Took some hours to open up. Pleasant, dark 'roasted' cherry and currant. Good density and richness to the flavors, but not overdone. Balanced and solid finish. Drink over next 8 years.
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Decanted for about half an hour then consumed. The nose was fairly expressive, with some of the hoped-for maturing notes on the palate. It didn't seem to change, either for the better or the worst, over several hours open
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I am upping my score after last nights tasting. Such a reserved wine that even at 8 years has plenty of room to improve. Aromas are aged leather & cedar. On the palette the wine is rich and viscous with a more French style structure of reserved fruit with violet mouthfeeel. It is a structured wine which will not be the fruit forward cabernet you might expect.
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Decanted. Deep garnet color, opaque in its core. Aromas of black currant, pink peppercorn, allspice, cedar and pipe tobacco. Round and mouthfilling palate with creamy ripe blackberry fruit, and worn cedar, leather & spice depth. Full-bodied with pliable density in the mid-palate, and nicely offsetting medium acidity. Round broad-grained tannins, finishing with full depth and moderate length. Showing well, nice primary integration, drinking young. Excellent value, with structure and depth of a higher price point.
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Aromas are aged leather & cedar. On the palette the wine is rich and viscous with a more French style structure of reserved fruit with violet mouthfeeel. The wine drinks just fine but that is where it ends. Doesn't delight and also doesn't disappoint.
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Deep garnet color. Expressive aromatics of blackberry & currant, dried violet, wild sage, rosemary & allspice, hints of cedar and tobacco. Open dark fruit on the attack with nice intensity, along with secondary spice layers. Voluminous mid-palate with nice concentration, elegant density and rounded edges. Harmonious acid and tannins, broad grained and round. Lingering juicy fruit and a slight pleasant bitterness on the finish. This is drinking very well - very early secondary.
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Alluring nose of cedar, graphite, pomegranate & cocoa. Certainly Bordeaux-like in style & presence; I enjoy the CVC as a more reserved, subtler style than what you may find in say, Napa. Calluna is a consistent performer year in, year out.
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not quite as impressed as the last bottle. this was a PNP and I think this needed a couple hour decant. Last glass was definitely the best. initially most red fruit and a bit disjointed. got more round and darker fruit came on later. plenty of life left
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Napa Valley & Chalk Hill AVA winery visits - 5/30 & 5/31, 2018: Aromas and notes of leather, cassis, cedar and pressed flowers. Rich open black fruit on the palate, round fleshy texture, classic structure and good secondary depth. Round full tannins, ample finish, drinking well.
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drinks now but needs time and food. merlot dominate. Not a jammy ripe wine but more reserve. Tannins are there but the balance is great. For red lovers looking for something restrained and 'OLD SCHOOL" try this wine All estate and for the money cannot beat it
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Falltacular 2018--some TNs (My House In The South OC): Opened yesterday, kept cool overnight under opened cork. This is a Bdx blend. I tasted this next to the 2014 Calluna Estate, both saw the same amount of air and tasting setting. The aromatics here are more rustic. The depth here as compared to the Estate is not as intense. More subtle is the CVC, juicier, lighter styled with juicy dark cherry and dark cocoa. And one other thing...I find the 2014 Estate to have a significant aging potential, whereas this CVC seems pretty well ready to go and approachable.
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Taste Old World vs. New World (San Diego Wine Co.): 47% Merlot, 26% C.S., 10% C.F., 9% Malbec, & 8% Petit Verdot; 21 mos in 100% FR oak barrels, 20% new, bottled unfiltered; 3.77 pH, 14.2% ABV; 1,398 cases.
N: Slightly closed; Attractive berries with pyrazines
P: LM body; NICE brt met by FIRMING astringency which pretty much extends into the LONG, ult ALMOST swtish finish with notes of those very, VERY fine tannins from time to time. Approachable now, this DESERVES until early '19, I'm guess. NICE potential! My VG/VG+. 92 pts ea WE & John Gilman, 88 pts WA, and 17/20 with a "Very Good Value" from Jancis Robinson. [This vendor's $24.99 is ~ $3 < than anyone else currently listed on wine-searcher.]
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Went looking for Sonoma terroir with this, based on what I had read, but did not find it. The wine emphasizes fruit, with relatively restrained oak, and very good balance.
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That is super pretty on the nose if not the most pronounced. And then the palate is vibrant and long, vey mineral. Youthful. David apparently believes this is his best wine yet and for what I have tasted it is.
47, merlot, 26 cAb, 10 franc, 9 Malbec, 8 Verdot.
Again long, elegant and fine. Can drink now but I'd lay down for a year. Would go for at least 10 I would bet.
With thinner foil on the 14 vintage.
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10/28/2023 - nectar14 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Took some hours to open up. Pleasant, dark 'roasted' cherry and currant. Good density and richness to the flavors, but not overdone. Balanced and solid finish. Drink over next 8 years.
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9/7/2023 - B&PBaker wrote: 87 Points
Tons of cherry but not quite right. It lacks that earthy start of Chalk Hill.
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3/12/2023 - thalver wrote:
Decanted for about half an hour then consumed. The nose was fairly expressive, with some of the hoped-for maturing notes on the palate. It didn't seem to change, either for the better or the worst, over several hours open
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2/25/2022 - tomoem wrote: 90 Points
I am upping my score after last nights tasting. Such a reserved wine that even at 8 years has plenty of room to improve. Aromas are aged leather & cedar. On the palette the wine is rich and viscous with a more French style structure of reserved fruit with violet mouthfeeel. It is a structured wine which will not be the fruit forward cabernet you might expect.
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9/27/2021 - The Wine Write Likes this wine:
Solid Bordeaux blend. Attractive aromatics, tasty fruit, finishing with an edge. Lots of life.
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10/31/2020 - MattMauldin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted. Deep garnet color, opaque in its core. Aromas of black currant, pink peppercorn, allspice, cedar and pipe tobacco. Round and mouthfilling palate with creamy ripe blackberry fruit, and worn cedar, leather & spice depth. Full-bodied with pliable density in the mid-palate, and nicely offsetting medium acidity. Round broad-grained tannins, finishing with full depth and moderate length. Showing well, nice primary integration, drinking young. Excellent value, with structure and depth of a higher price point.
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10/8/2020 - tomoem wrote: 89 Points
Aromas are aged leather & cedar. On the palette the wine is rich and viscous with a more French style structure of reserved fruit with violet mouthfeeel. The wine drinks just fine but that is where it ends. Doesn't delight and also doesn't disappoint.
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5/17/2020 - MattMauldin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet color. Expressive aromatics of blackberry & currant, dried violet, wild sage, rosemary & allspice, hints of cedar and tobacco. Open dark fruit on the attack with nice intensity, along with secondary spice layers. Voluminous mid-palate with nice concentration, elegant density and rounded edges. Harmonious acid and tannins, broad grained and round. Lingering juicy fruit and a slight pleasant bitterness on the finish. This is drinking very well - very early secondary.
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11/30/2019 - Thad Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great entry cab blend for calluna
Very French style, earthy
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10/21/2019 - bigredPA Likes this wine: 91 Points
Alluring nose of cedar, graphite, pomegranate & cocoa. Certainly Bordeaux-like in style & presence; I enjoy the CVC as a more reserved, subtler style than what you may find in say, Napa. Calluna is a consistent performer year in, year out.
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7/26/2019 - joet626 Likes this wine: 90 Points
very good. Fruity, smooth.
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6/16/2019 - wiscgrad wrote: 88 Points
not quite as impressed as the last bottle. this was a PNP and I think this needed a couple hour decant. Last glass was definitely the best. initially most red fruit and a bit disjointed. got more round and darker fruit came on later. plenty of life left
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7/14/2018 - Thad Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is a small Sonoma winery making Bordeaux style, I did not take notes when I was enjoying it. Try it
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6/4/2018 - MattMauldin Likes this wine:
Napa Valley & Chalk Hill AVA winery visits - 5/30 & 5/31, 2018: Aromas and notes of leather, cassis, cedar and pressed flowers. Rich open black fruit on the palate, round fleshy texture, classic structure and good secondary depth. Round full tannins, ample finish, drinking well.
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5/29/2018 - Thad Likes this wine: 91 Points
drinks now but needs time and food. merlot dominate. Not a jammy ripe wine but more reserve. Tannins are there but the balance is great.
For red lovers looking for something restrained and 'OLD SCHOOL" try this wine
All estate and for the money cannot beat it
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2/18/2018 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Falltacular 2018--some TNs (My House In The South OC): Opened yesterday, kept cool overnight under opened cork. This is a Bdx blend. I tasted this next to the 2014 Calluna Estate, both saw the same amount of air and tasting setting. The aromatics here are more rustic. The depth here as compared to the Estate is not as intense. More subtle is the CVC, juicier, lighter styled with juicy dark cherry and dark cocoa. And one other thing...I find the 2014 Estate to have a significant aging potential, whereas this CVC seems pretty well ready to go and approachable.
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2/17/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Taste Old World vs. New World (San Diego Wine Co.): 47% Merlot, 26% C.S., 10% C.F., 9% Malbec, & 8% Petit Verdot; 21 mos in 100% FR oak barrels, 20% new, bottled unfiltered; 3.77 pH, 14.2% ABV; 1,398 cases.
N: Slightly closed; Attractive berries with pyrazines
P: LM body; NICE brt met by FIRMING astringency which pretty much extends into the LONG, ult ALMOST swtish finish with notes of those very, VERY fine tannins from time to time. Approachable now, this DESERVES until early '19, I'm guess. NICE potential! My VG/VG+. 92 pts ea WE & John Gilman, 88 pts WA, and 17/20 with a "Very Good Value" from Jancis Robinson. [This vendor's $24.99 is ~ $3 < than anyone else currently listed on wine-searcher.]
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10/22/2017 - wiscgrad wrote: 91 Points
delicious bdx blend with mostly red fruit. very approachable now
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6/11/2017 - Motz wrote: 90 Points
Went looking for Sonoma terroir with this, based on what I had read, but did not find it. The wine emphasizes fruit, with relatively restrained oak, and very good balance.
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5/16/2017 - renoprof Likes this wine: 90 Points
David makes great wine. Rounded fruit soft tannins. Great every day wine. You can hardly do better for the price.
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5/4/2017 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Fresh, with a good core of fruit but not jammy, has drive and energy, good drinking stuff. Fresh.
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3/4/2017 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
That is super pretty on the nose if not the most pronounced. And then the palate is vibrant and long, vey mineral. Youthful. David apparently believes this is his best wine yet and for what I have tasted it is.
47, merlot, 26 cAb, 10 franc, 9 Malbec, 8 Verdot.
Again long, elegant and fine. Can drink now but I'd lay down for a year. Would go for at least 10 I would bet.
With thinner foil on the 14 vintage.
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