William Cole, Cuvee Claire Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Almost the perfect cab. This is the one that opened my French wine loving friends to California wines.

2009 vintage

Last bottle from this vintage. Right on top of prior bottles. It was open for a little over 1 1/2 hours. My bottles of Wm. Cole might be the most underpriced bottles I own in terms of their auction price in relation to the experience they produce. I suspect it is just because this label is so under the radar that even big buyers just do not know about it.

2009 vintage

Drinking very well right now. One of my favorite cabs of the night at a large charity wine auction.

2009 vintage

Solid NYE 2023 but going flat on finish. Solid tannins

2009 vintage

Had at a Christmas party at a club. Was a big hit. The bottle was open for an hour and a half with no decant. That was fine. This wine is drinking very well right now.

2009 vintage

Identical to a bottle consumed last year. Still drinking very well. The bottle was open for an hour and a half with no decant.

2009 vintage

Beautiful wine with notes of vanilla and Curran Sys. Acid hasn’t burned off yet but good grip. Medium finish. Hold for 3 more years on next bottle

2009 vintage

I pulled this to go with a Thanksgiving Dinner Leftovers meal. It was just like a bottle consumed last Spring. It is in a great drink window. I moved the back-end year of the drink window to 2026. I opened the bottle for about one and a half hours with no decant.

2009 vintage

Amazing bottle that could benefit a few more years.

2009 vintage

I echo another reviewed from about a year ago. This is a spectacular wine right now. I have had 2025 down as the last year of the drink window for this one, but that might be a little early. I have Wm. Cole vintages going back to 2006. I have enjoyed every bottle, but this particular one might be the best bottle of Wm. Cole I have ever consumed.

2009 vintage

Sadly, this had gone downhill from a few years ago. Fruit seems to be about 60% of what it was. I didn't notice any secondary flavors coming through either. Moved up drinking window

2009 vintage

decanted for 2 hours. solid wine. LONG finish, balanced tannins. Another 3-5 years for this wine to get to full maturity. Luckily I have one more bottle. :-) The wine looks inky colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like black currant (cassis), light toast and stoniness.

2009 vintage

Solid wine that paired with fatty KBBQ.

2009 vintage

Notes of dark cherries and ash. Not terribly unctuos but had layers and depth. Some volcanic dust and cigar box to it. Medium finish.

2009 vintage

structured and balanced, rose pedals, and dark red fruit, palate is rich with notes of chocolate, black cherry. The finish is smooth w/ lively acidity, and resolved tannins.

2009 vintage

Decanted for an hour and it was fantastic

2009 vintage

This really surprised me. I've had other vintages that were fairly light with a heavy strawberry undertone. This was much bigger, especially after 30 mins in the glass, with a balance of red and black fruits, and a long finish. Exciting, and no rush.

2009 vintage

4 or 4.5 out of 5. Super smooth, Audrey & Breta loved, and I really liked.

2005 vintage

What a treat, BlackBerry, Cassis, at 14 years, fruit forward, no bricking, youthful and vibrant. In a really good place and strong sous-vide ribeye pairing.

2005 vintage

Drinking really nice with some air. Nose shows dark fruit, gravel, graphite. Full bodied. Palate expresses blackberry, hints of chocolate. Integrated tannins. Drink now. Not a great qpr and questionable if it's really worth the premium.

2009 vintage

A delight. No decant needed, but I'd say this is still on the early side of maturity. Full-volume and yet not out of balance. Has a great, long, friendly length. Still tannins, but they're sweet. No one would ever confuse this for a Pauillac but you'll get just as much pleasure from it.

2005 vintage

No change from prior tastings. Does not need a long decant. In a very good drink window right now.

2005 vintage

Delicious after 30 min of air. Tannins resolved, oak and red fruit nicely balanced with floral and mineral notes.

2009 vintage

Best bottle yet of this case. Unfortunately only one bottle left but certainly no hurry. Had it with other 05's and this was the most complex and complete wine. Very delicious, rich and well balanced.

2005 vintage

Popped and transferred to a wide bowl decanter for 1 hour. Consumed from an Italesse universal stem. Very clean and provocative nose of dark fruit, clove, menthol, and rich blackberry. Seamless on the palate with decadent blackberry, allspice, and mouth coating dark fruit. Tannin well integrated at this stage suggesting this stellar wine is ready to go. Held up well in the glass with minimal fade over time. Paired with a simple grilled dry aged bone in Filet Mignon with …

2009 vintage

This wine is in a good place. Opened and let sit for 30 minutes before drinking. Bit of grace and elegance on the nose. Also notes of chocolate. Strong power on the first sip. Lots of iron/graphite but some floral notes (lilacs, etc) were also present. I recommend drinking over the next 2-3 years.

2009 vintage

Still drinking very well. Had at a restaurant......no decant and that was fine. A crowd pleaser. Has a lot of life left.

2005 vintage

Classic Cole.....jammy with dark fruits. Had at a restaurant with no decant.....open for 45 minutes or so. Was fine. Drinking well now, but might improve a little with more time.

2009 vintage

I echo some other recent tasting notes.......textured and smooth. I would add.....a little jammy. A real crowd pleaser at a restaurant. Decanted for about 1 and a half hours, and that was fine.

2005 vintage

Very rich juice. Long finish.

2005 vintage

I've enjoyed three bottles of the '09 to date. This year is another tribute to a great winemaker.

2009 vintage

Still young, but very smooth for its youth. Can't wait to see how this one cellars.

2009 vintage

Swesome right out of the bottle chocolate flavor and dark berries

2009 vintage

I will not offer a rating...perhaps the bottle was flawed...not like first bottle. That being said the folks that run William Cole are lovely people. We spent an enjoyable afternoon at their small vineyard...what a neat place!!

2005 vintage

WOTN..wow a lovely textured wine and smooth like velvet...long long finish...bought from the vinyard...met with the owners; very nice people...decant 4 hours..paired very well with grilled filet mignon...if you know someone who has this wine...be nice to them and try to steal a glass

2005 vintage

Excellent wine. Rich, deep, complex, with a long delicious aftertaste. This is a serious wine.

2005 vintage

Newport Wine and Food Festival (Marble House) : Rich, heavy cab, but with pencil lead and lots of flavors. Pretty nice stuff. 91-93

2005 vintage

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William Cole, Cuvee Claire Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

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