This is my last bottle, and by far the best. Just goes to show what 14 years does to a good wine. It is now all smooth, pleasant leather, though there's still some brightness in the glass.
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My first experience with this wine, and probably one of my first experience with a WA state red wine. I got this in a Garagiste mystery case. Not something I would have bought as I haven't had much luck in the New World over the last 25 years, but still, I remain hopeful there must be some decent wine made in my backyard. This is not the one. This to me is very typical of the prototypical New World wine. Chocolate, vanilla, high EtOH, and way too much oak. It was cloying and it weighed me down; a half bottle in and i had this feeling like I had eaten a whole cake. There are a few Parkerized/M Rolland right bank Bxs that remind me of this, but they tend to have more stuffing, character, and secondary notes. This is not my jam, but I am sure it is many peoples. Sorry
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Sulfur, red fruits, lithe. Decanted overnight to mitigate the sulfur. 95% effective. This may have deserved a 90 when younger, but certainly not now. Possible 87
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Stewed fruit and a bit tired. Friendly flavors and food friendly body but a touch over developed. The alcohol is showing through just slightly suggesting to me that it's now or never with this wine. Plenty to enjoy and contemplate over but note quite as harmonious as I'd hoped at this point in its life.
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Still drinking well. In it's prime drinking window, and delicious. I'm on the fence between 89 and 90. I'd like to give it 90, but it doesn't quite have that little extra something that I expect from a 90 point wine. It's a great 89 though and a good value.
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Smooth balance, earthy forest floor, fruit present but my image is eating some wild berries seated in a moist forest. POP seemed a bad idea so only one glass yesterday when I brought it up - today 24 hours later in vessel and it is lovely, does not command you to pay attention to it only, joined pot roast perfectly. Might be time to start drinking up but no real rush. Lot of throw around cork but I did not filter but decanted and there was no sediment.
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Seems like drink or hold to me, but rather than being in some closed or awkward phase, it seems to be straddling youth and age, still showing fruit, cassis, and some higher aromatics, but then also dust and leather. Some dried herbs and forest floor. This was a knockout and great QPR, probably comparing well with Napas selling for 3-4x. Wish I would have fallen more for the hype on this one and bought more.
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Dark color, a bit of a smoky nose. Popped and poured a little glass, then left it open and drank a couple glasses over the course of the evening. Lots of sediment. Rich, full, fruity. Wonderfully balanced. A finish that went on and on. Yum.
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Sooo smooth... Deliciously aged wine drinking perfect now, with perhaps another year or two to go. But, why wait? Fantastic QPR. (Note: requires a decant or filter to remove sediment.)
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Woodsy nose with heat, currant, dark forest, root beer, and blackberries. Dark berries and Bordeaux-like "woods" flavors up front. Definitely Washington. Juicy blackberries and hints of oak flavors similar to those of Dead-Arm. Some heat on the back end; shorter finish. I would buy this again.
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Decanted for about an hour, which was needed, I think. Still a little aromatically challenged, but exceedingly tasty, and very characteristic for a WA Cab (but not boring). I'm now willing to go up another point from my previous review. This is a good QPR.
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Sediment caked on the cork and the neck of the bottle when opened. This wine has to be filtered because of the amount of sediment. Don't let that scare you off, however. Filtered and aerated into decanter, then let sit for about an hour. Excellent with grilled filet mignon, grilled asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes.
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First one of these. Decanted for about two hours, as of this writing. More flavors than aromas. But, it is very balanced and delicious. Smooth with blueberries, black cherry, a little cedar, and some smokiness. Good QPR.
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Nice QPR wine...popped and poured. Slightly higher acidity than I'd prefer but the fruit is nice and rich, tannins are well-integrated everything seems to work. Throwing quite a bit of sediment, so be sure to strain/decant. Held up okay on day 2 as well, although that's when the acid started showing itself and the fruit started to fade. All in all, drink on day 1, and drink it soon.
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Lots of sediment on the cork. Was lighter and flatter than I expected. Pleasant enough but not much going on. Fair QPR. Hopefully it was the bottle, will try another to see.
Pretty nice wine for $20. Nicely aged, throwing a LOT of sediment. Typical cabernet flavors or cassis and cherry, with secondary flavors of tobacco and earth, with a sweet mocha finish. Drink now - 2017.
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Wish i bought more of this. fantastic deal. well balanced, mellowed enough with age but still has enough body to cut through a fried thanksgiving turkey. more fruit than earth but not a fruit bomb.
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Agree with Joraesque, also drinking tonite. "Sour plum" sounds about right. But it did start coming round after 4 hours, with the vanilla fading to oak, and the nose opening up.
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Good dusty notes on both the nose and palate, and decent tannins and structure, but there is an oddly sour (plum?) component in the mix that hijacks this Bordeaux blend detracting from the more classic notes, and even from the more specific notes such as the blueberry note common with so many Washington Cabs which here is just an afterthought. Short finish too. But I guess you get what you pay for (in this case, $20 worth of some $50+ juice gone awry). 14.5% ABV and exhibiting a little heat on the finish. 87-88
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Dark, ripe fruits on the nose. Smells of wet earth. Fairly round on the tongue, with peaks of acidity still prevalent. Thinner in the midpalate, with some plum and black raspberry. Lengthy finish. Not much tannin really, maybe a hint. Pleasant enough.
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Starts with a bit too much of a burn, then goes into overextracted fruit. Tastes of prune and berry with little earth or oak. It seems like this wine could age a bit, but as there are few tannins now it might not stand up.
Very good wine overall. Drank over two consecutive days.
Bottle was full of sediment, had to decant.
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In a word - terrific. Blackberry/cherry core, a bit of leather and kalamata olive, cola, fine-grained tannins and an ample finish. Glad I bought this from Garagiste, it's even better than I had hoped.
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8/16/2020 - Francophile Likes this wine: 89 Points
Even though beyond its drinking window still a nice blend and smooth
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11/29/2019 - alexrad Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is my last bottle, and by far the best. Just goes to show what 14 years does to a good wine. It is now all smooth, pleasant leather, though there's still some brightness in the glass.
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8/12/2019 - Francophile Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good value wine with good tannins and nice balance
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1/22/2019 - Neurowine1 wrote:
My first experience with this wine, and probably one of my first experience with a WA state red wine. I got this in a Garagiste mystery case. Not something I would have bought as I haven't had much luck in the New World over the last 25 years, but still, I remain hopeful there must be some decent wine made in my backyard.
This is not the one. This to me is very typical of the prototypical New World wine. Chocolate, vanilla, high EtOH, and way too much oak. It was cloying and it weighed me down; a half bottle in and i had this feeling like I had eaten a whole cake. There are a few Parkerized/M Rolland right bank Bxs that remind me of this, but they tend to have more stuffing, character, and secondary notes. This is not my jam, but I am sure it is many peoples. Sorry
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10/18/2018 - Francophile Likes this wine: 89 Points
A good mix of Cab Grapes and I felt that the Cab Franc proportion was in the 10+% range so quite liked the combination
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3/4/2018 - redz wrote: 91 Points
Surprisingly fresh nose and palate, moderate tannins, couple hours decant helped. Nice cab flavors
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1/21/2018 - nefarm wrote: 87 Points
Sulfur, red fruits, lithe. Decanted overnight to mitigate the sulfur. 95% effective. This may have deserved a 90 when younger, but certainly not now. Possible 87
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11/1/2017 - brinko99 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Stewed fruit and a bit tired. Friendly flavors and food friendly body but a touch over developed. The alcohol is showing through just slightly suggesting to me that it's now or never with this wine. Plenty to enjoy and contemplate over but note quite as harmonious as I'd hoped at this point in its life.
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10/28/2017 - dmitchell4 wrote: 88 Points
Unresolved tannins, will wait another 2 years
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6/14/2017 - Richard123 Likes this wine: 85 Points
Flabby and disappointing for the price. Wouldn't go there again.
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4/10/2017 - jsherdc Likes this wine: 90 Points
Smooth. Fruit forward Bordeaux blend. After 30 minutes, the cool cab dominates and it's not as good.
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2/27/2017 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still drinking well. In it's prime drinking window, and delicious. I'm on the fence between 89 and 90. I'd like to give it 90, but it doesn't quite have that little extra something that I expect from a 90 point wine. It's a great 89 though and a good value.
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2/4/2017 - andyrowe Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smooth balance, earthy forest floor, fruit present but my image is eating some wild berries seated in a moist forest. POP seemed a bad idea so only one glass yesterday when I brought it up - today 24 hours later in vessel and it is lovely, does not command you to pay attention to it only, joined pot roast perfectly. Might be time to start drinking up but no real rush. Lot of throw around cork but I did not filter but decanted and there was no sediment.
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1/28/2017 - tward Likes this wine: 91 Points
Seems like drink or hold to me, but rather than being in some closed or awkward phase, it seems to be straddling youth and age, still showing fruit, cassis, and some higher aromatics, but then also dust and leather. Some dried herbs and forest floor. This was a knockout and great QPR, probably comparing well with Napas selling for 3-4x. Wish I would have fallen more for the hype on this one and bought more.
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1/27/2017 - Leomania Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely, balanced. See previous notes. Will miss this wine.
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1/7/2017 - Kermadur Likes this wine:
Dark color, a bit of a smoky nose. Popped and poured a little glass, then left it open and drank a couple glasses over the course of the evening. Lots of sediment. Rich, full, fruity. Wonderfully balanced. A finish that went on and on. Yum.
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12/16/2016 - MaineMark Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sooo smooth... Deliciously aged wine drinking perfect now, with perhaps another year or two to go. But, why wait? Fantastic QPR. (Note: requires a decant or filter to remove sediment.)
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10/15/2016 - Bill1100 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lots of sediment- you have to filter. Otherwise excellent.
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8/24/2016 - mwkoehler Likes this wine: 90 Points
Delicious
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7/27/2016 - Doc90 wrote: 90 Points
Woodsy nose with heat, currant, dark forest, root beer, and blackberries. Dark berries and Bordeaux-like "woods" flavors up front. Definitely Washington. Juicy blackberries and hints of oak flavors similar to those of Dead-Arm. Some heat on the back end; shorter finish. I would buy this again.
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6/12/2016 - Leomania Likes this wine: 91 Points
A really good wine. Holding up terrifically; wish I had more.
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4/3/2016 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for about an hour, which was needed, I think. Still a little aromatically challenged, but exceedingly tasty, and very characteristic for a WA Cab (but not boring). I'm now willing to go up another point from my previous review. This is a good QPR.
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3/19/2016 - Leomania Likes this wine: 91 Points
See previous note. Great balance.
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2/28/2016 - Bill1100 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Sediment caked on the cork and the neck of the bottle when opened. This wine has to be filtered because of the amount of sediment. Don't let that scare you off, however. Filtered and aerated into decanter, then let sit for about an hour. Excellent with grilled filet mignon, grilled asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes.
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2/5/2016 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 89 Points
First one of these. Decanted for about two hours, as of this writing. More flavors than aromas. But, it is very balanced and delicious. Smooth with blueberries, black cherry, a little cedar, and some smokiness. Good QPR.
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1/26/2016 - RPerro Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice QPR wine...popped and poured. Slightly higher acidity than I'd prefer but the fruit is nice and rich, tannins are well-integrated everything seems to work. Throwing quite a bit of sediment, so be sure to strain/decant. Held up okay on day 2 as well, although that's when the acid started showing itself and the fruit started to fade. All in all, drink on day 1, and drink it soon.
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1/23/2016 - dmitchell4 wrote: 88 Points
Lots of sediment on the cork. Was lighter and flatter than I expected. Pleasant enough but not much going on. Fair QPR. Hopefully it was the bottle, will try another to see.
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1/16/2016 - nittanyjack Likes this wine:
Last bottle of the night. It was good but that's all I can recall. More notes next time!
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1/7/2016 - brinko99 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lovely wine, showing very well. Structured integrated ripe fruit with lots of tertiary interest of a smooth structure.
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12/10/2015 - RPerro Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pretty nice wine for $20. Nicely aged, throwing a LOT of sediment. Typical cabernet flavors or cassis and cherry, with secondary flavors of tobacco and earth, with a sweet mocha finish. Drink now - 2017.
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11/27/2015 - skorn5 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wish i bought more of this. fantastic deal. well balanced, mellowed enough with age but still has enough body to cut through a fried thanksgiving turkey. more fruit than earth but not a fruit bomb.
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11/26/2015 - Leomania Likes this wine: 91 Points
Love this wine. Blackberry and black currant, sweet oak (not overdone), good acidity. So good.
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11/5/2015 - redz wrote: 89 Points
Agree with Joraesque, also drinking tonite. "Sour plum" sounds about right. But it did start coming round after 4 hours, with the vanilla fading to oak, and the nose opening up.
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11/5/2015 - joraesque wrote: 88 Points
Good dusty notes on both the nose and palate, and decent tannins and structure, but there is an oddly sour (plum?) component in the mix that hijacks this Bordeaux blend detracting from the more classic notes, and even from the more specific notes such as the blueberry note common with so many Washington Cabs which here is just an afterthought. Short finish too. But I guess you get what you pay for (in this case, $20 worth of some $50+ juice gone awry). 14.5% ABV and exhibiting a little heat on the finish.
87-88
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8/28/2015 - Endeavorslc wrote: 91 Points
What amazing valu
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8/18/2015 - MarcEBeaudoin wrote:
Dark, ripe fruits on the nose. Smells of wet earth. Fairly round on the tongue, with peaks of acidity still prevalent. Thinner in the midpalate, with some plum and black raspberry. Lengthy finish. Not much tannin really, maybe a hint. Pleasant enough.
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8/5/2015 - Jamesgold wrote: 94 Points
Amazing value. Shows really nice aging with high quality fruit and nice tertiary flavors melding together.
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6/22/2015 - Leomania Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good indeed. See previous note.
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6/7/2015 - apardoe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Starts with a bit too much of a burn, then goes into overextracted fruit. Tastes of prune and berry with little earth or oak. It seems like this wine could age a bit, but as there are few tannins now it might not stand up.
Very good wine overall. Drank over two consecutive days.
Bottle was full of sediment, had to decant.
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5/16/2015 - Leomania Likes this wine: 91 Points
In a word - terrific. Blackberry/cherry core, a bit of leather and kalamata olive, cola, fine-grained tannins and an ample finish. Glad I bought this from Garagiste, it's even better than I had hoped.
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