2005 Saddleback Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Community Tasting Notes (52) Avg Score: 89.4 points

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  7/8/2023 - wmccone54 Likes this wine: 94 Points

  I’ve been holding back with this, mostly as an experiment to gauge the longevity of one of my favorite Oakville producers; at least one, who doesn’t charge astronomical prices for high quality Cabernet! Nils has always made a classic, “old school” Cabernet: slightly austere, dry, red fruits, earthy, but also very structured. As expected, this didn’t disappoint at almost eighteen years. I assume the “pathetic” review from Wine Spectator has “tainted” the perception of this wine, but I’d also say “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”… drinking very well tonight. Mature notes of drying red currants, dried raspberry, baked cherry, decaying celery and bell pepper, old tobacco, dry leather, chunky red dirt, balsamic, and iron infused minerals. Structure is intact and balanced. Finishes long. Enjoyed with a medium rare ribeye, asparagus and mushrooms. Balanced, lengthy, complex and intense. Not even close to dying. Drink through 2025+.

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  2/10/2020 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Fully mature, rustic, old-school style, this is drinking excellent right now. Consistent with previous notes. The nose brings cherry blossoms, tobacco, chocolate, and ripe red cherries, which leads into a red-currant led palate on entry that gives way to ripe blackberries, blackcurrant, and plums. Good tarty, high-toned raspberries lead into rich, grainy black fruit on the tannic and gritty finish. Fully mature so drink now. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 93.

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  9/23/2017 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Drank out of magnum. Opened about 2 hours ahead of grilled NY Strips. Dark crimson. The nose brought red cherries and spices, with blackcurrant, blackberries, chocolate cherries, and wild herbs on the palate. The finish was slightly hot at first but settled down with more air. Seemed a little closed so I would hold a few more years. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 91.

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  5/25/2014 - theguy Does not like this wine: 85 Points

  Disappointing. No great strengths. Short finish.
  Past its prime.

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  2/22/2014 - Night Train Likes this wine: 90 Points

  In a blind tasting, I would have guessed Bordeaux. Plums and a little smoke on the nose. Same on the palate, along with a hint of green olives and a healthy dose of licorice. Surprisingly light body, but it had a fairly long, fruit-driven finish. Time to drink up.

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