This bottle was not up the standards of my previous experiences with Lewis. This one was dark, a bit unbalanced and a bit bitter. What fruit there was seemed stewed. All in all - disappointing. Perhaps my remaining bottles will fair better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted a magnum for 3 hours prior to drinking. Deep purple color, big bouquet of ripe dark fruit and cedar. The wine really opened up after breathing for some time. Delicious fruit still there with soft tannins and smooth long finish. This magnum held up beautifully.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Chocolate cherries, espresso and tarmac. Lush, sweet fruit on the mid-palate. Tough tannins. It's good, but lacks character for me. Just seems like Napa Cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Second of two bottles from a mixed Lewis tasting lot (the other was an '07 Alec's Blend, which was delicious, although I didn't review it); price for the two was about $120, which effectively works out to about $80 for this. I'll admit I was in a quandary about decanting this based both on past CT notes and experiences with older big CA cabs; some seem to fade after an hour or so in the decanter, as a prior reviewer mentioned about this wine, and some seem a bit overwhelming out of the bottle with huge fruit and heat, so I split the difference, taking a 1 oz pour and leaving the rest in the bottle for a bit over an hour before tasting more. Cork broke, but may have been more my fault than the cork's. Looking back, my tasting experience was remarkably similar to that from several months ago of the 2005 Merus cab. Super fragrant nose dominated by ripe dark fruit, similar on the palate backed by still vibrant tannins, although no discernible acidity, and graphite. Limited secondary notes in the first pour. Some heat on the palate, a bit surprised that this only 14.5%. Delicious but a bit simple, 91 for that. After the wine had sat for a bit, the complexity did pick up a bit, with subtle notes of cocoa, mint/menthol, and after another hour or so, some licorice and spice. Fruit is dominated by cherries, dark currants and cassis with some raisins/prunes which gives the wine at least some of a porty feel not atypical of older, big cabs, although I don't think that this wine is oxidized (that said, I'd drink sooner than later). Alcohol and tannins a bit better integrated, which leads me to put my thumb on the scale for a quick decant in the future. Moving my score up to 92. Pretty good complement with leftover burgers, grilled veggies and gnocchi, although the lack of or minimal acidity probably makes this wine at least as good without food. Will add to my review if it changes much tomorrow.
So, I'm writing this 2 nights later after finishing up the wine, and it held up really well, even though we're in the midst of a heat wave and I don't have a wine fridge (this is the most moderate temperature place in the world). Really well integrated, and even a nice smokiness on the back end. Lots of sediment, so if you're concerned about these things, another reason to decant. As is often the case, CT's aggregate 92.9 seems just about right. I think that this wine should have several years of really good drinking left if decently stored, although my sense is that it's in the midst of its window and won't improve from here. Would be inclined to buy around this price if offered in the future.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Eighteen months ago I said that this was not a PnP wine. Well, last night that assessment proved to be wrong. I reconfirm my comments from June, 2017 - rich dark fruit, mouth-coating, balanced and very enjoyable on the palette. One note - after a while this particular bottle seemed to fade on the back end. Before that, it was wonderful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
could have decanted but we decided to PnP. oak is finally fully integrated. more cigar box and dark chocolate notes with red fruit; very CA and very full and long finish. def a wine worth aging and probably in a great window now and for the next few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I like Randy Lewis wines, but one word of caution - always decant. These are not PnP wines. Lewis wines really benefit for decanting and some air. This was a rich, dark purple wine that exuded layer after layer of dark fruit. It coats your mouth with its richness. Even at 14.5% alcohol it was balanced and did not exhibit any alcohol burning or excess acidity. This wine has some really good years left - thankfully I have a few more. The rating is a function of the fact that we did not decant - my mistake. The next time I will decant. My sense is that then it will really strut its stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Christmas Eve with lots of food-shrimp, lobster, chicken, filet mignon. Very dark and inky look to it. Nose had lots of ripe fruits still hanging on. Tannins had mostly integrated throughout the wine. Finish was long and lasted around 45 seconds. Last of the 2004 vintage. Lewis makes consistently high scoring Cabernets year in and year out. This vintage was no exception. Great experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lewis remains at the top of my list. The Reserve is very similar to the regular cab, huge fruit, but perfectly integrated. Dark berries with vanilla and subtle spice. Decanted for about 45 minutes, but not sure it was necessary.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow this is a dark, hairy monster of a wine that held firm over two days. Dominated by graphite, tobacco, dirt and dusty dark chocolate. Long finish. Tight nose. The fruit struggles to pop its head out of the massively dark, earthy wine. Not for the faint of heart.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bought on release it has been resting in my cellar for quite some time now. This wine is amazing! Its color shows no age whatsoever and its nose (the best part!) is bursting with cigar box, ripe black and blue berries and black currant. Perfect body and super long finish. For me this wine has still a lot of life ahead of it. At least 5 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Heavy smoke and oak overtones dominated the fruit flavors, gunpowder and anise hints too, but this comes off as somewhat austere and clearly not the best bottle of this vintage that I have had, very enjoyable but a somewhat lower score.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
big big californian juice. amazing nose, layers of fruit, long long finish. so new world and very californian cabernet. def in a great drinking window now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep crimson color. Black currants, chocolate, vanilla and oak spices in the bouquet but also showing a good bit of alcohol too. Large-scaled and big, there's cassis and dark fruit on the palate, but again, quite hot & alcoholic. R picked this out as a Lewis.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At first taste, overwhelmed by stringent licorice taste. After aggressive decanting (3+ hours), a richness enhanced by cocoa and earthy fruit took the fore along with an excellent, smooth finish. This could have aged awhile longer - recommend you continue to cellar at least 1-2 years longer to give this chance to reach full potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just like the bottle from my 10/17/2010 note, blackberry and black current, slightly smokey with nice oak/vanilla showing on the finish, which is very long, perhaps slightly mellower than three years ago, but fantastic CS just the same.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good wine. Popped and poured with dinner of grilled steaks and roasted artichokes. Extremely aromatic with a good floral bouquet on it. Taste was cedar, cherries, mocha, and even bit of tobacco on it. Finish was long and lengthy-about 45 seconds. This bottle was drank quickly and was considered the WOE. This is the way Cabernet should be made!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep purple color, this is still a child. Big nose of dark fruit and some hints of alcohol. The wine starts with a lot of fruit, but has good acidity and a decent amount of tannin that should hopefully continue to mellow with another few years. I will wait at least 2 more years before opening the next one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Second Sunday Group: 2004 California Cabs (Rich & Dana's): Inky garnet color. Aromas of violets, cassis and currants followed by baking spices and plum. Full-bodied. Firm, chewy tannins have a sweet edge; flavors of cassis and black fruit, oak and spice. Lengthy finish; balanced. 93-94 pts.
My #6, Domino's #4 Group #3, 51 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow!!!!! This Cabernet never disappoints! Deep dark inky, almost black like in color. Nose is very fruity with berries, and cocoa and just a hint of smoke. Finish is long and complex, lasting about 20 or more seconds. Tannins are present but beginning to become muted. We had Lewis Cabernet three years earlier for our Christmas Eve celebration and it was clearly the wine of the evening. Lewis is becoming the traditional wine to have on Christmas Eve at our house! This wine is definitely age worthy. Look forward to my next bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lewis Reserve Comparative - 2004-2007 (Our house....): Decanted for one hour. A very dark garnet, with a slight sanguine rim. A lot of oak and a little jammy, however, still an egalitarian aspect on the medium finish. Very full-bodied, showing spice, black cherry, coffee liquor and tar - both aromatically and on the palate. Some acidity to help with the jammy qualities and warranted complexity. Drink now - 2015.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It is hard for me to keep from the Lewis bottles early, but I managed to wait for this one. Decanted for 2 hours. This was classic Lewis, though with time this wine has calmed down from the huge fruit bomb it was a couple of years ago. It is big for sure, but very balanced now. Seems that this time has only improved this beauty. Has much life left; plenty of big black and blue fruit; the tannins has settled down. A great wine that will live quite a bit longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for over two hours before first glass. Shows rich black and blue berry fruit flavors; mouth watering and succulent mouth feel; supportive alcohol push with a long finish; still a little raw and not quite full potential yet, but getting there and very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful CS drinking great right now. Polished black fruit profile with a long finish, alcohol and oak are very well integrated and supportive. Decanted for 90 minutes prior to drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: Inviting oak & vanilla. Taste: Ripe berries, charred oak & vanilla, boysenberry and blackberry. Powerful, mouth-coating, long finish, slighlty alcoholic initially, but settled down after a couple of hours of decanting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted. Vibrant nose full of currant with hints of maple and Eucalyptus. Slight alcohol blow-off early on. Dark red. Slightly opaque. Big wine. Burst of cassis hits immediately, with notes of tobacco, cedar, espresso and dark chocolate. Solid mouthfeel. Lots of complexity developing but should benefit from a few more years in the bottle. Great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Taken to a restaurant (Morton's), decanted and sat for an hourbefore drinking. This started out with the typical Lewis big cab fruit and was at it's old score easily. But, and maybe it was because it was only my wife and myself drinking it and it lasted longer than with the hollow leg friends it was consumed with last time, it evolved into a wooden monster. Way too much oak and cedar for my palate and I almost didn't want to finish it with over a glass left in the decanter. First time I've ever said this about a Lewis wine. The rating is based on where it left me, not where it started. Open it and drink it fast!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great friends and family create great memories, and after bringing in a fresh catch of crab, and cooking up a gigantic crab boil, this wine was the perfect way to kick of the 4th of July holiday weekend, More open and approachable than I had anticipated, and not as young as expected, this wine went over extremely well, particularly with the ladies in the group.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Small blind tasting of several Cabernets. Each wine was opened and decanted for a total of three hours, no detailed notes.
2005 Schrader CCS (95): WOTF, very accessible now, great complexity, nice mouthfeel, everything in balance with a very long finish.
2002 Insignia (93): Nice complexity with well resolved tannins (silky), nice balance and mouthfeel, expected a little more, will need to try another bottle late next year.
2004 Lewis Cabernet Reserve (92): Tannins were a little more gripping than the last tasting of this wine, nice complexity, the wine needs some time to integrate better.
2002 Paul Hobbs Cabernet (92): A lot of dark fruit, , moderate complexity, and a silky mouthfeel. Very balanced now and drinking well, moderate finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank at recruiting dinner with Sam Ciricillo. Was a bit younger and more austere than I remember, may be going though a dumb phase. Nice wine, with complex layers of fruit and earth and wood, but more backwards and less giving than previous bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow, what an amazing wine. Drank this very young, but wanted to see what it was like. I was so impressed I ordered more bottles the very next day online so I can hold on to them to see them through the aging process. High acidity to start, which is expected from a young cab, but after decanting about an hour, this really opened up well. My husband and I liked it so much, we didn't have time to let it decant even more, which undoubtedly would have only improved the tasting experience. Nose was amazing and very balanced flavor already, for such a young wine. This is what wine should taste like!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Written the next day from memory: This wine is great. Excellent purple color. Very well structured. Lots of fruit to balance the tannins. Drinks well now -- no need to wait. Kicked off a lot of sediment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Better than the 04 regular bottling. Nose of dark fruits and expensive oak. Very juicy and supple in the mouth with an extended finish of chocolate covered raspberries.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine was incredible. The best of the 04's so far. I think it is very approachable for an 04 reserve, and has silky integrated tannin structure. The dark berry and fruit flavors are integrated with a cinnamin oak and a long and caressing finish, which is fruit dominated. The wine will only improve and will be best in 5-10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
6/5/2021 - Labrador Does not like this wine: 70 Points
This bottle was not up the standards of my previous experiences with Lewis. This one was dark, a bit unbalanced and a bit bitter. What fruit there was seemed stewed. All in all - disappointing. Perhaps my remaining bottles will fair better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2021 - NY Wino Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted a magnum for 3 hours prior to drinking. Deep purple color, big bouquet of ripe dark fruit and cedar. The wine really opened up after breathing for some time. Delicious fruit still there with soft tannins and smooth long finish. This magnum held up beautifully.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2020 - NY Wino wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for an hoist. Decent fruit that seemed to be overwhelmed a bit by the oak. This wine has seen better days. Needs food to offset the oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2020 - DangerMouse81 wrote: 92 Points
Chocolate cherries, espresso and tarmac. Lush, sweet fruit on the mid-palate. Tough tannins. It's good, but lacks character for me. Just seems like Napa Cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2019 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Second of two bottles from a mixed Lewis tasting lot (the other was an '07 Alec's Blend, which was delicious, although I didn't review it); price for the two was about $120, which effectively works out to about $80 for this. I'll admit I was in a quandary about decanting this based both on past CT notes and experiences with older big CA cabs; some seem to fade after an hour or so in the decanter, as a prior reviewer mentioned about this wine, and some seem a bit overwhelming out of the bottle with huge fruit and heat, so I split the difference, taking a 1 oz pour and leaving the rest in the bottle for a bit over an hour before tasting more. Cork broke, but may have been more my fault than the cork's. Looking back, my tasting experience was remarkably similar to that from several months ago of the 2005 Merus cab. Super fragrant nose dominated by ripe dark fruit, similar on the palate backed by still vibrant tannins, although no discernible acidity, and graphite. Limited secondary notes in the first pour. Some heat on the palate, a bit surprised that this only 14.5%. Delicious but a bit simple, 91 for that. After the wine had sat for a bit, the complexity did pick up a bit, with subtle notes of cocoa, mint/menthol, and after another hour or so, some licorice and spice. Fruit is dominated by cherries, dark currants and cassis with some raisins/prunes which gives the wine at least some of a porty feel not atypical of older, big cabs, although I don't think that this wine is oxidized (that said, I'd drink sooner than later). Alcohol and tannins a bit better integrated, which leads me to put my thumb on the scale for a quick decant in the future. Moving my score up to 92. Pretty good complement with leftover burgers, grilled veggies and gnocchi, although the lack of or minimal acidity probably makes this wine at least as good without food. Will add to my review if it changes much tomorrow.
So, I'm writing this 2 nights later after finishing up the wine, and it held up really well, even though we're in the midst of a heat wave and I don't have a wine fridge (this is the most moderate temperature place in the world). Really well integrated, and even a nice smokiness on the back end. Lots of sediment, so if you're concerned about these things, another reason to decant. As is often the case, CT's aggregate 92.9 seems just about right. I think that this wine should have several years of really good drinking left if decently stored, although my sense is that it's in the midst of its window and won't improve from here. Would be inclined to buy around this price if offered in the future.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2019 - cweiner Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for about an hour and served with a tenderloin. It remains in prime condition. Years left if you get an opportunity to buy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2018 - Labrador Likes this wine: 89 Points
Eighteen months ago I said that this was not a PnP wine. Well, last night that assessment proved to be wrong. I reconfirm my comments from June, 2017 - rich dark fruit, mouth-coating, balanced and very enjoyable on the palette. One note - after a while this particular bottle seemed to fade on the back end. Before that, it was wonderful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2018 - winelover1808 wrote: 93 Points
could have decanted but we decided to PnP. oak is finally fully integrated. more cigar box and dark chocolate notes with red fruit; very CA and very full and long finish. def a wine worth aging and probably in a great window now and for the next few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2017 - Labrador Likes this wine: 90 Points
I like Randy Lewis wines, but one word of caution - always decant. These are not PnP wines. Lewis wines really benefit for decanting and some air.
This was a rich, dark purple wine that exuded layer after layer of dark fruit. It coats your mouth with its richness. Even at 14.5% alcohol it was balanced and did not exhibit any alcohol burning or excess acidity. This wine has some really good years left - thankfully I have a few more.
The rating is a function of the fact that we did not decant - my mistake. The next time I will decant. My sense is that then it will really strut its stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2016 - Bcw1989 wrote: 92 Points
Christmas Eve with lots of food-shrimp, lobster, chicken, filet mignon. Very dark and inky look to it. Nose had lots of ripe fruits still hanging on. Tannins had mostly integrated throughout the wine. Finish was long and lasted around 45 seconds. Last of the 2004 vintage. Lewis makes consistently high scoring Cabernets year in and year out. This vintage was no exception. Great experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2016 - dkwins Likes this wine: 97 Points
Lewis remains at the top of my list. The Reserve is very similar to the regular cab, huge fruit, but perfectly integrated. Dark berries with vanilla and subtle spice. Decanted for about 45 minutes, but not sure it was necessary.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2016 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow this is a dark, hairy monster of a wine that held firm over two days. Dominated by graphite, tobacco, dirt and dusty dark chocolate. Long finish. Tight nose. The fruit struggles to pop its head out of the massively dark, earthy wine. Not for the faint of heart.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2016 - IvanKrazy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bought on release it has been resting in my cellar for quite some time now. This wine is amazing! Its color shows no age whatsoever and its nose (the best part!) is bursting with cigar box, ripe black and blue berries and black currant. Perfect body and super long finish. For me this wine has still a lot of life ahead of it. At least 5 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2015 - JKGarden wrote: 91 Points
BK party
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2015 - csklsc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still an abundance of dark fruit with tannins softening in the 2nd hour. A little hot but very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2015 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delicious sweet black berry, cassis, and black cherry flavors with rich oak and soft tannins on a long finish. Drinking well!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2015 - winejnky wrote: 91 Points
Heavy smoke and oak overtones dominated the fruit flavors, gunpowder and anise hints too, but this comes off as somewhat austere and clearly not the best bottle of this vintage that I have had, very enjoyable but a somewhat lower score.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2014 - winelover1808 wrote: 93 Points
big big californian juice. amazing nose, layers of fruit, long long finish. so new world and very californian cabernet. def in a great drinking window now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2014 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
Deep crimson color. Black currants, chocolate, vanilla and oak spices in the bouquet but also showing a good bit of alcohol too. Large-scaled and big, there's cassis and dark fruit on the palate, but again, quite hot & alcoholic. R picked this out as a Lewis.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2014 - Jump29 wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyed with suckling pig. Nice flavor and very smooth, almost too smooth but not yet weak. Drink up!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2014 - jedwilson wrote: 92 Points
At first taste, overwhelmed by stringent licorice taste. After aggressive decanting (3+ hours), a richness enhanced by cocoa and earthy fruit took the fore along with an excellent, smooth finish. This could have aged awhile longer - recommend you continue to cellar at least 1-2 years longer to give this chance to reach full potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2013 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 96 Points
Inky black color with huge gobs of sweet black berry, cassis, cedar, anise, and chewy tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2013 - winejnky wrote: 94 Points
Just like the bottle from my 10/17/2010 note, blackberry and black current, slightly smokey with nice oak/vanilla showing on the finish, which is very long, perhaps slightly mellower than three years ago, but fantastic CS just the same.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2013 - Bcw1989 wrote: 93 Points
Good wine. Popped and poured with dinner of grilled steaks and roasted artichokes. Extremely aromatic with a good floral bouquet on it. Taste was cedar, cherries, mocha, and even bit of tobacco on it. Finish was long and lengthy-about 45 seconds. This bottle was drank quickly and was considered the WOE. This is the way Cabernet should be made!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2012 - NY Wino wrote: 91 Points
Deep purple color, this is still a child. Big nose of dark fruit and some hints of alcohol. The wine starts with a lot of fruit, but has good acidity and a decent amount of tannin that should hopefully continue to mellow with another few years. I will wait at least 2 more years before opening the next one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/31/2012 - mdevoll wrote: 93 Points
Had it with beef tenderloin. Deep color and lots of fruit, even though it was a 2004. Could have aged it longer, but it was great and we loved it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2012 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Second Sunday Group: 2004 California Cabs (Rich & Dana's): Inky garnet color. Aromas of violets, cassis and currants followed by baking spices and plum. Full-bodied. Firm, chewy tannins have a sweet edge; flavors of cassis and black fruit, oak and spice. Lengthy finish; balanced. 93-94 pts.
My #6, Domino's #4
Group #3, 51 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2012 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
35th Anniversary Party Cellar Tasting; 6/16/2012-6/17/2012 (Rich & Dana's): Cassis, black fruit, spice and hints of oak comprise the bouquet tonight. Lovely dark fruit washes across the palate, also spice and bitter chocolate. Finishes very well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2012 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
35th Anniversary Party Cellar Tasting; 6/16/2012-6/17/2012 (Rich & Dana's): Inky purple color. Cassis, blackberry, cocoa and vanilla aromas. Full-bodied, with dark fruit, oak and spice flavors on the palate. Decent finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2011 - RedorDead wrote: 94 Points
Opened up after 1 1/2 hours. Not the big
extracted fruit I expected but a great, well integrated bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2011 - Bcw1989 wrote: 94 Points
Wow!!!!! This Cabernet never disappoints! Deep dark inky, almost black like in color. Nose is very fruity with berries, and cocoa and just a hint of smoke. Finish is long and complex, lasting about 20 or more seconds. Tannins are present but beginning to become muted. We had Lewis Cabernet three years earlier for our Christmas Eve celebration and it was clearly the wine of the evening. Lewis is becoming the traditional wine to have on Christmas Eve at our house! This wine is definitely age worthy. Look forward to my next bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/18/2011 - Matt Scott wrote: 91 Points
Lewis Reserve Comparative - 2004-2007 (Our house....): Decanted for one hour. A very dark garnet, with a slight sanguine rim. A lot of oak and a little jammy, however, still an egalitarian aspect on the medium finish. Very full-bodied, showing spice, black cherry, coffee liquor and tar - both aromatically and on the palate. Some acidity to help with the jammy qualities and warranted complexity. Drink now - 2015.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2011 - mactheknife wrote: 95 Points
It is hard for me to keep from the Lewis bottles early, but I managed to wait for this one. Decanted for 2 hours. This was classic Lewis, though with time this wine has calmed down from the huge fruit bomb it was a couple of years ago. It is big for sure, but very balanced now. Seems that this time has only improved this beauty. Has much life left; plenty of big black and blue fruit; the tannins has settled down. A great wine that will live quite a bit longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2011 - winejnky wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for over two hours before first glass. Shows rich black and blue berry fruit flavors; mouth watering and succulent mouth feel; supportive alcohol push with a long finish; still a little raw and not quite full potential yet, but getting there and very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2011 - winejnky wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful CS drinking great right now. Polished black fruit profile with a long finish, alcohol and oak are very well integrated and supportive. Decanted for 90 minutes prior to drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2011 - EMichels wrote: 89 Points
Nice initially; Turns to dust; Tannic
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2010 - vpoms wrote: 92 Points
Big, bold, mouthful Cab. It may need another few years in the bottle to reach its full potential, but it is pretty good now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2010 - Weston3220 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wines From Steve's Private Cellar. (Hills of Eugene): a: med intensity, vegetal ripe, mushy peas,
T: med+ acid, high tannin[silky smooth], full body, long finish
dark currant jam/cassis
conc: very delicious to me this is what I think of napa cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2010 - winejnky wrote: 94 Points
Nose: Inviting oak & vanilla. Taste: Ripe berries, charred oak & vanilla, boysenberry and blackberry. Powerful, mouth-coating, long finish, slighlty alcoholic initially, but settled down after a couple of hours of decanting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2010 - sumshark wrote: 94 Points
Drinking great right now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2009 - Wineholio wrote: 94 Points
Decanted. Vibrant nose full of currant with hints of maple and Eucalyptus. Slight alcohol blow-off early on. Dark red. Slightly opaque. Big wine. Burst of cassis hits immediately, with notes of tobacco, cedar, espresso and dark chocolate. Solid mouthfeel. Lots of complexity developing but should benefit from a few more years in the bottle. Great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2009 - winejnky wrote: 92 Points
Dense, bold & chewy; pure, deep blackberry flavors; still very young yet quite smooth. This could go up with more age. Decanted two hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2009 - drycab wrote: 90 Points
Taken to a restaurant (Morton's), decanted and sat for an hourbefore drinking. This started out with the typical Lewis big cab fruit and was at it's old score easily. But, and maybe it was because it was only my wife and myself drinking it and it lasted longer than with the hollow leg friends it was consumed with last time, it evolved into a wooden monster. Way too much oak and cedar for my palate and I almost didn't want to finish it with over a glass left in the decanter. First time I've ever said this about a Lewis wine. The rating is based on where it left me, not where it started. Open it and drink it fast!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2008 - Francois2020 wrote:
This was perfect from the start. I thought it would taste young, but it was wonderful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/4/2008 - jaylew1 wrote: 95 Points
Yowza. Consumed right after a 1999 Cardinale, which is a lovely bottle and was put to shame.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/21/2008 - Phin wrote: 95 Points
Killer. Rich deep full bodied wine. With coffee and tobacco. Black fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2008 - A&C wrote: 91 Points
Great friends and family create great memories, and after bringing in a fresh catch of crab, and cooking up a gigantic crab boil, this wine was the perfect way to kick of the 4th of July holiday weekend, More open and approachable than I had anticipated, and not as young as expected, this wine went over extremely well, particularly with the ladies in the group.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2008 - EMichels wrote: 92 Points
Red Carpet Wine Tasting: Not a lot of nose but a good one; Great build; Good medium peppery mid; Good tannins - should last awhile; I would hold it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2007 - domingo wrote: 91 Points
This Cabernet Sauvignon has light fruit flavors and a deep tannins. It' s not as oaky and I enjoyed it much more than the Lewis Napa Valley Cab 2005
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2007 - sumshark wrote: 92 Points
Small blind tasting of several Cabernets. Each wine was opened and decanted for a total of three hours, no detailed notes.
2005 Schrader CCS (95): WOTF, very accessible now, great complexity, nice mouthfeel, everything in balance with a very long finish.
2002 Insignia (93): Nice complexity with well resolved tannins (silky), nice balance and mouthfeel, expected a little more, will need to try another bottle late next year.
2004 Lewis Cabernet Reserve (92): Tannins were a little more gripping than the last tasting of this wine, nice complexity, the wine needs some time to integrate better.
2002 Paul Hobbs Cabernet (92): A lot of dark fruit, , moderate complexity, and a silky mouthfeel. Very balanced now and drinking well, moderate finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2007 - drycab wrote: 96 Points
It's just good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2007 - mmyette wrote: 95 Points
Drank at recruiting dinner with Sam Ciricillo. Was a bit younger and more austere than I remember, may be going though a dumb phase. Nice wine, with complex layers of fruit and earth and wood, but more backwards and less giving than previous bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 95 Points
No new notes
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2007 - lizjagla@yahoo.com wrote: 97 Points
Wow, what an amazing wine. Drank this very young, but wanted to see what it was like. I was so impressed I ordered more bottles the very next day online so I can hold on to them to see them through the aging process. High acidity to start, which is expected from a young cab, but after decanting about an hour, this really opened up well. My husband and I liked it so much, we didn't have time to let it decant even more, which undoubtedly would have only improved the tasting experience. Nose was amazing and very balanced flavor already, for such a young wine. This is what wine should taste like!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2007 - mmyette wrote: 96 Points
Awesome, maybe not quite as great as the 02 insignia, but close, and a hare's breath better than the 04 pride reserve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2007 - A&C wrote: 94 Points
Written the next day from memory: This wine is great. Excellent purple color. Very well structured. Lots of fruit to balance the tannins. Drinks well now -- no need to wait. Kicked off a lot of sediment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 96 Points
Better than the 04 regular bottling. Nose of dark fruits and expensive oak. Very juicy and supple in the mouth with an extended finish of chocolate covered raspberries.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2007 - EMichels wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful nose; very soft; Earth; Dust; Chocolate; Good length
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2007 - davidrh1 wrote:
C-Night 4/14/2007
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2007 - mmyette wrote: 97 Points
This wine was incredible. The best of the 04's so far. I think it is very approachable for an 04 reserve, and has silky integrated tannin structure. The dark berry and fruit flavors are integrated with a cinnamin oak and a long and caressing finish, which is fruit dominated. The wine will only improve and will be best in 5-10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment