December 24, 2023 - The Cali lovers all thought this was super nice , a little over the top for me , but good juice for sure.
December 30, 2022 - Just ok. Nothing special for the price. A bit thin.
November 15, 2021 - Decanted 90 minutes before service - given the vintage, I was worried this might be too much, but with hindsight, many hours would have been preferable. In the glass, deep, saturated purplish-red. On the nose, currants, oak, and a distinct herbal element. On the palate, fruit-rich and tannic. I was expecting a far more evolved and approachable wine given the vintage, but instead, I received a structured, tannic wine, as I might anticipate from a good or great vintage ten years down the road. The tipoff for me that we weren't dealing with a good Napa vintage was the absence of a cocoa note - without that, I doubt I would have guessed this was from a poor vintage.
October 3, 2021 - Consistent with prior notes of 8/31/2019, one of the better 2011 Napa Cabs you can have.
February 2, 2021 - Only bottle from the inaugural release. I have had each of the following three vintages over the past two years as I had multiple bottles of each. All showed better, probably, reflecting a combination of vintage variation and more experience with the vineyard. But particularly with a long decant, still a very enjoyable but more subtle wine. Currants, baking spice, molasses, cedar.
January 12, 2021 - Fantastic bottle. Deep dark ruby like look to it. Tannins have softened and the fruit really showed in this vintage! First from this vineyard. Schrader’s always go great with good beef! Wished I had more of this vintage! Many years left in the cellar!
December 16, 2020 - Started off like any other quality Napa Valley Cab. Notes of currant, cassis, black fruit, vanilla, and spices with a palate to match plus medium plus tannins. I let this decant for about 3 hours and by the time we drank it with dinner, it was on another level! The tannins had softened tremendously and this wine transformed into a silky, layered beauty. The fruit was still dominant but the wine had mellowed tremendously and the secondary and even some tertiary flavors started peaking through.
I understand this was an off year for everyone but this wine is a testament to the quality of Schrader. If you must drink this one soon, I highly recommend a 2-4 hour decant, tasting every hour. But even for a difficult vintage, this was still some high quality juice!
***Tasting notes are after a 3 hour decant***
Color: Dark ruby, dulling at the hue.
Nose: Cassis, black cherry, vanilla, forest floor, fruit cake, hints of new leather and sweet tobacco
Palate: Lush black fruit, tart cherry, vanilla, medium plus alcohol, medium tannins, medium plus acidity.
Finish: Long finish of black cherry, vanilla, and sweet tobacco.
September 19, 2020 - My thoughts are very consistent with the writings of others, this particular vintage was a challenge for most. The LPV, though, got the short end of the stick. A nice, quality wine, for sure but lacking in complexity and spunk. Would drink now as don't see it improving
June 21, 2020 - All dark blueberry and blackberry. Fresh young end of cedar not your grandparents closet cedar. Graphite, unsmoked pipe tobacco, molasses, and chocolate/toffee.
Amazing for 2011. The best Schrader has to offer? No. But not disappointed. Good for the vintage. Drink while the good years age further. Missing a touch of stuffing.
March 29, 2020 - Enjoyed but was probably expecting more. Interesting note of red hots on the nose. Preferred Day 2 > Day 1