Brandon Boesch

9.7

Really great. Needs about 3 hours of air. So well balanced. A lot of cocoa, blackberry, garden dirt, some tree bark, some chocolate cherries, but very dark, some menthol in the background, long finish, almost coffee and cocoa, some fruits as well. Outstanding! — 9 months ago

Doug Powers

9.6

Sweet dried redfruits and oak aromas, soft tannins, sweet fruit on palate as well, very fine acidity and depth, seems close to fully mature, but should last 3-5 years at least, kudos to Patrick Campbell, who made a lot of outstanding LG Cabernets back in the 1980s and 1990s, excellent Sonoma Mountain Cabernet!! — a year ago

with Jim

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2022 vintage. Good, not great. The 2021 with more intensity/grip and life. 06.11.25. — a year ago

Lynn Derbyshire

9.0

Rich, thick, smooth, just yummy!!! A smoky essence that was surprising. Had it with grilled chicken and tomatillo salsa. Divine. would be awesome with a steak or lamb. 8/10/18 — 8 years ago

Mike Davila

9.2

Better than I hoped for, would have been fun to taste blind. Drinking great, but ready to drink. — 10 years ago

Robert Rothfield

9.5

Favorite Howell Mtn cab — 10 years ago

Charlie Tapp

9.7

Exceptionally vibrant 18 years later.

My favorite zinfandel on the planet. — 10 months ago

Theodore Krijnse Locker

9.6

Dark in color. Super fruity on the nose. Blackberry and plumb notes. Peppery, leathery, earthy finish. — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2022 vintage. Last year's vintage more than justified the pricing. This one, not so much. 06.11.25. — a year ago

Sarah Blaker

10

Juicy and delicious — a year ago

Michael Seely

9.0

Quite drinkable — 8 years ago

with Joe

Oscar Bonilla

9.3

Dark purple in color with notes of dark spices, licorice and blackberry. Well integrated tannins and will definitely benefit from ageing. — 9 years ago

Traci

10

👍👍Solid chardonnay. Well balanced. Fruity. Crisp. — 10 years ago

P Plusquellec

9.1

Typical German Reisling petrol nose with light fruit and pleasant minerality — 11 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.7

Ruby with complex fruit aromas, spice and oak. Blend of 90% Tempranillo & 10% Graciano, aged 48 months on American oak, 20% new. On the palate flavors of dark berry fruits with spice, oak and smoky earthy notes, slight vanilla nuances on ripe full soft silky tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with fruit, oak, cigar box spice and clean mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip this Fine Wine!! Tasting great, has more aging potential! — 10 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

After reading the story of this producer, I inspired to try it. Especially, at $59.99 for a quality Napa Cabernet. These two brother’s are true pioneers of the Napa Valley. They do their own thing. Don’t follow trends and are not aggressive with their bottle price, nor do they really wish to. More rare than common in today’s Napa Cabernet market. I have a lot of respect for that and Napa Pioneers.

This also drinks pretty well for a young Napa Cabernet. I was expecting bigger/bolder based on write up. Not that this won’t benefit from cellaring.

The fruits are nicely ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, cherries & blueberry hues. I was expecting more teeth. Think it is showing the finesse & balance of most 21’s I’ve had. Dark spice, grilled meats, light black pepper, barrel dust, dry tobacco, leather, savory herbaceousnes, moist clays, dry crushed rocks, cola, flower bouquet of red, blue & purple fresh flowers, rainfall acidity with a well balanced, softly structured, elegant finish that lasts just over a minute and lands crushed rocks and touch of spice.

It will be interesting to see if this shows more in 5 years.

Photos of; Smith Madrone vineyards and brothers Stuart and Charles Smith — a year ago

Frank

9.0

Jason brought for boys golf week. Spainish. 10 yr great. — 7 years ago

Michael Ochsner

9.2

Warm can, got it all. Boom. $20 btg wg — 8 years ago

Molly McNary

9.0

Good, but two bottles are preferred (@Ethan Karas) — 10 years ago

with Luke and Joe

Mike Kovacs

9.2

2012 vintage — 11 years ago