Amapola Creek, Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, Sonoma Valley

Another one that is very tough to grade. Solid dark fruit/density. Very well made and clearly, the wine you can't disregard. Once again Richard Arrowood wins the day.......enjoyed over about a 6 hour decant window. Best at the end.

2014 vintage

Wine was great. Big and dry. 2022 was great time to consume

2014 vintage

First bottle pnp'd on Carol's retirement trip. First day in Zurich. Enjoyed a glass before an early burger dinner but overall enjoyed the slow ox of 5-6 hours afterward, resting up from the long flight and watching Harry Potter trailers (one of Carol's favs) dubbed in German. Man, does that look and sound weird...... Initially, this is quite tight but over 5 hours of sitting on the counter/cork out (I didn't pack any decanters), it settles in nicely. This Sonoma …

2014 vintage

Coravin pour.......people still don't get it. Richard Arrowood's cabs are to be aged, or opened and aired.....for hours. His '87's are still drinking great. This '14 needs every bit of 3-4 hours of air. Or 10 more years. Right now with 3 hours air, it is perfumed, incense on the nose and on the palate. Great red/black cab fruit, powdery tannins are still integrating. Acidity is beautiful. So happy to have 5 more of these in the cellar. In 20 …

2014 vintage

Tastes like a cherry black and mild - incredibly smooth

2009 vintage

Decanted for an hour. Blackberry and lots of jam on first taste. Not much tannins left and the finish was moderate at best. Overall not bad but also nothing to bring me back as there are lots of wines that I liked more.

2009 vintage

Heavy oak, tannic, fruit. Bold. Id lay this down for at least 5-10 years to let it balance out and integrate.

2014 vintage

Opened for wife's birthday/anniversary weekend. First night this was far too tannic brooding and bold even with 3 hours of air. But the second night this rounded out and was delicious. Long story short, give this time, lots of time. Open in 2024.

2014 vintage

Camphor on the nose. On the palate, cherry and red and black berry fruit with notes of cocoa and savory spice on the medium finish, with strong tannins and strong acidity on the medium to long finish. This is near its peak, but it should hold for some years. This was an excellent value at about $30.

2009 vintage

CALIFORNIA CABERNETS, VINTAGES 1994-2011 PAIRING DINNER DECEMBER 7, 2019 : Aromas of melted stone, cassis, sweet and savory spices. Thick and concentrated palate, with a full middle and big round tannins, showing more structure than flavor.

2009 vintage

A bit tight on opening, but showed well after an hour decant. Ripe, fruit forward yet structured dusty tannins. Has fruit, yet not sweet. Cocoa, leather, spice. Good length on finish, albeit a bit simple. Excellent for Sonoma cab. Loved by the wife - her favored mix of fruit, silky texture, tannins. Rich without being overly fruity or tannic. Me - 91/92, Wife - 93

2009 vintage

12 hr slow oz. First glass was still very closed, muted nose, good red fruit initially on the palate, the acidity and tannins are there but disjointed right now. Medium bodied compared to similar napa cabs. Some Mountain fruit notes are present but not the first thought. +90 minutes, nose has opened up with expressive red fruit, cassis plums and some oak. Flavors are more integrated but still need time. The components are all there but it needs more time …

2014 vintage

Half-hour decant. Representative of the style, fruit-forward and rich. Dark, pleasing fruit juice sweetness gives way to cigar box on the mid-palate leading to a lingering finish. Tannins are non-existent. Drink now.

2009 vintage

Needed about an hour to integrate. After two hours, was drinking really well. Good QPR. Still has a long life ahead. I would buy more.

2014 vintage

First taste had me thinking the caramel oak was a little too strong, but it quickly integrated with a little air and easily balanced by a lot of black cherry-raspberry fruit framed by pepper, anise and thyme notes. Long finish. Still young with the acidity and guts to go years, but approachable today. I met Mr. Arrowood back in the 90's and really liked his wines then. He hasn't lost his touch; quite the opposite. Definitely worth buying again.

2014 vintage

Pre wedding golf night California reds : 2nd Wine of the night. More fruity on the nose and palate than the Snowden and more approachable. Lots of plum and blackberry with some floral notes. Very enjoyable.

2014 vintage

Seemed fairly straightforward to me, but my wife was more impressed. Not sure what that says...

2009 vintage

Wine Old-Timers Lunch (Catelli's Geyserville) : Big wine and absolutely delicious, nicely developed and definitely drinking at its best. From a magnum that Dick brought, have always loved his wines and this one was lovely. Could easily go five plus years more but why wait. Hit of the lunch.

2009 vintage

1 hr decant. Bold nose of blackberry, plum with toasted oak notes. rich and balanced with lots of black fruits, sandalwood, earth and espresso notes.

2009 vintage

The wine looks inky colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like raisin and strawberry jam. It tastes like blackberry, blueberry and oak. The body is medium/full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.

2009 vintage

Opaque violet in color, this wine revealed black currant, tar and blackberry on the nose. The mouth feel was smooth with cherry laden tannins and added elements of smoke, vanilla and red currant. The finish was a little tight, suggesting more age will benefit this wine. Purchased for $68/btl at Char Steakhouse in Raritan, NJ, this was a good value. Unlike the first bottle I was served there on 1/23/15, this one was proper cellar temperature. Served pnp, this wine …

2009 vintage

Opaque violet in color, this wine revealed black currant, tar and blackberry on the nose. The mouth feel was smooth with cherry laden tannins and added elements of smoke, vanilla and red currant. The finish was a little tight, suggesting more age will benefit this wine. Purchased for $68/btl at Char Steakhouse in Raritan, NJ, this was a good value that improved greatly after it was chilled down from room temp to 60F. Served pnp, this wine could beneifit from …

2009 vintage

Pop and pour. Camphor and light citrus on the nose; cherry, purple fruit, and white and black pepper on the palate, with a touch of vanilla oak and moderate acidity. This definitely leans toward the "fruit bomb" style, although it is moderately complex and the oak is not overdone. Decent value for the $30 I paid, but I wouldn't want to pay more. Edit: This was noticeably better the second day, becoming less overly fruity and better balanced; it may …

2009 vintage

Dark red violet color; black currant, tar nose; black currant, tar palate; needs 2 years; medium-plus finish (93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot)

2009 vintage

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Amapola Creek, Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, Sonoma Valley

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