Community Tasting Note

Saturday, January 1, 2022 - Wow!.....pnp'd into a decanter. Tasted at the outset, a 92+. Just such classic Napa red cab franc fruit and herbs.....decanted for 4 hours before we started into it. Just a beautiful franc nose, with strong fruit....this has delicate florals initially but with strong red fruit. Hour 5 and it starts to turn to red velvet in the mouth and the cab sauv integrates into the cab franc better. A tad hot yet, and there is strong acidity throughout. You have to have this with food right now. 94-95 at this point. By hour 6, the fruit begins to turn a tad coarser in the mouth. I have a couple of these left and think I need to let them sit another 3-5 years at a minimum. '13 was such a strong vintage and there's so much integration yet to go. The acidity alone will take this wine another 20 years, easy.

Addendum: One small glass left in the decanter overnight on the kitchen counter with just a napkin laid across the top of it. Now open 31 hours in total. Muted cab nose primarily of graphite. The wine has fully blossomed into this sweet, soft, silky, chalky minerality beauty. The acidity has calmed down a bit and come into better balance. Still some mild atringency on the ending and a touch more of the taste of iron pan. Drinking like a classic BDX right now. I think I need to up my score a point from 95 to 96 at the least.

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Comment posted by Geaux Tigers:

1/1/2022 7:27:00 PM - Great note, one of my favorite cab franc dominant blends in all of Napa! Think your suggestion on further slumber is warranted in light of the vintage. Happy New Year!
Comment posted by Mark1npt:

1/1/2022 8:50:00 PM - Thanks, GT....one of my favs also. The '10s were singing earlier in '21 and the '12s have been great with a nice decant but this '13 vintage is just so much stronger than those others. I picture most of our good Napa '18s behaving exactly like this and needing many years to fully integrate like these '13s are still trying to do. HNY, to you, too!
Comment posted by Decanting Queen:

1/4/2022 1:13:00 AM - Is this the one we tried earlier this year? Loved it!
Comment posted by Mark1npt:

1/4/2022 6:38:00 AM - Yes, Jen...but it was the '10. Here's that review:

5/23/2021 - I LIKE THIS WINE: 96 points (Edit)
96 bordering on a 97 for me personally....slow ox'd in the bottle for an hour before dinner then decanted as we consumed over another hour during dinner with Chef Paul's beautifully prepared steak! In a day of many, many fine wines this was most likely the WOTN for the 2nd day of the '21 Wine-o-palooza! For the past few years, these beautfiul Cab Franc blends from Andy Erickson have really floated my boat....unmistakable (but not at all green) dark red CabF fruit upfront, smooth, soft and balanced throughout. Very, very good place for this one, but it's my last '10 :(
Comment posted by Decanting Queen:

1/8/2022 5:34:00 AM - Are you visiting this one? If so, snag me a bottle of something older if possible!! (Eg not 18/19/20)
Comment posted by Mark1npt:

1/8/2022 6:33:00 AM - Not going there this time, Jen. But I might have a lead on some '06s for us!
Comment posted by Gregmonroe:

3/30/2023 7:45:00 PM - Opened one of these last night. Slow ox for about an hour, then poured into glasses. You’re spot on. This needs more time - especially without food. It was good, but a little hot. A steak would have helped the rough edges.
Comment posted by Mark1npt:

3/30/2023 8:02:00 PM - Oh yes, Greg....needed a big decant last year, 5 hours minimum. I'm holding mine for a couple more years then will try again! Cheers! Mark