My last bottle, definitely continued to improve over time. Still some tannins, leather, meatiness and fruit. If I had more I would be drinking them but not in a rush.
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Decanted for 90 min, this was stunning. Supremely pure and focused blackcurrant with a sweet cassis edge to the fruit. Fine and elegant, but with a subtle power and minerality that gave this depth and complexity. Silky on the front palate, but with sooty tannins and solid backbone. I'd easily guess Pauillac instead of Napa.
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I was a bit concerned opening this for a dinner with friends given vintage, but it was still going strong. Opened up well, big, rich cab. Still had some body and went well with a beef dinner.
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What's not to like? It's certainly a classic Cali Cab: big and rich, ripe sweet fruit, developing good depth and complexity. Flavours of blackcurrant, blackberry, Cassis, menthol (quite strong but nice), vanilla and cinnamon oak spice and notes of saddle leather.... so why not give it a higher score? Because the finish is slightly astringent, which one finds with some Cali cabs, Corrison is another example.... I think it is those seeking greater acidity... or perhaps a little too much skin contact... thoughts? I think it is the former but in this case I don't really understand it as the fruit is clearly very ripe.
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Absolutely fantastic with Xmas prime rib. Popped and gave it a quick decant due to poor planning. Fortunately it was singing right out of the gate. Big nose. Very little age apparent in the color. Med+ bodied, impeccably balanced, beautiful fruit and cigar box and leather notes. Fairly round tannins along with just enough acidity. Finish lingered in your mouth. Continued to improve over an hour. Very happy about this bottle, second of two. Lots of life left, but this is in a premium drinking window right now, a little better than my earlier bottle 2 1/2 yrs ago.
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Terrific wine. Excellent balance, old world in style, still young but immensely enjoyable. Don't drink much Napa, but this was among the best I've had. Drink of hold.
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5 hour slo O, no decant, minimal sediment nose was redolent with floral and candied cherry notes, perfumed palate was super smooth with chocolate, more cherries, a hint of caramel finish was long and polished , perfectly resolved tannins Gorgeous wine right now. Well stored could go 5-10 more years, but why wait?
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Riktigt bra. Jag har nyligen provat flera 2005 från Napa, och jag börjar luta åt att det är en underskattad årgång - som dricks väl nu och några år framåt.
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Consumer NYE (late) so no serious tasting notes but this wowed and was by far the WOTN. Still plenty of fruit but very nicely balanced and in a more restrained style for Napa (which was expected).
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Fine structure and balance, nicely restrained in terms of being a Napa calcab. The wine opened over the evening, and softened, but retained its muscle. No immediate rush on this one.
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Overwhelming black pepper and unripe fruit with a slight chemical aftertaste. I would say this was a flawed bottle except WS reports same taste on five different occasions.
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This wine has really done well with age. The nose is cantaloupe with a whiff of an old damp cellar. Tannins are silky and the initial taste is dark fruit, licorice and earth. The palate then ends with a hint of raisins and a fruity acidity like pomegranate.
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This was a nicely integrated aged cab that has held up nicely. Red fruit predominately, but some hints of cedar and tobacco to help add depth and interest. The nose was quite nice and the initial impressions on the palate were strong, but the mid-palate to the finish was a bit lacking. There was still some fruit, but it was fading and the earth tones were a bit muddy and disjointed. Still, a pleasant wine and quite enjoyable. Drink now.
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Another consistent showing for this wine, very pure with lots of sweet and ripe black cherry and currant fruit. Soft fine, tannins and a nicely balanced finish make this a treat to drink. Not overly complex, which reduces the point total here some.
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Popped and poured for a table side dinner w group. Drank along side Andrew Will, old Dominius, adolescent Bordesux. Good comparison with a nonvintage Fay. This is a classic Napa cab. Soft tannins good mouthfeel. Fruit there, but not overpowering. Rimmerman come thru.
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Totally agree with WMCCONE54 this is quintessential aged Napa cab. Decanted 30 minutes and took about 1 hour for alcohol to blow off but then fragrant flowery aromatics of lavender and baking spice. Rich, sweet and creamy black fruit coats the mid palate with classic tobacco leaf, cedar, and anise mixed in. Finish goes on for 20 seconds with vanilla and white pepper notes and fully integrated tannins, but juicy acidity still present to suggest at least 3-5 years more life ahead! This bottle drinking better than the last I had a year ago. Killer juice! And sadly my last bottle.
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Indbydende aroma af lilla blomster, krydret solbær, grønt tobak, mørke bær, saftige blommer og kirsebær. Rig udtryksfyldt afbalanceret, kompleks og elegant. Tanniner, syre og eg i ligevægt. Meget imponerende.
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Jeez, did Wine Spectator whiff on this back in 2008, a 78 ? This is the second bottle of this that I have had in as many years, just a shining example of how great an aged Napa Cabernet can be after a few years in an well kept cellar. Stood up for 30 minutes and then decanted for 45 minutes. Insignificant but slightly noticeable signs of bricking, which is to be expected after close to ten years; medium bodied. Intoxicatingly aromatic, showing aromas of purple flowers, spicy black currant, leafy tobacco, dark berries, juicy plums, and chocolate covered cherries. Rich, expressive, balanced, complex, and elegant. Tannins, acidity, and oak all in equilibrium. Very impressive. Better than I remember from last year.
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Drinking nicely, gave it about 90 minutes in the decanter, nice eucalyptus note on the nose. On the palate, medium-bodied, nice fruit and tannins still showing. modest finish. Not a big california bomber, plenty of structure for some more time in the cellar.
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At this price point, I was a bit disappointed by the harsh and somewhat unpleasant tannins, however time may cure them as Day 2 showed the wine continuing to display tannic flavor notes. To be continued.
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Nice "pure" Napa cab. Nice sweetness, great balance and the right mix of tannins and acidity. Lots of blackcherry and blackcurrant fruit. Maybe lacks a little complexity - but a really delicious drop. Outshone a little by a Betz 2007 syrah.
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A quintessential Cabernet. It is drinkable now, and may improve slightly over the next 2 years, but is a fine wine.
The wine has a dark garnet colored. The legs are medium and thin, It smells of dark blackberries, black currant (cassis) and raspberry. It tastes like blackberry and black currant (cassis). The body is full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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Very very nice (two very's) not a great value, have had better from Stags Leap and far better for the money but still one of my favorites. Great nose, fruit, smoked meat and braise. Full and lush fruit, balance and power on the palet. Pepper, sage and hints of chocolate and caramel on the long finish.
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Showed some bricking and a distinct napa can flavor that demonstrated the fact that this wine is almost 10 years old. Others have suggested that this has "plenty of life" but I don't see this improving much more. Excellent now and perhaps for another few years. Certainly decant and let this evolve over some hours.
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This opaque ruby wine was presented in single-blind fashion to our tasting group, with the bottle kindly provided by J.P. Showing moderately intense aromas of cassis, Asian spices, nutmeg and pipe tobacco, it follows with a full-bodied palate of similar flavors. The wine is impressively structured, with medium acidity, firm tannins and well-integrated alcohol (listed as 14.5%). Sturdy in the middle, it concludes with a lengthy, tart finish. Very enjoyable now, this Cabernet may further improve and may ultimately merit a higher score. Drink now-2024.
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Opened, stood up for an hour, and decanted for another hour. Big mature and complex nose, medium bodied. Tobacco, spicy red currant, cherry, and smokey plum. Starting to gravitate toward red fruits with still enough structure to show this still has plenty of life. Still good finish. Really liked this one.
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Overall very good. Brett nose of Band-Aids, fairly mild, but somewhat unexpected. Also a good amount of Cassis and a little spice. Medium body, medium acidity, and overall very mild mouth feel. A good example of a mid grade Napa Valley Cabernet.
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Decanted several hours before drinking. Deep ruby color, nose of dark fruit, cassis, black olive, licorice, truffle and mint burst from the glass. Great depth and intensity in the mouth, the fruit and earthy flavors show nice focus, while integrating with a broad but not overpowering tannic structure. Long silky finish. Loved this wine, probably in my top 10 all time. Not sure if this means I need to drink more wine...
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One of the biggest regrets I ever had w mailing clubs was this one. Both the fact I paid such crazy stupid prices as they bombarded me w really high cost wines, and that they were, after these years, great. This is no exception, terrible qpr, but an excellent Napa Valley floor wine. Puts many French wines to shame.
Agree w mfvogal...
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Smooth and balanced. Red berry flavors and a hint of tobacco. Paired well with a bistro steak and red wine sauce. Very nice...too bad it was our last bottle!
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My wife and I had this wine at Lakeside Restaurant in Highlands, NC. Great nose. Very well balanced with classic Cali cab fruit but understated and not over the top like many Cali cabs. A strong and lengthy finish. Well done.
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Maybe I have just had the best bottle of Fay 05 ever compared to the other tasting notes on ct because this wine was fantastic! It nose was big and opulent with a clear cabernet-based note of dark barriers and lots of intense fruit power but it was all balanced perfectly with the cedar-tones and a little bit of an earthy component! The Nose was really a bluckbuster that was in it self almost enough! the palet was ultrasmooth and the fruit on the mid-palet was so pure and fresh and the tannins was right there to help lift it up and away from a cali-cab-fruit-bomb and into a perfect symbiosis between classic Bordeaux cabernet and the ripe fruit cabernet from cali! All in all a big surprise and clearly the winner for the night!!!
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Cork was dry and flaking at top, which had me worried. Near the base it was good and saturated... wine had maintained its integrity. Nice bright red color with no brown or amber at edges. Nose was of wet oak and light fruits. Taste was of cherries. Nice complexity of wispy tannins. Very enjoyable!
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Appearance: Bright and clear, deep ruby with fading rims and legs Nose: Clean, medium (+) intensity and developing aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, vanilla, savory, oak, violet, nutmeg and smoke. Palate: Dry, medium acidity with medium (+) tannin of ripe and velvety texture. Medium (+) alcohol, medium (+) body with medium (+) intensity flavors of blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, ripe black cherry, vanilla, oak, smoke, chocolate and nutmeg. Medium (+) length. Conclusion: Very good quality Napa Cabernet Sauvignon showing the ripe black fruit and highly complex nose and palate. Intensely built on the aromas and flavors, the wine has a firm body and structure to last for much longer in ageing. A good long length accompanies. Ready to drink now but can benefit from further ageing of another 5-8 years.
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Surprisingly not that good. Rather green, while still full bodied it remains nothing special. After the initial disappointment I put it back into the cellar overnight, but it did not improve.
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Earthy on the nose. Very fruit forward and lacks complexity. Decanted but but didn't make any difference. Very disappointing at this price point. Drink now.
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Very difficult to score this wine, initially rather lean and green with lots of acidity. Next day...dark cherry, currant, and cedar come to life but the finish is short and green. I can tell the pedigree is there, the details are not being executed. This would be a fine $20 dollar wine...too bad its over 3 times that. Don't know what has happened to this vineyard, the '97 was monumental, but since then not too exciting. Its hard to find anything interesting or exceptional to say about this wine. Wait ten years before opening ? Maybe.
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What a dissapointment. Definitely overpriced for what you get. This tasted like a $20 california cab. I'd gladly trade for 2 bottles of Heitz. Nothing particularly bad, but nothing remarkable either.
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Hard to rate this as it was compared with an 2003 Shafer Hillside. Lots of earth, tobacco, and leather which was kind of overwhelming the fruit and other flavors. Might have too much Brett for my liking. Several bottles were opened at the dinner, but all seemed similar to me not corked rather just "off".
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Tasted 8 wines at Stag's Leap and this one stood out. It doesn't have the old-world fullness of the Cask 23, but it was very very nice, especially for the price.
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Just released at the winery. This is a much better wine than you might have supposed from the 78 score from JL; tough day at the tasting bar. This single vineyard, 100% cab is a nice effort. Already rounded and nicely developed, a little soft on the edges. Classical cab characteristics, nice herbal note floats off the top. Will age for 10 years but approachable in the near tem
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5/30/2023 - mdanyc Likes this wine: 92 Points
My last bottle, definitely continued to improve over time. Still some tannins, leather, meatiness and fruit. If I had more I would be drinking them but not in a rush.
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8/15/2022 - mdanyc Likes this wine: 90 Points
Just about as good as it's going to get I think - gave it a couple of hours open and good to go.
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3/12/2022 - kmforster Likes this wine: 93 Points
Gorgeous! Decanted for an hour.
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1/31/2021 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 90 min, this was stunning. Supremely pure and focused blackcurrant with a sweet cassis edge to the fruit. Fine and elegant, but with a subtle power and minerality that gave this depth and complexity. Silky on the front palate, but with sooty tannins and solid backbone. I'd easily guess Pauillac instead of Napa.
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9/22/2020 - hankj wrote: 89 Points
Stock standard decent quality old school style Napa Cabernet that's ready to go now.
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5/17/2020 - fredshouse wrote: flawed
Shot through with a bitter acidity. No amount of decant/aeration made any difference. Pau.
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1/31/2020 - richbromberg Likes this wine: 91 Points
I was a bit concerned opening this for a dinner with friends given vintage, but it was still going strong. Opened up well, big, rich cab. Still had some body and went well with a beef dinner.
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6/2/2019 - Mr T wrote:
Nice cab.
It went down easy
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2/24/2019 - Philip67 Likes this wine: 90 Points
What's not to like? It's certainly a classic Cali Cab: big and rich, ripe sweet fruit, developing good depth and complexity. Flavours of blackcurrant, blackberry, Cassis, menthol (quite strong but nice), vanilla and cinnamon oak spice and notes of saddle leather.... so why not give it a higher score? Because the finish is slightly astringent, which one finds with some Cali cabs, Corrison is another example.... I think it is those seeking greater acidity... or perhaps a little too much skin contact... thoughts? I think it is the former but in this case I don't really understand it as the fruit is clearly very ripe.
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2/23/2018 - matthew.gluth wrote: 93 Points
Ver quiet nose, tobacco and spice mostly. Plum and blackberry fading to a tobacco, dark chocolate and spice finish. Full bodied.
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12/27/2017 - blaine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Absolutely fantastic with Xmas prime rib. Popped and gave it a quick decant due to poor planning. Fortunately it was singing right out of the gate. Big nose. Very little age apparent in the color. Med+ bodied, impeccably balanced, beautiful fruit and cigar box and leather notes. Fairly round tannins along with just enough acidity. Finish lingered in your mouth. Continued to improve over an hour. Very happy about this bottle, second of two. Lots of life left, but this is in a premium drinking window right now, a little better than my earlier bottle 2 1/2 yrs ago.
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12/26/2017 - ctbob Likes this wine:
Terrific wine. Excellent balance, old world in style, still young but immensely enjoyable. Don't drink much Napa, but this was among the best I've had. Drink of hold.
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6/28/2017 - Ocean676 wrote: 94 Points
5 hour slo O, no decant, minimal sediment
nose was redolent with floral and candied cherry notes, perfumed
palate was super smooth with chocolate, more cherries, a hint of caramel
finish was long and polished , perfectly resolved tannins
Gorgeous wine right now. Well stored could go 5-10 more years, but why wait?
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5/1/2017 - Rixon Likes this wine: 93 Points
Riktigt bra. Jag har nyligen provat flera 2005 från Napa, och jag börjar luta åt att det är en underskattad årgång - som dricks väl nu och några år framåt.
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4/27/2017 - Patrik H Likes this wine: 91 Points
On the nose: Acetone, green herbs, white pepper.
On the palate: Acetone, coffee, cherry stone, sweet fruit and some alcohol.
Medium + finish
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3/25/2017 - MaineMark Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really delicious now, and plenty of legs to last several more years. Fantastic finish that goes on and on.
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12/31/2016 - swivel112 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consumer NYE (late) so no serious tasting notes but this wowed and was by far the WOTN. Still plenty of fruit but very nicely balanced and in a more restrained style for Napa (which was expected).
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12/30/2016 - dmitchell4 wrote:
Al & Dedee New Years
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12/26/2016 - ctbob Likes this wine:
Fine structure and balance, nicely restrained in terms of being a Napa calcab. The wine opened over the evening, and softened, but retained its muscle. No immediate rush on this one.
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11/4/2016 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very consistent notes. Terrific!
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9/28/2016 - Quiet Lion Does not like this wine: 83 Points
Overwhelming black pepper and unripe fruit with a slight chemical aftertaste. I would say this was a flawed bottle except WS reports same taste on five different occasions.
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9/16/2016 - John O' wrote:
45 minute decant. muted. Just OK
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7/3/2016 - rpk99 Likes this wine: 89 Points
A bit dry and lacking nose. For a Napa doesn't quite have the quality I would look for but not a bad wine
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7/1/2016 - jschnabel Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine has really done well with age. The nose is cantaloupe with a whiff of an old damp cellar. Tannins are silky and the initial taste is dark fruit, licorice and earth. The palate then ends with a hint of raisins and a fruity acidity like pomegranate.
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2/26/2016 - MonkeyBiz101 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very pure, enjoyable.
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12/24/2015 - rpk99 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Straight forward cab. Not overly exciting but a decent showing.
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12/1/2015 - Grenik Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was a nicely integrated aged cab that has held up nicely. Red fruit predominately, but some hints of cedar and tobacco to help add depth and interest. The nose was quite nice and the initial impressions on the palate were strong, but the mid-palate to the finish was a bit lacking. There was still some fruit, but it was fading and the earth tones were a bit muddy and disjointed. Still, a pleasant wine and quite enjoyable. Drink now.
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11/30/2015 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
Another consistent showing for this wine, very pure with lots of sweet and ripe black cherry and currant fruit. Soft fine, tannins and a nicely balanced finish make this a treat to drink. Not overly complex, which reduces the point total here some.
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10/9/2015 - Whine-oh Likes this wine:
Popped and poured for a table side dinner w group. Drank along side Andrew Will, old Dominius, adolescent Bordesux. Good comparison with a nonvintage Fay. This is a classic Napa cab. Soft tannins good mouthfeel. Fruit there, but not overpowering. Rimmerman come thru.
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10/4/2015 - srdzak Likes this wine: 94 Points
Totally agree with WMCCONE54 this is quintessential aged Napa cab. Decanted 30 minutes and took about 1 hour for alcohol to blow off but then fragrant flowery aromatics of lavender and baking spice. Rich, sweet and creamy black fruit coats the mid palate with classic tobacco leaf, cedar, and anise mixed in. Finish goes on for 20 seconds with vanilla and white pepper notes and fully integrated tannins, but juicy acidity still present to suggest at least 3-5 years more life ahead! This bottle drinking better than the last I had a year ago. Killer juice! And sadly my last bottle.
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7/18/2015 - Bureso Likes this wine: 93 Points
Indbydende aroma af lilla blomster, krydret solbær, grønt tobak, mørke bær, saftige blommer og kirsebær. Rig udtryksfyldt afbalanceret, kompleks og elegant. Tanniner, syre og eg i ligevægt. Meget imponerende.
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5/16/2015 - wmccone54 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Jeez, did Wine Spectator whiff on this back in 2008, a 78 ? This is the second bottle of this that I have had in as many years, just a shining example of how great an aged Napa Cabernet can be after a few years in an well kept cellar. Stood up for 30 minutes and then decanted for 45 minutes. Insignificant but slightly noticeable signs of bricking, which is to be expected after close to ten years; medium bodied. Intoxicatingly aromatic, showing aromas of purple flowers, spicy black currant, leafy tobacco, dark berries, juicy plums, and chocolate covered cherries. Rich, expressive, balanced, complex, and elegant. Tannins, acidity, and oak all in equilibrium. Very impressive. Better than I remember from last year.
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5/10/2015 - blaine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking nicely, gave it about 90 minutes in the decanter, nice eucalyptus note on the nose. On the palate, medium-bodied, nice fruit and tannins still showing. modest finish. Not a big california bomber, plenty of structure for some more time in the cellar.
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3/27/2015 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 94 Points
yup, this is killer juice. Decant 1-2 hours and get naked juice. Hope you are all as fortunate as I was!
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2/14/2015 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 90 Points
Mid-dark garnet; minty, peppery, Stag's Leap AVA nose; mid-big body; good fruit extract; a little hot; one dimensional but tasty w/beef
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1/5/2015 - Jay Win wrote:
At this price point, I was a bit disappointed by the harsh and somewhat unpleasant tannins, however time may cure them as Day 2 showed the wine continuing to display tannic flavor notes. To be continued.
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12/7/2014 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
Nice "pure" Napa cab. Nice sweetness, great balance and the right mix of tannins and acidity. Lots of blackcherry and blackcurrant fruit. Maybe lacks a little complexity - but a really delicious drop. Outshone a little by a Betz 2007 syrah.
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12/5/2014 - Grenik Likes this wine: 90 Points
Blue fruits, anise, cherry, floral. Well made wine with a medium finish that was a little rough, but not distracting.
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9/1/2014 - DavidK14 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A quintessential Cabernet. It is drinkable now, and may improve slightly over the next 2 years, but is a fine wine.
The wine has a dark garnet colored. The legs are medium and thin, It smells of dark blackberries, black currant (cassis) and raspberry. It tastes like blackberry and black currant (cassis). The body is full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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7/13/2014 - redz wrote: 91 Points
needs good decant, lotsa tannins, long mouthwatering finish. try again in a few years
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6/28/2014 - wine247365 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent! well-integrated. med aromas; med/full body. med finish. 2nd-ary elements with tertiary ones beginning. Drinking VERY well right now.
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6/23/2014 - John O' Likes this wine:
really smooth right on the pop
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6/18/2014 - bomber99 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very very nice (two very's) not a great value, have had better from Stags Leap and far better for the money but still one of my favorites. Great nose, fruit, smoked meat and braise. Full and lush fruit, balance and power on the palet. Pepper, sage and hints of chocolate and caramel on the long finish.
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5/15/2014 - Aparritz wrote: 93 Points
Showed some bricking and a distinct napa can flavor that demonstrated the fact that this wine is almost 10 years old. Others have suggested that this has "plenty of life" but I don't see this improving much more. Excellent now and perhaps for another few years. Certainly decant and let this evolve over some hours.
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4/25/2014 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 92 Points
This opaque ruby wine was presented in single-blind fashion to our tasting group, with the bottle kindly provided by J.P. Showing moderately intense aromas of cassis, Asian spices, nutmeg and pipe tobacco, it follows with a full-bodied palate of similar flavors. The wine is impressively structured, with medium acidity, firm tannins and well-integrated alcohol (listed as 14.5%). Sturdy in the middle, it concludes with a lengthy, tart finish. Very enjoyable now, this Cabernet may further improve and may ultimately merit a higher score. Drink now-2024.
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4/19/2014 - wmccone54 wrote: 93 Points
Opened, stood up for an hour, and decanted for another hour. Big mature and complex nose, medium bodied. Tobacco, spicy red currant, cherry, and smokey plum. Starting to gravitate toward red fruits with still enough structure to show this still has plenty of life. Still good finish. Really liked this one.
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4/1/2014 - doctornoah wrote: 90 Points
Overall very good. Brett nose of Band-Aids, fairly mild, but somewhat unexpected. Also a good amount of Cassis and a little spice. Medium body, medium acidity, and overall very mild mouth feel. A good example of a mid grade Napa Valley Cabernet.
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1/18/2014 - unrelenting wrote: 94 Points
not yet peaking, decant 3 hrs prior.
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11/2/2013 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasting really good right now. Great balance, developing a silky mouthfeel with lots of complexity and a long finish.
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9/15/2013 - cwhodge wrote: 94 Points
Decanted several hours before drinking. Deep ruby color, nose of dark fruit, cassis, black olive, licorice, truffle and mint burst from the glass. Great depth and intensity in the mouth, the fruit and earthy flavors show nice focus, while integrating with a broad but not overpowering tannic structure. Long silky finish. Loved this wine, probably in my top 10 all time. Not sure if this means I need to drink more wine...
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9/6/2013 - artblue2004 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice cab, not the best QPR.
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8/28/2013 - tplskylrk wrote:
One of the biggest regrets I ever had w mailing clubs was this one. Both the fact I paid such crazy stupid prices as they bombarded me w really high cost wines, and that they were, after these years, great. This is no exception, terrible qpr, but an excellent Napa Valley floor wine. Puts many French wines to shame.
Agree w mfvogal...
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7/17/2013 - jreynolds3 wrote: 91 Points
Tasted alonsgside an '09 Cakebread Cabernet, and this was more enjoyable.
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5/12/2013 - tplskylrk wrote:
Opened a few hours then drank. No where near as good as the 05 Cask 23, and "only" half the price. Ugh, did I really pay that much for that wine?
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4/12/2013 - KDMoore Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smooth and balanced. Red berry flavors and a hint of tobacco. Paired well with a bistro steak and red wine sauce. Very nice...too bad it was our last bottle!
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12/31/2012 - Buick455 wrote: 91 Points
Clear red color. Powerfull nose of red berries. Good palate with red berries, dust and tar. Very nice. Good finish
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12/26/2012 - DrX wrote: 90 Points
Nice full bodied cab. Much better than the 06 cask 23 that I opened this weekend, good surprise.
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11/2/2012 - Chefthome Likes this wine: 95 Points
It smells like Red Currant, Black currant (cassis), Toast, and Espresso.
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10/18/2012 - toddmk wrote: 92 Points
My wife and I had this wine at Lakeside Restaurant in Highlands, NC. Great nose. Very well balanced with classic Cali cab fruit but understated and not over the top like many Cali cabs. A strong and lengthy finish. Well done.
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9/8/2012 - Poggio Al vento wrote: 93 Points
I was a bit high on my first rating ( 95) but the second bottle was still a real nice Cab and one that I think is worth the pricetag!
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3/18/2012 - Poggio Al vento wrote: 93 Points
Maybe I have just had the best bottle of Fay 05 ever compared to the other tasting notes on ct because this wine was fantastic! It nose was big and opulent with a clear cabernet-based note of dark barriers and lots of intense fruit power but it was all balanced perfectly with the cedar-tones and a little bit of an earthy component! The Nose was really a bluckbuster that was in it self almost enough! the palet was ultrasmooth and the fruit on the mid-palet was so pure and fresh and the tannins was right there to help lift it up and away from a cali-cab-fruit-bomb and into a perfect symbiosis between classic Bordeaux cabernet and the ripe fruit cabernet from cali! All in all a big surprise and clearly the winner for the night!!!
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11/24/2011 - alaska-omega wrote: 92 Points
Cork was dry and flaking at top, which had me worried. Near the base it was good and saturated... wine had maintained its integrity. Nice bright red color with no brown or amber at edges. Nose was of wet oak and light fruits. Taste was of cherries. Nice complexity of wispy tannins. Very enjoyable!
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11/14/2011 - Happybob wrote: 91 Points
Dark, concentrated, full bodied, vgood complexity and finish and structure
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10/30/2011 - peterchoy wrote: 92 Points
Appearance: Bright and clear, deep ruby with fading rims and legs
Nose: Clean, medium (+) intensity and developing aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, vanilla, savory, oak, violet, nutmeg and smoke.
Palate: Dry, medium acidity with medium (+) tannin of ripe and velvety texture. Medium (+) alcohol, medium (+) body with medium (+) intensity flavors of blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, ripe black cherry, vanilla, oak, smoke, chocolate and nutmeg. Medium (+) length.
Conclusion: Very good quality Napa Cabernet Sauvignon showing the ripe black fruit and highly complex nose and palate. Intensely built on the aromas and flavors, the wine has a firm body and structure to last for much longer in ageing. A good long length accompanies. Ready to drink now but can benefit from further ageing of another 5-8 years.
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8/11/2011 - G_H wrote: 84 Points
Surprisingly not that good. Rather green, while still full bodied it remains nothing special. After the initial disappointment I put it back into the cellar overnight, but it did not improve.
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3/5/2011 - Soche wrote: 88 Points
Earthy on the nose. Very fruit forward and lacks complexity. Decanted but but didn't make any difference. Very disappointing at this price point. Drink now.
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10/31/2010 - wineotim wrote: 84 Points
Very difficult to score this wine, initially rather lean and green with lots of acidity. Next day...dark cherry, currant, and cedar come to life but the finish is short and green. I can tell the pedigree is there, the details are not being executed. This would be a fine $20 dollar wine...too bad its over 3 times that. Don't know what has happened to this vineyard, the '97 was monumental, but since then not too exciting. Its hard to find anything interesting or exceptional to say about this wine. Wait ten years before opening ? Maybe.
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5/31/2010 - Bobc7had Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good, but way overpriced.
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5/8/2010 - recarv wrote: 87 Points
What a dissapointment. Definitely overpriced for what you get. This tasted like a $20 california cab. I'd gladly trade for 2 bottles of Heitz. Nothing particularly bad, but nothing remarkable either.
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2/8/2010 - Jeff Kelley wrote: 90 Points
Black currant, earthy, hint of black cherry. Needs to decant for at least an hour. Will likely get better over time.
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1/27/2010 - mclancy10006 wrote:
Hard to rate this as it was compared with an 2003 Shafer Hillside. Lots of earth, tobacco, and leather which was kind of overwhelming the fruit and other flavors. Might have too much Brett for my liking. Several bottles were opened at the dinner, but all seemed similar to me not corked rather just "off".
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12/5/2009 - CMorton916 wrote: 92 Points
Smell was full of red fruit, taste was soft and subtle with oak and red fruit
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9/26/2009 - neiljh wrote: 89 Points
Full nose of berries and dark cherry, good weight mid palate slightly green finish.
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8/31/2009 - spmulligan wrote: 93 Points
Tasted 8 wines at Stag's Leap and this one stood out. It doesn't have the old-world fullness of the Cask 23, but it was very very nice, especially for the price.
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7/21/2009 - RPerro wrote: 89 Points
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Tasting (Zupan's Burnside Market Wine Cellar, Portland, OR): Spicy nose of oak and cassis, with a touch of eucalyptus. Flavors of cassis, berry and green pepper. Light tannins, and a somewhat-bitter green finish. Much softer than the 06 Artemis
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11/22/2008 - Wrighty wrote: 89 Points
Decanter Fine Wine Encounter (Landmark Hotel, London): A little heat. Eucalyptus fininsh, slight sweetness.
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11/8/2008 - 1800kidney wrote: 90 Points
Just released at the winery. This is a much better wine than you might have supposed from the 78 score from JL; tough day at the tasting bar. This single vineyard, 100% cab is a nice effort. Already rounded and nicely developed, a little soft on the edges. Classical cab characteristics, nice herbal note floats off the top. Will age for 10 years but approachable in the near tem
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