silky feel, and is very (but not overly) sweet. Wine is in a very good place.
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Started drinking about 30 minutes after opening. No visual signs of age. Cassis and freshly ground coffee on the nose. Cassis, coffee, red licorice, and a little smoke on the palate. Somewhat thin body and abrupt finish, although the fruit lingered, finishing with a touch of sweetness and, finally, firm tannins. After another 30 minutes, it began to really open up. It became more seamless from nose to finish, the fruit profile darkened to plums and black licorice, and it showed a much fuller, velvety texture and a lengthier finish.
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Seems a lot more like an 02 Napa than an 01. Really big black plum fruit. Overall sweet character. Huge mouthfeel. Dark chocolate, strong, slightly bitter, espresso. Mint. Toasty oak. A LOT more youthful than I expected at this point but not lacking in complexity. Excellent with about an hour of air. I don't think there is a rush to drink this but it is so pretty right now... this wine, in my opinion, has reached its highest potential. Wish I wasn't all out.
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Brought to blind tasting of US Cab based blends and it came in 4th out of 8. Comments were excellent fruit flavors and great balance. Blackberry, chocolate,and licorice notes were easy to distinguish. Wine started out gangbusters but seemed to fade a bit as the other wines started to open up. Wine was opened and left in the bottle 5 hours prior to tasting.
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Pop and pour. As usual, one of the most predictably great bottles of wine, and for only $40! Great bottle, but winery price isn't justifiable in comparison.
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Tasted December 11, 2007. Opened and double decanted about 45 minutes before serving. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of violets, dark chocolate, black berries and a little anise towards the finish. Flavors of black cherries, black plums, black berries and some black licorice on the medium to long finish. Medium acidity, medium to resolved tannins, medium to full body. Pretty good balance. Just about ready to start drinking wholesale. I'll save my one last bottle for 2009 just for giggles.
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Pop and pour, consume over 3 hours. Nice balance of fruit and tanins with a smooth but not lush mouthfeel, and a good body. Very enjoyable wine, solid QPR @ $40 purchase price.
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Sweet bouquet followed by a smooth oaky finish. Didn't get too much complexity, but it went well with the spare ribs and left the table happy and satisfied. Will look for more...
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Decanted for 1 hour. Aromas of blackberries, licorice, smoke, tobacco and eucalyptus. On the palate there is a lot going on. Blackberries, dark chocolate, tobacco, licorice and eucalyptus. Medium bodied, with a long finish. Nicely balanced, but this is going to be a special wine in another 3-5 years. 92+pts.
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8/14/2013 - Yack Man wrote: 90 Points
Drinking nicely, I'll give this one an 89.6
Smooth, nicely integrated with with elegant structure. Medium to dark color, dark adequate fruit, earth elements and funk (good funk).
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8/9/2013 - Night Train Likes this wine: 90 Points
Same as before. A lot of licorice that evolved into cassis with a little earthiness. Nice body and a very good finish. Holding up well.
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11/22/2012 - davidandrose wrote: 90 Points
My final bottle of this, and consumed in time as its fading - NOTE Purchased on secondary market so storage for first 4 years unknown. Pours from the bottle with a light consistency, what grips the glass drips quickly down. Creosote, pipe tobacco and leather on the nose; flavor is largely dark fruit, blackberry and plum with tannic structure mostly broken down.
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8/11/2012 - Night Train wrote: 91 Points
Virtually identical to a bottle a year and a half ago. After about an hour of air, the nose and flavor profile were dominated by licorice. After another hour, the licorice had receded somewhat, balanced by a little cassis, a lot of plum, and a bit of forest floor. Delicious, but with plenty of complexity. Rich texture and a very nice finish. It's obviously holding up quite well.
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6/23/2012 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour, drunk over 3+ hours. Blue fruit and oak on the nose, seems "brighter" (fruit is fresher, more prominent) than I'd expect. Wine is in its wheelhouse right now but is on the downswing, with nice balance between structure and fruit, but the tanins are beginning to lose the battle. Really nice and very enjoyable, but I'll dpown my remaining bottle before the year is out.
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12/26/2011 - Wineshington wrote: 92 Points
Classic California cabernet. Still had excellent fruit and softening tannins.
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6/3/2011 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Not decanted but allowed air over the course of 3 hours. 30 mins after opening this is a dark garnet in color with red cherry, cassis, leather on the nose. Flavor profile shows calicab fruit, but it comes across in a softer manner that is more bordeaux-blend in style. Approaching 3 hours the nose is cigar and a little oak; tannins are more evident and offer a silky feel, and is very (but not overly) sweet. Wine is in a very good place.
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3/12/2011 - Night Train wrote: 91 Points
Started drinking about 30 minutes after opening. No visual signs of age. Cassis and freshly ground coffee on the nose. Cassis, coffee, red licorice, and a little smoke on the palate. Somewhat thin body and abrupt finish, although the fruit lingered, finishing with a touch of sweetness and, finally, firm tannins. After another 30 minutes, it began to really open up. It became more seamless from nose to finish, the fruit profile darkened to plums and black licorice, and it showed a much fuller, velvety texture and a lengthier finish.
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7/28/2010 - brewmanc wrote: 84 Points
flinty, a little thin. definitely not worth the money
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1/2/2010 - babnik wrote: 92 Points
Seems a lot more like an 02 Napa than an 01. Really big black plum fruit. Overall sweet character. Huge mouthfeel. Dark chocolate, strong, slightly bitter, espresso. Mint. Toasty oak. A LOT more youthful than I expected at this point but not lacking in complexity. Excellent with about an hour of air. I don't think there is a rush to drink this but it is so pretty right now... this wine, in my opinion, has reached its highest potential. Wish I wasn't all out.
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12/28/2009 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour at SRG in Jackson. Retaining flavors and balance very well. In its drinking window but no rush.
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8/6/2009 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
WIML90
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2/18/2009 - Maz wrote: 90 Points
Brought to blind tasting of US Cab based blends and it came in 4th out of 8. Comments were excellent fruit flavors and great balance. Blackberry, chocolate,and licorice notes were easy to distinguish. Wine started out gangbusters but seemed to fade a bit as the other wines started to open up. Wine was opened and left in the bottle 5 hours prior to tasting.
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12/16/2008 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour. As usual, one of the most predictably great bottles of wine, and for only $40! Great bottle, but winery price isn't justifiable in comparison.
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12/11/2007 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92
Tasted December 11, 2007. Opened and double decanted about 45 minutes before serving. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of violets, dark chocolate, black berries and a little anise towards the finish. Flavors of black cherries, black plums, black berries and some black licorice on the medium to long finish. Medium acidity, medium to resolved tannins, medium to full body. Pretty good balance. Just about ready to start drinking wholesale. I'll save my one last bottle for 2009 just for giggles.
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11/24/2007 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour, consume over 3 hours. Nice balance of fruit and tanins with a smooth but not lush mouthfeel, and a good body. Very enjoyable wine, solid QPR @ $40 purchase price.
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9/29/2007 - gr8r84u wrote:
d-lish!
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10/20/2006 - sinebubble wrote:
Sweet bouquet followed by a smooth oaky finish. Didn't get too much complexity, but it went well with the spare ribs and left the table happy and satisfied. Will look for more...
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1/27/2006 - Lou Briccant wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 1 hour. Aromas of blackberries, licorice, smoke, tobacco and eucalyptus. On the palate there is a lot going on. Blackberries, dark chocolate, tobacco, licorice and eucalyptus. Medium bodied, with a long finish. Nicely balanced, but this is going to be a special wine in another 3-5 years. 92+pts.
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