Decanted for 1.5 hours. This 15 year old was a delicious wine with a lot of fruit, black cherry, eucalyptus, vanilla, earthy tones. Tannins nicely mellowed.
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What a Rush of aroma. Enticing. Flavor backs it up with wide ranging fruit and slight dustiness. Just starting into its peak period. Tasted at the winery
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Decanted for 3 hours before tasting. NYE at our house. USDA Prime Bone-in Rib Roast (4 ribs) reverse seared ala J. Kenji Lopez-Alt. Fabulous meal and excellent wine!
The wine is now 11 past release and is drinking beautifully. One descriptor that came to mind was 'voluptuous.' The fruit is definitely still there, but it has melded into a greater sense of the whole. All of the elements are just so well integrated and so enjoyable. It was not as good as the 2015 Round Pond we had in September, but it was also different. The BV seemed to say, "I'm here. I've been waiting. I am in no hurry. Take you time and enjoy!" And that's what we did.
The other cabernets on the table tonight were: >>A 2016 A. Rafanelli Dry Creek Cabernet - which was actually my WOTN - but it was very different from the BV. The Rafanelli was still very youthful and vibrant with fabulous fruit flavors. >> A 2011 Adelaida 'Viking Estate' cabernet which was also wonderful but had a clear sense of being a bold Paso cab. I just have a preference for cabs from Napa/Sonoma.
Best wishes to all in 2024!
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Definitely on the side of the group that likes this wine and thinks it had a long life ahead. Tasted like a nice, aged napa cab - not an aged bordeaux, but an aged napa. Still fruit, but silky tannins, good fruit, and a long finish. Only at 93? Could be higher, but tasted alongside a bunch of heavy hitters. Either way, a very nice wine.
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Tasted from a well-cellared bottle that was popped and poured at a walk-around Super Bowl party, this opaque ruby/red wine (a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot) was serially sampled over a three-hour period, during which time it continued to evolve. Delivering a payload of dark plums, wild berries, orange zest, licorice, dark chocolate and exotic spices, it is a full-bodied, freshly acidic, proportionately oaked wine with surprisingly well-integrated alcohol when served at 60-65°F (despite being listed as 15.7%). Wrapping its flavors with plentiful polished tannins, it stays solid in the middle and lingers nicely on the finish. This well-crafted, structured Cab will provide pleasure for many years to come. Drink now-2039.
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Decanted at a restaurant for corkage, not my bottle. Classic showing. Vibrant nose. Both red and black licorice, tons of spice and red fruits. This is at that great intersection of integration and complexity without losing vigor. I suppose drink soon.
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Saturated very dark red/purple color with a 3mm transition. PNP, drank a couple glass over 3 hours. Starts with cedar box, cassis, plum, loam, spice cake and builds to show leaf tobacco, eucalyptus and black cherry. The palate is dense, full bodied, cassis, black cherry, with undertones of blue fruits, tobacco, a little scorched earth mid and back, with some wood on the finish. Still benefits from the air. May update on day two: day 2 totally firing now, oak resolved, tar and scorched earth, velvety texture to the black fruit with ripe raspberry top notes and menthol. Will hold off a couple years on the next one. Excellent. 93+ to 94pts.
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It has benefited from the extra time but at 16% ABV this simply is no longer anything to do with the classics of the last century. Such a shame. It was made as a Parker Point magnet and it shows. So many better Californians.
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Decanted three hours. Full palate of classic Napa style with cassis, licorice, earth, and oak. Tannins are supple. Another 2009 singing loud and clear!
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Powerful bouquet leapt from bottle. Huge wine of extract and power. Alcohol and fruit dominate tannins. Great in an extreme style similar to a supercharged Barossa shiraz but no worse for that. Not for the faint hearted but authentic of its type.
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Love this stuff. Probably at its peak, but can still be wonderful for several years. Great expression of Rutherford. Balanced fruit, dust, leather... just dang good wine boys and girls. And this is a price conscious rating. Really good BV.
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Great bottle at the peak of its drinking window. Very typical of Rutherford. Blue fruit and mocha. Leathery and cedar on the nose, and a rich, full finish.
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Not very impressive for its price point. I have enjoyed $35 bottles more. It was "ok", fairly well balanced with fruity notes. I would not buy this bottle again for this price. Deep purple color, had a nice finish. There is no sediment in the bottle.
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Delicious with deep flavors of mocha and blueberries. Hints of dark cherry, aromatic notes of vanilla and leather. Wine is at its peak, and probably will be for another 5-10 years.
Powerful, yet seductive, forward nose of black cherry, currants, hints of chocolate, wonderful mouth feel, moderate tannins, long finish, will be better in 10-20 years, 15.7% is completely hidden in this lush wine.
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Smooth with well-integrated tannins and dark berry, cassis, and smoke notes and just a tad too much alcohol poking through on the front end. This bottle seems closer to the end than the beginning of its drinking window.
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PNP. Decanted for a couple of hours. Opaque purple. Very expressive nose of cassis, ripe plum and chocolate. Full bodied, mouth coating tannins, chewy and sweet, but not overly dry or biting. On the palate, the same dark fruit, with cocoa and earthy dark chocolate. Brooding. Nice with ribeye steak. There was some heat, but I was surprised to see 15.7%. Drink up.
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Pnp took about 3 hours to open and settle. Dark and opaque purple in the glass. Nose was closed on opening but after the 3 hours fairly expressive with cassis and red fruits (strawberry?) some toffee maybe a hint of vanilla. Palate upon opening was a bit tight with just the tannin and alcohol coming through. Later it balanced out and the fruit was there with some acidity. Longish finish (20 secs+). Overall glad I had to cook dinner to allow some time for this one to develop. Probably 3-5+ years before decline. One more bottle to try so I’ll probably wait until that window before drinking it again.
Cheers!
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Just an awesome balanced wine. Was WOTN albeit we ended up opening this on a lark. Nobody was thrilled with the wines I'd already opened although 2 bottles had been guzzled. Instead of drinking the other 2 still open, SWMBO said go find an appropriate NYE wine to ring in 2020. Well I did, and needless to say, neither it nor us made it to see the ball drop, but we did see our way to the bottom of this bottle. And as a PNP'd experience, just a wonderful wine with still good years ahead of it....but I'm not saving my last for the next decade, maybe not even the next NYE...
Decanted and drank with steak fajitas. A little thin in body. A delicious and reasonably complex wine but the weight was lacking and the tannins have already begun to soften significantly. Not on the decline but I don't expect it to develop much further.
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This bottle was seemingly a bit over the hill and seemed way more forward than the 2010 I had the year before. Not bad, but a littlle disappointing compared to the 2010.
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Drank in 2019. Took about 45 minutes to open up. Was not too tight to start with. But seems to be losing its fruit and punch at this point. A little disappointing for a wine good to 2025. But, still a phenomenal bottle.
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We rarely drink these large scaled wines anymore, but today is Ann’s birthday and this used to be one of her favorites. We popped and poured, using Grassl 1855 glasses. The wine is still showing young and is a long way from showing any tertiary notes. Dark black and blue fruits, with light coffee and chocolate accents. This is a big wine, but it is nicely balanced, and well made. Despite fairly intense flavors, it is not too thick or heavy. A fun change of pace and we both enjoyed it. I’ll try to wait a few years before checking in again.
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Really disappointing. PnP'd initially and it took a little time to open slightly. Still seemed to have limited personality, so decanted and got a bit more oak and tannin. Maybe it needed yet more air.
Overall, it was nice enough, but just seemed characterless. Blind, I'd have said some $20 generic California cab. Maybe my bottle was flawed; I have 1 more.
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I served this at cellar temperature as a pnp and kept it in bottle during consumption. For my palate/preference, that worked out the best it could have.
Nice nose, blackberry, cassis, pencil shavings. Palate of black cherry, black fruit, earthy, spice box. Great fruit quality, had an nice ripeness to it without it being overripe and just the right amount of tartness. Overall, a very enjoyable profile.
Wine was also well integrated and balanced. Tannins were plush but still provided excellent grip without drying out or fatiguing the palate, which provided a long and enjoyable finish. The massive 15.7% ABV was no where to be detected which made this bruiser very easy to drink.
Overall, very impressed with this wine and believe it was at the perfect spot for me in terms of bottle age while still maintaining its youthful persona. This wine would also pair very well with food, especially red meat with mushrooms.
94-95pts. I recommend drinking now if you like a bit of youth in your wine, otherwise this can easily be cellared for another 3-5 years without any trouble.
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Better. The nose showed some nice touches of vanilla. More structure show. And some sign of tannins that could encourage the wine to evolve well. Will leave the wine for at least three years
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Hmm. Hope other bottles are more like those described below. Tried against a Lynch Bages 03. Lacked the complexity and structure expected. is blocking the more subtle features. Let’s see
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Didn't quite make it a full year but this is still drinking wonderfully if utilized correctly. Had with seared/roasted lamb chops with a rosemary/beef demi-glace. Perfectly suited to the fattiness of the dish. The tannins here gave a lasting finish that was appreciated to wash that fat away...then the fruit took hold. Nice spice here as well. Oak still there but moving quickly toward integration.
Still, decant for a few and drink with food.
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Blind tasting during World Series game 4 (Lion cave): I think this wine is in a confused phase right now because different aspects of it kept showing, yet it was disjointed and never came together. We'll see how it shows on day 2. The cigarbox nose contrasted with the light, youthful body and the acid and oak weren't integrated. Tannins were light and I'm not sure where this vintage is going. Parker reported it closed in 2013 and I don't think it's quite ready yet. 2019+. Nevertheless it was my and the group's #2 of 4 based on the quality of the fruit.
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Mixed Wines on a Smoldering Night (Irene's House, St. Paul): Very dark red/purple color. Decanted for 2hrs, drank 1 glass over an hour. Still youthful but showing well with some air. Drank next to an '08 Insignia and I favored the Insignia just a bit tonight. Lots of pencil on the nose, blackberry and cassis fruits, spice and black cherry, pretty primary. The palate is dense with nice tart black fruits, blackberry, cassis, black cherry, gravel, spice, and wood on the back end. Expect this to be better yet down the road 3 to 5 years. 92+pts.
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Minneapolis Wine Club Comeback Tour: Impressive wine and should age for another decade. Concentrated with dark fruits, oak, spices and a nice mineral streak. Medium to long finish. Balanced. Decanted 2 plus hours.
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My last bottle. Another impressive tasting. I think this wine is quite underrated. Tannins fully integrated, nice aromatics, soft fruit. A sort of smooth, smokey taste. I'd buy more.
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Exceptionally smooth throughout. Clear caramel color, softly aged and pleasant aroma. Much like bottle #2, Soft and silky texture. Overall a pleasantly satisfying wine, which rarely disappoints. Shared at a friends house for dinner party of 4 (bottle #1). Bottle #2 was a 1998 BV Clone 4. Menu included spinach salad, grilled Tri-tip roast, and twice baked potato half. Wine cork was clean, no sediment, no strainer needed.
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The key here, if drinking now, is to decant this wine for at least 4 hours. Then, when about to consume, decant again into a clean decanter...remove any sediment which, for me tonight, is minimal.
Superb wine. Starting to show secondaries. Still super tight and tannic, but can sense potential. Black cherry, cassis. Menthol and cedar. Definitely oaky. Has a bit of the cough syrup finish, but not obtrusive.
Have held for a few years and will try and hold my last for a few more.
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Dark opake crimson red on the glass with a nose of currants, cedar, spices, blueberries and some wet soil. The pallate is very balanced with red/blue fruit, hints of sweet oak, some minerality medium tannins with plenty of acidity to last several more years even though I believe this bottle is in its prime drinking window.
Very nicely balanced with zero hard edges.
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Mixed California Tasting (Jason's House): 2 hour decant, drank a small glass and then an even smaller glass 1 hour later. This is a big wine. Mostly red fruit, cherry, raspberry, some chocolate. The tannins are still somewhat firm and there is some alcohol on the finish. Good now, but I will try not to open another until 2020+.
Mixed California Tasing: Tasting pour. Even with a 3 hour decant this seemed tight, too young, and quite tannic. Hard to evaluate with a tasting pour, but in general this was not my preferred style of high-toned Napa fruit.
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This '09 just didn't match other vintages of the same wine. I have found this wine to be very delicate so storage and decanting practices can be material influences on the final result. So, maybe poor handling in the sales chain is to blame?
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Decanted for 2 hours prior to drinking. A big wine indeed, sweet, ripe, redcurrants, a little dusty perhaps, leading into a full bodied medium finish. Enjoyable but time in the decanter needed to burn off the high alcohol. Needs more time. Try again 2020 perhaps.
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Wonderful. Brought from home, after tasting at Joseph Phelps (Insignia Event and BV. Opened at Rutherford Grill (no corkage) and enjoyed with three others accompanying a light lunch.
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Second tasting in the last month, with consistent notes. I was pleasantly surprised by this. Not particularly strong fruit flavors, but it has a smokiness that I found quite enjoyable, perhaps a good dose of Cabernet Franc. I would buy this again.
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2 hour decant. Scent of iodine on the nose. Dark fruits dominate a powerful wine. Still has lots of gas in its tank. Score should improve with some more time.
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Per suggestions of other CT members I gave this a good 3+ hour decant and served it at 60 degrees. Really solid Napa Cab that my wife gave two thumbs up. Very balanced with boysenberry fruit and cedar notes. No rush to drink these and I think this wine has serious potential to go up to 94-95 points in a few years.
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A lot of depth to the flavor yet the tannins are still fiesty in 2015 and honestly just too distracting. There's a lot here, just needs those tannins to soften. Last comment, there's a notable element of damp earth to the palate. Not off putting, just notable.
-- Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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One of the better George's. It likes to be decanted awhile, and then brings a big and bold, just-right experience that must be accentuated by the correct setting and cheeses. From the opening nose to the bottom of the glass, one of finest in wine adventures.
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A perennial personal favorite that typifies the traditional Napa Cabernets from yesteryear. Always a great accompaniment to a big juicy steak or any hearty food. Excellent!
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Pnp and tasted for 12 hours. Nose changes from blue fruit to chocolate in the first 6 hours, and ends in elegant cedar aroma with cassis, red and blue fruit, which shows the signatures of Rutherford. On the palate, licorice, vanilla, red fruits, and sweet tannin are balanced and beautiful. The long lasting provides the profoundness in this wine. It's much more serious than Tapestry reserve. The only complain is too hot, since they have very high alcohol level. Overall, this is a very solid wine in this special vintage. I found 2009 is a special year in Napa, because the wines are more approachable than the adjacent years like 2008 and 2010. The opulent and pure wines from 2009 are very enjoyable now, but still can survive for at least 5~8 years. (tasted with 2009 Keever Cab from yountville)
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2hr decant and needed much more. Wall of jam the first hour and was 3+ hrs before some character started showing though. Good potential here. Not touching another for at least 3 yrs
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Deep and dark. At first: Interesting and enjoyable potpourri of savory spices. The incredibly high alcohol was not all that noticeable initially. Then we corked and gassed it for two days. 48 hours later, it had turned darker in texture and somewhat monolithic. Makes me wonder how this will age, if at all; maybe there is just too much big flavor going on -- and not enough acid.
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The wine has low acidity. It smells like molasses. The body is full. The wine finishes medium. It tastes like blackberry, blueberry and apricot. The wine looks violet colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. The wine has smooth texture.
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The fruit is a little darker in tone than the 08, with some soy and spice notes. More exotic and tannic than the 08. Very young. Ann and I both preferred this one. Hold for at least four years.
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WSET Level 4 Course - WSET School; 9/6/2014-5/23/2015 (WSET School, Bermondsey): Appearance: The wine is Clear with a Deep ruby colour. Nose: The nose is Clean and Developing, showing Medium(+) intensity primary aromas of blackcurrant, black plum, secondary aromas of vanilla, toast, cinnamon, smoke and tertiary aromas of tobacco, cigar box, cedar. Palate: The wine is Dry in the mouth with a Medium(+) level of acidity. It has High Ripe/Soft tannins and a High Level of alcohol (16.00%). It has Full body and Medium(+) intensity primary flavours of blackcurrant, black plum, secondary flavours of vanilla, toast, cinnamon, smoke and tertiary flavours of tobacco, cigar box, cedar. The finish is Long. Ripe fruit, chalky tannins Overall: Alcohol a bit hot on finish - quite an alcoholic burn. Lacks a bit of concentration for such a big wine. Conclusion: It is a Very Good quality wine. Can Drink Now but has Potential for Ageing Has structure and concentration to improve with further ageing; Premium priced (£40.49)
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deep purple color. decanted about an hour. Cassis, dark berry some vanilla, sandlewood and cherry. Very smooth did not notice the high alcohol - great body - cassis and chocolate with dark berrys and dark cherry. nice finish .
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Little disappointed. Should be a lot more going on here. new oak on the nose with little complexity on the palate. Will wait another 2-3 years for next bottle.
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Just beautiful!! Huge full cab with wonderful heavy fruit flavors. Doubt the last bottle will make it to 2024. Just wonder how long we should wait to drink the last one. Can it get any better? IDK!!
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So much different that my first bottle. Uncorked at 7am and consumed at 8pm. The air did this wonders. Medium dark in color, it came across as somewhat feminine, with a silky mouthfeel and soft tannins. The mid-palate was a touch lacking, but that might be nitpicking.
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Heavy plum, spice, tobacco and loads of vanilla (oak) on the palate. Not sure where this will go in the future but not a fan of this style. I love the wines from the 60's to 90's, just can't drink these new vintages anymore.
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After raving about the 2010 BV Georges de LaTour I was confident that the far superior 2009 vintage would just blow me away but sadly - I was mistaken.
In the glass the wine host a more redish hue than it's younger sibling but the nose is more like warm plum sauce. On the palate the wine is a wrecking ball just packed with fruit and tobacco. Unfortunately, it's heavy and disjointed from front to rear palate.
I can taste purple, blue and black fruit. There is also some tobacco and heavy vanilla. If this one was held together more tightly it could be nothing short of 95+ points but today if falls pretty far short.
After an hour in the glass the wine calms a bit but never really comes into good form. I have two more bottles and remain hopeful that I visited this bottle far to early. In the interim, I will refrain from buying future vintages until I have tasted them.
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Every time I crack one I think history is just a darn shame.
What a pure, gorgeous Rutherford based beauty. If only Francis Ford Coppola would purchase the vineyard and name away for the current corporate giant then a second of the Napa Big Four could be resurrected. But for now... just wine.
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There should be a law against drinking this with less than a 45 minute decant; went from a trifle tart to smooth and juicy. Stood up well to a steak. Had the '08 the night before and found the '09 preferable. Full bodied and well-rounded; very nice representative of a Napa cab.
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Drinking over 2 hours too tight & strong at first, starting to open up as I write this... Probably needs a few more years but doubtful I will wait ha ha!
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Lots of sweet oak spice and tarry armpit. Not sure what I mean by that. Actually, I am sure. Tons of Rutherford cabernet showing off on the palate. Structure, definition, my lord, I quite like it. Plum fig, a bit roasted on the fruit character. Interesting, we shall see how it opens up. Just opened.
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At Gary's Grand Tasting. Did a vertical of BV Georges de Latour. Opened for about 2 hours, drank after the 07. Tough act to follow - not as big or profound as the 07 or drinking as well as the 02 - but still a winner.
Inky, deep color, earthy, dark fruits. Would not drink without a healthy decant at this point. Oak is prevalwant, jammy blackberry, cassis. Big and extracted - but with a nice finish and texture
Excellent wine - will continue to imporve. Very young still.
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Good, solid earth tones, but it still had a hint of being young. Over the course of an hour it opened up significantly. Definitely recommend aerating and or decanting.
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This is a really silky ready to enjoy young Cab. With a sweet cassis and dark berry fruit nose. a wonderful texture. Notes of Blackberry, tobacco, chocolate and oak. Should last for a decade. Good value.
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The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Fast. It smells like Blackberry, Blackberry, Prune, Oak, Oak, Oak, Oak, and Mineral. It tastes like Blackberry, Blackberry, Blackberry, Blackberry, Blackberry, Prune, and Plum. The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Silky texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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Big, classic Napa-cab. Sweet cassis on the nose, with truffles and tobacco, chocolate. Refreshing acidity and a big tannin-structure. You could drink this now, or wait 5 years, or 10, or whatever. Classic wine!
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PnP at dinner last night. This needs time in the cellar, at least a year or two or a long decant. While I could taste the quality of the wine, it never had enough time to open up before everyone else at the table finished it off. I would say decant at least 2 hours before drinking if you are going to attempt it now.
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Good minerality on the nose. Be sure to aerate this wine Dry earth tones. Oak with cassis and a WONDERFUL aftertaste. Should be good to drink in 2017. It is great to drink now but will be really nice in 17.
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3/31/2024 - jerrysvino Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours. This 15 year old was a delicious wine with a lot of fruit, black cherry, eucalyptus, vanilla, earthy tones. Tannins nicely mellowed.
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3/28/2024 - Rusdry wrote: 94 Points
What a Rush of aroma. Enticing. Flavor backs it up with wide ranging fruit and slight dustiness. Just starting into its peak period. Tasted at the winery
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12/31/2023 - JERB Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 3 hours before tasting. NYE at our house. USDA Prime Bone-in Rib Roast (4 ribs) reverse seared ala J. Kenji Lopez-Alt. Fabulous meal and excellent wine!
The wine is now 11 past release and is drinking beautifully. One descriptor that came to mind was 'voluptuous.' The fruit is definitely still there, but it has melded into a greater sense of the whole. All of the elements are just so well integrated and so enjoyable. It was not as good as the 2015 Round Pond we had in September, but it was also different. The BV seemed to say, "I'm here. I've been waiting. I am in no hurry. Take you time and enjoy!" And that's what we did.
The other cabernets on the table tonight were:
>>A 2016 A. Rafanelli Dry Creek Cabernet - which was actually my WOTN - but it was very different from the BV. The Rafanelli was still very youthful and vibrant with fabulous fruit flavors.
>> A 2011 Adelaida 'Viking Estate' cabernet which was also wonderful but had a clear sense of being a bold Paso cab. I just have a preference for cabs from Napa/Sonoma.
Best wishes to all in 2024!
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10/16/2023 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Showing beautifully. Fruit is still present, body is sturdy and accessible. An old favorite that I still like after decades.
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10/6/2023 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 93 Points
Definitely on the side of the group that likes this wine and thinks it had a long life ahead. Tasted like a nice, aged napa cab - not an aged bordeaux, but an aged napa. Still fruit, but silky tannins, good fruit, and a long finish. Only at 93? Could be higher, but tasted alongside a bunch of heavy hitters. Either way, a very nice wine.
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9/9/2023 - JDR58 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Might have cellared this too long. Raisin finish - not as good as I rememer previous bottles.
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8/18/2023 - Labrador Likes this wine: 92 Points
A wonderful Georges de Latour
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6/29/2023 - dmbjr wrote:
Perfect. Even day 2
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2/12/2023 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted from a well-cellared bottle that was popped and poured at a walk-around Super Bowl party, this opaque ruby/red wine (a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot) was serially sampled over a three-hour period, during which time it continued to evolve. Delivering a payload of dark plums, wild berries, orange zest, licorice, dark chocolate and exotic spices, it is a full-bodied, freshly acidic, proportionately oaked wine with surprisingly well-integrated alcohol when served at 60-65°F (despite being listed as 15.7%). Wrapping its flavors with plentiful polished tannins, it stays solid in the middle and lingers nicely on the finish. This well-crafted, structured Cab will provide pleasure for many years to come. Drink now-2039.
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1/27/2023 - gmbdds wrote: 95 Points
Decanted at a restaurant for corkage, not my bottle. Classic showing. Vibrant nose. Both red and black licorice, tons of spice and red fruits. This is at that great intersection of integration and complexity without losing vigor. I suppose drink soon.
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12/11/2022 - Rasmussenbrent Likes this wine: 93 Points
I decanted for about 30 minutes and the first few drinks were still young, but then it opened right up. Perfect drinking time right now.
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11/25/2022 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Saturated very dark red/purple color with a 3mm transition. PNP, drank a couple glass over 3 hours. Starts with cedar box, cassis, plum, loam, spice cake and builds to show leaf tobacco, eucalyptus and black cherry. The palate is dense, full bodied, cassis, black cherry, with undertones of blue fruits, tobacco, a little scorched earth mid and back, with some wood on the finish. Still benefits from the air. May update on day two: day 2 totally firing now, oak resolved, tar and scorched earth, velvety texture to the black fruit with ripe raspberry top notes and menthol. Will hold off a couple years on the next one. Excellent. 93+ to 94pts.
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10/23/2022 - garygailkrivan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still drinking very nicely, hints of Cherry, Raspberry, some vanilla, and a hint of Chocolate.
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7/25/2022 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pop and pour. Showing beautifully, still plenty of fruit, full body, well balanced.
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6/25/2022 - garygailkrivan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking well right now, decanted for an hour and a half, very light tannins, cherry, tobacco and some vanilla.
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5/30/2022 - DrRB Likes this wine: 95 Points
Exceptional, do it again.
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5/1/2022 - Sonoffalstaff wrote: 90 Points
It has benefited from the extra time but at 16% ABV this simply is no longer anything to do with the classics of the last century. Such a shame. It was made as a Parker Point magnet and it shows. So many better Californians.
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1/2/2022 - Richard123 Likes this wine: 85 Points
just can't see the excitement about this. Seems like a nice napa cab, but not anything iconic.
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10/24/2021 - mobley wrote: 93 Points
Big wine, with enough tannins and fruit to last a decade longer
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9/21/2021 - SPLJEG Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Unsophisticated fruit bomb.
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5/4/2021 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted three hours. Full palate of classic Napa style with cassis, licorice, earth, and oak. Tannins are supple. Another 2009 singing loud and clear!
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4/30/2021 - Thoughtful Likes this wine: 94 Points
Powerful bouquet leapt from bottle. Huge wine of extract and power. Alcohol and fruit dominate tannins. Great in an extreme style similar to a supercharged Barossa shiraz but no worse for that. Not for the faint hearted but authentic of its type.
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2/1/2021 - GFWeaver Likes this wine: 94 Points
Love this stuff. Probably at its peak, but can still be wonderful for several years. Great expression of Rutherford. Balanced fruit, dust, leather... just dang good wine boys and girls. And this is a price conscious rating. Really good BV.
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1/3/2021 - Martysfo wrote: 95 Points
Great bottle at the peak of its drinking window. Very typical of Rutherford. Blue fruit and mocha. Leathery and cedar on the nose, and a rich, full finish.
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1/1/2021 - Frank1960 wrote: 85 Points
Not very impressive for its price point. I have enjoyed $35 bottles more. It was "ok", fairly well balanced with fruity notes. I would not buy this bottle again for this price.
Deep purple color, had a nice finish. There is no sediment in the bottle.
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8/20/2020 - Barry Notes Likes this wine: 93 Points
BNO, 65th B-day
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8/9/2020 - Martysfo wrote: 95 Points
Delicious with deep flavors of mocha and blueberries. Hints of dark cherry, aromatic notes of vanilla and leather. Wine is at its peak, and probably will be for another 5-10 years.
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6/25/2020 - ShadowIII Likes this wine: 94 Points
Powerful, yet seductive, forward nose of black cherry, currants, hints of chocolate, wonderful mouth feel, moderate tannins, long finish, will be better in 10-20 years, 15.7% is completely hidden in this lush wine.
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5/13/2020 - Matt T wrote: 92 Points
Smooth with well-integrated tannins and dark berry, cassis, and smoke notes and just a tad too much alcohol poking through on the front end. This bottle seems closer to the end than the beginning of its drinking window.
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4/10/2020 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:
PNP. Decanted for a couple of hours. Opaque purple. Very expressive nose of cassis, ripe plum and chocolate. Full bodied, mouth coating tannins, chewy and sweet, but not overly dry or biting. On the palate, the same dark fruit, with cocoa and earthy dark chocolate. Brooding. Nice with ribeye steak. There was some heat, but I was surprised to see 15.7%. Drink up.
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2/24/2020 - COWine-Oh Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pnp took about 3 hours to open and settle. Dark and opaque purple in the glass. Nose was closed on opening but after the 3 hours fairly expressive with cassis and red fruits (strawberry?) some toffee maybe a hint of vanilla. Palate upon opening was a bit tight with just the tannin and alcohol coming through. Later it balanced out and the fruit was there with some acidity. Longish finish (20 secs+). Overall glad I had to cook dinner to allow some time for this one to develop. Probably 3-5+ years before decline. One more bottle to try so I’ll probably wait until that window before drinking it again.
Cheers!
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1/20/2020 - ppaullei@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark and bold
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12/31/2019 - gf2182 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Just an awesome balanced wine. Was WOTN albeit we ended up opening this on a lark. Nobody was thrilled with the wines I'd already opened although 2 bottles had been guzzled. Instead of drinking the other 2 still open, SWMBO said go find an appropriate NYE wine to ring in 2020. Well I did, and needless to say, neither it nor us made it to see the ball drop, but we did see our way to the bottom of this bottle. And as a PNP'd experience, just a wonderful wine with still good years ahead of it....but I'm not saving my last for the next decade, maybe not even the next NYE...
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12/25/2019 - aatherton Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice fruit. Nice acid. Balanced. Not special, but very solid. Drinking well.
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11/10/2019 - vinorsk Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted and drank with steak fajitas. A little thin in body. A delicious and reasonably complex wine but the weight was lacking and the tannins have already begun to soften significantly. Not on the decline but I don't expect it to develop much further.
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10/11/2019 - Hilltime Likes this wine: 90 Points
This bottle was seemingly a bit over the hill and seemed way more forward than the 2010 I had the year before.
Not bad, but a littlle disappointing compared to the 2010.
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9/17/2019 - garygailkrivan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Vanilla and Cedar on the nose, cherry, cocoa and tobacco on the pallet. Had with Steaks. Still young and needs to lay down.
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7/7/2019 - The Wine Sherpa Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still young and needs more time in the bottle
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6/8/2019 - TheShugs Likes this wine: 88 Points
Drank in 2019. Took about 45 minutes to open up. Was not too tight to start with. But seems to be losing its fruit and punch at this point. A little disappointing for a wine good to 2025. But, still a phenomenal bottle.
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5/8/2019 - William J. Le Petomane Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pretty good already. I bought 4 so will see how the others stack up.
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3/5/2019 - Outplaying wrote:
We rarely drink these large scaled wines anymore, but today is Ann’s birthday and this used to be one of her favorites. We popped and poured, using Grassl 1855 glasses. The wine is still showing young and is a long way from showing any tertiary notes. Dark black and blue fruits, with light coffee and chocolate accents. This is a big wine, but it is nicely balanced, and well made. Despite fairly intense flavors, it is not too thick or heavy. A fun change of pace and we both enjoyed it. I’ll try to wait a few years before checking in again.
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2/3/2019 - Richard123 Likes this wine: 79 Points
Really disappointing. PnP'd initially and it took a little time to open slightly. Still seemed to have limited personality, so decanted and got a bit more oak and tannin. Maybe it needed yet more air.
Overall, it was nice enough, but just seemed characterless. Blind, I'd have said some $20 generic California cab. Maybe my bottle was flawed; I have 1 more.
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9/17/2018 - JLuch1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
I served this at cellar temperature as a pnp and kept it in bottle during consumption. For my palate/preference, that worked out the best it could have.
Nice nose, blackberry, cassis, pencil shavings. Palate of black cherry, black fruit, earthy, spice box. Great fruit quality, had an nice ripeness to it without it being overripe and just the right amount of tartness. Overall, a very enjoyable profile.
Wine was also well integrated and balanced. Tannins were plush but still provided excellent grip without drying out or fatiguing the palate, which provided a long and enjoyable finish. The massive 15.7% ABV was no where to be detected which made this bruiser very easy to drink.
Overall, very impressed with this wine and believe it was at the perfect spot for me in terms of bottle age while still maintaining its youthful persona. This wine would also pair very well with food, especially red meat with mushrooms.
94-95pts. I recommend drinking now if you like a bit of youth in your wine, otherwise this can easily be cellared for another 3-5 years without any trouble.
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8/27/2018 - Sonoffalstaff wrote: 90 Points
Better. The nose showed some nice touches of vanilla. More structure show. And some sign of tannins that could encourage the wine to evolve well. Will leave the wine for at least three years
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5/24/2018 - Sonoffalstaff wrote: 89 Points
Hmm. Hope other bottles are more like those described below. Tried against a Lynch Bages 03. Lacked the complexity and structure expected. is blocking the more subtle features. Let’s see
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5/10/2018 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still a baby! Balanced with trademark Rutherford dust.
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2/16/2018 - Grant_gib wrote: 93 Points
Black tar cherry with a hint of smoke. Super long tart finish. Too early to drink, but excellent even now.
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12/26/2017 - hankj Likes this wine: 92 Points
Massive wine that nonetheless remains just under control. Lots of structure but not so acidic - needs few more years.
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11/26/2017 - Mech-E wrote: 94 Points
Didn't quite make it a full year but this is still drinking wonderfully if utilized correctly. Had with seared/roasted lamb chops with a rosemary/beef demi-glace. Perfectly suited to the fattiness of the dish. The tannins here gave a lasting finish that was appreciated to wash that fat away...then the fruit took hold. Nice spice here as well. Oak still there but moving quickly toward integration.
Still, decant for a few and drink with food.
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10/28/2017 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Blind tasting during World Series game 4 (Lion cave): I think this wine is in a confused phase right now because different aspects of it kept showing, yet it was disjointed and never came together. We'll see how it shows on day 2. The cigarbox nose contrasted with the light, youthful body and the acid and oak weren't integrated. Tannins were light and I'm not sure where this vintage is going. Parker reported it closed in 2013 and I don't think it's quite ready yet. 2019+. Nevertheless it was my and the group's #2 of 4 based on the quality of the fruit.
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9/2/2017 - SKHof Likes this wine: 96 Points
Deep color, wonderful nose, and "light" on flavor
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7/22/2017 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Mixed Wines on a Smoldering Night (Irene's House, St. Paul): Very dark red/purple color. Decanted for 2hrs, drank 1 glass over an hour. Still youthful but showing well with some air. Drank next to an '08 Insignia and I favored the Insignia just a bit tonight. Lots of pencil on the nose, blackberry and cassis fruits, spice and black cherry, pretty primary. The palate is dense with nice tart black fruits, blackberry, cassis, black cherry, gravel, spice, and wood on the back end. Expect this to be better yet down the road 3 to 5 years. 92+pts.
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7/22/2017 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 93 Points
Minneapolis Wine Club Comeback Tour: Impressive wine and should age for another decade. Concentrated with dark fruits, oak, spices and a nice mineral streak. Medium to long finish. Balanced. Decanted 2 plus hours.
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6/30/2017 - obpf2010 Likes this wine:
Very nice
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4/3/2017 - webbaker Likes this wine: 95 Points
My last bottle. Another impressive tasting. I think this wine is quite underrated. Tannins fully integrated, nice aromatics, soft fruit. A sort of smooth, smokey taste. I'd buy more.
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3/25/2017 - Ricardito's Vino wrote: 92 Points
Exceptionally smooth throughout. Clear caramel color, softly aged and pleasant aroma. Much like bottle #2, Soft and silky texture.
Overall a pleasantly satisfying wine, which rarely disappoints.
Shared at a friends house for dinner party of 4 (bottle #1).
Bottle #2 was a 1998 BV Clone 4.
Menu included spinach salad, grilled Tri-tip roast, and twice baked potato half.
Wine cork was clean, no sediment, no strainer needed.
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12/28/2016 - Mech-E wrote: 93 Points
The key here, if drinking now, is to decant this wine for at least 4 hours. Then, when about to consume, decant again into a clean decanter...remove any sediment which, for me tonight, is minimal.
Superb wine. Starting to show secondaries. Still super tight and tannic, but can sense potential. Black cherry, cassis. Menthol and cedar. Definitely oaky. Has a bit of the cough syrup finish, but not obtrusive.
Have held for a few years and will try and hold my last for a few more.
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9/5/2016 - MPilot Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious. The red fruit was well integrated with oak and earth undertones... A very good wine.
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8/21/2016 - amauryc1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark opake crimson red on the glass with a nose of currants, cedar, spices, blueberries and some wet soil. The pallate is very balanced with red/blue fruit, hints of sweet oak, some minerality medium tannins with plenty of acidity to last several more years even though I believe this bottle is in its prime drinking window.
Very nicely balanced with zero hard edges.
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8/14/2016 - galewskj wrote: 91 Points
Mixed California Tasting (Jason's House): 2 hour decant, drank a small glass and then an even smaller glass 1 hour later. This is a big wine. Mostly red fruit, cherry, raspberry, some chocolate. The tannins are still somewhat firm and there is some alcohol on the finish. Good now, but I will try not to open another until 2020+.
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8/13/2016 - GoBlue2002 wrote: 89 Points
Mixed California Tasing: Tasting pour.
Even with a 3 hour decant this seemed tight, too young, and quite tannic. Hard to evaluate with a tasting pour, but in general this was not my preferred style of high-toned Napa fruit.
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8/5/2016 - mdp.blue wrote: 85 Points
This '09 just didn't match other vintages of the same wine. I have found this wine to be very delicate so storage and decanting practices can be material influences on the final result. So, maybe poor handling in the sales chain is to blame?
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6/11/2016 - red.red.vino wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 2 hours prior to drinking. A big wine indeed, sweet, ripe, redcurrants, a little dusty perhaps, leading into a full bodied medium finish. Enjoyable but time in the decanter needed to burn off the high alcohol. Needs more time. Try again 2020 perhaps.
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5/30/2016 - wabi47 wrote: 92 Points
Lush, ripe and deep dark mixed wild berry, earth and smoke; medium acidity; I don't taste the alcohol
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5/15/2016 - Ricardito's Vino Likes this wine:
Wonderful. Brought from home, after tasting at Joseph Phelps (Insignia Event and BV. Opened at Rutherford Grill (no corkage) and enjoyed with three others accompanying a light lunch.
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5/12/2016 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pulled some out of the bottle with the coravin. Needs a few years. A little to sweet for me right now. This is a big wine though.
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3/31/2016 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Similar to our note last year (to our taste it remains acid deficient), and this time we also noticed a pleasant touch of smokiness.
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3/25/2016 - webbaker Likes this wine: 94 Points
Second tasting in the last month, with consistent notes. I was pleasantly surprised by this. Not particularly strong fruit flavors, but it has a smokiness that I found quite enjoyable, perhaps a good dose of Cabernet Franc. I would buy this again.
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11/14/2015 - Asmiller Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice wine, always consistently good. Drinking well now, but could go a few more years in the cellar.
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10/31/2015 - fredman wrote: 92 Points
2 hour decant. Scent of iodine on the nose. Dark fruits dominate a powerful wine. Still has lots of gas in its tank. Score should improve with some more time.
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10/10/2015 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Per suggestions of other CT members I gave this a good 3+ hour decant and served it at 60 degrees. Really solid Napa Cab that my wife gave two thumbs up. Very balanced with boysenberry fruit and cedar notes. No rush to drink these and I think this wine has serious potential to go up to 94-95 points in a few years.
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9/18/2015 - Gestalted Likes this wine: 92 Points
A lot of depth to the flavor yet the tannins are still fiesty in 2015 and honestly just too distracting. There's a lot here, just needs those tannins to soften. Last comment, there's a notable element of damp earth to the palate. Not off putting, just notable.
--
Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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8/25/2015 - mallardesq wrote: 93 Points
One of the better George's. It likes to be decanted awhile, and then brings a big and bold, just-right experience that must be accentuated by the correct setting and cheeses. From the opening nose to the bottom of the glass, one of finest in wine adventures.
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8/24/2015 - khunchris wrote: 89 Points
Got better the next day. These wines are rustic, but enjoyable.
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7/31/2015 - wmccone54 wrote: 93 Points
A perennial personal favorite that typifies the traditional Napa Cabernets from yesteryear. Always a great accompaniment to a big juicy steak or any hearty food. Excellent!
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7/25/2015 - RyanWu wrote: 92 Points
Pnp and tasted for 12 hours. Nose changes from blue fruit to chocolate in the first 6 hours, and ends in elegant cedar aroma with cassis, red and blue fruit, which shows the signatures of Rutherford. On the palate, licorice, vanilla, red fruits, and sweet tannin are balanced and beautiful. The long lasting provides the profoundness in this wine. It's much more serious than Tapestry reserve. The only complain is too hot, since they have very high alcohol level. Overall, this is a very solid wine in this special vintage. I found 2009 is a special year in Napa, because the wines are more approachable than the adjacent years like 2008 and 2010. The opulent and pure wines from 2009 are very enjoyable now, but still can survive for at least 5~8 years. (tasted with 2009 Keever Cab from yountville)
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7/19/2015 - SacramentoCharlie wrote: 92 Points
2hr decant and needed much more. Wall of jam the first hour and was 3+ hrs before some character started showing though. Good potential here. Not touching another for at least 3 yrs
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6/18/2015 - East of Napa wrote: 93 Points
Very nice. Current valuation is too low. Still a premium cab.
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5/25/2015 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 91 Points
Darkest purple; Napa nose; sweet raspberries; light wood; herbceous; mid-body, decent tannins, starting to soften; long rich finish.
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5/24/2015 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Deep and dark. At first: Interesting and enjoyable potpourri of savory spices. The incredibly high alcohol was not all that noticeable initially. Then we corked and gassed it for two days. 48 hours later, it had turned darker in texture and somewhat monolithic. Makes me wonder how this will age, if at all; maybe there is just too much big flavor going on -- and not enough acid.
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4/10/2015 - VPorcaro wrote: 88 Points
The wine has low acidity. It smells like molasses. The body is full. The wine finishes medium. It tastes like blackberry, blueberry and apricot. The wine looks violet colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. The wine has smooth texture.
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3/29/2015 - Outplaying wrote:
The fruit is a little darker in tone than the 08, with some soy and spice notes. More exotic and tannic than the 08. Very young. Ann and I both preferred this one. Hold for at least four years.
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2/28/2015 - HStaal wrote: 89 Points
WSET Level 4 Course - WSET School; 9/6/2014-5/23/2015 (WSET School, Bermondsey): Appearance: The wine is Clear with a Deep ruby colour.
Nose: The nose is Clean and Developing, showing Medium(+) intensity primary aromas of blackcurrant, black plum, secondary aromas of vanilla, toast, cinnamon, smoke and tertiary aromas of tobacco, cigar box, cedar.
Palate: The wine is Dry in the mouth with a Medium(+) level of acidity. It has High Ripe/Soft tannins and a High Level of alcohol (16.00%). It has Full body and Medium(+) intensity primary flavours of blackcurrant, black plum, secondary flavours of vanilla, toast, cinnamon, smoke and tertiary flavours of tobacco, cigar box, cedar. The finish is Long. Ripe fruit, chalky tannins
Overall: Alcohol a bit hot on finish - quite an alcoholic burn. Lacks a bit of concentration for such a big wine.
Conclusion: It is a Very Good quality wine. Can Drink Now but has Potential for Ageing Has structure and concentration to improve with further ageing; Premium priced (£40.49)
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2/20/2015 - Alcontd Likes this wine: 92 Points
deep purple color. decanted about an hour. Cassis, dark berry some vanilla, sandlewood and cherry. Very smooth did not notice the high alcohol - great body - cassis and chocolate with dark berrys and dark cherry. nice finish .
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1/7/2015 - Brett wrote: 90 Points
Very nice wine.
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12/29/2014 - cab blends wrote: 90 Points
Very dry tonight and dark fruit with less fruit than normal - may be my cold?
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12/25/2014 - BSteffes wrote: 88 Points
Little disappointed. Should be a lot more going on here. new oak on the nose with little complexity on the palate. Will wait another 2-3 years for next bottle.
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12/20/2014 - East of Napa wrote: 90 Points
Very nice but not mind blowing. Expected more from this wine. One bottle left, hoping for more flavor and smoother finish. Nose was a little bland
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11/24/2014 - wendyinwlv Likes this wine: 90 Points
Just beautiful!! Huge full cab with wonderful heavy fruit flavors. Doubt the last bottle will make it to 2024. Just wonder how long we should wait to drink the last one. Can it get any better? IDK!!
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9/8/2014 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 93 Points
So much different that my first bottle. Uncorked at 7am and consumed at 8pm. The air did this wonders. Medium dark in color, it came across as somewhat feminine, with a silky mouthfeel and soft tannins. The mid-palate was a touch lacking, but that might be nitpicking.
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8/23/2014 - pc2006mg wrote: 94 Points
Very nice! Had over 2 nights and just great both nights. Great balance.....
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8/16/2014 - IamNotDrinkingAny#@!%Merlot wrote: 92 Points
Delicious cabernet. Listed at 15.7% abv which is amazing as it tasted very nicely balanced. Great depth and long finish.
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5/29/2014 - Cow Town wrote:
Popped and poured (which, was probably a mistake). Very tight, tannic, acidic, and not all that enjoyable. Hopefully this is just a young bottle.
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5/29/2014 - IWineAlot wrote: 87 Points
Heavy plum, spice, tobacco and loads of vanilla (oak) on the palate. Not sure where this will go in the future but not a fan of this style. I love the wines from the 60's to 90's, just can't drink these new vintages anymore.
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5/26/2014 - What I'm Drinking Now wrote: 88 Points
After raving about the 2010 BV Georges de LaTour I was confident that the far superior 2009 vintage would just blow me away but sadly - I was mistaken.
In the glass the wine host a more redish hue than it's younger sibling but the nose is more like warm plum sauce. On the palate the wine is a wrecking ball just packed with fruit and tobacco. Unfortunately, it's heavy and disjointed from front to rear palate.
I can taste purple, blue and black fruit. There is also some tobacco and heavy vanilla. If this one was held together more tightly it could be nothing short of 95+ points but today if falls pretty far short.
After an hour in the glass the wine calms a bit but never really comes into good form. I have two more bottles and remain hopeful that I visited this bottle far to early. In the interim, I will refrain from buying future vintages until I have tasted them.
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4/12/2014 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Every time I crack one I think history is just a darn shame.
What a pure, gorgeous Rutherford based beauty. If only Francis Ford Coppola would purchase the vineyard and name away for the current corporate giant then a second of the Napa Big Four could be resurrected. But for now... just wine.
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3/28/2014 - PrudenceJuris Likes this wine: 93 Points
There should be a law against drinking this with less than a 45 minute decant; went from a trifle tart to smooth and juicy. Stood up well to a steak. Had the '08 the night before and found the '09 preferable. Full bodied and well-rounded; very nice representative of a Napa cab.
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3/9/2014 - cawineaux wrote: 93 Points
Gorgeous pure blackberry and tobacco. Still way too young, but a very well made wine.
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2/21/2014 - Didman wrote: 93 Points
Loads of dark fruit with quite a bit of tannin at this point. I think this has several years of improvement coming.
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12/8/2013 - Jhcwine wrote: 92 Points
Full fruited.
Tannic, but not overly so.
Some finesse.
But overpriced at $110 Cdn.
92
tasted @ LCBO tasting count
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12/3/2013 - firstgrowth wrote: 88 Points
Drinking over 2 hours too tight & strong at first, starting to open up as I write this... Probably needs a few more years but doubtful I will wait ha ha!
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10/11/2013 - astroman wrote:
Funky odd not much fruits left. On the 2nd day
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10/10/2013 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Lots of sweet oak spice and tarry armpit. Not sure what I mean by that. Actually, I am sure. Tons of Rutherford cabernet showing off on the palate. Structure, definition, my lord, I quite like it. Plum fig, a bit roasted on the fruit character. Interesting, we shall see how it opens up. Just opened.
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10/3/2013 - walkerjfw wrote: 93 Points
At Gary's Grand Tasting. Did a vertical of BV Georges de Latour. Opened for about 2 hours, drank after the 07. Tough act to follow - not as big or profound as the 07 or drinking as well as the 02 - but still a winner.
Inky, deep color, earthy, dark fruits. Would not drink without a healthy decant at this point. Oak is prevalwant, jammy blackberry, cassis. Big and extracted - but with a nice finish and texture
Excellent wine - will continue to imporve. Very young still.
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8/31/2013 - ENSXE wrote: 95 Points
Amazing after Decanting....
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8/21/2013 - Winokdub wrote: 91 Points
Tasting great for such a young wine. All elements are there and it will likely be better in a few more years.
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8/15/2013 - STEVEN@WINECELLARCLUB.COM wrote: 92 Points
INKY BLACK MONSTER. HUGE EXTRACT AND LACH. NEEDS 24HRS DECANTED TO DRINK.
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7/28/2013 - Rtw371 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good, solid earth tones, but it still had a hint of being young. Over the course of an hour it opened up significantly. Definitely recommend aerating and or decanting.
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7/20/2013 - SacramentoCharlie wrote:
a wall of oak hiding a great wine. give this lots of air or let this sleep
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7/17/2013 - tc from santee Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a really silky ready to enjoy young Cab. With a sweet cassis and dark berry fruit nose. a wonderful texture. Notes of Blackberry, tobacco, chocolate and oak. Should last for a decade. Good value.
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7/10/2013 - goofy Yno wrote: 91 Points
nice, good balanced wine. some oak, not much depth.
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7/7/2013 - Uncorked1956 Likes this wine: 97 Points
The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Fast.
It smells like Blackberry, Blackberry, Prune, Oak, Oak, Oak, Oak, and Mineral. It tastes like Blackberry, Blackberry, Blackberry, Blackberry, Blackberry, Prune, and Plum. The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Silky texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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6/18/2013 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big, classic Napa-cab. Sweet cassis on the nose, with truffles and tobacco, chocolate. Refreshing acidity and a big tannin-structure. You could drink this now, or wait 5 years, or 10, or whatever. Classic wine!
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6/7/2013 - zbsussman wrote:
Meh. Double-meh.
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3/5/2013 - JLuch1 wrote:
PnP at dinner last night. This needs time in the cellar, at least a year or two or a long decant. While I could taste the quality of the wine, it never had enough time to open up before everyone else at the table finished it off. I would say decant at least 2 hours before drinking if you are going to attempt it now.
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3/2/2013 - Iceman611 wrote: 93 Points
Perfect Cali cab. But it is supposed to be a Bordeaux blend. Very good.
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2/1/2013 - Glenn92 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Good minerality on the nose. Be sure to aerate this wine
Dry earth tones. Oak with cassis and a WONDERFUL aftertaste. Should be good to drink in 2017. It is great to drink now but will be really nice in 17.
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11/29/2012 - PattyTravs wrote: 93 Points
Delicious! Rounded and deep. Opened up beautifully.
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