PNP. Cork soft but intact. Color is dark and barely showing age. On nose this is badly corked. I think that explains the aforementioned bottle variation. Interestingly, despite the cork taint there is still fruit, which to me, adds to the general confusion. I am envious that there are non corked bottles because I imagine that they are dynamite. For those based on the fruit level and color I think this still has time ahead.
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We were given a bottle from a wine lover who has a case of this wine. The original owner purchased in 1988. I think when you read the reviews it's all about provenanace. Look at last six reviews: 3 are throw away 3 are 91 or 92. This wine: we know the former owner who has had it cellared for the wines entire life in the same place. Cedar is first smell, maybe a hint of basement as others have said. Color is near perfect, no brown on edge, looks like a young wine in a decanter. Smell deeply and you can pull out red fruit still deep under the basement. On the palate it is pleasant and different; nice finish. The proof is in the second pour. You have a choice to drink anything else in your basement of 800 bottles or have a second glass. I'm on my third pour. I like it especially with cheese and extra credit of 1 point for effort over time. Now an hour later the more I drink it the more the fruit shows and the more I like it.
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ABV: 12.9%. Faint nose of black cherry and five-spice upon opening that became more prominent after 10-15 minutes. Ample amounts of fruit on the palate (think plums and raspberries) with well-integrated acidity, super soft tannins, and a pleasant finish. The fruit began to fade after about 45 minutes so this wine won't age much longer. Note: No food pairing so perhaps that can enhance its qualities?
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The bottle was in good condition, but the cork broke. The wine was dark garnet in colour and offered black currant, cherry and plenty of bell pepper as well as herbal spice on the nose. On the sour and fruit-bitter palate, the wine showed cherry, weak black currant, bell pepper, spices and herbal spice, with slightly pronounced acidity, fully resolved tannin and good length. On day two, the wine remained fruit-bitter, but was more cedary and leathery and tired. This bottle was still drinkable, but had passed its prime probably five to ten years ago. A few year past it’s best. Drink up. NR.
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From a double magnum, third of four nights, Cabernet Sauvignon at its best, floral nose of black cherry, black berry, briar, and dusty earth, same on the palate, big body, delicious, elegant, time to drink up but showing the best nose and palate tonight of all four nights, mouth filling and tasty fruit, long, long, flavorful finish.
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Nose of black cherry, boysenberry, sage, and dusty earth, same on the palate, found a double magnum in the cellar from an auction I bought for $70 two years ago, consumed over four nights at $17.50 a night and worth it, big body, showing its age and secondary taste characteristics, delicious, mouth filling fruit, time to drink up, this was a great Cabernet Sauvignon year so I bought a lot of !985 vintage wines and enjoyed them all, easy to sip and savor, long, long finish.
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I took a little time for this wine to open up. The next day the wine was better, but not great. By the third day, the wine had finally opened up and was strutting it's stuff. Notes of cranberry, cherry, old wood, and earth. Tannins were dry, tea-like. I was surprised that this wine held on it's own for three days considering the age. From a magnum.
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Wine & Dine : Some Cali Cabs (@ Nicolas): Perfectly mature wine. I have little experience with Cali Cabs, but if I did not know what it was I would not have guessed it was California. The structure profile is not Bordeaux though, and it has some green notes to it that reminds me of some old Chinon. It has a serious and strict aspect to it. The low alcohol makes it very digest and easy to drink. Very good with beef cheeks.
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Ruby and garnet in color. Nose of cherries and earth. Taste of rasberries, bell peppers, cedar and slight earthiness. Tasted from Magnum and held up relatively well. Sturdy tannins, but faint fruit.
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Crumbly cork, low neck fill, part of an estate pick up of declining wines, so there was limited expectation.
Fruit was very faded with weak tannins and a mature funk dominating. It did get a bit better after an hour, but this was probably the first bottle of wine in a long time that I did not finish.
(If I was at home, I probably would have)
Friends who are used to fruit bombs with little experience with mature wines did not like it, I felt it was well past prime.
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Shoulder fill, crumbling cork. Ruby color with no browning at the edge, subtle red fruit nose. Most fruit was gone but there was a bit of red raspberry and sweet cherry along with cedar and barnyard. Tannins were minor and the balance was elegant and easy to drink, though clearly past its prime. This rating is where I imagined this bottle would have been if I'd drunk it years ago, when I should have.
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This is the last of a case of this wine.. It has help up well, but is not robust. Past time to drink compared to the other bottles.... vanilla with a little berry on the nose.. very quick to finish
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Cork crumbled on opening. This smelled a lot better than it tasted. Aromas of leather, shoe polish, and faint bell pepper. On the pallet it was very sour and tart. Fun to taste but not to drink. Would love to have tried this 6 or 7 years ago.
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Wine had a red brick color. I had no (or low) expectations based upon previous posts. Initially this wine had a heavy alcohol scent, but settled down after a few minutes in the glass. Cherry, plum and creamy vanilla flavors. Finish tasted of sour cherry & raisin and was medium length (perhaps 20 seconds). A much better balanced wine than expected. (Not a fruit forward wine that would likely be produced today.) A lighter cab that paired well with a prime New York grilled steak.
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Very little left...average at best. Probably the worst of the usually strong '85s. If you have any pop it with pizza and convince yourself you only spent $4.99 on it...
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8/3/2023 - chcook wrote: flawed
PNP. Cork soft but intact. Color is dark and barely showing age. On nose this is badly corked. I think that explains the aforementioned bottle variation. Interestingly, despite the cork taint there is still fruit, which to me, adds to the general confusion. I am envious that there are non corked bottles because I imagine that they are dynamite. For those based on the fruit level and color I think this still has time ahead.
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5/8/2021 - joedv8s wrote: 90 Points
We were given a bottle from a wine lover who has a case of this wine.
The original owner purchased in 1988. I think when you read the reviews it's all about provenanace. Look at last six reviews: 3 are throw away 3 are 91 or 92.
This wine: we know the former owner who has had it cellared for the wines entire life in the same place. Cedar is first smell, maybe a hint of basement as others have said. Color is near perfect, no brown on edge, looks like a young wine in a decanter. Smell deeply and you can pull out red fruit still deep under the basement. On the palate it is pleasant and different; nice finish. The proof is in the second pour. You have a choice to drink anything else in your basement of 800 bottles or have a second glass. I'm on my third pour. I like it especially with cheese and extra credit of 1 point for effort over time. Now an hour later the more I drink it the more the fruit shows and the more I like it.
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4/17/2021 - Nfranco22 wrote: flawed
Both of my bottles were corked. Wine smelled like a musty basement. Poured down sink.
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12/31/2020 - ChairmanKao Likes this wine: 92 Points
ABV: 12.9%. Faint nose of black cherry and five-spice upon opening that became more prominent after 10-15 minutes. Ample amounts of fruit on the palate (think plums and raspberries) with well-integrated acidity, super soft tannins, and a pleasant finish. The fruit began to fade after about 45 minutes so this wine won't age much longer. Note: No food pairing so perhaps that can enhance its qualities?
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3/8/2019 - PSPatrick wrote:
The bottle was in good condition, but the cork broke. The wine was dark garnet in colour and offered black currant, cherry and plenty of bell pepper as well as herbal spice on the nose. On the sour and fruit-bitter palate, the wine showed cherry, weak black currant, bell pepper, spices and herbal spice, with slightly pronounced acidity, fully resolved tannin and good length. On day two, the wine remained fruit-bitter, but was more cedary and leathery and tired. This bottle was still drinkable, but had passed its prime probably five to ten years ago. A few year past it’s best. Drink up. NR.
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2/9/2019 - wynlvr wrote: 92 Points
Drinking really well. I don't think it will get any better, but where is is today is just right!
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5/7/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
From a double magnum, third of four nights, Cabernet Sauvignon at its best, floral nose of black cherry, black berry, briar, and dusty earth, same on the palate, big body, delicious, elegant, time to drink up but showing the best nose and palate tonight of all four nights, mouth filling and tasty fruit, long, long, flavorful finish.
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5/5/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose of black cherry, boysenberry, sage, and dusty earth, same on the palate, found a double magnum in the cellar from an auction I bought for $70 two years ago, consumed over four nights at $17.50 a night and worth it, big body, showing its age and secondary taste characteristics, delicious, mouth filling fruit, time to drink up, this was a great Cabernet Sauvignon year so I bought a lot of !985 vintage wines and enjoyed them all, easy to sip and savor, long, long finish.
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11/26/2015 - HandmadeHomemade Likes this wine: 89 Points
I took a little time for this wine to open up. The next day the wine was better, but not great. By the third day, the wine had finally opened up and was strutting it's stuff. Notes of cranberry, cherry, old wood, and earth. Tannins were dry, tea-like. I was surprised that this wine held on it's own for three days considering the age. From a magnum.
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9/4/2015 - toontune wrote: 85 Points
Short finish, past its prime.
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6/13/2015 - toontune wrote: 91 Points
Tight and even a bit tart at first but opened up nicely and became a lovely bottle.
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1/15/2014 - Pierre-Yves wrote: 92 Points
Wine & Dine : Some Cali Cabs (@ Nicolas): Perfectly mature wine. I have little experience with Cali Cabs, but if I did not know what it was I would not have guessed it was California. The structure profile is not Bordeaux though, and it has some green notes to it that reminds me of some old Chinon. It has a serious and strict aspect to it. The low alcohol makes it very digest and easy to drink. Very good with beef cheeks.
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12/13/2013 - efeldhake@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 89 Points
Ruby and garnet in color. Nose of cherries and earth. Taste of rasberries, bell peppers, cedar and slight earthiness. Tasted from Magnum and held up relatively well. Sturdy tannins, but faint fruit.
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11/2/2013 - Heywood_ja wrote: 86 Points
Crumbly cork, low neck fill, part of an estate pick up of declining wines, so there was limited expectation.
Fruit was very faded with weak tannins and a mature funk dominating. It did get a bit better after an hour, but this was probably the first bottle of wine in a long time that I did not finish.
(If I was at home, I probably would have)
Friends who are used to fruit bombs with little experience with mature wines did not like it, I felt it was well past prime.
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5/6/2012 - vine20 wrote: 90 Points
Shoulder fill, crumbling cork. Ruby color with no browning at the edge, subtle red fruit nose. Most fruit was gone but there was a bit of red raspberry and sweet cherry along with cedar and barnyard. Tannins were minor and the balance was elegant and easy to drink, though clearly past its prime. This rating is where I imagined this bottle would have been if I'd drunk it years ago, when I should have.
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5/20/2011 - Aspenhawk wrote: 86 Points
This is the last of a case of this wine.. It has help up well, but is not robust. Past time to drink compared to the other bottles.... vanilla with a little berry on the nose.. very quick to finish
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1/9/2011 - Rb8888888 wrote: 88 Points
Time to drink.
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12/27/2009 - Outplaying wrote:
Cork crumbled on opening. This smelled a lot better than it tasted. Aromas of leather, shoe polish, and faint bell pepper. On the pallet it was very sour and tart. Fun to taste but not to drink. Would love to have tried this 6 or 7 years ago.
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5/15/2008 - luckyinla wrote: 87 Points
Wine had a red brick color. I had no (or low) expectations based upon previous posts. Initially this wine had a heavy alcohol scent, but settled down after a few minutes in the glass. Cherry, plum and creamy vanilla flavors. Finish tasted of sour cherry & raisin and was medium length (perhaps 20 seconds). A much better balanced wine than expected. (Not a fruit forward wine that would likely be produced today.) A lighter cab that paired well with a prime New York grilled steak.
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10/29/2007 - Jetsailor wrote: 78 Points
Very little left...average at best. Probably the worst of the usually strong '85s. If you have any pop it with pizza and convince yourself you only spent $4.99 on it...
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5/31/2006 - BradE wrote:
About as plain and unattractive as wine gets without being spoiled.
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2/4/2006 - zazim wrote:
This a really bad wine, but at least it is consistent. 74
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11/25/2005 - MikeW wrote:
Sour and turning to vinegar. What a shame as this used to ba a favorite of mine. Unfortunately this case got lost due to poor cellar management.
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3/5/2005 - wyatt777 wrote:
lost stong fruit flavor
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