3 hour decant. Very dark. No visual signs of aging. Rich blackberry and currant aromas. Blackberry, small hints of cocoa on the palate. After another hour, some subtle coffee tastes blended with the cocoa. Seared ribeye brought out some carmelized blackberry notes—like the edge of a blackberry cobbler pan. Another hour and some more gamey and savory notes emerged. meat, savory herbs. Juicy throughout and nicely integrated tannins.
Gorgeous wine with a long road ahead. Drink or hold for 5 years (maybe more).
Popped 2 he before Christmas Eve dinner. What a fantastic bottle we truly enjoyed. Loads of Blackberry and umami flavors on secondary. Went terrific with Jeff tenderloin and all the fixings …
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Wow! Just wow! After less than spectacular bottles of the 2009 and the 2010 in the past couple of years, my love for Altamura cabernets has been reaffirmed! This wine was so deep, so many vertical layers of flavor! For me, it was not a fruit bomb. It was a study in classical elegance. The wine seemed to say, "Come sit and enjoy. Take your time. Just breathe." So good!
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deep purple color, sweet blackberry currants, toasted spice, herbs and licorice …. this is just a fantastic yummy wine … I really don’t care what the rating is … I think it id wonderful!
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Really liked the 2012 ! Well made, smooth, velvety fruit bomb (w/0 the burn from Paso wines) The wine looks purple colored. It tastes like blackberry, black currant (cassis) and strawberry. The body is full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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Really good, but had to let it open up! Didn’t think a 2012 would need that, but sure enough after and hour the oak and vanilla faded into some really nice depth of dark chocolate dusted cherry cordial. Love it!
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Plush, fruity & luscious this is a wonderful Cali Cabernet! Ripe blackberry and boysenberry fruit with a touch of syrupy sweetness and viscosity, finishing with oak vanilla and a ight but persistent tannic presence. Decanted for 2.5 hours.
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Tasted next to the 2010 vintage; This had more poise, grace, and more complexity and felt a bit older than chronologically older 2010. Spectacular if you want to find a wine on the cusp of starting to age - all the things you (I) want - poise, fruit, and finish. Currant, plum, and anise, dried cherry. Really special bottle - probably a bit of an emotional rating, shared with my father on a physically distanced (can we scrap the stupid social distance moniker? We need people and connections now more than ever, just at a 6-10 foot radius . . . and masks of course.) Cheers to all the CT crowd - Happy Thanksgiving.
Initially a bit heavy, almost portlike and showing too much alcohol, but after a few hours this calmed down and integrated into the Altamura I know and love. Plush and fruity (cherry) with a luscious mouthfeel and full finish. Excellent just make sure to decant this 2-3 hours ahead, the 1 hour I gave it was not enough.
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Altamura is the quintessential Napa Cabernet in my mind. It's a in-your-face fruit bomb and it makes no apologies for it. However, it's got plenty of structure to balance the wine out , which allows it to age surprisingly well. If your preference is finesse (e.g. older Bordeaux) or Pinots with mouth puckering acidity (e.g. Burgundy), this isn't your wine (see note from "dream" for support of this argument). What's so remarkable about Altamura cabs is the consistency from year to year. I've purchased cases every year of this wine and it delivers every time. My favorite years are '04, '06, '07, '08, and '12.
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Silky smooth with everything fully resolved and at peak drinking. Juicy red fruit centric with Swisher Sweet tobacco accenting. Nothing not to like here and 2-3 years remaining.
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One of the best wines I have ever consumed. Beautiful fruit forward nose. Candied jam, dark cherries, toffee, baking spices, ultra plush silky tannins. Amazing finish with not at hint of acidity or heat from alcohol. Its in its prime, drink and enjoy!
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Similar notes to prior 2019 tastings. Started out life on day 1 a bit funky. Thought might be a defective bottle. But improved on day 2 and on day 3 OK.
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Fruit forward, concentrated and delicious...this Cab has rich, creamy blackberry fruit that has a deep purple color. Super smooth tannins with notes of mocha, dark chocolate and lavender. Needs only about 30 minutes to fully show its potential.
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This was a hot mess on opening. Almost no nose whatsoever. Came around to ok after about an hour. Found a few classic Napa cab notes, dark fruits, a touch of carmel/butterscotch, but really didn't come together. No score, possibly flawed.
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Just opened it, but it has some bottle age already. Some heat, alcohol. Nose of crushed rocks and wet rose. Full mouth feel and finish. But, not drawing great interest thus far.
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* vanilla on the nose, perhaps a caramel or creme brulee * Middle palate shuts down pretty hard and I get a nice creaminess but very little fruit * Cherry is more black cherry * The finish is tannic and sharp
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100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 36 months in new French oak. 14.8% ABV. Let it breathe for 45 minutes and draft over 2 hours. Funk on the nose burns off after a few minutes. Pure, rich fruit, with chewy tannins early that mellow out by hour 2. Dark cherry notes. Cola. What a long finish.
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This records a Nov 2018 tasting. A pure, rich wine that brings a long finish. Dark cherry notes. A lot of bang for the buck here. Can hold its own with wines twice the price in my cellar.
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Opened in the bottle for a couple hours. Incredibly smooth and balanced with only some chalky tannins on the far finish. Texturally dense and liqueur driven (raspberry, blackberry, blueberry) with milk chocolate, cassis, oak, and a touch of earth. Has 5 plus years but really in a nice zone.
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Always reliable, always excellent, started off with a little mustiness which blew off, revealing dark cherry, cassis, and anise. Had this alongside a Realm Absurd and a Vice Versa Magnificent Seven, the Altamura still stood out as excellent and complex. Solid and balanced, ready to drink.
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I didn't even know we had it in the house. We were getting ready to go to our house in Florida, and I had packed Bourdeaux and Italians to take down with us. I noticed we had this sitting in a wine rack in the kitchen, of all places. So I grabbed it and brought it along, not expecting much. On our first night on the island, tired from long travel, I decided to open it and save the good stuff for evenings when we were rested. Being down on California , I was not expecting much more than the typical high-end California fruit bomb. I was pleasantly surprised. Nuance! Who would have expected it from a California? Now, don't get me wrong. The nuance has to struggle with the typical California drama. But I appreciated the effort. Still quite tannic after years of mistreatment. The tannins, in fact, assault the nose. Just settling down after almost 5 hours out of the bottle.
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Cheers. This vintage came across as a very settle and easy drinking bottle. Not much tannins in this, so I think between now and next year its ready. Cheers!
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Enjoyable bottle, starting to lose some of its sweetness. Smooth, extracted and more fruit notes than past bottles. Still not completely integrated, but starting to come together nicely.
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Beautiful wine. No notes. Grade would be higher if there was a bit more complexity however this is really drinking well right now. Very good QPR. Dark fruits with nice viscous mouth feel. Would not think twice about adding a new vintage to the cellar. 93.5
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Not rating this yet. This needs more time in bottle - like 5 years. Decanted for several hours. This had almost a sweet taste which mellowed after 4 hours. It’s a good wine balanced and tannins are close to resolved but this hasn’t come together yet.
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Guys Night - Bordeaux vs Napa (Jason's House): At a great tasting, this was the only wine that almost everyone dumped. This wine is too young to drink right now. But if you do choose to bring it to a tasting, DECANT IT. As a pop and pour, it is downright unpleasant to drink. Unscored
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Aged High End Bordeaux Blends (Jason P's, St. Paul, MN): Very dark red/purple color. PNP, which was a huge no-no. I'm sorry, but I can't drink this - not at this point or in this state. It is too young, has a green streak, alcohol showing, big and oaky. This might be something at some point, but you can't see it now - at least not without a day or so of air. NR.
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This is clearly a 93-94, drinking wonderfully, things seem to be integrated at this point, not quite to the point of the 2010, but rich, warm cherry balances out with darker fruits on the palate and the nose. I'm going to hold my last bottle for another couple of years, but honestly, there is no need to wait. Delectable.
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Pretty much agree with Cristal2000's assessment. I have always enjoyed this wine but it definitely bordered on being a bit too rich and fruity. The wine has definitely started to transition. Still a rich purple in color with a nose of cassis, black berry, and dark cherry. The palate is similar but the fruit has tamed quite a bit and started to add complexity. This was WOTN versus a 2012 Darioush and 2012 Robert Foley, although the Foley was close. I am going to wait a year before drinking my next bottle to see where this is headed.
Same score as I had given it previously, but the wine has begun to transition some. While it is still very big and rich, the fruit has subsided a bit and given way to some tertiary characteristics of prunes, leather, mushrooms and earth. You get a big sense of these both on the nose and pallet. To its credit, a wine that had a lot of fruit bomb like characteristics seems to be aging well. Nice structure and good tannic backbone make me think this will continue to age well for a while. It's still very big and gaining complexity.
5th bottle of the night at an after concert gathering at my house. No formal tasting notes but this was definitely wine of the night for me versus 2013 Hewitt, 2009 Cinq Cepage, 2012 Papillon, and 2010 Pahlmeyer Jayson. This is a RICH, fruit forward wine with great mouth feel and texture. I was only able to get a glass and a half and wished after the fact I could have taken my time and appreciated it more. This was a pnp and was really rolling right out of the gate. This is always a guilty pleasure type of wine for me as it borders on the sweet side. Mostly I don't care because it tastes so darn good!
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Second bottle of this vintage we've opened, first was probably a year+ ago. This is aging very well; much more balanced and finished now. Nice nose, soft tannins, and long finish. It's in a a very nice spot now and likely will continue to age gracefully for the next few years, and then hold for a quite a few more. And I really like the way the bottle shape fits and maximizes space in my cellar.
This was a gift (nice gift, eh?) but I think I'd consider purchasing. At $100 this is no everyday drinker. It's huge, lush and fruit-forward. Massive Cab fruit - cassis, blackberry - and feather-soft and dusty fine tannins in abundance. It's pure hedonism, impeccably executed.
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Blackberry, sage, mocha, cedar and cassis. Long and layered, with so much strut and panache. What a wonderful showcase and a true pleasure to enjoy now. Microfiber tannins. Pure Cabernet fruit. Drink now - 2032.
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I really did not enjoy this wine. There is a lack of balance or complexity. The fruit forward style of this wine was overshadowing. I found the lack of tannins problematic.
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This was a very interesting wine. Had old world all over it. usually the 2012's are very drinkable. If you have this, open this 5+ years from now. I can drink the 12's in 2 days or less......OK...usually 1 day. :) As I drank this, it kept on telling me it was not ready. By day 3, still had tannins. Good wine....but it will be great in the future.
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My notes of 8/14/16 still apply...as does the score (93). I was right to open my last bottle sooner rather than later. This time I knew what to expect...a Zin in Cab clothing. The result was that I loved it more this time. Score's still the same, but with accurate expectations going in, this was terrific. And the crowd loved it! Not for those who prefer a more traditional Cab (Old World OR New), but if you like the Cab/Zin hybrid style, it's right up your alley.
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Enjoyed another bottle of this vintage last night with great company and great steak. This year continues to impress and after a short decant, it opens up splendidly.
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Decanted 2 hours. My second bottle of this wine. Not quite as smooth as my last bottle but this wine was pretty big which was a much different experience from my last bottle which I would have called elegant. Still a very good bottle of wine.
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often I will call a Napa cab "big", not here. Smooth, soft, tasty, I enjoyed it but I can't say it lived up to the hype. Improved with air. It may be closed down for now, will revisit in a couple years.
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Essentially the same as my previous notes, except I felt this lost a little drive toward the end of the meal. A 2012 Bevan Petaluma Gap Pinot actually bested this in my opinion. The Altamura was very nice, but a little one-note at the end.
My last bottle. Hopefully 2013 will meet or exceed this 2012 vintage for the Altamura. Decent stuff though! Drink sooner than later if you want to savor some of its intensity. The wine was decanted at the restaurant; it didn't need it. I would stick with a PnP on this wine.
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So glad to have Cellartracker available. Thanks to CT folks who suggested drinking this now as it compelled me to dive in. Definitely a drink now (or over the next two years) wine as the lush, fruit-forward, nature of this indicates it might not improve over the long haul. That's a bit unusual for a mid-high level California Cabernet...but this is my first experience with Altamura so perhaps it's their style. This is almost Zin-like with an ultra-plush mouthfeel and a dark fruit essence that is reminiscent of big Zins. Syrupy comes to mind. Not recommended for those who don't like this syrupy style. All in all, very enjoyable and definitely ready to go...I'll be drinking my remaining bottle within the next year or two. I'm concerned that it could turn port-like if I wait longer.
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Another strong showing with this wine. Drinking well now, without the sweetness that had appeared previously. Nice round, dark fruit and dark chocolate flavors at the forefront.
Served at a restaurant with no decant. Showed up a 2013 L'Aventure Optimus served alongside it. Drink now and over the next few years.
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A simply great Cabernet with fruit forward notes of blackberry, cassis and cigar box on the finish. Yes it is a mouth full of fruit, and yes it may be at its peak now given the lack of tannin structure but boy is this simply prime to go. Drink now.
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Poured through aerator and sat for three hours in decanter. Wonderful nose. Dark. Very young but wanted to try. Needs more time for sure. Fine tannins that are ok now if you'e ready for that or if paired with food to balance (grilled ribeye). Loads of fruit shows now and it's well balanced for being so young. Just needs some time to mellow. Fantastic wine! Even so young it's fun. Score in 94-96 range.
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Dark purple in color. Good nose but even better drinking. Did not find this to be a fruit bomb. Lush fruit but balanced and a long finish. Decanted for 2 hours. Not cheap but a great bottle of wine that is worth the money.
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Very dark purple in color. Not much on the nose. Taste was burnt toast and dark fruits. Not sure if this bottle was a little off, based upon other reviews.
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A gorgeous, dark and lush cabernet. Silky and hedonistic, it is very typical of the 2012 vintage. It has some sweet and overly fruity qualities, but definitely doesn't go over the top. The mouthfeel is excellent, and there is some tannic backbone in there to indicate it can age for a while. Not the most structured or complex wine out there, but it's a very nice drink. Something you can open now and enjoy.
Day2: 24hrs later this is better, indicative of a well made wine. I'd up the score to 93-94.
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Had at men's opening golf dinner at CBCC. Simply put this is a modern Napa Cab fruit bomb. Can't imagine age will benefit this any more than now. Overpowering aroma's of ripe blackberry which were almost closer to blackberry preserves. The wine was silky smooth with a Velvety mouth feel.
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Similar to my first bottle. This is yet another '12 Napa bottling that is pop n pour ready, this is ripe, forward, one dimensional and velvety smooth...but where is the structure? Where is the huge depth as in other vintages?
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Napa / Sonoma Day Trip: Tasted at winery. ~4,000 cases made. PnP -- This is dark, young, and tight; yet shows so much already. From vines at 800-1000 feet elevation over Napa valley floor, this has gobs of flavor yet a fairly silky structure. The finish goes on and on. Well done, and I look forward to see how this one ages -- I expect a long life ahead!
Same as my previous CT notes. A bit sweet initially, but with some air time, it came together quite nicely. Rich and truly a guilty pleasure, but a wine I keep coming back to. Doesn't offer the epic layered complexity of the handful of upper echelon Cabernets from 2012, but certainly worthy of a solid 94 points. No more, no less.
Drink now with a short decant.
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2/18/2016: I put this is the Caymus category, but a little more cab and a little less fruit. It has a jammy quality and is still young and needs a decant.
6/10/2016: I've had a few more bottles of this by now and each time I like it more. It opens up nicely with a decant and pairs well with Italian food to steak.
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I gave this wine 90 points for where it is today not for where it will be tomorrow. This reminds me of the first time I tasted the 1997 Beringer Private Reserve when it was still a pup in the early 2000's. 100% Cabernet goodness, but still very primary and young. Crème de cassis coats the palate with deep brooding black cherry with a candied coating. The alcohol on the finish combined with youthful tannins suggest this needs time to integrate and mellow out. At this current stage, one might even draw a parallel to a Ludens cough drop, which I used to love as a kid. However, I don't prefer it in my glass of wine today. I think this wine could warrant a much higher score given at least 5 more years in the bottle. The only concern is the presence of higher alcohol on the finish... only time will tell.
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Essentially a pop and pour. This bottle was very typical of the Altamura style for me. Walked the line between dark fruited, plush and rich vs hot and totally over the top. This was a really nice drink if you are looking for a big Napa cab with soft tannins but extremely well balanced. Drinks great now.
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Decanted 3 hours and followed over another 2 hours. My experience was consistent with Kemorr's note below. Poured the rest back in bottle. Day 2: Balance had improved a little. Nice wine. I tend to enjoy these wines most when they are young and after a good decant.
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Dark purple color, medium legs. Initially was a bit of a fruit bomb with overpowering jammy black/blue fruits and medium short finish that was quite dry. My initial impression was that i might be disappointed. But... After about 2-3 hours the fruit softened and receded a bit and became more integrated, there was more of a velvety mouth feel with soft blue/black fruit that was definitely not so jammy and with some faint dark cocoa and the finish became much longer. I think that this needs a good decant or some time in the cellar for optimal enjoyment, 5 hrs after opening was still getting better yet
This did not show as well as I anticipated. Drank this in succession with a '10 Dunn Howell Mountain...maybe that's why. This lacked complexity and grip, seemed too sweet, ripe, and short. I expected this to compete with Caymus Special Selection, but it doesn't. Don't think I will be buying anymore bottles. I don't see the hype on this one, the '07 was great.
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Clear, purple color. Clean, pronouced nose of baking spices, yeasty, raw biscuits. Dry, medium plus acidity, truly smooth, easy tannins. Dark cherries in high concentration rules the palate, making it delicious in every aspect. Figs, chocolate, blackberries are present too. Not too much oak, enough to support bold structure. Medium plus finish of chocolate and espresso. Very good and highly recommended.
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Super balanced with silky tannins, has a juicy supple feel while on the palate, but after swallowing the palate drys and finishes quickly. maybe a bit of age will improve the finish a bit. Drinking very nice for a wine its age!
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Consumed with friends (otherwise I had planned on waiting until later in 2016 before reassessing this wine). Definitely glad I opened this bottle, as it has improved quite a bit. Similar to my prior CT notes except I moved this up from 94 to a solid 95+.
PnP with even more of a chocolatey, black fruit profile than when I last tasted this in October; additional notes of rich, ripe plum, deep red and black currant, blackberry liqueur, black licorice, sweet vanilla bean, cacao, espresso, and asphalt.
As previously mentioned, I sometimes worry about a young wine like this delivering such an immediacy of up-front fruit flavors, and whether or not it has the structure and/or acid to go the distance. Only time will tell.
Quite frankly, for now, I unabashedly say "Who gives a flyin' f*** about aging?!" Drink this bad boy now and enjoy a great bottle of wine for Pete's sake (whoever the hell Pete is or was)! This is ready to drink now, and will deliver wonderfully hedonistic returns over at least the next handful of years.
95+?!? ...depending on its ability to maintain this momentum for any length of time. To quote Blade Runner, "The light that burns twice as bright, burns half as long... And you have burned so very, very brightly..." Well, this is at least showing very brightly now, so seize the moment with this wine. Enjoy with confidence through 2017+.
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Had at CBCC along with opus one Overture. This was the better of the two. Big, Bold, Black-purple color. Very good fruit forward modern Cabernet. I don't know if this will get much better than right now.
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Pnp with a muted nose. On the palate were notes of rich plum, deep red currant, blackberry liqueur, and some chocolate. After about an hour in the decanter, this wine opened up a little bit more, with deeper tones of cacao and black licorice, with a slight tinge of red berry fruit.
At first, I feared this would be a bit plumy and prune-like, but a nice cut of alcohol moved it away from being muddled or jammy. A rich, Caymus-like extraction, except with more precision than a Caymus.
Good now, after a decent decant, and will hopefully come even more together in the coming years. Like with some of the Napa reds in 2007, there is always the fear that time will not treat these types of rich, overtly fruited 2012 Cabernets well. However, this wine seems to have a solid structure (though a seemingly lower acidic spine) to carry it through a number of years of positive integration. Regardless, it was a very pleasant Cabernet that I wanted more of with each sip. A hedonistic style to be sure.
I will reassess in late 2016. 94 for now
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Thick. Almost too thick- and I like fruitbombs. Next to the '11 Blankiet really lacked precision but it's also about 1/3 the bottle price. Back to specifics, however, there's plenty of black fruits and sweet spices, plenty of mocha and lots of alcohol.
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One of the best made Altamura Cabs. Filled with blueberry, blackberry & black currants accented with dusty notes of cocoa. This is jammed pack without being jammy. Supple and youthful on first sip, the mid palate blossoms leading to a robust, silky, and even more delightful finish. Should age well for those with patience but it is immediately enjoyable.
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Huge sweet black fruit aromas, dense and full bodied. Rich and fruit forward on the palate with black cherries, cassis and black plums, subtle oak, though a bright acidity that keeps it well away from "fruit bomb" territory Hearty but not overwhelming tannins that are knitting together but will let this hold in cellar for 10-15 years. But you should not wait that long.
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4/14/2024 - Nyrican wrote: 91 Points
still fruity typical calif Cab style. VG lacked complexity of a bordeux
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4/6/2024 - pdxwinefan Likes this wine:
3 hour decant. Very dark. No visual signs of aging. Rich blackberry and currant aromas. Blackberry, small hints of cocoa on the palate. After another hour, some subtle coffee tastes blended with the cocoa. Seared ribeye brought out some carmelized blackberry notes—like the edge of a blackberry cobbler pan. Another hour and some more gamey and savory notes emerged. meat, savory herbs. Juicy throughout and nicely integrated tannins.
Gorgeous wine with a long road ahead. Drink or hold for 5 years (maybe more).
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2/1/2023 - davidkginn wrote:
Didn’t taste
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12/31/2022 - mpricher wrote: 93 Points
Popped 2 he before Christmas Eve dinner. What a fantastic bottle we truly enjoyed. Loads of Blackberry and umami flavors on secondary. Went terrific with Jeff tenderloin and all the fixings …
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11/14/2022 - JERB Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow! Just wow! After less than spectacular bottles of the 2009 and the 2010 in the past couple of years, my love for Altamura cabernets has been reaffirmed! This wine was so deep, so many vertical layers of flavor! For me, it was not a fruit bomb. It was a study in classical elegance. The wine seemed to say, "Come sit and enjoy. Take your time. Just breathe." So good!
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7/31/2022 - Justinneal654 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Absolutely beautiful. It was the wine of the night in my opinion.
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5/20/2022 - Marshmallowman Likes this wine: 95 Points
deep purple color, sweet blackberry currants, toasted spice, herbs and licorice …. this is just a fantastic yummy wine … I really don’t care what the rating is … I think it id wonderful!
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3/31/2022 - Barry Groveman Likes this wine: 95 Points
Really liked the 2012 ! Well made, smooth, velvety fruit bomb (w/0 the burn from Paso wines)
The wine looks purple colored. It tastes like blackberry, black currant (cassis) and strawberry. The body is full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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2/5/2022 - Marshmallowman Likes this wine: 95 Points
Blackberry currants, spices, aromatic in a fruity way … just yummy!
My wife prefers the 2010, I prefer the 2012.
We only have the 2012 left … do you think she’ll stop drinking the 2012?
HA! 😅
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10/20/2021 - Marshmallowman Likes this wine: 94 Points
I love this wine … my wife does not.
Blackberry currants, spices, aromatic in a fruity way … just yummy!
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5/22/2021 - mpricher wrote: 92 Points
Really good, but had to let it open up! Didn’t think a 2012 would need that, but sure enough after and hour the oak and vanilla faded into some really nice depth of dark chocolate dusted cherry cordial. Love it!
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1/17/2021 - winejnky Likes this wine: 93 Points
Plush, fruity & luscious this is a wonderful Cali Cabernet! Ripe blackberry and boysenberry fruit with a touch of syrupy sweetness and viscosity, finishing with oak vanilla and a ight but persistent tannic presence. Decanted for 2.5 hours.
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12/3/2020 - rm97 wrote: 94 Points
Delicious
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11/24/2020 - EpochMD Likes this wine: 97 Points
Tasted next to the 2010 vintage; This had more poise, grace, and more complexity and felt a bit older than chronologically older 2010. Spectacular if you want to find a wine on the cusp of starting to age - all the things you (I) want - poise, fruit, and finish. Currant, plum, and anise, dried cherry. Really special bottle - probably a bit of an emotional rating, shared with my father on a physically distanced (can we scrap the stupid social distance moniker? We need people and connections now more than ever, just at a 6-10 foot radius . . . and masks of course.) Cheers to all the CT crowd - Happy Thanksgiving.
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10/25/2020 - winecadence Likes this wine: 95 Points
This always is wonderful. Velvety mouthfeel. Chocolate. Stunning wine that I really enjoy.
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10/7/2020 - winejnky Likes this wine: 92 Points
Initially a bit heavy, almost portlike and showing too much alcohol, but after a few hours this calmed down and integrated into the Altamura I know and love. Plush and fruity (cherry) with a luscious mouthfeel and full finish. Excellent just make sure to decant this 2-3 hours ahead, the 1 hour I gave it was not enough.
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8/18/2020 - Eantnay Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP with prime strip steak. Lovely nose of dark berries, rich, and mouth coating with sweet tannin, however some heat on the finish was evident.
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7/29/2020 - dream Does not like this wine: 70 Points
I couldn’t drink it no matter how much I tried to put my prejudices aside. Tastes more like chocolate pudding than wine to me.
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7/18/2020 - MariusA Likes this wine: 94 Points
Altamura is the quintessential Napa Cabernet in my mind. It's a in-your-face fruit bomb and it makes no apologies for it. However, it's got plenty of structure to balance the wine out , which allows it to age surprisingly well. If your preference is finesse (e.g. older Bordeaux) or Pinots with mouth puckering acidity (e.g. Burgundy), this isn't your wine (see note from "dream" for support of this argument).
What's so remarkable about Altamura cabs is the consistency from year to year. I've purchased cases every year of this wine and it delivers every time. My favorite years are '04, '06, '07, '08, and '12.
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7/6/2020 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 93 Points
Silky smooth with everything fully resolved and at peak drinking. Juicy red fruit centric with Swisher Sweet tobacco accenting. Nothing not to like here and 2-3 years remaining.
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4/4/2020 - winejnky Likes this wine: 94 Points
Top notch Cali Cab year after year. Wish it wasn’t so expensive but definitely understand why.
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2/18/2020 - RJF2750 Likes this wine: 97 Points
One of the best wines I have ever consumed. Beautiful fruit forward nose. Candied jam, dark cherries, toffee, baking spices, ultra plush silky tannins. Amazing finish with not at hint of acidity or heat from alcohol. Its in its prime, drink and enjoy!
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1/1/2020 - chiefilliniboy wrote: 88 Points
Rating this 5 points lower than the bottle I drank 9 months ago. Possible I drank too cool to start, but did not really improve. fruit forward.
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12/7/2019 - winecadence Likes this wine: 94 Points
Always one of my favorite producers. Crowed pleaser. Simply decadent. Mocha and black fruit. Silky smooth tannins. Big Napa Cap.
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11/30/2019 - rharl wrote: 93 Points
Starting off with no funk on first taste - will let open in the bottle for 1-2 hours, but this is shaping up to be the wine I love...
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11/4/2019 - mdvillaverde wrote:
Similar notes to prior 2019 tastings. Started out life on day 1 a bit funky. Thought might be a defective bottle. But improved on day 2 and on day 3 OK.
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10/11/2019 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fruit forward, concentrated and delicious...this Cab has rich, creamy blackberry fruit that has a deep purple color. Super smooth tannins with notes of mocha, dark chocolate and lavender. Needs only about 30 minutes to fully show its potential.
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9/22/2019 - winecadence Likes this wine: 94 Points
Same as my prior note. Always one of my favorites. Elegant Napa Cab. Silky tannins. Dark black fruit. Chocolate. Decadent. Sublime.
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9/18/2019 - daniel.jay wrote:
This was a hot mess on opening. Almost no nose whatsoever. Came around to ok after about an hour. Found a few classic Napa cab notes, dark fruits, a touch of carmel/butterscotch, but really didn't come together. No score, possibly flawed.
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9/2/2019 - Don Jose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cherry syrup dominated on opening. Upon breathing for an hour showed dark chocolate and was well-balanced and very smooth.
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7/1/2019 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rich and creamy, with mocha and dark fruit notes...nice minerality on the finish to keep things lively
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5/30/2019 - dlcass wrote: 91 Points
Just opened it, but it has some bottle age already. Some heat, alcohol. Nose of crushed rocks and wet rose. Full mouth feel and finish. But, not drawing great interest thus far.
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4/30/2019 - Justinneal654 Likes this wine: 93 Points
* vanilla on the nose, perhaps a caramel or creme brulee
* Middle palate shuts down pretty hard and I get a nice creaminess but very little fruit
* Cherry is more black cherry
* The finish is tannic and sharp
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4/10/2019 - mdvillaverde Likes this wine: 95 Points
100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 36 months in new French oak. 14.8% ABV.
Let it breathe for 45 minutes and draft over 2 hours. Funk on the nose burns off after a few minutes. Pure, rich fruit, with chewy tannins early that mellow out by hour 2. Dark cherry notes. Cola. What a long finish.
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3/10/2019 - mdvillaverde Likes this wine: 95 Points
This records a Nov 2018 tasting. A pure, rich wine that brings a long finish. Dark cherry notes. A lot of bang for the buck here. Can hold its own with wines twice the price in my cellar.
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2/27/2019 - RayT Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank a while ago. Still one of my favorite hedonistic bottles.
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1/1/2019 - tomoem Likes this wine: 93 Points
NYE 2019. Alongside the following other Cabernet's:
Blackbird Contrarian 15, Rombauer Stags Leap 03', Hewitt Rutherford Estate 12', Jordan Alexander Valley 13', Pott Napa Valley 14', Colgon IX Estate 05', Hundred Acre 06'.
Held its own and tied for the WOTN. I repeat my notes from my last tasting. A fruit forward bomb.
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12/9/2018 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 95 Points
Opened in the bottle for a couple hours. Incredibly smooth and balanced with only some chalky tannins on the far finish. Texturally dense and liqueur driven (raspberry, blackberry, blueberry) with milk chocolate, cassis, oak, and a touch of earth. Has 5 plus years but really in a nice zone.
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12/8/2018 - EpochMD Likes this wine: 95 Points
Always reliable, always excellent, started off with a little mustiness which blew off, revealing dark cherry, cassis, and anise. Had this alongside a Realm Absurd and a Vice Versa Magnificent Seven, the Altamura still stood out as excellent and complex. Solid and balanced, ready to drink.
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9/29/2018 - DMET wrote: 94 Points
deep ruby red, carmel, tobacco, spices and an after taste that is as smooth as silk. Love it! still have 6 left!
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9/17/2018 - Jmf17 Likes this wine: 90 Points
I didn't even know we had it in the house. We were getting ready to go to our house in Florida, and I had packed Bourdeaux and Italians to take down with us. I noticed we had this sitting in a wine rack in the kitchen, of all places. So I grabbed it and brought it along, not expecting much. On our first night on the island, tired from long travel, I decided to open it and save the good stuff for evenings when we were rested. Being down on California , I was not expecting much more than the typical high-end California fruit bomb. I was pleasantly surprised. Nuance! Who would have expected it from a California? Now, don't get me wrong. The nuance has to struggle with the typical California drama. But I appreciated the effort. Still quite tannic after years of mistreatment. The tannins, in fact, assault the nose. Just settling down after almost 5 hours out of the bottle.
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8/21/2018 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cheers. This vintage came across as a very settle and easy drinking bottle. Not much tannins in this, so I think between now and next year its ready. Cheers!
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7/7/2018 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was really good. We had 5 bottles of wine open and this was excellent.
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6/2/2018 - TXRDW wrote: 92 Points
Enjoyable bottle, starting to lose some of its sweetness. Smooth, extracted and more fruit notes than past bottles. Still not completely integrated, but starting to come together nicely.
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5/26/2018 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful wine. No notes. Grade would be higher if there was a bit more complexity however this is really drinking well right now. Very good QPR. Dark fruits with nice viscous mouth feel. Would not think twice about adding a new vintage to the cellar. 93.5
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5/15/2018 - maw246 wrote:
Not rating this yet. This needs more time in bottle - like 5 years. Decanted for several hours. This had almost a sweet taste which mellowed after 4 hours. It’s a good wine balanced and tannins are close to resolved but this hasn’t come together yet.
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4/22/2018 - dstraub wrote: 93 Points
Really good bottle of wine.
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4/17/2018 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely soft and supple cabernet drinking well at present.
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4/7/2018 - galewskj wrote:
Guys Night - Bordeaux vs Napa (Jason's House): At a great tasting, this was the only wine that almost everyone dumped. This wine is too young to drink right now. But if you do choose to bring it to a tasting, DECANT IT. As a pop and pour, it is downright unpleasant to drink. Unscored
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4/4/2018 - rocknroller wrote:
Aged High End Bordeaux Blends (Jason P's, St. Paul, MN): Very dark red/purple color. PNP, which was a huge no-no. I'm sorry, but I can't drink this - not at this point or in this state. It is too young, has a green streak, alcohol showing, big and oaky. This might be something at some point, but you can't see it now - at least not without a day or so of air. NR.
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2/11/2018 - RobbieC Likes this wine:
Fantastic.
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1/20/2018 - VinoViking Likes this wine: 96 Points
Exceptional Cab, drinking well now. Full bodied and dry. Profound dark berries. Smooth and balanced, with distinct Altamura zing.
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11/9/2017 - EpochMD Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is clearly a 93-94, drinking wonderfully, things seem to be integrated at this point, not quite to the point of the 2010, but rich, warm cherry balances out with darker fruits on the palate and the nose. I'm going to hold my last bottle for another couple of years, but honestly, there is no need to wait. Delectable.
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9/30/2017 - RayT Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pretty much agree with Cristal2000's assessment. I have always enjoyed this wine but it definitely bordered on being a bit too rich and fruity. The wine has definitely started to transition. Still a rich purple in color with a nose of cassis, black berry, and dark cherry. The palate is similar but the fruit has tamed quite a bit and started to add complexity. This was WOTN versus a 2012 Darioush and 2012 Robert Foley, although the Foley was close. I am going to wait a year before drinking my next bottle to see where this is headed.
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9/28/2017 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Same score as I had given it previously, but the wine has begun to transition some. While it is still very big and rich, the fruit has subsided a bit and given way to some tertiary characteristics of prunes, leather, mushrooms and earth. You get a big sense of these both on the nose and pallet. To its credit, a wine that had a lot of fruit bomb like characteristics seems to be aging well. Nice structure and good tannic backbone make me think this will continue to age well for a while. It's still very big and gaining complexity.
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9/24/2017 - jonleerhp Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big, bold fruit bomb. A bit heavy on the oak for my personal taste but was well received at a recent dinner
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8/5/2017 - RayT Likes this wine: 94 Points
5th bottle of the night at an after concert gathering at my house. No formal tasting notes but this was definitely wine of the night for me versus 2013 Hewitt, 2009 Cinq Cepage, 2012 Papillon, and 2010 Pahlmeyer Jayson. This is a RICH, fruit forward wine with great mouth feel and texture. I was only able to get a glass and a half and wished after the fact I could have taken my time and appreciated it more. This was a pnp and was really rolling right out of the gate. This is always a guilty pleasure type of wine for me as it borders on the sweet side. Mostly I don't care because it tastes so darn good!
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8/2/2017 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 91 Points
Currants, blackberry and cedar with a dollop of sweetness. Very approachable. Comes off as fully integrated, though I've never had it before.
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7/18/2017 - jpmo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Second bottle of this vintage we've opened, first was probably a year+ ago. This is aging very well; much more balanced and finished now. Nice nose, soft tannins, and long finish. It's in a a very nice spot now and likely will continue to age gracefully for the next few years, and then hold for a quite a few more. And I really like the way the bottle shape fits and maximizes space in my cellar.
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4/17/2017 - marcellevi Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was a gift (nice gift, eh?) but I think I'd consider purchasing. At $100 this is no everyday drinker. It's huge, lush and fruit-forward. Massive Cab fruit - cassis, blackberry - and feather-soft and dusty fine tannins in abundance. It's pure hedonism, impeccably executed.
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3/19/2017 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 94 Points
Blackberry, sage, mocha, cedar and cassis. Long and layered, with so much strut and panache. What a wonderful showcase and a true pleasure to enjoy now. Microfiber tannins. Pure Cabernet fruit. Drink now - 2032.
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3/4/2017 - irishpvh Likes this wine:
Had a cold so not fair to evaluate. Was heavier and more syrupy than I recalled from other times I had it.
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2/16/2017 - UTexaslawyer Does not like this wine: 83 Points
I really did not enjoy this wine. There is a lack of balance or complexity. The fruit forward style of this wine was overshadowing. I found the lack of tannins problematic.
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1/29/2017 - rsed Likes this wine: 92 Points
smooth full very good ,just not so sure about a c note
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1/22/2017 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was a very interesting wine. Had old world all over it. usually the 2012's are very drinkable. If you have this, open this 5+ years from now. I can drink the 12's in 2 days or less......OK...usually 1 day. :) As I drank this, it kept on telling me it was not ready. By day 3, still had tannins. Good wine....but it will be great in the future.
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1/10/2017 - ozziewine Likes this wine:
My notes of 8/14/16 still apply...as does the score (93).
I was right to open my last bottle sooner rather than later. This time I knew what to expect...a Zin in Cab clothing. The result was that I loved it more this time. Score's still the same, but with accurate expectations going in, this was terrific. And the crowd loved it!
Not for those who prefer a more traditional Cab (Old World OR New), but if you like the Cab/Zin hybrid style, it's right up your alley.
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1/2/2017 - Hoppert Likes this wine: 92 Points
Enjoyed another bottle of this vintage last night with great company and great steak. This year continues to impress and after a short decant, it opens up splendidly.
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12/19/2016 - CellarBuzzz wrote: 90 Points
Flawed fruit forward. I thought this wine was not good. Sorry but it is overrated...just sorry.
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12/5/2016 - winecadence Likes this wine: 94 Points
BIG deep red cab. This is a Napa big cab. Fantastic in every way. Layered flavors. Wild berries. Would buy a few of these to hold, but drinkable now.
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12/3/2016 - foballard wrote:
Highly recommended by Specs
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11/11/2016 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good. Has a well balanced fruit, from the beginning to the end.
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10/8/2016 - knlowery Likes this wine: 95 Points
great vintage and great new world cab whether it breaths or not
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9/30/2016 - Otaku Oenophile Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinks like a chocolate milkshake with caramel sauce and red fruit.
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9/2/2016 - RayT Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 2 hours. My second bottle of this wine. Not quite as smooth as my last bottle but this wine was pretty big which was a much different experience from my last bottle which I would have called elegant. Still a very good bottle of wine.
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8/29/2016 - michigan dogs Likes this wine: 91 Points
often I will call a Napa cab "big", not here. Smooth, soft, tasty, I enjoyed it but I can't say it lived up to the hype. Improved with air. It may be closed down for now, will revisit in a couple years.
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8/27/2016 - csimm wrote: 93 Points
Served at La Toque restaurant, Napa.
Essentially the same as my previous notes, except I felt this lost a little drive toward the end of the meal. A 2012 Bevan Petaluma Gap Pinot actually bested this in my opinion. The Altamura was very nice, but a little one-note at the end.
My last bottle. Hopefully 2013 will meet or exceed this 2012 vintage for the Altamura. Decent stuff though! Drink sooner than later if you want to savor some of its intensity. The wine was decanted at the restaurant; it didn't need it. I would stick with a PnP on this wine.
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8/14/2016 - ozziewine Likes this wine: 93 Points
So glad to have Cellartracker available. Thanks to CT folks who suggested drinking this now as it compelled me to dive in.
Definitely a drink now (or over the next two years) wine as the lush, fruit-forward, nature of this indicates it might not improve over the long haul. That's a bit unusual for a mid-high level California Cabernet...but this is my first experience with Altamura so perhaps it's their style.
This is almost Zin-like with an ultra-plush mouthfeel and a dark fruit essence that is reminiscent of big Zins. Syrupy comes to mind. Not recommended for those who don't like this syrupy style.
All in all, very enjoyable and definitely ready to go...I'll be drinking my remaining bottle within the next year or two. I'm concerned that it could turn port-like if I wait longer.
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8/5/2016 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Another strong showing with this wine. Drinking well now, without the sweetness that had appeared previously. Nice round, dark fruit and dark chocolate flavors at the forefront.
Served at a restaurant with no decant. Showed up a 2013 L'Aventure Optimus served alongside it. Drink now and over the next few years.
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7/3/2016 - tomoem Likes this wine: 95 Points
A simply great Cabernet with fruit forward notes of blackberry, cassis and cigar box on the finish. Yes it is a mouth full of fruit, and yes it may be at its peak now given the lack of tannin structure but boy is this simply prime to go. Drink now.
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7/1/2016 - yasha Likes this wine: 95 Points
great wine love it
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6/4/2016 - RobbieC Likes this wine:
Poured through aerator and sat for three hours in decanter. Wonderful nose. Dark. Very young but wanted to try. Needs more time for sure. Fine tannins that are ok now if you'e ready for that or if paired with food to balance (grilled ribeye). Loads of fruit shows now and it's well balanced for being so young. Just needs some time to mellow. Fantastic wine! Even so young it's fun. Score in 94-96 range.
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5/18/2016 - RayT Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark purple in color. Good nose but even better drinking. Did not find this to be a fruit bomb. Lush fruit but balanced and a long finish. Decanted for 2 hours. Not cheap but a great bottle of wine that is worth the money.
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4/24/2016 - newkid17 wrote:
Very dark purple in color. Not much on the nose. Taste was burnt toast and dark fruits. Not sure if this bottle was a little off, based upon other reviews.
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4/19/2016 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A gorgeous, dark and lush cabernet. Silky and hedonistic, it is very typical of the 2012 vintage. It has some sweet and overly fruity qualities, but definitely doesn't go over the top. The mouthfeel is excellent, and there is some tannic backbone in there to indicate it can age for a while. Not the most structured or complex wine out there, but it's a very nice drink. Something you can open now and enjoy.
Day2: 24hrs later this is better, indicative of a well made wine. I'd up the score to 93-94.
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4/15/2016 - tomoem Likes this wine: 95 Points
Had at men's opening golf dinner at CBCC. Simply put this is a modern Napa Cab fruit bomb. Can't imagine age will benefit this any more than now. Overpowering aroma's of ripe blackberry which were almost closer to blackberry preserves. The wine was silky smooth with a Velvety mouth feel.
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4/5/2016 - wineotim wrote: 92 Points
Similar to my first bottle. This is yet another '12 Napa bottling that is pop n pour ready, this is ripe, forward, one dimensional and velvety smooth...but where is the structure? Where is the huge depth as in other vintages?
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3/18/2016 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Napa / Sonoma Day Trip: Tasted at winery.
~4,000 cases made.
PnP -- This is dark, young, and tight; yet shows so much already. From vines at 800-1000 feet elevation over Napa valley floor, this has gobs of flavor yet a fairly silky structure. The finish goes on and on.
Well done, and I look forward to see how this one ages -- I expect a long life ahead!
Me - 93, Wife - 94
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2/20/2016 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Same as my previous CT notes. A bit sweet initially, but with some air time, it came together quite nicely. Rich and truly a guilty pleasure, but a wine I keep coming back to. Doesn't offer the epic layered complexity of the handful of upper echelon Cabernets from 2012, but certainly worthy of a solid 94 points. No more, no less.
Drink now with a short decant.
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2/19/2016 - bosoxbw wrote: 90 Points
Francophile1 is spot on. Glad I have another bottle so j can revisit in 2020. Hold.
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2/18/2016 - Hoppert Likes this wine: 92 Points
2/18/2016: I put this is the Caymus category, but a little more cab and a little less fruit. It has a jammy quality and is still young and needs a decant.
6/10/2016: I've had a few more bottles of this by now and each time I like it more. It opens up nicely with a decant and pairs well with Italian food to steak.
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2/14/2016 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
I gave this wine 90 points for where it is today not for where it will be tomorrow. This reminds me of the first time I tasted the 1997 Beringer Private Reserve when it was still a pup in the early 2000's. 100% Cabernet goodness, but still very primary and young. Crème de cassis coats the palate with deep brooding black cherry with a candied coating. The alcohol on the finish combined with youthful tannins suggest this needs time to integrate and mellow out. At this current stage, one might even draw a parallel to a Ludens cough drop, which I used to love as a kid. However, I don't prefer it in my glass of wine today. I think this wine could warrant a much higher score given at least 5 more years in the bottle. The only concern is the presence of higher alcohol on the finish... only time will tell.
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2/1/2016 - winopops3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Essentially a pop and pour. This bottle was very typical of the Altamura style for me. Walked the line between dark fruited, plush and rich vs hot and totally over the top. This was a really nice drink if you are looking for a big Napa cab with soft tannins but extremely well balanced. Drinks great now.
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1/27/2016 - MV2007 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 3 hours and followed over another 2 hours. My experience was consistent with Kemorr's note below. Poured the rest back in bottle.
Day 2: Balance had improved a little. Nice wine. I tend to enjoy these wines most when they are young and after a good decant.
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1/23/2016 - kemorr Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark purple color, medium legs. Initially was a bit of a fruit bomb with overpowering jammy black/blue fruits and medium short finish that was quite dry. My initial impression was that i might be disappointed. But... After about 2-3 hours the fruit softened and receded a bit and became more integrated, there was more of a velvety mouth feel with soft blue/black fruit that was definitely not so jammy and with some faint dark cocoa and the finish became much longer. I think that this needs a good decant or some time in the cellar for optimal enjoyment, 5 hrs after opening was still getting better yet
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1/13/2016 - wineotim wrote: 92 Points
This did not show as well as I anticipated. Drank this in succession with a '10 Dunn Howell Mountain...maybe that's why. This lacked complexity and grip, seemed too sweet, ripe, and short. I expected this to compete with Caymus Special Selection, but it doesn't. Don't think I will be buying anymore bottles. I don't see the hype on this one, the '07 was great.
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1/7/2016 - WineMedic Likes this wine: 95 Points
Clear, purple color. Clean, pronouced nose of baking spices, yeasty, raw biscuits. Dry, medium plus acidity, truly smooth, easy tannins. Dark cherries in high concentration rules the palate, making it delicious in every aspect. Figs, chocolate, blackberries are present too. Not too much oak, enough to support bold structure. Medium plus finish of chocolate and espresso. Very good and highly recommended.
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12/26/2015 - TJ1967 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Super balanced with silky tannins, has a juicy supple feel while on the palate, but after swallowing the palate drys and finishes quickly. maybe a bit of age will improve the finish a bit. Drinking very nice for a wine its age!
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12/20/2015 - csimm wrote: 95 Points
Consumed with friends (otherwise I had planned on waiting until later in 2016 before reassessing this wine). Definitely glad I opened this bottle, as it has improved quite a bit. Similar to my prior CT notes except I moved this up from 94 to a solid 95+.
PnP with even more of a chocolatey, black fruit profile than when I last tasted this in October; additional notes of rich, ripe plum, deep red and black currant, blackberry liqueur, black licorice, sweet vanilla bean, cacao, espresso, and asphalt.
As previously mentioned, I sometimes worry about a young wine like this delivering such an immediacy of up-front fruit flavors, and whether or not it has the structure and/or acid to go the distance. Only time will tell.
Quite frankly, for now, I unabashedly say "Who gives a flyin' f*** about aging?!" Drink this bad boy now and enjoy a great bottle of wine for Pete's sake (whoever the hell Pete is or was)! This is ready to drink now, and will deliver wonderfully hedonistic returns over at least the next handful of years.
95+?!? ...depending on its ability to maintain this momentum for any length of time. To quote Blade Runner, "The light that burns twice as bright, burns half as long... And you have burned so very, very brightly..." Well, this is at least showing very brightly now, so seize the moment with this wine. Enjoy with confidence through 2017+.
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12/5/2015 - tomoem wrote: 95 Points
Had at CBCC along with opus one Overture. This was the better of the two. Big, Bold, Black-purple color. Very good fruit forward modern Cabernet. I don't know if this will get much better than right now.
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11/15/2015 - Curlyrat Likes this wine: 96 Points
Phenomenal wine. So easy to drink. Each sip is like "wow"
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10/23/2015 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Pnp with a muted nose. On the palate were notes of rich plum, deep red currant, blackberry liqueur, and some chocolate. After about an hour in the decanter, this wine opened up a little bit more, with deeper tones of cacao and black licorice, with a slight tinge of red berry fruit.
At first, I feared this would be a bit plumy and prune-like, but a nice cut of alcohol moved it away from being muddled or jammy. A rich, Caymus-like extraction, except with more precision than a Caymus.
Good now, after a decent decant, and will hopefully come even more together in the coming years. Like with some of the Napa reds in 2007, there is always the fear that time will not treat these types of rich, overtly fruited 2012 Cabernets well. However, this wine seems to have a solid structure (though a seemingly lower acidic spine) to carry it through a number of years of positive integration. Regardless, it was a very pleasant Cabernet that I wanted more of with each sip. A hedonistic style to be sure.
I will reassess in late 2016. 94 for now
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10/10/2015 - Thepattees Likes this wine: 95 Points
Spectacular, even at a young age.
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10/2/2015 - littlefoot wrote: 93 Points
Thick. Almost too thick- and I like fruitbombs. Next to the '11 Blankiet really lacked precision but it's also about 1/3 the bottle price. Back to specifics, however, there's plenty of black fruits and sweet spices, plenty of mocha and lots of alcohol.
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10/1/2015 - PerfectVintage Likes this wine: 95 Points
One of the best made Altamura Cabs. Filled with blueberry, blackberry & black currants accented with dusty notes of cocoa. This is jammed pack without being jammy. Supple and youthful on first sip, the mid palate blossoms leading to a robust, silky, and even more delightful finish. Should age well for those with patience but it is immediately enjoyable.
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8/22/2015 - raypedia Likes this wine: 95 Points
Huge sweet black fruit aromas, dense and full bodied. Rich and fruit forward on the palate with black cherries, cassis and black plums, subtle oak, though a bright acidity that keeps it well away from "fruit bomb" territory Hearty but not overwhelming tannins that are knitting together but will let this hold in cellar for 10-15 years. But you should not wait that long.
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