I hadn't looked at any Cellartracker notes before buying and opening this wine, and when I loved it, I thought I might be the first to feel that way: In my day, when this wine was produced, Dick Arrowood's star had faded. I guess I'm the last to find out how wonderful it is. Seemed a cross between California and Bordeaux. A welcome touch of herbaceousness, excellent fruit, great balance, everything you would hope to find in a mature wine.
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Surprisingly good. Really opened up about 90 minutes in. Started thin and tannic and developed a nice voluptuous fruit frame with a core of cedar and cigar box aromas. Very satisfied with this purchase from 20 years ago.
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The cork is still very dense and tight coming out of the bottle. One little vein of ingress up the side other than a minimal line across the bottom. The wine is still fresh with notes of maturity hanging around. Lots of wood expression. The label says they used American and French oak on this bottling. I get that though the American was standing quite tall. There is still some tart cassis and a bit of cigar ash. Late, fine tannin. Not a wow but pretty damn good. I'd say this is in it's window and could see a decline in the next 5-10 years. Nice.
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Decanted it for about one hour prior to enjoying this wine with a nice strip steak. Smooth as velvet with hints of tobacco. Elegant finish. Just the right amount of tannin that speaks to you.
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I opened about an hour before dinner took a test pour for myself and a pour for Nita leaving a low - low shoulder fill to breath for a while. This was a little cellar cool at first, even for me, muting the palate a bit but 45 minutes later and for the rest of the evening, this was killer. Might have been good idea to decant just to get rid of sediment. This really only needs about and hour or so to shine. Semi opaque ruby red color belys its age. Great nose of; tobacco leaf, pure dark fruit and light garrigue. All of the aroma elements carry over to a resolved, ethereal, elegant but youthfully energetic palate. This is the magic of 22 years of btl age at work. So satisfying. Blind, it would be easy to mistake for higher end Paulliac. We loved every snif and sip until we got to the remaining inch of sediment. The key, if you're not decanting, is to pour from the exact same label direction every time, carefully. I store all my btls label up so the sediment collects down the back of the bottle. Sloppy pouring, every which way, messes the wine up. This is totally in its drinking window but I can see this floating a on a very nice plateau for at least 3 more years, no problem. 13.8% Alc went unnoticed.
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Fiery red nose with aromas of cinnamon, campfire, and pinyon pine. There is some weight to the body, with a silky texture and nicely melded tannins. Outstanding acidity. Lively, with no signs of decline. Still going strong. Old-school California Cabernet. This producer always delivers.
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Provenant de la cave de Champlain Charest. Carafé une heure la veille puis remis en bouteille. Le vin est en grande forme (bouchon presque parfait), même si l’étiquette est complètement abimée. Tant au nez qu’en bouche, on reconnait assez aisément le profil Californien dans ce vin, mais l’âge lui donne tout de même un certain profil Bordelais (rive droite). La puissance de ce vin est assez marquante. Il nous en mets plein la bouche. Je me serais attendu à un vin plus évolué. Visiblement, il a encore plusieurs années devant lui.
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Nose of camphor and rosewater, with a faint manure note. Candied cherries, faint strawberry, and white pepper on the palate, with roses in the background and a bit of acidity, though the tannins seem to be gone. I think this is a bit past its peak, but it still has a "try another sip" character that sets it above the crowd.
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Aged better than I thought it might, havent had the wine in about 4 years. Last bottle from purchases in late 90s. Has some Bordeaux/Pomerol like characteristics. Was nice out of the bottle and opened over a couple hours.
Red fruit, candy, strawberries. Nice 30 second finish, amazing wine, $42 a bottle in the late 90s when I bought it. Held up on day 2, equally as good
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Decanted, but surpisingly no sediment at all (despite unfined and unfiltered). Great colour, good nose, and looks as though life in hand. Very sweet, and rather on one note. As time went on the (still present) tannins began to overpower the fruit just a little. Don't think this will improve.
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beautifully matured. Even flavors throughout the initial, middle and after taste. Vey nice mixture of mature fruit melded with oak and tannins. Complex flavor rather than just the simple cab flavor. Really really good
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DENSELY STRUCTURED, WITH TIGHTLY WOUND BLACK CURRANT, BLACKBERRY, SMOKE, CHOCOLATE AND HERB NOTES. FIRM YET SMOOTH ON THE PALATE, WITH A FINISH THAT LETS THE FLAVORS LINGER
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I really enjoyed this; Black licorice nose; Good depth; Just enough pepper and spice; I found it to hit its peak after approximately two hours in the decanter - after that it dropped off quickly
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We uncorked this beautiful mahogany-colored wine to find it's bouquet a rather surprising mix of dark fruits and leather. We decanted it, waited 30 minutes, and found another surprise of intense tastes of cherry, blackberry, raisin and vanilla. The final third of the bottle gave us yet another surprise as it finished out with a spicey, lingering finish with tobacco and chocolate lingering a good long while. It's a complex, pleasing wine and I regret it's our only bottle!
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After an initial musty, oaky nose blew off, smoky aromas of leather, bell pepper, currants, cherries, and a cool minty quality emerged. Medium bodied, and well concentrated, though a bit hollow in the mouth but with good fruit flavors of cherries and red licorice. After roughly a half hour it seemed to fall apart slightly, with the threat of a vegetal/green quality, but luckily this did not last, and after about an hour this wine really started to blossom with complexity, specifically cedar and pipe tobacco on the nose, and chocolate emerging on the pallate. Still with somewhat astringent tannins on the long finish that features brown spices. A very good and complex Sonoma Cab! If not for the brief dumb spell, and austere finish, it would surely merit a higher score.
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Enjoyed this wine, but was not overwhelmed. It had a deep ruby red color and cherry and coffee on the nose. The wine had a nice fruit taste but was a little thin on the finish. I would drink now.
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Chicago Weekend; 7/28/2006-7/31/2006 (Chicago): Initial complex nose black olive and sweet cassis. Quickly morphed into sharper black cherry with distinct bell pepper edge, which brought the score down from the 91-92 range. Drink now!
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Removed from my personal cellar, standing at room temp for approx 45 minutes. Did not decant, 20 minutes after opening, it blew my socks off! The fruit forward was exactly what I was expecting. Another 20 minutes and I had to fight the dinner guests for the bottle. Truely ready to consume, I don't believe it could have gotten any better than this if cellared longer.Smooth, lingering, absolutely perfect! I encourge everyone to consume soon.
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Nice wine just starting to show hints of maturity. Still has nice ballance between friut and tannins. Wine was still alive after 5 hours with the last pour so it still has plenty of life.
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10/3/2020 - SophieR Likes this wine: 93 Points
I hadn't looked at any Cellartracker notes before buying and opening this wine, and when I loved it, I thought I might be the first to feel that way: In my day, when this wine was produced, Dick Arrowood's star had faded. I guess I'm the last to find out how wonderful it is. Seemed a cross between California and Bordeaux. A welcome touch of herbaceousness, excellent fruit, great balance, everything you would hope to find in a mature wine.
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12/11/2019 - lushious Likes this wine: 91 Points
Surprisingly good. Really opened up about 90 minutes in. Started thin and tannic and developed a nice voluptuous fruit frame with a core of cedar and cigar box aromas. Very satisfied with this purchase from 20 years ago.
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8/6/2019 - WetRock wrote:
The cork is still very dense and tight coming out of the bottle. One little vein of ingress up the side other than a minimal line across the bottom. The wine is still fresh with notes of maturity hanging around. Lots of wood expression. The label says they used American and French oak on this bottling. I get that though the American was standing quite tall. There is still some tart cassis and a bit of cigar ash. Late, fine tannin. Not a wow but pretty damn good. I'd say this is in it's window and could see a decline in the next 5-10 years. Nice.
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7/15/2019 - Old Joe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted it for about one hour prior to enjoying this wine with a nice strip steak. Smooth as velvet with hints of tobacco. Elegant finish. Just the right amount of tannin that speaks to you.
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8/6/2018 - chablis28 wrote: 94 Points
I opened about an hour before dinner took a test pour for myself and a pour for Nita leaving a low - low shoulder fill to breath for a while. This was a little cellar cool at first, even for me, muting the palate a bit but 45 minutes later and for the rest of the evening, this was killer. Might have been good idea to decant just to get rid of sediment. This really only needs about and hour or so to shine. Semi opaque ruby red color belys its age. Great nose of; tobacco leaf, pure dark fruit and light garrigue. All of the aroma elements carry over to a resolved, ethereal, elegant but youthfully energetic palate. This is the magic of 22 years of btl age at work. So satisfying. Blind, it would be easy to mistake for higher end Paulliac. We loved every snif and sip until we got to the remaining inch of sediment. The key, if you're not decanting, is to pour from the exact same label direction every time, carefully. I store all my btls label up so the sediment collects down the back of the bottle. Sloppy pouring, every which way, messes the wine up. This is totally in its drinking window but I can see this floating a on a very nice plateau for at least 3 more years, no problem. 13.8% Alc went unnoticed.
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6/16/2018 - Doc90 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fiery red nose with aromas of cinnamon, campfire, and pinyon pine. There is some weight to the body, with a silky texture and nicely melded tannins. Outstanding acidity. Lively, with no signs of decline. Still going strong. Old-school California Cabernet. This producer always delivers.
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11/13/2016 - DrewWyman wrote: 92 Points
Drinking wonderfully right now!
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9/28/2016 - wino121 wrote: 95 Points
Stunning.
If you are lucky enough to have one left consume this now-what a great btl of wine
Thx Dick- miss u man-
ps. BDX can suck on this one-
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9/24/2016 - Gig Harbor Estate Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened up with some air but drinking perfectly at the 20 year mark. Smooth and well balanced.
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10/9/2015 - Nerdy Earth Boy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Absolutely perfect well aged Bordeaux like CAB. A nice surprise! Great floral aroma immediately upon opening. Silky smooth. A great find!
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1/3/2015 - Santamonicawine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decantered and waited 3 hours. Came alive!! This wine is old arrowood, richard's craft wine
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5/28/2014 - martcouz wrote: 89 Points
Provenant de la cave de Champlain Charest. Carafé une heure la veille puis remis en bouteille. Le vin est en grande forme (bouchon presque parfait), même si l’étiquette est complètement abimée. Tant au nez qu’en bouche, on reconnait assez aisément le profil Californien dans ce vin, mais l’âge lui donne tout de même un certain profil Bordelais (rive droite). La puissance de ce vin est assez marquante. Il nous en mets plein la bouche. Je me serais attendu à un vin plus évolué. Visiblement, il a encore plusieurs années devant lui.
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3/30/2014 - wino121 wrote: 92 Points
Still humming, this has developed into a beautiful btl of wine.
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3/17/2013 - RichardP wrote: 91 Points
Nose of camphor and rosewater, with a faint manure note. Candied cherries, faint strawberry, and white pepper on the palate, with roses in the background and a bit of acidity, though the tannins seem to be gone. I think this is a bit past its peak, but it still has a "try another sip" character that sets it above the crowd.
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3/24/2012 - walkerjfw wrote: 91 Points
Aged better than I thought it might, havent had the wine in about 4 years. Last bottle from purchases in late 90s. Has some Bordeaux/Pomerol like characteristics. Was nice out of the bottle and opened over a couple hours.
Red fruit, candy, strawberries. Nice 30 second finish, amazing wine, $42 a bottle in the late 90s when I bought it. Held up on day 2, equally as good
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8/6/2011 - smcg wrote: 89 Points
Balanced and pleasant, with typical Cab fruit. Drink up; probably not going to improve from here.
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7/20/2011 - chris_3 wrote: 79 Points
OK but definitely past its best. I kept this one too long
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3/13/2011 - finewinebuff57 wrote: 89 Points
Decanted, but surpisingly no sediment at all (despite unfined and unfiltered). Great colour, good nose, and looks as though life in hand. Very sweet, and rather on one note. As time went on the (still present) tannins began to overpower the fruit just a little. Don't think this will improve.
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12/25/2010 - MeMyself&I wrote: 92 Points
Killer stuff!! Even better than the 1999 Pahlmeyer we had on the table.
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12/4/2010 - 1845 lake wrote: 94 Points
Very drinkable with a nice steak
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9/22/2010 - dmitchell4 wrote: 85 Points
This bottle was past.
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1/2/2009 - chris_3 wrote: 90 Points
beautifully matured. Even flavors throughout the initial, middle and after taste. Vey nice mixture of mature fruit melded with oak and tannins. Complex flavor rather than just the simple cab flavor. Really really good
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1/2/2008 - spinedoc wrote:
DENSELY STRUCTURED, WITH TIGHTLY WOUND BLACK CURRANT, BLACKBERRY, SMOKE, CHOCOLATE AND HERB NOTES. FIRM YET SMOOTH ON THE PALATE, WITH A FINISH THAT LETS THE FLAVORS LINGER
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10/30/2007 - EMichels wrote: 92 Points
I really enjoyed this; Black licorice nose; Good depth; Just enough pepper and spice; I found it to hit its peak after approximately two hours in the decanter - after that it dropped off quickly
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2/1/2007 - Ohiogma wrote: 92 Points
We uncorked this beautiful mahogany-colored wine to find it's bouquet a rather surprising mix of dark fruits and leather. We decanted it, waited 30 minutes, and found another surprise of intense tastes of cherry, blackberry, raisin and vanilla. The final third of the bottle gave us yet another surprise as it finished out with a spicey, lingering finish with tobacco and chocolate lingering a good long while. It's a complex, pleasing wine and I regret it's our only bottle!
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1/6/2007 - EMichels wrote: 92 Points
Jan '07 Sonoma/Napa Tasting with Binh-To (Sonoma/Napa): Doesn't mellow as much as I'd expect; Still very bright
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10/25/2006 - Apollo5710 wrote: 91 Points
After an initial musty, oaky nose blew off, smoky aromas of leather, bell pepper, currants, cherries, and a cool minty quality emerged. Medium bodied, and well concentrated, though a bit hollow in the mouth but with good fruit flavors of cherries and red licorice. After roughly a half hour it seemed to fall apart slightly, with the threat of a vegetal/green quality, but luckily this did not last, and after about an hour this wine really started to blossom with complexity, specifically cedar and pipe tobacco on the nose, and chocolate emerging on the pallate. Still with somewhat astringent tannins on the long finish that features brown spices. A very good and complex Sonoma Cab! If not for the brief dumb spell, and austere finish, it would surely merit a higher score.
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10/8/2006 - winefool wrote: 89 Points
Nice easy cab, but not really huge depth or complexity
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9/4/2006 - rfras wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyed this wine, but was not overwhelmed. It had a deep ruby red color and cherry and coffee on the nose. The wine had a nice fruit taste but was a little thin on the finish. I would drink now.
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7/30/2006 - tskrueger wrote: 89 Points
Chicago Weekend; 7/28/2006-7/31/2006 (Chicago): Initial complex nose black olive and sweet cassis. Quickly morphed into sharper black cherry with distinct bell pepper edge, which brought the score down from the 91-92 range. Drink now!
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7/8/2006 - wood wrote:
Not massive fruit, but great tannin/fruit balance. Easy and enjoyable. Quality
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6/25/2006 - DFC wrote: 90 Points
Drinking well right now as the tannins are quite resolved...I'd say it is time to drink up over the next couple of years.
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9/12/2005 - Shamangourds wrote: 97 Points
Removed from my personal cellar, standing at room temp for approx 45 minutes. Did not decant, 20 minutes after opening, it blew my socks off! The fruit forward was exactly what I was expecting. Another 20 minutes and I had to fight the dinner guests for the bottle. Truely ready to consume, I don't believe it could have gotten any better than this if cellared longer.Smooth, lingering, absolutely perfect! I encourge everyone to consume soon.
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5/30/2004 - JasonD wrote: 92 Points
Nice wine just starting to show hints of maturity. Still has nice ballance between friut and tannins. Wine was still alive after 5 hours with the last pour so it still has plenty of life.
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5/18/2001 - buckeye76 wrote: 90 Points
BLACK CHERRIES, LICORICE, CHOCOLATE, AND BLACKBERRIES IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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4/7/2001 - brianofthevine wrote: 91 Points
Dark cherry, earthy, good use of oak, nice finish.
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