My 5th of 6 bottles that I purchased directly from the winery and my first since 2018. This bottle is aging great and I've bumped up my score to reflect that. Honestly, I enjoy their "basic" cabernet so much, I don't know why I ever bother with their more exclusive bottlings. This was opened, but not decanted for over 45 minutes before pouring at a NYC Steakhouse with my wine group. It was served alongside a 2009 Plumpjack. While most of the group ever so slightly preferred the Plumpjack the group loved the Larkmead. Full bodied, with a nice mix of fruit and spices. The fruit most reminded me of dark plum, although there was a lot going on here. A long finish, and the tannins didn't overwhelm, as they were just enough to provide some structure.
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Color holding up well, the faintest brown and very little sediment in the bottle.
Plumb, vanilla, and bourbon on the nose.
Sour cherry, cassis, and wow, I dunno…something reminiscent of a fall leaf pile. Dry Forrest floor if that makes sense. Tons of structure and a crazy long mineral finish.
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Brought to a restaurant and decanted. Reticent at first, with leather notes prominent, the fruit emerges after about 45 minutes to blend with the supple tannins to make for a very nice glass of wine of medium complexity. Not a show stopper but still a treat.
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Nice Napa cabernet with good structure and core fruit. Just a bit of heat on the slightly velvet finish that took about 2 points off. The 2010 also seems to have this bit of heat. Decanted 3 hours plus. In the glass at 5 hours, it really started to sing. I do not think the heat will dissipate with time so rather than let the fruit fade with more age, I think its best to drink it sooner than later. Still, the bottle came across as youthful to me.
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8/11/2023 - SMHalps wrote: 94 Points
My 5th of 6 bottles that I purchased directly from the winery and my first since 2018. This bottle is aging great and I've bumped up my score to reflect that. Honestly, I enjoy their "basic" cabernet so much, I don't know why I ever bother with their more exclusive bottlings. This was opened, but not decanted for over 45 minutes before pouring at a NYC Steakhouse with my wine group. It was served alongside a 2009 Plumpjack. While most of the group ever so slightly preferred the Plumpjack the group loved the Larkmead. Full bodied, with a nice mix of fruit and spices. The fruit most reminded me of dark plum, although there was a lot going on here. A long finish, and the tannins didn't overwhelm, as they were just enough to provide some structure.
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5/28/2023 - Norm510 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Color holding up well, the faintest brown and very little sediment in the bottle.
Plumb, vanilla, and bourbon on the nose.
Sour cherry, cassis, and wow, I dunno…something reminiscent of a fall leaf pile. Dry Forrest floor if that makes sense. Tons of structure and a crazy long mineral finish.
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12/7/2022 - prism wrote: 91 Points
Brought to a restaurant and decanted. Reticent at first, with leather notes prominent, the fruit emerges after about 45 minutes to blend with the supple tannins to make for a very nice glass of wine of medium complexity. Not a show stopper but still a treat.
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11/14/2022 - unc0rked Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice Napa cabernet with good structure and core fruit. Just a bit of heat on the slightly velvet finish that took about 2 points off. The 2010 also seems to have this bit of heat. Decanted 3 hours plus. In the glass at 5 hours, it really started to sing. I do not think the heat will dissipate with time so rather than let the fruit fade with more age, I think its best to drink it sooner than later. Still, the bottle came across as youthful to me.
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4/10/2022 - spacewrangler wrote: 91 Points
Sort of foursquare even after decanting and a bit linear, but very tasty.
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