91 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 08 Dec 2008
Dark purple core with a medium purple/ruby rim. Smoky and rich with a core of spicy plum and wet earth minerality. Black cherries are surrounded by toasted nutmeg spice. Fruity entry on the palate with good tannic grip. Lush black cherry and plum fruits are balanced by great acidity. Smoky, stony and a touch of earth. Chewy finish with a touch of coffee on the finish.
Made of 50% Carinena, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Garnacha.
89 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 05 Dec 2008
Dark purple core with a touch of garnet on the rim. Big floral aromas of violets and roses surround dark cherry and chocolate with a touch of sweet oak. Coffee on the front palate leads to a medium bodied wine with some bold tannins that smooth out on the finish. There is a touch of alcohol on the mid palate, but it is covered well by vanilla and dark cherries on the back.
A blend of about 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot.
90 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 19 Dec 2008
Dark ruby/purple core with a ruby rim. Raspberry, cocoa powder and orange zest on the nose followed by cooler blueberry notes with a touch of graphite, earthy violets and spicy vanilla. Sweet entry on the palate with ripe cassis, black cherry and blackberry dominating. Medium bodied with fairly bold tannins through the finish. Touch of charcoal and plenty of toasted vanilla and oak join the sweet fruits on the finish. Not quite enough acid to balance the fruit, making it just a touch cloying.
89 / B-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 24 Jan 2008
Dark purple core with a purple and pink rim. Aromas of candied red cherry and citrus zest float over notes of citronella and a touch of earth. As the wine opens, the fruit aromas expand, bringing rich sweet blueberry to the mix. Big in the mouth with nice chewy, dusty tannins. The sweet dark fruits on the front are joined by wet stone, light herbals and a hint of earth. The finish is long, with ripe cassis and red cherry flavors.
A well known classic Napa Cabernet, and a name people will recognize as a quality bottle of wine. Fine for dinner if your girlfriend’s dad is coming over. Otherwise, save your money.
90 / A
Tasted by Mike Supple - 01 Jun 2008
Opaque purple core with a ruby rim. Pretty floral aromas over dark plum, cassis and cherry fruits with a toasted biscuit note, all accented by fresh anise. The palate is rich with cherry and orange zest flavors backed by a touch of earth underneath and just a hint of toasty oak lingering in the finish. The tannins are very ripe and approachable and are balanced by a good hit of acidity. This wine is approachable now if decanted for a few hours - it will be at its best in the next 3 years or so.
Some of the best wines ever made in Bordeaux were produced in 2005. This wine more than lives up to the challenge of providing outstanding drinking during a time when the Euro is so strong against the dollar. The wine is made of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard team takes immeasurable care to grow the best quality grapes while using a minimum of fertilizers and pesticides. The grapes are all sorted by hand to ensure only the top berries make it into the vats for fermentation. Many 2005s are still too young to drink, but this wine is starting to show itself beautifully, particularly if you shake it up and expose it to some air (or decant it for a few hours). Very fruity and approachable with great structure and mouthfeel. A fantastic value for 2005 Bordeaux. [Note: this is NOT to be confused with this winery's other wine, Chateau Reignac, which is also from Bordeaux Superieur, and made from a similar blend of grapes. This wine costs a few dollars more (~$28) and is more tannic.]
89 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 24 Sep 2008
Dark ruby (almost black) core with a brighter ruby rim. Lots of leather, earth and charred oak aromas over sweet cherry and cassis, with a hint of soy sauce. Smooth, easy entry onto the palate. Medium body and well balanced acidity. Ripe red cherry and blackberry fruits are backed by flavors of coffee, vanilla and a touch of earth. Cherries and fresh cream linger on the finish. Very fine grained tannins make this pleasant to drink now, but will also allow the wine to age for another 3 - 5 years.
This is a great value for Cabernet Sauvignon coming from Sonoma - and it has fortunately stayed largely out of the spotlight of the major critics…until now. Cab of this quality can easily run you up $40 or more, so finding this wine at half that price is a steal. There is plenty of body and fruit to satisfy all you monster Cab fans, yet the wine remains balanced and elegant enough to go very well with a meal. Just enough oak in the winemaking adds great complexity of flavors (coffee, soy sauce) that complement the fruit in the wine. This is a great bottle to pull if you are meeting your date’s parents for the first time. Everyone respects a good Cab, and this one clearly fits the bill.
88-92 / B-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 10 Oct 2008
Dark purple core with a lighter ruby rim. Cherry and cola aromas backed by dark wet earth, all surrounded by rich kitchen spices – vanilla and fresh ginger bread. Smooth entry on the palate with a quick build to a full-bodied wine with plenty of tannins. The fruit seems to be hiding under the tannins and massive oak. Give this massive wine a few years in the cellar to allow it all to integrate.
This is way too young to get a grasp of what it will really be like. At the moment there is way too much tannin and oak, and the fruit is really muted. If it settles well, it could turn out to be a rather impressive Cab. I wouldn’t recommend popping a cork on this for at least another 3 years.
90 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 25 May 2008
Dark ruby core surrounded by a bright rim. Very bold caramel coated raspberry fruit aromas are backed by darker cassis, sweet dried tobacco and a spicy punch of cedar. Dark and thick on the palate. Ripe cassis and blackberry fruits are underscored by a dark wet earth tone and a streak of minerality leading to the long toffee, toast and charcoal finish. Rich and complex with a solid backbone of approachable tannins.
45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 25% Syrah.
90 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 07 Feb 2008
Dark purple core with a purple and ruby rim. Dark and ripe aromas with rich sweet plum surrounded by spicy sweet tobacco and tea. Super ripe cassis and black cherry on the front of the palate. Medium to full bodied with ripe, round tannins and a big cinnamon spice kick followed my smooth vanilla leading to a fruity and full finish.
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