2002 Cardinale

Community Tasting Notes (20) Avg Score: 91.2 points

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  4/2/2024 - JC597 wrote: 94 Points

  My first two bottles from my auction lot were not a complete bust, but pretty close. This last bottle was bussin. Very consistent flavor profile to other top 2002s I’ve tried recently. Like those, this bottle held its glory for an hour or two. Can taste the To Kalon influence, very balanced with the Veeder. Ever so slight bricking around the rim. Dark, slightly stewed cherry on the nose with an ever so slight hint of oak. Essence of toasted vanilla and ripe cassis on the mid palate. Long finish. I believe the structure in this particular bottle *could* withstand a longer time in the bottle, but I wouldn’t risk it. The wine changed quickly in the glass. I’d recommend a 1-2 hour decant with intermittent tasting to see how things go from there. *NOTE: I bought an auction lot consisting of 3 bottles. One was cooked. The other was somehow past its prime (improper storage? Who knows - it was close, but not what I expected based on my Cardinale experience). This last one was the belle of the ball. Take that for what you will. A well-preserved bottle should be magic. I love where well-aged 02s are right now.

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  2/26/2024 - JC597 wrote: flawed

  Bought on Winebid. Skeptical of provenance, as most folks are having good experiences with an ‘02 Cardinale. Strong raisin/prune notes upon opening. Same with taste initially. Mellowed somewhat after an hour or two. I gave it time. There was still some wonderful underlying structure there, but I expect the wine was exposed to excessive heat/poor storage. Couldn’t get over the excessive stewed fruit. We will see how the other bottles from this lot fare.

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  7/27/2020 - Kevnzworld wrote: 93 Points

  No decant, dinner in the desert at Pacifica.
  A good dinner wine from prior experience with no decant.
  Still alive with good Cab flavors mixed with some secondary flavors.
  Drinks older, but in a good way. A little stewed and pruny as it opened up.
  This is in its eighth inning and slightly out of its best drinking window but overall was enjoyable

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  12/21/2018 - soyhead wrote:

  This wine (and if not misakeni believe there is only 1 cuvee) is a cabernet blend. in '02 12%merlot rest cabernet sauvignon, mostly Mt. Veeder. tasted out of sleek bottle brought by the score whore who is undoubtely impressed. Side effect of that mania is that I get to taste it. powerful and smooth wine. On the parallel CT definition I see it likened to Cos, which I can see. Its a powerful wine at age 16. It's smooth, big, and extracted. I think it can provide much pleasure and maybe if it mellows a bit even more. Give that overpriced (like many Napa reds)

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  9/15/2018 - D3S Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Nice color, great aroma with incredible acid, red and blue fruit, balance and medium finish. Elegant wine drinking very well and at it’s peak.

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View all 20 Community Tasting Notes

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