PNP. Deep, intense magenta color, with bits of grit. Black cherry, fig, leather, mushroom, and subtle tar. Smooth, dry palate, with fine, velvety acidity. Firm tannins on the longish finish.
This has aged very well. Even so, it’s lost a small step since I last had it four years ago.
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Decanted and started drinking. This really didn’t hit its stride until 2 hours in. Then it was currant, dark chocolate and roasted herbs. Full bodied, great finish. This is still just a baby.
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This wine was killer. Ton of fruit on the nose, well balanced acidity and tannin. Will easily go another 10 years. Had along side a 2015 Far Niente and 2010 Chateau Talbot, it was the clear winner of the 3.
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Four hour decant (two would have been better). Deep dark ruby magenta color. Cream soda, blueberry, teriyaki and floral perfume on the nose. Dry, satiny palate, with cottony acidity and the cream soda and blueberry notes carrying through. Firm, full tannins on the medium long finish. Just starting to show hints of age, with some secondary characteristics sneaking in.
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Eight hour decant. Very deep dark ruby magenta color. Black cherry, boysenberry, strawberry, and carrot cake, along with subtle raisin and spearmint, on the beautiful nose. Smooth, dry palate, with nice acidity. Firm tannins on the medium long finish. Nearly two years since my last bottle and this has improved dramatically.
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Deep ruby red. Layered nose with lots of red berries and blueberries on the attack. Followed up by anise, cinnamon and a touch of vanilla. Great acidity and tannins (6.5/10) with a full body. Powerful and rich palate with a mix of blackberries, blue currants, cassis and sweet spices. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2037.
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92 on opening...Needs at least an hour of air...thin with a flat flavor profile until then. Dark ruby in the glass, beautiful lead pencil nose, weight on entry increased significantly with time. Moderate tannins, dark blackberry/black raspberry fruit, juicy cassis, plenty of acid backbone with a bit of bacon fat/game meat and a decent layered ending of more fruit and French coffee. Beautiful. A 95.
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Napa 2018; 6/28/2018-7/3/2018 (Napa): Lots of potential here, I like where this is going if the 2013 is any indication. This will be good and might have been better if not served next to its older brother.
Menu decanted. Very tight nose of juniper, birch wood and plum. Deep, bright ruby color. Smooth, dry palate with lots of green notes. Full, round tannins on medium finish. This wine is simply too young right now.
It’s structured and clearly well made, but needs 3-5 years to open up (in my humble opinion). I was surprised that ‘14 would be this tight. Could have been just this specific bottle.
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It's in a really awkward place right now and doesn't compare to the 2013 vintage. Again very hard to gauge it and this is my enjoying the fortuna vineyard in 2013 more than the black label although for the 2014 vintage the black label really shines.
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4/13/2024 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 92 Points
PNP. Deep, intense magenta color, with bits of grit. Black cherry, fig, leather, mushroom, and subtle tar. Smooth, dry palate, with fine, velvety acidity. Firm tannins on the longish finish.
This has aged very well. Even so, it’s lost a small step since I last had it four years ago.
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12/21/2020 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A well constructed cab. Young but drinking well now. Give it a couple of hours of air and enjoy.
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12/17/2020 - HOS Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted and started drinking. This really didn’t hit its stride until 2 hours in. Then it was currant, dark chocolate and roasted herbs. Full bodied, great finish. This is still just a baby.
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10/15/2020 - TRueNOLA Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine was killer. Ton of fruit on the nose, well balanced acidity and tannin. Will easily go another 10 years. Had along side a 2015 Far Niente and 2010 Chateau Talbot, it was the clear winner of the 3.
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8/2/2020 - HOS wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1/2 and started drinking. Not long enough. Initial acidic edge resolved over next hour and turned into classic Napa cab.
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4/14/2020 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 93 Points
Four hour decant (two would have been better). Deep dark ruby magenta color. Cream soda, blueberry, teriyaki and floral perfume on the nose. Dry, satiny palate, with cottony acidity and the cream soda and blueberry notes carrying through. Firm, full tannins on the medium long finish. Just starting to show hints of age, with some secondary characteristics sneaking in.
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9/16/2019 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 92 Points
Eight hour decant. Very deep dark ruby magenta color. Black cherry, boysenberry, strawberry, and carrot cake, along with subtle raisin and spearmint, on the beautiful nose. Smooth, dry palate, with nice acidity. Firm tannins on the medium long finish. Nearly two years since my last bottle and this has improved dramatically.
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3/9/2019 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 94 Points
Deep ruby red. Layered nose with lots of red berries and blueberries on the attack. Followed up by anise, cinnamon and a touch of vanilla. Great acidity and tannins (6.5/10) with a full body. Powerful and rich palate with a mix of blackberries, blue currants, cassis and sweet spices. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2037.
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7/17/2018 - Tym2sip wrote:
Fully decant before consuming
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7/16/2018 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 95 Points
92 on opening...Needs at least an hour of air...thin with a flat flavor profile until then. Dark ruby in the glass, beautiful lead pencil nose, weight on entry increased significantly with time. Moderate tannins, dark blackberry/black raspberry fruit, juicy cassis, plenty of acid backbone with a bit of bacon fat/game meat and a decent layered ending of more fruit and French coffee. Beautiful. A 95.
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7/3/2018 - Geaux Tigers wrote: 90 Points
Napa 2018; 6/28/2018-7/3/2018 (Napa): Lots of potential here, I like where this is going if the 2013 is any indication. This will be good and might have been better if not served next to its older brother.
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1/5/2018 - AGELVIS Does not like this wine: 83 Points
Menu decanted. Very tight nose of juniper, birch wood and plum. Deep, bright ruby color. Smooth, dry palate with lots of green notes. Full, round tannins on medium finish. This wine is simply too young right now.
It’s structured and clearly well made, but needs 3-5 years to open up (in my humble opinion). I was surprised that ‘14 would be this tight. Could have been just this specific bottle.
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12/2/2016 - Otaku Oenophile Likes this wine: 93 Points
It's in a really awkward place right now and doesn't compare to the 2013 vintage. Again very hard to gauge it and this is my enjoying the fortuna vineyard in 2013 more than the black label although for the 2014 vintage the black label really shines.
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