Shay A

9.5

What an incredible second day here in Napa. Jesus started us off with an amazing tasting at Davies/Schramsberg, Crocker & Starr gave us our cab franc fix, Montagu & Addax put on a double tasting, and Hourglass knocked it out of the park at the end of the day! I won’t post each wine we tasted, but I’ll highlight the best from each spot.

@jesus g was a killer host. He opened up some older sparklers to compare against new releases as well as poured some very impressive JDavies reds, including the Diamond Mtn Cab. This JSchram Reserve ‘08 though was on a different level. Honeyed almond, apricot, lemon curd. Texture and acidity were seductive at 10yrs old. Happy to have one tucked away for the foreseeable future. Legit, @jesus g ! — 7 years ago

with jesus

Shay A

9.1

I've been enjoying some phenomenal Sauv Blancs the last 2-3 weeks, so I'm trying to be fair here, but it's hard when you have had Melka's SB, Bevan's SB, and the Addax SB (my favorite) all in your recent memory bank!

I'm becoming more familiar with Frias Family and am making it a point to visit my next time out to Napa. Their Spring Mountain Cab is absolutely delicious, and this SB is refreshing. Very pale yellow in the glass. Smell maybe a touch of oak on this, so I'm guessing not much was used. I get pear, kiwi and white flowers on the nose. A fair bit of acidity on the palate. Finishes with granite, and some type of a tart note that l'm struggling to identify. — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.5

Post Master's Bordeaux Class, we ran into Russell Bevan and Brian Kearney of Addax. Russell opened up this beauty for us to try.

Super dark and deep purplish ruby red. Layered nose of sweet spices, black fruits and tons of oaky notes. Heavy tannins (7/10) and full bodied. As always, heavily extracted. Super rich and loaded with blackberries, black cherries, cinnamon and solid gravel backbone. Silky and voluptuous mouthfeel. Delicious all over with a lingering finish. Surprisingly well integrated and approachable for being so young. Drink till 2030. — 8 years ago

with India

Mike Bruce

10

The stories about the winemaker are better than the wine...and the wine is fantastic — 9 years ago

Shay A

9.4

In consideration with the ‘04 Chappellet and the ‘10 Addax for WOTN. I only got to have this at pop and pour...can only imagine how superb it would have been with an hour decant. Lavender, black licorice, Mexican vanilla, currant and absolutely perfect texture on the palate. I have an ‘06 of this that I can’t wait to open! Thanks to @Shawn R and @David L for introducing me to this label on Delectable! — 7 years ago

with Dan

Mark Flesher

9.3

TART Sauv Blanc. WOW. Makes your lips pucker. This one pours with a little bit of cloudiness to it. The nose would make this one indicate that this is a sweet, fruit crush even flinty kind of wine. The palate immediately hits you with a tangerine rind that just never lets go. Finishes with a nice acidity. This one would go really well with fruit salad and some lemon parmesan fish. Finishes again with that awesome tangerine rind. Nice little white, and last one as I understand it. — 8 years ago

with Shay, Keith and 1 other

Shay A

9.3

One of my favorite bottles (Addax Pinot) next to a Nickel & Nickel that I've found to be reliable the few times I've had it. In comparison to the Nickel & Nickel CC Ranch, this is more approachable at a young age. Cola, vanilla, and a slight hint of gooseberries on the tongue. This is worthy of at least an hour decant and after that, pour this like it's water. Excellent wine at this age. — 8 years ago

with Luke and Cody

Edmond Bordelon

9.3

Decanted this 2009 Lewis Reserve and then blind tasted against Addax. While the Addax was well balanced and smooth, the Lewis burst with green pepper on the nose and continued with a spice tinge and tobacco background. Beautiful fruit tones that will complement this wine over time. — 10 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Wednesday Wine Committee. As always, wines are tasted blind. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert.

Not a lot to say on this that hasn’t been said. One of the top SBs coming out of Cali year end and year out. Melka and Arkenstone are in an echelon alone in my opinion, followed by Addax, Bevan, Montagu, and this. Bold style SB. Not overly tart or acidic. Mineral notes and beautiful texture. I guessed high end Cali SB. ✔️ — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Finally able to lock down reservations at Magdalena's. They have a unique set up in that they have a set menu that changes every week, and you are notified the week before if there are spots available...they sell out within 5mins! We were lucky to get on the list for their most recent "Supper Club" as they call it.

Based on the menu, we figured 1 white and 1 red was appropriate. After enjoying my favorite Sauv Blanc (the Addax SB), my buddy Luke (who is a big Pinot fan) brought this to expand our knowledge on pinots and see what Oregon has cooking. At pop and pour, this was delicious. Lots of cherries, leather and dates on the nose. The taste was very different than the aromatics. More leather, Bing cherry, cedar and a touch of rhubarb. A very "dusty" Pinot. — 8 years ago

with Luke

Shay A

9.4

This is my second time having Bevan's Drystack SB (though I often have the Addax SB, which is also unfiltered and made by Bevan). The nose on this is very typical SB to me...tropical peach, nectarine, floral. Maybe a bit of popcorn kernel (not buttery). But the palate on this is just always so freaking unique! I love the heavier texture of these unfiltered wines. The front of this is tropical, but it doesn't finish with a tropical or citrus crispness. It's more like a granite/stone finish. More "savory" than "sweet". Funky...but I always enjoy it, as does my wife! Not sure how Indie (left) and Abbie (right) feel though... — 8 years ago