Second bottle of this.. same as my previous review, although I upped the rating 1 point, maybe do to more time in bottle. Odd finish of fireplace, burnt wood
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Opened and poured, this showed similarly to a previously tasted bottle. The time, the wine showed more expressive aromatics and better balance on the medium/full bodied palate.
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Pop and pour through Vinturi ... On the positive side, silky smooth; good tannic backbone and strong fruit. On the negative, a bit lacking in personality and there's some fairly significant bottle variation in my experience of this case (some are too "soft" and sweet, while others are more dry and clean). Just OK. Probably better options in the >$20 range.
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This is a solid effort for < $20. I'm getting floral arrangement on the nose intermixed blackberry. P & P but it could have used some decanting. Loads of cherry and cranberry on the palate but found the structure to be very nicely layered with a silky texture. A bit of alcohol through the finish but see this this getting it's sea legs with a few years on it's side. A good QPR
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I am extremely impressed with this effort. Popped and poured through Venturi. Beautiful color, thick legs, great structure and balance. Tnnins are present, but not overwhelming. Drinking wonderful now, yet I believe will continue to evolve and last another 3-4 years in the cellar. For less than $20, I have not found a better Napa Cab...stocking up on this one.
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Definetly decant for an hour before drinking. Some tart alchohol diminishes on decanting. After a fairly well balanced wine, good value and reasonable everyday wine. Nothing special on the finish.
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My wife and I were pleasantly surprised with this bottle. IT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BREATHE A BIT, it had an awful plastic/american cheese nose when we first opened it, and took a solid hour to hour and a half in the decanter to blow off. Once there it was a very enjoyable Cab. Classic cherry and oak notes with even some of that tobacco or leather often found in Cali cabs. At sub-$20 this is great QPR!
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Really a great value and very well rounded. Nice floral and fruit forward nose, great inky ruby color in the glass, immediately approachable as a pop-and-pour, very balanced on the palette. Nothing special (no "oh wow" moments), but all around a solid wine and something worth having on hand.
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Real nice wine for the price. There is no doubt this is a cab, and while it is drinkable like Napa wines often are it is also not over the top. I like the mix of red and black fruit, smoke, oak and herbaceousness. It is definitely young and tight. It drank quite well for 3 nights so I think it should be better in a year. I will buy another bottle to see.
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I have had previous vintages of this wine and have not been to impressed. However, for $20, this wine was very good. Nice fruit on nose and taste. Good finish.
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11/21/2014 - scottmlew Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great bottle! Easy drinker, nice mix of fruit with a hint of green pepper. Nice finish and mouthfeel.
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8/16/2013 - scottmlew wrote: 85 Points
Very muddled flavors. Not much fruit. Weak tannins. Weird burnt wood flavor. Short finish. Good mouthfeel, though.
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1/22/2011 - mikev101 wrote: 89 Points
Still solid sub $20 Cab...
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1/9/2011 - kj_millar wrote:
Very good Cab.
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12/16/2010 - kvswine wrote: 89 Points
Second bottle of this.. same as my previous review, although I upped the rating 1 point, maybe do to more time in bottle. Odd finish of fireplace, burnt wood
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9/4/2010 - sehill wrote: 87 Points
Opened and poured, this showed similarly to a previously tasted bottle. The time, the wine showed more expressive aromatics and better balance on the medium/full bodied palate.
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9/1/2010 - markandsusanw Likes this wine: 85 Points
Pop and pour through Vinturi ... On the positive side, silky smooth; good tannic backbone and strong fruit. On the negative, a bit lacking in personality and there's some fairly significant bottle variation in my experience of this case (some are too "soft" and sweet, while others are more dry and clean). Just OK. Probably better options in the >$20 range.
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8/8/2010 - mikev101 wrote: 90 Points
a great go-to Cab....not much better in this price range..
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7/16/2010 - cabdrinker wrote: 88 Points
This is a solid effort for < $20. I'm getting floral arrangement on the nose intermixed blackberry. P & P but it could have used some decanting. Loads of cherry and cranberry on the palate but found the structure to be very nicely layered with a silky texture. A bit of alcohol through the finish but see this this getting it's sea legs with a few years on it's side. A good QPR
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6/30/2010 - mikev101 wrote: 92 Points
I am extremely impressed with this effort. Popped and poured through Venturi. Beautiful color, thick legs, great structure and balance. Tnnins are present, but not overwhelming. Drinking wonderful now, yet I believe will continue to evolve and last another 3-4 years in the cellar. For less than $20, I have not found a better Napa Cab...stocking up on this one.
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6/13/2010 - kvswine wrote: 88 Points
Definetly decant for an hour before drinking. Some tart alchohol diminishes on decanting. After a fairly well balanced wine, good value and reasonable everyday wine. Nothing special on the finish.
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4/22/2010 - OTTnMIA wrote: 89 Points
My wife and I were pleasantly surprised with this bottle. IT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BREATHE A BIT, it had an awful plastic/american cheese nose when we first opened it, and took a solid hour to hour and a half in the decanter to blow off. Once there it was a very enjoyable Cab. Classic cherry and oak notes with even some of that tobacco or leather often found in Cali cabs. At sub-$20 this is great QPR!
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4/4/2010 - jcable wrote: 86 Points
Really a great value and very well rounded. Nice floral and fruit forward nose, great inky ruby color in the glass, immediately approachable as a pop-and-pour, very balanced on the palette. Nothing special (no "oh wow" moments), but all around a solid wine and something worth having on hand.
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4/3/2010 - currand wrote: 89 Points
A little thin but otherwise very well balanced.
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3/26/2010 - toontune wrote: 88 Points
Full bodied, smooth & round.
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2/26/2010 - Friedo wrote: 90 Points
Excellent QPR. Medium fruit, medium mouthfeel. Light oak.
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12/16/2009 - Patches wrote: 89 Points
Real nice wine for the price. There is no doubt this is a cab, and while it is drinkable like Napa wines often are it is also not over the top. I like the mix of red and black fruit, smoke, oak and herbaceousness. It is definitely young and tight. It drank quite well for 3 nights so I think it should be better in a year. I will buy another bottle to see.
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10/16/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 86 Points
California Night (Binny's Highland Park, highland park IL): nose: good nose of dark red fruits, dark red cherries, oak and cranberry tones. Good tones but doesn't have that much depth
taste: nice medium/full feel with good and solid tones of dark red fruits, dark red cherries, and oak tones
overall: a solid cab. Pretty standard and does everything well enough, but is far from a memorable cab
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10/1/2009 - bigdogflow wrote: 88 Points
I have had previous vintages of this wine and have not been to impressed. However, for $20, this wine was very good. Nice fruit on nose and taste. Good finish.
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