April 3, 2016 - Fruit core holding nicely, good balance & structure and even pedigree. Oak noticeable but not heavy. Nice complexities of spring herbs and tarry hint. Opened bottle held up fine over a couple days, just reaching it's peak. Classic Napa claret style, generous and appealing but not overripe and overdone like many of their post-2007 cabs. I really wish they stuck with their 2005-era style. This is definitely showing well above it's price.
November 14, 2012 - Still good. Mixed half straight from bottle with half poured through aerator. Berry fruit with light tannins. Drank with ham and then after eating.
December 29, 2011 - Decanted for nearly two hours then drank with stir-fried ginger citrus beef tri-tip, bok choi and Bhutanese red rice. Very light garnet color. Warm, foresty oak nose, light strawberry and black tea flavors, a pleasing gentle spice, soft oaky tannins. If I hadn't read the label, I would have taken this for a Pinot. Drinking really nicely right now.
October 6, 2011 - A very nice meritage with seductive vanilla overtones. As the vanilla diminished, cherries appeared to be working in the background. Overall a very nice blend.
May 31, 2011 - Decanted 3 hrs. Medium garnet color. No sediment. Overall a mature looking claret, soft with light tannins. Cherry and berry flavors, finishing with sour cherry. Opened this for a steak, but a bit soft and light. We polished it off and opened a malbec which had more backbone.
February 9, 2011 - Great fruit and balance
March 17, 2010 - Integrating nicely and nice currant and dark fruit.
January 30, 2010 - Dinner with Molli's spinach and mushroom quiche. Opened this as part of my "drink up" experiment for 2005 California wines. Nose and fruit are subdued, tannins still quite robust and not yet fully integrated. Let's check back in a year.
November 4, 2009 - Nice currant and smooth taste
May 4, 2009 - Cherry flavors, light tannins. Not bad.