86% Cab Sauv, 8% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot. This wine has a nose of black cherry and blackberry with a slight iodine, soy sauce and tobacco leaf profile. The palate is red fruited for the most part. Black cherry, underripe blackberry, pipe tobacco, black tea, and dried herbs. Finishes still with quite a bit of punchy youthful oak tannin. This wine was not decanted, but likely should have been. I'd recommend a decant for sure as I kind of wonder what I was missing on the back end of this wine as I know I was missing out on something for sure. Not able to rate this wine right now, but I can certainly tell you that this does not have the darker black profile that is common for St Helena fruit. This winery is geographically located in Southern St Helena but I am embarrassed to not know where their "Napa Valley Vineyard" is located. Tastes like Oak Knoll or maybe even Southern Rutherford fruit to me. Quite delicious: never been disappointed by Flora Springs wines!
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I had it upright at 70F for above 3 weeks, in the morning I placed it upright inside the cellar at 55F, opened for 30 min inside the cellar, double decanted for 10 min and drove to the restaurant to consume in a 3 hours span...
The wine is big and bold while kipping a good harmony between fruit, tannin and oak. Plenty of dark notes with a sensational finish. I will give it a solid 93 points but considering the price paid for this magnum I'm giving out a bonus point.
I don't see any need to drink now, I have 3 more bottles which I will be drinking at a peace of one per year or so...
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Auction magnum that cost $94.25 out the door and lasted 3 nights so $31 tasting fee each night, nose of black cherry, red cherry, black berry, and earth, same on the palate, big body, tasty, lovely, mouth filling fruit, at peak, suggest you enjoy immediately as it peaked, note this is a magnum so 750 ml probably needs immediate consumption, long, lingering finish. Both Kathy and I enjoyed it. Photo uploaded.
From an auction magnum, nose of black cherry, red cherry, and earth, same on the palate, big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, at peak-better last night than tonight, suggest you open and enjoy it now, shows very well both nights, long finish. Photo uploaded.
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This wine is spectacular. Among the sea of similar tasting wines that Napa offers, this wine stands out and delivers. At first it come up strong with black cherries and oak. It's balanced and long lasting with a silky feel. With a time, the complexities of the wine start to shine through. I got vanilla, spice, with a smokey toasty finish. This wine can be enjoyed now or drunk 10-15 years from now.
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Sitting down to write this episode of “Wine-Sum-More” I find myself in an unusual position. For some time I’ve been seeing those gargantuan wine companies gobble up winery after winery. Wondering to myself “Which one of my favorites will be next?”
Lately though, I seem to be stumbling (not due to my age) across many more wineries that are, and have been, the lifeblood of various regions (we’re talking mostly California here). Wineries that were started in the heyday of wine production, or even earlier. More surprising to me, is that they are still either owned by the original family or bought by others who have continued a family tradition of ownership. I feel a new dinner composed of “my words” coming soon! (If you need help on that one, it’s just “eating my own words”).
The winery that sparked my revelation this time: Flora Springs.
From their retirement in the mid-1970s and settling in St. Helena, Jerry & Flora Komes were the impetus of what was to be the winery named Flora Springs. Started by their children but with the love of the entire family, they have remained family owned for over 40 years.
Their flagship wine “Trilogy” to be my wine this particular evening. A Bordeaux style blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot and aged for 22 months in 85% French oak and 15% American oak with all the fruit coming from their estate. Opening to a lush bloom of aromas rising from the glass, pausing for a moment to allow the full experience of the wine. That first drop, or maybe a few, assailing my palate with a complexity that showed depth, dark fruit, and true Bordeauxesque quality. Lingering on the finish as I savored each second until the next sip.
So once again I now face a family owned winery that has been producing wines of quality and distinction for many years. For me, that’s a good thing. (No that wasn’t meant to be a plug using Martha’s tag line).
Cheers
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This is my fourth bottle of this wine and my impression has been pretty consistent. I am a fan of Flora Springs and of their Trilogy in particular; however, this years bottling I’ve had trouble warming up to. The nose is quite restrained. On the palate their is a bit of pencil lead, menthol and a bit of a green quality. And the finish is short. I’ve enjoyed so many years of Trilogy, just think this bottling is out of character. Anyone out there that with a similar impression?
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45 minute decant and drank over the next hour. Deep purple with a reddish clear rim. Pretty strong nose of alcohol, blackberries, strawberry leaf and ash. Taste is similar with cedar and some residual bitterness, like unripened and tart dark fruits. Medium tannins and acidity that are wel integrated. I think this needs a few more years in the bottle to reduce the alcohol bite and tart bitterness. Still pretty good now.
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86 cab, 8 malbec, 6 petite verdot. Dark berries, earth, lead pencil, cinnamon, intense palate, blueberry, blackberry, coffee, caramel, petite sirah comes through on the palate.
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Had this at my local wine bar and had them decant it 90 minutes before arrival so I did not get to try as a pnp. Ruby in color with a nice nose. On the palate blackberry, cassis, and a touch of spice.
This is a full bodied wine that was still a bit tight even after the decant. I drank a 2013 Trilogy five months ago which was about as tight but with significantly more potential.
While this was a decent bottle, at this price point I would seek out the 2013 Trilogy or a 2014 that was more accessible.
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Nice visit to Flora Springs for tasting and tours. Purchased their PNV lot last year.
Dark inky/ruby core color. Nose was black fruits, spices. Palate of black cherry, blue fruits, vanilla and oak. Medium weight and finish. Obviously, very young at this point but a lot going on. Should settle with a few years of bottle age. Would wait a few years to rate, my guess is 93+
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Dark purplish ruby red. Tons of baking spices on the nose with black and dark red fruits. Heavy tannins (8/10) and similar notes on the palate. Full bodied and long finish. Drink till 2030.
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Super deep and dark ruby red with an almost black core. Dark baking spices in the front of the nose followed by dark fruits, especially dark dark cherries. With some air there were some purple floral notes and more vanilla. Moderate tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Initially a little tight so we gave it a splash decant. Around an hour or so in, tons of cinnamon and other dark spices. Strong undertone of puréed dark berries and light herbs too. Long body but this needs a little more bottle age. Cannot wait to try it again at the release party next month. Drink till 2028.
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2/15/2023 - mflesh wrote:
86% Cab Sauv, 8% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot. This wine has a nose of black cherry and blackberry with a slight iodine, soy sauce and tobacco leaf profile. The palate is red fruited for the most part. Black cherry, underripe blackberry, pipe tobacco, black tea, and dried herbs. Finishes still with quite a bit of punchy youthful oak tannin. This wine was not decanted, but likely should have been. I'd recommend a decant for sure as I kind of wonder what I was missing on the back end of this wine as I know I was missing out on something for sure. Not able to rate this wine right now, but I can certainly tell you that this does not have the darker black profile that is common for St Helena fruit. This winery is geographically located in Southern St Helena but I am embarrassed to not know where their "Napa Valley Vineyard" is located. Tastes like Oak Knoll or maybe even Southern Rutherford fruit to me. Quite delicious: never been disappointed by Flora Springs wines!
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9/12/2022 - Side Hustle Wino wrote: 93 Points
Really beautiful wine with great fruit, tobacco, minerality.
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1/14/2022 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened it 4 hours before dinner. The wine is dark, bold, firm tannins, a well balanced Napa Cabernet. One of the best QPR out there.
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11/20/2021 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 92 Points
We like this wine, second bottle we have in a magnum format. This time around it was beaten badly by a magnum of 2016 Sheridan L'Orage.
The wine is medium plus, but too much into the sweet side, a little over the top oak, basically a crow pleaser (at least this bottle).
I have 2 more and I'm expecting a better experience like the first one we had a few months ago.
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5/26/2021 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 94 Points
I had it upright at 70F for above 3 weeks, in the morning I placed it upright inside the cellar at 55F, opened for 30 min inside the cellar, double decanted for 10 min and drove to the restaurant to consume in a 3 hours span...
The wine is big and bold while kipping a good harmony between fruit, tannin and oak. Plenty of dark notes with a sensational finish. I will give it a solid 93 points but considering the price paid for this magnum I'm giving out a bonus point.
I don't see any need to drink now, I have 3 more bottles which I will be drinking at a peace of one per year or so...
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2/14/2021 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Auction magnum that cost $94.25 out the door and lasted 3 nights so $31 tasting fee each night, nose of black cherry, red cherry, black berry, and earth, same on the palate, big body, tasty, lovely, mouth filling fruit, at peak, suggest you enjoy immediately as it peaked, note this is a magnum so 750 ml probably needs immediate consumption, long, lingering finish. Both Kathy and I enjoyed it. Photo uploaded.
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1/21/2021 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
From an auction magnum, nose of black cherry, red cherry, and earth, same on the palate, big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, at peak-better last night than tonight, suggest you open and enjoy it now, shows very well both nights, long finish. Photo uploaded.
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6/2/2020 - Glaso da Vino Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine is spectacular. Among the sea of similar tasting wines that Napa offers, this wine stands out and delivers. At first it come up strong with black cherries and oak. It's balanced and long lasting with a silky feel. With a time, the complexities of the wine start to shine through. I got vanilla, spice, with a smokey toasty finish. This wine can be enjoyed now or drunk 10-15 years from now.
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5/30/2020 - cburgner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Post 4-course beer pairing dinner and it did not disappoint. Big flavor with smooth, lingering tannins.
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7/13/2019 - Hi.its.Don.4.Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sitting down to write this episode of “Wine-Sum-More” I find myself in an unusual position. For some time I’ve been seeing those gargantuan wine companies gobble up winery after winery. Wondering to myself “Which one of my favorites will be next?”
Lately though, I seem to be stumbling (not due to my age) across many more wineries that are, and have been, the lifeblood of various regions (we’re talking mostly California here). Wineries that were started in the heyday of wine production, or even earlier. More surprising to me, is that they are still either owned by the original family or bought by others who have continued a family tradition of ownership. I feel a new dinner composed of “my words” coming soon! (If you need help on that one, it’s just “eating my own words”).
The winery that sparked my revelation this time: Flora Springs.
From their retirement in the mid-1970s and settling in St. Helena, Jerry & Flora Komes were the impetus of what was to be the winery named Flora Springs. Started by their children but with the love of the entire family, they have remained family owned for over 40 years.
Their flagship wine “Trilogy” to be my wine this particular evening. A Bordeaux style blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot and aged for 22 months in 85% French oak and 15% American oak with all the fruit coming from their estate. Opening to a lush bloom of aromas rising from the glass, pausing for a moment to allow the full experience of the wine. That first drop, or maybe a few, assailing my palate with a complexity that showed depth, dark fruit, and true Bordeauxesque quality. Lingering on the finish as I savored each second until the next sip.
So once again I now face a family owned winery that has been producing wines of quality and distinction for many years. For me, that’s a good thing. (No that wasn’t meant to be a plug using Martha’s tag line).
Cheers
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4/28/2019 - R2-D2 wrote: 90 Points
Mini-Cellar Diminishment Party & Blind Cabernet Bordeaux Blends (Temecula, CA): My least favorite of the tasting and, overall, the groups third place blend. Splash decanted 8 hrs prior to tasting. Tasted blind I believed to be the Argentinian wine.
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1/28/2019 - Collector1855 wrote: 92 Points
Oaky lovely ripe Napa. Very correct fot this kind of ripe wine, commercial but not over the top.
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1/25/2019 - Kdad Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well balanced. Longer finish then expected.
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12/1/2018 - de36band Does not like this wine: 83 Points
This is my fourth bottle of this wine and my impression has been pretty consistent. I am a fan of Flora Springs and of their Trilogy in particular; however, this years bottling I’ve had trouble warming up to. The nose is quite restrained. On the palate their is a bit of pencil lead, menthol and a bit of a green quality. And the finish is short. I’ve enjoyed so many years of Trilogy, just think this bottling is out of character. Anyone out there that with a similar impression?
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7/7/2018 - smphelps wrote: 89 Points
Predominately Cabernet, dark purple, still a bit young and therefore a touch harsh. Plums, cedar box, blackberry, bread like spices.
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12/27/2017 - RockyII Likes this wine: 91 Points
45 minute decant and drank over the next hour. Deep purple with a reddish clear rim. Pretty strong nose of alcohol, blackberries, strawberry leaf and ash. Taste is similar with cedar and some residual bitterness, like unripened and tart dark fruits. Medium tannins and acidity that are wel integrated. I think this needs a few more years in the bottle to reduce the alcohol bite and tart bitterness. Still pretty good now.
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10/19/2017 - pdev wrote: 95 Points
86 cab, 8 malbec, 6 petite verdot. Dark berries, earth, lead pencil, cinnamon, intense palate, blueberry, blackberry, coffee, caramel, petite sirah comes through on the palate.
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9/30/2017 - AlexHop Likes this wine: 93 Points
Touch of cherry and plum on nose. Very round. Nice tannins. Herbs. Long finish. Seems like it will be nice with a little age.
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8/27/2017 - RayT Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had this at my local wine bar and had them decant it 90 minutes before arrival so I did not get to try as a pnp. Ruby in color with a nice nose. On the palate blackberry, cassis, and a touch of spice.
This is a full bodied wine that was still a bit tight even after the decant. I drank a 2013 Trilogy five months ago which was about as tight but with significantly more potential.
While this was a decent bottle, at this price point I would seek out the 2013 Trilogy or a 2014 that was more accessible.
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8/19/2017 - jonrtodd wrote:
Enjoyed with Ryan and Craig on their first visit to meet Cal
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5/31/2017 - ToddAB wrote:
Scanned w wrong year
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5/4/2017 - walkerjfw wrote:
Nice visit to Flora Springs for tasting and tours. Purchased their PNV lot last year.
Dark inky/ruby core color. Nose was black fruits, spices. Palate of black cherry, blue fruits, vanilla and oak. Medium weight and finish. Obviously, very young at this point but a lot going on. Should settle with a few years of bottle age. Would wait a few years to rate, my guess is 93+
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2/4/2017 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 93 Points
Dark purplish ruby red. Tons of baking spices on the nose with black and dark red fruits. Heavy tannins (8/10) and similar notes on the palate. Full bodied and long finish. Drink till 2030.
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1/7/2017 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 93 Points
Super deep and dark ruby red with an almost black core. Dark baking spices in the front of the nose followed by dark fruits, especially dark dark cherries. With some air there were some purple floral notes and more vanilla. Moderate tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Initially a little tight so we gave it a splash decant. Around an hour or so in, tons of cinnamon and other dark spices. Strong undertone of puréed dark berries and light herbs too. Long body but this needs a little more bottle age. Cannot wait to try it again at the release party next month. Drink till 2028.
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