March 16, 2024 - I gave this a 3 hour slow ox, which means I opened, splash decanted, back into the bottle with the cork out, and brought this downtown for a meetup with out of town friends. air time seemed perfect. dense black and red fruit on the nose, Cassis, blackberry and morello cherries on the palate, mixed with forest floor, crushed stone, hint of tobacco. I love how the oak interplays with the sweet oakville fruit. great texture and concentration. Nicely integrated tannins on the finish. fantastic with our wood oven branzino and pork chop with charred vegetables.
February 15, 2024 - Opened this one a few nights back as I needed one more glass that night with food....put under a Repour stopper since then.....had another glass last night....another glass tonight, and then Carol decided she liked it and wanted to finish the rest of the bottle.....
Pretty classic Ehrlich. By this 3rd night it's pretty soft in the mouth with classic Ehrlich notes. Very well integrated right now.....
April 29, 2023 - Hate rating a wine so many times but am compelled with this one to do so. Been 5-6 months or so since my last bottle. HMC was kind enough to crack one open after we'd finished off our previous bottles for the evening. Cold from his chiller and open for business right from the start. That classic Ehrlich nose and taste profile evident on the first sip. The cassis from this vineyard mated with BCellars' choice of French oak is a perfect pairing. We talk so often of food and wine pairings, but I think lost in the shuffle is the pairing of the flavor profiles that different vineyards can give you, when mated with different cooperages and not just speaking categorically about French vs American oak, but the differing flavor profiles/spices that various coopers can impart with their barrels. Whatever this combo is with the Ehrich fruit, it's a perfect pairing. I hope it never changes. This bottle an easy 95 from the get go, and probably right near a 96 through the hour it lasted for us four. Just so awesomely good.....approaching a full out 96 score from me. A few bottles left to monitor for the next 2 years so we'll see if it gets there soon.
March 17, 2023 - Did not enjoy as much as my last bottle, it didn’t past the dance weekend test. It needs time and attention and better glasses. This was just fine but wish I had saved it for a night at home. Lots of nice fruit, but still some noticeable alcohol.
December 9, 2022 - I'll second Decanting Queen's note. A 95 all day for me. I was also trying this on advice of Mark and it was in a really great drinking window. Fruit all the way at the front of this, but really nice wine. Bottle was quickly finished off between my fiance and me.
I will be reaching out to Peter to try and grab a few more bottles...
December 9, 2022 - Opened this last night, influenced as usual by Mark1npt. In this case he was correct, this is drinking unbelievably well right now. Open from the pnp, intense nose of dark fruits, palate to match, everything in balance. The tannins became a little grippier with time open but it was still excellent. Great on its own or with a Waygu steak and salad. Looks like these will be added to my ‘drink now’ list.
December 4, 2022 - Pnp'd with my son, daughter in law and beautiful new grandson as we watched the Eagles dismantle the previously tough, Titans. No contest, in the game or in the glass. Over 2-3 hours this one just overpowers the zins we had earlier today. The nose is rich and classic with graphite and herbs. The palate is equally as rich with deep, dark berry fruit, riveting acidity giving it that classic B Cellars energy in the glass. The palate is dry but intense with dark berry fruit and spice. Every bit of a 95........
June 17, 2022 - Was going to wait to try another of these but it's a nice day out by the pool and, well.....why not? Pnp'd into our pool safe stainless steel drinking glasses, cork back in the bottle and enjoyed that first glass over about 45 minutes then poured each of us another glass from the bottle. First impressions was great dark red fruit, dominated by cedar and oak. Tannins are pretty well integrated for this being so young. 2nd glass a little more smooth and integrated. Great weight and flavors of the Ehrlich vineyard. This is another stellar year and drinking with 1-2 hours of air is perfect, right now. Jen.....take note!
April 22, 2022 - Blueberry pie and licorice on the nose with flavors of raspberry and black cherry. A touch of minerality and grippy tannins held the finish for 10-15 seconds. Decant for at least 2 hours and you will enjoy this fantastic Napa cab.
February 23, 2022 - HMC opened a bottle of this from his stash at the end of dinner as our glasses were empty. Notes almost exactly as the bottle at the winery last month, with the additional emphasis that this currently needs every bit of 2 hours of air and then the great Ehrlich nose and taste profile emerges in spades. This also for my palate might have an additional 2 or 3 points in it going forward this year and next.