Ryan Vento

9.4

Birthday red for the birthday girl 🍷 all made possible by the people’s champ, @Ron R 🙌🏻 thanks for sending this our way, sir - it’s some seriously delicious juice. I gave it one smell and thought to myself, “This is a 94/100 wine.” Glad to see my initial (and final) assessment was on par with most of yours.

Intoxicating notes of mulled plums, blackberries and blueberries, all baked together with anise, melted Mexican chocolate, and dried vanilla bean. Beautiful, luscious mouthfeel with a velvety finish. This is a winner. — 4 years ago

with Krystal

Shay A

9.4

Couldn’t believe my luck when someone walked in with this. I recently made the list and purchased some current release as well as an older vintage all without ever trying these wines. People speak highly so I’m glad I got to see why. This is mainly Beckstoffer GIII I believe (though it’s now mainly Moulds, Farella and Houyi) and it had some hallmark BGIII notes...dusty blackberries and raspberries. Rose petal, graham cracker and lead. Nice! — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.4

During the month of January, the Wednesday Wine Committee has a unique format...the sparkler, whites and dessert wines can be from any vintage and any location, but the reds must be from the 2007 vintage. It was my first time providing a wine for a lunch, so I was excited to see how it showed. As always, all wines were served blind.

This was a treat for me to be able to serve. Tom Farella only produces this Alta bottle in special years. The ‘07 was his last one before he brought it back in ‘14. Cabernet dominated blend complimented by a bit of merlot from the famed Farella vineyard. Supremely balanced. Raspberries, plums and blackberries on the nose and palate, but the finish was plush. This is about at its peak and will stay here for another 3 or so years. Oak was almost fully integrated. Very happy to have two of these still sleeping. This was the group’s consensus “wine of the day”. — 6 years ago

Jeffrey Lew

9.4

Actually liked better than the 12 Farella. This has some legs for the long haul. — 7 years ago

GEORGE SKIPPER

9.2

Delicious. Very robust 4 a stray. — 8 years ago

with Cheryl

Florencia Palmaz

Owner Palmaz Winery

9.0

This is actually the Pinot from coombsville- lovely! — 8 years ago

Mark Farrell

9.1

This is the Farella Vineyard Cab. Deep Ruby to deep purple in color with an explosive nose of blackberries, black cherries, black pepper, and cocoa powder. Very powerful nose. The aromas fill the room. Flavors are a bit tight on this. It is a 2016, so it may open up after a bit of aging. Medium to full bodied. Bone dry. I think this needs a bit of time to develop. — 5 years ago

Kurt Schuster

9.2

Delicious, full bodied, and complex. Great flavors of oak without overwhelming vanilla, ripe and firm grapes with tannins to keep things balanced. Herb and smoky notes. Delicious. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Today was my first time to host Wednesday Wine Committee. I’ve had the good fortune of attending on and off over the last two years and was delighted to finally host a lunch. As many of the wines I brought today I’ve posted on here before, I’m posting the white wine of the day and the red wine of the day. As always, the format of 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine was in play and everything was tasted blind.

As my 30th birthday approaches next week, I wanted to bring a bottle of something special, so I decided on a birth year wine as a small early birthday celebration. Absolutely shocked at the color...was as dark as an ‘07 Farella that was next to it! Acidity, fruit and finish were all insane for the age. Barnyard funk blew off easily and revealed bing cherry, dates, currant and a killer herbal acidic finish. Tannins are still providing nice structure here. ‘88 wasn’t a great Napa vintage, but this just goes to show you how quality producers churn out age worthy wines regardless of vintage. A real treat. Credit to @Mark Flesher for helping me get this! — 6 years ago

Alex Leonardini

9.5

This isn't a syrah that looks or tastes like it's 14 years old; in fact, it likely still has another 8-10 years in it. It's age is just starting to show those tertiary flavors of leather and carmelized brown sugar while the herbal and fruit characteristics remain. Really a lovely wine. — 6 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.2

Straw colored. White peach, grapefruit, and freshly cut grass are evident on the nose with modest oak influence. Very crisp acidity on the palate with slightly creamy texture and 14.1% alcohol. Made by Michel Roland protégé Benoit Touquette with most of the fruit coming from the Farella vineyard in the Coombsville AVA, this is Realm's only white wine and a great example of the potential of Sauvignon Blanc in the Napa Valley. — 7 years ago

with Lisa and Kelly

John B

9.4

In honor of receiving my Realm shipment today, I thought I'd open a bottle from last year. Pale straw color. Expressive aromatics of pineapple and lemongrass. Grapefruit, crisp green apple, and pear. and Enough acidity and minerality to balance out the fruit. A touch alcoholic. Consistently one of the best Sauvignon Blancs in Napa. They changed the name to "Fidelio" for 2016. Will wait a bit to open those. — 7 years ago

Tiffany Yam

8.9

At home with McQ before his trip home to Syracuse. McQ thinks it's a bit acidic but not too much. Just first thing he noticed. Subtle fruit flavor. McQ says pear — 8 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.4

Exactly what I expected and exactly what I wanted. Intense and expressive with copious amounts of brooding dark fruits, graphite, anise, eucalyptus, gunpowder, and violet on the nose with juicy plums, blackberries, spices, and cedar on the palate with silky tannins and big structure. So good. — 5 years ago

with Krystal

Jason and Jennie

9.4

93-94. Too bad they aren’t making more of this as realm is replanting the farella merlot to cab. I just love this vineyard for merlot. Blend it with kenefick cab and you got a winner. — 6 years ago

Alex Leonardini

9.4

Gorgeous blue fruits with ample acidity and a smoky background. — 6 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Just off the truck and ready for around a ten year or so hibernation. Still waiting on the 15 Farella via @Shay A. Thank you! 9.7 on the “Moonracer.” Beautiful fruit, texture and body. 9.6 on “The Bard.” The Bard a little bigger wine with more structure & beefier tannins than the Moonracer. Average score 9.65 rounded down for now. Tasted at the property just over a month ago. — 6 years ago

David L

9.2

15’ Farella La Luce Sauvignon Blanc. Stone fruits. Lemon peel. Healthy dose of acidity. They sell most of the there grapes to Realm & Lail. Food pairing SB Edit- Tasting much better then upon release date! The acid has calm down quite a bit after about 30 minutes in the glass. Very enjoyable. These high acid wines...don’t drink them so cold ,cellar temperature is just fine! — 6 years ago

Eric

9.5

100% SB from Farella. Tight nose of wildflowers and melon. Lemon on the palate with a wisp of cream air at the end. Extremely bright acid. Gives those little muscles under your tongue a workout. One of the longest finishes I've seen in a white wine. Update- with a little air and food the citrus mellows and some malt shows up. Awesome stuff. — 7 years ago

Henrik Poulsen

8.9

About 200 cases made (by Tom Farella).
For the price point (about $30 I believe) it is a solid wine and difficult to argue but my enthusiasm is moderate.
Will need to taste some other vintages to compare. — 8 years ago

with Kurt-Inge