Wow! I expected this to be going downhill but this is the best Delectus that I've had in a while. No browning with vibrant color. Soft tannins with cherries and spice cabinet nose. Wish this wasn't my last.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is drinking at its peak!!! Notes of chocolate, leather, and dried berry.... This was compared with a 2009 Delectus Bear Crossing and it blew the 2009 out of the water.... I would rate this one of my top 5 wines...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enjoyed, softer than high powered Delectus style which my tastebuds no longer prefer, but some of the tart high alcohol still present. I think I like these Delectus bottles better when aged and leathery. Salad, cheese, bread accompanied.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice, mature wine, drinking at it's apex now, It's great to taste the age on this wine...it's showing a fruity oak flavor, with lots of structure, and a raspy finish. Begins with a nice oak barrel aroma, and then douses your palate in red fruit velvet.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ripe dark fruit (prune?) on the nose with a hint of green pepper; lots of green vegetable, but good, rich dark plum/berry fruit and a touch of vanilla; elegant, well-balanced and smooth; a nice older Napa cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Earthy, some fruit, but nothing special. medium finish. kind of a forgetable wine. We tasted against a 1999 French wine, and all six in the group preferred the french wine over this 1999 Californian.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 2 hrs. - from magnum. Opened up nicely in the decanter with red fruit, lavender, and sweet vanilla on the nose. This wine appeared to have a clear edge and dark purple center with a hint of cloudiness to it. The mouth feel was viscus with sweet tannins and ripe red fruits up front. Med. length finish was not too dry but added some interesting notes of nuttiness. Nice wine - all in all. Went well with the ham and potatoes we had.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good wine but a touch overpriced at $60 per bottle. The color was medium deep purple. The nose was sharp and peppery with cigar and some bell pepper. This wine was sharp on the start and smoothed out on the mid palate and finish. The pepper hit hard on the side of the tong with the tannins. It made the wane sharp. The flavors were nice with red fruits, some tobacco , black cherry and a hint of coffee. The fruit flavors were these in balance but not a big bang like a Staglin or Phalmyer. I think this 99 has peaked and it time to drink. The wine is good overall but I did not get the feeling it is going to go much further. Give it a try if you are willing to bet 60 bucks. You might like it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sweet berry, perhaps blueberry, fruit, with mild vanilla oak and undertones of green vegetable and minerals. Comes together at the end with a focused, lingering finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Better than the previous bottle. More going on in the nose with pencil lead, bell pepper a touch of cigar box and cassis. Fruit is a little more forward with black berry the most evident. This is a mature wine so the tannins are very smooth and integrated. Holding on so drink it soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice flavor and structure for a 99, though its time is now........from the time we opened till the end, it was the same.......very spicy/peppery, with loads of currant fruit and a nice, smooth finish. Reminded us of other 99's that were peaking.........it won't probably go a whole lot longer........drink up!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose of bell pepper and casis. Very smooth but a little lacking in the fruit. Black and wild berry dominate the fruit. Tanins are very smooth and integrated. Not their best vintage but still an excellent wine that it drinking very well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/25/2023 - Winestache Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow! I expected this to be going downhill but this is the best Delectus that I've had in a while. No browning with vibrant color. Soft tannins with cherries and spice cabinet nose. Wish this wasn't my last.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2018 - clutj Likes this wine: 93 Points
Outstanding, integrated tannins, still good fruit, would consider drinking what you have left though. In a lovely place.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2012 - Kssexton wrote: 97 Points
This is drinking at its peak!!! Notes of chocolate, leather, and dried berry.... This was compared with a 2009 Delectus Bear Crossing and it blew the 2009 out of the water.... I would rate this one of my top 5 wines...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2012 - PBoods wrote: 88 Points
Enjoyed, softer than high powered Delectus style which my tastebuds no longer prefer, but some of the tart high alcohol still present. I think I like these Delectus bottles better when aged and leathery. Salad, cheese, bread accompanied.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2011 - longhorncab wrote: 95 Points
Nice, mature wine, drinking at it's apex now, It's great to taste the age on this wine...it's showing a fruity oak
flavor, with lots of structure, and a raspy finish. Begins with a nice oak barrel aroma, and then douses your palate
in red fruit velvet.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2011 - jtcseventysix wrote: 91 Points
Ripe dark fruit (prune?) on the nose with a hint of green pepper; lots of green vegetable, but good, rich dark plum/berry fruit and a touch of vanilla; elegant, well-balanced and smooth; a nice older Napa cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2011 - Winestache wrote: 90 Points
Well balanced with vanilla/cherry nose. Still holding up quite well and I expect good for several more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2010 - MVisse wrote: 85 Points
Earthy, some fruit, but nothing special. medium finish. kind of a forgetable wine. We tasted against a 1999 French wine, and all six in the group preferred the french wine over this 1999 Californian.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2009 - Garfield wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 2 hrs. - from magnum.
Opened up nicely in the decanter with red fruit, lavender, and sweet vanilla on the nose. This wine appeared to have a clear edge and dark purple center with a hint of cloudiness to it. The mouth feel was viscus with sweet tannins and ripe red fruits up front. Med. length finish was not too dry but added some interesting notes of nuttiness. Nice wine - all in all. Went well with the ham and potatoes we had.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2008 - bjohnson350 wrote: 87 Points
Good wine but a touch overpriced at $60 per bottle. The color was medium deep purple. The nose was sharp and peppery with cigar and some bell pepper. This wine was sharp on the start and smoothed out on the mid palate and finish. The pepper hit hard on the side of the tong with the tannins. It made the wane sharp. The flavors were nice with red fruits, some tobacco , black cherry and a hint of coffee. The fruit flavors were these in balance but not a big bang like a Staglin or Phalmyer. I think this 99 has peaked and it time to drink. The wine is good overall but I did not get the feeling it is going to go much further. Give it a try if you are willing to bet 60 bucks. You might like it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 Points
nose: nice fruitful nose of berries and dark cherry with some toasted oak and vanilla notes and a bit of tobbacco undertones as well
taste: nice and smooth with some bell pepper notes, mixed berries, dark cherry, and a bit of toasted oak and tobbacco on the back end
overall: a really nice cab that is really enjoyable and showing it's best stuff
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2008 - jtcseventysix wrote: 89 Points
Sweet berry, perhaps blueberry, fruit, with mild vanilla oak and undertones of green vegetable and minerals. Comes together at the end with a focused, lingering finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2007 - whynblog wrote: 90 Points
Better than the previous bottle. More going on in the nose with pencil lead, bell pepper a touch of cigar box and cassis. Fruit is a little more forward with black berry the most evident. This is a mature wine so the tannins are very smooth and integrated. Holding on so drink it soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2007 - longhorncab wrote: 92 Points
Sweet black cherry on the nose, with coffee. Soft mouthfeel, with balanced tannins and acidity, and a good, long finish.
Drinking very well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2007 - longhorncab wrote: 93 Points
Very nice flavor and structure for a 99, though its time is now........from the time we opened till the end, it was the same.......very spicy/peppery, with loads of currant fruit and a nice, smooth finish. Reminded us of other 99's that were peaking.........it won't probably go a whole lot longer........drink up!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2007 - whynblog wrote: 89 Points
Nose of bell pepper and casis. Very smooth but a little lacking in the fruit. Black and wild berry dominate the fruit. Tanins are very smooth and integrated. Not their best vintage but still an excellent wine that it drinking very well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2006 - EyeDoc wrote: 85 Points
A little simple. Decent fruit - lacks finish. Nothing special but good. Ready to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2006 - pakabear wrote: 86 Points
Too singular, mostly casis liquor...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment