6/13/2022 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Good Lord, whatabeauty!!! I stand by my earliest impression of this rather unique Old World wonder - how can something that smells this sweet (raspberry, lilac, lavender, rose petals potpourri) be so wonderfully dry and simply beautiful on the palate?
Almost ten years since our last try and, *wow* what an accompaniment to the morels my wife and son brought back from their annual Michigan smallmouth bass fishing trip!
There's no way to mistake this wine for any other once you've had it!

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1/22/2022 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Nose of dark fruit and cedar cigarbox with a nearly-bordeauxish sous-bois beginning to emerge. Drinking wonderfully! Damn; my last of the 09s.

12/26/2021 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

As a compliment and not a ripoff, I cannot improve upon this fellow CT'ers assessment! This was my last bottle of the 6pack I've stored since release and I would recommend drinking them NOW if you have any left...

OLDWINES LIKES THIS WINE.95 Points
Saturday, September 18, 2021 - Shane's 6th Annual Game Dinner - Game & Truffle (Chateau Lea, New Jersey): In my cellar since release. Double decanted at 2:45 pm prior to bringing to Shane’s game dinner. Distinctly bricked medium to dark garnet. Nose blows up with dried porcini mushrooms then a touch of red berry fruit and old book leather. Palate is bright and lifted with cherry, mushroom, some baking spice and a hint of pleasant VA. Some tannin remaining. Long finish. More after the meal… This wine was just wonderful with the deconstructed bison short rib ravioli we had at about 8:30pm. The wine had changed color significantly getting much darker garnet with just a little bricking. The palate has balsamic notes, plum, leather, truffle and lots of savory umami elements. This was one of my favorite pairings in the evening and there were several others who also thought it among the best.

4/7/2018 - robertdtwo wrote:

Still pools dark in the decanter, very dark with no evidence of bricking. Wonderful dark fruit and fully integrated tannins with a finish that seems to be getting sweeter over time. Just past its peak and beginning to slide; drink 'em up!
I have suspected for years that they build Caymus for early consumption. The way this bottle aged tells me I'm probably right! I have now purged every bottle of Caymus from my cellar, save for one bottle of '07...they just don't seem to fare that well past the decade mark IMHO. In fact, my highest score for this wine was at the five-year mark!

3/24/2018 - robertdtwo wrote:

Wow...I read the most recent TNs & was shocked to see CADE Howell Mountain Estate dipping down to '90' and occasionally below. However, after three hours of air and rebottle for transit to my birthday dinner, I must say I was just a bit disappointed in this normally-wondrous HM beauty. It was just, well, a little flat. Nothing really wrong, but just not what I'm used to from this, one of my favorite producers. It has only been 18 months since last try, so perhaps this is just bottle variation? I hope this climbs back to its former glory...

11/9/2017 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

60cabsav, 40merlot; clear ruby disc. Sweetish black cherry with a touch of smoke trying to get through. Air aggressively or wait. Will rate on a later try out of this case...

8/18/2017 - robertdtwo wrote:

Tart cherry; fruit not as lush as what I normally see in this wonderful producer; hold or air aggressively.

8/12/2017 - robertdtwo wrote:

Three hour decant, rebottle for transit to restaurant, 90 minute slow-ox in car & at table. Bricking plainly evident. Pleasant dusty cherry nose, red berry palate. Tannins rounding but still a tiny bit austere. Perhaps the best USD$40 BdM out there?

8/2/2017 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Four-hour decant; rebottled for transit to restaurant with second 30-minute decant. Beautiful violet color and nose. A good deal of sediment, be careful. The tannins have receded to reveal more layers of lush fruit. Stunning example of Howell terroir. I see drinking window listed above ending 2020 - that seems way short to me!

6/16/2017 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Five hour decant & rebottled for transit. An insane amount of sediment fell out of this on decant, more than I believe I've ever seen... Beautifully bricked tendrils falling down the sides of the decanter let you know that this bottle has begun to demonstrate the beauty of bottle age, and the palate agreed. Wonderful tart cherry and cinnamon-tinged baked apples highlighted the Italian earth with just a tinge of minerality on the medium-long finish. Beautiful!

6/2/2017 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

I nearly forgot to decant wine for our anniversary dinner (The Crossing, where else?) so this only received 3-1/2 hours of air. Almost four years since last try, yet this beauty still looks newly-bottled. Inky-dark with no evidence of bricking here at the 13-year mark; decant offered a rather closed nose with just a faint bouquet of earth and berries. Not much real sediment per se, but I held the last half-ounce in the shoulder of the bottle and it was thickened with powder-fine residue.
Rebottled for transit, noting a faint rose petal sweetness on the nose. Second decant at table showed tart red fruit, cherry-centric, that predominated the palate throughout our enjoyment of this rather modern-style BdM.
There is a rather strong, yet inoffensive tannic backbone to this wine. It will certainly be there for you for almost as long as you want to wait.

5/22/2017 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

More than two years since last try. Three-hour decant & rebottle for transit to restaurant. Lovely light minerality, graphite, cassis, wet leather and an almost Margaux-like perfume. Intoxicating nose (*sorry* pun intended). Velvety tannins that feel as if they've resolved more than their brief-ish life should have allowed. Great stuff! A touch of blueberry on finish as last half-glass slid home.
I never expected this to be this good this early in its life. Wow.

4/22/2017 - robertdtwo wrote:

One year since last try. Still a very deep ruby in color, this wine exudes juicy, ripe dark fruit (especially plum/blackberry) with mocha, mild sous-bois (hint of truffle?), tobacco and crème de cassis. Silky and decadent mouthfeel makes you want to gulp, rather than sip & savor this beauty!
It's hard to believe that cellar rest will push this three to five points higher, but that sure wouldn't surprise me!

3/5/2017 - robertdtwo wrote:

"Won" at $25 charity cork pull. Six hour decant, and it's rock 'n' roll right outta the bottle...deep purple! Beautiful sweet dark fruit nose matched the palate. No heat, but I think that my lengthy decant got us past that point before drinking began. With tannins quite soft here at the five-year mark for a Napa CAb, I would agree with the relatively short shelf life drinking window noted above. It almost feels like a meritage of some kind rather than 100% cab; almost as if softened by merlot perhaps, yet I see no mention of that anywhere. Berry presence strengthened on final sips; very nice!

2/23/2017 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Three hour decant. Heavy sedimentation. I was worried that this bottle may have turned as I watched the (too?)heavily-bricked liquid run down the side of the decanter as it looked much, much older than it should have and the nose was an exceptionally sour cherry, but all was fine!
Much more complex than last try. Tart cherry, dark fruit, wet leather and smoky red meat are at the forefront, but there is a slightly-herbal minerality lurking on the finish. Mouthfeel not quite as lush and thick as I'd hoped, but that's getting pretty nitpicky. Last half glass flashed a little cinnamon.

I would suggest that the drinking window might not be as long as shown here, as it seemed to me that this rapid-aged over the last couple years...but it sure is at a nice place right now!

2/7/2017 - robertdtwo wrote:

Very approachable dark fruit with a lovely medium finish. Fantastic QPR at case price of USD $28. I hope just a little bottle age nudges this up to Wine Advocate's '94' rating; we'll see! 55% merlot, 22% cab franc, 20% cab sav, 3% petit verdot

1/31/2017 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Oh. My. Gawd. This is what is SUPPOSED to happen when you put an admittedly nice bottle down for a few years and uncork it to see what's happened!!!
Following is a copy/post from someone upon whom I cannot improve upon (from the Department of Redundancy Department):

9/9/2016 - PABLOPILOT WROTE: 97 Points
Whoa. When is a California Cabernet not a California Cabernet? When it's a hermitage, or better yet a very high end Shiraz... This is one of those special wines that defies rating and beggars description. A real category killer, far and away at the top end of California wines. Deep. Dark and inky. Lovingly balanced, hint of plums over blueberries, menthol, tar resin. Plenty of backbone, both tannic and acidic. Thick mouthfeel. Earthy. Very young for a 12-year old. Overall, it just makes you feel good to taste and enjoy it; and then, aloha, the heady alcohol kicks in. I've got a few bottles left to savor for the next 30 years. Hurray!

We drank from the bottle, which left a decent residue of fine and large-grained residue in our glasses. Decanting might be wise.

1/28/2017 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Two and a half years since last try and still not truly ready for evaluation so no rating will be offered. Also, a party evolved where I thought I would only be attending a small gathering, so this was one of the bottles opened that really didn't have enough time in the decanter. It has begun to open a bit, but still totally primary and austere. Tight and young, heavy tannin load, but the reddish fruit has started to come out of hiding (tart cherry/mineral). I detected a very faint green streak, something I'm generally not a fan of, but perhaps this will resolve. I'll wait several years to try again, as I have huge expectations here, and think this cooler vintage representative will shine.

12/24/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Two hour decant; rebottle for transit and two hour slow-ox. Dark fruit/plum, mocha and mild anise nose; evolved to include graphite, mild sous-bois, tobacco and wet gravel while pure darkish-red fruit coated the palate. Full-bodied and well-balanced. Tannins beginning to round out a bit; this will certainly go the distance if the fruit holds on. Great stuff that will only get better if I can resist...

11/26/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Three years since last try. Four-hour decant and rebottle for transit to restaurant; 30-min slow-ox at table. Still young, but beautiful and well-balanced macerated dark fruit, black currant, espresso/mocha, tobacco, distant campfire and light mineral beauty. Full-bodied with medium finish defined by soft black cherry undertones.

11/24/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

7-hour decant; beginning to brick and show its age... Lightly floral perfumed nose of dark fruit and cherry; mineral-laden cherry/berry on the palate. Subtle and elegant beauty expression of BdM! I think this is hitting its apex. Wonderful.

11/16/2016 - robertdtwo wrote:

From 375. Beautiful woody dark fruit with a mild forest floor presence. The fruit is there, but is somewhat restrained by tannins. Don't get me wrong, this is very, very good, but I was hoping for beautiful. Perhaps second glass will show some improvement alongside dry-aged angus ribeye. Thirty-second finish with mild astringency.

10/31/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

One year since last try and resurrecting a bit from what I previously considered a dumb phase, but still not at what I hope will be its apex. Lovely earth, mineral and leaning-towards-tart cherry/berry; medium-bodied with a medium finish. Tannins felt a bit softer than last time, but are still holding on so I hope the fruit hangs in there and this climbs a point or three in the next couple years.

10/24/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Pooled inky purple-black in decanter. Macerated dark fruit and flinty understated cherry nose; long legs with jammy dried fruit palate (raisin/plum with a touch of maybe...fig?). Lower ABV and less sweet in character than the 2010. Medium finish with strong, yet roundish tannins to carry this forward. This is evolving nicely and its Howell Mountain fruit far outshines most Napa Valley floor offerings from this tough weather vintage.

10/1/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

repeat 8/22/2014...a little over two years since last try
Decant carefully, as heavy sedimentation is present. Wonderful plum-raisin, tar, smoke and minty anise with an absolutely classic BdM presentation; dusty cherry seems to be coming back from its earlier hiding place. Beautiful now; but only just beginning to evolve its lush secondaries...best example is the tobacco that is starting to flesh out. L-o-v-e-l-y medium+ finish!
As these secondaries emerge, this is rapidly approaching the '95+' rating Wine Advocate awarded at release...their crystal ball seems to have been spot-on in this instance! I need to begin guarding these in my cellar from my greedy self to see where they end up at maturity.

9/18/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

One year since last try. My fault for late decision to open and only had time for 90-minute decant. In spite of this, very enjoyable...
Thick mouthfeel and great dark fruit, with an interesting nose since last visiting this wine: violet!
While this was wonderful, I still say, "Wait!" I'll never be able to wait as long as I should, though, and will continue to evaluate these once a year or so. Wish I had more...

8/26/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Still pools dark in the decanter, very dark with no evidence of bricking. Wonderful dark fruit and fully integrated tannins with a finish that seems to be getting just a tad sweeter over time. At its peak and may have begun to slide; drink 'em up!

8/4/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Bright citrus with a lovely minerality; this hits me as a "red-drinkers white wine" for some reason. It stands up to something like charcuterie, but doesn't overpower more subtle food accompaniments.
This has become my summertime go-to when I just don't feel like one of my "normal" CAbs, Bordeaux or Brunellos.

6/15/2016 - robertdtwo wrote:

I waited a year since last try but wanted to check in and see where this was. Two-hour Vinturi decant may have been too brief knowing this is an absolute youngster. Beautiful floral nose on decant but dusty tannins still a bit firm. I've been a tiny bit disappointed, as I felt this might be one of the sleepers of this difficult vintage, but more time is required to assess... An earlier post nailed it: I hope the fruit outlasts the tannins. Wait or air aggressively.

6/9/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

I almost always plan and decant, but today this was a last-minute rush resulting in a pop-n-pour. Sweetish cherry all over the palate, definitely a modern-styled BdM, but very agreeable. I see a lot of slams here for over extraction, but I enjoyed this very much.

6/2/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Four-hour Vinturi decant, rebottle for transit to 32nd anniversary dinner (The Crossing) with thirty-minute second decant at table. Spicy red fruit with currant highlights on the nose first decant at home, second decant threw more earthy & tobacco notes.
Given its young age (yes, 10 years is young for this wine) and the less-than-stellar character of many wines from this vintage, my expectations were cautiously optimistic, yet this approachable beauty (57% merlot) shone brighter than I was prepared to hope for! Rich and elegant, the palate centered on mineral, plum and dark fruits, yet still had a graceful lightness in spite of a definitely noticeable, but not offensive, tannic astringency.
Lovely medium++ finish surprised with a brief flash of distant campfire on the nose of the last half-glass...wonderful!
In spite of all these kind words and high rating, remember that this is still just a baby and you will be rewarded for your patience if you can resist opening these - secondaries and tertiaries, anyone?

5/16/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Last taste a year ago blew me away; while still ultra-delicious, this time around it felt just a tiny bit tame and maybe too polite...bottle variation, perhaps? Lovely and slightly-tart cherry and red berries with lightly-scorched Italian earth and a nuanced wet cedary-leathery finish heightened by porcini. Tannins w-a-y in the background, so drink freely. I bought this at under USD$50/btl and really couldn't be happier!

5/1/2016 - robertdtwo wrote:

Beautiful and slightly-tart cherry bomb with a touch of mineral and a faint puff of smoke on the finish. Decant showed pronounced bricking as an indication that this wine has hit its secondary life...
I've been wondering for years why this feels more like French earth than Italian earth, and the comments I've read in earlier TNs on utilizing French oak barrels must be why this is so. Either way, absolutely delicious.
This may as well be the barometer for what a classic BdM should be. Tart cherry, flinty mineral, mild forest floor with a slightly smoky finish. Beautiful! I thought I overbought, but now will need to begin to parcel these out over time so I get to see the evolution into its second decade and emerging tertiary qualities... 93+

4/26/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Repeat 10/3/15 TN Showed beautifully despite my error of late decision & pop 'n' pour...beautifully huge floral/dark fruit beauty is fortified with vanilla-oak, mild sous-bois and touch of spice on the finish with sweet/round tannins. While time will certainly elevate this to nearly-stratospheric ratings, this still needs a bit o' time for the complex layers here now to come together. Smoky anise trying to show on the medium++ finish.

3/12/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Four hour Vinturi decant. Last of the great wines from this producer. Beautiful dark violet color. Wonderful bouquet of dark candied fruit, sweet berries and spice, with dry notes of wet leather, tobacco and mild forest floor. Just beautiful.
It seems to me that this '07 may (sadly) be the final vintage of "Caymus of Old" before their apparent shift towards creating immediately approachable and somewhat overextracted, sweet and flabby CAbs meant for expense-account-steakhouse consumption early in their life. Perhaps this strategy will be profitable for them, but it will send me elsewhere... If I can find any 2007s, I'm buying them up, because I have no real interest in continuing my vertical, as sad as that makes me.
Caymus from 2008 to present remind me of 1985's New Coke reformulation fiasco...

3/9/2016 - robertdtwo wrote:

Far too brief decant as this was a restaurant wine list purchase... Dark fruit, crushed rock/mineral and cola fortified by grippy yet smoothish tannins that will surely recede given bottle rest. Slightly tart on the finish but as a youngster, it seems there is much promise here.
This vineyard was unknown to me and was a suggestion from our server at Kayne Prime in Nashville. Final few sips had finally gotten enough air to coax a lovely sous-bois note to the forefront. Nice. Good QPR at fifty bucks, but I paid well over $125 dining out.

2/23/2016 - robertdtwo wrote:

Wow! I know I have a weakness for Howell Mountain, but this, at its tender young age, is a luxurious expression of the promise this entire area holds once those mountain berries get a little bottle rest. Beautiful and glorious at this young stage, there is a world of promise here once secondaries and tertiaries emerge...delicious!
But sssshhhh! Don't tell anyone. I need to find a few more bottles.

2/13/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

I tried to battle infanticide (yes...even here at the decade mark!) with a six-hour Vinturi decant & rebottle for transit to restaurant followed by 30-minute slow-ox at table. Two years since last try. Still a very deep ruby in color, this wine exudes juicy, ripe dark fruit (especially plum/blackberry) with mocha, mild sous-bois (hint of truffle?), tobacco and crème de cassis. Silky and decadent mouthfeel makes you want to gulp, rather than sip & savor this beauty!
It's hard to believe that cellar rest will push this three to five points higher, but that sure as hell wouldn't surprise me! Someone please handcuff me to allow the last several bottles in my possession to hit the tertiary stage...
My goodness - the drinking window isn't really even open yet and this wine is singing like a champ.

1/25/2016 - robertdtwo wrote:

Infanticide, but, wow, does this stunner have a beautiful life ahead! Delicious concentration of fruit-forward dark fruit goodness shows through the wall of tannins that will carry this baby through old age. Bottle age may push this to 95 points and beyond!
Expensive, to be sure, but I have a feeling those that can resist its early drinkability will be rewarded when secondaries and terciaries one day emerge. It was nearly impossible to send the last sip home, as I kept swirling and inhaling the beautiful scent of this Napa wonder.

1/15/2016 - robertdtwo wrote:

I've loved Tenuta Nuova & Cerretalto for years, but never purchased this baseline BdM until this wonderful vintage. Full bodied with dark cherry, anise and indecipherable florals and a touch of tar/smoke in the background. Tannic and in need of bottle rest, but much promise here.

1/15/2016 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Two-hour Vinturi decant. Still tannic and a bit musty with tobacco and earthy notes most prominent. I've been waiting for years for bottle age to justify this purchase, but it's just not happening. HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT and since this was my first foray into this vineyard, I think I'm bailing...no thanks! When the threshold is a hundred bucks, expectations are high. Goodbye!

12/25/2015 - robertdtwo wrote:

Beautiful darkish fruit with lovely and generous blueberry highlight on the nose leaps from the decanter; decadent Napa fruit with a touch of white pepper/mineral on the palate. Delicious, but serious...although tannins beginning to round nicely since last taste over a year ago. Decant carefully; a generous amount of fine sediment needs to be left behind before you pour this with abandon! Wonderful... (this is a repeat of 7/2/14 TN)

12/21/2015 - robertdtwo wrote:

Three hour Vinturi decant wasn't able to coax much out of this bottle; it's just kinda, well, flat right now with mouthfeel on the thin side. Dumb phase? No nose and very little on the palate, either. Wait it out.

11/26/2015 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Oh. Wow. There has been some chemistry magic happening inside this bottle over the five years since our last taste! At its peak! I'm stealing this from an earlier TN, 'cos I couldn't think of words any better: "Perfect balance of acidity, tannin, and bold fruit, with subtle terroir, the flavor lingering interminably."
I want to thank this vineyard for introducing us to Howell Mountain on our first Napa trip in 2010; those mountain berries (mostly from Cakebread, Cade, O'Shaughnessy, and Outpost) have now taken over my cellar.

11/18/2015 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Brief Vinturi to the glass; wonderful! Full-bodied dark fruit courts the palate with hints of cocoa and black currant enhanced by a still-developing floral presence. Black pepper, wet leather and faint pencil shavings on the nose...a wonderful effort. Last TN said I can't wait to see this at the decade mark, but I'm afraid these will be gone by then, as I intentionally purchased these to keep me from opening up my Estate reserve & I am drinking these young. 92+

10/25/2015 - robertdtwo wrote:

Smoky cherry and dark fruit are coming forward just a bit since last try over 18 months ago. Tannins still lurking, but rounding just a bit. I'd better try to hold on to a couple of these to see where they go, but they're already calling out for me to drink 'em up. Delicious!

10/19/2015 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Dark and brooding fruit is supplemented by earthy/mineral sous-bois. Oh my, this is clinging to its tannin reserve like a Titanic survivor gripping a lifeboat...just not letting go under any circumstances! I keep waiting for the edges to round out, but will keep waiting (and hoping the fruit outlasts the tannins).

10/14/2015 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Repeat 5/11/2014 TN, but down one point; at or past its prime.
Classic modern Margaux perfume, a little more New World on the palate. Nose of wet leather, faint violet and distant campfire with dark berries, muted mineral/earth and a touch of dusty mocha on the tongue...but not quite as much chocolate as the '05. Tannins are now totally resolved; this wine is at its peak. Florals seem to be subsiding.

10/11/2015 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

From 375; one-hour Vinturi pour to oversize Riedel bordeaux glass to accompany dry-aged strip steak. Seems, maybe, a little closed. Where's the fruit? Don't get me wrong, it was still a wonderful glass of wine, but it didn't show as strongly as previous tastings.

10/8/2015 - robertdtwo Likes this wine:

Straw-colored blend of friulano, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio is citrusy-fresh with a lovely minerality. Crisp and clean medium finish. I don't typically enjoy whites but this caught my attention at a charity tasting and I couldn't resist coming back to it again & again! It stood up nicely to the charcuterie accompaniment.