Classic Napa
Duckhorn Vineyards
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Classic Cabernet-earthy, leather, tobacco roundness in back of throat, round tannins. — 7 days ago
Cade
Estate Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2018
We drove up Howell Mountain to get to Cade two Sundays ago. What we witnessed was a horror show of fire damage. It’s hard to see nature destroyed in such a fashion. What was worse were all the brick chimneys only standing where there were once a home or a winery building.
Glass fire note. The fire investigation revealed the fire was started by a Cakebread electric fence short. An additional saddening note is Dolores Cakebread, the co-founder of Cakebread Cellars died shortly after the Glass Fire started. She was 90. No way to know if the stress of the fire factored into her passing.
We started with two Sauvignon Blancs. I enjoyed this one more than than the 2019. It simply has had a year longer in bottle to round out.
The 2018 proved to be a classic Napa Sauvignon Blanc. The 2018 was thick, nicely round and good viscosity. Tropical in style. Lots of melons, pineapple, white stone fruits, lighter citruses, beautiful, soft mid minerality with very good acidity and well balanced & polished finish.
Photos of; Cade Estate vines, outside patio tasting area, infinity wall and their Estate Cabernet fruit unharvested. Sadly, about 80-85% of the 2020 Napa Valley Cabernet fruit will never see bottling. — 19 days ago
Chateau Montelena
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1977
43 years old an amazing wine. Dark deep in color, beautiful fruit fine inter grated tannins with a beautiful finish. A classic. — 2 days ago
Perus Wine
Alessio Proprietary Red Blend 2016
PerUs Wine Company Proprietary Red Wine Alessio 2016, Napa Valley, California
To celebrate 15,000 followers on Vivino, i had to open something special.
Inky in color with a short reddish rim.
Strong nose of blackberries, black plums, cedar, light earth, licorice, vanilla, eucalyptus, chocolates, alcohol, herbs, coffee, spices and black pepper.
Full bodied, bold and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate and extremely fruity with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, figs, raisins, vanilla, cedar, cola, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, spices, alcohol, peppercorn and coffee.
Long finished with fine grained tannins and cherries.
This is just too delicious. What a great red from Napa Valley. An excellent Bordeaux blend.
Rich, dense, opulent, spicy, bold and elegant. Showing nice complexity with a great mouthfeel. Powerful and not for the timid.
Loved the nose and smelled on it for a while.
Although this is so tasty now, it is a sin to open it this young, as it has so much more potential. Will age nicely in the next 5 to 15 years.
The only other wine that I gave such a high score, at this young age, was the Penfolds Grange. I would love to try the two together at the same time. That would be very interesting.
Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up. I gave it 6 hours in a decanter, and checked it periodically. Tannins come in after 6 hours, so be patient.
Good by itself or with food. A fabulous wine to share with friends and talk about.
I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
15.2% alcohol by volume.
97 points.
$300. — 2 days ago
Silver Oak
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
A classic silver oak with structure, integrated tannins, and rich red fruit. We bought a bottle at Bellagio for $27 - the best $27 Cabernet I’ve ever bought (and consumed!). — 14 hours ago
Cakebread Cellars
Napa Valley Chardonnay 2016
Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Chardonnay 2016: Citrus & apple with a subtle touch of oak & butter. A classic and beautiful California Chardonnay! Cheers🍷 — 16 days ago
Duckhorn Vineyards
Three Palms Vineyard Merlot 2016
A classic. Powdered cocoa, a bright almost lemony note, and deep fruit notes. Perfectly balanced on the palate, warm and unctuous. Better, I think, than it showed a year or two ago. In my father's memory (his favorite bottle). Bottle #2 in FL. — 17 days ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
As you start your walk through their redwoods, there is a stop to taste their Chardonnay. The walk is relaxing & beautiful. However, you could still smell the char in the air as you stroll. The fire came down the mountain to their property line. It was an on-site fire crew from San Jose, Ca that protected their property. When I left our visit, there was a strong smell of char in my shirt from the breeze blowing down the mountain that had burned above them.
Their 16 Chardonnay is good. It’s Napa/Sonoma classic in fruit profile and not crushed in new oak which is the way I prefer it. Green apple, lemon, lime, some pineapple, cream, medium backbone, limestone, grey volcanics, lilies, white flowers & jasmine. The acidity is quite refreshing with a nicely polished & not overdone finish. Wire to wire a pleasant Chardonnay.
Photos of; their main house out front where you approach the property, inside tasting salon area, outside branded bar and another vantage point of their woods behind their tasting room. — 18 days ago