1/26/2021 - mxpbuy wrote:

When tasted and bought at winery upon release, I thought it was backward and closed but might have potential years down the road. Sampled this over 3 nights with Vin-Vac. 1st night was Oak resin and not much fruit - even after 2 hours in the glass (80 points). 2nd night after another 60 minutes in the glass, still Oak driven with some black fruits emerging (86 points). 3rd night the tannins smoothed out a bit more but Oak still far to dominant. The black fruits emerged further still with some dried herbs but then the fruit started to faded on the palate rather quickly (88 points). The total extra air time over 3 nights clearly helped, but there is nothing about this wine that ever says it will be worth its price of admission and maybe in the next few years it might improve a touch, but I doubt it will get to 90 points for my palate. If, however, you love Oak - dive on in.

4/6/2019 - bobthebuilder Likes this wine:

Nice pairing with strip steak. Full bodied. Dark fruit. Seems fully mature.

12/29/2018 - 1997cobalt Likes this wine:

Has matured into a great bottle. Smooth yet full of flavor, with nice aroma, balance of flavors and a wonderful finish.

4/21/2017 - JCGuthrie wrote:

Very nice. Darker fruits, blackberry, bramble. Enjoyed with tenderloin. Would guess this has several years left.

4/2/2017 - iamandyc wrote:

Very similar to my last bottle in 2014. Red fruited with nice acidity and fine tannins. Not a lot of complexity or pizazz. No flaws but not much excitement. Good food wine.

6/18/2016 - iamandyc Likes this wine:

The best Elizabeth Spencer cab I've ever had. Still bright and juicy but with a nice integrated backbone and acidity. A touch creamy with good chocolate and tobacco. Bright nose and finish. Pretty wine.

12/28/2014 - nick&nora Likes this wine:

We all thought this was quite nice. Glad it wasn't the fifth bottle of red opened on Christmas...

12/21/2014 - 1997cobalt wrote:

Aroma is of dark fruit, a little earthy as well. Changed a lot over 2 hr after decant. Overall, just ok. Out of balance with good tannins but fruit was uninspired.

9/1/2014 - iamandyc wrote:

With Lowe's. Bright fruit with good structure and acidity. PnP.

2/15/2014 - iamandyc wrote:

Very nice bottle that's drinking well with some decanting. Red fruited and light crimson color, this wine has nice acidity and sweet tannins that keep it fresh. Refined for Howell Mountain with decent finish.Not a ton of complexity at this point but still young.

5/11/2013 - jen&pat Likes this wine:

Much better after a long decanting period (upwards of 3 hours).

3/29/2013 - AccaDacca Likes this wine:

Balanced wine, good mountain fruit, strong tannins. A bit grippy, will settle with some time. No heavy handed oak, which is great.

6/3/2011 - dxpian wrote:

Very beautiful and delicious wine, slightly different in style from traditional cabs, a little lighter in weight but shows more delicacy and elegance. Ruby/garnet hue, almost translucent in color, very pretty and elegant. Unfiltered and natural, throwing some sediments. Smoky and chalky overtone with great minerality, surrounded by cedar, lightly toasted oak, tobacco and leather, sprinkled with some spring flowers, revealing blackberry, blueberry, red currant and cranberry aromas, definitely going to the red-fruit zone a little bit. Medium-bodied, this wine shows an abundance of blackberry, black cherry, plum on the attack with nutty character, leading to a solid structure of ripe tannin and fresh acidity. Medium finish, the nutty tone brings out quite a bit of fruit with cherry and plum in the aftertaste. Great show-case of its true varietal characters and the Howell Mountain terroir, yet, not lacking any of the complexity that makes a wine truly exciting! Truly an eye-opener of what such a small producer is capable of achieving! Drink now, but this wine will age gracefully.

3/5/2010 - ShaneO wrote:

Good tannin structure, good fruit. Overall good wine, not the spectacular from Howell Mountain one would expect, but a strong bottle at a fair price.

2/14/2010 - K daVine wrote:

full-bodied, smooth; rich berry flavor