I had the 2018 a couple of times, which I felt was killler QPR- I was a bit biased as I somehow purchased them for $15 each, but even for the "usual" price I found it powerful, balanced, and delicious. This vintage ($25 this time- different groceries in Seattle) felt like a *tiny* step down, for my palate, but it's still a killer value and a great wine to recommend as "real deal" Napa to folks on a relative budget (at least, for the region!)
Slightly "brighter" than 2018, more red fruit with spiced red plum, redcurrant, some black cherry- not jammy on the nose or palate, but very clearly in a rich, "fruit forward" style. That said, there's some really nicely balanced oak also, mostly showing as a rich vanilla accent but sometimes leaning toward that "cedary" toasty note I love in really serious Napa. The first glass showed a bit of a minty/earthy note, but it quickly disappeared. The fruit darkened a bit over time, and the last glass was the best (no decant, followed over 24 hours.)
It's true that there's a bit of heat, but I feel like that's easily mitigated with a ribeye or something similar. Nice tannic heft- mostly very silky even at this early stage, but not hollow either. Obviously not an acid-driven wine, but again, it's not flabby. Just a gentle Bdx blend showing some really beautiful richness and balance for its level.
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(at Landry’s Seafood House - Orlando) Kind of stylized, kind of generic yet balanced with decent purity. Medium / full bodied. Decent finish. This is a fine restaurant purchase that will not excite nor offend. (88)
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Nose has metal and red fruit. Very dry on the palate, with decent structure and tannins that scream for a year or more of aging. The oak is actually pretty balanced. Decent complexity. Better with food.
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3/31/2024 - Billybobbillybob2 wrote: 92 Points
Really nice Bordeaux style blend.
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1/16/2024 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 94 Points
I had the 2018 a couple of times, which I felt was killler QPR- I was a bit biased as I somehow purchased them for $15 each, but even for the "usual" price I found it powerful, balanced, and delicious. This vintage ($25 this time- different groceries in Seattle) felt like a *tiny* step down, for my palate, but it's still a killer value and a great wine to recommend as "real deal" Napa to folks on a relative budget (at least, for the region!)
Slightly "brighter" than 2018, more red fruit with spiced red plum, redcurrant, some black cherry- not jammy on the nose or palate, but very clearly in a rich, "fruit forward" style. That said, there's some really nicely balanced oak also, mostly showing as a rich vanilla accent but sometimes leaning toward that "cedary" toasty note I love in really serious Napa. The first glass showed a bit of a minty/earthy note, but it quickly disappeared. The fruit darkened a bit over time, and the last glass was the best (no decant, followed over 24 hours.)
It's true that there's a bit of heat, but I feel like that's easily mitigated with a ribeye or something similar. Nice tannic heft- mostly very silky even at this early stage, but not hollow either. Obviously not an acid-driven wine, but again, it's not flabby. Just a gentle Bdx blend showing some really beautiful richness and balance for its level.
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1/10/2023 - tonycambria Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark berry, chocolate, tanned leather aroma.
Bing cherry, dark berry, tobacco, chocolate taste.
Really great wine!
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12/9/2022 - dbkitc wrote: 88 Points
(at Landry’s Seafood House - Orlando) Kind of stylized, kind of generic yet balanced with decent purity. Medium / full bodied. Decent finish. This is a fine restaurant purchase that will not excite nor offend. (88)
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5/31/2022 - Crunge wrote: 89 Points
Nose has metal and red fruit. Very dry on the palate, with decent structure and tannins that scream for a year or more of aging. The oak is actually pretty balanced. Decent complexity. Better with food.
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5/21/2022 - Wineduder wrote:
70% Cabernet Sauvignon
10% Merlot
8% Cabernet Franc
7% Malbec
5% Petite Verdot
14.9% Alc.
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