Shay A

9.5

What an incredible second day here in Napa. Jesus started us off with an amazing tasting at Davies/Schramsberg, Crocker & Starr gave us our cab franc fix, Montagu & Addax put on a double tasting, and Hourglass knocked it out of the park at the end of the day! I won’t post each wine we tasted, but I’ll highlight the best from each spot.

@jesus g was a killer host. He opened up some older sparklers to compare against new releases as well as poured some very impressive JDavies reds, including the Diamond Mtn Cab. This JSchram Reserve ‘08 though was on a different level. Honeyed almond, apricot, lemon curd. Texture and acidity were seductive at 10yrs old. Happy to have one tucked away for the foreseeable future. Legit, @jesus g ! — 7 years ago

with jesus

Norman

9.7

This was great and to think it was still going strong. Killed the '07 Hourglass. In magnum — 8 years ago

with Jason, Rina and 3 others

Andrew S

9.5

Amazing. Length for days. So many little flavors just keep bouncing around. You can sit and ponder each sip, and the glass could take an hour of you life. That's a nice hourglass! Still tastes like a baby, but in a great spot now too. — 9 years ago

Rob Sternthal

8.9

Distinctly Hourglass. Has a taste of dark blueberries. Possibly overripe fruit. Still somewhat tannic. — 10 years ago

with Daniel

Tom Lee

9.4

144 bottles produced — 12 years ago

with Claire

Steve Anderson

9.3

Awaiting correction, but this is the Blueline Estate, Ambassador Cuvée. Not familiar with this and no info on the website. Hoping @Anthony Biagi can shed some light. 240 bottles produced, so initially thought a single barrel wine. Hmm.. no Varietal listed, so now thinking a blend. Gave this four hours of air on Christmas Eve. Shy on the nose to start, but smooth and elegant with blackberry. Merlot? Nose is more open on night two. Cab Franc? Some menthol sneaking in on the nose as well. Whatever composition of a Bdx blend it is, it is a treat to drink and putting a positive note on the 2011 vintage. — 8 years ago

Eric L.

9.3

My first time trying this, and it is really terrific and a great value at the price point. Very full and complete on the palate. Lovely blueberry and blackberry fruit on the palate with a hint of baking spices and vanilla. I would definitely buy this again. Kudos @Anthony Biagi ! — 8 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.4

Tight out of the gate. Opens to show focus on dense black and blue fruits. Powerful and polished, with a dark and dry finish. — 8 years ago

with Alex, P and 1 other

Carl Fischer

9.3

Delicious first vintage from winemaker Anthony Biagi of Hourglass. I couldn't believe the amount of sediment on the cork or the dark inky color. This was a delicious wine and a bargain that is drinking so well with a quick decant. A big wine with soft tannins. Very nice. — 9 years ago

Casey Burke

9.0

The hue is deceiving, this is a light, dry, balanced rosé with a lot of body. Surprisingly delish. — 10 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.5

The best merlot coming out of Napa? Hard to say, but definitely in the top three for me (Paloma, Hourglass and this). So much fruit wrapped in a silky package (@Bill Bender don’t go there). Hedonistic, but still so balanced. And an ‘11 to boot. This followed two exceptional wines and held its own. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

We are all aware of the fires ravaging Napa & Sonoma. Regusci survived with basically a little something more than scorched property as shown in the top photo. One of the lucky ones. The picture on the left shows Laura Regusci and her young son Andrew with fire extinguishers having fought property flames to protect their buildings. In crisis, vintners really come together. That’s Rob Mondavi Jr. helping them with the 17 vintage. I emailed with Jeff Smith of Hourglass and they were helping follow vintners crush grapes etc. at their property who were still without power etc.. Napa/Sonoma is so community strong! The real heroes in all this are the Firefighters in bottom photo. They walk right into the frontline of flames without a second thought. They have been working in some cases three straight shifts a day and then pulling up only a piece of the ground to get some sleep. Some of these Firefighters lost their homes in the fires as well. If you’d like to support these brave Firefighters who have lost everything while at the same time fighting to save others, the Int’l Association of Firefighters has set up a fund for Firefighters who have lost their homes. Here is the link to donate, http://www.gofundahero.com/campaign/detail/4913 🚒. The Regusci 2010 Zinfandel on the nose is; blackberries, boysenberries, dark cherries, huckleberries, poached strawberries, black licorice, baking spices, dark rich earth, dry top soil, bramble, volcanic minerals, violets, lavender and lilacs. The body is round and rich with juicy fruits. The tannins are soft and well resolved. Fruits are ripe; boysenberries, huckleberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, dark cherries & pomegranate. Nice baking spices; vanilla, clove and cinnamon. Rich dark earth, crushed rocks, dry top soil, soft volcanic minerals, black cherry cola/licorice, red florals, violets, light lavender, lilacs, waterfall acidity and a long, elegant, round, rich, juicy fruit finish that’s is consistent all the way through and lasts well over a minute. It’s somewhere around it’s peak with a few more years of good drinking left. Paired well with the slightly spicy Kentucky Bourbon chicken skewers. All our prays and hopes for the people in Napa and Sonoma. — 8 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.0

I love Bob's style of winemaking across the board, but especially his Merlots (Switchback, Pride, Hourglass, and his own label is no exception). This one is Big, bold, very fruit-forward with pronounced oak (but not overpowering) and fairly strong tannins. This is still a baby and made me understand what they mean by a "Cab lover's Merlot". — 10 years ago

Steve Cooper

9.5

Mint, coffee, caramel, blueberry and blackberry, with a hint if farm. On the sweet side. Tannins are well integrated - drink now. — 12 years ago