1997 Thunder Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Bates Ranch

Community Tasting Notes (21) Avg Score: 89.7 points

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  4/8/2023 - coremill wrote: 92 Points

  Decanted off sediment, then served immediately. Lovely aromas of dark cassis fruit, mint, sage, pine forest, vanilla and integrated oak. The palate is still deep and concentrated, lots of dark fruit and earth, some slightly rustic structure remaining. Superb, showing the quality of this vineyard.

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  3/5/2023 - ekorn wrote:

  Last bottle of this. Like my last, this bottle had some barnyard which dominated on opening. After some time, tart fruit came to the fore and the brett receded a bit to the point that it could be seen as a feature. Herbaceous wine with menthol, cherry, and leather.

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  1/22/2023 - ekorn wrote: flawed

  Unfortunately, this bottle was over-the-top bretty.

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  12/14/2022 - goodvitis.com Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Drank at an event, no formal notes. First Thunder Mountain experience and I want more. It's as if the tannins came from 2017, not 1997. Incredibly fresh and bright at this age with a nice mix of fruit and earthy flavors, the acid really delivers a nice profile and the tannins seem to be playing a trick on time. No need to rush this one.

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  2/2/2022 - ekorn Likes this wine:

  Stood the bottle up for a couple days before opening it and decanted for sediment before pouring -- the last few ounces had a significant amount of sediment. 14.5% alcohol, unfined and unfiltered.
  
  The wine had quite an earthy, herbal nose. The palate was red-fruited and fresh with a bolt of acidity that segued to a long finish. Throughout, there was a licorice/anise/eucalyptus note, which may be the primary driver of whether or not you like this wine. Glad to have a couple more bottles.

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View all 21 Community Tasting Notes

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