This was a nice surprise. Bought at auction, it was clearly well cellared. Definitely mature, but still very fresh and alive. Red berries, peppery spice, cocoa powder, some green bell pepper notes. No need to hold, but will probably keep for another 5 years. Fabulous QPR.
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Was like two wines. First one was a horrible, popcorn butter soaked mess. The second once it opened up after about half hour was a great fruity mouthful of cherries, plums and berries. still a bit of vanilla on the finish. decanted could have been an amazing wine. Probably 10 years left in this bottle.
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Wow what a nice surprise to a long day of skiing. I have had the bottled since 2001 and cellared it at 57 degrees. Structurally the wine was very balance and the tannins are very supple. The finish is good but not long the fruit seams to dissipate in 10 sec. Nice hints of black current, chocolate, lime zest, vanilla, cassis, and leather.
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Very easy drinking, tannins are all but gone. Still lots of sweet cherry flavor, some oak and spice. Dark fruit on the nose. 10 second finish. A little flabby now, but still delicious. Drink up.
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Nose with prominent toast and cedar nose with crushed berries. Palate with smooth integrated tannins, slightly hollow mid palate, but some cassis, leather, and shy mocha notes eventually fill it out. Finish again is a little thin and simple, with cedar, tobacco, and mineral, with slightly dry tannins on the back end. Nice, pleasant balanced wine, with most of the complexity given by the oak. I'm thinking the fruit is fading a bit and this is on the downward slide, but still enjoyable now.
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I am a big fan of Chateau Ste Michelle wines and was happy to find a bottle, though overpriced, in Ireland. The wine has a lovely nose of black currants and jam, though it seems to be a bit faded. The flavors in the wine are well-integrated, and have clearly developed over time. It is smooth and velvety, and tastes of leather, black cherries, and black currant. It is smooth and easy to drink, a very well-made wine. My perception of the wine though is that it likely peaked 1-2 years ago, and any bottles left in inventory should be consumed within the next year.
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Medium-bodied with cherry. currant, and just a bit of vanilla. Drinking nicely now but still enough tannin to think this will last a bit longer. Nice with grilled beef tenderloin.
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Last bottle of this. Very good. Very fragrant with expressive nose full of blackcurrant, herbs and dry brush. Bordeauux without the "earth". Very well balanced and elegant on the palate, soft, dry with nice currant and cherry fruit, tannins are pretty mellow nice long finish. This is drinking very well now.
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Delicious, dry savoury, with a nice balance of acidity to the red and black fruits. Pretty dry, with little tannins, this is really well balanced and a pleasure to drink with food. Would agree that it is time to drink, dont see this getting any better.
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Purchased from library release. Red cherry and leather on the nose. Intense flavors of cherry and blackberry along with a bit of pepper and saddle leather. A bit of acidity and a relatively long finish. This tastes ready to drink now or in the next year or two.
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10/03 Drinks like a much more expensive cab. Has a moderately intense attack and enough tannin on the finish to give it structure. It has a smooth velvety slightly cream-like texure. Medium bodied with surprising opaqueness. Great everyday wine and heads up on a lot of other cabs in the same price range. 89 pts.
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Delicious. Deep color and very aromatic on the nose. A lot of dark berry fruit, but not jammy. Well balanced and seemingly enough tannins to be youthful.
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Had this wine over 2 days. First day the wine had a nice nose of berries, but tasted light and undistinguished. Day 2 was better, there were definite ripe fruit and berry tastes and the finish was much smoother.
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Simple dark berries and vanilla on the nose. Short palate and nothing really that exciting from what I remember of this wine. Pretty dissapointed. Will be popping the last one quickly.
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on the nose oak with blue and blackberry. on the palate a nice balance of fruit and oak with a very nice fininsh. after an hour the fruit began to quiet down a bit and the finish was long and silky . i want to say elegant. no seams no overpowering fruit. great value bought at close out for $20
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4/19/2019 - bradfriedlander Likes this wine: 92 Points
20 years old and still tastes like a youngster. Lots of black cherry and dark fruits. Soft tannins. Full mouth feel. Enjoyed this!
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1/17/2016 - IanBlessing Likes this wine:
This was a nice surprise. Bought at auction, it was clearly well cellared. Definitely mature, but still very fresh and alive. Red berries, peppery spice, cocoa powder, some green bell pepper notes. No need to hold, but will probably keep for another 5 years. Fabulous QPR.
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11/16/2011 - Bryan&Laura wrote: 90 Points
Great wine when paired with red meat
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6/6/2010 - mlawren1 wrote: 89 Points
Was like two wines. First one was a horrible, popcorn butter soaked mess. The second once it opened up after about half hour was a great fruity mouthful of cherries, plums and berries. still a bit of vanilla on the finish. decanted could have been an amazing wine. Probably 10 years left in this bottle.
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1/9/2010 - AAMAYA wrote: 90 Points
Wow what a nice surprise to a long day of skiing. I have had the bottled since 2001 and cellared it at 57 degrees. Structurally the wine was very balance and the tannins are very supple. The finish is good but not long the fruit seams to dissipate in 10 sec. Nice hints of black current, chocolate, lime zest, vanilla, cassis, and leather.
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11/5/2009 - mlawren1 wrote: 91 Points
This was a surprisngly good wine, nice fruit of cherries and berries, hints of chocolate and vanilla underneath, really lingered in the mouth.
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10/11/2009 - wine4ever wrote: 87 Points
Very easy drinking, tannins are all but gone. Still lots of sweet cherry flavor, some oak and spice. Dark fruit on the nose. 10 second finish. A little flabby now, but still delicious. Drink up.
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8/8/2009 - Nutty08 wrote: 90 Points
Nose with prominent toast and cedar nose with crushed berries. Palate with smooth integrated tannins, slightly hollow mid palate, but some cassis, leather, and shy mocha notes eventually fill it out. Finish again is a little thin and simple, with cedar, tobacco, and mineral, with slightly dry tannins on the back end. Nice, pleasant balanced wine, with most of the complexity given by the oak. I'm thinking the fruit is fading a bit and this is on the downward slide, but still enjoyable now.
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5/2/2009 - empressa wrote: 90 Points
I am a big fan of Chateau Ste Michelle wines and was happy to find a bottle, though overpriced, in Ireland. The wine has a lovely nose of black currants and jam, though it seems to be a bit faded. The flavors in the wine are well-integrated, and have clearly developed over time. It is smooth and velvety, and tastes of leather, black cherries, and black currant. It is smooth and easy to drink, a very well-made wine. My perception of the wine though is that it likely peaked 1-2 years ago, and any bottles left in inventory should be consumed within the next year.
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4/14/2009 - norsktorsk wrote: 89 Points
Deep red and muted nose with sediment and tannins present.. Could wait another year or so but nose may wane.
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10/19/2008 - kmack wrote:
Medium-bodied with cherry. currant, and just a bit of vanilla. Drinking nicely now but still enough tannin to think this will last a bit longer. Nice with grilled beef tenderloin.
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7/28/2008 - Lainie wrote: 94 Points
Smooth and pretty at almost 10 years old. Lots of sediment. Satisfying big red, good price at $23. Alc. 14.1%
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7/4/2008 - thebonnydooner wrote: 90 Points
Last bottle of this. Very good. Very fragrant with expressive nose full of blackcurrant, herbs and dry brush. Bordeauux without the "earth". Very well balanced and elegant on the palate, soft, dry with nice currant and cherry fruit, tannins are pretty mellow nice long finish. This is drinking very well now.
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4/13/2008 - winenewb068 wrote: flawed
V.A. - too bad as I was looking forward to trying this bottle.
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3/9/2008 - thebonnydooner wrote: 89 Points
Delicious, dry savoury, with a nice balance of acidity to the red and black fruits. Pretty dry, with little tannins, this is really well balanced and a pleasure to drink with food. Would agree that it is time to drink, dont see this getting any better.
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2/25/2008 - Reyman wrote: 90 Points
Purchased from library release. Red cherry and leather on the nose. Intense flavors of cherry and blackberry along with a bit of pepper and saddle leather. A bit of acidity and a relatively long finish. This tastes ready to drink now or in the next year or two.
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12/7/2007 - GA wrote: 89 Points
10/03 Drinks like a much more expensive cab. Has a moderately intense attack and enough tannin on the finish to give it structure. It has a smooth velvety slightly cream-like texure. Medium bodied with surprising opaqueness. Great everyday wine and heads up on a lot of other cabs in the same price range. 89 pts.
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3/18/2007 - grapist wrote: 91 Points
Delicious. Deep color and very aromatic on the nose. A lot of dark berry fruit, but not jammy. Well balanced and seemingly enough tannins to be youthful.
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7/16/2006 - rfras wrote: 88 Points
Had this wine over 2 days. First day the wine had a nice nose of berries, but tasted light and undistinguished. Day 2 was better, there were definite ripe fruit and berry tastes and the finish was much smoother.
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6/4/2006 - zinslurpie wrote: 85 Points
Simple dark berries and vanilla on the nose. Short palate and nothing really that exciting from what I remember of this wine. Pretty dissapointed. Will be popping the last one quickly.
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4/13/2005 - charbo wrote:
on the nose oak with blue and blackberry. on the palate a nice balance of fruit and oak with a very nice fininsh. after an hour the fruit began to quiet down a bit and the finish was long and silky . i want to say elegant. no seams no overpowering fruit. great value bought at close out for $20
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8/13/2004 - cigar52 wrote: 89 Points
typical washington quality
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3/18/2003 - Vino Me wrote: 88 Points
A step down from the reserve in my opinion. Smoky notes with dark berry and cassis. 88.
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10/23/2002 - cigar52 wrote: 89 Points
good legs, well balanced, nice fruit, an overall very good wine
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