December 15, 2018 - Gentle nose of blue fruits & berries. Soft mouth feel but not flabby. Drink now.
November 10, 2015 - With Vanessa and Duncan at Tra Vigna
December 25, 2013 - currant, plum, & raisin aromas; nose held up well even after 11 years. on the tongue is where it shows past peak, lacking structure though not jammy. slightly bitter attack with quick fade; only left with mouth warmth & hint of raisin after a minute. if not for the disintegrating structure, score would have been low 90s; 2011 was probably last best-enjoyed year.
March 22, 2013 - Did not stand the test of time. Tanins spent and on the verge of bricking. So, the rest of the family liked it. I though it was flabby without character or complexity. I would have gone 82 but family pressure was to go higher. I see a LOT of bottles in cellars. Drink it now before you have to pour down the drain.
September 3, 2012 - Still has it body and kick! good cab from Franciscian even at this date.
June 4, 2011 - Past peak drinking window. Flavors are vegetal and the wine has lost most of its structure due to the lack of tannins. Would have been good 3-4 years ago.
May 16, 2011 - I was a little concerned we kept this one too long based on the website's drinking recommendation to drink by 2009, however, it tasted great. Needed about 45 minutes in decanter and opened up quite nicely. Hearty and goes perfectly with a nice steak.
The wine looks Crimson colored.
The legs are Medium.
The body is Medium/Full.
The wine is textured Oily.
The wine finishes Medium.
January 23, 2011 - In agreement w- b Marshall, the opening aromas were a little chemical laden although the initial flavor was a well balanced wine. We decanted for an hour & served w/ grilled steak. Fairly light body w/ Menthol/ plum and wet earth. Acid is still prevalent but, oak is restrained. A very good wine esp w/ grilled steak.
January 22, 2011 - Nice bottle, still in good shape. Dry, some strong tannins still evident. Dark fruit flavor, old school, but nothing that sticks out. Better with food particularly red meats. Enjoyed with a porterhouse. Tannins seems to smooth out with food for a decent finish. Alcohol is welll controlled. If the fruit wasn't so muted, probably due to age, could have had a higher score.
January 9, 2011 - Found this to be in amazingly good shape for an inexpensive Napa Cab. Very nice nose has developed many secondary nuances, including plenty of dark black currants, cedar, leather, eucalyptus, and smokey oak. Medium to full bodied palate is chalked full of dark fruits, including black cherry, black raspberry, plums, with mint, menthol and mineral/earth notes. Tannins still hanging with good acidity. Finish lingers 30+ seconds. By far the highest rating I have ever given such an inexpensive wine. Bravo.