Brandon Boesch

9.4

Huge amount of funk, game, and earth on initial opening. Much better and more integrated on day 3. Still a lot of earth but now some plums and flowers come through. Great with food. — 4 years ago

Matthew Bostwick

9.0

Very fruit forward initial hit, but not too sweet. — 4 years ago

with Kelsey

Bob McDonald

9.5

Initial aromas of cedar box, fruit and nut chocolate and a herbal nuance. With air a note of violet after about 2 hours. On the medium to full bodied palate absolutely fluid and seamless with that berry and dark chocolate note but largely restrained. Such perfect balance that nothing really jumps out. From my limited experience with Napa Valley Cabernets I have always thought that Dominus is the most Bordeaux like of these Cabs. Not surprising when you know the owner Christian Moueix is the owner of Petrus and other right bank icons. Linda Murphy for Jancis said “Could be Christian Moueix’s best Dominus.” — 5 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.0

Still opening...

Red to orange to yellow to clear lip. Unfined with sediment mixed in (clearly I disturbed her). Some initial strawberry on the nose, then anise, and mild petroleum. Strong green olives on the palate, any taster would immediately identify this note. Going to hold for a bit before pronouncing judgement...

1 hour in.... Olives have bent towards muddled mushrooms. Better...

So I certainly respect this wine, but there really isn't a lot to hang my hat on. The fruit is pretty much dead. The olives wouldn't relent overall. It remains savory. So this could possibly pair with a soft mild cheese (brie), or on the other side of dinner with something not too sweet (cheesecake), but I'm stretching. I guess , in
my opinion I would surmise that it is past peak.

90+ points — 6 years ago

Joaquin Martinez

9.0

Wine with great initial plum aromas and crushed strawberries with hints of cedar that slowly become more pronounced. As it breathes you get great smoky aromas. The palate itself has good acidity with moderate tannins and touches of plums, tobacco, rich red fruit and overall a great succulent flavor. — 7 years ago

Marshall Todd Herron DPM

9.2

This is an amazing 2015 cabernet sauvignon from Rutherford. It has a velvet label!!!!!! Chocolate, spice and everything nice. And of coarse there is blackberry and black cherry on the initial palate. The finish is moderately dry. Another sip please!!! — 7 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

2019 Disg- Rich, intense and with riveting energy. Selosse VO to me is a huge step up from Initial. It’s ultra complex and layered with candied citrus, rum barrels, caramel and salted nuts. There is massive structure with a simultaneous purity and weightlessness. Infinite finish. Decanted and served in Zalto Bordeaux. Fantastic. — 4 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

Vintage 2013 | This wine gets even more interesting when aged. Nice impression of honey and quince in smell. Vibrant taste, quite full bodied. Good Chenin Blanc | Paired with sushi (fine!) — 5 years ago

J Ferrugia

9.1

A surprisingly big wine that did not emerge until after about 40minutes in the decanter. Deep ripe fruit on the nose with plenty of initial tannin up front on the palate that softened into deep, ripe cherry and then into a smoky dark fruit.
This 2004 has held up well and should be enjoyed now. This is a luscious wine.. — 5 years ago

John W

9.8

Deep dark ruby color. On the nose, cherry, raspberry, cassis, vanilla, oak and florals. On the palate, medium bodied and smooth. Initial dark cherry, cassis, and blackberry. Long finish of blackberry, toasted oak and chocolate. Tannins are berry present. — 6 years ago

Jack Petras

9.8

Fortunate enough to have tasted this along with 6 other stunning wines last night during a cellar tasting. This 36 year old 2nd growth was nearly perfect, unusual but very pleasant mint, camphor, crushed sage and rosemary aromas with the same cooling delicate herbal initial palate. Dried but expressive red fruits mid- palate with a great structural graphite element throughout. Whiff of new leather. Changed in the glass showing different mellow facets. Pretty much intercepted at the exact right time. A real privilege to taste such a renowned vintage with folks who appreciates what was in front of them. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

The nose reveals; dark currants, blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries. Black tea, expresso roast, anise, crushed dry rocks, big vanilla, clove, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, woody notes with dark fresh & withering flower bouquet.

The body is big and lush. The tannins are big, meaty and tarry. Very dark currants. Blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries & strawberries as they open up. Black tea, expresso roast, steeped fruit tea, anise, crushed dry rocks, dry clay, big graphite, big vanilla, dark spice, clove, light dry herbs, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, cedar with violets dark fresh & withering flower bouquet. The acidity is round, fresh and beautiful. The big, long, well balanced finish is excellent and look forward to having this in 15-20 years. This one will be a stunner!

Photos of, the barn where they make wine and hosts tastings, our private tasting area inside William’s old office. William desk and their outside terrace area.

Producer history & notes...Seavey Vineyard is located along Conn Valley Road in the eastern hills of Napa Valley, about 15 minutes from the valley floor.

This historical property was originally a cattle ranch. However, records indicate grapes were planted on some of the hillsides as early as the 1870’s. The stone dairy barn, still in existence, was built in 1881.

William & Mary Seavey purchased this property in 1979. The estate was originally founded by the Franco-Swiss Farming Company in 1881 which, closed down when Phylloxera destroyed their grape vines and the Volstead Act (Prohibition) went into effect. At the time of their purchase, they were a horse and cattle ranch. They quickly planted the slopes with grapes and initially sold their fruit to Raymond Vineyards. They have never purchased grapes, all their wine is made from estate grapes. Their vineyards are separated into 20 plus individual blocks.

Today, the property is about 200 total acres of which, 40 acres are planted to vine. Their hillside vineyards produce low yields of rich concentrated fruit. A small block of Chardonnay grows in a cooler lower part of their property. Besides grapes, they also raise cattle which are used to graze the hillsides. They feed the vineyard with the cattle cuttings. In 2003, they were one of the first Napa wineries to install solar.

Mary passed away in 2008 and William died in 2016. There daughter Dorie returned to the family business and now oversees the winery operations. Her brother Arthur also handles national and some small international sales, primarily to restaurants. However, most of their wine is sold direct to consumers.

Seavey’s first commercial vintage was released in 1990 a year after they renovated the stone dairy barn into a working winery. Today this stone building is the centerpiece of the property and is where tastings are hosted.

Since 2011, Jim Duane has been their day to day Winemaker. He’s worked at Robert Mondavi and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. It should also be noted that Philippe Melka Winemaker/Consultant has been with Seavey since 1995...one of Philippe’s two initial wine making jobs in the Napa Valley were with Seavey and Lail Vineyards.

Seavy makes about 3,200 cases annually depending on what mother nature brings. They make around two hundred cases of Chardonnay, slightly more Merlot and the rest is of the production is comprised of their Caravina and Estate Cabernets.
— 7 years ago

DAL 9000

9.2

Decanted. Big Aroma of berries. Smooth initial taste of berries and cherries and plums. Then notes of vanilla and chocolate in the palate. Another winner from Arnie, we will miss you. — 4 years ago

Rebecca Cooper-Mullin

9.0

Very light, cherry and dry. Pairs well with BIDEN HARRIS 2020 / goodbye obese turtles. — 4 years ago

Dennis Kellison

9.0

Initial fruit, berry..hint of spice — 5 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.1

A bit stemmy and astringent on initial pop but came into its own with air. Surprisingly complex and elegant nose of sweet blackberries, black cherry, cedar, violets, leather and green tobacco leaf. Palate is fairly rustic texturally but lots of sweet black and red fruit beneath the tannic and mineral surface, with a pleasing green tinge on the finish. Overachiever! — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

In 1805, Daniel Phelan, an Irish wine broker, acquired le Clos de Garamey, and was followed in 1810 by the acquisition of the Segur de Cabanac estate, creating the domain that remains today. Initial Aromas of leather, oak and earthiness hit about, medium(+), bringing in subtle flavors of blackberry and herb. On the palate subtle fruit flavors of blackberry, herb, leather, smoky oak and meatiness carry from the nose. Medium(+) acidity on firm medium(+) tannins of this full body wine carry the flavors to a medium(+) length finish. Very good, but undelivered a bit, drink now will not get better. — 6 years ago

Marshall Todd Herron DPM

9.5

Vina Maquis 2010. Colchagua valley Chile. Carmenere 50%, syrah 35%, cab franc 10%, Petit verdot 5%. I love the fact that this is 50% carmenere and I love it!!!! 13.5% alc. The color is dark- the bouquet is raspberry sherbet. The initial palate is raspberry and blackberry fruits followed by a spicy peppery mid palate. There is oak and dirt on the finish with a dry completion. It is typical of a great blend but they use carmenere instead of cabernet sauvignon. Very Cool!!!! — 7 years ago

Evan Kennedy/Caroline Kielar

9.0

Very good, easy to drink on its own, but would certainly hold up to a variety of foods ... would be quite good with fish. On the nose - initial strong notes of apricot and possibly pineapple, more subtle notes of green apple, peach, and purple grape. On the palette - quite fruity, relatively long finish. Maybe a bit of fig taste. Comes across as sweet but in further thought is rather off dry. Creamy in the mouth. Strong mandarin flavor. — 7 years ago

DAL 9000

9.0

Aroma of plums and bourbon. Initial dark fruit and spice with a hint of that caramel bourbon. — 7 years ago