Glacial Till
Flora Springs
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Deep ruby red, nice and young. Rounded nose dark spices, dark berries, cocoa and a touch of anise. Medium tannins (6/10) and medium plus bodied. Layers of sweet spices, crushed gravel, dark bitter cocoa, plums and dark raspberries. Dry and long finish. Drink till 2024. — 8 years ago
Rockwell Brown
Red Mountain Red Blend 2009
Last of the four year vertical we are trying out for #WAWineMonth. We had the 05, 07, 08 and 09.
Just through the appearance you can tell this is the youngest of the lot with a deep ruby red core. Fruitiest too on the nose with dark red berries and followed up with some graphite, light damp leaves, cocoa and cinnamon. Medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and medium plus to full bodied. A touch more oomph than the 2008. Layered palate with dark cherries, dark cocoa and cassis. Dry and long finish. Drink till 2023.
This particular bottling is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. (90+) — 8 years ago
Witchery Wine
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Fourth of the blind tasting for Father's Day weekend.
Deep and dark purplish ruby red. Dark fruits with a touch of acetone or whiskey on the nose. Some cigars and dark cocoa as well. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and medium bodied. A touch lighter than expected. Extracted dark fruits and bitter dark cocoa on the palate. A little unbalanced with a medium plus finish. This is still a baby and needs time to settle. Drink till 2029. — 8 years ago
Spottswoode
Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
First time trying the flagship bottling from Spottswoode Estate.
Deep ruby red. Restrained on the nose with definite oak influence as well as dark red berries and sweet spices, cinnamon. Heavy tannins (8/10) and full bodied. Dark restrained fruits on the palate as well, black currants, cassis, black cherries and a touch stoney in the super long finish. Slightly dry too. This is just a baby and would not open another for another five years or so. Drink till 2033. — 8 years ago
Scalon
Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Deep ruby red. A bit tight to start on the nose, with notes of black cherries, floral herbs and a bit smokey. Moderate tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Palate was a bit savory with a good bit of red berries. Dark gravel in the long and lingering finish. Drink till 2028. — 8 years ago
Realm Cellars
The Tempest Napa Valley Red Blend 2013
Deep ruby red. Lucious and killer merlot. So much dark and red fruit. Moderate plus tannins (7.5/10) tons of dark fruit stunning wines. Drink till 2025. — 8 years ago
Kale Wines
Kick Ranch Vineyards Home Run Cuvée Grenache Blend 2012
First red we tried from Kale Anderson at his own personal winery, Kale Wines. Deep and dark ruby red. Interesting nose with notes of dark chocolate and forest floor. Definitely some savory notes too. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) and full bodied Rhone blend. Silky, smooth, thick, and creamy texture coated with dark fruits like berries and plums. Strong on the attack, seems heavily extracted. Long and lingering finish. Got a little drier on day two. So much structure and complexity going on in this wine and only for $45. Solid wine and worth checking out if you haven't. Drink till 2025. — 9 years ago
Chalk Hill
Estate Bottled Chalk Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Garnet red with some browning on the edges. Nose was definitely tight to start, with a couple hours of air it changes from chalky and savory to some dark berries. Kind of all mixed together. Cassis and blackberries in the attack with some earthy and vegetal undertones. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) and a moderate body. Slightly furry moderate plus finish. Drink till 2019. — 9 years ago
Ghost Cellars
Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Super dark ruby red. A bit of complexity on the nose with cinnamon, cedar, earth, herbs, a bit toasty and touch of red berries. Rounded and medium tannins (6/10). Medium bodied with notes of spices, dust, strawberries and cherries. Medium plus finish and well balanced. Drink till 2023.
Made up of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Merlot. Aged for 20 months in 40% new French oak, and then an additional 6 months in the bottle prior to release. Only 308 cases produced.|Sample provided by Winery, retail price is $85.00. — 8 years ago
Caymus Vineyards
Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Final night of the cruise.....night ten coming to a close so we decided to go with another Special Selection.
Deep and dark purplish ruby red, completely coats the glass. Plump and rich aromas on the nose with blueberries, vanilla, cinnamon, blackberries and even some purple flowers. Rounded and integrated heavy tannins (7/10) and medium plus to full bodied. Love the blue and black fruits on the palate of this wine. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2032. — 8 years ago
Pahlmeyer
Napa Valley Merlot 2010
A bit hazy, cloudy and dark ruby red. Thick baking cocoa on the nose with a touch porty, tight black cherries, and raspberries. Strong acidity with medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and full bodied. Seemed a bit disjointed even with a 2 hour decant. Layered palate with plums, cedar, a bit of animal notes like leather, leaves, a touch earthy and dark cherries too. Long finish. Might be going through a dumb phase and need some time. Drink till 2023. — 8 years ago
Stark-Condé
Unfined and Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Tasted on day two. Deep ruby red with bell peppers and red fruits on the nose. Lots of acidity with medium tannins (5/10). Medium bodied with dark fruits and a bit savory. Medium plus finish. Drink till 2019. — 8 years ago
Silver Oak
Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Deep ruby red maybe even a purplish hue. Dark berries with a touch of earthiness on the nose. Graphite and bark too. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) and medium bodied. Layered palate but a little tight with a little anise, dark fruits, spices, dark bitter cocoa and black cherries. Dry and slightly gritty texture with a medium finish. Drink till 2024. — 8 years ago
Agharta Wines
Mountain Terraces Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
First wine we have tried from Agharta Wines and first Cabernet from Pax. Beautiful ruby red with a dark core. Great complexity and layers on the nose, starting with an attack of fresh blueberries and opens up to a few savory and tons of floral notes. Beautiful bouquet of roses, lavendar and lilac with a smokey undertone and a touch of eucalyptus. Nose just keeps changing as it opens. Overall great mouthfeel and well rounded. Moderate tannins (5/10) that is coated in red cherries and raspberries. Moderate body and moderate plus finish. A little shorter than we would have liked but very well integrated. Overall pretty good bargin at around $30 a bottle. Drink till 2021. — 9 years ago
Charles Smith
Kungfu Girl Washington State Riesling 2014
Härlig friskhet. Funkar bra till skaldjur. — 10 years ago
Fossil & Till
Davis Vineyard Petillant Naturel Riesling 2013
Good as usual. Acidity and bubbles ! — 10 years ago
Van Till Family Farm Winery
Red Blend
Front label. Nice concord blend. Semi sweet red. Enjoyed this. — 11 years ago
Campesino
Sangiacomo Old Lakeville Vineyard Syrah 2013
Deep purplish ruby red. Lovely 'Côte Rôtie' styled nose with black olives, smoke, dark floral notes and black currants. More floral notes as it breathes. Well rounded and spicy on the palate with medium tannins (6/10) and medium bodied. Layered palate with notes of black olives, bacon fat, pepper, dark spices and minerality. Long and lingering finish with balanced acidity. Drink till 2024. — 8 years ago
Retro Cellars
Napa Valley Petite Sirah 2012
Always love these Petite Sirahs from Mike Dunn, and this 2012 seems to be especially special. Dark purplish red. Overall lots of dark characteristics on the nose with tight bramble berries, black currants, spices, dried violets, a little cinnamon and even coriander. Even got a little gamey and savory with an hour or two in the glass. Heavy tannins (7/10) but smooth and full bodied. Kept beefing up as it sat open, currants on the attack, iron, smokey and a bit meaty. Larger in the mid-palate with some dark crushed rocks. Dark fruits coming through at the end after day one. Insanely dry and long with a nice little spice kick in the finish. Will drink well for the next decade or so. Drink till 2027. — 8 years ago
Mvemveraats
De Compostella Cabernet Franc Blend 2011
Fourth of the blind wines.
Deep ruby red. Nose started off quite tight, needs more than an hour and a half decant. Earthy nose with menthol notes, darker spices, cinnamon, a touch of dirty cellar, a little green, chalky and light dark berries. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and medium plus bodied. Great structure with notes of red berries, oak, earth, herbaceous, minerality, and a touch vegetal. Very dry and long finish. Drink till 2024. (91+) — 8 years ago
Pahlmeyer
Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2003
Deep ruby red. Mix of blue and red fruits on the nose. Undertones of cedar and light craisons. Rich and extracted, a true powerhouse in Napa. Medium tannins (6.5/10) and full bodied. Solid oak notes, vanilla, cinnamon, some mint and notes of black fruits and red fruit too. Long finish. Heat comes through a little bit, but does not overpower the wine. Drink till 2020. — 8 years ago
Jean Edwards Cellars
Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Second time trying the 2011 Stagecoach Cabernet. Deep garnet red with bricking on the edges. A touch floral on the nose with dark berries and bell peppers. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) and medium plus bodied. Good fruit on the palate with dusty tannins and solid greenery. Long finish. Drink till 2022. — 8 years ago
Kale Wines
Sonoma County Syrah Rosé 2015
Beautiful pale pink. Layered nose with strawberries, and melon. Moderate acidity (6/10) and light plus bodied. Fresh and crisp palate with strawberries and tropical fruits. Long finish. Drink till 2019. — 8 years ago
De Toren
Z Merlot Blend 2009
Garnet red with some bricking around the edges. Some dirty notes of the nose with a little greenery and soft dark berries in the finish. Moderate tannins (7/10) with good acidity, a little higher than expected. Mainly red berries on the palate with some savory herbs in the finish. Medium plus bodied and medium plus finish. Tastes a little older than an 09. Drink till 2018. — 8 years ago
Shafer Vineyards
Napa Valley Merlot 2001
Definitely better than the last couple of times we have had it. Deep and dark ruby red with garnet edges and a little bit of sediment. Forest floor on the nose accompanied with dark berries. Fruit forward with an attack of cassis with some undertones of truffles and other earthy/rustic notes. Moderate tannins (7/10) with a smooth medium body. Actually a bit of dark cocoa too. Moderate plus furry finish. Shafer does not disappoint! Drink till 2019. — 9 years ago
Château Lynch-Bages
Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1982
1982 vintage to celebrate my birth year! Delicious even immediately after opening. Raspberry notes. Perfect dryness for the finish. Should probably wait to write notes till after it opens, but it's so good now not waiting! — 10 years ago
Van Till Family Farm and Winery
Strawberry Festival
Back label. Luscious fresh strawberry flavor. Yummy! Also very nice blended with their Chocolate Rose. — 11 years ago
Greg Ballington
Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog
Deep purplish ruby red. A little mute on the nose to start with some savory notes, layers of dark black fruits, cinnamon and some minerality. Balanced acidity with heavy tannins (7.5/10). Full bodied with tons of dark and red fruit with some sweet spices too. Long and lingering finish. Needs a long decant. Drink till 2033. — 7 years ago