I want to test how Vinloq’s “Slow Decanting” works with the Éloge
DAY 1 👃Chalky, spicy dark purple fruit. Sweet. Brush and briars. Cigar box. Cedar 👅Plenty going on here. Loaded with fruit, spicy cedar, green pepper. Chalky accents that finish spicy. Full bodied. Robust fruit. Sweet tannins that are “primetime”. Good length on the finish. Bring on the 🥩!
The remaining wine was Slow Decanted
DAY 10 👃Glorious. Bright. Spicy. Perfumey 👅Fruit builds in the packed midpalate and finishes with the full complement of flavors. Proper acidity. Lovely silky tannins. No bitterness or heat. Oak fully integrated
This 05 Éloge is in such a delicious spot now. It has years ahead as there are no signs of age, but can it get better?
Fantastic on both Day 1 and 10. There was no point in keeping this for 10 days, but it is nice to have that option. Slightly more power on Day 1 but a little more elegant in style on Day 10. It plays both roles well💕
Follow "Vinloq.notes" on Instagram
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mature Bordeaux blend with the characteristic red fruit brightness of Gus Anderson. In a great drinking window. Drink or hold (if you can keep your hands off it)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted in the glass about 30 minutes. Muted dark fruit on the nose, but nice blueberry and plumb flavors. Opened up nicely over next 90 minutes, with secondary flavors of spice and chocolate. Last bottle of a really good wine, served with grilled ribeye.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A joy to drink! This was a hearty and extremely very well-made Napa Cab / Bordeaux blend and I found it to be much more profound than most others wine drinkers, probably because of its herbaceous accents. I loved the Cabernet Franc component which really projected spicy elements and tannic structure. Tasted cigar box, cedar, tobacco, and chocolate. This wine reminded me of “old-style Napa” in that it seemed to have a heavy focus on Terroir as it mirrored the depth and luxuriousness of a great Bordeaux, which is unachievable in California, but they attempted and nearly succeeded (Bravo!). It also aimed for high artistry instead of exaggeration of style, or richness, or superficiality. It was worth every penny and it’s at peak maturity now, so I suggest you drink it now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 90 minutes before dinner. Very good Bdx blend from and excellent producer. Shy dark and blue fruit nose with same on palate along with some cigar box. Tannins fully resolved; tasted quite a bit older than the 2007 Eloge we had alongside it. Compact but pleasant finish. A fine wine tonight, but time to drink up. Faded over the course of a long evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This Eloge was excellent. Dark purple color, blackberry, black cherry, cassis, plum, rhubarb, tobacco leaf. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Cab Franc really apparent. 15.3% abv. In a perfect place now. Drink now through 2022.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terrific new world Bordeaux blend that is drinking perfectly right now. Super smooth tannins with dark, plum-like fruit with amazing complexity. Notes of tobacco, licorice, cassis and cigar box...all wonderfully integrated.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking as I write this. Nice flavors of leather, dark cherry and licorice. Age is showing nicely. Paid around $70. You’ll be hard pressed to walk into Total Wine or BevMo and find something better for that price. I’ll buy a few more if I can find them.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This Eloge is at its peak. It’s big and extracted for a Conn Valley, with the 25% Cab Franc really prominent. Dark purple color, blackberry, black cherry, cassis, plum, rhubarb, tobacco leaf. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. 15.3% abv. Drink now through 2022.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep dark center, red rim with signs of age. Sweet briar, rubbing tobacco, plums and darker red fruits, took some time for the nose to open up, slightly cheesy (in a good way). Slightly funky to begin with, then more Bordeaux notes of cassis, plums and clay, the Merlot is evident, strong green streak (good) emphasizes the old world, ash and toasted wood, alcohol, good acidity and tannins still, good finish - long fruit and bell pepper. Interesting wine at 13 years of age. Sits between the new and old worlds. Needed a good 3 hours to open up (very closed otherwise), the alcohol is not evident on tasting but there never-the-less (15.3%). Would have been better at a percent lower. Not clear how this will age - high alcohol wines don't normally fair well in my experience.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I prefer these just a tad younger, and think that their Cab Reserve ages a little better. That said, it was still drinking very well and was showing a sense of elegance 12 years post-vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terrific bottle and drinking beautiful. Deep dark hue. Mellowed flavors, nothing strong and over powering. Smooth, velvety, very easy to go down. Very nice wine!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
So I have had two napa from 2005- this and the O'Shaugnesy- and this was so much better. Almost elegant, complex, into secondaries - old world character not usually found in Napa Kudos
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not an overly striking wine but flawless. Terrific bottle and drinking beautiful. Deep dark hue. Mellowed flavors, nothing strong and over powering. Smooth, velvety, very easy to go down. Not passed its prime.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I did not decant and it took a bit longer to mellow, but was still good. In the future, decanting is a good idea. It has a long finish and a rich full body.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We decanted this bottle for a little over an hour. It got better as it breathed a while. Delicious wine with great complexity and depth. Wish we had more in our cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for about 90 minutes. Dark fruit on the nose and initial taste. Nice graphite or cedar noted about 15 seconds later. A bit hot at first but mellowed after another 30 minutes. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
this was outstanding and the first bottle of a case. After reading reviews, I let the wine open for an hour and it still was a bit closed, but a pleasing Bordeaux. After a few hours, the high alcohol settled into a rich, long lasting balanced fruit that was outstanding and closer to a Napa blend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Needed a 1 hour decant to open up. Some sediment in bottle. Color showed signs of age. This wine underperformed. Nose of black licorice, cedar, forest floor, and kirsch. Good texture, but a bit astringent. Just lacked a certain deliciousness that you'd expect from a wine at this price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cassis and eucalyptus, well integrated tannins. Hot on opening but somewhat high alcohol blew off over an hour in the glasses at restaurant. This is very nice and given the slightly muted fruit, don't see it improving all that much. Would drink now with decant for alcohol. Nice new world Bordeaux blend
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well done Todd Anderson. Could go side to side with any of the best château out there. An initial nose of barnyard blew off soon in the decanter. Dark red fruit, ripe tannins, great acid and a finish that lasted for at least 30 seconds. This one has years to go if cellared properly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My experience with ACV wines are that, though they can hold for several years, they can be just as enjoyable with just a little time. This one's been resting in my cellar now for about 4-5 years and it held true to that theory. Great garnet-ruby color with the slightest hint of bricking. The aromatics were phenomenal, with an anise-driven herbal theme, coupled with wild mushrooms. Those characteristics carried through to the flavors and the the finish was long with smooth, dusty tannins. Plenty of structure to carry this well into the next decade. Todd knows his estate fruit!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very solid cab. Nice flavor profile and good color and structure. I'm right with Hawkeye54 on this one. Not quite as good the second day so I might not be tempted to hold for too long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great California cab forward Bordeaux blend. Great balance. Lovely on the nose. Lovely on the palate. Long finish. Maybe a touch hot, but not too bad. very round and well rounded. Easy to like. PDQ93+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We had 20 something high school kids over for a pool party and needed something to mellow out the pain. Opened 1/2 hour before pouring. Dark purple, cedar, roasted herbs, au jus, currant all well integrated with enough tannins to keep it interesting. Silkly smooth, good finish. I believe this will continue to evolve but not sure it will improve much. Interesting to see.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gorgeous dark, almost opaque color. Nice nose of leather and earth. Deep rich palate with typical creme de cassis, oak and tobacco. I thought this was still a little primary in the fruit. Hopefully I can wait a few more years to try again with the hopes that it will become more integrated/balanced. If this showed more structure it could be 3-4 points higher. Should have decanted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gorgeous voluptuous silky mouthfeel and lovely Bordeaux aromas- but a decidedly pinched, bitter (flawed, cooked?) finish that ended the dream abruptly. Maybe a bad bottle, because what a start!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
15.3% ABV. Popped and poured. Translucent dark garnet in the glass. Aromas of red currant with nuances of mint, oak, and wax. More accessible than I recall from my last tasting about a year ago. Medium-full bodied with ripe but restrained red currant fruit. Headed in a nice direction with probably room for improvement. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was VERY impressed with this wine. Although young and still having substantial tannins, they were smooth and did not detract from the wine. Soaring, complex aromatics of leather, soil, mushroom & cassis, this just kept impressing with every sip. This has the structure to go many more years. I would like to get more of this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is really nice, but needs some more bottle time in my opinion. Nose was somewhat tight with notes of dark fruit and cedar. Nice texture and flavors of cassis, pencil shavings and smoked meat. Holding my remaining bottles for a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have been really looking forward to trying this bottle after discovering this bottle through the great comments of others on CT when discussing the Anderson's Conn Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve. I opened last night and had a glass and enjoyed very much but not over the top. I had my second glass tonight which led to a 3rd glass. WOW what a home run. All CT's reviewers were right on the money. The wine is great value and a must try for everyone. You will not be disappointed
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and decanted half of a Magnum for over an hour. Drank over the next 3 and decanted the rest as there was room for it. Rich but not over the top with some secondairies such as leather and a mineral streak starting to show on the palate but a somewhat clipped nose that didn't show what was coming.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
First Eloge other than a 1999 I had a year ago. This was clearly superior and an amazing yet still young wine. This wine was anexcellent blend with floral notes. The fruit was still abit primary but lovely. Decanted for an hour and was ready to go. Agree with the other notes on its qualities except did not find astringent in any way. It was integrated, Could be 95+ with more age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
15.3% ABV. Note from day 2. Translucent dark garnet in the glass. The nose reminds me strongly of Bordeaux with red currant, tobacco, and a slight wax note, but with a somewhat riper framework. Medium-full bodied and still somewhat reticent with red currant and cedar. The finish shows some lingering tannin. Pretty tasty. This seems to have longevity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This winery does Cab Franc exceptionally well and the healthy dolop of Cab Franc in this wine really shines through with leather, tobacco and a little green pepper on nose and palate. Earthier than a typical Cali Cab and well balanced. A really nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
black garnet. Nose was a Cal Cab on steroids. Taste was mouthfilling, young, deep; full of black fruits, plums, coffee. Very good, and I thought this is like a Mustang-the car. American muscle all the way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderfully balanced and earthy; a little more subdued than I expected from a California wine, it is easy to mistake it for a bordeuax style. Very enoyable. Drinking very well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Last night, Monday, the wife was up for a night out so we wnt to our local pleasure palace, Hannas. We had a tremendous meal and since I know she was not going to be able to join me in a touch of wine, I brought a long a 2005 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge. Tod Anderson learned from his dad Gus how to lay down a great glass of Cab blend and this one was great. It was poured through a Vinturi or as I call it a Barbie Toilette. This was the perfect inky purple and had some exotic spices and florals on the nose. It really clung on tight to the glass (Dave has great stem wear and that can make all the difference). I got berries and chewy earthy smoky tastes. It was great. It even put a nice smile on Dave's face when I gave him a pour. Good stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful wine. Popped and poured and should have gone the vinturi and decant route as this was good but a bit one-dimensional after being open for about an hour but sitting in the bottle. Good but not as good as expected then about an hour later after half the bottle was gone it just exploded to show layers of complexity of dark, sweet fruits, soft tannins and just the right amount of toasty oak. The last half of the bottle was sumptuous. Give this big boy a couple more years or lots of air and you will not be disappointed. Another excellent effort by Anderson's Conn Valley ... love their cabernets but I think this one has them beat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Black currant and soft earthiness on the nose. Smooth cassis flavor with subtle pencil lead and peppers. Soft tannins and medium finish. Seemed to be lacking some fullness on the midpalate, but otherwise very well balanced and drinking nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We shared this with friends on 5/23/10. It had a great bouquet of cassis, cherry, sage, spice and cedar aromas. The palate was silky smooth, incredibly well balanced and delicious with kirsch, cassis, spice and pepper flavors. It was very elegant with more finesse than I’ve experienced in a long time. The finish was incredible: 60 seconds and extremely satisfying! Fabulous!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really enjoyable, better than expected, and great value for the price. On the nose, I got herbal notes of sage and leather, while my companion picked up more fruit. Strong black fruits on palate. Good viscosity, lingering taste. Went great with our steaks.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Underwhelming. Returned the first bottle to the store (corked). 2nd Bottle was ok, complexity was not there, seemed pretty flat. Plenty of 25 dollar cabs that beat the pants off this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured at the ARNOLDFEST dinner at LG's Steakhouse in Palm Desert. One of the most "Bordeaux-like" noses that I have found in a new world blend with lots of dusty earth, herbs, dried cranberry and black berries. The flavor followed the nose with excellent balance and a nice zip of acidity that made this really food friendly. To me, this is just a baby and needs time to mellow out and come together. That said, it was missing something to me, just didn't have that "it" factor that would make me want to score this in the 92-95 range others have. WOTN for me, but this was by no means a transcendent experience. Just a nice wine that went well with an amazing meal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Très beau vin concentré et puissant. Le genre de vin de Napa qu’un palais plus bordelais peut apprécier. Texture très soyeuse et fruit charmeur, mais avec une certaine droiture. Plus riche que le 2004, le taux d’alcool de 15,3% passe bien car l’équilibre y est.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Color was a dark ruby purple with violet highlights, moderate viscosity... nothing crazy. The nose is unreal, a subtle smokey aspect brings to mind an espresso shop with a specialty candle exhibit taking place. In the mouth; a full flavor, medium body brings plenty of red currant fruit and some slight vegetable character. The smokey gorgeousness follows through on the palate in a way that's thoroughly intriguing and never overbearing. Great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Napa February 2009; 2/16/2009-2/20/2009: his was the last wine tasted at the winery and after having many wines that day I'll just say that this was a great meadium+ bodied silky wine with good finish, it was somewhere in the 91-92 range.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
** Color: garnet red Nose: Earth, Cherry and spice Taste: Nicely complex with layers of cheryy, smole, earth spice and a licorice finish I decanted this bottle with a vinturi and then in the decanter for 2 hours. It has great structure, very balanced with a nice long finish. Completely enjoyable now - I think it has staying power for cellaring. (50+5+13+17+8)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fabulous. Blend: Cabernet sauvignon 65%, cabernet franc 25%, merlot 5%, and petit verdot 5%. Drinkable now. Consumed right out of the bottle at a BYOB. Smooth. Velvety. Integrated. Just enough structure to balance the fruit. Nice finish, although not overly long or complex.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bordeaux like style, Beautiful dark color, Aromas of tons of ripe fresh dark fruits, mixed with some tobacco and subtle smoke. The '05 is full-bodied, elegant, and finishes up chewy and very, very long. This wine is a baby in diapers right now. Conn Valley is establishing itself with among Napa's best. (Best from 2010-2025) - JD95
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Conn Valley's '05 Eloge is simply great. Beauftiful attack of red and black fruit up front, followed by layers of secondary flavors and a pleasing finish; drinking well in its youth but has plenty of structure to age for years. Paired extremely well with rib-eye. Cannot wait to enjoy again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very Bordeaux like, needs more time for tannins to mellow out. Still a little hot, but that should resolve itself with time. Thankfully not another Cali fruit bomb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Napa-Noma, May 2008: 65% Cabernet, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, and 5% Petite Verdot. Concentrated but subtle with black currant fruit. Sweet and concentrated with a core backbone. Touch of caramel and mocha late. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
10/12/2022 - byzero Likes this wine: 96 Points
I want to test how Vinloq’s “Slow Decanting” works with the Éloge
DAY 1
👃Chalky, spicy dark purple fruit. Sweet. Brush and briars. Cigar box. Cedar
👅Plenty going on here. Loaded with fruit, spicy cedar, green pepper. Chalky accents that finish spicy. Full bodied. Robust fruit. Sweet tannins that are “primetime”. Good length on the finish. Bring on the 🥩!
The remaining wine was Slow Decanted
DAY 10
👃Glorious. Bright. Spicy. Perfumey
👅Fruit builds in the packed midpalate and finishes with the full complement of flavors. Proper acidity. Lovely silky tannins. No bitterness or heat. Oak fully integrated
This 05 Éloge is in such a delicious spot now. It has years ahead as there are no signs of age, but can it get better?
Fantastic on both Day 1 and 10. There was no point in keeping this for 10 days, but it is nice to have that option. Slightly more power on Day 1 but a little more elegant in style on Day 10. It plays both roles well💕
Follow "Vinloq.notes" on Instagram
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2022 - dkwins Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent Bordeaux style, packed with fruit, but nicely integrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2022 - Cmainardi wrote: 92 Points
Mature Bordeaux blend with the characteristic red fruit brightness of Gus Anderson. In a great drinking window. Drink or hold (if you can keep your hands off it)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2021 - stevegpg Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted in the glass about 30 minutes. Muted dark fruit on the nose, but nice blueberry and plumb flavors. Opened up nicely over next 90 minutes, with secondary flavors of spice and chocolate. Last bottle of a really good wine, served with grilled ribeye.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2021 - Sanlucar Likes this wine: 96 Points
A joy to drink! This was a hearty and extremely very well-made Napa Cab / Bordeaux blend and I found it to be much more profound than most others wine drinkers, probably because of its herbaceous accents. I loved the Cabernet Franc component which really projected spicy elements and tannic structure. Tasted cigar box, cedar, tobacco, and chocolate. This wine reminded me of “old-style Napa” in that it seemed to have a heavy focus on Terroir as it mirrored the depth and luxuriousness of a great Bordeaux, which is unachievable in California, but they attempted and nearly succeeded (Bravo!). It also aimed for high artistry instead of exaggeration of style, or richness, or superficiality. It was worth every penny and it’s at peak maturity now, so I suggest you drink it now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2020 - stoneb Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 90 minutes before dinner. Very good Bdx blend from and excellent producer. Shy dark and blue fruit nose with same on palate along with some cigar box. Tannins fully resolved; tasted quite a bit older than the 2007 Eloge we had alongside it. Compact but pleasant finish. A fine wine tonight, but time to drink up. Faded over the course of a long evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2019 - StainedGlass Likes this wine: 93 Points
This Eloge was excellent. Dark purple color, blackberry, black cherry, cassis, plum, rhubarb, tobacco leaf. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Cab Franc really apparent. 15.3% abv. In a perfect place now. Drink now through 2022.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2019 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Terrific new world Bordeaux blend that is drinking perfectly right now. Super smooth tannins with dark, plum-like fruit with amazing complexity. Notes of tobacco, licorice, cassis and cigar box...all wonderfully integrated.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2018 - kfran24 wrote: 93 Points
Drinking as I write this. Nice flavors of leather, dark cherry and licorice. Age is showing nicely. Paid around $70. You’ll be hard pressed to walk into Total Wine or BevMo and find something better for that price. I’ll buy a few more if I can find them.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2018 - StainedGlass wrote: 91 Points
This Eloge is at its peak. It’s big and extracted for a Conn Valley, with the 25% Cab Franc really prominent. Dark purple color, blackberry, black cherry, cassis, plum, rhubarb, tobacco leaf. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. 15.3% abv. Drink now through 2022.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2018 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Better than last bottle. More towards the Bordelaise. Drinking well now. Good acidity and tannin for future aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2018 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep dark center, red rim with signs of age.
Sweet briar, rubbing tobacco, plums and darker red fruits, took some time for the nose to open up, slightly cheesy (in a good way).
Slightly funky to begin with, then more Bordeaux notes of cassis, plums and clay, the Merlot is evident, strong green streak (good) emphasizes the old world, ash and toasted wood, alcohol, good acidity and tannins still, good finish - long fruit and bell pepper.
Interesting wine at 13 years of age. Sits between the new and old worlds. Needed a good 3 hours to open up (very closed otherwise), the alcohol is not evident on tasting but there never-the-less (15.3%). Would have been better at a percent lower. Not clear how this will age - high alcohol wines don't normally fair well in my experience.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2018 - rpenn77 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wonderful rich cigar box nose. Soft tannins with great dark fruit. So glad I have 5 more bottles. Probably wont get any better. Drink up!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2018 - Winerut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice. I think it will improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2017 - EMTAME wrote: 91 Points
I prefer these just a tad younger, and think that their Cab Reserve ages a little better. That said, it was still drinking very well and was showing a sense of elegance 12 years post-vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2017 - WineCPA wrote: 93 Points
Black fruit shows quickly upon getting some air. Full bodied but nicely balanced. Smooth tannins. Drinking beautifully now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2017 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Terrific bottle and drinking beautiful. Deep dark hue. Mellowed flavors, nothing strong and over powering. Smooth, velvety, very easy to go down. Very nice wine!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2017 - capacious Likes this wine: 92 Points
So I have had two napa from 2005- this and the O'Shaugnesy- and this was so much better. Almost elegant, complex, into secondaries - old world character not usually found in Napa Kudos
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2016 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Not an overly striking wine but flawless. Terrific bottle and drinking beautiful. Deep dark hue. Mellowed flavors, nothing strong and over powering. Smooth, velvety, very easy to go down. Not passed its prime.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2016 - shutto1992@gmail.com Likes this wine:
Opened bottle 1 hour before drinking. Big and powerful, well balanced. Lots of life left, but drinking well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2016 - dkwins Likes this wine: 92 Points
I did not decant and it took a bit longer to mellow, but was still good. In the future, decanting is a good idea. It has a long finish and a rich full body.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2016 - briquette wrote: 90 Points
A little too big and oaky for me. Palate has changed I guess from last time I had a bottle of this wine/vintage in 2008.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2016 - no leashes wrote: 93 Points
Wow, is this good. And still very young. Dark fruit, elegant, complex. Gorgeous aromas and full mouthfeel. Long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2016 - Snag One Likes this wine: 95 Points
We decanted this bottle for a little over an hour. It got better as it breathed a while. Delicious wine with great complexity and depth. Wish we had more in our cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2015 - stevegpg wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for about 90 minutes. Dark fruit on the nose and initial taste. Nice graphite or cedar noted about 15 seconds later. A bit hot at first but mellowed after another 30 minutes. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2015 - Surfdoc wrote: 91 Points
Dark, brooding fruit followed by a relatively thick oakiness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2015 - dkwins Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted but drank within 30 minutes and higher alcohol was evident. Still impressive blend but not as smooth as last bottle given more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2015 - dkwins Likes this wine: 94 Points
this was outstanding and the first bottle of a case. After reading reviews, I let the wine open for an hour and it still was a bit closed, but a pleasing Bordeaux. After a few hours, the high alcohol settled into a rich, long lasting balanced fruit that was outstanding and closer to a Napa blend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2015 - miller3324 wrote:
drinking well. on the big side but balanced enough
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2014 - johnnyo wrote: 93 Points
Lovely wine. Drank more like a left bank Bordeaux than a Cali cab. Restrained and elegant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2014 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
Great medium bodied wine. Refined fruit flavors. Fully integrated tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2014 - scotty_b wrote: 91 Points
Needed a 1 hour decant to open up. Some sediment in bottle. Color showed signs of age. This wine underperformed. Nose of black licorice, cedar, forest floor, and kirsch. Good texture, but a bit astringent. Just lacked a certain deliciousness that you'd expect from a wine at this price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2014 - kennyg wrote: 91 Points
Cassis and eucalyptus, well integrated tannins. Hot on opening but somewhat high alcohol blew off over an hour in the glasses at restaurant. This is very nice and given the slightly muted fruit, don't see it improving all that much. Would drink now with decant for alcohol. Nice new world Bordeaux blend
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2014 - MattB72 wrote: 94 Points
Great. Have 5-10 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2014 - peeks13 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice. Perfume, Bdx blend, great balance. Fruit is a bit in the background but the expected dried flavors of an aged cabS and cabF are there.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2014 - drcoop Likes this wine: 95 Points
Well done Todd Anderson. Could go side to side with any of the best château out there. An initial nose of barnyard blew off soon in the decanter. Dark red fruit, ripe tannins, great acid and a finish that lasted for at least 30 seconds. This one has years to go if cellared properly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2013 - golfwine wrote: 92 Points
My experience with ACV wines are that, though they can hold for several years, they can be just as enjoyable with just a little time. This one's been resting in my cellar now for about 4-5 years and it held true to that theory. Great garnet-ruby color with the slightest hint of bricking. The aromatics were phenomenal, with an anise-driven herbal theme, coupled with wild mushrooms. Those characteristics carried through to the flavors and the the finish was long with smooth, dusty tannins. Plenty of structure to carry this well into the next decade. Todd knows his estate fruit!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2013 - hawkeye54 wrote: 93 Points
Same impression as last bottle. Very nice initially, but after two hours it falls off. Almost has a over extracted or cooked impression to it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2013 - Topper wrote: 93 Points
Very solid cab. Nice flavor profile and good color and structure. I'm right with Hawkeye54 on this one. Not quite as good the second day so I might not be tempted to hold for too long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2012 - pdemaio wrote: 94 Points
Great California cab forward Bordeaux blend. Great balance. Lovely on the nose. Lovely on the palate. Long finish. Maybe a touch hot, but not too bad. very round and well rounded. Easy to like. PDQ93+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2012 - HOS Likes this wine: 94 Points
We had 20 something high school kids over for a pool party and needed something to mellow out the pain. Opened 1/2 hour before pouring. Dark purple, cedar, roasted herbs, au jus, currant all well integrated with enough tannins to keep it interesting. Silkly smooth, good finish. I believe this will continue to evolve but not sure it will improve much. Interesting to see.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2012 - hawkeye54 wrote: 93 Points
Gorgeous dark, almost opaque color. Nice nose of leather and earth. Deep rich palate with typical creme de cassis, oak and tobacco. I thought this was still a little primary in the fruit. Hopefully I can wait a few more years to try again with the hopes that it will become more integrated/balanced. If this showed more structure it could be 3-4 points higher. Should have decanted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2012 - ngannon wrote:
Drank with Matt Rogers At union square cafe ny
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2012 - ralevine wrote: 94 Points
Delicious. You will love it. If not I will refund your purchase price :)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2012 - Levinsb wrote: 88 Points
Gorgeous voluptuous silky mouthfeel and lovely Bordeaux aromas- but a decidedly pinched, bitter (flawed, cooked?) finish that ended the dream abruptly. Maybe a bad bottle, because what a start!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2012 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 92 Points
15.3% ABV. Popped and poured. Translucent dark garnet in the glass. Aromas of red currant with nuances of mint, oak, and wax. More accessible than I recall from my last tasting about a year ago. Medium-full bodied with ripe but restrained red currant fruit. Headed in a nice direction with probably room for improvement. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2012 - sdezutti wrote: 97 Points
I was VERY impressed with this wine. Although young and still having substantial tannins, they were smooth and did not detract from the wine. Soaring, complex aromatics of leather, soil, mushroom & cassis, this just kept impressing with every sip. This has the structure to go many more years. I would like to get more of this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2012 - wdb001 wrote: 93 Points
This is really nice, but needs some more bottle time in my opinion. Nose was somewhat tight with notes of dark fruit and cedar. Nice texture and flavors of cassis, pencil shavings and smoked meat. Holding my remaining bottles for a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2011 - ralevine wrote: 94 Points
I have been really looking forward to trying this bottle after discovering this bottle through the great comments of others on CT when discussing the Anderson's Conn Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve. I opened last night and had a glass and enjoyed very much but not over the top. I had my second glass tonight which led to a 3rd glass. WOW what a home run. All CT's reviewers were right on the money. The wine is great value and a must try for everyone. You will not be disappointed
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2011 - drycab wrote:
Popped and decanted half of a Magnum for over an hour. Drank over the next 3 and decanted the rest as there was room for it. Rich but not over the top with some secondairies such as leather and a mineral streak starting to show on the palate but a somewhat clipped nose that didn't show what was coming.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2011 - botrytisvirtuoso1819 wrote: 96 Points
nose; leather, black cherry, forest floor, and espresso.
palate; black currants, cigar tobacco, caramel, and bacon fat.
high tannin.
very long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2011 - iamandyc wrote: 93 Points
First Eloge other than a 1999 I had a year ago. This was clearly superior and an amazing yet still young wine. This wine was anexcellent blend with floral notes. The fruit was still abit primary but lovely. Decanted for an hour and was ready to go. Agree with the other notes on its qualities except did not find astringent in any way. It was integrated, Could be 95+ with more age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2011 - awineo Likes this wine: 95 Points
Incredible wine. Full bodied with layers of fruit and good tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2011 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 92 Points
15.3% ABV. Note from day 2. Translucent dark garnet in the glass. The nose reminds me strongly of Bordeaux with red currant, tobacco, and a slight wax note, but with a somewhat riper framework. Medium-full bodied and still somewhat reticent with red currant and cedar. The finish shows some lingering tannin. Pretty tasty. This seems to have longevity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2011 - 560 B&W wrote: 92 Points
Mar 25, 2011: 95
September 2014: downscore due to alcohol level and lack of complexity beyond still-exuberant fruit
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2011 - MB Ben wrote: 92 Points
This winery does Cab Franc exceptionally well and the healthy dolop of Cab Franc in this wine really shines through with leather, tobacco and a little green pepper on nose and palate. Earthier than a typical Cali Cab and well balanced. A really nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2011 - jmprusko Likes this wine: 86 Points
bit stringent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2010 - Harry Cantrell wrote: 94 Points
black garnet. Nose was a Cal Cab on steroids. Taste was mouthfilling, young, deep; full of black fruits, plums, coffee. Very good, and I thought this is like a Mustang-the car. American muscle all the way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2010 - StainedGlass wrote: 91 Points
Wonderfully balanced and earthy; a little more subdued than I expected from a California wine, it is easy to mistake it for a bordeuax style. Very enoyable. Drinking very well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2010 - ewineguy wrote: 91 Points
Last night, Monday, the wife was up for a night out so we wnt to our local pleasure palace, Hannas. We had a tremendous meal and since I know she was not going to be able to join me in a touch of wine, I brought a long a 2005 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge. Tod Anderson learned from his dad Gus how to lay down a great glass of Cab blend and this one was great. It was poured through a Vinturi or as I call it a Barbie Toilette. This was the perfect inky purple and had some exotic spices and florals on the nose. It really clung on tight to the glass (Dave has great stem wear and that can make all the difference). I got berries and chewy earthy smoky tastes. It was great. It even put a nice smile on Dave's face when I gave him a pour. Good stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2010 - calicabnut wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful wine. Popped and poured and should have gone the vinturi and decant route as this was good but a bit one-dimensional after being open for about an hour but sitting in the bottle. Good but not as good as expected then about an hour later after half the bottle was gone it just exploded to show layers of complexity of dark, sweet fruits, soft tannins and just the right amount of toasty oak. The last half of the bottle was sumptuous. Give this big boy a couple more years or lots of air and you will not be disappointed. Another excellent effort by Anderson's Conn Valley ... love their cabernets but I think this one has them beat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2010 - Surfdoc wrote: 93 Points
Black currant and soft earthiness on the nose. Smooth cassis flavor with subtle pencil lead and peppers. Soft tannins and medium finish. Seemed to be lacking some fullness on the midpalate, but otherwise very well balanced and drinking nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2010 - garambler wrote: 93 Points
We shared this with friends on 5/23/10. It had a great bouquet of cassis, cherry, sage, spice and cedar aromas. The palate was silky smooth, incredibly well balanced and delicious with kirsch, cassis, spice and pepper flavors. It was very elegant with more finesse than I’ve experienced in a long time. The finish was incredible: 60 seconds and extremely satisfying! Fabulous!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2010 - EileenB wrote: 93 Points
Really enjoyable, better than expected, and great value for the price. On the nose, I got herbal notes of sage and leather, while my companion picked up more fruit. Strong black fruits on palate. Good viscosity, lingering taste. Went great with our steaks.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2010 - botrytisvirtuoso1819 wrote: 94 Points
nose; leather, black cherry, forest floor, and espresso.
palate; black currants, cigar tobacco, caramel, and bacon fat.
high tannin.
very long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2010 - ELH wrote: 92 Points
Nice balance of fruit and structure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2010 - boopbah wrote: 90 Points
dark ruby, smells like a bordeaux, silky in the mouth. nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2009 - botrytisvirtuoso1819 wrote: 94 Points
nose; leather, black cherry, forest floor, and espresso.
palate; black currants, cigar tobacco, caramel, and bacon fat.
high tannin.
very long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2009 - ELH wrote: 92 Points
Slightly tight tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2009 - sweeedfish wrote: 94 Points
Fabulous wine after decanting. Very big nose of ripe dark and red fruits, long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2009 - rdelf wrote: 88 Points
Underwhelming. Returned the first bottle to the store (corked). 2nd Bottle was ok, complexity was not there, seemed pretty flat. Plenty of 25 dollar cabs that beat the pants off this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2009 - jhannah27 wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured at the ARNOLDFEST dinner at LG's Steakhouse in Palm Desert. One of the most "Bordeaux-like" noses that I have found in a new world blend with lots of dusty earth, herbs, dried cranberry and black berries. The flavor followed the nose with excellent balance and a nice zip of acidity that made this really food friendly. To me, this is just a baby and needs time to mellow out and come together. That said, it was missing something to me, just didn't have that "it" factor that would make me want to score this in the 92-95 range others have. WOTN for me, but this was by no means a transcendent experience. Just a nice wine that went well with an amazing meal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2009 - ELH wrote: 93 Points
Should have bought more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2009 - drgrape wrote: 92 Points
Decaanted for 1 hour and it was too oaky. After 2 hours it was much smoother. Probably needs another year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2009 - ludwigbpm wrote: 93 Points
Très beau vin concentré et puissant. Le genre de vin de Napa qu’un palais plus bordelais peut apprécier. Texture très soyeuse et fruit charmeur, mais avec une certaine droiture. Plus riche que le 2004, le taux d’alcool de 15,3% passe bien car l’équilibre y est.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2009 - AdamWallstein wrote: 96 Points
Color was a dark ruby purple with violet highlights, moderate viscosity... nothing crazy. The nose is unreal, a subtle smokey aspect brings to mind an espresso shop with a specialty candle exhibit taking place. In the mouth; a full flavor, medium body brings plenty of red currant fruit and some slight vegetable character. The smokey gorgeousness follows through on the palate in a way that's thoroughly intriguing and never overbearing. Great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2009 - EmilyE wrote: 93 Points
Drank over two days. Smooth and well balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2009 - dke wrote: 92 Points
Napa February 2009; 2/16/2009-2/20/2009: his was the last wine tasted at the winery and after having many wines that day I'll just say that this was a great meadium+ bodied silky wine with good finish, it was somewhere in the 91-92 range.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2009 - smahk wrote: 93 Points
**
Color: garnet red
Nose: Earth, Cherry and spice
Taste: Nicely complex with layers of cheryy, smole, earth spice and a licorice finish
I decanted this bottle with a vinturi and then in the decanter for 2 hours. It has great structure, very balanced with a nice long finish. Completely enjoyable now - I think it has staying power for cellaring.
(50+5+13+17+8)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2009 - ELH wrote: 93 Points
Fabulous. Blend: Cabernet sauvignon 65%, cabernet franc 25%, merlot 5%, and petit verdot 5%. Drinkable now. Consumed right out of the bottle at a BYOB. Smooth. Velvety. Integrated. Just enough structure to balance the fruit. Nice finish, although not overly long or complex.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2008 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 95 Points
Bordeaux like style, Beautiful dark color, Aromas of tons of ripe fresh dark fruits, mixed with some tobacco and subtle smoke. The '05 is full-bodied, elegant, and finishes up chewy and very, very long. This wine is a baby in diapers right now. Conn Valley is establishing itself with among Napa's best. (Best from 2010-2025) - JD95
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2008 - carnyc wrote: 94 Points
Conn Valley's '05 Eloge is simply great. Beauftiful attack of red and black fruit up front, followed by layers of secondary flavors and a pleasing finish; drinking well in its youth but has plenty of structure to age for years. Paired extremely well with rib-eye. Cannot wait to enjoy again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2008 - JJL wrote: 92 Points
Very Bordeaux like, needs more time for tannins to mellow out. Still a little hot, but that should resolve itself with time. Thankfully not another Cali fruit bomb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2008 - Neuman wrote: 90 Points
Drank 1 on delivery. needs time
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2008 - briquette wrote: 95 Points
Very impressive effort at making a left bank bordeaux style wine--good bang for the buck. Should age nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2008 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Napa-Noma, May 2008: 65% Cabernet, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, and 5% Petite Verdot. Concentrated but subtle with black currant fruit. Sweet and concentrated with a core backbone. Touch of caramel and mocha late. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment