March 12, 2018 - Medium-purple to bright ruby at the rim.
Fragrant nose of red flowers, black and red licorice, black tea, red currants and plums, fresh cedar, a whirl of baking spices on the top end, very seductive. Overall lots of fresh red fruits and spice
A bright attack of tart red fruit - red raspberries and red currants, on the midpalate a robust alcohol and tannic quality presents itself.
Still tightly wound up and really needing time to become most fully itself. Best time period the 2026-2040 window, should be showing then as among the top examples of this vintage.
90 (potentially 93)
June 25, 2017 - This is a very good wine but was very light in texture and finish (2011 was like that across the board). Supple and velvety it just didn't bring the power of what Dana usually brings to the table. Floral notes, violets, and vanilla.
October 21, 2016 - Elegant and nice depth. Even for a 2011. A beautiful wine enjoyed with a bone in filet
June 25, 2016 - 4 hour decant did beautiful things for my first taste of a flagship wine from Dana (had the Onda before). This wine is complex on the nose and palate. Looking forward to trying additional vintages and the Lotus and Hershey vineyards.
March 7, 2016 - Tannic and tight, which is interesting in such a challenging vintage, I expect great things from Dana, but just find the Helms struggles when compared to Lotus although this was good for the vintage, just not what one expects at this price point. I find the Togni a similar style wine, for 25% of the cost here.
May 17, 2015 - not as long length as 2007 and 2010 tried at Boarding House a few weeks ago but pretty darned good and enjoyed by all
June 20, 2014 - A Visit to Dana Estates (Dana Estates): The Helms Vineyard is adjacent to Dana's winery in Rutherford and is their only vineyard site not on Howell Mountain. Of all of the 2011s from Dana, this struck me as the tightest and youngest. The tannins were really intense and drying with lots of dark fruits, and smokey oak notes. Will definitely need some time for the tannins to mellow out a bit.
June 13, 2014 - 92 Points. Tasted at Dana. Aerated in bottle for 2-4+ hours.
Dark cherry and cedar on the nose. Rich, dense dark cherry notes on the palate followed by cedar and allspice on the palate. With greater aeration violets develop in the glass. There's a tremendous lush mouthfeel here with good overall density. A mineral edge cleans up the finish.