Cork was so dry it adhered to the side of the bottle and disentgrated when opening. No nose or flavor, well past it’s prime as one of the best wines I’ve ever tasted previously. Huge disappointment.
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It’s been seven years since enjoying my first bottle of this wine. Very much a stag‘s Leap Wine. Rich smooth and very full bodied, but left me sad that I only had two bottles.
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Overpriced and forced to buy from my wine subscription to Clif Lede. I feel it is unfair and in bad faith for a winery to make you buy a mediocre 150 bottle of wine.
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Love the Rock Block wines and this was no exception. Medium ruby color. Bright red raspberry, cherry, a hint of smoke and just a touch of oak. The overwhelming characteristic for me is the bright, fresh fruit. This was from a magnum but I would not wait much longer to drink. Tannins were silky and nicely integrated. I don’t think this will improve much. My opinion is that Rock Block wines are made to consume early.
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Another contribution to OTBN along with an ‘06 Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace. Very different from the RRT but delicious in its own way, Medium to dark garnet in color. Nose contains mostly floral notes with a hint of earthiness. Bright, jammy, red raspberry and blackberry up front; a bit of sharpness that I have come to expect from Stags Leap along with a bigger mouthfeel on the mid palate; a long, warm, oaky finish with grippy tannins.
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From mag. The maybe-too-intense attack quickly gives way to a warm dark ganache that drips liquorly down you tongue. This embraces you, puts its arm in your elbow, and offers holiday-level cheer. Happiness in a bottle.
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Deep indigo color. Dark, black fruit with touches of cinnamon, clove and pencil lead on the palate. Plenty of tannins suggesting this will last and improve over the next three to five years.
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Garnet edge, blood red core. Notes of baking spice, concentrated black fruit, kirsch, graphite and a touch of leather. Silky texture, soft, yet prevalent tannins, and moderate acidity frame this wine. We opened this a couple hours before consuming and it tasted great the whole time. Plenty of life left, at least a decade.
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Big wine that went from black and blue fruit to redder fruit with air. Licorice, cedar and cigar on the finish. Juicy wine but pretty balanced. Good with food or as a sipper.
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The best Stags Leap cab ever with the best nose of any wine. Cliff Lede should have captured the nose and made perfume. Palette reveals great blend of tannins and dark cherry and berry CS fruit blended well with the mineral geology of this area. Haven’t found a better Cliff Lede wine since, but it won’t stop me from looking!
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Right out of the bottle the nose on this wine tells me that this is serious Cali stuff. Wafts of graphite notes amidst dark fruits. Very aromatic.
Initially quite closed with out of balance tannin's dominating. We threw this into a decanter for 1 hour and clearly it improved. The wine needs several hours of decant to really shine. Blackberry notes with a definite background of a spicy flavor (could it be cinnamon ?). Unique and worth finding this wine. Long finish.
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Dark purple and a bit murky. Decanted and opened up well with lots of flavor if a bit clumsy. These "rock blocks" have been lots of fun, full of Cali fruit and cleanly made. This version is also well made if just a step behind the rest
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Initially tried a glass (using a Coravin) several months ago without decanting, and drank during a quick meal which did it a disservice. Opened to finish last night with my wife after 45 minute decant; excellent nose, long legs, soft, nice texture with well integrated tannins, coffee, cinnamon and chocolate to the taste... very likely would have been even better if it had been a 2-hour decant.
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Very Nice Cali Cab. Big sweet but not over ripe fruit balanced with some great dry tannins that gave it a great structure. Oak not overly present and low acidity tends to make me think to drink it over the next 5 years. Excellent bottle.
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In OC, last two bottles. These "rock block" wines from Lede are always fun to drink and well made. Drank one with Bryan, the second with Butch and Ralph. Opened for about 30 minutes, drank each over about 45 minutes. Second bottle was with steak - which is the "natural habitat" for this wine - perfect with steak.
Dark purple/red color. Beautiful nose right out of the glass. Red and dark fruits, vanilla oak. Palate is smooth, classic California Cab. Primary wine, oak and tannins are well integrated. Black fruit, vanilla, lavender/violet
Ready to drink now, best guess is it holds at this level for about 5 years.
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Strong fruit nose when first opened. Two hour decant, needed it to smooth out and open up. Drank over four hours and was solid the whole time. Really an excellent cab.
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Decant 1 hr. A bit of heat on the nose, but blew off after 15 minutes. A little acidic, but nice caramel currant flavors. Raspberry on nose. Nice vanilla and toasted characters on the palette. Nice fruity finish about 15 seconds. Has a great medium weight to it. Very good steak wine.
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Had a bit of heat on the nose, but then blew off...followed up with some nice mixed berries
Good color and legs, real smooth, velvet on the mouth, not sure if the name but I swear I was getting some cinnamon in there. Lot of Classic California/Napa/stags leap in there. Drinking well now, not sure of the aging potential.
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Agree with flashvictor below. Opened up after an hour and got progressively more gorgeous. The key here was the restrained use of oak--which is perfectly integrated now. We'll be buying the 2011 and remembering the 2009 fondly. Blew everyone away at our dinner.
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Deep crimson color leads to a nose of dark fruit, cassis, and dark chocolate. Medium full body shows multilayered creamy texture with dark fruit, vanilla, violet with hints of tobacco and asparagus. Sweet tannins on finish last for 45 seconds. This really hit a sweet spot for me. It is an unapologetic Napa Cab that shows just a hint of restraint. I wish I had bought more than 3.
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It goes to"11" - I love the idea behind this wine (The Rock Wine) and bottle label is very cool...Nice blended red wine from this Stag's Leap winery - 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec...Ready to sit for some time or even drink now. Good spice on the finish and delicious. Tried it at the vineyard (one of my favorite places I have visited in Napa by the way) and took a few home. Highly recommended, as is most of their stuff at Cliff Lede.
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3/5/2024 - louisl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice lush dark fruit and mouthfeel, but very one dimensional. I’d expect more complexity's at this price. Drinking well but could go another 3 years.
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9/16/2023 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 94 Points
Out of magnum. Really good lace. Deep color and fruit. Some tannins but still too young.
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12/31/2022 - Mark V wrote: flawed
Cork was so dry it adhered to the side of the bottle and disentgrated when opening. No nose or flavor, well past it’s prime as one of the best wines I’ve ever tasted previously. Huge disappointment.
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6/20/2022 - cucycling Likes this wine: 92 Points
It’s been seven years since enjoying my first bottle of this wine. Very much a stag‘s Leap Wine. Rich smooth and very full bodied, but left me sad that I only had two bottles.
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6/7/2022 - handyb Does not like this wine: 75 Points
Overpriced and forced to buy from my wine subscription to Clif Lede. I feel it is unfair and in bad faith for a winery to make you buy a mediocre 150 bottle of wine.
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10/21/2021 - SonnyChiba wrote: 92 Points
91-92pts. This was quite good, has aged gracefully and in a good drinking window.
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1/2/2021 - Caligrrl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still good, initially tannins, then chocolate & cinnamon, some of the bright fruits were more muted, but still delicious.
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11/26/2020 - iamandyc wrote: flawed
No rating as this bottle was mildly corked. The good stuff was there underneath but muted and metallic.
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11/8/2020 - knlowery Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great popnpour and excellent nose (a bit of earthiness at this point) but great complex fruit on the front and mid pallet
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8/2/2020 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 90 Points
Love the Rock Block wines and this was no exception. Medium ruby color. Bright red raspberry, cherry, a hint of smoke and just a touch of oak. The overwhelming characteristic for me is the bright, fresh fruit. This was from a magnum but I would not wait much longer to drink. Tannins were silky and nicely integrated. I don’t think this will improve much. My opinion is that Rock Block wines are made to consume early.
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3/7/2020 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was dark garnet colored medium-full bodied with black berry fruits accented by notes of cassis, spice and earth tones.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/03/otbn-2002.html
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2/29/2020 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another contribution to OTBN along with an ‘06 Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace. Very different from the RRT but delicious in its own way, Medium to dark garnet in color. Nose contains mostly floral notes with a hint of earthiness. Bright, jammy, red raspberry and blackberry up front; a bit of sharpness that I have come to expect from Stags Leap along with a bigger mouthfeel on the mid palate; a long, warm, oaky finish with grippy tannins.
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7/21/2019 - Rollerball wrote: 93 Points
From mag. The maybe-too-intense attack quickly gives way to a warm dark ganache that drips liquorly down you tongue. This embraces you, puts its arm in your elbow, and offers holiday-level cheer. Happiness in a bottle.
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12/25/2018 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep indigo color. Dark, black fruit with touches of cinnamon, clove and pencil lead on the palate. Plenty of tannins suggesting this will last and improve over the next three to five years.
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12/22/2018 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Garnet edge, blood red core.
Notes of baking spice, concentrated black fruit, kirsch, graphite and a touch of leather.
Silky texture, soft, yet prevalent tannins, and moderate acidity frame this wine.
We opened this a couple hours before consuming and it tasted great the whole time.
Plenty of life left, at least a decade.
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9/2/2018 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big wine that went from black and blue fruit to redder fruit with air. Licorice, cedar and cigar on the finish. Juicy wine but pretty balanced. Good with food or as a sipper.
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8/18/2018 - Mark V Likes this wine: 97 Points
The best Stags Leap cab ever with the best nose of any wine. Cliff Lede should have captured the nose and made perfume. Palette reveals great blend of tannins and dark cherry and berry CS fruit blended well with the mineral geology of this area. Haven’t found a better Cliff Lede wine since, but it won’t stop me from looking!
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11/26/2017 - Knaackj Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good Stag’s Leap, with classic color, muted nose, and somewhat high tannin at this stage. Recommend Another 5-7 years in the bottle.
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3/3/2017 - Blue Shorts wrote: flawed
Corked. What a shame. I was looking forward to drinking this. Now.....wet cardboard on the nose. Muted, odd taste.
Down the drain.
No score, of course.
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12/31/2016 - tomoem wrote: 92 Points
Right out of the bottle the nose on this wine tells me that this is serious Cali stuff. Wafts of graphite notes amidst dark fruits. Very aromatic.
Initially quite closed with out of balance tannin's dominating. We threw this into a decanter for 1 hour and clearly it improved. The wine needs several hours of decant to really shine. Blackberry notes with a definite background of a spicy flavor (could it be cinnamon ?). Unique and worth finding this wine. Long finish.
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11/19/2016 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Dark purple and a bit murky. Decanted and opened up well with lots of flavor if a bit clumsy. These "rock blocks" have been lots of fun, full of Cali fruit and cleanly made. This version is also well made if just a step behind the rest
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3/6/2016 - CR lawrence Likes this wine: 92 Points
Initially tried a glass (using a Coravin) several months ago without decanting, and drank during a quick meal which did it a disservice. Opened to finish last night with my wife after 45 minute decant; excellent nose, long legs, soft, nice texture with well integrated tannins, coffee, cinnamon and chocolate to the taste... very likely would have been even better if it had been a 2-hour decant.
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1/17/2016 - ejca Likes this wine:
Popped and poured. Pretty good, probably should have paid more attention when everyone else was drinking it.
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11/28/2015 - BordeauxBoy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very Nice Cali Cab. Big sweet but not over ripe fruit balanced with some great dry tannins that gave it a great structure. Oak not overly present and low acidity tends to make me think to drink it over the next 5 years. Excellent bottle.
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8/7/2015 - KeithSurg wrote: 92 Points
Bold dark fruit, oak and minerals. Tannins could still use a little time to soften, but still drinking well now.
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6/6/2015 - walkerjfw wrote: 93 Points
In OC, last two bottles. These "rock block" wines from Lede are always fun to drink and well made. Drank one with Bryan, the second with Butch and Ralph. Opened for about 30 minutes, drank each over about 45 minutes. Second bottle was with steak - which is the "natural habitat" for this wine - perfect with steak.
Dark purple/red color. Beautiful nose right out of the glass. Red and dark fruits, vanilla oak. Palate is smooth, classic California Cab. Primary wine, oak and tannins are well integrated. Black fruit, vanilla, lavender/violet
Ready to drink now, best guess is it holds at this level for about 5 years.
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5/3/2015 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Strong fruit nose when first opened. Two hour decant, needed it to smooth out and open up. Drank over four hours and was solid the whole time. Really an excellent cab.
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4/14/2015 - cucycling Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely, big, and smooth if only there were more than one left in the cellar...
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9/7/2014 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decant 1 hr.
A bit of heat on the nose, but blew off after 15 minutes. A little acidic, but nice caramel currant flavors. Raspberry on nose. Nice vanilla and toasted characters on the palette. Nice fruity finish about 15 seconds. Has a great medium weight to it. Very good steak wine.
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9/6/2014 - Patrickmcw Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had a bit of heat on the nose, but then blew off...followed up with some nice mixed berries
Good color and legs, real smooth, velvet on the mouth, not sure if the name but I swear I was getting some cinnamon in there. Lot of Classic California/Napa/stags leap in there. Drinking well now, not sure of the aging potential.
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9/4/2014 - East of Napa wrote: 94 Points
Very smooth cab with loads of fruit yet dry. Wonderful wine. Last one from 2009.
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8/20/2014 - Larahargrave wrote: 91 Points
Very napa. Big boy wine that needs to stand alone. Can't imagine pairing it with anything else but steak and chocolate. Tannins were beautiful.
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5/6/2014 - tekygeek wrote: 95 Points
Agree with flashvictor below. Opened up after an hour and got progressively more gorgeous. The key here was the restrained use of oak--which is perfectly integrated now. We'll be buying the 2011 and remembering the 2009 fondly. Blew everyone away at our dinner.
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4/25/2014 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Cinnamon Girl and Bohemian Rhapsody.
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2/18/2014 - Barbaro wrote: 90 Points
Soft and easy drinking Cabernet. Not a lot of complexity on the palate. Ready to drink now.
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12/29/2013 - ettalovesgoodwine wrote: 94 Points
No decanting this time - used Venturi
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12/12/2013 - ettalovesgoodwine wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 4 hours.
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9/30/2013 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Fantastic.
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7/27/2013 - durrance wrote: 90 Points
Drank at Cliff Lede Winery
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7/17/2013 - flashvictor Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep crimson color leads to a nose of dark fruit, cassis, and dark chocolate. Medium full body shows multilayered creamy texture with dark fruit, vanilla, violet with hints of tobacco and asparagus. Sweet tannins on finish last for 45 seconds. This really hit a sweet spot for me. It is an unapologetic Napa Cab that shows just a hint of restraint. I wish I had bought more than 3.
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6/9/2013 - TEDL Likes this wine: 89 Points
Spicy from the moment it was opened but mellowed a bit after breathing for a while.
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4/23/2013 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Love the blend on this.
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3/28/2013 - SonnyChiba wrote: 93 Points
It goes to"11" - I love the idea behind this wine (The Rock Wine) and bottle label is very cool...Nice blended red wine from this Stag's Leap winery - 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec...Ready to sit for some time or even drink now. Good spice on the finish and delicious. Tried it at the vineyard (one of my favorite places I have visited in Napa by the way) and took a few home. Highly recommended, as is most of their stuff at Cliff Lede.
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4/25/2012 - elamasters wrote: 90 Points
Extremely concentrated and dark. Needs at least a four hour decant to begin to open up at this point.
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