Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

After reading the story of this producer, I inspired to try it. Especially, at $59.99 for a quality Napa Cabernet. These two brother’s are true pioneers of the Napa Valley. They do their own thing. Don’t follow trends and are not aggressive with their bottle price, nor do they really wish to. More rare than common in today’s Napa Cabernet market. I have a lot of respect for that and Napa Pioneers.

This also drinks pretty well for a young Napa Cabernet. I was expecting bigger/bolder based on write up. Not that this won’t benefit from cellaring.

The fruits are nicely ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, cherries & blueberry hues. I was expecting more teeth. Think it is showing the finesse & balance of most 21’s I’ve had. Dark spice, grilled meats, light black pepper, barrel dust, dry tobacco, leather, savory herbaceousnes, moist clays, dry crushed rocks, cola, flower bouquet of red, blue & purple fresh flowers, rainfall acidity with a well balanced, softly structured, elegant finish that lasts just over a minute and lands crushed rocks and touch of spice.

It will be interesting to see if this shows more in 5 years.

Photos of; Smith Madrone vineyards and brothers Stuart and Charles Smith — 14 days ago

Vin d’Ottawa

9.2

Drier and even more delicate than the typical Pinot Noir. — 5 years ago

with Gillian

Aaron Hamrock

9.7

Decanted for about two hours. This is outrageously good red belly wash. Paired with a usda prime ny strip. The fruit (especially blue fruit) paired amazingly well with the protein. — 6 years ago

Steven Lee

9.5

boys nite. Very classical napa valley. nose is better than palate. blue fruit, opulent, mineral. now i know my type of wine is one with cabernet, merlot, can franc. comparable to pomerol. just get the cheaper one you can find — 4 months ago

Nathan Renfro

9.4

Dark ruby colored. Nose of ripe dark fruit. Mouth coating blue and black fruit. Ripe and fresh tasting. Fruit moves to oak tones with mellowed tannins. Appears to just be hitting its stride. — 4 years ago

Carter Pelham

9.0

Superb.
Strong aromas of dark chocolate
Cooling blue fruit, characteristic WA syrah fruit profile to me
Pretty low acid
On opening felt slightly unbalanced, continued to integrate over 2 hours
Paired wonderfully with salame piccante, bellavitano, and netflix — 5 years ago

with Linh

Brian S

9.3

Dried blackberry, dried blue berry, black currant, bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, jerky, white pepper, eucalyptus, untanned leather, graphite, — 6 years ago

with Ellie

Maggie J

9.7

BUY MORE OF THIS. Didn’t get to have again but this was a favorite at Tranche. I was sick but mom and Elisia enjoyed it. — 3 years ago

Ezekiel James Hampton

9.5

The 11 vintage is fantastic now! Lots of powdery concrete, white pepper, blue fruit and cinnamon. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I coravined a taste of this last weekend and had my first major disappointment with Ladera. That all changed with a 45 minute decant & food tonight.

This bottling & for many vintages in the early 2000’s was the steal of Howell Mountain producers. I was buying it at Costco for $41-$45. Now & for some time, you can’t find a bottle of this at Costco regardless of price.

The nose as I was decanting it was very perfumed florals with potpourri. Now, the nose sings with the blue & purple fruits that identify wine as a Howell Mountain producer. Blackberries, blueberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, mulberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, stewed strawberries, raspberries haunt the background, sweet tarriness, dark, berry cola, black licorice, dry & fresh herbs-bay leaf driven, limestone, dry crushed rocks, softly laid baking spices; clove, vanilla, cinnamon & nutmeg, dark spice, dark chocolate bar, dry tobacco, some graphite, soft, used leather with spectacular, candied, fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in soft violets & fields of lavender.

The body is full, rich, lush and round. The tannins are nicely resolved but, still show baby teeth & tarriness. The tension, structure, length and balance are just the other side of peak. Blackberries, blueberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, mulberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, stewed strawberries, raspberries haunt the background, sweet, very dark, tarriness, cherry kirsch liqueur, dark, berry cola, black licorice, dry & fresh herbs-bay leaf driven, limestone, dry crushed rocks, moist clay, softly laid baking spices; clove, vanilla, cinnamon & nutmeg, black tea, dark spice with comfortable palate heat, dark chocolate bar, expresso roast, dry tobacco, some graphite, soft, used leather with spectacularly floral, candied, fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in soft violets & fields of lavender. The acidity is near perfect & holds back the slightly higher ABV. The finish is; rich, round, elegant, sexy, gorgeous, velvety, well balanced and persist endlessly.

Not as outstanding as their 2002 but, very good & still has another 8 years & possibly plus of good drinking ahead. Proper storage of course.

Photos of; Ladera & their beautiful flowered Estate, barrel tasting room, entrance sign with Estate vines & a visual of why Howell Mountain is such a great terroir. It’s above the fog-line and therefore gets more sun than the Napa Valley floor. More sun and cooler temperature at elevation means longer fruit hang time & more even fruit ripening. — 5 years ago