Part of a Diamond Creek 1996 Horizontal. PnP. Third of the four tasted. Youthful color, like the others. This wine had a bit more going than the previous two wines (VH and RRT). More dark cherry profile, forest floor, and a bit of eucalyptus. The palate felt a bit lighter than the other two wines. Perhaps it was the acidity that kept things fresh and lively.
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This one surprised me. At the tasting we did of the 2015s back in November the GM was by far my favorite and I thought the most restrained. Here it was the higher alc fruit bomb (at least compared to the rest of the line-up of 1996 Diamond Creeks).
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Return of Shannon: Good perfume on the nose with violets, chocolate, tobacco, roses and light herbs. Very fine tannins still show, but they feels like they are starting to resolve. Along with nicely savoury fruit, there is an element of ripeness that blends in very well. Plenty of style and class, I was very happy with how this showed, drink from now.
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Great bottle. Nicely aromatic. Rich fruit on the palate, with a hint of sauvage darkness over a core of relatively sweet fruit. Some nice minerality in the background adds complexity. Opened this bottle as an experiment to see if it was worth taking another bottle to a tasting. Hope the second bottle performs as well.
Seems to me like this is at or near its peak.
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nice but not as good as i remember from last time, this wine felt young, it leaned toward the darker fruit side and seemed a little heavier than i prefer, also a significant smokiness (not my thing) that remained through the three hour decant drink time period
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Expressive, graceful tart plum, currant, minerals on the nose. Very good fresh dark red fruit, has some cut to it. Chalky, powdery tannins give this good backbone. Medium plus length, with good intensity.
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Drank first bottle over the course of 2 hours. Beautiful bouquet, dark red garnet, silky smooth. Red fruit had mellowed and moved back from the front. Drinking very well. At peak. Second bottle a day later, equally delightful
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took to Cabo with the SMHS boys, no notes, and little memory of the ten bottles we had down there… but i do remember that this blossomed after about two hours in the decanter and folks loved it… surprised me a bit cuz it wasn't on the fruit side of the spectrum… rather it had some secondary character… very good as best as i can recall (after much tequila while playing golf)
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Decanted for 30 mins. Grape jelly nose, nice floral nose. Minerals on the nose medium to strong acid. Quite sophisticated. Very soft features. Kind of an orange chocolate flavors. Held up well.
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first wine of the surfing trip and one of the best, drank with TPP III at his house, very smooth with tannins 90% receded, great mix of both dark and red fruits and some leather and spices, nice nose with some perfume… beautiful wine to drink by the fire in Huntington Beach
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Fabulous as expected and also an adventure. As with previous experiences with older Gravelly Meadow, drinking this is a journey over the course of a 5 hour dinner. Medium garnet in the glass. Took at least 2 hours in the decanter to open. Most prominent initially was the minerality with notes of mushroom and tobacco. After an additional hour, the black fruits became more prominent with cassis and blackberry on the palate and an evolving floral nose. It is time to drink this. Doubt this will improve and may be just pass peak.
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Decanted 15 minutes. Medium to dark garnet with slight bricking on the rim. Surprisingly fresh for its age. Traditional Napa cab (not overly extracted on color, fruit and not cloyingly sweet) with fairly low alcohol of around 12%. Tannins are nicely integrated. Nose of medium to dark fruit, tobacco and wet leather. A very nicely structured cabernet with good balance but a bit one dimensional (stylistically).
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10-15 years old Bordeaux blends from around the world (My place): Dark red color with a brick red hue. Fresh and refined blackcurrant on the nose. On the palate the blackcurrant continues in great style, juicy and concentrated. Some liqueur, licorice and herbs on the midpalate and finish, but it remain elegant and intense while being perfectly balanced. Very nice glass, although I missed a bit of complexity.
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It's great to hit a wine when its at its peak, and this one appears to be. Excellent fruit, tannins fully integrated. Palate has dark fruit, hints of cassis. Richer than I anticipated, with a nice hint of sweetness. I imagine this can last another bunch of years, but it is very tempting now.
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Wow. Great wine. It needs about 30 minutes to open up and then it blossoms into wonderful profile black fruit, medium tannins and earth. I drank it alone but should pair nicely with pork tenderloin and veal. Should continue to age gracefully for 5+ years.
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sleek, austere, still well integrated. not fruity, but didnt't expect it.I am starting to trend toward these lower alcohol wines that are more structurally sound
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Nose of gravel, shale, and pencil lead. Long broad and complex plum, black cherry, and rose petal fruit with an earthy midpalate. Firm tannin finish of clay. Walter called it the "Margaux of California".
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1/19/2019 - DoubleD1969 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Part of a Diamond Creek 1996 Horizontal. PnP. Third of the four tasted. Youthful color, like the others. This wine had a bit more going than the previous two wines (VH and RRT). More dark cherry profile, forest floor, and a bit of eucalyptus. The palate felt a bit lighter than the other two wines. Perhaps it was the acidity that kept things fresh and lively.
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1/19/2019 - MC2 Wines wrote:
This one surprised me. At the tasting we did of the 2015s back in November the GM was by far my favorite and I thought the most restrained. Here it was the higher alc fruit bomb (at least compared to the rest of the line-up of 1996 Diamond Creeks).
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2/17/2017 - CamWheeler wrote: 93 Points
Return of Shannon: Good perfume on the nose with violets, chocolate, tobacco, roses and light herbs. Very fine tannins still show, but they feels like they are starting to resolve. Along with nicely savoury fruit, there is an element of ripeness that blends in very well. Plenty of style and class, I was very happy with how this showed, drink from now.
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3/5/2016 - vanpe003 wrote: 94 Points
Great bottle. Nicely aromatic. Rich fruit on the palate, with a hint of sauvage darkness over a core of relatively sweet fruit. Some nice minerality in the background adds complexity. Opened this bottle as an experiment to see if it was worth taking another bottle to a tasting. Hope the second bottle performs as well.
Seems to me like this is at or near its peak.
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4/2/2015 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 90 Points
nice but not as good as i remember from last time, this wine felt young, it leaned toward the darker fruit side and seemed a little heavier than i prefer, also a significant smokiness (not my thing) that remained through the three hour decant drink time period
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7/19/2014 - Robert Pavlovich wrote:
Expressive, graceful tart plum, currant, minerals on the nose. Very good fresh dark red fruit, has some cut to it. Chalky, powdery tannins give this good backbone. Medium plus length, with good intensity.
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5/26/2014 - bobvictor Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank first bottle over the course of 2 hours. Beautiful bouquet, dark red garnet, silky smooth. Red fruit had mellowed and moved back from the front. Drinking very well. At peak. Second bottle a day later, equally delightful
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3/8/2014 - WoodieBayArea wrote:
took to Cabo with the SMHS boys, no notes, and little memory of the ten bottles we had down there… but i do remember that this blossomed after about two hours in the decanter and folks loved it… surprised me a bit cuz it wasn't on the fruit side of the spectrum… rather it had some secondary character… very good as best as i can recall (after much tequila while playing golf)
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1/5/2014 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 30 mins. Grape jelly nose, nice floral nose. Minerals on the nose medium to strong acid. Quite sophisticated. Very soft features. Kind of an orange chocolate flavors. Held up well.
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12/29/2013 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 92 Points
first wine of the surfing trip and one of the best, drank with TPP III at his house, very smooth with tannins 90% receded, great mix of both dark and red fruits and some leather and spices, nice nose with some perfume… beautiful wine to drink by the fire in Huntington Beach
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3/23/2013 - wconnolly wrote: 93 Points
Fabulous as expected and also an adventure. As with previous experiences with older Gravelly Meadow, drinking this is a journey over the course of a 5 hour dinner. Medium garnet in the glass. Took at least 2 hours in the decanter to open. Most prominent initially was the minerality with notes of mushroom and tobacco. After an additional hour, the black fruits became more prominent with cassis and blackberry on the palate and an evolving floral nose. It is time to drink this. Doubt this will improve and may be just pass peak.
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3/21/2013 - K28226 wrote: 94 Points
Still going strong. Silky smooth- love the flavor profile of this wine. Nice surprise
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8/14/2010 - wineguysf wrote: 92 Points
Solid and drank just at right time... wonderful.
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1/23/2010 - Taylor56 wrote: 89 Points
Decanted 15 minutes. Medium to dark garnet with slight bricking on the rim. Surprisingly fresh for its age. Traditional Napa cab (not overly extracted on color, fruit and not cloyingly sweet) with fairly low alcohol of around 12%. Tannins are nicely integrated. Nose of medium to dark fruit, tobacco and wet leather. A very nicely structured cabernet with good balance but a bit one dimensional (stylistically).
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7/18/2009 - Terkel wrote: 92 Points
10-15 years old Bordeaux blends from around the world (My place): Dark red color with a brick red hue. Fresh and refined blackcurrant on the nose. On the palate the blackcurrant continues in great style, juicy and concentrated. Some liqueur, licorice and herbs on the midpalate and finish, but it remain elegant and intense while being perfectly balanced. Very nice glass, although I missed a bit of complexity.
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6/21/2009 - vanpe003 wrote: 92 Points
It's great to hit a wine when its at its peak, and this one appears to be. Excellent fruit, tannins fully integrated. Palate has dark fruit, hints of cassis. Richer than I anticipated, with a nice hint of sweetness. I imagine this can last another bunch of years, but it is very tempting now.
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12/2/2008 - plitton wrote: 92 Points
Wow. Great wine. It needs about 30 minutes to open up and then it blossoms into wonderful profile black fruit, medium tannins and earth. I drank it alone but should pair nicely with pork tenderloin and veal. Should continue to age gracefully for 5+ years.
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6/30/2007 - drock25 wrote: 90 Points
sleek, austere, still well integrated. not fruity, but didnt't expect it.I am starting to trend toward these lower alcohol wines that are more structurally sound
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1/1/2007 - VAGenius Likes this wine:
Nose of gravel, shale, and pencil lead. Long broad and complex plum, black cherry, and rose petal fruit with an earthy midpalate. Firm tannin finish of clay. Walter called it the "Margaux of California".
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