I mirror the last note's concerns. WE Found this in our cellar and was reticent about what we'd find when it was uncorked. It was splendid. Dark fruit and cassis permeates the palate. Pleasantly surprised. No doubt this was better a few years back but still drinkable and fun. Cheers.
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I was worried as it was pretty old for a California Cabernet but the cork came out beautifully and the wine was rich smooth and delicious. An absolute treat
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Retail $75. Most years this is around 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Merlot. Wow. Scores for this on Cellar Tracker are all over the map, ranging from the 70s to the high 90s. I guess you could call it polarizing. Personally, I find it enchanting. Dark in the glass and on the nose with dark (slightly stewed) red and black fruit, a bit of mint, and cedar. The palate is tart, fruity, balanced, and frankly, delicious. I am not sure I can explain the detractors. thedrunkencyclist.com
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Mature bouquet with red and dark berries like ripe blackberries, chocolate, rose hips and some slight impressions of soy. On the palate chocolate, sweet licorice, some earth, good acidity and round tannin. Definitely at its peak or a bit past it. Still a delicious wine, but drink up.
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Last bottle and best bottle. Utterly classic in its profile - sort of a harmony between St. Julien and Margaux - blackcurrant, cedar, hints of spice, beautiful fine tannins, balance of acidity. There is just that extra lift to the fruit from the California sun and the minerality has a different feel to it. I would still be stumped in a blind tasting though. Lush, creamy, but structured and poised. Just marvelous.
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Cork broke while opening. But not compromised. Very deep deep wine, flavors still strong. Lovely flavor, tannins are gone. Smooth at the end. Would go well with a steak or other red meat.
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Old world nose and with a massive French influence. Hits the palate like a Bandol and has a Bordeaux finish. Smokey with lots of earthiness, tar, and subtle tobacco. Absolutely loved it, even though it wasn't what I was expecting from a Stags Leap Napa Cab.
Our bottle was off. Very sour, green and stemmy for the first two hours but eventually pulled itself together about 4 hours later and showed some signs of life. The wine was soft and supple but drank much older than it actually was. Other bottles in this vintage have been great.
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Drinking well - moderate rim variation, slight signs of bricking on the color are apparent. Nose of black currant and blackberry with cedar notes, touch of wet earth. Palate is all terroir - cedar, worn leather. Touch of black pepper, green pepper, just a bit of "Bordeaux funk" to say that it's nearing the end of its window. However, the fairly youthful appearance suggests that it could go another 2-3 years (tops IMO) if you REALLY wanted to. No need to wait if you ask me ;)
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Still drinking well - moderate rim variation, though slight signs of bricking on the color are apparent. Nose of black currant and blackberry with cedar notes and a touch of wet earth. Palate is all terroir - cedar, worn leather. Touch of black pepper, green pepper, and just a bit of "Bordeaux funk" to say that it's nearing the end of its window. However, the fairly youthful appearance suggests that it could go another 2-3 years (tops IMO) if you REALLY wanted to. No need to wait if you ask me ;)
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Blood red. Leather, cedar, tobacco nose. Still a monster. After decanting, took an hour to open. Well integrated acids, but this could age for a number of more years. Chocolate and tobacco, plums and leather. Dusty and complex with a long finish.
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Er fint moden, men tror det fremdeles er litt oppside her. Aroma av cassis, litt pepper, cola, mahogny, mm. Glatt munnfølelse som strammer seg veldig fint fra midten av kurven og ut pga. balanserende syre/tannin. God lengde. Kjøper gjerne mer av dette.
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Light cedar and raspberry nose, with darker fruit and some minerality but relatively flat tasting overall. Modest tannins and some pepper on the finish.
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Despite this being my third bottle opened since 2013, this bottle was actually the most robust and fruit forward. While the fruit was pure and elegant, I would have blind tasted this bottle as a fruit forward vintage of Pauillac or as a more restrainted New World Bordeaux blend. Deep concentrated blackcurrant and blackberry, with facets of cedar, eucalyptus, black pepper, leather, fresh meat, and damp earth. The intensity of the fruit dominates the palate, but the secondary characteristics came through on the back palate and really lingered on the finish. The acidity was very robust and the tannins approachable but pleasant. A nice blend of youth and maturity and a very different bottle from my last two.
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This is a very good bottle of wine. Sweet ripe tannins and typical cap cedar and cigar tobacco nose. Some oak, and when the glass opens ( I did decant for 1,5 hrs ) it shows notes of black barries, light pepper, slight rubber and cola. I don't think the bottle is dead but drik it from now.
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Dark ruby/purple color. Nice nose of raspberry and currant with a bit of cassis. Faint menthol and cedar and a bit of earthiness. Same on the front taste. Tannins were soft Finish was medium. The wine improved as it sat a bit.
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This wine is usually good. This bottle the fruit was off. Not corked but off as in bitter and thin. Tannins were pretty much gone. Did not expect this from a 2005. I will try another one to see if I "missed it".
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Blood red. Nose of clean mountain air, plums, earth and raspberries. First notes of wet earth, plums, currants, and wet stone. As the wine opened, cedar and mint emerged.
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This was good. I drank it believing that it was time to drink up, but I think it needs 2-3 years to soften up a bit. The fruit is still on the young side and could ripen up a bit. If you do drink this, it needs at least a 1 hr decant..
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Drinking nicely right now. Cigar box, cedar and plump ripe dark fruit flavors dominate. Pairs very nicely with steak. This Stag's Leap has aged nicely and I believe it can age longer, but why wait? It's not going to get any better.
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I had my first bottle of this a year ago and it was beautiful. This bottle was a bit more closed. Decanted for an hour rather than three. Served at a blind tasting, everyone blind tasted it for claret, many suggesting a St. Julien. That says it all. Very elegant for a New World Cabernet, but easy to enjoy earlier than claret. Nose of blackcurrant, blackberry graphite, gravel, cigar box, hints of menthol. Palate is wonderfully silky, fruit a bit more restrained than the bottle from last year, but tannins also more grippy. Acidity still wonderful. Clearly there is some bottle variation, but I think these have many years left in them.
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I am a little upset that I used previous reviews for guidance, as I had planned to hold this a few more years... but out of fear that the little left was fleeting we opened our last bottle tonight. This wine is drinking beautifully. Its at a perfect balance - big dark fruit without being jammy and I think there is still room to age. After 30 minutes of decant the wine is a pure joy. Very straightforward napa cab from a vineyard that continues to produce excellent fruit.
The wine was inky with a slight orange hue around the glass. The nose burst with black currant and fruit. A lot of alcohol and tannin on the initial tasting, which surprised me given the age. I decanted for an hour and, as described by previous reviews, the wine indeed had transformed quickly. It was now a very mellow, smooth wine. The nose very subtle and faint with black fruits. The flavors, likewise, almost seemed muted. Very drinkable with a short finish, but I agree with previous reviews that this wine has 'lost' something.
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Deep crimson red; nose bursts from the glass with aromas of iodine, gun flint and lead pencil shavings. Hints of violets, leather, and cedar support the bouquet as the black and red fruits have largely faded. Smooth tannins and focused on the palate; flavors of roast game and herbs. Balanced with an acidic backbone that leaves a refreshing 30 second finish. Wonderful mature wine with elegant old word styling.
Wife would have scored higher. Flat, no tannin or grip, could not support ribeye at all. Drank ok after dinneras a sit around and drink wine, as Cabernet flavor showed through on occasion.
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I agree with some of the more recent positive reviews, but it changes pretty quickly. A nose of dense cassis but overlaid by something more savoury; peppery on the back of the nose. Initially soft but still powerful on the palate - blackcurrants and blackberries, but with some edgy leatheriness and fresh mintiness. Only an hour or so later it becomes far more mellow - fruit driven but with a nice savoury note as well.
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Stags Leap Cabernet - a great reputation, but leaves a lot t o be desired. This is an easy drinking, smooth wine, surprisingly fruit forward, and I was surprised by how quickly the wine opened and mellowed - less than an hour. Still, there is a surprisingly lack of complex flavors, and aside from blackberry and plum, there is little to distinguish the wine. And perhaps this is what disappoints, in a way.
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I am a bit bemused by all of the tasting notes that say this is past it's prime. In haste, I rushed to find my bottle and had it with lamb. Absolutely delicious after 3 hours in the decanter. This is not New World in style, but rather the spitting image of claret. There is racy acidity and steely minerality that recalls Graves. On the palate, however, it reminded me most of the 96 Leoville Barton or a 99 Cullen from the Margaret River (though much cheaper than either of those). Very fresh, not jammy, blackcurrant nose, with side notes of blackberry, tobacco, leather, eucalyptus, flint, gravel, and graphite. The palate is silky, steely blackcurrant fruit, lots of minerality, hints of herbacious (but not vegetal) flavours, and wonderful spice from the French oak. This was medium bodied, great acidity, and pleasant soft tannins. The tannins have softened a bit early for my palate, so from that perspective it probably is worth drinking in the next few years, but, depending on storage, I see no reason why this couldn't be enjoyed up to 2015. In the end, we enjoy different styles, and for those with a more austere palate, this will reward for a great price. It is very much a classic 'iron first in the velvet glove' wine.
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Leather, tobacco, and earthiness on the palate. No acidity, no astringency, mellow tannins and round edges consistent with age. I enjoyed this wine as an old world style, not a Napa fruit bomb. It is a little past it's time, as it put up absolutely no fight going down, but that makes the other characteristics more prominent. Definitely drink now, or last year.
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After having read many of the previous reviews, I realized this wine was past it's prime. With lowered expectations, I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. I decanted for four hours, and the result was very mellow and leathery, but quite drinkable. Earthen aroma with relatively short finish.
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The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Fast. It smells like Ethanol, Walnut, and Medicinal. It tastes like Clove, and Cranberry. The body is Full. The wine has Coarse texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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Decanted 30 minutes. Garnet - very opaque on the rim. Nose of wet leather. Light weight, some red fruit and after about an hour some dust. Past prime - this was much better with food. Drink.
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Lots of vanilla in the nose and the initial tasting. Well-rounded, the fruit and oak diminished. Very drinkable, well-balanced wine. This was the last bottle for us, and that's probably a good thing as this wine apears to be reaching its last legs.
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Plum and blackberry notes on the nose, filling the bowl with fruit. On the palate a good structured wine smooth drinking with a nice long finish and rounded tannins. Plum and black licorice throughout.
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Lacking complexity (nose has a bit more going on) and one dimensional, a bit hot even though ABV is under 14%. I have had other years of this and it has been much better at this age, overpriced as always too.
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Deep garnet with a complex black berry nose. Decanted 2 bottles in a magnum decanter for 2 hours. Lovely ripe black cherries, blackberries, black currant, some tobacco, flint, earth. Excellent balance, moderate tannins with a bit of drying and dusty sensation providing underlying structure and which increased over the 6 hours we worked on these bottles. Long finish.
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C: Very dark, inky nearly black, magenta at the edge when tilting; N: touch of dark fruit with a lot of licorice; P: a bit sharp at first. After a couple hours and along with ribeye, the fruit showed along with tobacco and a bit of leather. Great coating feeling, not tannic but still sturdy. Felt like the right age. F: (again with the steak), the fruit fades and leaves dry feeling tobacco and just a hint of licorice. Not a very long finish. Enjoyable Cab but not "elite". I overpaid for this, but would be happy at $40-45
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Not sure why I opened this.....wasn't planning to but oh well! Not good first impressions....very barnyard nose and seemed to be as other tasters have said old before its time. Settled down a bit after a few hours and was quite decent but shant seek out anymore.
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C: nearly black N: dark fruit mixed with earthy aroma and oak P: fruit has started to fade leaving the secondary flavours to carry the show. Earth and oak primarily. There is a hole on at the ending where the fruit completely disappears. F: medium short and neutral weight.
while the note may not reflect it, nice wine in general just making the turn towards senior citizenship. Nice companion for the filet.
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Thanksgiving Dinner (Our House): Very dark red/purple color. Nose is very nice with earth, forest floor, mineral, cassis. The palate falls a bit short, and I agree with comments that the fruit is fading, cassis, licorice, spice, mineral, bold spicy cedar on the finish. Probably best not to sit on these.
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Good and bad news. The bad news is this is just past it's peak. The fruit has softened and begun to fade. This is drinking like a wine 2x-3x it's age. The good news is that if you like aged wine, this is still very enjoyable...but not for much longer.
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Previous entry on fruit, or uncharacteristicly lack there of is some what disappointing for this vintage. Some structure, probably only decant for an hour.
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Disappointing. Not much body or fruit and a disproportionate amount of acid made this a little hard to drink on its own. Not sure if it's over the hill but definitely lacks pleasure for some reason.
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I got a great deal on a couple cases of the Artemis. It has good fruit and balanced tannins. The finish is a little quick. I think it is a great value for the price.
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Was I drinking the same wine as everyone else? Definitely not your typical Cali cab. Started out with more bright or red fruit, but over the next 2-3 hrs it completely changed direction. Dark fruit, barnyard funk, leather and a little cigar box and silky smooth tannins. Had with filet and truffle mash potatoes and went perfectly. Wish I had a few more bottles!
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This wine is very light. Too expensive for what you get with this vintage. Drink it now, because it probably won't get any better. The taste was off as well, making this a wine you have to drink just because of the price.
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Busted out this 1.5 liter with some friends in town with a rotisserie chicken I did on the grill. Nothing spectacular but I love this producer and already have an appreciation for just about everything they do. Drink your larger formats of this variety now.
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Somewhat of a restrained nose. The wine is not quite thin but is certainly austere. Predominantly black fruit with a little green tea. Underperformer for the price.
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Drank with Roast Lamb on Easter Sunday. This is the best "Claret" I have had for a very long time and better than many Bordeaux's I've sampled recently. Decanted for 1 hour but I'd recommend longer as it really started to open up after about 2 hours.
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Color: Semi-translucent garnet. Smell: Red fruit olio, black licorice, pepper. Taste: Tart cherry, black licorice, slight pepper, good acidity, moderate tannins, fairly dry, lacking fruit, somewhat bitter initially, improving later. Overall: It seems one dimensional and lacking complexity. The sour cherry flavor tends to overwhelm the rest of the tastes. It did begin to open up and let the fruit come through after a couple hours after opening. IMO over priced at $40, more appropriate at $20.
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Kind of underwhelming at first but I then realized that this wine had more of an old school profile, something I don't get very often. Nice for a change and was good stuff but probably should have decanted.
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Dinner with Susi & Michelle (Jersey City Loft, NJ, with Jen & I) (Jersey City, NJ): At dinner with Susi & Michelle (Jersey City Loft, NJ): Red fruit, cherry, cassis, herbs and a touch of dust on the finish. The bottle was opened in advance but no decant or vinturi. A good match to the filet mignon: on the rare side of medium-rare -- but sans the moo. Although not as good a match to the expresso, oregano, garlic & hot pepper rub, which could have had less hot pepper. This is apparently their house California Cabernet.
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Very tasty wine but expected a little more for this price point. I opened this wine and let it sit for an hour before I served it. Hint of cherries & black berries. Soft tannins, easy on the palate.
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Not too bad of a Cab, but expected a bit more. Good flavor, with some heat lingering around if you drink too early. Structure is a bit jagged, slightly tannic finish.
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Quite tasty and earthy. Thinner than anticipated but well balanced and drinking well right now. Anxious to see what a few more years does for this one.
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Opened and let sit in the wine cellar for three hours, tried it and it was tannic, austere. Decanted the bottle and left it for an hour. Tannins were resolving and mouthfeel was soft, it continued to improve in the glass, red fruit aromas, dusty at the back. Went well with grilled filet mignon.
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unimpressed at this price point, decent wine for everyday; but obviously not an everyday wine at $50; no velvet glove, not much complexity; overall ddisaapointed
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Deep color. Nice nose full of dark berries and floral notes. Intriguing. Doesn't quite live up to its billing on the palate, but still a wine with some special qualities. Currant, raspberry and smoke.
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Deep garnet in color with a subtle deep red fruity nose. Lively fruit up front -- black cherries, blackberries -- with a bit of leather and a moderate dose of dust and tannin on the back palate. Great structure.
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Expressive bouquet with red and black fruits. There is soft and ripe tannin, but overall the wine lacks elegance and complexity to belong to the great wines. I wonder if this wine will ever be great. Drink now - 3 years from now.
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Deep garnet color with a nose of deep red mixed fruit and some noticeable barnyard. Dark red cherry, blackberries, much better integrated tannins and a nice balance with earth and barnyard on the palate.
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Not much to say about this wine as it didn't have a lot to say either, other than oak. The oak accounted for much of the personality of the Artemis which was not a surprise but what took me back was the dilute palate. How can a wine be 14% alcohol and thin on the palate? Summation: oaky and thin.
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Earthy, somewhat old world styled. Light-medium bodied, even for Stag's Leap. Black currant, plum, underbrush, roasted coffee, cedar, touch of vanilla. Palate is restrained with a savoury black truffle and soy sauce tinged black fruit. dusty mocha finish that just seems to quit a little too soon. Pretty and pleasant but lacks structure and complexity.
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Agree with havleh's review on 10/3/09. This will be a great wine, but it's still a bit green and needs a bit more time. Nose is good; medium finish, but a bit astringent. I have two more of these and will check back in on this one in about a year or so. In the meantime, you could do much worse... ;-)
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Feel guilty not breaking into the 90's on this one, but must agree that still needs time. Good structure, but either decant or hold off for another year or two to realize the best this wine has to offer.
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Opened it up on day 1 and didn't really have a chance to have any, it was fairly tight 30 minutes after opening, black and red fruits with some chocolate mixed in. Day 2 this wine is shining, amazing change from day 1. Incredible on the back end with smoke and tobacco. On the front end I get red fruits with outstanding chocolate and black fruits on the nose. This wine is good, definitely a day 2 wine.
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Deep red in color. Aroma of floral and violet. Medium bodied with flavors of cherry, leather, red currant and cedar. All-in-all a fairly enjoyable bottle. Would probably buy it again.
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From a half bottle at Sleek in St. Louis. Not a blockbuster, but refined and elegant. Still a bit reticent, but opened up nicely as the evening went along. Was a fine compliment to filet with black truffle sauce. Very, very nice indeed.
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Decanted 2 hours. Nice nose of raspberries and leather. Very much resembling a Bordeaux. Sweet cassis and cherry fruit with some earthy elements of leather and tobacco. Nice wine, albeit somewhat thin and lacking the richness I've come to like in Napa cabs.
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Sweet red berry fruit and dirt (in a good way) on the nose, medium color is healthy red, not purple. On the palate, nice red currants, some tobacco and a hint of gravel. Has some Bordeaux-like elements but the ripe fruit is a giveaway that it's California. Has that something extra of gorgeousness and complexity to make it something special for me, but doesn't quite blow me away. 92, possible I'd upgrade this if I had more than a taste.
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Monthly Tasting Group LTB 2009-04; Bordeaux blends. (By me): A lot of primary cherry fruit. Very juicy, very full bodied. Some oak, soft tannin and sweetness Even though double decanted 6 hours prior to drinking it was a little one dimensional. Hope with ageing it will show more of its complexity.
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Tight. Nice if a bit restrained Napa cab nose with dark fruits. Good midpalate with some bell pepper notes on the finish. Too young to be drinking really.
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Had with pizza, maybe needs a little more time, definately a decant.Dark fruit on the nose, some tannins and dark fruit as well as leather , tea and cigarbox. Not overly oaked, nice finish. Will get better with time and air.
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clear hue to a dark inky purple color. slightly bretty (typical of a Stags Leap). blew off with some air. decanted for an hour. Nose is nothing inspiring. some black currant and creme de cassis. On the palate, very silky, and notes of mushroom, and cigar box. medium long finish. not enough nose, delicious palate. good with steak.
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Ordered off the menu at Palmer's (Andover, MA) on new year's eve. Sweet red cherries and cassis with earth and dried herbs (the nose gave hints of Bordeaux). Lacking in acid but with a nice level of tannins, this was young and tight and probably could have benefited from more air.
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I know this is still a baby but it still exhibited a lot of grace. Gorgeous color in the glass, nose was a little old school Napa with the addition of eucalyptus tone intermixed with vibrant fruit. On the palate, bright cherry and raspberry with a coating of coco dust which added to the dusty tannins on the finish. This bottle had more going on, but went to quickly. To bad I only opened a 375ml as I could have easily downed a 750ml.
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beautiful nose which makes me think its a gorgeous burgundy. Sweet nose of creme de cassis and sweet oak. mouth - cassis, very well balanced. good acidity. Some interesting secondary flavors.
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90-91. Great balance. Nose of green with some red bell peppers. Flavors of red fruits and earth on a Medium body. Classic style that I enjoy...very enjoyable with food. Drink over the next 3-5 years...AMM
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had two glass fulls at investment seminar sponsored by citigroup/smith barney in red bank. i found this wine to be a treat. very full in the mouth with significant viscosity. multi-layered both texturally and in the flavor profile. made in a classic french cabernet style with lots of chocolate as an extra bonus. at this point, this wine would need several hours of aeration to show its full pseronality. i believe that this wine will develop greater complexity as it ages over the next three to five years.
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A very nice Californian with thick, thick fruit that coats the tongue. The bouquet is beautiful and intriguingly complex. Unfortunately, the wine on the tongue was slightly off balanced; the complexity that was hoped for just was not quite there, and the heat just was not quite counterbalanced. The finish was a tad short.
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This wine did not impress me much for a Napa Cab. I tasted immediately out of the bottle, then about 30 minutes later and then, finally about 3 hours of decanting. I cannot say that the decanting showed tremendous improvements over the earlier tastings. But, it did get slightly better and did smooth out some of the slightly rough edges found in the earlier tasting. I have to admit that there is no real negative tastes in the wine. But, at the same time there is nothing there that says "wow, I can't wait for the next glass." I'm likely not going to pull out my other two bottles of this wine for at least a year or two. I'll look for subsequent reviews / recommendations on when this wine improves over time - and hopefully it will.
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It is a nice soft drinking classic tasting Cab that isn't over the top and that has nice aromas of cedar and eucalyptus. At around $45-$50 it's overpriced. It would be a better deal at around $30-$35
I can see why the restaurants love this wine, it's a very good food wine and would have wide appeal. Gets deeper in flavor over a couple of hours. 90+pts.
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This is the kind of Napa Cab I like. Oh ya. I thought it might be WAY TOO YOUNG to bother with, but was wrong. I had a glass late in the bottle, after being open a couple of hours. It was soft, spacious with faded leather and unsweet cherry aromas. The palate was somewhat tannic, but worked with and without food. Would like to try again.
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Beautiful, classic color in the glass -- light red on the rim and deep ruby in the middle. The main body color is thick but not impenetrable. The nose is a bit restrained and complex. It was drunk upon opening and maybe should have been decanted or left to air for an hour or two. Lots of different fruit on the tongue -- cherry, raspberry -- as well as a good amount of leather, chocolate, licorice and some bitter tannins. It is not an overwhelming fruit bomb; shows signs of being a more complex and balanced wine. This wine has a lot going on and probably needs a couple of more years to mellow and resolve. It's going to be very nice.
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Clearly still young, but showed well at a tasting. Shows the textbook Stag's Leap garnet and ruby color with herb, cassis, and current. Primary and earthy with some bitter notes, but balanced and refined with smooth tannins. Geared toward lovers of the classic Bordeaux style Napa cabs, and has little to offer fans of the enormous fruit bombs that dominate wine shops today. Medium bodied and elegant. Hold for 3-5.
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Decanted for an hour. Nice fruity nose, same comments as the others except tannins were a little strong and this could be even more enjoyable in a couple years.
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A big cedary nose, feeling nicely balanced and integrated. This is very nicely put together and an impressive wine. Very definitely a Napa Cabernet, but avoiding the excesses of the poorer examples.
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Excellent Cab. Did not decant (probably should have). Deep & hearty. Some raspberry, licorice, tobacco. Nice long finish. Compares well to some other great napa cabs
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The Artemis was served at a retirement dinner last night (pretty nice for a large party). Still young, medium to full bodied and moderately tannic. I enjoyed it very much.
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Wine seemed a bit closed at first. Let it breathe for about an hour and no change was noticeable. Wine was thin and lacking any sort of depth or structure. Very surprised. Is it too young? Soft notes of red berries, oak and vanilla. Some leather in the palate. Somewhat short finish. Just not too impressed at this time. Will revisit in a year or two.
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nose: sweaty, funky upfront... and then some cherry. palate: the acidity was a little too bright for the dense cab I was expecting. The sour cherry midpalate finishes with blackberry seeds and leaves me a little...dissapointed. Not quite nonplussed, but ... Very average.
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1/17/2024 - Dr. Jags Likes this wine: 89 Points
I mirror the last note's concerns. WE Found this in our cellar and was reticent about what we'd find when it was uncorked. It was splendid. Dark fruit and cassis permeates the palate. Pleasantly surprised. No doubt this was better a few years back but still drinkable and fun. Cheers.
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8/6/2023 - Phil P Likes this wine: 94 Points
I was worried as it was pretty old for a California Cabernet but the cork came out beautifully and the wine was rich smooth and delicious. An absolute treat
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6/7/2021 - LaMora98 wrote:
Splendido! Lovely rich & full bodied. Gifted from Deana & Joe on 12/31/2009.
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7/5/2020 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 91 Points
Retail $75. Most years this is around 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Merlot. Wow. Scores for this on Cellar Tracker are all over the map, ranging from the 70s to the high 90s. I guess you could call it polarizing. Personally, I find it enchanting. Dark in the glass and on the nose with dark (slightly stewed) red and black fruit, a bit of mint, and cedar. The palate is tart, fruity, balanced, and frankly, delicious. I am not sure I can explain the detractors. thedrunkencyclist.com
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2/1/2019 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Mature bouquet with red and dark berries like ripe blackberries, chocolate, rose hips and some slight impressions of soy. On the palate chocolate, sweet licorice, some earth, good acidity and round tannin. Definitely at its peak or a bit past it. Still a delicious wine, but drink up.
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1/30/2019 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 93 Points
Last bottle and best bottle. Utterly classic in its profile - sort of a harmony between St. Julien and Margaux - blackcurrant, cedar, hints of spice, beautiful fine tannins, balance of acidity. There is just that extra lift to the fruit from the California sun and the minerality has a different feel to it. I would still be stumped in a blind tasting though. Lush, creamy, but structured and poised. Just marvelous.
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6/9/2018 - Nekodab wrote: 97 Points
Perfect in almost every way
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12/17/2017 - bsclemson wrote: 91 Points
Fruit, dark cherry aroma. Tobacco, pepper, dark cherry, earthy. Soft tannins.
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12/3/2017 - Bryan Castanos wrote: 91 Points
Peppery on the nose and in the mouth. Decent finish. Not particularly enjoyable but decent structure with time left to age.
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8/10/2017 - Eliasvanc wrote: 95 Points
Cork broke while opening. But not compromised. Very deep deep wine, flavors still strong. Lovely flavor, tannins are gone. Smooth at the end. Would go well with a steak or other red meat.
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11/11/2016 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Old world nose and with a massive French influence. Hits the palate like a Bandol and has a Bordeaux finish. Smokey with lots of earthiness, tar, and subtle tobacco. Absolutely loved it, even though it wasn't what I was expecting from a Stags Leap Napa Cab.
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7/24/2016 - tekygeek wrote: flawed
Our bottle was off. Very sour, green and stemmy for the first two hours but eventually pulled itself together about 4 hours later and showed some signs of life. The wine was soft and supple but drank much older than it actually was. Other bottles in this vintage have been great.
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6/10/2016 - Garay Likes this wine: 87 Points
Tabaco, couro, muito corpo. Sensacional
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6/3/2016 - chezbeach wrote: 88 Points
Strong tobacco and leather character. Opened well, still showing some fruit. Drink now.
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1/25/2016 - Bozekt wrote: 90 Points
Drinking well - moderate rim variation, slight signs of bricking on the color are apparent. Nose of black currant and blackberry with cedar notes, touch of wet earth. Palate is all terroir - cedar, worn leather. Touch of black pepper, green pepper, just a bit of "Bordeaux funk" to say that it's nearing the end of its window. However, the fairly youthful appearance suggests that it could go another 2-3 years (tops IMO) if you REALLY wanted to. No need to wait if you ask me ;)
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1/25/2016 - Bozekt wrote: 90 Points
Still drinking well - moderate rim variation, though slight signs of bricking on the color are apparent. Nose of black currant and blackberry with cedar notes and a touch of wet earth. Palate is all terroir - cedar, worn leather. Touch of black pepper, green pepper, and just a bit of "Bordeaux funk" to say that it's nearing the end of its window. However, the fairly youthful appearance suggests that it could go another 2-3 years (tops IMO) if you REALLY wanted to. No need to wait if you ask me ;)
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11/28/2015 - PDavisMarble wrote: 93 Points
Blood red. Leather, cedar, tobacco nose. Still a monster. After decanting, took an hour to open. Well integrated acids, but this could age for a number of more years. Chocolate and tobacco, plums and leather. Dusty and complex with a long finish.
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7/28/2015 - Bernt Olav wrote: 92 Points
Er fint moden, men tror det fremdeles er litt oppside her. Aroma av cassis, litt pepper, cola, mahogny, mm. Glatt munnfølelse som strammer seg veldig fint fra midten av kurven og ut pga. balanserende syre/tannin. God lengde. Kjøper gjerne mer av dette.
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5/19/2015 - ChickenNoodle Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light cedar and raspberry nose, with darker fruit and some minerality but relatively flat tasting overall. Modest tannins and some pepper on the finish.
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4/8/2015 - jon_goodman1 wrote: 90 Points
good fruit and well balanced. To bad i dont have any others but this is a good time to drink it
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1/17/2015 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 91 Points
Despite this being my third bottle opened since 2013, this bottle was actually the most robust and fruit forward. While the fruit was pure and elegant, I would have blind tasted this bottle as a fruit forward vintage of Pauillac or as a more restrainted New World Bordeaux blend. Deep concentrated blackcurrant and blackberry, with facets of cedar, eucalyptus, black pepper, leather, fresh meat, and damp earth. The intensity of the fruit dominates the palate, but the secondary characteristics came through on the back palate and really lingered on the finish. The acidity was very robust and the tannins approachable but pleasant. A nice blend of youth and maturity and a very different bottle from my last two.
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12/7/2014 - rharley44 wrote: 92 Points
Cassis, caramel and pepper aromas, long finish opens with black cherry and pepper, ending with floral and mineral flavors. Soft for a cab.
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11/17/2014 - oversand wrote: 92 Points
This is a very good bottle of wine. Sweet ripe tannins and typical cap cedar and cigar tobacco nose. Some oak, and when the glass opens ( I did decant for 1,5 hrs ) it shows notes of black barries, light pepper, slight rubber and cola. I don't think the bottle is dead but drik it from now.
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10/5/2014 - Alcontd Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark ruby/purple color. Nice nose of raspberry and currant with a bit of cassis. Faint menthol and cedar and a bit of earthiness. Same on the front taste. Tannins were soft Finish was medium. The wine improved as it sat a bit.
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9/24/2014 - awineo wrote: 85 Points
This wine is usually good. This bottle the fruit was off. Not corked but off as in bitter and thin. Tannins were pretty much gone. Did not expect this from a 2005. I will try another one to see if I "missed it".
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7/26/2014 - PDavisMarble wrote: 90 Points
Blood red. Nose of clean mountain air, plums, earth and raspberries. First notes of wet earth, plums, currants, and wet stone. As the wine opened, cedar and mint emerged.
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6/7/2014 - prez wrote: 91 Points
Really liked bottle. Opened up well. Definitely as good as it will get for it's drinking window.
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4/29/2014 - PourSomeRed wrote: 88 Points
This was good. I drank it believing that it was time to drink up, but I think it needs 2-3 years to soften up a bit. The fruit is still on the young side and could ripen up a bit. If you do drink this, it needs at least a 1 hr decant..
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4/23/2014 - Mennotas wrote: 90 Points
Everything I expected from this wine. Tannins are fading. Time to drink up.
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2/13/2014 - agebob Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking nicely right now. Cigar box, cedar and plump ripe dark fruit flavors dominate. Pairs very nicely with steak. This Stag's Leap has aged nicely and I believe it can age longer, but why wait? It's not going to get any better.
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2/9/2014 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 90 Points
I had my first bottle of this a year ago and it was beautiful. This bottle was a bit more closed. Decanted for an hour rather than three. Served at a blind tasting, everyone blind tasted it for claret, many suggesting a St. Julien. That says it all. Very elegant for a New World Cabernet, but easy to enjoy earlier than claret. Nose of blackcurrant, blackberry graphite, gravel, cigar box, hints of menthol. Palate is wonderfully silky, fruit a bit more restrained than the bottle from last year, but tannins also more grippy. Acidity still wonderful. Clearly there is some bottle variation, but I think these have many years left in them.
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2/7/2014 - skinnydave Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is better than ever!
I am a little upset that I used previous reviews for guidance, as I had planned to hold this a few more years... but out of fear that the little left was fleeting we opened our last bottle tonight. This wine is drinking beautifully. Its at a perfect balance - big dark fruit without being jammy and I think there is still room to age. After 30 minutes of decant the wine is a pure joy. Very straightforward napa cab from a vineyard that continues to produce excellent fruit.
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12/25/2013 - CabSauv543 Likes this wine: 88 Points
The wine was inky with a slight orange hue around the glass. The nose burst with black currant and fruit. A lot of alcohol and tannin on the initial tasting, which surprised me given the age. I decanted for an hour and, as described by previous reviews, the wine indeed had transformed quickly. It was now a very mellow, smooth wine. The nose very subtle and faint with black fruits. The flavors, likewise, almost seemed muted. Very drinkable with a short finish, but I agree with previous reviews that this wine has 'lost' something.
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11/30/2013 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 89 Points
Had half with dinner tonight and enjoyed it. Elegant and restrained with faded cherry and cola. What will day 2 bring?
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11/23/2013 - bpgodfrey@comcast.net wrote: 90 Points
Aged well, very complex, delicious
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11/7/2013 - DrX wrote:
Nice fruit at it's end. Color very bricked, drink before long.
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8/27/2013 - awineo wrote: 89 Points
I am still a little disappointed with this vintage. For an 2005 it just doesn't step up to what I expected. It is just too subdued for my tastes.
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8/20/2013 - matthyson wrote: 91 Points
Deep crimson red; nose bursts from the glass with aromas of iodine, gun flint and lead pencil shavings. Hints of violets, leather, and cedar support the bouquet as the black and red fruits have largely faded. Smooth tannins and focused on the palate; flavors of roast game and herbs. Balanced with an acidic backbone that leaves a refreshing 30 second finish. Wonderful mature wine with elegant old word styling.
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8/3/2013 - jfkwines wrote: 84 Points
Wife would have scored higher. Flat, no tannin or grip, could not support ribeye at all. Drank ok after dinneras a sit around and drink wine, as Cabernet flavor showed through on occasion.
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5/26/2013 - moxielady wrote: 89 Points
Dark fruit, tannins have mellowed, short but decent finish. A lot of sediment, seems it should be drunk soon if you have some.
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3/31/2013 - Keith Clark Likes this wine: 89 Points
I agree with some of the more recent positive reviews, but it changes pretty quickly. A nose of dense cassis but overlaid by something more savoury; peppery on the back of the nose. Initially soft but still powerful on the palate - blackcurrants and blackberries, but with some edgy leatheriness and fresh mintiness. Only an hour or so later it becomes far more mellow - fruit driven but with a nice savoury note as well.
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3/18/2013 - ericjabel wrote: 87 Points
Stags Leap Cabernet - a great reputation, but leaves a lot t o be desired. This is an easy drinking, smooth wine, surprisingly fruit forward, and I was surprised by how quickly the wine opened and mellowed - less than an hour. Still, there is a surprisingly lack of complex flavors, and aside from blackberry and plum, there is little to distinguish the wine. And perhaps this is what disappoints, in a way.
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3/10/2013 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 92 Points
I am a bit bemused by all of the tasting notes that say this is past it's prime. In haste, I rushed to find my bottle and had it with lamb. Absolutely delicious after 3 hours in the decanter. This is not New World in style, but rather the spitting image of claret. There is racy acidity and steely minerality that recalls Graves. On the palate, however, it reminded me most of the 96 Leoville Barton or a 99 Cullen from the Margaret River (though much cheaper than either of those). Very fresh, not jammy, blackcurrant nose, with side notes of blackberry, tobacco, leather, eucalyptus, flint, gravel, and graphite. The palate is silky, steely blackcurrant fruit, lots of minerality, hints of herbacious (but not vegetal) flavours, and wonderful spice from the French oak. This was medium bodied, great acidity, and pleasant soft tannins. The tannins have softened a bit early for my palate, so from that perspective it probably is worth drinking in the next few years, but, depending on storage, I see no reason why this couldn't be enjoyed up to 2015. In the end, we enjoy different styles, and for those with a more austere palate, this will reward for a great price. It is very much a classic 'iron first in the velvet glove' wine.
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2/10/2013 - d_chism wrote: 88 Points
Leather, tobacco, and earthiness on the palate. No acidity, no astringency, mellow tannins and round edges consistent with age. I enjoyed this wine as an old world style, not a Napa fruit bomb. It is a little past it's time, as it put up absolutely no fight going down, but that makes the other characteristics more prominent. Definitely drink now, or last year.
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1/21/2013 - Ssmithgall wrote: 84 Points
After having read many of the previous reviews, I realized this wine was past it's prime. With lowered expectations, I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. I decanted for four hours, and the result was very mellow and leathery, but quite drinkable. Earthen aroma with relatively short finish.
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1/20/2013 - mclancy10006 wrote: 86 Points
The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Fast. It smells like Ethanol, Walnut, and Medicinal. It tastes like Clove, and Cranberry. The body is Full. The wine has Coarse texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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1/5/2013 - Taylor56 wrote: 87 Points
Decanted 30 minutes. Garnet - very opaque on the rim. Nose of wet leather. Light weight, some red fruit and after about an hour some dust. Past prime - this was much better with food. Drink.
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12/25/2012 - Jmartt wrote:
Fair warning: Tasted old. Almost didn't drink. Drank Christmas 2012.
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12/20/2012 - iwadasn wrote: 90 Points
Lots of vanilla in the nose and the initial tasting. Well-rounded, the fruit and oak diminished. Very drinkable, well-balanced wine. This was the last bottle for us, and that's probably a good thing as this wine apears to be reaching its last legs.
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9/22/2012 - RandyC wrote: 90 Points
Plum and blackberry notes on the nose, filling the bowl with fruit. On the palate a good structured wine smooth drinking with a nice long finish and rounded tannins. Plum and black licorice throughout.
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8/8/2012 - xboomer wrote: 90 Points
This baby needs lots of air before it is ready. 90 points if you give it time
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7/26/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:
Lacking complexity (nose has a bit more going on) and one dimensional, a bit hot even though ABV is under 14%. I have had other years of this and it has been much better at this age, overpriced as always too.
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6/29/2012 - awineo Likes this wine: 88 Points
I thought this wine drank better young. It has lost the bold fruit and big tannins. Still good, but a little "flat" for my tastes.
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6/18/2012 - Thelonghornfan wrote:
Gift to bobby Epstein
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3/24/2012 - Shapnyc wrote: 88 Points
30 mins to open. a bit disappointing
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3/17/2012 - vine20 wrote: 91 Points
Deep garnet with a complex black berry nose. Decanted 2 bottles in a magnum decanter for 2 hours. Lovely ripe black cherries, blackberries, black currant, some tobacco, flint, earth. Excellent balance, moderate tannins with a bit of drying and dusty sensation providing underlying structure and which increased over the 6 hours we worked on these bottles. Long finish.
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3/8/2012 - Dscarbor wrote: 88 Points
C: Very dark, inky nearly black, magenta at the edge when tilting; N: touch of dark fruit with a lot of licorice; P: a bit sharp at first. After a couple hours and along with ribeye, the fruit showed along with tobacco and a bit of leather. Great coating feeling, not tannic but still sturdy. Felt like the right age. F: (again with the steak), the fruit fades and leaves dry feeling tobacco and just a hint of licorice. Not a very long finish. Enjoyable Cab but not "elite". I overpaid for this, but would be happy at $40-45
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2/27/2012 - awineo Likes this wine: 90 Points
I bought a lot of this wine. So far it has not evolved to what I expected. Good but just not what I had hoped for when I first tasted it.
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2/23/2012 - vine20 wrote: 90 Points
Notes consistent with 3/12/11. The color and tannins are softening; the excellent barnyard remains; good balance, moderate finish.
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1/26/2012 - Dbader wrote: 79 Points
Waited too long to drink this wine. Very surprised.
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1/6/2012 - redman77 wrote: 90 Points
Solid Calif cab...drikning very well..integrated...med finish...oak is no longer an issue...but agree drink up sooner than later.
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12/31/2011 - cgarcia Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good. Good fruit, nice dry finish. Will still age well for a little while.
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12/27/2011 - D2lamb wrote:
Very nice. Shared with family and friends on boxing day.
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12/24/2011 - darrenhe wrote: 86 Points
Not sure why I opened this.....wasn't planning to but oh well! Not good first impressions....very barnyard nose and seemed to be as other tasters have said old before its time. Settled down a bit after a few hours and was quite decent but shant seek out anymore.
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12/4/2011 - brigcampbell wrote:
C: nearly black
N: dark fruit mixed with earthy aroma and oak
P: fruit has started to fade leaving the secondary flavours to carry the show. Earth and oak primarily. There is a hole on at the ending where the fruit completely disappears.
F: medium short and neutral weight.
while the note may not reflect it, nice wine in general just making the turn towards senior citizenship. Nice companion for the filet.
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11/25/2011 - rocknroller wrote: 88 Points
Thanksgiving Dinner (Our House): Very dark red/purple color. Nose is very nice with earth, forest floor, mineral, cassis. The palate falls a bit short, and I agree with comments that the fruit is fading, cassis, licorice, spice, mineral, bold spicy cedar on the finish. Probably best not to sit on these.
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11/21/2011 - bvdpa wrote:
Wine Sale - Serve with braised short ribs on a cold winter's night or with gorgonzola burger - good wine would replace
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11/16/2011 - acordell wrote: 88 Points
Good and bad news. The bad news is this is just past it's peak. The fruit has softened and begun to fade. This is drinking like a wine 2x-3x it's age. The good news is that if you like aged wine, this is still very enjoyable...but not for much longer.
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10/26/2011 - skaliner wrote: 92 Points
Delicious with steaks.
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10/16/2011 - corkcellar wrote: 90 Points
Previous entry on fruit, or uncharacteristicly lack there of is some what disappointing for this vintage. Some structure, probably only decant for an hour.
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10/13/2011 - awineo Likes this wine: 90 Points
I got a deal on this wine and bought two cases. For the price I think it is a great value. Good fruit and tannins. Nice balance and a good finish.
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10/5/2011 - lumpyelbow wrote: 86 Points
Disappointing. Not much body or fruit and a disproportionate amount of acid made this a little hard to drink on its own. Not sure if it's over the hill but definitely lacks pleasure for some reason.
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9/6/2011 - awineo Likes this wine: 90 Points
I think this one is past it's peak. It is still drinking fine, but it just doesn't have the fruit and tannins that it had a year or so ago.
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8/30/2011 - awineo Likes this wine: 89 Points
I got a great deal on a couple cases of the Artemis. It has good fruit and balanced tannins. The finish is a little quick. I think it is a great value for the price.
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8/14/2011 - horwitzj wrote: 92 Points
Was I drinking the same wine as everyone else? Definitely not your typical Cali cab. Started out with more bright or red fruit, but over the next 2-3 hrs it completely changed direction. Dark fruit, barnyard funk, leather and a little cigar box and silky smooth tannins. Had with filet and truffle mash potatoes and went perfectly. Wish I had a few more bottles!
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8/3/2011 - WineShark wrote: 85 Points
Pretty dissapointing. perhaps past its prime and certainly not worth the cellaring time.
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7/15/2011 - Deep Red wrote:
it was lovely.....the brandmans!
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6/18/2011 - redfeet wrote: 86 Points
This wine is very light. Too expensive for what you get with this vintage. Drink it now, because it probably won't get any better. The taste was off as well, making this a wine you have to drink just because of the price.
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5/17/2011 - thash wrote: 90 Points
Busted out this 1.5 liter with some friends in town with a rotisserie chicken I did on the grill. Nothing spectacular but I love this producer and already have an appreciation for just about everything they do. Drink your larger formats of this variety now.
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5/1/2011 - Brsed wrote: 89 Points
Somewhat of a restrained nose. The wine is not quite thin but is certainly austere. Predominantly black fruit with a little green tea. Underperformer for the price.
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4/25/2011 - Pang Harvey wrote: 90 Points
Drank with Roast Lamb on Easter Sunday. This is the best "Claret" I have had for a very long time and better than many Bordeaux's I've sampled recently. Decanted for 1 hour but I'd recommend longer as it really started to open up after about 2 hours.
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4/8/2011 - ghoztly wrote: 87 Points
Color: Semi-translucent garnet.
Smell: Red fruit olio, black licorice, pepper.
Taste: Tart cherry, black licorice, slight pepper, good acidity, moderate tannins, fairly dry, lacking fruit, somewhat bitter initially, improving later.
Overall: It seems one dimensional and lacking complexity. The sour cherry flavor tends to overwhelm the rest of the tastes. It did begin to open up and let the fruit come through after a couple hours after opening. IMO over priced at $40, more appropriate at $20.
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3/12/2011 - vine20 wrote: 90 Points
Deep garnet color with a medium classic nose of violet and barnyard. Black cherries, currant, raisin with leather, barnyard and strong tannins.
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3/7/2011 - kbarryuga wrote: 89 Points
Didn't seems as flavorful as the one I had in February 2009; very smooth, medium-bodied compared to other Napa cabs I've tried.
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2/26/2011 - jleg wrote: 91 Points
Kind of underwhelming at first but I then realized that this wine had more of an old school profile, something I don't get very often. Nice for a change and was good stuff but probably should have decanted.
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2/12/2011 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
Dinner with Susi & Michelle (Jersey City Loft, NJ, with Jen & I) (Jersey City, NJ): At dinner with Susi & Michelle (Jersey City Loft, NJ):
Red fruit, cherry, cassis, herbs and a touch of dust on the finish. The bottle was opened in advance but no decant or vinturi.
A good match to the filet mignon: on the rare side of medium-rare -- but sans the moo.
Although not as good a match to the expresso, oregano, garlic & hot pepper rub, which could have had less hot pepper.
This is apparently their house California Cabernet.
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1/12/2011 - jon_goodman1 wrote: 91 Points
opened it and let it decant for 2 hours. had nice dried fruit taste. the tannins have softened and its easy smooth finish
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12/31/2010 - kenthargis wrote: 84 Points
K liked better than I did. Not bad, but not much complexity and the fruit was lacking from what I was hoping for. Rather thin with a short finish.
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12/23/2010 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 88 Points
Drinking pretty well now, p&p out of a mag. It was ok in my book and impressive for the work crowd for our holiday dinner.
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12/22/2010 - Tershes wrote: 90 Points
Very tasty wine but expected a little more for this price point. I opened this wine and let it sit for an hour before I served it. Hint of cherries & black berries. Soft tannins, easy on the palate.
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12/21/2010 - Zinister wrote: 89 Points
Not too bad of a Cab, but expected a bit more. Good flavor, with some heat lingering around if you drink too early. Structure is a bit jagged, slightly tannic finish.
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11/27/2010 - jamscreator wrote: 88 Points
Quite tasty and earthy. Thinner than anticipated but well balanced and drinking well right now. Anxious to see what a few more years does for this one.
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11/6/2010 - wmlance wrote:
Enjoyed. Would drink again.
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9/1/2010 - WStubble wrote: 89 Points
Opened and let sit in the wine cellar for three hours, tried it and it was tannic, austere. Decanted the bottle and left it for an hour. Tannins were resolving and mouthfeel was soft, it continued to improve in the glass, red fruit aromas, dusty at the back. Went well with grilled filet mignon.
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8/20/2010 - saints050505 wrote: 88 Points
unimpressed at this price point, decent wine for everyday; but obviously not an everyday wine at $50; no velvet glove, not much complexity; overall ddisaapointed
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8/13/2010 - teamhams wrote: 91 Points
Deep color. Nice nose full of dark berries and floral notes. Intriguing. Doesn't quite live up to its billing on the palate, but still a wine with some special qualities. Currant, raspberry and smoke.
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8/8/2010 - Newbie Vino wrote:
Was a 375 mil bottle
Dark, heavey, good stuff
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7/24/2010 - Cmccoy wrote: 92 Points
Had this on the boat in Destin with Peter and Terri Boss. Outstanding! Want more.
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7/16/2010 - vine20 wrote: 90 Points
Deep garnet in color with a subtle deep red fruity nose. Lively fruit up front -- black cherries, blackberries -- with a bit of leather and a moderate dose of dust and tannin on the back palate. Great structure.
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6/11/2010 - Zweder wrote: 88 Points
Expressive bouquet with red and black fruits. There is soft and ripe tannin, but overall the wine lacks elegance and complexity to belong to the great wines. I wonder if this wine will ever be great. Drink now - 3 years from now.
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6/5/2010 - Wino from Michigan wrote: 89 Points
Nice cal cab but a little less than expected. Dry with some dried red fruit but generally did not live up to its name.
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5/29/2010 - vine20 wrote: 89 Points
Deep garnet color with a nose of deep red mixed fruit and some noticeable barnyard. Dark red cherry, blackberries, much better integrated tannins and a nice balance with earth and barnyard on the palate.
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5/23/2010 - WildeMeeuw wrote: 83 Points
2005 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis (USA, California, Napa Valley) Kleur: Diep donkerrood Aroma / bouquet: Heftig en wat gebrand. Koffie, chocola, bakkeliet. Potgrond. Smaak / Afdronk: Krachtige aanzet, erg alcoholisch. Algemeen / potentieel: Vermoeiende wijn. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 9 + Smaak / Afdronk: 12 + Algemeen / potentieel: 7 = 83/100
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5/20/2010 - WildeMeeuw wrote: 83 Points
2005 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis (USA, California, Napa Valley) Kleur: Diep donkerrood Aroma / bouquet: Heftig en wat gebrand. Koffie, chocola, bakkeliet. Potgrond. Smaak / Afdronk: Krachtige aanzet, erg alcoholisch. Algemeen / potentieel: Vermoeiende wijn. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 9 + Smaak / Afdronk: 12 + Algemeen / potentieel: 7 = 83/100
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5/2/2010 - kanjimoti wrote: 79 Points
Not much to say about this wine as it didn't have a lot to say either, other than oak. The oak accounted for much of the personality of the Artemis which was not a surprise but what took me back was the dilute palate. How can a wine be 14% alcohol and thin on the palate? Summation: oaky and thin.
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4/26/2010 - Sweet_Berry_Wine!! wrote: 89 Points
Earthy, somewhat old world styled. Light-medium bodied, even for Stag's Leap. Black currant, plum, underbrush, roasted coffee, cedar, touch of vanilla. Palate is restrained with a savoury black truffle and soy sauce tinged black fruit. dusty mocha finish that just seems to quit a little too soon. Pretty and pleasant but lacks structure and complexity.
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4/3/2010 - jnastynebr wrote: 88 Points
Old world style wine showing earth, currant, and bitter cherry. Medium finish with balanced acidity. Drinking below the price point.
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3/17/2010 - Philly NQ King wrote: 89 Points
Thankfully, most of the barnyard funk blew off after about 30 minutes. Still doesn't justify the price.
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1/22/2010 - Lipper wrote: 85 Points
exceeded expectations...black cherry...deep fruit forward/nuanced...ash and smoke finish. a cheap thrill.
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1/18/2010 - emf wrote:
This bottle was flawed with a funkiness on the nose that did not dissipate with air or time
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12/31/2009 - Kenny_Powers wrote: 77 Points
Tasted like water...no taste.
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12/24/2009 - shb6798 wrote: 92 Points
super smooth...loved it!
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11/2/2009 - steveabb wrote: 87 Points
Agree with havleh's review on 10/3/09. This will be a great wine, but it's still a bit green and needs a bit more time. Nose is good; medium finish, but a bit astringent. I have two more of these and will check back in on this one in about a year or so. In the meantime, you could do much worse... ;-)
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10/8/2009 - Cphofmann wrote: 92 Points
Aromas of rich, dark chocolate, black cherries, and espresso. Smooth, silky finish.
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10/3/2009 - HarlanPSU wrote: 89 Points
Feel guilty not breaking into the 90's on this one, but must agree that still needs time. Good structure, but either decant or hold off for another year or two to realize the best this wine has to offer.
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9/14/2009 - sweeedfish wrote: 92 Points
Opened it up on day 1 and didn't really have a chance to have any, it was fairly tight 30 minutes after opening, black and red fruits with some chocolate mixed in. Day 2 this wine is shining, amazing change from day 1. Incredible on the back end with smoke and tobacco. On the front end I get red fruits with outstanding chocolate and black fruits on the nose. This wine is good, definitely a day 2 wine.
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9/4/2009 - fabiogr wrote: 89 Points
Very elegant, bordeaux-style. I was expecting more napa-like, good surprise.
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8/24/2009 - Zigman wrote: 90 Points
Deep red in color. Aroma of floral and violet. Medium bodied with flavors of cherry, leather, red currant and cedar. All-in-all a fairly enjoyable bottle. Would probably buy it again.
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8/8/2009 - daver852 wrote: 91 Points
From a half bottle at Sleek in St. Louis. Not a blockbuster, but refined and elegant. Still a bit reticent, but opened up nicely as the evening went along. Was a fine compliment to filet with black truffle sauce. Very, very nice indeed.
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7/29/2009 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
SWE: Volatinle nose, concentrated; meat, blk cherry rich black frt, tar; tons of structure; needs time
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7/20/2009 - Quantum32 wrote: 90 Points
I agree with the general consensus that this is a pretty damn good wine.
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5/15/2009 - Friedo wrote: 90 Points
A bit young still. Very enjoyable, but perhaps would have been better off decanting.
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5/9/2009 - RPerro wrote: 89 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Nice nose of raspberries and leather. Very much resembling a Bordeaux. Sweet cassis and cherry fruit with some earthy elements of leather and tobacco. Nice wine, albeit somewhat thin and lacking the richness I've come to like in Napa cabs.
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4/26/2009 - umazz wrote: 90 Points
A good Cab, despite the price.
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4/16/2009 - amateurwino wrote: 92 Points
Sweet red berry fruit and dirt (in a good way) on the nose, medium color is healthy red, not purple. On the palate, nice red currants, some tobacco and a hint of gravel. Has some Bordeaux-like elements but the ripe fruit is a giveaway that it's California. Has that something extra of gorgeousness and complexity to make it something special for me, but doesn't quite blow me away. 92, possible I'd upgrade this if I had more than a taste.
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4/12/2009 - DRomulous wrote:
outstanding
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3/26/2009 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
Monthly Tasting Group LTB 2009-04; Bordeaux blends. (By me): A lot of primary cherry fruit. Very juicy, very full bodied. Some oak, soft tannin and sweetness Even though double decanted 6 hours prior to drinking it was a little one dimensional. Hope with ageing it will show more of its complexity.
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3/15/2009 - Hueg wrote: 90 Points
Could see how many really like this, but to big for my tastes. Lots going on, good complexity. Lots of folks will really like this one.
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3/12/2009 - Clarkmeister wrote: 89 Points
Tight. Nice if a bit restrained Napa cab nose with dark fruits. Good midpalate with some bell pepper notes on the finish. Too young to be drinking really.
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2/28/2009 - emf wrote:
Had with pizza, maybe needs a little more time, definately a decant.Dark fruit on the nose, some tannins and dark fruit as well as leather , tea and cigarbox. Not overly oaked, nice finish. Will get better with time and air.
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2/11/2009 - mye wrote: 89 Points
clear hue to a dark inky purple color.
slightly bretty (typical of a Stags Leap). blew off with some air.
decanted for an hour. Nose is nothing inspiring. some black currant and creme de cassis.
On the palate, very silky, and notes of mushroom, and cigar box. medium long finish.
not enough nose, delicious palate.
good with steak.
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1/8/2009 - Phin wrote: 90 Points
Red fruits and cassis. Light to medium body. Occasional whiff of bigger better things.
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1/1/2009 - Cahill wrote: 88 Points
Ordered off the menu at Palmer's (Andover, MA) on new year's eve. Sweet red cherries and cassis with earth and dried herbs (the nose gave hints of Bordeaux). Lacking in acid but with a nice level of tannins, this was young and tight and probably could have benefited from more air.
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12/28/2008 - mdenigris3 wrote: 93 Points
Always outstanding.
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12/19/2008 - cabdrinker wrote: 92 Points
I know this is still a baby but it still exhibited a lot of grace. Gorgeous color in the glass, nose was a little old school Napa with the addition of eucalyptus tone intermixed with vibrant fruit. On the palate, bright cherry and raspberry with a coating of coco dust which added to the dusty tannins on the finish. This bottle had more going on, but went to quickly. To bad I only opened a 375ml as I could have easily downed a 750ml.
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12/13/2008 - soyhead wrote: 92 Points
beautiful nose which makes me think its a gorgeous burgundy. Sweet nose of creme de cassis and sweet oak. mouth - cassis, very well balanced. good acidity. Some interesting secondary flavors.
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12/11/2008 - pfrichar wrote: 80 Points
Ver disappointing. Not much fruit, rough tannins, weird flavors. Maybe a bad bottle?
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11/30/2008 - AMM3RD wrote: 90 Points
90-91. Great balance. Nose of green with some red bell peppers. Flavors of red fruits and earth on a Medium body. Classic style that I enjoy...very enjoyable with food. Drink over the next 3-5 years...AMM
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11/13/2008 - pifcho wrote: 86 Points
fruity and easy drinking. Good balance, but lacked depth and excitement.
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11/8/2008 - vinole wrote: 89 Points
Crown Fall 08 Upscale Tasting (Boca Raton, FL): A more reserved Napa cab, being only medium body and and having higher acidity than most, with currants on a 30-35 sec finish.
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10/17/2008 - beachnic wrote: 90 Points
Nice smokey tones. Not an overdone rich style. Again good food wine.
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10/12/2008 - mdenigris3 wrote: 92 Points
Dark cherries, plum, smoke. Outstanding
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10/3/2008 - Wolfgang wrote: 90 Points
Great Cali Cab! Dark berries, lavender and mild oak.
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9/23/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 90 Points
Fall Fest 2008: nose: nice classically styled nose with red and black currants, dark cherries, and cranberry tones
taste: good firm tannins with red and black currants, dark cherries, and cranberry tones with some oak tones hiding underneath
overall: a classic cab with a good profile. Well balanced flavors with a dark cherry attack and a nice tart cranberry finish
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9/18/2008 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
had two glass fulls at investment seminar sponsored by citigroup/smith barney in red bank. i found this wine to be a treat. very full in the mouth with significant viscosity. multi-layered both texturally and in the flavor profile. made in a classic french cabernet style with lots of chocolate as an extra bonus. at this point, this wine would need several hours of aeration to show its full pseronality. i believe that this wine will develop greater complexity as it ages over the next three to five years.
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8/30/2008 - Gringo wrote: 88 Points
A very nice Californian with thick, thick fruit that coats the tongue. The bouquet is beautiful and intriguingly complex. Unfortunately, the wine on the tongue was slightly off balanced; the complexity that was hoped for just was not quite there, and the heat just was not quite counterbalanced. The finish was a tad short.
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8/3/2008 - candyman wrote: 87 Points
after it was open for 30 min. the cherries came out.
fine with steak.
has more time in the bottle to even out.
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8/2/2008 - bmilesfl wrote: 88 Points
This wine did not impress me much for a Napa Cab. I tasted immediately out of the bottle, then about 30 minutes later and then, finally about 3 hours of decanting. I cannot say that the decanting showed tremendous improvements over the earlier tastings. But, it did get slightly better and did smooth out some of the slightly rough edges found in the earlier tasting. I have to admit that there is no real negative tastes in the wine. But, at the same time there is nothing there that says "wow, I can't wait for the next glass." I'm likely not going to pull out my other two bottles of this wine for at least a year or two. I'll look for subsequent reviews / recommendations on when this wine improves over time - and hopefully it will.
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6/29/2008 - beachnic wrote: 90 Points
It is a nice soft drinking classic tasting Cab that isn't over the top and that has nice aromas of cedar and eucalyptus. At around $45-$50 it's overpriced. It would be a better deal at around $30-$35
I can see why the restaurants love this wine, it's a very good food wine and would have wide appeal. Gets deeper in flavor over a couple of hours. 90+pts.
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6/6/2008 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 90 Points
This is the kind of Napa Cab I like. Oh ya. I thought it might be WAY TOO YOUNG to bother with, but was wrong. I had a glass late in the bottle, after being open a couple of hours. It was soft, spacious with faded leather and unsweet cherry aromas. The palate was somewhat tannic, but worked with and without food. Would like to try again.
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5/20/2008 - vine20 wrote: 88 Points
Beautiful, classic color in the glass -- light red on the rim and deep ruby in the middle. The main body color is thick but not impenetrable. The nose is a bit restrained and complex. It was drunk upon opening and maybe should have been decanted or left to air for an hour or two. Lots of different fruit on the tongue -- cherry, raspberry -- as well as a good amount of leather, chocolate, licorice and some bitter tannins. It is not an overwhelming fruit bomb; shows signs of being a more complex and balanced wine. This wine has a lot going on and probably needs a couple of more years to mellow and resolve. It's going to be very nice.
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5/5/2008 - jnastynebr wrote: 89 Points
Clearly still young, but showed well at a tasting. Shows the textbook Stag's Leap garnet and ruby color with herb, cassis, and current. Primary and earthy with some bitter notes, but balanced and refined with smooth tannins. Geared toward lovers of the classic Bordeaux style Napa cabs, and has little to offer fans of the enormous fruit bombs that dominate wine shops today. Medium bodied and elegant. Hold for 3-5.
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3/22/2008 - bflood wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for an hour. Nice fruity nose, same comments as the others except tannins were a little strong and this could be even more enjoyable in a couple years.
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2/25/2008 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 93 Points
A big cedary nose, feeling nicely balanced and integrated. This is very nicely put together and an impressive wine. Very definitely a Napa Cabernet, but avoiding the excesses of the poorer examples.
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2/23/2008 - rockguit wrote: 91 Points
Good, medium-bodied cab. Decanted for 1 hour--it opened up nicely--black and red fruit with smooth finish. Easy drinker--though not sure about QPR.
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2/7/2008 - JR_Boston wrote: 93 Points
Excellent Cab. Did not decant (probably should have). Deep & hearty. Some raspberry, licorice, tobacco. Nice long finish. Compares well to some other great napa cabs
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1/11/2008 - EricB wrote: 85 Points
Very nice wine. Medium weight California cabernet. Chocolate aromas and oaky body hides some of the fruit. Pretty dark right now.
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1/7/2008 - JAKurek wrote: 89 Points
no wow factor, a well made wine but better wines for the price tag. a bit too much oak, will likely balance better with more time in the bottle.
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12/26/2007 - kkat wrote:
LOVED this wine. Delicious cabernet. Very smooth and easy to drink.
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12/1/2007 - wynnewood500 wrote:
The Artemis was served at a retirement dinner last night (pretty nice for a large party). Still young, medium to full bodied and moderately tannic. I enjoyed it very much.
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10/29/2007 - beezer6 wrote: 88 Points
Wine seemed a bit closed at first. Let it breathe for about an hour and no change was noticeable.
Wine was thin and lacking any sort of depth or structure. Very surprised. Is it too young?
Soft notes of red berries, oak and vanilla. Some leather in the palate. Somewhat short finish.
Just not too impressed at this time. Will revisit in a year or two.
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9/11/2007 - tarheel17 wrote: 85 Points
nose: sweaty, funky upfront... and then some cherry. palate: the acidity was a little too bright for the dense cab I was expecting. The sour cherry midpalate finishes with blackberry seeds and leaves me a little...dissapointed. Not quite nonplussed, but ... Very average.
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