Really good showing for this wine. Moderate bricking over a deep purple background. The defining feature of the wine was its minty aromatic compounds. Lots of dark fruit flavors on the well integrated, well balanced palate. Good length. This was a nice choice by WS long ago.
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Drank upon return to KC from Rufus pick up. Celebratory in nature. Still an excellent wine. Great underlying fruit, just a hair of an acidic tinge, but nice drinking over two nights. Don't throw this out.
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Always my favorite of the Whitehall Lane Reserve vintages going back, this really sings with masses of blackberry, as always. It's long in the tooth now and I really shouldn't be seeking it out any more - this would have been more in prime about 12 years ago. It hasn't faded but rather it's tannic spine has weakened it just feels slightly awkward. One to enjoy but not really seek out.
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superb again, clearly time to drink up but I think these will be good for at least a few more years... I have 5 left so no problem... take to dinner with friends and they will be happy!
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Oh my goodness, this delivered a truly exceptional cab experience on this night... like my last bottle (very recently) it popped in the mouth with bright red fruit and lifting acidity and a reasonably high (Bordeaux drinkers would not like it I suspect) level of sweetness -- which in this package was fine and balanced the acidity / tartness... opulent and luscious if you like acidity and red fruit in your wine... going very strong and should last another 5 - 10 years in my view
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Wow... this bottling -- assuming it fits your taste preference -- continues to ROCK THE WORLD... I went to find more but, of course, I had already ordered up 8 more bottles... this wine was LOADED with red and purple fruit and with some sweetness / ripeness... didn't feel like it was fading AT ALL, and had some decent acidity but no tannins left... an opulent and gorgeous cab... full bodied but with elegance as well, and to be clear it wasn't only fruit (just had the fruit in the front seat)... LOVED by my brother and sis in law, served alongside an awesome Paul Jaboulet '03 Hermitage La Chapelle and lucky me I got to drink most of that because they were falling all over this bottle of Whitehall Lane... ADD ON a moment later: looked at my note from six years ago and amazing how consistent it was, doesn't feel like it has aged at all, and couldn't help notice the ref to the cork... amazingly the cork on this bottle only had wine stain about 2 mm's up the cork from the bottom
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An old friend! Cellared since release...reserve blend of Morisoli and Leonardini vineyard fruit...healthy dark plum, slight brick rim color...wonderful nose of cigar wrapper, leather, wild blackberries, dusty oak barrel spice, bay leaf. Smooth and polished in the mouth, with a good dose of tobacco and wood spice, still quite structured with polished tannins, sour skin acidity, spicy and youthful. Blackberry, plum, cherry, currant fruit still fresh with some sour skin...love the intermix of spice and bayleaf/tobacco green with the old school 13.4 abv berry fruits. A wonderful bottle!
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Bought 25 bottles of this wine based on the Cellartracker score to serve at my wedding. Indeed, this wine has a really impressive level of sophistication and complexity at the price point ($45). It is definitely drinking well now, and decanting is recommended to open it up. The nose has a lot of red fruit, cigar, forest floor, bell pepper notes, and dill and spice from the American oak. The American oak notes betray its Napa roots, but the balance is more reminiscent of a Bordeaux. The palate follows with more red fruit, cigar, oak, and spice. This wine is a good example of successful mature Cabernet and has significantly more sophistication than Bryants or Harlans I've had of similar age.
I purchased my 25 bottles from the same place and the wines look to be in great shape. However, there is a bit of bottle variation, which may be expected at that age.
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Bright garnet in color. Nose of cigar tobacco , leather and minerals. Tart cherries, the dense fruit that was present in its youth has integrated. Still has medium complexity. Needed an hour to be at its best. Good but I preferred it in its younger days.
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Whitehall Lane Reserve was one of my first real wine loves when I picked up wine 20 years ago. This is the first I've had in years, and I still like it. Maybe the snobs would say it's not complex, or not thick enough, or something. But it has great nose, flavor, length and finish. What else do you need? I wouldn't wait any longer, but if well stored this is still good.
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Wish they still made Cabernet in this style. Pop n pour, rich plummy aromas and full bodied but with balance and acidity. Nearing maturity but still a couple years to run.
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With a floral nose and burnt orange on the rim, this beauty melted in my mouth with an amazing silkiness. The taste was primarily black cherry and blackberry. Underlying the mouthfeel and flavors was a complete absence of tannins, which had done their job remarkably. This was a fabulous experience. Thanks, Kevin!
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Two bottles in two nights. Both bottles had a fill well into the neck and the corks were in excellent condition with some fairly strong sediment on the bottom. Color was deep red with only the slightest traces of bricking. Wasn't sure if this wine would be OTH given others' notes but this wine was singing tonight drinking more like half it's age. Needed 30 minutes or so to breathe as the tannins - at least for these bottles - were well integrated but certainly evident. Red currant and blackberry on the pallet... A perfect match to the beef tenderloin we enjoyed. Just another example that a "good bottle" is just as critical as a "good wine". What a very pleasant surprise. Very pleased to have a few more bottles left to open over the next year or so.
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Masses of blackberry - amazing aroma. On the palate, becoming a little acidic but still showing pretty well. Definitely on the decline. I don't think I'll be seeking this out again - was once an amazing wine, but definitely fading.
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My last bottle, : ( I brought the bottle up from the cellar to warm up. The cork was perfect. The bouquet from the first pour was cherries and chocolate. The taste was a mouth-filling Cabernet flavor. This bottle was no disappointment to say the least. The tannins were soft and silky. I would recommend to drink them up soon to enjoy the flavors. EG #WineArchitect #Napa
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wow this was fantastic again, perfect cork - black as can be on the bottom, on pnp the nose was big and sexy -- fruit was there but spice and savory notes were very abundant, palate had huge fruit (frankly red fruits to me, tho i see others think darker), but loads of savory character too which balanced the fruits well, tannins largely receded, acid in good amount to balance the large flavors, mouthfeel light (for all the flavors in the wine) and lovely... i've had this wine several times and it always delivers
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Still so rich and expressive. Lovely distinctive nose off this. Tons of dark fruit tones up front which develop towards a slightly austere somewhat alcohol tone towards the end. Drink now.
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This was a classic example of this wine, as I've had a few over the years. Massive concentration of dark fruit, really penetrating flavors, very smooth. This used to be rated 95pts by Wine Spectator, and I can see why.
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- Purple color. It's balanced with a medium/full body with a long finish - Superb wine. Tons of fruit and structure for a '95. No bricking on this baby. Dark purple color And a medium body with long finish and no heat. Love it. Great producer.
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This has always been one of my favorite older Napa cabs. It's starting to wane a bit and I'd recommend drinking sooner rather than later, but still shows most of its original beauty. Massively concentrated with quite plush and jammy blackberry notes, but quite balanced, polished and refined at the same time. Shows lively dark fruites, some vanila tones, with no austere notes. So lovely really.
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Nose: soy sauce, black tea, forest floor, cherries, slight hint of vanilla Palate: black cherries, cedar, vanilla, dust, black olives, tea, mint/ eucalyptus polished tannins still apparent, finely balanced, a finish that lasts 20 seconds and lingers beyond that
This was the last bottle in my cellar. I'm glad that I had more than one yet wish I still had a couple left to see how it evolves over the next 5 years. Very enjoyable now and as these things go, probably better to error on the side of drinking early rather than late.
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Next to my last bottle! Ruby color with thinning edges. The nose still shows aromatics of Regal Royal Crown sour cherry candies with the mouth to match. These components lasted for two hours until the bottle was finished. This bottle was a fine farewell to one that made the top WS wines of thre year. EG WineArchitect
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P&P this on New Years Eve with a nice steak. Great nose of bright red fruit in the glass that was fresh even a couple of hours being open. The wine was smooth on the palate with the fruit coming through and a great, long finish. Perfection out of the bottle tonight. A great way to top off a rough year.
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Star of the evening against Hansel pinot, Shafer 1.5 and Oakford Cab. Seems all put together well and still had life in the fruit. Only bottle I've had so not sure on how it's aging. Dark fruits with plum, very smooth, balanced with some structure on a nice finish.
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I'm so familiar with this wine now, as it's one of two wines which got me into wine ten years ago. I've had about eight bottles over the years and this has always been a consistent treat. I'm starting to feel it's on it's downward trajectory though. I felt the age with this one - still beautiful, and has more dark complexity and character than when I tasted it younger, but also missing some lively excitement. I recommend drinking now rather than holding.
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Dusty purple. Just some hints of age at the edge. But biy this still has youth. Big complex nose, dusty fruit, pencil, green papper and rich blackberries and dark red cherries. Niccccce. Mothfeel is sexy, liquid fruit & dried herbs, more pencil lead, green notes, black tea on the back. Fruit, oak, acid, in balance followed by a cleansing tannic sweep. Wow. Then a big lingering fruit finish. Great great stuff.
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A good wine, not a great wine. Maybe past its peak? Had all the ingredients - dark berry, ripe fruit, tobacco, but the acid and fruits were out of balance somehow.
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This was my next to last bottle of a case I bought a decade ago. Still strong, inky violet, dark berry and fabulously rich and complex, with stuning concentration drieed currant , black raspberries and fresh earth. Sad to know I have only one bottle left, but happy to know it will be just as good when I open it in the near future.
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Like many of the notes below, this bottle was surprisingly more awake than previous bottles. Alas the other nine bottles were consumed before their time unfortunantely. The bottle was out of the cellar about 30 minutes before I opened it. The aromas in the glass were of dusty black fruit with a strong focus of cocoa, hence the Rutherford Dust in the mouth. The tannins were evident and very alive but also allowing the dark rasberry plum fruit to be exposed. Alcohol on the nose was aparent but I did not think it detracted from ones ability to taste this bottle. My best bottle yet and the winner at the "Thursday Lunch" table.
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This wine was surprising on two fronts. It actually had more lush fruit than I remember from the previous bottle, but it had more developed secondary characteristics as well. The result was a bit unexpected and hard to reconcile, hence the reduced points from 3 years ago. That said, it's a great bottle of 13-year old California Cabernet. Oozing with ripe black currant, the tannins are still around but nice and soft. The wine has a chewy texture/mouthfeel and the finish is long. It actually seemed full-bodied, and there was a bit of an odd overripe component which detracted from the overall experience, but this was still tasty and I look forward to the one I have left in the next 2-7 years.
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Dark purple color; aromas of earth, cigar box, tobacco, toast and dark ripe fruit; restrained tannins, smoky oak, rich raspberry, and vanilla dominate the palate; long finish; an impressive California Cabernet; no sign of fading and easily will last for several more years.
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Pop and pour. C - deep, bricking, plum garnet. Barest of rim lightening. N - complex, sweet, earthy, ripe, brambly, cholcolatey, mulberry, cassis, tobacco. P - Strong, sour fuit entry. Savoury. Plum, mulberry, hints of mocha. Medium body. Good acidity, nice, mouthwatering tannins. 30 sec finish. Good, but based on other tasting notes, this bottle purchased at auction may not have pristine storage. Not off, but not shining. This bottle at peak, fading over 2 hours.
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This is the fourth time I've had the '95 Reserve Whitehall, and it's been consistent every time. It's a stunner of a cab. Deep, dark blackberry tones, with just the right level of oakiness. A real gem of a wine, and worth the price. Not as good as the '94 Mondavi Reserve though which still counts as the best I've had to date.
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Inky dark, voluptuous wine with no visible signs of aging. Ripe plum, soy, eucalyptus, cedar and tobacco leaf with a long spicey finish. Fantastic now but has the stuffing for aging several years more to soften the tannins further. Decant this wine for an hour. 94 points.
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My last bottle and what a joy to drink!!! Floral notes, black fruits and cured tobacco jump out of the glass. The mid-palate is a hedonistic delight with dark fruit, mostly cherry/raspberry, mocha and some spice. The finish is medium length with great balance and more lush fruit. If you are lucky enough to have some left I would pull the cork as this is drinking at peak.
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Smokin'! What a fantastic bottle of California Cabernet this was. Missing the baby fat and over-the-topness of many newer Cabs, this wine was well-integrated, with sweet tannins, velvety texture, oodles of currant and plum. Medium-bodied, with a long finish.
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This is drinking great and the best Whitehall Lane Reserve I have had. The wine is seamless and silky. The color defies it's age as it is an opaque purple with a ruby rim. The nose is full of cedar, floral notes, and cherry. The wine enters the palate like liquid velvet and exhibits a lot of complexity. There is cedar, anise, cassis, plum, tart cherry, blackberry, and asian spice. The finish is long, rich and punctuated by sweet and sour cherry. This is a real pleasure to drink and if you have any I would recommend drinking this year as I do not see it improving from here. This was not decanted and does not need to be.
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1/21/2022 - jviz wrote: 94 Points
Really good showing for this wine. Moderate bricking over a deep purple background. The defining feature of the wine was its minty aromatic compounds. Lots of dark fruit flavors on the well integrated, well balanced palate. Good length. This was a nice choice by WS long ago.
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3/7/2021 - levinml wrote: 94 Points
Drank upon return to KC from Rufus pick up. Celebratory in nature. Still an excellent wine. Great underlying fruit, just a hair of an acidic tinge, but nice drinking over two nights. Don't throw this out.
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5/10/2020 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
Always my favorite of the Whitehall Lane Reserve vintages going back, this really sings with masses of blackberry, as always. It's long in the tooth now and I really shouldn't be seeking it out any more - this would have been more in prime about 12 years ago. It hasn't faded but rather it's tannic spine has weakened it just feels slightly awkward. One to enjoy but not really seek out.
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4/13/2020 - spacewrangler wrote: 90 Points
This bottle showed a little less fruit than previous bottles, but still lovely old school Napa cab. Acid coming to forefront more than tannin for now.
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3/22/2020 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 92 Points
superb again, clearly time to drink up but I think these will be good for at least a few more years... I have 5 left so no problem... take to dinner with friends and they will be happy!
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12/28/2019 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 92 Points
beautiful once again... thinking these bottles should be had in the next year or two... this has been a favorite for almost a decade
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11/11/2019 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 94 Points
Oh my goodness, this delivered a truly exceptional cab experience on this night... like my last bottle (very recently) it popped in the mouth with bright red fruit and lifting acidity and a reasonably high (Bordeaux drinkers would not like it I suspect) level of sweetness -- which in this package was fine and balanced the acidity / tartness... opulent and luscious if you like acidity and red fruit in your wine... going very strong and should last another 5 - 10 years in my view
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10/31/2019 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 95 Points
Wow... this bottling -- assuming it fits your taste preference -- continues to ROCK THE WORLD... I went to find more but, of course, I had already ordered up 8 more bottles... this wine was LOADED with red and purple fruit and with some sweetness / ripeness... didn't feel like it was fading AT ALL, and had some decent acidity but no tannins left... an opulent and gorgeous cab... full bodied but with elegance as well, and to be clear it wasn't only fruit (just had the fruit in the front seat)... LOVED by my brother and sis in law, served alongside an awesome Paul Jaboulet '03 Hermitage La Chapelle and lucky me I got to drink most of that because they were falling all over this bottle of Whitehall Lane... ADD ON a moment later: looked at my note from six years ago and amazing how consistent it was, doesn't feel like it has aged at all, and couldn't help notice the ref to the cork... amazingly the cork on this bottle only had wine stain about 2 mm's up the cork from the bottom
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7/20/2017 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 94 Points
An old friend! Cellared since release...reserve blend of Morisoli and Leonardini vineyard fruit...healthy dark plum, slight brick rim color...wonderful nose of cigar wrapper, leather, wild blackberries, dusty oak barrel spice, bay leaf. Smooth and polished in the mouth, with a good dose of tobacco and wood spice, still quite structured with polished tannins, sour skin acidity, spicy and youthful. Blackberry, plum, cherry, currant fruit still fresh with some sour skin...love the intermix of spice and bayleaf/tobacco green with the old school 13.4 abv berry fruits. A wonderful bottle!
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4/9/2017 - Jokermac wrote: 90 Points
- Garnet color - Past peak but still drinking well. Age showing on the nose.
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4/9/2017 - Jokermac wrote:
- Garnet color - Past peak but still drinking well. Age showing on the nose.
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11/26/2016 - Bordeaux_Jon Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bought 25 bottles of this wine based on the Cellartracker score to serve at my wedding. Indeed, this wine has a really impressive level of sophistication and complexity at the price point ($45). It is definitely drinking well now, and decanting is recommended to open it up. The nose has a lot of red fruit, cigar, forest floor, bell pepper notes, and dill and spice from the American oak. The American oak notes betray its Napa roots, but the balance is more reminiscent of a Bordeaux. The palate follows with more red fruit, cigar, oak, and spice. This wine is a good example of successful mature Cabernet and has significantly more sophistication than Bryants or Harlans I've had of similar age.
I purchased my 25 bottles from the same place and the wines look to be in great shape. However, there is a bit of bottle variation, which may be expected at that age.
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9/11/2016 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bright garnet in color. Nose of cigar tobacco , leather and minerals. Tart cherries, the dense fruit that was present in its youth has integrated. Still has medium complexity. Needed an hour to be at its best. Good but I preferred it in its younger days.
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7/8/2016 - Rob MacKay wrote: 93 Points
In just a great spot right now. Fully developed and still retaining lots of fruit. Excellent length to the finish as well. Really nice.
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3/19/2016 - levinml wrote: 95 Points
Whitehall Lane Reserve was one of my first real wine loves when I picked up wine 20 years ago. This is the first I've had in years, and I still like it. Maybe the snobs would say it's not complex, or not thick enough, or something. But it has great nose, flavor, length and finish. What else do you need? I wouldn't wait any longer, but if well stored this is still good.
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3/9/2016 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely balanced old Cabernet. Funk on the nose never went away but in the mouth soft, creamy, still some boldness left.
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12/15/2015 - spacewrangler Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wish they still made Cabernet in this style. Pop n pour, rich plummy aromas and full bodied but with balance and acidity. Nearing maturity but still a couple years to run.
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10/19/2015 - ataraxy Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Unfortunately, this bottle was well past its prime. Time to drink up if you still have them!
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3/31/2015 - zoetrope Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still youthful, vibrant without any tannins. At its peak.
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2/17/2015 - ataraxy Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is perfectly ready to drink. Very bordeaux, with a lovely nose.
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11/3/2014 - WineWright Likes this wine: 95 Points
With a floral nose and burnt orange on the rim, this beauty melted in my mouth with an amazing silkiness. The taste was primarily black cherry and blackberry. Underlying the mouthfeel and flavors was a complete absence of tannins, which had done their job remarkably. This was a fabulous experience. Thanks, Kevin!
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9/21/2014 - Vinophiler Likes this wine: 93 Points
Two bottles in two nights. Both bottles had a fill well into the neck and the corks were in excellent condition with some fairly strong sediment on the bottom. Color was deep red with only the slightest traces of bricking. Wasn't sure if this wine would be OTH given others' notes but this wine was singing tonight drinking more like half it's age. Needed 30 minutes or so to breathe as the tannins - at least for these bottles - were well integrated but certainly evident. Red currant and blackberry on the pallet... A perfect match to the beef tenderloin we enjoyed. Just another example that a "good bottle" is just as critical as a "good wine". What a very pleasant surprise. Very pleased to have a few more bottles left to open over the next year or so.
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1/4/2014 - gschoenhouse wrote: 83 Points
- Garnet color.
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9/20/2013 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
Masses of blackberry - amazing aroma. On the palate, becoming a little acidic but still showing pretty well. Definitely on the decline. I don't think I'll be seeking this out again - was once an amazing wine, but definitely fading.
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7/31/2013 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Some lovely blackberry on the nose and palate, though starting to fade a bit. Not the wine it once was - missing some composure.
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6/22/2013 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
Cassis, currant and dark fruit flavors, smoke and tar. Medium bodied, lovely mouthfeel. Drink now.
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5/3/2013 - WineArchitect Likes this wine: 92 Points
My last bottle, : ( I brought the bottle up from the cellar to warm up. The cork was perfect. The bouquet from the first pour was cherries and chocolate. The taste was a mouth-filling Cabernet flavor. This bottle was no disappointment to say the least. The tannins were soft and silky. I would recommend to drink them up soon to enjoy the flavors. EG #WineArchitect #Napa
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2/8/2013 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 93 Points
wow this was fantastic again, perfect cork - black as can be on the bottom, on pnp the nose was big and sexy -- fruit was there but spice and savory notes were very abundant, palate had huge fruit (frankly red fruits to me, tho i see others think darker), but loads of savory character too which balanced the fruits well, tannins largely receded, acid in good amount to balance the large flavors, mouthfeel light (for all the flavors in the wine) and lovely... i've had this wine several times and it always delivers
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9/20/2012 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
Still so rich and expressive. Lovely distinctive nose off this. Tons of dark fruit tones up front which develop towards a slightly austere somewhat alcohol tone towards the end. Drink now.
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6/23/2012 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
This was a classic example of this wine, as I've had a few over the years. Massive concentration of dark fruit, really penetrating flavors, very smooth. This used to be rated 95pts by Wine Spectator, and I can see why.
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6/23/2012 - sureproof wrote: 92 Points
- Purple color. It's balanced with a medium/full body with a long finish - Superb wine. Tons of fruit and structure for a '95. No bricking on this baby. Dark purple color
And a medium body with long finish and no heat. Love it. Great producer.
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5/24/2012 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
This has always been one of my favorite older Napa cabs. It's starting to wane a bit and I'd recommend drinking sooner rather than later, but still shows most of its original beauty. Massively concentrated with quite plush and jammy blackberry notes, but quite balanced, polished and refined at the same time. Shows lively dark fruites, some vanila tones, with no austere notes. So lovely really.
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12/24/2011 - elise wrote: 93 Points
Solid Napa wine that still has legs?
Nose: soy sauce, black tea, forest floor, cherries, slight hint of vanilla
Palate: black cherries, cedar, vanilla, dust, black olives, tea, mint/ eucalyptus polished tannins still apparent, finely balanced, a finish that lasts 20 seconds and lingers beyond that
This was the last bottle in my cellar. I'm glad that I had more than one yet wish I still had a couple left to see how it evolves over the next 5 years. Very enjoyable now and as these things go, probably better to error on the side of drinking early rather than late.
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1/18/2011 - WineArchitect Likes this wine: 90 Points
Next to my last bottle! Ruby color with thinning edges. The nose still shows aromatics of Regal Royal Crown sour cherry candies with the mouth to match. These components lasted for two hours until the bottle was finished. This bottle was a fine farewell to one that made the top WS wines of thre year. EG WineArchitect
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12/31/2010 - Mike Stoneking wrote: 95 Points
P&P this on New Years Eve with a nice steak. Great nose of bright red fruit in the glass that was fresh even a couple of hours being open. The wine was smooth on the palate with the fruit coming through and a great, long finish. Perfection out of the bottle tonight. A great way to top off a rough year.
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11/21/2010 - jinks wrote: 92 Points
First place out of nine heavy hitter red wines in BT. "Classic old CA cab with cassis, dried fruit, leather, few if any tannins"
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4/3/2010 - iamandyc wrote: 93 Points
Star of the evening against Hansel pinot, Shafer 1.5 and Oakford Cab. Seems all put together well and still had life in the fruit. Only bottle I've had so not sure on how it's aging. Dark fruits with plum, very smooth, balanced with some structure on a nice finish.
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3/20/2010 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
I'm so familiar with this wine now, as it's one of two wines which got me into wine ten years ago. I've had about eight bottles over the years and this has always been a consistent treat. I'm starting to feel it's on it's downward trajectory though. I felt the age with this one - still beautiful, and has more dark complexity and character than when I tasted it younger, but also missing some lively excitement. I recommend drinking now rather than holding.
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12/7/2009 - tplskylrk wrote: 95 Points
Dusty purple. Just some hints of age at the edge. But biy this still has youth. Big complex nose, dusty fruit, pencil, green papper and rich blackberries and dark red cherries. Niccccce. Mothfeel is sexy, liquid fruit & dried herbs, more pencil lead, green notes, black tea on the back. Fruit, oak, acid, in balance followed by a cleansing tannic sweep. Wow. Then a big lingering fruit finish. Great great stuff.
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11/27/2009 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
Really excellent. This followed an '89 Cantemerle (95pts WS) and it easily bettered it.
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11/21/2009 - no leashes wrote: 88 Points
A good wine, not a great wine. Maybe past its peak? Had all the ingredients - dark berry, ripe fruit, tobacco, but the acid and fruits were out of balance somehow.
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10/25/2009 - djs wrote: 87 Points
This has been a really terrific Cali Cab. It is now well past it's prime. Previous bottles were delicious. Last bottle.
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8/7/2009 - mbalk wrote: 94 Points
This was my next to last bottle of a case I bought a decade ago. Still strong, inky violet, dark berry and fabulously rich and complex, with stuning concentration
drieed currant , black raspberries and fresh earth. Sad to know I have only one bottle left, but happy to know it will be just as good when I open it in the near future.
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11/6/2008 - WineArchitect wrote: 93 Points
Like many of the notes below, this bottle was surprisingly more awake than previous bottles. Alas the other nine bottles were consumed before their time unfortunantely. The bottle was out of the cellar about 30 minutes before I opened it. The aromas in the glass were of dusty black fruit with a strong focus of cocoa, hence the Rutherford Dust in the mouth. The tannins were evident and very alive but also allowing the dark rasberry plum fruit to be exposed. Alcohol on the nose was aparent but I did not think it detracted from ones ability to taste this bottle. My best bottle yet and the winner at the "Thursday Lunch" table.
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10/4/2008 - MarkC wrote: 92 Points
This wine was surprising on two fronts. It actually had more lush fruit than I remember from the previous bottle, but it had more developed secondary characteristics as well. The result was a bit unexpected and hard to reconcile, hence the reduced points from 3 years ago. That said, it's a great bottle of 13-year old California Cabernet. Oozing with ripe black currant, the tannins are still around but nice and soft. The wine has a chewy texture/mouthfeel and the finish is long. It actually seemed full-bodied, and there was a bit of an odd overripe component which detracted from the overall experience, but this was still tasty and I look forward to the one I have left in the next 2-7 years.
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8/5/2008 - sachsen wrote: 94 Points
Out of magnum--needed 2 hours in decanter to really open up. This wan an infant--much better than my experiences out of 750's.
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6/27/2008 - knelsfk wrote: 94 Points
Dark purple color; aromas of earth, cigar box, tobacco, toast and dark ripe fruit; restrained tannins, smoky oak, rich raspberry, and vanilla dominate the palate; long finish; an impressive California Cabernet; no sign of fading and easily will last for several more years.
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4/11/2008 - sawira wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour. C - deep, bricking, plum garnet. Barest of rim lightening. N - complex, sweet, earthy, ripe, brambly, cholcolatey, mulberry, cassis, tobacco. P - Strong, sour fuit entry. Savoury. Plum, mulberry, hints of mocha. Medium body. Good acidity, nice, mouthwatering tannins. 30 sec finish. Good, but based on other tasting notes, this bottle purchased at auction may not have pristine storage. Not off, but not shining. This bottle at peak, fading over 2 hours.
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7/21/2007 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
This is the fourth time I've had the '95 Reserve Whitehall, and it's been consistent every time. It's a stunner of a cab. Deep, dark blackberry tones, with just the right level of oakiness. A real gem of a wine, and worth the price. Not as good as the '94 Mondavi Reserve though which still counts as the best I've had to date.
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3/11/2007 - babnik wrote: 94 Points
Inky dark, voluptuous wine with no visible signs of aging. Ripe plum, soy, eucalyptus, cedar and tobacco leaf with a long spicey finish. Fantastic now but has the stuffing for aging several years more to soften the tannins further. Decant this wine for an hour. 94 points.
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9/28/2006 - lafon_rochet wrote: 95 Points
An absolutely luscious wine. Needs a little air time, but very elegant and beautiful
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2/5/2006 - RussW wrote:
My last bottle and what a joy to drink!!! Floral notes, black fruits and cured tobacco jump out of the glass. The mid-palate is a hedonistic delight with dark fruit, mostly cherry/raspberry, mocha and some spice. The finish is medium length with great balance and more lush fruit. If you are lucky enough to have some left I would pull the cork as this is drinking at peak.
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1/2/2006 - Brett wrote: 96 Points
Wow, what a wine! It has a fantastic rasberry jam nose, the finish is long and the balance is outstanding. This is drinking fantastic!
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9/2/2005 - MarkC wrote: 95 Points
Smokin'! What a fantastic bottle of California Cabernet this was. Missing the baby fat and over-the-topness of many newer Cabs, this wine was well-integrated, with sweet tannins, velvety texture, oodles of currant and plum. Medium-bodied, with a long finish.
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4/6/2005 - RussW wrote:
This is drinking great and the best Whitehall Lane Reserve I have had. The wine is seamless and silky. The color defies it's age as it is an opaque purple with a ruby rim. The nose is full of cedar, floral notes, and cherry. The wine enters the palate like liquid velvet and exhibits a lot of complexity. There is cedar, anise, cassis, plum, tart cherry, blackberry, and asian spice. The finish is long, rich and punctuated by sweet and sour cherry. This is a real pleasure to drink and if you have any I would recommend drinking this year as I do not see it improving from here. This was not decanted and does not need to be.
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3/19/2005 - TripDaddy wrote: 94 Points
Still drinking awesome. Picked up a tartness that I had not tasted before, but still beautiful. Just deep, rich and integrated.
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10/1/2004 - TripDaddy wrote: 95 Points
Great stuff as always. Drinking beautifully. Chip descriped it as liquid silk. Appropriate. Just great.
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12/1/2001 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($100) The Mann's '88 Blowout: Sweet and extremely ripe and lush tasting next to these Bordeaux. Ripe, long. American oak likely?
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