October 4, 2023 - Drank for 31st anniversary dinner. Lovely bottle. Fully mature cab. A rich mature plum/dark fruit offering. Totally resolved tannins. Likely better 5 years earlier but a fun bottle. Drink up if you have a bottle.
July 22, 2023 - Had a not great bottle of this a couple of years ago. Was hoping it was an off bottle! (it was)
Beautiful nose of black currant, creme de cassis, charred oak and mint. Medium-bodied, this is fully mature but absolutely delicious at this moment! Drink now.
After dinner: This is still holding up very well, hasn't faded a bit. Some richer black cherry fruit has emerged and that lovely mind and cassis has gotten a bit more vivid. So delicious! Concentration wise 93, delicious-wise 94
Tatiana says 94.
May 30, 2022 - Score - delicious. Rewarding. Worth cellaring. Coior still magenta hued. Smooth, balanced aromas are classic cabernet -w the RIGHT kind of green component-olive not b pepper. Day 2
2/3 bottle. Rich generous texture w Spicey oak (still) and Classic cab flavors. M/F body. Maraschino Cherries, great balance between LUSH and pleasing acidity w fine grip. Just excellent length- balanced w slightly charred tannins - bright - not astringent at all, and echoed fruit and ripe stems. Dont tell me this was destemmed lol.
Pro cellar since release, 60 degree home cellar past 2 years. Ashbury Mkt.
January 30, 2022 - Opened by AllRed. Mildly corked. No score.
January 29, 2022 - Dinner with Friends (Reserve 22, Glen Ellyn): Double decanted off its sediment a little over three hours before service. On first pour there’s dark fruit and leather notes, but also something along the lines cedar, but not quite, almost a musty bark note. It took a while to fully reveal itself, but yes, there is definitely some TCA lurking in there, and it became more evident on the palate before it really showed up in the bouquet.
December 28, 2018 - Dark fruit & Tobacco. Still very enjoyable.
October 27, 2018 - A little seepage on top of the cork, which came out very softly and quietly. The density and structure of the wine are still there, but the vinegary flavors show the impact of the faulty seal.
January 22, 2018 - Tasted together with a range of "petits chateaux" from Bordeaux in 2003 and 2004 and Vik 2009, this came out as one of the best. Mature aromas dominated by tobacco, cedar and warm, earth, but also with some underlying blackcurrant and dried fruits. Surprisingly fresh, smooth tannins, and a nice aftertaste dominated by dried fruit and tobacco. Clearly old, but this has really kept well. Was probably best 10 years ago, but the descent is clearly going slow. The surprise of the tasting (although none placed in in Bordeaux).
December 18, 2016 - 1992 & Older Napa Cabs - Blind - With a Few Ringers (Siggy & Jenny's Place, Mpls, MN): Dark red color, 1cm transition at margin. Drank 1 glass blind over 75 minutes. This blind flight contained the '92 Laurel Glen, '92 Montelena, and an '89 Pichon Baron ringer. This was maybe the biggest surprise of the night. A gorgeous wine that really had everything going for it. The nose was sharp with dark fruits, anise seed, funk and earth, wood and graphite. The palate has very juicy dark fruits, very tasty, dark red berries and some soft blue fruits, sleek tannins and a medium plus body. Perfectly balanced and showing a lot more life to be had. 93+ to 94pts.
December 18, 2016 - Took to buddies 92 & older Cab themed dinner. Popped at the venue and tasted in smaller BDX style glass. This is not the 2nd coming of older Mondavi Reserves but it is a great btl of aged Cali Cab that leans more BDX than CA. In fact it outperformed a big name Paulliac ringer in the flight. Very happy with this btl.