Neal Bryce

9.4

Millo Vegas. Tastes like pudding @John Beasley. Crisp lightning @W — 6 years ago

with John

Joe Roth

9.4

Spectacular Howell Mtn fruit. My first bottle but a great 2012. — 6 years ago

with Michael

Shay A

9.5

My love and affinity of Montagu is well documented on here, so no need for me to keep lavishing praise. That being said, if you enjoy bigger style SBs (Bevan, Arkenstone, etc), you need to try this. This has gotten SIGNIFICANTLY better over the last 6 months. "Sauv Blanc done the hard way" says Weston (winemaker) due to the oak aging here. I'm holding on to some of these to see how they age out. Right now though, it burst out of the glass with such force that you wonder if this is really a SB. So much tropical fruit and citrus, peaches, red/orange fleshy fruits. Acidity is perfect...chalkiness note up front and the finish is lengthy. Could even benefit from a quick decant...if you can resist drinking it! — 7 years ago

with Mark

Edmond Bordelon

9.7

Finally got Delectable to make an entry for this new one from Sam Kaplan. Much like his great Sauvignon Blancs from Arkenstone, this hardly tastes like a Chardonnay. Non-traditional in style, it coats the tongue with a richness that is not buttery. Just full bodied feel with amazing fruits. He is sourcing the fruit from the famous UV vineyard in Sonoma Coast. His first vintage is going to be historic as well. I am truly not a Chardonnay drinker, but this has converted me from the first sip. — 7 years ago

with Beth and Katherine

Ron R

9.4

Shakespeare describes the ignorance of youth as "salad days," when we are green in judgement. I feel the Wine Nerd Herd has certainly broadened my horizons, and not just from a wine perspective. I reflect on the uncommon generosity and hospitality, evidenced by our upcoming tasting in Florida, courtesy of @Martin G Rivard.
But at the heart of this event is wine and new friendships. Wine forms a bridge that connects people who were once strangers. For me, metaphorically, it's friendship in a bottle. That is also what this bottle represented to us - thank you Martin.

Another outstanding effort from BV. It's deep and rich, yet totally accessible. Very appealing. Along with Bevan, Arkenstone, Lail, Realm and others, BV has further opened our eyes to the world of wine, and our new friends. — 7 years ago

with Anne-marie

David L

9.3

13'Entre Nous SB 2013. This is quite the matchup both 13s. Arkenstone by a nose. Although I think the Entre Nous has some longevity in it. Both great wines! Arkenstone is a world class SB 94+ all day. Sam is making just an insane SB! Highly recommend. — 8 years ago

Stephen

9.2

2 of 3 wines we tried tonight. Extremely smooth Brunello. Lighter bodied than the Shane and Arkenstone but held its own. Nice finish and smooth fruits. — 6 years ago

Shawn R

9.6

SB that is on par with Melka and Arkenstone. Great weight and texture. My previous notes apply and then some. Paired with fresh Amberjack. Check this out. — 6 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. ✔️ — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.4

There was no question what my first Hurricane Harvey wine would be... Russell Bevan's Sauvignon Blanc from the Dry Stack Vineyard in Sonoma's Bennett Valley. A good case could be made for it being the best domestic Sauvignon Blanc, and it's certainly in the top 3 or 4 (among Peter Michael's L’Après-Midi, Arkenstone, and Merry Edwards). The distinctive cloudiness seems like it's become Russell's signature. The 2016 presents a rich and tropical fruit cocktail laced with garden herbs that's accentuated by a round, silky mouthfeel, which also gives extraordinary length to the finish... that's right, it's a Sauvignon Blanc. Not to mention, every once in awhile it gives off a tartness reminiscent of Lemonheads candy. — 7 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.9

Even up against the other two Sam Kaplan powerhouse wines (Nine Suns and Memento Mori), the Obsidian was my personal favorite. Maybe because it is his home field (Howell Mountain) advantage, having been there making wine with Ron and Susan Krausz for over 10 years. This Bordeaux blend spends 22 months in French Oak and another year in the bottle. Deep and brooding, complex and yet approachable, dense and balanced,...all the things I look for in a wine (and myself 😬). Robert Parker gave it a 98. While many of us don't always credit RP's scores, and as such, I am also going to have to disagree with him. I'm going for one of my all time high scores of 9.9. Again, personally to me, this wine is everything that I look for in a big Napa Cab expression. Sam Kaplan is doing great things up there in the hills! — 7 years ago

with Beth and Katherine

Shay A

9.5

Big Melka tasting tonight. Tasted, in order:
-2014 Melka CJ (more petit Verdot than usual. Can tell. Not a fruit bomb at all. Heavy on terroir emphasis)
-2013 Melka Majestique Syrah (really nice Syrah. Smoked game meat, espresso on the nose. Dark chocolate on the palate. Long finish)
-2014 Melka Mekerra Red (my favorite of the tasting as I dig Cab francs. So enjoyable now. Plum and more heavy than other Cab francs)
-2013 Melka Metisse Jumping Goat (seems more expressive than the '14, has more acidity to it)
-2014 Melka Metisse Jumping Goat (preferred this over the '13. Will age better. Plum and licorice heavy)
-2014 Melka Mekerra White
Highlights were the Mekerra Red (53% Cab franc, 47% merlot) and the outrageously expensive and textured Mekerra White. Who the heck serves a white last?! Reminds me of the Arkenstone Sauv blanc. For what it's worth, though splitting hairs, the Melka white is more Tropical and explosive out of the glass...the Arkenstone is more textured, heavy and has tons of earthy components to it as opposed to tropical. — 7 years ago

Robert Rothfield

9.5

Favorite Howell Mtn cab — 8 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.7

Needed something to ease the pain of leaving Napa tomorrow. Some extraordinary sites, exceptional wines, and even better people...
Theorem Vineyards
Arkenstone Vineyards
Frank Family Vineyards
Ashes & Diamonds
Carter Cellars
Envy Wines
Ancillary Cellars
Ovid
Pride Mountain Vineyards
Outpost Wines
Volker Eisele Family Estate — 6 years ago

Paul T HB

9.6

Definitely competes with Bevan’s Dry Stack SB,
Save some 💸💰 and skip Arkenstone & get this. — 7 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.5

This ranks among my favorite SBs (Bevan, Dana, Arkenstone). SB with a touch of Semillon (I didn't know this when I first tasted the wine - but commented that it reminded me of a white Bordeaux which makes sense now). Lime, honey, wet stones and pith on the nose, this wine is rich on the palate thanks to time in Oak barrels, yet maintains a nice crispness. Mouthwatering acidity and moderately long finish. I really like this wine. — 7 years ago

Shawn R

9.5

Such an exotic nose. Even Melka is on the Paso wagon. Would like to compare this to the Arkenstone in a side by side Syrah showdown! Not a pop and pour. — 7 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.6

Nine Suns and their favorite son, Sam Kaplan!
Sam and his lovely wife, Nancy were kind enough to take time out of their Florida vacation and stop by our house for a great Tasting Event of his big 3 Wines,... Arkenstone, Memento Mori and Nine Suns. And then he pulled out his latest project, soon to be released in the fall, Maxem! (Named after his two children, Max and Emma.) Not to compete with his huge red blends, his Maxem line is Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, both from the famed UV Vineyard in Sonoma. (Think Aubert Pinot Noir😃). I will try to review the Maxem wines later, but back to the amazing Nine Suns red blend from Pritchard Hill. We had the 2012 recently and were blown away by how much it has improved in such a short time. The 2013 needed some more time, but you can already sense the greatness to come. Already balanced feel and long finish. I decanted it for 4 hours to ensure we were doing justice to this deep purple stunner. While I liked the 2012 better, this 2013 was still lush and had blueberries as the major fruit up front and dark cherries on the back end. Sam talked about Nine Sun's amazing Houyi Vineyard, calling it the Rodéo Drive of Napa with all of their big neighbors. 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot. Robert Parker gave it a 96, and I am in full agreement! — 7 years ago

with Beth and Katherine

David L

9.0

15' Kind Howell MT SB. "Not found on delectables".Inviting floral nose to it. Palate- This is a high-toned SB driven by citrus, grapefruit, pineapple & pear. The fruits have light tones of minerality & acid to it. Reminds me of a combination between Arkenstone/Adamvs Howell MT SB's. — 7 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.4

Delia Viader is making wonderful Bordeaux style wines up on Howell Mountain (which is quickly becoming my favorite region...Dunn, ADAMVS, Arkenstone, Outpost...what's not to love?). She is a great inspiration to us all, and as you taste her wines, you can taste the brilliant acidity, firm tanins and the fruit is a early season strawberry and cassis. — 8 years ago

with Joe, Lauren and 1 other