September 2, 2019 - Really nice wine. Layers of currants, plums and raspberries. Finishes with some cherry and chocolate.
May 18, 2019 - Cherries, currants and berries slide out of the glass. Well integrated wine.
September 14, 2018 - Decanted briefly. Deep maroon color but not purply. Aromas of crushed ripe, Bing cherries, forest floor, cocoa powder, and a touch of cedar. It is a rich wine and full bodied but balanced with firm acidity. Delicious.
December 31, 2017 - New Years Eve (Rocknroller's (Kevin & Vicki's Place)): Purple color. Slow-O over 3+ hours, drank a glass on day one and revisited on day 3. The word masculine comes to mind when drinking this wine. A bit of a heavyweight boxer with a ton of power and concentration, a little herbaceous on the nose, with blackberry, huckleberry, and black currants, pepper and anise along with new wood. The palate has tart black fruits, tart plum skin, juneberry, green tobacco leaf, and wood. The tannins have nice silky texture on day 3, though they were firmer and still have some grip. There was some heat, though far less on day three. Lots of structure and depth, this was more enjoyable on day 3 with a nice classic big style cab nose that lost its herbaceousness and added some earth and nuance. It would have paired awfully well with a big juicy steak. This is one of those wines that I'd like to see again at 15 and then 20 years of age to see how it ages. 90ish day 1 and probably 91 on day 3.
April 1, 2017 - Still very young, big and strong. Cherries and currants up front, then finishes with a bit of mint and chocolate.
March 12, 2017 - Thirsty Games (Jason's House): Decanted for a couple hours, drank a small glass over about an hour. This cab has a lot of character, tons of tobacco, earth, anise, dark fruit and firm tannins. This is an impressive Napa cab. I'd like to drink it again in 5+ years.
December 30, 2016 - Absolutely a very nice wine. Had it with a large group of wine drinkers and it was their favorite Cab of the night.
May 22, 2016 - Still dark as night but that has always been one of Rockledge's traits. Nose of cool blue black fruits with blackberries and pomegranate. Just a pure and beautiful expression of this style. Palate shows intense density and purity with the black/blue fruits doing a reverse. Cassis and currants now with notes of sassafras cardamon. So much has evolved here since my last taste (Nov 2009), this seems to have resolved most of its dusty tannins and rough edges while picking up some pretty elegance and poise. Deftly balanced and long on the finish, this really is an amazing bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and if you should just so happen to own any consider yourselve lucky. Outstanding, and one of the better 2007s I have encountered.
December 23, 2012 - Breathed for about an hour. Fantastic wine
October 23, 2010 - Winery Tastings, October 2010; 10/22/2010-10/25/2010 (Mt. Veeder, Oakville, Spring Mountain, St. Helena, Calistoga, Napa): Big, hillside cabernet, still needing lots of time to integrate. Structure is there. I get rich, dark fruits that can't quite express themselves yet. Lots of graphite and winter spices. Tannins need to resolve, but you can tell this one will be great. Keep it coming, Mr. Hirby!