4/14/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Is it day 3 already?

Black garnet and clear. Showing just a bit of age. Slow legs.

Ripe traditional Bordeaux fruit, leather, tar, licorice, earth, and vanilla. The nose is integrated, so it took me some time to pick out the individual components.

The palate perfectly confirms nose adding mint and graphite. Tannins are soft and balanced. Elegant, integrated, and delicious after two daya. This could bode well for a little more patience.

Finish is beautiful and still sticking around as I type this...

4/9/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Color and clarity are spot on.

Wide open, ripe and ready for business. Dry and perfectly balanced with fine grained tannins. Medium body and medium finish with an Oakville state of mind.

Should be good for several years to come.

4/7/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

2nd day notes.

On the purple side for Pinot. Looks like a young Ken Brown to me.

Black cherry, plum, strawberry, juniper, cola, vanilla, orange, and earth on the nose.

Ripe red fruits, bright and juicy. Grippy minerality. Lemon. Dusty pepper. Cherry cola.

Finish is long and developing.

3/31/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Decanted off of fine grained sediment for 2 hours before placement back in the bottle for serving.

Concentrated and crystal clear. Showing just a touch of age.

Leaping from the decanter as it's poured from the bottle. Complete.

Supple and powerful at the same time. Perfect? Surely very close.

Overall, this may one of the best Napa wines I've ever tasted. At the right place 10 years plus from vintage.

Early front runner for wine of the year.

3/31/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Lovely nose, color, palate, balance and finish.

Surprising ripeness for the vintage. Really an excellent wine that just lacked those small touches between excellence and greatness.

Decanted about 90 minutes off of reasonable sediment and stood up to air for at least another two hours. Reminded me of some cold vintage Montelena Estate CS bottles that I have really enjoyed in the past.

3/23/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Deep concentrated color and perfectly clear.

Nose is cherries, rhubarb, touch of cola, and clean earth.

Palate is round and juicy and confirms nose. Incredibly profound, integrated and balanced. Mouth coating mid palate with welcome minerality.

One of my favorite Pinots so far this year. I immediately started shopping for more. If I had tasted this blind, it would have fooled me easily. It's just so Burgundian.

3/15/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Got into this one the same day I brought it home. Left upright at room temperature for about four hours before decanting.

Color is garnet with no bricking. Clarity was compromised. Probably due to impatience and some stirring during transport. Sound cork showed minimal color up to 1cm.

Nose is a little lean. Cherry and new leather. Palate is where I enjoyed this most. Cherry, dried cherry, new leather, stone, licorice and still some tannic grip.

Quite enjoyable still, though for me there is no basis for comparison.

I'll enjoy my next bottle soon. Drink.

2/9/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Tight on open and needed a full hour in the decanter to show. Fairly primary dry palate of dried black fruit, some tar, and some iodine. Kind of a savory meaty thing happening mid palate. Starts with full mouth feel and then softens quickly. Not overly drying or grippy right now, but still some structure to support more time in bottle.

I'm putting my vote in for hold.

2/7/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Good sense of place and delicious. Enjoyed over a couple of days and picked up steam through day two.

2/3/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

After two hours in the decanter...

Nose is clean and sound. Needs a bit of coaxing to open. Dusty cherry, cranberry, orange zest, black tea, spicy herbal frame. Outstanding.

Palate curls the corners of my lips up a bit. Really lovely. Confirming nose and a beautiful expression of Sta Rita.

Grand Cru. No rush. 93 today and probably better later.

1/30/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Over a year since my last bottle.

Happy to report this is coming along slowly and steadily. Still tannic and needing time to stitch together some loose edges, but quite delicious after 3 hours of air. Unlike my last bottle, this was better on the second day.

Be patient.

6/30/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Tasted at the Domaine.
2020 15.0%
65% Grenache, around 10-15% Syrah, Cinsault, Counoise
Average vine age 85 for the Grenache.
There is an old leather character on the nose.
This is a big, profound, and dark fruited wine. Needing several years to settle in and balance the abundant tannins, intense fruit, and savory notes.

1/28/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Nicely structured, deep saturated color, funky, earthy, fruity and youthful. I'd like to taste this after it has some more time in the bottle.

1/27/2024 - WineKnut wrote:

First taste of our flight yesterday. 100% Chardonnay. Dry and clear with little mousse. Served quite chilled and very bready, and yeasty, followed by lemon, green apple and just a little grass. I found it more balanced as it warmed slightly.

1/20/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

I was over the moon with the first sip. Not because this was an obvious classic LB, but because of the depth of the blue black fruit, seasoning, minerality, lifting into red fruits while the finish lingers. Starts out almost weightless before the fine tannins build weight and bring the wine back down to earth.

I suspect this could reach early peak between 2030 and 2035. Modern? Maybe. Do I care? Nope, it's delicious today.

Oh yeah, 6 hour decant and put back in the bottle for another 2 hours before serving.

1/20/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

WOTN for me in a crazy mixed up tasting line up of different prices, varietals, decades and regions. Had tasted 2000 LB some time ago with some folks in the group and wanted to share two more LB's from more recent decades.

3 hour decant and fine sediment. Medium bodied and showing just a tiny bit of garnet compared to the 2020 LB in side by side comparison.

Powerful cassis, dark berries, licorice, leather, strong graphite, and structure for the long haul. Where I found the 2000 to be quite earthy, the '10 had more fruit against it's secondary development, but not enough to push it into modern territory. Classic Bordeaux from a classic vintage.

I think this may be about 5 years out from peak for my palate.

1/20/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

PNP. All of my decanters were busy airing out other bottles.

Rich color saturation and perfectly clear. Very youthful for age 10.

True balance and poise on the nose and in the glass. Could have used an hour of air as the last of my glass showed complexity to go along with elegance.

1/20/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Clear golden juice showing it's age in the glass, but still clear and very little tartrate in the bottle.

Served at cellar temperature. Nose developing with air and time to warm in the glass. Closed at first, but after about an hour showed pineapple, truffle, walnuts, and a touch of paraffin.

Palate was surprisingly fresh. Truffles dominating the palate on pnp. Bright pineapple and white peach, apparent botrytis, almonds and walnuts elbowing their way into the fold as it warmed and caught it's breath. Just a touch of sherry. Very balanced and quite fresh on the finish.

10 tasters and not even a drop was left in one of the glasses. A treat!

Not enough experience to score this one, but it was perfectly suited to a 60th birthday celebration.

1/16/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Still somewhat guarded after 3 hour decant off of abundant sediment. Black cherry, mocha, dusty, vanilla and moist saddle leather on the nose.

Medium bodied in the mouth. Dry fruit driven palate. Cocoa, mint, attic, granite, juicy, and mouth coating fine grained tannins are the supporting players.

Cerebral. Drinking well at age ten. 92-93.

No rush.

1/8/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

After 2 hours and vigorous aeration in the decanter this juice is finally showing up to the party.

It's pretty bright on the nose. Red and black fruited. Plenty of vanilla, tar, granite dust and new leather.

Palate is where this comes together. Puckery and juicy all at the same time. Dry and fresh perfectly ripe fruit. Everything amplifying the nose. This is still a very big wine just longer than 5 years in.

Finish is sticky and lingers for, well, forever.

This story is a long way from over. 93-94 possible in a few years.

1/7/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Notes on this bottle over three days.

Stemmy ripe cherry nose. Plenty of spice, forest and orange zest. Maybe a bit of vanilla cola in the background. Youthful and not slowing down.

Day one palate was fruit driven, but not without interest. Day two brought the savory to the front. Day three left me wishing I had given this bottle 3-5 years before opening. Dried cranberries, a touch of truffle, cola are speaking in precise harmony.

Finish is brilliant and persistent.

Hold.

1/1/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Cork soaked about 1/4" up. Color is inky purple with thick quick legs. Blackberries, vanilla, violets, with just a hint of smoked pork. Medium mouth feel and salty, bright palate. Balanced and powerful. Enjoyed the minerality and black tea that lingers for almost a minute.

Quite special, as usual.

12/20/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Fairly light bodied and elegant. Blue/black fruited and deep color. Subtle vanilla, citrus lift, and great minerality on the finish. A welcome diversion from some of the bigger wines I have been tasting through lately.

Drink now for a perfectly ripe Burgundian fruit forward experience or hold.

12/23/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Last tasted in November of 2020. No formal notes. Stupendous balance with red fruits moving to the front over dried dark fruit flavors. Savory underpinnings add interest without overwhelming.

Beautiful.

12/16/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Boy did this wine throw some sediment! The sediment was like a second purple cork... Definitely needs decanting, but once that's done you are in business.

There is quite a bit of dusty, leathery black and blue fruit left. At 21 years past vintage, this bottle hinted at what must have been an overpowering youth. It is now a balanced, powerful, and mature wine.

12/20/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Tremendous. Powerful, but incredibly balanced. Layered in the mouth with an endless finish.

12/8/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

WS 2007 #1 wine enjoyed with my brother in law in a social setting. Just a touch of brick on a dark garnet core. Nose is giving and clean. So far, so good! On the tongue this is even more giving. Layered, but a bit rustic. Clearly mature and also delicious.

Glad that I shared this with a friend. Would be a shame to waste this on myself. A very special wine indeed.

Easy 94.

12/10/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Color deep dark ruby and clear. 5

Open and primary at 1 hour. Blackberries, cedar, tar, anise and sage with apparent brightness on on the nose. Some heat. 12

Plush and full palate. Dry and fruit forward attack followed by layers cascading through every expectation. Finishes with impressive minerality. 18

This is another truly special wine from my favorite plot in the region. 8

12/9/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Between the youth of the wine and perhaps the youth of the vine this is a bit impetuous. Tempered by the experience of a master wine maker.

A touch candied on night one and more focused on night two.

Good for sure.

12/6/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Perfectly clear and saturated. Slow legs. 4

Clean but subdued nose. Evergreens, plums, dark cherries, cocoa, smoke. Enjoyable. 12

Medium bodied. Bone dry, but still a bit candied. Juicy and complex. This is where the wine shines, but it is still a fish out of water. In spite of the quality, there is no sense of place for me. 16

I do respect the quality of the winemaking exhibited in this bottle, but it just falls short of exceptional. 7

12/3/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

No score, but this was drinking very well last night. No change in score since my last 93 back in February.

11/30/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Night 2 impressions.

Color is pretty saturated and towards the blue end of the spectrum for Sta Rita. Not a complaint. 5

Nose is dusty and shy. Pomegranate, orange zest, strawberries, peppery bay leaf, and perhaps just a touch of barrel seasoning... 11

Palate is bright and edgy. Might soften with a bit of time. Not sure. If it does, this appellation blend will be right in my wheelhouse. Fruity, savory, subtle, sophisticated... If not, just a hot mess. Needs a bit of time to find it's way. 16 for now.

In spite of the uncertainty, I did enjoy this wine quite a bit. 7

11/20/2023 - WineKnut Does not like this wine:

Well, not my cup of tea. Hamfisted. Overpriced. No sense of place. Just don't.

11/18/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Seems like a glacial development pace here. This was better after a day uncorked at room temperature. Lost it's heavy veil of earth from day 1 showing more dried cherry, vanilla, and coconut, than the sous bois that dominated yesterday.

I think this may improve for 3-5 years. I'd rather open the '10 at this point

Hold or long decant.

11/11/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

I wish there was an "I Love It!" button. "I like it" just doesn't do this Black Bear justice. 1st of only three bottles from a vintage that produced some fabulous wines at this site and also in the region.

Not as savory and meaty as the '14 and less chewy and tannic than the '15. Kind of a Goldilocks vintage that produced a beautifully balanced wine in a youthful early drinking window today.

Upside as this should only gain more complexity with time.

11/12/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

No complex notes taken. Really enjoyed the dark cherry and vanilla character in this wine. The high alcohol tamped down the depth and complexity.

By day 3 there was even more to like having blown through some of the heat.

Hold.

10/28/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

A big expression of Sta Rita Pinot. Masterfully crafted. Great now and better later without any doubt. Easy 92.

10/21/2023 - WineKnut wrote:

Unmistakably Sta Rita. Year after year this blend is a high water mark for the regional blends.

10/21/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

This was sublime.

10/16/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Close to peak. Delicious.

9/4/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Lovely clear purple. Classic Napa, maybe even a little old school. Dry and intense with great black fruit, cassis, tobacco, licorice. Yeah, the works.

Clean and lingering finish. Tannins are present now, but not overwhelming. Really in a good place now.

Not surprised. 93

9/3/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

This was opened with full understanding of what I was getting myself into. Tasted just a few months ago at the Domaine with Antoine and I am loving it tonight too.

Beautiful kirsch and vanilla with touches of earth, black fruit, and purple flowers. Remarkable balance and structure. Glad to have a bit more on the way.

8/26/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Party wine for some fairly discerning folks. Beautiful wine impressing all of them.

8/26/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Cherry, vanilla, coconut, and a touch of tobacco for me. Not overly contemplative but clearly Rioja. Could pick up some steam.

8/19/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

No formal notes, but I did pay attention tasting over the last two days.

Color was clear and was on the reddish side of purple, if that makes sense.. a bit of an oak monster right now and the fruit is a bit austere. Lots of old school Napa charm in the background, just waiting for the wood to settle in.

Tannins are firm and fine grained and second day tasting suggests you could wait patiently for the scales to balance out.

Very nice!

8/7/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Dark super saturated purple with chunky sediment in bottle.

A bit more than a bit of heat on the nose. Plum, vanilla, new leather, cassis, cherry, cocoa, and a touch of brine.

Medium bodied and perfectly dry. Blue-black fruits on attack, then cherry. Secondary development apparent. Tannins are soft, but not completely resolved. Nicely balanced acidity.

Finish is just a bit short. Bright, then good granite finish.

Decanted a couple hours and continued to open.

8/6/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

More earthy than my last tasting. Apparent iodine and a lot more earthy notes this time. More dried cherry notes present, too. Tannins are fairly well resolved and my sense from this bottle is that we are just slightly over the peak here. Still a bracing acidity persists. Bone dry with lovely medium body.

Very enjoyable.

8/1/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

One word. Reload!

7/28/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

No formal notes. Delicious, but not quite as delicious as 2016.

7/25/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine:

Fruit and freshness framed with poise and balance. A very special wine. I will try to let my last bottle lay for a few more years to soften further.