An outstanding Rutherford wine. I love Rutherford for its dusty mouthfeel wines and this wine frankly shines as it contrasts that mouthfeel with a fruit forward blackberry and cassis flavor profile at the start. Finish reveals the dusty character and makes this a winner. This is punching way above its weight and for that reason for me it gets a 93 +.
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This bottle had a little funk to it. They say every 12 bottle's, you can sometimes Get a bad one. This was still drinkable, but I noticed on the cork it was bleed through Half way. Anyways. On to the next one,
Cheers
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Dark fruit and chocolate. Very good wine at an excellent price point. The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry and black currant (cassis). It tastes like blackberry and black currant (cassis). The body is full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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2017 Scarlett is a good wine· This Cabernet is ageing nicely and should continue to do so. As a pop and pour wine, l notice prominent acidity which should bode well for the aging process. The acidity has backed off with air and is a lot smoother on day 2. Dark fruits, black cherry, blue and blackberry along with ceder aromas. This Scarlett is on a good path. 92+ 93 Points.
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red raspberry, black cherry, and cassis on the nose and palate. tremendous fruit. this is hedonistic and unapologetically fruit forward. a bit of dust or graphite. very primary. heat is in check.
....and then you swallow....and the acid and tannins wrap your mouth in a velvety dance that slingshots you into the finish. will this gain some complexity with time? i'm not sure, but i'm eager to find out.
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, blueberry and passion fruit. The body is full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
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one of my winner's of 2020/21. This 2017 vintage will not let you down. Great fruit. Opens nicely. I feel like drinking this today is the way to go. Cheers
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Day 1 felt pretty light, not much layering, however, day 2 showed its real colors showing its medium full body with ripen red berries, touches of oak with black berry jam underneath ending with a long finish. No doubt this wine will improve with some cellaring, however, very enjoyable right now with 2-3 hours decanting or overnight opening to allow some O2 do its work on this youngster. Special mention to its beautiful label.
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This wine is better tonight than the last bottle. 92-93 Points and slightly acidic, but I think this one will improve within a short time. This wine tends to ebb and flow in it’s development.
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2nd day notes and is noticeably less sweet (which is good). Big dark fruit punch with some maple syrup sweetness but kept in check (moreso next day) with ash and coal notes at the mid palate and finish. Pretty high acidity and medium low tannins. Recommend a long decant. About 91 ✨ btw, $42 price on Vivino is a great price!
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This vintage tends to vary in my experience. Ironically, I like it better than the 2016 but the wine tends to vary by a point or two from bottle to bottle. Last night, despite giving it air for more than 3 hours, although good, it just didn't really open up entirely. The profile remains the same but this bottle was a bit inhibited, good but just not as expressive as anticipated.
Get together with friends. Dark red and black fruit - dark cherry, currants, and a little blackberry. Fruit forward and fairly rich/sweet. Really smooth with a nice purity but a lighter profile than expected - medium body. Nice vibrant/rich flavors of dark berries, some spice, and a little graphite component. Decent finish but not overly long nor deep. Popped/poured but drank out of a decanter for a couple hours. Improved a little with time. Drank next to a 2017 Becklyn Napa cab and 2017 Quivet Kenefick Ranch cab which were better - bigger/fuller fruit and more expressive. Nonetheless, the Scarlett is still one of the better 2017 cabs that I’ve had for the money. In my opinion, 92 for the Scarlett (in line with 92 rating from Dunnuck) and 94 for the Becklyn and Quivet Kenefick Ranch cabs. 97% cab and 3% petit verdot.
The wine trends on the sweet side, so if that's not preferd or desirable, I wouldn't recommend it.... l really like it. Deep dark crimson color, with a decent nose. On the palate, an explosion of rich, ripe dark fruits, dark cherry, dark red raspberry, sweet currants, and extraction that is progressively maturing. Give it some air, (slow ox) and it will shine. This Cab is opulent, full bodied and is on a good path which I didn't expect for a 2017. Simply put, this wine is delicious! I have enjoyed several bottles of this vintage so l probably won't say much more on it, unless there's greater improvement, time will tell.
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2017 may have been have been a challenging vintage overall, not with the Becklyn Napa valley Cabernet, this wine is rock solid and getting better, even over a small window of time. I really like it.
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Wow, this wine has risen from the ashes in a good way showing much better than the last time around. The wine has picked up some weight and the extraction is more evident. Nice berry fruit, black cherry and dark currants. The only negative is that it is slightly sweet however, it's another surprisingly good 2017 Cabernet. 93+ Points on an upward trajectory. It is amazing how this wine has come around.
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A typical big Mike wine! I found this much more approachable than the ‘17 Myriad cab, but it probably won’t compete with the character of the Myriad come 2 years. Either way, very good. Loads of dark fruit; it’s heavy and intense, but balanced. Enjoyable from the nose to the long finish!
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Decided to pop a bottle because this is one of the few 2017 cabs from Mike Smith that is still readily available - thinking about buying more to lay down but wanted to get an idea of the vintage first. Dark ruby/purple fruit - currants/cassis, blackberry, dark cherry, and a little blueberry. Gave it a three hour decant hoping that I could coax it into a decent drinking point but this vintage needs time to open-up - it came across a little closed. In my opinion, somewhat reminiscent of the 2016 vintage which also needs time - unlike the 2013, 2014, and 2015 vintages which were quite approachable really young. I’ll refrain from rating this bottle because it clearly needs time. I’m going to lay my other bottles down for a year; however, according to the winemaker, allow two to three years to mellow out or enjoy it in its prime five to ten years out. 97% cab and 3% petit verdot.
Dark red crison color with wafts of purple violets on the nose. On the palate, medium to good berry fruit extraction (black and blueberries) and soft tannins. This wine is good but it’s not ready, l would give it more time to develop. 90+ - 91 points currently and I’m confident that it will improve.
Mike Smith 2018s & 2017s - Myriad, Quivet, Scarlett, Becklyn, and others (Saint Helena): Purple and red fruit. Initially an unassuming and straightforward delivery, but the Scarlett picks up some weight mid-way through and pushes its fruity character on through the medium finish. A much more reserved and nimble style when compared to the crazy-expressive 2018. A night and day comparison in that regard. Drink the Scarlett now if you feel like a fun and fruity beverage, or wait a year or two in hopes of gleaning a little more complexity and weight. 92-93 points.
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Huge noses on all of them, especially the Scarlett and GIII. All wines were obviously teeming with wild, energetic flavors. Lots of fruit; deep, opaque crimson purple colors in the glass; excellent viscosity; huge mouthfeel.
Clearly a lot to sort out, but well on their ways to their respective successes in the coming years. And most importantly, absolutely no detectable smoke taint whatsoever on the lots picked during/post wildfires.
10/16/2023 - swade wrote: 91 Points
Dark fruit. I thought this still had some grip and could benefit from some more time. 91
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9/1/2023 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very approachable wine. Drinkable today. Dont wait on this one. Cheers
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8/3/2023 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big fruit.. Needs an hour decant at least. Cheers
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6/23/2023 - tomoem Likes this wine: 93 Points
An outstanding Rutherford wine. I love Rutherford for its dusty mouthfeel wines and this wine frankly shines as it contrasts that mouthfeel with a fruit forward blackberry and cassis flavor profile at the start. Finish reveals the dusty character and makes this a winner. This is punching way above its weight and for that reason for me it gets a 93 +.
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11/21/2022 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
A really good wine ready for today!!! opens up very nice. I would still decant for a few hours
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6/19/2022 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
A nice wine. The drink dates, I would say now - 2025. Overall a good well balanced wine
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4/29/2022 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 90 Points
This bottle had a little funk to it. They say every 12 bottle's, you can sometimes Get a bad one. This was still drinkable, but I noticed on the cork it was bleed through Half way. Anyways. On to the next one,
Cheers
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11/22/2021 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a very good wine and an underappreciated vintage. 93+ Points.
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5/10/2021 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really good fruit. opens uo nicely, and is ready to drink today. Cheers
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4/23/2021 - Ricky C Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark fruit and chocolate. Very good wine at an excellent price point.
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry and black currant (cassis).
It tastes like blackberry and black currant (cassis). The body is full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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4/12/2021 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 93 Points
2017 Scarlett is a good wine· This Cabernet is ageing nicely and should continue to do so. As a pop and pour wine, l notice prominent acidity which should bode well for the aging process. The acidity has backed off with air and is a lot smoother on day 2. Dark fruits, black cherry, blue and blackberry along with ceder aromas. This Scarlett is on a good path. 92+ 93 Points.
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2/9/2021 - WagesOfZin wrote: 94 Points
decanted for 2 hours prior to consumption
red raspberry, black cherry, and cassis on the nose and palate. tremendous fruit. this is hedonistic and unapologetically fruit forward. a bit of dust or graphite. very primary. heat is in check.
....and then you swallow....and the acid and tannins wrap your mouth in a velvety dance that slingshots you into the finish. will this gain some complexity with time? i'm not sure, but i'm eager to find out.
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2/6/2021 - Pike_Fisherman Likes this wine: 94 Points
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, blueberry and passion fruit. The body is full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
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1/26/2021 - noni15 Likes this wine: 93 Points
As my previous notes
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1/19/2021 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
one of my winner's of 2020/21. This 2017 vintage will not let you down. Great fruit. Opens nicely. I feel like drinking this today is the way to go. Cheers
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12/30/2020 - noni15 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Day 1: 92 pts.
Day 2: 93 pts.
Day 1 felt pretty light, not much layering, however, day 2 showed its real colors showing its medium full body with ripen red berries, touches of oak with black berry jam underneath ending with a long finish. No doubt this wine will improve with some cellaring, however, very enjoyable right now with 2-3 hours decanting or overnight opening to allow some O2 do its work on this youngster. Special mention to its beautiful label.
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11/17/2020 - Yack Man wrote: 93 Points
This wine is better tonight than the last bottle. 92-93 Points and slightly acidic, but I think this one will improve within a short time. This wine tends to ebb and flow in it’s development.
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11/8/2020 - RockyII Likes this wine: 91 Points
2nd day notes and is noticeably less sweet (which is good). Big dark fruit punch with some maple syrup sweetness but kept in check (moreso next day) with ash and coal notes at the mid palate and finish. Pretty high acidity and medium low tannins. Recommend a long decant. About 91 ✨ btw, $42 price on Vivino is a great price!
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10/30/2020 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 92 Points
This vintage tends to vary in my experience. Ironically, I like it better than the 2016 but the wine tends to vary by a point or two from bottle to bottle. Last night, despite giving it air for more than 3 hours, although good, it just didn't really open up entirely. The profile remains the same but this bottle was a bit inhibited, good but just not as expressive as anticipated.
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10/15/2020 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 94 Points
this is a top 3 wine for me in 2020. Drank over 2 days. opens up nicely.
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10/10/2020 - greg@newsomehh.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
a great wine for the $$ Mike Smith is fabulous
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9/18/2020 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fuck. This shit is good. !!!!
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7/11/2020 - Badmonkey wrote: 92 Points
Get together with friends. Dark red and black fruit - dark cherry, currants, and a little blackberry. Fruit forward and fairly rich/sweet. Really smooth with a nice purity but a lighter profile than expected - medium body. Nice vibrant/rich flavors of dark berries, some spice, and a little graphite component. Decent finish but not overly long nor deep. Popped/poured but drank out of a decanter for a couple hours. Improved a little with time. Drank next to a 2017 Becklyn Napa cab and 2017 Quivet Kenefick Ranch cab which were better - bigger/fuller fruit and more expressive. Nonetheless, the Scarlett is still one of the better 2017 cabs that I’ve had for the money. In my opinion, 92 for the Scarlett (in line with 92 rating from Dunnuck) and 94 for the Becklyn and Quivet Kenefick Ranch cabs. 97% cab and 3% petit verdot.
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7/2/2020 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 94 Points
The wine trends on the sweet side, so if that's not preferd or desirable, I wouldn't recommend it.... l really like it. Deep dark crimson color, with a decent nose. On the palate, an explosion of rich, ripe dark fruits, dark cherry, dark red raspberry, sweet currants, and extraction that is progressively maturing. Give it some air, (slow ox) and it will shine. This Cab is opulent, full bodied and is on a good path which I didn't expect for a 2017. Simply put, this wine is delicious! I have enjoyed several bottles of this vintage so l probably won't say much more on it, unless there's greater improvement, time will tell.
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5/15/2020 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 93 Points
93+ 94 Points
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4/12/2020 - greekwineaux wrote: 90 Points
For those that like a sweeter cab. I like the fruit to be well represented, but not to this degree.
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3/25/2020 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very solid, picking up weight and substance over several months. This wine is developing nicely. See previous notes.
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3/18/2020 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 94 Points
2017 may have been have been a challenging vintage overall, not with the Becklyn Napa valley Cabernet, this wine is rock solid and getting better, even over a small window of time. I really like it.
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3/10/2020 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow, this wine has risen from the ashes in a good way showing much better than the last time around. The wine has picked up some weight and the extraction is more evident. Nice berry fruit, black cherry and dark currants. The only negative is that it is slightly sweet however, it's another surprisingly good 2017 Cabernet. 93+ Points on an upward trajectory. It is amazing how this wine has come around.
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3/6/2020 - One Percenter wrote: 88 Points
Average wine at best.
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1/25/2020 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
For the first time. Really good. Want to buy more
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12/5/2019 - bplant13 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A typical big Mike wine! I found this much more approachable than the ‘17 Myriad cab, but it probably won’t compete with the character of the Myriad come 2 years. Either way, very good. Loads of dark fruit; it’s heavy and intense, but balanced. Enjoyable from the nose to the long finish!
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11/25/2019 - Badmonkey wrote:
Decided to pop a bottle because this is one of the few 2017 cabs from Mike Smith that is still readily available - thinking about buying more to lay down but wanted to get an idea of the vintage first. Dark ruby/purple fruit - currants/cassis, blackberry, dark cherry, and a little blueberry. Gave it a three hour decant hoping that I could coax it into a decent drinking point but this vintage needs time to open-up - it came across a little closed. In my opinion, somewhat reminiscent of the 2016 vintage which also needs time - unlike the 2013, 2014, and 2015 vintages which were quite approachable really young. I’ll refrain from rating this bottle because it clearly needs time. I’m going to lay my other bottles down for a year; however, according to the winemaker, allow two to three years to mellow out or enjoy it in its prime five to ten years out. 97% cab and 3% petit verdot.
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10/23/2019 - Yack Man wrote: 91 Points
Dark red crison color with wafts of purple violets on the nose. On the palate, medium to good berry fruit extraction (black and blueberries) and soft tannins. This wine is good but it’s not ready, l would give it more time to develop. 90+ - 91 points currently and I’m confident that it will improve.
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8/24/2019 - csimm wrote: 93 Points
Mike Smith 2018s & 2017s - Myriad, Quivet, Scarlett, Becklyn, and others (Saint Helena): Purple and red fruit. Initially an unassuming and straightforward delivery, but the Scarlett picks up some weight mid-way through and pushes its fruity character on through the medium finish. A much more reserved and nimble style when compared to the crazy-expressive 2018. A night and day comparison in that regard. Drink the Scarlett now if you feel like a fun and fruity beverage, or wait a year or two in hopes of gleaning a little more complexity and weight. 92-93 points.
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12/15/2017 - csimm wrote:
Barrel samples (Cabernet Sauvignon):
2017 Myriad Empyrean GIII
2017 Myriad Three Twins
2017 Myriad Round Pond
2017 Scarlett
Huge noses on all of them, especially the Scarlett and GIII. All wines were obviously teeming with wild, energetic flavors. Lots of fruit; deep, opaque crimson purple colors in the glass; excellent viscosity; huge mouthfeel.
Clearly a lot to sort out, but well on their ways to their respective successes in the coming years. And most importantly, absolutely no detectable smoke taint whatsoever on the lots picked during/post wildfires.
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