60 CS, 30 M, 5.5 CF, 3 PV, 1.5 Malbec
Dark and brooding, semi transparent, still youthful.
Restrained bouquet at first but after 1 hour of thorough decanting, it decided to wake up. Cassis, toasted cedar wood, lovely tobacco and tea leaf undertone.
The palate gives away quite good amount of tannin remaining. Nice balance of acidity. More dark than red fruit. A lot of secondary characters start to come out. Finish strongly on the cedary/woodsy note.
For a second wine in a heralded vintage (i.e. usually not good), this is a success. Has staying power to keep going for 5 more years easily. If pop now, need a long decanting time. It's in that very sleepy phase. 90+ — 9 years ago
Funky at first but subsequently blown away. Fresh, leathery, flowery, with some structure. Can tell it was once a great bottling. A bit long over due. — 10 years ago


Perfect balance, nothing to add or take away. — 10 years ago
Very nice and alive right away. — 11 years ago
This is steps away from perfection. The sweetness is balanced with acidity and covered with a complex bouquet of rich aromatics. It would be even better with age. — 12 years ago
The Prisoner. A great bottle of wine, to finish an equally great week. You pick up the fruit right away on the nose. Blackberry, cherry, cassis, and pepper :) #yegwine — 13 years ago
Blockbuster vanilla, blackberry and fig aromas. I just want to smell this all afternoon. concentrated deep red fruits. Blow you away tasting notes of black currant, undergrowth, oaky vanilla. very well balanced with nice tannins and perfect acidity. a great bargain at under 20$! — 9 years ago
Wow... Kinda blown away by this...WOTN. High shoulder fill didn't stop this at all. Nose of Olive tapenade that gave way to dried fruits, mint and a twist of menthol. Drank over a few hours and it stayed strong. Quite remarkable and at its apogee. Perfect. — 9 years ago
I have a Ridge bias and need to get that out right away. Had this 2013 bottle at Steak48 in Houston. In my opinion at 70$ was the best bank for buck wine on the menu so ordered it. This was better than a bottle I had tried earlier and was interesting that two bottles could vary so much. With this one it was a good start and I'd say this is a medium to full body Zin. You def get the cherry, plum, and dark fruit plus some licorice or spice. I really enjoyed it and as it breathed it added some complexity. Finish was excellent. Rating based on price at restaurant. It you can get for $30-32. Really good buy. — 10 years ago
In magnum. Infant even after 6 hours. Alongside the regular 1989 in magnum which blew it away. — 10 years ago
Juicy, huge oak, and a finish so long you almost want it to stop. Some earthy spice and chalkiness finds its away into the overload of new world fruit, but this wine is damn well made and a great marriage of opposing flavors. — 10 years ago
$14.99. Smooth, delicious, night at home cab. — 11 years ago
"How to get away with ....Cab Sav" nice balance with nice oak finish.... — 12 years ago

Superb. I though it would blow me away but was actually very well balanced and complex. — 12 years ago
Had to pop one before the case is put away go deep! — 13 years ago
Still vibrant, exquisite concentration of flavors, no oxidation at all yet! but the tannin has almost all melted away and the almost 3-decades of aging is bringing out wonderful tertiary accents to complement the fruit, cedar, wet asphalt and a hint of white truffle. For the money, why drink anything else with Momofuku Ko’s heavenly 6-week dry aged bone-in strip. — 9 years ago
Wasn't blown away — 9 years ago
Beautiful Rioja. Lots of oak at first, but fades away into stewed plums, chocolate and well balanced acidity. — 9 years ago
Ok. Let this breathe for 45..... and it is beautiful. I can smell rose petals and cherry sauce emanating from the glass from 3 feet away! The tannins cut right through the ravioli. This reminds me of tannic Oregon Pinot Noir. Rose water mixed with saddle leather and wet earth. — 10 years ago
Dang it! No more 2012's anywhere to be had. Asked the table of winos if anyone was squirreling away any 2012's in their home stashes. They were all smart enough to say no. So even though it is not the epic 2012, it was still the preferred wine over two other big Napa Cabs. Still has a big fruit and smooth finish. Just can't rate it higher because of the prior year's greatness. — 10 years ago
Blind Tasting MOT=90
Color: Solid Red
Nose: Earthy and cherries
Palate: Very sweet for some reason, and a little thin for my liking, initially there was something in the front of my mouth that was off putting (was an 86). As the night progressed that front of the palate feeling went away and came through with cherries and cassis.
Opinion: As I found out this needed more time open — 11 years ago
Probably my first place of the night overall. Also has the most legs to go the distance. Put this one away for 5-10 years before trying again. Very balanced but built for true greatness. — 12 years ago
So hard to resist! Def tucking a few away for the 40th Bday...in 2023 — 12 years ago
I'm am always blown away with how great Pepes hold up. Still had a nice amount of cherry fruit. — 13 years ago
Alicia Cypress
An intoxicating nose and a palate that’s spicy at first, but starts to go away after 45 minutes of air. Still quite young, so it’s still tight, but easy to drink and easy to enjoy! — 8 years ago