Smig you did us SO right with this wine !!! Our last bottle and I seriously wish we had purchased another case. We've had most of the CT coop bottlings from both the PNW as well as CA and this is easily among the best of if not THE best CT bottling thus far. Drinking perfectly, at peak with no detectable fall off yet but also no further upside to additional cellaring - drink now not hold. An amazing QPR wine at the original $28 / bottle acquisition price. Soft, mature, well balanced, smooth, good mouth feel with acid and tannins now completely resolved. Did not hold up as well into day #2. Deep almost garnet color, peripheral bricking present, soft aromatic dark and truly almost vivacious nose of violet, blueberry, blackberry and lavendar with palate of cassis, dark fruit and licorice with more earthy terroir and tar notes now developing on the late palate. Highly recommend this for the next 1-2 years, may start dropping fruit after that.
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Probably the best CT Barrel Project bottle we’ve had. Showed really well. Soft fruits more blue than red. Really smooth - no rough edges. Delightful. We are down to one last bottle of this. Had previously thought 2020 might be as far as it could go, but now I’m not afraid to hold the last bottle for a few more years to save for a vertical tasting.
Color: ruby Nose: cassis, plum, herbs Taste: plum, cassis, dash of vanilla, touch of ash and cough syrup This is easy to sip, well integrated with fruit hanging in, tannins linger a bit. A nice sipper.
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Actually holding up rather well. Maybe not as expressive as a couple years ago but the beauty that maturity brings is on full display. A bit of a fade overall on the 2nd day open. Give it about 30 minutes of air to shine and then enjoy. 5+11+17+8= 91
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My last two bottles of this brilliant wine. Slightly faded fruit but some nice secondary flawors coming to the fore. Decant was 4 hours and it didn't loose any structure over the 3 hours it was consumed. 92-93 points
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The best of the various '10 CT Napa cab bottlings, our 2nd bottle of 4. Drinking perfectly, no further upside in cellaring and need to put this into the drinking rotation. A very good QPR at this point given original CT price - another great Smig winemaking effort. Would recommend at least a short decant, we used aerating filter and drank well 1st night as well as held up very well 2nd night with overnight refrigeration. Soft, mature, well balanced, smooth, good mouth feel and both acid and tannins virtually all gone so would not hold on to this much longer. Deep dark purple color, soft aromatic dark nose of violet, blueberry, blackberry and lavendar with palate of balanced oak, cassis, dark fruit and licorice. Highly recommend for the next 1-2 years, may start dropping fruit after that.
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Notes after four hours open. Fully mature and perhaps in gentle decline compared to 7 months ago, though this was more reminiscent of earlier notes I made. Could be that my exceptional experience last time was lightning in a botttle, but I also don’t expect my final one to perform any better than this so I will enjoy later this year. 4+11+16+8= 89
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Pop n pour. Dark, inky ruby color with a garnet rim. Very light sediment. Profound aroma: cassis, lavender, roses, cocoa, black pepper. Palate still has nice tension and grip, the fruit is fully mature and the tannins create a nice silky texture. Medium-long finish, where some pan fond rises from the bouquet giving a nice little note of creosote and vanilla. Really doing well now and is likely at peak. My remaining two will be consumed within the next year. 5+12+17+8 = 92
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This is drinking quite well right now. Very balanced with decent fruit remaining and smoothness. The finish hangs on for a bit which is nice. Probably time to start popping these wines open. (Decanted via venturi for ~30 mins and then decanter over the next 2 hours)
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Notes after following for about 4 hours open. I do sense a little dropoff in bouquet intensity and persistence on the palate compared to a year ago. The tannins are now softly resolved plus there isn't as much grip and tense acidity as before, making it a nice example of mature Napa Cab but I think I will be consuming my remaining stock over the next 2 years. It sure has been a good drink at the roughly $28 p/btl.
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This wine was drinking great. No detail notes as it was opened during a diner party, but we recall it was smooth, rich, chocolate notes and light dusty tannins. We did not decant this bottle.
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Getting better and better with each new bottle opened. It is still rough and tumble at the pop, but after a few hours of air everything integrates and the nice savory texture of maturity is setting in. For the price paid, these are turning out to be better than cellar defenders and more legitimately, special treats.
Hey, this is really kicking into gear. Give it a good 6 hours of slow-O and enjoy. Maybe what I appreciate most is the even-handed oak regimen, but I also really admire the fruit purity on display and a real expression of the vines, not the winemakers. With each CTBP wine that I open from these early vintages, I like them more and more. 5+12+16+8= 91
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Just getting better and better. Followed over 3 nights but it was generous and shining within 2 hours of opening and drank well into the second night. Fell off slightly on day 3. The integration of oak and tannins over time has helped this out considerably . My estimate is this should drink well for a few more years, however it is ready now. Thanks, Smig.
This bottle impressed me quite a bit more than my first one, some two months ago. The bouquet was consistent from pop to punt without the notes of over-extraction that I sensed the first time. Adequate supply of acidity, smooth and resolving tannins with a lengthy fruit presence complete the palate. More feminine in nature, and a really nice juxtaposition to stereotypical Napa cabs. Not sure if my first bottle was a little off or what, but this deserves a point boost in my tasting notes. 5+11+16+8= 90
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Notes after following for 8 hours open. Color is a dark, tawny ruby. Very slow, big legs with a very light tint. No sediment. At the pop, the nose features a nice overlay of tobacco and mint. Over time that gave way to cherry and eventually, plums and cassis. Medium-light intensity and the longer it aired, the more that a stewed and pruney character developed. The palate echoed this and I preferred the way the wine was drinking within the first two hours open, but it actually probably needs more time in the cellar. 5+11+15+7=88
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Two hour decant. Smooth red fruits. Drinking very nicely now. Tannins are fully integrated. The one word that comes to mind is lovely. Glad I have more!
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Wow. Coming along very nicely. Comparable to a young BV GdL. Great nose of black fruits, red currants, smoke, dust, and hints of sour cherry. On the palate, dense, yet balanced with bright cherry, currant, hint of tobacco, vanilla, spicy oak. Long finish with substantial grip. Drink with a decant or continue to hold.
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Decanted three hours. Beautiful perfume of violets, sour cherry, currants, and cedar. On the palate, rich yet restrained with cherry, black currant, cedar, and spicy oak. Finishes with nice balance. Needs a little more time to integrate. Very well done for the vintage.
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I just recieved my wine on Monday. Smigs recomended I wait until July but if I did open something to go with the Rutherford I decided to open a bottle with my neighbors. We gave it a couple of hours in the decanter and even at this early stage it was very nice. It took some coxing but delivered scents of fresh fruit and anise on the nose with bright red fruit poking through suprisingly soft tannins. Very nice and I look forward to trying the Howell Mountan and the blend in the next couple of months.
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10/14/2021 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smig you did us SO right with this wine !!! Our last bottle and I seriously wish we had purchased another case. We've had most of the CT coop bottlings from both the PNW as well as CA and this is easily among the best of if not THE best CT bottling thus far. Drinking perfectly, at peak with no detectable fall off yet but also no further upside to additional cellaring - drink now not hold. An amazing QPR wine at the original $28 / bottle acquisition price. Soft, mature, well balanced, smooth, good mouth feel with acid and tannins now completely resolved. Did not hold up as well into day #2. Deep almost garnet color, peripheral bricking present, soft aromatic dark and truly almost vivacious nose of violet, blueberry, blackberry and lavendar with palate of cassis, dark fruit and licorice with more earthy terroir and tar notes now developing on the late palate. Highly recommend this for the next 1-2 years, may start dropping fruit after that.
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12/12/2020 - grayfont Likes this wine:
Probably the best CT Barrel Project bottle we’ve had. Showed really well. Soft fruits more blue than red. Really smooth - no rough edges. Delightful. We are down to one last bottle of this. Had previously thought 2020 might be as far as it could go, but now I’m not afraid to hold the last bottle for a few more years to save for a vertical tasting.
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10/12/2020 - smahk Likes this wine:
Color: ruby
Nose: cassis, plum, herbs
Taste: plum, cassis, dash of vanilla, touch of ash and cough syrup
This is easy to sip, well integrated with fruit hanging in, tannins linger a bit. A nice sipper.
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3/5/2020 - fingers Likes this wine: 91 Points
Actually holding up rather well. Maybe not as expressive as a couple years ago but the beauty that maturity brings is on full display. A bit of a fade overall on the 2nd day open. Give it about 30 minutes of air to shine and then enjoy. 5+11+17+8= 91
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5/4/2019 - ClausP wrote:
My last two bottles of this brilliant wine.
Slightly faded fruit but some nice secondary flawors coming to the fore.
Decant was 4 hours and it didn't loose any structure over the 3 hours it was consumed.
92-93 points
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4/10/2019 - fingers wrote:
Slip-sliding away. I think this probably peaked in 2017, but it’s still perfectly fine for my Wednesday night steak dinner
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11/5/2018 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine: 92 Points
The best of the various '10 CT Napa cab bottlings, our 2nd bottle of 4. Drinking perfectly, no further upside in cellaring and need to put this into the drinking rotation. A very good QPR at this point given original CT price - another great Smig winemaking effort. Would recommend at least a short decant, we used aerating filter and drank well 1st night as well as held up very well 2nd night with overnight refrigeration. Soft, mature, well balanced, smooth, good mouth feel and both acid and tannins virtually all gone so would not hold on to this much longer. Deep dark purple color, soft aromatic dark nose of violet, blueberry, blackberry and lavendar with palate of balanced oak, cassis, dark fruit and licorice. Highly recommend for the next 1-2 years, may start dropping fruit after that.
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10/19/2018 - MarkMich wrote: 90 Points
This was fantastic tonight. PnP friends loved it ready to drink.
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3/3/2018 - fingers Likes this wine: 89 Points
Notes after four hours open. Fully mature and perhaps in gentle decline compared to 7 months ago, though this was more reminiscent of earlier notes I made. Could be that my exceptional experience last time was lightning in a botttle, but I also don’t expect my final one to perform any better than this so I will enjoy later this year. 4+11+16+8= 89
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9/24/2017 - krmcgrath wrote: flawed
Tart, fizzy, off. Poured out and opened another. This one is fine.
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8/15/2017 - fingers Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pop n pour. Dark, inky ruby color with a garnet rim. Very light sediment.
Profound aroma: cassis, lavender, roses, cocoa, black pepper. Palate still has nice tension and grip, the fruit is fully mature and the tannins create a nice silky texture. Medium-long finish, where some pan fond rises from the bouquet giving a nice little note of creosote and vanilla. Really doing well now and is likely at peak. My remaining two will be consumed within the next year. 5+12+17+8 = 92
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4/1/2017 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is drinking quite well right now. Very balanced with decent fruit remaining and smoothness. The finish hangs on for a bit which is nice.
Probably time to start popping these wines open. (Decanted via venturi for ~30 mins and then decanter over the next 2 hours)
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3/28/2017 - fingers Likes this wine:
Notes after following for about 4 hours open. I do sense a little dropoff in bouquet intensity and persistence on the palate compared to a year ago. The tannins are now softly resolved plus there isn't as much grip and tense acidity as before, making it a nice example of mature Napa Cab but I think I will be consuming my remaining stock over the next 2 years. It sure has been a good drink at the roughly $28 p/btl.
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7/23/2016 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine was drinking great. No detail notes as it was opened during a diner party, but we recall it was smooth, rich, chocolate notes and light dusty tannins. We did not decant this bottle.
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2/19/2016 - fingers Likes this wine:
Getting better and better with each new bottle opened. It is still rough and tumble at the pop, but after a few hours of air everything integrates and the nice savory texture of maturity is setting in. For the price paid, these are turning out to be better than cellar defenders and more legitimately, special treats.
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10/24/2015 - fingers Likes this wine: 91 Points
Hey, this is really kicking into gear. Give it a good 6 hours of slow-O and enjoy. Maybe what I appreciate most is the even-handed oak regimen, but I also really admire the fruit purity on display and a real expression of the vines, not the winemakers. With each CTBP wine that I open from these early vintages, I like them more and more. 5+12+16+8= 91
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7/24/2015 - fingers Likes this wine:
Just getting better and better. Followed over 3 nights but it was generous and shining within 2 hours of opening and drank well into the second night. Fell off slightly on day 3. The integration of oak and tannins over time has helped this out considerably . My estimate is this should drink well for a few more years, however it is ready now. Thanks, Smig.
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5/30/2015 - fingers Likes this wine: 90 Points
This bottle impressed me quite a bit more than my first one, some two months ago. The bouquet was consistent from pop to punt without the notes of over-extraction that I sensed the first time.
Adequate supply of acidity, smooth and resolving tannins with a lengthy fruit presence complete the palate. More feminine in nature, and a really nice juxtaposition to stereotypical Napa cabs. Not sure if my first bottle was a little off or what, but this deserves a point boost in my tasting notes. 5+11+16+8= 90
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4/11/2015 - dontime wrote:
Surprisingly good. As sophisticated as any big name Napa cab. Nicely layered flavors of dark fruit, coffee and smoke. Props to Smig. If scoring 89-91.
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3/21/2015 - fingers wrote: 88 Points
Notes after following for 8 hours open. Color is a dark, tawny ruby. Very slow, big legs with a very light tint. No sediment.
At the pop, the nose features a nice overlay of tobacco and mint. Over time that gave way to cherry and eventually, plums and cassis. Medium-light intensity and the longer it aired, the more that a stewed and pruney character developed. The palate echoed this and I preferred the way the wine was drinking within the first two hours open, but it actually probably needs more time in the cellar. 5+11+15+7=88
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11/8/2014 - ssimpsonjr wrote: 92 Points
Two hour decant. Smooth red fruits. Drinking very nicely now. Tannins are fully integrated. The one word that comes to mind is lovely. Glad I have more!
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3/28/2014 - GalvezGuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow. Coming along very nicely. Comparable to a young BV GdL. Great nose of black fruits, red currants, smoke, dust, and hints of sour cherry. On the palate, dense, yet balanced with bright cherry, currant, hint of tobacco, vanilla, spicy oak. Long finish with substantial grip. Drink with a decant or continue to hold.
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6/26/2013 - Rob MacKay wrote: 92 Points
Easily the best of the three 2010 CT Barrel Project wines. Good enough that it makes the entire purchase worthwhile.
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4/14/2013 - GalvezGuy wrote:
Decanted three hours. Beautiful perfume of violets, sour cherry, currants, and cedar. On the palate, rich yet restrained with cherry, black currant, cedar, and spicy oak. Finishes with nice balance. Needs a little more time to integrate. Very well done for the vintage.
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3/29/2013 - MarkMich wrote: 91 Points
I just recieved my wine on Monday. Smigs recomended I wait until July but if I did open something to go with the Rutherford I decided to open a bottle with my neighbors. We gave it a couple of hours in the decanter and even at this early stage it was very nice. It took some coxing but delivered scents of fresh fruit and anise on the nose with bright red fruit poking through suprisingly soft tannins. Very nice and I look forward to trying the Howell Mountan and the blend in the next couple of months.
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