Secondary and tertiary flavors at this point. Still drinking well but not going to improve. Maybe a couple years left of drinking window. Smells and tastes like an old Cab. If you appreciate that profile you’ll like this… was expecting more freshness from the vintage. Nothing wrong just closing in on being over the hill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cellared for 21 years, the cork was new looking at open. Fresh notes of lilac, fig, vanilla, black cherry. Plenty to like. Full bodied, smooth and superb. Plenty of layers to appreciate - delicate yet powerful, velvety with clean pure fruit still, and notes of secondary's here and there. An exceptional wine from my favorite vintage for Cali Cab of all time. Finished in one night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stores well. About as high as you can get. Funky out of the gate. Nice wine. Lots of cherry, gravel, cigar box. Medium body. The younger ones will store well. Still has Acid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
very nice indeed, my prior note applies, though I would say this was full-bodied (by my standard, which includes a rating of 'heavy-handed-body' for at last half of all Cali cabs made after 2000, so don't think this is a giant by normal standards), and accordingly -- given the grip it had -- I think this might have been better in ten more years, Joe agreed, nonetheless a great wine now on the "full" side of my spectrum, certainly would be enjoyed by the 'crowd', doesn't require too much concentration
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
very nice wine and it's peak, this was med plus bodied and had deep / rich red fruit profile with some kick from acid and a touch of secondary spice, good backbone and slightly on the "big" side (relative to old Cali cabs, not relative to post 2000 Cali cabs)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
BLACK CHERRIES, LICORICE, AND A HINT OF EARTHINESS IN THE NOSE. BLACKBERRIES AND BLACK CHERRIES IN THE FLAVOR. NICE COMPLEXITY AND A MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
STG does California Cabernet (Seattle): the VA was so powerful on this I could not appreciate it. Most others at the table said it was fine, even delicious. Go figure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
11/11 Big bold brute with full broad fruit and strong refining tannins - balanced - ready now - best with decanting to let it open up - long-lasting finish - this will probably have a long term shelf life. 93 pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lots of red&black cherry on the palate. Enough acidity to keep it fresh, and a hint of herbaceousness & tannin on the finish. Very enjoyable and by no means over the hill, still lots of fruit left to carry it. I'll drink one per year for the last three bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Precede by some really nice whites and 1983 Heitz Matha's and Mondavi Reserve... both drinking great.
The Diamond Ray was tight and hot on opening. After 15 minutes it seemed to be opening, so I decanted the with with lots of aeration. In 15 more minutes it was a standout. It picked up the tertiary nuance of the 1983 cabs and yet retained a semblance of the fruit. What a great wine with pear truffles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aging a bit tho the color is still vibrant and shows no sign of bricking. Smells a touch of stewed prunes, but only a touch and not unpleasant. Clearly this is aging and likely won't go much longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Layered, concentrated, full of delicious fruit. This wine had beautiful balance between its tannins and its fruit. The nose was a bit closed, but opened up to a bouquet of berries after decanting for one hour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I opened this with some trepidations as I have heard that many 1997 California CS have started declning. Having two bottles in the cellar, I needed to find out. Beautiful deep red in color and the nose offered rich cedar, asian spices, coffee, and dark fruits. Outstanding purity and structure, dark berries, plums, vanilla, and soft mouth-coating tannins. Certainly pretty close to its peak. One of the best CS I had this year and glad that I have another one in the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep crimson in color that is almost a blood red. In the nose there is a light scent of violets, plum, freshly cut cedar, pipe tobacco, eucalyptus, and a hint of perfume on the tail end. In the mouth the flavors are simple, pure, yet very basic with plum, black, and blue fruits...This wine had the misfortune of being tasted blind side by side with a 92 Grange, 96 Lynch Bages, and 97 Camigliano.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent bottle that showed much like a finely aged Bordeaux. Nicely balanced showing tar, cigar tobacco, leather, dark fruit and a bit of plum. This seems to be peaking but certainly not in jeopardy of falling off anytime soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classic cabernet nose of funky espresso, cocoa, spice and black fruit, with a volcanic earthy note. Vibrant sweet fruit dominated the first sip with surprising depth and purity. It finished with silky earthy tannins. I had this wine at a tasting back in 2000 and wondered what the hype was all about. This has developed into a tremendously balanced cabernet with a lot of stuffing to boot. Laube got this one right. (96pts) My #1 WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful juice. Loads of Chocolate, Spice and nice oak. Opened and drank immediately,but after and hour it really started to sing. Ready to drink now. Had a little remaining for day 2, but by then it had lost the edge. Must drink day 1.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rareshides tasting at Maguire's: Chris Hayes decanted this early in the day to try and get it to open up. It has been a perennially disappointment. Oaky caramel nose Spicy oak. Decent palate. Still needs time and less oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
11/6/2023 - ajrez wrote: 92 Points
Secondary and tertiary flavors at this point. Still drinking well but not going to improve. Maybe a couple years left of drinking window. Smells and tastes like an old Cab. If you appreciate that profile you’ll like this… was expecting more freshness from the vintage. Nothing wrong just closing in on being over the hill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2021 - Senso-beak wrote: 96 Points
Cellared for 21 years, the cork was new looking at open. Fresh notes of lilac, fig, vanilla, black cherry. Plenty to like. Full bodied, smooth and superb. Plenty of layers to appreciate - delicate yet powerful, velvety with clean pure fruit still, and notes of secondary's here and there. An exceptional wine from my favorite vintage for Cali Cab of all time. Finished in one night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2021 - Baller Wines and Bourbon Likes this wine: 96 Points
Stores well. About as high as you can get. Funky out of the gate. Nice wine. Lots of cherry, gravel, cigar box. Medium body. The younger ones will store well. Still has Acid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2019 - tinycellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful still. Didn't require much breathing, about 30 minutes. Soft silky tannin. Wonderful balance and a very enjoyable 22 year old CA cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/19/2019 - galewskj wrote:
California Cabernet 2010 or older (Capital Grille): Either heat damaged or over the top, alcoholic and big.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/19/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 87 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Cali Cabs 2005 and Older (Capitalle Grille, Mpls, MN): Drank a small glass over an hour in a flight with a ’97 Mondavi Reserve and a ’97 Whitehall Lane Reserve. This was really big, over ripe, hot, oaky. Probably was better ten years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2016 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 92 Points
very nice indeed, my prior note applies, though I would say this was full-bodied (by my standard, which includes a rating of 'heavy-handed-body' for at last half of all Cali cabs made after 2000, so don't think this is a giant by normal standards), and accordingly -- given the grip it had -- I think this might have been better in ten more years, Joe agreed, nonetheless a great wine now on the "full" side of my spectrum, certainly would be enjoyed by the 'crowd', doesn't require too much concentration
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2016 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 92 Points
very nice wine and it's peak, this was med plus bodied and had deep / rich red fruit profile with some kick from acid and a touch of secondary spice, good backbone and slightly on the "big" side (relative to old Cali cabs, not relative to post 2000 Cali cabs)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 85 Points
Light, red fruits and a simple, soft, fresh, crisp strawberry finish. This needs drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2015 - Rico100 wrote: 95 Points
Superb - drinking really well - wish I had more!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2014 - buckeye76 wrote: 93 Points
BLACK CHERRIES, LICORICE, AND A HINT OF EARTHINESS IN THE NOSE. BLACKBERRIES AND BLACK CHERRIES IN THE FLAVOR. NICE COMPLEXITY AND A MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2014 - Rico100 wrote: 93 Points
Drinking really nicely now. Excellent California cab!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2013 - brooklynJ&O wrote: 91 Points
I liked this a lot. Fruity for such an old wine but lighter than most cabs. Dinnermates thought it had a musty smell.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2013 - Ronfeldman wrote: 91 Points
Still very strong fruit here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2012 - tarheel17 wrote: flawed
STG does California Cabernet (Seattle): the VA was so powerful on this I could not appreciate it. Most others at the table said it was fine, even delicious. Go figure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2011 - GA wrote: 93 Points
11/11 Big bold brute with full broad fruit and strong refining tannins - balanced - ready now - best with decanting to let it open up - long-lasting finish - this will probably have a long term shelf life. 93 pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2011 - suttonri wrote: 91 Points
Lots of red&black cherry on the palate. Enough acidity to keep it fresh, and a hint of herbaceousness & tannin on the finish. Very enjoyable and by no means over the hill, still lots of fruit left to carry it. I'll drink one per year for the last three bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2011 - Redwonk wrote: 93 Points
Precede by some really nice whites and 1983 Heitz Matha's and Mondavi Reserve... both drinking great.
The Diamond Ray was tight and hot on opening. After 15 minutes it seemed to be opening, so I decanted the with with lots of aeration. In 15 more minutes it was a standout. It picked up the tertiary nuance of the 1983 cabs and yet retained a semblance of the fruit. What a great wine with pear truffles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2010 - toomuchwine wrote: 92 Points
Aging a bit tho the color is still vibrant and shows no sign of bricking. Smells a touch of stewed prunes, but only a touch and not unpleasant. Clearly this is aging and likely won't go much longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2010 - Schiffy wrote: 93 Points
Layered, concentrated, full of delicious fruit. This wine had beautiful balance between its tannins and its fruit. The nose was a bit closed, but opened up to a bouquet of berries after decanting for one hour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2009 - cenberra21 wrote:
I opened this with some trepidations as I have heard that many 1997 California CS have started declning. Having two bottles in the cellar, I needed to find out. Beautiful deep red in color and the nose offered rich cedar, asian spices, coffee, and dark fruits. Outstanding purity and structure, dark berries, plums, vanilla, and soft mouth-coating tannins. Certainly pretty close to its peak. One of the best CS I had this year and glad that I have another one in the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2008 - Kirk Grant wrote:
Deep crimson in color that is almost a blood red. In the nose there is a light scent of violets, plum, freshly cut cedar, pipe tobacco, eucalyptus, and a hint of perfume on the tail end. In the mouth the flavors are simple, pure, yet very basic with plum, black, and blue fruits...This wine had the misfortune of being tasted blind side by side with a 92 Grange, 96 Lynch Bages, and 97 Camigliano.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2007 - thenapalist wrote: 96 Points
Excellent bottle that showed much like a finely aged Bordeaux. Nicely balanced showing tar, cigar tobacco, leather, dark fruit and a bit of plum. This seems to be peaking but certainly not in jeopardy of falling off anytime soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2007 - drinkwinedaily wrote: 96 Points
Classic cabernet nose of funky espresso, cocoa, spice and black fruit, with a volcanic earthy note. Vibrant sweet fruit dominated the first sip with surprising depth and purity. It finished with silky earthy tannins. I had this wine at a tasting back in 2000 and wondered what the hype was all about. This has developed into a tremendously balanced cabernet with a lot of stuffing to boot. Laube got this one right. (96pts) My #1 WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2007 - EMichels wrote: 88 Points
A lot of alcohol on the nose; Needs a bit of time to blow off; Strong alcohol; 5-10-15-8
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2006 - G SQUARED wrote: 95 Points
Great wine. Lots of black fruits and a burst of licorice. Smooth tannins but enough structure to last for a number of years more. Nice surprise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2006 - Monetthecat wrote: 95 Points
Wonderful juice. Loads of Chocolate, Spice and nice oak. Opened and drank immediately,but after and hour it really started to sing. Ready to drink now. Had a little remaining for day 2, but by then it had lost the edge. Must drink day 1.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2005 - umazz wrote: 90 Points
Very enjoyable Cab. Minerally, spicy finish, big and bold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2003 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Rareshides tasting at Maguire's: Chris Hayes decanted this early in the day to try and get it to open up. It has been a perennially disappointment. Oaky caramel nose Spicy oak. Decent palate. Still needs time and less oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2001 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($75) The First Big DFW Tasting, Casa Vineyard: Oaky vanilla. Tastes like American oak. Neil Theriot said the oak blew off finally. DFW Tasting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment