Got this bottle at the Napa Valley winery's tasting room for $45 and drank with THICK ribeye steaks smothered in Kosher salt, freshly-cracked black pepper, toasted and crushed cumin seeds, and cumin powder. This is a REAL nice (somewhat) decently-affordable Napa Cab. The nose is smoke and oak, with hints of earth and fruit. This is a DARK Cab (almost-black like Petite Sirah), with ripe black fruits up front (especially currants, blackberries, and plums), along with all kinds of spices (especially black pepper) and an almost-perfect amount of smooth, sweet, velvety-smooth oak and tannins. The finish is smooth and nicely-lingering; this Cab cellered very well (five years-ish) and would probably cellar and continue to mature and evolve for another 5 to 10 years, thanks to its tannic structure and acidity. This is one of the best Cabs we've had all year. Sadly, the winery charged us a tasting fee even after buying a bottle, which means we wouldn't buy another bottle from this winery. Though this is one of the best single-varietal Cabs we've had all year (we strongly prefer blends (especially Southern Rhone-style), Pinots, and a few single-varietal Syrahs and Zins), we'd have to pass on buying another bottle from Hall next time we're in Napa Valley. Wineries that charge tasting fees for customers that buy their porduct(s) are like companies that require their employees to continue to wear suits and ties. Common' guys!! Join the 21st century and waive the tasting fee if people buy a bottle in the tasting room (this is our #1 winery pet peeve, in case you couldn't tell........). Still, this is a fantastic Napa Cab!
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I must have been distracted by the aromatics, when I convinced myself to purchase this at the winery. Unfortunately, those aromatics were really the only impressionable aspect of this wine, which had great color, my highly-coveted Alexander Valley herbal-earthiness but a pretty austere mid-palate with a short finish and so, never really blossomed into anything great. I'm possibly even being generous with the score. As such, at its $45 price tag, it was nowhere near a QPR and fell far short of the many outstanding examples from the AVA; many of which can be had markedly below this price point.
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Will improve with time but has a great deal of character despite lack of maturity as tanins mellow. Enjoyed a great deal even now--especially with tuscan pot roast.
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Medium red. Cranberry, cherry, and cassis. Really nice elegant nose and flavours. Lighter wieght but still concentrated. Long dry finish. From an unirragated vineyard. Very good.
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5/30/2016 - cheesaman Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still good, decanted 2 hours before dinner. Very good nose, smooth wine red fruits, medium body. Still a lot of flavor after 11 years. Well made wine.
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9/23/2010 - mmyette wrote: 85 Points
Okay, nondescript, not flawed, a little short.
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7/17/2010 - DaveZack wrote: 92 Points
Got this bottle at the Napa Valley winery's tasting room for $45 and drank with THICK ribeye steaks smothered in Kosher salt, freshly-cracked black pepper, toasted and crushed cumin seeds, and cumin powder. This is a REAL nice (somewhat) decently-affordable Napa Cab. The nose is smoke and oak, with hints of earth and fruit. This is a DARK Cab (almost-black like Petite Sirah), with ripe black fruits up front (especially currants, blackberries, and plums), along with all kinds of spices (especially black pepper) and an almost-perfect amount of smooth, sweet, velvety-smooth oak and tannins. The finish is smooth and nicely-lingering; this Cab cellered very well (five years-ish) and would probably cellar and continue to mature and evolve for another 5 to 10 years, thanks to its tannic structure and acidity. This is one of the best Cabs we've had all year. Sadly, the winery charged us a tasting fee even after buying a bottle, which means we wouldn't buy another bottle from this winery. Though this is one of the best single-varietal Cabs we've had all year (we strongly prefer blends (especially Southern Rhone-style), Pinots, and a few single-varietal Syrahs and Zins), we'd have to pass on buying another bottle from Hall next time we're in Napa Valley. Wineries that charge tasting fees for customers that buy their porduct(s) are like companies that require their employees to continue to wear suits and ties. Common' guys!! Join the 21st century and waive the tasting fee if people buy a bottle in the tasting room (this is our #1 winery pet peeve, in case you couldn't tell........). Still, this is a fantastic Napa Cab!
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3/6/2010 - golfwine wrote: 85 Points
I must have been distracted by the aromatics, when I convinced myself to purchase this at the winery. Unfortunately, those aromatics were really the only impressionable aspect of this wine, which had great color, my highly-coveted Alexander Valley herbal-earthiness but a pretty austere mid-palate with a short finish and so, never really blossomed into anything great. I'm possibly even being generous with the score. As such, at its $45 price tag, it was nowhere near a QPR and fell far short of the many outstanding examples from the AVA; many of which can be had markedly below this price point.
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8/29/2009 - Phin wrote: 89 Points
Raspberry, red currant and cedar with medium body. Light on finish.
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4/28/2009 - red guy wrote: 89 Points
Will improve with time but has a great deal of character despite lack of maturity as tanins mellow. Enjoyed a great deal even now--especially with tuscan pot roast.
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3/29/2009 - David J Cooper wrote:
Medium red. Cranberry, cherry, and cassis. Really nice elegant nose and flavours. Lighter wieght but still concentrated. Long dry finish. From an unirragated vineyard. Very good.
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