Opened and decanted for an hour. Nose was quite full with spice and oak. Interesting color dark but a bit on the the golden side. Rich taste with notes of citrus and spice. Processes strong oak influence. Definitely opened at exactly the right time
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I read some of the other tasting notes and I disagree. I drink a lot of Sterling Reserve wines, and I think the 01 blows the 02 away. I was a big fan of the 00 Reserve C/S, but I think the 01 is drinking better at this point in time. The 01 still had some backbone and structure with some solid fruit. I have one or two more bottles of this wine and I will drink in the near future.
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Just not very good. This, flat and boring. Lot's of wines are bad because they are over-manipulated - too much oak, too much ripeness. This wine is poor because there just isn't much there. Even at the price I paid (less than half price through a "friends and family" sale at Diageo), not a good wine at the price.
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Decanted due to lots of sediment. Paired with a spectacular medium rare prime rib from our local butcher. The wine was very pleasant, but have to say that it just didn't have that wow factor I was hoping for. Dark fruit aromas and flavors along with nicely resolved tannins. But nothing sang. Have had this wine in other vintages and it was a standout. The 2001 was just "nice". Would not purchase this vintage again.
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For the price this wine was wonderful with full body, lots of fruit and deep oak nose. The 2001 has aged very well and I think we finished it in perfect time
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Medium color, off nose but good taste. I'm not really a huge Sterling fan but the reserve is worth a try. I found it a little off from a typical Cabernet in that it was more of a earthy and Bordeaux style. The nose was subdued with vegetable and ceder. The palate hit the ceder strong. The balance was a little off in that the heat and flavors were somewhat of a departure from each other. This was a little boring for a reserve. Palate was ceder, blackberry, chocolate and green pepper. Given all that, the taste was unique and is worth a try because it may be your style.
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Medium garnet color with no sign of age. The nose has a sweet red candy feel with some cassis and blackberry. The palate has good red fruits and structure. The acid level seems a bit high, and the tannins are somewhat irregular. There is some tar, cocao and leather. This is a nice but boring wine made in the 'Jordan' style: something for everyone. A bit boring and one dimensional. The finish shows some heat. Like my friend Ben says: A Steakhouse wine. I remember when these were much better, but I was much.....younger.
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opened this on Father's Day with some grilled, hand-cut steaks. Terrific. could have easily finised the bottle without any food, but it really complemented the food. Beautiful color and wonderfully room filling aroma - classic Cab berry aroma. nose was full of plum, blackberry, raspberry, cherry and other lush fruits. Also had some oak and tobacco. Taste was full, silky, not overly oaky or tannic. finish was fairly long. Very enjoyable, wish I had more!
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This one good, but not as good as I remembered from our tasting at Sterling. We had been to a couple of tasting eariler in the day, so I think my palate was simply off. - BE
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dark purple, herbs on the nose, expressive palate of eucalyptus and cassis, juicy plums. some cedar on the otherwise short and light finish. good, not worth the $ in my book.
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Poured at a retailer tasting. Notes of leather and currants, following through on the palate. Tannins are sweet and approachable, finishes well. 89+ points. $54.99.
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12/26/2019 - tplskylrk wrote:
Musty upon opening. Faded w a decant, came around for a while, deep rich coco puff flavors, earth, then seemed to fall off.
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7/28/2018 - Yankee Clipper wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 4 hours before drinking at Hollywood Bowl, smooth with decent nose. Was past its prime as some flavors were subdued but still enjoyed by all.
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7/19/2014 - redwineguy wrote: 88 Points
Nice concentrated fruits and good balance. Nothing wrong with it but nothing special either. Probably won't improve much.
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5/12/2013 - Dlgreenstein wrote: 92 Points
Opened and decanted for an hour. Nose was quite full with spice and oak. Interesting color dark but a bit on the the golden side. Rich taste with notes of citrus and spice. Processes strong oak influence. Definitely opened at exactly the right time
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2/26/2011 - VinoServant wrote: 90 Points
I read some of the other tasting notes and I disagree. I drink a lot of Sterling Reserve wines, and I think the 01 blows the 02 away. I was a big fan of the 00 Reserve C/S, but I think the 01 is drinking better at this point in time. The 01 still had some backbone and structure with some solid fruit. I have one or two more bottles of this wine and I will drink in the near future.
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2/24/2011 - herberto wrote: 84 Points
ditto my last comment
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2/17/2011 - herberto wrote: 84 Points
Perfectly pleasant, not the least bit interesting.
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2/2/2011 - herberto wrote: 84 Points
Just not very good. This, flat and boring. Lot's of wines are bad because they are over-manipulated - too much oak, too much ripeness. This wine is poor because there just isn't much there. Even at the price I paid (less than half price through a "friends and family" sale at Diageo), not a good wine at the price.
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12/24/2010 - MagnumGourmet Likes this wine:
Decanted due to lots of sediment. Paired with a spectacular medium rare prime rib from our local butcher. The wine was very pleasant, but have to say that it just didn't have that wow factor I was hoping for. Dark fruit aromas and flavors along with nicely resolved tannins. But nothing sang. Have had this wine in other vintages and it was a standout. The 2001 was just "nice". Would not purchase this vintage again.
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2/27/2010 - wineguy58 wrote: 90 Points
Sweet cassis with red currents. Medium bodied with fresh mushrooms interwoven into the oak. Fruit will probably start to fade in a year so drink soon.
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7/26/2009 - East of Napa wrote: 94 Points
For the price this wine was wonderful with full body, lots of fruit and deep oak nose. The 2001 has aged very well and I think we finished it in perfect time
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7/15/2009 - Kevdog wrote: 89 Points
enjoyed this bottle with steaks, typical medium+ end napa cabernet. Well rounded with chocolate and fruit.
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7/6/2009 - Javier wrote: 87 Points
Great bottle of wine. Smooth finish with berries and chocolate
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4/25/2009 - b2emarkets wrote: 90 Points
Deliciious, dry ... more Alexander Valley style than Napa - balanced without significant fruit
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11/24/2008 - bjohnson350 wrote: 87 Points
Medium color, off nose but good taste. I'm not really a huge Sterling fan but the reserve is worth a try. I found it a little off from a typical Cabernet in that it was more of a earthy and Bordeaux style. The nose was subdued with vegetable and ceder. The palate hit the ceder strong. The balance was a little off in that the heat and flavors were somewhat of a departure from each other. This was a little boring for a reserve. Palate was ceder, blackberry, chocolate and green pepper. Given all that, the taste was unique and is worth a try because it may be your style.
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11/23/2008 - herberto wrote: 88 Points
Perfectly simple tasty cab. Nothing special.
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10/25/2008 - East of Napa wrote: 85 Points
rough and stale
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9/3/2008 - herberto wrote: 89 Points
Pretty tasty but no terrior and not much varietal character. Very corporate.
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8/19/2008 - King Cab wrote: 88 Points
Medium garnet color with no sign of age. The nose has a sweet red candy feel with some cassis and blackberry. The palate has good red fruits and structure. The acid level seems a bit high, and the tannins are somewhat irregular. There is some tar, cocao and leather. This is a nice but boring wine made in the 'Jordan' style: something for everyone. A bit boring and one dimensional. The finish shows some heat.
Like my friend Ben says: A Steakhouse wine. I remember when these were much better, but I was much.....younger.
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6/20/2008 - NickP wrote: 92 Points
opened this on Father's Day with some grilled, hand-cut steaks. Terrific. could have easily finised the bottle without any food, but it really complemented the food. Beautiful color and wonderfully room filling aroma - classic Cab berry aroma. nose was full of plum, blackberry, raspberry, cherry and other lush fruits. Also had some oak and tobacco. Taste was full, silky, not overly oaky or tannic. finish was fairly long. Very enjoyable, wish I had more!
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6/14/2008 - tewks wrote: 90 Points
quite nice. good balance and flavor. went well with strip steak.
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4/10/2008 - herberto wrote: 88 Points
Tastes fake and simple but perfectly enjoyable.
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10/13/2007 - belmore wrote: 90 Points
This one good, but not as good as I remembered from our tasting at Sterling. We had been to a couple of tasting eariler in the day, so I think my palate was simply off. - BE
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6/18/2007 - brooklynguy wrote: 86 Points
some cassis, some dark fruit, but just not exciting or interesting.
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1/21/2007 - brooklynguy wrote: 87 Points
dark purple, herbs on the nose, expressive palate of eucalyptus and cassis, juicy plums. some cedar on the otherwise short and light finish. good, not worth the $ in my book.
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11/11/2006 - spinewine wrote:
Needs to mature to the 98 level
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9/29/2006 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
Poured at a retailer tasting. Notes of leather and currants, following through on the palate. Tannins are sweet and approachable, finishes well. 89+ points. $54.99.
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1/24/2006 - FISHERPLACE wrote:
To be honest, this was dissapointing.
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11/8/2004 - Vino Me wrote: 89 Points
This was better than the Diamond Ranch. Notes of dark red fruit and chocolate. Medium to full bodied. 89 points.
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