April 7, 2024 - At age 11, this seems to be right in its drinking window. The palate is full of plums and black currants, with hints of bay leaf and moist earth, followed by moderate tannins. For me, the Fortuna bottling has been a pretty good cab but never approaches the heights of Carter’s To Kalon wines.
December 25, 2020 - Dark currant to blackberry. Some dark chocolate as well. This is big but never crosses the line to excess. Best QPR in Carter lineup. Hesitate to call anything around $100 a value though...
October 16, 2020 - deep purple....thick rich CA cab. blueberries, cassis, cherry, slight tart kiwi, plum. too young to be complex...but integrated and rich velvet. Nice CA style cab.
August 29, 2020 - Deep purplish ruby red. Lush nose coated in lavender, black currants and a bit of spices. Medium tannins (6.5/10) and medium plus bodied. A bit of currants on the palate with spices, perfume and a bit of minerality. Long finish. Drink till 2035.
June 8, 2020 - delicious. wish I had more.
June 20, 2019 - Coravin pour. Crunchy blackberry seed, black and red currant, river rock, purple plum skin, and gravel. Great tension; a bit grippy, but straddles a nice line between balance and speed. Could still use another couple of years. Threw off some sediment. The second day with the cork popped allowed for much needed air, but then it shut down a bit after a few hours. 93-94. Hold for another couple of years.
May 12, 2019 - Creamy, well integrated, and straight down the fairway Napa Cab. Definitely a crowd pleaser. A bit riper in style versus last time had or maybe palette is changing. And a great QPR.
May 8, 2019 - Curse you 2013 - same as it ever was! This rustic and brambly wine has stood still, if not moved backward, since I tasted it 18 months ago (12/17 - 94 points). Part of me wonders if this is a 2013 that just won't grow up - some were ready early; some have developed; and I just don't know what to think of this one, six years out.
Dark red in color; full in body; nose of blackberry, rosemary, cedar, and lead shavings. Tastes of boysenberry, espresso, leather, and peppercorn, with a rustic and grainy finish. 14.8% alcohol. I confess to being unsure whether this will improve with time. A little softer on second day, but still kind of grumpy. Best advice is to give this another year (at least), and hope for the best.
August 4, 2018 - kind of you for me.
June 20, 2018 - Same as last year. Still needs some time. Purple and red berry fruit. Furry tannins that still require unraveling a bit more. I’d say after 2020+ is best for a revisit. Decanting for a couple of hours helped, but it still was holding some hidden gems back. 94+ points, with upside after a couple of years. Continue to hold on this one folks!