Dark almost black; intense dark berries, leather; soft silky attack followed by loads of intense dark berries, licorice and dark chocolate; a heavy wine, no finesse but with loads of everything
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Took delivery six years ago and this last bottle was begging to be enjoyed. Didn’t let me down. Ripe still with Stags Leap fruit, it’s a less tannic - and close shot to Cliff Lede’s other fine wines. On the attack it was a mink - silky smooth black fruit with cassis and hints of leather and cedar (no doubt from the ABV), and oh so rich. Midpalate jamminess was for me - since I’ve been enjoying CL wines since ‘08, lovely. Finish was long and layered with white pepper, blueberries and Concorde grapes taking me back to my - dare I share - Manischewitz-addled youth. And this was upon opening. L’Chaim!
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Delicious, full bodied, fruit forward blend from a spectacular vintage. Dark brooding, sour cherry, blackberry, black raspberry, baking spice and a hint of creosote on the palate. Smooth, silky tannins and a lingering finish with a hint of oak. Wish I had more of this vintage.
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Rich, fulfilling red. Tastes more like a Cabernet than a claret. Indigo in color. Spicy, pepper and a bit of green vegetable on the nose. Dark cherry, black raspberry, very, dark, bitter, chocolate on the palate with a hint of sweetness at the end. Full bodied with a lingering finish.
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A rich and yet, just slightly, thin red wine. The mouthfeel is a bit of a let down. It has a wonderful fruit flavor on the palette. There are notes of cherry, some cassis, and slight strawberry. The finish is more intense with notes of dried bluebery, and dusty earth. Loved it, but something here is not quite right. It is thin in both mouthfeel and palette. The wine did improve over the next hour but enough to overcome these shortfalls.
All that said it is a nice wine and worth letting sit for 5 more years.
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PnP with dinner. It tasted very bordeaux'ish upon opening but became more fruit forward as the night went on. I am not sure if went well with dinner but not solo or if it changed. We will see how it is tomorrow. Still good overall. l
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The wine looks purple colored. It smells like strawberry, blackberry and black currant (cassis). It tastes like black currant (cassis), blackberry, oak and cinnamon. The body is full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has high acidity. Decanted for 1 hour. Flavorful, fresh young wine.
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This wine is ready to go. Give it about 30min and it provides a great, easy drinking experience. The wine is very rich and quite powerful, if not super layered or complex. Very enjoyable for the price point.
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8/21/2022 - Miceri Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark almost black; intense dark berries, leather; soft silky attack followed by loads of intense dark berries, licorice and dark chocolate; a heavy wine, no finesse but with loads of everything
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5/31/2022 - yelnak Likes this wine: 91 Points
Took delivery six years ago and this last bottle was begging to be enjoyed. Didn’t let me down. Ripe still with Stags Leap fruit, it’s a less tannic - and close shot to Cliff Lede’s other fine wines. On the attack it was a mink - silky smooth black fruit with cassis and hints of leather and cedar (no doubt from the ABV), and oh so rich. Midpalate jamminess was for me - since I’ve been enjoying CL wines since ‘08, lovely. Finish was long and layered with white pepper, blueberries and Concorde grapes taking me back to my - dare I share - Manischewitz-addled youth. And this was upon opening. L’Chaim!
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11/2/2020 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 90 Points
Delicious, full bodied, fruit forward blend from a spectacular vintage. Dark brooding, sour cherry, blackberry, black raspberry, baking spice and a hint of creosote on the palate. Smooth, silky tannins and a lingering finish with a hint of oak. Wish I had more of this vintage.
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3/24/2020 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rich, fulfilling red. Tastes more like a Cabernet than a claret. Indigo in color. Spicy, pepper and a bit of green vegetable on the nose. Dark cherry, black raspberry, very, dark, bitter, chocolate on the palate with a hint of sweetness at the end. Full bodied with a lingering finish.
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7/3/2019 - tomoem wrote: 91 Points
A rich and yet, just slightly, thin red wine. The mouthfeel is a bit of a let down. It has a wonderful fruit flavor on the palette. There are notes of cherry, some cassis, and slight strawberry. The finish is more intense with notes of dried bluebery, and dusty earth. Loved it, but something here is not quite right. It is thin in both mouthfeel and palette. The wine did improve over the next hour but enough to overcome these shortfalls.
All that said it is a nice wine and worth letting sit for 5 more years.
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4/6/2019 - ejca Likes this wine:
Needs 1 hour decant, turned pretty good over the night.
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12/28/2017 - Miceri Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lovely!
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10/1/2017 - cawineaux Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine is good to go out of the gate. Rustic red fruit coats your mouth with a firm background.
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8/17/2017 - Mtpisgah Likes this wine:
PnP with dinner. It tasted very bordeaux'ish upon opening but became more fruit forward as the night went on. I am not sure if went well with dinner but not solo or if it changed. We will see how it is tomorrow. Still good overall. l
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3/7/2017 - DanielJ Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice bright and tasty. Not an amazing wine but good. Might get better with some time
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11/14/2016 - bosoxbw Likes this wine: 91 Points
Flavorful and a very good QPR. Works with or without food.
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5/17/2016 - cawineaux wrote: 91 Points
Great QPR, particularly for wine club members. I love this dark rich wine. It's a little rustic, great for a cool winter day.
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3/28/2016 - hawkvin Likes this wine: 91 Points
The wine looks purple colored. It smells like strawberry, blackberry and black currant (cassis). It tastes like black currant (cassis), blackberry, oak and cinnamon. The body is full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has high acidity. Decanted for 1 hour. Flavorful, fresh young wine.
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12/12/2015 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine is ready to go. Give it about 30min and it provides a great, easy drinking experience. The wine is very rich and quite powerful, if not super layered or complex. Very enjoyable for the price point.
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