1997 Pine Ridge
Howell Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 88.0
"Concentrated blackberry fruit with shadings of licorice and toasty oak, full though soft tannins and a chewy finish. Good as it is now, this is a wine designed for longterm ageing. My best guess is that it will be at its peak between 2005 and 2012."
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1998 Owens Estate of South Australia
1998? [Australia] Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 89.0
"Perfectly balanced-just wonderful blackberry and black currant fruit with a hint of smoke. Soft tannins, tangy black currant finish."
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1995 Mazzocco Vineyards
Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 91.0
"Subtle layers of leather, mineral and cassis, with soft tannins. This is a dry, classically structured wine with modest alcohol (a rarity in California these days). Very satisfying."
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1997 Lorenzi & Shipman Cask One
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 93.0
"Most of the cult Cabernets of California are so out of balance that Id rather pour them down the drain than drink them. Heres a wine that should be a cult favorite-a wine of fabulous balance, with leather and cedar overtones matched by substantial blackberry fruit. Aromatic, dense but giving, layered and complex, with great structure and soft tannin. What a joy to drink! A great match for lamb, beef stew or other full-flavored fare. Drink now, or lay down for a few years."
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1996 Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve
California Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 85.0
"Concentrated and chewy, KJ has a lot of herbal-vegetal character to go with the blackberry fruit. Medium tannins make for an astringent finish. Probably better with 3 to 5 years additional aging."
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1997 Hess Select
California Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 86.0
"Good concentration of blackberry fruit, some licorice and herbal flavors, moderate tannin, decent balance. "
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1996 Grgich Hills
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 90.0
"Given some time to breath, this wine really opens up, showing black currant and cherry fruit, vanilla, and a hint of tarragon. Firm, integrated tannins give the wine structure for the long haul. Enjoy now and for the next decade or more."
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1997 Fetzer Vineyards Valley Oaks
California Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 87.0
"Cherry and blueberry wrapped in cinnamon with a touch of vanilla and a firm acid backbone. Good match for grilled meats, from poultry to steak."
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1998 Errazuriz
El Ceibo Estate Aconcagua Valley [Chile] Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 86.0
"A more sensual Cabernet youll never find-velvety texture, moderate tannins, lush berry and plum fruit. Angular, mouthfilling , with tobacco leaf overtones in the nose that turn to dry herbal overtones on the palate. "
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1996 Cosentino Winery
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Score: 91.0
"Showing style and finesse, with all of the elements in balance, Consentinos reserve has an expansive nose of cassis that follows through the palate on an elevated plane that holds its intensity and complexity right through the finish. Oak adds its own subtle dimensions of toast and nutmeg. Structured to last a decade or more, if you lack the patience the tannin is unobtrusive enough that you can drink it now."
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1996 Columbia-Crest Estate Series
Columbia Valley [Washington] Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 88.0
"After tasting a series of heavy Cabernets, this more elegant style hit the spot. Its a medium bodied wine with fresh black currant aromas and flavors, silky smooth texture, light tannin, and subtle oak in the finish. "
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1997 Columbia-Crest
Columbia Valley [Washington] Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 82.0
"Fuller bodied and more one-dimensional than the 'Estate Series,' this is a disappointment. "
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