July 4, 2023 - This is starting to head in the right direction with the rocky, mineral personality of Pritchard Hill starting to show through. Blueberry, blackberry, and mineral notes in a well polished, but not over oaked package. The ABV is a bit high, but it is in balance for the moment.
Better than prior bottles but this was my last of the Brio offering.
November 13, 2021 - Opened up to oak. After 15 minutes, fruit emerged, well balanced.
Better then 6 months ago. Much more flavor.
May 25, 2021 - This ripe and blowsy Cabernet blend strikes me as confected and over-priced, so please read no further if you're looking for affirmation on a purchase already made. I'm an unapologetic fan of modern Napa Valley, but this is the Valley at its high-end worst, with generic flavor (e.g., fruit, alcohol, tannin, and acidity...check!) but nothing more (e.g., originality, tension, um... no). Maybe this is in a jammy awkward phase, but this second wine tastes like a third one. Pick your adjective - ugh, yuck, sigh - I can't remember another wine that I've more resented the price tag.
Dark purple in color; full in body; nose of Baby Ruth, milk chocolate, and cherry liqueur. Flavors of blueberry pie, Hershey bar, and cherry cola, with a sweet and generic finish (read: if you tasted it in a $15 grocery store wine, you'd be fine; otherwise, no.) I enjoy many Melka wines, but this has way too much vanilla milkshake to be impressive (especially for a mountain wine). Blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. Decant long enough to drink some (a lot of) good wine first, but probably just wait a few years and hope for the best. 15.4% alcohol.
May 24, 2021 - A glass from an open bottle in a restaurant. Second or third time having this. No doubt a decent wine, but for my liking too ripe – even if not yet cooked – fruit, especially for the vintage. Otherwise harmonious and palatable. Had this back to back to the Vaso 2015 which I clearly prefer. 4th time having this in 2 years and consistently scoring 91-93.
May 24, 2021 - Big and relatively generic high end Napa Cab. Very polished red and blue fruit, minerality, florals and dark spice notes. Higher abv apparent. Generous fruit,, expensive oak and a flashy finish. A good wine, awful QPR. Where will it be in 10yrs?
May 8, 2021 - Needed about and hour of air. Expressive nose of black fruit, leather, cassis. Full bodied, long finish. Probably one of the best vintages of Brio I’ve had.
February 25, 2021 - Virtual tasting with proprietor Jim Bean. Awash with sweet spices of ginger bread, anise and Asian spice surrounding a red currant fruit . Excessively sweet for my taste. Rather soft texture with lots of acidity and lighter bodied than I would have expected. Easy to find pleasure here if you‘re a sweet mouth, but you won't find much "terroir" or unique character here.
May 25, 2020 - Wow. We enjoy BRIO but was not expecting this wine to be so good. Was a bit hesitant given some of the comments about the 2016 Napa wines closing down a bit but, man, this bottle was singing. PNP with no decant. No detailed notes but the texture was creamy, full, with a lengthy finish and the fruit was just lovely. Could have been because it was Memorial Day or that we were watching Season 5 of Billions. Regardless, I can't wait for the next bottle...
May 17, 2020 - Pritchard Hill Cab- based wine.....!
March 6, 2020 - A fruit forward, slightly jammy cassis fruit but also some red type of fruit in there. Herbaceous notes reminding me of stinging nettles. Nice palate, fresh and fruity and highly enjoyable, but lacking layers. Consistent impression and score with last time (3 months ago).