Adam Kincaid

9.1

Such a beautiful cab, everything one is looking for in Napa. Deep ruby/purple. Dark ripened fruit with oak and vanilla aromas. Some coffee and dark chocolate. It’s bold and smooth with beautifully balanced acidity and medium tannins. Good, long finish. — 8 months ago

with Jillian

Jess

8.9

Deep purple color.
Aromas of roasted cocoa, asparagus, baked black fruit.
Dry. Flavors of baked blackberry, green notes, blackberry leaf, vanilla. Rich velvety tannins. High acidity. The green notes diminish the flavor.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 3/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — 10 months ago

Jeff Orlowski

9.5

Beautiful. Purple, oak and leather nose. Full, dry, Moderate tannins and acidity. Can easily age 10-20 more years. Loaded with dark fruit. — 2 years ago

with Michael and Joe

Jay Kline

9.4

Brought to Tasting Group and presented double-blind. The 2012 Clos Apalta pours a deep ruby with an opaque core; high viscosity. There also seems to be quite a bit of fine sediment. On the nose, medium+ intensity displaying an opulent mix of ripe and wizened fruits: black berries, raspberries, and blueberries with cola, espresso, freshly tilled earth and just a kiss of green bell pepper. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the black fruits with red bramble and cherry fruit along with purple flowers and baking spices. Alcohol is medium+. Long, long finish. The wine was universally fawned over with guesses ranging from left bank classified growth to California Zinfandel to Australian Shiraz. Nobody called Carménère, let alone Chile. Blend: 66% Carménère, 19% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. — 3 years ago

Hailey Bouchard

9.3

Beautiful purple color — 5 years ago

Lee Richey

9.3

2016 vintage, very reliable fun wine for the budget. Easy drinking yet flavorful. — 5 years ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.4

Deep purple in color; plums, black cherries, and oak on the nose; high acidity; high tannins; a little hot; tastes like black plums, licorice (I think), and blackberry jam with a long peppery finish. Nellie likes it. I do too, but it's more fruit forward than what I prefer lately, but very good — 8 months ago

with Nellie

Jess

9.5

Deep purple color.
Aromas of blackberry jam on buttered toast, cassis, vanilla.
Dry. Flavors of cassis, vanilla, buttered toast, licorice, raspberry jam. Delicious!

Intensity: 5/5
Complexity: 3/5
Balance: 5/5
Finish: 5/5 — 10 months ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.0

Deep purple/inky color. Aromas of blackberry, black olives, black currant and cedar. Very nice, medium bodied, black fruits and black tea finish. — 2 years ago

Bruce Leboff

9.3

Purple inky colour, chocolate and a hint of fine leather on the nose. Silky smooth, with elegant tannins and structure Smooth and long finish. #beringer — 4 years ago

with Allan and David

Paul J

9.4

1 hour plus decant. Dark purple color. Nose and wine were a mix of Bordeaux and Napa. Wine was fruit forward with dark cherry. Very young wine that coats your teeth. Little bit of a rough finish with some tartness and pepper. Probably needs 7+ yrs. — 4 years ago

with Brooke

Jack Petras

9.1

1995 vintage. Still deep purple red, subtle earthy leather aromas with a burst of fresh red raspberries mid palate. Lots of herbal hints like anise and tarragon. Finished with graphite and iron. Changed with each sip. Very nice mature and fully approachable left bank beauty. — 5 years ago

Bret Barker

9.7

It’s just so good when it touches your lips. Still deep purple in color with mocha, currant, cherry , licorice touch of mineral and tobacco. Very Bordeaux like and very awesome — 6 years ago

with Adam

Ted

9.0

Deep deep purple. It was a warm day yesterday I might have chilled this first. Ripe mouth watering juice. — 9 months ago

with Jeni

Michael Amoruso

8.9

Big round purple fruits. Milk chocolate. Low acid. Needs time — 9 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

I suppose since this is Castello di Ama I shouldn’t be surprised it’s very good. Gobs of ripe fruit and freshness on the nose, with a nice crushed rock background. In the mouth, it’s dry, fresh as heck, and has good concentration and balance. Totally dry. Phenomenal with Chinese takeout on a warm evening. — a year ago

Nagib Nasr

9.0

Picked up this bottle at the winery when we met Cody Wright (Ken Wrights son). Boutique winery. Amazing. Drank well after 8 years. Would not let much longer. I could not wait anyway. — 2 years ago

John Singer

9.2

Clear, deep purple color. Clean, pronounced nose of red fruit, rhubarb, and tobacco. Dry with medium acidity. High tannin and full body. Tobacco, blackberry, and hint of tobacco. Long finish. Very good quality. — 4 years ago

with Diane

Keith Lite

9.5

A big bold plumy purple bomb As dense and luscious as a wine can get in a glass. Decanted for 2 hrs and its still a baby with blackberry, dark chocolate licorice and pepper on the nose and on the palate. A long long finish and loads of tannins to sum it all up — 5 years ago

with Bruce

Mike Saviage

9.5

Dark purple plum skin color from center to the rim’s edge where some scarlet also appears. Opaque. Great fruit forward nose that grabs your attention. Notes of blackberries, ripe plums, violets, tobacco, forest floor and some crushed walnuts. Rich and silky in the mouth. Great balance and texture. Tannins perfectly integrated. Long finish. If a Cal Cab can be seductive, this is it. Still youthful but in a great zone tonight. — 6 years ago