Shay A

9.5

Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.

It was my first time trying Moone-Tsai wines aside from their widely distributed Napa Valley Cab, so some of these were totally brand new to me. Melka is the winemaker.

This was my wine of the lineup for both now and possibly down the road. A great blend of the Howell (massive structure, chalky/dusty, big and ripe fruit) with the Cor Leonis (slightly savory, inky, herbal). This has velvet like tannins right now but they are really persistent. Plum, nutmeg, creme de cassis, heady display of the entire fruit spectrum (red, blue and black) jump from the glass. Slight addition of graphite, black licorice, and currant on the palate. Juicy, savory, decadent. Lots going on here. Very good. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.3

November’s 4th Friday was a big hit. There is no way I’ll be able to upload all the wines, nor give them the reviews they deserve, but there were a few worthy of mentioning!

Yes, I had to do a double take when I saw the vintage...2017! And it’s drinking like it’s open for business. Similar to the Moone-Tsai it was next to, but everything turned up to 11. Aromatics of triple fudge dipped blueberries and blackberries. Currant and Mexican vanilla too. On the palate, dense and rich. An absolute flavor bomb of baked plums, cinnamon, espresso beans and nutmeg. Maybe this is in a youthful just released phase before shutting down to gain some complexity... — 6 years ago

with joe and Weston

ed

9.3

black list XIV — 7 years ago

with Michelle

Stephen Pierron

10

Tied with Moone-Tsai's Cor Leonis.... this wine is amazing! !!!! Can't get enough of it!! — 8 years ago

Emily Hensley

9.6

Ahhhh. No words — 9 years ago

Shelby Noll

9.7

Black List IX...Fabulous!!! — 9 years ago

with Joey and Tyler

Danica Sattui

10

2012 Moone Tsai- Black List Vll
Great body and smooth moth feel! Mmmmm — 10 years ago

Evelyn Marin

9.6

A masterful job by Master P himself! — 10 years ago

with Eddy

Shay A

9.2

Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.

It was my first time trying Moone-Tsai wines aside from their widely distributed Napa Valley Cab, so some of these were totally brand new to me. Melka is the winemaker.

Inaugural vintage for this wine. Fruit is coming from Petaluma Gap. This seems to have a Burgundian flair, but the fruit won’t allow it to go fully there. Fairly ripe black cherries, crunchy cranberries, underbrush, black tea and slightly green. Mellow on the palate with more tannin than acidity right now (which seems unique), and a definite dried floral, dried black fruit and herbal streak down the middle of the palate. Needs some time. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for #MerlotThursday. Here's a delicious one from Napa.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, black plums, cherries, wood, cloves, vanilla, spices, espresso, dark chocolates, peppercorn, dust and graphites.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, sweet raspberries, tobacco, peppercorn, cedar, leather, vanilla, earth, licorice, spices, metals, chocolates, dark roast coffee and light vegetables.

Long finish with firm tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great Merlot from Napa Valley. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Rich and extracted.

Needs an hour to open up properly and show the tannins. After 3 hours of airtime, black licorice notes come in, which was a nice surprise.

Could use a few more years in the bottle to mature, but already drinking very nicely now.

This Single Vineyard is a very hard one to come by. Thank you Kim and Barry for sharing this with me.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

100% Merlot grapes were grown at 2,100 feet of elevation. Aged in French oak (60% new) barrels for 25 months. A small production of only 143 cases.

Delicious and tasty.

15.3% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$215. — 5 years ago

ed

9.2

wine with the mafia!! — 7 years ago

with Michelle

Isaac Pirolo

9.2

The Migration label first appeared in 2001 as the second label of Goldeneye, both under the Duckhorn masthead, first focusing on Pinot Noir and later adding Chardonnay. Like Paraduxx to Duckhorn, it is no longer a second label, but a winery unto itself. In 2008 Migration, and by extension, Duckhorn, produced its first Chardonnay. In 2009 they produced their first Chardonnay from the legendary Charles Heintz Vineyard. The Charles Heintz Vineyard is located just outside of the town of Occidental where Charlie’s family has farmed the land for over 100 years. Two ridges in, and only about 8 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the vineyard is situated in the Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA. Heintz has become one of the most famous Chardonnay sites in California, with notable producers including Ceritas, DuMol, Freeman, Flowers, L'Angevin, Kosta Browne, Littorai, Migration/Duckhorn, Moone-Tsai, Pierson Meyer, and Williams Selyem. With its classic Goldridge sandy loam soils, and located just above the fog line, the vineyard receives abundant sunshine and cool ocean breezes. Super mellow Chardonnay, with candied orchard fruit, honeysuckle, wet stone, and some secondary hazelnut, with just a flutter of mushroom in the background. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Nice pineapple, passionfruit and yellow florals on the nose. Meyer lemon, pineapple, apricots, stone fruit, yellow florals, creamy, touch waxy, nice acidity, round, minerality is soft-perfect, really big nice finish. It will be interesting to see how much more this wine will show after 4-5 years in the bottle. — 9 years ago

Evelyn Marin

9.3

50/50 Cab-Cab Franc blend. Very 2012-ish with lush dark red fruit and velvety yet still harsh tannins. Enjoyable now with a decant but needs another year for the tannins to integrate a bit more. The Cab has the starring role here with the Franc playing background singer. Would've liked a bit more of the green pepper and tobacco Cab Franc characteristics to show but alas not in this Black List bottling. — 9 years ago

Shelby Noll

9.2

Loving the newly released Black List 6! — 10 years ago

with Joey

Shay A

9.3

It was my first time trying Moone-Tsai wines aside from their widely distributed Napa Valley Cab, so some of these were totally brand new to me. Melka is the winemaker.

Anytime I see Ritchie vineyard, I perk up. I really enjoy the fruit coming from that vineyard and this was no different. Bright and gold in the glass showing aromatics of banana bread pudding, powdered lemon bar, and honeyed tropical fruits. Vibrant acidity at this age with some classical Ritchie nuttiness alongside lemon cream and honeysuckle. Really good. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.1

If you aren’t familiar with Brasswood, you should change that. A truly state of the art custom crush facility in St Helena (has housed clients like Bevan Cellars, Moone Tsai, Montagu, Modus Operandi, Dark Matter, etc), with tasting rooms, caves, a shop, bakery and a fantastic restaurant. On top of all that, they have their own label, which Angelina Mondavi consults on.

This is my first time trying their Chardonnay offering, courtesy of Brasswood’s Somm @Joshua Fisher . I was fortunate to follow this over the course of a few days. Day one had this showing very primary...down the middle type chard. Day two saw this increase in complexity...certainly true to Napa chard with a warm and soft profile, revealing lanolin, lemon cream, and even a cotton candy note on the nose. The palate has added notes of ripe melon, banana, and powdered sugar. Viscous but a line of acidity keeps this nervy. Thanks Josh. — 5 years ago

ed

9.3

the last blacklist 3 — 6 years ago

with Michelle and Ally

Ken Z

9.1

Drank 6/13/19. Tasting event. Tasting pour.

Oak, and a touch of pear on the nose. Nicely balanced with green apple, vanilla, pear, and oak. Medium, dry finish

4/21/8/4/3 +50 =90 Pts — 6 years ago

ed

9.6

black list vertical 1 to 12. — 8 years ago

with Joey, Shelby and 1 other

Bill Crites

9.1

Need to taste this again in a different setting. It was overwhelmed by a Larkmead and a Moone-Tsai. Restrained flavors and nose. — 8 years ago

with Dave

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Deep dark cassis, roasted expresso, tannins are thick, round, beautiful. This is a 15 -35 year wine. Blackberries, black plum, blueberries, plum skin, black cherries, mocha, black tea, underbrush, minerals and earth are rich moist and just the way you want em, violets, suede leather, acidity is perfect and it length, balance, structure and super long finish is amazing. — 9 years ago

Shelby Noll

9.3

Barrel tasting — 9 years ago

with ed, Pam and 2 others

Justin H

10

Celebrating the wife's Bday! Left our favs, Brand, Moone Tsai, etc... In the cellar and grabbed a mixed handful. Just a fun night of different flavors and that always calls for a 10! The '12 Dominus was outstanding though! — 10 years ago

Bacco Selections

9.4

Complex Cabernet Sauvignon, great structure, silky and elegant, prunes and black berry fruits, persistent — 11 years ago