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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.1 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 106 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Roentgen Ray on 4/11/2023 & rated 93 points: Purchased from Larkmead at release.
Stored in cellar conditions between 55-65°F.
The cork is firm and there is minimal seepage.
Thos bottle is vibrant with blackberry, some mulberry, and medium acidity.
The tannins are an afterthought, present in the background. (639 views) | | | Tasted by Roentgen Ray on 12/16/2022 & rated 91 points: Bright, open and fruit driven. (709 views) | | | Tasted by dontime on 2/10/2022: Soft and luscious, with the Merlot taking center stage. Tannins resolved, plenty of fruit, but some secondary notes also. If scoring 90-92. (1385 views) | | | Tasted by dougchavez on 11/18/2021 & rated 92 points: Now is the time to drink this 2011 Firebelle. Having read tasting notes and knowing the 2011 vintage reputation, I was very pleasantly surprised. Then again, Larkmead wines hold up very well. Opened and then decanted 45 mins later helped bring out amazing and subtle flavors this wine is known for. Smooth, elegant taste of dark fruit, chocolate and, a hint of tobacco. A nice mild finish that is slightly mineral. Probably best to drink in the next few months vs letting this rest any longer.
The wine looks violet colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. (1539 views) | | | Tasted by OWC on 9/7/2021 & rated 92 points: Consistent with previous notes. On opening, this gives off strong BBQ, smoke and even creosote, which can be a little offputting. But the excess fades fairly rapidly, leaving a very relaxed, gentle but rich nectar. Drink now - or hold if you want to gamble. (1709 views) | | | Tasted by OWC on 6/22/2021 & rated 92 points: A truly fascinating wine. Approached with some trepidation given the reputation of the 2011 vintage. Out of the bottle it was a little funky, with some smoke that soon blew off. What emerged was an incredibly smooth, restrained but elegant wine. It reminded me of the glowing embers of a once great fire, that flare up occasionally to great effect. Blended black and red fruit are evident, with raspberry liquor and the odd violet note. Tobacco too, and chocolate - but all very gentle and sophisticated. Some will find the fruit too faded and complain the wine lacks the power of other Larkmead bottlings, but its appeal lies in the softness of the palate, which remains carefully defined. An acquired taste, but a vote of confidence in the maligned 2011 vintage. Drink note - or hold if you're brave. (1496 views) | | | Tasted by JHalvorson on 1/19/2021 & rated 96 points: We had this wine opened and poured into glasses a half hour before we started to drink it. Near perfection with venison at Lutsen Lodge on a very cold night. As smooth and balanced a wine as I have had for quite some time. (1633 views) | | | Tasted by srshane on 3/25/2020 & rated 91 points: This wine needs time to open. Strong black fruit on the nose and palate. Medium to medium high tannins are fine and balanced once open. Drinking beautifully (1973 views) | | | Tasted by retired_and_roving on 1/25/2020: Last bottle of this and while not as good as the '09 Firebelle we tried last weekend this is still in good shape. Plummy merlot fruit, with some green notes. Should hold for another five years at least as fruit is still present and lively. (2054 views) | | | Tasted by prism on 7/30/2019 & rated 92 points: Say what you like in general about the challenging 2011 vintage in Napa, and you'd probably be right, but this has put on sufficient weight and achieved enough complexity to classify as a beautiful structured and very satisfying red Bordeaux blend. I think this could even go a coupla-three more years, but there is no compelling reason to wait. (2042 views) | | | Tasted by Ben&Sarah on 7/13/2019: Last bottle - and oddly enough far better than I remember the others being. Still not my favorite year for Firebelle but great with food. Drink now (1951 views) | | | Tasted by tc from santee on 6/8/2019 & rated 93 points: I enjoyed this Firebelle vintage more than the 10 or 12. 2011 was a cold Napa year and the wines needed 6+ years to evolve into their potential. This was a fine Bordeaux blend. I think it has peaked but I don’t think it’s headed down yet. Good structure and notes plum, berries, herbs and leather. (1913 views) | | | Tasted by retired_and_roving on 5/12/2019: Interesting blend on this (42% Merlot, 27% Malbec, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet franc). Despite the high % of Merlot - it really doesn't come through with the typical Merlot mouthfeel and smoothness. It is actually quite spicy (cracked black pepper) and juicy with red fruits and then also some green bell pepper notes. For me this could have used a bit more acid to give it some more freshness. (1536 views) | | | Tasted by Cellar Baron on 5/11/2019 & rated 94 points: Sure wish this wan't my last bottle. Thankful my wife only wanted one glass! (1312 views) | | | Tasted by Ben&Sarah on 3/31/2019: As suspected not getting any better. Drink now - I don’t think these will improve with age (1294 views) | | | Tasted by yeti575rider on 12/25/2018 & rated 90 points: Think this is beginning its downward arc although still pretty good especially for 2011. Just seemed a bit leaner this time. Still has that nice Merlot core though. (1436 views) | | | Tasted by BG533 on 12/25/2018: Still a little tight and not as big a fruit as typical Larkmead. Better in 2021 I think. (1198 views) | | | Tasted by Skip4wine on 12/3/2018 & rated 90 points: Given the year this was surprising. None of the depth of their better years but an understated elegance in a mid weight style wine. The lack of fruit dominance gives it an Old World feel but without complexity. Well made with what the year had to offer and Kudos. (1379 views) | | | Tasted by prism on 10/27/2018 & rated 92 points: Wow; this has improved mightily. Very pleasantly surprised by the evolution of this 2011. The Merlot dominates, and it a good way; this has picked up depth and flavor over the past year or two. Still pricey, but in no way the disappointment that I once feared these wines would be. Drink without trepidation! (1304 views) | | | Tasted by ledocq on 6/3/2018: I don't hate on 2011s automatically. And I love Larkmead quite a bit. But this one? Ehhh. Thin and weedy, herbaceous and not in a good way, with an astringent finish that is really not fun. If it improves tomorrow I'll let you know. For now, 86/87. (1948 views) | | | Tasted by NCWino1 on 1/11/2018 & rated 91 points: Meh wine for the price from winery @$75. Decent job on the wine considering the vintage. 2011s really struggled in Napa that year. Drink up, fully integrated tannins.....it's not going to get any better. Still have 2009s and 2010 I haven't touched yet. (1955 views) | | | Tasted by Cullens on 12/25/2017 & rated 92 points: dark inky purple - nose of malted milk powder, blackberry, currant, and leather. neutral tannins + acidity - Integrated dark fruits and chocolate. An 11 that shows well in a down year. (1903 views) | | | Tasted by MD.Gibson on 11/19/2017: ... (1967 views) | | | Tasted by Griffeyfan04 on 10/26/2017 & rated 91 points: Good fresh berries and mint. Medium body with a hint of leather as well. Good wine (1946 views) | | | Tasted by VAWineaux on 10/26/2017 & rated 90 points: Great berry and mocha and dark fruit flavors and aromas. Strong structure still although softening up some. Lovely wine. (1589 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, 2011 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: Terroir Matters - Updated (Nov 2013)
(Larkmead Firebelle Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2013, IWC Issue #168
(Larkmead Firebelle Proprietary Red Wine Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Larkmead Vineyards Producer website2011 Larkmead Vineyards FirebelleWinemaker Notes
100% Estate grown fruit produced and bottled at Larkmead Vineyards
42% Merlot, 27% Malbec, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, & 10% Cabernet Franc
Aged for 20 months in 54% new French oak barrels
1,243 cases produced
"The 2011 Firebelle immediately differentiates itself on the nose from its predecessors by leading with a sum of secondary aroma characters that eclipse the wine's less evident, but seductive blue fruit profile. The earthy nose with hints of savory, dried herbs and licorice root make for dazzling complex perfume that causes you to pause, allowing time to reveal the plum and hint of bramble fruit sweetness that Firebelle is known for. In the mouth the complexities continue with an intense floral component that emerges from dry, forest floor fruit and cedar wood. The wine is fresh and the tannins frame the palate and begs for a second sip to replenish the lingering sweet and savory finish.
Ten years from now the 2011 vintage will be talked about for its "class" and "subtlety". It will be a vintage that is reminisced about because it was an opportunity for us to turn down the volume and listen to the secondary characters in our wines — characteristics that are often the most interesting. This Firebelle which spent its early life as a co-fermented wine saw a healthy addition of Malbec thirteen months prior to bottling. The most Malbec we've ever added to Firebelle gives this vintage a deep, floral beauty at the surface which lingers above the brambly, blue fruit character of the Merlot, the red cherry Cabernet and the spicy and inherently herbal Cabernet Franc. It is one of our most rewarding and most intriguing blends born in a vintage that was known to be one of our most challenging.
The 2011 wines drink older than they are with less fruit forwardness these wines already show the nuance of a wine 7–10 years old. Enjoy that upon release, but with an additional 2–3 years in the cellar the aromas and flavors will begin to overlap and build more fascinating layers of complexity that you will enjoy for the next ten years. ."Red Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa Valley Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Napa ValleySt. Helena |
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