August 30, 2011 - Deep color showing just a bit of age. Meaty and dark berries on the nose. Smooth and balanced.
March 24, 2011 - Opened & decanted 1 1/2 hours before dinner. Nice nose after opening at cellar temperature. The taste improved as it breathed & warmed up. After 1 1/2 hours it was lovely, although not really a good pairing with steak and potato. After 2 hours and getting warmer the high alcohol and tannin detract somewhat, and taste becomes increasingly grapey. Day 2: at cellar temperature the wine is rich and smooth but somewhat grapey and a little sweet; still enjoyable until it gets too warm, when tannins and alcohol take over. The wine is certainly not over the hill--getting better if anything.
December 23, 2010 - Contrary to my previous experience, the wine opened up pleasantly after about an hour and drank surprisingly well with spicy food. No chance to taste on day two; on day 3 (after 48 hours) it drank beautifully with dinner of strongly flavored mushroom/madeira/onion ravioli. With the right food this is very good indeed, although the alcoholic heat and tannin detract somewhat when it warms up. I continue to hope for further improvement with more age.
September 3, 2010 - My recent experience with this vintage of Judd's Hill confirmed: best to pop and pour at cellar temperature before the pleasant fruit is overwhelmed by alcohol and secondary flavors. The wine did not improve with air and time, and warmer temperatures bring out excessive heat. Hard to say whether the wine will improve with age, since day 2 was not better than day one, but I will certainly keep some bottles to see how it develops.
June 15, 2009 - Tasted blind with 21 other california cabs. My winner of the night (placed 3rd overall, 40 participants) for it's dark blue and red fruit, beautiful balance and wonderful finish. At $36 a great cab in a sea of ever more expensive bottles engineered for cellar aging.
June 14, 2009 - Fruit forward and full.
June 1, 2008 - Nice, full bodied entrance, good mid-palate of black fruits & cassis and a 45 second finish.