March 25, 2024 - Not quite as good as a recent bottle of 2017 Quivet Napa Valley cab, but still very nice. This benefitted from about 30 minutes of air and is otherwise drinking well at this point.
December 24, 2023 - Sitting in such a drinkable and approachable spot. Great integration of fruit and oak.
July 26, 2023 - Very nice. Many others as good or better for much less than $72.00
July 26, 2023 - This wine is in a real good spot right now, and this bottle was probably the best showing of this vintage to date. This is a big wine that is a deep purple color with dark black and blueberry fruit with some plum and hints of tobacco and leather. The wine is nicely extracted, integrated and surprisingly enjoyable for a vintage that was challenging for most producers. 93+/ 94 Points.
May 21, 2023 - PNP (don’t think Longhorn Steakhouse has a decanter…lol). Nice dose of oak treatment (vanilla) on the nose, sweet cherries. Palate is red fruit predominant - ripe raspberry, underripe cherry. Nice finish though still some tannins present. Drinking really well if you enjoy a good new world cabernet. Another nice wine (albeit entry level) from Mike Smith. Paired well with a “Flo’s filet”. Cheers!
February 26, 2023 - Excellent Cali-cab. Not a giant fruit bomb although there's plenty of fruit balanced well with the oak. Very supple and drinkable on it own or with food. Pnp'd tonight and it was good from the get go and opened easily in the glass. Good for another 3-5 years.
September 27, 2022 - In a really nice place currently. Gave it about an hour of air.
Saved about a 1/4 bottle for Day 2. Did not hold up great - should have drank on Day 1!
July 7, 2022 - Still showing at about a 90+/ 91 Point level as a pop and pour. Not much has changed with this wine on day one. 90+ Points. Nice dark color, fruit and nose, but showing tart an that not to my likening. I'll update if need be.
Nice improvement with a slow-Ox by a couple of points, a bit acidic but the positives outweigh the negatives. 92+/ 93 Points for a challenging vintage. Give it some air!
May 11, 2022 - Real good dark fruit with a touch of sweetness on the finish.
April 20, 2022 - Licorice, black raspberry, tart plum, leather. Good wine