Allowed to breathe in glass one hour. Clear garnet-blood red color. Notes of red and black fruit, tobacco, beef teriyaki, anise, baking spices, forest floor. Improved a bit with air and held up fine for four days under vacuum stopper in refrigerator. Very nice.
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very very good. reminded me of the '99 freemark bosche. certainly not going to get better, but drank very nicely. smooth, stately, pretty bottle. agree with "wine guy" review from 2011.
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Delicious! Blown away by the concentration of fruit and balance. Strong berry and cedar. A wondeful aged CA cab. Don't see this wine advertised much. I bought this bottle back in 1999 at the Bottle Barn in CA when I was out visiting a friend there. Wish I had more and will definitely look up the current vintages.
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Really surprized at the concentration of fruit and the balanced tanins and overall beauty of this wine. Most of my DD '97s have been oak bombs with cab fruit. This was velvety and elegant, perhaps a testament to the 1.5 l format. Nice!
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Past its prime and far from the blockbuster '95. Still has some fruit left and it teases with a bordeaux style finish - tobacco, leather and dirt. Unfortunately, the finish ends with a bit of bitterness.
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Way past it's prime when I opened this summer. Almost headed for the drain until the barnyard blew off. Interesting fruit, very funky flavors but no structure left to speak of. I loved other vintages from 93 to 95 but made a mistake holding this one. Still enjoyable after 20 minutes but if you have any left better cut your losses and drink these now.
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Don't know what "Mark" was tasting to rate this a 79 - dump it down the drain. Right out of the bottle on par with a slightly above average 97 Napa Cab...but 30 minutes later this wine really opened up and shone. Nice velvet feel and mild acidity. Lots of fruit on the front end without being over oaky on the mid. Light on the finish. Gorgeous deep red color.
Definitely still in prime range.
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Popped and poured… down the drain. The first thirty minutes on this wine was best, then it was down hill from there. At it’s best, it’s a very simple and straight forward Napa Cabernet, but the fruit dissipates rather quickly leaving a hollow wine with a short and astringent finish. The harshness of the finish gets unpalatable after 45 minutes. Very disappointing.
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Tasted like a european wine. Noticeable cigar box and lead pencil elements, but still plenty of fruit. Terrific wine that has evolved into an "older cab" flavor profile. Drinking great right now.
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Served at the July 23rd North Texas Winos Tasting Dinner at Amici’s Signature Italian in Carrollton, Texas. Wine was a leftover from a tasting the previous evening so the balance of the bottle had been opened for about 24 hours. Nose was cedar, bell peppers and a hint of chocolate. Smoky flavors, chocolate and cherry sweet tarts. Not a lot on the finish, probably because of the long decant time. 89 points. Drink now.
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4/29/2019 - Javachip Likes this wine: 88 Points
Allowed to breathe in glass one hour. Clear garnet-blood red color. Notes of red and black fruit, tobacco, beef teriyaki, anise, baking spices, forest floor. Improved a bit with air and held up fine for four days under vacuum stopper in refrigerator. Very nice.
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5/28/2017 - aatherton Likes this wine: 93 Points
very very good. reminded me of the '99 freemark bosche. certainly not going to get better, but drank very nicely. smooth, stately, pretty bottle. agree with "wine guy" review from 2011.
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2/2/2013 - buckeye76 wrote: 92 Points
BLACKBERRIES, CURRANTS, AND LEATHER IN THE NOSE WITH BLACK CHERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES IN THE FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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11/19/2011 - wine guy wrote: 92 Points
Delicious! Blown away by the concentration of fruit and balance. Strong berry and cedar. A wondeful aged CA cab. Don't see this wine advertised much. I bought this bottle back in 1999 at the Bottle Barn in CA when I was out visiting a friend there. Wish I had more and will definitely look up the current vintages.
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1/16/2011 - bigcat wrote: 91 Points
Relish
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1/12/2011 - bigcat wrote: 91 Points
Thought it was great. Berry flavors, smooth.
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9/19/2010 - psoals wrote: 88 Points
showing some age, but hanging in there quite nicely. Good balance of fruit, acid and tannin still.
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8/30/2010 - Cellar Dweller wrote: 91 Points
Really surprized at the concentration of fruit and the balanced tanins and overall beauty of this wine. Most of my DD '97s have been oak bombs with cab fruit. This was velvety and elegant, perhaps a testament to the 1.5 l format. Nice!
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2/26/2010 - cparkhurst wrote:
Crap
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12/9/2009 - PJVineyards wrote: 87 Points
Past its prime and far from the blockbuster '95. Still has some fruit left and it teases with a bordeaux style finish - tobacco, leather and dirt. Unfortunately, the finish ends with a bit of bitterness.
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10/24/2009 - Jimdish25 wrote: 88 Points
Way past it's prime when I opened this summer. Almost headed for the drain until the barnyard blew off. Interesting fruit, very funky flavors but no structure left to speak of. I loved other vintages from 93 to 95 but made a mistake holding this one. Still enjoyable after 20 minutes but if you have any left better cut your losses and drink these now.
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10/15/2009 - JDRFoster wrote: 90 Points
Showing well. Fairly classic aged Napa cab.
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11/16/2008 - cparkhurst wrote: 80 Points
Seemed past. Not terrible but not quite right/
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9/20/2007 - mos wrote: 92 Points
Don't know what "Mark" was tasting to rate this a 79 - dump it down the drain. Right out of the bottle on par with a slightly above average 97 Napa Cab...but 30 minutes later this wine really opened up and shone. Nice velvet feel and mild acidity. Lots of fruit on the front end without being over oaky on the mid. Light on the finish. Gorgeous deep red color.
Definitely still in prime range.
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6/19/2007 - Mark wrote: 79 Points
Popped and poured… down the drain. The first thirty minutes on this wine was best, then it was down hill from there. At it’s best, it’s a very simple and straight forward Napa Cabernet, but the fruit dissipates rather quickly leaving a hollow wine with a short and astringent finish. The harshness of the finish gets unpalatable after 45 minutes. Very disappointing.
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11/23/2006 - cococafe wrote: flawed
Past it's time. Had to pour it out :-(
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6/25/2006 - sailcappy wrote: 91 Points
Nice fruit up front, empty middle and soft finish. Drink NOW!
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12/28/2005 - jhngo wrote:
Not that great. Just simple drinking wine.
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6/5/2005 - luko wrote:
Tasted like a european wine. Noticeable cigar box and lead pencil elements, but still plenty of fruit. Terrific wine that has evolved into an "older cab" flavor profile. Drinking great right now.
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12/19/2004 - dbg wrote:
very good-excellent
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12/11/2004 - Burgundy Al wrote: 86 Points
Kensington Wine Tasting, Before and During Auction (The Pump Room - Chicago IL): Tasting. Very easy to enjoy. Pleasant fruit, still fresh. Best to drink while fresh and vibrant in the next few years.
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10/3/2004 - luko wrote: 92 Points
great fruit, integrated. ready to drink now. peaking. not sure how much longer, but excellent now
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7/24/2003 - wineismylife wrote: 89 Points
Served at the July 23rd North Texas Winos Tasting Dinner at Amici’s Signature Italian in Carrollton, Texas. Wine was a leftover from a tasting the previous evening so the balance of the bottle had been opened for about 24 hours. Nose was cedar, bell peppers and a hint of chocolate. Smoky flavors, chocolate and cherry sweet tarts. Not a lot on the finish, probably because of the long decant time. 89 points. Drink now.
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7/17/2003 - dbg wrote:
excellent
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12/17/2000 - dbg wrote:
great nose, but short on palate, not much finish, perhaps RP is
correct in his 87 score in issue 132
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