The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like mineral and medium toast. It tastes like chocolate. The body is full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has high acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From magnum, double decanted off its sediment a coupleof hours before dinner. Dark color with an effusive bouquet dominated by eucalyptus. Dark fruit and plum notes underneath. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted tableside at a restaurant. No bricking. Sediment in bottle. Great evolution of this wine over sev hours. Disjointed out of btl. Settled down as a mature napa cab. Nice smooth tannins w/ softness in back end. Kind of fell apart by hour 2. A not over the top Napa cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed over 2 days (vacuvined), note from day 2. Nose: Medium expressiveness, pencil shavings, dark fruit - black berry and cassis, with undertones of red fruit - cranberry and black raspberry and floral hints of lavender. Palate: Full bodied, heavy sediment, red and black fruit battle up front with the black fruit laying down a solid foundation with higher toned red fruits on top, Asian spice joins through the mid-palate and dominates the back-end with the up front fruit fading a bit. Finishes with Asian spice and earth dominating a medium length finish. Seems like it may be just past it's peak, but still drinking very nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the nose, camphor, stewed prunes, and something faintly spicy -- I see others have said bell pepper, and that might be it, but it's below the level I find offensive. On the palate, powerful blackberry, black currants, and cocoa that turns to vanilla oak on the second day, with notes of savory herbs and tobacco on the medium to long finish, with light tannins and good acidity. I am surprised to see that others think this is at the end of its drinking window -- for me it's right at the beginning, with the tannins almost completely absorbed and some interesting secondary characteristics just beginning to appear. I think this will last for ten more years. Except for some barely noticeable green pepper on the nose, I did not detect the green notes that others have called out here. This was my last bottle, but I see that there is still more on the market to tempt me to reload.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking beautifully tonight. 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot, but there's a savory green herbal note that is more reminiscent of Cab Franc. Tobacco and some faint cassis notes. Soft and delicious, this has aged beautifully. Tannins are barely perceptible with a beautiful tapered finish. Very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cassis, blackberry, cedar and violets. Medium-bodied; tannins are integrating nicely. Soft and elegant, featuring black currant, cherry and cedar. Finishes with good length. Drinking well with plenty of life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terrific with NY Strip. More complex and earth than what I'd usually expect from Napa Valley, but this is from the more north end of the valley, so maybe that is a factor. Purple and black fruit, earth, tobacco. Will drink my last bottle within the next year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened not decanted. No formal notes. Started to open after 20-30 minutes but could use more air time. Round plush and dark black cherry fruit, medium weight in body ends with a dry finish. No sign of decline. Good to Very Good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour. Still needs some air but bottle was finished quickly. I do not get the green bell pepper that others have. Nice wine that I agree should be drank soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I believe if you have some, you need to drink it very soon. It's brown around the rim. Very smooth finish. A little funk on the noise, but otherwise a great wine. Got this on the close out sale from producer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: Darker fruit with prominent green/stemy notes.
Palate: Smooth, thick mouthfeel but overall rather soft. The green, stemy flavors really flows through here and play against the less pronounced fruit character. Subtle tannins that appear to be pretty resolved at this point in the wine's life.
Finish: This is where the fruit really shows up. It's moderately dry and slightly "hot". The tannins are more evident here, giving way to a medium bodied/length finish.
Thoughts: Better than average cabernet. I like the green/stem notes that are always present, not really allowing the fruit to take center stage. It's was a bit soft but maybe it's over the hump and starting it's inevitable decline. Still a damn fine drink regardless.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really great complex wine. Has a lot going on. Pop and Vinturi into decanter. Nice red fruit, herbal with a bit of green pepper (much less pronounced then a few years ago). Also some olive notes. A beautiful wine and the best cabernet based wine I've had this year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent bottle with an overall enjoyable nose that has a greeness to it. Smells like a combo of bell pepper and creme de cassis on this....really enjoyable since I love that smell on my Cabernet. Wish it had a little less green on the palate but still extremely enjoyable. On the palate complex dried black currant, crushed rock and herbs, and an Earthy and slight green finish. Highly recommended. My last bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple red. Loads of tartrate on the cork. Strong bell pepper nose. Cassis, licorice, graphite, and blackberry notes but the green bell pepper is predominant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice cassis and olive/green pepper nose but both in balance. Medium weight, touch hollow towards the finish but got better in the decanter for a half hour. Delicious and ready!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured, drank over 2 nights. Its vegetal streak is this wine's calling card for me. Fruit is there, but the green pepper is defining. Lot of sediment in this bottle, let yours settle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bell pepper and chalk on the nose. Cassis, tea, herbs du provence, and cassis with a fair amount of glycerin. The bell pepper note began to dissapate over the two hours tha we drank it but didn't disappear entirely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Thought this was a really nice a very good value, notes of thyme, mild cherry, some earth, palate is quite elegant and there's still enough fruit tot carry the tannins, just wish the finish had been longer
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Coravined this bottle 5wks ago and accessed twice. Tonight has a bright nose of green pepper, cherry and pepper. Amazing velvet mouth that I've come to know from Match. Bright palate of spice, red fruits, pepper. Drinking great.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet color, nose of cherry and spice. Smooth but not the velvet mouthfeel I'm used to with Match. Blueberry, black cherry and cassis on the palate. Long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened at Otis' CDP party. A rich full bodied wine with solid tannins. Black cherry, cassis, violet and herbal notes. Excellent wine which I liked only slightly less than the 2002 vintage which I had back in 2005. 91 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A nose of dark fruits and spice, dark garnet in color. A full bodied Cab, with currants, black cherry, blackberry, some earth and chocolate on finish. A solid Cab, decant for an hour. www.winelx.com
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very pure expression of smoky black fruit meshed with ripe herbal notes. The group thoroughly enjoyed this bottle, even with some of it's more unique, earthy flavors not typical of a napa cab. Looking forward to trying the 06!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vinturied and decanted, consumed over 4 hours of election coverage. Touch of green bell pepper on the palate after opening - dissipated over the evening. This wine was curiously backward - muted nose, acidic on the fore-palate, building to larger fruit with a touch of butterscotch sweetness and a med/long lingering finish. Medium body. Interested to try on day 2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375ml, popped & poured. Inky crimson color. Notes of cassis, violets, vanilla, black currant and blue fruit. Full-bodied with medium tannins and flavors of black fruit dominating the palate. Tight; tannins are a bit chewy through the midpalate and finish. Finishes with hints of black fruit, chocolate and spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Will echo rocknroller on this one. My contribution to our summer gathering. Depth of color/flavor was a little surprising given some other notes I've read noting the bell pepper notes. Good structure and vibrancy. This is not over-the-top cab, more of a right up the middle Napa wine. Agreed on the gravel notes, and I liked that here, the minerality brought depth to the wine. Liked this and would buy it again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Annual Wine Group Summer Event - Loads of Wine (Siggy & Jenny's Place, Mpls, MN): Very dark red-purple color. Drank 1 glass over 15 minutes. This was another very nice cab with great fruit, ripe creme de cassis, mulberry, earth, gravel. The palate is medium bodied, cassis, spice, herbs. The mid palate is a little thin, it finishes well. 91pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Again, these are not your typical Napa cabs. Nice spice, green and earthiness with some ripe fruit. A little thin and the finish is a bit short. Might be shutdown or maybe not decanted long enough.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aired for 2 hours before tasting Nose: some sedge grasses and fine dust, plus broodingly dark fruit. Deliciously inviting in an understated way. Palate: quite lovely, on the green pepper side of cab. The fruit is more red than the nose implied, with supple acid. Medium finish. My kind of Cabernet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured, drank over 2 nights. Remarkable nose dominated by bell pepper and black fruit. Smooth mouthfeel and well integrated tannins. Palate has black fruit, green peppers (a hint of jalapeno) and pimento. Very interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375ml. Inky crimson color. Aromas of blackberry and cassis, licorice and violets. Full-bodied, with fine-grained, sweet tannins and flavors of kirsch, black currants and lavender. Lovely dark fruit on the long finish. Has an elegance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped & poured, drank over 2 nights. Intriguing nose of blue and black fruit and pimento. Black fruit on the palate along with sweet tobacco, bell pepper and black pepper. Very nice mouthfeel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1 Hour decant. Black currant, tobacco and green pepper nose, more bordeaux like than typical Napa. Tobacco, earth, bell pepper and black fruits, tannins still present on the long drying finish. Nice suprising change of pace for a Napa cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour, brought to a party so very little air-time before the bottle was drained. Medium in weight and structure, mellow red fruits, lightl tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted non blind. Opened and glass decanted about an hour before serving.
Garnet to perhaps dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, plums and berries. Flavors of berries, plums and a bit of cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannins. full bodied. Drink over the next 3-4 years with a little air time up front.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Didn't have the typical tca odor, but the wine had no flavor and resembled wet cardboard. Gassed-off the wine and retasted the following day with no change.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep purple. Huge currant, capsicum, chocolate, blueberry, some oak. Very concentrated and very Napa but displays nice pedigree and important balance. Restrained but lush, mouth-filling but precise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Upon opening it was extremely tight, closed, harsh. Vacuum sealed and left in the cellar a couple of days and last night it was open and full. A very nice classic cabernet with tones of leather, pepper, earth with a hint of fresh tobacco.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375ml, drinking very well. Tobacco, fruit, and smoke on the nose. Spicy, dark fruit in your mouth. Could probably use a year or two still, but I had to try it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened from the 375, last of my little bottles of this wine. Drinking very well, but could go for a few more years with no problem. I think I'll hold the 750s for a year or so more before opening another. Dark ruby color in the glass, almost inky. Nice nose of plums and berrys, with a little floral accents. On the palate dark fruits, cedar, tar and tobacco box. Nice structure and well resolved tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A classic napa cabernet. I prefer the 06, this seemed to lack the depth. Didn't detect the green notes or bell pepper others have stated, which I can't stand, nose of earth and minerals with a touch of dark fruit. Hits the mouth with peppered (more black pepper) fruit and a touch of earthy dust. Nice finish that reminded me of baconbrook, in a blind I would of guessed 06 baconbrook.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Betz Family Winery - 1997-2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Retrospective (Russell's, Bothell, WA): The nose of this wine had aromas of plums and berries with notes of tobacco and something olive-like. The palate was loaded with green flavors... Bell pepper, green olive, and green tobacco. This was just too herbaceous for me. Several tasters at our end of the table had "bitter beer face" while tasting this wine. The tasters in this group either really liked this wine, or really didn't. Not a lot of middle ground here... I will say that drinking this just after a 2008 Myriad Rutherford Cab and just before a 1995 Columbia Crest Late Harvest Semillon was probably the worst possible placement for this wine. That's just how it goes sometimes...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Betz Pere de Famille Vertical Tasting (+more) (Bothell): Thank god for Match! This rescued my palate from an absolute thrashing by a 2008 Myriad. I mean, that stuff was evil, nasty, goopy stuff. This, however, had a spicy jalapeno note that was just divinely matched to caramelly oak influence. This was like a balm to my wounds, with cooling menthol and pine scents to soothe and relax. Whew. I feel OK now. Keep that Myriad away from me, please.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Thiis wine really evolved over the night. Started out with tar and tobacco, almost Chilean and after a few hours showed more mint, rye bread and cherry. Another well balanced wine from Match that is not your typical boring Napa cab. Riper than the '04. I'll wait another year or two to open another. Love Match.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted about 40 min then drank over the next 90 min-2 hours. This wine made me immediately think of the saying an iron fist in a velvet glove.Dark red fruit with a tinge of spiceiness. Great structure and some firm tannins but balanced by a softness. Terrific long finish.A real winner...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass. clear looking throughout. Lovely nose of cedar, florals, berries and cherries. Flavors of plums, currants, berries and cherries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold over let's say the next 4-5 years. Seems to be in a really good place right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Went to eat and grabbed one of my match bottles to take with me. Thought it was the 2004 until my daughter pointed out that it said 2005 in the corner of the lable. I was holding off on the 2005's hearing they need a little more time. While I think they will be better in a year or two, I thought they are still real nice now. The tannins are more present then the 2004 and the fruit wasn't as pronounced. My daughters boyfriend commented 3 or 4 times that this was real good and he loved it. I don't think anyone will be dissapointed in this. If you can wait, I would. Enjoy!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I'm new to Match Wines and am finding them to be most excellent. This bottle was consumed after a bottle of The Offering (GSM) and a Williams Selyem Pinot. It performed admirably and went very well with both the marinated flank steak and the chocolate desert. Definitely recommend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I found this wine to be in a bit of a dumb phase and never opened up even after hours of air. Reminded me of a shut down Bordeaux as there was very little fruit and what was there was hard, tannic, and astringent. Need to wait till this comes out of its slumber. Certainly has the components to be a nice wine, just that this bottle was not ready.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
wonderful wine. great finish with vanilla notes that hold onto your taste buds
The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Oak, and Vanilla. It tastes like and Vanilla. The body is Medium. The wine is textured Smooth. The wine finishes Medium.
The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Oak, and Vanilla. It tastes like and Vanilla. The body is Medium. The wine is textured Smooth. The wine finishes Medium.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A fabulous Cabernet. But don't open expecting a Cali fruit bomb. The attack is all bell pepper and green olives with pimento, Morphs into a mid palate of brooding dark fruit and cedar box tannins. Great Cali Cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Magnificent bell pepper nose...quintessential Cabernet. When I take a sip I keep probing with the tongue to uncover the ever deeper nuances of flavor. Leather, blackberry, olive, pepper and a slightly floral flourish on the finish, with a silky thread of addictive tannins. Absolutely marvelous.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice red fruit nose, came off as more bordeaux than Cali in some respects, both nose and palate. Unfortunately I got a a weird dill pickle taste on the end which I think was the result of the remnants of a sinus infection (every wine a tasted seemed off and no one else tasted it). It's a shame because the nose was awesome. No rating obviously.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
reading previous notes, I was expecting a greener, more herbal bottle than the 2004 I had about a year ago. And...that's what I got. Still really nice wine, mind you. I'm not afraid of a little nature in my glass.
nose: green pepper, mint, and sage. Sometimes a little bit of olive too, and then there is a toasty edge to keep it centered. palate: very structured, with fine, green tannin, and blackberry edges. Mouthcoating, but not overbearing, finishing with a bit of graphite and chalk. very balanced, overall. I very much like this, though it's not the amazing experience that the 2004 was. Nonetheless, I'm very happy with this purchase. I see no reason not to cellar the other bottle for 5+ years: let's see what happens.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted non blind with dinner. Opened and decanted an hour before serving. Followed over the next two hours. Dark garnet color in the in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of lavender, plums. berries and cherries. Flavors of plums, berries and a bit of cherries on the medium finish. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was a 375ml bottle. While still pleasant, the enjoyment factor was considerably lower than my last experience with this wine... After providing bright red fruit flavors and an enticing first impression, I didn't get the depth and complexity this go around. I will let some time pass, give one of my 750ml bottles a whirl, and report back.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped, poured, and followed over two hours. The nose is incredible, including slight hints of fruit and cedar, but primarily consisting of an herbaceous aroma, as another taster pointed out. Wine was initially extreemely tight but did open up after about an hour. This is a very feminine cab as I understand was the intent of the winemaker (in contrast with Match's Baconbrook cab) and was a nice, easy drinking cab for the summer. On the palate, some fruit and herbs, with medium tannins and acid and a quick finish. Drink now with at least a one hour decant or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and decanted. Different from the 2004. Much more primary, tightly wound, and restrained. Deep ruby color, with notes of red and black currants. Lots of spice, cedar, and graphite. Juicy red fruits are quickly followed by a tight and tannic finish. This will be really good in a few years. Nice with a ribeye but too young right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. Classic (and excellent) Napa cab nose - with tons of boxes to check. Red fruits, black fruits, vanilla, a tinge of (nice) herbaceousness, etc. The mouth feel, though, was thinner than expected -- and I'm not a fan of thick, heavy wines. Palette wasn't nearly as interesting as the nose. Very nice wine overall.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour right off the truck. Very good fruit, neither red nor black, medium-to-light silky mouthfeel and a lingering finish. A tinge of green early in the bottle that blew off towards the end. Very good and very drinkable in the near-term.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
after my flag football kids & their parents left, i sliced some tri-tip & went to the cellar for a bottle of wine. i am damn glad i grabbed this one. i opened it & poured a glass for katy (it was the only glass she would get) & 1 for me & i plopped down on the couch to watch the final round of the masters (i love my dvr). i have never had a better bottle of match & rarely have i had a better bottle of cabernet. while i haven't posted notes or scores, i have had several bottles of the '05 butterdragon hill that i have always been pleased with & would have rated from 89-92, but this bottle on this night blew my socks off. it was everything i wanted in a cab with dark berry & plum fruit with hints of chocolate, fine tannins & just the right amount of acid for near perfect balance. balance. it went well with the medium-rare tri-tip & i enjoyed it almost as much on its own as i watched phil patiently make his way around augusta. as i was sipping the last glass, though, i did go scrounge up some dark chocolate. if this bottle is any indication, this wine is in a really wonderful place right now. i can't begin to say if it will improve or if it will maintain this level of pleasure for any length of time, but i am glad i have a few more bottles that i will not hesitate to open. i have happily sampled some of my '05s over the past yearbased upon a comment by stacey bressler last may & what i have sampled has generally been very good; but, i am now very curious about my '05 jones, '05 bressler, '05 hillside select, '05 switchback ridge &, oh yes, my '05 match baconbrook....perhaps a tasting is in order.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of berries and cherries that carries through to the palate. Medium acidity and tannins, medium to firm body. Fairly seemless and smooth on the palate. Drink or hod.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a .375, cork in excellent condition. Decanted in a small base decanter for 4 hours before dinner. Minimal sediment. Color was a very dark red. Nose was expansive from cork pull showcasing mostly dark fruits with a touch of spice. Very flavorful without being over the top. Again dark fruits dominated, but there were also flashes of red fruits, olive and a subtle herbal note. Nicely balanced with medium weight and smooth finish. Drinking well now with proper handling; I would expect this to evolve effortlessly for a number of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured from a 375ml. Great wine but definitely needs more time. Consistent dark fruits, chocolate or mocha hints, and a little too much acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Thoroughly enjoyable now with some decanting but holds lots of promise for future development. A more delicate looking Napa cabernet than I had expected with red fruit flavors up front (rasberry and cherry). However this was quicky followed by more depth, complexity and dark fruit flavors than first impressions implied. I'm excited to experience this wine again a couple of years downstream...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was only able to decant this for half an hour before we left for our friend's house. Deep garnet color. Notes of currants, raspberry and black cherry. Full-bodied, with softer tannins than I would have expected. Flavors of raspberry ganache, black cherry and red currants, with a spicy oak-tinged finish. After a couple of hours being open, it developed a green quality on the nose & palate, which blew off, leaving a nice herbal note. The last glasses were by far the best, so give it 2 hours in the decanter at a minimum, 4 would probably be better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep tanzanite color with great nose of black currant and plum leads to a elegant palate of currant, blackberry, with hint of mint. Finish lasts for 45 seconds. Great wine! Recommend a decant of at least an hour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Appeared to be really shut down right now. Good basic Cabernet characteristics (cigar box, olives) and mouth coating tannins, but the fruit was completely hiding. But still really enjoyable
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375ml: Left open for an hour in bottle and "decanted" in glass for 30 mins. It really opened up and some deep dark fruit notes with strong chocolate on the nose. Still a bit too acidic for me, but definitely a keeper.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 2 hours. Dark fruit and strong cedar box on the nose. On the palate, dark fruit, more cedar, a little green olive, and some dark chocolate. Mouth coating tannins, with a a really nice long flavorful finish. Extremely enjoyable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 4 hours. Very nice color (purple with hints of garnet) in the glass. Notes of dark red fruits and hints of chocolate in the mouth. Dark fruit, cedar and a whiff of vanilla on the nose. Upside potential on this one with some patience. '05 cabs in general are not as full-bodied and lush as the '04 vintage and this one plays out similarly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Black fruits underneath vanilla with some sawdust. Surprisingly thin mouthfeel. Not much of backbone or finish, but very young. Will enjoy revisiting this wine in a couple more years. Decanted for 4hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
out of 375. i thought this was a little thin. red fruit, dark granular chocolate and charred green pepper. very good, but not nearly as powerful as i was expecting for such a young wine. that said, i just popped and poured and we were drinking it after a funky 2001 italian red.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Blind Drunks monthly tasting (Chateau Lay): Served blind along with the 2003 and 2004. Inky garnet color. Aromas of blackberry, brown sugar, dark fruit and anise. Again, well-balanced, with loads of dark fruit on the palate. Developed a chocolate flavor in the evening. Also well-received by the group. 93-94.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasting on Butterdragon Hill: Deep garnet color. Aromas of baking spices, roasted green peppers, cassis, licorice and currants. Blackberry and dark fruit flavors on the palate, with a long finish dominated by spicy oak and red currants.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
11/7/2023 - ipp wrote: 89 Points
a bit beyond its time
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2021 - econnertx Likes this wine: 97 Points
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like mineral and medium toast. It tastes like chocolate. The body is full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has high acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2017 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
From magnum, double decanted off its sediment a coupleof hours before dinner. Dark color with an effusive bouquet dominated by eucalyptus. Dark fruit and plum notes underneath. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2017 - Whine-oh Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted tableside at a restaurant. No bricking. Sediment in bottle. Great evolution of this wine over sev hours. Disjointed out of btl. Settled down as a mature napa cab. Nice smooth tannins w/ softness in back end. Kind of fell apart by hour 2. A not over the top Napa cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2017 - jbaron wrote: 92 Points
Still a bit saturated, and not particularly complex, but 12 years mellow(er) and not only holding up well, but getting better with some years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2017 - prasm Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consumed over 2 days (vacuvined), note from day 2. Nose: Medium expressiveness, pencil shavings, dark fruit - black berry and cassis, with undertones of red fruit - cranberry and black raspberry and floral hints of lavender. Palate: Full bodied, heavy sediment, red and black fruit battle up front with the black fruit laying down a solid foundation with higher toned red fruits on top, Asian spice joins through the mid-palate and dominates the back-end with the up front fruit fading a bit. Finishes with Asian spice and earth dominating a medium length finish. Seems like it may be just past it's peak, but still drinking very nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2016 - budman Likes this wine: 92 Points
In a eal good place right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2016 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. Black fruit wrapped in an old world cab. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2016 - RichardP wrote: 93 Points
On the nose, camphor, stewed prunes, and something faintly spicy -- I see others have said bell pepper, and that might be it, but it's below the level I find offensive. On the palate, powerful blackberry, black currants, and cocoa that turns to vanilla oak on the second day, with notes of savory herbs and tobacco on the medium to long finish, with light tannins and good acidity. I am surprised to see that others think this is at the end of its drinking window -- for me it's right at the beginning, with the tannins almost completely absorbed and some interesting secondary characteristics just beginning to appear. I think this will last for ten more years. Except for some barely noticeable green pepper on the nose, I did not detect the green notes that others have called out here. This was my last bottle, but I see that there is still more on the market to tempt me to reload.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2016 - CMN wrote: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully tonight. 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot, but there's a savory green herbal note that is more reminiscent of Cab Franc. Tobacco and some faint cassis notes. Soft and delicious, this has aged beautifully. Tannins are barely perceptible with a beautiful tapered finish. Very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2016 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Cassis, blackberry, cedar and violets. Medium-bodied; tannins are integrating nicely. Soft and elegant, featuring black currant, cherry and cedar. Finishes with good length. Drinking well with plenty of life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2016 - grantsky wrote: 90 Points
Last bottle, sadly. Drank with Steak Au Poivre. Plum, Black Currant, mint, coffee, slight dark cocoa, Agree with the last person; no signs of decline.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2016 - budman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Real good bottle. No sign of heading downhill any time soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2015 - Mark Brandon Likes this wine: 92 Points
Terrific with NY Strip. More complex and earth than what I'd usually expect from Napa Valley, but this is from the more north end of the valley, so maybe that is a factor. Purple and black fruit, earth, tobacco. Will drink my last bottle within the next year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2015 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. No formal notes. Started to open after 20-30 minutes but could use more air time. Round plush and dark black cherry fruit, medium weight in body ends with a dry finish. No sign of decline. Good to Very Good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2015 - PSUSteve wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour. Still needs some air but bottle was finished quickly. I do not get the green bell pepper that others have. Nice wine that I agree should be drank soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2015 - raek Likes this wine:
I believe if you have some, you need to drink it very soon. It's brown around the rim. Very smooth finish. A little funk on the noise, but otherwise a great wine. Got this on the close out sale from producer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose: Darker fruit with prominent green/stemy notes.
Palate: Smooth, thick mouthfeel but overall rather soft. The green, stemy flavors really flows through here and play against the less pronounced fruit character. Subtle tannins that appear to be pretty resolved at this point in the wine's life.
Finish: This is where the fruit really shows up. It's moderately dry and slightly "hot". The tannins are more evident here, giving way to a medium bodied/length finish.
Thoughts: Better than average cabernet. I like the green/stem notes that are always present, not really allowing the fruit to take center stage. It's was a bit soft but maybe it's over the hump and starting it's inevitable decline. Still a damn fine drink regardless.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2014 - njAndrew wrote: 91 Points
Needs a little air to open up. Dark fruit, med+ tannins, nice smooth mouthfeel l with med+ finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2014 - Zonk wrote: 93 Points
Really great complex wine. Has a lot going on. Pop and Vinturi into decanter. Nice red fruit, herbal with a bit of green pepper (much less pronounced then a few years ago). Also some olive notes. A beautiful wine and the best cabernet based wine I've had this year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2014 - travelme wrote: 92 Points
Excellent bottle with an overall enjoyable nose that has a greeness to it. Smells like a combo of bell pepper and creme de cassis on this....really enjoyable since I love that smell on my Cabernet. Wish it had a little less green on the palate but still extremely enjoyable. On the palate complex dried black currant, crushed rock and herbs, and an Earthy and slight green finish. Highly recommended. My last bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2014 - mgstull Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark purple red. Loads of tartrate on the cork. Strong bell pepper nose. Cassis, licorice, graphite, and blackberry notes but the green bell pepper is predominant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2014 - ginfizz wrote: 91 Points
Nice cassis and olive/green pepper nose but both in balance. Medium weight, touch hollow towards the finish but got better in the decanter for a half hour. Delicious and ready!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2014 - Lessthanzero wrote: 91 Points
Big, napa cab with an acidic backbone, and cassis. I love cassis.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2014 - The Wine Write Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured, drank over 2 nights. Its vegetal streak is this wine's calling card for me. Fruit is there, but the green pepper is defining. Lot of sediment in this bottle, let yours settle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2014 - mgstull Likes this wine: 89 Points
Bell pepper and chalk on the nose. Cassis, tea, herbs du provence, and cassis with a fair amount of glycerin. The bell pepper note began to dissapate over the two hours tha we drank it but didn't disappear entirely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2014 - eoinhharkins Likes this wine: 91 Points
Thought this was a really nice a very good value, notes of thyme, mild cherry, some earth, palate is quite elegant and there's still enough fruit tot carry the tannins, just wish the finish had been longer
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2014 - DrewWyman wrote: 93 Points
Coravined this bottle 5wks ago and accessed twice. Tonight has a bright nose of green pepper, cherry and pepper. Amazing velvet mouth that I've come to know from Match. Bright palate of spice, red fruits, pepper. Drinking great.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2014 - andtheodor wrote:
Wow, an interesting juxtaposition of powerful green capsicum and linear currant fruit. Lots of stuffing but just not much for me to get excited about.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2014 - ipp wrote: 90 Points
firm tannins ... full bodied, but a bit one dimensional ... green bell peppers dominate palate with hints of tobacco and herbs
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2014 - PSUSteve wrote:
Pop and pour. I will definitely decant the next bottle as this was tight with heavy tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2013 - Grape_ape wrote:
drank for New Years Eve dinner with a beef and red wine stew. Drinking really well with some nice secondary characteristics strting to show.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2013 - DrewWyman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark garnet color, nose of cherry and spice. Smooth but not the velvet mouthfeel I'm used to with Match. Blueberry, black cherry and cassis on the palate. Long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2013 - Grape_ape wrote: 91 Points
drinking really well right now, and with plenty of shelf life remaining...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2013 - Vino Me wrote: 91 Points
Opened at Otis' CDP party. A rich full bodied wine with solid tannins. Black cherry, cassis, violet and herbal notes. Excellent wine which I liked only slightly less than the 2002 vintage which I had back in 2005. 91 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2013 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 90 Points
A nose of dark fruits and spice, dark garnet in color. A full bodied Cab, with currants, black cherry, blackberry, some earth and chocolate on finish. A solid Cab, decant for an hour. www.winelx.com
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2013 - grantsky wrote: 89 Points
Typical Napa Cab; drank fruit, new vanilla oak. Just not that interesting for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2013 - wineward Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Probably could have used a decant. Delicious, but a little less herb and complexity that prior bottles. Drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2012 - jrkennedy37 wrote: 93 Points
Very pure expression of smoky black fruit meshed with ripe herbal notes. The group thoroughly enjoyed this bottle, even with some of it's more unique, earthy flavors not typical of a napa cab. Looking forward to trying the 06!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2012 - jbaron wrote: 90 Points
Nice enough. Could use an hour of decant time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2012 - daniel.jay wrote: 91 Points
Vinturied and decanted, consumed over 4 hours of election coverage. Touch of green bell pepper on the palate after opening - dissipated over the evening. This wine was curiously backward - muted nose, acidic on the fore-palate, building to larger fruit with a touch of butterscotch sweetness and a med/long lingering finish. Medium body. Interested to try on day 2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2012 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
From 375ml, popped & poured. Inky crimson color. Notes of cassis, violets, vanilla, black currant and blue fruit. Full-bodied with medium tannins and flavors of black fruit dominating the palate. Tight; tannins are a bit chewy through the midpalate and finish. Finishes with hints of black fruit, chocolate and spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2012 - btock wrote: 90 Points
Will echo rocknroller on this one. My contribution to our summer gathering. Depth of color/flavor was a little surprising given some other notes I've read noting the bell pepper notes. Good structure and vibrancy. This is not over-the-top cab, more of a right up the middle Napa wine. Agreed on the gravel notes, and I liked that here, the minerality brought depth to the wine. Liked this and would buy it again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2012 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Annual Wine Group Summer Event - Loads of Wine (Siggy & Jenny's Place, Mpls, MN): Very dark red-purple color. Drank 1 glass over 15 minutes. This was another very nice cab with great fruit, ripe creme de cassis, mulberry, earth, gravel. The palate is medium bodied, cassis, spice, herbs. The mid palate is a little thin, it finishes well. 91pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2012 - amgryger wrote:
Friday night at Fabio's with the NY/NJ Crew (Fabio's NYC): Dark color in the glass. Dark fruit, eucalyptus and tons of bell pepper. Full-bodied with medium tannin and acid, and medium long to long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2012 - WinstonWolfe wrote: 89 Points
Again, these are not your typical Napa cabs. Nice spice, green and earthiness with some ripe fruit. A little thin and the finish is a bit short. Might be shutdown or maybe not decanted long enough.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2012 - bobpsi wrote: 92 Points
Similar to previous bottle
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2012 - tarheel17 wrote:
Aired for 2 hours before tasting
Nose: some sedge grasses and fine dust, plus broodingly dark fruit. Deliciously inviting in an understated way.
Palate: quite lovely, on the green pepper side of cab. The fruit is more red than the nose implied, with supple acid. Medium finish. My kind of Cabernet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2012 - mprice12 wrote: 94 Points
Great! Smooth and approachable right out of the bottle. Evolved in complexity over the course of 20 mins! Amazing! Great job Randy!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2011 - benkearney wrote: 91 Points
Big, big boy
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2011 - The Wine Write wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured, drank over 2 nights. Remarkable nose dominated by bell pepper and black fruit. Smooth mouthfeel and well integrated tannins. Palate has black fruit, green peppers (a hint of jalapeno) and pimento. Very interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2011 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
From 375ml. Inky crimson color. Aromas of blackberry and cassis, licorice and violets. Full-bodied, with fine-grained, sweet tannins and flavors of kirsch, black currants and lavender. Lovely dark fruit on the long finish. Has an elegance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2011 - cartime wrote: 89 Points
Cassis, blackberry, vegetal palate with some noticeable woodiness. Fine tannins and nice acidity. The poorly integrated oak is my biggest gripe here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2011 - The Wine Write wrote: 90 Points
Popped & poured, drank over 2 nights. Intriguing nose of blue and black fruit and pimento. Black fruit on the palate along with sweet tobacco, bell pepper and black pepper. Very nice mouthfeel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2011 - russdan60 wrote: 91 Points
Wonderfully smooth and excellent finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2011 - bobpsi wrote: 92 Points
1 Hour decant. Black currant, tobacco and green pepper nose, more bordeaux like than typical Napa. Tobacco, earth, bell pepper and black fruits, tannins still present on the long drying finish. Nice suprising change of pace for a Napa cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2011 - deltacop wrote: 90 Points
These are nice but I still think another year or two will make them even better. Enjoyed but overall prefer the 2004.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2011 - davidandrose wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour, brought to a party so very little air-time before the bottle was drained. Medium in weight and structure, mellow red fruits, lightl tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2011 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 92 Points
WIML92
Tasted non blind. Opened and glass decanted about an hour before serving.
Garnet to perhaps dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, plums and berries. Flavors of berries, plums and a bit of cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannins. full bodied. Drink over the next 3-4 years with a little air time up front.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2011 - davidandrose wrote: flawed
Didn't have the typical tca odor, but the wine had no flavor and resembled wet cardboard. Gassed-off the wine and retasted the following day with no change.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2011 - andtheodor wrote: 91 Points
Deep purple. Huge currant, capsicum, chocolate, blueberry, some oak. Very concentrated and very Napa but displays nice pedigree and important balance. Restrained but lush, mouth-filling but precise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2011 - jaxpaj wrote: 90 Points
Upon opening it was extremely tight, closed, harsh. Vacuum sealed and left in the cellar a couple of days and last night it was open and full. A very nice classic cabernet with tones of leather, pepper, earth with a hint of fresh tobacco.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2011 - nemloc wrote: 91 Points
From 375ml, drinking very well. Tobacco, fruit, and smoke on the nose. Spicy, dark fruit in your mouth. Could probably use a year or two still, but I had to try it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2011 - dinwiddie wrote: 91 Points
Opened from the 375, last of my little bottles of this wine. Drinking very well, but could go for a few more years with no problem. I think I'll hold the 750s for a year or so more before opening another. Dark ruby color in the glass, almost inky. Nice nose of plums and berrys, with a little floral accents. On the palate dark fruits, cedar, tar and tobacco box. Nice structure and well resolved tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2011 - shaferguy91 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2011 - jaxpaj wrote: 90 Points
A classic napa cabernet. I prefer the 06, this seemed to lack the depth. Didn't detect the green notes or bell pepper others have stated, which I can't stand, nose of earth and minerals with a touch of dark fruit. Hits the mouth with peppered (more black pepper) fruit and a touch of earthy dust. Nice finish that reminded me of baconbrook, in a blind I would of guessed 06 baconbrook.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2011 - last chance wrote: 87 Points
Betz Family Winery - 1997-2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Retrospective (Russell's, Bothell, WA): The nose of this wine had aromas of plums and berries with notes of tobacco and something olive-like. The palate was loaded with green flavors... Bell pepper, green olive, and green tobacco. This was just too herbaceous for me. Several tasters at our end of the table had "bitter beer face" while tasting this wine. The tasters in this group either really liked this wine, or really didn't. Not a lot of middle ground here... I will say that drinking this just after a 2008 Myriad Rutherford Cab and just before a 1995 Columbia Crest Late Harvest Semillon was probably the worst possible placement for this wine. That's just how it goes sometimes...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2011 - tarheel17 wrote: 92 Points
Betz Pere de Famille Vertical Tasting (+more) (Bothell): Thank god for Match! This rescued my palate from an absolute thrashing by a 2008 Myriad. I mean, that stuff was evil, nasty, goopy stuff. This, however, had a spicy jalapeno note that was just divinely matched to caramelly oak influence. This was like a balm to my wounds, with cooling menthol and pine scents to soothe and relax. Whew. I feel OK now. Keep that Myriad away from me, please.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2011 - King Cab wrote: flawed
corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2011 - WinstonWolfe wrote: 92 Points
Thiis wine really evolved over the night. Started out with tar and tobacco, almost Chilean and after a few hours showed more mint, rye bread and cherry. Another well balanced wine from Match that is not your typical boring Napa cab. Riper than the '04. I'll wait another year or two to open another. Love Match.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2011 - jcha24 wrote:
delicious bottle of wine....very surprised at the bell pepper on this, but liked it all the same. glad to have another one to follow in a few years
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2011 - Coupe 60 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted about 40 min then drank over the next 90 min-2 hours. This wine made me immediately think of the saying an iron fist in a velvet glove.Dark red fruit with a tinge of spiceiness. Great structure and some firm tannins but balanced by a softness. Terrific long finish.A real winner...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2011 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately.
Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass. clear looking throughout. Lovely nose of cedar, florals, berries and cherries. Flavors of plums, currants, berries and cherries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold over let's say the next 4-5 years. Seems to be in a really good place right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2011 - jfont123 wrote: 89 Points
Enjoyable wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2011 - deltacop wrote: 91 Points
Went to eat and grabbed one of my match bottles to take with me. Thought it was the 2004 until my daughter pointed out that it said 2005 in the corner of the lable. I was holding off on the 2005's hearing they need a little more time. While I think they will be better in a year or two, I thought they are still real nice now. The tannins are more present then the 2004 and the fruit wasn't as pronounced. My daughters boyfriend commented 3 or 4 times that this was real good and he loved it. I don't think anyone will be dissapointed in this. If you can wait, I would. Enjoy!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2011 - russdan60 wrote: 92 Points
I'm new to Match Wines and am finding them to be most excellent. This bottle was consumed after a bottle of The Offering (GSM) and a Williams Selyem Pinot. It performed admirably and went very well with both the marinated flank steak and the chocolate desert. Definitely recommend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2011 - vinole wrote:
I found this wine to be in a bit of a dumb phase and never opened up even after hours of air. Reminded me of a shut down Bordeaux as there was very little fruit and what was there was hard, tannic, and astringent. Need to wait till this comes out of its slumber. Certainly has the components to be a nice wine, just that this bottle was not ready.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2011 - j.michael.kilgore wrote: 93 Points
I wish I had taken notes. Pop and pour...really good. Day two....wow.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2010 - ANotar wrote: 92 Points
wonderful wine. great finish with vanilla notes that hold onto your taste buds
The wine looks Purple colored.
The legs are Medium.
It smells like Oak, and Vanilla.
It tastes like and Vanilla.
The body is Medium.
The wine is textured Smooth.
The wine finishes Medium.
The wine looks Purple colored.
The legs are Medium.
It smells like Oak, and Vanilla.
It tastes like and Vanilla.
The body is Medium.
The wine is textured Smooth.
The wine finishes Medium.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2010 - pkbackman wrote: 91 Points
A fabulous Cabernet. But don't open expecting a Cali fruit bomb. The attack is all bell pepper and green olives with pimento, Morphs into a mid palate of brooding dark fruit and cedar box tannins. Great Cali Cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2010 - wineward Likes this wine: 94 Points
Magnificent bell pepper nose...quintessential Cabernet. When I take a sip I keep probing with the tongue to uncover the ever deeper nuances of flavor. Leather, blackberry, olive, pepper and a slightly floral flourish on the finish, with a silky thread of addictive tannins. Absolutely marvelous.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2010 - Terry wrote: flawed
Corked! Totally bummed. YET, opened a 2004 in its stead and it was singing nicely
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/8/2010 - Zonk wrote:
Nice red fruit nose, came off as more bordeaux than Cali in some respects, both nose and palate. Unfortunately I got a a weird dill pickle taste on the end which I think was the result of the remnants of a sinus infection (every wine a tasted seemed off and no one else tasted it). It's a shame because the nose was awesome. No rating obviously.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2010 - tarheel17 wrote: 90 Points
reading previous notes, I was expecting a greener, more herbal bottle than the 2004 I had about a year ago. And...that's what I got.
Still really nice wine, mind you. I'm not afraid of a little nature in my glass.
nose: green pepper, mint, and sage. Sometimes a little bit of olive too, and then there is a toasty edge to keep it centered.
palate: very structured, with fine, green tannin, and blackberry edges. Mouthcoating, but not overbearing, finishing with a bit of graphite and chalk. very balanced, overall. I very much like this, though it's not the amazing experience that the 2004 was. Nonetheless, I'm very happy with this purchase. I see no reason not to cellar the other bottle for 5+ years: let's see what happens.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2010 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted non blind with dinner. Opened and decanted an hour before serving. Followed over the next two hours. Dark garnet color in the in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of lavender, plums. berries and cherries. Flavors of plums, berries and a bit of cherries on the medium finish. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2010 - Seo wrote: 89 Points
I little too vegetal for my taste. Prefer the Baconbrook. Still, a well made wine, just not my style
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2010 - sirswami wrote: 89 Points
This was a 375ml bottle. While still pleasant, the enjoyment factor was considerably lower than my last experience with this wine... After providing bright red fruit flavors and an enticing first impression, I didn't get the depth and complexity this go around. I will let some time pass, give one of my 750ml bottles a whirl, and report back.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2010 - brianofthevine wrote: 91 Points
Red fruit with some bell pepper notes, good finish, seems to grow on you over time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2010 - budman wrote: 89 Points
Wow...my first Match disappointment.
It just didn't do anything for me.
Maybe it was me???????
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2010 - Tom_B wrote: 88 Points
Dark ruby in color, with plenty of black fruit notes on the nose. Heavy, drying tannins on the palate, leaving a drying aftertaste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2010 - tanglenet wrote:
Tasted blind at an offline. Quick notes: very light and thin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2010 - ggolec wrote: 89 Points
Popped, poured, and followed over two hours. The nose is incredible, including slight hints of fruit and cedar, but primarily consisting of an herbaceous aroma, as another taster pointed out. Wine was initially extreemely tight but did open up after about an hour. This is a very feminine cab as I understand was the intent of the winemaker (in contrast with Match's Baconbrook cab) and was a nice, easy drinking cab for the summer. On the palate, some fruit and herbs, with medium tannins and acid and a quick finish. Drink now with at least a one hour decant or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2010 - bigwineguy420 wrote:
Popped and decanted. Different from the 2004. Much more primary, tightly wound, and restrained. Deep ruby color, with notes of red and black currants. Lots of spice, cedar, and graphite. Juicy red fruits are quickly followed by a tight and tannic finish. This will be really good in a few years. Nice with a ribeye but too young right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2010 - davidwhitedc wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Classic (and excellent) Napa cab nose - with tons of boxes to check. Red fruits, black fruits, vanilla, a tinge of (nice) herbaceousness, etc. The mouth feel, though, was thinner than expected -- and I'm not a fan of thick, heavy wines. Palette wasn't nearly as interesting as the nose. Very nice wine overall.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2010 - gfleener wrote: 93 Points
this 375 wasn't up to the recent 98 i gave to a 750. i wonder if it was me or a difference in the bottles. probably a bit of both.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2010 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour right off the truck. Very good fruit, neither red nor black, medium-to-light silky mouthfeel and a lingering finish. A tinge of green early in the bottle that blew off towards the end. Very good and very drinkable in the near-term.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2010 - gfleener wrote: 98 Points
after my flag football kids & their parents left, i sliced some tri-tip & went to the cellar for a bottle of wine. i am damn glad i grabbed this one. i opened it & poured a glass for katy (it was the only glass she would get) & 1 for me & i plopped down on the couch to watch the final round of the masters (i love my dvr). i have never had a better bottle of match & rarely have i had a better bottle of cabernet. while i haven't posted notes or scores, i have had several bottles of the '05 butterdragon hill that i have always been pleased with & would have rated from 89-92, but this bottle on this night blew my socks off. it was everything i wanted in a cab with dark berry & plum fruit with hints of chocolate, fine tannins & just the right amount of acid for near perfect balance. balance. it went well with the medium-rare tri-tip & i enjoyed it almost as much on its own as i watched phil patiently make his way around augusta. as i was sipping the last glass, though, i did go scrounge up some dark chocolate. if this bottle is any indication, this wine is in a really wonderful place right now. i can't begin to say if it will improve or if it will maintain this level of pleasure for any length of time, but i am glad i have a few more bottles that i will not hesitate to open. i have happily sampled some of my '05s over the past yearbased upon a comment by stacey bressler last may & what i have sampled has generally been very good; but, i am now very curious about my '05 jones, '05 bressler, '05 hillside select, '05 switchback ridge &, oh yes, my '05 match baconbrook....perhaps a tasting is in order.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2010 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92
Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of berries and cherries that carries through to the palate. Medium acidity and tannins, medium to firm body. Fairly seemless and smooth on the palate. Drink or hod.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2010 - budman wrote: 94 Points
Wow. Possibly the best bottle of Match we've ever had. Everything was popping.
The aromas, the flavors, the mouthfeel, and finish. All was in balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2010 - Rangstrom wrote: 92 Points
From a .375, cork in excellent condition. Decanted in a small base decanter for 4 hours before dinner. Minimal sediment. Color was a very dark red. Nose was expansive from cork pull showcasing mostly dark fruits with a touch of spice. Very flavorful without being over the top. Again dark fruits dominated, but there were also flashes of red fruits, olive and a subtle herbal note. Nicely balanced with medium weight and smooth finish. Drinking well now with proper handling; I would expect this to evolve effortlessly for a number of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2009 - nemloc wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured from a 375ml. Great wine but definitely needs more time. Consistent dark fruits, chocolate or mocha hints, and a little too much acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2009 - brianofthevine wrote: 90 Points
Red/black fruits, seems to be a lighter style for Match on this one. Decent finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2009 - sirswami wrote: 92 Points
Thoroughly enjoyable now with some decanting but holds lots of promise for future development. A more delicate looking Napa cabernet than I had expected with red fruit flavors up front (rasberry and cherry). However this was quicky followed by more depth, complexity and dark fruit flavors than first impressions implied. I'm excited to experience this wine again a couple of years downstream...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2009 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
I was only able to decant this for half an hour before we left for our friend's house. Deep garnet color. Notes of currants, raspberry and black cherry. Full-bodied, with softer tannins than I would have expected. Flavors of raspberry ganache, black cherry and red currants, with a spicy oak-tinged finish. After a couple of hours being open, it developed a green quality on the nose & palate, which blew off, leaving a nice herbal note. The last glasses were by far the best, so give it 2 hours in the decanter at a minimum, 4 would probably be better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2009 - flashvictor wrote: 93 Points
Deep tanzanite color with great nose of black currant and plum leads to a elegant palate of currant, blackberry, with hint of mint. Finish lasts for 45 seconds. Great wine! Recommend a decant of at least an hour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2009 - pkbackman wrote: 89 Points
Appeared to be really shut down right now. Good basic Cabernet characteristics (cigar box, olives) and mouth coating tannins, but the fruit was completely hiding. But still really enjoyable
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2009 - nemloc wrote: 92 Points
From 375ml: Left open for an hour in bottle and "decanted" in glass for 30 mins. It really opened up and some deep dark fruit notes with strong chocolate on the nose. Still a bit too acidic for me, but definitely a keeper.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2009 - budman wrote: 90 Points
Way too young. Even with a 2 hour decant, this was really tight.
I'll be sitting on these for a couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2009 - tanglenet wrote:
Neal - Lewelling Dinner Sunday March 8th, Twist in Campbell (Campbell, CA): Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: smokey with lush fruit and ends with a dry finish. Needs time. Very Good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2009 - pkbackman wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Dark fruit and strong cedar box on the nose. On the palate, dark fruit, more cedar, a little green olive, and some dark chocolate. Mouth coating tannins, with a a really nice long flavorful finish. Extremely enjoyable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2008 - goofy Yno wrote: 88 Points
blueberry nose with a fruity mouth of blueberry, vanilla. on the one dimentional side.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2008 - Taylor56 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 4 hours. Very nice color (purple with hints of garnet) in the glass. Notes of dark red fruits and hints of chocolate in the mouth. Dark fruit, cedar and a whiff of vanilla on the nose. Upside potential on this one with some patience. '05 cabs in general are not as full-bodied and lush as the '04 vintage and this one plays out similarly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/3/2008 - ErikV wrote: 90 Points
Black fruits underneath vanilla with some sawdust. Surprisingly thin mouthfeel. Not much of backbone or finish, but very young. Will enjoy revisiting this wine in a couple more years. Decanted for 4hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2008 - budman wrote: 92 Points
Lots of red fruit. Awesome with lots of upside potential.!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/19/2008 - AlexRed wrote: 90 Points
out of 375.
i thought this was a little thin. red fruit, dark granular chocolate and charred green pepper. very good, but not nearly as powerful as i was expecting for such a young wine. that said, i just popped and poured and we were drinking it after a funky 2001 italian red.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2008 - budman wrote: 93 Points
This is easily as good as the 02. Approachable now, this will improve with time!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2008 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
The Blind Drunks monthly tasting (Chateau Lay): Served blind along with the 2003 and 2004. Inky garnet color. Aromas of blackberry, brown sugar, dark fruit and anise. Again, well-balanced, with loads of dark fruit on the palate. Developed a chocolate flavor in the evening. Also well-received by the group. 93-94.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2008 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Tasting on Butterdragon Hill: Deep garnet color. Aromas of baking spices, roasted green peppers, cassis, licorice and currants. Blackberry and dark fruit flavors on the palate, with a long finish dominated by spicy oak and red currants.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2008 - nemloc wrote:
Decanted for an hour: waaaayyyy too young, but I knew that going in. Mellowed out a bit after an hour, with hints of dark fruit to come.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment