July 7, 2022 - This has aged gracefully. Still fresh. Bordeaux nose and body. Shows old world restrain.
September 8, 2021 - Caramel, butterscotch, chocolate, leather, over ripe fruit, sticky tongue, cotton mouth
Gift from Chad and Stephanie
January 8, 2021 - Enjoyable last bottle that we bought at our tour of the winery. Drank with family prior to 2nd semester college sendoff.
Nose not as complex as the last bottle, still fairly complex flavors, but not as much Cab Franc showing as my last notes memorialized. All tannins were smoothed out, so probably won't get better with age.
Not the best year for Napa, so probably time to drink up if you still have any.
August 8, 2020 - In a nice drinking window. Arielle's college send off gathering. Enough on the nose to be interesting, but not spectacular; more herbal from the cab franc coming through than I expected, but was a nice surprise.
Won't wait long to drink our remaining bottle. Wife loved it.
July 20, 2020 - Dark purple in glass with no visible clearing on rim despite 9 year age. Fairly low in alc. at 14.2% it exudes blue and black fruits although more blue. It is a mellow wine with a soft finish that lets the fruit sing. Tannins are resolved and integrated so maybe not going to improve mich from here on out but drinking well at the moment
May 11, 2020 - well balanced, dark fruit, full bodied, soft tannins, good acidity at 9 yrs old. Not super distinctive, but a good claret to complement a steak. tannins have softened somewhat since i first declared them 'velvety' in 2016.
June 16, 2019 - still lively, nice dusty velvety tannins, dark fruits, licorice, herbs, minerals
July 31, 2018 - it is amazing how one's perception is changed with what the wine is accompanied with. although quite good, i didn't get the velvet texture as the last bottle had, but still well balanced, medium-full bodied, dark berry with cedar and a little licorice, nice acidity to balance food, mild tannins.
October 21, 2017 - Cassis, plum, charcoal, graphite. Medium-full body. Medium-plus acidity. Dusty tannins. Medium-long finish.
September 20, 2017 - Only consumed a glass and didn't have time to decant. Dark violet color. Cassis, plum, dark chocolate, crushed rock. Medium-full body. Medium acidity. Medium, dusty/velvety tannins. Medium-long finish. This is a really nice balance between new and old world.