Alas, my last bottle consumed almost 10 years since my last opening on 11/2/14. Purple Tooth's review of 11/19/23 is a perfect description of my experience last night. I wish that I had more of this!
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Dark ruby with slight bricking around the edges. Gorgeous aromas of dark red berries, lifted mint, baking spices, ripe tobacco and truffles on the nose. Incredibly layered and detailed palate shows silky reddish-black small fruits, touch of truffles/mint, medium (+) acidity, melting tannins and a long perfumed finish. Napa meets Bordeaux in this wine. Superb.
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A beautifully healthy bottle with BN fill. This wine is absolutely alive and thriving. Theres no California low hanging fruit in this bottle. Theres no abundance of cassis and oak and sugar!!! This is an attempt at something far more elegant and age worthy. Not quite a Bordeaux, but not a lush. Really just beautiful elegant and balanced with a very coarse and lengthy finish. Cool nuances of mint floating off the top of the glass with ever so faint traces of tobacco making me think that this can improve with time and may be, just may be, at the entrance of something more old world like, though a joy to drink and savor now. 93-95...Drink!
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I love reading CellarTracker notes because sometimes they provide useful information, and the rest of the time they provide entertainment. All the comments about this wine peaking or with no more upside completely miss what Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines do when given sufficient runway. There’s nothing suggesting a peak in complexity or even some imminent decline. There’s still berry fruit, the spice notes are bright and focused. It has a tiny touch of leathery/earthy tertiary, but plenty of depth to further develop. This is a wine approaching maturity, rather than creating it. The CellarTracker drinking window that supposedly closes this year has in reality just opened. Continue to cellar and enjoy with confidence.
From my late father’s cellar which had been between 56-58 degrees for the duration.
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Last of the 06's and this bottle drank incredibly well. Good fruit, loads of interesting herbal notes, mid-weight, good acidity. Very much Bordeaux-like except for the sweetness (for lack of a better word) of the fruit. Great effort from ACVV. This could have gone at least a couple more years.
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Finishing up the remnants of Friday’s bottle and it has faded a bit. Now more red-fruited, along with cedar and tobacco notes. Red fruit and spice box on the palate, with a medium finish. Has a subtle herbal streak.
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Friday Night Brown Bagger (Eagle Brook CC): Double blind. Dark color with notes of black fruit, peppery spice, forest floor and tobacco. I could keep my nose buried in the glass all night. Soft tannins. Black fruit, spice and tobacco flavors with a lengthy finish. (J&J)
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Double decanted two hours before service. Dark red with a lighter rim. Very fruity, tannic but not a lot of acidity. Really in an excellent drinking window, but with many years left to go.
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As per the back label: Eloge is French for "Praiseworthy", and this wine is that. Slo-oxed for 15 minutes. Lots of sediment stuck to the bottle. A deep purple color - to a watery rim. Dark red fruits, cassis and earth on the nose. The medium bodied palate showed lots of the dark red fruits and earth, along with a bit of chocolate and cedar. The acidity was balancing and the tannins were finely integrated. This blend of 65% CS + 25% CF + 7% PV + 3% Mer still has some life left in the tank, but some recent TNs indicate that it's best days may be behind it. Drink up for maximum enjoyment.
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Anderson's Conn Valley Library Tasting (Temecula, CA): Subtle, not the in-your-face, hedonistic, approach to Napa winemaking that became popular due to Robert Parker point chasing. Which is quite refreshing some 15 years later. The ripe black currant fruit is there still (we are talking 14%+ alcohol still), but it is well supported by complex notes of smoked pepper, cedar, pipe tobacco, cassis, cherry licorice, brown sugar/caramel, eucalyptus, and savory earth notes. Balanced with refined, ripe tannin and a lasting finish.
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Dark ruby with slight bricking around the edges. Open knit aromas of cassis, dark red fruits, aromatic baking spices, hint of tobacco and forest floor on the nose. Medium-bodied and restrained palate shows silky reddish-black small fruits, touch of savory olives/mint, medium (+) acidity, melting tannins and a long perfumed finish. Napa meets Bordeaux in this wine.
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My last bottle. and it is not so good. It really faded, still drinkable but no where as good as my previous six bottles. Oh well, I still had a good run with these wines which are the best around.
Although my last bottle was not very good, this one was in perfect condition. This bordeau blend takes wine to the next level. It is perfection in a bottle. So glad that I have one more left.
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This is in perfect balance for a 14 year old wine. Fruit still going strong with cherry, plum, spices and some damp earth age. Popped and poured this opened up quickly and stayed consistent for 3-4 hours with no signs of fading.
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This is one of my favorite wines. Unfortunately it is in a downward spiral and was i barely drinkable. Have to check my inventory. Hopefully the rest are still in cood shape.
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4th of 6 bottles, last consumed this wine 2 years ago. Red Bordeaux blend, 65% CS, 25% CF, 7% PV, 3% Merlot. Beautiful wine this evening, black cherry, cassis, green peppers, black pepper, mint, and wet soil. This wine is full in body, with well-integrated, sweet tannins, as well as moderating acidity giving a complex and beautifully balanced wine. Drink now through 2026+.
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A wine in celebration of a sad day. My oldest cousin passed today, and as he helped introduce me to Napa wines, I reminisced over this wine. He lived in San Francisco in the late 80s and early 90s, and hosted my wife and I on a couple of trips there. These were the first visits to Napa - before it became an overblown, elitist caricature of itself - that really ignited my wine journey. This wine is classy and distinguished, just like my cousin, but not as ebullient as he due to its age. Rocknroller nailed the description of this wine to me - a mix of red and black fruits, showing both elegance and power and secondary notes including tobacco, clove, earthy and cedar notes and lovely tannins. A great wine to honour a great cousin (A).
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Had alongside a 2007 Anderson’s Conn Valley Reserve Can with a friend. The Eloge 2006 was much rounder and balanced than the 07 which was more tannic and grippy. Long finish. Great value producer and overall pleasurable. Top 10 value wine
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Excellent mountain fruit Cabernet blend. Drinking well now, but has the structure to last a while. A little burly at times - highish alcohol, but carries itself well overall. Might be better after a year or 2 more.
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Brought to Rooney's for dinner with Susanna. Had this after the '06 Guado al Tasso. This was also very nice but it was a clear second for me behind the Guado. The fruit here was more red fruited and a bit more crunchy. The acidity was good, but the tannins still had some bite. Drinking well now but I suspect this will get a bit more elegant over the next few years.
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Very dark red color, no bricking. Pooped this open and tasted, very good initially, but felt it would benefit from air so put in decanter and drank it over the next 2 hours. Brought this up to the lake for Father's Day with my Dad and younger son. Gave Dad a couple choices and he was intrigued by this. I really felt this was in a very good place. I would question any notes suggesting this was over the hill at all. Of course our preference for where to drink my differ. This really had everything in its place. Kind of reminded me of the '92 Araujo Eisele the other night, Not nearly as old obviously, but still had a class and sophisticated elegance about it like that did. There's a little funky earth that opens on the nose, it grows a little as it opens more, leather, and then a mix of pretty red, black and blue fruits on the nose. The palate is full bodied, but not really weighty, the purity of the fruit shines, cherry, huckleberry, cassis; then it's a gorgeous streak of pencil that is blending with the fruit, dried tobacco, a little smoky, with silky tannins and a long finish. Impressive. One of those wines that is sneaky good and disappears quickly. Nice wine to celebrate Dad's day.
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Very solid, not spectacular like I hoped and expected. Fruit did not POP or stand out. Tannins are well integrated, for certain. Does not require significant decanting at this point in its life. Not sure it has another 5 years of life.
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A real beauty that we enjoyed with filets, grilled asparagus, and fresh NJ corn. The wine took a good 2 hours + to open up and reveal how incredible it is. Black currant, dark fruits, cigar box and a velvety mouthfeel. It’s drinking beautifully right now but it’s still a big wine and has all the makings to last another 5-10 years. Have another 3 bottles; 1 of which we will enjoy at a vertical tasting of ACV’s that we’re hosting in September, and the other two will remain in my cellar for another few years before I try it again.
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Bottle #3 of 6. Last tasted 2.5 yrs ago. 14.7% abv, a blend of 65% Cab Sauv, 25% Cab Franc, 7% Petite Verdot, 3% Merlot. Deep brick red at the core, fading to a medium brown rim. Nose shows off tar, ripened cherries, green pepper, and cooking spices. The palate echoes the nose, showing off very good acidity and chewy tannins. Drink this pretty wine now through 2024.
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Popped and poured. Similar to previous bottle but the oak showed a bit more this time and the secondary aromas seemed a bit less prominent. Still, very smooth and well balanced with plenty of life left. Might have benefited from decanting.
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Dark fruits and very soft yet still with great structure. Enjoyed this one the most of the bottles I had had over the years as it seems to be integrated well at this point.
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Decanted about an hour or so before starting to taste. Saturated medium to dark garnet. Some oak and vanilla on the nose but more earth, leather, graphite and dark fruit and berry. Oak mostly integrated in the flavor profile. Tannin is moderate and pretty soft with medium acidity as well. Dark fruit predominates with black plum and blackberry. Clearly modern in style but in a good place right now, reasonably well balanced. The finish was the least interesting attribute, seemed pretty short to me.
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Get-Together with Friends (Santa Rosa): From a vertical of 2006-2011 Conn Valley Eloge. The 2006 and 2007 were my favorites in the lineup. A decent amount of cedar and thin red and black currant dominated throughout the attack. Drink now. 87-88 points.
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So sad....my last bottle. From a magnum. This seems to have improved with age from my previous bottle. Long finish, great nose, full bodied..notes of dark red fruit, and maybe some licorice. At this point the tannis are nicely balanced. Why didn't I buy more? Why have I bought so little Eloge over the past few years? Borderline for a higher score, I'll err on the side of a conservative score.
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Incredible wine. Still very closed when poured from bottle. Suggests another 10+ years of life. Opened up over 3 hours. Was best on second and third day. Perfect balance of acidity, dark fruit, structure. Long, lingering finish. One of the best wines I had in some time.
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Wonderful wine with good balance and structure. Opened up even more the 2nd night. Although it was 11 years old, it still would have had many years left of bottle age. Went great with a nice Filet steak and gruyere potatoes dinner.
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Decanted for 3 hrs, this wine was amazing. A lot of sediment in bottle, the most amazing nose (prob the best part, you just want to continue to nose the wine before drinking it). Dark fruits, plum, cherry, and oak were what I really tasted but a perfect synergy. Everything was ready to go. 2006 is great year and this wine will be one of my go to's for sure. Doesn't get much better. Will pay $80 for it- winebid
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Big Bottle Night, we drank in order: 2009 Chateau Potensac (3L), 2012 Sebastiani Gravel Bed Red (1.5L), 2006 Anderson's Conn Valley Eloge (1.5L) and the 2003 Chateau Meyney (1.5L). All the wines, except the Meyney where at least partially decanted, with the Potensac being entirely decanted. We started drinking the first wine 15 minutes after opening, but since it was the double magnum, we also had that one again, at the end of the rotation.
This was my WOTN, as it was for most of our 16 person group. A beautifully balanced wine. It went really well with the Lamb burger that I had for dinner.
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We let this come to room temp for 3 hrs and then decanted for 3 hours. It was so wonderful. A little oak but not too much. Very smooth and an excellent wine.
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Beautifully balanced wine. Not an Over The Top fruit bomb like many Napa cabs are these days. Needs some decant if drinking now. Will hold safely for another 7+ years.
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Taken to a friends house to drink over dinner. No formal TN. Beautiful Cab blend, with spicy and peppery notes and voluptuous, tense tannins that were just opening up after 9 yrs of bottle age. This wine was delicious, and drinking well through 2022+. Very nice.
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Anderson's Conn Valley Dinner: 2013 Chardonnay, 2006 Right Bank, 2006 Eloge, and 2006 Reserve Cabernet (in that order).
Really good wine, but the group seemed to place it behind the other two 2006 Anderson's that we had. For me, it was just a touch behind the reserve Cabernet.
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Very young, a bit lactic at the beginning (even after a 1 hour decant). Black fruit, a touch of coal. Mouth without a single edge, very balanced, complete, and long. Goes very well with the steak.
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Too many wines for a Wednesday (Kevin's house): A little funky. Quite flavorful. Black pepper. I would have guessed Bordeaux. Tons of complexity. Tied for my wine of the night, but I gave it #2 because it was Kevin's bottle, and he always wins.
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A Big Wine Wednesday Afternoon (Rocknroller's (Kevin & Vicki's Place)): Very dark red color. Decanted for 40 minutes, drank 2 glasses over an hour plus. Wow, this is in a great place. Probably ready on a PNP, but even better with just a bit of air. Amazing nose of earth adn glorious fruit, cassis, blue fruit, pencil lead, dried herbs, and a hint of tar. The palate displays levels of intensity, acid and fruit that resonate, fantastic tart dark berries, cassis, sweet fruit overtones, spice, round and impeccably balanced. the tannins are integrated and suave, and the finish is long and provocative. Fantastic, elegant and so enjoyable, perfect now, but will hold for 10 years. 94+pts. My and group WOTN.
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Hanging out at Kevin's (Rocknroller): Nose: Floral black fruits with pencil lead, subtle road tar and cassis. Palate: Soft tannins with subtle spices, black fruits and a lengthy finish. Really solid and narrowly my favorite of the tasting just over the CdP.
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Not much nose but very ripe, sweet, concentrated dark cherry & cassis along with earth and spice on the palate. Full bodied with a big, firm structure, but also a very, very smooth, lush texture. Long satisfying finish. Very bordeaux-like but with California richness and ripeness.
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Really nice showing for this wine with Matt and the kids in a pre-iEaster dinner at home. Smooth tannins, cocoa and baking spices. Decanted per suggestion of other CT tasters and it opened up nicely.
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After last bottle last month, decided to go with a good decant. After an hour, we had black cherry, earth, herbs. Smooth, full bodied, good finish. Strongly recommend at least 2 hour decant with this. Still young.
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Popped and poured. Great nose of black cherry, currant, cedar cigar box, some earthy, slightly mushroomy and herbal notes. Really aromatic wine. Similar flavors on the palate with smooth and silky dark red fruit flavors joined by some more earthy, spicy and rustic flavors. Medium acid and tannins with a long finish. This could pass for a high end bordeaux. Drinking great right now. Will likely consume my second bottle within a year.
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This Bordeaux blend is just hitting its stride, and would benefit from 2 or 3 more years in your cellar. It needed two hours to open up. With flavors of Blackberries, Black Cherries, Current and a hint of rocky soil and graphite, this is a good food wine.
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Very typical higher end cab blend. Gave it a 45 minute decant, but could have used a little more time as it was just hitting its stride as we finished the bottle an hour later.
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Delicious wine. Closed upon opening but took 30-60 mins to open. Developed beautifully. Full and rich but not overdone. No heat. Touch herbal which was nice. Appearance was more evolved than in mouth. Plenty of time left.
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Very nice red fruit/currants on the nose at P&P, which only improved over 2 hours. Palate was velvety, soft tannins, and a medium/long finish. At the end of the bottle, I felt it was a 93. Very nice & may well improve over a few more years.
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Dark garnet turning ruby at the rim with a deep, effervescent nose of red and dark berries, cedar and smoke. The palate is dense, plush and layered with an iron fist-like structure that's masked by a velvet glove-like texture. Flavors of currant, plum, cherry, licorice form the inner core with a tinge of cranberry, toasted caramel, espresso, and dark chocolate line the outer rim. Superbly decadent, well-balanced, harmonious and cleanly delineated. Finishes long and lifted with a butter-like sheath on finely-grained tannin. Drink now until 2026. 95+
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Decanted 15 min and began drinking. Black cherry, truffle, herbs. Smooth with a tannin back bone that was obvious but not unpleasant. Drank over 1 hour and it was fairly consistent but never reached Parker's score . Might do better with a longer decant.
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Double decanted and re-opened about an hour later. This continued to evolve and expand in the glass for the next few hours. The cab franc shows through with hints of herbal/green (not in a bad way) Tannins were not obtrusive, but certainly made themselves known, such that I'm inclined to give the remaining bottles a bit more time to see what develops 92-93
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Really drinking well right now. Very pure red fruit, current nose followed with a really smooth palate with almost no tannin and great fruit. I think I will drink my remaining bottles in the next five years but no rush at all.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Did not take detailed notes... (it was New Years Eve, afterall)... but recall it being very integrated... smooth tannins and a nice finish. Solid.
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Lovely nose of black cherry fruit and meat, more of the same on the palate, creamy and rich tasting, almost elegant, medium body, and a medium/long finish.
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Needs more than an hour decant. But really needs at least another year in the cellar. Tannins are solid, strong and still need time to resolve. Dark fruits, vivid earthiness, smoke, leather. Delicious, but again, needs more time.
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Really great blend. Lots going for this, lots of life left. Some decanted time, 30-60 mins, really helps this start to open up and share the bounty. Love it!
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violet/inky appearance...dusty forest floor, faint licorice and very expressive black fruits on the nose with a hint of heat...black cherry, plums dominate a spicy and complex mid-palate that is decidedly a meld of old and new world styles...strong backbone holds silky tannins, acidity and alcohol in balance...still young and built to age...solid QPR and potential for improvement
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Exceptional wine. Initial nose straight from bottle was hot, with mostly bright red fruits. Quick pass through a Vinturi mellowed the heat and brought forth more earthy, leathery tones. Allowed to sit in decanter for about an hour before rebottling and taking to a dinner at a friend's house. With beef tenderloin and some more air, this became considerably more complex and interesting, with dark fruit and earthy elements very much in evidence. Glad I have one more.
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I hate to be in the minority, but was not really impressed with this. Maybe it's the merlot (which we are not fans of), but not terribly fruity or alive. Just sort of bland - not great for an $80 bottle of wine. Hope the next Anderson's will be better!!
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Excellent blend in the Bordeaux style. Showing well now and can easily lay down another 2-5 years. Expressive and nuanced, full bodied and wonderful on the palate.
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Short decant, and tasting younger and more forward than I expected, which hid some of the nuanace I expect from a Conn Valley Eloge. Decided new world, with 14.7% abv. Better on day 2, I would hold off opening a bottle for a couple of years, or give it a minimum 3 hour decant.
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Wonderful showing and the best 06 I have tasted to date. Rose petals, blueberries, blackberries, cedar, minerals and raspberries. Bordeaux like wine with plenty of aging potential. Medium to long finish and impressive showing. Decanted 3 hours. 93 to 95.
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2nd bottle in two days. Not as good as the one on Saturday with spices, cedar, blueberries, blackberries and minerals. A bit hot and will hold a glass for Monday to see if it settles down.
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"Cab's at Jan's" -- Very big full bodied bold wine. Decanted 2 1/2 hrs with 1 venturie... Initial impression was alcoho and oakl on the nose with a slightly bitter/vegie aftertaste; but this dissipated after five minutes or so. The palate exhibits loads of mixed blue/black fruits...and the taste goes on and on. Of the three Eloges tonight, my preference was the 04. Will the 06 surpass it in time ??
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Napa Cabs/Bordeaux Blends with 2002 Insignia and Vertical of Anderson's Conn Valley Eloge (Jan's Place, St. Paul, MN): Very dark red/purple collor. Vinturi and decanted 2.5hrs. Drank one glass over 1.5hrs. 65%CS, 25%M, 7%PV, 3%M. This had the best nose of the night and the best nose of the Eloge vertical. Perfumed, floral, blueberries galore, earthy, creme de cassis, spice. The palate translates beautifully with gorgeous blue and black fruits, earth, graphite, licorice, spice. Wonderful creamy texture, round tannins, powerful with finesse and an intense long finish. This was really impressive and still very youthful. The Anderson's Conn Valley wines are some of the best wines and values in Napa.This was my #2 WOTN.
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Decanted for an hour. This is an extremely balanced wine with integrated tannins. Black fruits, plum, spice, smoke and a little earth all integrated together in a great package.
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Big nose. Dark red color. Earthy, dark fruits, oak, slight tobacco. Well integrated tannins, but another year or two will probably be what this wine needs to fully integrate.
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The wine looks Crimson colored. It smells like Prune, Fig, and Plum. It tastes like Black currant (cassis), Blackberry, Oak, and Black Pepper. The body is Full. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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From memory - popped and poured, consumed over 2 hours. Nose: Medium expressiveness, blue and black fruit. Palate: Heavey sediment here, medium bodied, nicely integrated tannins, dark fruit, tobacco and earth. Finish: Medium plus length dominated by earthy dark fruit.
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Still developing and lots of fruit remnants in bottle. Definitely needs straining. A good value for the money and should be even better in a couple of years.
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Very modern style Bordeaux blend, delicate fine-grained and sweet tannins, much of ripe fruits, Rich on the palate, plums, figs, cassis, some licorice intermixed with a Touch of vanilla, nutmeg and juniper berry. Mouthfilling, silky texture, highly extracted, good acidity, balanced, with a good length. Now perfect to drink.
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Can't keep my hands off this wine. Too bad. It's my last bottle. Dark, opaque garnet with purple tint. Nose of smoke, blackberry, graphite, mint, and vanilla. Ripe, full palate bursting with blackberry, fig, plum, cassis, leather, licorice, and espresso. Superb length. Focused acidity. Silky texture. Sweet tannins. Lots of "wow factor".
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Decanted for an hour and funneled back into the bottle. Pleasing balance of fruit, soft tannins, and finish. Quite enjoyable. Last one in the cellar. In retrospect, the experience with the eight bottles differed over time. Ones consumed early were quite good and approachable. Then, the wine seemed to shut down for a while and was lacking in character. Only recently, did it appear to revive. It ended up being quite good. QPR is marginal, however.
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Getting better with age. Now easy to drink right after aerating and full of oak earth flavors. Deep dark color and really ready. Will probably get better with another year or two, but with 17 bottles to go--why wait????
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Haven't opened a bottle in a year. Dark, opaque garnet. Nose of leather, earth, smoke, cassis, and vanilla. Ripe, mouthfilling palate of blackberry, licorice, and smoked meat. Excellent length. Pleasant, mild acidity. Sweet tannins. Outstanding!
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We popped this - let it sit for about 30 minutes. Wow - ready to go now, but has backbone if you want it to resolve more. Plenty of fruit and subtle tannins. My wine group loved this wine. Have three more and will space them over time. Maybe open the next one in a couple of years.
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Just simply terrific! A bit tight on opening but later reveals a nose of cassis, tobacco (lots of it), oak and earth. Same flavors on the palate with very ripe, sweet, concentrated fruit and a kick of spice and acidity. Big and with lots of structure, but also very, very smooth with a long finish. Flavors and textures like what I would expect from a young, very ripe, fruit-forward, right-bank bordeaux. This wine is dominated by all the rich, ripe fruit, but is not at all overdone. Delicious and will probably improve over the next few years.
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Decanted for two hours and funneled back into bottle. Much better; maybe it's emerging and finally coming around, or maybe it was just the decant. A hint of what further aging might yield. While quite good, I wonder if this wine is overpriced.
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Cabernet Hedonism (Rob & Bev's place): Decanted 3+ hours prior to tasting. This wine looks black as night. It does not appear to lighten at the edge. The nose offers up aromas of green pepper and mocha, followed by rich cassis fruit. Obviously too young to really be hitting it's stride, but there's alot in here trying to get out. In the mouth, very tightly knit wine, with chocolate giving way to bright cherry fruit. Lovely balance, with a hint of mint, leading into a long and supple finish. A beautiful mouthfeel to this wine that is worth mentioning. 93 pts.
Tasted again 2 days later from this partially consumed bottle. 65% Cab Sauv, 25% Cab Franc, 7% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. 90% new French oak. Now I see that the greenness on the nose was from all that Cab Franc! Some spice, wet stones, and meaty scents lead into the cassis fruit profile. I have always felt that the CVV wines had some of the most amazing velvety mouthfeel of any wines in California, and this Eloge is no slouch in that department. Notes of leather, cassis, black currant, and herbaceous green pepper, lead the way, parting into a finish that is near-perfect, with thick and chewy youthful tannins that are brilliantly reined in and balanced by the acidity and fruit (this Spiderman wine understands that with great power comes great responsibility). A very slight hotness on the palate keeps me from going up two more points, but I'm gonna need to eek this wine up another point after letting it come into it's own over a few days. 94 pts.
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Agree with "Vine's" comments. Will hold remaining bottles in cellar as this will be much better with some years on it. If you do choose to drink now, give it plenty of air time.
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Popped and decanted for 4 hours. Medium-plus dark garnet. A perfumed nose of black fruits, currant, tobacco leaf, earth, dried mushrooms, and hints of smoke. Medium-plus body. As if the nose wasn't enough, the flavors on the palate are truly evocative of Bordeaux, with fruit much more refrained from the excellent core of earth, cedar, cigar box, and other notes one would more commonly associate with Bordeaux. But that's not to say it lacks fruit; indeed, it possesses a solid core of blackberry and black currant. However, in comparison to many other Cabernet blends from Napa, this shows a degrees of finesse and integration that is almost uncommon nowadays. The tannins are chewy and slightly astringent on the moderate-plus close. While nice to check in on now, this promising wine is full of potential and will only improve with further cellaring.
Quick commentary: I wouldn't recommend purchasing this one if you're a fan of exuberant Napa fruit. That said, this is a delightful wine and should be sought after by anyone who appreciates Right Bank Bordeaux...it might even fool in a blind setting.
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First, I think it's still a bit young and definitely benefits from some decanting time. I'll shoot for at least 2 hours my next go 'round with this wine. Once it does get some air though it really starts to come through. Loads of spice with a hint of black cherry and maybe a tad of licorice. Medium bodied with plenty of tannins. The tannins do mellow with some air time which is was much more to my liking.
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Shy tight nose, currants, slightly spicy. Deep opulent palate, currants, plums, hint of spice and cedar. Denali packed and tight in this pop and pour. Lengthy finish, fruit filled with purple fruits. Quite nice and balanced, but needs time.
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Drank at our Judgment of Ballston blind tasting of 12 Left-bank style reds from the US and France. This was tied for fourth (with the 2007 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars SLV) in the overall group rankings. I also had it tied for fourth with the Stag's Leap, the 2007 Linden Hardscrabble, and the 2007 Boxwood (Boxwood).
This wine performed a little below expectations, but was still one of the better wines tasted. I found it to be a bit too tannic on the finish.
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Hold onto the rest for a bit. this wasn't particularly impressive given the price. still very good and got better after a 2 hr decant. drank alongside a similar wine that was half the price and was only a touch better.
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Decanted for 30 minutes. The cab franc adds a nice component to this, making it a "pretty" wine, more delicate and floral than the ACV Reserve. On the nose, dark fruits, florals and a bit of sweet spice others have described as licorice. Palate is medium heavy, with a bit of cassis added to the flavors that carry over from the nose. Fine tannins with a relatively mild bite. Really comes together the longer it's in the glass, gaining some overall weight. I think this will be even better in 4-5 years, but don't get the sense that it's a long-term ager.
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Purchased a few days prior direct from the winery; brought along with us to (bbq night!) at ad-hoc. Youthful appearance, with a relatively expressive bouquet for such a young California cabernet-based wine (perhaps we can thank the cab franc) with notes of spicy dark fruits, fennel, and earth. Medium to full bodied, with a lush texture, good concentration of flavor, with a generous and round finish. I can see this as being quite a crowd pleaser!
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This is a special wine. Showing a somewhat subdued nose, it did not explode and show capturing aromas on the opening or even later in the glass, but the opaque purple color and tartrates signalled there was much more to come. Superb fruits followed with excellent acidity and medium to full body (it gained more weight with more air time). Nicely integrated, smooth tannins made for a luxurious roundness and silky mouthfeel and a long, tantilizing finish.
A beautiful wine ready to drink and enjoy right now, this one has everything it needs to get even better over the years. My plan is to restrain myself to one per year and watch it as it matures, and I fully expect the journey to be a highly rewarding one.
It can be difficult to find QPR in a $70 wine but this one makes it. You really can't ask for much more in a wine unless (for me) you go up to some significantly more expensive 100% Cab stunners by Shafer, Araujo, Buccella or Hobbs.
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Outstanding wine. Nose: dark cherry, currant and thyme, with elegant violet and deep chocolate notes. Layers of secondary aromas. On the palate, some serious tannins. Full bodied, full tannins. Great acidity. Superb balance. Could use at least 3-5 years, but is very elegant now. 30 second plus finish. A truly impressive wine.
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This was still very young but yet very elegant. Long lasting tannin structure that was very well balanced. Will drink the others in several years so it can mature even more. A very well made wine!
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Enjoyable, interesting blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and petit verdot. Elegant but restrained fruit. Medium bodied. Great food wine. Popped and poured. Drinking well, but slightly young. Shows potential.
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A classic left bank wine, with very nice plum, cherry, vanilla and leather flavors. The tannins were a little firm so it needs some age or a few hours in the decanter. I thought this was my favorite wine until we tried the 2007.
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Wine Warehouse Grand Tasting. Nose of black cherry fruit, earth, and meat, more of the same on the palate, rich and elegant, medium body, mouth filling, good complexity and a medium.
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Decanted and poured. Medium body and lacked the depth I hoped for. Earth, spice, and licorice stand out. Smooth finish but left you wanting. Hope the next bottle is better.
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Very serious, concentrated stuff. Decanted for an hour and then poured through a Respirer. Captivating aromatics of berries, lush florals, licorice, and a hint of oakey vanilla. Opaque, dark, and brooding. Completely coats the mouth with a velvet feel lush with dark fruits, currants, and cassis. Fine, integrated tannins help make it a long finish. Has the potential to become a 96+ with time, but is drinking great now.
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Used a Vinturi but still improved with another half hour decanting. Beautiful nose of plum, dark fruits, currant and earth. Tight, tasty tannics. Balanced, full-bodied and very drinkable right now. On the palate, rich, velvety, spicy. Long finish of dark fruits. the next bottle will be opened more than a year from now.
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Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose started with a hint of barnyard leading into aromas of black cherries and plums. Flavors of black cherries and plums with a hint of bitters on the medium finish. Medium to bright acidity, firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Hold or plan on a decant.
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Blind Tasting (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had plum, licorice, earth, and spice. It finished with cherry. The palate was rich with dark fruit, but also had spice, licorice, and spice. The tannins were very firm, but tasty.
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50+5+13+17+9 Very reticent nose at first, but it opened after a few hours in the decanter. The deep inky color and nose of fall leaves and spices only began to reveal what was in the glass. The mouthfeel was velvety and rich. Flavors of baking spices, black currant, and a hint of mint swirled through my mouth, evolving continuously. A gorgeous finish of more baking spice and blackberry pie. This wine was still young--very young, although the tannins weren't harsh. It's got a huge backbone with plenty of room to continue to evolve. I won't open another of my bottles for at least a few years, and I expect that this wine will hit it's peak in 10-15. 94+
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1/12/2024 - gcarl wrote: 94 Points
Alas, my last bottle consumed almost 10 years since my last opening on 11/2/14. Purple Tooth's review of 11/19/23 is a perfect description of my experience last night. I wish that I had more of this!
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12/31/2023 - devraj Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark ruby with slight bricking around the edges. Gorgeous aromas of dark red berries, lifted mint, baking spices, ripe tobacco and truffles on the nose. Incredibly layered and detailed palate shows silky reddish-black small fruits, touch of truffles/mint, medium (+) acidity, melting tannins and a long perfumed finish. Napa meets Bordeaux in this wine. Superb.
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11/19/2023 - Purple Tooth wrote: 94 Points
A beautifully healthy bottle with BN fill. This wine is absolutely alive and thriving. Theres no California low hanging fruit in this bottle. Theres no abundance of cassis and oak and sugar!!! This is an attempt at something far more elegant and age worthy. Not quite a Bordeaux, but not a lush. Really just beautiful elegant and balanced with a very coarse and lengthy finish. Cool nuances of mint floating off the top of the glass with ever so faint traces of tobacco making me think that this can improve with time and may be, just may be, at the entrance of something more old world like, though a joy to drink and savor now. 93-95...Drink!
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5/19/2023 - Rieslingfan wrote:
I love reading CellarTracker notes because sometimes they provide useful information, and the rest of the time they provide entertainment. All the comments about this wine peaking or with no more upside completely miss what Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines do when given sufficient runway. There’s nothing suggesting a peak in complexity or even some imminent decline. There’s still berry fruit, the spice notes are bright and focused. It has a tiny touch of leathery/earthy tertiary, but plenty of depth to further develop. This is a wine approaching maturity, rather than creating it. The CellarTracker drinking window that supposedly closes this year has in reality just opened. Continue to cellar and enjoy with confidence.
From my late father’s cellar which had been between 56-58 degrees for the duration.
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11/14/2022 - Ecoenophile wrote: 92 Points
May hitting its peak. Smooth but not a lot of structure left. No detailed notes, but very enjoyable paring with roast pork
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9/5/2022 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
Penultimate bottle from a 6 pack.
Not really improving, but a nice Red Bdx blend.
No formal TN, drink through 2024.
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8/24/2022 - rc@ughey wrote: 88 Points
Nice. Soft. In no danger of fading. Good not great.
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7/2/2022 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking well but not fading. 14.7%
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4/9/2022 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Last of the 06's and this bottle drank incredibly well. Good fruit, loads of interesting herbal notes, mid-weight, good acidity. Very much Bordeaux-like except for the sweetness (for lack of a better word) of the fruit. Great effort from ACVV. This could have gone at least a couple more years.
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11/21/2021 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Finishing up the remnants of Friday’s bottle and it has faded a bit. Now more red-fruited, along with cedar and tobacco notes. Red fruit and spice box on the palate, with a medium finish. Has a subtle herbal streak.
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11/19/2021 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Friday Night Brown Bagger (Eagle Brook CC): Double blind. Dark color with notes of black fruit, peppery spice, forest floor and tobacco. I could keep my nose buried in the glass all night. Soft tannins. Black fruit, spice and tobacco flavors with a lengthy finish. (J&J)
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11/19/2021 - Border Boss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Double decanted two hours before service. Dark red with a lighter rim. Very fruity, tannic but not a lot of acidity. Really in an excellent drinking window, but with many years left to go.
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9/5/2021 - VlgJeff wrote: 92 Points
As per the back label: Eloge is French for "Praiseworthy", and this wine is that. Slo-oxed for 15 minutes. Lots of sediment stuck to the bottle. A deep purple color - to a watery rim. Dark red fruits, cassis and earth on the nose. The medium bodied palate showed lots of the dark red fruits and earth, along with a bit of chocolate and cedar. The acidity was balancing and the tannins were finely integrated.
This blend of 65% CS + 25% CF + 7% PV + 3% Mer still has some life left in the tank, but some recent TNs indicate that it's best days may be behind it. Drink up for maximum enjoyment.
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6/14/2021 - R2-D2 wrote: 93 Points
Anderson's Conn Valley Library Tasting (Temecula, CA): Subtle, not the in-your-face, hedonistic, approach to Napa winemaking that became popular due to Robert Parker point chasing. Which is quite refreshing some 15 years later. The ripe black currant fruit is there still (we are talking 14%+ alcohol still), but it is well supported by complex notes of smoked pepper, cedar, pipe tobacco, cassis, cherry licorice, brown sugar/caramel, eucalyptus, and savory earth notes. Balanced with refined, ripe tannin and a lasting finish.
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3/22/2021 - devraj Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark ruby with slight bricking around the edges. Open knit aromas of cassis, dark red fruits, aromatic baking spices, hint of tobacco and forest floor on the nose. Medium-bodied and restrained palate shows silky reddish-black small fruits, touch of savory olives/mint, medium (+) acidity, melting tannins and a long perfumed finish. Napa meets Bordeaux in this wine.
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3/13/2021 - merlot78 Likes this wine: 80 Points
My last bottle. and it is not so good. It really faded, still drinkable but no where as good as my previous six bottles. Oh well, I still had a good run with these wines which are the best around.
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2/25/2021 - merlot78 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Although my last bottle was not very good, this one was in perfect condition. This bordeau blend takes wine to the next level. It is perfection in a bottle. So glad that I have one more left.
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11/27/2020 - DrBad Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is in perfect balance for a 14 year old wine. Fruit still going strong with cherry, plum, spices and some damp earth age. Popped and poured this opened up quickly and stayed consistent for 3-4 hours with no signs of fading.
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10/20/2020 - merlot78 wrote: 85 Points
This is one of my favorite wines. Unfortunately it is in a downward spiral and was i barely drinkable. Have to check my inventory. Hopefully the rest are still in cood shape.
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4/7/2020 - drrobvino wrote: 94 Points
4th of 6 bottles, last consumed this wine 2 years ago.
Red Bordeaux blend, 65% CS, 25% CF, 7% PV, 3% Merlot.
Beautiful wine this evening, black cherry, cassis, green peppers, black pepper, mint, and wet soil.
This wine is full in body, with well-integrated, sweet tannins, as well as moderating acidity giving a complex and beautifully balanced wine.
Drink now through 2026+.
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2/9/2020 - K_langhans wrote:
Yummy. Fruity
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1/8/2020 - JohnSh wrote: 94 Points
A wine in celebration of a sad day. My oldest cousin passed today, and as he helped introduce me to Napa wines, I reminisced over this wine. He lived in San Francisco in the late 80s and early 90s, and hosted my wife and I on a couple of trips there. These were the first visits to Napa - before it became an overblown, elitist caricature of itself - that really ignited my wine journey. This wine is classy and distinguished, just like my cousin, but not as ebullient as he due to its age. Rocknroller nailed the description of this wine to me - a mix of red and black fruits, showing both elegance and power and secondary notes including tobacco, clove, earthy and cedar notes and lovely tannins. A great wine to honour a great cousin (A).
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11/18/2019 - vanpe003 wrote: flawed
Corked. Mildly at first, but worsening the longer the bottle was open. Disappointing, in that the underlying fruit showed some good promise.
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11/13/2019 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 91 Points
At Beth and Arthur's. Excellent, maturing well. Drinks well now with or without food. Will last another 5+ years.
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10/15/2019 - merlot78 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank at Jay's dinner party in N.H. everyone loved this wine. Every aspect of this wine was perfect.
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10/1/2019 - napasoutherner Likes this wine: 95 Points
Had alongside a 2007 Anderson’s Conn Valley Reserve Can with a friend. The Eloge 2006 was much rounder and balanced than the 07 which was more tannic and grippy. Long finish. Great value producer and overall pleasurable. Top 10 value wine
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9/30/2019 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent mountain fruit Cabernet blend. Drinking well now, but has the structure to last a while. A little burly at times - highish alcohol, but carries itself well overall. Might be better after a year or 2 more.
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7/17/2019 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brought to Rooney's for dinner with Susanna. Had this after the '06 Guado al Tasso. This was also very nice but it was a clear second for me behind the Guado. The fruit here was more red fruited and a bit more crunchy. The acidity was good, but the tannins still had some bite. Drinking well now but I suspect this will get a bit more elegant over the next few years.
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6/16/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Very dark red color, no bricking. Pooped this open and tasted, very good initially, but felt it would benefit from air so put in decanter and drank it over the next 2 hours. Brought this up to the lake for Father's Day with my Dad and younger son. Gave Dad a couple choices and he was intrigued by this. I really felt this was in a very good place. I would question any notes suggesting this was over the hill at all. Of course our preference for where to drink my differ. This really had everything in its place. Kind of reminded me of the '92 Araujo Eisele the other night, Not nearly as old obviously, but still had a class and sophisticated elegance about it like that did. There's a little funky earth that opens on the nose, it grows a little as it opens more, leather, and then a mix of pretty red, black and blue fruits on the nose. The palate is full bodied, but not really weighty, the purity of the fruit shines, cherry, huckleberry, cassis; then it's a gorgeous streak of pencil that is blending with the fruit, dried tobacco, a little smoky, with silky tannins and a long finish. Impressive. One of those wines that is sneaky good and disappears quickly. Nice wine to celebrate Dad's day.
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12/20/2018 - merlot78 wrote:
Gave as a gift to Dave
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9/2/2018 - Sugarb Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very solid, not spectacular like I hoped and expected. Fruit did not POP or stand out. Tannins are well integrated, for certain. Does not require significant decanting at this point in its life. Not sure it has another 5 years of life.
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8/15/2018 - jst914 Likes this wine: 95 Points
A real beauty that we enjoyed with filets, grilled asparagus, and fresh NJ corn. The wine took a good 2 hours + to open up and reveal how incredible it is. Black currant, dark fruits, cigar box and a velvety mouthfeel. It’s drinking beautifully right now but it’s still a big wine and has all the makings to last another 5-10 years. Have another 3 bottles; 1 of which we will enjoy at a vertical tasting of ACV’s that we’re hosting in September, and the other two will remain in my cellar for another few years before I try it again.
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6/23/2018 - merlot78 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Perfection. what else is there to say.
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3/17/2018 - carlsport Likes this wine: 92 Points
Needed only about 10 minutes in glass to shed some veggie funk and blossom into a really smooth layered blend.
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2/27/2018 - drrobvino wrote: 93 Points
Bottle #3 of 6. Last tasted 2.5 yrs ago. 14.7% abv, a blend of 65% Cab Sauv, 25% Cab Franc, 7% Petite Verdot, 3% Merlot.
Deep brick red at the core, fading to a medium brown rim.
Nose shows off tar, ripened cherries, green pepper, and cooking spices.
The palate echoes the nose, showing off very good acidity and chewy tannins.
Drink this pretty wine now through 2024.
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2/26/2018 - Winerut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very good. Still has time left to improve.
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2/24/2018 - Rich S Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Similar to previous bottle but the oak showed a bit more this time and the secondary aromas seemed a bit less prominent. Still, very smooth and well balanced with plenty of life left. Might have benefited from decanting.
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11/28/2017 - ChickenNoodle Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark fruits and very soft yet still with great structure. Enjoyed this one the most of the bottles I had had over the years as it seems to be integrated well at this point.
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10/22/2017 - oldwines Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted about an hour or so before starting to taste. Saturated medium to dark garnet. Some oak and vanilla on the nose but more earth, leather, graphite and dark fruit and berry. Oak mostly integrated in the flavor profile. Tannin is moderate and pretty soft with medium acidity as well. Dark fruit predominates with black plum and blackberry. Clearly modern in style but in a good place right now, reasonably well balanced. The finish was the least interesting attribute, seemed pretty short to me.
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9/23/2017 - csimm wrote: 88 Points
Get-Together with Friends (Santa Rosa): From a vertical of 2006-2011 Conn Valley Eloge. The 2006 and 2007 were my favorites in the lineup. A decent amount of cedar and thin red and black currant dominated throughout the attack. Drink now. 87-88 points.
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5/16/2017 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 95 Points
So sad....my last bottle. From a magnum. This seems to have improved with age from my previous bottle. Long finish, great nose, full bodied..notes of dark red fruit, and maybe some licorice. At this point the tannis are nicely balanced. Why didn't I buy more? Why have I bought so little Eloge over the past few years? Borderline for a higher score, I'll err on the side of a conservative score.
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4/12/2017 - hkoehler70 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Incredible wine. Still very closed when poured from bottle. Suggests another 10+ years of life. Opened up over 3 hours. Was best on second and third day. Perfect balance of acidity, dark fruit, structure. Long, lingering finish. One of the best wines I had in some time.
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3/31/2017 - macliii Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful wine with good balance and structure. Opened up even more the 2nd night. Although it was 11 years old, it still would have had many years left of bottle age. Went great with a nice Filet steak and gruyere potatoes dinner.
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2/14/2017 - hebill wrote:
Drinking nicely but still young. Well balanced, fine tannins, should go for another 7-10 years easily.
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8/20/2016 - The Wine Write Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour, served with grilled burgers. Wasn't as bowled over as other scorers, but it was a pretty solid Bordeaux blend.
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5/30/2016 - Kyle_Stewart wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for 3 hrs, this wine was amazing. A lot of sediment in bottle, the most amazing nose (prob the best part, you just want to continue to nose the wine before drinking it). Dark fruits, plum, cherry, and oak were what I really tasted but a perfect synergy. Everything was ready to go. 2006 is great year and this wine will be one of my go to's for sure. Doesn't get much better. Will pay $80 for it- winebid
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5/21/2016 - shutto1992@gmail.com Likes this wine: 96 Points
Opened bottle 1 hour before drinking. Big and powerful, well balanced. Los of life left, but drinking well now.
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4/12/2016 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 94 Points
Big Bottle Night, we drank in order: 2009 Chateau Potensac (3L), 2012 Sebastiani Gravel Bed Red (1.5L), 2006 Anderson's Conn Valley Eloge (1.5L) and the 2003 Chateau Meyney (1.5L). All the wines, except the Meyney where at least partially decanted, with the Potensac being entirely decanted. We started drinking the first wine 15 minutes after opening, but since it was the double magnum, we also had that one again, at the end of the rotation.
This was my WOTN, as it was for most of our 16 person group. A beautifully balanced wine. It went really well with the Lamb burger that I had for dinner.
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3/18/2016 - jllrckgr wrote: 98 Points
We let this come to room temp for 3 hrs and then decanted for 3 hours. It was so wonderful. A little oak but not too much. Very smooth and an excellent wine.
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1/23/2016 - D3S Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent, nice nose well balanced, blue fruit, hints of tobacco and good finish.
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12/19/2015 - toddmk Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautifully balanced wine. Not an Over The Top fruit bomb like many Napa cabs are these days. Needs some decant if drinking now. Will hold safely for another 7+ years.
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12/19/2015 - drrobvino wrote: 93 Points
Taken to a friends house to drink over dinner. No formal TN.
Beautiful Cab blend, with spicy and peppery notes and voluptuous, tense tannins that were just opening up after 9 yrs of bottle age. This wine was delicious, and drinking well through 2022+. Very nice.
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11/10/2015 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 92 Points
Anderson's Conn Valley Dinner: 2013 Chardonnay, 2006 Right Bank, 2006 Eloge, and 2006 Reserve Cabernet (in that order).
Really good wine, but the group seemed to place it behind the other two 2006 Anderson's that we had. For me, it was just a touch behind the reserve Cabernet.
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10/24/2015 - grenache lover Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very young, a bit lactic at the beginning (even after a 1 hour decant). Black fruit, a touch of coal. Mouth without a single edge, very balanced, complete, and long. Goes very well with the steak.
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10/15/2015 - galewskj wrote: 94 Points
Too many wines for a Wednesday (Kevin's house): A little funky. Quite flavorful. Black pepper. I would have guessed Bordeaux. Tons of complexity. Tied for my wine of the night, but I gave it #2 because it was Kevin's bottle, and he always wins.
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10/14/2015 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
A Big Wine Wednesday Afternoon (Rocknroller's (Kevin & Vicki's Place)): Very dark red color. Decanted for 40 minutes, drank 2 glasses over an hour plus. Wow, this is in a great place. Probably ready on a PNP, but even better with just a bit of air. Amazing nose of earth adn glorious fruit, cassis, blue fruit, pencil lead, dried herbs, and a hint of tar. The palate displays levels of intensity, acid and fruit that resonate, fantastic tart dark berries, cassis, sweet fruit overtones, spice, round and impeccably balanced. the tannins are integrated and suave, and the finish is long and provocative. Fantastic, elegant and so enjoyable, perfect now, but will hold for 10 years. 94+pts. My and group WOTN.
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10/14/2015 - Mattshank wrote: 93 Points
Hanging out at Kevin's (Rocknroller): Nose: Floral black fruits with pencil lead, subtle road tar and cassis. Palate: Soft tannins with subtle spices, black fruits and a lengthy finish. Really solid and narrowly my favorite of the tasting just over the CdP.
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10/9/2015 - D3S Likes this wine: 95 Points
Outstanding wine, very good nose, decanted for 30 minutes, paired with duck breast, great fruit, tannins and very long finish.
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6/29/2015 - cliffkol wrote: 92 Points
Floral, earthy, mature fruit aromas. Very typical Bordeaux style yet bolder and fruitier. Firm, pronounced tannins, mouth filling yet softly presented. Mature fruits, earthy. Velvet and silky textures. Smooth. Nice, but short, finish. A wonderful bottle.
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6/28/2015 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted and drank over 90 minutes. Very similar to the last time.
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5/19/2015 - ChickenNoodle Likes this wine: 90 Points
Black Cherry with ripe overall fruit profile and very soft tannins. Nice mouthfeel but this will only drink well for a few more years.
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5/10/2015 - rickspicks wrote: 93 Points
Not much nose but very ripe, sweet, concentrated dark cherry & cassis along with earth and spice on the palate. Full bodied with a big, firm structure, but also a very, very smooth, lush texture. Long satisfying finish. Very bordeaux-like but with California richness and ripeness.
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4/4/2015 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really nice showing for this wine with Matt and the kids in a pre-iEaster dinner at home. Smooth tannins, cocoa and baking spices. Decanted per suggestion of other CT tasters and it opened up nicely.
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3/13/2015 - BUBBA DAWG wrote: 88 Points
one dimensional and relatively flat out of the bottle
left balance in corked bottle overnight - opened up a bit but this is either entering a funky phase or it's past its peak
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1/24/2015 - memphishusky Likes this wine:
Still going strong. Well integrated use oak and bright fruits showing well
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12/24/2014 - HOS Likes this wine: 94 Points
After last bottle last month, decided to go with a good decant. After an hour, we had black cherry, earth, herbs. Smooth, full bodied, good finish. Strongly recommend at least 2 hour decant with this. Still young.
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12/21/2014 - gagrapes wrote: 93 Points
as with prior notes, needs a good decant and air time to open up
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12/20/2014 - Rich S Likes this wine: 94 Points
Popped and poured. Great nose of black cherry, currant, cedar cigar box, some earthy, slightly mushroomy and herbal notes. Really aromatic wine. Similar flavors on the palate with smooth and silky dark red fruit flavors joined by some more earthy, spicy and rustic flavors. Medium acid and tannins with a long finish. This could pass for a high end bordeaux. Drinking great right now. Will likely consume my second bottle within a year.
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12/10/2014 - tc from santee Likes this wine: 92 Points
This Bordeaux blend is just hitting its stride, and would benefit from 2 or 3 more years in your cellar. It needed two hours to open up. With flavors of Blackberries, Black Cherries, Current and a hint of rocky soil and graphite, this is a good food wine.
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12/2/2014 - carlsport Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very typical higher end cab blend. Gave it a 45 minute decant, but could have used a little more time as it was just hitting its stride as we finished the bottle an hour later.
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11/20/2014 - texaswinelover wrote:
Delicious wine. Closed upon opening but took 30-60 mins to open. Developed beautifully. Full and rich but not overdone. No heat. Touch herbal which was nice. Appearance was more evolved than in mouth. Plenty of time left.
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11/18/2014 - mikeparker wrote: 90 Points
smooth. very little scent. flat finish. on sale now for obvious reasons.
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11/7/2014 - HOS wrote: 91 Points
Not really improving. Not sure whether to drink rest or wait.
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11/2/2014 - gcarl wrote: 92 Points
Very nice red fruit/currants on the nose at P&P, which only improved over 2 hours. Palate was velvety, soft tannins, and a medium/long finish. At the end of the bottle, I felt it was a 93. Very nice & may well improve over a few more years.
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10/5/2014 - merlot78 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Not sure if there is anything better than this "ELOGE". It is like going into another dimension.
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8/1/2014 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark garnet turning ruby at the rim with a deep, effervescent nose of red and dark berries, cedar and smoke. The palate is dense, plush and layered with an iron fist-like structure that's masked by a velvet glove-like texture. Flavors of currant, plum, cherry, licorice form the inner core with a tinge of cranberry, toasted caramel, espresso, and dark chocolate line the outer rim. Superbly decadent, well-balanced, harmonious and cleanly delineated. Finishes long and lifted with a butter-like sheath on finely-grained tannin. Drink now until 2026. 95+
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6/16/2014 - jsapping wrote: 93 Points
- It's balanced with a full body. Polished texture with a long finish.
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5/17/2014 - HOS Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted 15 min and began drinking. Black cherry, truffle, herbs. Smooth with a tannin back bone that was obvious but not unpleasant. Drank over 1 hour and it was fairly consistent but never reached Parker's score . Might do better with a longer decant.
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4/15/2014 - thalver wrote:
Double decanted and re-opened about an hour later. This continued to evolve and expand in the glass for the next few hours. The cab franc shows through with hints of herbal/green (not in a bad way) Tannins were not obtrusive, but certainly made themselves known, such that I'm inclined to give the remaining bottles a bit more time to see what develops 92-93
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2/14/2014 - Wamrod wrote: 92 Points
Drinking well right now, but I feel can improve more (assuming cellared properly - YMMV)
Improved with air
Tannins not as ripe as 2007 of course, but a very nice bottle
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1/18/2014 - pnwskibum wrote: 93 Points
Really drinking well right now. Very pure red fruit, current nose followed with a really smooth palate with almost no tannin and great fruit. I think I will drink my remaining bottles in the next five years but no rush at all.
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12/31/2013 - Ecoenophile wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Did not take detailed notes... (it was New Years Eve, afterall)... but recall it being very integrated... smooth tannins and a nice finish. Solid.
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12/27/2013 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely nose of black cherry fruit and meat, more of the same on the palate, creamy and rich tasting, almost elegant, medium body, and a medium/long finish.
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11/29/2013 - cliffkol wrote: 92 Points
Needs more than an hour decant. But really needs at least another year in the cellar. Tannins are solid, strong and still need time to resolve. Dark fruits, vivid earthiness, smoke, leather. Delicious, but again, needs more time.
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10/14/2013 - mdfuller Likes this wine: 92 Points
big and jammy ... drinking very well now. but let it sit for a time
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10/14/2013 - gf2182 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really great blend. Lots going for this, lots of life left. Some decanted time, 30-60 mins, really helps this start to open up and share the bounty. Love it!
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10/13/2013 - gagrapes wrote: 94 Points
delicious blend...even better with a little air time. highly recommend.
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10/12/2013 - TomATL wrote: 94 Points
Singing right now, and could get better with a little more time. Glad I have a few more.
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8/23/2013 - BUBBA DAWG Likes this wine: 94 Points
violet/inky appearance...dusty forest floor, faint licorice and very expressive black fruits on the nose with a hint of heat...black cherry, plums dominate a spicy and complex mid-palate that is decidedly a meld of old and new world styles...strong backbone holds silky tannins, acidity and alcohol in balance...still young and built to age...solid QPR and potential for improvement
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8/7/2013 - dstraub wrote: 93 Points
Sad to see that this is our last bottle. Thanks for the memories.
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8/3/2013 - Chateaunole-du-Pape wrote: 92 Points
Exceptional wine. Initial nose straight from bottle was hot, with mostly bright red fruits. Quick pass through a Vinturi mellowed the heat and brought forth more earthy, leathery tones. Allowed to sit in decanter for about an hour before rebottling and taking to a dinner at a friend's house. With beef tenderloin and some more air, this became considerably more complex and interesting, with dark fruit and earthy elements very much in evidence. Glad I have one more.
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7/20/2013 - wendyinwlv wrote: 80 Points
I hate to be in the minority, but was not really impressed with this. Maybe it's the merlot (which we are not fans of), but not terribly fruity or alive. Just sort of bland - not great for an $80 bottle of wine. Hope the next Anderson's will be better!!
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7/4/2013 - bbakove wrote: 91 Points
Excellent blend in the Bordeaux style. Showing well now and can easily lay down another 2-5 years. Expressive and nuanced, full bodied and wonderful on the palate.
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6/3/2013 - StainedGlass wrote: 91 Points
Short decant, and tasting younger and more forward than I expected, which hid some of the nuanace I expect from a Conn Valley Eloge. Decided new world, with 14.7% abv. Better on day 2, I would hold off opening a bottle for a couple of years, or give it a minimum 3 hour decant.
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3/22/2013 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful showing and the best 06 I have tasted to date. Rose petals, blueberries, blackberries, cedar, minerals and raspberries. Bordeaux like wine with plenty of aging potential. Medium to long finish and impressive showing. Decanted 3 hours. 93 to 95.
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3/14/2013 - dstraub Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great again.
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3/10/2013 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 91 Points
2nd bottle in two days. Not as good as the one on Saturday with spices, cedar, blueberries, blackberries and minerals. A bit hot and will hold a glass for Monday to see if it settles down.
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3/9/2013 - robertgf wrote: 93 Points
"Cab's at Jan's" -- Very big full bodied bold wine. Decanted 2 1/2 hrs with 1 venturie... Initial impression was alcoho and oakl on the nose with a slightly bitter/vegie aftertaste; but this dissipated after five minutes or so. The palate exhibits loads of mixed blue/black fruits...and the taste goes on and on. Of the three Eloges tonight, my preference was the 04. Will the 06 surpass it in time ??
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3/9/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 95 Points
Napa Cabs/Bordeaux Blends with 2002 Insignia and Vertical of Anderson's Conn Valley Eloge (Jan's Place, St. Paul, MN): Very dark red/purple collor. Vinturi and decanted 2.5hrs. Drank one glass over 1.5hrs. 65%CS, 25%M, 7%PV, 3%M. This had the best nose of the night and the best nose of the Eloge vertical. Perfumed, floral, blueberries galore, earthy, creme de cassis, spice. The palate translates beautifully with gorgeous blue and black fruits, earth, graphite, licorice, spice. Wonderful creamy texture, round tannins, powerful with finesse and an intense long finish. This was really impressive and still very youthful. The Anderson's Conn Valley wines are some of the best wines and values in Napa.This was my #2 WOTN.
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3/1/2013 - dstraub Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is just a great wine and it keeps getting better with age.
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2/23/2013 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for an hour. This is an extremely balanced wine with integrated tannins. Black fruits, plum, spice, smoke and a little earth all integrated together in a great package.
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2/4/2013 - dstraub Likes this wine: 94 Points
It was great as usual.
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2/3/2013 - MattB72 wrote: 95 Points
Wow, what a great wine. A little closed when it was opened, but by hour 4 it was unbelievable. Has at least 7-10 more yrs.
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1/19/2013 - cliffkol wrote: 91 Points
Big nose. Dark red color. Earthy, dark fruits, oak, slight tobacco. Well integrated tannins, but another year or two will probably be what this wine needs to fully integrate.
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1/16/2013 - atl10trader Likes this wine: 90 Points
The wine looks Crimson colored. It smells like Prune, Fig, and Plum. It tastes like Black currant (cassis), Blackberry, Oak, and Black Pepper. The body is Full. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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12/16/2012 - johnbhamrick Likes this wine:
Still not all there, but very good. Lots of fruit rements in bottle, so it does need to be strained and decanted. A very pleasant nose and good legs.
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11/25/2012 - prasm wrote: 93 Points
From memory - popped and poured, consumed over 2 hours. Nose: Medium expressiveness, blue and black fruit. Palate: Heavey sediment here, medium bodied, nicely integrated tannins, dark fruit, tobacco and earth. Finish: Medium plus length dominated by earthy dark fruit.
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10/6/2012 - johnbhamrick wrote: 91 Points
Still developing and lots of fruit remnants in bottle. Definitely needs straining. A good value for the money and should be even better in a couple of years.
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9/18/2012 - dstraub wrote: 93 Points
Good as always.
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9/15/2012 - MQuentel@web.de wrote: 92 Points
Very modern style Bordeaux blend, delicate fine-grained and sweet tannins, much of ripe fruits, Rich on the palate, plums, figs, cassis, some licorice intermixed with a Touch of vanilla, nutmeg and juniper berry. Mouthfilling, silky texture, highly extracted, good acidity, balanced, with a good length. Now perfect to drink.
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9/9/2012 - johnbhamrick wrote: 92 Points
A really great value for the money. Getting better and better as time goes on.
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8/24/2012 - Wink wrote: 94 Points
Can't keep my hands off this wine. Too bad. It's my last bottle. Dark, opaque garnet with purple tint. Nose of smoke, blackberry, graphite, mint, and vanilla. Ripe, full palate bursting with blackberry, fig, plum, cassis, leather, licorice, and espresso. Superb length. Focused acidity. Silky texture. Sweet tannins. Lots of "wow factor".
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8/18/2012 - ELH wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour and funneled back into the bottle. Pleasing balance of fruit, soft tannins, and finish. Quite enjoyable. Last one in the cellar. In retrospect, the experience with the eight bottles differed over time. Ones consumed early were quite good and approachable. Then, the wine seemed to shut down for a while and was lacking in character. Only recently, did it appear to revive. It ended up being quite good. QPR is marginal, however.
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8/17/2012 - johnbhamrick wrote: 93 Points
Getting better with age. Now easy to drink right after aerating and full of oak earth flavors. Deep dark color and really ready. Will probably get better with another year or two, but with 17 bottles to go--why wait????
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7/4/2012 - Wink wrote: 93 Points
Haven't opened a bottle in a year. Dark, opaque garnet. Nose of leather, earth, smoke, cassis, and vanilla. Ripe, mouthfilling palate of blackberry, licorice, and smoked meat. Excellent length. Pleasant, mild acidity. Sweet tannins. Outstanding!
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7/1/2012 - jfurey21 wrote: 93 Points
We popped this - let it sit for about 30 minutes. Wow - ready to go now, but has backbone if you want it to resolve more. Plenty of fruit and subtle tannins. My wine group loved this wine. Have three more and will space them over time. Maybe open the next one in a couple of years.
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5/20/2012 - andrewdodd86 Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Second time as meh, 85 points, dull, unispiring. Never buy again!!! (not corked)
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5/11/2012 - rickspicks wrote: 94 Points
Just simply terrific! A bit tight on opening but later reveals a nose of cassis, tobacco (lots of it), oak and earth. Same flavors on the palate with very ripe, sweet, concentrated fruit and a kick of spice and acidity. Big and with lots of structure, but also very, very smooth with a long finish. Flavors and textures like what I would expect from a young, very ripe, fruit-forward, right-bank bordeaux. This wine is dominated by all the rich, ripe fruit, but is not at all overdone. Delicious and will probably improve over the next few years.
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5/6/2012 - dstraub wrote: 95 Points
Consistently great.
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4/19/2012 - ELH wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured at BYO. Calmed down after 10 minutes. Coming into its own. Quite good.
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4/10/2012 - dstraub wrote: 95 Points
Just a spectacular bottle of wine. Seems to be drinking perfectly after a one hour decant. Absolutely great with a our ribeyes.
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3/31/2012 - ELH wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for two hours and funneled back into bottle. Much better; maybe it's emerging and finally coming around, or maybe it was just the decant. A hint of what further aging might yield. While quite good, I wonder if this wine is overpriced.
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3/24/2012 - johnbhamrick wrote: 92 Points
Getting better with every bottle. Slightly spicy, some sour tanins remaining, but pleasant overall.
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3/10/2012 - mikeaukenbals wrote: 92 Points
Well made but boring
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1/13/2012 - drrobvino wrote: 94 Points
Cabernet Hedonism (Rob & Bev's place): Decanted 3+ hours prior to tasting. This wine looks black as night. It does not appear to lighten at the edge. The nose offers up aromas of green pepper and mocha, followed by rich cassis fruit. Obviously too young to really be hitting it's stride, but there's alot in here trying to get out. In the mouth, very tightly knit wine, with chocolate giving way to bright cherry fruit. Lovely balance, with a hint of mint, leading into a long and supple finish. A beautiful mouthfeel to this wine that is worth mentioning. 93 pts.
Tasted again 2 days later from this partially consumed bottle. 65% Cab Sauv, 25% Cab Franc, 7% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. 90% new French oak. Now I see that the greenness on the nose was from all that Cab Franc! Some spice, wet stones, and meaty scents lead into the cassis fruit profile. I have always felt that the CVV wines had some of the most amazing velvety mouthfeel of any wines in California, and this Eloge is no slouch in that department. Notes of leather, cassis, black currant, and herbaceous green pepper, lead the way, parting into a finish that is near-perfect, with thick and chewy youthful tannins that are brilliantly reined in and balanced by the acidity and fruit (this Spiderman wine understands that with great power comes great responsibility). A very slight hotness on the palate keeps me from going up two more points, but I'm gonna need to eek this wine up another point after letting it come into it's own over a few days. 94 pts.
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1/1/2012 - gagrapes wrote:
Agree with "Vine's" comments. Will hold remaining bottles in cellar as this will be much better with some years on it. If you do choose to drink now, give it plenty of air time.
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11/24/2011 - *Vine* wrote:
Popped and decanted for 4 hours. Medium-plus dark garnet. A perfumed nose of black fruits, currant, tobacco leaf, earth, dried mushrooms, and hints of smoke. Medium-plus body. As if the nose wasn't enough, the flavors on the palate are truly evocative of Bordeaux, with fruit much more refrained from the excellent core of earth, cedar, cigar box, and other notes one would more commonly associate with Bordeaux. But that's not to say it lacks fruit; indeed, it possesses a solid core of blackberry and black currant. However, in comparison to many other Cabernet blends from Napa, this shows a degrees of finesse and integration that is almost uncommon nowadays. The tannins are chewy and slightly astringent on the moderate-plus close. While nice to check in on now, this promising wine is full of potential and will only improve with further cellaring.
Quick commentary: I wouldn't recommend purchasing this one if you're a fan of exuberant Napa fruit. That said, this is a delightful wine and should be sought after by anyone who appreciates Right Bank Bordeaux...it might even fool in a blind setting.
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10/3/2011 - kinger0003 Likes this wine: 91 Points
First, I think it's still a bit young and definitely benefits from some decanting time. I'll shoot for at least 2 hours my next go 'round with this wine. Once it does get some air though it really starts to come through. Loads of spice with a hint of black cherry and maybe a tad of licorice. Medium bodied with plenty of tannins. The tannins do mellow with some air time which is was much more to my liking.
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7/24/2011 - merlot78 wrote: 90 Points
This wine has everything going for it, but it doesn't measure up to my "2000 Eloge". I think that I will wait a couple of years before I try again.
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7/18/2011 - Wink wrote: 94 Points
Brought to Chaine event at La Poste. No notes. Delicious, balanced, and complex.
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6/18/2011 - Philly-O wrote: 85 Points
too syrupy, muted nose. maybe should have waited a couple of hours.
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6/6/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 91 Points
Shy tight nose, currants, slightly spicy. Deep opulent palate, currants, plums, hint of spice and cedar. Denali packed and tight in this pop and pour. Lengthy finish, fruit filled with purple fruits. Quite nice and balanced, but needs time.
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5/22/2011 - Sijan wrote: 90 Points
Drank at our Judgment of Ballston blind tasting of 12 Left-bank style reds from the US and France. This was tied for fourth (with the 2007 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars SLV) in the overall group rankings. I also had it tied for fourth with the Stag's Leap, the 2007 Linden Hardscrabble, and the 2007 Boxwood (Boxwood).
This wine performed a little below expectations, but was still one of the better wines tasted. I found it to be a bit too tannic on the finish.
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5/22/2011 - mikeaukenbals wrote: 92 Points
Hold onto the rest for a bit. this wasn't particularly impressive given the price. still very good and got better after a 2 hr decant. drank alongside a similar wine that was half the price and was only a touch better.
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5/21/2011 - vanpe003 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. The cab franc adds a nice component to this, making it a "pretty" wine, more delicate and floral than the ACV Reserve. On the nose, dark fruits, florals and a bit of sweet spice others have described as licorice. Palate is medium heavy, with a bit of cassis added to the flavors that carry over from the nose. Fine tannins with a relatively mild bite. Really comes together the longer it's in the glass, gaining some overall weight. I think this will be even better in 4-5 years, but don't get the sense that it's a long-term ager.
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5/10/2011 - xtian wrote: 93 Points
Fantastically smooth and balanced. Love it!
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4/3/2011 - ELH wrote: 89 Points
Still somewhat closed. Does this wine have a "stupid" phase? Lacking in personality. Does it need a dose of Mourvedre for some character and gumption?
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3/27/2011 - goldscalpel wrote: 95 Points
Had this one again. Very similar. Great fruit, smooth tannins. Drinking well now but will get more.
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3/14/2011 - tbabes wrote: 94 Points
Purchased a few days prior direct from the winery; brought along with us to (bbq night!) at ad-hoc. Youthful appearance, with a relatively expressive bouquet for such a young California cabernet-based wine (perhaps we can thank the cab franc) with notes of spicy dark fruits, fennel, and earth. Medium to full bodied, with a lush texture, good concentration of flavor, with a generous and round finish. I can see this as being quite a crowd pleaser!
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3/13/2011 - calicabnut Likes this wine: 96 Points
This is a special wine. Showing a somewhat subdued nose, it did not explode and show capturing aromas on the opening or even later in the glass, but the opaque purple color and tartrates signalled there was much more to come. Superb fruits followed with excellent acidity and medium to full body (it gained more weight with more air time). Nicely integrated, smooth tannins made for a luxurious roundness and silky mouthfeel and a long, tantilizing finish.
A beautiful wine ready to drink and enjoy right now, this one has everything it needs to get even better over the years. My plan is to restrain myself to one per year and watch it as it matures, and I fully expect the journey to be a highly rewarding one.
It can be difficult to find QPR in a $70 wine but this one makes it. You really can't ask for much more in a wine unless (for me) you go up to some significantly more expensive 100% Cab stunners by Shafer, Araujo, Buccella or Hobbs.
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3/8/2011 - goldscalpel wrote: 96 Points
Great fruit (black current). Nice long finish. WIll enjoy the rest in years to come.
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3/3/2011 - ELH wrote: 88 Points
Off bottle? Popped and poured at BYO. It never really opened up. Somewhat tart and closed.
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2/21/2011 - jwebtx wrote:
whiff of band aide. not best showing.
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2/17/2011 - dstraub wrote: 96 Points
Not much to add here that already hasn't been said. A GREAT bottle of wine to be enjoyed now and for the next 15 years.
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12/29/2010 - Wildfan104 wrote: 95 Points
fantastic
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10/20/2010 - ews3 wrote: 91 Points
Zachys Robin Hood 2010 Wine Tasting (La venue, NYC): chocolaty wine. lead. med tannin. med(+) finish.
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10/17/2010 - DSaeedi wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding wine. Nose: dark cherry, currant and thyme, with elegant violet and deep chocolate notes. Layers of secondary aromas. On the palate, some serious tannins. Full bodied, full tannins. Great acidity. Superb balance. Could use at least 3-5 years, but is very elegant now. 30 second plus finish. A truly impressive wine.
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9/30/2010 - Wamrod wrote: flawed
Wine was left in a car in sun by a "friend" who was dropping it off. Cork came 1/4 way out, but I had to taste anyway, morbid curiousity.
Was very nice considering, but I can't score it. Will only report visual, but it drank well even considering being somewhat cooked.
Medium/dark garnet - lightening at edges. Thick, syrupy legs, that took a while to start dropping.
---redacted due to heat damage----
Medium/long finish, but mostly oak on the end.
4 more bottles, so I'll try it again next year.
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9/18/2010 - ELH wrote: 91 Points
Reliable food wine.
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9/12/2010 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 95 Points
I liked this slightly less than the Reserve but it was excellent as well. The Cab Franc really makes a difference in this blend.
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8/22/2010 - kaptainreboot Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was still very young but yet very elegant. Long lasting tannin structure that was very well balanced. Will drink the others in several years so it can mature even more. A very well made wine!
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8/12/2010 - ELH wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyable, interesting blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and petit verdot. Elegant but restrained fruit. Medium bodied. Great food wine. Popped and poured. Drinking well, but slightly young. Shows potential.
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8/6/2010 - Slvrfish wrote: 92 Points
Very nice wine another good wine access purchase. Popped and poured Very enjoyable now but will gain from 4 or 5 years.
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6/19/2010 - LOML2008 wrote: 90 Points
Very nice Cab + cab franc blend. Pleasant, interesting. Drink now or for 5+ years.
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5/19/2010 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A classic left bank wine, with very nice plum, cherry, vanilla and leather flavors. The tannins were a little firm so it needs some age or a few hours in the decanter. I thought this was my favorite wine until we tried the 2007.
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5/11/2010 - hutch wrote: 91 Points
Best Beverage Trade Tasting (Warehouse): Lots of Cali fruit. Some pencil lead. This is pretty nice stuff. 90-92
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5/5/2010 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wine Warehouse Grand Tasting. Nose of black cherry fruit, earth, and meat, more of the same on the palate, rich and elegant, medium body, mouth filling, good complexity and a medium.
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5/1/2010 - jaxpaj wrote: 92 Points
Decanted and poured. Medium body and lacked the depth I hoped for. Earth, spice, and licorice stand out. Smooth finish but left you wanting. Hope the next bottle is better.
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4/25/2010 - pmilne wrote: 94 Points
Very serious, concentrated stuff. Decanted for an hour and then poured through a Respirer. Captivating aromatics of berries, lush florals, licorice, and a hint of oakey vanilla. Opaque, dark, and brooding. Completely coats the mouth with a velvet feel lush with dark fruits, currants, and cassis. Fine, integrated tannins help make it a long finish. Has the potential to become a 96+ with time, but is drinking great now.
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4/16/2010 - ToddS wrote: 94 Points
Oh man. Dark fruits, licorice, spice. Looong finish with tons of complexity.
Definitely glad I had 6 of these. OK to drink now but will last plenty of years to come.
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2/8/2010 - cliffkol wrote: 95 Points
Used a Vinturi but still improved with another half hour decanting. Beautiful nose of plum, dark fruits, currant and earth. Tight, tasty tannics. Balanced, full-bodied and very drinkable right now. On the palate, rich, velvety, spicy. Long finish of dark fruits. the next bottle will be opened more than a year from now.
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2/6/2010 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
WIML91
Tasted at a retail tasting.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose started with a hint of barnyard leading into aromas of black cherries and plums. Flavors of black cherries and plums with a hint of bitters on the medium finish. Medium to bright acidity, firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Hold or plan on a decant.
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2/6/2010 - mmurry wrote: 92 Points
Blind Tasting (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had plum, licorice, earth, and spice. It finished with cherry. The palate was rich with dark fruit, but also had spice, licorice, and spice. The tannins were very firm, but tasty.
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1/23/2010 - atapley wrote: 94 Points
Still young but drinking well now. Very concentrated with a long finish. Will continue to improve.
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1/23/2010 - SLOPPYdeCHAO wrote: 96 Points
Will probably become more complex with time but delicious fruit and balanced right now.
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12/26/2009 - annerk wrote: 94 Points
50+5+13+17+9 Very reticent nose at first, but it opened after a few hours in the decanter. The deep inky color and nose of fall leaves and spices only began to reveal what was in the glass. The mouthfeel was velvety and rich. Flavors of baking spices, black currant, and a hint of mint swirled through my mouth, evolving continuously. A gorgeous finish of more baking spice and blackberry pie. This wine was still young--very young, although the tannins weren't harsh. It's got a huge backbone with plenty of room to continue to evolve. I won't open another of my bottles for at least a few years, and I expect that this wine will hit it's peak in 10-15. 94+
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