1999 Turnbull Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon -- my sister-in-law brought me 3 of these from LA, so we opened one up. Big, dark, dense California Cab. Not giving much on nose, but aggessive swirling brings out some fruit and cedar; plum, cherry, peppery/spicy flavors in the mouth, highly concentrated; long finish with very fine tannins. Give this about 5 years to open and develop into an outstanding Cab. WS gives this 92 points; I can't disagree.

For those of you in LA, this is available at the Wine House @ $29.95. Relative to the few other CA Cabs I've had this year, it's a pretty good bargain. If I lived there, I'd grab a bunch of these.

Just bought two more today at the Wine Club for $28. Also got some '99 Larkmead Napa CS for $42 and a couple '99 Columbia Crest Reserves to try before buying more. I will be getting some more of the '99 Columbia Crest Walter Clore. Opened a bottle tonight for the World Series game 7, both were excellant!

Grabbed a couple of these at Sam's warehouse sale last week. I think the price was similar. Glad to hear you liked this one.

thanks for the notes. i have a few of these and was wondering when the right time to open one would be..

Very nice notes. I opened one of these this weekend and had a very similar experience. The spicy note and the fine tannins at the end in particular. I really think the fruit will come forward over time. I think I bought it at BevMo for the same $29.95 that others had noted. Agree all the way around, nice Cal Cab for $30.

Ne14zin:
Have you tried the 99 Columbia Crest Reserve Cab yet? Any TNs? I bought one just the day and have not had a chance to opened it yet. The store only had 1 case and in New England I dont think that we will see many of the reserves.

[ 10-30-2002, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: BrandO ]

Well I was happy to purchase a bottle of this wine the other day at Costco for $28. But soon after bringing it home this story turned tragic! As I am overflowing my shelf capacity I have a tendency to double and triple stack wines at the top (particualry large format bottles/magnums/Pinots & such. Well I was rearranging a few bottles of Cristom Pinot (very nice, but oversized bottles) when a King Estate '98 reserve shot out of the stack like a rocket - crossed a few feet where I had some new wine sitting and literally exploded against the Turnbull and a bottle of '99 Catena Malbec - instant giant Rorschach test red wine (& broken glass) stain on the carpet...all I could do was weep. Luckily I have extras of the other two bottles - but I must venture out and replace the Turnbull - perhaps I will get two bottles this time...

[ 10-30-2002, 05:03 PM: Message edited by: THOTH ]

BrandO,

I haven't tried the Reserve yet, but the Walter Clore was a great QPR bottle. It is on my "Get More" list. I will be trying the reserve cab within the next few days and will post a TN when I do. If it is close to the other I would say to get a case.

Thoth, I sympathize completely. I've only had it happpen once (and not with an expensive or hard-to-find bottle; fortunately, I always keep my better wines lower down) and it's amazing how much area 750 ml of liquid can actually cover!

I did, however, laugh at your description of the instant, giant Rorschach. See anything interesting?

Haven't had the 99 CC walter clore, but a fellow wine buddie said the oak was way over the top.....any comments?

I bought both the Columbia Crest '99 Reserve and the CC '99 Walter Clore Reserve. I had the Walter Clore last Sunday and found it to be full bodied, good fruit, and one that will mellow well for a few years. It went right onto my "Get More" list.

Tonight my daughter and her boyfriend were over for Halloweeen. I opened the regular Reserve. All three of us agreed that it was fine for an everyday wine, but for the price it didn't make the list. Of the two I will be buying only the Walter Clore this Saturday.

Seaquam -

Yes indeed - it looks like some type of avenging angel (or perhaps a Nazgul from Tolkien!) with a crowned head and robes billowing around it in great fury! (not happy over the wasted wine I imagine). It actually doesn't look too bad on the carpet (will certainly be a conversation piece) - its a badley worn (approx 9' x 12') - once very nice - hand made carpet from India. The aroma from the 3 broken bottles of wine still persists in my cellar. My wife agrees with me - that it smells pretty nice - and wondered if they already have wine air freshner out on the market...