From a 1.5L. format. Deep dark garnet in color with slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of dark fruit aromas of cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones of earthy/dusty & mineral & floral notes of violets, minty, leather, tobacco, cocoa, spices, herbs, minerals & a cedar. Full bodied, with a very good concentration of well balanced & silky smooth textured, ripe dark fruit flavors of cherries, blueberries & plums with spices, herbs, cocoa & minerals. Long lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present & at 39 years of age, it may be at its pinnacle of development although it should hold for a bit longer. Cork was clean & intact with the fill level at mid-neck.
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My first time having this. The bottle was in absolutely perfect condition. Explosive aromatics of black cherries, cassis, elderflowers, spices, also some animalic/meaty notes. It's full bodied, dense and powerful, with medium acidity and medium tannin. Excellent length. A perfectly aged, balanced and sexy Napa Cab. This was really hard to resist.
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Acker Holiday Auction (A Voce Madison): Really enjoyed this one. Drinking window in CT obviously not correct since it was still going quite well. Red currants, well aged, more old world in style. Bit of barnyard. Good wine.
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(From magnum). Fine aged cab. Thinned out just a bit- really more aged bordeaux-like. Subtle mid palate of graphite and stone. Finish has a slight touch of sweetness which compliments the wine nicely.
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I really enjoyed the taste I was poured. This showed a different style of California Cabernet that I'm used to - and it's awesome. I was lucky enough to sample this BOH Ria from a magnum. Lovely well polished, feminine qualities. Ripe pink and light red berries, lots of classic Napa leather saddle, some light oak and charred wood. Flavors of super light anise, white and pink flowers, and some creamy Belgian chocolate. Shows more age on the palate than in the nose. A wine that I believe is only just past its peak coming out of the mag. Very nice. When taking other CT scores of this bottling into consideration, is it possible the large format magic was at play? Quite possibly. The unfamiliar quality that I admired in this bottling was the precision and raw feminine POWER while not coming across as weighty or over extracted and obnoxious. The aromas told the story of how Diamond Creek was such a world class player throughout the 80's and 90's.
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Dark garnet color - medium bodied - big floral and perfume aromas predominate - elements of truffles, leather, tobacco with hints of kirsch and vanilla on a long smooth finish. Tasted from double magnum so minimal signs of aging may likely not indicative of a 750 ml.
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Excellent bottle of Napa cab. Deep red in color, medium body and some fruit remaining on the nose. Actually had some bordeaux tendencies with some minerality and earthy elements in addition to blackberry and cassis. This is the second large format bottle of Gravelly Meadow in the last two years. Unlike the earlier magnum which began to close down after two hours, this remained open and delightful for the duration of the dinner. Served this double magnum from Will's birth year at Will and Kate's wedding reception to Beth, Rick, Linda, Ann, Rusty, Todd and Pam.
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WIMPS USA Lunch (The Ledbury, London): WIMPS USA Lunch @ The Ledbury - dark wine, (surprised from a bottle this age) on the nose it had some stones and earth but surprisingly still some young dark red fruits. very well balanced on the mouth , a touch of fruit leading to some secondary earthy flavors ..med acidity and good long finis, well balanced. this wine is probably at its peak but it was giving a lot today and i think it will stay there for a while
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Christie's Dinner at Charlie Trotter's (Charlie Trotter's, Chicago): Aromas of mint and latex paint. Very broad in the mouth, with pretty red fruit and (as you might expect from the name) a steady dose of stony minerality. Could easily pass for a Bordeaux. It is probably on the back side of its life cycle. Drink up.
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Tasted in double-blind fashion at Vintage Wines, Ltd. Bottle provided by Ann Humphreville. Bright disc. Medium garnet robe with brick rim. Clean nose, showing a pleasant bouquet of saddle leather, kirsch, tobacco, vanilla and truffles. Medium-bodied (at this point) on the palate, with medium acidity, melted tannins and similar complex flavors as for the nose. Long, smooth finish. This wine is quite pleasant, despite the fact that it is likely in decline. Drink within the next 2-3 years.
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With MPL at Singer & Foy survey of Diamond Creek wines. Dark cranberry color. Nice nose. Rich. Good on the palate. Dark bitter chocolate finish. Still a bit harsh and austere. 5-10-14-6: 85/100.
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3/10/2024 - Bjb81 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep, rich, still tons of fruit with the tertiary flavors shining as well
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11/7/2021 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 93 Points
From a 1.5L. format. Deep dark garnet in color with slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of dark fruit aromas of cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones of earthy/dusty & mineral & floral notes of violets, minty, leather, tobacco, cocoa, spices, herbs, minerals & a cedar. Full bodied, with a very good concentration of well balanced & silky smooth textured, ripe dark fruit flavors of cherries, blueberries & plums with spices, herbs, cocoa & minerals. Long lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present & at 39 years of age, it may be at its pinnacle of development although it should hold for a bit longer. Cork was clean & intact with the fill level at mid-neck.
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6/27/2017 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 96 Points
My first time having this. The bottle was in absolutely perfect condition. Explosive aromatics of black cherries, cassis, elderflowers, spices, also some animalic/meaty notes. It's full bodied, dense and powerful, with medium acidity and medium tannin. Excellent length. A perfectly aged, balanced and sexy Napa Cab. This was really hard to resist.
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12/14/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Acker Holiday Auction (A Voce Madison): Really enjoyed this one. Drinking window in CT obviously not correct since it was still going quite well. Red currants, well aged, more old world in style. Bit of barnyard. Good wine.
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7/18/2015 - ledwards wrote: 92 Points
(From magnum). Fine aged cab. Thinned out just a bit- really more aged bordeaux-like. Subtle mid palate of graphite and stone. Finish has a slight touch of sweetness which compliments the wine nicely.
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3/16/2014 - Quicksand1975 Likes this wine: 96 Points
The wine on it's peak. Compex and elegant.
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9/16/2013 - soyhead wrote: 85 Points
nose - coconut, tropical, brandy
mouth - less impressive than the nose. brandy-esque, lacks fruit, a subpar bottle?
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6/28/2012 - fdub wrote: 92 Points
From magnum. Opened for Coben and Alexis' wedding.
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12/1/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
I really enjoyed the taste I was poured. This showed a different style of California Cabernet that I'm used to - and it's awesome.
I was lucky enough to sample this BOH Ria from a magnum.
Lovely well polished, feminine qualities. Ripe pink and light red berries, lots of classic Napa leather saddle, some light oak and charred wood.
Flavors of super light anise, white and pink flowers, and some creamy Belgian chocolate. Shows more age on the palate than in the nose.
A wine that I believe is only just past its peak coming out of the mag. Very nice. When taking other CT scores of this bottling into consideration, is it possible the large format magic was at play? Quite possibly.
The unfamiliar quality that I admired in this bottling was the precision and raw feminine POWER while not coming across as weighty or over extracted and obnoxious.
The aromas told the story of how Diamond Creek was such a world class player throughout the 80's and 90's.
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5/30/2010 - rmcnees wrote: 90 Points
Dark garnet color - medium bodied - big floral and perfume aromas predominate - elements of truffles, leather, tobacco with hints of kirsch and vanilla on a long smooth finish. Tasted from double magnum so minimal signs of aging may likely not indicative of a 750 ml.
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5/29/2010 - wconnolly wrote: 92 Points
Excellent bottle of Napa cab. Deep red in color, medium body and some fruit remaining on the nose. Actually had some bordeaux tendencies with some minerality and earthy elements in addition to blackberry and cassis. This is the second large format bottle of Gravelly Meadow in the last two years. Unlike the earlier magnum which began to close down after two hours, this remained open and delightful for the duration of the dinner. Served this double magnum from Will's birth year at Will and Kate's wedding reception to Beth, Rick, Linda, Ann, Rusty, Todd and Pam.
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1/29/2009 - reichken wrote: 92 Points
WIMPS USA Lunch (The Ledbury, London): WIMPS USA Lunch @ The Ledbury - dark wine, (surprised from a bottle this age) on the nose it had some stones and earth but surprisingly still some young dark red fruits. very well balanced on the mouth , a touch of fruit leading to some secondary earthy flavors ..med acidity and good long finis, well balanced. this wine is probably at its peak but it was giving a lot today and i think it will stay there for a while
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2/23/2006 - otisabdul wrote: 90 Points
Christie's Dinner at Charlie Trotter's (Charlie Trotter's, Chicago): Aromas of mint and latex paint. Very broad in the mouth, with pretty red fruit and (as you might expect from the name) a steady dose of stony minerality. Could easily pass for a Bordeaux. It is probably on the back side of its life cycle. Drink up.
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3/19/2004 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 90 Points
Tasted in double-blind fashion at Vintage Wines, Ltd. Bottle provided by Ann Humphreville. Bright disc. Medium garnet robe with brick rim. Clean nose, showing a pleasant bouquet of saddle leather, kirsch, tobacco, vanilla and truffles. Medium-bodied (at this point) on the palate, with medium acidity, melted tannins and similar complex flavors as for the nose. Long, smooth finish. This wine is quite pleasant, despite the fact that it is likely in decline. Drink within the next 2-3 years.
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5/13/1989 - MicklethePickle wrote: 85 Points
With MPL at Singer & Foy survey of Diamond Creek wines. Dark cranberry color. Nice nose. Rich. Good on the palate. Dark bitter chocolate finish. Still a bit harsh and austere. 5-10-14-6: 85/100.
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