Napa 2021 Trip

First trip to Napa since June 2019. It was quick trip (4 days total, with one day for travel / in Healdsburg). Unfortunately, American Airlines changed our nonstop to a connection on the way out, which made us miss our connecting flight out of Chicago. So we missed our partial day in Healdsburg and our tasting with Aperture. In Napa, we stayed at Vintage House in Yountville which is highly recommended - perfect to walk/bike to local spots and good central spot for our tastings.

Other wines drank during the trip

• 2018 Aperture Red Blend 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  (5/10/2021)

  Upon arrival in Healdsburg, after missing our Aperture tasting, it was only fitting to order this off the list at Valette - and a good value at $72 on the list. Immediately accessible, it paired well with the carbonara pasta and duck. A blend of 39% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, 22% malbec, with the remaining parts PV and CF. Much better than the 2017 version which was mainly 50/50 Merlot/Malbec. I think the CS helped add some complexity, but the merlot added some softness to make it more readily drinkable now.

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• 2018 Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (5/12/2021)

  Wine at Bottega on Wednesday night. Surprisingly open from the start, very nice wine and good for the price.

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Great tasting to officially kick off our trip. After Healdsburg we headed into Santa Rosa, up the mountains and saw some of the fire devastation from the fires up on Spring Mountain Road. Chunks of the forest have been charred, with a lot of work to go on cleanup. It's amazing to see how the fires impacted Cornell, as they lost a structure, and one plot of vineyard, but the rest was spared.

Bailey was a great host. We pretty much had carte blanche and tasted everything. Drop what you're doing and order the 2018. It's amazing. I am not a chard drinker and their 2019 was also great and we ordered a few bottles of that. The 2013 is just starting to open up as well.

Cornell is also releasing later this year a bottling called Commitment which is an extended oak bottling of its estate Cabernet. Not necessarily a "reserve" but my guess is pricing will reflect that.

• 2019 Cornell Vineyards Chardonnay 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (5/11/2021)

  Nice, crisp chardonnay. Not too buttery or oaky. Drank while walking the vineyards with our host, Bailey, at the Cornell property. Sourced from a neighbor's vineyard but they are working on plottings of Chardonnay on the property. Better than the Maxem UV tasted later in the day. Picked up 3 bottles of this.

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• 2018 Cornell Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Courtship 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  (5/11/2021)

  First red wine of the Cornell lineup. More accessible and ready to drink than the 2018 Estate bottling. Like a baby brother Estate bottling, which is exactly its intention (i.e. 2nd label). No formal notes but this was a good 2018 and glad I picked up 6 bottles last month during the offering.

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• 2018 Cornell Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 96 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  (5/11/2021)

  A wow wine if there ever was one. I was fortunate enough to have a taste at the 2018 in advance of its release this fall, as they had a few bottles up at the estate for a tasting earlier in the week. This is one to load up on. It was a bit tight, even with a healthy decant for a few hours in the morning, but it really opened up further and evolved over the tasting. Pure class in the glass.

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• 2017 Cornell Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 94 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  (5/11/2021)

  Same rating as my previous bottle tasted a few months back.
  
  93.5% CS, 5.5% PV, and 1.5% Malbec, 999 cases.
  
  Cherry, creme de cassis, bit of clove and orange zest. Well done for the vintage.

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• 2014 Cornell Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 94 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  (5/11/2021)

  87% CS, 10% merlot, 3% CF, 642 cases produced.
  
  The healthy dollop of merlot adds some nice softness to this vintage that I liked. Showing well now at the 7 year mark, but will continue to age for 10+ more easily with the structure and backbone on the wine (this goes for all the Cornells tasted). Blackberry and blueberry, creme de cassis, more orange zest than the 2017.
  
  After tasting a 2014 last year, this has definitely ticked up a few points, and will continue to score higher in a few years.

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• 2013 Cornell Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 95 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  (5/11/2021)

  93% CS, 7% PV, 525 cases of the inaugural vintage.
  
  Almost dusty tannins at the 8 year mark, this wine (like the others) had been opened for a few hours prior to our morning tasting. It continued to evolve throughout the tasting, and went back to this one several times. Excellent wine. Picked up a 3 pack without hesitation.

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Tasting at the downtown Napa lounge with Genevieve and her dog Riley (also my dog's name!)

Genevieve was great and opened up a ton of stuff, including Sam's Maxem label and was generous with our time. I continue to be impressed with the MM label and the wines were showing very well.

• 2019 Maxem Chardonnay UV Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  (5/11/2021)

  After a champagne to kickoff the tasting (blanking on name, but it was excellent), Genevieve gave us a few samples of Sam's personal label Maxem. I had missed out on the 2019s a few months back and wanted to sample the goods in person before making a decision.
  
  Overall, I preferred the Cornell Chardonnay to the UV. The Cornell was just racing with energy, excitement, and this one felt a bit more stodgy and more refined, holding something back. So for my tastes, mark me in the Cornell camp over Maxem, but I know everyone has different tastes. Pale yellow, straw colored. Lemon curd and lemon oil.

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• 2019 Maxem Pinot Noir UV Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  (5/11/2021)

  Um yeah this is GOOD. More full bodied than a typical California pinot, this is a textbook "cab drinker's pinot". Black cherry all over. The nose was killer, just tons of berries racing around in my head.

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• 2018 Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (5/11/2021)

  Out of the 14 flagship, 18 flagship, and this bottling, the VHR narrowly edges out the 18 flagship for the tasting. This also shows so much potential
  
  Surprisingly accessible out of the gate, this wine begs for your attention. I think it had a good amount of air from the morning since it was more open than some of the other notes that I am reading.
  
  Lite is right - a 2018 VHR vs 2018 MM VHR is in the cards, but I think I want to give it a few years before trying! Really nice potential in 3+ years.

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• 2018 Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (5/11/2021)

  The flagship now contains LPV, Dr Crane, Weitz, Oakville Ranch, and now VHR in its 2018 blend. I think tasting next to the 2014 flagship, this showed more complexity due to the addition of VHR. It's still tightly wound, and I found the single vineyard VHR poured alongside this to have a better showing. Give this one a few years, or a healthy decant now. Same rating/notes as my first bottle tasted last month for Easter festivities.

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• 2014 Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (5/11/2021)

  A blend of just Dr. Crane, LPV, and Weitz. Definitely more well rounded due to an additional 4 years in bottle than the others in the lineup, but lacked as much complexity as those. Still an awesome bottle. For those holding, I think it's entering a nice drinking window now and will be best in 3-5 years.

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Nice tasting of a mixture of 2017s and 2018s. I think I caught Carter at a weird time since they are sold out of most 2018s so offered me some 2017s to taste, and they are just about to bottle the 2019s so didn't have any barrel samples unfortunately. Would have been nice to have some 2019s to see how ready to go they are. But, I have only opened 1 Fortuna from 2018 so it was a good read on what's ready now vs. needs some time from the 2018 vintage.

Some relatively big news (not sure if this was announced yet) but Russell Bevan is taking over winemaking for Mike Smith in I believe 2020, or it may be 2021. Will be interested in Bevan's take on some of these blocks of BTK, LPV, etc.

• 2017 Carter Cellars Hossfeld Coliseum 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (5/12/2021)

  Nice wine to kick off the Carter lineup. Since the 2018 was sold out, I didn't mind tasting the 2017 which showed well with some additional bottle age. Nice red fruited, mostly merlot blend. I didn't taste this one 2 years ago in my last tasting with Carter, so nice to try despite not picking up any. Would drink in the next 3-4 years.

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• 2018 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fortuna Vineyard 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (5/12/2021)

  Tasting at Carter. Same notes and tasting as my first bottle a few months ago. This seems to be a yearly winner in the Carter portfolio, especially considering the price ($110 for 2018s, used to be sub $100 a few years ago). Really singing, remarkably open considering most 2018s.

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• 2017 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Weitz Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (5/12/2021)

  Out of all the Carters from the tasting, this was my least favorite. The nose was incredible, but unfortunately the flavors and finish were not as good as the others in the lineup. Not sure if it's a vineyard thing or just the vintage.

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• 2018 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Bam Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (5/12/2021)

  Super tight, just hiding behind a massive wall of tannins in my opinion. I would hold this for a little before trying. It seems like other notes indicate this one is ready to go, but not for my palette. Mark nails the black tar heavy toast - massive purple fruit - I know I will thank myself in a few years when opening it up and giving it more time in the bottle. NR for now, but good upside.

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• 2018 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (5/12/2021)

  The Clone 7 of the BTKs in the Carter lineup. Clone 337 is the OG and Clone 4 is Grand Daddy.
  
  Dark purple, glycerol, chewy tannins. Dry finish with a touch of mocha. Gf did not enjoy as much (but likely needs more time). Good potential but hold for now.

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• 2018 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (5/12/2021)

  Clone 4 of the 3 BTK blocks Carter gets.
  
  A bit more silky than the coiled-up Three Kings tasted right before this. Also more blueberry, dark purple fruit from this than the 3K. A well made wine, needs another year in bottle but will be a 95+ wine then.

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• 2018 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The O.G. Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (5/12/2021)

  Glad I was able to taste this wine. The star of the show and well worth the price of admission for the retail price. As with most of the Carters, I think this would still benefit from some more time in bottle (at least a year).
  
  Structure, complexity, velvety, not overtly syrup-y (as some Carters can come off). Dark purple fruit, a hint of cola, cassis, oak/vanilla, and caramel toast.
  
  From what I've heard, I think the 2019s will drink better upfront than the 2018s, which seemed to confirm that notion during the Carter tasting. Carter tastes extremely well early, and these were still a bit coiled up, grippy on the tannins for all of the 2018s in the lineup. Despite not tasting the 2019s for Carter during this trip, it will be a good one to buy.

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Great tasting at the house with Ilse. Just dynamite stuff as always and a good reason why I continue to follow them and buy up their wines. Their 2018 Platt Chardonnay was just stunning. It's possibly the best white wine I've ever had. VV has streamlined the lineup offerings (i.e. no BBS, no Le Petit) for 2019 and has worked to produce the best wine from each site it works with. I'm excited to see their BTK Beatrix (I believe 65% CF, 35% CS from BTK). They also have another 2019 offering to be announced named after a Radiohead song, so be on the lookout for that one.

• 2018 Vice Versa Chardonnay Platt Vineyard 96 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  (5/12/2021)

  Possibly the best white wine I have tasted in my short wine drinking career. This was a great wine to drink as we sat on Patrice and Samantha's porch, about to dive into their killer red wine lineup.
  
  I can't pretend to be as elegant as csimm or wbw - but make no joke about it, this is a wine that can make me a chard drinker. Just effortlessly lifts across all the senses, makes you want to smell it all day, uniquely pale yellow straw color. Brioche toast, yellow citrus, melon, strong acidic backbone. Well done.

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• 2018 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (5/12/2021)

  Glad I was able to taste this, since for some reason, I never ordered a bottle of this from last year's offering. Ordered a bottle to tack on to my fall shipment.
  
  All the trademark characteristics of LPV - wet stone, minerality, blueberry/dark blue fruits. Will definitely be matching this up to Carter Verdad, Quivet, etc. versions of the same vineyard/vintage down the road.

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• 2019 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (5/12/2021)

  Final barrel sample blend of the BTK.
  
  This was up there with wines of the trip. So immediately accessible - while I didn't have many 2019s, this and the VV Dr. Crane seem to hint that the 2019s should be drank before the 2018s, along with what many vintners also indicated.
  
  Creme de cassis, vanilla, cherry pie, fresh floral petals. Ordered another bottle for the fall. Will be hard not to resist one once they are delivered.

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• 2019 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard 98 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (5/12/2021)

  Up there with the Kinsmans for wine of the trip. Final blend barrel sample. This one is insane, and ordered another bottle for my fall shipment.
  
  Purity of the fruit is off the chart here. All types of fruit - blue, black, red - combined harmoniously, mixed with resolved tannins, baking spices. This is a wine that comes from the folks at VV doing everything with a labor of love, and attention to detail, many others in the valley don't do. Bravo

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• 2019 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Mysterons 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (5/12/2021)

  Another great VV wine - new to the mix in 2019 is this mix of Ecotone (Thorevilos) and estate fruit from Calistoga (and per #1winelover below, Dr. Crane as well). Named after the Portishead song of the same name (check out the album Dummy, a 90s UK trip-hop classic).
  
  You may look at 95 and be disappointed - but this was a hard follow up to the BTK and Dr. Crane right before it. It's no slouch by any means - more red fruited than the previous wines tasted, with more chewy tannins. I think this one will be one to put down for a few years after shipment, versus the others in the lineup that may be ready to drink come Christmas time this year.

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Tasting with Beverly at their house in St. Helena. Was going to take a walk to see the caves at Bergman (directly behind their house - Graeme Macdonald is going to be the winemaker there i.e. get on the list) but didn't work out due to timing.

• 2018 Sodhani Cabernet Sauvignon Sodhani Vineyards 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (5/12/2021)

  Tasted alongside the 2018 reserve and 2013 at the Sodhani's property in St. Helena.
  
  The 2018 is already showing well right now. Not as complex or weight-y as the reserve. After a day of tasting (and writing this a few days later) I don't have any specific notes, but this is a good, $125 priced wine for Napa.

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• 2018 Sodhani Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Sodhani Vineyards 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (5/12/2021)

  A step up from the normal bottling from the Sodhani property in St. Helena, this was more complex, with a royal purple hue, spices, blackberry compote fruit. Pretty accessible and not released until the fall, this will drink well this fall when I imagine some other "early" 2018 releases start revealing themselves a little bit more. No formal notes after a long day of tasting, but this is a TRB wine worth seeking out from a small plot along St. Helena highway.

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• 2013 Sodhani Cabernet Sauvignon Sodhani Vineyards 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (5/12/2021)

  At 8 years of age, this bottle was showing well while tasting at the Sodhani property in St. Helena. No formal notes while tasting alongside the 2018s with Beverly, but I will be adding 3 bottles to my annual order of this given how well this was showing right now.

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Met up with Roy in Yountville. Really great to meet the man behind the wine and videos, and hear about his upcoming plans for his wine. A few amazing SVDs in the pipeline that I am sworn to secrecy on, but man they will be a great surprise and I'm sure it will only help his following. I will just say this, save up for his next few offerings so you can get your hands on them.

He also briefed me on his 2020 plan based on smoke taint. He will be using a few techniques to filter this out (if there is any to begin with which he indicated all tests were good from the labs) and offer a 3 pack for $175 total and basically it will be for the consumers to understand/taste and see if they can taste any smoke taint in the control bottle, and the bottles using various techniques. I think it's a good idea, although smoke taint may not come out for 5-10 years.

• 2016 Roy Piper Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (5/13/2021)

  Tasting with Roy in Yountville. Was a real pleasure to drink and chat with him, get some inside scoop on his production/plans, as well as hear what he's thinking about with the fires and other happenings around Napa.
  
  I had a bottle of this around Christmas, and it was similar in style and consistency to that bottle. Really in a good place now - this had been open for a few hours before our morning tasting. A bit viscous, dark dark purple from the extraction he likes to use in his wine. 50% Moulds, 30% Farella, and 20% Houyi. Compared to the 2018 that followed, I think you can taste some of that softer, cool climate Farella in this bottling vs. the 50/50 of the 2018 vintage from Moulds/Houyi.

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• 2018 Roy Piper Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (5/13/2021)

  Tasting next to the 2016 with Roy. NR for now - just massive, massive stuff. Glad I didn't open one of these yet and could have a chance to taste now. I won't open this for at least 5 years. Will be a star though - 50% Moulds / 50% Houyi so you can a nice mix of two very different vineyards, but right now it's too tannic to score.

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Joint lunch with Erin and Shae at Charter Oak. I love the outdoor patio here, and it was just perfect weather and in the shade. Great to reconnect with both Erin and Shae. Shae had to be quick due to a sick kiddo, but she was still gracious with her time and able to pour some wines.

It's really interesting to hear how both labels are using 2020 to pivot to some other wines. For Di Costanzo, a syrah from Mendocino and a chardonnay are in the works. They also won't have any Farella after 2019 due to the sale of the vineyard to Realm. But they've been active in searching for new, cool climate, old vine vineyards that I think will continue to earn them success for the brand.

For Kinsman, they were fortunate to get Syrah from Bien Nacido and White Hawk down south that will help the loss of any 2020 cab crop. Meanwhile the 2018s are just singing and the 2019s are in the barrel and I will be looking forward to tasting them next year. It sounds like Nigel has been busy on the consulting side, with upcoming projects at Bella Oaks and Impensata.

• 2018 Di Costanzo Cabernet Sauvignon Montecillo Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Moon Mountain District

  (5/13/2021)

  First wine at Charter Oak with Erin and Shae Kinsman.
  
  I haven't opened any of this or the 2018 Di Costanzo SVDs yet, so this was a nice way to check in on the bottles.
  
  Wow! Bright red cherry, slightly dusty tannins, sweet berry fruit with a hint of sour cherry on the finish. I think this could drink well now with a good chunk of air. Well made wine from the Moon Mountain District. I could see myself opening one of these soon, but these will easily age for quite some time.

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• 2018 Di Costanzo Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville

  (5/13/2021)

  2nd wine at Charter Oak with Erin and Shae Kinsman.
  
  I haven't opened any of this or the 2018 Di Costanzo SVDs yet, so this was a nice way to check in on the bottles.
  
  I was able to taste two different bottles of Farella that Erin generously shared. One had been open for a few hours, the other for 2 days. It was an interesting experiment in tasting to see how this bottling is doing right now after more air.
  
  Overall, I get a ton of blueberry fruit, very dusty tannins (but not overwhelming) that I've noticed in my tastings of the 2016 and 2017 vintage from the same vineyard. Pure fruit, not noticeable on the alcohol. 95 right now, maybe 96 if you add the bottle that had been open an extra few days. 97-98 potential. Well done - just hold on for the ride and try in 2024+

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• 2018 Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon La Voleuse Du Chagrin Geeslin Vineyard 98 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

  (5/13/2021)

  ...what csimm said. I mean, this is not a joke. Possibly the highlight of my trip was being able to taste this beautiful wine with Shae at Charter Oak - so immediately accessible. Tons of creme de cassis, crushed flower petals. Silky smooth, pure fruit, you can tell the tannins are there but ever so slightly. Glad I have 6 of these coming my way. I'll say it again for the people in the back - get. on. the. list.

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• 2018 Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon Rhadamanthus 98 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

  (5/13/2021)

  Another amazing wine from Kinsman. This one needs more time. The 2016 was open for a slight moment a year or two ago, but my guess is (I'm too afraid to open a bottle) it is back under slumber for many years. I think this one will ultimately be another 10-20 year wine for me. Shae told me the blend, but it's roughly a 80% cab / 20% CF (don't shoot me if that's wrong - hazy days of tasting and note taking was never my thing, in school or in wine).

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• 2018 Impensata Proprietary Red Wine Engelhard Vineyard 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

  (5/13/2021)

  Glad Shae brought some of this to pour at the tasting. Engelhard is a Calistoga vineyard previously called Ciminelli which is at the base of the Diamond Mountain AVA between 475 and 575 feet. The only other vineyard/wine I've seen with a vineyard designate making wine is TRB and Hobel Wines.
  
  More red fruit, bright cherry, definitely more floral than the silky/velvety Rhadamanthus and Voleuse served prior. Will be looking to add these to my cellar upon release!

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Met up with Leah at Heron House in Yountville. Was able to taste a number of wines that Mike makes in a cool, lounge space just a quick walk away from our hotel. Great to taste a few different labels, including Perchance (which was formerly 12c I believe)

• 2020 Kindred Pinot Noir Rosé Sangiacomo Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  (5/13/2021)

  Tasting at Heron House with Leah Smith.
  
  First wine was the 2020 Kindred Rose of Pinot from the Sangiacomo vineyard. It had that pale salmon color that I tend to enjoy from a rose, but not quite the french Provence style that I tend to gravitate towards. For my money, I think Epoch and L'Aventure are the California roses to buy.

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• 2019 Myriad Cellars Syrah Sangiacomo Vineyard

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Petaluma Gap

  (5/13/2021)

  2nd in the tasting lineup.
  
  Not my favorite, if scoring I would say 88-90 but after being spoiled by cabs all day, wasn't digging this syrah. It's like a fruit bomb (typical Mike Smith) with olive and meat smacking you in the face at every sip or smell. I can see how people like this style, but not for me.

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• 2016 Steltzner Vineyards Sangiovese 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  (5/13/2021)

  3rd in the tasting lineup at Heron House.
  
  I've never had a Napa sangiovese, let alone a stag's leap district ava one. Overall, pleasant if this was a $20-30 wine that I could see making some Bolognese sauce on a weeknight. Not great QPR at $60. It was more fruit forward (in typical Mike Smith style) as compared to an earthy, rustic sangiovese from Italy.

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• 2016 Switchback Ridge Merlot Peterson Family Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (5/13/2021)

  Still a bit coiled up for a 2016 merlot. Chewy tannins and a dry finish. Definitely got some green notes. I could see bumping this up a few points after another 2-3 years.

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• 2017 Bench Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon The Heron 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  (5/13/2021)

  Good showing of this wine. This comes from the piece of the Steltzner vineyard one of the daughters kept after the sale of a portion to Odette, and the rest of the vineyard bottled under the Steltzner label. Overall, poor QPR at $250 but remarkably smooth. Probably the most accessible wine tasted over the course of the tasting.

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• 2018 Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Kenefick Ranch 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (5/13/2021)

  Tasting at Heron House. I thought this was a bit coiled up at the tasting (as compared to recent notes from BadMonkey), but I think it shows the most potential. Bought 3 more bottles. I can see getting to the 95 rating with 3-5 years.

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• 2018 Perchance Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (5/13/2021)

  This is a great wine, but is only beginning to strut its stuff right now. I was glad Leah broke this one out to taste as it was the final wine on my trip to Napa. I would have bought 3 if I hadn't spent a ton on early tastings!! :/

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Overall, great trip with a balance of revisiting a few places from 2019 and a few new places and meeting some new people. It was great to hear some of the changes coming to a few labels. Unfortunately the 2020 fires are still on everyone's minds, and seeing some of the devastation up on Spring Mountain Road was jarring.

Kinsman remains the highlights and if you're on the list, don't sleep on the 2018s. Vice Versa continues to impress as well. Not a bad tasting in the trip!

Already looking forward to our next visit in 2022.