Anne Holmes

9.6

Dinner @ Trabuco Canyon — 20 days ago

with Thomas

John Malcolm

9.9

A stunning wine! Cedar, black currants, fig, dark chocolate, and truffles. Deep purple with a fabulous finish. — 2 months ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.4

So full bodied and rich, we paired it with crisped caramel chocolate blocks - yum! — 3 months ago

Joe Flo

9.4

Great Howell Mountain wine. — 3 months ago

Brian Hearty

9.3

2007. Big, rich, dark fruits and oak! Great on its own, but I liked the Red Cap a little better. — 4 months 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. — 5 months ago

Sarah Blaker

10

Juicy and delicious — 5 months ago

Dave

8.9

Wanted something to go with carnitas tonight. Not sure if this will pair well, but it is very tasty. I stole a premature sip while the meat cooks. Lots and lots of berries, tart, blue and red. I smell Syrah. Bright acidity, medium tannins. Terroir, stone. It feels a little Old World.
Listening to The B52s — a month ago

Peggy Hadley

9.0

Decanted. I tasted this not knowing the year. I don’t normally care for older wines but this one was a surprise. — 2 months ago

with Jim

Charlie Tapp

9.7

Exceptionally vibrant 18 years later.

My favorite zinfandel on the planet. — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2019 vintage. Tasted 30 minutes after being opened. Not decanted. Not nearly as gratuitous as the vast majority of 2019’s. Overall, lean but with a pleasant substrate/foundation of dark plum and cassis. A bit tight and would definitely benefit from a 2+hour decanter spa/lounge sesh. 07.15.25 — 4 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 — 5 months ago

Stuart Pollack

9.4

Powerful but elegant. Ready to drink now but leave it open at least one hour before consuming. Intense black fruit and coffee, smooth tannins in the finish. A steak wine. — 6 months ago

Scott Kahn

9.4

This wine and this vintage definitely punches above its weight. Soft yet structured - reminds me (almost!) of what a Don Melchor offers… — 2 months ago

Tom Kohli

9.2

With Scott & Amy at Washington Inn — 2 months ago

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! — 3 months ago

David Walser

9.5

Been holding this for awhile and really enjoyed this at 12 years old. — 3 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!! — 4 months 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. — 5 months ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.5

Waaaayyy too young… — 7 months ago