Community Tasting Note

• sean7711 Likes this wine: 98 points

  September 15, 2022 - One of the best wines I've had all year. Only needed a decant of 30 minutes. Minor tasting notes since I am just doing this TN on Monday after drinking a few days ago.
  
  Definitely not for fans of old world Napa - this is jammy, grape juice levels of fruit forward, but so so good. Could have drank another bottle on the spot it was so gulp-able.
  
  Will be reaching out to see I can get another 3 pack of this.

  5 people found this helpful 2,338 views

14 Comments

• LiteItOnFire commented:

  9/19/22, 8:00 AM - Wow- way to get in their early! We’re you there or pop’d one of your own? Do you have any info on the winery?
  
  Is this like a Bevan Cellars wine or would you describe it as something else?
  
  I think I have 1-2 vintages in the cellar and this waiting for the temps to moderate before shipping. Thanks for jumping in early and posting.
  
  Appreciate the insight.

• blarmston commented:

  9/19/22, 9:23 AM - Lite- this is a Sam Kaplan wine (he and his wife Nancy own it along with Hayes from Memento Mori).
  
  The fruit was sourced from some primo spots in Napa, and while I have tried to get the details out of them, they are tight lipped due to strict NDA's. Give or take :)
  
  I havent popped a cork on one of these yet, but after seeing this my desire to do so has increased by about 64-68%.

• LiteItOnFire commented:

  9/19/22, 9:30 AM - Thanks Blarm. Yeah Sam talked me into jumping in, maybe it was just the ‘19s. I know they attached a charity to it too. Yeah I just moved this to the try earlier side of the cellar. Damnit.

• iamandyc commented:

  9/19/22, 12:13 PM - Sean - thanks for great note. I may open one for my 65th coming up soon! Anyone going on their Napa in Cabo extravaganza?

• sean7711 commented:

  9/19/22, 12:19 PM - Lite/Blarm - definitely no harm trying one now. I actually was surprised how open it was after 30 minutes as it was a bit of a split decision to open it. Also, I can't remember where I read it but I thought a good chunk of this was sourced from Beckstoffer To Kalon.
  
  Andy - definitely considered it. Honestly not that bad of the price considering the wine dinners/golf/accommodations. However, saving up for my wedding early next year so it's not in the cards :/

• blarmston commented:

  9/19/22, 1:29 PM - I thought about heading down there, but once you add up the flights, other meals etc, and the fact that there's a fund raiser where the expectation is to be generous with your "charitable inclinations", I am going to pass.
  
  Actually, I still wanted to go but my GF put the kibosh on it.

• LiteItOnFire commented:

  9/19/22, 2:53 PM - Yeah I was on the fence as well but focused on the wine dinners here as I am making myself nuts putting these things together and then we pre-game beforehand with stupid wines and for in a round of golf.
  
  Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials!
  
  Hope you guys can make one of these events- it’s my fun hobby (I do not make anything from this just get to do cool stuff)
  
  https://shoutout.wix.com/so/a6OBcUQgM?languageTag=en&status=Draft&cid=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000#/main

• #1Winelover commented:

  9/19/22, 6:33 PM - Very cool note, Sean! I have been meaning to try this. I texted with Hayes ~ 6 months or so ago and he said to wait; since it was the inaugural vintage and it needed some time. Now -- I'm in and will try it.
  
  Yes, the 1st vintage came from To-Kalon, a secret vineyard in St. Helena and somewhere else. I usually don't purchase wine from vineyards not advertised, but I'm a fan of Hayes and Sam.
  
  Blarm -- I think that you should take me to Mexico.

• Geaux Tigers commented:

  9/19/22, 7:16 PM - You boys are killing me with your infantcide! Notes like this make it hard to let my babies rest. Keep the corks poppin’ and the notes coming and I can easily be convinced to open one myself.

• Kcookesd commented:

  1/30/23, 1:11 PM - As am a Fan of both MM and Sam Kaplan, and based on your notes, I contacted them and they are sending me a 3 pack. After as short rest, I'll check the first one out. Thanks for the note.

• LiteItOnFire commented:

  1/30/23, 1:34 PM - Finally get to taste these at a wine dinner here in AZ next week’ can’t wait.

• blarmston commented:

  1/30/23, 6:42 PM - Lite- message me the info on that dinner. I’ve been meaning to get out there to finally meet a new client in person. Perhaps for some VV as well.

• LiteItOnFire commented:

  1/30/23, 7:40 PM - Don’t laugh- I don’t know how to message you…

• blarmston commented:

  1/31/23, 12:00 PM - Shoot me over something on IG?
  
  I can also text Hayes or Sam K, but that dinner sounds interesting for sure...

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