11/4/2023 - tcufletch wrote:

Stored in temperature controlled facility until this weekend when we opened for a birthday celebration...unfortunately the wine was corked. Initial pour was slightly musty with some fruit on the front end so I decanted and let sit for an hour. Several small pours, swirls and sips over another 30-60 minutes didn't help. Let sit overnight and still no improvement. Unfortunate given how good this wine usually has been.

3/25/2023 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Like others have said already after drinking this wine, Esola has become one of my favorites from Bedrock.

Also, as others have noted, the nose on this is sensational, heavily perfumed dominated by lavendar and jasmine; on the palate, bright, ripe strawberry, raspberry, tart cranberry and orange zest; crunchy mineral finish; vibrant acid that hits the sides of your mouth on the way down; lighter than most Bedrock Zins; not the most structured but really well done and a really good one to drink young.

Bedrock and Sandlands have figured out how to make these Amador County grown grapes really shine.

1/27/2023 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Ok, so I think I'm opening this wine too soon. Similar to my last review, mostly muted nose and palate after 30-60 minutes. Rapid swirling and using the Vinturi opens the wine somewhat and exposed dark purple floral notes, olive brine and meat fat but it still doesn't "pop."

After 60-120 minutes, both the nose and palate start showing a little more character but overall, still pretty darned shy. There is a little more fruit (mostly blackberry with some plumb and fig and less grapey) and a heavier texture on the palate has evolved. Tannins are smooth and the acid-level is really nice; smooth finish but not terribly long. This is going to be gone after 2.5 to 3 hours so further evolution will not be known.

I'd say to give this another year year or two or decant for several hours. This still isn't my favorite Sandlands wine but it's really good and makes me realize (again) how great of deal we have here in a wine made by Tegan Passalacqua at these prices.

1/1/2023 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Much better than the bottle consumed almost two years ago; typical Mike Smith Cab with big, extracted, rich, fresh fruit dominating the palate; a little too much oak for me but still enjoyable; consumed over 3-4 hours with a 30 minute decant; not much changed over that time

3/25/2022 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Compared to my last bottle, this is a little more savory; palate is still primarily strawberry with spiced floral notes; really great juiciness with a bit heavier saline kick than previously; not as much tartness now either.

Drink now or within the next year. Love these Trousseaus!

2/19/2022 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

This is smashing good; so good it didn't even last two hours. Pale, golden in color, clear, no sediment; nose is pure Chardonnay fruit with some light toast; the palate is where this is at; layers of tropical citrus, toasted coconut, honey and almonds, stone fruit and minerals; great balance and mouthfeel with a mouthwatering acidity that hits on the very back-end.

In almost 10 years of buying Morgan's wines I think this is the first Chardonnay I've tasted.

8/14/2021 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Decanted for approx one hour and consumed over four; nose of black pepper and smoked meats; on the palate, so much black pepper, rendered bacon, liquid smoke and muddled blackberry; this is rich but very smooth; some tannic bite mid-palate but overall well-integrated.

8/10/2021 - tcufletch wrote:

Opened for my wife to enjoy with friends but poured a few small sips; the nose really pops with saline, minerals and freshly cut lemon; the palate has intensified in flavor over the past couple of months but is still rather simple showing freshly squeezed lemon and a splash of ocean water; better than I recalled; firm acid tinge on the back end; maybe hold for a little while longer

8/7/2021 - tcufletch wrote:

Not my favorite of the beloved Sandlands but still an enjoyable drinker. Nothing jumped out on the nose or the palate; some dark, sweet cherry and some purple floral tones but nothing that really shouted "this is syrah"; tannins and acid were there and in check with maybe a hint of astringency on the back end; just a taste on day 1 but consumed the majority on day 2.

7/4/2021 - tcufletch Does not like this wine:

This was disappointing and my first Ferren wine that was just not enjoyable. Too much buttered popcorn and oak. The fruit was very muted and there was little acid zing on the backend.

7/16/2021 - tcufletch Does not like this wine:

I don't know if I would call this corked or oxidized but it was flat and void of any fruit and acid; cork looked fine and no musty smell. Every now and then I would get a whiff of wild strawberry on the nose but the palate was mostly dead with maybe a bit of green pepper. Gave it three days to try and come around but it never did.

The Trousseau has been my favorite bottling from Sandlands from the first vintage released but this was my least favorite bottle under the label (out of 61 bottles drank to date). My other bottle consumed in 2019 was much better so maybe it's just on its downside (and falling quickly?)

5/15/2021 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Not much of a change from my tasting note just over one year ago other than the following:
1) a little more "tropical" and less "citrus" right now; palate is honeysuckle and melon with a bit of banana on the back end enveloped by a rounded, mild oakiness and vanilla bean
2)a little richer and the acid zip I love has mellowed a bit

This is definitely an easy drinker and well done.

5/15/2021 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Pop and slow-ox for a couple of hours; dark ruby to purple in color; gorgeous nose of blackberry and blueberry jams, star anise, white pepper, herbs de provence; awesome mouthfeel, layered and textured, very lightweight on the palate but really big on taste, blackberry cobbler, licorice, black currants, violets; the fruit is very fresh and bright, lively; velvety smooth but still strong tannins that grab ahold of the palate just after the right amount of acid hits; medium+ finish

75% Syrah; 25% Mourvedre

Really appreciate Mark's wines as they continue to be so very-well crafted and offer tremendous value.

5/9/2021 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Popped and let sit for a couple of hours before initial pour; dark eggplant color; layered nose begins with ripe blue and black fruits with a little touch of cedar, then kirsch and graphite; palate is big and full, with blackberry cobbler, fresh blueberries sprinkled with those Raw sugar crystals, and undertones of cedar, cassis and exotic spices; super-round, silky mouthfeel; fine, sweet tannins that still offer some grip on the back end but are already seemingly well-integrated; incredible finish that lasts

The nose on this is killer all by itself and can hold my attention for hours alone but the magic is the layered fruit. This is a much darker profile right off the bat than any of Will's previous vintages. Each vintage dating back to the '14, I seemed to get more red fruit up front and it took quite some before any black/blue fruit pushed through. Not the case here and the fruit comes in waves. It's much more opulent than earlier vintages as well. There is very good structure here as well which tells me the wine will hold and age well for years. Best Shifflett Cab thus far and difficult to find its flaws. 97/98+ in my book

4/30/2021 - tcufletch wrote:

Decanted and revisited over 3+ hours; absolutely no fruit on the nose or the palate, just oak and vanilla (bleh); maybe shutting down a bit (?) although I can't recall that from any previous NV vintage; hopefully the fruit comes back over time but right now, not good

4/25/2021 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Nothing formal but really nice to drink; loads of juicy, ripe raspberry and cherry, soft leather and flowers with quite a bit of good acidity; mild to moderate tannins.

4/17/2021 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Decanted for approx. one hour before first taste and then consumed over 4 hours; dark purple in color; rather subdued nose over the first hour or so but then sappy, extracted fruits of blackberry and dark cherry, various liqueurs and coffee; big, concentrated, sweet liquered fruit on the palate, herbs and purple floral characteristics; strong, drying tannins but a silky mouthfeel and the overall profile is very balanced and there is a juicy acidity on the back end; huge ABV of 16% but also in check rather than being a nuisance

55% Grenache; 25% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre; 5% Roussanne

3/27/2021 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Decanted for a couple of hours; not much sediment as others have noted; gently perfumed nose of brambly red fruit, Asian spice, coffee, light alcohol; on the palate, warm red fruit cobbler, raspberry jam, typical Zin-bramble initially, then some tart cherry and a really cool Anise on the mid-to-back end; tannins have mellowed considerable and this is a very smooth drinker; still a little acid on the back end to keep this round and balanced.

This was really enjoyable to drink. A little bit of an edge early on due to alcohol heat (it's only 14.5% for a Zin) but that was overcome with a little chill. What was really good was the coffee on the nose and this Anise note on the back end of every sip; something I haven't noticed in this wine before. Wonderful vineyard + producer combo.

3/19/2021 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Pop and pour; consumed over approx. 3 hours; golden straw in color; pretty nose of lemon, citrus, some pear and maybe mint; layered palate of fresh lemon and green apple up front, then lemon cream and almonds; as the wine warms, the almonds intensify almost to a marzipan essence and the creaminess becomes more prevalent (I love it); a light vanilla note shows as well but I don't get any vanilla until the wine begins to warm; this is fresh and juicy throughout with a zest of lime on the back-end acid kick; well-balanced.

I've been fortunate to have this over several vintages and while the 2013 is still my favorite, this vintage is probably my next in line. It has a "sophistication" to it in that it is nicely balanced without one attribute/characteristic trying to be louder than the other. The layered palate and additional energy and intensity of the flavors takes this above the 2018 SC bottling, which I also love. I liked this best around the low-60 degree mark (a bit warmer than cellar temp).

2/19/2021 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Initial pop and pour but ultimately consumed over two days; the nose explodes right off the pour with big blue and purple fruit; perfumed and layered with exotic spices; on the palate, the fruit was forward and perfectly ripe and fresh; more savory than sweet; tannins are still firm and somewhat gritty so give it some air; plenty of acid to help maintain the structure and draw you back for another sip.

The blend of fruit from this Heritage vineyard is really well done and not like the other Heritage wines. I see people referring to Zin in other reviews but I get more Petitie, Carignan and Mataro here. The Zin may be there and offer some of the sweetness and acid structure but this drinks more Rhone to me. Not so much the "meatiness" but more stone/mineral, lavender, smoke and black tea. On Day 2, the palate did exhibit more of an "animalistic" profile that I expect from Petitie and Carignan but not considerably different from Day 1.

This was one of the more profound Bedrocks for me (and I've had plenty) and further confirms how great MTP is at his craft. Great value to be had here.

2/13/2021 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Initial taste was a small sip upon opening; crisp and clean nose of light strawberry, allspice and a bit of stems; palate was a fresh and vibrant delicate strawberry and a fine minerality. All of this was really pleasant and what I've come to appreciate in Jamie's Pinots.

Fast forward an hour or so after giving the wine a little chill and things changed. The fruit had become a little more muted, not completely gone but not what it was initially. There were more savory notes and less bright fruit. The mid-palate was a bit flat and there was very little acid on the back end. Re-corked and put away for a day.

Day two and the wine has morphed yet again and to something I appreciate and enjoy. The fruit on the nose and palate is still not bright and fresh like it was upon opening but there are defined strawberry and rhubarb flavors and I too now get that light mushroom savoriness indicated by others. There is more savoriness and earth here than fruit but all the flavors play well together with a really nice layered mouthfeel. What I think I appreciate the most is there is now more acid which really helps the mouthfeel and makes the wine more interesting. This is a solid wine; definitely more old-world style which is along the lines of what I've come to expect from Jamie.

12/31/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Opened and decanted for 7 hours prior to first pour; big nose of creme de cassis, cigar box and leather; very inviting; the palate has great depth with a wonderful concentration of blackberry compote and blackcurrant up front with chocolate and tobacco notes mid-palate and a nice savoriness on the back end; so very smooth and mouth-coating; soft tannins without any graininess and enough acid to keep things interesting; very long finish.

This is drinking great now...probably 95-96 if I had to rate it.

12/30/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Decanted for an hour; the nose was pretty shy with some appealing red fruit and light vanilla; sweet cherry dominated the front end of the palate with a little tobacco and some herbs but nothing incredibly discernible; over a couple of hours, the fruit darkened a bit; a very easy drinker over the first couple of hours but as the wine got more air, the tannins got a little more jagged and drying; poured back into the bottle, corked and sat on the counter. Day 2 showed a darker fruit profile along the lines of muddled blackberry; the tannins were still pretty firm but soft enough to make it enjoyable; decent acid on the back end.

Considering the cost, there is nothing wrong with this wine and in fact, I rather enjoyed it. It does appear to lean towards a more classical style of Napa Cab. It's not overly complex and structured but did just fine drinking on its own and with food.

12/28/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Didn't realize until after consumed that it had been less than 3 months since my last bottle. No significant change from my 10/3/20 review. Really great value.

12/27/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

This is a really cool mix of old-school peppered-meats and garrigue with streaks of new-world, fruit-forward cherries jubilee throughout. Quite structured but still approachable now. The introduction of air, via Vinturi or over a couple of days, helps to soften the edges.

A bit lower ABV (14.2%) than what other vintages have shown. 80/20 Syrah/Grenache from Marks' family ranch whereby the Syrah was planted using vines from Bone Rock in the James Berry Vineyard.

11/21/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Opened and consumed over the course of 6 nights (recorked and stored in the fridge each night); the best of which was night 6.

Dark blackberries, kirsch and cedar on the nose; palate is similar with some sweet cherry and creamy undertones; classic Zin bramble offers a nice rustic quality and is in balance with the other characteristics; tannins have mellowed considerably and there is just enough acid on the back end to keep this balanced.

This was really good on open but continued to evolve over the course of several days and just seemed to peak on day 6 when the mouthfeel was really plush.

11/24/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Consumed over the course of three days and not much change over that time but this is simply a wonderful wine and for the cost, positively stunning.

Pours a really pretty, clear, pale rouge, with a tinge of peach along the edges; light enough that you expect something along the lines of a darker Rose or maybe and Orange wine but the fruit is much darker, deeper and richer than those styles of wine; stems and strawberry on the nose, with a subtle spice undertone and maybe some orange zest; crisp and refreshing spiced strawberry and crunch, tart cranberry fruit on the front-end of the palate and then a nice savoriness of white pepper and bright tomato in the middle and on the back end; the savory characteristics show more as the wine warms to room temperature; a lot of bright acid still holds this together.

This wine drinks well in its young age with bright, crunchy, fresh fruit being the center, but after 6 years of sitting sideways, the savory character has pushed through the fruit and really makes this wine interesting. It's a joy to drink both young and with a little age. Curious how it will evolve over the next several years...

10/27/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Good and enjoyable but not on the same level as the 2017. Lemons, honey, white flowers and minerals; rounded mouthfeel but would like a little more acid.

11/6/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Bravo Cody, Bravo! This is a wonderful representation of Syrah! His first wine made and the bar is set at a lofty level!

Opened for an hour before drinking and then consumed (mostly) over several hours. Violets and olives on the nose, wrapped in smoked meats and dark cherries; the palate is much the same with a bit of cracked pepper and full of a velvety smoothness to every sip; still rustic, but with soft tannins and very enjoyable.

Easily noticeable as Syrah and really wonderful. For $30, I'll drink this every day.

11/3/2020 - tcufletch wrote:

Decanted and then consumed over 4-5 hours.

This is backwards and/or shut down but I'm not sure how much it will improve over time. Very different from the 2014 NV which I recall having enjoyed a couple of years ago; not sure if there is any Moulds int he NV blend though. Very shallow nose, with sweet red fruits and earth; palate was burst of ripe, sweet red fruit with little darker fruit on the back end; over time, a little chocolate maybe at times and quite a bit of oak and cedar; big tannins and quite a lot of acid.

10/17/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Year-over-year this is such a solid wine and this vintage is no exception...and my favorite since 2010.

Pop and pour, consumed over two days; fresh, ripe fruit right off the bat, with a crunchiness and tartness I've come to expect, but a little more in the background than other vintages; this is similar to the 2015 in being more fruit-forward, but the 2017 is more focused, round and balanced and not so much in your face; tart red cherry, raspberry and baking spice; tannins are present but very much under control; wonderfully bright acid zip as usual; excellent value

10/22/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

60% Syrah; 40% Grenache (label shows "Adams Ranch Vineyard" and does not designate as Syrah)

I was a little worried upon opening as the nose and palate were overwhelming alcohol hot. There was definitely fruit on the nose but it was enveloped in a warm blanket of high ABV. Corked and put it into the fridge.

Three hours later and I really like this. Similar to almost every Ledge wine I've had, there is a really great perfumed nose. Warm strawberry, dark cherry, star anise and a little jolly rancher sweetness; overall, more Grenache than Syrah here. As the wine warms, the nose shows more purple floral aspects, savoriness and spice. Similar palate to the Grenache-driven nose but definite cool-climate Syrah characteristics are evident with more cherry, white pepper and a zip of acid on the back-end. At this point in its life, the tannins have mellowed (still evident though) and there is a light toasted oakiness showing here. Over several hours of tasting, I prefer this with a little chill on it as it helps to mitigate the 15.2% ABV.

10/3/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Pop and pour and consumed over two days; nice nose of dark raspberries, mulberry and underripe cherry; on the palate this is similar to the '15 with a riper-fruit component that what may be expected of a beujolais but it is rounder and more elegant than the '15; luscious and ripe, red strawberry and black cherry with a crunchy undertone, some rustic bramble and minerals; good tannin structure and the right amount of acid; should be hitting its stride in the next couple of years.

This is really good and enjoyable to drink and really great for the price.

9/19/2020 - tcufletch wrote:

For what it is and for the price at Costco, a decent wine; varietally-correct but could have used a little more acid in my book as it was a little dull mid-palate and on the back end; would like a little more petrol as well but given the youth, I suppose that shouldn't be expected. Not a re-buy.

10/2/2020 - tcufletch wrote:

Pulled the cork about 4 hours prior to consumption and let sit on the counter and then decanted just before. When pouring into the decanter, there was no overt fruit aroma...uh oh. In the mouth, there were some subtle tertiary flavors of minerals, flint, cedar, but the typical Panek-fruit was mostly non-existent. The acid was stronger here than the other components which pushed me to believe the bottle was flawed. It worked when we drank it with food (filet and sides) but by itself, it wasn't as enjoyable as the bottle should have been.

10/3/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Two things strike me from Morgan's release notes on this vineyard: (1) beautiful, precise fruit...and the brightness that comes with the exposure to the Pacific Ocean and (2) this will take a little time to unfurl. He is absolutely correct on both accounts but the wine is also drinking so well right now.

Pop and pour and consumed over several hours; no decant; perfumed nose of red cherry and mild baking spice; really pretty dark red to magenta color; fresh, juicy, bright bing cherry palate, with cranberry and orange peel zing, undertones of thanksgiving spice; after time, a little darker fruit profile begins to emerge (maybe from the Carignan?); there is a nice mineral undertone that makes the fruit a little "crunchy" similar to beaujolais (i love it); great acid that lifts the wine and helps it glide effortlessly across the palate.

At the moment, this wine is wonderful, with the showcase being the bright, fresh and lively fruit. I'm sure it will only get better but I'm not unhappy to have had this right now. (Note to self: buy more)

9/25/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

70% Grenache / 30% Syrah (label shows 15.5% ABV)

Decanted for about one hour; similar to other Ledge wines I've had, the nose is just great right off the pop; lots of perfumed violets, baked strawberry and spice on this one; I'm very happy to simply take deep sniffs from the glass for some time before actually taking the first sip; the palate is much the same with more rich, baked strawberry, dark raspberry and spicecake; tannins and acid were both relatively mild which made the wine easy to drink without food.

My only negative is the fruit seemed to be pushing the envelope a bit on ripeness as at some points it almost seemed a bit stewed and flabby. Maybe a stronger acidity would have held it together and provided a lift as the fruit is still dominant and heavy.

9/26/2020 - tcufletch wrote:

Initial pour was damp and musty; hoped it would blow off but didn't; corked

9/19/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

I don't drink much Merlot but this is darn good juice! Definitely on the bigger and more fruit-forward end of the spectrum but it's well made and not overly-extracted. Loads of freshly ripened, juicy cherries and cassis abound interwoven with a little milk chocolate. Splash decanted and consumed over 4 hours the profile didn't change all that much. Clocks in at 15% ABV but no heat on the nose or the palate.

8/14/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

PNP and consumed over 4+ hours; dark red to purplish color; the initial nose and palate were both somewhat closed; after a little while, blue and black fruit rose to the forefront, with streaks of bitter cocoa and graphite; then some plum, baking spice and light herbs and dust; the longer the wine was open, the more dominant the fruit became; tannins were finely grained and firm but they didn't overpower the fruit and tertiary flavors; great acidity rounded everything out nicely.

This was not a newer-world, extracted wine, but rather one in which the winemaker wanted to showcase the quality of the grape. There is quite a bit of structure here as it did take a little while for the palate to really present itself, but after only an hour or two of air, the wine was shining, presenting the purity of the fruit. One of the best values for an NV Cab.

7/26/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Crazy blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Cinsaut, 20% Tannat; 10% Petite Syrah, 5% Syrah and 5% Zinfandel from the James Berry, Adams Ranch and G2 Vineyards.

Consumed over 2 days; Day 1 was dominated by the Grenache with a lifted sweetness of ripe strawberry and raspberry jams, red currants and really cool streak of citrus mid-palate; Day 2 showed more of a darker and savory palate with a heavy dose of Syrah and Tannat; spice and iron with black pepper on the back end; all these grapes played so well together presenting a lush and silky mouthfeel; 15% ABV wasn't even noticeable.

8/6/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Pop and poured a taste before dinner; perfumed nose of cherry and red licorice with some spice box; initially a bit jagged on the palate but after 60 minutes that jaggedness softened; over the course of the night, the wine presented a sweeter, red fruit profile that would darken a bit mid-palate; very fine streak of oak throughout; very sophisticated and full of class; lighter on its feet than the Cab and seemingly more old-school Napa flair; give it time or more air to thoroughly enjoy.

8/8/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

PNP; Lighter ruby in color; off the bat, crunchy, fresh, vibrant under-ripe cherry and raspberry; bit of sweetness and carbonic zest; after being open awhile, the fruit became more lush and softened with some soft floral notes and spice; different from other Bedrocks but really enjoyable.

7/10/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Pop and pour and consumed over one night; Wow! What an incredible nose; full floral and fresh herbs; very unique; lavender and violets, thyme, rosemary, tarragon; darker fruit palate, savory Syrah qualities but also some crunchy red fruits; definite mineral streak throughout but well integrated; everything working well together; really a pleasure to drink.

This was so very unique and I just couldn't get enough of the nose. i don't recall anything like it. I preferred this on the cooler (low 60s) side.

5/29/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Fun to drink; better on day 2; nose of grapefruit and minerals initially, then ocean water and sour apple; on the palate, white peach, citrus, lemongrass; more racy and alive and overall focused when cooler; impressive effort.

5/25/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Pop and pour and consumed over the course of one night; perfumed nose of sweet red fruits, cedar, red currants, graphite and red licorice; palate very similar to the nose with soft, smooth tannins; maybe a little more cedar on the back end as the wine got more air.

Overall, very good and drinking better now than two years ago, but lacking a bit of something to put it over the top for a single vineyard Napa Cab right now at this price.

5/23/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Open, small pour then slow ox for a couple of hours; consumed in one night; striking nose right off the bat of freshly squeezed blackberry sprinkled with sugar; the palate is full of sweet, super juice blackberry (not the over-extracted sweet rather a perfectly ripe with nature's sweetness), dark tobacco, iron and cedar; very fine, drying tannins but on the back-end only.

This was gorgeous and a great QPR. I think I would decant the next bottle. The cooler the temp (low to mid 60s), the more lifted the fruit and even more perfumed nose.

5/22/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Pop and pour initially but consumed over two days; dark purple color with a ruby rim; blackberry liqueur nose with quite a lot of alcohol heat initially, followed by scorched earth and some floral notes; the palate was a wall of tannins, even after decanting and waiting a day, still very strong; definitely a darker, sweet fruit profile, with menthol, earth and leather on the back-end.

This is a bit of a bruiser with all power and lacking the finesse but it seems to have the stuffing...just needs time because it's a bit backwards at the moment.

7/23/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Decanted and drank over 3 hours; while delicious, it could have used more air; on the nose, this was very aromatic dominated by dark cherries with some floral undertones; the same dark cherry filled the palate up front but graphite, light cocoa and toasted oak softly enveloped the dark red fruit goodness shortly thereafter; there is a tiny bit of sweetness (cherry kirsch-esque) throughout but it's very nuanced and graceful; well structured with firm tannins right now that only began to soften after several hours.

Over the 2014-2017 vintages, these Shifflett Ranch Cabs continuously give me more red fruit and specifically dark cherry throughout. I've never gotten much of a blue or black fruit out of these. They have all been more of an "old-world" style (but still distinctively Napa) and all very polished. This vintage reminds me of the 2015.

5/16/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:

Decanted and consumed over a 3-day period with the last day being the best; dark purple in color, almost dark as night; once this opened up (beginning day 2) the nose was wonderful; blackberry bramble, plums, smoked meats, macerated olives, light pepper; in the mouth, this was full-blackberry up front with some tobacco and iron; then heavier on the earth and brine qualities mid-palate; very nice mineral streak all the way through; rich and full-bodied overall; maybe a little alcohol heat on day 1; fine, chalky, sweet tannins; great weight overall and wonderful finish.

This is a terrific Syrah and exceptional value in my book. 93+ once it had time to open up.