Loved this wine. Beautiful berry nose, ripe dark berry flavors with a refined touch of oak and fine resolved tannins. Even better the next day. First night we just enjoyed the wine to celebrate our anniversary and second night matched well to a ravioli topped with creamy marinara sauce.
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This was surprisingly good for a Sonoma bottling under $20 tonight. Juicy and tight, the lift in the nose was all about underbrush and alcohol. Flavors were lean but not hard, berry, a bit of pepper, some herb. Hanging in there, should be consumed 1-3 years.
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My final bottle is the most enjoyable. Tart berry, leather, and unlike the other bottles, a touch of funkiness; nice mouthfeel (more gritty than velvety) with prominent alcohol and tart berry and herbal flavors. Previous tasting note from 2010 is quite different than this one.
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Still a good wine at this age, blueberry and plenty of pepper and underbrush. Nose is sort of dirty, with musk and crushed dark berry. Good value at $20.
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Tannins very resolved. Red to purple fruits in fair abundance with some toasty oak. Limited secondary aromas. Mid-palate a little weak (acid), but overall fairly well balanced beginning to end with almost no tannin. One could say flabby or well balanced at end of drinking window. Because of good fruit yet, I enjoyed this. A good quaf for those learning to drink red wine and struggle with cabs!
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First let me say I've never been sold on AV Cabs, including the overpriced examples from the Oak. This was never intended to be more than it is, an okay Cab from hot area of the Valley that has a fancy name and was priced low for the "name". Its okay, juicy berry and maybe just a hint of TCA or dirty barrel in this particular bottle. Tannins are there but moderate, about right on the acidity but I would not spend a bunch of time contemplating this wine. Drink it with simple fare, give it to someone you like but don't love and enjoy it for a moderate price Cali-Cab that delivers about what you expect.
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Good wine and good QPR. Some lighter color on the rim showing the age. Nose has some floral notes as well as red fruit. Palate is well balanced, but shallow. Medium intensity red fruit, vanilla, and just a hint of pine forest, but the secondary flavors never developed well.
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Dark purple opaque. Nose had cherry leather coffee and slight alcohol. Tasted fruit leather and earthy. Would buy again a nice wine with a medium long finish, well balanced.
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This was a gift and has been in my "cellar" for about six years. I decided it was time to drink it. This wine was a pleasant surprise: it was very good right out of the bottle. It didn't change very much with aeration, just opened up a bit. It was equally good over the next two nights, until I finished it. Interestingly, there was no sediment in the bottle. This is a very pleasant wine, full-bodied but not overbearing. Even at its age, it still had plenty of fruit. As someone else said, also a bit of chocolate in the finish. A wine very good by itself or with food. I think it could have kept for a few more years. A good buy in its price range.
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Last bottle opened '10. Did not like then. Too tight and tannic. I would say this wine is in its prime. BIG dark berries on the nose. Less fruit on the palate. Softer, silkier. Finish more earthy with leather and graphite. Quite enjoyable now compared to 4 years ago. Maybe another year to go but not much longer.
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Took a while to open but very nice when it did . Overwhelming fruit early, but leather and soil tones emerged later, along with a hint of graphite. Should be good for another couple of yrs.
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A little fruit and oak the first evening, this disappeared night two, with little other than a bit of sour red stuff remaining. Should probably be put on a 2013 drink list.
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Very good value. Decanted for 30min to share with friends. Despite concerns with aging from previous posts all found the wine drinking within its prime. Wish I had more.
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Starting to show its age. Still a very good wine, but not as good as it was when it was younger. Fruit was starting to drop out of it, however, still a very complex and meaty wine. The beginning of the finish is fantastic, but then it tails off. Can almost taste some chocolate in it. I still really like this wine.
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Pop and pour ... A little oaky and a bit too sweet, with a dry, medium-short finish. Nice, up-front fruit and smooth, well-integrated tannins. Nothing exceptional though, and mediocre for its $26 price point. If it had been under $20, I'd have been more impressed. (And, in fact, I thought it was a sub-$20 Cab from its taste.) There's just a cherry cola aspect to this wine I can't get past. Tastes manipulated.
UPDATE DAY 2: Didn't hold up that well overnight (just simply corked and left on counter). Not all bad, but more bland and completely one dimensional after a night in the bottle.
87-88 day one. 84-85 day two.
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It's still drinking pretty well but not quite as good as previous bottles. It seemed to have lost a little of the fruit but I had a few glasses prior so there may have been a bit of palate fatigue. I still like the bottle and the qpr but I don't see much upside.
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A deep garnet hued wine with really long legs. The nose has An abundance of ripe black raspberry and red currant, along with rich earth and cedar. Big, soft and round at first, mouth coating tannins overtake mid palate upsetting the balance. Lots of life left here, and enough fruit to outlast the tannins. On Day2, the tannins still hadn't settled down, however. Tastes of black raspberry, red currant and plenty of oak. The average finish seems a little on the hot side with black raspberry, oak and earth. This wine should be much better once the tannins have softened.
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"Rich and regal in apprearance, but a false king when consumed." Deep purple, almost majestic in color. An interesting nose, but dominated with vanilla the would not share with the slight hint of cedar lurking below it. Taste was smooth, but dominated by too much oak and not enough acidity or interest to be an Outstanding wine. It seems lush at first, but after half a glass I was bored and wanted much more than the wine could deliver. Tasted next to a 2004 Justin Cab.
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Concentrated dark fruit, with a fair bit of charcoal-like tannins on the back end. Drinks well above its price point now and seems to have several years ahead of it.
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Nice cabernet for the price. Benefits from a couple hours in the decanter after which there is a lot of fruit and a very nice nose. Good flavor and balance and perfect for a night where you don't feel like drinking something expensive.
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Smooth, tannins balanced with some acidity. Berries and smokiness on the nose, oak with a hint of almonds on the palate, not much on the finish. Not bad for the price. Drank again 2nd night - fruit has opened up quite a bit and is much better. Smokiness on the nose pretty much disappeared, replaced by scent of black currant and a whiff of oak. Fruit, sweet tanins on the palate, even smoother tonight, a little spice on the finish. Quite enjoyable everyday wine. Upping score from 89 to 91.
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1.5 years later, opened another bottle. So much smoother than last time and the tannins are really starting to mellow. I think this wine can easily go another 2-3 years before hitting its prime. Slight smokeyness and ripe berry. I truly enjoyable wine and big QPR. I'm glad I bought a case because I think this wine equals or is better than many in the $100+ price range. (reduced 1 pt from previous rating because it didn't quite mature the way I thought it would...still great though)
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Fruity Cabernet displaying an interesting element of green plum. Herbal notes. The fruit is balanced by aggressive acidity and very smooth tannins. Delivers nicely at this price point.
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Not a bad little QPR. Opened and drank over 2 hours, no decant. Great nose of black and red fruits, and a decent palate with Good length. Fairly one dimensional and simple, but a good QPR for a Tuesday night. Went well with filet and baked potato with sauteed onions and aged cheddar cheese.
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Deep purple color. Currant, blueberry, and mocha aromas transition into a lovely volcanic rocky note finishing with a touch of spice and oak. The palate is big but shows nice deep figgy fruit, more dark chocolate and some French roast espresso. Balanced and showing nice youth this wine should age well for another five to seven years. Solid at this price point.
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No formal notes taken, but this wine over-delivered on its $30 price, even paired with a fine selection of Panda Express entrees. Very full-bodied with a long smooth finish. Sad it was my only 2005.
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Much much better than 1st bottle. Opened, sent through the Vinturi and then chugged. Has that great velvety quality nose, very fresh. Perhaps a bit hot on the aroma (14.5%). Full bodied, textured mouthfeel. Berry fruit with a touch of herb & spice. Nice, nose tingling oaky finish. I've got more. Yeah!
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Yummy, yummy wine, very tight out of the bottle, but opens up quickly. Lots of dust and chewiness, a big, big cab, but the fruit is still hidden behind the structure a bit, it's probably still a bit young. Would love to taste this one again in a couple of years. Still, almost everything you could ask for in a Cab, and even better with steak.
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No formal tasting notes so taste for yourself. This is really good, especially for the price. I can't see how anyone can complain about this wine, even at fulll retail price. I have had four or five bottles and all but one met or exceeded expectations. There may be a little bottle variation going on but I can't think of anything that has this quality at this price point. I have two cases and will enjoy every bottle.
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This was a hit. It was dark puplr in the glass, it looked rich and sticky though the glasses we served it in did not do it justice. It was smokey and oaky but a nice tannin balance. Berry and currants came across. People were mentioning licorice and earthy. No one said it was over the top. To Simi's credit, even neophytes enjoyed this big red. Bravo. Glad I have 6 left. A great vlaue.
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A little closed. We were unable to completely break through the "shyness" of this wine. Probably some clone 337 here. There is lots to like here. A pleasant, spicy, fruity, and oaky nose. Just the right color. They have blended in some Merlot and Cabernet Franc for some rounding out, and complexity. Rich red fruit, maybe a hint of cranberry. Just different enough from the "typical" flavors and aromas we get from Napa cabs. There is some that green herbaceousness, despite 14.5% alcohol ripeness; not enough for concern, but enough to keep it below the 90 point glass ceiling. Still young tannins keep things slightly out of balance. Mocha finish. A nice value, and it will improve with some bottle age.
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awesome alexander valley cab. minerally on the finish, good tongue hugging tannins. i know people knock WE for some ratings and i dont agree with them all the time. this time i do. HUGE qpr.
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Not good. First day, bitter and sour. I thought maybe it needed to open up. Second day, same. I am giving the wine the benefit of the doubt that it was a bad bottle, given other reviews. I might try it again.
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I was expecting a one-dimensional cali cab. Instead, this wine showed surprising complexity and balance! The flavors are all cab, but the fruit lingers in the mouth thanks to a nice backbone of tannin and acidity. Fabulous QPR.
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Aerated for an hour but never really warmed due to the firggin' freeizing temps here in SoE. Texas. Nose of earth, oak, anise/licorice and fresh fruit flavors you see when wine tasting in Sonoma or Napa. It is fresh and lively like those wines that always taste better at the winery than when you get them home or buy them at retail. My one concern is that there may not be enough fruit to guarantee a long life but that also may be a function of the young age of the wine. Flavors of blueberry, vanilla, oak, moderate tannin, chocolate back notes, plenty of acidity. Needs lots of air right now. Really, at around $21 with shipping, a good wine for every day drinking but I would wait until about 7 years of age to tear in (2012-2013).
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when i taste a wine like this, i wonder why a winery makes such a wide variety of indistinct, forgettable wines. couldn't you save some marketing/overhead by weeding wines like this out of your portfolio?
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Popped and poured. Not great upon opening, muted nose, perhaps a bit green and tannic. Moderate fruit flavors and quite tannic. Much better after an hour of air but might not get again.
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We thought this was great. Nose is big dark fruit, classic cab. Big dark fruits on the palate, great mouthfeel, great development and arc of flavor as it develops on the palate. Dry somewhat strong tannins that are well concealed until the finish.
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Opened and poured through an aerator to help get some air into the wine. The nose is full of herb, black pepper and oak, with a ruby color. The tannins were tight and overpowered the fruit in the middle.
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Nice medium ruby color, typical California nose. Lots of alcohol and a persistent, unappealing herbal edge to this wine. Short, medium bodied finish. Never opened up or improved in any significant way. No complexity to mention. Not much nice to say here. I know the ratings are high on this site, and W.E. gave it 94 pts. It is what it is, and for me its not much.
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This wine is seriously good, less disjointed than my last bottle but with none of the funky gingerbread I got last time. It feels very young yet but matched perfectly with a gorgonzola, fig, prosciutto, and arugula pizza. Typical California Cab nose, lots of fruit, great oak contribution. Awesome deal for $18.
89 points, maybe more in the future.
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Popped and let breathe for a few hours. It had a intriguing tobacco funky leatheryness at first but that was gone by the time we got to it. Pretty dark in the glass with some cassis & plum, some spiciness tending towards gingerbread. The tannins seemed young and there were a lot of things bumping around on the palate. Still young but possesses the backbone to age a few more years and really come together.
Very good, likely much better in the future. I'm saving the rest for a while. 88 pts.
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Red Garnet color. Aromas of chocolate covered raspberries, sweet spice and leather. Elegant with smooth tannins and opens up to loads of red and black fruit on the palate. Great structure and balance with a very persistent finish. A hint of toasty oak on the prolonged finish.
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The wine had a dark, inky appearance and was beautiful in the glass. The smell was also pleasant. Aromas of leather, tobacco, and cloves. This wine had a complex taste; it started tannic and became a little bit fruity in the mouth, but just slightly. It sort of tasted like a pipe smells when someone is smoking it. I thought this was a wonderful red wine.
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Deep, inky colored, over the top and extracted, with flamboyant chocolate and cassis notes. A little much for my tastes, but a style many will like. Very full with lots of texture.
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6/14/2021 - ElAzul Likes this wine: 92 Points
Loved this wine. Beautiful berry nose, ripe dark berry flavors with a refined touch of oak and fine resolved tannins. Even better the next day. First night we just enjoyed the wine to celebrate our anniversary and second night matched well to a ravioli topped with creamy marinara sauce.
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2/21/2018 - guitarguy wrote: 84 Points
Maybe some slight TCA, very tight with just a bit of fruit still left. Drink now.
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10/3/2017 - Ranjan wrote: 90 Points
Harsh, but ready to drink. Decant. Still some life left.
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5/20/2017 - bradfriedlander Likes this wine: 82 Points
Okay. A little harsh on the finish. Mostly a one note wine. Lacked structure or flavors other than cherry.
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4/1/2017 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Incredible nose.
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11/15/2016 - guitarguy Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was surprisingly good for a Sonoma bottling under $20 tonight. Juicy and tight, the lift in the nose was all about underbrush and alcohol. Flavors were lean but not hard, berry, a bit of pepper, some herb. Hanging in there, should be consumed 1-3 years.
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11/5/2016 - WilliamF17 Likes this wine: 87 Points
quite fresh and stable, decent fruit, smooth
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10/28/2016 - Racer117 Likes this wine: 91 Points
My final bottle is the most enjoyable. Tart berry, leather, and unlike the other bottles, a touch of funkiness; nice mouthfeel (more gritty than velvety) with prominent alcohol and tart berry and herbal flavors. Previous tasting note from 2010 is quite different than this one.
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10/5/2016 - guitarguy wrote: 87 Points
Still a good wine at this age, blueberry and plenty of pepper and underbrush. Nose is sort of dirty, with musk and crushed dark berry. Good value at $20.
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9/19/2016 - guitarguy Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nose of spicy, fresh berry and sous bois. A bit vegetal at this point in its evolution, blueberry, pepper, tannin and a bit of heat. Drink 1-3 years.
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7/13/2016 - guitarguy wrote: 88 Points
Surprising, not too old, although lacking youthful vigor, with blackberry and a hint of oak. Drink in 1-2 years, if not before.
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5/23/2016 - BoulderWine wrote: 89 Points
From a magnum. Nice color with still fresh Cab aromas. Full mouth of fruit. Drank well with grilled rib-eye steaks. Everyone liked it with the food.
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5/22/2016 - Vinobc wrote: 90 Points
Exceeded expectations, didn't think it would be this good. Garnet color, agree that the tannins were under control.
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2/24/2016 - papabluez wrote: 90 Points
Tannins very resolved. Red to purple fruits in fair abundance with some toasty oak. Limited secondary aromas. Mid-palate a little weak (acid), but overall fairly well balanced beginning to end with almost no tannin. One could say flabby or well balanced at end of drinking window. Because of good fruit yet, I enjoyed this. A good quaf for those learning to drink red wine and struggle with cabs!
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1/7/2016 - guitarguy wrote: 86 Points
First let me say I've never been sold on AV Cabs, including the overpriced examples from the Oak. This was never intended to be more than it is, an okay Cab from hot area of the Valley that has a fancy name and was priced low for the "name". Its okay, juicy berry and maybe just a hint of TCA or dirty barrel in this particular bottle. Tannins are there but moderate, about right on the acidity but I would not spend a bunch of time contemplating this wine. Drink it with simple fare, give it to someone you like but don't love and enjoy it for a moderate price Cali-Cab that delivers about what you expect.
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12/1/2015 - Grenik Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good wine and good QPR. Some lighter color on the rim showing the age. Nose has some floral notes as well as red fruit. Palate is well balanced, but shallow. Medium intensity red fruit, vanilla, and just a hint of pine forest, but the secondary flavors never developed well.
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9/12/2015 - Jwd12 wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple opaque. Nose had cherry leather coffee and slight alcohol. Tasted fruit leather and earthy. Would buy again a nice wine with a medium long finish, well balanced.
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7/31/2015 - gingerbreadman wrote: 85 Points
Ok. Nothing special.
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4/24/2015 - guitarguy wrote: 89 Points
This was in a good place, showing bright berry fruit and caressing tannin with a loamy, sous bios nose. No reason not to start drinking these.
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4/21/2015 - RDGinSA Likes this wine: 89 Points
This was a gift and has been in my "cellar" for about six years. I decided it was time to drink it. This wine was a pleasant surprise: it was very good right out of the bottle. It didn't change very much with aeration, just opened up a bit. It was equally good over the next two nights, until I finished it. Interestingly, there was no sediment in the bottle. This is a very pleasant wine, full-bodied but not overbearing. Even at its age, it still had plenty of fruit. As someone else said, also a bit of chocolate in the finish. A wine very good by itself or with food. I think it could have kept for a few more years. A good buy in its price range.
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11/7/2014 - jtaylor3 wrote: 92 Points
Last bottle opened '10. Did not like then. Too tight and tannic. I would say this wine is in its prime. BIG dark berries on the nose. Less fruit on the palate. Softer, silkier. Finish more earthy with leather and graphite. Quite enjoyable now compared to 4 years ago. Maybe another year to go but not much longer.
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5/5/2014 - mmoss wrote:
This was an off bottle or on a sharp decline. Either way, this bottle does not match my previous notes and will not be scoring.
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3/30/2014 - Wineandsports Likes this wine: 88 Points
Took a while to open but very nice when it did . Overwhelming fruit early, but leather and soil tones emerged later, along with a hint of graphite. Should be good for another couple of yrs.
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11/30/2013 - PBANGELO Likes this wine: 91 Points
One of my favorite CA cabs. Plenty of dark berries on the nose. Silky mouth feel, well-integrated with just a hint of oak.
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1/23/2013 - larryw wrote: 88 Points
Dark cherry, up front tannins, some leather on the nose with hints of chocolate and sour cherry on palate. A relatively short finish.
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12/9/2012 - guitarguy wrote: 85 Points
A little fruit and oak the first evening, this disappeared night two, with little other than a bit of sour red stuff remaining. Should probably be put on a 2013 drink list.
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8/6/2012 - macawmom&dad wrote: 91 Points
Excellent cab, deep color with great fruit and still aging potential.
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5/18/2012 - Chops wrote: 91 Points
Very good value. Decanted for 30min to share with friends. Despite concerns with aging from previous posts all found the wine drinking within its prime. Wish I had more.
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4/14/2012 - nrickman wrote: 90 Points
Starting to show its age. Still a very good wine, but not as good as it was when it was younger. Fruit was starting to drop out of it, however, still a very complex and meaty wine. The beginning of the finish is fantastic, but then it tails off. Can almost taste some chocolate in it. I still really like this wine.
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3/6/2012 - macawmom&dad wrote: 91 Points
Superb Cabernet Sauvignon flavors and structure. Really enjoyed. Aging well.
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3/1/2012 - Moxie Marcy wrote:
aroma of peppermint and anise.
Blackberry and plum on the palate with some cocoa on the finish.
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11/30/2011 - TCKM wrote: 89 Points
Noticing a little bottle variation in this wine..
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11/18/2011 - markandsusanw wrote: 86 Points
Pop and pour ... A little oaky and a bit too sweet, with a dry, medium-short finish. Nice, up-front fruit and smooth, well-integrated tannins. Nothing exceptional though, and mediocre for its $26 price point. If it had been under $20, I'd have been more impressed. (And, in fact, I thought it was a sub-$20 Cab from its taste.) There's just a cherry cola aspect to this wine I can't get past. Tastes manipulated.
UPDATE DAY 2: Didn't hold up that well overnight (just simply corked and left on counter). Not all bad, but more bland and completely one dimensional after a night in the bottle.
87-88 day one. 84-85 day two.
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11/3/2011 - danscellar wrote: 92 Points
Very nice Cab, good structure, nice tannins, softened up quickly, smooth on the palate
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11/1/2011 - Max Power wrote: 86 Points
It's still drinking pretty well but not quite as good as previous bottles. It seemed to have lost a little of the fruit but I had a few glasses prior so there may have been a bit of palate fatigue. I still like the bottle and the qpr but I don't see much upside.
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10/30/2011 - atwkite wrote: 91 Points
Good, but lacking some fruit and structure.
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9/18/2011 - edarrincox wrote: 92 Points
Excellent Cab, drinking very well with smooth tannins and ripe fruit. Sorry I only have 3 left--this is a great wine.
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9/1/2011 - The Kokopelli wrote: 87 Points
A deep garnet hued wine with really long legs. The nose has An abundance of ripe black raspberry and red currant, along with rich earth and cedar. Big, soft and round at first, mouth coating tannins overtake mid palate upsetting the balance. Lots of life left here, and enough fruit to outlast the tannins. On Day2, the tannins still hadn't settled down, however. Tastes of black raspberry, red currant and plenty of oak. The average finish seems a little on the hot side with black raspberry, oak and earth. This wine should be much better once the tannins have softened.
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8/8/2011 - Max Power wrote: 90 Points
This drank very well last night. It seems to drink a little better with an hour or two in the decanter. V
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8/5/2011 - dcprincess wrote: 86 Points
flat and mildly acidic.
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4/24/2011 - Jslo wrote: 90 Points
Oak and nilla, smoky
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4/1/2011 - mmoss wrote: 90 Points
Keeps getting better and better! Still slightly tannic but quickly opened. A lot of dense fruit up front and a mellow finish.
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2/19/2011 - Grenik wrote: 88 Points
"Rich and regal in apprearance, but a false king when consumed." Deep purple, almost majestic in color. An interesting nose, but dominated with vanilla the would not share with the slight hint of cedar lurking below it. Taste was smooth, but dominated by too much oak and not enough acidity or interest to be an Outstanding wine. It seems lush at first, but after half a glass I was bored and wanted much more than the wine could deliver. Tasted next to a 2004 Justin Cab.
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2/15/2011 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 92 Points
Concentrated dark fruit, with a fair bit of charcoal-like tannins on the back end. Drinks well above its price point now and seems to have several years ahead of it.
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2/6/2011 - tturner2b wrote: 90 Points
Nice cabernet for the price. Benefits from a couple hours in the decanter after which there is a lot of fruit and a very nice nose. Good flavor and balance and perfect for a night where you don't feel like drinking something expensive.
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1/28/2011 - JiaLiBai wrote: 91 Points
Smooth, tannins balanced with some acidity. Berries and smokiness on the nose, oak with a hint of almonds on the palate, not much on the finish. Not bad for the price. Drank again 2nd night - fruit has opened up quite a bit and is much better. Smokiness on the nose pretty much disappeared, replaced by scent of black currant and a whiff of oak. Fruit, sweet tanins on the palate, even smoother tonight, a little spice on the finish. Quite enjoyable everyday wine. Upping score from 89 to 91.
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1/14/2011 - TCKM wrote: 90 Points
Consistent
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1/11/2011 - Max Power wrote: 89 Points
This was really good last night. We drank it after an '05 Veeder Reserve and this didn't disappoint at all. I'm glad I have more of these to enjoy.
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1/7/2011 - jtinto wrote: 89 Points
Reaffirmed itself as a tremendous value. Drink.
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12/24/2010 - rossnross wrote: 93 Points
1.5 years later, opened another bottle. So much smoother than last time and the tannins are really starting to mellow. I think this wine can easily go another 2-3 years before hitting its prime. Slight smokeyness and ripe berry. I truly enjoyable wine and big QPR. I'm glad I bought a case because I think this wine equals or is better than many in the $100+ price range. (reduced 1 pt from previous rating because it didn't quite mature the way I thought it would...still great though)
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10/29/2010 - jtinto wrote: 89 Points
Fruity Cabernet displaying an interesting element of green plum. Herbal notes. The fruit is balanced by aggressive acidity and very smooth tannins. Delivers nicely at this price point.
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10/19/2010 - Grape Stuff wrote: 86 Points
Not a bad little QPR. Opened and drank over 2 hours, no decant. Great nose of black and red fruits, and a decent palate with Good length. Fairly one dimensional and simple, but a good QPR for a Tuesday night. Went well with filet and baked potato with sauteed onions and aged cheddar cheese.
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9/29/2010 - Jameskent wrote: 88 Points
We enjoyed this full bodied wine with pork chops in a mushroom sauce.
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9/15/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 89 Points
Deep purple color. Currant, blueberry, and mocha aromas transition into a lovely volcanic rocky note finishing with a touch of spice and oak.
The palate is big but shows nice deep figgy fruit, more dark chocolate and some French roast espresso.
Balanced and showing nice youth this wine should age well for another five to seven years. Solid at this price point.
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8/27/2010 - carlsport wrote: 90 Points
No formal notes taken, but this wine over-delivered on its $30 price, even paired with a fine selection of Panda Express entrees. Very full-bodied with a long smooth finish. Sad it was my only 2005.
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8/8/2010 - Barnaby33 wrote:
Smooth oaky AV cab. Nothing particularly special about it, but no hard edges either. Enjoy it with friends and don't give it much though.
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8/1/2010 - chanote44 wrote: 91 Points
This cab is hitting its peak. I'm sorry that it is my last bottle.
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7/2/2010 - Racer117 wrote: 90 Points
Much much better than 1st bottle. Opened, sent through the Vinturi and then chugged. Has that great velvety quality nose, very fresh. Perhaps a bit hot on the aroma (14.5%). Full bodied, textured mouthfeel. Berry fruit with a touch of herb & spice. Nice, nose tingling oaky finish. I've got more. Yeah!
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6/20/2010 - Dan & Krista Stockman wrote: 95 Points
Yummy, yummy wine, very tight out of the bottle, but opens up quickly. Lots of dust and chewiness, a big, big cab, but the fruit is still hidden behind the structure a bit, it's probably still a bit young. Would love to taste this one again in a couple of years. Still, almost everything you could ask for in a Cab, and even better with steak.
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5/12/2010 - Max Power wrote: 88 Points
No formal tasting notes so taste for yourself. This is really good, especially for the price. I can't see how anyone can complain about this wine, even at fulll retail price. I have had four or five bottles and all but one met or exceeded expectations. There may be a little bottle variation going on but I can't think of anything that has this quality at this price point. I have two cases and will enjoy every bottle.
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5/9/2010 - mmoss wrote: 90 Points
One of the nice finds of the evening! Great flavor in this 05 cab and only wished I had bought another bottle!
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4/20/2010 - ewineguy wrote: 91 Points
This was a hit. It was dark puplr in the glass, it looked rich and sticky though the glasses we served it in did not do it justice. It was smokey and oaky but a nice tannin balance. Berry and currants came across. People were mentioning licorice and earthy. No one said it was over the top. To Simi's credit, even neophytes enjoyed this big red. Bravo. Glad I have 6 left. A great vlaue.
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3/29/2010 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 89 Points
A little closed. We were unable to completely break through the "shyness" of this wine. Probably some clone 337 here. There is lots to like here. A pleasant, spicy, fruity, and oaky nose. Just the right color. They have blended in some Merlot and Cabernet Franc for some rounding out, and complexity. Rich red fruit, maybe a hint of cranberry. Just different enough from the "typical" flavors and aromas we get from Napa cabs. There is some that green herbaceousness, despite 14.5% alcohol ripeness; not enough for concern, but enough to keep it below the 90 point glass ceiling. Still young tannins keep things slightly out of balance. Mocha finish. A nice value, and it will improve with some bottle age.
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2/5/2010 - Nedder_travels_the_world wrote: 94 Points
awesome alexander valley cab. minerally on the finish, good tongue hugging tannins. i know people knock WE for some ratings and i dont agree with them all the time. this time i do. HUGE qpr.
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2/3/2010 - wine4me2 wrote: flawed
Not good. First day, bitter and sour. I thought maybe it needed to open up. Second day, same. I am giving the wine the benefit of the doubt that it was a bad bottle, given other reviews. I might try it again.
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1/31/2010 - Philly NQ King wrote: 92 Points
I was expecting a one-dimensional cali cab. Instead, this wine showed surprising complexity and balance! The flavors are all cab, but the fruit lingers in the mouth thanks to a nice backbone of tannin and acidity. Fabulous QPR.
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1/8/2010 - guitarguy wrote: 89 Points
Aerated for an hour but never really warmed due to the firggin' freeizing temps here in SoE. Texas. Nose of earth, oak, anise/licorice and fresh fruit flavors you see when wine tasting in Sonoma or Napa. It is fresh and lively like those wines that always taste better at the winery than when you get them home or buy them at retail. My one concern is that there may not be enough fruit to guarantee a long life but that also may be a function of the young age of the wine. Flavors of blueberry, vanilla, oak, moderate tannin, chocolate back notes, plenty of acidity. Needs lots of air right now. Really, at around $21 with shipping, a good wine for every day drinking but I would wait until about 7 years of age to tear in (2012-2013).
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1/2/2010 - LOML2008 wrote: 90 Points
Hearty red. Deep purple color, complex wine. Develops best after airing for an hour or more.
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11/22/2009 - jcarman wrote: 92 Points
Opened and let breath for 1 hour. Had this with pasta and was very good. Great buy at $24. We really enjoyed this one.
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11/19/2009 - snaff wrote: 91 Points
Great cab, blending dusty notes, molasses and blackberry for a cohesive, rich wine.
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11/14/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 86 Points
Big Red! (Sportsman's): Purple color. Black fruit nose. Cherry kirsch finish.
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11/14/2009 - jeff nowak wrote:
when i taste a wine like this, i wonder why a winery makes such a wide variety of indistinct, forgettable wines. couldn't you save some marketing/overhead by weeding wines like this out of your portfolio?
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10/23/2009 - winosis3 wrote:
Opened and poured. Nice intense cab. Some berry flavors. Good price point. had as nightcap would go great with food.
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10/6/2009 - Hollowleg wrote: 90 Points
Showed better this time around after a long decant. Paired well with rib eyes.
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9/12/2009 - amateurwino wrote: 90 Points
2005 Cali cabs tasting; 9/12/2009-9/14/2009 (NYC): Tasted single blind. Balanced, good 90ish. Guessed Sequioia but this was the Simi Landslide.
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9/6/2009 - jcarman wrote: 90 Points
This is a very good wine, and for a good pice at $24. Very good nose. It was a good paring with the chicken kabob's we had.
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9/1/2009 - Racer117 wrote: 86 Points
Popped and poured. Not great upon opening, muted nose, perhaps a bit green and tannic. Moderate fruit flavors and quite tannic. Much better after an hour of air but might not get again.
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8/16/2009 - saribo wrote: 91 Points
We thought this was great. Nose is big dark fruit, classic cab. Big dark fruits on the palate, great mouthfeel, great development and arc of flavor as it develops on the palate. Dry somewhat strong tannins that are well concealed until the finish.
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8/7/2009 - depdoc wrote: 84 Points
Disjointed. Did not improve with decanting and breathing. Aroma was pleasant, but a disappointment overall.
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8/6/2009 - DanSm wrote: 85 Points
A bit disappointing.
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8/4/2009 - mjsherwin68 wrote: 88 Points
Opened and poured through an aerator to help get some air into the wine. The nose is full of herb, black pepper and oak, with a ruby color. The tannins were tight and overpowered the fruit in the middle.
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7/31/2009 - wineotim wrote: 82 Points
Nice medium ruby color, typical California nose. Lots of alcohol and a persistent, unappealing herbal edge to this wine. Short, medium bodied finish. Never opened up or improved in any significant way. No complexity to mention. Not much nice to say here. I know the ratings are high on this site, and W.E. gave it 94 pts. It is what it is, and for me its not much.
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7/18/2009 - bcahill wrote: 89 Points
No formal notes but the crowd liked this wine. Remember being a typical example of a Cali cab.
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7/6/2009 - Hollowleg wrote: 89 Points
A bit austere, never really opening up enough to achieve the ratings of the previous bottles.
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7/4/2009 - cpowell wrote: 91 Points
Pure cab, and smooth as glass. Not a long term keeper, so drink up friends. A food wine.
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7/3/2009 - andtheodor wrote: 89 Points
This wine is seriously good, less disjointed than my last bottle but with none of the funky gingerbread I got last time. It feels very young yet but matched perfectly with a gorgonzola, fig, prosciutto, and arugula pizza. Typical California Cab nose, lots of fruit, great oak contribution. Awesome deal for $18.
89 points, maybe more in the future.
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6/24/2009 - redpreferred wrote: 91 Points
We really enjoyed this. A bit young. Will buy more for sure.
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5/23/2009 - andtheodor wrote: 88 Points
Popped and let breathe for a few hours. It had a intriguing tobacco funky leatheryness at first but that was gone by the time we got to it. Pretty dark in the glass with some cassis & plum, some spiciness tending towards gingerbread. The tannins seemed young and there were a lot of things bumping around on the palate. Still young but possesses the backbone to age a few more years and really come together.
Very good, likely much better in the future. I'm saving the rest for a while. 88 pts.
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4/28/2009 - hifiwine wrote: 91 Points
the last was a bas bottle, this one much better but not a 94
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4/25/2009 - csu.viticulture wrote: 93 Points
Intricate aromas of black pepper, plum, blackberry, and toasty oak. Medium bodied with mature tannins, good structure. Not too fruity.
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4/24/2009 - rossnross wrote: 94 Points
Had to try one. No way is it ready it. This is a big wine that will age for years to come. Won't open another for at least 2-3 more years.
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4/19/2009 - Hollowleg wrote: 91 Points
Pop & pour. No notes taken, but excellent with marinated beef tenderloin.
I'd buy this again.
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4/14/2009 - hifiwine wrote: 84 Points
not what I expected, full of tannins and sort of all over the place. hope it was just a bad bottle
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4/3/2009 - dannypat21 wrote: 95 Points
Red Garnet color. Aromas of chocolate covered raspberries, sweet spice and leather. Elegant with smooth tannins and opens up to loads of red and black fruit on the palate. Great structure and balance with a very persistent finish. A hint of toasty oak on the prolonged finish.
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2/15/2009 - wboka wrote: 92 Points
The wine had a dark, inky appearance and was beautiful in the glass. The smell was also pleasant. Aromas of leather, tobacco, and cloves. This wine had a complex taste; it started tannic and became a little bit fruity in the mouth, but just slightly. It sort of tasted like a pipe smells when someone is smoking it. I thought this was a wonderful red wine.
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10/18/2008 - wino_tim wrote: 91 Points
Deep, inky colored, over the top and extracted, with flamboyant chocolate and cassis notes. A little much for my tastes, but a style many will like. Very full with lots of texture.
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