Dark ruby color. Smooth, complex and inviting aromas: dark currants, plums, some interesting smoke, earth, campfire and pipe tobacco notes as well, shifting and evolving with air. Moderate tannic grip, some freshness from the acid. Mix of red and black currants and plums, some tartness to the fruit is nice. Smoke, tar and loam mix with higher-toned rose petal and red apple peel notes. Finishes with some spicy chewing tobacco. Structure for near-term aging, but showing surprisingly well out of the bottle. Includes 17% Merlot, 3% Petite Verdot and 1% Malbec, this spends 12 months in French and American oak and 22 months in bottle before release. 14% of the juice comes from Mendocino.
Vibrant purple color. Rich, smooth, gushing dark plum and currant fruit on the nose, backed up by sweet violets, cola, hints of pipe tobacco and loamy soil. Full-bodied but plush tannins and a silky mouthfeel, balanced well by the moderate acid. Tart yet rich currant and dark plum fruit, along with dusty soil, tobacco, cedar, cola and root beer notes. Bold yet stays refreshing and vibrant. Notes of mocha, cedar and graphite on the finish. Delicious stuff, could develop a bit of complexity over the next few years in the cellar. Aged 18 months in 30% new French oak, includes 4% apiece of Merlot and Petite Verdot.
Vibrant purple color. Jammy black and red berries on the nose, a bit candied, along with some smoky oak, magic marker and black licorice candies. A fierce approach on the palate with high octane, jammy fruit, a bit roasted, like some blackberries and plums were tossed into a charcoal pit. Light tannins and low acid, a bit out of whack in terms of balance. Quite smoky and a bit hot from the alcohol. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir — 60% from Sonoma County, 40% from Napa.
USA, California, Central Coast, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
Rich, bright purple color. Nose shows tart red and black currants, black cherries, also some tobacco, bay leaf, charcoal and bitter coffee notes. Full bodied, the tannic structure is solid but they’re not too harsh around the edges, medium acid. The black currant fruit is plenty ripe but showing tart aspects as well, lots of spicy tobacco, charcoal, chicory coffee, root beer notes. A bold and structured wine, but still showing an approachable personality. I like the spice aspects. Toasty oak on the finish, but it doesn’t overwhelm the other aspects. A bit harsh upon first opening, but opens up and gets smooth.
USA, California, Central Coast, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
Light purple color. Deep, lush and inviting aromatics: I get red and black currants, juicy black cherries and plums, a complex web of tobacco, cedar, graphite, bell pepper and charcoal dust. Gritty tannic structure, needs time to unwind, medium-low acid. The black cherry, dark plums and cassis fruit is tart and compact, laced with notes of iron, graphite, tobacco leaf, charcoal pit and roasted nuts. Lots of cedar, roasted coffee and vanilla in here, which lingers with a hint of root beer or sarsaparilla onto the finish. Opens up a lot to show more nuanced earth elements and silkier fruit. Complexity lies within, perhaps elegance, but this is quite young and deserves four or five years in the cellar or a long decant, probably both. From hillside plantings at the top of their Star Lane Vineyard, this sees 100% new oak.
2011 Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
Dark ruby color. Smooth, complex and inviting aromas: dark currants, plums, some interesting smoke, earth, campfire and pipe tobacco notes as well, shifting and evolving with air. Moderate tannic grip, some freshness from the acid. Mix of red and black currants and plums, some tartness to the fruit is nice. Smoke, tar and loam mix with higher-toned rose petal and red apple peel notes. Finishes with some spicy chewing tobacco. Structure for near-term aging, but showing surprisingly well out of the bottle. Includes 17% Merlot, 3% Petite Verdot and 1% Malbec, this spends 12 months in French and American oak and 22 months in bottle before release. 14% of the juice comes from Mendocino.
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2012 Niner Wine Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Vibrant purple color. Rich, smooth, gushing dark plum and currant fruit on the nose, backed up by sweet violets, cola, hints of pipe tobacco and loamy soil. Full-bodied but plush tannins and a silky mouthfeel, balanced well by the moderate acid. Tart yet rich currant and dark plum fruit, along with dusty soil, tobacco, cedar, cola and root beer notes. Bold yet stays refreshing and vibrant. Notes of mocha, cedar and graphite on the finish. Delicious stuff, could develop a bit of complexity over the next few years in the cellar. Aged 18 months in 30% new French oak, includes 4% apiece of Merlot and Petite Verdot.
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2013 Concept Wine Group Omen 80 Points
USA, California, North Coast
Vibrant purple color. Jammy black and red berries on the nose, a bit candied, along with some smoky oak, magic marker and black licorice candies. A fierce approach on the palate with high octane, jammy fruit, a bit roasted, like some blackberries and plums were tossed into a charcoal pit. Light tannins and low acid, a bit out of whack in terms of balance. Quite smoky and a bit hot from the alcohol. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir — 60% from Sonoma County, 40% from Napa.
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2011 Star Lane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 87 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
Rich, bright purple color. Nose shows tart red and black currants, black cherries, also some tobacco, bay leaf, charcoal and bitter coffee notes. Full bodied, the tannic structure is solid but they’re not too harsh around the edges, medium acid. The black currant fruit is plenty ripe but showing tart aspects as well, lots of spicy tobacco, charcoal, chicory coffee, root beer notes. A bold and structured wine, but still showing an approachable personality. I like the spice aspects. Toasty oak on the finish, but it doesn’t overwhelm the other aspects. A bit harsh upon first opening, but opens up and gets smooth.
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2011 Star Lane Vineyard Astral 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
Light purple color. Deep, lush and inviting aromatics: I get red and black currants, juicy black cherries and plums, a complex web of tobacco, cedar, graphite, bell pepper and charcoal dust. Gritty tannic structure, needs time to unwind, medium-low acid. The black cherry, dark plums and cassis fruit is tart and compact, laced with notes of iron, graphite, tobacco leaf, charcoal pit and roasted nuts. Lots of cedar, roasted coffee and vanilla in here, which lingers with a hint of root beer or sarsaparilla onto the finish. Opens up a lot to show more nuanced earth elements and silkier fruit. Complexity lies within, perhaps elegance, but this is quite young and deserves four or five years in the cellar or a long decant, probably both. From hillside plantings at the top of their Star Lane Vineyard, this sees 100% new oak.
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