Chumeia Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Heavy Metal Vineyard

not well balanced-- some off flavors

Reduction fault (ethyl mercaptan?) as confirmed by the penny trick. Drinkable after inclusion of the penny, but not ratable. I recall enjoying previous bottles and this is my last of the set... a shame, especially as the bulk of the vine have since been ripped out to make way for the route 46 expansion.

Fruit to start, but very tart on the finish. Better with some nice cheddar...may need food to really bring out it's best.

Brightly fruit forward with enough purity to the fruit and other flavors to not be "fake" tasting or too sweet. Best after about an hour of air, but getting tired and awkward the second day makes me think I want to drink these in the short to mid term.

This is a good wine. I am heart broken that the vineyard lost about 2/3rds of its size to a fricken highway. Drink it now 'cause I am buying up the whole production from now on.

Er, I have loved every bottle of this stuff we have opened, however, this one is a little sour. I think that we are storing it wrong. Fruity, smooth, well balanced. Now that it has breathed an hour, there is now sourness. It is better than the Watts we just had. This is an excellent cab. They are having a crazy sale right now (7/7/10) too. Go buy some: https://www.chumeiavineyards.com/chumeia/catalog/index.jsp?cat_id=1033

It really opened up after an hour. It opened with fruit, followed by earth. Definitely not for everyone. I think the tannins would be too much for some. Cellar it for a year or so to get into the more subtle pallet range. Drink now with decanting for the bolder crowd.

On the pop & pour - The nose is pretty closed, a little fruit gets through. Plums and black cherries, juicy. Hints of sweet oak. Fine grained tannins. 88pts 3 hour decant - Wow... much more expressive on the nose. Still as juicy as before, but there is a sweetness in the midpalate with some licorice and herbs. Lovely. 90-91pts.