Nice bouquet, with full body. Still has bit of grip, but the wine is extracted and balanced. Average acid and medium length. Significantly improved with 2 hours of decanting.
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Clear deep ruby with garnet rim. Clean nose of medium intensity with aromas of black cherries, preserved fruits, coconut, chocolate, leather, cured meat. Wine is fully developed. On the palate it dry with medium plus acidity, medium tannins, highly alcohol, full body, medium plus flavor intensity of chocolate, prunes, leather, meat. Finish is medium plus. Very good wine. Drink now or can be aged further
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Great nose upon opening. The color was dark ruby with no brown edge indicating that it is reaching the end of the drinking window. Notes of black cherry with hints of vanilla and coal. Good acidity with a weighty mouth feel. Another well balanced Pine Ridge wine with some life still remaining.
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This just seems to have collapse in on itself. Low toned nose, Tart black earthy fruit. Medium bodied with good concentration but, this doesn’t say Cabernet sauvignon to me. Its earthy, dark with a strong underlying seam of acidity. It seems tired and one dimensional yet, there’s this sharpness to the acidity. Opened one hour prior to service and served with grilled beef it paired well. Purchased winery direct, stored accordingly and enjoyed at 60-70. Coming in at $80 per bottle there’s a universe of better options for the price point. Drink now… Na zdrowie
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Black cherry, still firm tannins...acidity makes this better to pair with food...would be excellent with short ribs. I'd hold for another year or two to allow the tannins to soften. Still plenty of dark fruit to last.
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92 Cabernet Sauvignon 4 Malbec 2 Merlot 2 Petit Verdot
Sediment encrusted cork, Nose is terroir driven with dark brooding fruit profile, hints of roasted hazel nut, berry brambles and forest floor. Good mix of freshness and lower toned earth notes. Palate is medium/full, nicely balanced, freshness, back end tannins, black plum and cassis crushed into forest floor. Dry, no sweetness here, just black earthy fruit. Stylistically reminds me of a wine from Dao. Purchased winery direct, stored accordingly and enjoyed 60 – 70 with grilled beef. Start cracken these open, flavor profile will become more terroir driven as fruit fades further. Drinking window now – 7 years…Na zdrowie
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Medium to full body. Dark cherry with subtle oak influence. Rich and intense without being overbearing. Still possesses lively acidity. Dusty and dry tannins. Drinking young.
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Dark purple to ruby on the outside. On the nose, notes of violets, tobacco, vanilla, and blueberry. Medium fine tannins and medium acidity. Medium plus finish. Still young!
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Really enjoyed this wine with cabernet glazed short ribs. This is my first bottle opened since purchase in 2011 and I really think it was cellar time well spent.
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This is an elegant and well balanced Cab that isn't too complex, but very enjoyable to drink; The palate still has bright red and dark fruits, a hint of toasty oak and some underlying earthy/stemmy notes that give the wine some character; In a nice place right now, but will probably be more interesting in another 5+ years
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An exceptional cab. Drinking great now and may even get better with more time. Has Howell Mointain richness written all over it, nose and palate. Watch out for some sediment.
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4th Saturday Group brown bagger (M/M thelostverse): Dark color. Aromas of black currants, coffee, chocolate, plum and mocha. Firm tannins; flavors of vanilla, black cherry, oak spices, black currants and cassis.
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4th Saturday Group. Tasted blind. Opened by Rick. Preferred the '05 opened alongside. This was green with floral notes and drying tannins still in the forefront. While the '05 is singing right now, the '07 needs time.
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Dark fruit, candied fruit element, spice, herbal tea, flowers, spice cedar. Unbalanced tannins and the acidity is awkward. Average wine from an above average appellation. B
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This was a very good wine. I drank this while out at dinner and I don't know what changed, but I was just a bit disappointed in this wine. I expected more from it, when compared to my experience at the winery. Now, it did open up a bit as the night progressed, but it just seemed to lack some of the flavor intensity you would expected. The body was there (medium +) and it had good acidity and tannin (medium+) and the alcohol was very well balanced. The flavors were a little pedestrian though this time around--black fruit, berries, cassis--and the finish was medium at best and, in general, I thought the wine was a bit weak on the back palate. I still love PR, but this just didn't hit the sweet spot...
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Huge cab, dominated by dark fruit, with plenty of Howell Mountain grip. It evolved a lot over several hours in the glass. Decant for an hour+ if you plan on popping this baby anytime soon.
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I tasted this at the winery and thought it was awesome and brought some home back east. 2007 was an exceptional for for Napa Cabs in general and I've always been partial to Howell Mt. especially. This wine was no exception as it was a wonderful example of what Napa Cab can be. I include this from PR: Our Los Posadas vineyard is only nine acres but features the best south-east facing aspect and the rocky, well-drained volcanic soils that force a vine to dig deep for water and nutrients, producing smaller, intensely-flavored berries as a result. Despite strong afternoon sun, the climate tends to be cooler because of altitude, maintaining acidity throughout ripening. The 2007 vintage had a lot of ups and downs, with an early, cool start and several heat waves throughout the growing season. The result was smaller bunches of small, intensely flavored berries at harvest. This wine was sorted with an intensive process of cluster selection, then berry selection before going to tank. Extended maceration on the skins lasted almost a month, creating a rich mouth feel. The wines were transferred to 40% new French oak barrels where they aged for 14 months before being bottled. The '07 Howell Mt. Cab is a mix of 92% Cab Sauv, 4% Malbec, 2% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. It displays the extraction typical of the vintage in its opaque ruby hue and heavily tinted legs. The nose is equally intense, featuring lush blackberry and blueberry fruit with captivating hints of earthy spice, sweet vanilla and cedar box aromas. The palate is subtle and elegant with silky tannins supporting pretty notes of red cherry and apple that meld into dried cherry and rose petals over the persistent finish.
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8/4/2021 - Winiac wrote: 92 Points
Nice bouquet, with full body. Still has bit of grip, but the wine is extracted and balanced. Average acid and medium length. Significantly improved with 2 hours of decanting.
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3/19/2019 - ejca wrote:
Good, probably needed more time to decant
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3/2/2019 - vpoms wrote: 92 Points
Clear deep ruby with garnet rim. Clean nose of medium intensity with aromas of black cherries, preserved fruits, coconut, chocolate, leather, cured meat. Wine is fully developed. On the palate it dry with medium plus acidity, medium tannins, highly alcohol, full body, medium plus flavor intensity of chocolate, prunes, leather, meat. Finish is medium plus. Very good wine. Drink now or can be aged further
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1/18/2019 - MLR Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very silky mouth feel with mature, comp,es dark fruit. Tannins completely integrated.
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12/29/2018 - jjcoola Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great nose upon opening. The color was dark ruby with no brown edge indicating that it is reaching the end of the drinking window. Notes of black cherry with hints of vanilla and coal. Good acidity with a weighty mouth feel. Another well balanced Pine Ridge wine with some life still remaining.
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3/21/2018 - cucycling Likes this wine: 92 Points
Softening with time, but still great. I will not delay enjoying my last bottle soon.
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6/19/2017 - Oechsle wrote: 88 Points
This just seems to have collapse in on itself. Low toned nose, Tart black earthy fruit. Medium bodied with good concentration but, this doesn’t say Cabernet sauvignon to me. Its earthy, dark with a strong underlying seam of acidity. It seems tired and one dimensional yet, there’s this sharpness to the acidity. Opened one hour prior to service and served with grilled beef it paired well. Purchased winery direct, stored accordingly and enjoyed at 60-70. Coming in at $80 per bottle there’s a universe of better options for the price point. Drink now… Na zdrowie
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12/30/2016 - jluce wrote:
Nice cab. Howell characteristics.
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11/15/2016 - Reno Wine Enthusiast Likes this wine: 88 Points
Black cherry, still firm tannins...acidity makes this better to pair with food...would be excellent with short ribs.
I'd hold for another year or two to allow the tannins to soften. Still plenty of dark fruit to last.
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10/23/2016 - JC Cab wrote: 91 Points
Agree with well written note by Oechsle. Not much upside remaining by aging. Drink this wonderful wine!
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10/16/2016 - Oechsle wrote: 92 Points
92 Cabernet Sauvignon
4 Malbec
2 Merlot
2 Petit Verdot
Sediment encrusted cork, Nose is terroir driven with dark brooding fruit profile, hints of roasted hazel nut, berry brambles and forest floor. Good mix of freshness and lower toned earth notes. Palate is medium/full, nicely balanced, freshness, back end tannins, black plum and cassis crushed into forest floor. Dry, no sweetness here, just black earthy fruit. Stylistically reminds me of a wine from Dao. Purchased winery direct, stored accordingly and enjoyed 60 – 70 with grilled beef. Start cracken these open, flavor profile will become more terroir driven as fruit fades further. Drinking window now – 7 years…Na zdrowie
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2/23/2016 - FLI Likes this wine: 88 Points
Good, but a bit past its prime, I believe. Fruit was a bit flat.
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2/14/2016 - ecola Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium to full body. Dark cherry with subtle oak influence. Rich and intense without being overbearing. Still possesses lively acidity. Dusty and dry tannins. Drinking young.
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12/11/2015 - WineWheelz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark purple to ruby on the outside. On the nose, notes of violets, tobacco, vanilla, and blueberry. Medium fine tannins and medium acidity. Medium plus finish. Still young!
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10/25/2015 - cucycling Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really enjoyed this wine with cabernet glazed short ribs. This is my first bottle opened since purchase in 2011 and I really think it was cellar time well spent.
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12/24/2014 - Thatsgreatjuice Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good bottle of wine. Not as much oak as their napa valley cabernet. Good fruit and good nose.
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12/14/2014 - eluebchow wrote: 90 Points
This is an elegant and well balanced Cab that isn't too complex, but very enjoyable to drink; The palate still has bright red and dark fruits, a hint of toasty oak and some underlying earthy/stemmy notes that give the wine some character; In a nice place right now, but will probably be more interesting in another 5+ years
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11/29/2014 - FLI Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well balanced and elegant. Not a showy wine, but showing well right now. Reminds me of a Ducru.
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11/4/2014 - pugblanc wrote: 90 Points
BlackBerry on tongue, Raspberry on nose, prune. Cassis. bakers chocolate finish.
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9/21/2014 - pugblanc wrote: 91 Points
Cherry vanilla. Cocoa. Apple sauce. Earthy. Has time to change to a mature leathery wine if you can wait. Otherwise drink now.
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7/28/2014 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 94 Points
An exceptional cab. Drinking great now and may even get better with more time. Has Howell Mointain richness written all over it, nose and palate. Watch out for some sediment.
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12/27/2013 - affordableCollector wrote: 90 Points
dark red, in color. blackberry, plum, spice, pepper, earth, cedar, on the nose. medium finish.
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11/16/2013 - uncle al Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful dark color. Dark fruit and some chocolate. Complex but smooth with fine tannins.
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10/26/2013 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
4th Saturday Group brown bagger (M/M thelostverse): Dark color. Aromas of black currants, coffee, chocolate, plum and mocha. Firm tannins; flavors of vanilla, black cherry, oak spices, black currants and cassis.
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10/26/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 90 Points
4th Saturday Group. Tasted blind. Opened by Rick. Preferred the '05 opened alongside. This was green with floral notes and drying tannins still in the forefront. While the '05 is singing right now, the '07 needs time.
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10/3/2013 - Frank_A_M wrote: 94 Points
Spice to the nose, deep purple, firm tannins, hints of chocolate.
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7/12/2013 - DanielJ Likes this wine: 91 Points
Red cherry. Good structure Chewy tannins. Might need a little more time.
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6/7/2013 - DanielJ Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice. Big Flavors of leather and Red fruit. A lot of tannins that are starting to soften. Drinking well now but might get better with a few years
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2/19/2013 - blabbott wrote: 93 Points
Lots of fruit and tannins, great nose. We all think this is tasting really excellent.
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9/30/2012 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 85 Points
Dark fruit, candied fruit element, spice, herbal tea, flowers, spice cedar. Unbalanced tannins and the acidity is awkward. Average wine from an above average appellation. B
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8/3/2012 - bordeaux4wino Likes this wine: 89 Points
This was a very good wine. I drank this while out at dinner and I don't know what changed, but I was just a bit disappointed in this wine. I expected more from it, when compared to my experience at the winery. Now, it did open up a bit as the night progressed, but it just seemed to lack some of the flavor intensity you would expected. The body was there (medium +) and it had good acidity and tannin (medium+) and the alcohol was very well balanced. The flavors were a little pedestrian though this time around--black fruit, berries, cassis--and the finish was medium at best and, in general, I thought the wine was a bit weak on the back palate. I still love PR, but this just didn't hit the sweet spot...
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5/4/2012 - vancouvermatt wrote: 93 Points
Huge cab, dominated by dark fruit, with plenty of Howell Mountain grip. It evolved a lot over several hours in the glass. Decant for an hour+ if you plan on popping this baby anytime soon.
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3/10/2012 - pugblanc wrote: 92 Points
dinner with Israeli team
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7/17/2011 - bordeaux4wino Likes this wine: 93 Points
I tasted this at the winery and thought it was awesome and brought some home back east. 2007 was an exceptional for for Napa Cabs in general and I've always been partial to Howell Mt. especially. This wine was no exception as it was a wonderful example of what Napa Cab can be.
I include this from PR: Our Los Posadas vineyard is only nine acres but features the best south-east facing aspect and the rocky, well-drained volcanic soils that force a vine to dig deep for water and nutrients, producing smaller, intensely-flavored berries as a result. Despite strong afternoon sun, the climate tends to be cooler because of altitude, maintaining acidity throughout ripening.
The 2007 vintage had a lot of ups and downs, with an early, cool start and several heat waves throughout the growing season. The result was smaller bunches of small, intensely flavored berries at harvest. This wine was sorted with an intensive process of cluster selection, then berry selection before going to tank. Extended maceration on the skins lasted almost a month, creating a rich mouth feel. The wines were transferred to 40% new French oak barrels where they aged for 14 months before being bottled.
The '07 Howell Mt. Cab is a mix of 92% Cab Sauv, 4% Malbec, 2% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. It displays the extraction typical of the vintage in its opaque ruby hue and heavily tinted legs. The nose is equally intense, featuring lush blackberry and blueberry fruit with captivating hints of earthy spice, sweet vanilla and cedar box aromas. The palate is subtle and elegant with silky tannins supporting pretty notes of red cherry and apple that meld into dried cherry and rose petals over the persistent finish.
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4/25/2011 - St Paul wrote: 94 Points
This is just a gorgeous cab. Great length and structure. I could have given this even more points. This is nothing but a lovely wine.
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8/1/2010 - JimmyJimZ wrote: 96 Points
Younger than the 2005 Cave 7, but fantastic nevertheless. Really open up after about 30-45 minutes, after which it is stupendous.
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