What is it about so many California wines that are meant to be drunk young? Five years ago this wine was in perfect balance as per my note back then. Today it has aged much more than expected. Bricking on the edge and cooked prune fruit. Still great acidity, and still reasonably complex but some elements have faded already. Drink it up.
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Bright ruby colored, medium full bodied, bright vibrant black berry and hints of red berry fruits were accented by notes of cassis, all spice and cardamom and hint of mocha on a tangy acidic finish. From the winelist at Henry's at the Farm, Buttermilk Falls Inn, Milton, NY. https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2021/08/henris-at-farm-fine-dining-at.html
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Outstanding balance of aged fruit and acid. Sparkling on the tongue. Oak and chocolate and grass clippings emerge on the finish but don’t dominate. Had with beef and ale pie and was an outstanding complement. Will look for more.
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pnp, which found the wine tight. With time in the glass it became evident there is a serious, and seriously delicious wine here. Will decant the next bottle for at least an hour before drinking.
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This wine is deep, clear magenta in the glass with a nose of dark cherry, cocoa, leather, and oak. It’s light on the palate considering the blend of cab, merlot and cab franc and angular. Luxardo cherry, blueberry, molasses, lead pencil, oak, and a touch of cigar box. Medium tannins with a long finish. I think this is representative of an old school Napa cab. Not extracted and overdone at all.
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THat is complex - earthy, pretty violets, taunt fruit, Mineral, there is a world to explore in there. Not the most concentrated thing but for me, it doesn't really need to be. Darn is that super pretty.
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2 hour decant. Great nose, good fruit, lacked structure. 2nd night - same. Enjoyable, but I could probably find better in this class for $35. This wine doesn’t seem to have much of a future. Drink up.
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Perhaps the community will take me to task on this but to me this wine is a 99 pointer but I cannot in good conscience go out on that limb. But here is my perception of this wine: Amazing clear color for a cab merlot cab franc blend. Huge nose of dried herbs, wet earth and bright fruit. Mostly red cherry or even bing cherry. This suggests medium body which will make most critics ding it. Why? Does a wine have to be titanicly dark to merit a perfect score?
Very acidic but also sweet on the palate, providing perfect balance between the two. Fruits are almost creamy and sweet and strawberry. How can this be a cab merlot. Tannins are very soft. A hint of vanilla from the oak but not too much. A hint of charcoal from the tannins which have softened already after 5 years. In short this wine is so incredibly balanced in the mouth it hits on all cylinders.
Second night it was even better, revealing a bit of olive and more terroir and for some reason more viscosity and a touch of prune. Some wines decay rapidly. This one was better the second day. Can't say enough about it. Stunning in so many ways. Unexpectedly beautiful. Finessed. On the second night it revealed an aging potential. And the acids will help that.
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From the wine list at 90 Acres, Peapack. Chosen for it’s bargain price (relative to their list) and because I have half a case of 2010s unopened at home. Wow. If this is what great right bank Bordeaux is all about, I’ve been stand-offish for all the wrong reasons. Dried herb, dark fruit, spice, and smoke. It’s complicated! But smooth on a pop ‘n’ pour. A delight, and making me look forward to the six...
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3/28/2024 - ChaineMatt Likes this wine: 90 Points
What is it about so many California wines that are meant to be drunk young? Five years ago this wine was in perfect balance as per my note back then. Today it has aged much more than expected. Bricking on the edge and cooked prune fruit. Still great acidity, and still reasonably complex but some elements have faded already. Drink it up.
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9/27/2022 - gdbarton1@gmail.com Likes this wine:
Still drinking well. Soft, medium bodied black fruit Cali Cab with soft tannins.
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9/6/2021 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bright ruby colored, medium full bodied, bright vibrant black berry and hints of red berry fruits were accented by notes of cassis, all spice and cardamom and hint of mocha on a tangy acidic finish.
From the winelist at Henry's at the Farm, Buttermilk Falls Inn, Milton, NY.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2021/08/henris-at-farm-fine-dining-at.html
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3/28/2021 - Dmiller3 wrote: 93 Points
Fabulous. Really smooth but has retained its body.
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12/7/2020 - WineTimeFineTime Likes this wine: 92 Points
Outstanding balance of aged fruit and acid. Sparkling on the tongue. Oak and chocolate and grass clippings emerge on the finish but don’t dominate. Had with beef and ale pie and was an outstanding complement. Will look for more.
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9/7/2020 - nickvdm Likes this wine: 92 Points
pnp, which found the wine tight. With time in the glass it became evident there is a serious, and seriously delicious wine here. Will decant the next bottle for at least an hour before drinking.
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5/4/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
After 4 hours open it was absolutely exceptional and paired very well with food.
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3/1/2020 - Ortiz Brown Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine is deep, clear magenta in the glass with a nose of dark cherry, cocoa, leather, and oak. It’s light on the palate considering the blend of cab, merlot and cab franc and angular. Luxardo cherry, blueberry, molasses, lead pencil, oak, and a touch of cigar box. Medium tannins with a long finish. I think this is representative of an old school Napa cab. Not extracted and overdone at all.
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2/16/2020 - Griffiths Likes this wine:
This vintage is consistently good.
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1/30/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
THat is complex - earthy, pretty violets, taunt fruit, Mineral, there is a world to explore in there. Not the most concentrated thing but for me, it doesn't really need to be. Darn is that super pretty.
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1/19/2020 - Griffiths Likes this wine:
Very enjoyable at the moment. Smooth tannins, dark cherry, bright acidity.
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12/13/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Showing impeccably well right now. Delicious and supple, lots of flavor depth but still light on its feet.
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12/11/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
30 months in barrel. That's really good. Great balance and poise between fruit and savory right now. Rockin'.
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11/19/2019 - winesnob4u wrote:
Drank with about 5 people and no one liked at all.
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11/2/2019 - arbor wrote:
Drink 2023 or later
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9/18/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Smells super pretty right now. And on the palate too, but still with a tug of tannins.
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8/27/2019 - Intellectual Sasquatch wrote: 90 Points
2 hour decant. Great nose, good fruit, lacked structure. 2nd night - same. Enjoyable, but I could probably find better in this class for $35. This wine doesn’t seem to have much of a future. Drink up.
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8/21/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
On day three not holding the strongest but still there.
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8/19/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
There is some nice restrained yet flush fruit on the nose, shows a touch of green, and a tug of tannin on the back but in a supple way. Well done.
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5/25/2019 - ChaineMatt wrote: 95 Points
Perhaps the community will take me to task on this but to me this wine is a 99 pointer but I cannot in good conscience go out on that limb. But here is my perception of this wine: Amazing clear color for a cab merlot cab franc blend. Huge nose of dried herbs, wet earth and bright fruit. Mostly red cherry or even bing cherry. This suggests medium body which will make most critics ding it. Why? Does a wine have to be titanicly dark to merit a perfect score?
Very acidic but also sweet on the palate, providing perfect balance between the two. Fruits are almost creamy and sweet and strawberry. How can this be a cab merlot. Tannins are very soft. A hint of vanilla from the oak but not too much. A hint of charcoal from the tannins which have softened already after 5 years. In short this wine is so incredibly balanced in the mouth it hits on all cylinders.
Second night it was even better, revealing a bit of olive and more terroir and for some reason more viscosity and a touch of prune. Some wines decay rapidly. This one was better the second day. Can't say enough about it. Stunning in so many ways. Unexpectedly beautiful. Finessed. On the second night it revealed an aging potential. And the acids will help that.
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4/4/2019 - M.Batard wrote: 91 Points
From the wine list at 90 Acres, Peapack. Chosen for it’s bargain price (relative to their list) and because I have half a case of 2010s unopened at home. Wow. If this is what great right bank Bordeaux is all about, I’ve been stand-offish for all the wrong reasons. Dried herb, dark fruit, spice, and smoke. It’s complicated! But smooth on a pop ‘n’ pour. A delight, and making me look forward to the six...
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