David Kline

9.3

Reliquus 2019 cab St Helena Napa (grace family).
This one shines bright with red cherry and raspberry notes leading a nose of blueberry and cassis as strawberry peeks through. The palate is silky and refined despite grainy tannins which amplify versus detract. Depth and intensity that is a dichotomy considering the fruited nose. Elegant, sinewy and serpentine. Scrumptious.





#gracefamily #napa #sthelena #cabernetsauvignon #cab #reliquus

— a month ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

8.4

While the 2020 vintage looks to be considerably better than previous reviewers - still looking at a budget wine made in a crowd-please style that falls short on quality. Noticeable spice and smoke notes lurk behind jammy bramble fruit on the nose. Taste confirms a heavy hand with new oak. Texture is pleasing but the near-profane oak and unbalanced RS suggest a more cynical, less-serious effort for a #napa #pinotnoir . — 9 months ago

David Kline

9.7

Lovely, smoky, mushroom-funk with ethereal violet perfume emanating from lemon madeleines. Perfect expression of cassis and blackberries and black cherry, touches of sweet tobacco reveal a jungle of verdant herbs. Amazing cab franc with the full spectrum of textures.



#lajota #lajotavineyardco #lajotahowellmountainestate #howellmountain #napa #napavalley #cabernetfranc #cabfranc #oakville — 10 months ago

with Courtney

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.0

Cork was soft and crumbly - lost into the bottle so out comes the strainer. First uncork and pour impressions concerned me that this wine was tired with disappointing oxidation. Fortunately, fortitude is rewarded so after a half hour, charming caramel, marzipan and amaretto tertiary notes waft up from the glass, followed by secluded dark fruit and some latent spicy notes. Palate is the same, tannins are still hearty though muted from their likely initial gnarly state. Acidity remains current though the relatively rapid evolution after 14 years suggest a #napa #cabernetsauvignon gently coasting down past peak. The wine paired quite nicely with spinach & parsley pesto rigatoni finished with breadcrumb and pistachio crumble - especially considering the nutty notes in the wine and muted fruit. — a year ago

David Kline

9.1

Grace family st Helena cab 2018
Juicy plum and blackberry, cedar, oak and cherry, violets and smoke.
Firm tannins support black pepper, black cherry and cassis in abundance. Mouth-coating and intense with tertiary flavors of violet and graphite cinnamon and licorice.






#cabernetsauvignon #cab

#napavalley

#sthelena #napa

#napacab #estategrown — a month ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.1

A less well-known varietal from the famous producer in #napa . 100% #sauvignonnlanc echoes a well-balanced #bordeauxblanc but with a notable Napa sun-kissed vitality. Subtle tropical fruit + apricot, citrus aromas - sumptuous palate texture, white/golden fruit balanced by satisfying acidity. Excellent pairing for a lightly-spiced shrimp coconut curry rice bowl though not great QPR. — 9 months ago

David Kline

9.4

Soft, lovely, bread-y nose of black currant fur, licorice, light mint forcing upward, sprouting through potting soil. Cinnamon and blueberry warmly embraced by dark bread and small specks of black pepper. Fruit tannins thickly house-painted across your front teeth in a real sense. Muscle. Licorice-charcoal, bitters, blackberry, black currant, graphite-smoke halo, black cherry, oak and cedar, wound up and closed in places, but powerhouse lurking in the shadows.



#lajota #lajotavineyardco #lajotahowellmountainestate
#howellmountain #oakville #napa #napavalley #cab #cabernetsaugvinon — 10 months ago

with Courtney

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.0

Interesting enterprise to taste a 12 year old #napa #cabernetsauvignon in the value segment of the market likely around $15 - $20 at release. Cork was well soaked and wine tastes of age, but not tired at all. In fact after a day in the fridge it seems to have gained some vim. Typical bramble fruit set on top of stewed plums. Palate is a bit earthier, less fruit-forward - plenty of acidity, chocolate and coffee notes mid-palate and still sturdy tannins on the finish. It must have been stored well at the retailer. — 8 months ago

David Kline

9.4

Coffee-espresso and bakers chocolate; blueberry-blackberry. Smoky, with dark toasted rye, cassis, sloe berry, mulberry, and darkest tobacco. Licorice, black currant cassis, and tobacco reflections on the palate. 10 years unwavering here, rich with dark, burnt brown sugar and cedar, pliant tannins, mouth coating richness. Very seductive and extracted, rich and round.


#araujoestate #araujo #araujoaltagracia #altagracia #napa #2012vintage — 10 months ago

David Kline

9.0

Chalky grape and balsa, blackberry, and plum nose with soft smoke and jasmine with a sweet petrol gloss. Soft mouthfeel turns bing cherry and underripe blueberries bordering green. Chewy. Big fruit tannins. A spicy pepper that always turns piquant-fruit. Young in every way, would love to see this chrysalis emerge.


#lajotavineyardco #laJotahowellmountainestate #lajota #howellmountain #merlot #napa #napavalley — 10 months ago