Double decanted two hours prior to serving - some modest sediment. Wow! This is the third and final bottle from my auction find and it was terrific! Lots of violets, blackberries and aged cedar on the nose. Blackberries and cassis on the rich, dense palate with some leather and spices. Tannins seem mostly resolved. Rich, very long and complex finish with a little earthiness and a touch of bitter chocolate.
A superlative mountain cab that could easily be mistaken as a left bank BDX if tasted blind. Well stored bottles should have structure for another 5+ years of great drinking. Highly recommend a looooong decant for maximum enjoyment!
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From my cellar. Perfectly stored since this was purchased on release. This is delicious from the first glass. Beautiful violet scent, rich plummy fruit, a touch of vanilla, smoke and graphite. On the palate this is richly fruited with flavors folowing the scents into a juicy, long, slightly grippy ripe tannin finish. Really nice wine drinking at peak.
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Purchased as part of a mixed lot at an Acker Internet auction. I had no interest in this wine but I needed the wine it was paired with and was willing to pay the full bid price for that wine. That makes this wine an infinite QPR because, in my mind, the cost was zero. However, my 94 points is an absolute, rather than a relative score. This wine is truly beautiful, a properly aged, well balanced Cali Cab from an outstanding vintage.
Popped, decanted and poured in 10 minutes. Cork came out clean in great shape with a Durand and it was about 50% infused with wine.
I was afraid to give it a long period to aerate,but in retrospect, it improved with an hour or two of air. The nose was beautifully perfumed with violets, other flowers, and even some non-floral perfume components. The palate was dark red fruit with dark cherries and a bit of blackberry. Whatever oak flavors there might have been are gone and there is no chocolate, coffee etc. from the barrels, although there is a bit of cedar undercurrent that I have tasted before in well aged wine, the source of which I do not know. This wine is in a very good place right now. All tannin is fully resolved, mouth feel is very smooth and easy to drink with complex flavors and a great nose. Long finish.
There is some light leathery earthiness as part of the overall taste profile, but it is light. I guess this wine would have been fine for another decade or two.
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Cork was completely covered in mold. Cleaned it, popped it and it broke in two. I thought it was a goner after that. And then I poured. Boy was I in for a surprise.... Dark cherry red in color with a plum rim. Blackcurrant, cherry and cassis on the nose. Good dose of fresh fruit on the palate. Acid is medium. Velvety texture. I'm drinking this and I'm thinking 2009 Bordeaux. Tastes very young. Almost no tertiary notes. It is all fruit but it isn't cloying; the acid balances it very well. Very old world/cool climate style. It all comes together after 30 minutes or so. Finish is long enough to beg for another sip. Marvelous bottle.
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Dark garnet with moderate rusty bricking at the edges, deep and dark fruit, anise, leather and herbal notes with nice minerality and tannins that are well integrated but still show some prominence. Medium long finish.
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Tasted blind. Blackcurrant, violets, cherries, spices and earth. A bit of barnyard on the nose but well integrated on the palate adding to its complexity. Very rich with sweet fruit. Well balanced with good acidity. Very firm tannins on the finish which really surprised me for such an old wine. I thought originally old world and totally blew the year by more than a decade.
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Served blind. Showing very young. (The three of us guessed 2000, 2002 and 2003!) The tannins are still harsh. The nose is earthy and there is some barnyard there. Opened up nicely. A tad hot on the finish.
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6/17/2023 - BHRH Likes this wine: 94 Points
Double decanted two hours prior to serving - some modest sediment.
Wow! This is the third and final bottle from my auction find and it was terrific! Lots of violets, blackberries and aged cedar on the nose. Blackberries and cassis on the rich, dense palate with some leather and spices. Tannins seem mostly resolved. Rich, very long and complex finish with a little earthiness and a touch of bitter chocolate.
A superlative mountain cab that could easily be mistaken as a left bank BDX if tasted blind. Well stored bottles should have structure for another 5+ years of great drinking. Highly recommend a looooong decant for maximum enjoyment!
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7/9/2022 - Pinotfanbg Likes this wine: 93 Points
From my cellar. Perfectly stored since this was purchased on release. This is delicious from the first glass. Beautiful violet scent, rich plummy fruit, a touch of vanilla, smoke and graphite. On the palate this is richly fruited with flavors folowing the scents into a juicy, long, slightly grippy ripe tannin finish. Really nice wine drinking at peak.
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3/19/2017 - J @ y H @ c k Likes this wine: 94 Points
Purchased as part of a mixed lot at an Acker Internet auction. I had no interest in this wine but I needed the wine it was paired with and was willing to pay the full bid price for that wine. That makes this wine an infinite QPR because, in my mind, the cost was zero. However, my 94 points is an absolute, rather than a relative score. This wine is truly beautiful, a properly aged, well balanced Cali Cab from an outstanding vintage.
Popped, decanted and poured in 10 minutes. Cork came out clean in great shape with a Durand and it was about 50% infused with wine.
I was afraid to give it a long period to aerate,but in retrospect, it improved with an hour or two of air. The nose was beautifully perfumed with violets, other flowers, and even some non-floral perfume components. The palate was dark red fruit with dark cherries and a bit of blackberry. Whatever oak flavors there might have been are gone and there is no chocolate, coffee etc. from the barrels, although there is a bit of cedar undercurrent that I have tasted before in well aged wine, the source of which I do not know. This wine is in a very good place right now. All tannin is fully resolved, mouth feel is very smooth and easy to drink with complex flavors and a great nose. Long finish.
There is some light leathery earthiness as part of the overall taste profile, but it is light. I guess this wine would have been fine for another decade or two.
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2/29/2016 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cork was completely covered in mold. Cleaned it, popped it and it broke in two. I thought it was a goner after that. And then I poured. Boy was I in for a surprise....
Dark cherry red in color with a plum rim. Blackcurrant, cherry and cassis on the nose. Good dose of fresh fruit on the palate. Acid is medium. Velvety texture. I'm drinking this and I'm thinking 2009 Bordeaux. Tastes very young. Almost no tertiary notes. It is all fruit but it isn't cloying; the acid balances it very well. Very old world/cool climate style. It all comes together after 30 minutes or so. Finish is long enough to beg for another sip. Marvelous bottle.
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11/30/2012 - JDRFoster Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark garnet with moderate rusty bricking at the edges, deep and dark fruit, anise, leather and herbal notes with nice minerality and tannins that are well integrated but still show some prominence. Medium long finish.
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5/17/2008 - winelovr2001 wrote: 93 Points
Close to its peak now, this wine is showing beautifully. Black cherry, cassis, leather, and firm acidity.
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2/25/2007 - kstoddard wrote: 93 Points
Tasted blind. Blackcurrant, violets, cherries, spices and earth. A bit of barnyard on the nose but well integrated on the palate adding to its complexity. Very rich with sweet fruit. Well balanced with good acidity. Very firm tannins on the finish which really surprised me for such an old wine. I thought originally old world and totally blew the year by more than a decade.
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2/25/2007 - mattiasjansson wrote: 92 Points
Served blind. Showing very young. (The three of us guessed 2000, 2002 and 2003!) The tannins are still harsh. The nose is earthy and there is some barnyard there. Opened up nicely. A tad hot on the finish.
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11/26/2006 - mmeng wrote: 95 Points
Nearly perfect. Still full and powerful, but with tannins nicely balanced. Lingering finish.
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2/24/2006 - dwhsieh wrote: 95 Points
Drinking nicely...
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