Bordeaux/Cabernet with Special Guest Lail (Orsay): This is the best of the group to drink today. Most integrated and the only one that is close to getting some secondary notes. Well balanced. Lots of life left. Drinks very well. Not sure it will have the same peak as the '08, but it is drinking nicely now.
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12 Blind Wines in Charlotte (Charlotte, NC): Slow-Ox for ~3.5 hours after necessary double decant (cork crumbled). Hard to follow the 2000 Latour a Pomerol but the Lail still performed nicely. Wonderful bouquet of violets and blackberries waft gently out of the glass. Smooth, integrated tannins on the mouthfeel. Full bodied with delicious notes of black raspberry and black cherry on the palate flow gently into an enjoyable medium length finish. This was an excellent wine that only suffered by comparison following the more complex Latour a Pomerol. A very tasty wine demonstrating excellent strength although likely just past peak. 3 votes in Top 3. 7th place.
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A quintessential California cabernet sauvignon. Big, deep purple color and intensely flavorful wine. Wine is fully mature, but should hold for another decade.
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Received in trade from original owner about 10 years ago through the Wine School of Philadelphia. Perfect cork. Not decanted but you could if desired. Holding a lot of fruit here in 2018, dark color belies a 16 year maturity. Dark fruit, tobacco, deep forest. Quite delicious on the attack. A little heat in the transition to the finish and good length. Quite enjoyable and not showing much age but a touch hotter than the 14.4% label indicates. Very nice.
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How anyone could think this is Bordeaux-like is beyond me. Classic Napa Cab. Very ripe, jammy fruit on the nose and even more on the palate. The aromas emanating from an emptied glass are sublime. If you like big, hedonistic Cali cabs like us, this one's for you. Unfortunately, this is the last one as our budget did not permit bulk purchase of such wines back then.
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Not my type of wine. Big wine, might be more approachable in 5 - 10 years, but now it was way too big a wine for my taste. palate and nose dominated by cherries and chocolate, almost sweet. Wine was huge, good balance, tannins were resolved...just not my cup of tea.
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Someone had criticized my earlier (2015) suggestion that this was Bordeaux like. Given this recent tasting I think they are correct. The intense, pure blackcurrant core of this wonderful wine was very apparent, and could only be Napa. Showing few signs of age this remains a great wine
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Wow! Decanted for an hour before drinking.. Chocolate, berry smoothness. I wouldn't wait much longer on this one. It's right where you want it. Sipped it while watching a movie and just got better and better in the glass.
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FROM MAGNUM. It needed an hour in the decanter, especially for some of the alcohol to blow off. Smooth (malo ferm element present), overripe, nearly jammy black and blue fruits in layers. Some Vanilla Oak. 30 second finish. A real crowd pleaser.
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Wow. Nearly perfect Cali cab. One taster likened it to a great Bordeaux but I don't see it. Rich, full of cherries with a little dust. Lingering aftertaste. Fully developed nose. Just wonderful. Only one more...........
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Consumed @ Republiqu with HJ. When the waitress came with the decanter, the wine was SINGING loudly. I could smell it so strongly. Sweet fruits, alcohol, wet rocks, clove spice. The waiter poured a taste and it was excellent! So integrated and balanced with some spice and oak. Did not particularly get better during the dinner, it came out strong and stayed strong. This is ready to drink now!
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Spectacular. Tastes like a top class Bordeaux - say 1996 Lynch Bages. Completely integrated with no separation between fruit and tannin this is a revelation. Top quality Napa wines need a decade in the cellar. The old days of pop-n-pour is like throwing money down the drain. In 10 years time the Chinese will be buying most of this stuff. Load up now!!
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Bright color for the vintage with a lot of life ahead of it. Fruit forward, yet elegant on the pallet. Rich fragrance on the nose raises and stewed prunes, dark sweet berries, cassis, holding up nicely for the vintage. I don't consider this a 'hefty red' as some have expressed, but it does show better than many. I can’t say anything derogatory about this wine, it’s good, but the price point is steep and for your dollar there are plenty more options to consider. 90+ points.
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Decanted 2hrs consumed the following 3. Very little sediment. Full bodied and dense with black cherries, cocoa, blackberries. Moderately long finish. Enjoyable.
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Initially that was huge and monolithic, I suggest you open or decant for 3 hours at this time as this wine unfolded beautifully by 2 and got better over the next 3-4 hours. Perfect provenance as this wine is from the cellar of Robin Lail's home from a previous Napa visit a few years ago.
Color: deep red core with a vibrant red rim
Nose: black cherry, cassis, pencil shavings, black currants and some spice. A bit of heat, but this wine is integrated well.
Palate: those same black cherries meld with fresh acidity, licorice, blackberries, and cassis. Long finish, a tad dry from the tannins. The palate is youthful, blind I would guess 2005. I like this now and would check in over the next 10 years.
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Once again, it's likely that this wine was not properly stored before Zachy's got it to sell on its internet auction. Nothing special, although it should have been. Not stewed, but close. Comparable: Bill Robinson.
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Black, pure & intense, that’s what this is all about. Nose of crushed black cassis infused blackberries. Dark plum skin, black raspeberries and pomegranate. This has all those dark fruits in a cream textured, pure and balanced alchemy. Its got a hush sweetness alongside a wall of fruits that just keep evolving and moving in and out of your palate. The intensity is mind boggling. Tannins in the wings and acidity is deft, this is one amazing wine. When I taste it I can only wonder how the winemaker had coaxed so much from the fruit. Cold soak, brix, night ferment, it’s all Greek to me; what I can spot is it’s good---real good. Long and luxurious, this is killer---in a good way.
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This wine is drinking beuatifully right now. Had at dinner with Ken and Cara and was definnitely WOTN. Dark and brooding in the glass the wine is anything but. Hints of dark fruit on the nose this wine is full of dark fruit and cream that are perfectly in balance. The blackberry, boysenberry blueberry cacomphony is blended with hints of cream and vanilla that swirl over the palate. There is so much going on that is so well integrated that reminds me of what a great wine can be. The finish goes on and on for at least 45 seconds.
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Brought this wine to dinner at Hatfield's. It was my first tasting of this wine. The nose initially offered concentrated sweet fruits, almost port-like, but the taste was anything but. Lots of black fruits, ready to drink, complex, well balanced, a great bottle. The port-like smell (which I disliked) blew off after 1/2 hour. Very enjoyable.
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Aromatics excudes youth with high alcohol & tightness; black fruit; tobacco & leather; needs age and significant decanting; smoother taste after 24-hours in a decanter
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From 375ml which popped on Wednesday, 21-Jul. The nose is showing much better compare to Wednesday but still, overripe black plum and prune that is quite jammy with blueberry on top of the vanilla ice cream, old leather and smoke meat with hint of freshness that showing super ripe, smoky dusty mouth feel with silky tannins which has flavor of bitter cocoa that still in balance with just enough acidity with spicy med finish. Not a bad wine especially with its price but just not my style. Buy - No.
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Alcohol 14.4% From 375ml. Very young dark ruby color with purplish hue. The nose is tight, with strong cassis, hint of dark fruits and roasted charcoal aromas. Full body, opulent and huge power that attack your palate with concentrated sweet fruits which are almost port / amarone like, even dried fig paste and tannic structure which finishes long but some heat rebound at the very end. All the stuffing is hiding underneath the huge structure and the tannin and acidity is well integrated. Need lots of time to come around. Will access again in another 10yrs time. Worth to mention that other than the strong cassis aromas, nothing taste like a cab.sauv in here.
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Opened not decanted and consumed over a couple hours. Not like I remember it from last time. Licorice on the nose; chocolate with dark tastes; some must and ends with a dry finish. However it lacked the lushness from before and seemed a little coarse. Good.
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En Primeur le Parents (Imperial Treasure @ Great World): Dark floral scents on a basketful of berry fruits. Well balanced wine. Plush dark fruit, vanilla oak, slight pain grille, coffee mocha and delicious gobs of blueberries. Its like a good sized skater on thin ice that glides through without cracking through. Almost delicate touches of pleasurable fruit pastilles-flavours streaking though to a long finish. Very quaffable and absolutely delicious.
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Decanted 1 hour. Medium+ body. Dark fruits with cassis and plum. Smooth with good finish. Surprise favorite wine of the night over 01 Insignia, Neal cab and Duckhorn.
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Dinner with BR at Troquet in Boston. Decanted at the table. This was our third wine of the evening, starting with 2000 Frédéric Magnien Chapelle-Chambertin, followed by a 1970 Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. The first two wines were very suble, refined and linear. By comparision, the Lail was rich, opulent, with gobs of mocha and chocolate with super dark fruit and a dry finish. Also in comparison, it seemed too sweet and over-powering. It's a great wine by itself, but compared to the others it was visceral and in-your-face.
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At a tasting with the winemaker in attendance. Very bad glasses, so bad that I wish I had a Cyrano de Bergerac nose to compensate: dark red, chocolate nose, earth tones, a little mustiness, dark raisins with a mid palate finish. Evolved in the glass over an hour. Very interesting wine. Need a bigger pour and / or to pop a bottle to really evaluate.
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Deep ruby red. Intense floral nose with blueberry and hints of saddle leather. The wine gets really interesting on the palate. It has a very musky, charcoal taste, which weighs down on the wine. Extremely tannic, as it should be, but also smooth. The weight of the wine on the palate makes you expect a longer finish, so in some ways you end up a bit disappointed despite a respectable 20+ seconds. All of the taste lingered at the top of the mouth. Quite interesting.
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yesterday I could have copied my notes for 2002 Forman c/s word for word ("Dark ruby red. Dark ripe aromas of cassis and plum. Flavors true to the aroma: dark ripe plum and blackberry and dark currant. Some have written of smokiness and I suppose that is true. The wine strikes me as very very ripe althought there is enough acid to keep it from being flat-ripe".) Maybe its a(n) Howell mountian thing. The comparison is still true but on day two I see more cherry and licorice and a nice long finish. Tannins are a little edgier, though, and the balance close to but not quite perfect. If I had more I'd give it another 5 years min.
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11/17/2023 - sevy82 wrote: flawed
Corked
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7/30/2023 - Amerique wrote: 95 Points
Rich, delicious, black cherry fruit with cassis flavors, excellent structure, long finish
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5/27/2023 - Cltjkirk wrote: 96 Points
Incredible
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4/2/2023 - Myman24 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really good! Dark fruit bliss, the smoothest of tannins and a finish that won’t quit. 20 year old Napa gem!!
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10/5/2022 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Bordeaux/Cabernet with Special Guest Lail (Orsay): This is the best of the group to drink today. Most integrated and the only one that is close to getting some secondary notes. Well balanced. Lots of life left. Drinks very well. Not sure it will have the same peak as the '08, but it is drinking nicely now.
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5/7/2022 - ipp Likes this wine: 92 Points
well aged, still has 10+ years
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3/20/2021 - kevinpatrick Likes this wine: 93 Points
12 Blind Wines in Charlotte (Charlotte, NC): Slow-Ox for ~3.5 hours after necessary double decant (cork crumbled). Hard to follow the 2000 Latour a Pomerol but the Lail still performed nicely. Wonderful bouquet of violets and blackberries waft gently out of the glass. Smooth, integrated tannins on the mouthfeel. Full bodied with delicious notes of black raspberry and black cherry on the palate flow gently into an enjoyable medium length finish. This was an excellent wine that only suffered by comparison following the more complex Latour a Pomerol. A very tasty wine demonstrating excellent strength although likely just past peak. 3 votes in Top 3. 7th place.
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11/26/2020 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 98 Points
Just a beauty. Still deep core of fruit and soft fine tannis tickle the palate. Finish lasts a country mile.
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8/18/2018 - M DU VIN wrote: 94 Points
A quintessential California cabernet sauvignon. Big, deep purple color and intensely flavorful wine. Wine is fully mature, but should hold for another decade.
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5/30/2018 - City Wine Journal Likes this wine: 92 Points
Received in trade from original owner about 10 years ago through the Wine School of Philadelphia. Perfect cork. Not decanted but you could if desired. Holding a lot of fruit here in 2018, dark color belies a 16 year maturity. Dark fruit, tobacco, deep forest. Quite delicious on the attack. A little heat in the transition to the finish and good length. Quite enjoyable and not showing much age but a touch hotter than the 14.4% label indicates. Very nice.
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3/22/2018 - ifishtoo Likes this wine: 95 Points
How anyone could think this is Bordeaux-like is beyond me. Classic Napa Cab. Very ripe, jammy fruit on the nose and even more on the palate. The aromas emanating from an emptied glass are sublime. If you like big, hedonistic Cali cabs like us, this one's for you. Unfortunately, this is the last one as our budget did not permit bulk purchase of such wines back then.
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12/31/2017 - Winelover48 wrote:
Not my type of wine. Big wine, might be more approachable in 5 - 10 years, but now it was way too big a wine for my taste. palate and nose dominated by cherries and chocolate, almost sweet. Wine was huge, good balance, tannins were resolved...just not my cup of tea.
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4/30/2017 - PGB wrote: 95 Points
Someone had criticized my earlier (2015) suggestion that this was Bordeaux like. Given this recent tasting I think they are correct. The intense, pure blackcurrant core of this wonderful wine was very apparent, and could only be Napa. Showing few signs of age this remains a great wine
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12/1/2016 - jonesjuice88 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wow! Decanted for an hour before drinking.. Chocolate, berry smoothness. I wouldn't wait much longer on this one. It's right where you want it. Sipped it while watching a movie and just got better and better in the glass.
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11/20/2016 - dkentaustin Likes this wine: 94 Points
had with magee's and schofman's
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7/9/2016 - Tomato99 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted an hour and enjoyed over six as it slowly softened. Black pepper and minerals. Excellent.
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3/8/2016 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
FROM MAGNUM. It needed an hour in the decanter, especially for some of the alcohol to blow off. Smooth (malo ferm element present), overripe, nearly jammy black and blue fruits in layers. Some Vanilla Oak. 30 second finish. A real crowd pleaser.
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1/6/2016 - ifishtoo Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow. Nearly perfect Cali cab. One taster likened it to a great Bordeaux but I don't see it. Rich, full of cherries with a little dust. Lingering aftertaste. Fully developed nose. Just wonderful. Only one more...........
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3/11/2015 - premiercruclasse wrote: 95 Points
Consumed @ Republiqu with HJ. When the waitress came with the decanter, the wine was SINGING loudly. I could smell it so strongly. Sweet fruits, alcohol, wet rocks, clove spice. The waiter poured a taste and it was excellent! So integrated and balanced with some spice and oak. Did not particularly get better during the dinner, it came out strong and stayed strong. This is ready to drink now!
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2/12/2015 - PGB Likes this wine: 95 Points
Spectacular. Tastes like a top class Bordeaux - say 1996 Lynch Bages. Completely integrated with no separation between fruit and tannin this is a revelation. Top quality Napa wines need a decade in the cellar. The old days of pop-n-pour is like throwing money down the drain. In 10 years time the Chinese will be buying most of this stuff. Load up now!!
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12/14/2014 - Yack Man wrote: 90 Points
Bright color for the vintage with a lot of life ahead of it. Fruit forward, yet elegant on the pallet. Rich fragrance on the nose raises and stewed prunes, dark sweet berries, cassis, holding up nicely for the vintage. I don't consider this a 'hefty red' as some have expressed, but it does show better than many. I can’t say anything derogatory about this wine, it’s good, but the price point is steep and for your dollar there are plenty more options to consider. 90+ points.
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10/1/2013 - rhfactor wrote: 94 Points
Fabulous wine. Keeps getting better
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4/26/2013 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bordeaux look a like with rustic structure and dark meaty/mushroom character. In a nice place now but can hold for awhile.
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4/22/2013 - KAP wrote: 92 Points
Smooooth
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1/26/2013 - DarinC Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 2hrs consumed the following 3. Very little sediment. Full bodied and dense with black cherries, cocoa, blackberries. Moderately long finish. Enjoyable.
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10/5/2012 - tkoby11 wrote: 95 Points
Initially that was huge and monolithic, I suggest you open or decant for 3 hours at this time as this wine unfolded beautifully by 2 and got better over the next 3-4 hours. Perfect provenance as this wine is from the cellar of Robin Lail's home from a previous Napa visit a few years ago.
Color: deep red core with a vibrant red rim
Nose: black cherry, cassis, pencil shavings, black currants and some spice. A bit of heat, but this wine is integrated well.
Palate: those same black cherries meld with fresh acidity, licorice, blackberries, and cassis. Long finish, a tad dry from the tannins. The palate is youthful, blind I would guess 2005. I like this now and would check in over the next 10 years.
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7/17/2012 - brooklynJ&O wrote: 80 Points
grapey. not in a good way.
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6/20/2012 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 81 Points
Once again, it's likely that this wine was not properly stored before Zachy's got it to sell on its internet auction. Nothing special, although it should have been. Not stewed, but close. Comparable: Bill Robinson.
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12/26/2011 - RickyP wrote: 94 Points
In its prime. Beautifully balanced tannins and fruit. Decanted for 6 hours. Really enjoyed this. The best j. Daniel I have had
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12/25/2011 - King Cab wrote: 96 Points
Black, pure & intense, that’s what this is all about. Nose of crushed black cassis infused blackberries. Dark plum skin, black raspeberries and pomegranate. This has all those dark fruits in a cream textured, pure and balanced alchemy. Its got a hush sweetness alongside a wall of fruits that just keep evolving and moving in and out of your palate. The intensity is mind boggling. Tannins in the wings and acidity is deft, this is one amazing wine. When I taste it I can only wonder how the winemaker had coaxed so much from the fruit. Cold soak, brix, night ferment, it’s all Greek to me; what I can spot is it’s good---real good. Long and luxurious, this is killer---in a good way.
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8/14/2011 - tgkswine wrote: 96 Points
This wine is drinking beuatifully right now. Had at dinner with Ken and Cara and was definnitely WOTN. Dark and brooding in the glass the wine is anything but. Hints of dark fruit on the nose this wine is full of dark fruit and cream that are perfectly in balance. The blackberry, boysenberry blueberry cacomphony is blended with hints of cream and vanilla that swirl over the palate. There is so much going on that is so well integrated that reminds me of what a great wine can be. The finish goes on and on for at least 45 seconds.
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10/9/2010 - bonniewai@waiconnor.com wrote: 96 Points
Brought this wine to dinner at Hatfield's. It was my first tasting of this wine. The nose initially offered concentrated sweet fruits, almost port-like, but the taste was anything but. Lots of black fruits, ready to drink, complex, well balanced, a great bottle. The port-like smell (which I disliked) blew off after 1/2 hour. Very enjoyable.
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9/30/2010 - GlenviewGSW wrote: 95 Points
This is just an outstanding bottle of wine - plush and deep while elegant on the finish. A very stylish and exceptional wine
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8/2/2010 - bulldurham wrote: 90 Points
Aromatics excudes youth with high alcohol & tightness; black fruit; tobacco & leather; needs age and significant decanting; smoother taste after 24-hours in a decanter
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7/23/2010 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
From 375ml which popped on Wednesday, 21-Jul. The nose is showing much better compare to Wednesday but still, overripe black plum and prune that is quite jammy with blueberry on top of the vanilla ice cream, old leather and smoke meat with hint of freshness that showing super ripe, smoky dusty mouth feel with silky tannins which has flavor of bitter cocoa that still in balance with just enough acidity with spicy med finish. Not a bad wine especially with its price but just not my style. Buy - No.
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7/23/2010 - salil wrote: 64 Points
A lot of oak trees were sacrificed for this wine. There's not much perceptible here beyond the wood and tannins, and very little to enjoy.
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7/21/2010 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
Alcohol 14.4%
From 375ml. Very young dark ruby color with purplish hue. The nose is tight, with strong cassis, hint of dark fruits and roasted charcoal aromas. Full body, opulent and huge power that attack your palate with concentrated sweet fruits which are almost port / amarone like, even dried fig paste and tannic structure which finishes long but some heat rebound at the very end. All the stuffing is hiding underneath the huge structure and the tannin and acidity is well integrated. Need lots of time to come around. Will access again in another 10yrs time. Worth to mention that other than the strong cassis aromas, nothing taste like a cab.sauv in here.
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7/2/2010 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted and consumed over a couple hours. Not like I remember it from last time. Licorice on the nose; chocolate with dark tastes; some must and ends with a dry finish. However it lacked the lushness from before and seemed a little coarse. Good.
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6/20/2010 - jcasey555 wrote: 92 Points
This was my father's day wine. Full of dark fruit with nicely integrated tannins. The cork was leaking slightly but I thoroughly enjoyed this wine.
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2/7/2009 - Alex H wrote: 88 Points
En Primeur le Parents (Imperial Treasure @ Great World): Dark floral scents on a basketful of berry fruits. Well balanced wine. Plush dark fruit, vanilla oak, slight pain grille, coffee mocha and delicious gobs of blueberries. Its like a good sized skater on thin ice that glides through without cracking through. Almost delicate touches of pleasurable fruit pastilles-flavours streaking though to a long finish. Very quaffable and absolutely delicious.
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7/20/2008 - Phin wrote: 95 Points
Even better than last time. 2 hour decant. Super dark and chocolate/coffee. Very rich and full bodied.
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3/1/2008 - Phin wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Medium+ body. Dark fruits with cassis and plum. Smooth with good finish. Surprise favorite wine of the night over 01 Insignia, Neal cab and Duckhorn.
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3/11/2007 - tanglenet wrote:
Dinner with BR at Troquet in Boston. Decanted at the table. This was our third wine of the evening, starting with 2000 Frédéric Magnien Chapelle-Chambertin, followed by a 1970 Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. The first two wines were very suble, refined and linear. By comparision, the Lail was rich, opulent, with gobs of mocha and chocolate with super dark fruit and a dry finish. Also in comparison, it seemed too sweet and over-powering. It's a great wine by itself, but compared to the others it was visceral and in-your-face.
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4/23/2006 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened and decanted two hours. A Wow wine. Incredible juicy and fragrent nose, caramel, mocha, chocolate, lavender. Fabulous.
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2/8/2006 - tanglenet wrote:
At a tasting with the winemaker in attendance. Very bad glasses, so bad that I wish I had a Cyrano de Bergerac nose to compensate: dark red, chocolate nose, earth tones, a little mustiness, dark raisins with a mid palate finish. Evolved in the glass over an hour. Very interesting wine. Need a bigger pour and / or to pop a bottle to really evaluate.
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2/6/2006 - concorde wrote: 93 Points
Deep ruby red. Intense floral nose with blueberry and hints of saddle leather. The wine gets really interesting on the palate. It has a very musky, charcoal taste, which weighs down on the wine. Extremely tannic, as it should be, but also smooth. The weight of the wine on the palate makes you expect a longer finish, so in some ways you end up a bit disappointed despite a respectable 20+ seconds. All of the taste lingered at the top of the mouth. Quite interesting.
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1/30/2006 - Calistoga wrote: 90 Points
yesterday I could have copied my notes for 2002 Forman c/s word for word ("Dark ruby red. Dark ripe aromas of cassis and plum. Flavors true to the aroma: dark ripe plum and blackberry and dark currant. Some have written of smokiness and I suppose that is true. The wine strikes me as very very ripe althought there is enough acid to keep it from being flat-ripe".) Maybe its a(n) Howell mountian thing. The comparison is still true but on day two I see more cherry and licorice and a nice long finish. Tannins are a little edgier, though, and the balance close to but not quite perfect. If I had more I'd give it another 5 years min.
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