One off as part of a large private party purchase (hard to price individual bottles, but about $60) 6.5 years ago. On the nose and palate, moderate notes of blackberries, black currants, some black cherries, rocky minerality, dark florals, anise, mocha, graphite and trail dust. Dark purple with the slightest browning, medium bodied, thick legs. Silky but potent and mostly integrated tannins, medium+ acidity, no heat. VG complexity, intensity and persistence. Wasn’t sure what to expect here: a few prior bottles from this producer were pleasant but didn’t leave a distinct impression, and notes for this were all of the place but generally underwhelming. Felt a bit dilute out of the bottle, but picked up slowly and intangibly, turning into a well-balanced, rather elegant valley Cab, with fruit and secondary notes asserting themselves a bit more over the structure. Has held well over 2 nights so that, if last glass wasn’t best, it was as good as any. Equally solid on its own and with pasta with prosciutto and truffle oil (not remarkable, but not awful, with chicken soup the night before). I went back and forth between 93 and 94 on this, but at my purchase price and feeling this a bit underrated on CT, went higher (although if you pay anywhere close the WS price, $100 more, I’d struggle to even give it the 93). In a good place and likely to have some time left at this level, but if I had more, I’d drink in the next couple of years or so. Very enjoyable, if somewhat unremarkable. 93-94
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Similar to past notes and those of others; this wine is still smooth and pleasing, but lacks the powerful dark fruit in earlier years. Should drink now.
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Properly cellared with a 2 hour decant. Nice dark napa fruit with some dark cherries starting to show secondary flavors and balance. Still fairly powerful tannins coming through. No tertiary flavors yet. This has plenty of life left, 5-10 years.
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2/19/2024 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
One off as part of a large private party purchase (hard to price individual bottles, but about $60) 6.5 years ago. On the nose and palate, moderate notes of blackberries, black currants, some black cherries, rocky minerality, dark florals, anise, mocha, graphite and trail dust. Dark purple with the slightest browning, medium bodied, thick legs. Silky but potent and mostly integrated tannins, medium+ acidity, no heat. VG complexity, intensity and persistence. Wasn’t sure what to expect here: a few prior bottles from this producer were pleasant but didn’t leave a distinct impression, and notes for this were all of the place but generally underwhelming. Felt a bit dilute out of the bottle, but picked up slowly and intangibly, turning into a well-balanced, rather elegant valley Cab, with fruit and secondary notes asserting themselves a bit more over the structure. Has held well over 2 nights so that, if last glass wasn’t best, it was as good as any. Equally solid on its own and with pasta with prosciutto and truffle oil (not remarkable, but not awful, with chicken soup the night before). I went back and forth between 93 and 94 on this, but at my purchase price and feeling this a bit underrated on CT, went higher (although if you pay anywhere close the WS price, $100 more, I’d struggle to even give it the 93). In a good place and likely to have some time left at this level, but if I had more, I’d drink in the next couple of years or so. Very enjoyable, if somewhat unremarkable. 93-94
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10/6/2023 - dkwins Likes this wine: 91 Points
Similar to past notes and those of others; this wine is still smooth and pleasing, but lacks the powerful dark fruit in earlier years. Should drink now.
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9/16/2023 - meatbomb013 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bottle from 7/23 was an “off” bottle.
This one is reminiscent of previous experiences with this wine.
Great now and for another 3-5 years
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9/15/2023 - riskvsreward Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice but I felt a bit past it’s prime.
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9/9/2023 - MMiazga Likes this wine: 93 Points
Properly cellared with a 2 hour decant. Nice dark napa fruit with some dark cherries starting to show secondary flavors and balance. Still fairly powerful tannins coming through. No tertiary flavors yet. This has plenty of life left, 5-10 years.
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