December 18, 2023 - Picked this up for a steal on the secondary. PnP and ready from the start.
Smoke, spearmint, dill, black licorice, black tea, bouts of incense, fading fruit, but hints of black cherry and cola compliment it all. This is past peak for fruit lovers but well into a long plateau of secondary / tertiary drinking. For my palate, these seem to peak at ~15 yrs as I like a little more fruit than today’s showing. YMMV
July 3, 2023 - Moving a bit past its prime (or at least, my "prime" preferred drinking window). 92.5 if rounding up
January 1, 2023 - Needed air. After four hours, fruit emerged from this well structure, balanced, beautiful cab. Loved it.
May 11, 2021 - Deep inky color with very ripe fruit.
January 1, 2021 - Beautiful Cabernet nose of sweet cassis, blackberry liquor and eucalyptus. Bought off the mailing list years ago, this bottle is in perfect condition and showing quite youthful and it really didn't fully open until the third hour after decanting. It's powerful with a voluminous velvety texture and rich flavors of blackberries, cassis, mocha and licorice. The tannins on the finish are still firm which gives the wine a tautness that I like a lot in Napa Cabernet with age. Eucalyptus and ripe coffee notes rounds things out. Well-stored bottles of this have years of development ahead and while it's very ripe with an alcoholic edge, it still works well with a charred steak tonight.
December 23, 2020 - Similar to my tasting note from November and again from 2017. Third time tasting this suggests it is consistently excellent and in a good drinking window. Decanted for 1 hour. There was a pleasant black cherry finish on this wine tonight that was borderline medicinal flavor, that I actually enjoyed. This barely edges out the O’Shaughnessy Mt Veeder served along side, but I think in time the Mt Veeder will be the better of the two wines with more time in cellar.
December 12, 2020 - Purple in color. 14.6% ABV. Sublime nose of black fruits, eucalyptus, violets and scorched earth. Medium to full bodied with impeccable balance. Impressive power and concentration. Black raspberry, cassis liqueur, truffles and spice on the palate. The finish on the wine is long and seamless with ever so silky tannins. Stunning Cabernet Sauvignon that is showing brilliantly. Best over the next 3-5 years.
November 27, 2020 - Similar to prior notes after a 2 hour double decant; outstanding, drink or hold, no rush
November 13, 2020 - My last tasting note was back in April 2017. Very similar notes, with the exception that this appears to be slightly more mature and evolved (in a good way). It did not need as long of a decant and was hitting on all cyclinders after a 1 hour decant. Very California, but in a refined way paying homage to its Bordeaux varietal heritage. Excellent!
May 19, 2020 - Similar to prior notes; outstanding, drink or hold