Paul T HB

9.8

Notes from 98 point LPB are more in line for me than others.
Great with a Wagyu Fillet Mignon this time.

The 2021 Aphex Cabernet Sauvignon, co-fermented with 19% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, comes from Ecotone Vineyard, straddled between St. Helena and Howell Mountain, and new for this year. It skips out with bright, cheery notes of redcurrant jelly, freshly crushed blackcurrants, and rose oil leading to undertones of boysenberries, aniseed, forest floor, and wild sage. The full-bodied palate vibrates with lively black and red berry layers supported by firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long with loads of minerally sparks. — 17 days ago

Austin Paramore

9.3

Drinking with my bro and sis on Kinsman Stud celebrating our survival of hurricane Ian! — 3 years ago

Robert Rothfield

9.4

Bigger, and more powerful than other wines I’ve had from Sleeping Lady. Depth and intensity are remarkable — 6 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.5

Phenomenal. Napa needs more Chenin. — 7 months ago

Brendan Baker

9.2

White flowers, pear, lemongrass, med acidity. Very nice, but not the best QPR — 2 years ago

Laith A

9.7

2018 Kinsman Eades Anjea… admittedly very young and still a little tannic, but unfurled a bit after time in the glass with a great nose and flavors of blackberries, blueberry pie, black cherries.. a hint of iron and herbs in the background! This will only get better with time! Even better the following day!! — 2 years ago

Robert Rothfield

9.6

Incredible intensity for this year — 5 years ago

Brian Messineo

9.6

Kinsman Eades — 9 months ago

Bryan Kesting

9.4

This is the White Hawk Syrah. Delicious! — 2 years ago

with Scott

Shay A

9.4

I’m at 94-95 here. Upside over the next 5-10yrs.

Purchased during a visit to Melka back in ‘21. This 2017 ended up being the favorite red wine of the tasting (though the ‘16 SB was my overall favorite). Pritchard Hill fruit next to Ovid. 70 cab/20 CabFranc /10 petit Verdot.

Purple in the glass. Sports the entire fruit spectrum (red, blue, black) but trends darker toward the finish. Expensive oak but it’s really pretty (doesn’t come across as too oak driven). For the vintage, this is elegant and integrating nicely. Fruit is very pure (blueberries, blackberries, plum) with baking spices (cinnamon and vanilla) with a vein of mineral/graphite down the middle. Consumed from decanter over 3hrs and left a glass for the next day…improved over time, but this was already starting to open for business.

I opened this alongside two other 2017 Napa cabs with a small group for a check-in on the vintage. MacDonald was the winner, Kinsman Rhadamanthus was the most unique, this Melka fit in-between style wise (more modern than the other two). — 2 years ago