Popped and poired. Bought from BWG few years ago $82 what a bargain wish napa cabs still taste like this. Maybe because of bottle age it had such silky tannins but great fruit left cassis, cedar with some red and blue fruit and some acidity. Has some years left. A treat!
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This is a Pinot lover's Cab. Medium body with red fruits dominating the taste profile. The tannins are completely resolved leaving an elegant smooth drinking wonderful wine. It is not overly complicated and I would suggest drinking soon as it is really good now but may start to be "over the hill" soon. Every Poetry I have had is very good.
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Taste from guest at MJ's OB. Nice storage. Still in paper. Lovely color - nice bricking at the rim. Full but elegant styling on the nose. Culty dark red fruit, some exotic Asian spices. Palate shows well integrated tannins and a very smooth finish. Very nice wine and drinking well currently. May evolve for another five to seven I'd say.
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Decanted for 2h at Garth's. Lots of mineral and fruit here, a delicious, classic CA cab. Didn't really agree with the recent euphoric CT reviews. No detailed notes.
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This 13-year-old, deep ruby/red blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Malbec was tasted at the winery. Effusive of dark bramble fruits, violets, pencil shavings and pipe tobacco, it is a full-bodied offering with low acidity, well-integrated alcohol (14.7%) and medium sweet tannins. Silky-textured and dense on the mid-palate, it goes on to finish with impressive length. This Bordeaux-style wine is likely early in its drinking window. Well-cellared bottles should be enjoyable for another decade. Drink now-2026.
Decanted two hours, drank over the next three. Held up strong the whole time. This Poetry is excellent, falls a little short of the '04 which we recently had.
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One of those rare wines that you will not forget. It makes you smile in awe when it hits your palate. The fruit, the size, the complexity - each brilliant. This is what california cab aspires to be.
This is elegant after about an hour decant. In 5 years I think it will hit even more perfect balance... but its pretty amazing as is.
Marvelous!
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Deep purple red in the glass, no subtlety on the nose. Jammy and delicious. Nicely layered and held up strong throughout the drinking. Only needed an hour of decanting.
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Loads of macerated grape on both the nose and the palate. Impressive depth and extended finish. A slight bitterness on the back end is the only undesired characteristic of this otherwise perfect bottle of wine. Drink within the next 3 years.
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Zuli visit; 11/28/2012-12/2/2012: PnP yesterday, drank a few glasses, tasting note from today after bottle recorked in cellar. This wine is clear, deep ruby/purple in color, with glass-coating color and fast legs. On the nose, this wine is in good condition, and has developing, med intensity aromas of black cherry, pure cassis, licorice, and a light minerality that is incredible. On the palate, this dry wine has full body, med alcohol, perfectly balanced med acidity showing med intensity flavors of cassis and black cherry notes, with perfectly matured tannins and a med(+) length finish. This wine is profound and gorgeous. It really is the essence of a Napa Cab, and is in a perfect drinking window right now, and should be able to drink nicely for the next 5-7 years, although I'd err on the side of sooner than later. Marvelous juice.
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Showing just a touch of age in the glass, with a hint of bricking to the deep velvety purple color. Minimal sediment. Really captivating nose of mountain berries and unsweetened chocolate. I could just swirl and sniff for a long time. On the palate, this is clearly from a warmer vintage, with much darker blackberry and cassis notes but no obvious heat. Some earthiness and black coffee notes on the mid-palate and finish, with barely perceptible tannins on the close. Nice stuff, although not so much better than the regular SLD cuvee as to justify the price difference.
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2003 Poetry Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon Cigar box, cherry pie and bay leaf aromas are intense as the wine opens in the glass. Layers of chocolate, graham cracker and black currant expand on the palette. The tannins have become silky and soft. The 2003 is drinking beautifully now, but will continue to age well. DRINK or HOLD
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Rich, dark fruit with soft tannins. Has taken on flavors of coffee, chocolate, caramel and cedar since last tasted, but the fruit still dominates. Full-bodied. Still getting better.
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consistent with previous notes. decanted for 2 hours but should have left it an extra hour as the last glass was the best. flavors of coffee this time, again-long finish.just an excellent wine!
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Phenomenal - we served next to Rudd and Backus (same vintages) and it was the hit of our tasting. Powerful nose of leather and currants. Its big and bold with a long finish. One of the best wines I tasted this year!
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Another great bottle! This was part of a tasting that included a '97 Insignia; some '00 Scavino and a '95 Val di Cava - it was on par with all of them. Gave the wine 3 hours in a decanter - long finish, concentrated nose and taste of berries
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Wow. with some domestic wagyu from bryan. absolutely singing at this point- beautiful balance of fruit, sweet tannins and oak- full bodied, big nose, 45+second finish and smokey black fruit- nice savory character but smoot stag's leap fruit. a real mouthful of cab (the 2007 will blow this away and this is great). I see WS rated this 88- they missed the boat by a big margin on this one.
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This wine is big and bold - just what you expect from howell Mountain. I drank it with a bone-in rib-eye and it brought the whole meal up a notch. High alcohol but well-balanced. Very fragrant nose of mountain berries and a hint of chocolate. All in all a great wine!
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Perhaps it was the great meal with which it was served? I don't think so. This wine stands on its own and bot does it stand out. The individual flavors come together like a fine orchestra creating a symphony.
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Drank this as part of a blind tasting that we hosted with some of our friends. It was rated at the top along with a 2001 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Merlot (the wine that scored the highest). After the tasting, we enjoyed it with lamb, ribs and potatoes. The Poetry bottle was the first of the five to be emptied. The tannins are noticeable (we didn't allow any of the wines to breathe), but not overpowering. Looking forward to see how the wine develops over the coming years.
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Had after a brunello and this was so fresh and alive we couldn't wait to dive in. strong mountain fruit with a dose of oak. I just love Cliff Lede wines.
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1/31/2023 - Handy1 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Popped and poired. Bought from BWG few years ago $82 what a bargain wish napa cabs still taste like this. Maybe because of bottle age it had such silky tannins but great fruit left cassis, cedar with some red and blue fruit and some acidity. Has some years left. A treat!
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12/25/2022 - Handy1 wrote: 92 Points
Pop n poured. Agree with prior notes resolved tannins red fruit good solid cabernet nothing complex with red fruit and no reason to wait to drink
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10/25/2020 - zylmanj wrote: 95 Points
This is a Pinot lover's Cab. Medium body with red fruits dominating the taste profile. The tannins are completely resolved leaving an elegant smooth drinking wonderful wine. It is not overly complicated and I would suggest drinking soon as it is really good now but may start to be "over the hill" soon. Every Poetry I have had is very good.
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6/15/2018 - effrom Likes this wine: 95 Points
drinking beautiful right now
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2/5/2018 - gryz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very smooth. Drinking fantastic now.
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11/24/2017 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Taste from guest at MJ's OB.
Nice storage. Still in paper. Lovely color - nice bricking at the rim.
Full but elegant styling on the nose. Culty dark red fruit, some exotic Asian spices.
Palate shows well integrated tannins and a very smooth finish. Very nice wine and drinking well currently.
May evolve for another five to seven I'd say.
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9/20/2016 - skurtz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 2h at Garth's. Lots of mineral and fruit here, a delicious, classic CA cab. Didn't really agree with the recent euphoric CT reviews. No detailed notes.
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4/30/2016 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
This 13-year-old, deep ruby/red blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Malbec was tasted at the winery. Effusive of dark bramble fruits, violets, pencil shavings and pipe tobacco, it is a full-bodied offering with low acidity, well-integrated alcohol (14.7%) and medium sweet tannins. Silky-textured and dense on the mid-palate, it goes on to finish with impressive length. This Bordeaux-style wine is likely early in its drinking window. Well-cellared bottles should be enjoyable for another decade. Drink now-2026.
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10/23/2015 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted two hours, drank over the next three. Held up strong the whole time. This Poetry is excellent, falls a little short of the '04 which we recently had.
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4/25/2014 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Just perfect right now.
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3/23/2014 - Trolson wrote: 99 Points
Phenomenal: perfect just as it is.
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2/9/2014 - skinnydave Likes this wine: 97 Points
This is a game changer.
One of those rare wines that you will not forget. It makes you smile in awe when it hits your palate. The fruit, the size, the complexity - each brilliant.
This is what california cab aspires to be.
This is elegant after about an hour decant.
In 5 years I think it will hit even more perfect balance... but its pretty amazing as is.
Marvelous!
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9/22/2013 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Just perfect. Still has time.
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6/21/2013 - blutoh Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep purple red in the glass, no subtlety on the nose. Jammy and delicious. Nicely layered and held up strong throughout the drinking. Only needed an hour of decanting.
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2/17/2013 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Loads of macerated grape on both the nose and the palate. Impressive depth and extended finish. A slight bitterness on the back end is the only undesired characteristic of this otherwise perfect bottle of wine. Drink within the next 3 years.
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1/26/2013 - Beaver1990 wrote: 97 Points
Just about perfect. If you're still holding on to some of this wine, now would be the time to open this wine.
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12/23/2012 - Didman Likes this wine: 96 Points
This is a great California Cab. Deep rich color and intense classic cab flavors and aroma. Must be one of the finer cabs to come out of the vintage.
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11/30/2012 - drrobvino wrote: 97 Points
Zuli visit; 11/28/2012-12/2/2012: PnP yesterday, drank a few glasses, tasting note from today after bottle recorked in cellar.
This wine is clear, deep ruby/purple in color, with glass-coating color and fast legs.
On the nose, this wine is in good condition, and has developing, med intensity aromas of black cherry, pure cassis, licorice, and a light minerality that is incredible.
On the palate, this dry wine has full body, med alcohol, perfectly balanced med acidity showing med intensity flavors of cassis and black cherry notes, with perfectly matured tannins and a med(+) length finish.
This wine is profound and gorgeous. It really is the essence of a Napa Cab, and is in a perfect drinking window right now, and should be able to drink nicely for the next 5-7 years, although I'd err on the side of sooner than later. Marvelous juice.
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5/21/2012 - EMTAME wrote: 92 Points
Showing just a touch of age in the glass, with a hint of bricking to the deep velvety purple color. Minimal sediment. Really captivating nose of mountain berries and unsweetened chocolate. I could just swirl and sniff for a long time. On the palate, this is clearly from a warmer vintage, with much darker blackberry and cassis notes but no obvious heat. Some earthiness and black coffee notes on the mid-palate and finish, with barely perceptible tannins on the close. Nice stuff, although not so much better than the regular SLD cuvee as to justify the price difference.
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5/18/2012 - BATWine wrote: 94 Points
Delicious, drinking really well right now. Lots of fruit, tannins were soft but still noticeable. Decanted for 2 hours.
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5/13/2012 - KeithSurg wrote: 91 Points
Nice, but fruit fading and not as impressive as when tasted last year. Drink up.
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12/26/2011 - KeithSurg wrote: 94 Points
Ruby color with a little brick on the edge. Fruit starting to fade, but still impressive. Beatiful, silky mouthfeel with soft tannins. Drink now.
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9/17/2011 - Didman wrote: 95 Points
One of the great California Cabs, and drinking really fine right now.
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4/28/2011 - Wino Duds wrote:
from the Apr 28, 2011 Poetry Vertical Tasting.
2003 Poetry Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon
Cigar box, cherry pie and bay leaf aromas are intense as the wine opens in the glass. Layers of chocolate, graham cracker and black currant expand on the palette. The tannins have become silky and soft. The 2003 is drinking beautifully now, but will continue to age well. DRINK or HOLD
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4/1/2011 - jonnyoro wrote: 97 Points
97+ better than the last bottle- firing on all cylinders...
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2/12/2011 - KeithSurg wrote: 94 Points
Rich, dark fruit with soft tannins. Has taken on flavors of coffee, chocolate, caramel and cedar since last tasted, but the fruit still dominates. Full-bodied. Still getting better.
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5/23/2010 - z3wino wrote: 92 Points
Drank along with Manon's same bottle. Decanter together. Earth, Cedar, Still strong tannins.
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3/6/2010 - GJ-captures wrote: 91 Points
Great Napa fruit, this is a well built wine, nice oak and tannin, but far from amazing.
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2/20/2010 - ours de vin wrote: 93 Points
consistent with previous notes. decanted for 2 hours but should have left it an extra hour as the last glass was the best. flavors of coffee this time, again-long finish.just an excellent wine!
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12/26/2009 - tdcd@comcast.net wrote: 91 Points
Great wine from start to finish.
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11/30/2009 - ours de vin wrote: 96 Points
Phenomenal - we served next to Rudd and Backus (same vintages) and it was the hit of our tasting. Powerful nose of leather and currants. Its big and bold with a long finish. One of the best wines I tasted this year!
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11/23/2009 - ours de vin wrote: 93 Points
Another great bottle! This was part of a tasting that included a '97 Insignia; some '00 Scavino and a '95 Val di Cava - it was on par with all of them. Gave the wine 3 hours in a decanter - long finish, concentrated nose and taste of berries
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7/8/2009 - jonnyoro wrote: 95 Points
Wow. with some domestic wagyu from bryan. absolutely singing at this point- beautiful balance of fruit, sweet tannins and oak- full bodied, big nose, 45+second finish and smokey black fruit- nice savory character but smoot stag's leap fruit. a real mouthful of cab (the 2007 will blow this away and this is great). I see WS rated this 88- they missed the boat by a big margin on this one.
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6/1/2009 - ours de vin wrote: 93 Points
This wine is big and bold - just what you expect from howell Mountain. I drank it with a bone-in rib-eye and it brought the whole meal up a notch. High alcohol but well-balanced. Very fragrant nose of mountain berries and a hint of chocolate. All in all a great wine!
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3/22/2009 - RWilkinson wrote:
WOW, with several more years of sleep this will be a top wine. At hits stage still holding back, but has the material to be wonderful.
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12/26/2008 - tdcd@comcast.net wrote: 98 Points
Perhaps it was the great meal with which it was served? I don't think so. This wine stands on its own and bot does it stand out. The individual flavors come together like a fine orchestra creating a symphony.
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12/8/2007 - seanness wrote: 94 Points
Drank this as part of a blind tasting that we hosted with some of our friends. It was rated at the top along with a 2001 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Merlot (the wine that scored the highest). After the tasting, we enjoyed it with lamb, ribs and potatoes. The Poetry bottle was the first of the five to be emptied. The tannins are noticeable (we didn't allow any of the wines to breathe), but not overpowering. Looking forward to see how the wine develops over the coming years.
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7/28/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 94 Points
Had after a brunello and this was so fresh and alive we couldn't wait to dive in. strong mountain fruit with a dose of oak. I just love Cliff Lede wines.
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