September 12, 2021 - I'm glad I saved this. Uncorked about 2 hrs before a ribeye dinner. No decant. Howell Mountain fruit and tannins holding up beautifully. I wish I had more, as it is probably good for another 5 years. But perfect drinking right now, especially with a good steak.
June 6, 2020 - This wine is drinking great right now with still lots of fruit. The color has some bricking. The nose was somewhat subdued. The palate has nice blackberry, plum and prunes fruit. A touch of raisen flavors are also showing with some black pepper and cedar notes. Tannins have all resolved, The finish is smooth and lingering with pleasant fruity and spice flavors. Went fantastic with a charcoal grilled burgers.
This wine is in a good place right now and drink up.
March 27, 2017 - Decanted 30 minutes. Lovely nose of dark berries, bramble, bright cherry, and spice. On the palate, red currant, blackberry, black cherry, spicy oak. Nice long balanced finish with great grip. Just a barely noticeable bit of heat but otherwise a very lovely package. Drink or hold, these should hold quite well for another 6-8 years.
December 16, 2016 - Drank by my wife and her 2 girlfriends at The Steakhouse at the Circus Circus Hotel Casino in Reno, NV last night. All 3 of them and the Sommelier thought it was exceptional. The Sommelier would like to know where he can purchase some. :-) Smig did a wonderful job with this Cab.
October 13, 2015 - Essentially ready to drink - needs about 15-30 minutes of air. Unexpected bricking for a wine this age. Smooth, well integrated. More classically styled and restrained. Fruit is forward without being overly jammy fruit bomb. Slightest hint of stem and green bell pepper without detracting from overall palate.
January 27, 2015 - Pretty awesome, prototypical Napa Cab. Black cherry, cassis, and licorice. A little toasty oak, but this wine easily handled it. Quite delicious although perhaps lacking a bit of structure.
August 29, 2014 - very silky, old school Napa Cab. silky and luscious. Lots of dark brambly fruits and Smooth tannins. unexpectedly ready to drink now or hold for 5+ years
November 3, 2013 - 2 hour decant, consumed over 5 hours. my wife had two observations that were pretty spot on: 1) the wine has a very interesting color. it's not bricking, but its color belies its age. it's more the color of a light- to medium-bodied pinot. 2) the wine really brought out the pepper flavors in our cast-iron cooked NY strips. i wouldn't say there's a strong green pepper aroma or flavor, but i agreed that something about the wine amplified the pepper on the steak. my main comment was that the wine smelled and drank like a 15yo wine, not like a 4yo wine. that's not a bad thing, but it was interesting. everything about the wine leaned toward elegance with a dash of austerity, though nothing was green or underripe or boring about it. i enjoyed it as a departure from my typical penchant for extracted and jammy napa cabs. if scoring, 87-89.
August 25, 2013 - PNP - 750ml; very nice nose of rasberry and strawberry; had with veggie pizza: on the palate, strawberry, cherry, and mocha. Smooth/fine tannins, very fruit forward and tasty. Drink now till 5yrs.
August 25, 2012 - Dinner with Mike Grammer (Pera, San Francisco): Soft, balanced fruit, complex spice; good structure, ripe black fruit, juicy, but with good acidity; nice clean finish.