Dumbfounded. After poor showing earlier this year that I chalked up to bottle variation I decided to try again. 2 hour decant and drank over 3 hours. Love the 15 flagship but don’t see what all the hype is about with the Dr C. Tannins still a bit harsh, over oaked, overly sweet and a finish that just doesn’t go on for very long. Not sure what I’m missing here but just not great, especially compared to flagship.
Must have been an off bottle (I hope). Had the ‘15 flagship blend earlier this year, and was blown away by how good it was so wanted to try the Dr C. Went head to head against a ‘14 Schrader LPV and the Schrader showed infinitely better. Day 1- 2 hour slow ox. Closed, over Oakes, just average. Day 2- all I got out of the bottle was oak and sweet caramel. As a huge MM fan, completely dumbfounded so assuming bad bottle.
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If the name of this wine is to remind us that we all die, it also reminds us that we have now died tasting an amazing wine. This is a rich cab blooming with fantastic tannins. I smell crushed violets, vanilla and blueberry pie. The finish is amazing and balanced on the tongue. If you love Crane cabs, you will love this wine.
Had to test run to see how deep to hit the ‘18 MM Dr. Crane
Rich, inky, viscous, explosive nose, restrained palate. Wet rock, dried herbs, fresh cut flowers, definitely Crane. Easy drinking, but restrained palate, as if there was no acid, is it playing hide and seek? Turns out, yes.
At 2 hrs of air, this really exploded into greatness. One of the best renditions of Crane I’ve ever had. Juicy violets and fresh flowers and dark fruits, a sweet candidness on the nose. Crushed blueberries appeared, but disappeared as it warmed a bit. The acid has emerged with blueberries and purplish fruits exploding across the palate with a smooth mineral backbone. A jar full of various candied fruit kept running through my head. Enough tannins left to carry a long finish. As we approached the 3 hr mark, the candiness disappeared. This wine is Exhibit A for why I got into Napa. 99 for now, I think this still has room to run to an easy 100 in 3-5 yrs.
I worried I had opened too early, but this really shined with air. Sadly, my only bottle.
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1/6/2023 - EM_MB Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dumbfounded. After poor showing earlier this year that I chalked up to bottle variation I decided to try again. 2 hour decant and drank over 3 hours. Love the 15 flagship but don’t see what all the hype is about with the Dr C. Tannins still a bit harsh, over oaked, overly sweet and a finish that just doesn’t go on for very long. Not sure what I’m missing here but just not great, especially compared to flagship.
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2/20/2022 - EM_MB wrote: 90 Points
Must have been an off bottle (I hope). Had the ‘15 flagship blend earlier this year, and was blown away by how good it was so wanted to try the Dr C. Went head to head against a ‘14 Schrader LPV and the Schrader showed infinitely better. Day 1- 2 hour slow ox. Closed, over Oakes, just average. Day 2- all I got out of the bottle was oak and sweet caramel. As a huge MM fan, completely dumbfounded so assuming bad bottle.
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5/14/2021 - Shellswinescript Likes this wine: 99 Points
If the name of this wine is to remind us that we all die, it also reminds us that we have now died tasting an amazing wine. This is a rich cab blooming with fantastic tannins. I smell crushed violets, vanilla and blueberry pie. The finish is amazing and balanced on the tongue. If you love Crane cabs, you will love this wine.
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10/18/2020 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine: 99 Points
Had to test run to see how deep to hit the ‘18 MM Dr. Crane
Rich, inky, viscous, explosive nose, restrained palate. Wet rock, dried herbs, fresh cut flowers, definitely Crane. Easy drinking, but restrained palate, as if there was no acid, is it playing hide and seek? Turns out, yes.
At 2 hrs of air, this really exploded into greatness. One of the best renditions of Crane I’ve ever had. Juicy violets and fresh flowers and dark fruits, a sweet candidness on the nose. Crushed blueberries appeared, but disappeared as it warmed a bit. The acid has emerged with blueberries and purplish fruits exploding across the palate with a smooth mineral backbone. A jar full of various candied fruit kept running through my head. Enough tannins left to carry a long finish. As we approached the 3 hr mark, the candiness disappeared. This wine is Exhibit A for why I got into Napa. 99 for now, I think this still has room to run to an easy 100 in 3-5 yrs.
I worried I had opened too early, but this really shined with air. Sadly, my only bottle.
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12/16/2019 - WineForRob wrote: 98 Points
Nothing more to add. Nose was as another taster noted "off the hook". Simply fantastic wine.
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