Classic old-school napa cab. A whiff of barnyard on the nose, with leather, library books, and an abundance of leathery fruit - dried fig, blackberry, and black cherry. A hint of mintiness. Good acid and well balanced, nothing over the top. A solid if slightly foursquare wine. I expected a bit more, not sure if it's the vintage (2004 Martha's was also a bit stodgy), or if it just needs more time.
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This wine is just entering a nice secondary phase. Still a lot of primary fruit, with blackberries and blueberries, but it’s developing very nice spicy earthy tertiary flavors. This wine will age gracefully for another 10 years.
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Of the several bottles I have tasted from this vintage since 2015, this is the best showing. Benefited from two hours of decanting and had plenty of energy still. Delightful mature, tertiary notes with layers of evolving and complex flavors that ranged from blackberry to clay to indian spices.
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Dark but not inky red, with a clear edge. Great nose of cedar, blueberry and violets. Medium to full bodied, with an initial explosion of plums and black cherries, baking spices, fully integrated dusty tannins, good acid, and a long, soft, slightly sweet finish. Definitely worth the wait.
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Purchased at the winery on release, this wine still tastes youthful, with plenty of primary fruit and noticeable tannic structure. Still rather one-dimensional in its appeal, this wine may yet improve and develop more secondary characteristics.
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Opened on 2/23/2019 ("that" bottle for OTBN 2019). Decanted for 2 hours. Light on the nose. Fading fruit, but still very nice. Tannins all but non-existent. This is ready to drink now. Not as big as more recent vintages of Corison.
Paired nicely with a ribeye roast.
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Decanted 30 minutes, but needed at least a couple hours as the wine is now finally opening up. Tobacco, cloves, faint red fruits aromas greet the nose. Overall, the aromatics are not particularly strong. The taste is bright Bing cherry fruit with a distinct dustiness moving into cranberry and raspberry mid-palette where tobacco and more earthiness come into play on the finish. Good stuff, not quite as good as I was expecting though. Seems to be at peak or very close to it. Drink now-2021.
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Disappointing to be honest. It did get better with air, but was weak and lacked depth. I had high expectations, but this wasn't terrible. Middle of the road, but Corison is way better than that!
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It won the battle of 2004 Napa Cabs by beating out Rubissow. Classic Corison Cab! Bottle was open for an hour for air. Had that distinct, fruit forward flavor. Refined yet deep. I could easily pick this out from a blind tasting as it is so unique. Great juice!!
Happy 5 Month Birthday Drew & Emma!!
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This tasting note from Amy: "On the nose old timbers, resin, blackberry. Wonderfully balanced, a real mouthful, chewy, aromatic at the back, a hearth kind of wine. Makes you think of a 17th century blackened fireplace. Very distinctive. 97-98"
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Kaleidoscopic nose of chocolate, spice, intense dark berry, cedar. On the palate a sweet concentration of pure clear fruit, tannins firm but integrating, bright acid. Extraordinary power and balance.
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Amy's Semicentennial Birthday "Season"; 7/21/2017-7/23/2017 (La Jolla, California): Still flaunting a youthful opaque ruby/red robe, this richly flavored Cabernet is firing on all cylinders. Aromas and flavors of dark bramble fruits, black cherries, baking spices and pipe tobacco reside in a full-bodied frame. With medium acidity, nicely integrated alcohol (13.6%) and ample sweet tannins, it stays dense in the middle and is long on the back end. This will easily be a 20-year wine. Drink now-2024.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Bottle may have been a little off. Texturally it was overly grainy and the palate a bit harsh. Still some classic Napa notes of mature yet sweet red fruit, cedar, tobacco, and wet soil. Has 15 or more years left.
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Bordeaux in the Black Hills Inaugural Blind Tasting Event (Our Home): #4. Served double-blind in Riedel Vinum XL Cabernet glass. Dark crimson robe. Nose of dark cherry, plum, and mulberry. Excellent intensity and concentration. Good acidity with a long, satisfying finish. Re-tasted versus #2 and came up short 92. My #2, Group #1
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Lots of black and blue fruit on the nose compared to '05 & '06.
Hey, this is in a real sweet spot. Must have been a great vintage for her - has suburb structure still, lively, with all the fruit. Has a lovely dark fruit component and as Kenny notes the '04 is totally fresh still.
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Even after 2.5 hours of decanting tasted younger than the 2006 vintage tasted the previous day. Full of life, (well integrated) tannins, and acidity for many additional years of cellaring. With decanting, the wine is accessible and very much enjoyable now. Distinct cedar notes on the palate, with deep blue and black fruit and pencil shavings. Relatively ripe, but at 13.6% alcohol remains well balanced and a pleasure to drink.
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Tasted blind and guessed Napa Cabernet. A classy showing with a nice nose of cedar and cool berry fruit. On the palate the wine is mature with nice balance and notes of cigar box. A terrific Corison.
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Tacking on a couple more points from my last bottle. This is a great expression of Cabernet with rich blackberry, camphor and pencil shavings. Richly layered and textured with a smooth balanced finish. Drink now-2030.
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Ready now. Decanted for 1 hour. Perfect balance between fruit and earth tones. Medium finish with some just the right amount of acid. Really a great food wine. Had with steak and was spot on.
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Cathy Corison's wines at Arlequin (Arlequin SF): A tough year - half the crop of ’05. Light acetaldehyde on the nose. Mushroom tones. Slightly stewed fruit with faint sweet stewed bellpeppers. On the palate, classic Corison: Medium body, medium alcohol [also 13.6%], excellent midpalate aromatics with sweet tobacco tertiary character, a hint of Brett spice, and light tones fresh wood (smells like smooth, fine-grained freshly-sanded wood to me) [French oak, 50% new]. Elevated acid and plush moderate-intensity tannins. Long finish. Score: Between 9 and 9.5 $125
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Had with lamb. We like Corison because the wine goes well with food (no overpowering fruit or to much alcohol). This bottle had enough tannin to go a few more years, but it was excellent today. We put the wine in a decanter for about an hour, I would suggest another hour as it definitely opened up more as time went on.
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PNP through a Vinturi. Restrained aromatics of Blackberry jam and currants. Ripe juicy fruit for a Napa Cab made in the classical style. Has a talcum, mineral vein that pushes through to the dusty benchland finish. Drink through 2025+
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Drinking extremely well right now. Dark and rich. Balanced with beautiful blueberry, raspberry, leather and tobacco notes. Languid finish. Cathy Corison knows her stuff!
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Opaque ruby/red and intensely aromatic, this 10-year-old Napa Cabernet offers black fruit, cocoa, spice box and tobacco on the nose. Full-bodied, fresh and fleshy on the palate, it struts ample sweet tannins and beautifully integrated alcohol (listed as 13.6%). The flavors are in line with the nose and the finish is very long. Confirmatory of my 10/1/13 tasting, this is one which should hold up well for several more years. Drink now-2023.
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Riper and darker fruited than the brilliant 05, this is not quite as refined and doesn't have as much of the leafy quality thaI like so much in Corison cabs. Broad and relatively open for business, drink over the next 10 years.
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Nose of iron and earth; ruby with egg white edge; initially austere with light fruit of mainly blueberry; later developed into more structure with blackberry; good length; needs time.
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Napa Valley Wine and Food Excursion 2013; 9/30/2013-10/5/2013 (Napa Valley, California): Supple, rich and complex, this Cabernet displays elegance from start to finish. Opaque ruby in color, it follows with an intense nose of bramble fruits, cardamom, cocoa, black pepper and pipe tobacco. The wine is full-bodied and fleshy on the palate, with medium acidity, generous supple tannins and well-integrated alcohol (13.6%). The flavors mirror the nose and are nicely layered throughout the middle palate and lengthy finish. Extremely enjoyable now, this is a structured wine which should hold up well for another decade (or more). Drink now-2023.
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Beautiful wine. This is near perfect, with a nice bouquet and smooth mouthfeel. Fruit was well balanced and not over the top. Typical classy Corison wine, drinking in its prime, but has several years ahead of it. If you're holding this, suggest opening a bottle. Decanted and consumed at Manny's steakhouse. EXCELLENT.
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Popped and poured at Mustard's Grill in Napa. Rich, deep and open for business even without a decant. Definitely in the drinking window -- very excited to see if it can improve from here.
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Napa Valley winery visits April 26: Aromas of anise, black fruit, peppercorn, roasted coffee, tobacco and earth- complex and drifting aromas. Dark fruit and espresso on the palate with mineral and lavender notes. Big round supple tannins, finshing full with cocoa and spice. Bold and elegant. Excellent. 93+
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This was my first foray into Corison wines. I was looking for a restrained and traditional Cabernet, from an established winery, and reasonably priced. After researching, I ordered a 2004-2006 vertical of their cabernet, which was nicely packaged and promptly delivered last week.
Upon opening the bottle, and decanting, I could immediately pick up very complex aromas of dark fruit and spice. The nose on the wine was much better than the typical cabs I've had. Upon drinking, the wine tasted of warm berries, plums, and a spiciness to it, which was nice. There were very fine tannins on the back end of this wine, which suggested to me this could go another several years, but was extremely enjoyable now.
This wine, in my opinion, is as close to a traditional and wonderful Napa cabernet sauvignon as I could hope to find. We thoroughly enjoyed it - Corison has made us a fan. Enjoy now or cellar 3+ years. EXCELLENT.
Lots of cassis and black/ blue fruit that's not overly sweet. There's a fair amount of chocolate and osk spice but also some gravelly/ earthy flavors. The fruit is unmistakably napa but it's well balanced and not plush. The oak is well integrated texturally gives the wine a creamy feel. Tannins are fine grained but substantial and this is better with beef than alone. Drinking well in its adolescence but no rush here I think.
Don't have good notes on this. But lightweight, elegant with a good amount of vibrance and acidity left. Outstanding food wine for a California Cab, but also in balance enough that one can drink it on its own. No need to wait on this -should drink now. But there's no rush - definitely at least a year or two left for this wine.
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So good. So much of what I love about Corison. Pure, delicious, dark Napa fruit with a little vanilla and touch of spiciness on finish. Not overdone or overbearing. Elegant. Excellent with food or by itself. The kind of wine you could drink and enjoy throughout an entire evening.
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Tasted at the winery. Big aromas of cassis, plum, blueberry, vanilla, cedar and olive. Black currant and cassis on the palate with rocky mineral and blue floral accents. Just traces of oak. Elegant feel and weight. Fine/firm tannin and a full finish filled with floral fruit and dried herb notes. Excellent.
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Loved the style here - ample dark fruit but very much in balance with the other elements. Enjoyed the first glass on its own, and the rest with grilled steak tips. Perfect food companion...wish I had a few more.
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Dark red in color with smells of dark fruit and some chocolate. Elegant tastes of dark red cherries and plums with some chocolate notes. Silky with a looong finish. Love Corison wines.
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Decanted about an hour. Classic Corison, certainly still on the young side with gripping tannins. Classic Cali cab profile with some dustiness to it. Opened with some air but appears to have a long life ahead of it.
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Decanted for 3 hours. Medium to dark ruby color. Cassis, licorice, dried herbs, blackberries, and hints of leather and tobacco on the nose. Medium body with ripe tannins that linger very nicely and good acidity. Not an over the top style of cab that is becoming the norm. Very worthy as a dinner companion. Very nice and refined on the palate with loads of flavor. Long finish with just the perfect amount of spicy oak to add complexity. Perfect tannins and acidity to cut through the richness of a medium rare roast beef. Wish this was a magnum, I want another glass.
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Classic Corison with lush Cabernet fruit flavors and a long finish. Very subtle wine that excelled with our steaks. Smooth and easy to drink yet has an endless amount of secondary notes that just go on and on. Powerful nose with dark cherries and red raspberries and some light floral notes. For a wine with a great reputation for aging, there is no wall of tannins or need to long decant, this was great from the beginning, popped and poured.
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Corison is always a great wine, well made and elegant. Enjoyed over two days and the wine was better on the second day. Lots of aromas and tastes of red fruit , licorice and soft tannins.
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what a delicious, smooth, well made, not too alcoholic, wine. It neede donly about 10 minutes in decanter to open up and smooth out. Unfortunately there was only one bottle at my store and no one else I have called (in three states) has any. robert parker's scores in high 80's confirm my growing negative opinion of his usefulness in judging wine I will like. or rather they confirm that i like wines best that he scores below 90.
well we certainly enjoyed it again tonight (11-24-2010) for a wine not ready to drink. I approve drinking it whenever you like.
But give it a little air. It keeps getting better.....
FYI: These are available from the winery. I ordered the "NY Times seminar" package, one 2000, two 2004's and a 2005. We'll see how they compare.
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This was a beautiful and elegant wine. The wine had a deep red color and a nose of red and dark red fruit. The wine had great body and structure. On tasting it had dark plum, blackberries, licorice and spice. It had a good acidity and some grittiness with a long finish. Corison never disappoints, I am happy to have more.
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Ruby red with a nice light ruby rim. Cassis, licorice, and blackberries on the nose with hints of chocolate, cherries, and dried herbs. Medium body with nice, ripe tannins and very good acidity. Not your usual "over the top" Napa cab, this is a nice, civilized, food friendly offering with generous fruit and just enough spicy oak on the finish to add complexity. This is real nice and I'll wait till the end of summer to sample another.
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Wonderful old school wine. Remarkable for an 04 Cali Cab, all of the previous ones we have tried are SO fruit-forward, where this is so restrained and terrific with food. My first Corison, but certainly not my last!
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Responding to Ben's question about the relative "weights" of the Corison Cabernet and the Corison Kronos Vineyard Cabernets- Kronos Vineyard, my estate vineyard, is one of the last old Cabernet vineyards in the Napa Valley. Situated between Rutherford and St. Helena on the "bench" (alluvial gravelly loam, "Rutherford Dust"), it was planted in the early '70's, so is over 35 years old. Growing on St. George rootstock with pitiful yields (1.5 tons to the miserable acre, 13-year average) it produces wines of amazing color, complexity and intensity, all under 14% alcohol. As a winemaker, it is a gift. As a business, I don't know anyone else that would put up with it.
The Corison Cabernet has been sourced from the same 3 vineyards, also between Rutherford and St. Helena on the same soils as the Kronos Vineyard, for 23 years. I'm involved in the farming, but I don't own the dirt. They also yield wines that are both powerful and elegant, but with brighter, less brooding fruit. The vines are younger, as they have all been replanted due to Phyloxera. My guess is that they will produce more concentrated fruit as they mature. In California we have had very little opportunity to experience wine from old vines.
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This, I would guess, has a touch of Franc to it. Witheld, restrained, and more elegant. The question I always have is why is this bottling so much lighter than the "estate" or Kronos bottle? In essance, if the estate style is elgenace and finesse, why is the sourced fruit and the grown fruit so different? Let's see if Cathy answers?!? Very pretty nose and quite in the claret style. Delcious. But at $70?
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I had the opportunity to taste this at Corison today and was absolutely stunned by the flavor of this unexpectedly drinkable but young Cabernet. While the aroma was very faint to nonexistent, the palate was surprisingly rich, with flavors of cherry, blackberry, and cassis. Even though the alcohol was decidedly subdued (again, especially notable in a Cab of this age), the finish was delightfully long. Despite this not even being the winery's flagship Cabernet, I would say it is more refined and enjoyable than its counterparts at the perhaps better-known Duckhorn and Darioush wineries (which I happened to also taste today), and is on par with the 2004 Caymus Special Selection - not an easy feat!
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4/12/2024 - smcg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Agree with the others— “classic Napa Cab”
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12/14/2022 - Cancuk Likes this wine:
Absolutely superb, classic old-school Napa. Even for the vintage still lots left but why wait...drink up.
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10/11/2022 - EJDALEwine Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is still a great wine! 18 years and going strong. Needed about 30 minutes of air then the flavors came pouring out. My last bottle.
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4/1/2022 - VinoJill wrote:
Delicious. Needed 30 mins to open in glass and bottle.
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12/31/2021 - klezman wrote:
This took a little while to open up, but it's a classic late-teens Corison in all respects. Even if from a ho-hum year.
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6/12/2021 - ohne_musik wrote: 91 Points
Classic old-school napa cab. A whiff of barnyard on the nose, with leather, library books, and an abundance of leathery fruit - dried fig, blackberry, and black cherry. A hint of mintiness. Good acid and well balanced, nothing over the top. A solid if slightly foursquare wine. I expected a bit more, not sure if it's the vintage (2004 Martha's was also a bit stodgy), or if it just needs more time.
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3/3/2021 - lifebreath wrote: 93 Points
This wine is just entering a nice secondary phase. Still a lot of primary fruit, with blackberries and blueberries, but it’s developing very nice spicy earthy tertiary flavors. This wine will age gracefully for another 10 years.
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12/17/2020 - lorimess Likes this wine:
Great nose. Beautiful, velvety soft finish.
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5/9/2020 - Slaz Likes this wine: 95 Points
Of the several bottles I have tasted from this vintage since 2015, this is the best showing. Benefited from two hours of decanting and had plenty of energy still. Delightful mature, tertiary notes with layers of evolving and complex flavors that ranged from blackberry to clay to indian spices.
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3/30/2020 - merryberry Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark but not inky red, with a clear edge. Great nose of cedar, blueberry and violets. Medium to full bodied, with an initial explosion of plums and black cherries, baking spices, fully integrated dusty tannins, good acid, and a long, soft, slightly sweet finish. Definitely worth the wait.
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9/14/2019 - MLipton wrote:
Purchased at the winery on release, this wine still tastes youthful, with plenty of primary fruit and noticeable tannic structure. Still rather one-dimensional in its appeal, this wine may yet improve and develop more secondary characteristics.
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7/20/2019 - PMJak11 wrote: 92 Points
Very nice, but getting up there in price.
The nose was the best part! Very complex, with smoke, earth, and fruit. Wine had good fruit, but wine is beyond its prime. Shortish finish.
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2/23/2019 - jongeld Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened on 2/23/2019 ("that" bottle for OTBN 2019). Decanted for 2 hours. Light on the nose. Fading fruit, but still very nice. Tannins all but non-existent. This is ready to drink now. Not as big as more recent vintages of Corison.
Paired nicely with a ribeye roast.
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12/29/2018 - SchlaepDog Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 30 minutes, but needed at least a couple hours as the wine is now finally opening up. Tobacco, cloves, faint red fruits aromas greet the nose. Overall, the aromatics are not particularly strong.
The taste is bright Bing cherry fruit with a distinct dustiness moving into cranberry and raspberry mid-palette where tobacco and more earthiness come into play on the finish.
Good stuff, not quite as good as I was expecting though. Seems to be at peak or very close to it. Drink now-2021.
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9/11/2018 - RonniePiemonte wrote: 95 Points
Beautifully balanced. Great flavor profile.
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5/26/2018 - PMJak11 wrote: 90 Points
Disappointing to be honest. It did get better with air, but was weak and lacked depth. I had high expectations, but this wasn't terrible. Middle of the road, but Corison is way better than that!
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4/13/2018 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 93 Points
It won the battle of 2004 Napa Cabs by beating out Rubissow. Classic Corison Cab! Bottle was open for an hour for air. Had that distinct, fruit forward flavor. Refined yet deep. I could easily pick this out from a blind tasting as it is so unique. Great juice!!
Happy 5 Month Birthday Drew & Emma!!
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1/18/2018 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 97 Points
This tasting note from Amy: "On the nose old timbers, resin, blackberry. Wonderfully balanced, a real mouthful, chewy, aromatic at the back, a hearth kind of wine. Makes you think of a 17th century blackened fireplace. Very distinctive. 97-98"
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12/26/2017 - jrsobeck wrote: 94 Points
Great wine. Drinking very well right now. Nice nose, body, and finish.
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11/26/2017 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 96 Points
Kaleidoscopic nose of chocolate, spice, intense dark berry, cedar. On the palate a sweet concentration of pure clear fruit, tannins firm but integrating, bright acid. Extraordinary power and balance.
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8/24/2017 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Blueberry; textured and tannic; nice structure; some earth; nice finish.
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7/22/2017 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 94 Points
Amy's Semicentennial Birthday "Season"; 7/21/2017-7/23/2017 (La Jolla, California): Still flaunting a youthful opaque ruby/red robe, this richly flavored Cabernet is firing on all cylinders. Aromas and flavors of dark bramble fruits, black cherries, baking spices and pipe tobacco reside in a full-bodied frame. With medium acidity, nicely integrated alcohol (13.6%) and ample sweet tannins, it stays dense in the middle and is long on the back end. This will easily be a 20-year wine. Drink now-2024.
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2/10/2017 - Italiana Likes this wine:
Quite good. Dense purple. Good focus and harmony. Fruit not faded. A real value espescially for a Napa wine.
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12/28/2016 - mike l. Likes this wine: 94 Points
loved it. lots going on here!
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6/6/2016 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Supple blueberry and blackberry; raspberry and deep; good follow through; still tannic.
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5/24/2016 - khunchris Likes this wine: 91 Points
mellowed nicely - in a good place, but drink now
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4/17/2016 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Bottle may have been a little off. Texturally it was overly grainy and the palate a bit harsh. Still some classic Napa notes of mature yet sweet red fruit, cedar, tobacco, and wet soil. Has 15 or more years left.
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3/12/2016 - wicozani Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bordeaux in the Black Hills Inaugural Blind Tasting Event (Our Home): #4. Served double-blind in Riedel Vinum XL Cabernet glass. Dark crimson robe. Nose of dark cherry, plum, and mulberry. Excellent intensity and concentration. Good acidity with a long, satisfying finish. Re-tasted versus #2 and came up short 92. My #2, Group #1
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2/2/2016 - sethmill Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted full bottle for 1 hour--really good classic Napa Cabernet
The body is medium/full.
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1/14/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Lots of black and blue fruit on the nose compared to '05 & '06.
Hey, this is in a real sweet spot. Must have been a great vintage for her - has suburb structure still, lively, with all the fruit. Has a lovely dark fruit component and as Kenny notes the '04 is totally fresh still.
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12/25/2015 - Slaz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Even after 2.5 hours of decanting tasted younger than the 2006 vintage tasted the previous day. Full of life, (well integrated) tannins, and acidity for many additional years of cellaring. With decanting, the wine is accessible and very much enjoyable now. Distinct cedar notes on the palate, with deep blue and black fruit and pencil shavings. Relatively ripe, but at 13.6% alcohol remains well balanced and a pleasure to drink.
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10/2/2015 - heshiegreshie wrote: 93 Points
Excellent balance of fruit and alcohol. Fantastic cab
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9/28/2015 - JOsgood wrote:
Tasted blind and guessed Napa Cabernet. A classy showing with a nice nose of cedar and cool berry fruit. On the palate the wine is mature with nice balance and notes of cigar box. A terrific Corison.
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7/31/2015 - juicejammer Likes this wine: 93 Points
Previous note applies
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6/22/2015 - juicejammer Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tacking on a couple more points from my last bottle. This is a great expression of Cabernet with rich blackberry, camphor and pencil shavings. Richly layered and textured with a smooth balanced finish. Drink now-2030.
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6/21/2015 - david4061 wrote: 92 Points
Ready now. Decanted for 1 hour. Perfect balance between fruit and earth tones. Medium finish with some just the right amount of acid. Really a great food wine. Had with steak and was spot on.
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5/28/2015 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 92 Points
Cathy Corison's wines at Arlequin (Arlequin SF): A tough year - half the crop of ’05. Light acetaldehyde on the nose. Mushroom tones. Slightly stewed fruit with faint sweet stewed bellpeppers.
On the palate, classic Corison:
Medium body, medium alcohol [also 13.6%], excellent midpalate aromatics with sweet tobacco tertiary character, a hint of Brett spice, and light tones fresh wood (smells like smooth, fine-grained freshly-sanded wood to me) [French oak, 50% new]. Elevated acid and plush moderate-intensity tannins. Long finish.
Score: Between 9 and 9.5
$125
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4/18/2015 - john_n_diana Likes this wine:
Had with lamb. We like Corison because the wine goes well with food (no overpowering fruit or to much alcohol). This bottle had enough tannin to go a few more years, but it was excellent today. We put the wine in a decanter for about an hour, I would suggest another hour as it definitely opened up more as time went on.
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4/2/2015 - juicejammer Likes this wine: 93 Points
PNP through a Vinturi. Restrained aromatics of Blackberry jam and currants. Ripe juicy fruit for a Napa Cab made in the classical style. Has a talcum, mineral vein that pushes through to the dusty benchland finish. Drink through 2025+
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1/24/2015 - jrsobeck wrote: 93 Points
This drank very well. Nice nose and fruit, smooth finish, subdued tannins. Excellent wine.
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8/14/2014 - LASF Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking extremely well right now. Dark and rich. Balanced with beautiful blueberry, raspberry, leather and tobacco notes. Languid finish. Cathy Corison knows her stuff!
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5/12/2014 - Rieslingfan wrote: 92 Points
Complex mix of dark fruit, earth and spice with flowers joining in with air. Ultimately delicious.
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4/23/2014 - Wicked Panda wrote: 90 Points
A little chilly when opened. After some air, developed good raspberry and green pepper notes. Good dusty finish with mellow tannins.
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4/21/2014 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opaque ruby/red and intensely aromatic, this 10-year-old Napa Cabernet offers black fruit, cocoa, spice box and tobacco on the nose. Full-bodied, fresh and fleshy on the palate, it struts ample sweet tannins and beautifully integrated alcohol (listed as 13.6%). The flavors are in line with the nose and the finish is very long. Confirmatory of my 10/1/13 tasting, this is one which should hold up well for several more years. Drink now-2023.
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3/16/2014 - yofog wrote: 92 Points
Riper and darker fruited than the brilliant 05, this is not quite as refined and doesn't have as much of the leafy quality thaI like so much in Corison cabs. Broad and relatively open for business, drink over the next 10 years.
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2/9/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 88 Points
3 hr decant; earthy nose with some alc; out of balance; some cedar, blackberry and licorice and raisin; a bit astringent and coarse; decent finish.
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11/22/2013 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Well integrated, textured and smooth; mature for a 2004 at this point; nice raspberry-blackberry; ongoing finish; very well done Cathy.
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10/31/2013 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose of iron and earth; ruby with egg white edge; initially austere with light fruit of mainly blueberry; later developed into more structure with blackberry; good length; needs time.
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10/1/2013 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 94 Points
Napa Valley Wine and Food Excursion 2013; 9/30/2013-10/5/2013 (Napa Valley, California): Supple, rich and complex, this Cabernet displays elegance from start to finish. Opaque ruby in color, it follows with an intense nose of bramble fruits, cardamom, cocoa, black pepper and pipe tobacco. The wine is full-bodied and fleshy on the palate, with medium acidity, generous supple tannins and well-integrated alcohol (13.6%). The flavors mirror the nose and are nicely layered throughout the middle palate and lengthy finish. Extremely enjoyable now, this is a structured wine which should hold up well for another decade (or more). Drink now-2023.
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9/19/2013 - BigTex22 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Beautiful wine. This is near perfect, with a nice bouquet and smooth mouthfeel. Fruit was well balanced and not over the top. Typical classy Corison wine, drinking in its prime, but has several years ahead of it. If you're holding this, suggest opening a bottle. Decanted and consumed at Manny's steakhouse. EXCELLENT.
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7/28/2013 - Redrum wrote: 95 Points
Popped and poured at Mustard's Grill in Napa. Rich, deep and open for business even without a decant. Definitely in the drinking window -- very excited to see if it can improve from here.
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6/18/2013 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
More fruity than the -05, but still very well balanced and long.
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5/9/2013 - MattMauldin wrote: 93 Points
Napa Valley winery visits April 26: Aromas of anise, black fruit, peppercorn, roasted coffee, tobacco and earth- complex and drifting aromas. Dark fruit and espresso on the palate with mineral and lavender notes. Big round supple tannins, finshing full with cocoa and spice. Bold and elegant. Excellent. 93+
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4/27/2013 - BigTex22 Likes this wine: 95 Points
This was my first foray into Corison wines. I was looking for a restrained and traditional Cabernet, from an established winery, and reasonably priced. After researching, I ordered a 2004-2006 vertical of their cabernet, which was nicely packaged and promptly delivered last week.
Upon opening the bottle, and decanting, I could immediately pick up very complex aromas of dark fruit and spice. The nose on the wine was much better than the typical cabs I've had. Upon drinking, the wine tasted of warm berries, plums, and a spiciness to it, which was nice. There were very fine tannins on the back end of this wine, which suggested to me this could go another several years, but was extremely enjoyable now.
This wine, in my opinion, is as close to a traditional and wonderful Napa cabernet sauvignon as I could hope to find. We thoroughly enjoyed it - Corison has made us a fan. Enjoy now or cellar 3+ years. EXCELLENT.
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1/12/2013 - coremill wrote: 90 Points
Lots of cassis and black/ blue fruit that's not overly sweet. There's a fair amount of chocolate and osk spice but also some gravelly/ earthy flavors. The fruit is unmistakably napa but it's well balanced and not plush. The oak is well integrated texturally gives the wine a creamy feel. Tannins are fine grained but substantial and this is better with beef than alone. Drinking well in its adolescence but no rush here I think.
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9/17/2012 - nlassow wrote:
A bit more juicy than the 00, 01, 02, and 03 that we have tried, but as balanced as always. Drinks great solo, and requires some decanting.
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9/4/2012 - plechazunga wrote:
Don't have good notes on this. But lightweight, elegant with a good amount of vibrance and acidity left. Outstanding food wine for a California Cab, but also in balance enough that one can drink it on its own. No need to wait on this -should drink now. But there's no rush - definitely at least a year or two left for this wine.
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8/4/2012 - MB Ben wrote: 93 Points
So good. So much of what I love about Corison. Pure, delicious, dark Napa fruit with a little vanilla and touch of spiciness on finish. Not overdone or overbearing. Elegant. Excellent with food or by itself. The kind of wine you could drink and enjoy throughout an entire evening.
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7/9/2012 - MattMauldin wrote: 93 Points
Tasted at the winery. Big aromas of cassis, plum, blueberry, vanilla, cedar and olive. Black currant and cassis on the palate with rocky mineral and blue floral accents. Just traces of oak. Elegant feel and weight. Fine/firm tannin and a full finish filled with floral fruit and dried herb notes. Excellent.
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5/5/2012 - anonymoose12345 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasting that included 2001, 2004 and 2006 plus 1998, 2002 and 2003 Kronos. The 2004 was the standout of the evening. Drinking very well right now.
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4/6/2012 - EMTAME wrote: 92 Points
Loved the style here - ample dark fruit but very much in balance with the other elements. Enjoyed the first glass on its own, and the rest with grilled steak tips. Perfect food companion...wish I had a few more.
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11/20/2011 - 11mcraig wrote: 92 Points
Excellent Cali Cab...wonderful!
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7/25/2011 - emf Likes this wine:
Dark red in color with smells of dark fruit and some chocolate. Elegant tastes of dark red cherries and plums with some chocolate notes. Silky with a looong finish. Love Corison wines.
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7/7/2011 - Old Gray Hare Likes this wine: 90 Points
Full bodied and rich w lots of blackberry & some pepper flavor, but a bit harsh
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1/23/2011 - miller3324 wrote:
Decanted about an hour. Classic Corison, certainly still on the young side with gripping tannins. Classic Cali cab profile with some dustiness to it. Opened with some air but appears to have a long life ahead of it.
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1/16/2011 - cbbrown3 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Medium to dark ruby color. Cassis, licorice, dried herbs, blackberries, and hints of leather and tobacco on the nose. Medium body with ripe tannins that linger very nicely and good acidity. Not an over the top style of cab that is becoming the norm. Very worthy as a dinner companion. Very nice and refined on the palate with loads of flavor. Long finish with just the perfect amount of spicy oak to add complexity. Perfect tannins and acidity to cut through the richness of a medium rare roast beef. Wish this was a magnum, I want another glass.
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12/23/2010 - miller3324 wrote: 93 Points
Classic Corison with lush Cabernet fruit flavors and a long finish. Very subtle wine that excelled with our steaks. Smooth and easy to drink yet has an endless amount of secondary notes that just go on and on. Powerful nose with dark cherries and red raspberries and some light floral notes. For a wine with a great reputation for aging, there is no wall of tannins or need to long decant, this was great from the beginning, popped and poured.
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11/6/2010 - emf Likes this wine:
Corison is always a great wine, well made and elegant. Enjoyed over two days and the wine was better on the second day. Lots of aromas and tastes of red fruit , licorice and soft tannins.
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9/30/2010 - mathwonk wrote:
what a delicious, smooth, well made, not too alcoholic, wine. It neede donly about 10 minutes in decanter to open up and smooth out. Unfortunately there was only one bottle at my store and no one else I have called (in three states) has any. robert parker's scores in high 80's confirm my growing negative opinion of his usefulness in judging wine I will like. or rather they confirm that i like wines best that he scores below 90.
well we certainly enjoyed it again tonight (11-24-2010) for a wine not ready to drink. I approve drinking it whenever you like.
But give it a little air. It keeps getting better.....
FYI: These are available from the winery. I ordered the "NY Times seminar" package, one 2000, two 2004's and a 2005. We'll see how they compare.
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3/22/2010 - emf Likes this wine:
This was a beautiful and elegant wine. The wine had a deep red color and a nose of red and dark red fruit. The wine had great body and structure. On tasting it had dark plum, blackberries, licorice and spice. It had a good acidity and some grittiness with a long finish. Corison never disappoints, I am happy to have more.
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3/17/2010 - cbbrown3 wrote: 92 Points
Ruby red with a nice light ruby rim. Cassis, licorice, and blackberries on the nose with hints of chocolate, cherries, and dried herbs. Medium body with nice, ripe tannins and very good acidity. Not your usual "over the top" Napa cab, this is a nice, civilized, food friendly offering with generous fruit and just enough spicy oak on the finish to add complexity. This is real nice and I'll wait till the end of summer to sample another.
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5/16/2009 - Cryan15 wrote: 93 Points
Amazing. Let it air for 45 min. Beautiful finish with a nice spice.
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3/29/2009 - hutch wrote: 89 Points
Wizards Tasting (The Mooring): Rich fruit. Nice palate. Good. 88-89
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3/20/2009 - 11mcraig wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured..very nice cab! Opens up with time, nice complexity, cherries, raspberries, caramel. Still a bit young...
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1/14/2009 - LSussman wrote: 90 Points
subtle with some fruit on the nose. After 1 hour decant no noticeable tannins. A nice wine more like a bordeaux than a an ofer the top cali cab.
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12/8/2008 - jaylew1 wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful old school wine. Remarkable for an 04 Cali Cab, all of the previous ones we have tried are SO fruit-forward, where this is so restrained and terrific with food. My first Corison, but certainly not my last!
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6/21/2008 - corks wrote:
Responding to Ben's question about the relative "weights" of the Corison Cabernet and the Corison Kronos Vineyard Cabernets- Kronos Vineyard, my estate vineyard, is one of the last old Cabernet vineyards in the Napa Valley. Situated between Rutherford and St. Helena on the "bench" (alluvial gravelly loam, "Rutherford Dust"), it was planted in the early '70's, so is over 35 years old. Growing on St. George rootstock with pitiful yields (1.5 tons to the miserable acre, 13-year average) it produces wines of amazing color, complexity and intensity, all under 14% alcohol. As a winemaker, it is a gift. As a business, I don't know anyone else that would put up with it.
The Corison Cabernet has been sourced from the same 3 vineyards, also between Rutherford and St. Helena on the same soils as the Kronos Vineyard, for 23 years. I'm involved in the farming, but I don't own the dirt. They also yield wines that are both powerful and elegant, but with brighter, less brooding fruit. The vines are younger, as they have all been replanted due to Phyloxera. My guess is that they will produce more concentrated fruit as they mature. In California we have had very little opportunity to experience wine from old vines.
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6/20/2008 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
This, I would guess, has a touch of Franc to it. Witheld, restrained, and more elegant. The question I always have is why is this bottling so much lighter than the "estate" or Kronos bottle? In essance, if the estate style is elgenace and finesse, why is the sourced fruit and the grown fruit so different? Let's see if Cathy answers?!? Very pretty nose and quite in the claret style. Delcious. But at $70?
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2/10/2008 - EMichels wrote: 89 Points
2008 Loyola Marymount Wine Classic: Great toasted caramel nose; Good fruit; Good balance; Modest spice; Round
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11/13/2007 - kstoddard wrote: 90 Points
Cherry jello, pencil lead and earth. Some mid palate complexity. Well balanced with good acidity. Smooth finish.
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10/21/2007 - shultzc wrote: 93 Points
I had the opportunity to taste this at Corison today and was absolutely stunned by the flavor of this unexpectedly drinkable but young Cabernet. While the aroma was very faint to nonexistent, the palate was surprisingly rich, with flavors of cherry, blackberry, and cassis. Even though the alcohol was decidedly subdued (again, especially notable in a Cab of this age), the finish was delightfully long. Despite this not even being the winery's flagship Cabernet, I would say it is more refined and enjoyable than its counterparts at the perhaps better-known Duckhorn and Darioush wineries (which I happened to also taste today), and is on par with the 2004 Caymus Special Selection - not an easy feat!
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