November 2, 2023 - Full, delicious red and black fruit. Well integrated tannins. Long finish.
August 20, 2023 - Additional age has helped this quite a bit. On the nose: forest floor, cherry, cedar and dark chocolate. It really opened up with time. When drinking black cherry, blackberry with solid tanned and good acidity. Long finish as well.
March 7, 2023 - This is in that level of Napa Cabs where the wine is delicious, polished, tasty, well made, with nothing out of place. But at the full retail asking price, you wonder if it should be just a little more complex on your palate?
The nose is clean and pleasant. Bright red fruit suggests the flavors you'll taste on the tip of your tongue. That's followed up with a bit of dark fruit, along with oak, vanilla, and dark chocolate.
When I poured, I enjoyed the super smooth mouthfeel. On the finish, I experienced the fine grained tannins. You don't notice the acidity as easily as you would from a Super Tuscan at the same price range, but it builds a little on the palate. Some of what I noted on the nose - the cacao and oak, present just a little on the finish.
This is definitely a crowd pleaser that will pair wonderfully with red meat and other hearty dinners. If you can buy this for under $100, you're doing well. I only grade this 92 because at the full retail price of $125, there's strong competition.
December 31, 2022 - Dara’s New Year’s Eve 2022
June 5, 2022 - This still needs time. On day 1 it was tannic and oaky. Day 2 it relaxed and opened up to show black and blue fruit.
April 8, 2022 - Let this open up at least an hour. Subtle fruits. Warm. Spicy over fruity.
December 26, 2021 - Enjoyed but complexity and depth of the wine are muted
December 11, 2021 - Seems disjointed or not aging well. Definitely disappointing for the appellation, vintage and price, even on sale. Maybe I got an off bottle?
December 4, 2021 - Big wine! Bold black cherry, cola, and leather. Gripping yet polished tannins . Long finish. This wine still has many good years ahead. 3 bottles left that I will revisit over the next 2, 4, and 6 years.
April 17, 2020 - Affordable Napa Valley Cab. Fruit forward with blueberry and black current on the palate. Nicely complex with a good tannin structure. The fruit is sourced from Coombsville, Stagecoach, Mount Veeder & Spring Mountain. Aged for 21 months in French Oak. Only 536 cases produced. I may be a bit biased since the winemaker lives in my neighborhood, but if you can find it, this is a great value.