| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2018 Harlan EstateOakville Red Bordeaux Blend more |
5/19/2024 - napajournal Likes this wine: 100 pointsThe 2018 Harlan (west Oakville hillside) was a luxurious vacation on a private island — rich, exclusive, unforgettable. The wine dazzled with deep aromas of blackcurrant, dark cherry, grandpa’s pipe tobacco and cedar. It was full-bodied with velvety tannins, leading to a finish that lingered like a perfect sunset. Despite a 9-hour decant, it still had more to offer, promising an even more profound experience as it matures. I love the uniqueness of Harlan’s property with exposure to all directions — just wish I could afford to drink it more often. |
| Red |
2018 Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon RhadamanthusDiamond Mountain more |
5/19/2024 - napajournal Likes this wine: 99 pointsThe 2018 Kinsman-Eades Rhadamanthus (Diamond Mountain) was an adventurous road trip. Bold and exciting with a unique blend of dark fruits and a touch of earthiness and spice that kept us intrigued at every sip. After 9 hours of air, its balance and finesse made it a joyride for the palate. Kinsman wines live up to the hype — Rhad and Voleuse are two of my all-time faves. |
| Red |
2018 Dalla Valle Maya MDVOakville Red Bordeaux Blend more |
5/19/2024 - napajournal Likes this wine: 99 pointsThe 2018 Dalla Valle MDV (east Oakville hillside) was an elegant evening at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. Less than an hour of slow ox and it was polished and precise with sophistication and depth. Flavors of plum and blackberry were complemented by notes of mocha and baking spice, making it a timeless choice that will get better with a few more years of age. I was lucky to bump into Maya at the Staglin Music Festival 2019 where I savored my first sips of the 2016 MDV (my wine of the trip). It was love at first taste and I’ve been an MDV fanboy ever since. |
| White - Sparkling |
2008 Bollinger Champagne R.D. Extra BrutChampagne Blend more |
5/5/2024 - napajournal Likes this wine: 95 pointsSipping this 2008 Bollinger Champagne RD on a sunny Sunday afternoon is a joy. 😊 I’m a Napa nut and don’t know much about bubbles (other than I like them), but this one dazzles with lively effervescence and rich flavors. Crisp apples, dried apricots, subtle hints of baking spices, a whisper of fresh berries. Mmm-mmm! Its finish is long and satisfying. |
| Red |
2019 MacDonald Cabernet SauvignonOakville more |
5/4/2024 - napajournal wrote: 98 pointsThe MacDonald wines come from a historic To-Kalon vineyard, which traces its roots back to George Yount's plantings in the 1800s. This 2019 bottle is a true testament to Oakville’s terroir and its sun-drenched vineyards, generously giving an epic sensory journey that included black and blue fruit, minerality, earthiness, espresso and graphite. Six hours of full air (and a steak pairing) did the job. Cheers! 🍷 |
| Red |
2012 Colgin CariadNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
5/4/2024 - napajournal Likes this wine: 96 pointsSourced mainly from Madrona Ranch with a touch from Thorevilos vineyard this wine is a symphony of cedar, black fruit, dark chocolate and tobacco, showcasing the firm, velvety tannins of St. Helena's foothills. Madrona's diverse soils, vines, and elevations shine through in this blend. Served blind and completely thrown off by its youthful vibrancy and strong garnet color, but the darker fruit, lively tannins and powerful elegance brought my palate back to the strike zone. 2012 Colgin Cariad! Super happy with this performance! |
| Red |
2005 Abreu ThorevilosNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
12/3/2022 - napajournal Likes this wine: 98 pointsWatermelon Jolly Rancher nose. |
| White - Sparkling |
1996 Krug Champagne Vintage BrutChampagne Blend more |
10/19/2022 - napajournal Likes this wine: 97 pointsI’m a Napa Cab guy who recently had a mind-blowing experience with a 1971 Dom Oenotheque. That one bottle triggered a bubbly adventure to scout and sample a variety of exciting champagne bottles. While still in the early stages of my champagne journey, this 1996 Krug Brut was a fun one to drink today. Golden honey color and butterscotch candy nose with graceful bubbles and impressive poise for its age. I can understand how this is over the hill for some; not for me. Gorgeous, lengthy and on the mark. Drank a little for lunch with Halibut and a little for dinner with a chicken sandwich. Mmm, mmm, mmm. Cheers! |
| Red |
2001 Abreu Madrona RanchNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
12/18/2021 - napajournal Likes this wine: 99 pointsThis 20-year-old Madrona Ranch is special! Serious blue graphite with a seductive, leathery grip. Brad Grimes’ sophomore vintage. Definitely no slump. |
| Red |
2012 Abreu CappellaNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
12/10/2021 - napajournal Likes this wine: 98 pointsI can sniff this sucker all night long. The nose is enormous with a fun mix of mint chocolate chip and even a dollop of vanilla ice cream on graham crackers. Mesmerizing smells! The cool nose is an interesting contrast to the warm palate. Perfect body with a beautiful balance between silky smooth and grippy texture. Just enough of both. I only decanted 90 minutes so there is a bit of a campfire in my mouth—plenty of heat to burn—plus tart cherries, cocoa and graphite with a mouthwatering finish. Chef’s kiss! |
| Red |
2018 Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon La Voleuse Du Chagrin Geeslin VineyardCalistoga more |
12/10/2021 - napajournal Likes this wine: 98 pointsOMG chalky red magic! An absolutely stunning pop-and-pour performance. Fresh, floral, balanced, BDX-style and shockingly generous with its flavors straight out of the bottle. Kudos to the Kinsmans! 5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2012 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane VineyardSt. Helena more |
10/17/2021 - napajournal Likes this wine: 99 points2012 Realm Dr. Crane. Eloquent, expressive blue and blackberry with bitter chocolate, coffee, pipe tobacco, a little cedar and the ideal body. Killer wine after 4 hours of air. |
| Red |
2013 MacDonald Cabernet SauvignonOakville more |
10/17/2021 - napajournal Likes this wine: 100 pointsHoly blackberry, Batman! I’ve had the privilege of tasting every MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon since its first commercial release in 2010 and the 2013s, 16s and 18s are absolute showstoppers. This 2013 is voluptuous and feels like your favorite winter scarf. It warmly wraps the tongue with a comforting texture. The powerful yet graceful wine provides the signature tastes of the MacDonald family’s cherished To-Kalon Creek area with violets, graphite, river rocks and ripe black and blue fruit. Serious energy and complexity with decades of excellent tasting experiences ahead. We drank this wine after 8 hours of air and it earned wine-of-the-night praises against an all-star line-up. |
| Red |
2015 Colgin IX EstateNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
10/17/2021 - napajournal Likes this wine: 99 pointsIntensely dark with seductive aromas of ripe red huckleberry, black cherry and a hint of milk chocolate with almonds. An impressive palate performance begins with a silky smooth tap dance followed by a rapidly escalating texture that envelopes the tongue. Notes of pepper and clay develop and evolve into a powerful fireworks finish. The dark, ripe wine masterfully represents Colgin’s IX Estate, its only eastern valley vineyard located in the volcanic region of Pritchard Hill (1100 to 1400 feet elevation) with well-drained reddish clays and weathered igneous rocks. An absolute delight to enjoy after 3-6 hours of air. |
| Red |
2002 Abreu ThorevilosNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
10/16/2021 - napajournal Likes this wine: 97 pointsWow! Red rock! Incredibly balanced and still brings the heat after 20 years. Black and red fruit with superb balance, a little green olive and a fantastic finish. Showing some age, but our group guessed 2007-2009. |
| Red |
2013 Fairchild Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 1 Beckstoffer Las Piedras VineyardSt. Helena more |
9/24/2021 - napajournal Likes this wine: 97 pointsI’m a pepper, he’s a pepper, she’s a pepper. This epic wine instantly gave me Dr. Pepper flashbacks. Serious red and blue density with a spicy finish that I would have liked to last a tad longer. The expressive nose flourished after 3 hours of air and several sips. A stocky fire pit wine with notes of smoky embers and a slight S’mores thing going on. Heavy whole-milk weight class makes this an ideal meal replacement wine. Past bottles of this wine and vintage have been easy 98 to 100 pointers. This one was 97. But it was climbing and I am confident it could have gone higher with more air. |
| Red |
2015 Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli MorganNapa Valley more |
6/25/2021 - napajournal Likes this wine: 99 pointsLove at first sip and an amazing bouquet of flavors! I get smoke, pistachio and chocolate-covered cherries on the nose. Ruby color and light body. Ripe red berries with an instant splash of salinity on the mid palate that lingers with sharp tannins for tens of seconds. An absolute mouthful of dark chocolate and berries with a big pinch of sea salt. Four to five hours of air and 99 all day! 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2019 PerUs Wine Co. AlessioNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
6/11/2021 - napajournal Likes this wine: 96 pointsFun graham cracker, dark chocolate and marshmallow nose. S’mores! A little more almond crunch on later whiffs. Smell instantly reminds me of signature Bevan wines. Tangy and burnt orange with a bunch of red berry on palate. Great mouthfeel and tannin. Wow finish! Tingly on the tongue. Peppery! Lacks front palate but makes up for it with a sharp, powerful closure. Makes me think Oakville (drank blind). And so much heat. Tench cab and Sugar Loaf franc! Love, love the Alessio, Bryn and Armaan lines of the PerUs production! |
| Red |
2018 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Lore VineyardOakville more |
6/11/2021 - napajournal wrote: NROMG S’mores nose! Super freaking red! Tastes of blood and over ripe fruit. The fruit is almost overwhelming up front and converts to a dry pucker at the end. Lighter body with a gliding effect and a slightly heated finish. Definitely has the rich fruit of Oakville. Would want to try after more than 5 hours of air to provide rating. |
| Red |
2017 Beau Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon Guest Cottage ~ Owners Reserve Stags Ridge VineyardNapa Valley more |
6/11/2021 - napajournal wrote: NRDark cherry and plum. Super slick. A tad medicinal. Glides down with a medium finish. Fruity and supple with a hint of iron. Tastes of southern Napa elevation! Drank with 5 hours of air. Liked, didn’t love. Probably deserves a little more age for greatness. |
| Red |
2018 Bevan Cellars OntogenyNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
6/8/2021 - napajournal Likes this wine: 96 pointsI love Russell Bevan and the energy and enthusiasm he brings to blending his wines. To me, his wines have a signature nose with a little almond, violet, spice, cedar, chocolate and orange peel. I get those at a more muted level on this 2018, which had 4 hours of full air. I typically like my wine temperatures around 55 to 60 degrees but I enjoy the Ontogeny at slightly warmer temps. It adds texture and dimension that I lose upfront at cellar temp. A gorgeous body with a little heat and most action coming on the back end. Thank you, Mr. Bevan, for delivering a wine with phenomenal quality-to-price ratio! 96-97 points all day long! 6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (6) |
| Red |
2014 Abreu ThorevilosNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
6/6/2021 - napajournal Likes this wine: 98 pointsSuch a dark wine with serious power. Tannins are nicely integrated with a deep, detailed finish. Mega wine and a super approachable vintage. A well-rounded force of nature that is the ideal meal-replacement wine. Tasted at 8 hours air and again at 18 hours. Holds strong. I have adored the 2007, 2010 and 2014 vintages with 2008 and 2013 not far behind. 98+ 💪🍷 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2016 Greer Cabernet Sauvignon Greer VineyardRutherford more |
2/2/2020 - napajournal Likes this wine: 100 pointsThis goes down as one of my 10 favorite bottles that I’ve opened since 2015. I love big, bold Napa cabs and have been fortunate to open three 16 Greers in the last six months and they are consistently epic with decants ranging from one to six hours. Tannic, ripe fruit, multidimensional, long-lasting masterpieces. I’ve tasted several Greer vintages and this is by far the best and amazingly consistent bottle to bottle. Kudos! |
| Red |
2010 MacDonald Cabernet SauvignonOakville more |
1/1/2019 - napajournal Likes this wine: 98 pointsBrought four big cabs (2010 Abreu Cappella, 2012 Greer, 2016 Vineyardist and this) on a Disney cruise and this won the week with a fantastic finish and rich texture. I’ve been fortunate to drink three bottles of the inaugural 2010 commercial release and this one showed the best. A real treat. |
| Red |
2013 Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las PiedrasSt. Helena more |
12/23/2018 - napajournal Likes this wine: 97 pointsGraphite, cedar, blackberry, cigar and red velvet with light/medium body. Quicker, silkier finish than my last bottle but a nice novocaine effect. All after an eight-hour decant. Love this wine and a magnificent vintage to boot. |
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- Tasting notes: 32 notes on 32 wines
