Wine Night in Charlotte -- Cork Vault Bottle Share Returns! (Charlotte, NC): decanted 60 -90 minutes before sampling. A near mirror image of my notes from exactly 2 months prior if somewhat less expressive on this evening: “woodsy, earthy, musty red cherry nose; soft minerality on the mouthfeel, earthy, lively strawberries and blackberries reveal the best of new world fruit crafted in an Old World style. Medium+ body the wine has plenty of structure and richness that flowed into a deliciously savory finish.” Classic Napa Cabernet showing extremely well this evening.
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Aged Napa versus Aged Bordeaux at Cork Vault (Charlotte, NC): Decanted one hour prior to sampling. Interesting contrast to a ‘93 Cask 23 tasted six months prior. The earlier wine broke-up on the decant and needed at least 90 minutes to come around which it did wonderfully. Tonight the wine was in great form right out of the gate and only grew in stature with time. Stylistically this is the Napa Valley I fell in love with -- woodsy, earthy, musty red cherry nose; soft minerality on the mouthfeel, earthy, lively strawberries and blackberries reveal the best of new world fruit crafted in an Old World style. Medium+ body the wine has plenty of structure and richness that flowed into a deliciously savory finish. A wine not to be rushed but enjoyed over time. It should have been poured next to the ‘89 Beychevelle on this night.
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Thought it had passed its time when opening, and had a glass with lunch. Nice perfume, secondary characteristics, but disjointed. Let it breath in the bottle for six hours, and it evolved into something delicious. Paired beautifully with beef shank.
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PNP. Cork wet to top. Color garnet with some bricking. Nose mostly secondary. Same on palate. Fruit came out with dinner (standing rib roast) but alone this seemed a bit tart and tannic. Not sure that this will improve with more time! but seems that it will hold for awhile. Two bottles were consistent
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Cask 23 Vertical Tasting (Switzerland): Tasted blind: Garnet with some brick color at the edges. Very much a leather dominated nose that reminds of a St. Julien. The wine shows dark and red berries and is a nice drinking wine. But comparing this one to the other wonderful Cask 23 it just has less blance, dryer tannins, more acidity and less power. Soo kind of a Diet Cask 23. Still a great effort for the difficult 1993 vintage. Drink now - 2020.
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Clear dark garnet-blood red. Allowed to breathe in glass 30 minutes before tasting. Elegant Old-World bouquet of creme de cassis, blackberries, cherries, tobacco, scorched earth, river rocks, meat juice, with hints of leather and eucalyptus. Similar on the palate, medium-full bodied, with velvety mouthcoating tannins and persistent finish. Reminds me of La Mission Haut Brion. Improved with air -- better on the second night under vacuum stopper.
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3 points up on my last notes... why, because I treated the wine correctly, decanting it for about 2 1/2 hours before drinking. It still has plenty of legs, but just superb right now, what I missed last time was teh depth of the wine and the length. It just stays there. Not 1 minute but 3 or 4 minutes of sheer pleasure after the mouthful has slipped down your throught. The tanins by this stage have integrated perfectly with the fruits and they are still there in all their glory. Blackcrrant being the most predominant with a hint of smoke that gives it a fantastic feel. TYhe colour is bricking, but it is not at all refelcted in the wine. 7 bottles to go and to treasure.
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Nervous start as top of cork crumbled so ended up having to strain cork bits out of bottle (along with tons of sediment). Let sit for 90-minutes then decanted at restaurant for another 30 minutes. Wonderful wine, smooth and fruity. Paired well with both duck breast and rabbit loin.
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Very flat even a little backward on opening, with the fruit not showing for at least an hour. Despite the age it needs a good decant to get the best. Once open, those beautiful black Napa fruits come through. And this is a Napa Red, not built in the style of any other "country". refective of region, climate and terrior. Will be great with a steak or a stew.
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4 participants- all were told to bring Cabernet in the $50-100 range. Tastings were blind, served by a waitress who did a superb job of keeping us fully in the dark.
Fisher Coach Insignia 1996- Nose a bit muted, hints of eucalyptus and graphite. Fairly light color, hollow middle with a night, but tight finish. Fruit is absent. Really built with time. Rating: 86
Stags Leap Cask 23- 1993- Blueberry on the nose. Nice velvet body with a big, evolving finish. We started with this wine too cool- much better when it warmed up. Rating: 92
O’Shaughnessy- Howell Mountain- 2004- A bouquet of pepper, cherry & cinnamon. Very dark color. A big, “wow” wine. Rating: 94- Wine of the night
Far Niente- 1999- Black cherry on the bouquet. Big, tart finish. Rating: 90
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First nose reminds me of classy top vintage bordeaux. Fruits are at its optimum along with great complexity. Mineral black and blue berries scent with woods, cigar box, little dry leaves, light vanilla. This opulent wine is one strong wine with long finish still have a long life ahead of it. What an eye opening wine.
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I liked the licorice, sweet anise, and ripe black fruit, but it carries too much oak for my taste. Still, one of the best young California cabs I’ve had in a while
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2/25/2023 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quite classic with red cherry, earth, tobacco and wood. Balanced and linear palate with moderate fruit. Enjoyable. 91-92
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6/10/2021 - kevinpatrick Likes this wine:
Wine Night in Charlotte -- Cork Vault Bottle Share Returns! (Charlotte, NC): decanted 60 -90 minutes before sampling. A near mirror image of my notes from exactly 2 months prior if somewhat less expressive on this evening: “woodsy, earthy, musty red cherry nose; soft minerality on the mouthfeel, earthy, lively strawberries and blackberries reveal the best of new world fruit crafted in an Old World style. Medium+ body the wine has plenty of structure and richness that flowed into a deliciously savory finish.” Classic Napa Cabernet showing extremely well this evening.
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4/10/2021 - kevinpatrick Likes this wine: 95 Points
Aged Napa versus Aged Bordeaux at Cork Vault (Charlotte, NC): Decanted one hour prior to sampling. Interesting contrast to a ‘93 Cask 23 tasted six months prior. The earlier wine broke-up on the decant and needed at least 90 minutes to come around which it did wonderfully. Tonight the wine was in great form right out of the gate and only grew in stature with time. Stylistically this is the Napa Valley I fell in love with -- woodsy, earthy, musty red cherry nose; soft minerality on the mouthfeel, earthy, lively strawberries and blackberries reveal the best of new world fruit crafted in an Old World style. Medium+ body the wine has plenty of structure and richness that flowed into a deliciously savory finish. A wine not to be rushed but enjoyed over time. It should have been poured next to the ‘89 Beychevelle on this night.
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4/9/2020 - Luckey Likes this wine: 94 Points
Thought it had passed its time when opening, and had a glass with lunch. Nice perfume, secondary characteristics, but disjointed. Let it breath in the bottle for six hours, and it evolved into something delicious. Paired beautifully with beef shank.
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5/18/2019 - mbo1 wrote: 89 Points
Past its peak. Still has some of the dark fruit. Quite a bit of spice. Not bad, but a little disappointing given the pedigree of this wine. 89-90.
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11/30/2013 - chcook Likes this wine:
PNP. Cork wet to top. Color garnet with some bricking. Nose mostly secondary. Same on palate. Fruit came out with dinner (standing rib roast) but alone this seemed a bit tart and tannic. Not sure that this will improve with more time! but seems that it will hold for awhile. Two bottles were consistent
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9/23/2013 - Mike Toast Likes this wine: 93 Points
excellent mature cab. cinnamon, nutmeg, dark red fruits. they don't make em like they used too.
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9/14/2013 - Wine_lvr wrote: 92 Points
Cask 23 Vertical Tasting (Switzerland): Tasted blind: Garnet with some brick color at the edges. Very much a leather dominated nose that reminds of a St. Julien. The wine shows dark and red berries and is a nice drinking wine. But comparing this one to the other wonderful Cask 23 it just has less blance, dryer tannins, more acidity and less power. Soo kind of a Diet Cask 23. Still a great effort for the difficult 1993 vintage. Drink now - 2020.
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12/31/2012 - invein Likes this wine: 94 Points
Smooth as silk with well balanced fruit and notes of leather and cassis. Absolutely still in it's prime.
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5/17/2012 - Javachip wrote: 91 Points
Clear dark garnet-blood red. Allowed to breathe in glass 30 minutes before tasting. Elegant Old-World bouquet of creme de cassis, blackberries, cherries, tobacco, scorched earth, river rocks, meat juice, with hints of leather and eucalyptus. Similar on the palate, medium-full bodied, with velvety mouthcoating tannins and persistent finish. Reminds me of La Mission Haut Brion. Improved with air -- better on the second night under vacuum stopper.
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8/5/2011 - M5 wrote:
3. Excellent..
My rating system...
1. Nope
2. Good
3. Excellent
4. Special Occasion
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5/8/2011 - unrelenting wrote: 93 Points
a few years past peak maturity
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4/9/2011 - pekingunther wrote: 93 Points
3 points up on my last notes... why, because I treated the wine correctly, decanting it for about 2 1/2 hours before drinking. It still has plenty of legs, but just superb right now, what I missed last time was teh depth of the wine and the length. It just stays there. Not 1 minute but 3 or 4 minutes of sheer pleasure after the mouthful has slipped down your throught. The tanins by this stage have integrated perfectly with the fruits and they are still there in all their glory. Blackcrrant being the most predominant with a hint of smoke that gives it a fantastic feel. TYhe colour is bricking, but it is not at all refelcted in the wine. 7 bottles to go and to treasure.
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3/5/2011 - ilovesacha wrote: 93 Points
Nervous start as top of cork crumbled so ended up having to strain cork bits out of bottle (along with tons of sediment). Let sit for 90-minutes then decanted at restaurant for another 30 minutes. Wonderful wine, smooth and fruity. Paired well with both duck breast and rabbit loin.
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12/13/2010 - pekingunther wrote: 90 Points
Very flat even a little backward on opening, with the fruit not showing for at least an hour. Despite the age it needs a good decant to get the best. Once open, those beautiful black Napa fruits come through. And this is a Napa Red, not built in the style of any other "country". refective of region, climate and terrior. Will be great with a steak or a stew.
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10/30/2010 - mraabpfg wrote: 95 Points
Awesome - super smooth with a great finish
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3/18/2010 - rpenn77 wrote: 92 Points
Rusty brick red color. Mature cabernet. Probably drank it at the right time. Was probably only going to go downhill from here.
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12/11/2009 - wineislife wrote: 92 Points
Cabernet Tasting @ Wayzata Eatery:
4 participants- all were told to bring Cabernet in the $50-100 range. Tastings were blind, served by a waitress who did a superb job of keeping us fully in the dark.
Fisher Coach Insignia 1996- Nose a bit muted, hints of eucalyptus and graphite. Fairly light color, hollow middle with a night, but tight finish. Fruit is absent. Really built with time. Rating: 86
Stags Leap Cask 23- 1993- Blueberry on the nose. Nice velvet body with a big, evolving finish. We started with this wine too cool- much better when it warmed up. Rating: 92
O’Shaughnessy- Howell Mountain- 2004- A bouquet of pepper, cherry & cinnamon. Very dark color. A big, “wow” wine. Rating: 94- Wine of the night
Far Niente- 1999- Black cherry on the bouquet. Big, tart finish. Rating: 90
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2/18/2009 - rpenn77 wrote: 91 Points
Rusty red color, mature cedar nose. This wine has reached its peak in my opinion. Drink it up, friends.
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11/22/2008 - loverboy wrote: 93 Points
First nose reminds me of classy top vintage bordeaux. Fruits are at its optimum along with great complexity. Mineral black and blue berries scent with woods, cigar box, little dry leaves, light vanilla. This opulent wine is one strong wine with long finish still have a long life ahead of it. What an eye opening wine.
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7/3/2008 - RickyB wrote: 96 Points
Wonderful wine with loads of fruit and tha 15year Cab smothness, could go a few more years.
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4/27/2005 - BradA wrote: 92 Points
The opening wine:
Slight browning on rim, smooth mellowed: drink now. Lovely accompanement to the cheese!
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6/19/1999 - MikeATL wrote:
I liked the licorice, sweet anise, and ripe black fruit, but it carries too much oak for my taste. Still, one of the best young California cabs I’ve had in a while
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