Nathan Renfro

9.5

Better than my last bottle. Really drank well tonight with big fruit and a solid structure. — 4 years ago

Eric

9.4

Just a good old fashioned kick ass bottle of wine. Amazing 👃 of wildflowers and blueberries. Great evolution from pop and pour to the last glass where the tannins were fully resolved. A gift from Santa @S.R.Alexander. Thanks Siddy! — 5 years ago

Paul K

9.5

At peak! Last time I had this wine was 4-5 years ago. It was great then, outstanding now. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Last time I opened one of these was back in 2012....what a difference six years has made! This wine has come to full maturity. Drinking at the very top and showing everything it has. Dark black mulberry, balckberry, figs and sweet roasted plums. Middle goes dark and gritty. Espresso bean, while still retaining an overt sweetness. the finish of this has great balance, nice acidity, resolving tannin, roasted black fruits and black pepper. Dang. Happy 4th of July everyone! — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Bottle enjoyed last night. Notes are from memory today.

While 2010 is not my favorite Napa vintage, it was not bad. In many 2010’s I’ve had, the structure, texture and body are just not quite all there. However, Howell Mountain wines, for me, faired better.

There are a number of good Howell Mountain producers, Dunn being one of my favorites. I think Ladera Vineyards is one of the more underrated Howell Mountain producers. Especially, at a Costco price of around $45.

The blue fruits that shine in Howell Mountain wines are always unmistakable. Blueberries, mulberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, blackberries, raspberry cola, light spice, soft leather, saddle-wood, lavender and violets. Beautiful acidity. The structure is good. The body round and elegant. The length, tension and balance just now coming into its own. Still needs a few more years to hit its peak. The finish is soft, round, elegant and beautiful. Lasts full two minutes.

Photos of; the winery and beautiful grounds, outside terrace, special event tasting & dinning room and their Estate vines. — 8 years ago

Scott Wren

9.3

Beautiful 26 yr old napa Cab still vibrant with dried fruit, leather, caramel and all the fixings. Delicious full mouthfeel and moderate acidity that adds greatly to the drink ability. These old classic Boudreaux style wines were built to last. — 8 years ago

Matt Bryant

9.1

Dude these ads are terrible! This could be my last wine rating... — 9 years ago

with Candy

Willie Carter

9.1

Big, dark, and sexy. Impenetrably dark in the glass with a wide brim and just a touch of lavender highlights. The nose explodes with blackberry cobbler and ripe raspberries. Fresh brewed coffee and a touch of cinnamon compliment. The oak and vanilla come in late to show off.

I know I know, this is far too young to drink now. This is obviously better suited to drink 8-10 years from now but that’s clearly not what I chose. Still highly impressive after getting plenty of air, the backbone of a special wine is evident. Dense and bold, it’s high octane and powerful with a ton of intensity. As big and bold as it is, it never sacrifices the innate prettiness of the overall package.

Big and round on the palate, that beautiful mountain acidity absolutely shines here. More blue and black fruits, oak, and vanilla are showcased. Dark and lusty in the mouth, this is built to last. Cellar these, they’re not ready but when they are it’ll be fantastic. — 5 years ago

Richard Adams

9.4

One of my last ‘07s bought on release. Still a favorite all time Napa vintage. Great concentration and depth. — 6 years ago

David Kline

9.0

Pretty rye with elegance and s finesse finish. Medium bodied and very floral overall, with a range of blooms from lily to rose to orchid to violet and cherry blossom. Very lean and racy, with a dancer’s spirit, flowing effortlessly for a rye of this age. Lacks the signature spice expected, but has a fine tobacco sweetness throughout and a dark raisin streak. — 7 years ago

Susan Sangiacomo

9.4

I purchased 12 bottles of this wine and opened probably 10 of them to early. They were too powerful. FINALLY I opened my last bottle at what I believe is the right time. Full bodied and well balanced, but it took time to get there. — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.5

@Tracy Hall got me thinking about these, so I brought a few home. I knew this one was not going to last very long, but I didn't know I would drink it on the first night! This would be a really fun wine to serve at a blind tasting. Everyone would guess this was Italian if served in the first 2-3 hours after cork pop. This wine starts off with black cherry, cola, mint, allspice. Hint of age on the nose and on the palate it shows as an earthy note. There is a mushroom note here towards the finish. As the wine sits beyond the 3 hour mark, it develops a plum and almost kind of a green olive note. Finishes soft with a touch of acidity. I wouldn't say that this wine has too many years left, and this is my last of this vintage. — 8 years ago

Narun P

9.0

Probably primarily CS with other Bordeaux varieties sprinkled on top to spice it up.

Bricked purple with brownish tint. Compact rim. Opaque.

Fresh unmistakable Cabernet perfume. Blackcurrant, blackberry, and some gamey and leathery notes to add to the complexity.

Completely resolved tannin, med plus acidity, med body. Blackberry, dried fig, floral with some refreshing herbaceous undertone.

Superb old school Napa Cab that's just about to begin the last leg of its prime journey. 90. — 9 years ago

romo

9.3

A wee dram for the last night at the Hawaii house. So many great bottles shared over ten years, recorded by the bowl of corks seen in the photo. I hope the new owner doesn’t drink Napa cab here after I’m gone.. — 5 years ago

Sarah Milsow-Guenther

9.4

This one has held up beautifully. Went very well with our steak dinner last night. — 6 years ago

Byron Hewett

9.2

8 yo and kicking butt! Lovely flavors of grapefruit. Austere, but not if that makes sense. Mountain herbs. This will hold for several more years. This is one of my favorite white wines. Last bottle 😔. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.6

Man, this is really when these wine should be consumed... the unfortunate truth is that my willpower to hold these wines for 10 years post vintage is just about zero. Lucky for me I kind of forgot about some of these, enabling me to experience them at full maturity. This wine was built to kick ass. And that is exactly what it is doing tonight. Black fruit, tar, hedonistic black fruit from start to finish. Tannin that is resolving and integrating nicely. Wine is balanced amazingly well from front to back. The last one of these I opened was with @Shay A and doing well....but I think it has really come into prime! This one only took about 15 minutes of air to start expressing its maturity. I think the last bottle took about an hour. I would say this wine is just about as top of the Heap as it can get. DRINK NOW! — 8 years ago

Stephen

9.8

Still holds the crown as my favorite Napa Cabernet. There were few questionable reviews on the 2006's out there, so I was a little nervous. Uncorked for 4-6 hours and then decanted for another ~1.5-2. She sipped nicely at first pop and once we poured at dinner she was ready to go. Velvety tannins. Long finish. Fruit definitely still there but more mellowed out. Melt in your mouth good. Looking forward to my last bottle in a few years. — 8 years ago

Mike Stricoff

9.6

This is body medium PLUS if you know what I mean. Stumbled upon this gem tasting cabs in Sonoma last June. Was very fortuitous to find the tasting room just off the town square. Just a fabulous bottle, dry yet exploding with a fruit forward personality. More balance here than a Chinese gymnast. — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.1

Last of the four reds for the blind tasting of Non-American Shiraz/Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting.

Deep ruby core with a mix of garnet and brick edges. Layered nose with green peppers, spices, forest floor, dark berries and a touch of mushrooms. Medium tannins (5.5/10) with solid acidity. Thick black fruits on the palate with dark cocoa, sweet spices, with some redder berries as it opens with some earthy notes. Medium plus body with a long finish. Drink till 2019. — 9 years ago

with Sean and India