9/14/2022 - dhogan68 wrote:

Really enjoyed this wine. I will submit more later but I think I will wait a few more years for my last 07 ladera. Still young spry, rich, bold fruit. Tannins have softened but zero evidence of oxidative ageing that can’t be explained away. Seriously I was not in the mood to over analyze this one but found myself falling away from the conversation around me and just admiring the wine and the experience.

8/14/2022 - dhogan68 wrote:

I was mad when Davis stopped sourcing from the Napa site. The 06 Davis cab is still in my top 20 ever and the least expensive by a multiple. Anyway, these cab 5s will never rival that wine but they good in their own right and keep getting better, especially after about 5-7 in cellar. This vintage was rich, brambly dark fruit, not cooked but in preserve or lt compote style( yes, light cooked), tannins were soft ant refined and alcohol balanced the sweet compote preserve. Very nice wine. Lacked a bit of the peppery smoky character and acid lift of 13,14 so not sure how much it will improve from here but will enjoy now.

7/3/2022 - dhogan68 wrote:

It is best it has ever been. 7/3/22

5/7/2022 - dhogan68 Likes this wine:

This wine was amazing. I am skeptical when a California has a best by date of 30 years out. I have a few of these so I thought I would try one at year 15. It was so fresh and young, still holding some green pepper and tannins still a touch of bite. I sipped my half glass and decanted in small splash decanter and went back to it an hour late. It was good early but benefitted from the time. To the wine, aromas of cherry, blk cherry, blackberry, blueberry, kirsch, bramble, vanilla, green pepper, anise, coffee, chocolate, toast, tar. The balance, mouth feel, structure and mighty long finish just sang and sang. Not sure if it ever finished before I wanted another sip. I feel the wine will soften tannin and integrate herbaceous more for next 5 and if you like some more oxidative character you will get it but for me the lush driven primary math fruit are vibrant and perfect now and I don’t want to mis that. I will shrink my best by window to 2028 max

4/21/2022 - dhogan68 wrote:

Maybe a touch high on the score but it was so balance, easy drinking but had enough depth, structure and complexity to keep you interested and shocked by flavor discoveries. If I could buy today at the price I did 5 years ago I would buy a case more. Black cherry, black plum, raspberry, kirsch, bramble, vanilla, toast sweet cedar( faint) dried cranberries , refreshing acid lift. I have two more left and two 14 and will do a tighter job on description next time. It was wonderful, not in a open for a special occasion kind of way but for a time when you had a crappy day and you need something to bring a smile to your face. Not fancy but cheer you up everytime

2/27/2022 - dhogan68 wrote:

Strong and powerful full bodied wine. Red cherry, currant, blackberry, black cherry, green pepper, cloves, vanilla, toasted oak. Need some more time to soften and integrate tannins. Curious about having it with food, big steak or lamb

9/19/2021 - dhogan68 wrote:

So one probably likes this wine a lot but it is not me. Fruit subtle and flat, lacks crispness and lift, cola, white pepper, loam dominate the wine from start to finish. The lack of fruit and acid made it feel like it had excessive alcohol. Might have been a good wine with roast duck or pork loin but even know salty flavors may have enhanced the limited fruit the flat cola flavor may have been an odd match

9/6/2021 - dhogan68 wrote:

This wine will be a challenge to describe. Nice looking dark ruby all the way to a thin bright ruby edge. So many smells and flavors in this complex wine but gave it a low score because they were not the best representation of those flavors and like the tannins hadn’t integrated that well. Cherry, plum, dried plum, dried herbs, tar, earth sweet tobacco, charred wood, camphor, spice, leather. This description is usually up my alley but it just didn’t come together. Maybe better tomorrow. Still life in this wine and some of the notes about its prime window are on the low side

8/17/2021 - dhogan68 wrote:

Very good, spot on with the winemakers notes. Seemed a touch more cab franc than stated in blend notes. Bottom line red and dark blue fruits, hints of violet and blueberry was rich and sappy almost like syrup or pie. This was not in you face but part of a complex balance of oak, spice,vanilla, still my palate and mind kept finding it nicely mingling on supportive acid and tannins Structure was nice. I shook my head every time trying to figure out what it reminded me of, I stopped that and just enjoyed. If it comes to me I know it will be a much more expensive and mature wine.

6/29/2021 - dhogan68 wrote:

This was the best cab 5 from Davis Family to date. I always long for their old Napa cab that was so lush and ripe with layers of fruit, black and blue, vanilla, spice, blueberry compote or pie lingered subtly throughout and into thr long finish etc. This was a different animal of red fruit, dried red fruit, maybe some blk cherry, blackberry, clove. It had an incredible balance and the perfect amount of lift from the high acid to hold that fresh crisp fruit in a balance beautiful structure. Love when a wine flavors are integrated so well that it walks the fence of old world vs new. plenty of fruit but balance throughout and not a bomb. So much red fruit but represents fresh and bold red fruit without being too plummy (over plumed).

6/12/2021 - dhogan68 Likes this wine:

When I first opened it I thought I missed the prime or maybe it wasn’t a great year. Seemed a touch less muscle, less dark fruit and general body and mouth feel lacked something. Still had nice balance and finesse. I put in decanter and moved on to a 07 Chateau Montelena that was very nice. When I came back to the Lot one a couple hours later it had come alive. Finesse and elegance back by integrated soft tannic structure and unbelievable balance. Flavor and aroma intensity were pronounced, with mostly pure concentrated red fruit, currant, raspberry, plum,cranberry,kirsch with vanilla and a touch of charred earth and a light floral or blossom note. Finish was long long. Sad it was last 09, this scared me so I wouldn’t wait long if you have one to open. Looked back at previous notes and this was my highest praise for this vintage

5/8/2021 - dhogan68 Likes this wine:

Very nice, love when it comes together. Primary flavors hung around from the jump through a pretty long finish. The balance and complexity come immediately to mind as the stand out but the pronounced aromas linger in my brain from two weeks earlier. Didn’t have to get glass past check to start smell just cherry, red plum and then black fruits, dried fruits, some slightly baked like pie, fig herbs leather, char,spice clove. In a perfect world it would be little more red and blue fruit and a touch less plum but that’s just me. It was wonderful and kept wanting more, consumed with ribeye, sweet potato chorizo mix and quinoa then more or it alone for dessert. Still has some years left but don’t think it is getting any better. 5/6/2021

4/3/2021 - dhogan68 wrote:

Big luscious cherry aromas, on palette, taste and finish. big, balance which is quit a feat with the concentration and depth of flavors. Beautiful wine, I think I have a new favorite California Pinot. Pour small glasses and take your time and enjoy

4/3/2021 - dhogan68 Likes this wine:

Lively and fresh with complex earthy and herbaceous notes medium body and mouth feel with cherry integrated undertones throughout and a steady long to medium long finish. Had a lot going on and still a good amount of acid that made it very good with small portion beef burgundy savory crepe. When I came back to it later it was even better. Some of the experts underestimated this wines life span.

3/30/2021 - dhogan68 wrote:

I loved how fresh but ripe this mountain fruit was, this wine was really good. It was so good early I was afraid it would die in the decanter but three hours plus later in the decanter it was still getting stronger. However, I have many more of these to get to and will not be waiting long, have drank this wine for years and many vintages at this is top notch right now

3/28/2021 - dhogan68 Likes this wine:

Very nice for price point, easy drinking, crisp and fresh. Great everyday, with or without food

3/28/2021 - dhogan68 wrote:

Not a fan at this time. Odd musty, vegetal nose. Fruit fades fast on your tongue and your hope for some burgundy like complexity and minerality is quickly dashed as the medicinal, musty continues on through the finish. I have never wished a finish would end but it just lingered and lingered. This came recommended by someone who knows I like wines that have layers of complexity and don’t taste like every other wine. This didn’t taste like every other Pinot that is for sure . Hope some cellar time improves this.