This is a high quality cab. Full bodied. Deep dark color. Exceptionally smooth drinking. Could drink it all day. Beautifully crafted. An absolutely lovely cab. I would have wanted to give it a classic rating but as so many others have noted, it lacks complexity and can't compete with the $200-plus Napa Valley cabs. At the special price of $30 though, it's a steal.
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My wife and I, who have been drinking good quality reds (Napa and Bordeaux) for more than 40 years, might be alone on this, but we've found this wine to be among the top five cabs we've ever tasted. I should note that we rarely go above paying $50.00 for any wine. However, that does not cover wine which we've tasted where we were invited guests.
When shopping at Costco about a year ago, I noticed this wine, along with Hall's 2015 vintage, both selling for $49.75. Being aware of the cost of a Kathryn Hall first label at more than $150.00, I decided to buy one of each at what I call the second label.
We compared the 2014 and 2015 side by side and much preferred the 2014 though the 2015 was awarded 93 points by Wine Advocate and the 2014 only 91 points by Wine Spectator.
We noted that we could have drunk the 2014 all day it was that good.
I'm one of these wine buffs who doesn't go in for descriptions such a cigar box, graphite, leather, compote, blackberry reduction, etc. So for us, I can say it was full-bodied to the max, an appealing nose and one could enjoy the varietal cabernet character with every swallow. And lasting to and through the finish.
I'm pleased to say that on every subsequent trip to Costco I added a couple more bottles. Also tipped my friends. Within a week, it was all gone. We have a good supply to enjoy for a few years.
I'm baffled by some of the low ratings appearing here. Perhaps, I just came upon a very special batch. Maybe from a barrel that was intended for the first label but somehow ended up being bottled for the second label.
I suppose I would only know the answer to that if I ordered a 2014 from a different merchant and tasted them side by side.
Anyway, that has been our experience and I make no apology for this extraordinary rating.
2019 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
5/17/2022 - argonne1@gmail.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a high quality cab. Full bodied. Deep dark color. Exceptionally smooth drinking. Could drink it all day. Beautifully crafted. An absolutely lovely cab. I would have wanted to give it a classic rating but as so many others have noted, it lacks complexity and can't compete with the $200-plus Napa Valley cabs. At the special price of $30 though, it's a steal.
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2015 Casa Santos Lima Vinho Regional Lisboa Confidencial Reserva
3/6/2020 - argonne1@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Amazing value. Just under $7.00 at Costco. Full-bodied, modest nose, extended finish. Excellent table wine. Could drink this all day.
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2014 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
4/25/2019 - argonne1@gmail.com Likes this wine: 97 Points
My wife and I, who have been drinking good quality reds (Napa and Bordeaux) for more than 40 years, might be alone on this, but we've found this wine to be among the top five cabs we've ever tasted. I should note that we rarely go above paying $50.00 for any wine. However, that does not cover wine which we've tasted where we were invited guests.
When shopping at Costco about a year ago, I noticed this wine, along with Hall's 2015 vintage, both selling for $49.75. Being aware of the cost of a Kathryn Hall first label at more than $150.00, I decided to buy one of each at what I call the second label.
We compared the 2014 and 2015 side by side and much preferred the 2014 though the 2015 was awarded 93 points by Wine Advocate and the 2014 only 91 points by Wine Spectator.
We noted that we could have drunk the 2014 all day it was that good.
I'm one of these wine buffs who doesn't go in for descriptions such a cigar box, graphite, leather, compote, blackberry reduction, etc. So for us, I can say it was full-bodied to the max, an appealing nose and one could enjoy the varietal cabernet character with every swallow. And lasting to and through the finish.
I'm pleased to say that on every subsequent trip to Costco I added a couple more bottles. Also tipped my friends. Within a week, it was all gone. We have a good supply to enjoy for a few years.
I'm baffled by some of the low ratings appearing here. Perhaps, I just came upon a very special batch. Maybe from a barrel that was intended for the first label but somehow ended up being bottled for the second label.
I suppose I would only know the answer to that if I ordered a 2014 from a different merchant and tasted them side by side.
Anyway, that has been our experience and I make no apology for this extraordinary rating.
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