Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.0

Gratifying Oak Knoll #napavalley #merlot - medium plus body, calibrated acidity, some vanilla and toasty oak notes so it’s pretty young but well executed Merlot. My hot take - Merlot at the $50 retail mark will outperform Cabs at this price point. — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2022 vintage. Last year's vintage more than justified the pricing. This one, not so much. 06.11.25. — 6 months ago

David Walser

9.5

I bought some corked bottles and some screw cap bottles. This is for the corked one. At 13 years old it’s tasting great! I’m expecting the screw caps to be just as good. — 7 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

A Burgundian-styled Cab Sauv from the one of the most compelling Sub AVA of Napa mountains (Mayacamas) which has an amazing soil and solid influence from the Pacific. Crafted with an amazing balance of 68% Cab Sauv, 20% Merlot, 5% and the rest to round it off its structure and age ability. The 2011 is still climbing to its peak. Enticing notes of dry red fruits on the nose and mouth, delicate, outstandingly silky and nearly perfect balance!
The finish shows its beauty. (if you find it, it won’t disappoint you) it will give the run for the money. — 10 months ago

Neal Ferry

9.2

Extremely Nice… in all aspects — 4 years ago

Robert Evans Jr

9.1

Tremendous & Intense Nose Clean Crisp Honeydew Melon. Butter Toffee on the Palate. @Ron R channeling my inner you on this description — 6 years ago

with Nicole

Mark Turner

9.1

Still big with heavy tannins. Good Stags leap fruit. Needs more time or long decanting to soften up. — 7 years ago

Mark Mannebach

9.2

2004 tasting great. Black currant with soft tones of mineral/earth/wet stone. — 8 years ago

P Plusquellec

9.1

Typical German Reisling petrol nose with light fruit and pleasant minerality — 11 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.0

This is mountain fruit with smooth tannins for a 2010 lots of currant and cassis like fruit with dried tobacco spice very easy drinking — 12 years ago

Randall Hopkins

Winegrower Co-Winemaker and Owner Corvus Vineyard and Corvus Cellars

9.4

Well balanced and aged beautifully. Did this in a blind tasting and guessed 2007-2009 as the fruit was still so prominent and pronounced but in a nice way. Tannins were so well integrated and there was still nice structure. Crowd pleaser! — 5 months ago

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 — 6 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.1

Beautiful and light on its feet. Dry - very well made! Fantastic fruit. Very fresh. Honey. Meyer lemon, mandarine, just a faint touch of 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN) aka Diesel. Touch bitter on the back palate. As a chemist i just had to bring this up. At 24 suns in Oceanside. 2 Michelin Chefs cooking. Grab this bargain before it is gone!!!!!! — 9 months ago

Paul J

9.4

1hr plus decant. Dark red color. Cassis and dark fruit on the palate. Very sweet, like candy in a glass. Huge depth. Different style than most Napa Cabs but who doesn’t like candy! — 4 years ago

with Brooke and Geoff

Amy Jarratt

9.9

With bb and Scott — 7 years ago

Michael Waroff

9.1

Flavorful with oak barrel hints — 7 years ago

Daron Watson

9.4

nose of brambly dark berry patch, part herbal & botanical w perfume of violets, spice cake & fireball cinnamon ~ sappy, candied & juicy raspberry & cherry, pastilles & rose petals w smoke, minerals & white pepper on the finish

about 90% Listan Negro and 10% Tintilla from 35 plots of vines ranging from 10 to 180 years of age at heights of 250 to 800 meters above sea level

to be clear: this is their “intro” red wine we sell for $17.95

BRAVO! — 8 years ago

Patrick Ayotte

9.1

Quite dark colored. Young nose with fruits, spices, fresh grass and strength can be felt. On the palate it’s balanced between the fruit flavors and the oak well integrated by the way, long finish and no heaviness. Excellent (91) — 11 years ago

Paul Horn

9.6

Initially dry, but with a fruity nose. Expected to have a full flavor and finish as the bottle nears the end. — 12 years ago

Michael Smith

10

Woohoo!!! Super velvet...best cab I've had in a long time for $30. Smooth throughout would highly recommend. — 12 years ago

Brian Hearty

9.3

2007. Big, rich, dark fruits and oak! Great on its own, but I liked the Red Cap a little better. — 6 months ago

Jason Phillips

9.1

Dark ruby with purple edges. Great nose, full bodied, good oak. — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2022 vintage. Good, not great. The 2021 with more intensity/grip and life. 06.11.25. — 6 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Deep garnet with terracotta . Quite rich concentrated nose , slightly roasted spicy , oaky nose, cassis , dark plum , quite rich and dense. Slightly sweet on the palate , but with red plum , spiced orange rind , cassis , cacao . A bit alcoholic on the palate too. Quite rounded , but gritty tannins and just balanced acidity . Slightly Foursquare on the finish , with spiced cherry , cacao . Drink now and over the next 5 years or so . — 10 months ago

Vino Joe

8.9

Was hoping to like this but it was a solid if unmemorable CA Cab. Nothing much to say which is all I have to say…. — 3 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.5

Dark garnet colored with a slight brick colored meniscus on the edges. Dark fruit, cedar, black olives and leather on the nose. Bold tastes of black plums, figs, cherry cola, and licorice wrapped in silky tannins and perfect acidity. A great finish. Kudos to my friend Steve Reynolds for making such an unbelievably great wine. This wine is not showing any signs of letting up. A true heavyweight Cabernet at a great price. — 6 years ago

with Lisa

Tobin Trevarthen

9.2

Dark Ruby. Lovely aromatics, violets, roses, flower garden that blossomed into a nice layered flavor trove of chocolate dipped cherry and toasted cinnamon stick. Perfect compliment to a NY Strip. — 7 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.3

Nice wine. It came to the party wearing a backpack, glasses and a hat with a mosquito net. — 8 years ago

with Jade and Paul

Marcia Robinson

9.4

Very creamy - had at Barbuto — 11 years ago

Ross Otto

9.4

Could use some more aging. More spice and more bold. Not as good as the 2010 — 12 years ago

with Melissa