5/17/2024 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Double decanted and aired for an hour, should have given it several more as there’s still lots of tannin and spine atop the figgy fruit, black cherry and tobacco l. I’d hold for a couple more years.

5/17/2024 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Bright, energetic, smooth, and harmonious, aligning with the red fruit spectrum and a kiss of vanilla atop savory notes. Old world style, new world dirt: lovely.

5/9/2024 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

1.5 hour decant and in a great spot from the get go. Red fruits singing, underpinned by black plums, violet, charcoal, and underbrush. Smooth vanilla and ultra fine tannins frame everything. Long finish keeps you contemplating them going in for more.

5/6/2024 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

2 hour decant and paired with Santa Maria style tri tip. It’s well structured and balanced, if still a hair tight. Dark purple and viscous, but not at all too big. Red cherry, açaí, cast iron, and loam gush forth before being throttled by the pleasant but still up front tannins. A lingering vanilla note on the finish brings this nice expression of Oakville home. Will try another in a year.

4/22/2024 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

1.5 hr decant and off to the races flirting with perfection for the rest of the evening. The nose jumps out at you with black currant, sour cherry, and blueberry pie. Lest you assume it’s going to be a fruit bomb, all kinds of menthol, cast iron, and loamy notes weave into the fruit on the palate. Tannins smoothly integrated on the finish that rides off into the sunset for a good couple of minutes. Sublime with Flannery ribeyes.

4/9/2024 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Two hour decant and open for business right off the bat. A deep well of black currant, fig pudding, vanilla bean, and spice box held in balance by a spritz of acidity and fine grained tannins. Great with wagyu ribeyes.

3/31/2024 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Decanted for an hour and followed over an additional three. Everything you want in a Rutherford Cabernet; cassis, macerated red cherry, dusty tannins, and a lovely cigar box note on the finish that became more prominent as the evening wore on.

3/29/2024 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

A deft touch and really outstanding and balanced representation of Fort Ross Chardonnay, punching well above it’s weight class. Hard to resist buying more.

3/15/2024 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Know anyone who poo poos rose or white Zinfandel? Get this in their life and watch them change their tune right quick. Incredible.

3/14/2024 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Age has really been kind to this one. Meyer lemon and lychee fruit glide on a fairly viscous bed of creaminess cut by a mineral thread, with a kiss of salted caramel on the medium-long finish. Impressive.

3/10/2024 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Baer is always a consistently good producer, so good that I often drink them young, so this merlot with 10 years in it was a real treat. Vibrant black cherry quickly gives way to tobacco and loamy notes, with a dash of acidity and fully resolved tannins. Should be drinking well for the next 3-4 years.

3/5/2024 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

A delightfully restrained and balanced SB, equal parts tropical fruit, creamy texture, and mineral, all in a subdued package.

2/2/2024 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

1hr decant and open for business. Shouldering iron, cherry pipe tobacco, and black plums carry the day in this well integrated masterpiece that really lets the site shine. Tannins fully integrated, and a finish that lingers for a good minute. Epic with Flannery ribeyes.

1/11/2024 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Singed alder, raspberry coulis, bay leaf, graphite, black cherry, and sandalwood compliment each other perfectly in this beautiful CdP. Could cellar for a few more years, but for me this has it all going on right now. Sublime after 1 hr decant paired with braised pork shoulder

1/3/2024 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

30 minute decant. Can’t fake the funk, and this has it to spare! Mushroom, grilled beef, stewed tomato, and loam glide into plum and dried bing cherry, presenting a long and energetic finish. Tannins completely mellowed. Wouldn’t hold much longer.

12/31/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Deep pink and not super effervescent, this is a beautiful balance of dried cranberry, rose petal, acid, creme, and a dry bread flour note on the top of the palate. Tempting to drink it fast because it goes down so easily.

12/13/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Exemplary of the site. 2 hr decant. Macerated currant, blackberry pudding, dark chocolate powder, and a kiss of vanilla on the finish, balanced by gravel and menthol notes. Drink now with a decant or hold for 5+ years. This vintage tends to not get much love, but that’s just because it’s surrounded by stellar vintages - this holds its own against anything.

12/4/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Lush, steely, bracing, and deep all at the same time. Later in the evening baking spices emerged and took the finish to impossible lengths.

11/30/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

What Aaron Pott did with this vineyard in a subpar vintage is borderline magic to my palate. Sandalwood, bay leaf, loam, cherry pipe tobacco, red currant, and a kiss of very smoothed out Rutherford dust dance in perfect harmony after 45 minute decant. No reason to hold this much longer - enjoy now

11/26/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Borderline sublime. 30 minute decant. On the nose this comes out like an oaky brawler, but the palate is balanced between meyer lemon, lilac, brown butter, and chaparral. The finish cruises on for a good 30 seconds. Exemplary.

11/11/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Ready to rock after a 30 minute decant. Shows signs of having been a brawler in its youth, but has mellowed out and integrated fantastically. Predominantly blue fruits with an energetic thread of sour red cherry providing the highs, and savory forest floor and pencil lead providing the bass. Long, smooth finish - this should hold for a number of years, but no reason not to enjoy now.

10/22/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

2 hour decant. Bright, with cranberry, açaí, tangerine peel, tobacco leaf, herbs, and raspberry seed coating the mouth and lingering for a long finish. Drink or hold.

9/30/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

PnP - Threw off some big lush black fruits and mountain bramble on first sips, then as the evening went on settled into an array of secondary flavors like tobacco and tomato leaf. Tannins fairly tamed but still a bit grippy, so if you like old world style wines, lay this one down longer and it should reward you.

9/24/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

2 hr decant. A symphony playing in perfect harmony. Spice box, dried rose petal, and tangerine peel float on raspberry, plumb, and a kiss of black pepper and bacon fat on the finish. Excellent.

9/13/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

1 hr decant. Enters like a velvet glove, not as big or bold as some other Hall offerings. Balanced, elegant, black fruits, tea, olive, and floral notes give way to a bit of caramel on the long finish. In a nice window now, but could probably even develop a bit more.

8/21/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Incredibly fragrant with lilac, macerated cherry, and a whiff of leather. Well integrated and huge mouthfeel with plumb preserve, cedar, blackberry jam, molasses, and a touch of charred beef. Must have been a bruiser in its youth, but has come around nicely. Delicious.

8/17/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Incredibly well integrated, medium bodied zin with red fruit and bramble giving way to smooth plumb and a touch of slate on the finish

8/8/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Bright and high toned, more like an old school NV cab than modern versions. Tart cherry, leather, currant, menthol with a medium length finish. Would cut through fattier meats nicely.

7/31/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

1 hour decant, then followed over 3 hours. Dried raspberry and currants with a jolt of plumb underneath, framed by cherry pipe tobacco and graphite. No reason not to drink now, everything hangs together smoothly

7/29/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Decanted 1.5 hours, but really started strutting it’s stuff after an additional 2 hours in the glass. Everything you like about BTK in terms of plush berry and currant, smouldering iron, tobacco, and fine grained tannins that are still integrating at this stage. Wonderful effort for 2017 vintage, will let my others lay down for another 2 years when I expect everything to be completely together

7/29/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

1.5 hour decant. Very big and ripe blue and red fruits in the Hall style, but nicely balanced by an acidic beam of açaí as well as a bit of bramble and rose water.

7/19/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

A smooth, well built version that was ready to rock after a 2.5 hour decant, and opened up a little more in the glass as the night progressed, but not markedly so. Mike Smith wine for sure, with power, dark fruits, and just enough tannin, spine, and earth to keep things relatively balanced. Picks up a nice menthol note on the long finish.

7/10/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

2 hr decant. Cherry, cranberry, and tobacco dominate this smooth medium bodied Washington cab. Nice, if not as remarkable as some Cayuse syrah that I’ve had.

7/9/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Grilled Meyer lemon, hazelnut, a touch of oyster shell, and electric verve on the finish make this an outstanding effort for the vintage

6/24/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Decanted for one hour. It’s all about tension, balance, and integration at their point. High toned cherry leads off, quickly enveloped in tobacco, loam, black pepper, and a bass note of underlying plumb. Drink now and enjoy!

5/11/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Nice, balanced, and lithe on the pallet. Lemon pith, apricot, jonagold apple, a hint of saline and oyster shell. Drink now.

4/26/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Smooth, deep, dark, layered expression of St Helena Cabernet. Black fruit, vanilla, earth, pencil lead, red bell pepper, tannins completely folded in after 2 hour decant. This is a crystallized snapshot why I love wine.

4/25/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Cassis, mocha, red and black berries, and fine grained tannins on the finish. Smooth and balanced, nice now but can easily go for another decade.

4/14/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Wow, so smooth, balanced and integrated after a two hour decant. Black and red fruit, vanilla, leather, a kiss of mint, and very fine grained tannins. Beautiful expression of Oakville.

1/29/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Open for business after a 1hr decant. Vibrant raspberry, red plum, and morello cherry underneath cracked pepper, leather, and grilled meat. Florals lift the long finish. Really nice.

1/16/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Absolutely singing from the glass. Dark and winey, ripe but not overly so, impeccably balanced. Plumb, red currant, blackberry pie, eucalyptus, and a dash of Oakville iron. This is really good stuff.

1/9/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

A plush Napa cab with power and balance. Cassis, blue fruits, tobacco, a hint of iron, and we’ll integrated tannins. Fantastic QPR in this world of crazy pricing.

12/16/2022 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Fantastic expression of Oakville. Juicy black currant, vanilla, menthol undertones. Tannins integrating nicely.

11/22/2022 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Orange zest, cranberry sauce, black tea, and blackberries all in energetic balance sail through a long finish. Delicious.

11/6/2022 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Lovely balance between tart fruit, sweetness, and mineral. Pairs beautifully with Asian food with a bit of heat

11/4/2022 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Mocha, baking spice, tart cherry, and barely perceptible tannins combine for a nice big, balanced Napa Cabernet

10/17/2022 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Juicy, spicy, earthy and impeccably balanced - shining example of Colson Syrah

10/4/2022 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Power and refinement coalesce in this unique expression of zin, which packs in smoothness and bottomless depth. Overcomes the challenges of the vintage with ease, bursting out of the gate with fig, loganberry, and bread pudding with a beam of sour cherry underpinned by wet earth. In a great spot with an hour decant.

9/23/2022 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

On the nose mushroom and earthy funk jump out of the glass, with floral and black fruits beneath. Dark and full bodied, crushed rock, spice box, plumb, and macerated black cherry all play off of each other nicely. Medium long finish with fine resolved tannins.

9/14/2022 - djjagdish Likes this wine:

Jasmine and beeswax in the nose lead to lychee, apricot, honeysuckle, and a bit of grapefruit rhind in the mouth. Nicely balanced through the moderate length finish. Wish I had more!