An earlier drinking version of the winery's top-level Cab, this deep ruby wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot that was aged for 12 months in French oak barriques (10% new). Enclosed with a screwcap, this bottle was Vinturi-decanted and tasted over a three-hour period, fully opening after the first hour in carafe. Loaded with black and red fruit on the nose and palate, it adds complimentary notes of Asian spices, tree bark, bittersweet chocolate and licorice. Full-bodied, fresh, judiciously oaked and with well-integrated alcohol (listed as 14.5%), it is impressively dense in the middle and equally impressive with its back end length. Oenophiles can still find value at this point in time, but they may have to delve beyond the Northern Hemisphere. Enjoy this delicious Cab anytime over the next decade. Drink now-2034.
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One of those wines where the first sip is the most impressive. By the second glass, it remained quite drinkable, but uninteresting. Still a good deal relative to what $18 will get you for a Cabernet Sauvignon elsewhere.
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Deep ruby color. Medium intensity aromas of bing cherry, currant, clove and cedar with developing characteristics. Medium acidity and dry on the palate with medium intensity flavors of same with additional traces of cola trace minerality and pencil lead notes, crisp body, high alcohol (14.5 abv) and medium finish. Very good wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging.
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Appearance: Medium Ruby Nose: Med(+) intensity; Aromas of red fruit (ripe red cherry, red currant), black fruit (black currant, black plum), herbaceous (bell pepper), herbal (eucalyptus, mint, dried herbs), spice (liquorice, pepper), oak (vanilla, cloves, coffee, smoke), and tertiary (tobacco). Palate: Dry, high alcohol, ripe chalky medium(+) tannins, med tart acidity, med(+) intensity, med(+) bodied, med finish. Flavors of red fruit (ripe bing cherries, red plum), black fruit (black currant), herbaceous (bell pepper), herbal (eucalyptus), spice (pepper), oak (vanilla bean, bitter coffee), tea, and tobacco. Quality: Very Good. The finish is shorter than expected. Aging: Suitable for Bottle Aging
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2/7/2024 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 92 Points
An earlier drinking version of the winery's top-level Cab, this deep ruby wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot that was aged for 12 months in French oak barriques (10% new). Enclosed with a screwcap, this bottle was Vinturi-decanted and tasted over a three-hour period, fully opening after the first hour in carafe. Loaded with black and red fruit on the nose and palate, it adds complimentary notes of Asian spices, tree bark, bittersweet chocolate and licorice. Full-bodied, fresh, judiciously oaked and with well-integrated alcohol (listed as 14.5%), it is impressively dense in the middle and equally impressive with its back end length. Oenophiles can still find value at this point in time, but they may have to delve beyond the Northern Hemisphere. Enjoy this delicious Cab anytime over the next decade. Drink now-2034.
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1/11/2024 - KTelaak_Buffalo Likes this wine: 92 Points
After about 30-69 minutes, this wine really shines. Great complex fruits!
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11/17/2023 - Mimesis Likes this wine: 89 Points
One of those wines where the first sip is the most impressive. By the second glass, it remained quite drinkable, but uninteresting. Still a good deal relative to what $18 will get you for a Cabernet Sauvignon elsewhere.
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9/6/2023 - billwine5 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep ruby color. Medium intensity aromas of bing cherry, currant, clove and cedar with developing characteristics. Medium acidity and dry on the palate with medium intensity flavors of same with additional traces of cola trace minerality and pencil lead notes, crisp body, high alcohol (14.5 abv) and medium finish. Very good wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging.
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8/7/2023 - Low_on_Coffee Likes this wine: 89 Points
Big upfront cab notes, stings the jaw a bit, with a relatively short finish. Really enjoyed it, especially at the price point
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3/12/2023 - Jobu wrote: 91 Points
Really needs to breathe a bit. Black and blue berries. Herbs on the nose & palate. Medium bodied Aussie Cab at a reasonable price.
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12/13/2022 - R2-D2 wrote: 88 Points
Appearance: Medium Ruby
Nose: Med(+) intensity; Aromas of red fruit (ripe red cherry, red currant), black fruit (black currant, black plum), herbaceous (bell pepper), herbal (eucalyptus, mint, dried herbs), spice (liquorice, pepper), oak (vanilla, cloves, coffee, smoke), and tertiary (tobacco).
Palate: Dry, high alcohol, ripe chalky medium(+) tannins, med tart acidity, med(+) intensity, med(+) bodied, med finish. Flavors of red fruit (ripe bing cherries, red plum), black fruit (black currant), herbaceous (bell pepper), herbal (eucalyptus), spice (pepper), oak (vanilla bean, bitter coffee), tea, and tobacco.
Quality: Very Good. The finish is shorter than expected.
Aging: Suitable for Bottle Aging
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