2/18/2024 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Decanted for sediment. Soft, resolved with clean nose and nice flavors. I usually don't let these go so long, but drinking well now.

12/3/2023 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Decanted 2 hours. Very little sediment. Quiet and feminine, this was a great example of a Mondavi Napa cab. Not as fragrant as some, it was solid and delightful. Drink now or hold.

10/22/2023 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

82% Cab S., 9% Cab Franc, 6% Merlot, 3% Petite Verdot. Double decant 2 hours. Some chunky sediment. Tight, dusky nose. Licorice, graphite and dark fruit. Good grip and solid tannins. Not as nuanced as previous vintages, but still excellent value. There is no rush to drink these. Built for the long haul.

8/30/2023 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Decanted 2 hours, returned to bottle. Fruit forward nose, good balance and enough tannin to balance the fruit. Med. finish. Overall good, but can't remember the price.

8/14/2023 - timbobwhite wrote:

Decanted 2 hours, returned to bottle and re-corked for dinner later. In an excellent place now. Fine nose of dark red fruit. Great flavor and balance with an edge of tannin remaining. In a good place to drink now or for some years to come.

7/21/2023 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Nice enough 'supermarket wine.' Flavor profile reminds me of a less costly version of Meiomi Cab (which in turn, is a less costly version of Caymus Cab.) A decent value plonk for $12.00. And excellent value when bought on sale at $6.99 each for a case.

2/1/2023 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Two hour double decant for both coarse and fine sediment. Nose of cherry, black currants and a bit of licorice that grew more pronounced as it aired in the glass. Deep rich fruit, long finish. A classic Mondavi cab with a lot of life left yet.

12/23/2022 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot; 22 months in French oak, 65% new. Stood for 2 weeks, decant (2hrs.) for large and small sediment. Fragrant on opening. Nose of cherries to start with some fine perfume leading to layers of dark fruit. Cherry, currants and a touch of licorice to begin. Overall a fine Napa cab just coming into it's own. After an hour or so in the glass, some bracing tannins begin to show, a welcome addition. Long life ahead for this one.

12/23/2022 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Sauvignon Blanc rises over the top on the nose, backed by some subtle florals. On the palette, its rich and lovely with a little bite - but not much, overall a full, fat white. Maybe a hint of the Chenin Blanc as well. Drinks like a white Bordeaux. Well worth the $13 tariff that I paid buying it from the 'scratch and dent' table at the local. Not so much at $25 price point though. Quite good for the price paid. There are better options at retail.

11/25/2022 - timbobwhite wrote:

Decanted 2 hours. Nose flat on opening, not much better after time in decanter. Acetic dominant over a background of decent mountain cab fruit. Hoping this was a flawed bottle and not a flawed wine being dumped on market in New Hampshire Liquor stores. One bottle remains to open.

10/7/2022 - timbobwhite Does not like this wine:

Labelled as a "Rutherford Cab." If so, a poor example. Nose and taste are both port-like without the sweetness. Reg. $44.99, on sale at NH Liquor store at $13.99. About $10.00 too much still.

10/3/2022 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

All estate fruit. 92% Cab. 7% Merlot, 1% Petit Syrah. Decanted 3-1/2hrs. Room full of fruit when returned to bottle. Some heavy sediment. Steely hard, but a return to CDV of older times. Not as nuanced as previous vintages - attributed to lack of Cab Franc in blend - but still very good. The Napa bottling is, at this stage, drinking better than the Reserve.

9/29/2022 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Solid wine, needed time in decanter to unfold.

8/11/2022 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

This harkens back to heyday of Clos Du Cal. Old world acid/structure. Fine nose, perfumed with cassis, cherry and fruit. Only thing missing from days of yore is a bit of barnyard. Did they cut back on Cab Franc?
Great mouthfeel. Acid forefront and looong finish. Agreed that this has years to go. Ready now, but will keep for many years to come. Will only get better.

8/30/2021 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

93% Cab, 7% Merlot. 2 Hr. Decant. A lot of sediment, coarse and fine. This is in a really good place. Nose was fruity and forward on opening, more subdued after 2 hours. That said, perfumed nose of cedar, black currants and a bit of cherry. All the components are working well. Tannins resolved, but acid and balance are excellent. Great wine with Steak salad. Med-long finish. This one has rewarded the wait. I'd say that it has some years to go.

7/24/2021 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

From a 375. 95% Merlot, 5% Cab Franc. Decanted for sediment. After 1/2 hr. Cab Franc faded in and what remained was deep, rich cherry Merlot. A bit of perfume to the nose, a bit of grip to the tannins, well balanced with a nice finish. Excellent value at $11.00. I'll go back and pick up the rest of what they have.

7/15/2021 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Two hour decant, very little sediment. Louis' little boy is all grown up. This bottle showed well. Fruit forward nose, good flavors and nice, long finish. Acid and tannins both present in good measure. These will be good for another five or more years.

3/26/2021 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Decanted for sediment. 100% Syrah. Inky black. Nose subdued at first but opening over an hour to black fruit, pepper and a touch of tapenade. Rich and full with a long, lingering finish. This is in a good place now at a good price at NHSLS.

3/6/2021 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

2-1/2 double decant. Little sediment. Opaque to deep red/purple edge. Port-like nose with notes of cherry, cassis and blackberry. Initial taste of cherry cough syrup. Notes of spice later. A bit of a 'fruit bomb', not a negative, but intense fruity flavors and a certain 'jammy thickness.' Long, lingering finish. Drinking well now, will hold for some time to come.

2/21/2021 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

2-1/2 Decant. Some light sediment. Coming into drinking window but still a little hard. Good fruit and balance. Needs a year or two more but will continue to improve.

12/31/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Decanted 2 hrs. some coarse, some fine sediment. Napa floor fruit. Soft nose, fruit forward with a hint of cinnamon dominant baking spice (very nice). Rich, round and well structured but without backing tannin. Good to go now and should hold a few years. Nice effort (as usual) from BV.

12/25/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

88% Merlot, 7% Cab Sav., 5% Cab Franc, 100% French Oak, 25% new, 75% second vintage. Double decant for light sediment 2hrs. A classic Merlot with Cab overtones. Rich, full, balanced. Long finish. Will hold.

12/14/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

w/smaller amounts of Syrah, Grenache and other Rhône varieties. 1-1/2 hr. decant for some chunky sediment. Purple. Inky purple. Nose muted (not a flaw, just a fact). Huge mouthful of wine with good balance, went well with food. Long finish. One of my favorite Petite Syrah but not sure if I would buy this to hold. I don't think it's going anywhere for a long, long time.

12/10/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Decanted 2-1/2 hours, a little fine sediment. No notes taken but remember this as rich and powerful with a long finish. A fine Napa cab at a good price point.

11/28/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

75.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16.6% Merlot, 3.3% Cabernet Franc, 2.6% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec. 2-1/2 hr. double decant for some chunky sediment. Black to purple edge. Nicely perfumed nose. Deep black currants, some cherry and cigar box. Crisp and and tannic, a great balance for food. Long, lingering finish. This wine is rich, full and modern in Napa tradition. Long years to go yet. Feeling really lucky to have uncovered one last bottle.

11/26/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

2-1/2 Hr. double decant, very little sediment. Great nose on decant. A bit austere on first pour, but good balance and flavor. Began to open nicely at 1 hour. Classic BV Rutherford Cab with a hint of spice (unusual). Developed a nice perfume of black currents at 2 hours. Will age well and long. Long, lingering finish. This continues to be a great value for Napa Cab.

11/7/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Struck me as a fine, sparkling chardonnay. Not that there's anything wrong with that, very enjoyable. Clean, crisp, good flavor but not complex. Seems a reliable choice for less expensive bubbles.

10/17/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Consistent with previous note. Excellent value. Mind the standing and decanting advice.

10/3/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Two hour double decant. Fragrant on opening, toned down with first glass but still good fruit and good flavors. Drank well, a bit muted, but good sense of place (Rutherford). This bottle was better than last 1-1/2 years ago, but not as good as I had hoped. Tannins crept back in at the end (not that there's anything wrong with that) and a bit of a musty note as well. Hoped for better from this.

9/26/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

See previous note. PNP (decanted for sediment). Very tight, but notes of cherry. Good balance, but not much depth. Tannins begin to show at a couple of hours. This is tighter than any CDV cab I've ever had. I'm inclined to let the others rest for a couple of more years. Similar impressions of 2013 as well. Does this represent a change in house style? I believe they pulled back to Estate only grapes in 2012 or 2013.

9/11/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

2 hour double decant. No sediment to talk about. This is hitting on all cylinders now. Not a blockbuster but every bit of what this label can show. Great definition, clear cab flavors, cassis and black fruit, bracing acidity and a bite of tannin. In a really good place now. Excellent value for $18.00 paid. Score of 92 based on price and experience tonight.

8/6/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Decanted for some sediment. No notes taken, but very much enjoyed with a nice rib roast. Fruity at first, becoming deeper and more complex as it went along. Great value.

7/27/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

No notes, but good as always. This bottle a little plummy with dark fruit and good balance.

7/8/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

No notes. Decanted for some large sediment. This is in a good place now. Should hold, but I don't think it's getting better from here out. Good value as usual.

5/2/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Decanted 2 hours. This is in a very good place. Nice cherry/cab fruit nose, good balance, some tannin and a fair dose of oak. Not stellar but a solid Napa cab worth the money. This is a good age for this bottling.

4/25/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Decanted for some sediment. No notes taken but this is a classic vintage of Geyserville. Not so much 'baking spice' as usual, but very good. Drinking well now, but should age as well as any. Drink now if you like 'em young, let it go if you like them older.

4/18/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Last bottle. Followed this from release. First taste in 2012 was hard, tannic with a classic fruit profile in background. It remains hard with one of the most austere fruit profiles I've seen in a Mondavi Napa. Some fruit but more vegetal and hard - not flawed. Very good, but not a typical vintage for Mondavi. Score reflects more my taste and expectation. This is holding well and has a long life ahead.

4/11/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

2-1/2 hr. decant for a little fine sediment. Classic BV profile of currants and cherry. A bit hard and tannic yet, but good with food. This is will benefit for another 2-3 years in the cellar, will live much, much longer. I think this will continue to improve for a long time.

4/7/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Decanted for sediment. Would have benefited from standing first. This took a couple of hours to open up and shine. Don't know if was vintage or Winery. Not too familiar with Rutherford Ranch. By the end a solid, fragrant Napa cab. Very good value at $17.00 each.

4/5/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Nose a little flat, good flavor, nice wine for steak.

3/22/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

79% Cab. S, 8% Petite Verdot, balance Cab Franc and Malbec. Decanted 1-1/2 hours for a lot of fine sediment. Stand next for a few days, decant slowly Bold, fruity nose on opening. Inky to the center. Blackberry, cedar on the nose. Blackberry and cherry candy. Long oaky, vanilla finish. Nice balance, some tannin, but very ready to drink now. Over time the flavors got more complex and layered, the other varietals making a contribution as well. Very good value (on sale now at New Hampshire liquor stores for around $30.00).

3/4/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Decanted one hour - needed two to soften properly. Nice structure and fruit. Good value for a Cali cab. Has rewarded some time in the cellar. Will hold for 2-3 more years, maybe more.

2/8/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Double decant 1-1/2 hrs. Some very fine sediment. Room filling nose on opening. Maybe shorter decant on second bottle? Evolved in the glass over an hour or so, moving from black currents and oak to black cherry to strong licorice at the end. Good balance, nice finish. On sale now in NH for $30.99. Excellent value at that price.

1/24/2020 - timbobwhite wrote:

1-1/2hr. double decant. Fair amount of sediment. One of the best bottles of Mondavi Napa in a long time. No notes taken. Full, rich nose of black currants, vanilla and a touch of mint. Perfectly balanced for food, lovely fruit, good acid and long finish. Hoping I really do have a couple more of these left.

1/16/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

PNP. 90% Petite Sirah, 10% Zinfandel. This was excellent. Deep, rich, fruity with a healthy dose of American oak. All that I wanted. Drinking well now, not sure if it will ever land. Drink or hold.

1/4/2020 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

1 hour double decant for sediment. Deep purple to edge. Nose to start showed classic CDV barnyard funk, some perfume and a bit a cab fruit at the back. As it opened further, cherry and black currents, ending with a strong black cherry nose, the other elements still there, but in background. Medium body, good balance, some tannin. All the fruit flavors in the nose are along with a bit of the funk. Nice complexity with a medium finish. This is a classic CDV Merlot. Not as good as some in past, but up there with the best. Excellent value at $21.50 paid.

12/25/2019 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Decanted for sediment, accidently given 6 hours in decanter. No problem. This wine is full, elegant with fine nose, great flavor and long finish. Drinking well now, but will keep for years to come. Too bad I've been priced out of this market.

12/15/2019 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Decant for a fair amount of large sediment. No notes taken. Nose was closed on opening, very fragrant in two hours. Still young and primary, with a heavy dose of oak present (not unexpected). The 24% Merlot shows through as well. At end of last bit, tannins beginning to show again. This has a long life ahead yet.

12/8/2019 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Decanted for sediment (recommended) Deep purple center to the edge. Dark cherry, black currents at first with some bright red fruit to follow. As time went on, a little spice. Began with rich, red fruit, tasting like a good, well-aged cab. A bit of oak prominent to start. Long finish with lingering Zin flavors. As this opened up (over 2 hours) it developed into a classic Geyserville with baking spice/zin profile. This is a real beauty just coming into its own. Drink (with decant) or hold as usual. 71% Zin, 7% Petit Sirah, 2% Mouverdre and 1% Alicante Bouchet.

11/23/2019 - timbobwhite Likes this wine:

Double decant for sediment 1-1/2 hrs. No notes taken but this was big, flavorful and complex. As some say, 'a cab lovers Merlot.' Costly, but a nice treat.