A nice little Walla Walla cab. Excellent value. Showing secondary notes. Very good balance. More complex and balanced than one would expect. Holding up well. Plenty of life left. Kind of hard to score, because it is very well done, but, $15? Are you kidding me. Maybe the best under $20 stateside cab I have had. Doesn't have that "wow" factor, but does provide more than I expected. I think 88 points is fair, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
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Colour: intense purple Nose: medium(+) intensity, tertiary, developing. Red and black plum, mulberry, blackcurrant. Fig? Prune? Eucalyptus leaf. Cedar, baking spice. Palate: dry, medium(+) tannins, medium acidity, medium alcohol (14.5%), full bodied. Medium intensity, medium length finish. Red and black plum, mulberry, blackcurrant. Fig? Eucalyptus leaf. Cough syrup. Cedar, baking spice. Conclusions: good to very good. Very obviously a riper 'new world' style of Cabernet, and a good example of the style. Drink now, likely not suited for further ageing. Seal: technical cork
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Thought I had finished off my last 2016 last year, but found another one hidden away. Opened, poured and let sit about 20 min. Then: Maybe some dark fruit on the nose. Taste is dark fruit, maybe a bit muddled, not quite harsh; possibly a faint hint of cabernet; some faint drying tannin on the finish; reasonably in balance; mouthfeel OK. Certainly drinkable, but not a particularly interesting taste profile. If you have any left, I would say drink up. All in all, these served well for everyday drinking over the years.
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cherry, raisin, slight spice on the nose. nice balance of fruit-cherry, followed by tannins and some depth, but overall balanced. I like that it has heft but is not over the top like some cab savs.
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Quite intense, concentrated, blackberry galore, quite vertical in spite of the sweet, sweet fruit and the pronounced alcohol. Powerful, more than elegant, quite typical for Washington State IMHO
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Same air routine as my 2/23/21 note. Almost 7 months later and this still is holding up. Pretty much the same description as before; not just a solid wall of fruit, but a little layering to it. Unfortunately, my last bottle of this vintage. Maybe I'll hang on to my 2018s a bit longer.
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Poured and let stand 1/2 hr in glass. A bit of cabernet nose and decent fruit on entry, medium body, minimal tannin. Reasonable fruit through to the finish, again with a bit of cabernet. For the money, a good bottle of wine. Nice to smell/taste a bit of cabernet in an inexpensive wine labeled cabernet. Not something I have found lately in inexpensive Cali cabs.
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70 points. This bottle was noticably inferior to the first bottle I consumed 20 months ago, which I gave a 90 rating outright and a 93-94 rating based on its QPR. Perhaps this bottle was corked or perhaps it’s just one of those wines whose quality degrades rapidly once it peaks. Whatever the case, while drinkable it wasn’t enjoyable, as all fruit overtones had faded beyond recognition, the structure had broken down, and all that remained was a flat, mildly sour, empty shell of its former self in the early stages of acidification. In total, this was the 4th bottle of Substance’s 2016 Cab that I’ve had and the first to disappoint, so I consider it an outlier and unrepresentative of both the vintage and winery.
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Enjoyable and flavorful but lacking the structure of a better Cab. Deep ruby to purple. Fruity, with plum, blueberry, and black currant concentrated on the nose. On the palate lots of fresh black fruit, some tart blackberry, some subtle black pepper, and light to med tannins. Fairly sweet, almost syrupy feel. Med- to light finish.
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This is good value for $17 (Canadian) and a nice sip on a weekday eve - I've had several such sips and on its own I quite like this wine (though a touch on the sweet side). However putting it back-to-back with a Shafer One Point Five exposed a few cracks in the armor. That's a great wine, this is a good wine.
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Nice little gem. Still a baby young and could age much more. Nice fruit forward WA cab. Some hints of complexity and even some eartiness already showing. Decent acidicity and no abrasive tannins or oakiness. Yet, somehow restrained and classy already in its youth with good balance. Stellar value. I will buy 12 of these and age them for 10+ years.
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I'm feeling a little euphoric tonight, so perhaps I'm unable to be objective, but I am absolutely loving this wine. Perfectly young, unabashedly fruit forward, but with a modicum of restraint that forces you to take this wine seriously. Well balanced, and there is an underlying earthy backbone that holds everything together. The QPR on this bottle is frankly absurd. I am extremely impressed.
Color: Light Purple Nose: BlackBerry and Cedar Taste: Lots of Dark Fruit and Rounded our by Good Cedar notes; Low Tannins and Acidity Comp’s: Crossfork has more Depth; Decent QPR and Good with Appetizers
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I was pleasantly suprised by this wine. Nose is red fruitd and some oak. The cedar notes onthe palate are there along eith some cassis. I think there is a lot of bottle variation. I had the 2015 and hated it.
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For the life of me, I don't see what other posters see in this wine. It may be too young, but we double aerated and decanted it and it still was not varietally correct and did not open up. I would not have picked this as a Cab. Perhaps a $5 house red at a cheap restaurant. Regret my purchase. If this is what passes as good or very good wine, we're in major trouble.
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Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, earth and pencil lead.
Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black cherries, raisins, vanilla, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, earth, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.
Nice length on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.
This Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon is always enjoyable. Drinking nicely now as a 3 years old.
Fruit forward with nice balance. Showing mild complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.
Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows the tannins (45 minutes).
Nice enough to drink by itself, but pairs nicely with food too.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
89 points.
$17.
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Deep ruby red colour. Ripe blackcurrant, ripe blackberry, ripe dark cherry and tobacco on the nose. Taste of ripe blackcurrant, ripe blackberry, ripe black cherry and tobacco. Long and fruity, yet dry, finish. Well balanced tannins. Goes well with grilled red meat.
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Dark red fresh colour. Intense cab nose, black currant fresh herbs and perhaps a bit of carved tabletennis ball. (a hint of balsamic notes) On the palate, fresh but smooth mouthfeel. Rich and round body, black currant, leatherjacket, vanilla and some aucalypthus. Very(to kind?) gentle tannins and the wine is surprisingly soft. Maybe some variation as I remember it to be much firmer.
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Crowd-pleasing and forward, with jammy notes of plum and blackberry, followed by creme de cassis and oak. Tannins slowly emerge with air time, providing balance. Great QPR.
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Deep, dense purple color. Rich, peppery aromas of blackberries, tobacco, and currants. Dark fruit flavors, smoke, and black pepper notes on the palate. Well balanced, nice structure. Lingering blackberry finish. This wine is still a great value, as always.
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Nose of dark stewed fruits and spice. Full bodied, loads of fruit with a nice balance. Very drinkable tannins. Great value and my go-to outdoor BBQ wine.
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More bell pepper than I can remember from earlier vintages. After a while sweet fruit comes thru. A little later the typical tones of tobacco arrives. 88-89. Not as good as I remember -14 and -15.
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Solid Everyday drinking wine not made for holding. Soft nose up front with some mineral - slate with a gritty type finish unpolished tannins give it a bit bolder finish than it deserves but all and all a pleasant wine for the price point.
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Great value and really easy to drink. Want to score it higher as flavor profile is one of my favorite cab ones—black currant, pencil, dark fruit....but missing some depth and complexity. Medium bodied. No finish.
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Clear deep ruby; clean medium developing nose of cocoa, leather, soil, blackberries, cinnamon, toast and wet leaves; dry; high acidity; medium plus tannins; high alcohol; medium body; medium flavour intensity; pfn with addition of blueberries; medium finish; good quality; drink now, not suitable for future aging; beautiful nose - but palate did not keep up; felt a little thin and short
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Is there a better QPR out there than Substance Cabernet Sauvignon? This resonates with cassis, black and purple fruit, pencil lead, and scorched earth after a heavy rainfall. Structured, soft-textured, and tremendously balanced, the palate displays fruit purity, ripe tannin, and a savory, earthy, salty note on the midpalate. Youthful grip grabs your attention on the chewy finish.
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Even better than I remember from a few months ago- in my previous note I gave it a 92. Similar- beautiful "true" cab notes of very dark cassis, light stony minerality, some violet and even subtler vanilla oak, with ripe blackberry/cola on the palate and a bit of an acid lift.
Once again I think the tannins are a little chalky and the finish is somewhat abrupt, but you can't beat this depth of fruit for $12 at Costco, or anywhere. Tried the new 2017 before this and it can't hold a candle- it's considerably jammier, hotter, and less delicious, even if it was nice in its own right. This 2016 is a crazy special QPR. Surprised at the vintage variation even in a budget bottle such as this!
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Very nice. This was just a touch better then the other bottles I’ve had. A tad darker, richer and interesting. Getting another half case for our Super Bowl Party. Can’t beat this for the $$$!
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As all the bottles have been, this was nice, but not exceptional, complex and deep enough to be intriguing and interesting. Took it to a party and everyone loved it, especially when I told them the price!
I’d give this bottle 88-89Points and a Very Good QPR for the $13 price at Costco.
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Really a great bottle for $12 or so at costco- it's more commonly $15 ish which is also more than fair - it was easily around $25 quality. Had plenty of dark, aromatic cassis fruit, and kind of a smoky, almost metallic minerality, while the oak is far less present than most US reds in this price range. Even more complexity is added with tiny, tiny bitter notes of bell pepper or coffee.
The finish is fairly short, and the tannins are a little chalky (a couple years would solve this!)- and those are the only major indications that it's not a much more expensive bottle. I'd rank it 92 even if it was twice the price. I'll also say that this was miles better than the previous vintage, which had much less fruit and was dominated by dried herbs.
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Deep purple. Black currant aromas. Very dry. Blackberry reduction and baking spice flavors. This had a mid-palate element of astringency that felt a bit pushed and was not appealing. This has some grip. Perhaps this needs some time. Very young, obviously. I didn’t enjoy this. Pass. 80
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Very dark, syrup-like, fruity, no grip, not my style. Chemical like finish. Can see where this might be a popular style due to its soft, velvety character. Not for me.
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Wine Spectator (90 points) a wine of the week. Wine Enthusiast number 52 on the best wines of the year (2018). Great value at $13 a bottle at Costco. Cassis, blackberry, currants. Nice balance mature tannins ready to drink now. Reminds me of a Franciscan Cabernet with a (WS 90 point rating) that was one of our house wine in the early to mid 2000's.
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Blackberry and spice on the nose, dry and dark, notes of cassis, blackberry, black cherry and burnt wood in the mouth, bright with some grippy tannin, goes well with food, a solid value
Flat color and texture. Almost appears oily on approach. Clean smell, no overwhelming odors. Hints of safron, rose, carrot. Less dry than expected. Finish is the best part of this wine.
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I’ve been critical of this wine in the past, but today all the disjointed elements came together with grace! Maybe the few extra months in bottle made a difference. Floral, smokey, cassis, oak signatures. Not prickly in any way, medium bodied, great QPR.
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QPR for days! Will definitely buy again. Excellent midweek wine, but would also serve to friends. As another reviewer put it, this plays well above it's price point. Drank over a couple of days, it stood up to that (nothing more than a re-cork). Probably a decant would improve even more. Deep dark purple. Nose distinctly cab with with fruit and perhaps a little forest floor.Silky medium mouth feel. Some dark cherry, hint of spice and maybe a little black pepper. Nice tannins applying some structure, sneak up on you, grippy across the entire mouth. Smooth, moderate finish. Need to buy a few more to cellar and see how this works out in a couple of years. Should not disappoint!
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Still quite young but shows lots of promise. Nice cherry and leather nose; more fruit flavors and medium tannins on the palate. Also, hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper. Medium slightly acidic finish. Shows better after being open at least 1 hr. Best guess is that in 2-3 years this wine will come together nicely. Very affordable now - paid $12.99
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Purchased at Costco with a 92 or 93 or 90-something rating that seemed too good to be true for the low price they are selling this at. So of course I had to try one.....
Not bad. Not 90 territory but solid and for the price, decent. Creamy fruit, some spice and minerality, nice finish.
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Quite a bit of substance given its modest price tag. Big plum & cherry nose, succulent raspberry palate, bright acidity, and notable undeveloped tannins. Not a killer wine, but certainly worth another try in a year or two.
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Day 1: A big wine with blueberries, Bing cherries, smoke, oak and vanilla. Finishes strong and you can taste the oak. This wine is similar to some of the oak barrel wines from Napa but at a fraction of the price. Very much a guilty pleasure wine. 90 points Day 2: More mellow than the intensity of day 1. Fruit is not as vibrant and a little astringent. The drop off tells me this is a pop and pour wine. 85 points Recommendation: Drink now.
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Sat, 09/08/18, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 100% C.S. from the Goose Ridge (34%), Coyote Canyon (28%), Frenchman Hills (21%), & Painted Hills (17%) Vyds; "Yield: 5.0 tons per acre; Yeast: native; 100% whole berry fermentation with 33 days extended maceration; 12 mos barrel-aged on lees in 50% new FR oak;" 14.5% ABV, 5.4 g/L T.A., & 3.87 pH; Upwards of 100,000 cs produced
N: Slightly closed; RIPE blk cherries with notes of blk olives; Intensity lurking
P: MF body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by some puckerish astringeny which morphs into a LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness & OCCASIONAL *glimpses* of bitterness to the very, VERY fine tannins. For now, though DESERVES another 6-9 mos, then safely drinking nicely for 3 yrs more. My EXC-, though I'd certainly LISTEN to an argument for more based upon this vendor's $12.95, which is @ the top of wine-searcher's LARGE listing. 93 pts Jeb Dunnuck, 92 ea Suckling & WA, and 90 WS.
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Nose: Cherry and blackberry, warm plum, vanilla and clove. Some faint tobacco. Shy projection.
Mouth: Smooth black cherry and blackberry lead the way on this, lighter on the palate than I was expecting. Fruits are well integrated and present the better parts of each other well. Star anise and light baking spice take the finish and set the stage for medium-light tannins.
Overall: This is the weeknight warrior. Everything here is quite technically correct - fruits are in harmony with each other, agreement between the nose and the mouth, some fine touches on the finish with the addition of the anise and spice, tannins are food friendly. The boxes are ticked all around, if in some ways more reminiscent of an old world CS.
Beyond that: it always feels a bit closed down. I put this through a decanter, gave it some time and still came away feeling like this wasn't showing it's hand in the end. In a way I like that. I think the technical performance of the wine is on display, outperforming its price point (18 USD), and personally enjoy that it's not so fruit forward, so pandering in the end to its commercial side. Just left me wondering in the end if I really ever saw all that it had to offer..
In all a good value and worth picking up in a heartbeat. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
89.
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Crowd pleaser Cab. Straightforward and while certainly not complex, is very well made. Serves the bill as a weekday drinker or something to put several bottles out if hosting a very large gathering. Excellent QPR.
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I heard Rudy Kurniawan used 80% of this in his fake Screaming Eagle blends...and Johnny Depp to this day tells everyone it's the real deal lololz #richpeoplehaverefinedpalates ��
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Popped and poured. Dark crimson with a lighter edge. Appears a little thin. Not giving much on the nose aside from some floral notes. Decent in the mouth with brambly fruit but still very young. Medium body and tannins, drinkable and probably not terribly age worthy, but ok for the small price. A little hollow in the middle. 4-11-14-7: 85/100.
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Excellent aroma and flavor. Somewhat young. A bit grassy and a little rough. Seems like it will benefit from bottle aging. Would wait a year or two for this one.
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PNP. Inky Purple color. Aromas of blackcurrant, cherry, baking spices, espresso. Medium-full bodied, with dark fruit and espresso on entry. Muscular tannins start to crowd out the flavor in the mid-palate and by the finish it's tightly wound and not providing much except a chalky mouthfeel. A bit better than my recollection from the first tasting, but still doesn't seem to have enough potential or complexity to justify stocking up.
Store Tasting...no decant, from coravin. A base cab is best I can describe from the small shot, but with more depth than I thought it could have for the price, full, some activity is going on here but Needs to open/decant and maybe cellar. Bought 1 @ $15 to compare in future against a 2015 on stash. Tasting score 87
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I have the 2014 and 2015 in my cellar and I like both of them, though they both need time to emerge. The 2016 feels different, unfortunately not in a good way.
I gave this 2h of air, based on experience with prior vintages. Inky purple color. Deep and bold aromas of black currant, blueberry, anise and espresso.
Full-bodied, with bold flavors of dark fruit and an edginess to the acidity. But overpowered by bitter young tannins and a chalky, drying mouthfeel. The finish, which lasts an impressively long time, has some dark fruit, but is mostly harsh.
I sensed potential in both the 2014 and 2015, so I stocked up and cellared. I am not so sure about the 2016, given the green, harshness of the tannins. It did improve as the night wore on, so I will probably do a bit of testing before deciding.
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Ehhh, an OK, inexpensive daily drinker, but nothing outstanding. The more I’ve had, the more I’ve felt it was too fruity, flat, one-dimensional. Just not much depth. Maybe I’m just getting a little tired of it. Dropping this 2 Points to 86.
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A nice bottle. Nothing special, but a nice wine for the money. Needed a “party wine” and went into Costco looking for the McManis CS, but it was gone. My contact recommended this. I’ve had it before... at the Mana Lani (Big Island), no less. Of course it cost a bit more than Costco’s $14! LOL
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Fruit-packed, almost over-the-top, this is nonetheless a serious well made wine batting far above its price point. Not my favorite style, but dense, well balanced, and a real crowd pleaser. Bought a few bottles to try, which quickly disappeared. (Usually the first bottle to run dry, always a good sign.) Bought another half case for BBQ season, amidst a growing sense that this is very well made and could be very good, even excellent, in a year or two. We’ll see.
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First off, this is not a "cheap tasting" wine but rather an inexpensive wine that plays way above its' price point. Slow ox for two hours and consumed over two additional hours. Deep dark purple, almost inky in the glass. Nose of forest floor, blue fruits and a touch of smoke. Medium-full mouthfeel with flavors of blueberry, dark cherry, black licorice and the distinct earthy terroir of the Columbia Valley. Ripe tannins provide backbone and texture to this quality juice and ensure it will evolve in the bottle for several years to come. The smooth, moderately long finish is the exclamation point on this excellent, high quality offering. Probably better in six months but very enjoyable now. Buy it by the case and serve to friends and family. It will not disappoint.
Purchased at Eddie Merlot's for $48 USD. Was a nice food wine, matched nicely with filet. Quite tannic upon opening, this softened with air and became delicious. This did not ocme across as a jammy and fruity wine, it was more subdued and serious, to my delight. Drink now (with decant) through 2024.
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P: Med, poss MF, body; Rndish entry with ALMOST swtish frt met by a PUCKERISH astringency & very, VERY fine tannins, all of this slowly morphing into a LONG finish that's more puckerish than tannic, though with a swtness to it all. Needs/DESERVES through '19, then a potential steal! 14.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-, justifiably even more given this vendor's $12.95 is THE best price in the current "early" listings! 90-93 pts WA. [Note: My 2nd bottle of the day, both my 2 "regular" shops providing tastes on the SAME day!]
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P: LM body; Rndish entry with NICE frt met by a puckerish astringency which slowly, fairly seamlessly morphs into quite a LONG, spicy, very, VERY slightly tannic finish yet with hints of swtness. DESERVES into at least the early Spring '19, then drinking for 4 yrs more, I'm guessing. SUPERB! 14.5% ABV; My EXC-/EXC given the QPR of this vendor's $13.99, which is certainly COMPETITIVE on wine-wearcher's current listings. 90-93 pts WA.
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Completely agree with WA review and score. Young, rich, fruit forward, full bodied. Flavors of blueberry, blackberry and mocha. No green or mint. Medium to full body. Longish finish. Excellent now. Outstanding value.
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Double decant. Pretty good juice! Hard to find better qpr. Had along side the 2015 vintage and I must say I prefer the 2016 as a daily. The 15 is maybe a bit more tannic and may age better but who’s aging $12 Wine?
1/25/2024 - Quaffable Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good QPR! Nose was muted, but decent medium to full body with a good amount of fruit and acid still. Finish was enjoyable and nice for the price.
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12/10/2023 - Magnum PI Likes this wine: 88 Points
A nice little Walla Walla cab. Excellent value. Showing secondary notes. Very good balance. More complex and balanced than one would expect. Holding up well. Plenty of life left. Kind of hard to score, because it is very well done, but, $15? Are you kidding me. Maybe the best under $20 stateside cab I have had. Doesn't have that "wow" factor, but does provide more than I expected. I think 88 points is fair, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
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10/21/2023 - PatrickH wrote: 82 Points
Soft, berries, not much underlying depth. Mellow tannins.
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7/8/2023 - Bill B. Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light to medium bodied on the dry side but nicely smooth. Has more time left.
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7/6/2023 - slabslovin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice, typical K style. Jammy, complex. Needs a lot of air.
Best day #4 open
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10/29/2022 - penguinoid Likes this wine:
Colour: intense purple
Nose: medium(+) intensity, tertiary, developing. Red and black plum, mulberry, blackcurrant. Fig? Prune? Eucalyptus leaf. Cedar, baking spice.
Palate: dry, medium(+) tannins, medium acidity, medium alcohol (14.5%), full bodied. Medium intensity, medium length finish. Red and black plum, mulberry, blackcurrant. Fig? Eucalyptus leaf. Cough syrup. Cedar, baking spice.
Conclusions: good to very good. Very obviously a riper 'new world' style of Cabernet, and a good example of the style. Drink now, likely not suited for further ageing.
Seal: technical cork
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8/11/2022 - Quiller wrote: 86 Points
Thought I had finished off my last 2016 last year, but found another one hidden away. Opened, poured and let sit about 20 min. Then: Maybe some dark fruit on the nose. Taste is dark fruit, maybe a bit muddled, not quite harsh; possibly a faint hint of cabernet; some faint drying tannin on the finish; reasonably in balance; mouthfeel OK. Certainly drinkable, but not a particularly interesting taste profile. If you have any left, I would say drink up. All in all, these served well for everyday drinking over the years.
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2/12/2022 - r4Cali Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great daily drinker with good QPR
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1/25/2022 - Drbobo Likes this wine: 90 Points
cherry, raisin, slight spice on the nose. nice balance of fruit-cherry, followed by tannins and some depth, but overall balanced. I like that it has heft but is not over the top like some cab savs.
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1/24/2022 - KaupCava Likes this wine: 89 Points
Light fruit nose
Tannic, dark fruit, tea
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12/22/2021 - Richard123 wrote: 87 Points
Nice enough, but found it unexciting. Maybe I prefer old world styles?
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11/20/2021 - KLutt Likes this wine: 89 Points
I feel the QPR is high for this nice, inexpensive red. Nothing fancy but quite good for the price point.
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10/31/2021 - beatles wrote: 89 Points
Quite intense, concentrated, blackberry galore, quite vertical in spite of the sweet, sweet fruit and the pronounced alcohol. Powerful, more than elegant, quite typical for Washington State IMHO
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9/21/2021 - Quiller wrote: 88 Points
Same air routine as my 2/23/21 note. Almost 7 months later and this still is holding up. Pretty much the same description as before; not just a solid wall of fruit, but a little layering to it. Unfortunately, my last bottle of this vintage. Maybe I'll hang on to my 2018s a bit longer.
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4/10/2021 - btwine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Transposed from my wine.com rating.
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2/23/2021 - Quiller wrote: 88 Points
Poured and let stand 1/2 hr in glass. A bit of cabernet nose and decent fruit on entry, medium body, minimal tannin. Reasonable fruit through to the finish, again with a bit of cabernet. For the money, a good bottle of wine. Nice to smell/taste a bit of cabernet in an inexpensive wine labeled cabernet. Not something I have found lately in inexpensive Cali cabs.
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12/19/2020 - PatrickH wrote: 84 Points
Being from Washington, this Cab is light bodied and has bright berry flavors. Don’t drink this with steak. It is more like a Zin.
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12/13/2020 - ralaspech wrote: 88 Points
Terrific value!
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10/27/2020 - Knxdr wrote: 91 Points
Big fruit flavors with fine tannin and a light finish. It's lacking the boldness and complexity found in bigger cabs making it an easy weekday wine.
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8/4/2020 - dougfbs Likes this wine:
Nice wine for the price
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7/18/2020 - RJ92651 wrote: flawed
70 points. This bottle was noticably inferior to the first bottle I consumed 20 months ago, which I gave a 90 rating outright and a 93-94 rating based on its QPR. Perhaps this bottle was corked or perhaps it’s just one of those wines whose quality degrades rapidly once it peaks. Whatever the case, while drinkable it wasn’t enjoyable, as all fruit overtones had faded beyond recognition, the structure had broken down, and all that remained was a flat, mildly sour, empty shell of its former self in the early stages of acidification. In total, this was the 4th bottle of Substance’s 2016 Cab that I’ve had and the first to disappoint, so I consider it an outlier and unrepresentative of both the vintage and winery.
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7/17/2020 - Jay_R Likes this wine: 85 Points
meh....
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6/29/2020 - mazik wrote: 88 Points
Juicy, fruity, with a bit of baking spice and oak. Primary aromas and flavors, medium body, fine tannins. A weekday wine at a decent price <15.
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6/9/2020 - kenj001 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Improved over time
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4/17/2020 - jdr20 wrote: 85 Points
Enjoyable and flavorful but lacking the structure of a better Cab. Deep ruby to purple. Fruity, with plum, blueberry, and black currant concentrated on the nose. On the palate lots of fresh black fruit, some tart blackberry, some subtle black pepper, and light to med tannins. Fairly sweet, almost syrupy feel. Med- to light finish.
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4/14/2020 - LEEJV123 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Medium body, round.
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4/9/2020 - RBurgundy99 wrote: 87 Points
This is good value for $17 (Canadian) and a nice sip on a weekday eve - I've had several such sips and on its own I quite like this wine (though a touch on the sweet side). However putting it back-to-back with a Shafer One Point Five exposed a few cracks in the armor. That's a great wine, this is a good wine.
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4/1/2020 - pattyvsmith Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good
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3/28/2020 - K&J Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice Cab for the price. Ever so slightly thin if you were expecting something big.
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3/5/2020 - Salute Likes this wine: 88 Points
Still okay...I dont' think I liked this bottle as much as the first. Knocked off a couple points
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3/1/2020 - Kustjagr wrote: 91 Points
Nice little gem. Still a baby young and could age much more. Nice fruit forward WA cab. Some hints of complexity and even some eartiness already showing. Decent acidicity and no abrasive tannins or oakiness. Yet, somehow restrained and classy already in its youth with good balance. Stellar value. I will buy 12 of these and age them for 10+ years.
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1/30/2020 - bobadopolis Likes this wine: 92 Points
I'm feeling a little euphoric tonight, so perhaps I'm unable to be objective, but I am absolutely loving this wine. Perfectly young, unabashedly fruit forward, but with a modicum of restraint that forces you to take this wine seriously. Well balanced, and there is an underlying earthy backbone that holds everything together. The QPR on this bottle is frankly absurd. I am extremely impressed.
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1/14/2020 - kstatejim Likes this wine: 93 Points
Best 2016 $15 cab
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12/22/2019 - kvd2 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Color: Light Purple
Nose: BlackBerry and Cedar
Taste: Lots of Dark Fruit and Rounded our by Good Cedar notes; Low Tannins and Acidity
Comp’s: Crossfork has more Depth; Decent QPR and Good with Appetizers
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12/20/2019 - aleksds Likes this wine: 88 Points
Served for a dinner party with roast beef. I didn't pay attention very closely while drinking it. It was enjoyable, if unremarkable.
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12/19/2019 - kevrob822 Likes this wine: 88 Points
As I’ve said before, this is a decent, everyday drinker, but it’s certainly no Georges de Latour.
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11/29/2019 - winebytoth Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quality wine for the price. Classic cab flavors, vanilla, dark fruits and a touch of oak
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11/25/2019 - HU Likes this wine: 90 Points
One of the highest QPR wines out there! A genuine West Coast Cab, tastes of cherry and richly flavored. Our favorite go-to wine under 20$.
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11/19/2019 - sachsmart Likes this wine: 82 Points
Little Oaky. Did better after decanting.
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11/15/2019 - wine-enthusiast Likes this wine: 85 Points
I was pleasantly suprised by this wine. Nose is red fruitd and some oak. The cedar notes onthe palate are there along eith some cassis. I think there is a lot of bottle variation. I had the 2015 and hated it.
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11/5/2019 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 90 Points
Same Comments
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11/4/2019 - Z1nnfull wrote: 79 Points
For the life of me, I don't see what other posters see in this wine. It may be too young, but we double aerated and decanted it and it still was not varietally correct and did not open up. I would not have picked this as a Cab. Perhaps a $5 house red at a cheap restaurant. Regret my purchase.
If this is what passes as good or very good wine, we're in major trouble.
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10/22/2019 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 91 Points
Same comments
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10/19/2019 - Yonny Likes this wine: 90 Points
Costco $14. Seems the best Cab out there at this price point. Hess Select CS at TJ’s is close
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10/14/2019 - Odedis.Wine.reviews Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim.
Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, earth and pencil lead.
Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black cherries, raisins, vanilla, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, earth, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.
Nice length on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.
This Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon is always enjoyable. Drinking nicely now as a 3 years old.
Fruit forward with nice balance. Showing mild complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.
Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows the tannins (45 minutes).
Nice enough to drink by itself, but pairs nicely with food too.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
89 points.
$17.
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10/13/2019 - Brian Glas Likes this wine: 91 Points
Black currents. Very dark color almost opaque. Drying tannins. Very powerful. Good persistence on the palate. Long finish.
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10/5/2019 - SuperSomm wrote:
Deep ruby red colour. Ripe blackcurrant, ripe blackberry, ripe dark cherry and tobacco on the nose. Taste of ripe blackcurrant, ripe blackberry, ripe black cherry and tobacco. Long and fruity, yet dry, finish. Well balanced tannins. Goes well with grilled red meat.
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9/28/2019 - Spanli Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark red fresh colour. Intense cab nose, black currant fresh herbs and perhaps a bit of carved tabletennis ball. (a hint of balsamic notes) On the palate, fresh but smooth mouthfeel. Rich and round body, black currant, leatherjacket, vanilla and some aucalypthus. Very(to kind?) gentle tannins and the wine is surprisingly soft. Maybe some variation as I remember it to be much firmer.
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8/31/2019 - Jackstraw212 wrote: 89 Points
Cassis, plums, dark cherries, and vanilla. Getting a little better with some bottle time. What a cool wine at this price.
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8/22/2019 - ziavino wrote: 89 Points
Crowd-pleasing and forward, with jammy notes of plum and blackberry, followed by creme de cassis and oak. Tannins slowly emerge with air time, providing balance. Great QPR.
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8/19/2019 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good QPR
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8/18/2019 - mitiman2003 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Deep, dense purple color. Rich, peppery aromas of blackberries, tobacco, and currants. Dark fruit flavors, smoke, and black pepper notes on the palate. Well balanced, nice structure. Lingering blackberry finish. This wine is still a great value, as always.
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8/11/2019 - ThistleB Likes this wine: 87 Points
Fruit forward. Not real complex. Good QPR
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7/23/2019 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great QPR. Hard to believe this wine was only $13 at Costco.
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7/18/2019 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very good QPR. A real steal from Costco at $13
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7/4/2019 - Angies Husband Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose of dark stewed fruits and spice. Full bodied, loads of fruit with a nice balance. Very drinkable tannins. Great value and my go-to outdoor BBQ wine.
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6/29/2019 - adamanko wrote: 88 Points
More bell pepper than I can remember from earlier vintages. After a while sweet fruit comes thru. A little later the typical tones of tobacco arrives. 88-89. Not as good as I remember -14 and -15.
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6/24/2019 - Siwink57 Likes this wine: 87 Points
A decent Cab for $10 at Costco. A great second bottle or everyday drinker. Prefer a little more when it comes to Cabs. Will try the 2016 next.
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6/23/2019 - SLOFred wrote: 92 Points
Super QPR. You would think this is a $35 bottle, not a $ 13 at Costco. Very full bodied, nice finish, well balanced.
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6/7/2019 - gamlingman Likes this wine: 85 Points
Solid Everyday drinking wine not made for holding. Soft nose up front with some mineral - slate with a gritty type finish unpolished tannins give it a bit bolder finish than it deserves but all and all a pleasant wine for the price point.
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6/2/2019 - Boss77 wrote: 85 Points
Good
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6/1/2019 - richshoes Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great value and really easy to drink. Want to score it higher as flavor profile is one of my favorite cab ones—black currant, pencil, dark fruit....but missing some depth and complexity. Medium bodied. No finish.
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5/25/2019 - frontenac Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice but perhaps more oak than I remember . If the oak is noticeable, it detracts from the wine.
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5/18/2019 - jkc101 wrote:
Good for its price point, but didn’t feel well the next day.
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5/15/2019 - Zed57 wrote: 90 Points
Remarkably polished and clean. It may have some evolution but it may fade if you wait too long. drink it
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5/3/2019 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Clear deep ruby; clean medium developing nose of cocoa, leather, soil, blackberries, cinnamon, toast and wet leaves; dry; high acidity; medium plus tannins; high alcohol; medium body; medium flavour intensity; pfn with addition of blueberries; medium finish; good quality; drink now, not suitable for future aging; beautiful nose - but palate did not keep up; felt a little thin and short
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5/3/2019 - kenj001 wrote:
Still young. Tannins strong. Could be promising with time. 88-89 now. Retry in a year
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4/29/2019 - Baron Slick wrote: 91 Points
Is there a better QPR out there than Substance Cabernet Sauvignon? This resonates with cassis, black and purple fruit, pencil lead, and scorched earth after a heavy rainfall. Structured, soft-textured, and tremendously balanced, the palate displays fruit purity, ripe tannin, and a savory, earthy, salty note on the midpalate. Youthful grip grabs your attention on the chewy finish.
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4/11/2019 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Even better than I remember from a few months ago- in my previous note I gave it a 92. Similar- beautiful "true" cab notes of very dark cassis, light stony minerality, some violet and even subtler vanilla oak, with ripe blackberry/cola on the palate and a bit of an acid lift.
Once again I think the tannins are a little chalky and the finish is somewhat abrupt, but you can't beat this depth of fruit for $12 at Costco, or anywhere. Tried the new 2017 before this and it can't hold a candle- it's considerably jammier, hotter, and less delicious, even if it was nice in its own right. This 2016 is a crazy special QPR. Surprised at the vintage variation even in a budget bottle such as this!
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3/24/2019 - K&J Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is a surprisingly good value for a Cab! Somewhat complex and polished.
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3/24/2019 - Omar Khayyam wrote:
Dream Big - Discover California Wine Tasting (Stockholm, Gamla Riksarkivet (old government archives building) March 2019): My favorite among the trio of Charles Smith K Vintner line up tried. Much more freshness and purity of fruit, good structure, feels like it has also been exposed to less new oak, or just has more fruit material that can eat through the oak, which is present but nicely done. Recommended. But should see some cellar time.
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3/12/2019 - kevrob822 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Another nice bottle. A superb, easy drinking Cab. Tonight paired with some Italian Pasta (creamy white sauce) and Garlic Bread.
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3/8/2019 - ev3rthesame Likes this wine: 88 Points
Great everyday drinker. Pretty straight forward wine that is enjoyable to wine down. Nothing too fancy or interesting, but it's good.
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2/27/2019 - dave kammerer wrote: 86 Points
drinkable but not not a repurchase
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2/2/2019 - Cr2477 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sheron - enjoyed, low tannins, spicy, great nose, great to drink
Chris - wonderful bouquet, full bodied, deep purple, casis, spicy, great with turkey chili and wine cooked mushrooms, medium to long finish
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1/27/2019 - kevrob822 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very nice. This was just a touch better then the other bottles I’ve had. A tad darker, richer and interesting. Getting another half case for our Super Bowl Party. Can’t beat this for the $$$!
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1/26/2019 - kevrob822 Likes this wine: 88 Points
As all the bottles have been, this was nice, but not exceptional, complex and deep enough to be intriguing and interesting. Took it to a party and everyone loved it, especially when I told them the price!
I’d give this bottle 88-89Points and a Very Good QPR for the $13 price at Costco.
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1/23/2019 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really a great bottle for $12 or so at costco- it's more commonly $15 ish which is also more than fair - it was easily around $25 quality. Had plenty of dark, aromatic cassis fruit, and kind of a smoky, almost metallic minerality, while the oak is far less present than most US reds in this price range. Even more complexity is added with tiny, tiny bitter notes of bell pepper or coffee.
The finish is fairly short, and the tannins are a little chalky (a couple years would solve this!)- and those are the only major indications that it's not a much more expensive bottle. I'd rank it 92 even if it was twice the price.
I'll also say that this was miles better than the previous vintage, which had much less fruit and was dominated by dried herbs.
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1/23/2019 - cjsadler Likes this wine: 89 Points
I doubt there's many better US cabernets at $13. Nothing artificial tasting here (as there often is at the low-end); varietally correct, balanced.
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1/21/2019 - tjross Likes this wine: 89 Points
Double decanted, then drank over three nights. Pretty young, very tannic. A well built wine for the price. I expect it will improve with time.
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12/31/2018 - kevrob822 Likes this wine: 86 Points
Nice easy drinker. Nothing exceptional, but no major liabilities. Excellent daily drinker.
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12/30/2018 - typ993 wrote: 90 Points
Great QPR from Costco! Nice structure combined with lively fruit. Decent finish.
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12/28/2018 - swade wrote: 80 Points
Deep purple. Black currant aromas. Very dry. Blackberry reduction and baking spice flavors. This had a mid-palate element of astringency that felt a bit pushed and was not appealing. This has some grip. Perhaps this needs some time. Very young, obviously. I didn’t enjoy this. Pass. 80
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12/26/2018 - jsternh Does not like this wine: 82 Points
Very dark, syrup-like, fruity, no grip, not my style. Chemical like finish. Can see where this might be a popular style due to its soft, velvety character. Not for me.
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12/24/2018 - Bud Kreuzer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wine Spectator (90 points) a wine of the week. Wine Enthusiast number 52 on the best wines of the year (2018). Great value at $13 a bottle at Costco. Cassis, blackberry, currants. Nice balance mature tannins ready to drink now. Reminds me of a Franciscan Cabernet with a (WS 90 point rating) that was one of our house wine in the early to mid 2000's.
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12/23/2018 - whits wrote: 89 Points
Blackberry and spice on the nose, dry and dark, notes of cassis, blackberry, black cherry and burnt wood in the mouth, bright with some grippy tannin, goes well with food, a solid value
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12/20/2018 - CabinConnoisseur wrote: 89 Points
Dark bitter cherry , blackberry, and baking spice. Much better than your average $14 wine!
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12/15/2018 - maxwdk wrote: 78 Points
Flat color and texture. Almost appears oily on approach. Clean smell, no overwhelming odors. Hints of safron, rose, carrot. Less dry than expected. Finish is the best part of this wine.
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12/10/2018 - mazik wrote: 88 Points
Juicy, fruity, with a bit of baking spice and oak. Primary aromas and flavors, medium body, fine tannins. A weekday wine but it's at a bargain price.
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11/28/2018 - Eric.S Likes this wine:
I’ve been critical of this wine in the past, but today all the disjointed elements came together with grace! Maybe the few extra months in bottle made a difference. Floral, smokey, cassis, oak signatures. Not prickly in any way, medium bodied, great QPR.
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11/25/2018 - cynicaloptimist Likes this wine: 89 Points
QPR for days! Will definitely buy again. Excellent midweek wine, but would also serve to friends. As another reviewer put it, this plays well above it's price point. Drank over a couple of days, it stood up to that (nothing more than a re-cork). Probably a decant would improve even more.
Deep dark purple. Nose distinctly cab with with fruit and perhaps a little forest floor.Silky medium mouth feel. Some dark cherry, hint of spice and maybe a little black pepper. Nice tannins applying some structure, sneak up on you, grippy across the entire mouth.
Smooth, moderate finish. Need to buy a few more to cellar and see how this works out in a couple of years. Should not disappoint!
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11/9/2018 - Jackstraw212 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice go-to drinkable cab. Not overly complex, but juicy and enjoyable.
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11/4/2018 - Wolfde Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still quite young but shows lots of promise. Nice cherry and leather nose; more fruit flavors and medium tannins on the palate. Also, hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper. Medium slightly acidic finish. Shows better after being open at least 1 hr. Best guess is that in 2-3 years this wine will come together nicely. Very affordable now - paid $12.99
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11/3/2018 - Brian Glas Likes this wine: 90 Points
A great QPR from Charles Smith. Taste like a wine that costs twice the price. Very tight upfront. Peppery notes. Nice fruit. Needs time to open up.
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10/24/2018 - wangk wrote:
Costco purchase, good price. oak taste, not sweet, not heavy, acidity
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10/20/2018 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 88 Points
Purchased at Costco with a 92 or 93 or 90-something rating that seemed too good to be true for the low price they are selling this at. So of course I had to try one.....
Not bad. Not 90 territory but solid and for the price, decent. Creamy fruit, some spice and minerality, nice finish.
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9/28/2018 - dreinitz wrote: 88 Points
Maybe a little tight, but still good. Blackberries with some definite lead and oak.
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9/25/2018 - robmatic wrote: 90 Points
Quite a bit of substance given its modest price tag. Big plum & cherry nose, succulent raspberry palate, bright acidity, and notable undeveloped tannins. Not a killer wine, but certainly worth another try in a year or two.
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9/18/2018 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Day 1: A big wine with blueberries, Bing cherries, smoke, oak and vanilla. Finishes strong and you can taste the oak. This wine is similar to some of the oak barrel wines from Napa but at a fraction of the price. Very much a guilty pleasure wine. 90 points
Day 2: More mellow than the intensity of day 1. Fruit is not as vibrant and a little astringent. The drop off tells me this is a pop and pour wine. 85 points
Recommendation: Drink now.
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9/8/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Sat, 09/08/18, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 100% C.S. from the Goose Ridge (34%), Coyote Canyon (28%), Frenchman Hills (21%), & Painted Hills (17%) Vyds; "Yield: 5.0 tons per acre; Yeast: native; 100% whole berry fermentation with 33 days extended maceration; 12 mos barrel-aged on lees in 50% new FR oak;" 14.5% ABV, 5.4 g/L T.A., & 3.87 pH; Upwards of 100,000 cs produced
N: Slightly closed; RIPE blk cherries with notes of blk olives; Intensity lurking
P: MF body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by some puckerish astringeny which morphs into a LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness & OCCASIONAL *glimpses* of bitterness to the very, VERY fine tannins. For now, though DESERVES another 6-9 mos, then safely drinking nicely for 3 yrs more. My EXC-, though I'd certainly LISTEN to an argument for more based upon this vendor's $12.95, which is @ the top of wine-searcher's LARGE listing. 93 pts Jeb Dunnuck, 92 ea Suckling & WA, and 90 WS.
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8/30/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Sweet black fruit and earth. Midnpalate. Shorter. Short rather.
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8/27/2018 - RoyaltyCoins wrote: 89 Points
Deep ruby. Opaque.
Nose: Cherry and blackberry, warm plum, vanilla and clove. Some faint tobacco. Shy projection.
Mouth: Smooth black cherry and blackberry lead the way on this, lighter on the palate than I was expecting. Fruits are well integrated and present the better parts of each other well. Star anise and light baking spice take the finish and set the stage for medium-light tannins.
Overall: This is the weeknight warrior. Everything here is quite technically correct - fruits are in harmony with each other, agreement between the nose and the mouth, some fine touches on the finish with the addition of the anise and spice, tannins are food friendly. The boxes are ticked all around, if in some ways more reminiscent of an old world CS.
Beyond that: it always feels a bit closed down. I put this through a decanter, gave it some time and still came away feeling like this wasn't showing it's hand in the end. In a way I like that. I think the technical performance of the wine is on display, outperforming its price point (18 USD), and personally enjoy that it's not so fruit forward, so pandering in the end to its commercial side. Just left me wondering in the end if I really ever saw all that it had to offer..
In all a good value and worth picking up in a heartbeat. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
89.
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8/22/2018 - Seville Wines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep red. Rich flavor. Some fruit, but dry. Was excellent with prime rib.
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8/22/2018 - r4Cali Likes this wine: 89 Points
Crowd pleaser Cab. Straightforward and while certainly not complex, is very well made. Serves the bill as a weekday drinker or something to put several bottles out if hosting a very large gathering. Excellent QPR.
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8/16/2018 - Bro-rolo Likes this wine: 90 Points
I heard Rudy Kurniawan used 80% of this in his fake Screaming Eagle blends...and Johnny Depp to this day tells everyone it's the real deal lololz #richpeoplehaverefinedpalates ��
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8/11/2018 - tannictongue Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent PVR. Very enjoyable PNP everyday wine. Has that earthy Washington quality. Fairly tannic. Dark fruits.
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8/4/2018 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 85 Points
Popped and poured. Dark crimson with a lighter edge. Appears a little thin. Not giving much on the nose aside from some floral notes. Decent in the mouth with brambly fruit but still very young. Medium body and tannins, drinkable and probably not terribly age worthy, but ok for the small price. A little hollow in the middle. 4-11-14-7: 85/100.
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7/28/2018 - weinmatt Likes this wine: 89 Points
I’m with Wineotim. Good, but I’m not running back to get more.
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7/26/2018 - daveyk39 wrote: 88 Points
Nothing to add from prior note. Good QPR, but I have better stuff so not going to get more.
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7/19/2018 - wineotim wrote: 89 Points
Surprising structure, length, depth, ripeness, and balance. Probably doesn't get any better for the $13 dollars I paid. Solid value as usual.
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7/15/2018 - madvitale wrote: 85 Points
Excellent aroma and flavor. Somewhat young. A bit grassy and a little rough. Seems like it will benefit from bottle aging. Would wait a year or two for this one.
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7/12/2018 - daveyk39 wrote: 88 Points
PNP. Inky Purple color. Aromas of blackcurrant, cherry, baking spices, espresso. Medium-full bodied, with dark fruit and espresso on entry. Muscular tannins start to crowd out the flavor in the mid-palate and by the finish it's tightly wound and not providing much except a chalky mouthfeel. A bit better than my recollection from the first tasting, but still doesn't seem to have enough potential or complexity to justify stocking up.
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7/3/2018 - RBurgundy99 wrote: 89 Points
Surprising quality at this price point. Could use some time I think, both upon opening and in the cellar
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6/27/2018 - mzmijewski wrote: 87 Points
Other bottles were better.
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6/9/2018 - Vinomazing wrote:
Store Tasting...no decant, from coravin. A base cab is best I can describe from the small shot, but with more depth than I thought it could have for the price, full, some activity is going on here but Needs to open/decant and maybe cellar. Bought 1 @ $15 to compare in future against a 2015 on stash. Tasting score 87
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6/8/2018 - jjohns Likes this wine: 89 Points
buy it again
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6/3/2018 - daveyk39 wrote: 87 Points
I have the 2014 and 2015 in my cellar and I like both of them, though they both need time to emerge. The 2016 feels different, unfortunately not in a good way.
I gave this 2h of air, based on experience with prior vintages. Inky purple color. Deep and bold aromas of black currant, blueberry, anise and espresso.
Full-bodied, with bold flavors of dark fruit and an edginess to the acidity. But overpowered by bitter young tannins and a chalky, drying mouthfeel. The finish, which lasts an impressively long time, has some dark fruit, but is mostly harsh.
I sensed potential in both the 2014 and 2015, so I stocked up and cellared. I am not so sure about the 2016, given the green, harshness of the tannins. It did improve as the night wore on, so I will probably do a bit of testing before deciding.
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5/26/2018 - Salute Likes this wine: 90 Points
Hey this is good! Is it a 93? No. But it is certainly better than an 85. It's also $14.
Better the first night, after just a bit of air. Second night, a bit more bitter around the edges upon the finish.
Very good cab.
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5/20/2018 - cmr Likes this wine: 89 Points
Solid value but no 93.
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5/1/2018 - kevrob822 wrote: 86 Points
Ehhh, an OK, inexpensive daily drinker, but nothing outstanding. The more I’ve had, the more I’ve felt it was too fruity, flat, one-dimensional. Just not much depth. Maybe I’m just getting a little tired of it. Dropping this 2 Points to 86.
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4/28/2018 - kevrob822 Likes this wine: 88 Points
A nice bottle. Nothing special, but a nice wine for the money. Needed a “party wine” and went into Costco looking for the McManis CS, but it was gone. My contact recommended this. I’ve had it before... at the Mana Lani (Big Island), no less. Of course it cost a bit more than Costco’s $14! LOL
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4/27/2018 - kevrob822 wrote: 88 Points
Good, nothing spectacular but a fine, easy drinking Washington State Cabernet.
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4/25/2018 - ratrop1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fruit-packed, almost over-the-top, this is nonetheless a serious well made wine batting far above its price point. Not my favorite style, but dense, well balanced, and a real crowd pleaser. Bought a few bottles to try, which quickly disappeared. (Usually the first bottle to run dry, always a good sign.) Bought another half case for BBQ season, amidst a growing sense that this is very well made and could be very good, even excellent, in a year or two. We’ll see.
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4/22/2018 - Tahlequahdave1972 Likes this wine: 91 Points
First off, this is not a "cheap tasting" wine but rather an inexpensive wine that plays way above its' price point. Slow ox for two hours and consumed over two additional hours. Deep dark purple, almost inky in the glass. Nose of forest floor, blue fruits and a touch of smoke. Medium-full mouthfeel with flavors of blueberry, dark cherry, black licorice and the distinct earthy terroir of the Columbia Valley. Ripe tannins provide backbone and texture to this quality juice and ensure it will evolve in the bottle for several years to come. The smooth, moderately long finish is the exclamation point on this excellent, high quality offering. Probably better in six months but very enjoyable now. Buy it by the case and serve to friends and family. It will not disappoint.
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4/21/2018 - drrobvino wrote: 89 Points
Purchased at Eddie Merlot's for $48 USD.
Was a nice food wine, matched nicely with filet. Quite tannic upon opening, this softened with air and became delicious. This did not ocme across as a jammy and fruity wine, it was more subdued and serious, to my delight.
Drink now (with decant) through 2024.
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4/19/2018 - jjohns Likes this wine: 89 Points
buy it again
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3/31/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Sat, 3/31/18, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): N: Closed; Berries, spice, poss pyrazines? Intensity lurking?
P: Med, poss MF, body; Rndish entry with ALMOST swtish frt met by a PUCKERISH astringency & very, VERY fine tannins, all of this slowly morphing into a LONG finish that's more puckerish than tannic, though with a swtness to it all. Needs/DESERVES through '19, then a potential steal! 14.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-, justifiably even more given this vendor's $12.95 is THE best price in the current "early" listings! 90-93 pts WA. [Note: My 2nd bottle of the day, both my 2 "regular" shops providing tastes on the SAME day!]
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3/31/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Taste April's Top Picks (San Diego Wine Co.): N: Slightly closed; spice, cherries, poss pyrazines?
P: LM body; Rndish entry with NICE frt met by a puckerish astringency which slowly, fairly seamlessly morphs into quite a LONG, spicy, very, VERY slightly tannic finish yet with hints of swtness. DESERVES into at least the early Spring '19, then drinking for 4 yrs more, I'm guessing. SUPERB! 14.5% ABV; My EXC-/EXC given the QPR of this vendor's $13.99, which is certainly COMPETITIVE on wine-wearcher's current listings. 90-93 pts WA.
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3/28/2018 - In vino potestus est Likes this wine: 92 Points
Completely agree with WA review and score. Young, rich, fruit forward, full bodied. Flavors of blueberry, blackberry and mocha. No green or mint. Medium to full body. Longish finish. Excellent now. Outstanding value.
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3/27/2018 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 90 Points
Double decant. Pretty good juice! Hard to find better qpr. Had along side the 2015 vintage and I must say I prefer the 2016 as a daily. The 15 is maybe a bit more tannic and may age better but who’s aging $12 Wine?
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3/16/2018 - RochTodd Likes this wine: 85 Points
Oaky, fruity
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