With >20 yrs has held its own really well, drank over 4 nights with Coravin. Some remnants of black and stewed fruits, cedar and tannins prominent on nose, palate and finish. A delightful wine for its age from a very good Napa vintage.
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Thank you Derrald for this delicious treat. Nose of old style Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, red cherry, black cherry, and lots of floral notes, same on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, drink now but easily last another 10 years, and a long. long. flavorful finish and aftertaste.
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beautiful again, prior notes apply, more bold / youthful than all the 90's bottlings we've drank over the last decade... could go much longer (ten years?)
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beautiful again... no pretense, no 'manipulation' vintnering, just classic CA cab with more fruit and body than your typical Bordeaux... just lovely, engaging, elegant yet with ample body... maybe not as good as several vintages from the mid/late 90's but very very good
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92 pts, beautiful as usual... this bottling doesn't (at least yet) get up to the level of some of the '95's and '97's I've had over the years but it may well get there, pretty primary with beautiful dense reddish fruit, very good acidity, not as much complexity as the earlier vintages have had... feels like it goes another ten years at least, but problem is I will likely drink my last four bottles before that time!
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The old Whitehall Lane cab's are an absolute delight. They really age well. Because of the age of the bottle we decanted for sediment, but not for airing out. It was not necessary to let the bottle breathe for more than a few minutes. The tannin's are gone, but the wine is far from dead. Smooth and very balanced.
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Nice wine and similar notes as last year, but didn't seem to have the complexity and showiness to warrant the same score. The wine is definitely mature. Just don't know if this bottle was one off or if it has started to fade.
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An elegant wine still displaying nice fruit and color. Black currants, black cherries, and blackberries, with chocolate and licorice. A full bodied cabernet with soft tannins. Drinking beautifully now and should go for at least another 4-5 years.
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Perhaps storing of the previous commenters has been a problem, or they only like young wine. Drank this un-decantered (as you should very old wines). It is still beautiful. I wish I had another bottle to drink in a year or more. Still some fruit, but the old, soft tannins and the tobacco hint are exquisite!
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This has aged beautifully. Coffee and chocolate on both the nose and the tongue. Rich, soft, silky and creamy with very fine, dusty tannins. Incredibly enjoyable for a Cabernet lacking in power. Very slight bricking on the edges. It probably has a few years left, but if I had any more it wouldn't last that long.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Medium dark color with darker earthy and spicy aromas. Still lots of fruit with nice balance and long finish. Very enjoyable now.
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Wow, after all these years, this wine puffed it's chest out and performed. Paired with prime filet and poured straight from the bottle after about and hour post uncorking. It tasted like a refined cab. I thought it had 2-3 more years, the Mrs. felt it was perfect. Wish we had more.
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This was opened and decanted. The color was dark red but at first we thought it was dead. with time and air it opened to have dark cherry aromas with some cassis. The tannins were integrated and smooth. It was a classy bottle of wine. Glad we waited.
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It’s fun to break out some favorites from my early days of getting interested in wine…wasn’t sure we would get to it, but we were having a good time and the night was still young…I was surprised that it was still very dark with no signs of being a 13 year old bottle…cherries, blue fruit, vanilla and a wonderful mouthfeel…the finish was long…plenty of years left and seems to be getting better…I’m glad to have a couple more left…among the best bottles of Whitehall Lane I’ve had...the sentimental WOTN.
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Totally elegant. One of the best Whitehall Lane's that I had from that era (1998, 2001 Leonardini, 2005 Cabs) Holding up well, full bodied, long on fruit and warm on the tongue.
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Decanted for little bit over an hour. Wine full of cherry flavor, hints of oak and great finish. A fan favorite among guests and wine drinking very well.
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What an impressive 01 Napa Cab. Its been a few years since I have visited this wine last ans my oh my, it as only gotten more impressive. Structure, body and balance are in a great harmony right now.
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Saddle, graphite, cassis, briar and deep black plum on the nose. Deep dark purple color with very thin light edge. This wine has aged gracefully. Complex, layered mouthfeel with hints of black & blue plums, anise, vanilla, dark cocoa, leather with big round tannins and long 30 second finish.
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Men's Best Bottle, BB: This was absolutely amazing. Tasted blind alongside 14 other great wines. This won its flight easily and was probably #2 overall. Deep, rich, creamy, hits big everywhere in the mouth and a long, long finish. Perfect time to drink this, but then again still seems to have lots of life left.
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Not sure why both Parker and WS seem to diss this wine. I've been a fan of Whitehall (Morisoli in late 90s, reserve thereafter) for years. It's middle of the fairway flavor profile is great drinking, and price is reasonable. This bottle was drinking great, but had a few more years to go. No problems.
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Opened and poured through Vinturi into my Riedel to decant. Color was a dark deep red/black color. Proceeded to drink over 2 hours with some BBQ and chinese food shared among a group. The nose as someone else mentioned smelled like dark deep red fruit and cigar.
On the palate, the cherry fruit flavor is pronounced but you get a good hint of chocolate and mocha. The cherry is surrounded by some pleasant tannin structure. Very smooth and approachable as everything is just ready. I don't think this has many more years of shelf life so drink up but it was certainly very good. Highly recommended for those who still have them or have access to a bottle. Another excellent Whitehall Lane bottle.
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Cellared at 55 degrees since release. opened after one hour at room temperature.
Opened and not decanted. consumed slowly over 2.5 hours lastly with lamb and asparagus.
Color: nice dark cherry red with a brick rim.
Nose: dark red fruit, faint cigar box with a touch of toffee and rhubarb.
Tasting: good dark cherry and sweet red fruit. excellent structure with good tannins and mouth feel. moderate sweet finish. would suggest opening bottle probably 2 hours at least prior to tasting.
Assesment: Overall very tasty still with good fruit and many good years remaining on this one.
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Sweet cassis jam, blackberry, plum and vanilla spice aromatic expressions. Smooth palate entry with refined tannins. Still drinking well with exceptional balance. Long finish with blackberry spice.
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- Garnet color with slow forming legs and aromas of rose and black currant. It's in total harmony and has flavours of butterscotch, chocolate and menthol with a full body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish - This wine was excellent! I have always enjoyed their wines, and this was no exception. Fruit forward, great aroma long finish.
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This wine proved to be as good as I thought it was going to be, maybe even a touch better than I was expecting. The wine showed the classic makings of a Napa Valley Cabernet from the heralded 2001 vintage. The wine showed plenty of maturity, but had a lot of life and energy as the aromas and flavors were complex and intriguing. This has more time left than I would have thought, though I don’t think it will get any better. Color: A red, somewhat cloudy color (lots of sediment), with ruby edges showing a touch of rust. Nose & Palate: Lots of cherry & cassis, some sweet tobacco, spice, earth and lovely sandalwood notes rose from the glass. The palate was lots of the fruit, amped up by the medium grained tannins. The wine finished nicely, with focused red fruit and a nice tannic backbone.
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Opened for about 1 hour prior to pouring. Decanted and enjoyed during dinner. Incredible tasting wine. Hints if cinnamon, nice dark ruby color w/ great taste beginning to end.
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This was drinking well, but frankly still very youthful... still had plenty of life. Dark color, no signs of bricking. Dark fruit nose, cassis, dark berries. Similar on the palate with a touch of cedar and some slight herbal characteristics, but plenty of youthful dark fruit as well. would love to try again in 3-5 years but sadly my last bottle.
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Very well preserved with great balance. Doing quite well at 10 yrs+. This is classic cali cab. Not a lot of complexity, but still WOTN on Christmas day
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Enjoyed over a few days, showing well integrated slightly dusty tannins, layered fruit and balanced oak, some eucalyptus, leather and mocha notes. Still worthy of some more time in the cellar.
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I like this wine, I like Whitehall lane wines, however, I must say this wine was surprisingly disappointing, as I expected much more from a Reserve Cabernet with some age on it. It was good wine, don't misunderstand me but just good to very good and not outstanding. Still holding up well after 10+ years.
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another great bottle of whitehall lane, nose was fruit but with heavy dose of mint/menthol, green herbs and a touch of Shiraz apricot, mouthfeel was superb with tannins receded but nonetheless some dusty tannin grip, rich flavors of fruit, mint and some green elements, complex and almost bordeaux like (but with concentration that is more Cali in style), for all the richness none of it came from oak, in fact no oak discernible at all -- how nice!
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Great color and napa aroma. Disappoints at the reserve level, the style is polished fruit and lots of oak. Black currant is supported by green medicinal notes, creamy spice, sweet tannin but hot. More winemaker than grape in this bottle, it was no different on day two. A shame.
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A perfect cork and a very young showing for this wine. Beautiful garnet in the glass. Black and some red cherry and of course cassis. Tannins are smooth and round, with just a hint of silkiness on the finish. There is good structure, but also a good dose of oak to go along with it. Whether it is the youthful state of the wine, or the oak, it is not giving much in the way of any dimension. A good finish with medium-plus length that shows pleasant vanillin and cherry. This needs to evolve or you are having a very simple albeit good tasting, Napa Cab. Pales horribly in comparison to the 97 Reserve.
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Popped and poured. This bottle was consistent with my TN from last year although i think this bottle was a little better. The oak seems a little more integrated and there were nice secondaries of dark chocolate and roasted coffee. Beautiful wine which is drinking extremely well right now. No rush on these since it should drink at this level for several more years.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and glass decanted about 30 minutes before serving.
Garnet to perhaps dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, berries and currants. Flavors of berries, currants, raspberries and a bit of cherry. Medium acidity, medium tannins, full bodied. Drink now.
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Wednesday Night Blind - April 2011 (Peter Pratt's Inn): Blind - Big black fruit, great depth and balance, lush and plush, really enjoyable. I'm a big fan of Whitehall Lane and love when they show well in blind tastings.
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First off I would recommend letting this bottle sit upright for 24 hours before opening. It is throwing a very fine sediment. Do NOT decant, let it sit in the glass for 5 min or so.
The last few reviews are all very good. Nose of black cherry, blackberry, roasted herb, cedar, and fine leather with an overtone of sweetness. Incredibly smooth and seamless with a med-full body of very slightly dried fruit and the rest echoing the nose adding some tobacco. The tannins are still very soft and there is a slight sweetness working here that begs for some meat juices to balance it. Finishes long with dusty but sweet tannins that give the impression of cocoa dusted berries. A well seasoned and med/rare steak makes this wine sing. This has at least 5 years left but is prime. An absolute benchmark Napa cab with class. Bravo!
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Awesome wine with plenty of life left. As a matter of fact, I'd say this is still in the primary stage. Big, red fruit, cedar, ripe and rounded nose that smacks of Napa Cab, palate shows red currant, black currant, still noticeable tannins (although they're starting to meld with the rest of the wine). Went perfect with a Flannery hanger steak and sweet potato fries. (PE: 95)
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Nearly perfect, offering up rich black fruit, saddle leather, dust and smoke, but integrated with soft, round tannins and balanced with just a touch of acidity. In the zone now, but should go on a few more years. Blew away an '02 Silver Oak Napa in a side-by-side.
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Popped and poured this and it was very good right out of the bottle. Lovely nose of cassis with a little oak also showing. Typical Whitehall lane style in the mouth. Full bodied, smooth and elegant with rich black fruit and well integrated oak. Long finish with soft tannins. Seems to be in its drinking window now but should last for quite a while. Did improve a little with air but certainly does not require any form of extended aeration. A really good cabernet.
Paired perfectly with prime rib. In the top of 7 or 8 reserve cabs that I have had from Whitehall. Full body with many layers and close to a 60 second elegant finish. Extremely smooth straight out of the bootle. Did not find it much imporved after an hour of decanting. Personally, I would drink within the next 2-3 yrs. to enjoy full structure and layers of this wine. Not likely to improve much for me.
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Drinking superbly right now. Great fruit, tannins and acidity all in balance.
Color: Deep red core with red edges.
Nose: Blackberry and bing cherry, a touch of toasty oak and pencil shavings
Palate: Solid from start to finish. Coffee, crushed summer cherries, some of those shavings and spice. Medium to full bodied, supple tannins excellent Napa Cabernet! Fresh long finish.
Drank a 2001 Napa Cabernet from another very reputable producer last night that I expected big things, it could not touch this.
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A beautiful modern cab. Gobs of anise,darker fuits,cedar,milk chocolate into a nice medium+ finish. Plenty of life left but this really hit it's stride after a hour+decant.
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Steller wine, more casis and anise on the nose than any i had in the past. Tons of plue and red fruits with hints of cedar and plum comming thru on the long finish. Very well intagrated!
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Brought to WLTV dinner at Tribeca grill. Only got a small pour, so cannot rate, but it was very smooth, with integrated oak and tannins, but still with a lot of life ahead. Was very good, and look forward to trying the next bottle over a longer period.
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Opened and decanted a little over an hour before serving. Followed for a total of 2 1/2 hours. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of currants, smoke, black berries and a bit of saddle soap. Flavors of black cherries, Bing cherries, black berries and some bitters on the medium finish. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full body. Drink now with a decant or continue to hold over the medium term. Not as expressive as the 1997.
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Aging gracefully, this Cab delivered aromas of black/red fruit, tobacco leaf, cedar, leather and spice. Initially tight, a 30 minute decanting allowed it to open nicely. Fully integrated tannins deliver a lush mouthfeel and long, lingering finish.
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Wine took a while to develop, but after about 3 hours ofair,this turned out to be a nice, rich cabernet. If i didn't know it was a 2001, I would have thought it older.
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Relatively boring and oaky....nothing compared to (my memory of) the 1996 and 1997 Reserves, which (in contrast) exceeded expectations. I don't think this would stand out as being any better than a $10-$15 "grocery store red" (e.g. Columbia Crest Grand Estates, etc.). Really just a creamy, mushy, fruit soup of a wine.
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This is tasty stuff. Rich and palate-coating, with a bit of Old World sensibility. Rich fruit combines with underbrush, earth and saddle. Red currant, cedar, tobacco. Plush, coarse velvet mouthfeel, and nicely integrating tannins. If the fruit holds this has 5-10 years left.
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Good wine, but just did not seem very complex at first. Opened up more the second day, and was much smoother overall, but I really wonder if this has the necessary ingredients to be really good? Perhaps it was closed, right now, but this sure seemed similar to another bottle I consumed last year.
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not blind on the regular double blind tuesday tasting; i didn't record the alcohol level. mother of jesus, why is it that every time i try this flippin' wine, it is sensational? like the caymus special select, this seems to perform brilliantly every time i try it. perpetually ignored and under-rated; i've had every big bomber from this vintage, and the whitehall lane can stand up to all but the extreme top of the top. maybe the foley claret and switchback ridge are "better", but you will be splitting hairs. balance and fruit and more fruit. highly recommended.
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Not what I expected from a Reserve wine. Somewhat diluted and lacked any real identity. Could have been a flawed bottle although it had been stored properly since purchase.
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Exceptionally balanced with plenty of black fruit and soft tannins. Probably at its peak. We intend to drink up the rest of our stash of this wonderful Cab.
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Splash decanted. Had the boss over for a drink after work. We killed about half the bottle. Will have to re-taste tomorrow when my palate and brain are back on course. But, this was a pretty good bottle with air time. I'd say it even Very Good.
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I should've spent some more time with this, but we passed it to another table after making sure it was okay. A bit more restrained with the fruit than the '97 Profile, this wine showed tightly-wrapped currants, anise, and a little coffee. In a year or two as the fruit unwinds this wine will be spectacular - definitely on par with the '95, one of my favorites.
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fruity, floral nose, cassis aromas, hint of bananas, ripe black fruit, and plenty of currant. Deep, rich color. Solid tannin structure, but more refined and elegant than the chewey tannins in the 1999 regular. Oak is evident, but certainly not overpowering. Some chocolate overtones on the finish. I'm looking forward to seeing how this progresses. Very good wine.
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Consumed with seared tri-tip at the Roche Cayucos home. Bottle provided by Ken Johnson. Bright disc. Opaque purple/ruby robe with violet rim. Clean nose, showing moderately intense currants, minerals, vanilla, mocha and toasted oak. Full-bodied on the palate, with low acidity, slightly hot alcohol, huge, slightly coarse tannins and flavors which mirror the palate. Long finish with a whiff of dryness/heat. This wine is clearly in need of cellaring. If the oak and tannins integrate, it will merit a higher score.
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1/26/2024 - Mike_bahbah Likes this wine: 93 Points
With >20 yrs has held its own really well, drank over 4 nights with Coravin. Some remnants of black and stewed fruits, cedar and tannins prominent on nose, palate and finish. A delightful wine for its age from a very good Napa vintage.
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2/18/2023 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 94 Points
Thank you Derrald for this delicious treat. Nose of old style Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, red cherry, black cherry, and lots of floral notes, same on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, drink now but easily last another 10 years, and a long. long. flavorful finish and aftertaste.
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1/22/2022 - kandrfairview Likes this wine: 92 Points
Held up really well, but it was a Jeroboam bottle so great for aging. Very smooth, good tannins and structure.
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11/15/2020 - WoodieBayArea wrote:
beautiful again, prior notes apply, more bold / youthful than all the 90's bottlings we've drank over the last decade... could go much longer (ten years?)
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10/29/2020 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 92 Points
beautiful again... no pretense, no 'manipulation' vintnering, just classic CA cab with more fruit and body than your typical Bordeaux... just lovely, engaging, elegant yet with ample body... maybe not as good as several vintages from the mid/late 90's but very very good
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10/17/2020 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 92 Points
92 pts, beautiful as usual... this bottling doesn't (at least yet) get up to the level of some of the '95's and '97's I've had over the years but it may well get there, pretty primary with beautiful dense reddish fruit, very good acidity, not as much complexity as the earlier vintages have had... feels like it goes another ten years at least, but problem is I will likely drink my last four bottles before that time!
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7/11/2020 - no leashes wrote:
Dark purple fruit and spice flavors, rich and smooth. Beautifully aged. Paired with grilled NY strips, delicious.
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3/17/2019 - jzebrack Likes this wine: 93 Points
The old Whitehall Lane cab's are an absolute delight.
They really age well.
Because of the age of the bottle we decanted for sediment, but not for airing out. It was not necessary to let the bottle breathe for more than a few minutes.
The tannin's are gone, but the wine is far from dead.
Smooth and very balanced.
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2/25/2019 - kend707 wrote: 93 Points
Allow to decant 2 hours and this is really super.
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2/15/2019 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice wine and similar notes as last year, but didn't seem to have the complexity and showiness to warrant the same score. The wine is definitely mature. Just don't know if this bottle was one off or if it has started to fade.
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6/3/2018 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
An elegant wine still displaying nice fruit and color. Black currants, black cherries, and blackberries, with chocolate and licorice. A full bodied cabernet with soft tannins. Drinking beautifully now and should go for at least another 4-5 years.
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5/13/2017 - Mccrossanc wrote: 87 Points
Very much still a live and tasty. Could have laid down longer
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1/29/2017 - RoccoSydney wrote: 93 Points
Perhaps storing of the previous commenters has been a problem, or they only like young wine. Drank this un-decantered (as you should very old wines). It is still beautiful. I wish I had another bottle to drink in a year or more. Still some fruit, but the old, soft tannins and the tobacco hint are exquisite!
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10/28/2016 - LinkEvans wrote: 87 Points
Flat and muted. Uncharacteristic for this wine. Sadly, I think well past its prime.
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5/20/2016 - rhathorn wrote: flawed
Past its prime
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12/25/2015 - spectrumphoto wrote:
Decant for 30-45 and enjoy with a wonderful dry aged steak!
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8/22/2015 - Hamersly Likes this wine: 95 Points
This has aged beautifully. Coffee and chocolate on both the nose and the tongue. Rich, soft, silky and creamy with very fine, dusty tannins. Incredibly enjoyable for a Cabernet lacking in power. Very slight bricking on the edges. It probably has a few years left, but if I had any more it wouldn't last that long.
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6/4/2015 - BoulderWine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Medium dark color with darker earthy and spicy aromas. Still lots of fruit with nice balance and long finish. Very enjoyable now.
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2/28/2015 - greyhound93 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow, after all these years, this wine puffed it's chest out and performed. Paired with prime filet and poured straight from the bottle after about and hour post uncorking. It tasted like a refined cab. I thought it had 2-3 more years, the Mrs. felt it was perfect. Wish we had more.
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1/10/2015 - emf Likes this wine:
This was opened and decanted. The color was dark red but at first we thought it was dead. with time and air it opened to have dark cherry aromas with some cassis. The tannins were integrated and smooth. It was a classy bottle of wine. Glad we waited.
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8/3/2014 - H*3 wrote: flawed
Bad Bottle
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8/2/2014 - hanasowner wrote: 95 Points
It’s fun to break out some favorites from my early days of getting interested in wine…wasn’t sure we would get to it, but we were having a good time and the night was still young…I was surprised that it was still very dark with no signs of being a 13 year old bottle…cherries, blue fruit, vanilla and a wonderful mouthfeel…the finish was long…plenty of years left and seems to be getting better…I’m glad to have a couple more left…among the best bottles of Whitehall Lane I’ve had...the sentimental WOTN.
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7/5/2014 - Lax4 Likes this wine: 92 Points
glad i opened and decanted for a while. Wine got better with time.
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4/26/2014 - callmeacab22 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Totally elegant. One of the best Whitehall Lane's that I had from that era (1998, 2001 Leonardini, 2005 Cabs) Holding up well, full bodied, long on fruit and warm on the tongue.
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3/1/2014 - Lax4 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for little bit over an hour. Wine full of cherry flavor, hints of oak and great finish. A fan favorite among guests and wine drinking very well.
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12/24/2013 - spectrumphoto Likes this wine: 95 Points
What an impressive 01 Napa Cab. Its been a few years since I have visited this wine last ans my oh my, it as only gotten more impressive. Structure, body and balance are in a great harmony right now.
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11/24/2013 - GolferChris wrote: 95 Points
Saddle, graphite, cassis, briar and deep black plum on the nose. Deep dark purple color with very thin light edge. This wine has aged gracefully. Complex, layered mouthfeel with hints of black & blue plums, anise, vanilla, dark cocoa, leather with big round tannins and long 30 second finish.
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8/30/2013 - jinks Likes this wine: 96 Points
Men's Best Bottle, BB: This was absolutely amazing. Tasted blind alongside 14 other great wines. This won its flight easily and was probably #2 overall.
Deep, rich, creamy, hits big everywhere in the mouth and a long, long finish. Perfect time to drink this, but then again still seems to have lots of life left.
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8/21/2013 - levinml wrote: 93 Points
Not sure why both Parker and WS seem to diss this wine. I've been a fan of Whitehall (Morisoli in late 90s, reserve thereafter) for years. It's middle of the fairway flavor profile is great drinking, and price is reasonable. This bottle was drinking great, but had a few more years to go. No problems.
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8/4/2013 - ghobby wrote: 91 Points
Wine is drinking really well; soft and fruity.
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7/26/2013 - travelme wrote: 92 Points
Opened and poured through Vinturi into my Riedel to decant. Color was a dark deep red/black color. Proceeded to drink over 2 hours with some BBQ and chinese food shared among a group. The nose as someone else mentioned smelled like dark deep red fruit and cigar.
On the palate, the cherry fruit flavor is pronounced but you get a good hint of chocolate and mocha. The cherry is surrounded by some pleasant tannin structure. Very smooth and approachable as everything is just ready. I don't think this has many more years of shelf life so drink up but it was certainly very good. Highly recommended for those who still have them or have access to a bottle. Another excellent Whitehall Lane bottle.
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7/14/2013 - 55degrees Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cellared at 55 degrees since release.
opened after one hour at room temperature.
Opened and not decanted. consumed slowly over 2.5 hours lastly with lamb and asparagus.
Color: nice dark cherry red with a brick rim.
Nose: dark red fruit, faint cigar box with a touch of toffee and rhubarb.
Tasting: good dark cherry and sweet red fruit. excellent structure with good tannins and mouth feel. moderate sweet finish. would suggest opening bottle probably 2 hours at least prior to tasting.
Assesment: Overall very tasty still with good fruit and many good years remaining on this one.
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5/13/2013 - RobSpectator wrote: 91 Points
Sweet cassis jam, blackberry, plum and vanilla spice aromatic expressions. Smooth palate entry with refined tannins. Still drinking well with exceptional balance. Long finish with blackberry spice.
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4/8/2013 - ghobby wrote: 95 Points
- Garnet color with slow forming legs and aromas of rose and black currant. It's in total harmony and has flavours of butterscotch, chocolate and menthol with a full body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish - This wine was excellent! I have always enjoyed their wines, and this was no exception. Fruit forward, great aroma long finish.
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1/5/2013 - tkoby11 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine proved to be as good as I thought it was going to be, maybe even a touch better than I was expecting. The wine showed the classic makings of a Napa Valley Cabernet from the heralded 2001 vintage. The wine showed plenty of maturity, but had a lot of life and energy as the aromas and flavors were complex and intriguing. This has more time left than I would have thought, though I don’t think it will get any better.
Color: A red, somewhat cloudy color (lots of sediment), with ruby edges showing a touch of rust.
Nose & Palate: Lots of cherry & cassis, some sweet tobacco, spice, earth and lovely sandalwood notes rose from the glass. The palate was lots of the fruit, amped up by the medium grained tannins. The wine finished nicely, with focused red fruit and a nice tannic backbone.
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12/29/2012 - Lax4 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened for about 1 hour prior to pouring. Decanted and enjoyed during dinner. Incredible tasting wine. Hints if cinnamon, nice dark ruby color w/ great taste beginning to end.
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12/26/2012 - Grape_ape wrote: 91 Points
This was drinking well, but frankly still very youthful... still had plenty of life. Dark color, no signs of bricking. Dark fruit nose, cassis, dark berries. Similar on the palate with a touch of cedar and some slight herbal characteristics, but plenty of youthful dark fruit as well. would love to try again in 3-5 years but sadly my last bottle.
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12/25/2012 - kennyg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very well preserved with great balance. Doing quite well at 10 yrs+. This is classic cali cab. Not a lot of complexity, but still WOTN on Christmas day
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12/15/2012 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. Lush black fruit aromas followed by plum and black cherry flavors. Good spice throughout, very good balance with well integrated tannins an acidity.
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11/1/2012 - JDRFoster wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyed over a few days, showing well integrated slightly dusty tannins, layered fruit and balanced oak, some eucalyptus, leather and mocha notes. Still worthy of some more time in the cellar.
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10/21/2012 - Yack Man wrote: 90 Points
I like this wine, I like Whitehall lane wines, however, I must say this wine was surprisingly disappointing, as I expected much more from a Reserve Cabernet with some age on it. It was good wine, don't misunderstand me but just good to very good and not outstanding. Still holding up well after 10+ years.
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8/26/2012 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 92 Points
another great bottle of whitehall lane, nose was fruit but with heavy dose of mint/menthol, green herbs and a touch of Shiraz apricot, mouthfeel was superb with tannins receded but nonetheless some dusty tannin grip, rich flavors of fruit, mint and some green elements, complex and almost bordeaux like (but with concentration that is more Cali in style), for all the richness none of it came from oak, in fact no oak discernible at all -- how nice!
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7/4/2012 - kenhoeve wrote: 86 Points
Great color and napa aroma. Disappoints at the reserve level, the style is polished fruit and lots of oak. Black currant is supported by green medicinal notes, creamy spice, sweet tannin but hot. More winemaker than grape in this bottle, it was no different on day two. A shame.
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5/13/2012 - shk5157 wrote: 92 Points
aged well, typical Whitehall subtle, vegetal taste
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2/5/2012 - Lax4 wrote: 92 Points
Consumed for SuperBowl Sunday
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2/5/2012 - Lax4 wrote: 92 Points
Consumed for Super Bowl Sunday...Decanted for about 30 minutes and enjoyed with family. Nice rich deep ruby color. Great flavor and full body
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2/3/2012 - shk5157 wrote: 91 Points
Drank after a Pride vintage merlot and it was a nice contrast. Typical soft, layered fruit
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12/8/2011 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
Dark fruit, medium bodied, long finish. Really drinking nicely.
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12/2/2011 - kenhoeve wrote: 89 Points
A perfect cork and a very young showing for this wine. Beautiful garnet in the glass. Black and some red cherry and of course cassis. Tannins are smooth and round, with just a hint of silkiness on the finish. There is good structure, but also a good dose of oak to go along with it. Whether it is the youthful state of the wine, or the oak, it is not giving much in the way of any dimension. A good finish with medium-plus length that shows pleasant vanillin and cherry. This needs to evolve or you are having a very simple albeit good tasting, Napa Cab. Pales horribly in comparison to the 97 Reserve.
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10/7/2011 - edjBoca wrote: 92 Points
Drank with family. Smooth, rich and long. This should hold for a few more years, but this is my last bottle.
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9/4/2011 - Yamadori wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. This bottle was consistent with my TN from last year although i think this bottle was a little better. The oak seems a little more integrated and there were nice secondaries of dark chocolate and roasted coffee. Beautiful wine which is drinking extremely well right now. No rush on these since it should drink at this level for several more years.
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6/16/2011 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92
Tasted non blind. Opened and glass decanted about 30 minutes before serving.
Garnet to perhaps dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, berries and currants. Flavors of berries, currants, raspberries and a bit of cherry. Medium acidity, medium tannins, full bodied. Drink now.
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5/24/2011 - edjBoca wrote: 92 Points
A rich dense Cabernet approaching maturity, but with plenty of time left on the clock.
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5/15/2011 - Didman wrote: 93 Points
Rich cabernet aroma and flavors. A lovely wine at this point.
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4/6/2011 - Vinomarcus wrote: 91 Points
Wednesday Night Blind - April 2011 (Peter Pratt's Inn): Blind - Big black fruit, great depth and balance, lush and plush, really enjoyable. I'm a big fan of Whitehall Lane and love when they show well in blind tastings.
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7/31/2010 - kenhoeve wrote: 93 Points
First off I would recommend letting this bottle sit upright for 24 hours before opening. It is throwing a very fine sediment. Do NOT decant, let it sit in the glass for 5 min or so.
The last few reviews are all very good. Nose of black cherry, blackberry, roasted herb, cedar, and fine leather with an overtone of sweetness. Incredibly smooth and seamless with a med-full body of very slightly dried fruit and the rest echoing the nose adding some tobacco. The tannins are still very soft and there is a slight sweetness working here that begs for some meat juices to balance it. Finishes long with dusty but sweet tannins that give the impression of cocoa dusted berries. A well seasoned and med/rare steak makes this wine sing. This has at least 5 years left but is prime. An absolute benchmark Napa cab with class. Bravo!
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6/28/2010 - MarkC Likes this wine: 95 Points
Awesome wine with plenty of life left. As a matter of fact, I'd say this is still in the primary stage. Big, red fruit, cedar, ripe and rounded nose that smacks of Napa Cab, palate shows red currant, black currant, still noticeable tannins (although they're starting to meld with the rest of the wine). Went perfect with a Flannery hanger steak and sweet potato fries. (PE: 95)
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4/26/2010 - Snoman wrote: 94 Points
Nearly perfect, offering up rich black fruit, saddle leather, dust and smoke, but integrated with soft, round tannins and balanced with just a touch of acidity. In the zone now, but should go on a few more years. Blew away an '02 Silver Oak Napa in a side-by-side.
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4/1/2010 - Yamadori wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured this and it was very good right out of the bottle. Lovely nose of cassis with a little oak also showing. Typical Whitehall lane style in the mouth. Full bodied, smooth and elegant with rich black fruit and well integrated oak. Long finish with soft tannins. Seems to be in its drinking window now but should last for quite a while. Did improve a little with air but certainly does not require any form of extended aeration. A really good cabernet.
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2/27/2010 - markan wrote: 93 Points
Paired perfectly with prime rib. In the top of 7 or 8 reserve cabs that I have had from Whitehall. Full body with many layers and close to a 60 second elegant finish. Extremely smooth straight out of the bootle. Did not find it much imporved after an hour of decanting. Personally, I would drink within the next 2-3 yrs. to enjoy full structure and layers of this wine. Not likely to improve much for me.
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2/7/2010 - tkoby11 wrote: 93 Points
Drinking superbly right now. Great fruit, tannins and acidity all in balance.
Color: Deep red core with red edges.
Nose: Blackberry and bing cherry, a touch of toasty oak and pencil shavings
Palate: Solid from start to finish. Coffee, crushed summer cherries, some of those shavings and spice. Medium to full bodied, supple tannins excellent Napa Cabernet! Fresh long finish.
Drank a 2001 Napa Cabernet from another very reputable producer last night that I expected big things, it could not touch this.
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1/19/2010 - JDRFoster wrote: 92 Points
91-93. Very tasty now. Medium finish. Nice integrated oak and tannin. Excellent balance.
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12/25/2009 - ghobby wrote: 92 Points
Great fruit; drinking really well; long finish
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12/14/2009 - cyu wrote: 92 Points
Raspberries and cherries. Really nice. Much better now than 3-4 years ago.
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10/22/2009 - LeatherPalate wrote: 91 Points
A beautiful modern cab. Gobs of anise,darker fuits,cedar,milk chocolate into a nice medium+ finish.
Plenty of life left but this really hit it's stride after a hour+decant.
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10/6/2009 - qhdeputy wrote: 93 Points
Velvet. Still has some heat. Has several more years in it.
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8/5/2009 - tacman wrote: 80 Points
This bottle never opened up, even after 24 hours ... kept waiting for some hint of fruit, but very muted.
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6/14/2009 - bgillman wrote: 92 Points
enjoyed with large group - good reviews. opened 3-4hrs before drinking
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5/21/2009 - jivey wrote: 93 Points
Not ready, seemed shutdown and not taking on secondary nuances yet.
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4/8/2009 - jivey wrote: 94 Points
Steller wine, more casis and anise on the nose than any i had in the past. Tons of plue and red fruits with hints of cedar and plum comming thru on the long finish. Very well intagrated!
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1/3/2009 - Grape_ape wrote:
Brought to WLTV dinner at Tribeca grill. Only got a small pour, so cannot rate, but it was very smooth, with integrated oak and tannins, but still with a lot of life ahead. Was very good, and look forward to trying the next bottle over a longer period.
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12/26/2008 - spotfin wrote: 91 Points
Mature cab, full bodied, dark fruits, smooth tannins.
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12/11/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
WIML90,PURPLE91
Tasted December 11, 2008.
Opened and decanted a little over an hour before serving. Followed for a total of 2 1/2 hours. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of currants, smoke, black berries and a bit of saddle soap. Flavors of black cherries, Bing cherries, black berries and some bitters on the medium finish. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full body. Drink now with a decant or continue to hold over the medium term. Not as expressive as the 1997.
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11/22/2008 - GolferChris wrote: 93 Points
Aging gracefully, this Cab delivered aromas of black/red fruit, tobacco leaf, cedar, leather and spice. Initially tight, a 30 minute decanting allowed it to open nicely. Fully integrated tannins deliver a lush mouthfeel and long, lingering finish.
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8/22/2008 - spotfin wrote: 90 Points
Mature, balanced Cali cab. Not a blockbuster, but a good daily drinker.
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7/4/2008 - GZ3 wrote: 92 Points
Wine took a while to develop, but after about 3 hours ofair,this turned out to be a nice, rich cabernet. If i didn't know it was a 2001, I would have thought it older.
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1/10/2008 - Employee500 wrote: 87 Points
Relatively boring and oaky....nothing compared to (my memory of) the 1996 and 1997 Reserves, which (in contrast) exceeded expectations. I don't think this would stand out as being any better than a $10-$15 "grocery store red" (e.g. Columbia Crest Grand Estates, etc.). Really just a creamy, mushy, fruit soup of a wine.
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12/27/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 92 Points
Subtle red fruit with a nice elegant medium bodied mouth feel. More red fruits on the long still strong finish. Nice bottle of wine.
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9/3/2007 - bdenuyl wrote: 93 Points
An excellent cab with good depth and richness, while maintaining great balance. Drinking very well in ’07.
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7/15/2007 - MarkC wrote: 95 Points
This is tasty stuff. Rich and palate-coating, with a bit of Old World sensibility. Rich fruit combines with underbrush, earth and saddle. Red currant, cedar, tobacco. Plush, coarse velvet mouthfeel, and nicely integrating tannins. If the fruit holds this has 5-10 years left.
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6/13/2007 - Cavemenn wrote: 93 Points
Really smooth, some tanins, cedar, leather, coffee on the finish. Great vintage
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1/31/2007 - win wrote: 89 Points
Good wine, but just did not seem very complex at first. Opened up more the second day, and was much smoother overall, but I really wonder if this has the necessary ingredients to be really good? Perhaps it was closed, right now, but this sure seemed similar to another bottle I consumed last year.
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1/20/2007 - gotwine? wrote: 93 Points
Very good. All kinds of flavors, some up front and other lingering. I do not think more time in the cellar will improve. This wine is great now.
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12/7/2006 - dwbumsted wrote: 93 Points
Had with steak. Wonderfully smooth and seamless with plenty of fruit. Better than I thought it would be.
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11/14/2006 - jeff nowak wrote: 96 Points
not blind on the regular double blind tuesday tasting; i didn't record the alcohol level. mother of jesus, why is it that every time i try this flippin' wine, it is sensational? like the caymus special select, this seems to perform brilliantly every time i try it. perpetually ignored and under-rated; i've had every big bomber from this vintage, and the whitehall lane can stand up to all but the extreme top of the top. maybe the foley claret and switchback ridge are "better", but you will be splitting hairs. balance and fruit and more fruit. highly recommended.
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11/14/2006 - kstoddard wrote: 94 Points
Blackcurrant, cherry nose. Tastes of deep, dark cherry with a long, beautiful finish. Noticeable oak that should integrate better with time.
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7/28/2006 - Longboarder wrote: 89 Points
Not what I expected from a Reserve wine. Somewhat diluted and lacked any real identity. Could have been a flawed bottle although it had been stored properly since purchase.
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7/9/2006 - ColoradoRick wrote: 92 Points
Exceptionally balanced with plenty of black fruit and soft tannins. Probably at its peak. We intend to drink up the rest of our stash of this wonderful Cab.
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6/11/2006 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Napa-Noma, June 2006: Concentrated inky smelling. Less primary and more structured. Solid. Touch of licorice/anise. Seems to need time. Might be good.
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2/24/2006 - tanglenet wrote:
Splash decanted. Had the boss over for a drink after work. We killed about half the bottle. Will have to re-taste tomorrow when my palate and brain are back on course. But, this was a pretty good bottle with air time. I'd say it even Very Good.
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10/8/2005 - texaswino wrote: 94 Points
Delicious wine. Currant, black fruits and some coffee on the finish. Firm but supple tannins. Great with grilled steaks.
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6/4/2005 - texaswino wrote: 93 Points
Currant, black fruit and some coffee. This is impressive stuff. Glad I have a few more bottles. 93+. Will be even better in a couple of years.
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5/16/2005 - MarkC wrote: 94 Points
I should've spent some more time with this, but we passed it to another table after making sure it was okay. A bit more restrained with the fruit than the '97 Profile, this wine showed tightly-wrapped currants, anise, and a little coffee. In a year or two as the fruit unwinds this wine will be spectacular - definitely on par with the '95, one of my favorites.
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6/19/2004 - stevei01 wrote: 93 Points
fruity, floral nose, cassis aromas, hint of bananas, ripe black fruit, and plenty of currant. Deep, rich color. Solid tannin structure, but more refined and elegant than the chewey tannins in the 1999 regular. Oak is evident, but certainly not overpowering. Some chocolate overtones on the finish. I'm looking forward to seeing how this progresses. Very good wine.
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5/20/2004 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 90 Points
Consumed with seared tri-tip at the Roche Cayucos home. Bottle provided by Ken Johnson. Bright disc. Opaque purple/ruby robe with violet rim. Clean nose, showing moderately intense currants, minerals, vanilla, mocha and toasted oak. Full-bodied on the palate, with low acidity, slightly hot alcohol, huge, slightly coarse tannins and flavors which mirror the palate. Long finish with a whiff of dryness/heat. This wine is clearly in need of cellaring. If the oak and tannins integrate, it will merit a higher score.
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