91 2004 Chalk Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Russian River Valley) 11/4/12 ($30)
14.9% alc
Color: Very deep garnet. Still has a touch of purple. (3.5) Bouquet: Loads of ripe blackberry jam and cassis with some toasty cedar. (3.5) Body: Heavyweight with excellent fruit and acidity and outstanding viscosity, making it rich and silky in the mouth. Ripeness does make it less than perfectly balanced. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but not quite as distinctive. (3.0) Finish: Tangy blackberries linger with a hint of heat. (3.0)
Overall: Big, delicious CA Cabernet with loads of rich blackberry jam fruit. A heavyweight with excellent acidity and smooth tannins underneath. Has a healthy dose of toasty oak, adding mocha flavors into the mix, but nothing the fruit can't handle. It's still a bit young with exuberantly ripe fruit (a little too ripe for my taste) that should calm and smooth with more time. Delicious now, but could improve in the next 2-4 years. Excellent buy for its level of quality. If this were from Napa, it would be twice the price at least. (16.0)
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