PNP, been 3 years since last tasted, held up well and once again surprisingly good for its pedigree. Flowery nose, with loads of red fruit, which follows on the palate however a bit lacking in complexity, very soft finish, with totally intergrated tannins.
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Tasted over 2days, sweet red cherry, red plums, raspberry, hints currants and cedar. Very nice fruit forward cab, that is drinking well now or over the next few years.
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Decanted 1hr. Leans toward the red fruit spectrum of California cab, red cherry, red plum, but a hint of black cherry was present on back end of the Finnish. Been 2/5 years since I last tasted and was surprisingly impress. Based on this bottle no hurry to drink!
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Decanted for and hour and used a Vinturi. Had a glass of this bordeaux style wine before serving with steak and was greeted by earthiness and tannins. I wasn't too impressed, however, this wine paired nicely with the marinated skirt steak. I detected blackberries and herbs up front, with a smooth well-rounded finish. I think this wine will cellar for at least three more years.
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Actually a really lovely bottle though I doubt I would pay the asking price for it (this one was a gift). Great with steak au poivre and on its own, and a nice chance to try a style of wine I spend very little of my own money on. Thanks, John!
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I understand that this bottle is rather "commercial", however, it's a really nice bottle of wine. Two hour decant. Good rich color, nice thick legs. Nose is rich and complex, a good balance of fruit and tannins. This complexity carries through on the palate. Very well balanced, there's good fruit, but also balancing tannins. The finish is clean, fresh and of decent length. It's not overly complex, but it's very clean and everything is in it's place. It's a good stand-alone bottle but it also pairs well with food.
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Not an easy drinker, but a food wine. Good acidity & tannic grip through the midpalate & finish. Paired well with blacken ribeyes topped with bodacious chipotle mushrooms & loaded Gruyere mash potatoes. [14.2% abv.; $13.00].
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Tasted after 3 days of being vacu vin, green bell pepper, raspberry and oak on the nose. The green veggies continued on the palate(not in a bad way) along with mint and a good dose of oak. Smooth soft finish, which was moderate. An understated wine by California standards, but good never the less.
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Popped and poured, this bottle showed better than the one I had 12/08. Red fruits in the nose, with a touch of herbs. Raspberry, cherry, currants and herbs on the palate. Very smooth moderate finish, drink over the next 2 or 3 years.
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Smells of red fruits with a touch of smoke. At first I was not that impressed but eventually I decanted it and ran it through the diffuser which really opened up and making much smoother while opening up more levels.
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A very dark cabernet with fragrant nose of Blackberry, tobacco and mineral water. The taste is little quick, sweet fruit with a pretty firm but not a bitter tannin. This is an interesting little cabernet, it may get better as it breaths or is decanted. I would drink this now as the fruit will be overwhelmed by the tannin in the long term. This might compliment a nice sharp cheddar or choice steak but a little better wine would be more useful. 89
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This is the tale of four Californians at a holiday party in Illinois. Most of the guests brought huge-production, manufactured wines, but some good family friends showed up with two of these. This isn't the best wine in the world, but relatively speaking, it was much better than anything else there. Dominant black licorice - more black licorice than I've ever experienced before, filled out with some black fruit. The four of us kept this bottle close by and it was really striking how much this helped us contrast the two types of wine that were present. It was like instantly we knew that this, despite its imperfections, was real, NorCal wine made with some degree of focus and care beyond how cute the animal on the label was going to be.
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Purchased off restaurant list, no formal TN's. Herbs, cedar and a touch of cassis. Seemed somewhat thin and vegetal, almost surprising for a 2004 CA Cabernet. The fruit just wasn't showing. Poor stems didn't help this experience. Maybe it's sleeping right now.
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Decanted about 30-40 min before first glass, then poured back into bottle about an hour later. Nose is at first strong in plum and black and red berry fruit, later evolving into smoke herb and a less overtly fruity, almost Bordeaux-ish character. Very balanced and very pretty. Nice accompaniment to steak au poivre, and I'll probably let the other bottle go five years or so to see what it does. Very solid. Thanks, John!
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12/28/2017 - KSWinegeek wrote: 88 Points
Deep red color, with strong tobacco nose. Attack of red fruit, but declines mid palate.
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9/2/2016 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
PNP, been 3 years since last tasted, held up well and once again surprisingly good for its pedigree. Flowery nose, with loads of red fruit, which follows on the palate however a bit lacking in complexity, very soft finish, with totally intergrated tannins.
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3/10/2016 - Kahnru12 wrote: 90 Points
Still tasting very bright & fruity!
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12/8/2013 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Tasted over 2days, sweet red cherry, red plums, raspberry, hints currants and cedar. Very nice fruit forward cab, that is drinking well now or over the next few years.
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5/19/2013 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 1hr. Leans toward the red fruit spectrum of California cab, red cherry, red plum, but a hint of black cherry was present on back end of the Finnish. Been 2/5 years since I last tasted and was surprisingly impress. Based on this bottle no hurry to drink!
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4/2/2011 - billmo27 wrote:
wow...yummy
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2/20/2011 - md3831 wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for and hour and used a Vinturi. Had a glass of this bordeaux style wine before serving with steak and was greeted by earthiness and tannins. I wasn't too impressed, however, this wine paired nicely with the marinated skirt steak. I detected blackberries and herbs up front, with a smooth well-rounded finish. I think this wine will cellar for at least three more years.
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10/9/2010 - wineshaman wrote: 88 Points
Consistent with last bottle, very smooth, simple and ready to drink.
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6/20/2010 - wineshaman wrote: 88 Points
Cherry, raspberry, menthol, bell pepper notes, med body very smooth, soft tannins ready to drink.
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5/20/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:
Actually a really lovely bottle though I doubt I would pay the asking price for it (this one was a gift). Great with steak au poivre and on its own, and a nice chance to try a style of wine I spend very little of my own money on. Thanks, John!
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4/23/2010 - oldgrowth45 wrote: 89 Points
I understand that this bottle is rather "commercial", however, it's a really nice bottle of wine. Two hour decant. Good rich color, nice thick legs. Nose is rich and complex, a good balance of fruit and tannins. This complexity carries through on the palate. Very well balanced, there's good fruit, but also balancing tannins. The finish is clean, fresh and of decent length.
It's not overly complex, but it's very clean and everything is in it's place. It's a good stand-alone bottle but it also pairs well with food.
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3/1/2010 - Bacchant wrote: 88 Points
Not an easy drinker, but a food wine. Good acidity & tannic grip through the midpalate & finish. Paired well with blacken ribeyes topped with bodacious chipotle mushrooms & loaded Gruyere mash potatoes. [14.2% abv.; $13.00].
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2/14/2010 - wineshaman wrote: 88 Points
Tasted after 3 days of being vacu vin, green bell pepper, raspberry and oak on the nose. The green veggies continued on the palate(not in a bad way) along with mint and a good dose of oak. Smooth soft finish, which was moderate. An understated wine by California standards, but good never the less.
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10/24/2009 - wineshaman wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured, this bottle showed better than the one I had 12/08. Red fruits in the nose, with a touch of herbs. Raspberry, cherry, currants and herbs on the palate. Very smooth moderate finish, drink over the next 2 or 3 years.
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3/7/2009 - jmoon31 wrote: 80 Points
Smells of red fruits with a touch of smoke. At first I was not that impressed but eventually I decanted it and ran it through the diffuser which really opened up and making much smoother while opening up more levels.
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1/14/2009 - OregonWineGeeks wrote: 89 Points
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
6:19 PM
A very dark cabernet with fragrant nose of Blackberry, tobacco and mineral water. The taste is little quick, sweet fruit with a pretty firm but not a bitter tannin. This is an interesting little cabernet, it may get better as it breaths or is decanted. I would drink this now as the fruit will be overwhelmed by the tannin in the long term. This might compliment a nice sharp cheddar or choice steak but a little better wine would be more useful. 89
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12/28/2008 - rcmcb wrote: 88 Points
This is the tale of four Californians at a holiday party in Illinois. Most of the guests brought huge-production, manufactured wines, but some good family friends showed up with two of these. This isn't the best wine in the world, but relatively speaking, it was much better than anything else there. Dominant black licorice - more black licorice than I've ever experienced before, filled out with some black fruit. The four of us kept this bottle close by and it was really striking how much this helped us contrast the two types of wine that were present. It was like instantly we knew that this, despite its imperfections, was real, NorCal wine made with some degree of focus and care beyond how cute the animal on the label was going to be.
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12/6/2008 - wineshaman wrote: 85 Points
Nice red fruits in the nose, with a touch of smoke. A little thin and green on the palate, medium short finish.
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10/18/2008 - *Vine* wrote: 84 Points
Purchased off restaurant list, no formal TN's. Herbs, cedar and a touch of cassis. Seemed somewhat thin and vegetal, almost surprising for a 2004 CA Cabernet. The fruit just wasn't showing. Poor stems didn't help this experience. Maybe it's sleeping right now.
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9/4/2008 - thirtyoneknots wrote:
Decanted about 30-40 min before first glass, then poured back into bottle about an hour later. Nose is at first strong in plum and black and red berry fruit, later evolving into smoke herb and a less overtly fruity, almost Bordeaux-ish character. Very balanced and very pretty. Nice accompaniment to steak au poivre, and I'll probably let the other bottle go five years or so to see what it does. Very solid. Thanks, John!
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5/6/2008 - win wrote:
Solid California Cabernet Sauvignon, with unresolved tannins. Should age fairly well for the short term - 5 - 7 years. 87-89
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