Big and boozy; Salt, plums, leather and some residual tannins on the palate but losing its fruit. The finish is long and a bit hot after notes of dried fruit and leather dissipate. Still worth drinking but probably will not benefit from additional bottle age. Appropriate with burgers!
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Rockaway single vineyard Cabernet is such a well rounded wine ending with a 60 second finish. I like how this Sonoma Cab. Has just a touch of mountain fruit burst. Pure and evolved. I think it has just a dollop of Cab. Franc. Marvelous.
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Notes after following for 24 hrs open. Color is very dark, inky purple, almost opaque. Very slow, lightly stained legs and small amount of sediment. Profound aromas of blackberry, oak, and rubbing alcohol. Very heavy palate with enough heat to melt the icecaps (is this Australian?). Clunky and muscle bound, though the tannins have matured enough to not be offensive. It has a good flavor factor, but the alcohol balance is over my tolerable limit. 5+10+15+6=86
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agree with RBC1978 notes. I don't think this wine is singing as well as it did 2 years ago. Still needs time to open up but that brings you dried fruit and earth and mineral in nice proportions.
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Dark inky purple color, odor of cherry, currant, cocoa and slight vanilla. Opened 1 hour before dinner and still was a little tight with slight tannins to start. Within another 30 minutes it softened up with blackberry and currant flavors and then hints of chocolate and even a note of fennel and finish with light vanilla notes. This wine is at its peak and was a great value for the price.
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Dark, black fruit with a dry under core of earth, stems and char. Warm with alcohol this has good structure and a long roasted oaky finish. Actually works very well in a dark chocolate, dark roast black coffee kind of way. Decanted for 2 hours.
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Did not decant. A little tight upon opening. Strong Cab nose. Wine softened over a period of an hour. Left one glass out for 24 hours. Tannins all gone, very soft and still full of fruit. Definately would have benefited with decanting for a couple hours prior to consumption.
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Huge!! Decanter for 3 hour and it was still opening up. Very intense and extracted, currant, graphite, earth, plum and red cherry flavors coat your palate followed by velvety and firm tannins. Wonderful wine but need time.
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Too young to rate IMO. Huge Cab! Lots of stuff going on here, so much that it's a bit disjointed now. Even decanting didn't have much impact. This cab is made for the long haul. All the components of a superior cab are there, they just have to integrate better over the next few years. Very much like that unpopular girl in high school that you thought had some potential and ten years later is a supermodel, well that defines this wine. Judging on the initial tasting this wine is currently at 90-91 points, but has huge upside. Cellar some if you can get it.
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The color is very deep dark garnet almost all the way to the edge, where it finally gives way to about an 1/8" of bright ruby.
The nose is rich and jammy, filled with dark fruit. It is mostly blackcurrant and plum, with some blackberries and eucalyptus at the back end of a big sniff. After an hour of so open a fleeting glimpse of espresso played hide-and-seek amid the fruit.
This was just as dark on the palate, very jammy and sweet. Blackcurrants and mulberry, along with some meaty smokiness opened the attack. Cedar and vanilla made their first appearance on the mid-palate, which quickly evolved to vanilla and brown sugar on toast. The sugar is cloying, the finish long but too sweet, all brown sugar and maple syrup.
Five hours it changed some. Tannins started to appear as the jammy fruit settled down a bit. There was more blackberry, less mulberry and blackcurrant, with a strong smooth leathery tannin backbone. There was a quick vegetal hint in the mid-palate. The finish, though, is still dominated by vanilla, brown sugar and maple.
Night Two
The nose seems to have settled down quite a lot. There is still plenty of fruit but it is balanced by some earth. There is also some licorice and a bit of mixed eucalyptus and menthol.
The wine settled down a great deal on the palate, too. There are still plenty of big flavors, blackberries and plums, but Night Two brings more nuance and more layers. The attack has blackberries and plums, plus licorice and a little spice. The mid-palate is greatly expanded, bringing unsweetened chocolate, cherries, and toasted almond skins. Tannins are smooth and fine, but pronounced. There is plenty of backbone to this, enough to give a few years, at the least, in the cellar.
This is a great big modern wine, very ripe and fru
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Loved this wine! Big, tannic cab that easily outshined all 15 wines at a recent tasting I attended. Great finish, earthy tones. I cannot say enough about this.
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Opened to a dark garnet color and aromas of plums, currant, and some pepper. Had a touch of greenness to it, and smoke. All of these were echoed in the flavors. Peppery finish, and surprisingly approachable for such a young wine. Very glycerin in texture. As it opened up, the spiciness increased, and lots of cassis came forward along with some licorice aromas. On the second day, loads of blackberry and cassis, pure and a tad jammy, but still lots of spice in the finish. This wine has an extraordinary texture, and a deep, redolent smokiness. On third day, the wine was knit together beautifully in complete balance with tannins, fruit, spice, and licorice aromas and flavors. Based on this I think it will age very well, and continue to improve and develop, hence a bump up in score.
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Not released yet. Tasted morning after opening. Inky purple. Dark fruits and heavy mocha notes. Big and rich. Disjointed, with the oak not yet integrated with the fruit. Bitter on finish. NOt very pleasant. 87+?
Tried again at night. Softened up considerably, and much better integrated. Still built in that bruising style, unlike what I get from most of their cabs. But much better, and while it's likely to be a overpriced, this was a nice bottle of wine. 89-91
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2/4/2021 - MadeiraLev wrote: 89 Points
Big and boozy; Salt, plums, leather and some residual tannins on the palate but losing its fruit. The finish is long and a bit hot after notes of dried fruit and leather dissipate. Still worth drinking but probably will not benefit from additional bottle age. Appropriate with burgers!
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10/9/2016 - MurphyCellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully now. Perfectly balanced with deep fruit and soft tannins.
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8/17/2015 - tc from santee Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rockaway single vineyard Cabernet is such a well rounded wine ending with a 60 second finish. I like how this Sonoma Cab. Has just a touch of mountain fruit burst. Pure and evolved. I think it has just a dollop of Cab. Franc. Marvelous.
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4/7/2014 - fingers Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Notes after following for 24 hrs open. Color is very dark, inky purple, almost opaque. Very slow, lightly stained legs and small amount of sediment. Profound aromas of blackberry, oak, and rubbing alcohol. Very heavy palate with enough heat to melt the icecaps (is this Australian?). Clunky and muscle bound, though the tannins have matured enough to not be offensive. It has a good flavor factor, but the alcohol balance is over my tolerable limit. 5+10+15+6=86
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12/28/2013 - rogerr Likes this wine: 92 Points
agree with RBC1978 notes. I don't think this wine is singing as well as it did 2 years ago. Still needs time to open up but that brings you dried fruit and earth and mineral in nice proportions.
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8/11/2012 - rbc1978 wrote: 91 Points
Dark inky purple color, odor of cherry, currant, cocoa and slight vanilla. Opened 1 hour before dinner and still was a little tight with slight tannins to start. Within another 30 minutes it softened up with blackberry and currant flavors and then hints of chocolate and even a note of fennel and finish with light vanilla notes. This wine is at its peak and was a great value for the price.
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3/18/2012 - RandyC wrote: 93 Points
Very huge wine with lots of inviting fruit and good structure. A real winner that would have benefited from decanting.
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12/21/2011 - rogerr wrote: 95 Points
Gets better and better. Good freshness and integration. Fruit, tannin, mineral all working in harmony.
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12/17/2011 - krmcgrath wrote: 92 Points
Dark, black fruit with a dry under core of earth, stems and char. Warm with alcohol this has good structure and a long roasted oaky finish. Actually works very well in a dark chocolate, dark roast black coffee kind of way. Decanted for 2 hours.
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8/27/2011 - Mywife69 wrote: 90 Points
Did not decant. A little tight upon opening. Strong Cab nose. Wine softened over a period of an hour. Left one glass out for 24 hours. Tannins all gone, very soft and still full of fruit. Definately would have benefited with decanting for a couple hours prior to consumption.
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7/10/2011 - rogerr wrote: 93 Points
did not have the opportunity to decant. this is nicely integrated now. tannins are soft. really delicious.
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3/27/2010 - Vino Me wrote: 90 Points
Retailer tasting. Notes of crushed grape skins and caraway seeds. Medium to full bodied. Firm tannins. 90 points.
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3/10/2010 - Aovalle wrote: 93 Points
Huge!! Decanter for 3 hour and it was still opening up. Very intense and extracted, currant, graphite, earth, plum and red cherry flavors coat your palate followed by velvety and firm tannins. Wonderful wine but need time.
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3/6/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:
huge red from rodney strong - chile peppers, solid balance...big nice california cab.
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1/22/2010 - BPidgeon wrote: 94 Points
Blackberry, earth, tannins. Quite good.
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11/18/2009 - rogerr wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Big and Delish.
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8/28/2009 - Wine Gent Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tour - Napa / Sonoma 2009; 8/25/2009-8/29/2009 (Napa / Sonoma, CA): 92% Cab, 4% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. $75 / bottle. Tasted at Rodney Strong winery on Napa / Sonoma trip. $5 for 4 tastings.
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2/21/2009 - fwgolfpro wrote:
Too young to rate IMO. Huge Cab! Lots of stuff going on here, so much that it's a bit disjointed now. Even decanting didn't have much impact. This cab is made for the long haul. All the components of a superior cab are there, they just have to integrate better over the next few years. Very much like that unpopular girl in high school that you thought had some potential and ten years later is a supermodel, well that defines this wine. Judging on the initial tasting this wine is currently at 90-91 points, but has huge upside. Cellar some if you can get it.
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11/29/2008 - dhonig wrote: 89 Points
Night One
The color is very deep dark garnet almost all the way to the edge, where it finally gives way to about an 1/8" of bright ruby.
The nose is rich and jammy, filled with dark fruit. It is mostly blackcurrant and plum, with some blackberries and eucalyptus at the back end of a big sniff. After an hour of so open a fleeting glimpse of espresso played hide-and-seek amid the fruit.
This was just as dark on the palate, very jammy and sweet. Blackcurrants and mulberry, along with some meaty smokiness opened the attack. Cedar and vanilla made their first appearance on the mid-palate, which quickly evolved to vanilla and brown sugar on toast. The sugar is cloying, the finish long but too sweet, all brown sugar and maple syrup.
Five hours it changed some. Tannins started to appear as the jammy fruit settled down a bit. There was more blackberry, less mulberry and blackcurrant, with a strong smooth leathery tannin backbone. There was a quick vegetal hint in the mid-palate. The finish, though, is still dominated by vanilla, brown sugar and maple.
Night Two
The nose seems to have settled down quite a lot. There is still plenty of fruit but it is balanced by some earth. There is also some licorice and a bit of mixed eucalyptus and menthol.
The wine settled down a great deal on the palate, too. There are still plenty of big flavors, blackberries and plums, but Night Two brings more nuance and more layers. The attack has blackberries and plums, plus licorice and a little spice. The mid-palate is greatly expanded, bringing unsweetened chocolate, cherries, and toasted almond skins. Tannins are smooth and fine, but pronounced. There is plenty of backbone to this, enough to give a few years, at the least, in the cellar.
This is a great big modern wine, very ripe and fru
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11/9/2008 - bigdomer wrote: 92 Points
Loved this wine! Big, tannic cab that easily outshined all 15 wines at a recent tasting I attended. Great finish, earthy tones. I cannot say enough about this.
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8/12/2008 - drdebs wrote: 92 Points
Opened to a dark garnet color and aromas of plums, currant, and some pepper. Had a touch of greenness to it, and smoke. All of these were echoed in the flavors. Peppery finish, and surprisingly approachable for such a young wine. Very glycerin in texture. As it opened up, the spiciness increased, and lots of cassis came forward along with some licorice aromas. On the second day, loads of blackberry and cassis, pure and a tad jammy, but still lots of spice in the finish. This wine has an extraordinary texture, and a deep, redolent smokiness. On third day, the wine was knit together beautifully in complete balance with tannins, fruit, spice, and licorice aromas and flavors. Based on this I think it will age very well, and continue to improve and develop, hence a bump up in score.
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8/9/2007 - hutch wrote: 89 Points
Not released yet. Tasted morning after opening. Inky purple. Dark fruits and heavy mocha notes. Big and rich. Disjointed, with the oak not yet integrated with the fruit. Bitter on finish. NOt very pleasant. 87+?
Tried again at night. Softened up considerably, and much better integrated. Still built in that bruising style, unlike what I get from most of their cabs. But much better, and while it's likely to be a overpriced, this was a nice bottle of wine. 89-91
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