April 9, 2024 - Definitely has a touch more fruit than the 18 or the 19 but still elegant and drinking beautifully. Starting to integrate more. I'd say this will be best in 10y but can drink very well now.
January 5, 2024 - Contrary to some recent CellarTracker reviews, I found this to be youthful but also very charming. It certainly has teeth, but it also a
Ready has complexity, as the deep red fruit combines with spice, and a bass savory note that builds the foundation of the wine. Following a short pour, I let the rest of the bottle open for two hours before pouring another glass. Good strategy. The fruit lifted, and the aromatics opened the longer the wine was open. If I had to do it all over again (and I will) I would go with a full decant, and not just the open bottle. This is a distinctive and nuanced Napa Valley Cabernet, and one of a small (but not insignificant) group that swim against the prevailing tide. Or perhaps it leads the way to the future.
November 10, 2023 - Plum Market wine tasting. Apparently this wine is in somewhat of an awkward stage now in consideration of the favorable reviews - I was underwhelmed. Fairly tannic and tart. Nowhere near the 94 rating from Suckling. I’ll refrain from rating it because I don’t believe it’s in the best place and needs time but upper 80s at best if rating.
July 1, 2023 - Decanted 3 hours and served with ribeye. Red fruits, cassis, bright acidity that cut through the food well. I enjoyed this but falls a little short of my lofty expectations. Maybe it’s the vintage or I drank this too young.
June 23, 2023 - Cool fruited. Good acid 14.2%
Light and balanced for a US cab.
June 18, 2023 - Great Cabernet from an under-appreciated vintage. Good complexity, concentration and balanced fruit, acid, and spice.
Tasted next to the 2019 and 2018:
2019 is fresh and fruit-forward. 2018 is less fruity, with more of a brooding backbone and plus acid. 2018 has the most long-term potential.
June 3, 2023 - The biggest of the three vintages we tried in the ‘17-‘19 vertical at the winery, more of everything in the previous vintages, but slightly less elegance than the ‘18 which was my favorite.
April 30, 2023 - A good wine. still needs time in the bottle in my opinion. Really big fruit on this one.
March 22, 2023 - Why has it taken me 25 years in my wine journey to discover this wine? Next to Dominus and Dunn, this is now my third favorite Bordeaux style wine from Napa. Great structure, earth, and complexity. Wound tight but early maturity to a Bordeaux of similar age. More blueish fruit than I was expecting from the blend.
November 20, 2022 - Outstanding wine from what many consider an off vintage. Shows the sheer skill Cathy possesses. This is an extremely elegant and complex wine with a finish that that lasts for minutes. Keeps you smelling the glass long after the bottle has been polished off. This is winemaking at the highest level and justifies the high price of admission (where so many others don’t).