December 11, 2021 - Still holding on, better after an hour.
January 3, 2021 - Dark cherry color, sweet aroma full front mouth feel, lush holds up to the end. Good viscosity. It should decant well
June 27, 2018 - Not very varietally typical, but a nice, big Napa red
May 26, 2016 - Good ripe fresh fruit w/ no green notes or bell pepper notes, as you often find w/ Cab Franc that hasn't fully ripened.
September 26, 2014 - Dark fruit but Flat from start to finish - inoffensive not memorable.
September 22, 2014 - Probably rushed this bottle: cellar to vinturi to decanter at temp. Only let sit about 30 minutes after this and still super tight. Really wicked tart fruit like raspberry, blueberry, tight underripe apricot. Really pretty floral and red roses and bright flowers on this wine. The nose is full of red and blue fruit, elements of red apples and tart strawberries. A big extracted wine though as it opens into bubble gum chewyness and apricots...big fruit, cherries, strawberries, tart. Really pretty but a huge wine with lots of new wood on this. This is the last of what I have...07 one of my favorite vintages. This wine is holding great. Give at least 3 or 4 hours if you are to open. Big brooding wine.
April 20, 2014 - I loved this wine, wish I had more in my cellar and knew what I paid for it. Chewy notes of black cherry, plum, dark spice and tobacco with a pleasant herbal finish. Firm tannins.
April 5, 2014 - Consuming this over the evening, taking notes as I go along...went vinturi to decanter on this at cellar temp...initial BRIGHT red and clean fruit on the nose: red raspberry, cherry, boysenberry, cooked apricot, touches of prune...real elements of black and blue fruit here too: baked raspberry with black plum. It's super herbal with lavender, almond peel, mint, anise, menthol, and chocolate all over the nose...the finish is 30 seconds and awesome tannins (not overwhelming) but way present. tons of new oak on this: baking spice, vanilla, cocoa, milk and dark chocolate. this wine opens into a big extracted blue and black fruit bomb wine with lots of oak and chocolate. rich and glycerine. However, definitely lacks in the midpalate here which is interesting. all on the finish and initial taste - seems a bit concocted in that manner but still big finish.
October 27, 2013 - Pop and pour, on nitrogen canister. Some bright spice and ripe dark berries on the nose, but more similar to a Cab Sauv than a CF. Weight is medium with a silky touch, showing more dark berries and a hint of chalk. Finish carries on for 15+ seconds. This is one of the better CF's I've had, and I really enjoy CFs as a varietal. Still 2-4 years ahead of this wine but I would imagine its within months of its peak.
September 4, 2012 - Tasty! Surprised it was still bursting with fruit after five years, but it held up well. Nice freshly sharpened pencil on the nose, too. The tannins had mellowed out quite a lot since last tasting (a year ago), but I'd be curious to check back in another year. Too bad this was my only bottle. Went well with cottage pie.