April 14, 2022 - 14.1%. Perfectly clean cork, and the wine shows just a moderate level of evolution in color. This evolved positively over several hours and is still approaching the early peak, with softly ripe red fruit and lovely sous-bois, but still a bit of astringence on the back of the palate.
'Was even better a few days later from Boston round bottle. I hadn't noticed previously, but this is starting to develop that wonderful texture old cabernet can get.
Well-stored bottles of the 1997 seem to have plenty of road ahead.
June 7, 2020 - Have had this three times in three years, twice it was outstanding, once it was good+. Still retains a brightness to the fruit, which, for its age, comes across quite youthfully. Full-bodied, with a good flow across the palate - at times still flexing some muscle thanks to considerable structure. Remained vibrant for the four hours it was open. Should hold here for several more years, no problem. highly recommended
March 23, 2020 - Wedding and Birthday Celebrations (Pokai Parera, Ekatahuna, New Zealand): Ageing beautifully (far more youthful - and balanced, than the Harlan Maiden of the same vintage). Refined, varietally correct, slightly herbaceous, never tiring. This is totally new world in style, but its proportions are not totally dissimilar to Bordeaux.
February 18, 2018 - This is a tremendous wine. Gorgeous crimson with virtually no bricking in the glass. It's in a great spot, with solid Cabernet characteristics, still juicy and maintaining a zippy acidity, but with the tertiary forest floor and mushroom notes as well. This was a tremendous wine, glad I have another bottle.
July 6, 2017 - Full fill. Great cork. Dark inky black still. Acid, Cedar, Cigar, and some distant mushroomy funk on the nose. Acid, some blackberry fruit still, some forest floor funk but dominated more by the acid and the smooth softened tannins. Its not a big concentrated wine. Its got characteristics of great Santa Cruz Mtn Cab. Not overripe or extract. This seems an especially mellow year. Lets say its well integrated and quite smooth. I'm not an expert on aged wines so I wont speculate on whether its past its prime. But its still drinking beautiful.
August 24, 2015 - Popped, breathed in bottle 60 minutes, consumed over next two hours. This bottle started out a bit reticent, simple, and rough, but quickly and continually opened, revealing more and more nuance, becoming silky and fleshing out, turning into a very complete, satisfying classic Santa Cruz Mountain Cab.
April 15, 2015 - Still showing alot of character. Nice acidity. Typical Cab profile.
October 25, 2013 - Popped, breathed in bottle 60 minutes, enjoyed over next two hours. Dark fruit, cigar box, forest floor. This drank really well for the first 60 minutes, but then began to fall apart and become disjointed. The mid-palate seemed to disappear. Score is for peak performance. 92+.
October 25, 2013 - Marin County Wine Group - Aged Cabernets 15 year min.; 10/24/2013-10/25/2013 (Mill Valley, Ca.): Very surprised to see something like this at this event. Santa Cruz fruit but very well made. drinking very well right now and without knowing the tariff on this felt it was a well made wine by itself. dark fruits on the palate and nice tannins. It was not the best wine of the flight, however.
October 29, 2012 - Realy nice big cab, rich layered flavors with exellent balance. Only drawback is the finish was slighlty hollow but thats nitpicking, this wine is fabulous.