Last of three bottles, PnP but into a decanter as the bottom of the cork fell in the bottle. Luxardo cherries, anise, more brandy, hint of booze, but in a good way, on the palate, red licorice, red fruit, oak and tannins integrated. More air did not improve, but it did not fall off either. My last bottle.
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This could hit the sweet spot for those, unlike me, who prefer extracted California cabs full of jammy blackberry, plum, licorice. (Would pair well with peanut butter.) Steer clear if you prefer elegance, or earth/terroir, or green notes. This might have the stuffing to excel in a tertiary phase; I'd bet against a smooth road to get there. I didn't score the first two bottles I drank earlier in their lifespan. I seem to recall liking this better in its youth. This giant wine is perhaps a fair value for those who love Cali cab. For me, it's only worth the price for the sentimental value of drinking on my daughter Scarlett's birthdays.
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Dark reddish purple color with a soft nose. On the palate, dark fruits berry, dark cherry, currants. Although at a nice drinking point, it's not quite as energetic as it was with previous bottles consumed. I liked it better on day one 94/94+points- Day 2: 93-94 points. I'll go with a 94 Point score overall and I'm not sure it will get better. I'd drink this wine sooner rather than later.
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I feel like I’m missing something on this one based upon the reviews. Wanted to love it bc I’ve been blown away by some Mike Smith cabs, but this one barely makes a 92 for me. Maybe it’s that I’ve been on a bourbon kick for the past couple of years and only rarely going to my wine cellar? Messed up palate? Dunno. But wish I loved it like I remember loving some of his other bottles.
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This was ready to go on a PnP. But I also think there are several years before this wine starts to decline. Black and blue fruits, anice, and currant. Solid wine.
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Popped, poured and consumed a over 2 days. Dark, purple blue color, with a very nice nose. On the palate, black and blackberry fruit, cassis, black licorice, black olive. A good Cab that's fading? I have more, we'll see. Although a good, it not showing as energetic and electric as has been the case early on. 94+/ 95 Points. I have more, so time will tell where this wine goes.
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This bottle was a very good experience overall, but this vintage has varied in the way that it drinks on different occasions and this bottle is no exception. It was slow to open after a couple of hours of air, hour 3 this bottle began to evolve, slowly moving into a better place, a really good place, drinking well, yet still inhibited, not fully open for business. I my opinion, this is a sturdy, bold Cabernet, built to age nicely with cellaring, however it’s holding back, not as expressive as I’d hope right now. As with the last bottle, dark, inky purple blue color, with pleasant violet aromas. On the palate, dark, ripe black fruits, blackberry, cassis, and black licorice notes. A Cab that is well-made, showing ripe but sleek on the palate. This time was an improvement from the last bottle, but I expect more the next time around. 95+/ 96 Points.
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A pop and pour experience over 2+ days. In the glass, dark, inky purple blue color, with a fragrant nose of violets as with previous bottles. On the palate, blackberry, cassis, anise - black licorice notes and dark, ripe black fruits. A well made Cab that is showing ripe but sleek on the palate. Although a good wine, it doesn't seem to be showing as well as previous bottles. 94 Points.
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I love the energy and flavors of this label, once again Mike Smith knocks it out of the park with this 2014 Reserve Scarlett. After 6 years of development this wine is in a very good spot. The color is a saturated inky purple blue color with a pleasing florals on the nose. On the palate this is an expressive, full bodied wine composed of dark black and blue berry fruit, cream de cassis, dark currants, anise, black tar, nice dark fruit extraction, energy, focus and intensity, a real delight to the palate and senses. 96-97 Points. Delicious!
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My wine of the night out of 4 Napa cabs ranging from $75 - 125 and served blind. This tied with an 03 O'Shaughnessy for overall 1st. 2 hour decant. Deep opaque purple. Smooth expressive nose with notes of blueberries, blackberries, earth, oak and cocoa. Taste is similar and ultra smooth with some additional notes of anise and expresso. Very well rounded chalky tannins and acidity throughout. Full bodied. Has improved a point since my last tasting.
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Blackberry, blueberry, black asphalt, black currant, and dark spice. Medium-bodied weight-wise, but pushing forward with a formidable drive that provides energy and verve. Finishes dry and rocky, with a pulverized obsidian/dust that powders the back end and coats the core fruit. A faint floral note darts in and out, dissipating quickly.
Starting to come into a nice drinking window in terms of accessibility. Tannins provide near-perfect frame at this point as well. 95-96 points this go-around. I'll try to wait another 6-12 months again to keep following this wine over time; glad to have a few bottles.
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2 hour decant. Deep opaque purple. Complex nose with notes of cedar, blackberries, earth, oak, syrup and cocoa. Taste is similar with initial sweetness, a little bitterness at the midpoint but otherwise with very well rounded chalky tannins and acidity throughout. Finishing very dry. Full bodied. Very nice wine but I don’t put it on the quite the same pedestal as many others.
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This wine in on a fantastic journey, getting better with each experience. As I have stated in previous notes, inky purple blue color, great nose and fragrant violets. Blackberry, cassis, black licorice with and the subtle acidity that was noted in the past is barely, if at all noticeable. The fruit is dark, ripe, yet elegant with nice extraction and intensity. This Cab is big yet elegant and getting better. 97-98 Points, leaning toward the higher end.
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Same notes as over a week ago. Finished the bottle. An enjoyable wine from beginning to end. Ok to drink now, but I’ll hold another 6-12 months to see what comes next. No decant needed as far as I’m concerned.
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Previous notes apply. Coravin pour. I’m really loving this wine as I follow it through its evolution. Wonderful black and dark, dark purple core fruit, with black asphalt, tar, obsidian, black soil, black pen ink, and subtle dark spice (clove; anise).
On the first few sips, I could’ve sworn I was drinking an awesome LPV, as the black, gravelly notes were prominent on the attack. With additional air in the glass, the black, molten fruit (and some dark black raspberry) slowly oozed to the front end. Pure and focused, but also carrying a bad ass gothic streak akin to a hot White Zombie chick with a Jack Skellington tattoo on her back.
This is doing a pretty good job of catching up with the phenomenal ‘15 Scarlett Reserve. The ‘14 makes a compelling argument as to why it belongs in the top tier of Napa Cabs that came out of that vintage. 97+ points, with possible upside in another year or two.
I’ll likely polish off the bottle within the next week or so and give it some more air. I have a feeling it’ll show even better than this glass I had tonight. Release QPR on this is insanely good.
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Gorgeous bottle of '14 Napa cabernet! Decanted for 3 hrs, plenty of grippy tannins, but this is a well orchestrated symphony from Rutherford that drinks above its league and has all the components to be even more spectacular in another couple years in bottle - although fantastic right now with a healthy decant. Just know that you're fortunate and will be very happy to have some of these sleeping beauties tucked away in your cellar.
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Next to the 2015 Scarlett Reserve (which was one of the most beautiful monsters I've ever had), the 2014 was left a little in the dust. Again, this is a product of comparison, not any flaw in the wine itself. I think this 2014 will be an absolutely gorgeous wine in another year or two. I'm looking forward to where it is going. 95-96+ points for now.
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popped at the cork at about 11am, immediately recorked. reopened at about 730pm. nose of darnajou and taransaud was apparent. fruit was pretty luscious (jackson). acid, alcohol, fruit, and tannin all very well in balance. weight was very well proportioned. over the course of dinner i wouldn’t say this wine changed too much, which isn’t a bad thing! had it lasted till day 2 i would expect some progresion. overall this is an outstanding, well made wine. to me the highlight was the perfectly integrated tannins and oak was well managed. nevertheless, this is still a fun wine. i think the window for enjoying this wine has now opened, just give a long open window and/or decant.
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I was a bit apprehensive about trying this wine tonight, but why not give it a shot to see where it’s at. In the glass, an inky purple blue color, with a purple grapey nose and fragrant, fresh cut violets. On the palate, blackberry, cassis, black licorice with subtle acidity and a nice, yet delicate cranberry tart note coming through. Nice, elegant ripe fruit concentration and intensity. This Cab is big, yet and ripe and sleek on the palate. This is a gorgeous Cabernet that will improve with age, yet it’s drinking beautifully now with some air. By my standards, I’m likening where this wine is going, it is on a really nice path now, and should reach a lovely destination. The 2014 vintage had me worried, but not anymore, this was a really nice choice tonight. 97+ Points.
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I'm very disappointed. Not in the wine but myself. I read the reviews. I follow Csimm1161's advice quite often and I still opened this up. This never opened up for me over two days.The fruit is there the structure is there it just didn't let up. An iron fist the whole way. No rating for me and I'll bury my other one.
I grew tired of only 3 community notes on cellar so why not open a bottle at a family dinner, and I can become the number 4 on the list. I will say, Csimm1161 you are right, this wine can use some time to age, but with about an hour + of a slow ox this wine is quite tasty now. Without a doubt, I see a couple of points more as bottle age allow the ingredients in this wine to integrate. The color, dominant dark purple that transitions to dark red approaching the meniscus. Nice viscosity and legs running down the sides of the glass with a ripe and fruity nose. On the palate, dark ripe berry fruit, anise, cassis and some tar. I’m around 95-96 on this beauty. I am concluding that the 2014 Cabs are great wines, but there will be nice dividends if we allow them to gain some bottle age.
No formal notes. Had at dinner next to a 2014 Myriad GIII and this was slightly better. Both are very rich and textured, with endless depth and concentration. The Scarlett had a bit more red fruit, was already decently integrated and was just generally outstanding. If you can hold off, it could still use some time in the bottle.
You've been wanting to try the 2014 Scarlett Reserve out...but don't. You'll think that the standard 2014 Scarlett isn't drinking too bad considering it's youth, so why not give the Reserve a try...but don't. You'll think you can mathematically conjure up a slow O2 regimen with a final few hours of a decant that will give you an accurate window into the life of this wine...but you won't...
Punchline: Don't touch this until 2018/2019+. Normally I don't like to forecast out too far in advance with these sorts of wines, but this little monster is going to need some stretchy time to unwind a bit. Never astringent; never biting; never off-putting. Just SUPER young and bound-up.
PnP with some linear notes of black and purple core fruit, but a big dose of fuzzy and furry textures numbing the palate quite a bit. Three hours in the decanter at 54 degrees helped to open up a few more discernible fruit flavors, but still the bear paw-like stroke across the palate persisted.
Five hours in the decanter yielded some red and black currant and red and black licorice (flavors I more associate with Scarlett in general), but also a little liqueur-like sweetness (also something I have associated with the young wonky phase that a Scarlett can have).
By hour nine we started getting into some of the good stuff. The sweetness and overt liqueur aspects faded, replaced with some nice black raspberry, more red and black licorice, and traces of black cherry syrup. Not surprisingly, the final sips were the best.
Will this be great? Yes. Will this be epic? Not sure yet. The power and intensity of the 2013 vintage is going to make this 2014 have to work pretty hard to get to that sort of intensity. This wine truly has yet to show itself, but I'm very, very intrigued. Good 'ol fashioned integration in the bottle is the only thing this needs (in my humble opinion). The stuffing is absolutely there, and for those who can be patient (to which I am never fully able), I think they will be rewarded.
95-96+ points for the time-being. But unless you feel like spending $125 on a one night science project, I suggest folks wait for another 18 months minimum.
11/10/2023 - Geaux Tigers wrote: 93 Points
Last of three bottles, PnP but into a decanter as the bottom of the cork fell in the bottle. Luxardo cherries, anise, more brandy, hint of booze, but in a good way, on the palate, red licorice, red fruit, oak and tannins integrated. More air did not improve, but it did not fall off either. My last bottle.
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5/26/2023 - Montesquieu wrote: 93 Points
This could hit the sweet spot for those, unlike me, who prefer extracted California cabs full of jammy blackberry, plum, licorice. (Would pair well with peanut butter.) Steer clear if you prefer elegance, or earth/terroir, or green notes. This might have the stuffing to excel in a tertiary phase; I'd bet against a smooth road to get there. I didn't score the first two bottles I drank earlier in their lifespan. I seem to recall liking this better in its youth. This giant wine is perhaps a fair value for those who love Cali cab. For me, it's only worth the price for the sentimental value of drinking on my daughter Scarlett's birthdays.
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5/20/2023 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark reddish purple color with a soft nose. On the palate, dark fruits berry, dark cherry, currants. Although at a nice drinking point, it's not quite as energetic as it was with previous bottles consumed. I liked it better on day one 94/94+points- Day 2: 93-94 points. I'll go with a 94 Point score overall and I'm not sure it will get better. I'd drink this wine sooner rather than later.
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5/23/2022 - dlstrauss wrote: 92 Points
I feel like I’m missing something on this one based upon the reviews. Wanted to love it bc I’ve been blown away by some Mike Smith cabs, but this one barely makes a 92 for me. Maybe it’s that I’ve been on a bourbon kick for the past couple of years and only rarely going to my wine cellar? Messed up palate? Dunno. But wish I loved it like I remember loving some of his other bottles.
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2/14/2022 - TastesGoodToMe wrote: 94 Points
This was ready to go on a PnP. But I also think there are several years before this wine starts to decline. Black and blue fruits, anice, and currant. Solid wine.
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2/8/2022 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 94 Points
Popped, poured and consumed a over 2 days. Dark, purple blue color, with a very nice nose. On the palate, black and blackberry fruit, cassis, black licorice, black olive. A good Cab that's fading? I have more, we'll see. Although a good, it not showing as energetic and electric as has been the case early on. 94+/ 95 Points. I have more, so time will tell where this wine goes.
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5/16/2021 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 96 Points
This bottle was a very good experience overall, but this vintage has varied in the way that it drinks on different occasions and this bottle is no exception. It was slow to open after a couple of hours of air, hour 3 this bottle began to evolve, slowly moving into a better place, a really good place, drinking well, yet still inhibited, not fully open for business. I my opinion, this is a sturdy, bold Cabernet, built to age nicely with cellaring, however it’s holding back, not as expressive as I’d hope right now. As with the last bottle, dark, inky purple blue color, with pleasant violet aromas. On the palate, dark, ripe black fruits, blackberry, cassis, and black licorice notes. A Cab that is well-made, showing ripe but sleek on the palate. This time was an improvement from the last bottle, but I expect more the next time around. 95+/ 96 Points.
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4/5/2021 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 94 Points
A pop and pour experience over 2+ days. In the glass, dark, inky purple blue color, with a fragrant nose of violets as with previous bottles. On the palate, blackberry, cassis, anise - black licorice notes and dark, ripe black fruits. A well made Cab that is showing ripe but sleek on the palate. Although a good wine, it doesn't seem to be showing as well as previous bottles. 94 Points.
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1/16/2021 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine: 94 Points
PnP and ready to go. Red fruit dominant. Went quick. Not overly complex, nothing simple, but complimentary to a steak dinner!
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7/19/2020 - Yack Man wrote: 97 Points
I love the energy and flavors of this label, once again Mike Smith knocks it out of the park with this 2014 Reserve Scarlett. After 6 years of development this wine is in a very good spot. The color is a saturated inky purple blue color with a pleasing florals on the nose. On the palate this is an expressive, full bodied wine composed of dark black and blue berry fruit, cream de cassis, dark currants, anise, black tar, nice dark fruit extraction, energy, focus and intensity, a real delight to the palate and senses. 96-97 Points. Delicious!
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11/2/2019 - RockyII Likes this wine: 95 Points
My wine of the night out of 4 Napa cabs ranging from $75 - 125 and served blind. This tied with an 03 O'Shaughnessy for overall 1st. 2 hour decant. Deep opaque purple. Smooth expressive nose with notes of blueberries, blackberries, earth, oak and cocoa. Taste is similar and ultra smooth with some additional notes of anise and expresso. Very well rounded chalky tannins and acidity throughout. Full bodied. Has improved a point since my last tasting.
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4/14/2019 - TastesGoodToMe Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted an hour. Still tight. Big wine, and great flavor profile. I will give this another year (or two) before revisiting.
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2/10/2019 - csimm wrote: 96 Points
Blackberry, blueberry, black asphalt, black currant, and dark spice. Medium-bodied weight-wise, but pushing forward with a formidable drive that provides energy and verve. Finishes dry and rocky, with a pulverized obsidian/dust that powders the back end and coats the core fruit. A faint floral note darts in and out, dissipating quickly.
Starting to come into a nice drinking window in terms of accessibility. Tannins provide near-perfect frame at this point as well. 95-96 points this go-around. I'll try to wait another 6-12 months again to keep following this wine over time; glad to have a few bottles.
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9/22/2018 - RockyII Likes this wine: 94 Points
2 hour decant. Deep opaque purple. Complex nose with notes of cedar, blackberries, earth, oak, syrup and cocoa. Taste is similar with initial sweetness, a little bitterness at the midpoint but otherwise with very well rounded chalky tannins and acidity throughout. Finishing very dry. Full bodied. Very nice wine but I don’t put it on the quite the same pedestal as many others.
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9/2/2018 - Mapleglo330 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Hard to add more descriptors than what other reviewers have. My best description is that it is Scarlett ++. I will let my others sit a couple years.
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7/6/2018 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 98 Points
This wine in on a fantastic journey, getting better with each experience. As I have stated in previous notes, inky purple blue color, great nose and fragrant violets. Blackberry, cassis, black licorice with and the subtle acidity that was noted in the past is barely, if at all noticeable. The fruit is dark, ripe, yet elegant with nice extraction and intensity. This Cab is big yet elegant and getting better. 97-98 Points, leaning toward the higher end.
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5/13/2018 - Yack Man wrote: 97 Points
Great wine, teetering on 96-97 points, smooth and really coming together nicely.
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4/9/2018 - csimm wrote:
Same notes as over a week ago. Finished the bottle. An enjoyable wine from beginning to end. Ok to drink now, but I’ll hold another 6-12 months to see what comes next. No decant needed as far as I’m concerned.
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3/31/2018 - csimm wrote: 97 Points
Previous notes apply. Coravin pour. I’m really loving this wine as I follow it through its evolution. Wonderful black and dark, dark purple core fruit, with black asphalt, tar, obsidian, black soil, black pen ink, and subtle dark spice (clove; anise).
On the first few sips, I could’ve sworn I was drinking an awesome LPV, as the black, gravelly notes were prominent on the attack. With additional air in the glass, the black, molten fruit (and some dark black raspberry) slowly oozed to the front end. Pure and focused, but also carrying a bad ass gothic streak akin to a hot White Zombie chick with a Jack Skellington tattoo on her back.
This is doing a pretty good job of catching up with the phenomenal ‘15 Scarlett Reserve. The ‘14 makes a compelling argument as to why it belongs in the top tier of Napa Cabs that came out of that vintage. 97+ points, with possible upside in another year or two.
I’ll likely polish off the bottle within the next week or so and give it some more air. I have a feeling it’ll show even better than this glass I had tonight. Release QPR on this is insanely good.
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2/15/2018 - City Squirrel Likes this wine: 97 Points
Gorgeous bottle of '14 Napa cabernet! Decanted for 3 hrs, plenty of grippy tannins, but this is a well orchestrated symphony from Rutherford that drinks above its league and has all the components to be even more spectacular in another couple years in bottle - although fantastic right now with a healthy decant. Just know that you're fortunate and will be very happy to have some of these sleeping beauties tucked away in your cellar.
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1/2/2018 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 97 Points
Quite coming along nicely, this wine is good right now. 96-97 points with 1/2 a bottle remaining.
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11/4/2017 - csimm wrote: 96 Points
Mike Smith Tasting and Wine Dinner - Carter, Myriad, Scarlett, Quivet, Becklyn, Patine... & a SQN for fun! (San Francisco): Much smoother than when I had this last year. Yet, I would leave this alone for another year or so (2019 optimally). Black fruited to the core, with some black cherry, black currant, asphalt, and vanilla-tinged alcohol flavors.
Next to the 2015 Scarlett Reserve (which was one of the most beautiful monsters I've ever had), the 2014 was left a little in the dust. Again, this is a product of comparison, not any flaw in the wine itself. I think this 2014 will be an absolutely gorgeous wine in another year or two. I'm looking forward to where it is going. 95-96+ points for now.
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11/4/2017 - Crawfordesquire Likes this wine: 97 Points
popped at the cork at about 11am, immediately recorked. reopened at about 730pm.
nose of darnajou and taransaud was apparent. fruit was pretty luscious (jackson). acid, alcohol, fruit, and tannin all very well in balance. weight was very well proportioned. over the course of dinner i wouldn’t say this wine changed too much, which isn’t a bad thing! had it lasted till day 2 i would expect some progresion.
overall this is an outstanding, well made wine. to me the highlight was the perfectly integrated tannins and oak was well managed. nevertheless, this is still a fun wine.
i think the window for enjoying this wine has now opened, just give a long open window and/or decant.
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8/18/2017 - Yack Man wrote: 97 Points
I was a bit apprehensive about trying this wine tonight, but why not give it a shot to see where it’s at. In the glass, an inky purple blue color, with a purple grapey nose and fragrant, fresh cut violets. On the palate, blackberry, cassis, black licorice with subtle acidity and a nice, yet delicate cranberry tart note coming through. Nice, elegant ripe fruit concentration and intensity. This Cab is big, yet and ripe and sleek on the palate. This is a gorgeous Cabernet that will improve with age, yet it’s drinking beautifully now with some air. By my standards, I’m likening where this wine is going, it is on a really nice path now, and should reach a lovely destination. The 2014 vintage had me worried, but not anymore, this was a really nice choice tonight. 97+ Points.
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5/30/2017 - WineForRob wrote:
I'm very disappointed. Not in the wine but myself. I read the reviews. I follow Csimm1161's advice quite often and I still opened this up. This never opened up for me over two days.The fruit is there the structure is there it just didn't let up. An iron fist the whole way. No rating for me and I'll bury my other one.
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5/7/2017 - Yack Man wrote: 95 Points
I grew tired of only 3 community notes on cellar so why not open a bottle at a family dinner, and I can become the number 4 on the list. I will say, Csimm1161 you are right, this wine can use some time to age, but with about an hour + of a slow ox this wine is quite tasty now. Without a doubt, I see a couple of points more as bottle age allow the ingredients in this wine to integrate. The color, dominant dark purple that transitions to dark red approaching the meniscus. Nice viscosity and legs running down the sides of the glass with a ripe and fruity nose. On the palate, dark ripe berry fruit, anise, cassis and some tar. I’m around 95-96 on this beauty. I am concluding that the 2014 Cabs are great wines, but there will be nice dividends if we allow them to gain some bottle age.
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12/10/2016 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 96 Points
No formal notes. Had at dinner next to a 2014 Myriad GIII and this was slightly better. Both are very rich and textured, with endless depth and concentration. The Scarlett had a bit more red fruit, was already decently integrated and was just generally outstanding. If you can hold off, it could still use some time in the bottle.
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11/13/2016 - csimm wrote: 96 Points
You've been wanting to try the 2014 Scarlett Reserve out...but don't. You'll think that the standard 2014 Scarlett isn't drinking too bad considering it's youth, so why not give the Reserve a try...but don't. You'll think you can mathematically conjure up a slow O2 regimen with a final few hours of a decant that will give you an accurate window into the life of this wine...but you won't...
Punchline: Don't touch this until 2018/2019+. Normally I don't like to forecast out too far in advance with these sorts of wines, but this little monster is going to need some stretchy time to unwind a bit. Never astringent; never biting; never off-putting. Just SUPER young and bound-up.
PnP with some linear notes of black and purple core fruit, but a big dose of fuzzy and furry textures numbing the palate quite a bit. Three hours in the decanter at 54 degrees helped to open up a few more discernible fruit flavors, but still the bear paw-like stroke across the palate persisted.
Five hours in the decanter yielded some red and black currant and red and black licorice (flavors I more associate with Scarlett in general), but also a little liqueur-like sweetness (also something I have associated with the young wonky phase that a Scarlett can have).
By hour nine we started getting into some of the good stuff. The sweetness and overt liqueur aspects faded, replaced with some nice black raspberry, more red and black licorice, and traces of black cherry syrup. Not surprisingly, the final sips were the best.
Will this be great? Yes. Will this be epic? Not sure yet. The power and intensity of the 2013 vintage is going to make this 2014 have to work pretty hard to get to that sort of intensity. This wine truly has yet to show itself, but I'm very, very intrigued. Good 'ol fashioned integration in the bottle is the only thing this needs (in my humble opinion). The stuffing is absolutely there, and for those who can be patient (to which I am never fully able), I think they will be rewarded.
95-96+ points for the time-being. But unless you feel like spending $125 on a one night science project, I suggest folks wait for another 18 months minimum.
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