2018 Julien Fayard Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Community Tasting Notes (9) Avg Score: 93.8 points

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  12/3/2023 - Franken Berry Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Similar notes to before, but this has shed some of its tannins and alcohol. Gave this 30 minute slow ox, but it deserves an hour.
  Black and blue fruits, cassis, licorice, crushed stone. Nice acidity, smooth mid palate, medium mineral driven finish.
  This ranks up there as a polished Napa cab, for the money, similar to the Fait Main Napa designate
  
  This is also listed on CT under JF wines

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  1/13/2023 - Franken Berry Likes this wine: 94 Points

  I was introduced to the wine making of Julien Fayard via Purlieu, and glad to explore his personal label. The JF reserve is sourced from several high end vineyards, mostly from Yountville and Pritchard Hill, and these vineyards are well represented in this blend, which is aged in all new French oak.
  This bottle required an hour decant and improved over the next two. Rich blue and black fruits, mostly cassis, with notes of chocolate, coffee and licorice. Firm tannins, which softened in the glass with time. Great structure and acidity. A bit reserved, French in style.
  This is a great QPR for what you get. I recently added to my stash with a three pack from wine bid at a great price

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  11/5/2022 - RPHC Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Legendary! The expressive and complex nose displays intense aromas of both concentrated red and dark fruits meshed with a variety of florals ranging from violets to honeysuckle, an earthiness and faint hints of coffee beans and cocoa. On the palate: a fresh brightness that's more red-fruited and cheerful. It's big and deep because of the flavor concentration but there's an elegance and happiness to the presentation. Definitely drinkable now, which is kind of surprising given the oak treatment (100% French oak for 22 months - 80% new). Tannins are well integrated, and decent acidity. Big, long finish! *Julien Fayard made a name for himself and built his stellar reputation making wines for other people, and in 2016 started releasing wines that carry his own name. *The "Reserve" offering sits kind of in the middle of the Cabernet Sauvignon pricing stack, with single-vineyard wines at the top and a "Classic" wine at the base.

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  10/27/2021 - MADV wrote: 93 Points

  So drinkable now. First bottle by Julien Fayard. Can’t wait to drink the single vineyards.

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  9/22/2021 - KenK wrote:

  PNP + perhaps some travel shock. Big bold dark ripe flavors offer great potential and promise, yet an astringent tannic structure on the back half overwhelmed the overall impression. I will reserve judgement on the Reserve based on the reputation and prior glowing CT notes.
  
  Brought to MI golf trip for fire pit fun

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View all 9 Community Tasting Notes

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