Not a proper corked smell, more barnyard. But the taste was flat and clipped and at best metallic at the end. Very uncharacteristic of the varietal and the vintner, as well as previous bottles of this wine.
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Thick yet clear reddish purple in appearance with a strong rich fruity nose. Medium full-bodied, decently balanced and saturated fruity core in the order of red, blue and black plum, blueberries, raspberries, a touch of Chinese champoy powder, a hint of tobacco with mild oak treatment and a pleasant impression of fresh grapes towards the finish. A very good and easy drinking Washington Cabernet at a very decent price.
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Nice week night wine. Fruit forward and smooth, but not real complex. Medium- light tannins. Not bad for $13. Still good night 2....I'm surprised by that
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P: Med, poss MF, body; Bacon on front with a lingering, somewhat astringent finish. While not all that charming right now, I can see this evolving over the next 2 yrs or so. A CS for Syrah drinkers? 90 pts ea in WS & WE.
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The Fleming's 100 50/50 Tasting Event Walnut Creek, nose of black cherry, blackberry, briar and pepper, same on the palate, medium body, nice fruit but needs more stuffing for me, very good tasting, medium/long finish.
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Tasted blind. To my credit, same score as in the past. David t writes an accurate deconstruction below. This is smooth, dark and oaky. This doesn't seem to move much year to year. This is the Meiomi of Washington cabs. Sweet and oaky. Comes across flabby. Columbia Crest seems less heavy-handed with the oak and sweet and leaves me generally sensing a little more muscle. This allows the fruit some delineation and more expression. This just seems to be coming clearer to me over the years. 85
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Aromas of raspberry, black currant, cocoa and hints of tobacco and earth. The palate is more fruit-forward with black currant, black cherry, blackberry and cocoa. Light-medium acidity and tannins. Straightforward cab, balanced enough it will appeal to many.
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You get a real blast of black fruit and pepper on the nose. Underneath that it has a green pepper and woody component.
It's dry, with lots of tannin but balanced overall. It is all about strong black fruits, think jammy black cherry with black pepper. Very fruit forward. I think this will cellar well and may be better down the road.
A lasting finish, but not complex or lengthy, decent structure overall.
This is good QPR on the whole, but given the choice - go for the Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells instead - it is superior in every way (and about the same price); unless you are crazy about California Cabs with powerful fruits - then this is a good choice. Personally, I like a little more finesse.
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I think this a very interesting Cabernet for around $15. A noticeable step above the stuff in the $10 range, this one has body, structure and real, distinctive Cabernet flavors. Very dark red color. Interesting nose that indicates the flavors to follow with a touch of wet forest floor enhancing the mineral laden red and dark fruit. Fully ripe and rich Cherry, blueberry and blackberry fruit backed up with some Cabernet style secondary flavors like flinty earth, gun metal and graphite. Nice touch of oak. Balanced and ready to drink now, but still young and could cellar a while.
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4/26/2023 - ppandian Likes this wine: 88 Points
Fruit has receded but still decent.
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2/11/2021 - ppandian wrote: 88 Points
Quite good actually..balanced, red berries, not fruit forward with medium tannins
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10/1/2020 - KimberJ wrote: 79 Points
Friut and vinegar
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12/27/2019 - Cohn Man wrote: 85 Points
Getting worse with age. It is past its prime at this point.
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11/16/2019 - Schmidts wrote:
Bartelts
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10/28/2019 - RichWill64 wrote: 79 Points
Not up to vintners normal quality. Very sharp tannic acid finish.
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6/27/2019 - Teamrehfeld wrote: 88 Points
Always good. Last bottle.
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7/29/2018 - Teamrehfeld wrote: 88 Points
Not very structured. But not bad for an every day wine.
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4/28/2018 - ppandian wrote: 85 Points
Pretty good wine. Nice structure and balance. Just a hair too much fruit from being an excellent wine
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3/20/2018 - tbrader wrote: flawed
Not a proper corked smell, more barnyard. But the taste was flat and clipped and at best metallic at the end. Very uncharacteristic of the varietal and the vintner, as well as previous bottles of this wine.
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1/4/2018 - Teamrehfeld wrote: 88 Points
Always good. Always consistent. Good black fruit. Deep thick purple color. A tad heavy on the oak and could use a bit more structure.
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6/21/2017 - Praxis wrote: 90 Points
Thick yet clear reddish purple in appearance with a strong rich fruity nose. Medium full-bodied, decently balanced and saturated fruity core in the order of red, blue and black plum, blueberries, raspberries, a touch of Chinese champoy powder, a hint of tobacco with mild oak treatment and a pleasant impression of fresh grapes towards the finish. A very good and easy drinking Washington Cabernet at a very decent price.
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4/29/2017 - Mthibaudeau wrote: 88 Points
Very good
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3/29/2017 - ThistleB wrote: 87 Points
Nice week night wine. Fruit forward and smooth, but not real complex. Medium- light tannins. Not bad for $13. Still good night 2....I'm surprised by that
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3/7/2017 - JeremyBernton Likes this wine: 88 Points
Great table wine and QPR. Smooth, but balanced and good red fruit comes through.
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2/19/2017 - bilski214 wrote: 88 Points
Very nice with dinner. Remember to let it breathe for thirty min first
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1/18/2017 - Ward Huang Likes this wine: 90 Points
Typical Cab from Am. delivering black fruits and coffee. Needs bottle decanting.
补个中文:这个也好,桶味和果香,国宴上喝这个亏不了。
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10/29/2016 - srh Likes this wine:
Sat, 10/29/16, $2 Tasting + a Zin "surprise" (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): N: A bit closed/muted? A melange of jam, earth, & tar, with notes of bacon with increased air
P: Med, poss MF, body; Bacon on front with a lingering, somewhat astringent finish. While not all that charming right now, I can see this evolving over the next 2 yrs or so. A CS for Syrah drinkers? 90 pts ea in WS & WE.
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9/10/2016 - Xanthen wrote: 85 Points
Medium body, red fruit. Good value, nothing stellar.
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8/20/2016 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
The Fleming's 100 50/50 Tasting Event Walnut Creek, nose of black cherry, blackberry, briar and pepper, same on the palate, medium body, nice fruit but needs more stuffing for me, very good tasting, medium/long finish.
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6/1/2016 - aero wrote: 84 Points
Silky, light-med, balanced, but a bit empty particularly in the finish. Like eating a hollow chocolate easter bunny.
Dark chocolate with notes of slate, vanilla, tobacco, baked berries. Presents a solid value at $11 in 2016.
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5/21/2016 - George T wrote: 90 Points
Good Value. Fresh and expressive, juicy, with Blue and black fruit flavor....a bit of cherry flavors....a bit of pepper....more fruit forward.
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5/8/2016 - Esteban wrote: 87 Points
Cab américain typique. Beaucoup de vanille en bouche. Tout de même très convenable pour le prix.
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4/8/2016 - Cyroof Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Tight and tannic. Could improve with age or heavy decanting
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3/8/2016 - mzmijewski wrote: 87 Points
As before. Fades on finish but good fruit to begin.
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2/16/2016 - mzmijewski wrote: 87 Points
Complex fruit and oak on nose, fruit on tongue was okay, tannins fade fast on finish.
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2/6/2016 - katsauers Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very tasty
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1/30/2016 - swade wrote: 85 Points
Tasted blind. To my credit, same score as in the past. David t writes an accurate deconstruction below. This is smooth, dark and oaky. This doesn't seem to move much year to year. This is the Meiomi of Washington cabs. Sweet and oaky. Comes across flabby. Columbia Crest seems less heavy-handed with the oak and sweet and leaves me generally sensing a little more muscle. This allows the fruit some delineation and more expression. This just seems to be coming clearer to me over the years. 85
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1/24/2016 - Tomportwine wrote: 87 Points
so so--vin ordinare--nothing wrong, just nothing special, even for $13
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1/12/2016 - David_T Likes this wine: 88 Points
Aromas of raspberry, black currant, cocoa and hints of tobacco and earth. The palate is more fruit-forward with black currant, black cherry, blackberry and cocoa. Light-medium acidity and tannins. Straightforward cab, balanced enough it will appeal to many.
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12/31/2015 - Dionysusx Likes this wine: 87 Points
Great quality for the price. Medium body, strong vanilla notes with some oak undertones. A good weekday wine.
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12/3/2015 - wicho Likes this wine: 88 Points
This is a very nice wine. Well balanced tannins, good fruit yet dry. Had it with a steak and it showed well. A bargain at that price.
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11/28/2015 - DanSm wrote: 85 Points
Decent for the price. Less intense and true Cab flavors. Goes well with hearty meats.
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11/25/2015 - LEEJV123 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Medium full, round
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11/22/2015 - MTKT wrote: 85 Points
Could use another year in the bottle. Good fruit. Strong nose. Good with beef.
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10/18/2015 - ddsolomon2000 wrote:
Young, fruitier than I expected, but overall very well balanced, and very well priced!
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9/30/2015 - swade wrote: 85 Points
Black fruit melange of aromas and flavors blanketed in flattering oak. The oak seems to cover any focus of the flavors. 85
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9/16/2015 - erekose Likes this wine: 86 Points
You get a real blast of black fruit and pepper on the nose. Underneath that it has a green pepper and woody component.
It's dry, with lots of tannin but balanced overall. It is all about strong black fruits, think jammy black cherry with black pepper. Very fruit forward. I think this will cellar well and may be better down the road.
A lasting finish, but not complex or lengthy, decent structure overall.
This is good QPR on the whole, but given the choice - go for the Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells instead - it is superior in every way (and about the same price); unless you are crazy about California Cabs with powerful fruits - then this is a good choice. Personally, I like a little more finesse.
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5/28/2015 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 88 Points
I think this a very interesting Cabernet for around $15. A noticeable step above the stuff in the $10 range, this one has body, structure and real, distinctive Cabernet flavors. Very dark red color. Interesting nose that indicates the flavors to follow with a touch of wet forest floor enhancing the mineral laden red and dark fruit. Fully ripe and rich Cherry, blueberry and blackberry fruit backed up with some Cabernet style secondary flavors like flinty earth, gun metal and graphite. Nice touch of oak. Balanced and ready to drink now, but still young and could cellar a while.
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