5/20/2024 - Franken Berry wrote:

I can remember buying this wine from Bill Seavey, back in the day. Several bottles have remained, neatly forgotten in the cellar. I can recall that in its younger life, the wine presented with the promise of rich fruits hidden behind a massive wall of tannins. Now, at age 20, the tannins are all but faded. It still possesses a beautiful nose of blueberries and dark chocolates, with blueberries, plums and morello cherries on the palate. The viscosity and lingering alcohol give the wine a port like quality in the mouth.it finishes with scorched earth, and a smoky quality. Very Bordeaux like, overall. Melka still had his hand in this, from what I have read.
While I enjoyed this more than I thought, it is beyond its peak, for my palate.

5/18/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

I found this single bottle languishing in my mother in law’s cellar, so I brought it along to dinner at a French bistro. My first Quintessa, so I can’t speak to how this wine compares to better vintages. This was a tasty Bordeaux blend with a classic Rutherford mouthfeel, rich black fruits, black cherries layered with cedar, Asian spices, chalk, and some dark chocolate.

5/18/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

This was my second opportunity to try the flagship offering from Crocker & Starr in the past few months, both times, with owner Pam Starr. As luck would have it, Pam and Cyrus were in La Jolla for a winemakers dinner while we were out visiting family. I enjoyed this more this time around for some reason. This is 100% varietal from their best blocks in the St Helena estate brought up in 90% new oak. Terrific cassis and black currants, with well integrated oak, barel spice and dark chocolate. Terrific textured mouthfeel, layered with fine tannins and a long finish. Well balanced. It is my understanding that Pam does not acidify her wines.

5/13/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

I have been a big fan of the regular Napa bottling, but had yet to crack one of their single vineyards. Popped this on Mother's Day, and gave it 2 hours of air. While the NVD is drinking beautifully with little airtime, this is clearly a different beast and would benefit from more bottle age. Still fairly "boozy" and tannic on the back end. It opened a bit more on day 2, but still a bit coiled.
The wine has great density and textural richness in the mouth, loaded with cassis, black raspberries and blackberries. there is a nice line of minerality on the mid palate and finish, hints of wild flowers, and bitter chocolate.
I'll check in on my next bottle in 1 -2 years

5/12/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

Nice to see an ‘18 drinking so well at this time point. My earlier 2 bottles were tight and tannic by comparison. In fact that kinda turned me off on buying the entry level Tor’s moving forward.
Now, a year later, this was good to go after an hour of air, and was even better the next day. Black and red fruits, cassis, blackberries, dark cherries mixed with hints is anise, tobacco, and crushed stones. Medium in body and length.
I now realize that the shift to include more grapes from Tierra Roja wound require more patience. Probably better still in a year. That said, the entry level cab has gotten a bit pricey for what you get

5/12/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

PnP for a Thursday dinner. First sips were dominated by a bit of alcohol and acidic effervescence. 30-60 minutes later, this smoothed out with rich dark cherries, strawberries and a bit of loam and spices.
Nice representation of a RRV Pinot at a reasonable price

5/10/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

The 2013 Mount Veeder is a beautiful wine that has entered its prime drinking window. Deep toned red and black fruits fill the mouth, nicely balanced with silky tannins, forest floor, tapenade and sublime salinity. Mid weight, plush, with no hard edges.
I think that most CTers, who tend to store their wines well, can ignore AGs recent comments about tainted bottles.

5/8/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

whether it's because the stars are aligned or the recent total eclipse, I seem to be on a parallel drinking track with friends Mark1NPT and AGELVIS within the universe that is Napa Valley Cabernet Franc. I never know what red to bring along to a seafood restaurant (I know, pinot noir, but sometimes I want something juicer).
Gave this two hours slow ox. This is a full bodied, juicy red, full of red and black fruits, chocolate notes and oak. Tannins integrate nicely with time in the glass. Not much varietal characteristics at this point.
I have found that reds from the Sugarloaf Vineyard (cabs, merlot, cab franc) tend to be a bit over the top fruit-wise, and I am leaning away from this style in recent months. In all fairness, I have tended to drink them all on the young side, and would love to hear from others whether they change at all with age
In summary, it is a pleasurable wine, just not the intellectual turn-on I sometimes crave from a good cab franc.

5/6/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

I gave this 30 minutes of air, with a swirl in a decanter. Still a bit of alcohol on the nose and palate suggesting this could have used a bit more air time. On the approach, this came across a bit darker, blue fruited than expected, a bit masculine if you will, but finished more red fruited and feminine- cherries, raspberries, a hint of watermelon. Loved the complexity here, could use another 1-2 years of bottle time

5/6/2024 - Franken Berry wrote:

This bottle was a bit of a disappointment, over the hour that I served it. It just remained muted and closed, which is unusual for this wine, in my experience. Both the acid and fruit were tamped down. Mostly muted red fruits, pomegranate, cranberry, and a bit of cherry. Did not change much over two days.
Just an off bottle

5/5/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

This has entered a nice drinking window with a two hour decant. Dark cherries, cassis, hint of plums, vanilla, oak. Round, rich, darker fruits.
I don’t see this changing much. Nice wine for a Sunday evening

5/5/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

My perennial fav from the Outpost label, in terms of pleasure driven drinking. Gave this a splash decant then back in the bottle for the ride to a favorite seafood heavy place. Served this after warming up the palates with a TRB Pinot Noir, so about 90 minutes of air exposure.
Beautiful balance between the CS, CF, and merlot. The cab franc really shines through. Cassis, blueberries, violets, new leather, with good acidity and silky tannins. Great lingering finish.
I could see myself drinking this weekly. Would gladly trade my stash of their Howell Mountain cab for more ;)

5/1/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

black fruits, gravel, hint of baking chocolate. firm tannins, drying finish. great structure, fruit pushed towards the back but it was balanced.
not my usual mid week pick, but I really enjoyed this cabernet from Santa Barbara.
would it be accurate to describe this as Bordeaux like, w/o the funk?

4/28/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

Bright cherries, pomegranate and strawberries, orange rind, mint and a bit of loam. Firing on all cylinders, with a lingering finish. Yum.

4/27/2024 - Franken Berry wrote:

Last vintage for Benoit. For me, this label has never impressed to the level of the pro review enthusiasm. Mostly Cabernet, with a huge dollop of Malbec (I have read, but JD states merlot). A very dark, inky appearing wine ( Malbec?), with mostly restrained black fruits, bitter chocolates and expresso, hint of olives. There was a bitterness on the palate that never quite faded. Decanted for an hour, drank over next three.
hopefully Biagi can work better magic here

4/25/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

PHILLY CT GATHERING - DR CRANE
this wine stood out amongst the other Cranes, as the most beguiling - intense aromas of kirsch, lilacs and pepper. Dense, rich black fruits - cassis, blackberries, hints of mocha, expresso and anise with touches of raw tobacco. tremendous purity of fruit layered with sublime minerality. maybe only a point or two better than the crowd, but standing out, amongst its peers, is impressive - thanks Andy!

4/24/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

PHILLY CT GATHERING Dr Crane
A “bonus bottle” brought by Sean, and the youngest vintage of the group. A bit more over the top in terms of the rich blue and black fruits, a little less finesse than the others, perhaps a victim only of its youth, or the “heavier hand” of Venge. Oak was a bit more prominent. This was delicious and decadent, but suffered slightly compared to the others tasted last evening. Alcohol a bit more obvious, but less so than the myriad
Thanks for sharing Sean!

4/24/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

PHILLY CT GATHERING - DR CRANE
bonus bottle provided by The Cyclist. have never had a 20+ year old Napa cab franc. this was best fresh out of the bottle. while this has lost its energy and acidity, it still had nice black fruits, stewed plums, and nice purity of fruits.

4/24/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

PHILLY CT GATHERING - DR CRANE
This was a terrific bottle of wine, and likely tied for WOTN, in my humble opinion. A blend of cabs from both Dr Crane and Oakville Ranch. Nice mix of black and red fruits, terrific texture and mouthfeel capped by an amazing finish of cedar, scorched earth, and tobacco.

4/24/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

PHILLY CT GATHERING -DR CRANE NIGHT
Sean suggested that we kick off the evening with the two '14 that were brought to the table. Why not? 10 years seems like a great starting point for high end Napa cabs. I gave this wine 90 minutes of air in the bottle. This was good to go, and got better with time in the glass. great aromas of blackberries. terrific balance, purity of fruit and polished tannins. Blackberries, black currants, hints of tobacco, leather and tar. finished with nice minerality. this is likely drinking at its peak.

Overall, Dr Crane impresses for the depth and purity of fruit, balanced with a great sense of minerality. Overall, the 2014s have drunk well, up to this point in time

4/24/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

PHILLY CT GATHERING-DR CRANE NIGHT
I haven’t had many single varietal Petit Verdot, but I have to imagine this is one of the best representations coming from Napa. It certainly held its own against the cab savs poured last evening.
Deep garnet in color with baked plums on the nose. Rich red and black fruits, more plums, black cherries and red currants. Finishes with plush tannins, cedar box and black pepper with a streak of scorched earth.
A very unique and satisfying bottle of wine. Thanks to the cyclist for bringing this along

4/22/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

Similar my first bottle. black fruits, well balanced. Required about an hour of air

4/21/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

Drank this after the Crocker cab franc blend, since the cab franc is sourced from the latter vineyard (I think). Vinnut nails the descriptors and the blend, although I prefer the more juicy cab franc heavy Crocker & Starr

4/21/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

Estate grown cab franc shines through on this soft, easy going blend. Black fruits, spring flowers, tobacco. Built for early drinking with minimal air

4/17/2024 - Franken Berry wrote:

I didn't enjoy this as much as the '21 that was recently released. I gave this one hour of air. Red and Black fruits, but not the same level of ripeness. Did not have same level of complexity. I will give my final bottle six more months, and perhaps a little more air.

4/10/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

I tasted this back at the winery last May, so no formal notes. Given that a rock block series was not made in 2020, the winemakers came up with this unique blend, using selections from the rock block vineyards from 2019. This is a unique wine for Lede, in that 60% of the final blend comes from a co-fermentation of malbec/cabernet, then with addition of more cab and petit verdot. This only saw 20% new oak. If I remember correctly, malbec is the predominant varietal here.
This is a juicy smooth blend with explosive fruits, mostly red/black. It was only made available to club members and sold at the winery

4/10/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

The Cyclist and I decided to see how a pair of 2018 Howell Mountain cabs are coming along. Admittingly, these tend to drink best with a few more years, based upon past experience. I gave this two hours in the decanter, and it was drinking well with some improvement with time. rather fruit foward, red/black, not surprising given that TRB is the winemaker. Not overly complex but some hints of anise, chocolate. well integrated tannins. hint of smoke/dryness on the finish.
a bit more fruit forward than other Howell Mountain cabs, so it will likely drink well early.

4/10/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

my first Pina. brought to dinner by the Cyclist. this got decidedly better with extended air. started off a bit thin and tannic but by 3-4 hours it really blossomed, in terms of dense red/black fruits, smooth mid palate, medium finish. hint of smokiness on the finish.
Nice density and purity of fruit. 100% cabernet

4/7/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

Pulled this at the last minute as the crowd that had gathered at my home seemed to want to keep drinking after dinner. No formal notes, but I think that BadMonkey sums up the profile pretty well. Again, one of the better Becklyn Napa cabs I have had in recent years, and, in retrospect, a good buy for the money.
It is drinking well in this moment with no hard edges or bitterness.
I stopped buying this brand after 19, since I felt little distinguished it from other Mike Smith wines I buy

4/6/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

Still quite primary and a bit of a fruit bomb, but lovely black plums, blackberries, and dark cherries. Should be even better once the oak fully integrates

3/31/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

This got more interesting on day two. Huge fruit balanced by dense structure. Black and blue fruits, finishing with heavy oak, gripping tannins.
Quality fruit from this large ranch in east oakville

3/31/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

Easter Sunday, cowboy bone in ribeyes. My son and wife keep bringing up the ‘16 Hourglass Blueline Cab we had to celebrate his birthday. So, I saw an opportunity to pop a ‘19. two hours slow ox, double decant. Ripe Calistoga fruits, blackberries, blueberries, and Morello cherries. Forest floor, currant leaf, hint of mocha. Great energy, young. Perfectly delicious but best tea in another year.
At this moment in time, ‘16 is better by a point or two

3/30/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

This is a full throttled, all-American Pinot. Full fruited, raspberries, cherries, and strawberries, this grew more complex with time in the glass adding Asian spices, candied orange rind, black tea and mint.

3/28/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

Just a quick note since this bottle was significantly more enjoyable compared to one I had two years ago. Opened as a PnP at a mid week dinner party with friends, so no formal notes. Very open and expressive. Flavor profile similar to what Bad Monkey describes in his note. A solid effort for the money

3/23/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

DINNER WITH PAM STARR: This open knit cab checks most boxes for me. Chock full of black and red fruits- plums, blackberries and dark cherries, mixed with cedar, tobacco, and spice box, with a lingering finish. Nice balance with nice floral notes. Killer QPR that balances fruit with savory

3/23/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

DINNER WITH PAM STARR: get together with fellow CTers, CYCLIST and IAMANDYC and assorted friends and family. I don’t reca whether Pam or CYCLIST brought this, but many thanks. More blue fruited than the 21, mixed with dark cherries, violets, wild flowers and a bit of loam. Bright, energetic, and layered

3/23/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

AN EVENING WITH PAM STARR: Philly CT get together with Pam and Cyrus from Crocker & Starr. Started the evening with this new release alongside appetizers. Such a great expression of valley floor cab franc, from the estate vines in St Helena, adjacent to BV vineyards. Rich, floral, with gobs of black and red fruits, violets, cardamom, hints of cedar. Terrific, layered mouthfeel , great balance and acidity. A decadent and satisfying wine
Fairly old vines in rocky soils if I remember correctly

3/17/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

I love what Jeff Ames does over at Del Dotto. We gave this 3 hours of air, and it was good to do. A very dense wine of concentrated red and black fruits, with dark cherries, blackberries standing out, mixed with forest floor, anise, tapenade. Still has a nice tannic grip on the back end. No discernible tertiary notes at this point.
I’m not sure that this would stand out in a crowd of similarly priced wines, but it went great with lamb chops

3/16/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

I gave this a 3 hour slow ox, which means I opened, splash decanted, back into the bottle with the cork out, and brought this downtown for a meetup with out of town friends. air time seemed perfect. dense black and red fruit on the nose, Cassis, blackberry and morello cherries on the palate, mixed with forest floor, crushed stone, hint of tobacco. I love how the oak interplays with the sweet oakville fruit. great texture and concentration. Nicely integrated tannins on the finish. fantastic with our wood oven branzino and pork chop with charred vegetables.

3/16/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

my first Wheeler. My friend, greg, brought this up while visiting and out to dinner. basically a PnP. dark, dense wine with classic blackberry and plum flavors, notes of chocolate, expresso, and forest floor. dense tannins. Too young for sure, and definitely would have benefited from extended air time

3/16/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

Enticing aromas of tropical fruits, gardenia, and violets - remind me of a ramped up Beaune de venise. More tropical fruit on the palate plus honey, apricots and ripe citrus. Medium in mouthfeel, with good acidity

3/11/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

I enjoyed this bottle a lot more than the pair of 2018s I had in recent years. Gave this one hour in the decanter and it was good to go. nice black and blue fruits, notes of chocolate, anise, and mint. integrated tannins. A bit of alcohol on the nose, but not perceivable on the palate. This was decidedly deeper and more complex than previous vintage. A nicely done Sonoma Cab

3/10/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

similar to my first bottle a few months back. gave this 3 hours of slow ox in the bottle before dinner. nice nose of blackberries, cassis and dark cherries. play to the black/blue end of the spectrum on the palate- more blackberries, dark cherries and cassis. Hint of chocolate, spice, finishes with good minerality. 100% cab, volcanic soil from a vineyard in Calistoga

3/9/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

Brought this up to the Catskills, for a weekend at Mohonk Mountain House. Gave this two hours slow ox during lakeside cocktails.
What a great drinker. Dark, brooding, packed with blackberries and blueberries, layered with chocolate, spice and crushed stones.
One of my faves at this price point

3/3/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

gave this an hour decant, then back into the bottle and headed out to a restaurant. aromas of blueberry, plums, raspberries and some green pepper. all of this on the palate. medium in body, plush. A bit lacking in the acidity area. Nice aromatics. From cooler climes up on Spring mountain.

3/3/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

I gave this an hour decant, and thought it was best between hours 1 -2. blueberry and cassis on the nose and palate. I like the grip and structure on the mid palate and finish - nice gritty tannins, minerality. It went a bit soft after hour three as the tannins faded.
Probably the best vintage of Post Parade I have had. Starting to view this as a level up from TRB projects like Caterwaul. Pretty solid vineyard sources here, as others have mentioned

3/2/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

Agree with AGelvis- terrific cab for the money. I have my bottle a one hour decant. Dark plum color, blackberry, blueberry, raspberries, with notes of chocolate, wet stones and bramble. Terrific structure and mouthfeel. Satisfying finish. Continues to drink well

3/1/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

I mistakenly posted this review as a '19. shared this with Sean, Andy, and Cyclist at our recent Philly CT meet up.
basically PnP. another well made, balanced, new world GSM from the central coast. No specific notes but it was full bodied and quite tasty.
Glad it opened up more for Sean on the following days.

2/28/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

last pair of wines shared last night with CT friends included the '16 Carlisle and Mending Wall petite sirah from the Palisades Vineyards. I thought that they were very similar in style. Dark eggplant in color, black/blue fruits on the nose, concentrated blackberries, plums, blueberries mixed with spice and scorched earth. well balanced, integrated tannins. Nice purity of flavors

2/28/2024 - Franken Berry Likes this wine:

FEBRUARY PHILLY CT MEET UP:
an evening of interesting Cali Reds w/ Cyclist, Andy and Sean. This was one of my contributions. Based on the label, the Maturin is a blend of 38% Graciano, 32% Syrah, 20% Mataro and 10% Grenache - all from James Berry vineyard. It is also brought up in 90% new french oak. A deep purple wine with aromas of red and black fruits, wild flowers, cedar scorched earth/tar. fairly full bodied, lingering finish with notes of smoke and spice. Picked up notes of candied oranges and fruit cake with time in the glass