April 9, 2024 - Tasted at the winery.
Little bit darker with more serious fruit than the 19. Bit more coiled up in structure too. Comparatively dark and inky but still has the classic Corison elegance. Mineral-driven tannins with red and darker fruits.
Should cellar for 15y no problem. 93
October 24, 2023 - Tasted at The Wine Society UK's tasting of USA wines, London.
My first experience of this cab sau and it's good. But at this price, it needs to be! Dark crimson colour. An intense nose, with deep blueberries, cassis, herbal and plums. The palate is full and rich. Very long. If I had a misgiving, it's that this is indeed a very big wine and may not appeal to all tastes. I think it needs to be left for several years and it may then soften out and become better balanced.
September 21, 2023 - Tasted November 2021. Decanted for three hours. The young nose wafts cherry, blackberry, boysenberry, black currant, sweet leather, and black plum. Boarding on full bodied, the black tea tannins are broad and thick while the acid is formidable but integrated. The fruit flavors are dark and have a dehydrated quality to them, while the earthy notes include tobacco, baking spice, and black pepper. The depth is evident in the mouthfeel, suggesting a good five to seven years will usher in some unveiling of complexity. Give it ten to fifteen years to enjoy it at its best.
September 13, 2023 - As always, difficult to taste when young as Cathy Corison's wines have always marked tannins to work through. Medium bodied, with notes of cassis and oak. 91-92
August 30, 2023 - Served from a 375ml bottle. While still young and mostly primary, this has the stuffing to age gracefully for decades. Really well balanced.
July 14, 2023 - Approachable now, please give it 30 mins in the glass / decanter. Room for improvement but it's in a delicious primary fruit phase. Before anyone gets upset, 90 = bottom end of excellent.
June 25, 2023 - Probably too early to drink, and did not have enough time to decant (was toward the end of the evening, and did not expect to be opening another bottle of red wine).
Even still, it was balanced, and did not have a huge amount of tannins. So it was absolutely fine, but one could tell that this will further develop with further aging.
June 18, 2023 - Tasted at the winery, next to the 2017 and 2019:
2019 is fresh and fruit-forward. 2017 is the best of the three today, with more complexity, concentration and balanced fruit, acid, and spice.
2018 is less fruity, with more of a brooding backbone and plus acid. Tannin and acid for long-term potential. A bit more root/sarsaparilla flavor. Give it time.
Updated a few months later: still dark and brooding, and a bigger, darker wine than the 2019. So balanced; the red and purple fruit is there, but it doesn't dominate, unlike most Napa cab these days. The acid and fruit come together like a juicy, but underripe, sweet plum. A bit less spice and tobacco than the 2019. Give this wine many more years - it's very drinkable now, but I'd put my money on 2028 being a great year to drink this.
June 3, 2023 - Tasted at the winery. Beautiful flowers and vanilla on the nose and palate. Red cherries, cinnamon, tannins, and acidity. A touch better than the ‘19. 92/93
April 16, 2023 - This is young and primary but so juicy, pretty and restrained. Pleasure to drink!