PNP second bottle as first one finished #3 in a 15 bottle CA and Bordeaux blind tasting against some credible aged competition. This bottle was dissected over spicey Mexican cuisine. Up front the nose is aromatic with dark fruit. On the palate it opens with full body younger fruit, cassis with good complexity. The finish has a grippy tannins a bit astringent leading to the hopeful conclusion that this needs more time or at least healthy decant to open it up. As you know this is a high pedigree winery and vineyard so hope you treat it better as I will my next bottle.
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My initial impression is that this is young and has not yet had the time to put on its weight/complexity. Felt light and lifted with a good amount of oak. Should get better (I hope it does).
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I enjoyed tonight as a flight of part of our wine group. We had 97,14,16,17. The 16 and 17 were tops after the first hour with the 16 just a hair above. The 97 started to wake up but the 16 was the wine of the flight.
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Pent up at first. Initial impression is that this is young. Nose is complicated mix of light red fruit and flower, maybe violet or rose. Nice complex, but bottled up flavors. Overall good, but will likely improve with more age.
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Bought a case of few years ago been waiting for it to be ready. Something distinct about to-kalon grapes. This will no doubt they get better, but it is drinking really well now Really nice chalky led pencil good structure well rounded and complete. Drink up!
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Wife tasted blind and guessed either Cabernet Sauvignon or Tempranillo. Tempranillo because there was something different about it even tho she wanted to say Cab. Very elegant and restrained. Not a fruit bomb from Napa. Getting cherries, raspberries, and huckleberries. Getting chalk dust. Good structure. Was not the best paring with grilled steak but was awesome with grilled mushrooms. I recommend holding or give it long decant.
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Decanted a couple of hours before service. Very dark red. Initially very tannic, but the tannins smoothened out in the glass over time. This is a really big wine that is still a baby. The black fruit starts to come out over time, but it deserves another 7-10 years cellaring to let it strut its stuff. This will easily be a 30-40 year wine.
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Friday Group Brown Bag Tasting (EBCC): Double blind. Aromas of black fruit, coffee and iodine. There's a meaty element to this as well. Full-bodied. The palate mirrors the bouquet with plenty of dark fruit and mocha, adding a nice herbaceous quality as well. Elegant and well-balanced, this is seamless across the palate. Given the integration and balance I thought this had a bit more age on it and guessed 2010 cab dominant blend from Napa. Beginning to drink very well. (J&J)
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Going from memory, this was a full bodied wine with notes of dark fruits, chocolate, and hints of spice. This wine had medium acidity and smooth tannins, medium finish and drank well the following day.
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From magnum, off the wine list at Wolfgang’s, Somerville. Decanted at the table. Deep ruby-purple. Blackberries and blueberries. Well balanced, and tannins not intrusive. The latter might be due to the rich steaks we paired it with. Very smooth, but not notably complex or long-finishing.
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What a great wine. Decanted for 2 hours prior to drinking. I think this is the last vintage of this wine before they jack the price up. Get some before it is gone.
Drank with some steaks next to the 2016 Justin Isosceles after a 1 hour decent. This was much more refined and nuanced than the Isosceles, with less up front punchy fruit, a longer finish and a smoother, more integrated feel. I absolutely preferred this wine, and it opened up in the glass over the next few hours. This has a long life ahead of it, though is very nice now. I would give it a longer decant if drinking now - 3 to 4 hours.
The bottle was opened some time before drinking, but the wine was not decanted and continued to open during the meal. The medium bodied palate showed a range of dark fruits like blackberry, black cherry, black currant and plum, along with an earthy element and lots of spice. The acidity was balancing and there was a touch of tannin on the finish. Decanting will definitely allow this wine to open and integrate, enhancing the drinking experience. This wine will probably continue to develop then hold for many years.
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Three hour decant. Deep dark magenta color. Black cherry, raspberry, clove, rose petals, sand at the beach, and tres leches. Smooth, tongue drying palate, with dusty, energetic acidity. Very firm, full tannins on the long finish.
This is simultaneously elegant, muscular, and Bordeaux-esque. The fruit is a bit restrained and more red than I typically enjoy. Everything kept improving over an hour of drinking. If drinking this year, I’d suggest a 6+ hour decant. This is indeed drinkable now, with lots of air, and has good potential to improve in the years to come.
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Blackberry, roses and vanilla on the aroma. Mostly blackberry with floral elements as well. Acidity is medium-plus and is well integrated. Tannin is medium-plus with a fine character. I tasted this wine blind against the 2018 Mondavi Continuum and this wine is so much more complex and better than the Continuum.
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18 months in new oak, this blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot offers rich black cherry and blueberries with a subtle combination of cola, tobacco and leather. Earthy spice and vanilla bean are present as well. Hopefully a few more years in the bottle will provide further development and complexity.
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Decanted and drank over 2 hours, improved and put on some weight with air. Still somewhat disappointing given the lack of depth normally found in this wine. Much preferred the 1999, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 versions, although I usually drink these 10 years out, not at 5.5 yrs. Hopefully will gain depth with more time in bottle.
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Softened rounded dried cranberry notes on the nose. Punchy yet not overbearing acidity on the palette. Black currant and a dusty mineral note on the finish. Medium finish and medium to heavy body. A very enjoyable drinking wine.
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With its release price and monster reviews, one would expect this to be an impressive bottle worthy of special occasions. Hence, our dismay and disappointment over its tasting profile. Perhaps and hopefully this off-putting was bottle variation and the rest of the partial case acquired will be in-line with the pundits. They speak to black berries and plum, dried herbs, spices, vanilla, almond .... None of their accolades mention the over-riding notes of vegetable green pepper that permeates this bottle. Hopefully it will burn off or be lost in integration with time. https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2022/02/napa-and-columbia-valley-big-red-wine.html
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Blueberry and leather spice on the nose. Deep ruby purple color. Medium to heavy mouthfeel, with amazing balance. Fantastic mild tannins finish with a savory and minty aftertaste. Clearly the best cab sauv I've ever had, and definitely worth the considerable outlay.
Note - did not have time to decant, and it did not need it (though of course it could have helped even more!)
Solbær, blåbær, tobakk, vanilje, plomme og hint av lakris på nese. I munnen, tobakk, plommer, anis, tørket frukt, røyk. Konsentrert og svært lang. Heftig struktur, mye modning. Noe bittertannin, veldig flott kons. Toppvin. Servert blindt. Luftet 8-10 timer. 95 p! Wine of the night!
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It is a fantastic wine right now, I will be buying a few more since they are on sale by me for $79, which is a steal. I could see that some may say wait a couple of years but try one now and be impressed!
Smoky dark fruit nose, actually quite nice. But man the palate is just vanilla oak for days. Just vanilla.. and oak. and bitter finish. This needs... probably someone who can appreciate it.
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deepish plum color, alluring nose of cassis, plums and dark fruits framed in toasty oak, on the palate it leads off with a generosity similar to that of the magnificent 2015 but then quickly leads in a very deep and tannic wine starting to shut down, dark fruits, ponderous, quite good but this needs some time in the cellar to show its best.
This wine seems very polarizing. I REALLY liked it. Opened but not decanted, a couple of hours prior to consumption. The nose is all spice, which I like. Dark fruits, leather, graphite and baking spices. I paired it with a pizza and it was terrific. Still grippy on the sides of the tongue, but very pleasant with food right now.
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I'd seen a very positive tasting note on the wineking youtube channel and put this on my wish list. I don't often drink Napa reds, but snapped up a bottle of this for $106. Then I read the cellartracker reviews, which were pretty mediocre for a $100 wine...
Day 1: red fruit and pine needles on the nose, milk chocolate and raspberry on the palate, smooth, nice tannins, very appealing and better than the comments suggested. Very, very drinkable. A pleasant surprise.
Day 2: the bottle was sealed, in the fridge overnight. I roasted chicken thighs on the bone, and poured a glass of this wine with positive expectations... Less on the nose, and when I tasted it I thought "huh? is this the right bottle?". It tastes like nothing - just kinda flat, less fruit than yesterday, not bad , but underwhelming. "What if it's me? Am I getting a cold?" So I grabbed to the two day old leftover Mt Veeder Cabernet 2018 and poured a glass. This was better, even with oxidation - it had more heft, more appeal.
Conclusion: Day 1 this was a 92. Day 2 it was an 89. I'm scoring it 91. I don't know what to make of this. When I pay over $100 I expect to be wowed. I know that if I opened an El Nido Monastrell, a Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz, or a Henschke Mt Edelstone then I would be wowed.
Exotic bouquet upon opening, but completely disappeared after a few minutes. All the taste is on the front of the tongue. Black pepper, green pepper, vegetable notes, hint of tobacco and forest floor. No red/blue/black fruits. Not a bad flavor, but hits a single note. No orchestra.
A little disappointing. I knew this had good pro reviews and I had accumulated 6 bottles over the last year without opening. Just saw it for $100 on Last Bottle so thought I would open one up and see if I should get more.
I have loved everything I’ve had from ToKalon, but I saw a recent note that the Mondavi ToKalon is close, but a different vineyard. I know this is still too early to open, so I can’t expect too much. I don’t have enough experience to judge whether this will dramatically improve as it ages or not.
I will see what happens on my five bottles in the future. I won’t be buying more.
Bottom line: This wine is just okay. It is a pleasant wine with nothing wrong with it, but it is not amazing. For those who don't know, the Mondavi To Kalon vineyard is not the same as plot of land as the Beckstoffer To Kalon. They are different plots of land, so even though the name may be the same. This wine is pleasant, slightly acidic, minimal complexity, medium tannins, with mild fruit. Overall, this is a pleasant wine, but it is not an amazing wine. It is just okay. 90 points.
Certainly a good bottle of Cabernet, but I don't see it as any kind of blockbuster. True, I am drinking this way too early, and it may become much more impressive with time. For now, medium-dark ruby, chocolate notes in the nose and mouth, with chunky, chewy tannin. Decent finish. 4-13-16-8: 91/100.
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Nose: sandalwood, baking spices, graphite. Raspberry, sour red cherry, eucalyptus, fresh paved tar. Wet chalky stone
Lighter body, eucalyptus, black red cherry, vanilla, not as dry as I expected. 2 sips in, its already significantly better than the last bottle I had. Dark chocolate mocha, blackened oak in the finish. Tobacco, black licorice, a lot of dark flavors. Burnt leather
This is significantly better than the last bottle I had, which was pretty disappointing, this one is serendipitous. It is smooth and drinking past the year on the bottle, really good wine
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I agree with many of the other reviews. Dark burgundy/crimson/purple hue with an aroma of fruit, leaves or forest floor, peppermint, anise/fennel and more (let it breathe or check back for a whiff a few minutes after you are done). Medium body but with grippy tannins that do not hit you when you first sip it and it almost feels like you are drinking a pinot noir or a well aged matured tannins cabernet. Flavors of cherry, hint of oak, blackberry etc. predominate. As I drank initially I thought oh the tannins have already matured and this is ready / peak and not worth ageing but as you take a few sips they make themselves felt more and more. It is not a jammy / super fruity but rather quiet balanced though would benefit from a couple of years in bottle to get more integrated. Very decent and easy drinking wine by itself. Doesn't need a big steak or ribs though sure would do well with it. All said while it is a good wine definitely not a good QPR. I wish it was half the price unless this is going to turn into something else with age. It is definitely ready to be enjoyed as well as aged a few years though I disagree with one of the professional reviewers (see wine.com) that "hide it for 4-5 years and it will cruise for 3 decades or so".
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I know this is going to be unhelpful, but: this wine tastes like a high-end Napa Cabernet. To me, that comes from the earthy notes. If Bordeaux is wet leaves and barnyard funk, Napa is more like walking through a dry field on a warm day: eucalyptus, dust, and fresh (dry) earth.
Nice purple fruit (blackberry, cassis), graphite, big tannins. Medium to medium-plus body; not over-big. Drinkable now, but give it a few years if you can.
Doesn't demand food - I honestly enjoyed this more before and after dinner than during dinner (steak frites).
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Open for five hours. The colour of nobility. Kirsch, incense, ginger snaps, blackberry, chocolate pudding, anise, baked rock, rose petals and terra cotta. Full-bodied, with vibrant, cottony tannins. There is plushness and focus, with a super long finish of noir fruit. I love the mint throughout. All prices considered in Napa County, this is always a wonderful QPR, from a truly historic site. Up there with some of the finest vintages, including ‘87 and ‘04. One for the cellar. Drink 2024 -.
Really lovely. Decanted for 5+ hours. Started to show itself late. Really needs a few more years in the bottle, but drinking nicely. Well on its way to greatness.
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Very dark Nose: artificial raspberry flavoring like in sour candy, anise, eucalyptus, mint leaf, very bold, big, and powerful. Very dusty, graphite, baking spices, clove, really a lot going on here.
Fresh raspberry, nice solid body, grippy tannins and a nice dry black tea finish. Super condensed, the raspberry is almost artificial w/ some pomegranate in there and the finish is bitter and balances the palate. It’s still very young and continuing to improve as it opens so it is hard to pick out individual tasting notes, but I think that as the fruit mellows it will improve as it ages. Glad I have 3 bottles to track the progress.
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Served blind. Others at the table may have liked this more than me. Napa to me is whacky, and I know the fruit for this plot is frigging expensive. but this wine is about $110 US, and I don't understand why I'd pay that kind of $$$ for it. Some modern tones, with cherry and some Cab qualities but nothing I would seek out, honestly. Give me Matthiasson Red Wine instead.
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3/31/2024 - Experienced palate Likes this wine: 93 Points
PNP second bottle as first one finished #3 in a 15 bottle CA and Bordeaux blind tasting against some credible aged competition. This bottle was dissected over spicey Mexican cuisine. Up front the nose is aromatic with dark fruit. On the palate it opens with full body younger fruit, cassis with good complexity. The finish has a grippy tannins a bit astringent leading to the hopeful conclusion that this needs more time or at least healthy decant to open it up. As you know this is a high pedigree winery and vineyard so hope you treat it better as I will my next bottle.
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3/24/2024 - mfimiani47 Likes this wine: 91 Points
My initial impression is that this is young and has not yet had the time to put on its weight/complexity. Felt light and lifted with a good amount of oak. Should get better (I hope it does).
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3/12/2024 - Jhalpern27 Likes this wine: 95 Points
I enjoyed tonight as a flight of part of our wine group.
We had 97,14,16,17. The 16 and 17 were tops after the first hour with the 16 just a hair above. The 97 started to wake up but the 16 was the wine of the flight.
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1/21/2024 - Asquiddy wrote: 92 Points
Balanced oak, with some black currant, and very fine tannins. Finish was medium+, enough tannin to age a bit longer I think, but tasty.
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12/24/2023 - BrendanMcS Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pent up at first. Initial impression is that this is young. Nose is complicated mix of light red fruit and flower, maybe violet or rose. Nice complex, but bottled up flavors. Overall good, but will likely improve with more age.
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12/15/2023 - drinknick31 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bought a case of few years ago been waiting for it to be ready. Something distinct about to-kalon grapes. This will no doubt they get better, but it is drinking really well now
Really nice chalky led pencil good structure well rounded and complete. Drink up!
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11/3/2023 - Libbidog wrote:
Jay, Andrea, Dan, Jen, Laura, Pete wine and dinner night
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11/1/2023 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice Napa cab in a more rounded opulent style. Not sure this is a long term ager but drinks well now.
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10/1/2023 - happytom Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wife tasted blind and guessed either Cabernet Sauvignon or Tempranillo. Tempranillo because there was something different about it even tho she wanted to say Cab. Very elegant and restrained. Not a fruit bomb from Napa. Getting cherries, raspberries, and huckleberries. Getting chalk dust. Good structure. Was not the best paring with grilled steak but was awesome with grilled mushrooms. I recommend holding or give it long decant.
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7/21/2023 - Border Boss Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted a couple of hours before service. Very dark red. Initially very tannic, but the tannins smoothened out in the glass over time. This is a really big wine that is still a baby. The black fruit starts to come out over time, but it deserves another 7-10 years cellaring to let it strut its stuff. This will easily be a 30-40 year wine.
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7/21/2023 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Friday Group Brown Bag Tasting (EBCC): Double blind. Aromas of black fruit, coffee and iodine. There's a meaty element to this as well. Full-bodied. The palate mirrors the bouquet with plenty of dark fruit and mocha, adding a nice herbaceous quality as well. Elegant and well-balanced, this is seamless across the palate. Given the integration and balance I thought this had a bit more age on it and guessed 2010 cab dominant blend from Napa. Beginning to drink very well. (J&J)
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6/22/2023 - rougeamore Likes this wine: 93 Points
Going from memory, this was a full bodied wine with notes of dark fruits, chocolate, and hints of spice. This wine had medium acidity and smooth tannins, medium finish and drank well the following day.
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5/23/2023 - M.Batard wrote: 92 Points
From magnum, off the wine list at Wolfgang’s, Somerville. Decanted at the table. Deep ruby-purple. Blackberries and blueberries. Well balanced, and tannins not intrusive. The latter might be due to the rich steaks we paired it with. Very smooth, but not notably complex or long-finishing.
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4/29/2023 - Mdb1982 Likes this wine: 96 Points
What a great wine. Decanted for 2 hours prior to drinking. I think this is the last vintage of this wine before they jack the price up. Get some before it is gone.
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4/29/2023 - Momo3032 Likes this wine:
Refined
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3/11/2023 - bdisk1235 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank with some steaks next to the 2016 Justin Isosceles after a 1 hour decent. This was much more refined and nuanced than the Isosceles, with less up front punchy fruit, a longer finish and a smoother, more integrated feel. I absolutely preferred this wine, and it opened up in the glass over the next few hours. This has a long life ahead of it, though is very nice now. I would give it a longer decant if drinking now - 3 to 4 hours.
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3/11/2023 - danstrings Likes this wine: 92 Points
A little tight and reticent at first but really opened up to a lush, velvety beauty
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2/18/2023 - VlgJeff wrote: 92 Points
The bottle was opened some time before drinking, but the wine was not decanted and continued to open during the meal. The medium bodied palate showed a range of dark fruits like blackberry, black cherry, black currant and plum, along with an earthy element and lots of spice. The acidity was balancing and there was a touch of tannin on the finish.
Decanting will definitely allow this wine to open and integrate, enhancing the drinking experience. This wine will probably continue to develop then hold for many years.
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2/17/2023 - GiWineDoc Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fantastic wine. Really strutting it’s stuff
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2/11/2023 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 94 Points
Three hour decant. Deep dark magenta color. Black cherry, raspberry, clove, rose petals, sand at the beach, and tres leches. Smooth, tongue drying palate, with dusty, energetic acidity. Very firm, full tannins on the long finish.
This is simultaneously elegant, muscular, and Bordeaux-esque. The fruit is a bit restrained and more red than I typically enjoy. Everything kept improving over an hour of drinking. If drinking this year, I’d suggest a 6+ hour decant. This is indeed drinkable now, with lots of air, and has good potential to improve in the years to come.
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12/26/2022 - sboyle Likes this wine: 95 Points
Blackberry, roses and vanilla on the aroma. Mostly blackberry with floral elements as well. Acidity is medium-plus and is well integrated. Tannin is medium-plus with a fine character. I tasted this wine blind against the 2018 Mondavi Continuum and this wine is so much more complex and better than the Continuum.
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12/23/2022 - Franken Berry Does not like this wine: 92 Points
Black fruits, plum, blueberries. Not much depth or finish. Chalky minerality on the mid palate
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9/11/2022 - Smksmk Likes this wine: 91 Points
18 months in new oak, this blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot offers rich black cherry and blueberries with a subtle combination of cola, tobacco and leather. Earthy spice and vanilla bean are present as well. Hopefully a few more years in the bottle will provide further development and complexity.
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3/11/2022 - The Wine Doctor wrote: 92 Points
Decanted and drank over 2 hours, improved and put on some weight with air. Still somewhat disappointing given the lack of depth normally found in this wine. Much preferred the 1999, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 versions, although I usually drink these 10 years out, not at 5.5 yrs. Hopefully will gain depth with more time in bottle.
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2/19/2022 - nrjessup Likes this wine: 92 Points
Softened rounded dried cranberry notes on the nose. Punchy yet not overbearing acidity on the palette. Black currant and a dusty mineral note on the finish. Medium finish and medium to heavy body. A very enjoyable drinking wine.
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2/6/2022 - rmcnees wrote: 88 Points
With its release price and monster reviews, one would expect this to be an impressive bottle worthy of special occasions. Hence, our dismay and disappointment over its tasting profile. Perhaps and hopefully this off-putting was bottle variation and the rest of the partial case acquired will be in-line with the pundits. They speak to black berries and plum, dried herbs, spices, vanilla, almond .... None of their accolades mention the over-riding notes of vegetable green pepper that permeates this bottle. Hopefully it will burn off or be lost in integration with time.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2022/02/napa-and-columbia-valley-big-red-wine.html
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1/12/2022 - Edkyu wrote:
Great example of Oakville cab. 2016 is both smooth and complex.
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1/2/2022 - aseparatecodpeace Likes this wine: 95 Points
Blueberry and leather spice on the nose. Deep ruby purple color. Medium to heavy mouthfeel, with amazing balance. Fantastic mild tannins finish with a savory and minty aftertaste. Clearly the best cab sauv I've ever had, and definitely worth the considerable outlay.
Note - did not have time to decant, and it did not need it (though of course it could have helped even more!)
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12/10/2021 - "Rhône Rider" Likes this wine: 95 Points
Solbær, blåbær, tobakk, vanilje, plomme og hint av lakris på nese. I munnen, tobakk, plommer, anis, tørket frukt, røyk. Konsentrert og svært lang. Heftig struktur, mye modning. Noe bittertannin, veldig flott kons. Toppvin. Servert blindt. Luftet 8-10 timer. 95 p! Wine of the night!
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11/21/2021 - Agunner23 Likes this wine: 95 Points
It is a fantastic wine right now, I will be buying a few more since they are on sale by me for $79, which is a steal. I could see that some may say wait a couple of years but try one now and be impressed!
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10/27/2021 - Justinwine wrote: 90 Points
pretty good. more depth with time
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10/10/2021 - mye wrote:
Smoky dark fruit nose, actually quite nice. But man the palate is just vanilla oak for days. Just vanilla.. and oak. and bitter finish. This needs... probably someone who can appreciate it.
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8/20/2021 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 92 Points
Seems to be in a bit awkward stage. Needed some time to open up. Eventually pleasing but took some time. Would wait 4-5 years on these
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7/22/2021 - firstgrowth Likes this wine: 95 Points
Sublime
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6/27/2021 - JGvine wrote: 92 Points
A young however after 45
Minutes really opened up and was special
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6/5/2021 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:
deepish plum color, alluring nose of cassis, plums and dark fruits framed in toasty oak, on the palate it leads off with a generosity similar to that of the magnificent 2015 but then quickly leads in a very deep and tannic wine starting to shut down, dark fruits, ponderous, quite good but this needs some time in the cellar to show its best.
*(***)+, 2030-2050
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5/31/2021 - Sr. Fuego wrote:
Shows promise. Young at this time. Color, nose and palate are disconnected.
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4/23/2021 - jkvedar Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine seems very polarizing. I REALLY liked it. Opened but not decanted, a couple of hours prior to consumption. The nose is all spice, which I like. Dark fruits, leather, graphite and baking spices. I paired it with a pizza and it was terrific. Still grippy on the sides of the tongue, but very pleasant with food right now.
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4/17/2021 - 408er Likes this wine: 95 Points
This was a great wine. For me it was currants and chocolate balanced nicely with tannins. Luxurious mouth feel. Yum!
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4/6/2021 - Gddunbar84 wrote:
Needs a long decant. Very hot!
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4/2/2021 - AllRed wrote: flawed
Corked.
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3/30/2021 - alohashirt Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was a surprise on top of a surprise ...
I'd seen a very positive tasting note on the wineking youtube channel and put this on my wish list. I don't often drink Napa reds, but snapped up a bottle of this for $106. Then I read the cellartracker reviews, which were pretty mediocre for a $100 wine...
Day 1:
red fruit and pine needles on the nose, milk chocolate and raspberry on the palate, smooth, nice tannins, very appealing and better than the comments suggested. Very, very drinkable. A pleasant surprise.
Day 2:
the bottle was sealed, in the fridge overnight. I roasted chicken thighs on the bone, and poured a glass of this wine with positive expectations... Less on the nose, and when I tasted it I thought "huh? is this the right bottle?". It tastes like nothing - just kinda flat, less fruit than yesterday, not bad , but underwhelming.
"What if it's me? Am I getting a cold?"
So I grabbed to the two day old leftover Mt Veeder Cabernet 2018 and poured a glass. This was better, even with oxidation - it had more heft, more appeal.
Conclusion:
Day 1 this was a 92. Day 2 it was an 89. I'm scoring it 91. I don't know what to make of this. When I pay over $100 I expect to be wowed. I know that if I opened an El Nido Monastrell, a Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz, or a Henschke Mt Edelstone then I would be wowed.
Are there any sure things in Napa?
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3/17/2021 - MrSkimo wrote: 90 Points
Exotic bouquet upon opening, but completely disappeared after a few minutes. All the taste is on the front of the tongue. Black pepper, green pepper, vegetable notes, hint of tobacco and forest floor. No red/blue/black fruits. Not a bad flavor, but hits a single note. No orchestra.
A little disappointing. I knew this had good pro reviews and I had accumulated 6 bottles over the last year without opening. Just saw it for $100 on Last Bottle so thought I would open one up and see if I should get more.
I have loved everything I’ve had from ToKalon, but I saw a recent note that the Mondavi ToKalon is close, but a different vineyard. I know this is still too early to open, so I can’t expect too much. I don’t have enough experience to judge whether this will dramatically improve as it ages or not.
I will see what happens on my five bottles in the future. I won’t be buying more.
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3/6/2021 - jonboy74 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice wine not sure the qpr is good though. Feels a little over engineered. Gift from a friend.
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2/28/2021 - Sfflyer123 wrote: 90 Points
Bottom line: This wine is just okay. It is a pleasant wine with nothing wrong with it, but it is not amazing. For those who don't know, the Mondavi To Kalon vineyard is not the same as plot of land as the Beckstoffer To Kalon. They are different plots of land, so even though the name may be the same. This wine is pleasant, slightly acidic, minimal complexity, medium tannins, with mild fruit. Overall, this is a pleasant wine, but it is not an amazing wine. It is just okay. 90 points.
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2/7/2021 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 91 Points
Certainly a good bottle of Cabernet, but I don't see it as any kind of blockbuster. True, I am drinking this way too early, and it may become much more impressive with time. For now, medium-dark ruby, chocolate notes in the nose and mouth, with chunky, chewy tannin. Decent finish. 4-13-16-8: 91/100.
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1/24/2021 - Wwinowillie wrote: 93 Points
Nose: sandalwood, baking spices, graphite. Raspberry, sour red cherry, eucalyptus, fresh paved tar. Wet chalky stone
Lighter body, eucalyptus, black red cherry, vanilla, not as dry as I expected. 2 sips in, its already significantly better than the last bottle I had. Dark chocolate mocha, blackened oak in the finish. Tobacco, black licorice, a lot of dark flavors. Burnt leather
This is significantly better than the last bottle I had, which was pretty disappointing, this one is serendipitous. It is smooth and drinking past the year on the bottle, really good wine
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1/20/2021 - Dr. Wine MD PhD ;) Likes this wine: 92 Points
I agree with many of the other reviews. Dark burgundy/crimson/purple hue with an aroma of fruit, leaves or forest floor, peppermint, anise/fennel and more (let it breathe or check back for a whiff a few minutes after you are done). Medium body but with grippy tannins that do not hit you when you first sip it and it almost feels like you are drinking a pinot noir or a well aged matured tannins cabernet. Flavors of cherry, hint of oak, blackberry etc. predominate. As I drank initially I thought oh the tannins have already matured and this is ready / peak and not worth ageing but as you take a few sips they make themselves felt more and more. It is not a jammy / super fruity but rather quiet balanced though would benefit from a couple of years in bottle to get more integrated. Very decent and easy drinking wine by itself. Doesn't need a big steak or ribs though sure would do well with it. All said while it is a good wine definitely not a good QPR. I wish it was half the price unless this is going to turn into something else with age. It is definitely ready to be enjoyed as well as aged a few years though I disagree with one of the professional reviewers (see wine.com) that "hide it for 4-5 years and it will cruise for 3 decades or so".
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12/28/2020 - MADV Likes this wine: 95 Points
One the better wines I had in 2020. Drank at Christmas. Sometimes this bottle is overlooked. A great wine.
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12/28/2020 - jonh1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I know this is going to be unhelpful, but: this wine tastes like a high-end Napa Cabernet. To me, that comes from the earthy notes. If Bordeaux is wet leaves and barnyard funk, Napa is more like walking through a dry field on a warm day: eucalyptus, dust, and fresh (dry) earth.
Nice purple fruit (blackberry, cassis), graphite, big tannins. Medium to medium-plus body; not over-big. Drinkable now, but give it a few years if you can.
Doesn't demand food - I honestly enjoyed this more before and after dinner than during dinner (steak frites).
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12/17/2020 - Thellrday Does not like this wine: 83 Points
Very weak taste. Almost like a watered down blend
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12/13/2020 - Jslancia Likes this wine: 95 Points
A great wine for the money for To Kalon vineyard. Full body soft tannins smooth long finish.
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12/11/2020 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 96 Points
Open for five hours. The colour of nobility. Kirsch, incense, ginger snaps, blackberry, chocolate pudding, anise, baked rock, rose petals and terra cotta. Full-bodied, with vibrant, cottony tannins. There is plushness and focus, with a super long finish of noir fruit. I love the mint throughout. All prices considered in Napa County, this is always a wonderful QPR, from a truly historic site. Up there with some of the finest vintages, including ‘87 and ‘04. One for the cellar. Drink 2024 -.
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10/31/2020 - winecadence Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really lovely. Decanted for 5+ hours. Started to show itself late. Really needs a few more years in the bottle, but drinking nicely. Well on its way to greatness.
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10/14/2020 - gmat5497 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Outstanding!
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8/22/2020 - Wwinowillie wrote: 91 Points
Very dark
Nose: artificial raspberry flavoring like in sour candy, anise, eucalyptus, mint leaf, very bold, big, and powerful. Very dusty, graphite, baking spices, clove, really a lot going on here.
Fresh raspberry, nice solid body, grippy tannins and a nice dry black tea finish. Super condensed, the raspberry is almost artificial w/ some pomegranate in there and the finish is bitter and balances the palate. It’s still very young and continuing to improve as it opens so it is hard to pick out individual tasting notes, but I think that as the fruit mellows it will improve as it ages. Glad I have 3 bottles to track the progress.
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8/16/2020 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Served blind. Others at the table may have liked this more than me. Napa to me is whacky, and I know the fruit for this plot is frigging expensive. but this wine is about $110 US, and I don't understand why I'd pay that kind of $$$ for it. Some modern tones, with cherry and some Cab qualities but nothing I would seek out, honestly. Give me Matthiasson Red Wine instead.
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4/19/2020 - rlove wrote: 94 Points
Powerful, perfumed, and concentrated. Black & red fruit and cedar. Significant tannic grip but they are regal and ripe. Early accessibility today.
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