Closed up when first decanted with high alcohol, cherries and Cabernet franc on the nose and mouth. Still opaque with rim just turning. Surprisingly little tannin, certainly not enough to go the distance. Lot's of glycerin. Taste is well melded but not complex. A good wine for perhaps rack of lamb with rosemary or a Beef Stroganoff. It will let the food shine while providing a good solid foil to the more complex food flavors. I would drink it up in the next couple of years.
1/2 hour after decanting nose has less alcohol and showing some plum and prune but flavor unchanged. Good balance but not a great wine.
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We so wanted to love this since the 2001 Chappellet CF is one of our favorites, but it just wasn't to be. Definitely past its peak, lots of earthy funk but muted on the fruit. Drinking mostly secondary flavors right now rather than primary. Still have one more in the cellar, but no reason to wait on it.
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Would never guess Cab Franc. No green, just fruit and spice. Currant, cinnamon, allspice. This has some time left on it, but I'm not sure it is going to get better. Great wine, not a great representation of the varietal.
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K and I enjoyed this one tonight though quite not so much as the French Cuvee Danae 2003 (also a cab franc) that we also enjoyed with our roast chicken meal. Both are definitely food wines. This one has plenty of Pritchard Hill fruit on the nose and palate. Very rich and after a few hours of air seems to be showing some age.
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What a difference a year or so makes. Dark & dusty looking. Beautiful nose, can smell the white milk chocolate. Rich, velvet, creamy dark red fruit. Big in the mouth and long ligering finish. Killer effort & result. All the Oak seems to have integrated. Drank at Galetto's.
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Deep color...full body, great finish ---- went well with hard jack cheese (from Bella Cheese in Sonoma) and also went especially well with dark chocolate.
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Deep garnet color. Great nose. Dark Cherry & toasted oak, cedar, bit of spice in there. Mocha dominates the fruity palate with a bit too much oak holding it together. Did get a little of the green pepper noted as well as the bakers chocolate. Tannins are fine, cleansing. Good glycerin giving it a rich velvet mouthfeel. This is close to a really excellent wine. Damn the oak. - 3 pts for the baby oak monster. There is beautiful fruit in there, hope that the oaks fades & the fruit develops.Day 2. Richer. fuller. More bakers choc., less green notes. Deeper fruit finish. This need 12 more months to enter a better place, oak should mellow, then consume for 2-4 years.
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Cab Franc??? not the out of balance type im used to. Just a touch of green pepper surrounds some beautiful fruit. Dark currant like aromas mingle with the bell peppers. On the palate soft and supple with dark fruit flavors great mouth watering acidity and tannic structure frame the fruit. Medium tannic finish. Add steak and this is a wonderful evening.
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At a tasting at the Wine Club SF. Quick notes: very soft assault, medium body weight, dark fruits with a dry tannic finish. Very good. This was my #2 wine of the flight with the Shafer Cabernet 1.5 #3 and the Von Strasser Diamond Mtn #1.
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6/24/2023 - brigcampbell wrote:
Blind; definitely thought this was from Napa and probably Cabernet Sauvignon dominated.
Dark, brooding, big structure. Really enjoyable.
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4/8/2017 - lplenz Likes this wine: 89 Points
This wine has really held up well! Smooth as silk.
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3/4/2017 - Michael Baskett Likes this wine: 86 Points
Closed up when first decanted with high alcohol, cherries and Cabernet franc on the nose and mouth. Still opaque with rim just turning. Surprisingly little tannin, certainly not enough to go the distance. Lot's of glycerin. Taste is well melded but not complex. A good wine for perhaps rack of lamb with rosemary or a Beef Stroganoff. It will let the food shine while providing a good solid foil to the more complex food flavors. I would drink it up in the next couple of years.
1/2 hour after decanting nose has less alcohol and showing some plum and prune but flavor unchanged. Good balance but not a great wine.
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6/23/2015 - Coachron13 wrote: flawed
This one had turned, brownish color and sour taste. Down the drain.
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1/22/2015 - Coachron13 wrote: 88 Points
We so wanted to love this since the 2001 Chappellet CF is one of our favorites, but it just wasn't to be. Definitely past its peak, lots of earthy funk but muted on the fruit. Drinking mostly secondary flavors right now rather than primary. Still have one more in the cellar, but no reason to wait on it.
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7/17/2011 - Old Course 72 wrote: 92 Points
Light nose, mellow fruit, deep varietal notes with extended finish. Delightful, mouth filling and mature.
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5/13/2011 - psoals wrote: 92 Points
Just a superb example of what Cab Franc from Napa can be.
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4/13/2011 - wineretriever wrote: 90 Points
Would never guess Cab Franc. No green, just fruit and spice. Currant, cinnamon, allspice. This has some time left on it, but I'm not sure it is going to get better. Great wine, not a great representation of the varietal.
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4/4/2011 - cookie7 wrote: 89 Points
Note after 24 hours. Dark red fruit on the nose. Nice fruit with hints of vanilla on the finish. A bit of heat on the finish. decent wine but bad QPR.
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1/17/2011 - huberww wrote:
K and I enjoyed this one tonight though quite not so much as the French Cuvee Danae 2003 (also a cab franc) that we also enjoyed with our roast chicken meal. Both are definitely food wines. This one has plenty of Pritchard Hill fruit on the nose and palate. Very rich and after a few hours of air seems to be showing some age.
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1/9/2011 - ivsimler wrote: 90 Points
Delicious!
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9/4/2010 - psoals wrote: 92 Points
in a wondeful place, drink now.
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7/2/2010 - tplskylrk wrote: 92 Points
What a difference a year or so makes. Dark & dusty looking. Beautiful nose, can smell the white milk chocolate. Rich, velvet, creamy dark red fruit. Big in the mouth and long ligering finish. Killer effort & result. All the Oak seems to have integrated. Drank at Galetto's.
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5/8/2010 - Venezia wrote: 92 Points
Wow. What a difference a night makes. Initially still very tight after 2 hrs. Drank night two. Dark berry, cocoa, pepper come through. Great nose. Wow
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4/23/2010 - WI WineLover wrote: 91 Points
Deep color...full body, great finish ---- went well with hard jack cheese (from Bella Cheese in Sonoma) and also went especially well with dark chocolate.
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11/22/2009 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Similar notes.
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9/21/2009 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Well balance with dark fruit and cherry notes and a touch of spice.
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8/14/2009 - curtr wrote: 90 Points
Nice spice.
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3/13/2009 - tplskylrk wrote: 89 Points
Deep garnet color. Great nose. Dark Cherry & toasted oak, cedar, bit of spice in there. Mocha dominates the fruity palate with a bit too much oak holding it together. Did get a little of the green pepper noted as well as the bakers chocolate. Tannins are fine, cleansing. Good glycerin giving it a rich velvet mouthfeel. This is close to a really excellent wine. Damn the oak. - 3 pts for the baby oak monster. There is beautiful fruit in there, hope that the oaks fades & the fruit develops.Day 2. Richer. fuller. More bakers choc., less green notes. Deeper fruit finish. This need 12 more months to enter a better place, oak should mellow, then consume for 2-4 years.
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2/19/2009 - curtr wrote: 90 Points
A tasty treat. A better example of how Cabernet Franc is ment to taste. Try again in the late fall.
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4/27/2008 - cvvhrn wrote: 90 Points
Hints of bakers chocolate and berries with dark coffee and pommegranet on the palate. Nice finsh as well
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6/23/2007 - LPskeleton wrote: 92 Points
Cab Franc??? not the out of balance type im used to. Just a touch of green pepper surrounds some beautiful fruit. Dark currant like aromas mingle with the bell peppers. On the palate soft and supple with dark fruit flavors great mouth watering acidity and tannic structure frame the fruit. Medium tannic finish. Add steak and this is a wonderful evening.
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3/24/2007 - tanglenet wrote:
At a tasting at the Wine Club SF. Quick notes: very soft assault, medium body weight, dark fruits with a dry tannic finish. Very good. This was my #2 wine of the flight with the Shafer Cabernet 1.5 #3 and the Von Strasser Diamond Mtn #1.
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