Solid marriage of structure and fruit. Core of blackberry and currant, alongside oak, clove, pine needles, and perhaps a light dusting of cocoa. Impressive structure at 8 years out, despite okay-but-not-optimal cellaring. Plenty of grip and astringency on the finish, increasing with time, so offers more fruit in the first 1-2 hours after popping the cork.
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Deep, dark purple (almost black!) color. Pronounced aromas of dark fruit (blueberries, blackberries, plum), garrigue, leather, oak. High alcohol, smooth tannins, full bodied. Flavors consistent with aromas. Long finish. A massive wine.
While not the style of wine I prefer these days, this wine doesn’t need to apologize for what it is.
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Delicious. Deep dark garnet colored, medium-full bodied, rich, concentrated, round, rich, complex but elegant and seductive smooth blackberry and black currant fruits accented by savory clove/cinnamon spices, tones of crème de cassis, mocha chocolate, tobacco leaf and black tea, with a tongue coating dusty gripping but silky smooth tannin laced lingering finish. https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2022/12/exzellenz-and-aged-robert-craig-mt.html
Served at my parents and my first experience with the Hall Excellenz cab. Interesting mixed reviews for this wine - I’m definitely on the positive side. Dark ruby fruit - dark cherry, currants, and blackberry. Really smooth mid-palate with a nice purity and decent depth/concentration - medium/medium plus body. I wasn’t wowed by the depth/concentration especially for the price point but the purity is quite impressive. Nice rich flavors of dark berries, cassis, and some spice/licorice. Fairly long finish. Popped/poured but drank out of a decanter for a couple hours. Not much improvement with time but drinking quite well right away. The 99 rating from LPB of WA is a little high in my opinion but still one of the better wines that I’ve had lately. WA anticipated maturity 2021 to 2045. 100% cab.
Opened a half hour before pouring. Three hours later enjoying a third glass, with a bit left to see how it does on day 2. Deliciously soft CA cabernet. Leathery nose with dark berry notes. Well balanced tannins with dark cherry and raspberry fruit. Opened substantially, after the pause, but very nice accompaniment with dinner of rib eye, roasted potatoes with Romesco sauce and roasted mixed veggies with melted Parmesan cheese. Last bottle of the 2015. In the window, but I would like to have a few more bottles to enjoy over the next 5 to 7 years.
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This is simply superb. I am speechless. Decant 2 hours or pour through aerator. Amazing with the French style steak frites cooked in duck fat. Or any type of red meat.
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Double decant. Blackberry, black cherry, leather, graphite. Delicious bottle of wine. Nice texture, tannins are super smooth and well integrated. Well balanced. This wine has bold fruit, but it’s not jammy at all. Full bodied, long finish. Is this $225? No. For that price there are some excellent Napa Cabernets. It’s still a great bottle of wine.
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Dark purplish red. Dark and rich on the nose, can easily smell inches away from the glass. Aromas of anise, vanilla, oak and black fruits. Heavy tannins (8/10) and full bodied. Insanely rich on the palate, the flavors completely coats your mouth. Layers of cassis, plums and dark cocoa. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2042.
Made up of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for 26 months in 90% new French oak barrels.
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A decade of exzellenz: 94-97 pts barrel sample. Another early ripe year from Hall. The wine is lovely, approachable. Even at this early stage is silky smoothy with velvety texture.
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5/2/2024 - Cyroof wrote:
Fantastic
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11/7/2023 - tbrader wrote: 92 Points
Solid marriage of structure and fruit. Core of blackberry and currant, alongside oak, clove, pine needles, and perhaps a light dusting of cocoa. Impressive structure at 8 years out, despite okay-but-not-optimal cellaring. Plenty of grip and astringency on the finish, increasing with time, so offers more fruit in the first 1-2 hours after popping the cork.
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11/6/2023 - denniswdern@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep, dark purple (almost black!) color. Pronounced aromas of dark fruit (blueberries, blackberries, plum), garrigue, leather, oak. High alcohol, smooth tannins, full bodied. Flavors consistent with aromas. Long finish. A massive wine.
While not the style of wine I prefer these days, this wine doesn’t need to apologize for what it is.
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12/20/2022 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 97 Points
Delicious. Deep dark garnet colored, medium-full bodied, rich, concentrated, round, rich, complex but elegant and seductive smooth blackberry and black currant fruits accented by savory clove/cinnamon spices, tones of crème de cassis, mocha chocolate, tobacco leaf and black tea, with a tongue coating dusty gripping but silky smooth tannin laced lingering finish.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2022/12/exzellenz-and-aged-robert-craig-mt.html
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5/22/2022 - Badmonkey wrote: 96 Points
Served at my parents and my first experience with the Hall Excellenz cab. Interesting mixed reviews for this wine - I’m definitely on the positive side. Dark ruby fruit - dark cherry, currants, and blackberry. Really smooth mid-palate with a nice purity and decent depth/concentration - medium/medium plus body. I wasn’t wowed by the depth/concentration especially for the price point but the purity is quite impressive. Nice rich flavors of dark berries, cassis, and some spice/licorice. Fairly long finish. Popped/poured but drank out of a decanter for a couple hours. Not much improvement with time but drinking quite well right away. The 99 rating from LPB of WA is a little high in my opinion but still one of the better wines that I’ve had lately. WA anticipated maturity 2021 to 2045. 100% cab.
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1/15/2022 - Crusty Reader Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened a half hour before pouring. Three hours later enjoying a third glass, with a bit left to see how it does on day 2. Deliciously soft CA cabernet. Leathery nose with dark berry notes. Well balanced tannins with dark cherry and raspberry fruit. Opened substantially, after the pause, but very nice accompaniment with dinner of rib eye, roasted potatoes with Romesco sauce and roasted mixed veggies with melted Parmesan cheese. Last bottle of the 2015. In the window, but I would like to have a few more bottles to enjoy over the next 5 to 7 years.
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8/1/2021 - bugdoced wrote: 87 Points
Never quite came together over a 3 day drinking window
Rich opulent and too close to a fruit bomb for me
Maybe some cellar time will help
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5/23/2021 - DaButtah Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Modern day mess.
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2/27/2021 - happy712 Likes this wine: 96 Points
This is simply superb. I am speechless. Decant 2 hours or pour through aerator. Amazing with the French style steak frites cooked in duck fat. Or any type of red meat.
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2/27/2021 - wdcwineguys Likes this wine: 95 Points
Double decant. Blackberry, black cherry, leather, graphite. Delicious bottle of wine. Nice texture, tannins are super smooth and well integrated. Well balanced. This wine has bold fruit, but it’s not jammy at all. Full bodied, long finish. Is this $225? No. For that price there are some excellent Napa Cabernets. It’s still a great bottle of wine.
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8/21/2020 - WineLubber wrote: 99 Points
99 point
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11/29/2019 - retinadoc1 wrote:
$350
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3/30/2019 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really good. I like it. just not worth the dollar. I mean i will drink it, but .....I don't know.....Cheers
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3/16/2019 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 98 Points
Tasted at the Taste of Yountville.
Dark purplish red. Dark and rich on the nose, can easily smell inches away from the glass. Aromas of anise, vanilla, oak and black fruits. Heavy tannins (8/10) and full bodied. Insanely rich on the palate, the flavors completely coats your mouth. Layers of cassis, plums and dark cocoa. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2042.
Made up of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for 26 months in 90% new French oak barrels.
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3/2/2019 - sean7711 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Napa; 3/1/2019-3/2/2019 (Napa Valley, CA): Hall Rutherford
Paired with Saucisson Provencal Salumi & Gouda Pecan Bacon-Wafer
Great when paired with food, this was on par with the 2014 I had last year. Thoroughly enjoyed by all.
100% Cabernet from the Sacrashe Vineyard in Rutherford on the estate.
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10/30/2016 - 82Latour Likes this wine: 94 Points
A decade of exzellenz: 94-97 pts barrel sample. Another early ripe year from Hall. The wine is lovely, approachable. Even at this early stage is silky smoothy with velvety texture.
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