March 1, 2024 - Full-bodied, with Lots of dark lush black fruit, touch of chocolate, tobacco, cedar. A powerful wine with many years left.
February 25, 2023 - Orange at the rim. Huge up front black fruit with a mineral element Some tannins still remaining Lush with a medium long finish.
Drink now or over the next few years
December 17, 2022 - A really great bottle. Put this in a California lineup with an 05 Insignia and a 10 Mondavi Oakville reserve. All had their own unique aspects and all were showing very well - as for the Larkmead, the wine was dark and structured but totally open for business - the tannins were round, and the acidity kept this vibrant as the currant and blackberry flavors persisted and lingered. Just a hint of toasty secondary notes - the oak is so well integrated on this right now.
December 11, 2022 - One of my WOTY - never overwhelming or overdone, but still full bodied and powerful. And it was great from the start but just kept developing length and nuance. A step above the basic 2010, and nowhere near done yet. Possibly at peak - in any case, no harm giving it a try.
September 25, 2022 - Last bottle. Paired with filet. Nice but was hoping to get back to early peak but it didn’t really get there. Dark currant with some coffee and earthy notes. Not overly secondary but fruit seems slightly faded / washed out to me which brought score down slightly.
September 3, 2022 - Decanted for 2 1/2 hours and it evolved throughout the whole time. Dark ruby with Garnet edges and medium plus developed aromas of blackberry, black currant, violets, cedar, tobacco, nutmeg, and vanilla. On the palate the dark fruits dominate along with tobacco and nutmeg and cocoa on a very long finish. This wine is clearly peeking and may improve over the next couple of years.
May 20, 2022 - Opened, but not decanted for about an hour before pouring, as part of a Napa Cabernet night at a steakhouse with my wine group. For most of us, this was the 2nd favorite of the night. Good spice notes, subdued fruit and a medium-long finish. Very enjoyable. We had this alongside a 2012 O'Shaughnessy Howell Mountain and a 2014 Realm Farella.
May 19, 2022 - Blackcurrant, black cherry, tobacco and sweet spices on the nose. Velvety on the palate, medium acidity, medium plus amount of extract, tannins are there but barely noticeable. Alcohol is slightly noticeable. Long finish. This was second place for me tonight. It should also age for another decade easily.
April 27, 2022 - Consistent with past note but slightly more enjoyable.
January 24, 2022 - Full bodied, savory, blackberry, cedar, forest floor, lots of structure and will only get better. 3-4 hours slow ox first night, re-bottled half and gave it another 1-2 hours of air the next. Best on Day 2.