4/4/2014 - sirswami wrote:

Very nice showing by this wine across the board; beautiful color, inviting nose and rich dark fruit flavor pallet. This wine didn't offer any reasons for concern about continuing to cellar but it is drinkiing beautifully right now...

3/26/2014 - sirswami wrote:

The 2004 Revana took WOTN status among three outstanding 2004 Napa Cabs that also included Forman & Jones Family...

3/26/2014 - sirswami wrote:

The 2004 Revana took WOTN status among three outstanding 2004 Napa Cabs that also included Forman & Jones Family...

3/26/2014 - sirswami wrote:

The Revana took WOTN status among three outstanding 2004 Napa Cabs that also included Forman & Jones Family...

2/16/2014 - sirswami wrote:

Holding up quite well for its age, especially given the winemaker's suggested 10 year ideal drinking window and its 375ml format. I'd highlight more milk chocolate and red fruit flavors to this nice little creation...

2/14/2014 - sirswami wrote:

Once again (and spot on my thoughts two years ago to the day) a perfect Valentine's Dinner wine by both name and taste featuring a lush, full bodied and even sultry bundle of black fruit that immediately envelops you.

2/15/2014 - sirswami wrote:

Dark, delicious and drinking extremely well right now without a long decant.

2/1/2014 - sirswami wrote:

An enjoyable experience with this wine but it came across as a big blast of Howell Mountain dark fruit that was still coming together and a tough compare with the more refined Stag's Leap District cabs consumed around it that same evening, it also notable threw off quite a bit of sediment...

1/29/2014 - sirswami wrote:

Similar very favorable impressions to last tasting, drinking very well at the moment.

1/18/2014 - sirswami wrote:

Would like to give this wine another whirl with a lengthy decant, as it was pretty tight and took a while to loosen up. In fact, I'm not sure I really saw enough of its Howell Mountain personality come out to be a thorough judge of its character, intrigued by what it might hold in store for greater enjoyment down the road.

1/25/2014 - sirswami wrote:

This wine was really enjoyable and approachable with bright blackberry flavors complementing a traditional Napa cab backbone. In notable constrast to many of the notes from those experiencing it 2012, I'd say it has certainly entered a more flattering drinking window...

1/25/2014 - sirswami wrote:

This turned out to be a very nice find given a bargain price due to the vintage, wish I would have been able to find more than one stray bottle. This wine presented as being very well put together and featured surpringly bright and robust fruit flavors for its age...

1/25/2014 - sirswami wrote:

Definitely time to drink these up if you still have them, continues to come across as well made and worthwile but its dark fruit flavors have faded considerably since my last tasting.

1/10/2014 - sirswami wrote:

I hate to give this such a low score without more specific tasting notes but this wine came across as an overripe and uncomfortable mess, proving so uninspiring that its remnants were difficult to return to beyond the second attempt...

1/4/2014 - sirswami wrote:

Another outstanding experience with this wine that deserves high praise. Big dark fruit flavors but not overpowering, comes across as excellent craftsmanship with high quality raw materials.

1/3/2014 - sirswami wrote:

This wine has aged gracefully and improved in character and depth since my last tasting 4+ years ago. While I've been consistently captivated by Sean's artistry with Cabernet, his efforts with Pinot Noir warrant more of my attention...

12/25/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Another WOW experience with this wine (with similar attributes referenced in my prior tasting note), but even more impressive given this bottle was preceded by a wonderful magnum of 2008 Merryvale Profile...

12/25/2013 - sirswami wrote:

After drinking this wine and the KB Russian River Valley consecutively, I think they both are excellent offerings but I give the slight nod to the KB Sonoma Coast which came across with a little bigger and fuller presentation.

12/25/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Interesting in a very good way and a great way to start a special holiday wine evening. My tasting notes from recollection won't do this wine justice and prior notes by walkerjfw capture it well...

12/30/2013 - sirswami Likes this wine:

Big, lush and delicious...

12/31/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Opened 2 hours or so before planned consumption as feature wine for lamb chop dinner. However, it barely made it to the main course as it was absolutely delicious!

12/23/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Great first time experience with this wine, interesting big blast of dark fruit that envelops you...more detailed notes next time.

12/21/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Seemingly very young and tightly wound on the first night, much more inviting and enjoyable 24 hours later...would like to give this wine a few years in the cellar before trying again.

11/30/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Really intriguing first experience with this wine, big and rich with a strong Italian backbone. Looking forward to future explorations.

11/30/2013 - sirswami wrote:

A delightful creation that is drinking superbly. I'd suggest catching it if you still can...

11/23/2013 - sirswami wrote:

A beautiful wine, seemingly in every respect... Decanted for about 90 minutes leading up to the dinner entree and it was perfect!

10/15/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Remember enjoying this bottle, but 5 weeks later when writing this note it's too tough to recollect enough specific details for helpful tasting notes.

11/22/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Still going surprisingly strong, great color and complexion with a full dark fruit flavor palate...definitely in the twighlight years but still delicious.

11/9/2013 - sirswami wrote:

As anticipated in my note of two years ago, this wine did improve very nicely with time in the cellar and I think this story is likely to continue. Overall high quality impressions from this well balanced offering, my score this tasting goes up by two points from prior rating and I wouldn't be surprised to see it do the same in another couple years...

11/8/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Drinking beautifully at this point in its life... Given excellent depth and liveliness of the dark fruit flavors, I think this opinion is likely to stay valid for a while.

10/18/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Still solid but not nearly as bright, flavorful or impressive as prior experience with this wine four years ago. In my opinion, it is definitely time to drink these up if you still have them.

10/18/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Same positive thoughts as prior tastings, a dynamite way to start a red wine evening.

10/17/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Absolutely delicious, still plenty big and rich but with notable complexity to a flavor palate that included a hint of black licorice on the finish.

10/15/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Very enjoyable once again...but definitely time to drink these up if you are fortunate enough to have any remaining in the cellar.

10/4/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Waves of delightful dark fruit flavors roll through this wine, notably at an appropriate volume which allows one to enjoy numerous other attributes (many of which are referenced in prior notes). An excellent find...wish I had more.

10/4/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Still presenting and drinking beautifully...

9/22/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Still looking and drinking beautiful...

9/7/2013 - sirswami wrote:

This bottle seemed a little bit off from the first sniff and never really got on track for me, certainly not consistent with prior favorable experiences...yellow flag at this time with no rating.

8/31/2013 - sirswami wrote:

More enjoyable and inviting than my recollections of prior experiences with pinots from this producer; bright and lively but with enough depth to fit the bill for this cabernet biased consumer.

8/31/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Wonderfully interesting and enjoyable once again...

8/30/2013 - sirswami wrote:

A wonderful pop and pour wine to accompany pizza and/or pasta. It was inviting right off the bat with lots of lively fruit, offering good depth but not enough complexity for me to rate higher...than excellent (especially at its price point).

8/10/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Outstanding...a wonderful presentation of dark, penetrating but invitingly sweet Howell Mountain fruit.

8/9/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Absolutely delicious...

7/27/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Agree with Levinsb's note; "Young. Blackberry currant licorice. Still tight but wonderful depth, power and intensity."

7/14/2013 - sirswami wrote:

In contrast to prior experience, this wine seemed somewhat disjointed and even a bit tight after popping and pouring. However, upon coming back to it the next evening, we found it well integrated and bursting with black cherry flavors - so a whole lot more enjoyable and fun.

7/13/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Similar favorable impressions to those offered in a prior tasting note by thelostverse; "Nice viscosity with hints of citrus and apricot. Not overly sweet or cloying. Very nice."

7/13/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Comes across as high quality and well made, displaying rich color and still lively fruit...glad I was inspired to pull it out of the cellar.

7/8/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Still holding up well with similar favorable impressions as prior tasting notes, unfortunately it was the last vestige of a great buy some years ago...

6/22/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Pleasant and distinctive summer time treat...

6/29/2013 - sirswami wrote:

Big & Rich Stags Leap offering, drinking very well right now with an excellent balance between lush fruit and remaining tannins. There was a noticeable but not overwhelming amount of sediment in this bottle that had been laid down since its release.