October 28, 2023 - This was terrific. Ready to go pretty much out of the gate, classic Napa fruit and oak, integrated tannins, vanilla, chocolate, raspberry, blackberry, graphite, cedar, awesome. I had the 1999 recently and this blew it out of the water. Drink and enjoy.
August 20, 2020 - Has lost most of its acid and structure. Very soft texture with dark fruit and some chocolate. Drink up.
November 26, 2018 - Clear deep red colors in main body of the glass with some orange/burnt colors at edge. Long thin legs. Wonderful full aged aroma. Sweet fruit & oak entry with medium complex cherry & earth flavors. Medium body leading into wonderful acidic tart flavors with pleasant cherry & spice lingering flavors. Tannis still intact. Drink now, but would not be surprised if this could go one more year. Amazing wine! Wonderful example of a well made Cali wine that has aged well.
September 27, 2018 - My last bottle. It's really gorgeous- powerful and burly, long finish. Ready to go. Quite a bit of sediment. I wish I had more.
March 24, 2018 - 4th Saturday Group brown bagger (R&D's): Single blind. Opens with a hint of roasted bell pepper, violet, red currant fruit, herbal/green aromas and tobacco. A simply gorgeous bouquet. Medium-bodied, with softened tannin and flavors of plum, currants and cigar tobacco with a lengthy finish.
At first I thought this might have been Bordeaux (the rest of the group thought Bordeaux- R guessed 2003 St. Emilion), but the fruit pointed toward new world and I began to suspect it was our bottle. This had been quickly double decanted off its sediment about 1.25 hrs before the flight was poured. For my palate, this is at peak. I hope my last two bottles show as well as this one did. 92-93 pts.
March 22, 2016 - Drank with Nikki , Dave, & Julie in Boulder - big dusty tannins and plum notes. Thought the fruit and complexity would show elegantly with age.
December 2, 2014 - Popped & poured, this was quite a bit better after a good bit of air. Notes of leather and dark fruit give way to tobacco and violets. Medium tannins with flavors of cassis, leather and black fruit. Enjoyable now, and should hold.
October 31, 2014 - Very tasty dark cherry, plum, chocolate flavors, long finish, silky smooth. Drinking beautifully.
June 8, 2014 - Second Sunday Group: 2001 CA cabs (Anvil Club): Popped & poured with dinner following the tasting. Nice mix of red and black currants, florals and cocoa. Balanced and nicely integrated, with floral, red berry and plum flavors. Has an elegance to it. Develops a leather note with air. Pretty. I would have liked to have seen how this would have fared in the blind flight.
July 13, 2012 - Popped and poured, everyone enjoyed. Very soft tannins, almost non-existant. Nose of oak and dark fruits, a little sweet. Dark fruit on the tongue, a little chocolate as well. Wish I had more.