Dave

9.3

Elegant! After an hour of airtime, this wine is very nice. Dried fruits pinned together with various savory notes. Chocolate, cedar, a touch of balsamic that adds to its richness. Tannins are smooth, and a bit dusty on the finish. This is still young, but I don't feel like a baby killer. Its excellent and a good deal at $33.
Listening to Dua Lipa — 11 days ago

Jay Kline

8.9

Opened just prior to dinner. The 2007 pours a dark ruby/garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining and loads of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of BBQ Lay’s potato chips (fight me), prunes, dried brambles, leather, organic earth and mixed spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. It doesn’t taste like BBQ Lay’s but the fruit is definitely more of the dried/desiccated side. The finish is medium. Drink now. — 21 days ago

Alan Hyde

9.3

Legendary reputation so I had to try it. A symphony of stewed red and dark fruit. That said, the nose and other aspects didn’t grab me. Very good but would not repeat. — 15 days ago

Ruud Verhagen

9.4

explosive from the first sniff and sipp, no decant, really nice with and without food. More modern than old-school…, re-buy! — 11 days ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.3

Pure pleasure. So red fruited (mostly cherry) & velvety I could’ve sworn this was a fantastic Merlot blend from Napa, but of course there isn’t a drop of Merlot (92% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot) as Christian has declared Napa unsuitable for the variety these days. With filet au poivre. — 14 days ago

Pooneet K

9.3

Last had 2 years ago. Nice then and nice now, hasn’t gotten overly developed or anything of that sort. Lots of dark berry. Great depth and acid. Excellent long finish with a lot of finesse. Nice pairing with a beautiful dry aged strip steak. — 23 days ago

Dave

8.9

Not too shabby. Never had this producer but it's very good and nicely balanced. At 12 years old, it's time to drink up, though.
Listening to Pearl Jam — 22 days ago

Richard Adams

9.4

Special name, special occasion. Love ‘12 CA Cabs and this one especially. Surreal power for age 14. Still dense fruit, good balance but still more tilt and less finesse. Maybe better in 3-5 years but shows the heft of a well made Napa Cab. — 10 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Most of the wines I open tell me a story w/ each sip. Most tied to my late wife Sofia. My memories of this producer precedes her.

This is a producer that flashed early in my wine journey. Generally, one you have moved on from today. That’s until, their 2013 is offered at $39 recently. A grand vintage. For me, I wanted to see the wineries progression and experience earlier memories that flood back w/ each sip. It has done that.

I have a Napa history infatuation. This one is kinda of a pleasure-pain thing. While I enjoyed this producer many years ago, the 2020 Glass Fires destroyed 90% of their vineyards, almost all their structures & their 19 & 20 vintages. I can’t express enough what a gut punch that is for its owners & staff. It is an insurance nightmare and let’s not forget that after all the time it takes to re-plant vines, it takes at least 7 years before you get useable fruit to make wine. So…a ten yr plus setback w/ nearly no revenue stream.

The wine tonight w/o a ribeye, showed excellent fruits that the 13 growing season brought. But what followed was a lean mid plate and finish. With the steak, not so.

The palate shows M+ velvety, dry tannins. Ripe, rich, lush, ruby fruits of: blackberries, black plum, baked plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, poached & fresh strawberries & an understated array of purple fruits. Moist, grey, volcanic clays, moist tobacco w/ ash, used leather, graphite, dry, crushed rocks/limestone-sandstone, dry brush, dark cola, black licorice to anise, dry herbs-bay leaf, sage, dark, mid spice with some palate heat, sweet tarriness, dark, fresh, candied & withering red roses, lavender & dry violets, excellent acidity with a well balanced-knitted, nicely structured & tensioned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and long sets on dry earth & spice.

This is nice on its own but so much better with a ribeye. 92 on its own with a hour decant. 92-93+ with an hour decant plus a juicy, well seasoned MR ribeye. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Fairly consistent throughout. The 2004 pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and slightly desiccated, black and red fruits: black currants, blackberries, black cherry, tobacco, Poblano pepper, pencil shavings, purple flowers, dry rocky earth, a touch of leather, and a combination of cool and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (that is well integrated), and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly savory. Showing really well and squarely in the zone. Drink now through 2034. — a month ago