Doug Powers

9.6

Sweet dried redfruits and oak aromas, soft tannins, sweet fruit on palate as well, very fine acidity and depth, seems close to fully mature, but should last 3-5 years at least, kudos to Patrick Campbell, who made a lot of outstanding LG Cabernets back in the 1980s and 1990s, excellent Sonoma Mountain Cabernet!! — 5 months ago

with Jim

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 . — 8 months ago

Henry Fuseler

9.0

1/2025. A nice Washington Cab. Good flavor and nice on the palate. — 9 months ago

Julia Indik

9.5

This is huge. Dark fruit that slowly and smoothly builds - tempered by leather, fig, coffee, and spice. Modest tannins and almost no acid as the finish lingers on. — 3 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.0

Gamey on the nose and slightly overripe or very very ripe fruit. Not my vibe. It’s good. Don’t get me wrong, but overpriced. #washingtoncab #washington #washingtonwine #cabfranc #merlot — 6 years ago

with Rosario

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

Medium golden yellow. Lush nose with brioche, warm green apples, lemon curd, little straw and honeysuckle. Medium acidity (6/10) and medium to medium plus bodied. A little stoney on the palate with citrus rind and touch of yeast. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2025. — 6 years ago

with India

Steve North

9.1

On the drier side. Good with pork and steak — 7 years ago

Keith Lite

9.2

In a past life i think i lived on Howell Mountain. The wines from this region are just so spectacular. On the nose cherry, chocolate, coffee and that Howell earth that I’ve not found anywhere else. Leather damp earth and a thick and chewy finish. — 7 years 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 — 5 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. — 9 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Blend of mostly Merlot with a little Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits, sweet spice and espresso notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plum and black cherry with toasty oak, cacao and espresso. Fine soft tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak and sweet pepper spice. Still has room to age, but nice now! — 2 years ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Dark reddish purple. Inviting nose and medium-bodied palate of red berries, pomegranate, and a hint of toasted nuts on the moderate finish. Medium tannins. Medium acidity. A most typical example of mid-range Washington. The midpoint between New World fruit (but dark fruit) and Old World structure makes for an excellent American food wine. Pair with anything from burgers to roots to prime rib. Just do so by 2027. — 5 years ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.1

Bought this Howell Mtn. Zin at the Turley Winery in Amador County on the Shenandoah Wine Trail (the Sierra Foothills in CA. Black cherry fruit and gravel spice nose. A full mouth of dark cherry, cassis and spice taste with a chocolate vanilla finish. Pairs well with pizza on a warming summer evening in our lovely backyard on the green. — 6 years ago

with Franca and Jill

Mark Flesher

9.4

Opened tonight. And, I feel like a broken record saying that here is ANOTHER great 2011 considering the "damned vintage" that this one received press for being. I have 43 more 2011 Napa wines and I have a feeling that I'm going to be writing the same thing another 43 times. Not powerful, but these wines truly show the complexity that Napa cab CAN be. Nose of iodine, black licorice. Very front of this wine is sweeter black cherry giving way to an herbal infused middle (getting more dried basil with a hint of oregano and cumin). The red clay terroir is unmistakably present here through the middle and finish, which is usually more present for Ponente only at the very finish. The wine finishes with black cherry and black licorice dominated notes. I have a feeling that this wine is still on the way up. Has a few more years until it is at the top of the hill, but drinking OH SO WELL right now. — 7 years ago

Tom Garland

9.3

Decant for sediment (lots of chunky/fine sediment) and pour. A stunning medium ruby red color with little signs of aging. On the nose: big inviting notes of dark fruit/currants, worn leather, herbaceous, smoked meat, funky earth, menthol. Taste: silky, evolved, expressive structure with brambly plum, currants, old leather, dark chocolate, graphite, and a black raspberry-iron-dried herb long finish. YUM! It's what's you want in an aged Napa cab, and glad to have just acquired 3 more bottles. — 6 months ago

with Brenda

Ron R

9.4

Double magnum celebrating my daughter’s marriage.
Excellent wine. Beautiful nose of cassis and blueberries. Coffee notes on the mid palate, with very little oak to talk about. Nice texture supported by muscular tannins. Finishes moderately sweet. Nice acidity suggests that there’s no rush to consume this. — 9 months ago

with James

Paul K

9.3

I’ve been all over the place on rating with this. They’ve each been different experiences for sure. — 5 years ago

Ron R

9.5

Black as the night in the glass. Explodes on the nose and palate. Heady notes of kirsch, cinnamon raspberries ooze from the glass. Palate is weighty with overripe cherries and hints of maple syrup. I also detect a slight herbaceous note. Finishes sweet and viscous. Big score for a big wine. — 6 years ago

with Anne-marie

Kirk F

9.0

Cedarman is blend of Rattlesnake and Dragon vineyards, a zin with a 20% helping of petite sirah. On pnp this exhibits an intoxicating nose and you can just sense the plush palate ahead. Dark cherry, brambly and full bodied. This is a great value and delicious. Oh, and it went great with 🍕! — 7 years ago