March 1, 2024 - Gifted to Menlo School auction
February 24, 2024 - Good balance acidity, black berries and tannins.
Secondary and tertiary flavors developed with residual earthy flavors.
November 10, 2023 - First bottle was corked. Second is a bit ham fisted. Chocolate cherries, some dry oak with a hot, alcoholic finish, fore square flavor profile, perhaps tight at 18? Many bottles like this over the years. No reason to pull another cork just now. Try again in 2028.
October 13, 2023 - Very quality.
September 9, 2023 - Bottle level low neck. Cork removed intact with cork edge dark purple-->black with no evidence of seepage. Color opaque/dark garnet out to translucent edge with no bricking. Decanted for sediment (mild amount noted) - allowed for 1 hour post decanting. Nose of red fruits, mildy floral, with some secondary tobacco and spice notes. Wine was fruit forward and after 18 years of age I did expect a bit more complexity (and reflection of terroir) (which did not appear over time with this bottle). Palate showed ripe red fruit, silky with moderate to full body mouthfeel into a medium length finish. Mild dusty tannins noted on palate with the finish. Given its' pedigree, I expected a bit more here. Wine was very good and balanced , but at present in my opinion, not exceptional - and more 'Californian' in style than bordeaux-like.
July 18, 2023 - Decanted for an hour at Christophers in SLC. This is luxuriant. Gorgeous floral berry bouquet with hints of tobacco and honey or honeysuckle, very perfumy. Smooth and velvety on the palate, beautiful red fruit, mineral, graphite, nice acidity and soft but appreciable tannins. A beautiful wine to pair with grilled filet, lobster, and garlic fries. 94/95
June 24, 2023 - Elegant nose of integrated baking spice, cocoa, potpourri, and blueberry.. Waves of subtle taste on the palate including blackcurrant, plum, cedar, vanilla, Higher toned and lighter in weight than other Napa cabs of similar caliber. Silky smooth and properly dusty mouthfeel but still slightly austere and a little hot on the nose even after a 2.5 hour decant. I'm a big fan of acidic Italian reds, but the high acid seems slightly out of place on this Napa cab. Very delicious now but this should be better in 5-10 years.
June 24, 2023 - Simply fantastic
June 11, 2023 - Orange edge, saturated garnet otherwise. Flavors of chocolate and mocha, plums, supple and balanced, but a bit foursquare and uninteresting. No idea where this is going but it will hang on for at least another eight years.
April 9, 2023 - Didn’t love it. May have just been the bottle. Flat and just no interesting flavor profile.