AVAs of Napa @ KL

Tasted Saturday, February 22, 2020 by mkribar with 157 views

Introduction

Great tasting here--lots of great wines to go between. For the the real standouts were the Dunn (that espresso nose was astonishing), but the Oakville "Estate", the Franus, and both of the Spring Mountains were also awesome.

Flight 1 (10 Notes)

  • 2016 Arietta Quartet 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Pure cassis and fruit on the palate, with a light herbal thyme/bay, no hint of green pepper. Fruit bomb on the palate, medium plus tannin and medium plus alcohol. Glossy black fruit.

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  • 2016 Farella Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville

    Red fruit, green pepper. Herbs. Some cassis. On the palate it's earthier, less fruit than the Arietta. Nice acid and medium plus tannin. Good.

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  • 2016 Peter Franus Cabernet Sauvignon Brandlin Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

    Lots of cassis, cocoa dusted cherries, espresso, sour cherry.

    Round fuzzy tannin, more cocoa/cherries, plenty of acid. Pleasantly savory.

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  • 2016 Dominus Napanook Red 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    A serious wine, definitely not a fruit forward Napa cab. Very herbal on the nose: bay and thyme. Sour cherries, plum skin, red earth. Not much tannin but enough acid. The body is actually surprisingly light, elegant despite the structure. Vanilla and a hint of oak. This, more than most of the line-up, needs time.

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  • 2016 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

    Back to fruit after the Napanook, but this is still very well balanced. Red to dark fruit: cherries and plums. Lots of fruit on the palate, but enough structure to back it up. The booze is a little much on the back end, but overall this is very enjoyable.

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  • 2015 Oakville Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Vibrant red fruit and orange zest. Bay leaf. Medium plus tannin and nice acid. Plenty of herbs on the palate. This is very fresh and enjoyable, although there's a slight bit of noticeable oak.

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  • 2016 Round Pond Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

    Very big, fruit bomb nose. Not much varietal character and no Rutherford dust. Cassis and crushed dark fruit instead. Plus on the palate too, with noticeable heat.

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  • 2015 Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    Soft cassis, plum, cherry pits. Some bay on the nose. On the palate the tannins are there, but it's really the acid that's giving this structure. Also plenty of earth, espresso, and cocoa. This is yummy now, but I know it'll get even more delicious. This is probably the closest to a Bordeaux of everything we drank today.

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  • 2007 Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    This tastes older than 13 years--leather, earth, barely any fruit. The tannins are resolved and the acid is well blended in. Delicious and ready.

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  • 2014 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Wonderful nose on this, very savory. It completely smells like a freshly pulled espresso. Some berry/African coffee. Some cassis, but it's very much in the background. More savory espresso and herb on the palate. Lots of acid, lots of tannin. This is absolutely one for the cellar.

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