Surprised me. Usually California Cabernets Fade with time didn’t know what to expect. Very happy with the outcome. Paired with sous vide rib eye steak Med-rare and it hit everything perfectly. Decanted for an hour. Dark inky hue with nose of dark fruit, casis, tobacco-olive and liquorice. Still with long legs but minimal heat. Aging has helped. Some dustiiness and graphite mid palate but super long finish full bodied with plenty of fruit. tannins are folded in with velvet texture to tongue. Enjoyed over 3 hours and it didn’t miss a beat. Reminded me of a 2003 Darioush I had a few years back. Well done. I think I have 1 more left
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I have to say I'm a bit confused by the previous reviewers, most of whom claimed to have enjoyed this wine, yet scored it in the 80s. This is peak drinking now, and was very enjoyable for me. Comes out of the bottle with a surprisingly dark purple-red, very little bricking. On the nose, a pure delineation of California fruit with dark berry elements, tangled up with a bit of underbrush and forest floor - two enticing combinations. Drank over several hours, this wine never faded and the prominence of strong fruit was backed up very well with present tannin. Just a pleasant experience overall, and a tremendous expression of this style of wine, if that's what you like. Not made every year, interestingly, I will search this out and will fully admit I might have added a point on the score just for to express my surprise factor.
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This wine is in a sweet spot for me, showing a mix of primary and secondary characteristics. But I'll be honest; I do miss some of the unctuousness of this wine in its youth. That said, it's drinking well now, and I don't see any reason for holding it any longer. Classic notes of cassis, black cherry, dried herbs, and cigar box.
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Black currant and cassis with good richness to start with some black pepper and tobacco leaf notes. Slightly hollow in the middle leading to an overall simple finish.
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4/11/2020 - Cholera Likes this wine: 94 Points
Surprised me. Usually California Cabernets Fade with time didn’t know what to expect. Very happy with the outcome. Paired with sous vide rib eye steak Med-rare and it hit everything perfectly.
Decanted for an hour. Dark inky hue with nose of dark fruit, casis, tobacco-olive and liquorice. Still with long legs but minimal heat. Aging has helped. Some dustiiness and graphite mid palate but super long finish full bodied with plenty of fruit. tannins are folded in with velvet texture to tongue. Enjoyed over 3 hours and it didn’t miss a beat. Reminded me of a 2003 Darioush I had a few years back. Well done. I think I have 1 more left
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2/13/2019 - hrazdiiv Likes this wine: 93 Points
I have to say I'm a bit confused by the previous reviewers, most of whom claimed to have enjoyed this wine, yet scored it in the 80s. This is peak drinking now, and was very enjoyable for me. Comes out of the bottle with a surprisingly dark purple-red, very little bricking. On the nose, a pure delineation of California fruit with dark berry elements, tangled up with a bit of underbrush and forest floor - two enticing combinations. Drank over several hours, this wine never faded and the prominence of strong fruit was backed up very well with present tannin. Just a pleasant experience overall, and a tremendous expression of this style of wine, if that's what you like. Not made every year, interestingly, I will search this out and will fully admit I might have added a point on the score just for to express my surprise factor.
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1/20/2019 - Paul Lin wrote: 88 Points
This wine is in a sweet spot for me, showing a mix of primary and secondary characteristics. But I'll be honest; I do miss some of the unctuousness of this wine in its youth. That said, it's drinking well now, and I don't see any reason for holding it any longer. Classic notes of cassis, black cherry, dried herbs, and cigar box.
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12/12/2018 - Vinomnivore Likes this wine: 91 Points
Surprisingly good. I have had several other bottles of aged etude cabs aged 10+ years and at least half have been shot.
This bottle was showing ripe fruit and some mild tertiary flavor. I think the Burgundy Al’s note below nails the specific flavor elements.
Drank well over 3 days (vacuum sealed) and shows best on day 3. The best glass was very elegant, showing great balance.
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7/22/2018 - Burgundy Al wrote: 87 Points
Black currant and cassis with good richness to start with some black pepper and tobacco leaf notes. Slightly hollow in the middle leading to an overall simple finish.
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