Really impressive longevity for this style of wine and price point. Has evolved beautifully although still pretty heavy on the wood. Pleasant surprise and glad I have a couple more that I won't wait too long to enjoy with grilled ribeye.
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The best Phelps Napa I’ve had & had a ton. This 97 was stored perfectly & still just the other side of its peak. Balanced, lovely w/ nothing that bites back. Well worth the $75 or so that I paid. Likely around $25 on release. Now, 24 yrs in bottle better than some other Napa wines I’ve paid $150. The nose is also one of the better Napa Cabernet’s I’ve inhaled. Ruby; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, poached, dark cherries, spiced strawberries with raspberries hovering. Anise to black licorice, dark Indian/Asian spices, slightly dry tobacco, nutmeg, cinnamon, sandalwood, hints of sweet lead pencil shavings, dry & fresh herbaceousiness, charcoal, black tea, hints of menthol, dark, slightly withering florals, framed in lavender & violets.
The palate is lush, ruby, juicy fruits. Those that think fruit is lost at this age, not the case here and in many of the well stored wines I’ve had. Ripe & juicy; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, black plum, plum, poached, dark cherries, spiced strawberries with raspberries hovering. Anise to black licorice, tarry notes, some fig & dates, dark Indian/Asian spices, slightly dry tobacco, dry brush/twig, nutmeg, cinnamon, sandalwood, hints of sweet lead pencil shavings, dry & fresh herbaceousiness, charcoal, black tea, hints of menthol, moist volcanic clay, very fine, dry, crushed rocks, dark, slightly withering florals framed in lavender & violets, perfect acidity. The finish is outstandingly; knitted, tensioned, structured, layered, balanced for days that lasts minutes. Outstanding!!!
What a treat. The integration & evolution is epic & everything you hope for in every wine you open. You’ve heard of a velvet wine wrap in an iron fist. This is a velvet wine wrapped in a velvet glove.
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Praelum - American Beauties (Praelum Wine Bistro): Surprising acidity and freshness after 22 years. Black cherry, cassis, plum, grass. Comparatively lighter than other Napa wines tasted, but still packs a good structure
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From magnum, double decanted six hours before service. Truly outstanding at this point. The tannins are fully resolved, leaving just a bit of dryness. Lots of sweet black and red fruits, like cassis, blackberry and raspberry. Drinking extremely well right now.
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Wonderful complex nose ,on the palate plenty of dark fruit, tannins fully resolved. Though mature, and probably at peak, this wine still has a youthful nature. Glad to have a couple more of these
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PopnPour, tasted over 2 hrs -murky nearly opaque dark red mild bricking -cassis and mature elements -med/med- acidity, dense med+ weight with an almost gloppy sweetness prune and faint mature elements with sweet oak and med- tannins on the fairly long finish -awkward due to a little too much ripeness and oak, probably past prime, which is a shame for a 20 year old Napa cab from an esteemed producer
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Found this and opened without decanting. Mild fruit over silky tannins. Was well cellared for 18 years and drank like a second growth Bordeaux. What a wine. Less power than my earlier bottles, but a genuine treat to find among the other Napa reds.
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black cherry , red currants and blackberries, great balance w/plenty of acid & structure to last another 5+ years.......was tied for 3rd out of 9 bottles
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Much darker than I would have guessed for an 18 year old wine. Beautiful nose that was reminiscent of a big bowl of macerated fruits (blueberries, blackberries and black cherries). Those flavours continued onto the palate which was thick and full, with no harsh edges. A long finish lingers for over 30 seconds. Delicious! www.advinetures.ca
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Deep garnet. Nose was a mix of aged Bordeaux with aged Cali Cab-herbal, black fruits, tobacco. Taste was similar, smooth, leather, hint of black fruits. Delish! But I think drink up.
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Still a lady! What this has given up in power it has gained in finesse. A beautifully balanced and nuanced aged Napa cab. Not a lot more time left, but if well cellared, it is still a fine drink.
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With a bit of time, an hour to two, this develops into a complex rich Cab.. Deep expressive nose, full mouth feel with plenty of structure and fruit, lingering finish of good length.
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Drank with Pedro and Kashi at Big Mama's Hacienda. Tasted then blended with 1997 Phelps Merlot to make the poor man's Insignia meritage (blend of 80% Cabernet/20% Merlot). Missing the Petite Verdot in blend but it still turned out great.
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I can only hope and pray that some of these highly rated more recent vintages of CA cabernet have the staying power of a wine like this. Great fruit, supple tannins, great nose!
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What a remarkable vintage!! This bottle was wonderful, with full tannins and a great finish. Dark fruit and leather. The cork was perfect. Decanted for about an hour, and drank it following a 2001 Arrowood Reserve Especial with dinner. They were both a treat.
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Mature Midrange Cabs; 12/30/2010-12/31/2010 (Northwoods): A little tight on opening, but improved with time in the glass. I expected this one to be amongst the leaders in an 8 bottle tasting, but it came in middle of the pack. Solid wine, 90 points give or take. Did not hold up well the second day.
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I am surprised that in 13 years, ok 11 since release, no one in the community has given a rating to this wine. I am about half way through a case. I actually think the wine is drinking better now than ever. It's inky black in color with surprisingly little bricking. If I hold it in the right light I can see clear still on the rim. The bouquet is subdued, which is unfortunate, and I don't know why. Tannins are still present but integration of the flavors has occurred, which is different than the past. This is an enjoyable wine.
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Great nose. Good up front cassis dominated palate that is still fresh, vibrant and lively. The finish is a little abrupt though or this would have been even better. Still for a 12-year old regular CA cab, this was simply a wonderful bottle that exceeded our expectations. Plenty of life left.
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My last bottle of this and consistent with my 12/2008 note.Just a slight fade at the rim. The fruit is nicely balanced by minerality and some lingering acidity. Tannins are fully resolved. Elegant and feminine. I believe this is near, or slightly past peak, so drink up.
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Very nicely balanced with substantial fruit remaining. Tannins mostly resolved but enough left to provide a sense of structure and a pleasant bite on the finish. Similar to last bottle from a year ago, but a bit better than I remembered. Drink now.
The cork fell apart and was a mess. Filtered through cheesecloth to salvage but it turned out fine.
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A very enjoyable bottle from a great vintage year. Could not ask for anything more in a medium priced cab (at the time) from a highly respected vineyard. Bottles like this are a pleasure in a sea of mediocre and just okay cabs. Drink them if you've got them, their time has come...
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Excellent cab. Obviously this was a great year and it shows. Layers of taste, including tobacco and mushrooms, generally earthy. Opens up over time in the glass and smooth. Not sure it will improve much more, I'd recommend drinking it soon.
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Part of a 96-98 vertical. This was the favorite of the night, edging out the 1996. Great cab nose. Nice fruit coming through with silky tannins. Wine is well integrated and lasted well for nearly four hours. Paired wonderfully with the pepper crusted prime rib. I wish all wines would age this well.
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Pretty translucent ruby color, earth and smoke on the nose. Better than the last bottle from about 16 months ago; more integrated, with nice balance and sweet tannins.
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In spectacular shape in August 2008, but it would be good to get started on this one soon in order before the fruit starts to fade. Great nose; plenty of complexity; still a gorgeous purple color and the tannins are silky at this point. Paired beautifully with a filet mignon. Would gladly buy more of it if I could find it.
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Way beyond its prime, perhaps corked, and nothing like last bottle i drank. This one has flaws -- nutty, raisiny almost port-like, and not in a good way, w/ tannins almost non-existent.
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This wine was at its peak at worth the cellaring - it was well balanced with ripe fruit on the nose, sold structure and a nice lingering finish that lastes for 1 min.
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Decanted one hour.One of three bottles bought for a relatively cheap price in Bermuda. Dark purple colour in the glass, clear hue throughout. Tight nose giving way to black berries, leather and white pepper towards the end. Flavors of black berries, cherries and some bitters on the finish. Medium acidity, firm tannins, medium body. A little dry on the fairly long finish and I reckon I had better drink up the other two bottles within the next year or so. An enjoyable food wine being not too sweet,and I believe it tastes much better now than it would have done 5 years or so ago,when I suspect most people would have drunk this wine.Very good/excellent.
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disappointing given the 95 I had a month or so ago was singing...did not take any formal notes at the time so from memory...did not appear to be over the hill just uninspiring, one dimensional and lacking in any particular personality
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Sorry to see this bottle go due to the memories... Purchased from the winery in 2001 during a drunken Napa romp (limo) with Jill, Heather, Lilly and some guy Jill was dating. Met Cannondale's Tinker Juarez as there was a mountain bike race on the property (?!). Memorable night for me (and Lilly), but not so much for roommate Ludo (sorry about the noise, my friend, but I know you understood). Anyway, this is the last bottle of wine from that trip. Drank with Yvonne and Ludo at Local Kitchen. Very good and holding up decent. Probably not too much longer for this one, so it was appropriate to drink now.
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Slight bricking against medium-purple coloring. Nose had a bit of a kick to it. Nice restrained cab flavors but not particularly smooth or otherwise notable. Not bad, but a bit disappointing considering the price, vintage, and seven years of cellaring.
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Tasted April 21, 2007 at an offline. Tasted from a Spiegelau Authentus Magnum glass. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black berries, cherries and a touch of anise towards the finish. Good, basic flavors of red berries and red cherries. Light to medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink now.
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Very happy with this bottle. Still was amazingly fresh, with aromas of bing cherries, blueberries and black raspberries. The texture was very smooth, with just enough of a hint of refined tannins on the finish. One of the better CA 97s I have had in a while.
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Muted initially, but opened up nicely after nearly two hours with subtle but pure fruit. Much more sophisticated than expected. WOTN in a group that included a 2000 Opus One and a few other medium range Bordeauxs
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Decanted for 1 hour. Nice aromas of black fruits, menthol, smoky oak and licorice. Smooth tannins. Flavors of currants, licorice, cherries and herbs. Medium to long finish. 91+pts.
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With Shot Venison Loin at the Lamprechts. Just outstanding meal and wine. Biggish in color nose and on the palate. Very California. Top drinking now. Had the 94 a day later and that was was fading in the fruit. 7/8 yr wine.
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Perfumed and exhuberant aromas from the glass of rich, black currant, forest, menthol, spice. The midpalate has lush flavors of creme de cassis, red and black berries, cranberry and finishes smoothly with a pleasant glide of fruit and soft tannins. Has the structure and flavor profile of a nice St -Emillion. A great food wine. Last bottle and clearly showed the best of my 6 bttls. Drink or hold 1-2.
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With steak from BBQ. Great dark color with little signs of ageing. On the nose right from opening nice darkish fruit, a bit vanilla and smoke, certainly not one dimensional. On the palate this was definitely california cab but very restraint, not the big fruit, but rather some elegance without any harshness. The drink window is opening. Lovely wine by a consistent producer.
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This was surprisingly tasty. Had two people of the five at the informal tasting who preferred this to the 94 Cos D'Estournel. Fruit was good, nice structure, good nose. A 'meat and potatoes' cabernet.
The bottle had been a gift from a co-worker, and am now planning on picking a little of this up for the home cellar based on this tasting.
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I opened this last night with grilled NY bone on strips, potatos au graten, and a pear, goatcheese, and pecan salad on greens.
The tannins on this have softened a bit and are quite smooth. Lots of currant and cherry fruits with hints of licorice and herbs. Medium to long finish. Nice mouthfeel. I'll have to see how it holds up this evening when I finish it off. 89 pts
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This wine has fully matured and is drinking at it's peak IMO. Soft flavors of currant, creme de cassis, blackberry, finishing smoothly with nicely intergrated oak. Not complex but well made, nonetheless.
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Deep garnet color. Concentrated: nose of pronounced chocolate-covered cherries, blackberries, cedar, and a background note of stewed prunes. Fruit forward, with strong, well-integrated tannins, and a touch of oak. Not overtly complex, but a quality wine and a great drinker. Will last for many more years. A reasonable value for a solid CA cab. Purchased on release for $34 @ Union Square Wines in NYC. Alcohol 13.8%.
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Consumed one bottle November 2004. It appears ready, a bottle that to me is somewhat average. Will stay of at least three years, but nothing to scream about
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Deep, nearly opaque, teeth-staining garnet. Highly extracted, overripe nose of cassis, stewed prunes, and just a whiff of anise/alcohol. Solid entry, with plum and cherry. Just a touch of acid. Solid tannins, some sweet oak, and a long finish. Walks a fine line between being extracted enough to stand out in a crowd, but showing a measure of restraint and elegance: more like a Porshce than a Ferrari. Nice.
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($35) Solid Cabernet. Good purity and black currant fruit. Well integrated wood. Nice concentration, depth and length. May lack secondary flavors and a bit of "joi de vivre." Elegantly muscular. Pretty nice Cabernet Sauvignon. $35
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12/10/2023 - djs Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really impressive longevity for this style of wine and price point. Has evolved beautifully although still pretty heavy on the wood. Pleasant surprise and glad I have a couple more that I won't wait too long to enjoy with grilled ribeye.
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11/11/2023 - Somm David T Likes this wine: 95 Points
The best Phelps Napa I’ve had & had a ton. This 97 was stored perfectly & still just the other side of its peak. Balanced, lovely w/ nothing that bites back. Well worth the $75 or so that I paid. Likely around $25 on release. Now, 24 yrs in bottle better than some other Napa wines I’ve paid $150. The nose is also one of the better Napa Cabernet’s I’ve inhaled. Ruby; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, poached, dark cherries, spiced strawberries with raspberries hovering. Anise to black licorice, dark Indian/Asian spices, slightly dry tobacco, nutmeg, cinnamon, sandalwood, hints of sweet lead pencil shavings, dry & fresh herbaceousiness, charcoal, black tea, hints of menthol, dark, slightly withering florals, framed in lavender & violets.
The palate is lush, ruby, juicy fruits. Those that think fruit is lost at this age, not the case here and in many of the well stored wines I’ve had. Ripe & juicy; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, black plum, plum, poached, dark cherries, spiced strawberries with raspberries hovering. Anise to black licorice, tarry notes, some fig & dates, dark Indian/Asian spices, slightly dry tobacco, dry brush/twig, nutmeg, cinnamon, sandalwood, hints of sweet lead pencil shavings, dry & fresh herbaceousiness, charcoal, black tea, hints of menthol, moist volcanic clay, very fine, dry, crushed rocks, dark, slightly withering florals framed in lavender & violets, perfect acidity. The finish is outstandingly; knitted, tensioned, structured, layered, balanced for days that lasts minutes. Outstanding!!!
What a treat. The integration & evolution is epic & everything you hope for in every wine you open. You’ve heard of a velvet wine wrap in an iron fist. This is a velvet wine wrapped in a velvet glove.
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5/25/2020 - lovetoski wrote: 93 Points
This represents everything great about aged Cali CS!
Wonderful flavors as a result of the tannin disappearing. Loved it!!
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12/12/2019 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rich, velvety and integrated. Drinking beautifully with cassis, chocolate and sweet dark currant.
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6/1/2019 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 92 Points
Praelum - American Beauties (Praelum Wine Bistro): Surprising acidity and freshness after 22 years. Black cherry, cassis, plum, grass. Comparatively lighter than other Napa wines tasted, but still packs a good structure
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6/1/2019 - Border Boss Likes this wine: 91 Points
From magnum, double decanted six hours before service. Truly outstanding at this point. The tannins are fully resolved, leaving just a bit of dryness. Lots of sweet black and red fruits, like cassis, blackberry and raspberry. Drinking extremely well right now.
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3/22/2019 - Dave West wrote:
Still drinking well
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4/6/2018 - CJChampion Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful complex nose ,on the palate plenty of dark fruit, tannins fully resolved. Though mature, and probably at peak, this wine still has a youthful nature. Glad to have a couple more of these
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10/4/2017 - MrMoose Likes this wine: 94 Points
rich & velvety with a lot of life remaining....sumptuous!
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9/15/2017 - Cote d'Or wrote:
PopnPour, tasted over 2 hrs
-murky nearly opaque dark red mild bricking
-cassis and mature elements
-med/med- acidity, dense med+ weight with an almost gloppy sweetness prune and faint mature elements with sweet oak and med- tannins on the fairly long finish
-awkward due to a little too much ripeness and oak, probably past prime, which is a shame for a 20 year old Napa cab from an esteemed producer
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5/1/2017 - OCWino wrote: 94 Points
Found this and opened without decanting. Mild fruit over silky tannins. Was well cellared for 18 years and drank like a second growth Bordeaux. What a wine. Less power than my earlier bottles, but a genuine treat to find among the other Napa reds.
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7/29/2016 - Labrador wrote: 91 Points
Served along side a 1996 Insignia. I felt that this wine surpassed the Insignia. Lovely red and black fruit with a lovely, long finish.
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9/26/2015 - MrMoose Likes this wine: 91 Points
black cherry , red currants and blackberries, great balance w/plenty of acid & structure to last another 5+ years.......was tied for 3rd out of 9 bottles
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7/20/2015 - Stirling Likes this wine: 94 Points
Much darker than I would have guessed for an 18 year old wine. Beautiful nose that was reminiscent of a big bowl of macerated fruits (blueberries, blackberries and black cherries). Those flavours continued onto the palate which was thick and full, with no harsh edges. A long finish lingers for over 30 seconds. Delicious! www.advinetures.ca
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4/10/2015 - MrMoose Likes this wine: 93 Points
10 years left on this delicious bottle. Red fruits, great acidity, well balanced. Would like to try in 5 years.
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2/15/2015 - Harry Cantrell Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep garnet. Nose was a mix of aged Bordeaux with aged Cali Cab-herbal, black fruits, tobacco. Taste was similar, smooth, leather, hint of black fruits. Delish! But I think drink up.
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8/1/2014 - glennramsdell wrote: 64 Points
Crumbled cork - wine was spoilt.
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4/5/2014 - petenich Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking just great, wish I had more. This bottle has at least another 5 years in it, but drinking super well so go for it.
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3/20/2014 - mfortunek Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great dry cab. Well aged.
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7/13/2013 - OCWino Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still a lady! What this has given up in power it has gained in finesse. A beautifully balanced and nuanced aged Napa cab. Not a lot more time left, but if well cellared, it is still a fine drink.
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1/12/2013 - Old Course 72 wrote: 92 Points
With a bit of time, an hour to two, this develops into a complex rich Cab.. Deep expressive nose, full mouth feel with plenty of structure and fruit, lingering finish of good length.
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5/18/2012 - AlexHop wrote: 90 Points
Restrained nose. Still very fresh. A touch of acid. Long finish. From a 6.0l, Tasted at Insignia Day 2012.
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1/5/2012 - Mr. Muga wrote: 89 Points
Drank with Pedro and Kashi at Big Mama's Hacienda. Tasted then blended with 1997 Phelps Merlot to make the poor man's Insignia meritage (blend of 80% Cabernet/20% Merlot). Missing the Petite Verdot in blend but it still turned out great.
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12/26/2011 - VinoKep wrote: 91 Points
this is right in the zone. balanced fruit, leather, dark cherry. With leftover Christmas prime rib. It probably has some time but why wait.
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11/17/2011 - Ridgerunner wrote: 93 Points
I can only hope and pray that some of these highly rated more recent vintages of CA cabernet have the staying power of a wine like this. Great fruit, supple tannins, great nose!
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8/21/2011 - shk5157 wrote: 86 Points
pleasant on the nose, but the fruit faded; should've drunk at least 2-3 years earlier
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5/21/2011 - lawdog85 wrote: 93 Points
What a remarkable vintage!! This bottle was wonderful, with full tannins and a great finish. Dark fruit and leather. The cork was perfect. Decanted for about an hour, and drank it following a 2001 Arrowood Reserve Especial with dinner. They were both a treat.
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12/31/2010 - vanpe003 wrote:
Mature Midrange Cabs; 12/30/2010-12/31/2010 (Northwoods): A little tight on opening, but improved with time in the glass. I expected this one to be amongst the leaders in an 8 bottle tasting, but it came in middle of the pack. Solid wine, 90 points give or take. Did not hold up well the second day.
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12/10/2010 - Beernut wrote: 92 Points
Holding up great. Still full tannins. Could go another couple years and be fine.
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8/20/2010 - mjerome wrote: 88 Points
I am surprised that in 13 years, ok 11 since release, no one in the community has given a rating to this wine. I am about half way through a case. I actually think the wine is drinking better now than ever. It's inky black in color with surprisingly little bricking. If I hold it in the right light I can see clear still on the rim. The bouquet is subdued, which is unfortunate, and I don't know why. Tannins are still present but integration of the flavors has occurred, which is different than the past. This is an enjoyable wine.
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3/7/2010 - fredmartens wrote: 90 Points
Holding up quite well; polished, medium lenght finish, no bricking noted , low acidity, nicely balanced.
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2/13/2010 - Mallards wrote: 91 Points
At Wine Storage tasting. Solid, liked by all.
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12/31/2009 - winemaker wrote: 85 Points
Last bottle. Kind of subdued. Decent, not as good as the last few bottles.
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10/27/2009 - Jim wrote:
Consumed for Jan's 25th Stanford Reunion
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10/25/2009 - ken-yyz wrote: 91 Points
Great nose. Good up front cassis dominated palate that is still fresh, vibrant and lively. The finish is a little abrupt though or this would have been even better. Still for a 12-year old regular CA cab, this was simply a wonderful bottle that exceeded our expectations. Plenty of life left.
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10/8/2009 - Winger wrote:
My last bottle of this and consistent with my 12/2008 note.Just a slight fade at the rim. The fruit is nicely balanced by minerality and some lingering acidity. Tannins are fully resolved. Elegant and feminine. I believe this is near, or slightly past peak, so drink up.
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8/30/2009 - Magnolian wrote: 92 Points
Very nicely balanced with substantial fruit remaining. Tannins mostly resolved but enough left to provide a sense of structure and a pleasant bite on the finish. Similar to last bottle from a year ago, but a bit better than I remembered. Drink now.
The cork fell apart and was a mess. Filtered through cheesecloth to salvage but it turned out fine.
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1/22/2009 - mrpaper126@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
A very enjoyable bottle from a great vintage year. Could not ask for anything more in a medium priced cab (at the time) from a highly respected vineyard. Bottles like this are a pleasure in a sea of mediocre and just okay cabs. Drink them if you've got them, their time has come...
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12/27/2008 - Winger wrote:
mature and ready to drink. Good.
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12/20/2008 - ToddR911 wrote: 91 Points
Excellent cab. Obviously this was a great year and it shows. Layers of taste, including tobacco and mushrooms, generally earthy. Opens up over time in the glass and smooth. Not sure it will improve much more, I'd recommend drinking it soon.
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12/12/2008 - bwillia wrote: 88 Points
Fully resolved and ready to go. Pleasant nose but a little thin on the palate and heavily oaked still.
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11/23/2008 - Mallards wrote: 93 Points
Aging fantastically. Smooth with a hint of tannins. Blind tasted and was a favorite with the group.
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10/18/2008 - PolarBear22 wrote: 93 Points
Part of a 96-98 vertical. This was the favorite of the night, edging out the 1996. Great cab nose. Nice fruit coming through with silky tannins. Wine is well integrated and lasted well for nearly four hours. Paired wonderfully with the pepper crusted prime rib. I wish all wines would age this well.
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10/4/2008 - blaiseiii wrote:
A favorite. Went thru two bottles
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9/21/2008 - Magnolian wrote: 91 Points
Pretty translucent ruby color, earth and smoke on the nose. Better than the last bottle from about 16 months ago; more integrated, with nice balance and sweet tannins.
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9/1/2008 - steveabb wrote: 90 Points
In spectacular shape in August 2008, but it would be good to get started on this one soon in order before the fruit starts to fade. Great nose; plenty of complexity; still a gorgeous purple color and the tannins are silky at this point. Paired beautifully with a filet mignon. Would gladly buy more of it if I could find it.
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7/5/2008 - Bobo N wrote: flawed
Way beyond its prime, perhaps corked, and nothing like last bottle i drank. This one has flaws -- nutty, raisiny almost port-like, and not in a good way, w/ tannins almost non-existent.
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6/27/2008 - Prissytraveller wrote: 92 Points
About as good as mature, classic California cab gets.
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6/4/2008 - Wino from Michigan wrote: 91 Points
This wine was at its peak at worth the cellaring - it was well balanced with ripe fruit on the nose, sold structure and a nice lingering finish that lastes for 1 min.
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5/28/2008 - keith prothero wrote: 90 Points
Decanted one hour.One of three bottles bought for a relatively cheap price in Bermuda.
Dark purple colour in the glass, clear hue throughout. Tight nose giving way to black berries, leather and white pepper towards the end. Flavors of black berries, cherries and some bitters on the finish. Medium acidity, firm tannins, medium body. A little dry on the fairly long finish and I reckon I had better drink up the other two bottles within the next year or so. An enjoyable food wine being not too sweet,and I believe it tastes much better now than it would have done 5 years or so ago,when I suspect most people would have drunk this wine.Very good/excellent.
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4/3/2008 - win wrote: 90 Points
Great representative of the 1997 California Cabernets.....good fruit, yet fading. Like the 1996 much better.
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2/16/2008 - JBVino wrote:
disappointing given the 95 I had a month or so ago was singing...did not take any formal notes at the time so from memory...did not appear to be over the hill just uninspiring, one dimensional and lacking in any particular personality
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2/9/2008 - sinebubble wrote: 91 Points
Sorry to see this bottle go due to the memories... Purchased from the winery in 2001 during a drunken Napa romp (limo) with Jill, Heather, Lilly and some guy Jill was dating. Met Cannondale's Tinker Juarez as there was a mountain bike race on the property (?!). Memorable night for me (and Lilly), but not so much for roommate Ludo (sorry about the noise, my friend, but I know you understood). Anyway, this is the last bottle of wine from that trip. Drank with Yvonne and Ludo at Local Kitchen. Very good and holding up decent. Probably not too much longer for this one, so it was appropriate to drink now.
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1/1/2008 - McArthur wrote: 90 Points
Very good. Maybe had a year or two left.
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10/15/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 90 Points
no formal notes. Remember it still had most of its stuffing left
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5/13/2007 - Magnolian wrote: 89 Points
Slight bricking against medium-purple coloring. Nose had a bit of a kick to it. Nice restrained cab flavors but not particularly smooth or otherwise notable. Not bad, but a bit disappointing considering the price, vintage, and seven years of cellaring.
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4/21/2007 - win wrote: 91 Points
Tasted at large dinner party. Minimal notes. Classic.
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4/21/2007 - wineismylife wrote: 88 Points
Dallas Offline - April 2007 (MikeB's house in North Dallas, TX): WIML88,WA88,WS88
Tasted April 21, 2007 at an offline. Tasted from a Spiegelau Authentus Magnum glass. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black berries, cherries and a touch of anise towards the finish. Good, basic flavors of red berries and red cherries. Light to medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink now.
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4/14/2007 - win wrote: 90 Points
This wine was amazingly fresh and vibrant with very refined tannins. Not as good as the 1996, but fine indeed.
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2/25/2007 - Todd French wrote: 94 Points
Nose of black currant, ripe plum, and on the palate fully integrated tannins as one would expect of a '97 opened 10 years later.
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12/24/2006 - KellyW wrote: 90 Points
Christmas Eve dinner. Drank with Rib Roast. Drinking perfectly now. Fully resolved tannins and fruit still vibrant.
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12/10/2006 - Jack wrote: 89 Points
Drink up. Decent fruit with some toasty (maybe even a little burnt) oak. Next day was still good but a little veg. flavor starting to show.
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11/24/2006 - win wrote: 93 Points
Very happy with this bottle. Still was amazingly fresh, with aromas of bing cherries, blueberries and black raspberries. The texture was very smooth, with just enough of a hint of refined tannins on the finish. One of the better CA 97s I have had in a while.
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11/18/2006 - obwine wrote: 91 Points
Muted initially, but opened up nicely after nearly two hours with subtle but pure fruit. Much more sophisticated than expected. WOTN in a group that included a 2000 Opus One and a few other medium range Bordeauxs
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2/23/2006 - Lou Briccant wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 1 hour. Nice aromas of black fruits, menthol, smoky oak and licorice. Smooth tannins. Flavors of currants, licorice, cherries and herbs. Medium to long finish. 91+pts.
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12/10/2005 - winfieldwinos wrote: 92 Points
Wine is very approachable right now and drinking well. If you have any...don't wait...drink it now.
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9/24/2005 - MichielV wrote: 92 Points
With Shot Venison Loin at the Lamprechts. Just outstanding meal and wine. Biggish in color nose and on the palate. Very California. Top drinking now. Had the 94 a day later and that was was fading in the fruit. 7/8 yr wine.
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8/18/2005 - 6831 wrote: 90 Points
Perfumed and exhuberant aromas from the glass of rich, black currant, forest, menthol, spice. The midpalate has lush flavors of creme de cassis, red and black berries, cranberry and finishes smoothly with a pleasant glide of fruit and soft tannins. Has the structure and flavor profile of a nice St -Emillion. A great food wine. Last bottle and clearly showed the best of my 6 bttls. Drink or hold 1-2.
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7/23/2005 - MichielV wrote: 89 Points
With steak from BBQ. Great dark color with little signs of ageing. On the nose right from opening nice darkish fruit, a bit vanilla and smoke, certainly not one dimensional. On the palate this was definitely california cab but very restraint, not the big fruit, but rather some elegance without any harshness. The drink window is opening. Lovely wine by a consistent producer.
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4/29/2005 - MarkC wrote: 90 Points
Mmmm - good stuff. Still youthful, but rounded edges and great fruit. Fairly typical cab, but an element of richness was surprising and enjoyable.
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4/8/2005 - Xian wrote: 90 Points
This was surprisingly tasty. Had two people of the five at the informal tasting who preferred this to the 94 Cos D'Estournel. Fruit was good, nice structure, good nose. A 'meat and potatoes' cabernet.
The bottle had been a gift from a co-worker, and am now planning on picking a little of this up for the home cellar based on this tasting.
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3/1/2005 - dinwiddie wrote:
I opened this last night with grilled NY bone on strips, potatos au graten, and a pear, goatcheese, and pecan salad on greens.
The tannins on this have softened a bit and are quite smooth. Lots of currant and cherry fruits with hints of licorice and herbs. Medium to long finish. Nice mouthfeel. I'll have to see how it holds up this evening when I finish it off. 89 pts
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2/26/2005 - Jack wrote: 87 Points
Decent fruit but uninspiring
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2/12/2005 - 6831 wrote: 88 Points
This wine has fully matured and is drinking at it's peak IMO. Soft flavors of currant, creme de cassis, blackberry, finishing smoothly with nicely intergrated oak. Not complex but well made, nonetheless.
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1/26/2005 - RAD wrote:
Deep garnet color. Concentrated: nose of pronounced chocolate-covered cherries, blackberries, cedar, and a background note of stewed prunes. Fruit forward, with strong, well-integrated tannins, and a touch of oak. Not overtly complex, but a quality wine and a great drinker. Will last for many more years. A reasonable value for a solid CA cab. Purchased on release for $34 @ Union Square Wines in NYC. Alcohol 13.8%.
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12/28/2004 - dcohen wrote: 87 Points
Consumed one bottle November 2004. It appears ready, a bottle that to me is somewhat average. Will stay of at least three years, but nothing to scream about
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4/26/2003 - buckeye76 wrote: 90 Points
NICE BERRY FRUIT IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR, BLACKBERIES, BLUEBERRIES AND BLACK CHERRIES. FLAVOR LIKE THE NOSE. MEDIUM LENGTH FINISH.
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8/21/2001 - RAD wrote: 91 Points
Deep, nearly opaque, teeth-staining garnet. Highly extracted, overripe nose of cassis, stewed prunes, and just a whiff of anise/alcohol. Solid entry, with plum and cherry. Just a touch of acid. Solid tannins, some sweet oak, and a long finish. Walks a fine line between being extracted enough to stand out in a crowd, but showing a measure of restraint and elegance: more like a Porshce than a Ferrari. Nice.
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12/1/2000 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($35) Solid Cabernet. Good purity and black currant fruit. Well integrated wood. Nice concentration, depth and length. May lack secondary flavors and a bit of "joi de vivre." Elegantly muscular. Pretty nice Cabernet Sauvignon. $35
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2/27/2000 - mdefreitas wrote: 91 Points
Rich fruity aromatics. Rich, ripe, plump and round in the mouth. Ready to drink, yet has some spine. Nice Cab!
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2/19/2000 - brianofthevine wrote: 92 Points
Black cherry, chocolate, nice creamy texture, smooth tannins.
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