Riboli Family Cabernet Sauvignon

Decanted for hour and half this 1.5L 2003 Neal Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold, well-structured Napa Valley wine that has aged gracefully, maintaining its dark fruit core alongside complex tertiary notes. It has a deep garnet hue with brickish edges, a rich nose of blackberry, cedar, and dark chocolate, and a full-bodied, velvety palate with softened tannins and flavors of espresso, vanilla, and baking spice. Sorry to say short layered finish but still has some more aging potential. …

2003 vintage

Still drinking well. No signs of excess maturity. Nice dark fruit. Finish is a little short.

2003 vintage

My last bottle and it did not disappoint. Similar notes as the prior tastings. Excellent.

2003 vintage

This continues to provide pleasure. Fully mature with a complexity that is just delicious. I would never guess this is a 19 year old cab. It could go another five years or more easily.

2003 vintage

Opened and decanted as the cork crumbled. I expected this to show poorly but it has held up surprisingly well. Showing secondary notes but the fruit was still there without fading or any wateryness although tasting slightly of port with licorice and leather characteristics. Medium weight in body. Ends with a semi dry Welch and cherry fruit finish. Good. Paired with steak frites at Left Bank in Larkspur.

2003 vintage

Blind. Slight bricking. Ripe dark fruit, almost raisin/prune, along with chocolate and spice notes. Dark fruit on the palate, plums and spice. Has a decent finish but there's a bit of a hole in the midpalate. Drink up.

2003 vintage

Brick with typical sediment you would find from an aged wine. Beautiful green, leafy bellpepper fragrant on the noise. Deep complex red & black cherry, leather, and cassis. Tannic finish that is still present which provides possible hopes for continued life, but would drink now! This wine has arrived, no reason to wait any longer. At it's top.

2003 vintage

When the foil was removed it was obvious this bottle had past seepage. I see previous notes describing the same with 2003 Neal SVDs which is disappointing. That should not happen with a wine this expensive from a winery who is serious about quality. In any case the wine is decent, at first there seems to be some brett peaking out but it subsides with air, turning more towards earthy brambly oaky fruit. A solid wine but certainly disappointing considering …

2003 vintage

Drinking pretty well with plenty of trademark Cab notes like cassis, tobacco, oak. Tannins are starting to resolve but this is still plenty firm and structured. I would suggest aging five more years and revisiting.

2003 vintage

I continue to love this wine. It is ready to drink or could go another ten years. But why wait. Soft with little or no tannins. Complex cherry, some smoke, red fruits. Delicious.

2003 vintage

A great wine with cherry foremost, chocolate, plums, soft tannins and a pleasure with pan sauteed pork chops in butter. I think these have years left and will only improve. But so very good now.

2003 vintage

The last Neal cab I had was in late June - a 2009. The 2009 was vibrant and delicious. This 2003 had the hallmarks of a mature cabernet: beautifully integrated, no one aspect dominated, still had strong flavors of dark cherries, currants, and a little chocolate dust. The color is definitely developing a reddish brown tinge, but it is really good. I'm not sure that I would suggest keeping this vintage too much longer as the tannins have really mellowed. …

2003 vintage

This is in a real good spot right now, with no signs that it will be going downhill any time soon. Tannins are present, but not obtrusive.

2003 vintage

Pretty damn good. If I had to complain about anything it would be the mint/menthol on the nose, but other than that this has matured into a classic Cali Cab and I think it can hang on for a few more years. Walked the caves with the winemaker 10 years ago when caves were fairly new to Napa - brings back memories.....

2003 vintage

This wine is hanging in there with ripe currants, tobacco and other mature cab flavors. Drink now. Actually, drink yesterday.

2003 vintage

Starting to turn brownish at the edges. Nose of wet cedar and burnt cherry. Glycerin and cherry with a hint of chocolate on the finish. Great balance and silky tannins

2003 vintage

Lots of life left in this one. Wycoff is my favorite Neal Family cab.

2003 vintage

Opened a magnum at Bistrot Margot. 7th time I have had this wine. Not decanted. Silky tannins. Notes of red currant, blackberries and licorice. Smooth finish. Showing very well. 91 points.

2003 vintage

From magnum, opened by Vino Me. Notes of cassis, licorice, blackberry and violets. Medium tannins with flavors of blackberry, plum, leather and oak spices.

2003 vintage

Still a bit youthful and tannic, though developing some secondary characteristics. Good, but didn't enjoy quite as much as previous bottle.

2003 vintage

Pop and pour - note after 90 minutes. Brambly fruit on the nose. Nice fruit and tannins on the palate. This improved with time in the glass. Probably at or nearing its peak.

2003 vintage

Very fruit forward on the nose. Some light fruit on the palate (although it's clear that the fruit has faded down) along with earth and bark, and almost a light effervescence. The cork seemed like it might have a bit of seepage, so it's possible the bottle was affected. If not, this is definitely getting to its last legs.

2003 vintage

really solid Cab

2003 vintage

Very integrated, totally subsided tannin. Great with NY Steak

2003 vintage

Opened by LostVerse. From magnum. 6th time I have had this wine. Still drinking well with good structure. Vibrant red fruit notes. Drank the 2004 2nd Chance next to this and liked it better. 89-90 points.

2003 vintage

Opened at Glen Prairie with VinT and Redhawk. Black fruits and plums, with nice tannin presence.

2003 vintage

Can't recall who brought this. 5th time I have had this wine. Not decanted. This bottle was showing very well at 10 years old. Herbal and charcoal notes with dark berries. Integrated tannins. 91 points

2003 vintage

A little too simple on the first night but still nice power. On the second night it's still got the power but the fruit has mellowed into aged Napa cab and gained a liqueur type of complexity which is very nice. This will never entice with it's guile or charm but for brute force and now a little bit of class I'm really enjoying this wine.

2003 vintage

NY/NJ WLTV Offline (Fonda Del Sol, NYC) : Creamy dark fruit, cassis and oak on the nose. Similar notes on the palate. Very fruit forward and heavily oaked. Medium high tannin, medium acid and a medium long finish.

2003 vintage

Solid performance with deep dark fruit. Tannins are firm but not intrusive. I suspect this wine has another 10 years to go.

2003 vintage

this bottle was slightly corked

2003 vintage

in a great place now...beautiful full bodied Napa cabernet...tannins there but tamed...has a texture and push thru that makes this my favorite Neal SVD wine

2003 vintage

Some strange flavor profiles. Hard to follow the Tor Beckstoffer as it highlighted the rustic nature of this wine. I would hope time in the cellar and in the decanter if you must open would help. Not typical of Neal.

2003 vintage

Probably my least favorite among this horizontal of 2003 Neal single-vineyard cabs, but it was still quite enjoyable. I simply didn't find as much pure, clean fruit among the tannins. Definitely a nice line-up of wines, however (with some interesting stylistic variations among them).

2003 vintage

popped and poured...ready to go, kinda surprising with a Neal cab especially a single vineyard bottling...the magnum I had a few months ago was not nearly as open...this was my favorite at a Neal charity dinner a few years back and I bought several bottles...this didn't disappoint...solid nose and great full mouthfeel....bit of sweet oak that I haven't noticed with other Neals, very nice...good length with no heat despite 15.1% alcohol...all that said, not entirely sure it's worth the extra …

2003 vintage

neal is my favorite wine so i am not making this comment easily. i have 20 plus bottles of single vineyard bottles from 2003. all are leaking. the 2002 and 2004 are ok. you should ck all 2003.

2003 vintage

2 hours in decanter and still needed a bit more...really opened up after another 90 minutes...another great QPR from Neal

2003 vintage

Very tight out of the bottle - starts with a solid wall of tannins. With some airtime, showed good fruit and a lingering finish. Probably best after 2009.

2003 vintage

I really like this and for the price think it is excellent. Good nose of black fruit and not too hot. On the pallet it is smooth and soft, current, some cherry, little bit of spice. Went well with a simple steak and with the cheesecake afterwards. Very good value.

2003 vintage

Napa Winery Tour (Larkmead, Cliff Lede, Neal, Ladera, Etude & more) : Certainly a bigger, more concentrated wine than the Napa wine, with more tastes of red fruits, such as raspberries, and more prominent oak.

2003 vintage

Black cherry and a big earth bomb. Smooth tannins on the end.

2003 vintage

this wine was opened too early and needs time as I really love this wine but tonight this wine was "not ready"

2003 vintage

Above average cab. Typical dusty rutherford tanins with dark fruit and cherry. I don't think it's balanced well enough to last 20 years, I would probably wait 3-5 and enjoy over the next 5.

2003 vintage

Served as part of a flight at the SF Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant with Mark and Gove in attendance. Dark blackberry with a cool menthol event going on; super dry finish that evolves to a liquid smoke type finish. Needs 2-3 years cellaring before drinking.

2003 vintage

Are you sure?

Riboli Family Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintages

Community Reviews