Final bottle - fruit still showing - but I don't expect further improvement. Balanced and integrated. Improved after being open an hour. Classic napa valley floor flavors. Reminds me of home (I moved this bottle with me to Sydney.) If only I had a piece of American prime beef...
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I drank one glass on the property. Stunning! Just Stunningly good. I swear to god, I think Ms. Fleming must somehow engineer these (based on my first ever bottle): LUDICROUSLY LOW scores/empty reviews.
Q:: BUT WHY???
I had really wanted to ambush the maker before reporting this, with suitable cash and fair wine trades in hand, but it’s an injustice to THE TRUTH itself to not leave anyone looking here with a taste of reality. (Pardon)
We drank the other glasses over dinner at SOLAGE, where my not easily impressed vampire companion made big goggle-y bug eyes at sip #1.
Likewise the sommelier. Fleming is His workplaces’ neighbor. He asked for the bottle and tapped into his phone a changing priority... And one sip to the not expressly vinous waiter got the same wide-eyed amazement. I had to chew (ample) sediment (in both the bottle and then in my pie-hole to find a taste anywhere NEAR 92 pts.
MAYBE ITS A SLEEPER. WIDE AWAKE NOW, Bud. Fabulous purity. Superb flavor. Beyond notes Not a millimeter into stew, heat, flab or twilight.
97-98 points.
A::: MORE FOR THE CASA! (Duh)
Am very truly and dead seriously contemplating this instant a run up to Calistoga with treats from my cellar to get more TODAY.
Very nice upgraded wine for dinner with friends. It does have the feel of a Calistoga wine. I tend to somewhat agree with the winemaker tasting notes from 2014, but I would say that the toasty oak is very dominant especially w/o decanting. The fruit notes (cherry and blackberry) integrated well, and after two hours the nose makes it a wow effect. Actually, one of the friends that was not planning to drink changed his mind when he smelled the wine (from the other side of the table!) Worked well with the lamb I had for dinner. To summarize:
Very nice and very good choice in the price range (may have had better choice in the same price range, but it is certainly a very good one, ~93, 91-2 at opening or less than an hour decant, 93+ at third hour plus )
( Decanted for about 2 hours, an hour was not sufficient, it was very strong oak/toast front from pnp)
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Nose: Ripe Blackberry, Cherry and Graphite. As it opens, Coffee, Roses, Cherries and Blueberry Jam. Palate: Dense dark berry fruits and blueberries. Suave mouthfeel with beautiful spices, floral notes and warm gravel. Finish: Slightly drying tannin and dusty berry and oak notes and cassis/licorice.
Fantastic bottle, just short of 95+ today, but could get there in a few years. Classier than the 2005 in mouthfeel, but does not quite deliver the same complexity. I see this developing those additional layers by maturity.
Dark core with ruby rim. Aromatics of roasted nuts, sweet berries, spring flowers, candied cherry, chalk and some gentle oak. Very nice structure, with concentrated red fruits, licorice, plum, earth, orange peel on the palate. Tannins are soft and round, yet noticeable, nice grippy mouth feel. Medium finish with notes of cigar box, espresso and plum meat, a tiny bit of heat at the end (14.5%). Secondary nuances comes out with bit more aeration time. This wine is drinking well right now, but some more cellaring time will benefit.
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Craftsteak Las Vegas from half bottle. This was a great example of this wine with blackberry, red cherry, smoke and violet on the nose. The palate is well refined with a focused berry and currant fruit note up front and some red notes with chocolate an smoke behind it. Great as usual. Needs time.
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Visiting Napa (Sept 9th-11th); 9/9/2011-9/11/2011 (Napa, CA): Nose of Blackberry, Cherry, Fine Furniture, Charcoal and some sweet vanilla. The Palate is nicely tiered and has fine grained tanins. Persitent finish that is more black fruit than red with some eucalyptus and chocolate wound in. Can't wait to see these evolve.
This is a very serious wine. Layered and well structured with a bit of the signature polish that Celia Welch puts on many cabs.
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Tasted at the winery. Deep, dark cab fruit on the nose - cassis, dark berries, black cherry, and baking spice. Lush but powerful kirschy flavors on the palate with complex spice notes underneath. Med-full bodied and tannic, but very drinkable and hard to resist right now.
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Incredible representation of Calistoga fruit. This is a Celia Welch (Scarecrow) wine and her only organically farmed wine. Smooth, delicate wine. Not over extracted or one dimensional. Dried floral aromas, spice box and cedar. Extensive finish. Delicate and sensational.
This is a wine producer to watch over the next couple years. Reserve your allocation today. You won't be disappointed.
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It seems that every year I am reminded that the enjoyment of wine has to do with your company/surroundings. When I initially ordered this wine I had high expectations, Celia made it!! I was disappointed after the first bottle and don’t know if it was the company, food, or my surroundings. The bottle last night sang, what a wonderful wine. Just below the top tier of wines. Nose of Chocolate covered currants, medium bodied, dark berries swirled in milk chocolate with hints of cedar finishing it off. I hope the other bottles follow this path as they age.
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7/8/2022 - Curt Jacques Likes this wine: 94 Points
Final bottle - fruit still showing - but I don't expect further improvement. Balanced and integrated. Improved after being open an hour. Classic napa valley floor flavors. Reminds me of home (I moved this bottle with me to Sydney.) If only I had a piece of American prime beef...
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2/5/2022 - G_H wrote:
Something was kind of off. Tasted like someone spilled Tabasco on an old rug.... Don't ask me what that was...
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5/29/2019 - jdtonic Likes this wine: 98 Points
I drank one glass on the property. Stunning! Just Stunningly good. I swear to god, I think Ms. Fleming must somehow engineer these (based on my first ever bottle): LUDICROUSLY LOW scores/empty reviews.
Q:: BUT WHY???
I had really wanted to ambush the maker before reporting this, with suitable cash and fair wine trades in hand, but it’s an injustice to THE TRUTH itself to not leave anyone looking here with a taste of reality. (Pardon)
We drank the other glasses over dinner at SOLAGE, where my not easily impressed vampire companion made big goggle-y bug eyes at sip #1.
Likewise the sommelier. Fleming is His workplaces’ neighbor. He asked for the bottle and tapped into his phone a changing priority...
And one sip to the not expressly vinous waiter got the same wide-eyed amazement. I had to chew (ample) sediment (in both the bottle and then in my pie-hole to find a taste anywhere NEAR 92 pts.
MAYBE ITS A SLEEPER.
WIDE AWAKE NOW, Bud.
Fabulous purity. Superb flavor. Beyond notes
Not a millimeter into stew, heat, flab or twilight.
97-98 points.
A::: MORE FOR THE CASA!
(Duh)
Am very truly and dead seriously contemplating this instant a run up to Calistoga with treats from my cellar to get more TODAY.
I’m going up.
Life is short.
Napa close.
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2/3/2019 - Sugarb Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had it late in a wine dinner night, so this is an unfair assessment. My simple statement - drink this now.
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2/11/2016 - Knicksfan wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful CS; well balanced and delicious.
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9/25/2015 - odds Likes this wine:
Very nice upgraded wine for dinner with friends. It does have the feel of a Calistoga wine. I tend to somewhat agree with the winemaker tasting notes from 2014, but I would say that the toasty oak is very dominant especially w/o decanting.
The fruit notes (cherry and blackberry) integrated well, and after two hours the nose makes it a wow effect. Actually, one of the friends that was not planning to drink changed his mind when he smelled the wine (from the other side of the table!) Worked well with the lamb I had for dinner. To summarize:
Very nice and very good choice in the price range (may have had better choice in the same price range, but it is certainly a very good one, ~93, 91-2 at opening or less than an hour decant, 93+ at third hour plus )
( Decanted for about 2 hours, an hour was not sufficient, it was very strong oak/toast front from pnp)
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3/29/2015 - Philman15 Likes this wine: 93 Points
In a good spot, smooth tannins, long finish. Lots of dark fruit, chocolate undertones.
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1/25/2015 - RockinCabs wrote: 94 Points
Nose: Ripe Blackberry, Cherry and Graphite. As it opens, Coffee, Roses, Cherries and Blueberry Jam. Palate: Dense dark berry fruits and blueberries. Suave mouthfeel with beautiful spices, floral notes and warm gravel. Finish: Slightly drying tannin and dusty berry and oak notes and cassis/licorice.
Fantastic bottle, just short of 95+ today, but could get there in a few years. Classier than the 2005 in mouthfeel, but does not quite deliver the same complexity. I see this developing those additional layers by maturity.
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12/6/2014 - Knicksfan wrote: 93 Points
I like where this is heading Nice complexity and fruit yet balanced with enough tannin to provide backbone.
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5/29/2014 - WVWine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Unexpected surprise. Dark ruby color. Tastes of berries. Smooth with a long finish.
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9/25/2013 - Neil H wrote: 96 Points
wow. wonderful with peppercorn steak on a rainy sat night.
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9/23/2013 - Knicksfan wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 2 hours - helps!
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7/29/2013 - Cheungtp wrote: 92 Points
Dark core with ruby rim. Aromatics of roasted nuts, sweet berries, spring flowers, candied cherry, chalk and some gentle oak. Very nice structure, with concentrated red fruits, licorice, plum, earth, orange peel on the palate. Tannins are soft and round, yet noticeable, nice grippy mouth feel. Medium finish with notes of cigar box, espresso and plum meat, a tiny bit of heat at the end (14.5%). Secondary nuances comes out with bit more aeration time. This wine is drinking well right now, but some more cellaring time will benefit.
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2/15/2013 - Gannon wrote: 93 Points
Love this wine. Classic Cali cab. Super smooth, well balanced and drank right out of bottle. Worth every penny!
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7/3/2012 - Sugarb wrote: 91 Points
Drinking nicely now, well balanced. No big need to decant, will improve nicely over next 12-18 months.
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5/5/2012 - mliszt wrote: 95 Points
LOVED BY ALL. EXPENSIVE BUT ACTUALLY WORTH IT. BALANCED AND SMOOTH. WORTH THE 60 MINUTE WAIT TO START DRINKING
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4/6/2012 - StlAndy wrote: 88 Points
I was expecting more. Short finish, didn't feel balanced. Okay but not for what I paid.
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2/29/2012 - Badgermitch wrote: 92 Points
This followed a sea smoke ten 09. Terrific Cali cab. Very powerful. Paired well with pasta with sausage.
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1/13/2012 - RockinCabs wrote: 92 Points
Craftsteak Las Vegas from half bottle. This was a great example of this wine with blackberry, red cherry, smoke and violet on the nose. The palate is well refined with a focused berry and currant fruit note up front and some red notes with chocolate an smoke behind it. Great as usual. Needs time.
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11/8/2011 - Mark H. LeQuire wrote: 94 Points
Paired excellent with pasta and spinach cream sauce. Roasted pepper, red and yellow, bell pepper salad. Grilled pork loin. Very nice.
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9/10/2011 - RockinCabs wrote:
Visiting Napa (Sept 9th-11th); 9/9/2011-9/11/2011 (Napa, CA): Nose of Blackberry, Cherry, Fine Furniture, Charcoal and some sweet vanilla. The Palate is nicely tiered and has fine grained tanins. Persitent finish that is more black fruit than red with some eucalyptus and chocolate wound in. Can't wait to see these evolve.
This is a very serious wine. Layered and well structured with a bit of the signature polish that Celia Welch puts on many cabs.
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8/31/2011 - Knicksfan wrote: 92 Points
Intense caliCab - needed a bit more air/time but thoroughly flavorful and enyoable
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6/20/2011 - jaxpaj wrote: 94 Points
My last notes were spot on. I really enjoy this wine.
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6/19/2011 - pete s. wrote: 93 Points
Tasted at the winery. Deep, dark cab fruit on the nose - cassis, dark berries, black cherry, and baking spice. Lush but powerful kirschy flavors on the palate with complex spice notes underneath. Med-full bodied and tannic, but very drinkable and hard to resist right now.
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4/26/2011 - breadwinecheese wrote: 98 Points
Incredible representation of Calistoga fruit. This is a Celia Welch (Scarecrow) wine and her only organically farmed wine. Smooth, delicate wine. Not over extracted or one dimensional. Dried floral aromas, spice box and cedar. Extensive finish. Delicate and sensational.
This is a wine producer to watch over the next couple years. Reserve your allocation today. You won't be disappointed.
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4/24/2011 - cubswinws wrote: 91 Points
Nice cabernet. Expected a bit more depth but still smooth and fruit forward consistent with most of the '07's.
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3/15/2011 - JJB007 wrote: 92 Points
we don't know, not agood value for the price
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2/8/2011 - jaxpaj wrote: 94 Points
It seems that every year I am reminded that the enjoyment of wine has to do with your company/surroundings. When I initially ordered this wine I had high expectations, Celia made it!! I was disappointed after the first bottle and don’t know if it was the company, food, or my surroundings. The bottle last night sang, what a wonderful wine. Just below the top tier of wines. Nose of Chocolate covered currants, medium bodied, dark berries swirled in milk chocolate with hints of cedar finishing it off. I hope the other bottles follow this path as they age.
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12/28/2010 - jaxpaj wrote: 90 Points
Late on tasting note so no specifics. I was disappointed but it was still a good bottle.
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12/18/2010 - cubswinws wrote: 92 Points
Drank with a pair of wonderful filets. Smooth and full of flavor. Just another great 2007. This is drinking well now..
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