Surely at peak, the Franc lends a nice bitter dark chocolate not to the ripe, dark fruit. Tannins are there but dry just slightly leaving a bit of acid on the bite but still smooth. Drink it.
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Decanted and enjoyed with a grilled ribeye steak and asparagus. Shows a clear, medium purple color, without signs of bricking. I honestly expected this to be quite mature and possibly “over the hill”; however, much to my delight, I experienced a wine, which I think, is in the latter stages of development. I noted no signs of cooked or stewed fruits, only expressive purple violets, spicy black currant, cassis, drying blackberry, ripe black cherry, juicy black plum, dark chocolate, cigar box, green leafiness, anise spice, and dusty black earth. Mostly ripe tannin, with a deep, but integrated acidic core, which is still providing some liveliness to support a very long finish. Drink now, unlikely to improve with further cellaring, but also could cellar for another 3-5 years. As noted, this was a pleasant surprise; I have another bottle in the cellar which I plan to hold for a couple of more years to see what happens.
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Deep ruby with garnet hues. Medium plus aromas of vanilla, smoke, stewed black fruit, cured meat, flint. Wine is fully developed. Wine is dry with medium plus acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol, medium plus body. Pronounced flavors of black cherry preserves, nutmeg, chocolate, leather, cedar box. Finish is medium. Very good wine. Drink now, it is in the perfect place, should not be aged any further.
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Opened on a dreary early May night. Initial aromas of deep blue fruit, with some secondaries of mushroom, blackberry, leather coming through. Plenty of fruit, showing a broad deep red, black and blue profile on the palate. This has plenty of heft, structure, fruit and tannin. Overall a very nice package starting to get into the secondary flavors. Nicely done.
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Clearly fruit is being overwhelmed by tannins and I can’t see the balance returning. Perhaps the Franc is losing its strength. Still some blue fruit on the nose. The blue fruit is evident but the tannins dries out the palate hard and I’m not seeing it much longer. Drink soon.
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Drank upon opening, and it was disappointing. Over the years, have had several of the 2005 Viader proprietary blend, and have never aired it out. We someone over who does not like strong and powerful reds, so we opened the Viader blend, which has always been silky smooth. The wine opened a bit over the course of a half hour, but it was certainly not the silky smooth that we remembered.
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Reading my tasting notes from previous bottles is always interesting. Perhaps none more appropriate than this wine. This is last bottle for me but wish I had more. I don’t expect this to improve considerably with more time but I would love to have this in 2023 just to see how it holds up. Not really showing signs of aging or slowing down. Still has primary blue and black fruit profile. Some secondary characteristics, namely leather and tobacco are just starting to show. Bottom line, great now and for the next 5-8 years. Wish I had more.
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This bottle was interesting. We decanted the bottle, but started drinking immediately upon opening, and it was wonderful. Balanced, smooth. Good aroma, nice finish. A great blend -- not big and bold and overpowering. So, I was very pleased. I only poured a fairly small amount in my initial glass, and then poured another glass about a half hour later. It was as if the wine had died. Just bland. There were a half dozen people drinking, so the wine did not last long enough to see how it might evolve over the next hours. But I would definitely recommend that you drink immediately upon opening.
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This bottle is currently singing! Expressive and intense cassise on the nose. Beautifully integrated. The Cab Franc balances the juiciness of the Cab Sauv. Rich, silky, mouthfeel. Long pleasurable finish.
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This showed good dark fruit, vanilla and oak on opening, but tightened up after a bit, dropping off to tannin and chocolate with a bit of boysenberry on exit. Nose is classic cabernet, dirt and crushed blackberry. Not a great bottle tonight.
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This wine was really good. Only issue would be the QPR for newer vintages of Viader. The 2005 cost $49. As soon as we drank it, I went to see about buying more Viader. The latest vintages are 3 times that much. Oh well.
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PNP and enjoyed with grilled veal chops over 2 hours. Brick red color with some color change from center to rim. Also throwing a small amount of sediment. On nose, chocolate, cassis, sweet cherry, tobacco and a whiff of green pepper. On palate, similar flavor profile ex. green pepper. Medium+ body, nice acidity, sweet/well integrated tannins and long finish. This has aged well. Stored in a cool cellar since Fall 2010. Very much enjoyed this.
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Guitarguy nailed it. Muted palate (much more faint than I would expect for an '05 Napa) cedar, cherry (maybe on your first glass, but goes rather quickly) tar.
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Light sediment in the bottle, garnet color with weak legs. The nose showed forest floor with hints of dried fruit (fig, plum and dark cherry). The wine has a slight green and leathery note mid-palate along with the dark dried fruit flavors above. The finish is soft/weak. Wine appears to have reached its peak. Drank a 2003 Château Les Grandes Murailles earlier, I would pick the Château Les Grandes Murailles over this wine - more complex with a better flavor profile.
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Absolutely fantastic. This wine has held up extremely well after 10 years and was a true joy to drink. Had this for wife's birthday (her favorite wine).
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Very dark in color. A pleasant nose, with the cab franc coming to the surface above the cabernet sauvignon. This is not at all a fruit forward wine. The fruit lurks in the background and finishes deep in the rear of the mouth. The substantial contribution of the cab franc makes this a unique wine. It rounds out the taste of the wine and softens it, and the silky textures fits nicely with the taste and lingers through a very long finish. Drinking well now and will continue to evolve well for at least 5 years, and probably longer.
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It's been 2-1/2 years since I last enjoyed this wine. A blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 31% Cabernet Franc. After close to ten years, this still has lots going on and it's still big and concentrated! Displays a solid, dark crimson color and a full bodied texture. Perfumed aromas and flavors of mixed black and evolving red currant, very ripe black berries, dark cherries, ripe plums, dark chocolate, tobacco , black coffee, and some earth tones, all wrapped around a solid, and well integrated core. Great balance, drinking at, or close to peak, with a solid finish. Held its own against a grilled ribeye steak. One of the better Napa Meritages I have had...excellent!
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93-94 Range. Excellent with grilled steaks. This is at its peak but it should go for another 5+/- years IMHO. Tasting notes similar to prior notes. Green pepper was not noticeable and more mint / coffee grinds in addition to the blackberry, black currants, black cherry on the palate.
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Double decanted and re-opened an hour later. The nose on this wine was quite striking from the get-go. Well balanced...fruit, emerging secondary flavors, acidity and tannin....really in a nice spot, displaying an certain elegance. It will be interesting to see what flavors develop with more time. 92-94
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I think that this bottle of wine is probably the same as the last one I had. My mood and surroundings were less than ideal and therefore, the perception of a few points lower. Have one more and will make sure the situation is more favorable to enjoy this wine.
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Still holding its own - decanted for an hour and we were greeted with dark fruits and a long finish. Day two - the front had softened somewhat but we were still pleasantly surprised by its overall heft. Glad that we have another bottle waiting for us next year.
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Decanted for 2 hours - this wine rocked and went great with steaks. Did not take notes - 93-94 range (93 if forced for a hard number). Preferred the '05 Pintia enjoyed the night before but this is one of my favorite California Cab blend producers - they are able to marry the complexity / minerality of Bordeaux with pure California fruit. Need to buy more recent vintages from these guys.
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Drinking very well right now. Integrated and smooth, nose of menthol, black cherry, vanilla, similar on the palate but with a rich yet elegant feel, this was a delicious wine.
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Wasn't sold on this as ready until I had it with a nice bloody steak. The tannins are balanced and the cab franc really jumps when paired with food. Certainly not the single greatest wine I've had but really is nice with a properly paired meal.
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Recent reviews led me to try another bottle, so I tried at pour, two, four and six hours of decanting. I think we're actually another year or two away from what I consider to be my peak of integration (where there's still some soft tannin action, but smooth).
Initially, the cab franc dominates with its "bite," which gives way to a balance that makes for a great drinking wine with pretty well integrated tannins, but just a little remaining bite on its moderately long finish. Certainly not enough to deter me from drinking, but just enough to lend itself to my aging decision. I do agree that the texture of this is developing into something outstanding - probably one of the more "velvet" textures I've had, other than some of the Anderson Conn Cabs from 2008.
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Decanted for 1.5 hours - the nose is initially pretty tight on this bottle - served with grilled NY strips. On nose, red currants, green pepper, black cherry. On palate, black cherry, red currants, cedar with medium body, nice acids & sweet tannins noticeable on the very long finish. Has improved from 2 years ago and drinking great. 93-94 range.
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Drank on New Years Eve and was blown away how this wine has come into its own. Fantastic from start to finish. Perfect balance and texture. A perfect compliment to my ribeye steak. Only wish had more of it.
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Very light palette but not empty. Low tannin with a hint of citrus and light plum..even mouth feel from start to end. I really love uncorking the vintage...always good.
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Great wine with a nice balance of fruit and tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon 69% and Cabernet Franc 31%. Blend, so how could it be bad. Smooth and substantial wine that is Good drinking right now.
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Very nice bright garnet color with white pepper, dark fruit, leather, with a hint of smoke on the end. In the mouth this wine is quite dense with plenty of tannins, red licorice, spice, and violets.
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Decanted for about an hour and a half which resulted in this wine really opening up. There was definitely an evolution over the time in the decanter. Dark fruit, earth, and cigar box on the nose. Palate is concentrated but not overdone. Dark black and blue fruits, cassis, tobacco, and loamy earth persist through a very long, elegant finish. Fine, well integrated tannins. In a GREAT place now and will be there for 5-8 years. ENJOY!
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Marvelous balance of fruit and tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon 69% and Cabernet Franc 31%. Smooth and substantial. Good drinking window. Decanted in the glass for an hour.
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Decanted for some time prior to drinking: Very expressive nose with bright dark fruit, a hint of earth. Great, round mouthfeel and texture. Perhaps the palate did not quite live up to the promise of the nose, but that is a nit. The cab franc component added complexity, but this wine is well integrated and no way did it show green/herbal from the cab franc. Really in a good place, but should go longer.
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Enjoyed at Bailey's Prime Plus in Fort Worth TX tonight with a 10oz rare steak, mushrooms, and jalapeno smoked gouda mashed potatoes. This wine is a monster. Vines are situated between St. Helena and Angwin / Howell Mountain in a tiny community called Deer Park. Wine is actually sub-Howell Mountain appellation but is just about as close as it comes and IMO deserves an "honorary" Howell Mountain designation. Uncorked with a BLACK stain on the cork - about 4mm of cork bleed. This is roughly a 2/3 Cab Sauv, 1/3 Cab Franc blend. A sample was sent to the glass with the remainder sent to a decanter for about 30 minutes (and was just starting to show by the time it was finished or else this would probably be a 94-95 point wine). The Cab Sauv and Franc both add their own particular characteristics to this wine but was very subdued on the nose and palate without decanting. Initial nose showed mountain fruit and lilac. On the tongue was acid, tobacco, smoke, leather all in front, and mountain fruit that was in the process of a crescendo with some vanilla in the middle and a high acid and heady yet oak finish. Yeah, this one needs to sit a while. After decanting, this wine showed very different. On the nose was very deep mountain fruit with some jasmine, lilac, lavender. The taste was nice up front with some good solid blackberry pie, currant, leather and a smoky characteristic building to the mid-palate when the earth started to kick in along with some very softened tannin. Cab Sauv kept earthy qualities from going overboard but that wonderful minerality was there and dancing in the mouth. The finish was a bit heady with some good firm, STRONG spicy characteristics, deep vanilla sweet mountain fruit that just stayed with you until the next sip. Of course those soft delicate but still very firm and present tannins kind of helped that one along. A dangerous wine for sure, I am not sure that it lasted 45 minutes from pop to complete consumption. NOT a pop and pour right now, needs probably another 5 years at least. If you enjoy this one now, please decant or else you'll miss quite a bit.
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- Purple color with fast forming legs and aromas of blackberry, black currant and violet. It's in total harmony and has flavours of blackberry, black currant and licorice anise with a full body. Juicy texture with a long finish - @ Dutch w Geri and Roy Liemer. Decanted for 2 hrs, before traveling. Tight when opened. Will benefit from further aging.
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Nice black fruit, tobacco, and vintage napa rustic aromas fill the nose. On the palette, this is a delish howell mountain cab/cab franc blend. Nice tannins and great length, this wine is pretty big but should settle down a little bit after an hour of decanting. Can't wait until dinner time!!! Prime Rib is on tap and I think it will pair nicely.
4 Hours later: Black fruit, light tobacco and luscious through the mouth. This wine has improved! Really nice, great finish. 93 updated.
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Dark, deep purple to black color, full bodied and rich. Black currant and blackberry liqueur nose. Ripe black fruit, dark plums, vanilla with chewy tannins. Very nice finish with notes of dark chocolate.
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Just the right blend of Cab Sav and Cab Franc (31%). Subtle on the nose, but opens nicely on the front end showing Cab Sav that evolves with Cab Franc and some tartness and food friendly acidity showing on the back end, but nothing that turned me off. I found that it added to the flavor profile in a subtle way and made for an elegant finish. Stand alone or right with food, this is everything that Cali is about. Would not hesitate to serve this tonight for a special occasion.
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Since the bottle I last tasted in October 2010 not much has changed in my opinion of this wine....still really good but another 1-2 years of bottle age should soften and round the tannins a bit...very, very nice! This wine will last another 10 years in a good cellar
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Decanted for about an hour and a half, then poured. Initially, the wine was fairly in-your face, with dark fruit, a hint of herb, and strong tannin with a long somewhat oaky finish. In another hour and a half or so, the wine rounded out considerably, with the tannin coming into balance, hints of the cab franc poking out, but never dominating, and a lingering finish with the oak coming into balance. This wine can certainly go for a good bit, and should get better. If drinking now, give it plenty of time, as it continued to show better at the four hour mark 92-93
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Still quite young... Yet smooth and very approachable... Maybe still tight but I'm thinking that this gets better with time... Dark fruit great nose but somewhat short on the finish... Followed a 95 Phelps Backus which was smooth and mature (approaching max maturity)...
Enjoyed with Foie Gras- fillet tips and Griggs town chicken...
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This definitely needs some air to open up. Very muted nose and palate for the first 2 hours or so. Now with massive dark fruits, cassis, and a hint of tobacco on the nose. Fine, well intergrated tannins with concentrated cassis, black and blue fruit and a hint of acidity. Finish is long and mouth coating. Have a few more of these and will try to space them out over the next 2-3 years.
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Very good grapes! Great nose of plum, blueberry, chocolate. Ruby red. Very complex mouth feel. Mocha, currant, cherry, black fruit flavors. Well balanced, elegant wine. Long finish. Still a bit tannic. I think another couple of years in the bottle will improve this wine.
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this needs at least 3-4 hours of air time right now. came out initially very tart, almost sour, with none of the richness or creaminess that I experienced previously. the oak started showing up on the finish just before everything mellowed out, the last few sips of the first half of the bottle (second half saved for tomorrow) were just delicious, especially with a nice fragrant gouda. lots of forest fruit, a hint of oak, this is only going to get better over the next 3-5 years.
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Interesting tension between the fruit and the tannins at this stage. Both are much in evidence, but neither overwhelms the other. Drinkable now, even enjoyably so, it shows intriguing balance in a youthful, exuberant manner, with great potential for a more complex, nuanced balance down the road. Hope I can resist popping another cork for a while.
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Great wine - reddish / black color. Had with a grilled filet and decanted for 1.5 hours (more time is better with this wine) before dinner. Initially the nose was muted with herbal overtones - with airtime, blackberry (morphing to red fruits with time), tobacco, cigar box & green pepper. Palate was consistent except fruit (red & black) was more prominent. Full dodied, with excellent balance, and firm tannins on the long finish - this wine will sing in a few years. The wife loved it as did I - one of the best wines I have had in 2010. Interesting to see how this would perform with Bordeaux in a blind tasting - 91-93 range - showing 93 given where I see this wine in a few years.
Nose of black currant and tobacco. Still a bit tannic on the palate but not over powering. Full bodied and dark purple color. Nice finish of dark bitter chocolate. Given some bottle age, this will be an unforgettable wine...excellent now.
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This was a great bottle. Decanted for an hour and drink over the next two with steaks at Max's Chophouse. Started with bubbles and a white CdP before having this alongside an '03 Mount Veeder Reserve. Both bottles were really nice bottles and great parings with the steak. I liked the Viader a little bit more and I think this will get better with time. I have five more and will probably wait a year or two before opening the next one.
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A little harsh upon pop & pour, with a some oak which needed to resolve. After 1-2 hours, it was very Bordeaux-like, smoother tannins, nice fruit on the nose and in the mouth. I will probably wait at least a year before drinking more of this. I suspect that it can evolve into a 92-94 point wine, given several more years.
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Wine does need time to open, but then assumes the qualities of a very nice Bordeaux. The Cab Franc can overpower early with its spiciness, but let that settle and the cranberry, raspberry, strawberry and red plum fruits blend nice with the hot spice. Solid finish.
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Brilliant! Deep purple black hole in a glass! No light escapes.Cab Franc Floral aspects are very prominent and welcome to the party with floral and ripe fruit. Pomagranet and lovely lillies. Lots of Cherry and Creme de Cassis on this show stopper. There was a great mouthfeel here, something like oak bathed in Creme Freche. Very pleasant to drink on its own right or paried with some fine grilled beef. This is definitely a wine to seek out and cherish. It offers alot of depth and vibrance in the same glass! Bravo!
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Exactly what I expected. Tight at first but opened up nicely after the first hour. I wouldn't pair this with any heavy foods, it may be overwhelmed. Gentle yet fulfilling, smooth with structure, overall a great bottle of wine.
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South American and American Wines; 12/6/2009-12/7/2009 (Wine Gallery): Hazeline snow cream! with a touch of soy sauce. Still a bit tight. Quite classically bordeaux but in a warmer vintage. Lovely balance, nicely integrated oak. Now this is at least almost worth its weight in price. This tastes like a really well made modernistic bordeaux. Bright but mellowing warmth of black and blue fruits. French oak. Quite classy.
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Pop and pour, with half in the decanter and half remaining in the bottle. While Rose liked the strength of the undecanted portion, showing younger with more of an alcohol presence, I thought that the decanted or vinturi'd portion showed fine-grained tanins that provided a nice muscular depth and complexity with the ability to age for years. The wine really developed during a 4 hour window into a gorgeous wine.
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WOW! Blockbuster wine! Opened (not decanted) for two hours before first pour. Served with shrimp cocktail, gruyere cheese and crackers, baked bire and crusty french bread. Wonderful aroma of cranberries mixed with cigar box and other red fruits. Silky smooth in the mouth but still a firm structure that should last for years. 8 of us loved this wine.
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I am amazed by how smooth and balanced this wine is. Truly one of the best I have had. This was one time I did not worry about how the wine tasted but just enjoyed how it made me feel- which was relaxed and very happy.
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3/10/2023 - guitarguy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Surely at peak, the Franc lends a nice bitter dark chocolate not to the ripe, dark fruit. Tannins are there but dry just slightly leaving a bit of acid on the bite but still smooth. Drink it.
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8/29/2020 - wmccone54 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted and enjoyed with a grilled ribeye steak and asparagus. Shows a clear, medium purple color, without signs of bricking. I honestly expected this to be quite mature and possibly “over the hill”; however, much to my delight, I experienced a wine, which I think, is in the latter stages of development. I noted no signs of cooked or stewed fruits, only expressive purple violets, spicy black currant, cassis, drying blackberry, ripe black cherry, juicy black plum, dark chocolate, cigar box, green leafiness, anise spice, and dusty black earth. Mostly ripe tannin, with a deep, but integrated acidic core, which is still providing some liveliness to support a very long finish. Drink now, unlikely to improve with further cellaring, but also could cellar for another 3-5 years. As noted, this was a pleasant surprise; I have another bottle in the cellar which I plan to hold for a couple of more years to see what happens.
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7/18/2020 - guitarguy wrote: 88 Points
Showing some age in declining flavors and nose. Drink now.
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11/29/2019 - thalver wrote:
nice bottle boquet, might lack the energy of years past, but seems like it's no where near falling apart
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9/15/2019 - vpoms wrote: 92 Points
Deep ruby with garnet hues. Medium plus aromas of vanilla, smoke, stewed black fruit, cured meat, flint. Wine is fully developed. Wine is dry with medium plus acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol, medium plus body. Pronounced flavors of black cherry preserves, nutmeg, chocolate, leather, cedar box. Finish is medium. Very good wine. Drink now, it is in the perfect place, should not be aged any further.
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5/3/2019 - Senso-beak wrote: 94 Points
Opened on a dreary early May night. Initial aromas of deep blue fruit, with some secondaries of mushroom, blackberry, leather coming through. Plenty of fruit, showing a broad deep red, black and blue profile on the palate. This has plenty of heft, structure, fruit and tannin. Overall a very nice package starting to get into the secondary flavors. Nicely done.
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12/4/2018 - guitarguy wrote: 86 Points
Clearly fruit is being overwhelmed by tannins and I can’t see the balance returning. Perhaps the Franc is losing its strength. Still some blue fruit on the nose. The blue fruit is evident but the tannins dries out the palate hard and I’m not seeing it much longer. Drink soon.
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11/22/2018 - jzebrack wrote: 88 Points
Drank upon opening, and it was disappointing.
Over the years, have had several of the 2005 Viader proprietary blend, and have never aired it out.
We someone over who does not like strong and powerful reds, so we opened the Viader blend, which has always been silky smooth.
The wine opened a bit over the course of a half hour, but it was certainly not the silky smooth that we remembered.
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8/24/2018 - rwstorer wrote: 95 Points
Very consistent and drinking well.
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8/4/2018 - meatbomb013 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Reading my tasting notes from previous bottles is always interesting. Perhaps none more appropriate than this wine. This is last bottle for me but wish I had more. I don’t expect this to improve considerably with more time but I would love to have this in 2023 just to see how it holds up.
Not really showing signs of aging or slowing down. Still has primary blue and black fruit profile. Some secondary characteristics, namely leather and tobacco are just starting to show.
Bottom line, great now and for the next 5-8 years. Wish I had more.
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1/11/2018 - guitarguy wrote: 86 Points
Seemed old, with minor blue fruit overwhelmed by fine but ample tannins. Drink up
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12/9/2017 - jzebrack Likes this wine: 90 Points
This bottle was interesting.
We decanted the bottle, but started drinking immediately upon opening, and it was wonderful.
Balanced, smooth. Good aroma, nice finish.
A great blend -- not big and bold and overpowering.
So, I was very pleased.
I only poured a fairly small amount in my initial glass, and then poured another glass about a half hour later.
It was as if the wine had died. Just bland.
There were a half dozen people drinking, so the wine did not last long enough to see how it might evolve over the next hours.
But I would definitely recommend that you drink immediately upon opening.
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10/16/2017 - CWilliam wrote:
Last of 6. Enjoyed with my wife on our anniversary (paired with oven-roasted NY strips).
We both loved this. 93-94 for me.
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9/19/2017 - guitarguy wrote: 88 Points
I keep going back and forth, this seemed a little short, with blueberry, pepper and a bit of flaccidity.
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8/18/2017 - guitarguy wrote: 89 Points
A good, earthy, raspberry nose with pepper, blueberry and saddle notes. Seemed tight or tired. Drink up, I fear.
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7/27/2017 - rogerr Likes this wine: 94 Points
This bottle is currently singing! Expressive and intense cassise on the nose. Beautifully integrated. The Cab Franc balances the juiciness of the Cab Sauv. Rich, silky, mouthfeel. Long pleasurable finish.
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5/22/2017 - guitarguy wrote: 90 Points
This showed good dark fruit, vanilla and oak on opening, but tightened up after a bit, dropping off to tannin and chocolate with a bit of boysenberry on exit. Nose is classic cabernet, dirt and crushed blackberry. Not a great bottle tonight.
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5/14/2017 - mblazis wrote: 93 Points
Drinking really well now. Too bad my last one :-(
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5/9/2017 - merlot78 Likes this wine: 92 Points
See my past tasting note.
This is what great wine is all about.
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4/2/2017 - carmichaelb wrote:
Ripe fruit with balanced tannins. Delicious even at this age and an ideal time to drink this wine.
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3/15/2017 - guitarguy wrote: 90 Points
Sweet tabacco, blackberry and menthol notes with a tannic kick that dries more than I like. I agree this is 1-2 year drink.
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3/14/2017 - guitarguy wrote: 88 Points
Nothing special, muted and?
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12/18/2016 - jzebrack Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine was really good.
Only issue would be the QPR for newer vintages of Viader.
The 2005 cost $49.
As soon as we drank it, I went to see about buying more Viader.
The latest vintages are 3 times that much. Oh well.
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12/18/2016 - mblazis wrote: 92 Points
Still drinking very well. Life left.
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9/14/2016 - merlot78 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Can't say enough about this wine. Check my previous review. This is my perfect wine.
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8/6/2016 - CWilliam wrote:
93+
PNP and enjoyed with grilled veal chops over 2 hours. Brick red color with some color change from center to rim. Also throwing a small amount of sediment. On nose, chocolate, cassis, sweet cherry, tobacco and a whiff of green pepper. On palate, similar flavor profile ex. green pepper. Medium+ body, nice acidity, sweet/well integrated tannins and long finish. This has aged well. Stored in a cool cellar since Fall 2010. Very much enjoyed this.
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7/28/2016 - D3S Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great nose, good blue fruit, hints of tobacco and long finish. Excellent wine and drinking well now.
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5/29/2016 - Whodeyinsea wrote: 91 Points
Guitarguy nailed it. Muted palate (much more faint than I would expect for an '05 Napa) cedar, cherry (maybe on your first glass, but goes rather quickly) tar.
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5/13/2016 - guitarguy wrote: 89 Points
Cherry, wood, tar and plenty of tannin. May not be going up but probably a few years at plateau in a cold cellar.
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4/16/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine: 89 Points
Light sediment in the bottle, garnet color with weak legs. The nose showed forest floor with hints of dried fruit (fig, plum and dark cherry). The wine has a slight green and leathery note mid-palate along with the dark dried fruit flavors above. The finish is soft/weak. Wine appears to have reached its peak. Drank a 2003 Château Les Grandes Murailles earlier, I would pick the Château Les Grandes Murailles over this wine - more complex with a better flavor profile.
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12/7/2015 - guitarguy wrote: 89 Points
I thought this was a bit muted, oaky, some blueberry fruit but really, this seemed older than 2005. Mark me down as concerned.
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4/9/2015 - pc2006mg wrote: 94 Points
Absolutely fantastic. This wine has held up extremely well after 10 years and was a true joy to drink. Had this for wife's birthday (her favorite wine).
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1/25/2015 - bobvictor Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very dark in color. A pleasant nose, with the cab franc coming to the surface above the cabernet sauvignon. This is not at all a fruit forward wine. The fruit lurks in the background and finishes deep in the rear of the mouth. The substantial contribution of the cab franc makes this a unique wine. It rounds out the taste of the wine and softens it, and the silky textures fits nicely with the taste and lingers through a very long finish. Drinking well now and will continue to evolve well for at least 5 years, and probably longer.
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12/10/2014 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 94 Points
Drank with friends alongside the Ramey Pedregal, both 2005s. Also terrific, less big, but also brilliant.
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7/19/2014 - wmccone54 wrote: 93 Points
It's been 2-1/2 years since I last enjoyed this wine. A blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 31% Cabernet Franc. After close to ten years, this still has lots going on and it's still big and concentrated! Displays a solid, dark crimson color and a full bodied texture. Perfumed aromas and flavors of mixed black and evolving red currant, very ripe black berries, dark cherries, ripe plums, dark chocolate, tobacco , black coffee, and some earth tones, all wrapped around a solid, and well integrated core. Great balance, drinking at, or close to peak, with a solid finish. Held its own against a grilled ribeye steak. One of the better Napa Meritages I have had...excellent!
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6/21/2014 - CWilliam wrote:
93-94 Range. Excellent with grilled steaks. This is at its peak but it should go for another 5+/- years IMHO. Tasting notes similar to prior notes. Green pepper was not noticeable and more mint / coffee grinds in addition to the blackberry, black currants, black cherry on the palate.
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5/27/2014 - TGLeroy wrote: 94 Points
Hitting on all cylinders, better the second day. In a great place right now.
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4/15/2014 - thalver wrote:
Double decanted and re-opened an hour later. The nose on this wine was quite striking from the get-go. Well balanced...fruit, emerging secondary flavors, acidity and tannin....really in a nice spot, displaying an certain elegance. It will be interesting to see what flavors develop with more time. 92-94
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3/28/2014 - meatbomb013 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I think that this bottle of wine is probably the same as the last one I had. My mood and surroundings were less than ideal and therefore, the perception of a few points lower. Have one more and will make sure the situation is more favorable to enjoy this wine.
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1/12/2014 - vatausae wrote: 92 Points
Still holding its own - decanted for an hour and we were greeted with dark fruits and a long finish. Day two - the front had softened somewhat but we were still pleasantly surprised by its overall heft. Glad that we have another bottle waiting for us next year.
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12/25/2013 - CWilliam wrote:
Decanted for 2 hours - this wine rocked and went great with steaks. Did not take notes - 93-94 range (93 if forced for a hard number). Preferred the '05 Pintia enjoyed the night before but this is one of my favorite California Cab blend producers - they are able to marry the complexity / minerality of Bordeaux with pure California fruit. Need to buy more recent vintages from these guys.
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12/22/2013 - rwstorer wrote: 95 Points
Similar note to previous. This gets better and better.
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9/7/2013 - mtaczak wrote: 92 Points
Drinking very well right now. Integrated and smooth, nose of menthol, black cherry, vanilla, similar on the palate but with a rich yet elegant feel, this was a delicious wine.
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7/20/2013 - ELH wrote: 93 Points
Mature, but still maturing, blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, with fruit and tannins in balance.
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5/27/2013 - WineScoundrel wrote: 93 Points
Agree with mrmedoes. Great with my ribeye but should be fantastic in a couple more years.
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3/31/2013 - Jgschmitt wrote: 93 Points
Bold flavors. Cherry and licorice. One of my favorites. Enjoyed it with a fine English cheddar.
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2/11/2013 - mrmedoes Likes this wine:
Wasn't sold on this as ready until I had it with a nice bloody steak. The tannins are balanced and the cab franc really jumps when paired with food. Certainly not the single greatest wine I've had but really is nice with a properly paired meal.
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1/13/2013 - mrmedoes wrote: 91 Points
Recent reviews led me to try another bottle, so I tried at pour, two, four and six hours of decanting. I think we're actually another year or two away from what I consider to be my peak of integration (where there's still some soft tannin action, but smooth).
Initially, the cab franc dominates with its "bite," which gives way to a balance that makes for a great drinking wine with pretty well integrated tannins, but just a little remaining bite on its moderately long finish. Certainly not enough to deter me from drinking, but just enough to lend itself to my aging decision. I do agree that the texture of this is developing into something outstanding - probably one of the more "velvet" textures I've had, other than some of the Anderson Conn Cabs from 2008.
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1/12/2013 - CWilliam wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours - the nose is initially pretty tight on this bottle - served with grilled NY strips. On nose, red currants, green pepper, black cherry. On palate, black cherry, red currants, cedar with medium body, nice acids & sweet tannins noticeable on the very long finish. Has improved from 2 years ago and drinking great. 93-94 range.
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1/8/2013 - avwiner Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank on New Years Eve and was blown away how this wine has come into its own. Fantastic from start to finish. Perfect balance and texture. A perfect compliment to my ribeye steak. Only wish had more of it.
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1/5/2013 - ssock wrote: 94 Points
Tremendous. Love the silky mouthfeel and lavender undertones.
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1/1/2013 - zcihak wrote: 95 Points
Double decanted with a 1 hour sit. The wine was perfect! If you are sitting on a stash of 2005s, it is time to try one.
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12/4/2012 - Tonythefish wrote: 93 Points
See prior rvw
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12/1/2012 - jjtarnow wrote: 91 Points
Very light palette but not empty. Low tannin with a hint of citrus and light plum..even mouth feel from start to end. I really love uncorking the vintage...always good.
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11/21/2012 - Tonythefish wrote: 93 Points
Great wine with a nice balance of fruit and tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon 69% and Cabernet Franc 31%. Blend, so how could it be bad. Smooth and substantial wine that is Good drinking right now.
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11/19/2012 - Foodievines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice bright garnet color with white pepper, dark fruit, leather, with a hint of smoke on the end. In the mouth this wine is quite dense with plenty of tannins, red licorice, spice, and violets.
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10/17/2012 - meatbomb013 wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for about an hour and a half which resulted in this wine really opening up. There was definitely an evolution over the time in the decanter. Dark fruit, earth, and cigar box on the nose. Palate is concentrated but not overdone. Dark black and blue fruits, cassis, tobacco, and loamy earth persist through a very long, elegant finish. Fine, well integrated tannins. In a GREAT place now and will be there for 5-8 years. ENJOY!
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9/1/2012 - Didman wrote: 93 Points
Lush and full. Still quite young tasting but softening nicely. Good drinking now with still more future potential.
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8/26/2012 - ELH wrote: 94 Points
Marvelous balance of fruit and tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon 69% and Cabernet Franc 31%. Smooth and substantial. Good drinking window. Decanted in the glass for an hour.
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8/19/2012 - thalver wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for some time prior to drinking: Very expressive nose with bright dark fruit, a hint of earth. Great, round mouthfeel and texture. Perhaps the palate did not quite live up to the promise of the nose, but that is a nit. The cab franc component added complexity, but this wine is well integrated and no way did it show green/herbal from the cab franc. Really in a good place, but should go longer.
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6/2/2012 - crsprout wrote: 92 Points
Great stuff, but I think this will benefit from more time. Still tight and bold tannins.
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4/7/2012 - mflesh wrote: 93 Points
Enjoyed at Bailey's Prime Plus in Fort Worth TX tonight with a 10oz rare steak, mushrooms, and jalapeno smoked gouda mashed potatoes. This wine is a monster. Vines are situated between St. Helena and Angwin / Howell Mountain in a tiny community called Deer Park. Wine is actually sub-Howell Mountain appellation but is just about as close as it comes and IMO deserves an "honorary" Howell Mountain designation. Uncorked with a BLACK stain on the cork - about 4mm of cork bleed. This is roughly a 2/3 Cab Sauv, 1/3 Cab Franc blend. A sample was sent to the glass with the remainder sent to a decanter for about 30 minutes (and was just starting to show by the time it was finished or else this would probably be a 94-95 point wine). The Cab Sauv and Franc both add their own particular characteristics to this wine but was very subdued on the nose and palate without decanting. Initial nose showed mountain fruit and lilac. On the tongue was acid, tobacco, smoke, leather all in front, and mountain fruit that was in the process of a crescendo with some vanilla in the middle and a high acid and heady yet oak finish. Yeah, this one needs to sit a while. After decanting, this wine showed very different. On the nose was very deep mountain fruit with some jasmine, lilac, lavender. The taste was nice up front with some good solid blackberry pie, currant, leather and a smoky characteristic building to the mid-palate when the earth started to kick in along with some very softened tannin. Cab Sauv kept earthy qualities from going overboard but that wonderful minerality was there and dancing in the mouth. The finish was a bit heady with some good firm, STRONG spicy characteristics, deep vanilla sweet mountain fruit that just stayed with you until the next sip. Of course those soft delicate but still very firm and present tannins kind of helped that one along. A dangerous wine for sure, I am not sure that it lasted 45 minutes from pop to complete consumption. NOT a pop and pour right now, needs probably another 5 years at least. If you enjoy this one now, please decant or else you'll miss quite a bit.
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3/17/2012 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
- Purple color with fast forming legs and aromas of blackberry, black currant and violet. It's in total harmony and has flavours of blackberry, black currant and licorice anise with a full body. Juicy texture with a long finish - @ Dutch w Geri and Roy Liemer. Decanted for 2 hrs, before traveling. Tight when opened. Will benefit from further aging.
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2/27/2012 - lopaka wrote: 91 Points
Big and dark yet it was so smooth with a 1 hour decant. Very plush with silky tannins and a velvet mouth feel this wine was almost too easy to drink.
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2/26/2012 - handlera wrote: 92 Points
wmccone52 has it exaclty right. I wish I had more than 1 bottle left.
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1/28/2012 - Foodievines Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice black fruit, tobacco, and vintage napa rustic aromas fill the nose. On the palette, this is a delish howell mountain cab/cab franc blend. Nice tannins and great length, this wine is pretty big but should settle down a little bit after an hour of decanting. Can't wait until dinner time!!! Prime Rib is on tap and I think it will pair nicely.
4 Hours later: Black fruit, light tobacco and luscious through the mouth. This wine has improved! Really nice, great finish. 93 updated.
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11/25/2011 - wmccone54 wrote: 92 Points
Dark, deep purple to black color, full bodied and rich. Black currant and blackberry liqueur nose. Ripe black fruit, dark plums, vanilla with chewy tannins. Very nice finish with notes of dark chocolate.
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6/21/2011 - laxman wrote: 90 Points
Just the right blend of Cab Sav and Cab Franc (31%). Subtle on the nose, but opens nicely on the front end showing Cab Sav that evolves with Cab Franc and some tartness and food friendly acidity showing on the back end, but nothing that turned me off. I found that it added to the flavor profile in a subtle way and made for an elegant finish. Stand alone or right with food, this is everything that Cali is about. Would not hesitate to serve this tonight for a special occasion.
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6/10/2011 - wmccone54 wrote: 93 Points
Since the bottle I last tasted in October 2010 not much has changed in my opinion of this wine....still really good but another 1-2 years of bottle age should soften and round the tannins a bit...very, very nice! This wine will last another 10 years in a good cellar
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5/2/2011 - thalver wrote:
Decanted for about an hour and a half, then poured. Initially, the wine was fairly in-your face, with dark fruit, a hint of herb, and strong tannin with a long somewhat oaky finish. In another hour and a half or so, the wine rounded out considerably, with the tannin coming into balance, hints of the cab franc poking out, but never dominating, and a lingering finish with the oak coming into balance. This wine can certainly go for a good bit, and should get better. If drinking now, give it plenty of time, as it continued to show better at the four hour mark 92-93
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4/20/2011 - jtw1969 wrote: 95 Points
Still quite young... Yet smooth and very approachable... Maybe still tight but I'm thinking that this gets better with time... Dark fruit great nose but somewhat short on the finish... Followed a 95 Phelps Backus which was smooth and mature (approaching max maturity)...
Enjoyed with Foie Gras- fillet tips and Griggs town chicken...
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4/11/2011 - meatbomb013 wrote: 94 Points
This definitely needs some air to open up. Very muted nose and palate for the first 2 hours or so. Now with massive dark fruits, cassis, and a hint of tobacco on the nose. Fine, well intergrated tannins with concentrated cassis, black and blue fruit and a hint of acidity. Finish is long and mouth coating. Have a few more of these and will try to space them out over the next 2-3 years.
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3/22/2011 - Aohlmann wrote: 90 Points
Jeff Ruby's after depo
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2/17/2011 - zcihak wrote: 93 Points
Very good grapes! Great nose of plum, blueberry, chocolate. Ruby red. Very complex mouth feel. Mocha, currant, cherry, black fruit flavors. Well balanced, elegant wine. Long finish. Still a bit tannic. I think another couple of years in the bottle will improve this wine.
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1/27/2011 - mtaczak wrote: 92 Points
this needs at least 3-4 hours of air time right now. came out initially very tart, almost sour, with none of the richness or creaminess that I experienced previously. the oak started showing up on the finish just before everything mellowed out, the last few sips of the first half of the bottle (second half saved for tomorrow) were just delicious, especially with a nice fragrant gouda. lots of forest fruit, a hint of oak, this is only going to get better over the next 3-5 years.
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1/9/2011 - J-Sho wrote:
drank at a party. wish i would have had a sip but sure it was good.
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12/2/2010 - ELH wrote: 93 Points
Interesting tension between the fruit and the tannins at this stage. Both are much in evidence, but neither overwhelms the other. Drinkable now, even enjoyably so, it shows intriguing balance in a youthful, exuberant manner, with great potential for a more complex, nuanced balance down the road. Hope I can resist popping another cork for a while.
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10/22/2010 - CWilliam wrote: 93 Points
Great wine - reddish / black color. Had with a grilled filet and decanted for 1.5 hours (more time is better with this wine) before dinner. Initially the nose was muted with herbal overtones - with airtime, blackberry (morphing to red fruits with time), tobacco, cigar box & green pepper. Palate was consistent except fruit (red & black) was more prominent. Full dodied, with excellent balance, and firm tannins on the long finish - this wine will sing in a few years. The wife loved it as did I - one of the best wines I have had in 2010. Interesting to see how this would perform with Bordeaux in a blind tasting - 91-93 range - showing 93 given where I see this wine in a few years.
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10/9/2010 - wmccone54 wrote: 92 Points
Nose of black currant and tobacco. Still a bit tannic on the palate but not over powering. Full bodied and dark purple color. Nice finish of dark bitter chocolate. Given some bottle age, this will be an unforgettable wine...excellent now.
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10/3/2010 - merlot78 wrote: 92 Points
What a great wine.A great nose. Lots of plum and berries. Great color.Taste was unique with tannins taking charge in a nice way. A nice long finish.
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9/5/2010 - Max Power wrote: 92 Points
This was a great bottle. Decanted for an hour and drink over the next two with steaks at Max's Chophouse. Started with bubbles and a white CdP before having this alongside an '03 Mount Veeder Reserve. Both bottles were really nice bottles and great parings with the steak. I liked the Viader a little bit more and I think this will get better with time. I have five more and will probably wait a year or two before opening the next one.
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7/27/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Earthy power.
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7/25/2010 - gcarl wrote: 91 Points
A little harsh upon pop & pour, with a some oak which needed to resolve. After 1-2 hours, it was very Bordeaux-like, smoother tannins, nice fruit on the nose and in the mouth. I will probably wait at least a year before drinking more of this. I suspect that it can evolve into a 92-94 point wine, given several more years.
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7/22/2010 - pmilne wrote: 93 Points
Wine does need time to open, but then assumes the qualities of a very nice Bordeaux. The Cab Franc can overpower early with its spiciness, but let that settle and the cranberry, raspberry, strawberry and red plum fruits blend nice with the hot spice. Solid finish.
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7/14/2010 - LOML2008 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Strong blend of cab and cab franc. Cab franc really rules here and howell mountain heritage is apparent. Strong, bold, luscious blend.
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7/8/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Ok, 3rd times the charm. So good.
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7/7/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Seems very structured tonight.
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7/6/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
This is the 750ml. More violety and chocolatey than the 375mls. Less evolved too -- more structured and dense.
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6/27/2010 - mpricher wrote: 93 Points
Brilliant! Deep purple black hole in a glass! No light escapes.Cab Franc Floral aspects are very prominent and welcome to the party with floral and ripe fruit. Pomagranet and lovely lillies. Lots of Cherry and Creme de Cassis on this show stopper. There was a great mouthfeel here, something like oak bathed in Creme Freche. Very pleasant to drink on its own right or paried with some fine grilled beef. This is definitely a wine to seek out and cherish. It offers alot of depth and vibrance in the same glass! Bravo!
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3/22/2010 - jaxpaj wrote: 93 Points
Exactly what I expected. Tight at first but opened up nicely after the first hour. I wouldn't pair this with any heavy foods, it may be overwhelmed. Gentle yet fulfilling, smooth with structure, overall a great bottle of wine.
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12/6/2009 - Alex H wrote: 86 Points
South American and American Wines; 12/6/2009-12/7/2009 (Wine Gallery): Hazeline snow cream! with a touch of soy sauce. Still a bit tight. Quite classically bordeaux but in a warmer vintage. Lovely balance, nicely integrated oak. Now this is at least almost worth its weight in price. This tastes like a really well made modernistic bordeaux. Bright but mellowing warmth of black and blue fruits. French oak. Quite classy.
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7/12/2009 - shakedown wrote: 94 Points
Excellent. Next time I will decant and let it open up. Great fruit, dry tannins perfectly integrated. The cab franc really makes this wine shine.
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5/16/2009 - davidandrose wrote: 94 Points
Pop and pour, with half in the decanter and half remaining in the bottle. While Rose liked the strength of the undecanted portion, showing younger with more of an alcohol presence, I thought that the decanted or vinturi'd portion showed fine-grained tanins that provided a nice muscular depth and complexity with the ability to age for years. The wine really developed during a 4 hour window into a gorgeous wine.
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12/31/2008 - rwstorer wrote: 95 Points
WOW! Blockbuster wine! Opened (not decanted) for two hours before first pour. Served with shrimp cocktail, gruyere cheese and crackers, baked bire and crusty french bread. Wonderful aroma of cranberries mixed with cigar box and other red fruits. Silky smooth in the mouth but still a firm structure that should last for years. 8 of us loved this wine.
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12/19/2008 - VinoTx wrote: 94 Points
I am amazed by how smooth and balanced this wine is. Truly one of the best I have had. This was one time I did not worry about how the wine tasted but just enjoyed how it made me feel- which was relaxed and very happy.
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10/10/2008 - ed-d wrote: 94 Points
Black color. Light soy & black fruit on the nose. Lush, chalky black fruit with a lovely sustained finish. Outstanding
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