Mike R

9.2

It was great at first but falling off at end - still enjoyed — 5 years ago

with Jeff

Justin Hart

9.5

This 2012 BDX blend could easily go another 7 years. It is still bound up (aeration required) and seething with intense blackberries, black currant and firm tannins. After mild aeration, the darker fruit gives way to a little bit of ripe cherry, tobacco and some faint but of vanilla. After heavy aeration, the vanilla comes out more noticeably on the nose, dominating everything else basically, with a hint of cherry at the end. On the palette the jamminess starts to show through, with ripe cherry and red plum overshadowing the tobacco and finishing with a strong white pepper note. — 6 years ago

with Cherish and Jen

Steve Goore

8.9

Overlooked this numerous times at TJs but once I saw it score a 99 at the CA State Fair I had to give it a try. Not disappointed! Don’t usually go for inexpensive cabs, but this $6 gem at TJs is tasty via tart cherry and light tannins. Pretty smooth. — 6 years ago

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. — 6 years ago

Matthew Marcino

9.4

Very approachable. Evolution of this bottle was over a 4 hour decant. First taste at opening, was tight dense gorgeous fruit, cassis, cigar, stone, and crisp Howell air. Second taste an hour later was bigger, bold, strong ruby fruit, less cigar but tobacco was still there. The fruit became longer on the finish and the density was so sexy. Taste like how you encounter sexiness tasting. Rudy, Tom, Michael and Red Cap Fam doing it really really well! — 7 years ago

Michael Chelus

9.1

Blackberry, raspberry preserves, cherry cola, vanilla, licorice and oak. Great structure and moderate tannins — 8 years ago

Alicia Cypress

9.2

Tasted at Hearts Delight press lunch. (Not my pic, I forgot to take one). I went into this thinking it would be big Napa Cab and wouldn't suit my palate. Then I tasted it and wow! Nothing green on this. Nice chalky minerality. I was excited to see this was from Howell Mountain as it then made sense to me why I was enjoying this more than expected. — 8 years ago

Justin Hart

9.4

Wonderful notes of wet concrete, ripe strawberry, and baking spices on the nose. Medium bodied (so for a grenache maybe on the heavier side), light tannins and a beautiful ruby color greet you at every sip. On the palette the strawberry notes are intense, and I would call this a “boozy” grenache as the alcohol is quite punchy. The strawberry notes are coupled with dried meat, white pepper and hints of red plum. Yum! — 5 years ago

with Cherish and Jen

Sam Hege

9.7

Great texture and oak integration. Tannins are lively, but inviting at this young age. A brightness that lifts a core of dark fruit with savory layers lingering just underneath. — 6 years ago

David L

9.1

09 wasn’t my favorite vintage from them. This needs a few hours of decanting. Didn’t do that...time wasn’t on my side. -at Manta -Mauna Kea, Hawaii — 6 years ago

Mike R

9.2

Starter wine and delicious

At my fav restaurant.

Smiling — 6 years ago

Estefania

9.0

Very smooth, kind of sweet red wine. A bit of a dry taste at the end which rounds the taste of it. Definitely liked it for a resting night at home! — 7 years ago

Katherine Bordelon

Court of Master Sommelier Guild member

9.0

Always a beautiful experience at this rustic winery. Delicious Zin, rich, chewy, hints of tobacco, ripe fruit, balanced, savory with our picnic of cheeses, meats and fruits. A vineyard puppy, Cooper was on hand to add some furry companionship this day. — 7 years ago

with Lauren and Edmond

Nate

9.7

At Moshulu on my birthday with Liz Nate and Jack. Fucking awesome. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I coravined a taste of this last weekend and had my first major disappointment with Ladera. That all changed with a 45 minute decant & food tonight.

This bottling & for many vintages in the early 2000’s was the steal of Howell Mountain producers. I was buying it at Costco for $41-$45. Now & for some time, you can’t find a bottle of this at Costco regardless of price.

The nose as I was decanting it was very perfumed florals with potpourri. Now, the nose sings with the blue & purple fruits that identify wine as a Howell Mountain producer. Blackberries, blueberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, mulberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, stewed strawberries, raspberries haunt the background, sweet tarriness, dark, berry cola, black licorice, dry & fresh herbs-bay leaf driven, limestone, dry crushed rocks, softly laid baking spices; clove, vanilla, cinnamon & nutmeg, dark spice, dark chocolate bar, dry tobacco, some graphite, soft, used leather with spectacular, candied, fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in soft violets & fields of lavender.

The body is full, rich, lush and round. The tannins are nicely resolved but, still show baby teeth & tarriness. The tension, structure, length and balance are just the other side of peak. Blackberries, blueberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, mulberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, stewed strawberries, raspberries haunt the background, sweet, very dark, tarriness, cherry kirsch liqueur, dark, berry cola, black licorice, dry & fresh herbs-bay leaf driven, limestone, dry crushed rocks, moist clay, softly laid baking spices; clove, vanilla, cinnamon & nutmeg, black tea, dark spice with comfortable palate heat, dark chocolate bar, expresso roast, dry tobacco, some graphite, soft, used leather with spectacularly floral, candied, fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in soft violets & fields of lavender. The acidity is near perfect & holds back the slightly higher ABV. The finish is; rich, round, elegant, sexy, gorgeous, velvety, well balanced and persist endlessly.

Not as outstanding as their 2002 but, very good & still has another 8 years & possibly plus of good drinking ahead. Proper storage of course.

Photos of; Ladera & their beautiful flowered Estate, barrel tasting room, entrance sign with Estate vines & a visual of why Howell Mountain is such a great terroir. It’s above the fog-line and therefore gets more sun than the Napa Valley floor. More sun and cooler temperature at elevation means longer fruit hang time & more even fruit ripening. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.4

I opened a ‘14 Cimarossa Ponente for Weston to get a feel for their style at a young age and while it was shockingly soft, open and showing plenty of fruit, Mark wanted to compare how an older Levante would show. The more I have these wines, the more I think Ponente (for my taste) can be enjoyed younger while Levante & Rian need more age to shine. This ‘07 Levante was fantastic. Nose of black cherry pie, blackberries and roasted plum. Powerful on the palate revealing red clay, blue and black fruit, but more dominant to the dark fruit side. Mocha, dark cocoa and vanilla pipe tobacco too. Don’t think it’s getting any better! — 6 years ago

with Mark and Weston

Daniel Taub

9.3

Always delivers and remains one of the great Napa cabs at or about 100-125. Kudos. Cheers — 7 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.4

Little pre-fathers day libation. Big, bold, and beautiful. Weighty and chewy. Cherry, spicebox and pepper. Loaded with alcohol - comes in at 15.9%. You know it’s there but it’s not overpowering. The finish is long and full of vanilla and spice. I ❤️ @Turley Wine Cellars. — 7 years ago

Eric

9.4

Not old school, not new school. Awesome nose of wildflowers and pencil shavings. Palate of blue bruised fruits, too many spices to mention, and tar. Pure as the driven snow. Marvel comic sized tannins. If you have any of this, wait at least five years and prepare for an amazeballs (wife term) wine. Marc Mondavi/TRB. — 7 years ago

Michael Mathews

9.2

Explosive Howell Mountain juice. Make no mistake this wine is big and warrants respect. Dark chocolate and cherries on the nose. Even the smallest sip fils the mouth. Incredible structure and big tannins. Inky, dark and mysterious at times....as it sits and opens up this gets bigger and richer. Just brilliant. — 8 years ago

with Brad, Kelly and 3 others