Somm David T 
Cain Vineyard & Winery
Cain Five Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2006
Harlan Estate
Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2007
Perhaps, the best 2007 Napa Cabernet I’ve had or can remember. From the first sip, it was a shut the front door moment.
The nose showed; dark cassis, blackberries, black, raspberries, dark cherries, and both plums. Dark chocolate to pudding, flowers that were dark, red, blue, wrapped in violets, caramel, softly, layered baking, spices, soft, cedar, leather, tobacco with ash, dark, cola and a circling sense of baking powder.
The palate showed me just how beautiful Cabernet fruits can be. A true example of perfectly ripe fruit, picked at exactly the right time. Beautiful, gorgeous blackberries, black, raspberries, dark cherries and black plums. An excellent barrel toast that created perfectly soft and layered baking spices, clays, wood shavings, leather cigar box with ash, perfect tannins that are M+ and sticky, soft, dry herbs, hints of mint, steep tea, withering, red blue florals w/violets, perfect acidity, excellently, knitted, softly structured, tension, balance for days and an amazing finish that goes on endlessly.
If there is one thing I learned tasting 6 Harlan’s is Bob Levy is one of the very best, if not thee best at managing Cabernet/Bordeaux blend tannins.
Tasting with Winemaker- Bob Levy & Managing Director-Don Weaver. — 8 days ago
Harlan Estate
Oakville Red Blend 2020
While very good, this one needs another 8 plus yrs.
Soft subtle nose. Dark cassis, blackberries, both plums, powdery, soft earth tones, moist clay, dark, chocolate, dry herbs & brilliant floral’s.
Soft, round body. Blackberries, black raspberries, plums, very dark cherries, it’s elegant, smooth, very soft tannins, dark chocolate, soft but pointed spice, volcanics, dry stems, violets, lavender, dark
florals, brilliant acidity, elegant with soft tension, great length with a 90 second finish that lands on minerals and beautiful spice.
If there is one thing I learned tasting 6 Harlan’s is Bob Levy is one of the very best, if not thee best at managing Cabernet/Bordeaux blend tannins.
Tasting with Winemaker-Bob Levy & Managing Director-Don Weaver. — 8 days ago
Walter Hansel Winery
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2018
I have consistently said, if this is not the best, it’s one of the very best Ca Pinot producers for the money. If my memory is still good, I think this was $40-42.
This 18 is the first look of six. It is drinking nicely but will still ascend for another five yrs. When that occurs, add a point, maybe two.
The nose shows a dark core of blackberries, spiced plum, strawberries, cherries and pomegranate. Cinnamon, clove, light nutmeg, vanillin, sweet, forest floor with dry leaves, dry & moist herbaceous notes, tree sap with some bark, withering & slightly candied; dark, red flowers, red & pink roses wrapped in violets.
The body is round, lush and the experience is almost Burgundian. Ripe; dark cherries, blackberries, strawberries, plum and hovering blueberries. Dark spice with expansive, circular mouth heat, tree sap, eucalyptus, moist & dry herbs, moist, volcanic laced clay, limestone chalkiness, dry crushed rocks, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, mid berry cola/licorice, some char of grilled meats, tobacco, leather, oak shavings, slightly candied & floral; dark, red flowers, red & pink roses wrapped in violets, grand, round acidity and a finish that is well balanced/structured, good tension & length with a round elegant finish that lasts nearly two-minutes. — a day ago
Harlan Estate
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1994
This 1994 wasn’t the highest scoring wine of the tasting, but it was the prettiest. The 1994 vintage didn’t get the accolades of say 1997 and 2007, but in my mind and many others, 1994 was a very special vintage.
I have to thank Bob Levy and Don Weaver for bringing their very best wines to this tasting. Quite often, you will attend these tastings, and they will bring a couple nice vintages, and a number of off vintages. All but one of these 6 didn’t get an RP 💯 rating. So hats off to them for really bringing it!
The nose showed me beautiful perfumed fruits that were at the center of it a very dark core of currants, blackberries, black, raspberries, dark cherries, both plums baked strawberries with hints of Mulberry. The best, layered baking spices I can remember, black, licorice, dark, chocolate, red, and dark flowers, roses, and violets.
Glorious fruits and well resolved tenants were the theme in this wine. Black raspberries, dark cherries, ripe strawberries, and sweet cherries. Soft, dry soils, light and softly expressed dark spices, mid berry cola, black licorice, soft, gentle, tobacco’s, used leather, caramel, both dark and milk chocolates, limestone, dry river stone, dry, crushed rocks, excellent acidity, gentle tension, and structure, well balanced with an elegant two-minute finish that lands evenly on fruit on earth.
If there is one thing I learned tasting 6 Harlan’s is Bob Levy is one of the very best, if not thee best at managing Cabernet/Bordeaux blend tannins.
Tasting with Winemaker- Bob Levy & Managing Director-Don Weaver. — 7 days ago
Harlan Estate
Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2016
Beautiful fruits on the nose. Blackberries, dark cherries, plum, dark core of black currants, soft tarriness, mid berry cola, baking soda, gently, layered, baking, spices, soft earthiness with dark and red flowers.
The palate shows a beautiful tenant profile with velvety and powdery tannins. Just ripe blackberries, dark, cherries, black, raspberries, and blueberries. Dark chocolate, beautiful spices with depth and palate heat, understated, baking, spices, dry soils, dry, crushed rocks, limestone, dark chocolate, medium dry spice box, Asian, spices, grand acidity, excellent, soft tension, great length smartly, polished, elegant finish, that goes on and on and lands on clays and spice.
If there is one thing I learned tasting 6 Harlan’s is Bob Levy is one of the very best, if not thee best at managing Cabernet/Bordeaux blend tannins.
Tasting with Winemaker-Bob Levy & Managing Director-Don Weaver. — 8 days ago
Beta Wine
Vare Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
First time having this producer.
It was extremely elegant, smooth and dare I say sexy. Perhaps, the most brilliant mid red fruit led Cabernet I’ve had. Well managed tannins & really good oak application. Wire to wire beautiful.
Could make a case for 94 with a few more years of aging.
— 7 days ago
Alban Vineyards
Patrina Alban Estate Syrah 2018
Beautiful CA Syrah that mimics North Rhône well. This 18 needs another 5 yrs.
Beautiful fruits, black fruits, roasted chestnuts, smoked meats, round acidity and rich, well polished finish. Reminds me of many Rostaing’s I’ve had. — 7 days ago
Harlan Estate
Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2004
The nose shows beautiful fruits of; black, raspberries, black cherries, dark, cherries, raspberries, poached, strawberries, and blueberries. Olive, dark melted chocolate to pudding, black licorice to anise, bold, baking, spices, cigar, leather, cedar limestone, moist herbs, and baking powder.
What gorgeous, palate fruits. Perfectly ripe, dark, cherries, blackberries black, raspberries, baked, strawberries, and both plums, sweet, soft tarriness, black licorice very, soft leather & tobacco, dark spice with palate heat, perfumed flowers that are dark, red and framed in violets, perfect rainfall acidity with an elegant, well, balanced, smartly polished, medium structure with a long finish that lands on clays spice and soils.
If there is one thing I learned tasting 6 Harlan’s is Bob Levy is one of the very best, if not thee best at managing Cabernet/Bordeaux blend tannins.
Tasting with Winemaker- Bob Levy & Managing Director-Don Weaver. — 7 days ago
Harlan Estate
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
We all know that the 2013 Napa vintage was excellent and this is a fine example of that.
The nose shows; a dark currant core, blackberries, dark, cherries, black raspberries and blueberries, dark, red, blue perfumed florals, settlement, moist clay, softly and layered baking spices.
The palate shows; gently polished, velvety, dusty, round, soft tannins. Gorgeous & perfectly ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries & both plums. baking soda, cinnamon, clove, vanillin, soft, leather, cedar notes, tobacco w/ ash, dry soils, beautiful, blue, dark, red florals framed in violets, grand acidity, wire to wire perfectly well balanced w/even tension/structure, excellently knitted structure and a long two-minute finish and long sets on beautiful, soft earthiness.
If there is one thing I learned tasting 6 Harlan’s is Bob Levy is one of the very best, if not thee best at managing Cabernet/Bordeaux blend tannins.
Tasting with Winemaker- Bob Levy & Managing Director-Don Weaver. — 8 days ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
I used to drink this producer in the late 90’s & early 2000’s. I’ve been revisiting older vintages based on recent price points. I think they sold a bunch of their cellar for revenue. It is out of need after the Glass Fires. They were somewhat consumed by it. The winery & part of their vineyards. Unfortunate!!!
Decanted an hour and enjoyed over 2-3 hours.
I was further inspired to acquire the 2006 by @Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego who posted more than respectful thoughts of the 2006 not long ago. So, I acquired some winery stored bottles at $39. A more than fair price point. The cork had a millimeter or less along its side. The bottle neck showed trapped tannins. Extremely solid.
The nose is inviting. Slightly smoky & nicely ripe; dark core of blackberries, dark cherries, poached/baked strawberries, plum, blueberries and pomegranate. Slate, gentle, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, mid & light berry cola/licorice-red vines, soft dry tobacco, used leather, very soft graphite, graceful herbaceous notes, whiff with black & white pepper, dark, rich soils, mix of limestone/sandstone, red florals/roses, dark florals and purple lily blossoms.
The entry is elegant, ripe, slightly rich with nothing bitty. Medium, softened, mushy tannins. It shows nearly perfect elegance at or just and I mean just the other side of its peak. Ripe; dark core of blackberries, dark cherries, poached/baked strawberries, plum, blueberries, raspberries and pomegranate hues. Slate, gentle, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, mid & light berry cola, soft dry, used tobacco w/ ash, used leather, graphite, herbaceous notes, stem inclusion, some black & white pepper, dark spice box with mid intensity palate heat, layered baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & understated vanillin, dark chocolate, caramel, steeped teas, moist to dry volcanic clays, rich, dark, almost sweet soils, mix of limestone/sandstone, red florals/roses, dark florals and purple lily blossoms, very nice acidity, evolved, well-knitted, balanced, structured, tensioned, elegant finish that lasts nearly two-minutes and long sets on spice and beautiful earthiness. This will drink nicely for another 5+ yrs.
A good revisit and perhaps the most elegant Cain Five I’ve had.
Photos of; the Cain Five vineyards, Chris Howell-Winemaker, pressed grapes and the somewhat unglamorous cleaning out of stainless steel tanks after initial fermentation. — a day ago