April 6, 2024 - Needs a 60+ min decant. A lot of oak and a bit hot (alcohol) PnP. Improves with time in decanter. Dark in glass with nice dark fruit. Tannins are smooth. This wine has time to lay down.
November 13, 2023 - Yummy
September 3, 2023 - Outstanding! Deep, rich full bodied cabernet that paired perfectly with our celebratory steak dinner. Double decanting prior to dinner aerated the wine providing a fantastic drinking experience. One of my best so far in 2023.
September 3, 2023 - Plum blackberry spice chocolate almost prune. Very dense dark rich. Wonderful opulent nose. This is drinking very well. Recommend 1hr decant. Perhaps slightly less accessible than the 12 right now, which just pipped this for me, 92/93.
January 1, 2023 - Big, dark brooding, but balanced, blackberry, black currants, plum, leather, well integrated tannins, long finish
December 26, 2022 - The centerpiece of our family Christmas dinner. Decanted 3+ hours. As expected, this wine owned the table. Drinking outstanding right now, but no concerns if you still have this and are laying it down for more time. Wish I had more of this vintage, but alas, this was the last one in the cellar.
December 7, 2022 - Wow, this might be the best Kirk Venge cab I have had an I really like Family Reserve. I find some Cali cabs to be a bit flabby but this cab was put together. I suggest letting this one open up to enjoy the full compliment of flavors. Dark fruit begins and then there is a pop of bright fruit in the mid palate. Long finish makes you keep going back for more. This is a Venge masterpiece. Drink now or hold, this wine feels like it will be around for years to come.
November 11, 2022 - Wonderful intense aromas, blueberry, floral notes, black plum. Dry, full body, prominent smooth tannins, with a long delicious finish. I actually generally prefer the Bone Ash Vineyard over the Family Reserve Cab from Venge. Beautiful wine.
June 9, 2022 - Party with some 100 pointers: Though there was a certain group who preferred the 2016 Venge served next to the 2013, I appreciated the extra tension the 2013 provided. For me, the 2013 and 2016 couldn’t be more different. For anyone who knows Venge, you know what you’re getting into here, but I do think the 2013 is a bit of an anomolgy…in a very good way. What I’ve always appreciated about the 2013 Bone Ash is that, for whatever reason, it tends to be less slathering and mouth-poundingly ripe than its siblings (both horizontally and vertically). The 2013 has nuance and focus to adequately, and in some cases even beautifully, support the dark and ripe black berry fruit and chocolate nucleus. This can age, with the vintage certainly helping the capacity for a bit more longevity than most things Venge. It’s big and powerful, but once it stretches its legs, it’s just what the doctor ordered. That is, if the doctor ordered a mouthful of chewy chocolate spiced cake with a blackberry glaze. If the 2013 is too tame for you, try the 2016. Ya, have fun with that!
May 13, 2022 - Wonderfully fragrant. Field of flowers and violets. Deep dark red almost black in the glass. Predominantly blackberry flavors and dark fruit. Refreshing, lively acidity with velvety rounded tannins. Lovely wine. Spectacular.