Initially a strange aspect to the nose which hopefully will blow off. An oxidised note which is not apparent on the palate. Last time I tasted this wine 5 years ago I raved and gave it a 98 point score. This time that slightly irritating note on the nose but that same gorgeous palate. 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot. I imported several vintages of Quilceda Creek from an outlet in San Francisco (Vinfolio) many years ago and this was my last bottle. Have never seen it offered in Australia but back in the day I was mightily impressed. 100 💯 points from Robert Parker. — a month ago
Ruby in color with a wide purplish rim, and medium plus intensity.
Pretty nose of black fruits with cedar, vanilla, chocolates, mediterranean spices, eucalyptus, tobacco, herbs and black pepper.
Medium plus in body and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black currants, blueberries, blackberries, cooked plums, cedar, tobacco leaf, light earth, herbs, chocolates, spices and peppercorn.
Nice length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Fruit forward and elegant. Spicy and entertaining.
Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime.
Complex and engaging, with a soft mouthfeel. Really enjoyed the nose here.
This 5 year old Cabernet based Bordeaux blend is already drinking beautifully, and will continue to age nicely in the next 7 to 10 years.
I've had a few different vintages of this Cabernet and it is very consistent.
Wine Enthusiasts 92 points.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food.
A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot. Aged in (50% new) French Oak barrels for 22 months.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$55. — 4 months ago
Engagement dinner for my oldest son. Great night and a great wine. — 8 months ago
This 09 was upgraded to 100 points by Lisa Perrotti formerly of Robert Parker in 2020. I didn’t taste a 💯 & the first time she & I have been this far apart.
This 09 was velvety, smooth, beautiful & elegant with nicely ripe fruits. But, it really lacked the depth & complexity I have come to expect from this producers bottling.
Touched into 94 with a few sips. Decanted a 1 1/2 hours & enjoyed over the next two hours.
@NepentheBigSur If you haven’t been there, well worth the time to visit. — 2 years ago
#AgedWineTuesday
Here is a fabulous 99 point wine by Robert Parker.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Great nose of blueberries, blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, earth, vanilla, Mediterranean spices, espresso, cola, light herbs, chocolates, tobacco and black pepper.
Full bodied, smooth and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black cherries, figs, cedar, chocolates, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, herbs, light earth, cola and peppercorn.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley.
Showing nice balance and a great mouthfeel. Round and rich. Elegant and smooth.
This 22 year old still has a lot of power in it, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.
So soft and powerful, with a great nose. This is a gorgeous wine right now.
A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec. Aged in all new French oak barrels for 24 months.
13.9% alcohol by volume.
96 points.
$250. — 3 years ago
At first I scored this 99 points, flirting with perfection just like the 1999 Dunn Howell Mountain we had in our glass moments before. However after 15-20 minutes in the glass it began to fade and aged characteristics like tea leaves and Maggi began to emerge and the color went much more brown. Still a very good wine. — a month ago
Easy to drink, medium bodied and extremely minimal tannins. Had with lemon ricotta pasta — 6 months ago
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Very fruity on the nose and full bodied with medium minus acidity.
Dry to off dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black currants, blackberries, cooked plums, oak, vanilla, dried fruits, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, light herbs and peppercorn.
Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 8 year old Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County is still drinking very nicely, but will not get better from this point.
Complex and easy drinking. Fruit forward with a touch of RS. Rich and extracted with a mouth coating feel.
A nice sipping wine.
14.6% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$50. — 10 months ago
It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Deep purple in color, almost inky, with a short purple rim.
Fruity nose of blackberries, cooked plums, sweet cherries, cedar, light vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, coffee, light cocoa powder and peppercorn.
Full-bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, light herbs, earth, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn and tobacco.
Tangy finish with round tannins and raspberries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Tangy and interesting.
Spicy, rich and extracted, yet elegant. Nicely balanced with a nice mouth feel.
I had the 2018 not too long ago, and it is very consistent.
Very young, but already drinking nicely, after a couple of hours of airtime. A good quality wine that will age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.
A good sipping wine that doesn't necessarily need food, but will be great with a big piece of steak as well.
A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 10% Petit Verdot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Aged in mostly French oak barrels for 18 months.
14.2% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$85. — 4 years ago
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Earthy nose with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, chocolates, Indian spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, earth, dark chocolates, green vegetables and herbs.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cherries, oak, dark chocolates, coffee, spices, earth, black tea, light green vegetables and peppercorn.
Spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a young Cabernet Sauvignon from Spring Mountain District in Napa Valley. Elegant and nicely balanced. Fruit forward and complex, with a soft mouthfeel. Feels like a Left Bank Bordeaux.
Needed 3 hours in the decanter to open up properly, so be patient.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.
I've had a few different vintages of this wine and this vintage seems to be more approachable at this young age.
Delicious by itself, and paired beautifully with the beef brisket.
A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Cabernet Franc. Aged in (50% new) French Oak barrels for 18 months.
14.2% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$70. — a day ago
Drinking this pre-release bottle of this iconic wine from Bordeaux.
Light gold in color.
Strong nose and Full-bodied.
Sweet on the palate with high acidity to balance the sugars.
Showing melons, tropical fruits, apples, light earth, guava, herbs, spices, papaya and honey notes.
Long finish with herbs and tropical fruits.
This is a gorgeous sweet wine from Bordeaux. Sexy, seductive and fresh. Creamy and buttery.
Showing great potential, but oh so young. Already delicious and complex. Round, opulent and powerful.
Loved the nose once it opened up (20 minutes in the glass).
Rich and extracted. Fruit forward and intense, yet elegant. Well balanced with a soft mouthfeel.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food. Drunk from a Magnum.
A blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. Aged in all new French oak barrels for 24 months.
154 g/l sugar.
14% alcohol by volume.
96 points.
$500. — 4 months ago
Finally talked this dude into drinking.
I don't know, maybe I'm getting old but aged Riojas are starting to taste/feel weighty to me. It's very good. Muddled fruits, resolved tannins, nice and round, leather notes. But somewhat boring. Probably my mood.
92+ points — 7 months ago
Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.
Full bodied, smooth and soft, with medium acidity.
Showing black fruits with cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, black pepper, dark chocolates and light herbs.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a really nice Cabernet Sauvignon from Atlas Peak in Napa Valley. Fruit forward and spicy. Rich and elegant.
Still very young, but already delicious. A good quality wine that will continue to improve in the next 10 years.
Tangy and entertaining with nice complexity. A good sipping wine.
Nicely balanced and good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.
A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. Aged in (40% new) American and French oak barrels for 15 months. Only 900 bottles made.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$80. — 2 years ago
Coming from one of the coolest AVAs in Northern CA, I was expecting a fresher version when I opened the first bottle. But that was not the case at all. This is a 2nd bottle, and Iarrived at the same conclusion. Rich and concentrated, but full of varietal characters. Has the structure to go another 8-10 years.
A keeper. — 3 years ago
Sam Friedland
This time was definitely better than previous one. More fruit and nuisance. Maybe needs more time to develope? — 24 days ago