Splash decanted and served in large Riedel glasses. This is mature but still remarkably fresh for a 20 year old unclassified wine from this vintage. Pleasant bell pepper notes on the nose give way to cool red and black fruit on the palate and more hints of spicy bell pepper on the finish. The wine is fully integrated and has no tannic edge to speak of. Not terribly complex, but delicious and perfectly aged northern Medoc. It seems like this wine could remain in this plateau for another 5-10 years.
One used to be able to buy the 15' and 16' Hardin for $20-$22 per bottle, and at that price it was an incredible bargain. At $25-$30 for the 2018 the value proposition has slipped quite a bit. However, considering that most sub-$30 Cali Cabs seems to me to be generic, spoofilated plonk these days, this wine is still worth considering for its tasty, fruit-forward character which is presented in a refreshingly restrained style. Recommended.
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Purchased recently from Cellaraiders. Clearly a well-stored bottle. Wine was decanted for 1 hour and served in Riedel stemware. Four tasters had consistent notes on this wine which is to say nose of dark fruit dominated by very high alcohol volatility which was sometimes so pronounced it was like sniffing nail polish. Similarly, on the palate big, ripe fruit but the wine is overwhelmed by its alcohol content. Disappointing effort from Pride. Perhaps additional bottle age or longer decanting would help this wine, but I'm not sure it will ever come together into a more balanced, elegant style.
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2001 Château Sociando-Mallet
3/8/2021 - Jdog wrote: 91 Points
Splash decanted and served in large Riedel glasses. This is mature but still remarkably fresh for a 20 year old unclassified wine from this vintage. Pleasant bell pepper notes on the nose give way to cool red and black fruit on the palate and more hints of spicy bell pepper on the finish. The wine is fully integrated and has no tannic edge to speak of. Not terribly complex, but delicious and perfectly aged northern Medoc. It seems like this wine could remain in this plateau for another 5-10 years.
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2018 Hardin Cabernet Sauvignon
3/8/2021 - Jdog Likes this wine: 90 Points
One used to be able to buy the 15' and 16' Hardin for $20-$22 per bottle, and at that price it was an incredible bargain. At $25-$30 for the 2018 the value proposition has slipped quite a bit. However, considering that most sub-$30 Cali Cabs seems to me to be generic, spoofilated plonk these days, this wine is still worth considering for its tasty, fruit-forward character which is presented in a refreshingly restrained style. Recommended.
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2006 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
3/29/2020 - Jdog wrote: 90 Points
Purchased recently from Cellaraiders. Clearly a well-stored bottle. Wine was decanted for 1 hour and served in Riedel stemware. Four tasters had consistent notes on this wine which is to say nose of dark fruit dominated by very high alcohol volatility which was sometimes so pronounced it was like sniffing nail polish. Similarly, on the palate big, ripe fruit but the wine is overwhelmed by its alcohol content. Disappointing effort from Pride. Perhaps additional bottle age or longer decanting would help this wine, but I'm not sure it will ever come together into a more balanced, elegant style.
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