Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Fresh and clean, slightly creamy texture but remains on the light side of things with minerality and spearmint as the dominating aromas. Not overly complex but fun to drink and perfect for a summer apero.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Slightly okay on the nose and palate, spearmint and wet stones as dominating aromas on the nose and palate. Not overly complex and quite short. Missing a bit of concentration. Doesn’t have the precision and cleanliness of the Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc drunk next to it. Pleasant but without exceptionalism.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. First nose dominated by okay notes and citrus, with time the citrus fruit and freshness takes over the reigh, complemented by a nice minerality on the palate. Not overly complex or long but a solid, not overoaked, rather fresh and light Napa Chardonnay. Pleasant surprise.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Strange, stinky, vegetal nose with a much more typic palate profile with lots of citrus, slight vanilla oak hints, a good soft, light structure. Rather one-dimensional with a strange nose. Not one to chase.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. This is a wonderful Californian Chardonnay which shines with its fresh, Burgundian structure and texture with no excess weight and bright freshness. Lots of minerality, yellow orchard fruit on the nose, minerality, toasty aromas, orchard and citrus fruit, on the palate, salty finish. Creamy but very light and fresh structure, round and harmonious with medium length. The complete package.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. This is somewhere in the middle between the too dense, fat and heavy and the best, most elegant and Burgundian Californian Chardonnays. Fresh on the nose with citrus and orchard fruit, same aromas on the palate with spearmint hints that lend some additional freshness. Creamy on the palate with quite some oak and vanilla aromas but nothing total excessive. Solid wine.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Rather simple, but fresh nose with a Bordeauxesque structure and dark fruits and minerality a the core. Nice concentration on the palate with a sweeter fruit expression, minerality, herbs and burnt sugar. I liked this a lot as it has no excessive weight, density or sweetness. A steal at this price and a lot of joy to drink.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Fresh light nose which gets sweeter by the minute with at some point an almost syrupy fruit expression. Much fresher and without excess weight on the palate, very good lift from the acidity but I got the impression that its not completely ripe here. Rather on the simple side but still quite enjoyable to drink
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. A wonderful, light Merlot with sweet red and dark fruits, strawberries at the core, minerality and a beautiful freshness and even a bit of astringency which keeps it light and fresh despite the sweetness. It has not the concentration, complexity, precision or length of the very best wines but is nevertheless great to drink today. Positive surprise.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Sweet nose with lots of ripe dark fruit and minerality. Round, intense. Creamy on the palate with ripe fruit and minerality and a soft, round structure with a lot of freshness and without weight. Not very complex but the texture and balance are very inviting.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. This one is a bit too green and astringent, especially on the nose. On the palate rather one-dimensional with sweet red and dark berries a lot of freshness but without complexity or a good length. Still, quite easy to drink and enjoyable.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Terroir driven nose with earthy notes and lots of minerality and a bit of fresh blue fruit. Much sweeter on the nose with blue and black fruit. Not as round and balanced as the other 2017s tasted. Rather low complexity and medium- length. Ok structure with still some hard edges. Not one to chase.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Barnyard notes, dark fruit, minerality on the layered, dense nose. I was expecting a dense monster on the palate but that’s not the case: despite many layers with animalic notes, herbs, tobacco, leather, black and blue fruit it is light, almost weightless with fine tannins and a very-well integrated acidity. On of the best 2017s tasted with medium length and a very good balance. Easily 94, in the best moment even 95 points.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. A Syrah/Cab blend with a sweet, fruit-driven nose. Extremely intense black and red cherries dominating on the palate. Quite ripe but still overall not too dense or sweet, keeping a light texture and good flow. Fine tannins, well-integrated acidity, medium length. Overall nice to drink, eventhough the fruit is covering all other nuances at this young stage.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. I didn’t like this wine particularly as there where alcoholic notes, even some chemical notes on the nose and palate. Ripe fruit, herbal notes but too medicinal for me. Boasts the light, fresh 2017 structure with medium length. Not that complex and too many unwanted aromas and the alcohol notes make this wine not one to chase.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. This was one of the best 2017s with a broad array of aromas on the nose and palate with lots of dark and red fruit, coffee, herbs, burnt sugar and herbal notes. Good intensity and definition, like all 2017 not too dense and thick, not too ripe but rather on the light side of things. Fine tannins, good acidity. A pleasant, early drinking vintage and wine.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Typical Spottswoode nose with cool blue and black forrest berries on the nose and palate along minerality and earthy notes. It does not have the density, concentration, complexity of the great past few vintages but is nevertheless a very nice wine which will drink well early. Cool, fresh structure with fine tannins and a well integrated acidity. Soft and harmonious with a medium length. Given the oversupply of great vintages (2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016), I wouldn’t chase this Spottswoode vintage at this price point.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. This wine is great with lots of sweet but not too ripe red and black fruit, spices, minty notes and minerality. Probably one of the more soft, weight-free 2015s I’ve tasted (I’m not a big fan of this vintage which often delivers quite fat wines). It’s not the most complex wine, but what is there is delivered with good intensity and precision and all embedded in a fine structure with a good freshness. Easily 94+ points here.
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. The highlight of this 2017s tasting were the wines of the Diamond Creek winery. All three single vineyards produced fresh, elegant, weightless wines with great aromatic precision, a very fine structural frame and will certainly be among the early drinking vintages of this winery. Like all 2017s, these wines cannot compete with better vintages in terms of complexity but they are nevertheless a treat to drink. The Red Rock Terrace (93-94 points) is the most feminine of the three, Margaux-like with sweet red fruit and some floral notes at its core. The Gravelly Meadow (94+ points) is an aristocratic St. Julien-like wine with blue fruit and lots of minerality. The Volcanic Hill (96+ points) is like a Pauillac with a broad array of dark berries, cassis, tobacco, leather and Latour-like nuttiness. With that score, the Volcanic Hill was the clear winner of the tasting with the biggest complexity. These Diamond Creek wines are among the best wines Napa Valley has to offer and are a stark contrast to many too ripe, too big Napa cult Cabs
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. The highlight of this 2017s tasting were the wines of the Diamond Creek winery. All three single vineyards produced fresh, elegant, weightless wines with great aromatic precision, a very fine structural frame and will certainly be among the early drinking vintages of this winery. Like all 2017s, these wines cannot compete with better vintages in terms of complexity but they are nevertheless a treat to drink. The Red Rock Terrace (93-94 points) is the most feminine of the three, Margaux-like with sweet red fruit and some floral notes at its core. The Gravelly Meadow (94+ points) is an aristocratic St. Julien-like wine with blue fruit and lots of minerality. The Volcanic Hill (96+ points) is like a Pauillac with a broad array of dark berries, cassis, tobacco, leather and Latour-like nuttiness. With that score, the Volcanic Hill was the clear winner of the tasting with the biggest complexity. These Diamond Creek wines are among the best wines Napa Valley has to offer and are a stark contrast to many too ripe, too big Napa cult Cabs
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. The highlight of this 2017s tasting were the wines of the Diamond Creek winery. All three single vineyards produced fresh, elegant, weightless wines with great aromatic precision, a very fine structural frame and will be certainly among the early drinking vintages of this winery. Like all 2017s, these wines cannot compete with better vintages in terms of complexity but they are nevertheless a treat to drink. The Red Rock Terrace (93-94 points) is the most feminine of the three, Margaux-like with sweet red fruit and some floral notes at its core. The Gravelly Meadow (94+ points) is an aristocratic St. Julien-like wine with blue fruit and lots of minerality. The Volcanic Hill (96+ points) is like a Pauillac with a broad array of dark berries, cassis, tobacco, leather and Latour-like nuttiness. With that score, the Volcanic Hill was the clear winner of the tasting with the biggest complexity. These Diamond Creek wines are among the best wines Napa Valley has to offer and are a stark contrast to many too ripe, too big Napa cult Cabs
2018 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc 91 Points
USA, California, North Coast
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Fresh and clean, slightly creamy texture but remains on the light side of things with minerality and spearmint as the dominating aromas. Not overly complex but fun to drink and perfect for a summer apero.
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2018 Behrens Family Winery Sauvignon Blanc La Danza Con Neustras Familias 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Slightly okay on the nose and palate, spearmint and wet stones as dominating aromas on the nose and palate. Not overly complex and quite short. Missing a bit of concentration. Doesn’t have the precision and cleanliness of the Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc drunk next to it. Pleasant but without exceptionalism.
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2018 Fisher Vineyards Chardonnay Unity 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. First nose dominated by okay notes and citrus, with time the citrus fruit and freshness takes over the reigh, complemented by a nice minerality on the palate. Not overly complex or long but a solid, not overoaked, rather fresh and light Napa Chardonnay. Pleasant surprise.
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2016 Grgich Hills Chardonnay 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Strange, stinky, vegetal nose with a much more typic palate profile with lots of citrus, slight vanilla oak hints, a good soft, light structure. Rather one-dimensional with a strange nose. Not one to chase.
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2016 Grgich Hills Chardonnay Paris Tasting Commemorative Napa Valley 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. This is a wonderful Californian Chardonnay which shines with its fresh, Burgundian structure and texture with no excess weight and bright freshness. Lots of minerality, yellow orchard fruit on the nose, minerality, toasty aromas, orchard and citrus fruit, on the palate, salty finish. Creamy but very light and fresh structure, round and harmonious with medium length. The complete package.
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2018 Fisher Vineyards Chardonnay Whitney's Vineyard 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. This is somewhere in the middle between the too dense, fat and heavy and the best, most elegant and Burgundian Californian Chardonnays. Fresh on the nose with citrus and orchard fruit, same aromas on the palate with spearmint hints that lend some additional freshness. Creamy on the palate with quite some oak and vanilla aromas but nothing total excessive. Solid wine.
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2016 Titus Merlot 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Rather simple, but fresh nose with a Bordeauxesque structure and dark fruits and minerality a the core. Nice concentration on the palate with a sweeter fruit expression, minerality, herbs and burnt sugar. I liked this a lot as it has no excessive weight, density or sweetness. A steal at this price and a lot of joy to drink.
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2017 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot 92 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Fresh light nose which gets sweeter by the minute with at some point an almost syrupy fruit expression. Much fresher and without excess weight on the palate, very good lift from the acidity but I got the impression that its not completely ripe here. Rather on the simple side but still quite enjoyable to drink
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2017 Barnett Vineyards Merlot Spring Mountain District 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. A wonderful, light Merlot with sweet red and dark fruits, strawberries at the core, minerality and a beautiful freshness and even a bit of astringency which keeps it light and fresh despite the sweetness. It has not the concentration, complexity, precision or length of the very best wines but is nevertheless great to drink today. Positive surprise.
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2017 Titus Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Sweet nose with lots of ripe dark fruit and minerality. Round, intense. Creamy on the palate with ripe fruit and minerality and a soft, round structure with a lot of freshness and without weight. Not very complex but the texture and balance are very inviting.
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2017 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. This one is a bit too green and astringent, especially on the nose. On the palate rather one-dimensional with sweet red and dark berries a lot of freshness but without complexity or a good length. Still, quite easy to drink and enjoyable.
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2017 Barnett Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Terroir driven nose with earthy notes and lots of minerality and a bit of fresh blue fruit. Much sweeter on the nose with blue and black fruit. Not as round and balanced as the other 2017s tasted. Rather low complexity and medium- length. Ok structure with still some hard edges. Not one to chase.
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2017 Titus Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Family Estate 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Barnyard notes, dark fruit, minerality on the layered, dense nose. I was expecting a dense monster on the palate but that’s not the case: despite many layers with animalic notes, herbs, tobacco, leather, black and blue fruit it is light, almost weightless with fine tannins and a very-well integrated acidity. On of the best 2017s tasted with medium length and a very good balance. Easily 94, in the best moment even 95 points.
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2017 Behrens Family Winery Parts Unknown 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. A Syrah/Cab blend with a sweet, fruit-driven nose. Extremely intense black and red cherries dominating on the palate. Quite ripe but still overall not too dense or sweet, keeping a light texture and good flow. Fine tannins, well-integrated acidity, medium length. Overall nice to drink, eventhough the fruit is covering all other nuances at this young stage.
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2017 Ovid Cabernet Sauvignon Experiment N2.7 87 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. I didn’t like this wine particularly as there where alcoholic notes, even some chemical notes on the nose and palate. Ripe fruit, herbal notes but too medicinal for me. Boasts the light, fresh 2017 structure with medium length. Not that complex and too many unwanted aromas and the alcohol notes make this wine not one to chase.
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2017 Detert Family Vineyards Cabernet Franc East Block Oakville 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. This was one of the best 2017s with a broad array of aromas on the nose and palate with lots of dark and red fruit, coffee, herbs, burnt sugar and herbal notes. Good intensity and definition, like all 2017 not too dense and thick, not too ripe but rather on the light side of things. Fine tannins, good acidity. A pleasant, early drinking vintage and wine.
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2017 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. Typical Spottswoode nose with cool blue and black forrest berries on the nose and palate along minerality and earthy notes. It does not have the density, concentration, complexity of the great past few vintages but is nevertheless a very nice wine which will drink well early. Cool, fresh structure with fine tannins and a well integrated acidity. Soft and harmonious with a medium length. Given the oversupply of great vintages (2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016), I wouldn’t chase this Spottswoode vintage at this price point.
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2015 Fisher Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Wedding Vineyard 94 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. This wine is great with lots of sweet but not too ripe red and black fruit, spices, minty notes and minerality. Probably one of the more soft, weight-free 2015s I’ve tasted (I’m not a big fan of this vintage which often delivers quite fat wines). It’s not the most complex wine, but what is there is delivered with good intensity and precision and all embedded in a fine structure with a good freshness. Easily 94+ points here.
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2017 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. The highlight of this 2017s tasting were the wines of the Diamond Creek winery. All three single vineyards produced fresh, elegant, weightless wines with great aromatic precision, a very fine structural frame and will certainly be among the early drinking vintages of this winery. Like all 2017s, these wines cannot compete with better vintages in terms of complexity but they are nevertheless a treat to drink. The Red Rock Terrace (93-94 points) is the most feminine of the three, Margaux-like with sweet red fruit and some floral notes at its core. The Gravelly Meadow (94+ points) is an aristocratic St. Julien-like wine with blue fruit and lots of minerality. The Volcanic Hill (96+ points) is like a Pauillac with a broad array of dark berries, cassis, tobacco, leather and Latour-like nuttiness. With that score, the Volcanic Hill was the clear winner of the tasting with the biggest complexity. These Diamond Creek wines are among the best wines Napa Valley has to offer and are a stark contrast to many too ripe, too big Napa cult Cabs
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2017 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. The highlight of this 2017s tasting were the wines of the Diamond Creek winery. All three single vineyards produced fresh, elegant, weightless wines with great aromatic precision, a very fine structural frame and will certainly be among the early drinking vintages of this winery. Like all 2017s, these wines cannot compete with better vintages in terms of complexity but they are nevertheless a treat to drink. The Red Rock Terrace (93-94 points) is the most feminine of the three, Margaux-like with sweet red fruit and some floral notes at its core. The Gravelly Meadow (94+ points) is an aristocratic St. Julien-like wine with blue fruit and lots of minerality. The Volcanic Hill (96+ points) is like a Pauillac with a broad array of dark berries, cassis, tobacco, leather and Latour-like nuttiness. With that score, the Volcanic Hill was the clear winner of the tasting with the biggest complexity. These Diamond Creek wines are among the best wines Napa Valley has to offer and are a stark contrast to many too ripe, too big Napa cult Cabs
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2017 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill 96 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain
Larger merchant tasting. Brief impressions. The highlight of this 2017s tasting were the wines of the Diamond Creek winery. All three single vineyards produced fresh, elegant, weightless wines with great aromatic precision, a very fine structural frame and will be certainly among the early drinking vintages of this winery. Like all 2017s, these wines cannot compete with better vintages in terms of complexity but they are nevertheless a treat to drink. The Red Rock Terrace (93-94 points) is the most feminine of the three, Margaux-like with sweet red fruit and some floral notes at its core. The Gravelly Meadow (94+ points) is an aristocratic St. Julien-like wine with blue fruit and lots of minerality. The Volcanic Hill (96+ points) is like a Pauillac with a broad array of dark berries, cassis, tobacco, leather and Latour-like nuttiness. With that score, the Volcanic Hill was the clear winner of the tasting with the biggest complexity. These Diamond Creek wines are among the best wines Napa Valley has to offer and are a stark contrast to many too ripe, too big Napa cult Cabs
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