Drank this delicious mature cab last evening. Stunning wine at or near peak. No decant needed. Very concentrated with plenty of fruit plus secondary flavors. Drink or hold.
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Last bottle of a half case purchased long ago. Glad I was able to share it with friends who were pouring other fine California wines. In a good drinking window but can age longer. Classic Napa in a very good way.
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Decanted for about 3 hours, which it needed. Nose of earth, oak, tobacco, red berry and green pepper. Flavors of cherry, red berry, vanilla, spice, slight green pepper and oak. Nice balance of acid and tannin.
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Popped and poured; no formal notes. This 2005 Beaulieu Vineyard “Georges De Latour” was enjoyed alongside a 2001 St. Supery “Dollarhide” and a 2006 Chappellet “Pritchard Hill” Cabernet Sauvignon. All three were well stored examples from the same cellar. The 2005 GdL is a lovely, vinous wine. Predominately black and red fruits with some hints of bell pepper, cigar box, earth and baking spices. The structure has done a great job of keeping things together here and the wine shows great balance. Drinking well right now but likely to have what it takes to last another 5-10.
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Still drinking well- after initial opening (+- 1 hour ) great concentration, fruit, focus. Decent depth, closed a little after that with Napa dust but opened back up day two.
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Tannins have not mellowed, even after 17 years. What a disappointment .Doesn’t pair with even a fatty leg of lamb. Lots of minerality that masks any fruits or other notes. 85 is a gift.
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Cork came out well. The wine is still relatively deep and purplish red in color. It shows no age at age 17. Quite deep nose of dried fruits and black berries. On the palate this wine tasted very young. It is still completely in the fruit stage. Very much a California Cabernet with obvious American oak and extraction of flavor. Very bright and vibrant.
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Just starting to fade just a little, at least my bottle was. This is a big lush wine that's not going to benefit greatly from tertiary development. Although waiting longer won't severely punish, it's in a good drinking window now.
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Still wonderful color on this bottle - needed about an hour of air to really sing. I enjoyed thoroughly but missed some of the dustiness and minerality. Ripe. Finish is medium.
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Needs about 1 hour decanting to open up. So smooth, like velvet. Evolved over 2 hours. Quite a delight to experience the different bouquets as the emerged.
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Deep intense flavour of cassis, blackcurrant and fruits of the forest. Good structure, medium to full bodied. Almost too intense, lacks a certain elegance. Long finish and complex. drink now through 2030.
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Simply awesome! 1hr+ decant. Dark red color. Paired with Java pork tenderloin. Nose is dominated by cedar. Wine is refined and more Bordeaux than Napa. Could have used a little more depth, but had a lovely texture. Medium finish.
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Two hours plus in the decanter. Still dark with reddish edges as time on the wine shows. Refined dark fruit, spice, damp earth tones on a well integrated nose. Currant, cassis, blueberry compote, cedar box, clove, menthol, mineral notes, and subdued tannins layer together in a nice, long finish. Excellent wine from this historic Napa winery.
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At peak currently. Silky texture with black cherry fruit, dusty minerality and long finish with resolved tannins. Velvety wine that reminds me what I used to love about traditional Napa Cabs (and need to remember)
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lean and balanced, this is certainly made in an old world style. Dark berry and plum flavors balanced by herb and earth notes. Structured well, but probably needs to be consumed in the next few years.
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My first of three. Delicious with Grilled tenderloin. I PnP but recommend that you open this brute a couple of hours prior. Lots of concentrated Dark fruit, tar, graphite and smoothish tannin. Plenty of backbone to go 5-10 more years. Drink or hold.
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Beautifully structured and built for the long haul, this is the original iron fist in a velvet glove. It flaunts a beautiful tension between freshness and bottle age, with notes of cherries, cassis, red currants, tobacco, cigar box, and earth cruising atop a full bodied, richly textured bed of firm but ripe tannin. Needs a two to three hour decant to hit its stride, turning candied and vinous, and picking up cardamom and bright spices along the way. Cinnamon bark complexity and espresso on the long, savory finish.
Great classic Napa cab. Decanted 90 minutes and drank with beef tenderloin. Classic black fruits, cassis and a little herbaceous. Medium body, acidity and tannins. Drinking very well in December 2017.
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This is one of those weird cases where Wine Spectator gave this wonderful wine a score of 84 noting an "almost bitter roasted almond edge on the finish". No such thing. This is a classic well balanced GDL with black cherry, leathers, earth, and cassis with a plush mouth feel, and a long finish. Drinking beautifully at the moment with no decant poured through a venture.
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The 2007 has been my favorite vintage of this wine but this was right there. Tremendous nose. While the fruit wasn't quite as good as the 2007, this was an elegant, seamless wine. Decanted at the table for an hour and was drinking great from the first glass.
Had again with 30 min decant in July. Much more integrated tannins and great fruit. What a difference 4 months made. This was still rich and jammy but it was also delicious, well composed and smooth.
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Evolving very nicely. Nice nose of bright red cherries, bell pepper, tobacco, cedar, and currants. On the palate, bright red fruits balanced by plum and tobacco. Long balanced finish. This has evolved very nicely. Drink or hold. This should stay at this level for a few more years.
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Lift nose. Light dark cherry with green pepper on the nose. Dark red with hints of brown throughout. Hint of wet cellar with mushrooms in the initial nose.
Tannins on the moderate side 7/10.
Integrated body with fruitiness and acidity in the finish. Moderately long finish. Not a full bodied as I might have expected.
I am not sure I would hold this for too long. Drink up in the next 5 years.
Somewhat gentle and sedate but not feminine. Be careful it does not decline too rapidly.
Decanted several hours and drank with beef tenderloin. A big, powerful wine. Dark fruits, a little hot, thick with strong tannins. Delicious but a little overpowering. I don't know if this is going through a phase our is simply too rough to ever be truly great. If it's this raw after 11 years I'm not sure when it will settle down.
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Enjoyed in a vertical of '97, '99, '05, '07. WOTN for the enthusiasts ('99 was the fave of the snobs). Fruit-forward, balanced, rich... typical but exceptional. Middle of window but could go for years.
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Nose of dried fruit, prunes, violets. Big flavor with oily glycerin mouthfeel. Flavors of red fruit, dried red fruit, some black cherry. Tannins and oak are getting pretty well integrated but are still a bit more prominent than I like b Will be better in five years IMO. Big, classic Napa Cab.
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Again, GDL has proven itself as a blue chip Napa Cab. Absolutely no bricking in color at this point. Copious fruit in the form of dark berries with a touch of black cherry on the nose and palate. Mature notes of cedar, menthol, and graphite complement the fruit. Silky, dusty tannins and well integrated oak in proportion. Nothing over the top or offensive. Very well balanced. Medium-long finish. Still has plenty of time left although drinking very well right now. 92-94 pts. PJP 2016.
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Fifth bottle we opened tonight and it was the big hit. Dark chocolate , cherry and some plum on the nose. A lot of the some along with some vanilla, and "rutherford dust" and oak. Tannins are soft with a nice finish.
This was a beautifully crafted Cabernet that appears to be in its prime drinking window. The nose slightly muted on opening but within 30 minutes showed lovely notes of dark berries and soft earthy aromas. On the pallet this in is lovely and pure. Blackberry, Blueberry and Chocolate notes with a slight Expresso touch. A 45+ second finish puts this great effort by BV over the top.
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Dark, almost black in appearance. Great nose of cassis, black fruits, vanilla. On the palate, rich and long, just lacking a little in the fruit department. A good wine, drinking now.
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Dried cherry and dark chocolate on the nose. More of the same along with vanilla and cinnamon on the taste. Soft tannins. Very nice finish. Should drink well for a number of years.
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This has really come into its own. Lovely nose of black cherries, spices and cedar. Delicious on the palate with beautiful balance and good depth. Drinking now--short decant. Good for at least 10 more years.
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Decanted 1/2 hour. Nose of black currant, red currant, blackberry, spice, vanilla. On the palate, dense with black currant, mocha, hints of red currants. Nice smooth balanced finish. Drink with a short decant of continue to hold.
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No longer angular--nicely integrated. Almost black in colour. Aromas of black fruits, vanilla and coffee. Delicious on the palate, with an incredibly long finish. Drinking now.
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Starting to mellow out and resolve, though plenty of life yet! I'm glad to see the oak integrating so nicely, and it's turning into something rather elegant. The fruit is ripe but cool and balanced, really very nicely judged. Boring, though, and vastly overpriced. If you have some, leave it another 5+ yrs and see if it opens up into something interesting.
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Nicely balanced wine. Overpowered the Filet and should have had Delmonicos or NY Strip steaks. The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are fast. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, black currant (cassis), cherry, forest floor, cedar, oak, lead pencil, tobacco, eucalyptus and tar. It tastes like black currant (cassis), cherry, plum, forest floor, cedar, oak and eucalyptus. The body is full. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
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Dark fruit still up front on nose and palate. Silky tannins, perfectly balanced with a long finish. Bigger cab fans liked a little less, but this Syrah guy thought it was great.
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Drank this and Ch. Monbousquet ('02) with friends and a wonderful lamb dinner. This was a perfect way to contrast/compare the differences between a California CS vs a French Bordeaux. I would have to say both were excellent and it really depends on what style you prefer - if you must choose. The GDLT was deep, dark purple and fragrant immediately when decanted. Dark fruit - cassis, blackberry - was the predominant aroma. On the palate it was rich, viscous, fruity but well balanced. No noticeable alcohol and well checked tannin. Long finish. Superb. If I had more I am sure this wine would be good for at least another 5+ years.
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Wine with Friends (Our house, Kennett square, PA): Big nose with a little heat too. Ripe, dark fruits, a little oak, good acidity. I thought this was a bit simple but Ann really enjoyed it. I think decanting this for an hour or two before prior may have helped this.
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This bottle did not develop like the first I tried a while back. Same vintage. French style, for sure, and enjoyable but not the transitional experience of the previous which went from French to Napa styles over the course of a few hours of consumption.
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Thanksgiving cab tasting. This was in a vertical of 05, 06, 07 Georges de Latour and clearly the favorite. Still with plenty of life in it. Fresh nose or violets, dark fruit and hint of earth give way to a mouth full of cherry and blueberry tones with generous but will integrated tannins. Long finish. A very good showing
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- Garnet color and aromas of cherry, black currant, butterscotch, licorice anise and oak. It's balanced and has flavours of cherry, black currant, oak, cedar and vanilla with a medium/full body. Polished texture - Had with grilled rib-eyes. Decanted for over an hour, very little sediment. This wine is drinking very well.
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I decanted this wine at 2PM, some five to six hours in advance of drinking, based on some of the CT notes (thank you fellow tasters). I'm glad I did. By the time we drank it, the wine was singing - lush, raisiny, very fruit forward, dark, thick, hedonistic, with a very long finish. A very lovely nose, with deep fruit and a flinty, stoney aspect on the palate. A sweeter style Cab that bears zero resemblance to a Bordeaux wine. Paired perfectly with rack of lamb. Drink now (after a long decant!) or wait.
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Terrific. Decanted and poured about 30 mins later. Continued to improve in the glass. Lovely, almost rose-like nose. Beautiful deep color. Well-balanced flavors of cherry, leather, a hint of smoke and earth tones. I was surprised at just how mature this wine had become, especially for the 2005's....
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This was such a nice cabernet. It was smokey, oaky, and earthy with ripe fruit that still had some youth to it. "Complex and elegant" sums it up the best. No rush to drink the next 3 that I have.
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More than surprisingly good. Luscious cassis and dark red berries, hints of green pepper and vanilla balanced by a mouthwatering experience and tannins smoothed to perfection. Just lovely.
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Think I waited a year to long. All around, I liked this wine. The nose was very nice but the body lacked some fruit. Had that rutherford dusty tannins to it but just felt like something was missing. I love BV and will continue to drink their wines. I think '05 was a off year to begin with.
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Decanted for about an hour. Should have decanted for hours. This wine is still young, tannins are still grippy and the structure is here to age this wine for a long time. Dark fruit is buried, you can taste it but it is not out front.
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Still young, not very complex yet even with using a Vinturi. Quite grapy with subtle black currant and berry undertones. Needs to sit another several years before it comes out again.
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Elegant and structured with good forward and mid-palate fruit. Decent finish but not particularly complex or interesting. Drinking well now; perhaps another year or two would be even better.
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Great nose of black currant, plum, blackberry, cedar, leather, vanilla upon opening. Was tight right out of the bottle, so decanted it for oner hour prior to retasting with a big fat rib eye steak. Opened up and the tannins disappeared. Not a big wine, but it had a nicely balanced finish. Ready to dirink now.
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Color: Dark, brooding red. Nose: Leather, blackberry, maybe a hint of cedar. Taste: Tannins are very strong, but not enamel peeling. Still, you can get some currants and vanilla. Lots of leather. Overall: Drinking nicely. Still seems young, though. Needs a decant or a couple of years.
(4+12+17+7)
EDIT: Just compared this to the note I posted on a previous bottle. For whatever it's worth, I think this wine suffered slightly today due to both the lack of a sufficient decant (point less on the nose) and the other wines in the line up (point off on the overall).
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Decanted four hours. Nose of black currant, plum, blackberry, cedar, leather, vanilla. On the palate, black currant, cedar, leather, vanilla. Really walled off by tannins at this point in its life. Has a creamy mouthfeel and a long balanced finish. Great long term potential. I have more of these and they won't see the light of day for another five years at least.
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Taste from a guest at S&W. Blackberry driven. Spicy with plum, cassis, leather and loads of vanilla and toasty oak. Creamy balanced palate. Mocha, light chocolate but totally VANILLA CITY. Clean finish with enjoyable spicy heat.
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Sampled 10/17/10. Took about 2 hours to open. Some nice red and black fruits with dried herbs and smokey Oak. Tannins were a bit chunky still, which is typical of this wine in hot years. Give it time, it will likely improve.
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I Served at a recent CA Cab & Merlot wine tasting, while a solid wine, it didn't stand out as I expected considering it was the most expensive and touted wine of the evening (I bought for $40). Beautiful boquet and ripe, tart, tannic finnish this should be better in 5-10 years.
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Opened and tasted without a decant and it was fabulous. Rich cab ....very dark color, thick legs, dark cherry taste. Minimal tannins so may keep drinking without waiting for the recommended window. Nice surprise since I picked up a case of this for $45 per bottle.
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Purchased and consumed at the Leopard Restaurant, Aurora, Ohio. Appropriately decanted. An old favorite, which did not disappoint. Nose of red cherries and currant, with a bit of dirt. In the mouth, the palate finds more rich dark cherries, oaky dirt and licorice. Smooth finish. Improved over the course of the meal.
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Dark ruby color and a nose that develops nicely over time. Currants, dark cherries, loam/Rutherford dust all on a well balanced frame. A bit rustic/ old school and in a weird way -- refreshing NOT to have an inky fruit bomb go off in your head. Plenty of time.
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Nice bottle of wine. Seemed a little on the young side as I tasted just a hint of tartness. What I like most about the wine is it was fairly balanced with a nice finish, and not a gigantic fruit bomb. It seems that this wine is a more traditional cabernet. I will try another in 6 months or so.
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This was a very odd wine for me as it began with a dull/flat body at first, almost like a wine that had lost its tannins. However, the wine drastically improved with time and showed a better structure later on. A solid amount of dark fruit with a smooth finish. Interesting wine for me that left me a bit confused. I guess I'll wait a while before I open another one...
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Awesome. Needs decanting, but then it sings. A little earth on the finish, but extremely well balanced. Best wine of the night against Duckhorn Howell Mtn Blend, Provenance Beckstoffer To Kalon, and Two Hands Some Days are Diamonds.
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Amazing. Had this in New Orleans. I love Napa cabs and this was perfect. The only thing holding it back from a 96-97 was that it is just a tad young. It is very good and drinkable right now but a several hour decant or 2-3 more years will make this amazing. I do not have any idea how WS can rate this so low. This is the best bottle of wine I have had in the past year. Picked it up for $40 a bottle and at that price it is an absolute steal.
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Awesome big Cab nose that tapers to balanced currant and almost blackberry clarity. Super inky with clear meniscus. Chewy tannins-not overpowering though. Very natural tasting and old school style.
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Could use some time, but it is so good it's hard to wait on it. A Bordeaux blend from California, but definitely in an old school style. Refreshing particularly given the amount of big fruit CA/SA, and Aussie wine we have been drinking of late. Nose is wonderful, black licorice this go around was the primary scent. It is balanced, good fruit, but again not a big CA Bordeaux blend... much more subdued. Just a delicious wine with good structure and something that i will continue to buy as long as it's available. Granted i got it for $40 instead of $100, but damn baby good wine is good wine no matter the price. 92+
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Drank at a holiday party. Age has been kind to this wine, softening the tannins and allowing more of the fruit to come out. Deep color with flavors of dark fruits, almost prune type, but in a pleasant way.
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Thanksgiving Dinner (Dietra's House, Portland OR): Decanted 6 hours. First sip right out of the bottle was like getting hit in the face with a hammer. The aroma of red and black fruits was intoxicating, but the huge slathering of fruit flavors, followed by the wall of tannins was almost too much. Even after 6 hours in the decanter, and several more with the bottle open on the counter, it was still very, very young. The WE drinking window on the is 2011+, and I'd have to say AT LEAST 2011. Maybe 2015...but I digress. Back to the wine: Lots of huge cassis, blackberry and cola (or is it mocha?) flavors. This wine is just immense, and oh-so tasty. I love the purity of the fruit, but elegant this wine is not. Too 'in your face' with the fruit and tannins. Speaking of the tannins, they are still fairly harsh on the finish, even after 8 hours. Yikes. Put this one away for another 3 to 5, and you will be rewarded.
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A lovely young wine showing balance and restraint. Primary flavors of sweet plum, cassis, and brush. Perfumed nose with a long, silky finish. Too young to rate, but should be an impressive wine in five to ten years. Hold
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Napa Valley, July 2009; 7/9/2009-7/11/2009 (Napa Valley, CA): Rich cherry scents leap out of the glass accompanied by spices and hints of pie crust and green pepper. Gentle blackberries and mineral flavors appear, and some nice tannic structure evolves and lasts through the finish. Some oak rises up near the finish, and it's a pretty nice effect. There are some good things going on here to be sure, but I think it needs some time to really get the flow of flavors moving the way they were intended to.
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My first trip to Napa, Ca.; 7/9/2009-7/11/2009: Great smoothness with perfectly balanced acids, gentle tannins and fruit. Drinking very well now and quite accessible at this young age, open 6 hours according to the server. Long clean finish, I wrote "great fruit" 3 times in my hand written notes despite how short my notes actually were, haha. 91+
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Opened for 2 hours before drinking and consumed over 2 more hours. Nose is oak, dark cherry, wet stones, a hint of caramel and sadly a slightly too strong alcohol note. Initially this wine is jammy and tannic with good flavors of cherry, currant, bit of menthol and teasers of secondary bordeaux like characteristics (which would hint a good ageing potential); on the downside it is alcoholic which shows through on a slightly sweet finish that is not as long as would be expected from a red wine of this caliber. This is a decent $50 wine but a disjointed effort compared to previous vintages and not worth it if having to pay $80 + at a later date. I hold out hope for the future but not much.
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Consistent with most quality Napa cabs. Dark fruit, cassis, lead, very dry, rounded tannins and pepper on the finish. A nice cab but a bit too oaky for me.
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Nose was strongly similar to the Shafer HS. Impressed with this wine. Developed complexity right off the bat, but not much later on. Coffee, chocolate, and oak. Drank smooth.
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Licorice and black cherry. Very fruit forward and jammy at the moment. Decanted for about an hour and a half before consuming. Can't wait for this wine to evolve for years to come.
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Dark and opaque with gluttonous aromas of rustic blackfruit and vineyard soil. Full body with high density pushing velvet currant, earthy cedar, roasted coffee, dried blackfruit with a strong backbone to hold this one high for years to come. The best I've had from them in years. It's a monster!
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4/28/2024 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 96 Points
Drank this delicious mature cab last evening. Stunning wine at or near peak. No decant needed. Very concentrated with plenty of fruit plus secondary flavors. Drink or hold.
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4/14/2024 - Simoncino wrote: 92 Points
Last bottle of a half case purchased long ago. Glad I was able to share it with friends who were pouring other fine California wines. In a good drinking window but can age longer. Classic Napa in a very good way.
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3/31/2024 - DogtorKurt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great can for sure.
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12/25/2023 - Aztec94 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for about 3 hours, which it needed. Nose of earth, oak, tobacco, red berry and green pepper. Flavors of cherry, red berry, vanilla, spice, slight green pepper and oak. Nice balance of acid and tannin.
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4/14/2023 - thesternowl wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured; no formal notes. This 2005 Beaulieu Vineyard “Georges De Latour” was enjoyed alongside a 2001 St. Supery “Dollarhide” and a 2006 Chappellet “Pritchard Hill” Cabernet Sauvignon. All three were well stored examples from the same cellar. The 2005 GdL is a lovely, vinous wine. Predominately black and red fruits with some hints of bell pepper, cigar box, earth and baking spices. The structure has done a great job of keeping things together here and the wine shows great balance. Drinking well right now but likely to have what it takes to last another 5-10.
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3/12/2023 - SUnger Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still drinking well- after initial opening (+- 1 hour ) great concentration, fruit, focus. Decent depth, closed a little after that with Napa dust but opened back up day two.
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12/10/2022 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 94 Points
Shared with friends and drank with spaghetti. Delicious mature cab. drink or hold
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8/28/2022 - athurst Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Tannins have not mellowed, even after 17 years. What a disappointment .Doesn’t pair with even a fatty leg of lamb. Lots of minerality that masks any fruits or other notes. 85 is a gift.
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7/20/2022 - Wineteacher Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cork came out well. The wine is still relatively deep and purplish red in color. It shows no age at age 17. Quite deep nose of dried fruits and black berries. On the palate this wine tasted very young. It is still completely in the fruit stage. Very much a California Cabernet with obvious American oak and extraction of flavor. Very bright and vibrant.
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2/6/2022 - hankj wrote: 92 Points
Just starting to fade just a little, at least my bottle was. This is a big lush wine that's not going to benefit greatly from tertiary development. Although waiting longer won't severely punish, it's in a good drinking window now.
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10/14/2021 - novie1234 wrote: 93 Points
Still wonderful color on this bottle - needed about an hour of air to really sing. I enjoyed thoroughly but missed some of the dustiness and minerality. Ripe. Finish is medium.
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9/25/2021 - ggmama wrote: 93 Points
Needs about 1 hour decanting to open up. So smooth, like velvet. Evolved over 2 hours. Quite a delight to experience the different bouquets as the emerged.
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3/14/2021 - KaupCava Likes this wine: 95 Points
Soft vegetal with prominent currant nose
Currant, sweet oak, milky, red fruit, tobacco
Great acid fruit balance with a lingering finish
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3/3/2021 - Philip67 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep intense flavour of cassis, blackcurrant and fruits of the forest. Good structure, medium to full bodied. Almost too intense, lacks a certain elegance. Long finish and complex. drink now through 2030.
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2/14/2021 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Simply awesome! 1hr+ decant. Dark red color. Paired with Java pork tenderloin. Nose is dominated by cedar. Wine is refined and more Bordeaux than Napa. Could have used a little more depth, but had a lovely texture. Medium finish.
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12/24/2020 - IcemanMB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aged well. Deep rich flavor / dominate Cherry. I would recommend drinking in the next year or so.
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12/13/2020 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still great,but declining. Drink up!
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7/18/2020 - korkd wrote: 93 Points
My last bottle, still lots of tart red fruit left but can easily go many more years.
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7/13/2020 - ocwineo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep color-vanilla tar and tobacco on the palate-lots of fruit with medium tannins-kept getting better as the evening progressed
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7/9/2020 - bzliteyear wrote:
Great taste and smooth.
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6/22/2020 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice. Probably past it’s peak. Still velvety.
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6/6/2020 - Highlander65 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Two hours plus in the decanter. Still dark with reddish edges as time on the wine shows. Refined dark fruit, spice, damp earth tones on a well integrated nose. Currant, cassis, blueberry compote, cedar box, clove, menthol, mineral notes, and subdued tannins layer together in a nice, long finish. Excellent wine from this historic Napa winery.
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1/10/2020 - Hamersly wrote: 91 Points
Somewhat angular on day one, smoothed out considerably on day two. Classic old school Napa, restrained and elegant.
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1/4/2020 - dualmal Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fantastic flavor. Dry. Easy and consistent the whole way. Taste like a 30 year old wine. Only complaint is the flavor doesn't last quite long enough.
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12/15/2019 - Coach Steve wrote: flawed
Corked
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11/17/2019 - rmodak wrote: 94 Points
At peak currently. Silky texture with black cherry fruit, dusty minerality and long finish with resolved tannins. Velvety wine that reminds me what I used to love about traditional Napa Cabs (and need to remember)
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10/26/2019 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 92 Points
lean and balanced, this is certainly made in an old world style. Dark berry and plum flavors balanced by herb and earth notes. Structured well, but probably needs to be consumed in the next few years.
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10/24/2019 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great structure. Probably at it's peak. Beautiful wine!
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8/12/2019 - dualmal Likes this wine: 90 Points
Quick aftertaste. Not super bold. Very relaxed. Tastes like about a 15 year old wine. Excellent drink
Had been decanted for about an hour.
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7/18/2019 - hankj wrote: 93 Points
still plenty of life and chewy tannin in this one. It's a very big wine but very well done.
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4/27/2019 - AWLCellar wrote: 94 Points
Excellent. Perfect drinking window. Decanted 1 hr prior to consuming.
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3/23/2019 - garygailkrivan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Time to drink, full bodied, tannins have softened was still good
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2/14/2019 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 93 Points
My first of three. Delicious with Grilled tenderloin. I PnP but recommend that you open this brute a couple of hours prior. Lots of concentrated Dark fruit, tar, graphite and smoothish tannin. Plenty of backbone to go 5-10 more years. Drink or hold.
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1/15/2019 - Levinsb wrote:
Excellent
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1/6/2019 - hopkinstx wrote: 93 Points
Phenomenal drink. Fruit and spice on the nose. Viscous and balanced. Just a wonderful cab.
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11/17/2018 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully right now!
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4/28/2018 - Baron Slick wrote: 93 Points
Beautifully structured and built for the long haul, this is the original iron fist in a velvet glove. It flaunts a beautiful tension between freshness and bottle age, with notes of cherries, cassis, red currants, tobacco, cigar box, and earth cruising atop a full bodied, richly textured bed of firm but ripe tannin. Needs a two to three hour decant to hit its stride, turning candied and vinous, and picking up cardamom and bright spices along the way. Cinnamon bark complexity and espresso on the long, savory finish.
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1/6/2018 - cbedrosian Likes this wine: 94 Points
After 2 hours of decanting perfectly accompanied a beef shank. Rich nose, excellent finish.
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12/23/2017 - vinorsk Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great classic Napa cab. Decanted 90 minutes and drank with beef tenderloin. Classic black fruits, cassis and a little herbaceous. Medium body, acidity and tannins. Drinking very well in December 2017.
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5/13/2017 - Tannic Monster Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is one of those weird cases where Wine Spectator gave this wonderful wine a score of 84 noting an "almost bitter roasted almond edge on the finish". No such thing. This is a classic well balanced GDL with black cherry, leathers, earth, and cassis with a plush mouth feel, and a long finish. Drinking beautifully at the moment with no decant poured through a venture.
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1/3/2017 - korkd wrote: 95 Points
Just keeps getting better. sharpness and a little tart.
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9/23/2016 - RayT Likes this wine: 93 Points
The 2007 has been my favorite vintage of this wine but this was right there. Tremendous nose. While the fruit wasn't quite as good as the 2007, this was an elegant, seamless wine. Decanted at the table for an hour and was drinking great from the first glass.
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7/18/2016 - vinorsk wrote:
Had again with 30 min decant in July. Much more integrated tannins and great fruit. What a difference 4 months made. This was still rich and jammy but it was also delicious, well composed and smooth.
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7/16/2016 - vinorsk Likes this wine: 94 Points
Big, smooth, rich and delicious as always. Less acidic than some previous vintages. Always delicious.
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6/17/2016 - GalvezGuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Evolving very nicely. Nice nose of bright red cherries, bell pepper, tobacco, cedar, and currants. On the palate, bright red fruits balanced by plum and tobacco. Long balanced finish. This has evolved very nicely. Drink or hold. This should stay at this level for a few more years.
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6/14/2016 - cab blends Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 30 mins only.
Lift nose. Light dark cherry with green pepper on the nose. Dark red with hints of brown throughout. Hint of wet cellar with mushrooms in the initial nose.
Tannins on the moderate side 7/10.
Integrated body with fruitiness and acidity in the finish. Moderately long finish. Not a full bodied as I might have expected.
I am not sure I would hold this for too long. Drink up in the next 5 years.
Somewhat gentle and sedate but not feminine. Be careful it does not decline too rapidly.
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5/23/2016 - mhewitt wrote: 95 Points
This is drinking exceptionally well right now. Smells like Rutherford, very lively in the mouth and lengthy.
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5/15/2016 - GFWeaver wrote: 93 Points
Excellent. Needed 30 minutes of breath time and then reveals the dark fruit and balance I expect from this wine. Loved it.
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5/1/2016 - longhorncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Holding up well. Good fruit, solid structure, medium finish.
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3/25/2016 - vinorsk Likes this wine: 88 Points
Decanted several hours and drank with beef tenderloin. A big, powerful wine. Dark fruits, a little hot, thick with strong tannins. Delicious but a little overpowering. I don't know if this is going through a phase our is simply too rough to ever be truly great. If it's this raw after 11 years I'm not sure when it will settle down.
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3/5/2016 - NathanT wrote: 92 Points
Dark, rich, flavorful cab with many more years to go.
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2/12/2016 - Mark Brandon Likes this wine: 94 Points
Enjoyed in a vertical of '97, '99, '05, '07. WOTN for the enthusiasts ('99 was the fave of the snobs). Fruit-forward, balanced, rich... typical but exceptional. Middle of window but could go for years.
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2/6/2016 - Sourdough Does not like this wine: 92 Points
Nose of dried fruit, prunes, violets. Big flavor with oily glycerin mouthfeel. Flavors of red fruit, dried red fruit, some black cherry. Tannins and oak are getting pretty well integrated but are still a bit more prominent than I like b Will be better in five years IMO. Big, classic Napa Cab.
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1/30/2016 - ppaluszewski Likes this wine: 93 Points
Again, GDL has proven itself as a blue chip Napa Cab. Absolutely no bricking in color at this point. Copious fruit in the form of dark berries with a touch of black cherry on the nose and palate. Mature notes of cedar, menthol, and graphite complement the fruit. Silky, dusty tannins and well integrated oak in proportion. Nothing over the top or offensive. Very well balanced. Medium-long finish. Still has plenty of time left although drinking very well right now. 92-94 pts. PJP 2016.
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1/7/2016 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 91 Points
Very well balanced.
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10/17/2015 - Alcontd Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fifth bottle we opened tonight and it was the big hit. Dark chocolate , cherry and some plum on the nose. A lot of the some along with some vanilla, and "rutherford dust" and oak. Tannins are soft with a nice finish.
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8/29/2015 - Crnaaman wrote:
With Heather and Phil
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8/1/2015 - PeterSp Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very smooth big and lingering on palate.
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8/1/2015 - tc from santee Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was a beautifully crafted Cabernet that appears to be in its prime drinking window. The nose slightly muted on opening but within 30 minutes showed lovely notes of dark berries and soft earthy aromas. On the pallet this in is lovely and pure. Blackberry, Blueberry and Chocolate notes with a slight Expresso touch. A 45+ second finish puts this great effort by BV over the top.
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6/11/2015 - la turque wrote: 92 Points
Dark, almost black in appearance. Great nose of cassis, black fruits, vanilla. On the palate, rich and long, just lacking a little in the fruit department. A good wine, drinking now.
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5/3/2015 - Alcontd Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dried cherry and dark chocolate on the nose. More of the same along with vanilla and cinnamon on the taste. Soft tannins. Very nice finish. Should drink well for a number of years.
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4/26/2015 - dmellinger wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic. Has really matured beautifully.
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4/7/2015 - la turque wrote: 93 Points
This has really come into its own. Lovely nose of black cherries, spices and cedar. Delicious on the palate with beautiful balance and good depth. Drinking now--short decant. Good for at least 10 more years.
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3/8/2015 - GalvezGuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted 1/2 hour. Nose of black currant, red currant, blackberry, spice, vanilla. On the palate, dense with black currant, mocha, hints of red currants. Nice smooth balanced finish. Drink with a short decant of continue to hold.
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2/26/2015 - Sundesertcactus Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine could age another five years, very structured , tannins very present. Cassis and dark fruit dominate.
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2/22/2015 - PourSomeRed wrote: 91 Points
Earthy start and middle. Lengthy fruit finish. Curious to see how this goes from here. I would guess that this is at its prime.
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11/25/2014 - la turque wrote: 92 Points
No longer angular--nicely integrated. Almost black in colour. Aromas of black fruits, vanilla and coffee. Delicious on the palate, with an incredibly long finish. Drinking now.
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9/28/2014 - rwilk_2000 wrote: 92 Points
Drank very well tonight with prime rib. Tannins were well integrated and fruits were subdued. Drink now or in next few years.
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8/17/2014 - yofog wrote:
Starting to mellow out and resolve, though plenty of life yet! I'm glad to see the oak integrating so nicely, and it's turning into something rather elegant. The fruit is ripe but cool and balanced, really very nicely judged. Boring, though, and vastly overpriced. If you have some, leave it another 5+ yrs and see if it opens up into something interesting.
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7/26/2014 - Rico100 wrote: 93 Points
Excellent!
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6/7/2014 - Tonythefish wrote: 93 Points
Really nice - complex structure, silky tannins and unpretentious finish
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5/20/2014 - Cruzin wrote: 88 Points
Underwhelming. Balanced and not bad but not exciting at all. Tasted over three days with only lessening interest.
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4/14/2014 - JPPeterson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nicely balanced wine. Overpowered the Filet and should have had Delmonicos or NY Strip steaks. The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are fast. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, black currant (cassis), cherry, forest floor, cedar, oak, lead pencil, tobacco, eucalyptus and tar. It tastes like black currant (cassis), cherry, plum, forest floor, cedar, oak and eucalyptus. The body is full. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
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4/11/2014 - Mountster27 wrote: 93 Points
Dark fruit still up front on nose and palate. Silky tannins, perfectly balanced with a long finish.
Bigger cab fans liked a little less, but this Syrah guy thought it was great.
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4/2/2014 - g289519 Does not like this wine: 92 Points
Very oaky. Could not drink. update: I opened 3 other bottles and all were excellent. Just has a bad one. Updated rating to 92.
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3/30/2014 - NickP Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank this and Ch. Monbousquet ('02) with friends and a wonderful lamb dinner. This was a perfect way to contrast/compare the differences between a California CS vs a French Bordeaux. I would have to say both were excellent and it really depends on what style you prefer - if you must choose.
The GDLT was deep, dark purple and fragrant immediately when decanted. Dark fruit - cassis, blackberry - was the predominant aroma. On the palate it was rich, viscous, fruity but well balanced. No noticeable alcohol and well checked tannin. Long finish. Superb. If I had more I am sure this wine would be good for at least another 5+ years.
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2/2/2014 - Outplaying wrote:
Wine with Friends (Our house, Kennett square, PA): Big nose with a little heat too. Ripe, dark fruits, a little oak, good acidity. I thought this was a bit simple but Ann really enjoyed it. I think decanting this for an hour or two before prior may have helped this.
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12/22/2013 - mdp.blue Likes this wine: 88 Points
This bottle did not develop like the first I tried a while back. Same vintage. French style, for sure, and enjoyable but not the transitional experience of the previous which went from French to Napa styles over the course of a few hours of consumption.
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12/19/2013 - bupika Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still has some fruit - big and bold. Drinking well.
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11/30/2013 - rdfech01 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Thanksgiving cab tasting. This was in a vertical of 05, 06, 07 Georges de Latour and clearly the favorite. Still with plenty of life in it. Fresh nose or violets, dark fruit and hint of earth give way to a mouth full of cherry and blueberry tones with generous but will integrated tannins. Long finish. A very good showing
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10/21/2013 - JPPeterson wrote:
- Garnet color and aromas of cherry, black currant, butterscotch, licorice anise and oak. It's balanced and has flavours of cherry, black currant, oak, cedar and vanilla with a medium/full body. Polished texture - Had with grilled rib-eyes. Decanted for over an hour, very little sediment. This wine is drinking very well.
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9/21/2013 - la turque wrote: 94 Points
I decanted this wine at 2PM, some five to six hours in advance of drinking, based on some of the CT notes (thank you fellow tasters). I'm glad I did. By the time we drank it, the wine was singing - lush, raisiny, very fruit forward, dark, thick, hedonistic, with a very long finish. A very lovely nose, with deep fruit and a flinty, stoney aspect on the palate. A sweeter style Cab that bears zero resemblance to a Bordeaux wine. Paired perfectly with rack of lamb. Drink now (after a long decant!) or wait.
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9/4/2013 - dmellinger wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 3 hours and had with a filet mignonette. It was fabulous. So smooth and delicious
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8/2/2013 - drcab wrote: 92 Points
this wine tastes more like a French wine than a napa wine. aging well. still not peaked
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6/23/2013 - Wineandsports Likes this wine: 93 Points
Terrific. Decanted and poured about 30 mins later. Continued to improve in the glass. Lovely, almost rose-like nose. Beautiful deep color. Well-balanced flavors of cherry, leather, a hint of smoke and earth tones. I was surprised at just how mature this wine had become, especially for the 2005's....
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5/25/2013 - PourSomeRed wrote: 92 Points
This was such a nice cabernet. It was smokey, oaky, and earthy with ripe fruit that still had some youth to it. "Complex and elegant" sums it up the best. No rush to drink the next 3 that I have.
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5/18/2013 - nycebo Likes this wine: 92 Points
More than surprisingly good. Luscious cassis and dark red berries, hints of green pepper and vanilla balanced by a mouthwatering experience and tannins smoothed to perfection. Just lovely.
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5/16/2013 - Tonythefish wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful wine. Great complexity and balanced finish
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5/14/2013 - OregonWineO wrote:
Morton's D.C.
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5/5/2013 - scarce10 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful wine. Great complexity and elegant. Excited about the evolution of future bottles.
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5/4/2013 - Louisville Vino Likes this wine: 91 Points
Think I waited a year to long. All around, I liked this wine. The nose was very nice but the body lacked some fruit. Had that rutherford dusty tannins to it but just felt like something was missing. I love BV and will continue to drink their wines. I think '05 was a off year to begin with.
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4/28/2013 - Sundesertcactus Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for about an hour. Should have decanted for hours. This wine is still young, tannins are still grippy and the structure is here to age this wine for a long time. Dark fruit is buried, you can taste it but it is not out front.
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4/8/2013 - jfaulk wrote: 92 Points
Great deep flavored cab! Wonderful complexity. Lots going on - fruit, earth, spice & mineral all in balance. Very enjoyable.
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3/30/2013 - taudelt wrote: 90 Points
Still young, not very complex yet even with using a Vinturi. Quite grapy with subtle black currant and berry undertones. Needs to sit another several years before it comes out again.
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3/6/2013 - Clos Kitchen wrote: 89 Points
Still a bit green
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1/27/2013 - dmellinger wrote: 93 Points
Smooth
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11/13/2012 - JMLoree wrote: 91 Points
Elegant and structured with good forward and mid-palate fruit. Decent finish but not particularly complex or interesting. Drinking well now; perhaps another year or two would be even better.
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10/23/2012 - jonb72 wrote: 90 Points
dark berries
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8/16/2012 - Mywife69 wrote: 90 Points
Great nose of black currant, plum, blackberry, cedar, leather, vanilla upon opening. Was tight right out of the bottle, so decanted it for oner hour prior to retasting with a big fat rib eye steak. Opened up and the tannins disappeared. Not a big wine, but it had a nicely balanced finish. Ready to dirink now.
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7/22/2012 - texag96 wrote: 89 Points
A bit hollow, maybe past it's prime. Nothing bad, just nothing great either.
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4/29/2012 - jhieb wrote: 89 Points
Smooth and silky, but not as big and complex as found in previous vintages. Third bottle
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4/29/2012 - jhieb wrote: 89 Points
Smooth and silky, but not as big and complex as found in previous vintages. second bottle
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4/29/2012 - jhieb wrote: 89 Points
Smooth and silky, but not as big and complex as found in previous vintages.
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4/14/2012 - pearlsdad wrote: 89 Points
Still young and tight.
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3/28/2012 - gbm wrote: 90 Points
Stamford Book Club - Inaugural Meeting; 3/27/2012-3/30/2012 (ABs House): Popped and poured.
Color: Dark, brooding red.
Nose: Leather, blackberry, maybe a hint of cedar.
Taste: Tannins are very strong, but not enamel peeling. Still, you can get some currants and vanilla. Lots of leather.
Overall: Drinking nicely. Still seems young, though. Needs a decant or a couple of years.
(4+12+17+7)
EDIT: Just compared this to the note I posted on a previous bottle. For whatever it's worth, I think this wine suffered slightly today due to both the lack of a sufficient decant (point less on the nose) and the other wines in the line up (point off on the overall).
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3/18/2012 - gbm wrote: 92 Points
GG hit it on the nose. Nothing to add except that it is drinkable now. Will probably improve over time, though. (4+13+17+8)
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2/11/2012 - GFWeaver wrote: 92 Points
Very nice bottle of wine. Blackberry, currants, cedar. Still very tight. Needs 3-4 more years. Laying the rest aside till then. Keep till 2015.
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2/11/2012 - GFWeaver wrote: 92 Points
Very nice bottle of wine. Blackberry, currants, cedar. Still very tight. Needs 3-4 more years. Laying the rest aside till then.
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1/2/2012 - GalvezGuy wrote: 91 Points
Decanted four hours. Nose of black currant, plum, blackberry, cedar, leather, vanilla. On the palate, black currant, cedar, leather, vanilla. Really walled off by tannins at this point in its life. Has a creamy mouthfeel and a long balanced finish. Great long term potential. I have more of these and they won't see the light of day for another five years at least.
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10/25/2011 - ronaldo wrote: 93 Points
This vintage has opened beautifully in the last 2 yrs. Nice leather & plum with vanilla. Great value wine that ranks up with the $100+ wines.
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9/29/2011 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Taste from a guest at S&W.
Blackberry driven. Spicy with plum, cassis, leather and loads of vanilla and toasty oak.
Creamy balanced palate. Mocha, light chocolate but totally VANILLA CITY.
Clean finish with enjoyable spicy heat.
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7/30/2011 - PourSomeRed wrote: 89 Points
I agree with "meteor". Wine is still young. Needs time to balance. Fruit is too forward.
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4/30/2011 - Mark Brandon wrote: 90 Points
too young... 3 years at least til the next one. much potential.
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3/31/2011 - Mlyles wrote: 89 Points
Again very nice. Not as much spirit as the last. A little cough syrup linger though.
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12/31/2010 - generalee7 wrote:
Decanted for 1.5 hours but still exceptionally young and tight. Will try again in 1-2 years I think.
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12/29/2010 - rainmanjp wrote: 90 Points
Way too young needs another 3-5 years
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10/18/2010 - mxpbuy wrote: 92 Points
Sampled 10/17/10. Took about 2 hours to open. Some nice red and black fruits with dried herbs and smokey Oak. Tannins were a bit chunky still, which is typical of this wine in hot years. Give it time, it will likely improve.
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10/11/2010 - korkd wrote: 90 Points
I Served at a recent CA Cab & Merlot wine tasting, while a solid wine, it didn't stand out as I expected considering it was the most expensive and touted wine of the evening (I bought for $40). Beautiful boquet and ripe, tart, tannic finnish this should be better in 5-10 years.
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9/16/2010 - d'Artagnan wrote: 88 Points
Bonne attaque, un vin assez riche, dense, mais il a une finale métallique, qui manque de classe, avec des relents de poli à ongle.
88 pts overpriced!
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8/25/2010 - SJC wrote: 92 Points
Opened and tasted without a decant and it was fabulous. Rich cab ....very dark color, thick legs, dark cherry taste. Minimal tannins so may keep drinking without waiting for the recommended window. Nice surprise since I picked up a case of this for $45 per bottle.
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8/16/2010 - jerrylindstrom wrote: 94 Points
Wow! Excellent all around.
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8/5/2010 - dontime wrote: 91 Points
Purchased and consumed at the Leopard Restaurant, Aurora, Ohio. Appropriately decanted. An old favorite, which did not disappoint. Nose of red cherries and currant, with a bit of dirt. In the mouth, the palate finds more rich dark cherries, oaky dirt and licorice. Smooth finish. Improved over the course of the meal.
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5/21/2010 - Grinner wrote: 92 Points
Dark ruby color and a nose that develops nicely over time. Currants, dark cherries, loam/Rutherford dust all on a well balanced frame. A bit rustic/ old school and in a weird way -- refreshing NOT to have an inky fruit bomb go off in your head. Plenty of time.
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5/5/2010 - MJTed wrote: 88 Points
Acidic backbone, but still a bit flabby. Dark ripe fruit, oak and licorice dominate.
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4/19/2010 - PourSomeRed wrote: 90 Points
Nice bottle of wine. Seemed a little on the young side as I tasted just a hint of tartness. What I like most about the wine is it was fairly balanced with a nice finish, and not a gigantic fruit bomb. It seems that this wine is a more traditional cabernet. I will try another in 6 months or so.
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4/18/2010 - romannole wrote:
A bit of a disappointment. Decanted for an hour. Much of the fruit had disappeared leaving an ordinary wine.
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3/19/2010 - miller3324 wrote:
This was a very odd wine for me as it began with a dull/flat body at first, almost like a wine that had lost its tannins. However, the wine drastically improved with time and showed a better structure later on. A solid amount of dark fruit with a smooth finish. Interesting wine for me that left me a bit confused. I guess I'll wait a while before I open another one...
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3/6/2010 - bigdomer wrote: 91 Points
Awesome. Needs decanting, but then it sings. A little earth on the finish, but extremely well balanced. Best wine of the night against Duckhorn Howell Mtn Blend, Provenance Beckstoffer To Kalon, and Two Hands Some Days are Diamonds.
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3/1/2010 - napa23 wrote: 94 Points
Amazing. Had this in New Orleans. I love Napa cabs and this was perfect. The only thing holding it back from a 96-97 was that it is just a tad young. It is very good and drinkable right now but a several hour decant or 2-3 more years will make this amazing. I do not have any idea how WS can rate this so low. This is the best bottle of wine I have had in the past year. Picked it up for $40 a bottle and at that price it is an absolute steal.
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2/13/2010 - scelliott99 wrote: 91 Points
Big red fruit, casis, and oak. Surprised at how tame the tannins were given the young vintage.
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1/22/2010 - Mlyles wrote: 93 Points
Awesome big Cab nose that tapers to balanced currant and almost blackberry clarity. Super inky with clear meniscus. Chewy tannins-not overpowering though. Very natural tasting and old school style.
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1/16/2010 - hamiltonc wrote: 87 Points
Seaport (750ml) -- Much better than some reviews might lead to believe. Tastes like good old GdL. Nice to see this wine coming back.
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1/9/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote: 92 Points
Could use some time, but it is so good it's hard to wait on it. A Bordeaux blend from California, but definitely in an old school style. Refreshing particularly given the amount of big fruit CA/SA, and Aussie wine we have been drinking of late. Nose is wonderful, black licorice this go around was the primary scent. It is balanced, good fruit, but again not a big CA Bordeaux blend... much more subdued. Just a delicious wine with good structure and something that i will continue to buy as long as it's available. Granted i got it for $40 instead of $100, but damn baby good wine is good wine no matter the price. 92+
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12/27/2009 - romannole wrote:
Drank at a holiday party. Age has been kind to this wine, softening the tannins and allowing more of the fruit to come out. Deep color with flavors of dark fruits, almost prune type, but in a pleasant way.
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11/26/2009 - RPerro wrote: 94 Points
Thanksgiving Dinner (Dietra's House, Portland OR): Decanted 6 hours. First sip right out of the bottle was like getting hit in the face with a hammer. The aroma of red and black fruits was intoxicating, but the huge slathering of fruit flavors, followed by the wall of tannins was almost too much. Even after 6 hours in the decanter, and several more with the bottle open on the counter, it was still very, very young. The WE drinking window on the is 2011+, and I'd have to say AT LEAST 2011. Maybe 2015...but I digress. Back to the wine: Lots of huge cassis, blackberry and cola (or is it mocha?) flavors. This wine is just immense, and oh-so tasty. I love the purity of the fruit, but elegant this wine is not. Too 'in your face' with the fruit and tannins. Speaking of the tannins, they are still fairly harsh on the finish, even after 8 hours. Yikes. Put this one away for another 3 to 5, and you will be rewarded.
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7/18/2009 - shadi_sak wrote: 92 Points
execellent full bodied wine. Still early looking forward to opening another in a year or so.
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7/12/2009 - jnastynebr wrote:
A lovely young wine showing balance and restraint. Primary flavors of sweet plum, cassis, and brush. Perfumed nose with a long, silky finish. Too young to rate, but should be an impressive wine in five to ten years. Hold
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7/10/2009 - subtlet wrote: 89 Points
Napa Valley, July 2009; 7/9/2009-7/11/2009 (Napa Valley, CA): Rich cherry scents leap out of the glass accompanied by spices and hints of pie crust and green pepper. Gentle blackberries and mineral flavors appear, and some nice tannic structure evolves and lasts through the finish. Some oak rises up near the finish, and it's a pretty nice effect. There are some good things going on here to be sure, but I think it needs some time to really get the flow of flavors moving the way they were intended to.
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7/10/2009 - gripNsip wrote: 91 Points
My first trip to Napa, Ca.; 7/9/2009-7/11/2009: Great smoothness with perfectly balanced acids, gentle tannins and fruit. Drinking very well now and quite accessible at this young age, open 6 hours according to the server. Long clean finish, I wrote "great fruit" 3 times in my hand written notes despite how short my notes actually were, haha. 91+
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7/8/2009 - tlinch wrote: 87 Points
Opened for 2 hours before drinking and consumed over 2 more hours. Nose is oak, dark cherry, wet stones, a hint of caramel and sadly a slightly too strong alcohol note. Initially this wine is jammy and tannic with good flavors of cherry, currant, bit of menthol and teasers of secondary bordeaux like characteristics (which would hint a good ageing potential); on the downside it is alcoholic which shows through on a slightly sweet finish that is not as long as would be expected from a red wine of this caliber. This is a decent $50 wine but a disjointed effort compared to previous vintages and not worth it if having to pay $80 + at a later date. I hold out hope for the future but not much.
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7/6/2009 - korkd wrote: 94 Points
Excellent, though young- slight tartness which should evolve over time.
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5/28/2009 - kanab ram wrote:
Consistent with most quality Napa cabs. Dark fruit, cassis, lead, very dry, rounded tannins and pepper on the finish. A nice cab but a bit too oaky for me.
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5/27/2009 - txfireman wrote: 93 Points
Nose was strongly similar to the Shafer HS. Impressed with this wine. Developed complexity right off the bat, but not much later on. Coffee, chocolate, and oak. Drank smooth.
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4/30/2009 - scarce10 wrote: 92 Points
Licorice and black cherry. Very fruit forward and jammy at the moment. Decanted for about an hour and a half before consuming. Can't wait for this wine to evolve for years to come.
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4/26/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 88 Points
Heavy handed with the oak. Blackberry and currant. Primary without much depth or complexity. Not sure what to think.
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10/23/2008 - GreatLibations wrote: 94 Points
Dark and opaque with gluttonous aromas of rustic blackfruit and vineyard soil. Full body with high density pushing velvet currant, earthy cedar, roasted coffee, dried blackfruit with a strong backbone to hold this one high for years to come. The best I've had from them in years. It's a monster!
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