The wine is in a weird place. Kind of “chunky”, with a tar like undertone. Not bad,, but either it needed more time or it’s as good as it’s gone get. Decanted for several hours. It tried to open up,, but no fruit really showed up
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Opaque red plum color. Dark brooding nose suggesting dried dark fruit. Blackberry, currant and, perhaps, unsweetened chocolate on introduction--typical CS stuff. Suggestion of leather under the rear palate. Very spritzy acid sensation noted on the edges of the tongue, but that seems to attenuate after a bit and the wine smooths out substantially. A mouth-filling full-bodied wine.
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Blackberry and black cherry cocktail, with vanilla and licorice notes rounding out the profile. Less sweet than the 2013 but hotter in the mouth, this bottle of 2014 was flexing quite a bit on its first hour of consumption.
A bottle of 2014 I had back in February didn’t have as much heat as this particular bottle. Luckily after a couple of hours the perception of booze blew off enough. Less mineral elements this time around.
Paired well with roasted lamb.
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Two years since my last bottle. I’ve reviewed this wine a number of times now and it has maintained a steadfast demeanor throughout my experiences with it. With an hour or so decant just to blow off the slightest tinge of top-layer sweetness on the front end, this LPV behaves like others from this vintage and this site, with an affable and plush demeanor that makes for easy and pleasurable drinking.
Warm blackberry compote and black asphalt flavors produce a lush mouthfeel overall, with just the right amount of cut to keep the deep core flowing through the mouthwatering finish. No perception of heat, which allows flavor expansion to reach its full potential, providing a lavish and giving execution from start to finish.
Shared some similarities with a 2014 Realm Bard I had the other day. Paired nicely with a three cheese baked pasta dish. Drink now and over the next few years.
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I thought it was decent. Had it after a Sine Qua Non, so it seemed a little lighter. But to me, it’s just not as put together and smooth as a Myriad G3. But it is a solid wine...just not sure it’s $125 worth.
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Opened at a client dinner so focus wasn’t on the wine.... However, my recollection was first pnp was good fruit but finish was lighter with minerality and slight acidity...with more air the fruit built weight especially into the finish....dense black/blue fruit with subtle oak and fine tannins...a very good wine... $125 a pop isn’t cheap but I guess that’s the price of admission To hallowed ground...
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2014 Quivet LPV and 2014 Schrader LPV side-by-side.
This Quivet showed a similar flavor profile as the Schrader, with blackberry and asphalt notes at the front end, but with additional flavors of deeper and richer dark chocolate, blueberry, oak char, and some spices also inserted into the mix. A sexy, round (but not overly plush) delivery, with a succulent mouthfeel that added a bit of textural chewiness and weight, especially in comparison to the more straight-shot execution of the Schrader. The Quivet was without a doubt more open for business.
The Schrader came off as a more serious and direct expression of the site, reminding me a bit of the 2012 Hobbs LPV (decidedly linear and contained in its delivery). The Schrader came off angular when compared to the more opulent Quivet. The Quivet was more demonstrative and had more sex appeal, but still maintained a similar focus as the Schrader. The Quivet was not overtly flashy, but definitely more fleshy and gratuitous.
Drink the Quivet now and within the next 5+ years (to be inside of its optimum window for freshness). I’d imagine this stays relatively constant over the next few years, as it appears to be in a decent glide right now. 95-96 points.
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This rich and integrated Cabernet is drinking well right now, though my guess it that it will be better in another year or so. Although it's shed its baby fat, it has a more grainy character that should fold back into the wine with more time. All that aside, this is delicious now, and it should only get better.
Dark raspberry in color and full in body, the wine has aromas of blackberry, cocoa powder, baking spices, and crushed rock. Tastes of mountain blueberry, graphite, leather, and cedar, with a compelling finish that combines cocoa and gravel (with more of the latter). 15.1% alcohol. Still going strong on second day, with perhaps a bit more sweetness.
This seemed like a breath of fresh air next to a 2014 Anthem LPV, which was all sugar and alcohol in comparison. I know Mike Smith's approach is modern / fruit-forward / big / insert-your-adjective, but it should be said that his wines, especially after a few years from the right vineyard, just sing. This is such a wine. 95+ for now, with upside.
Shared with good friends over dinner of grilled steaks, and vegetables. Served alongside a 2012 Nickel & Nickel Tench Vineyard Cabernet. This is a classic Mike Smith wine; pure fruit, integrated oak, velvet finish, adequate acidity (but I think the power of the fruit is actually still front and center at this point). This wine is a huge mouthful of ripe blueberries, blackberries, with campfire s'mores. I rarely get a graham cracker+vanilla+sweet Ceylon cinnamon note in wine, but this certainly had that or the sweeter Teddy Grahams in the background. Slight minerality and spice in the long finish. I still think this wine is quite primary, though there is no judgement in drinking now, since it's so delicious. I'll plan to keep the rest I have for a bit, and certainly the 2016 vintage once it arrives. I would love to see this wine with 2-4 more years of bottle age, but doubt I'll have the patience.
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Gosh, look at this wine. The label appears homemade and you'd think this was about a $20 bottle if you didn't know any better. Mike/Leah - can we get some graphic design folks in on this? Well actually no, I prefer this wine stay under the radar. To my mind this is amongst the absolute best buys and most hidden gems in all of Napa. I shutter to think I pay almost the same amount for a 2000+ case blend of Realm Bard as I do this what, 150 case? epic SVD from the hallowed grounds of Las Piedras. Crazy town but hey, those Realm labels are much better!
It has a beautifully perfumed nose of violets, crushed rock, blueberries, scorched earth and forest floor. If you enjoy blue/black fruit, this is your jam. Tons of it, with loads of dark chocolate, really crisp mineral driven flavors, a hint of tobacco and powerful earthy elements. Voluptuous silky texture, great layering, huge mid pallet and a wonderfully long and vibrant finish. Shows all the complexity you would expect from such a great vineyard. I really feel like this site and Crane produce some of Mike Smith's best wines, as they are naturally more earth driven and less about the fruit, which makes that MS penchant for sweetness really balance out. This isn't even the best vintage of this wine, and it's amazing. Get it if you can. 96++
Weekend in Minneapolis; 8/17/2018-8/18/2018 (Various Locations): This is very much your classic Napa valley floor cab. Almost overpouring blackberry jam. It comes across as super fruity. There's almost no acid and almost no tannin. A wine that when I try it honestly makes me think it would appeal well to the child inside us all with the fruit and sweet. Very nice of Vinny to share with us. It's not really my style, but it was fun to try another Mike Smith wine. Holding on the rating as this isn't my sweet spot, but for me this would be more like an 88-89.
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Slow ox for 4.5 hours. Drank over a couple of hours. Also had 2014's from VHR, Corra Melanson and Realm Houyi open.
This was WOTN for both my wife and me. Delivered on all cylinders; gorgeous nose of purple fruits and gravel, which pushed through the velvety palate. The finish was long and harmonious - you wanted to dive right back in.
Not sure I could ask for much more from this wine. Also not sure that more time is going to improve it - maybe 2-3 more years? After that I am afraid that it may lose some of the glorious fruit that is currently leaping out of the glass.
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Served at my parents. Dark blue and black fruit - blackberry, dark currants, and blueberry. Quite smooth coupled with solid depth/concentration. Nice flavors of dark berries, some spice/licorice, and a little mineral/graphite component. Fairly long finish. Decanted for one hour and drank out of a decanter for a couple more. Improved a little with time but drinking pretty well after the decant. A really nice wine, however, I was more impressed with the 2015 vintage a couple weeks ago - I thought the fruit was quite a bit bigger/fuller and more expressive/flavorful. I'm still thinking that a lot of the 2014 cabs are in somewhat of an awkward/transition stage and need some time to come back around. Once again, I'm going to continue and lay my 2014 cabs down until the end of the year.
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Rather flat and ordinary at first but give it some air! This arose from the dead. I agree with the wine makers assessment of the Cab, layers of dark berry fruit, blackberry, blackcurrant and blueberry, some tobacco notes and some minerality. The wine shows a combination of finesse and extraction at the same time. One half of a bottle remaining, good stuff.
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Mike Smith Tasting and Wine Dinner PART #2: Previous notes apply from last year. This has certainly found its groove, with beautiful black and blue core fruit, black currant, signature site-specific black asphalt, crunchy minerality, and some embers. The 2015 and 2016 Quivet LPVs were far more bombastic and monstrous (in the best of ways), but this 2014 kept an even delivery of great essences throughout consumption and showed its ability to be remembered for its smooth, complex delineation of flavors and a notable cut from its mineral-driven grip. Still a compelling example of the site, if not eclipsed just a bit by the shadows of its younger ‘15 and ‘16 brethren.
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Blueberry, blackberry dry fruit. Elegant with a solid structure, yet still tight, coiled and holding back. Tannins are present with nice structure. Good extraction and acidic as I noticed the first time around with this wine. I will hold off on this vintage, it needs more time. 94+ Points, closer to 95 Points.
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A muted nose at first, black fruits, violets, graphite, this opened up over the course of an hour and was lovely. I would hold onto this another year before trying another, it's very tight.
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Parents just came back in town and we decided to drink a couple of quality cabs next to one another to see how they compared so we put this next to the 2015 Mending Wall Tournahu cab. I thought the Mending Wall was clearly better which was a little surprising. Once again, dark black fruit with a touch of red - blackberry, dark currants, and a little dark cherry. Smooth mid-palate but the fruit came across a little lighter than previous bottles. Nice flavors of dark berries and a little mineral/graphite component. Fairly long finish but not overly deep. Decanted for one hour and drank over another two. Not much improvement with time. In my opinion, still enjoyable but like a lot of other 2014 cabs that I've had recently this cab appears to be in some kind of transition phase and needs some time to come back around.
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Took a peek shortly after opening. Then decanted for 2.5 hours and drank over an hour.
Also had a 2014 Kata open with same treatment.
This wine had more power and overall intrigue for me. Just another fabulous showing; this is great juice. Dark purple and black fruit and a massive finish.
The Kata got some votes as the preferred wine, but I thought the Quivet was a blockbuster, with more edge and a bigger finish. Great with the steaks too. I wish I had much more of this laying around (especially at the price point). Something special.
I haven't had Quivet's Las Piedras in around 6 months and this wine has come into its own and is drinking really nicely now. The biggest change for me is that it has lost its baby fat and has all of the Las Piedras hallmark characteristics.
I decanted this for 2 hours and it needed 2 additional hours and I'm positive that the 1/3 left over will be better tonight. Purple color with a little red around the rim. Mostly blackberry fruit - there was more, but the mineral, earth, charcoal and graphite notes were more pronounced, IMHO. The wine is velvety smooth and not overly extracted. Obviously, it will continue to get better.
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Brought this along to a steakhouse dinner with friends. Decanted for 3 hours prior to consumption and drank over an additional 2 hours. No question on the potential upside of this wine given its pedigree, but I prefer a little more integration / balance. Given its youth, the level of alcohol and tannins on this youngster were taking center stage. I'll sit on these for several years before another go.
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Nice improvement from my last experience. This is a big, full-bodied (but not brooding) Cab with beautiful intensity, focus and is quite delicious. This 2014 has a pretty nose of fresh, fragrant violets. The color, dark Purple and blue black fruit consisting of blueberries, ripe blackberries, black licorice, blackberry liquor and showing some alcohol but not too bad. I detect chalky tannis and minerality that weren’t present the last time I tasted this wine which causes me think that this will wine should hold up nicely with bottle age. Nice and ample extraction, this wine shows great purity, power of presence and a nice, lingering finish. This 2014 is a real beauty. 97 points and counting!
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Outrageous. Decanted 4 hours, drunk over the next 3, just kept getting better. If you can wait 7-10 years you will be rewarded but it's soooooo good now.
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Get together with my parents for the NCAA basketball tournament and he agreed to bring a bottle of the Carter Grand Daddy (although I thought he was going to bring a bottle of the 2014 vintage but instead brought the 2013 vintage) and I agreed to open a bottle of the 2014 Quivet Las Piedras. Once again, purple fruit- blueberry, blackberry, currants, and a little dark cherry. Smooth mid-palate with really nice depth. A different profile from what I've experienced with Mike's wines so far with this vintage - not as much fruit forward and rich but more of a soft/mineral component mid-palate and with the finish. Fairly long/deep finish. Decanted for three hours and drank over another three. Improved with time but drinking well after the decant. However, laying this vintage down for another year or so as recommended by the winemaker makes sense to let the fruit soften and integrate a little more. I expect another point or two higher with a little more time. Just tremendous.
Pop and pour. Yet another incredible performance by this wine. Was a touch outshone by the Carter OG on this night, but in fairness we didn't really let this breathe at all. Packs a firm punch. Love this right now, but probably going to be patient with further bottles.
Not surprisingly, PnP was indeed a little jammy and primary. Purple and red berry notes, alcohol, and some asphalt.
It took a good three hours in a wide bottomed decanter to bring this wine into a notable place. And what a nice place it ended up landing! The final sips were the best, filled with additional flavors of black licorice, pumice, slate, wet granite, and hints of clove, all framing out the massive core fruit beautifully. This really had some drive and push. Finish was 45+ seconds.
This hasn't developed its seamlessness yet, but I'm confident time in bottle will remedy that. The concentration and intensity are there for sure. I look forward to trying this in a year (ideally, probably two years).
The best Quivet I've had thus far. Mike Smith continuing to show his talents in spades. It is indeed modern and unabashedly forward, so old world disciples beware. 95-96++ points at the moment. This may very well reach into the far upper 90s by the end of the day. A year or two in bottle will do it well.
Similar notes as before. This wine does need 6 - 12 months of time as it was much better on day 2. On day 1, it was a little jammy and in your face. On day 2, it was just great. Dark purple and red color and fruits of plum, blackberry, currant. From LPV, it has burnt charcoal, stones and milk chocolate. For 2014, this is my favorite Mike Smith wine.
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Decided to pop a bottle young in light of the positive reviews and the fact that I was able to pick-up some more in the secondary market. Really impressive. No surprise Mike wasn't overly excited with Parker's barrel tasting rating of this cab at 92 to 94 especially in comparison to the 2014 Carter Beckstoffer Las Piedras which Parker rated 95 to 97 - he thought the quality of fruit was comparable. Purple fruit - blueberry, blackberry, currants, and a little dark cherry. Smooth mid-palate with really nice depth. Nice full flavors of wild berries and a little spice. Long/deep finish. Decanted for three hours and drank over another three. Improved with time but drinking well after the decant. However, laying this vintage down for another year or so as recommended by the winemaker makes sense to let the fruit soften and integrate a little more. I expect another point or two higher with some more time. Just tremendous.
Really interesting wine. This is typical Mike Smith with a lot going on. Smooth, creamy, tons of purple fruit. I had 1/2 of the bottle on night 1 and the 2nd 1/2 the next night and day 2 was much better. The wine settled down and was just delicious. Very powerful. IMHO, most LPV wines have a certain taste from this site but this did not. This had a "Mike Smith" taste. Nonetheless, great job.
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Nose of jam, flowers, graphite, charcoal and chocolate. A really interesting but gorgeous compilation of scents. First sip - there's a lot going on here. Many different components needing time to come together. Very full bodied, rich and huge. A bit harsh right off the bat. Dark flavor profile, combing lots of earthy elements with a bit of fruit. Over time and with air, it opened up to a pallet enveloping lushness revealing more and more of the underlying dark fruit. By the end, all I kept thinking was "man, this gets GOOD."
This LPV is something quite different from other Mike Smith wines IMO. Adds the mineral driven, smoked meat and charcoal flavor to the very high quality and pure blue/black fruit. You should really lay this bottle down for a couple years, as it clearly needs some time. But boy, it's good and likely will continue to get much better.
Slow ox for 4 hours. Tasted alongside LPV's from Schrader and Carter.
This was the most powerful of the three. More earthy on the nose. But overall a similar profile to the Carter, just cranked up another notch. Thundering, powerful finish.
Attractive nose, dark fruit, blackberry, cassis and blueberry, excellent character, depth, and refinement. A very nicely constructed, beautiful, sleek, yet powerful Cab. Unlike its 2013 brother, this Las Piedras will benefit with bottle age but can be enjoyed now with an nice decant. Two Thumbs up Mike. 96+ Points.
Tasting with Mike Smith at Envy. This was a head turner. Incredible depth on the palate and a singing, lingering finish. My notes were pretty much limited to "wow" and "this is the best one" because I sort of got lost in just enjoying this wine. Was a tick better for me than the 2014 Myriad Elysian as well as the 2013 Fait Main from LPV that we had the prior day.
4/18/2024 - Bobbusch wrote: 88 Points
The wine is in a weird place. Kind of “chunky”, with a tar like undertone. Not bad,, but either it needed more time or it’s as good as it’s gone get. Decanted for several hours. It tried to open up,, but no fruit really showed up
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9/12/2022 - EMark Likes this wine:
Opaque red plum color. Dark brooding nose suggesting dried dark fruit. Blackberry, currant and, perhaps, unsweetened chocolate on introduction--typical CS stuff. Suggestion of leather under the rear palate. Very spritzy acid sensation noted on the edges of the tongue, but that seems to attenuate after a bit and the wine smooths out substantially. A mouth-filling full-bodied wine.
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9/11/2021 - Burgundy Al wrote:
A Few Wines Tasted at Lisa and Sheldon's Engagement Party (The Krengels - Bannockburn IL): Small glass, brief note. Previously unfamiliar with this wine/producer. I was not surprised with the richness, but pleasantly surprised by the good balance. Very enjoyable.
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4/5/2021 - csimm wrote:
2013 and 2014 Quivet LPV side by side.
Blackberry and black cherry cocktail, with vanilla and licorice notes rounding out the profile. Less sweet than the 2013 but hotter in the mouth, this bottle of 2014 was flexing quite a bit on its first hour of consumption.
A bottle of 2014 I had back in February didn’t have as much heat as this particular bottle. Luckily after a couple of hours the perception of booze blew off enough. Less mineral elements this time around.
Paired well with roasted lamb.
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2/12/2021 - csimm wrote:
Two years since my last bottle. I’ve reviewed this wine a number of times now and it has maintained a steadfast demeanor throughout my experiences with it. With an hour or so decant just to blow off the slightest tinge of top-layer sweetness on the front end, this LPV behaves like others from this vintage and this site, with an affable and plush demeanor that makes for easy and pleasurable drinking.
Warm blackberry compote and black asphalt flavors produce a lush mouthfeel overall, with just the right amount of cut to keep the deep core flowing through the mouthwatering finish. No perception of heat, which allows flavor expansion to reach its full potential, providing a lavish and giving execution from start to finish.
Shared some similarities with a 2014 Realm Bard I had the other day. Paired nicely with a three cheese baked pasta dish. Drink now and over the next few years.
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9/8/2020 - FlyPig Likes this wine: 96 Points
WOTN vs. 2008 The Grade Winfeld and 2016 Bevan Wildfoote.
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6/9/2019 - Deutsch Likes this wine: 93 Points
I thought it was decent. Had it after a Sine Qua Non, so it seemed a little lighter. But to me, it’s just not as put together and smooth as a Myriad G3. But it is a solid wine...just not sure it’s $125 worth.
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3/21/2019 - KJD45$ Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened at a client dinner so focus wasn’t on the wine....
However, my recollection was first pnp was good fruit but finish
was lighter with minerality and slight acidity...with more air the
fruit built weight especially into the finish....dense black/blue fruit with subtle oak and fine tannins...a very good wine...
$125 a pop isn’t cheap but I guess that’s the price of admission
To hallowed ground...
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3/17/2019 - csimm wrote: 96 Points
2014 Quivet LPV and 2014 Schrader LPV side-by-side.
This Quivet showed a similar flavor profile as the Schrader, with blackberry and asphalt notes at the front end, but with additional flavors of deeper and richer dark chocolate, blueberry, oak char, and some spices also inserted into the mix. A sexy, round (but not overly plush) delivery, with a succulent mouthfeel that added a bit of textural chewiness and weight, especially in comparison to the more straight-shot execution of the Schrader. The Quivet was without a doubt more open for business.
The Schrader came off as a more serious and direct expression of the site, reminding me a bit of the 2012 Hobbs LPV (decidedly linear and contained in its delivery). The Schrader came off angular when compared to the more opulent Quivet. The Quivet was more demonstrative and had more sex appeal, but still maintained a similar focus as the Schrader. The Quivet was not overtly flashy, but definitely more fleshy and gratuitous.
Drink the Quivet now and within the next 5+ years (to be inside of its optimum window for freshness). I’d imagine this stays relatively constant over the next few years, as it appears to be in a decent glide right now. 95-96 points.
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3/9/2019 - Justinwine wrote: 90 Points
Fun.
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11/27/2018 - msuwine Likes this wine: 95 Points
This rich and integrated Cabernet is drinking well right now, though my guess it that it will be better in another year or so. Although it's shed its baby fat, it has a more grainy character that should fold back into the wine with more time. All that aside, this is delicious now, and it should only get better.
Dark raspberry in color and full in body, the wine has aromas of blackberry, cocoa powder, baking spices, and crushed rock. Tastes of mountain blueberry, graphite, leather, and cedar, with a compelling finish that combines cocoa and gravel (with more of the latter). 15.1% alcohol. Still going strong on second day, with perhaps a bit more sweetness.
This seemed like a breath of fresh air next to a 2014 Anthem LPV, which was all sugar and alcohol in comparison. I know Mike Smith's approach is modern / fruit-forward / big / insert-your-adjective, but it should be said that his wines, especially after a few years from the right vineyard, just sing. This is such a wine. 95+ for now, with upside.
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10/22/2018 - Jazz Nut wrote: 96 Points
Shared with good friends over dinner of grilled steaks, and vegetables. Served alongside a 2012 Nickel & Nickel Tench Vineyard Cabernet. This is a classic Mike Smith wine; pure fruit, integrated oak, velvet finish, adequate acidity (but I think the power of the fruit is actually still front and center at this point). This wine is a huge mouthful of ripe blueberries, blackberries, with campfire s'mores. I rarely get a graham cracker+vanilla+sweet Ceylon cinnamon note in wine, but this certainly had that or the sweeter Teddy Grahams in the background. Slight minerality and spice in the long finish. I still think this wine is quite primary, though there is no judgement in drinking now, since it's so delicious. I'll plan to keep the rest I have for a bit, and certainly the 2016 vintage once it arrives. I would love to see this wine with 2-4 more years of bottle age, but doubt I'll have the patience.
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9/28/2018 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Gosh, look at this wine. The label appears homemade and you'd think this was about a $20 bottle if you didn't know any better. Mike/Leah - can we get some graphic design folks in on this? Well actually no, I prefer this wine stay under the radar. To my mind this is amongst the absolute best buys and most hidden gems in all of Napa. I shutter to think I pay almost the same amount for a 2000+ case blend of Realm Bard as I do this what, 150 case? epic SVD from the hallowed grounds of Las Piedras. Crazy town but hey, those Realm labels are much better!
It has a beautifully perfumed nose of violets, crushed rock, blueberries, scorched earth and forest floor. If you enjoy blue/black fruit, this is your jam. Tons of it, with loads of dark chocolate, really crisp mineral driven flavors, a hint of tobacco and powerful earthy elements. Voluptuous silky texture, great layering, huge mid pallet and a wonderfully long and vibrant finish. Shows all the complexity you would expect from such a great vineyard. I really feel like this site and Crane produce some of Mike Smith's best wines, as they are naturally more earth driven and less about the fruit, which makes that MS penchant for sweetness really balance out. This isn't even the best vintage of this wine, and it's amazing. Get it if you can. 96++
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8/17/2018 - MC2 Wines wrote:
Weekend in Minneapolis; 8/17/2018-8/18/2018 (Various Locations): This is very much your classic Napa valley floor cab. Almost overpouring blackberry jam. It comes across as super fruity. There's almost no acid and almost no tannin. A wine that when I try it honestly makes me think it would appeal well to the child inside us all with the fruit and sweet. Very nice of Vinny to share with us. It's not really my style, but it was fun to try another Mike Smith wine. Holding on the rating as this isn't my sweet spot, but for me this would be more like an 88-89.
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7/14/2018 - ageverett Likes this wine: 98 Points
Slow ox for 4.5 hours. Drank over a couple of hours. Also had 2014's from VHR, Corra Melanson and Realm Houyi open.
This was WOTN for both my wife and me. Delivered on all cylinders; gorgeous nose of purple fruits and gravel, which pushed through the velvety palate. The finish was long and harmonious - you wanted to dive right back in.
Not sure I could ask for much more from this wine. Also not sure that more time is going to improve it - maybe 2-3 more years? After that I am afraid that it may lose some of the glorious fruit that is currently leaping out of the glass.
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7/5/2018 - Badmonkey wrote: 95 Points
Served at my parents. Dark blue and black fruit - blackberry, dark currants, and blueberry. Quite smooth coupled with solid depth/concentration. Nice flavors of dark berries, some spice/licorice, and a little mineral/graphite component. Fairly long finish. Decanted for one hour and drank out of a decanter for a couple more. Improved a little with time but drinking pretty well after the decant. A really nice wine, however, I was more impressed with the 2015 vintage a couple weeks ago - I thought the fruit was quite a bit bigger/fuller and more expressive/flavorful. I'm still thinking that a lot of the 2014 cabs are in somewhat of an awkward/transition stage and need some time to come back around. Once again, I'm going to continue and lay my 2014 cabs down until the end of the year.
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5/18/2018 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 96 Points
Rather flat and ordinary at first but give it some air! This arose from the dead. I agree with the wine makers assessment of the Cab, layers of dark berry fruit, blackberry, blackcurrant and blueberry, some tobacco notes and some minerality. The wine shows a combination of finesse and extraction at the same time. One half of a bottle remaining, good stuff.
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5/12/2018 - csimm wrote: 96 Points
Mike Smith Tasting and Wine Dinner PART #2: Previous notes apply from last year. This has certainly found its groove, with beautiful black and blue core fruit, black currant, signature site-specific black asphalt, crunchy minerality, and some embers. The 2015 and 2016 Quivet LPVs were far more bombastic and monstrous (in the best of ways), but this 2014 kept an even delivery of great essences throughout consumption and showed its ability to be remembered for its smooth, complex delineation of flavors and a notable cut from its mineral-driven grip. Still a compelling example of the site, if not eclipsed just a bit by the shadows of its younger ‘15 and ‘16 brethren.
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12/12/2017 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 95 Points
Blueberry, blackberry dry fruit. Elegant with a solid structure, yet still tight, coiled and holding back. Tannins are present with nice structure. Good extraction and acidic as I noticed the first time around with this wine. I will hold off on this vintage, it needs more time. 94+ Points, closer to 95 Points.
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12/2/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine: 94 Points
A muted nose at first, black fruits, violets, graphite, this opened up over the course of an hour and was lovely. I would hold onto this another year before trying another, it's very tight.
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11/24/2017 - Badmonkey wrote: 95 Points
Parents just came back in town and we decided to drink a couple of quality cabs next to one another to see how they compared so we put this next to the 2015 Mending Wall Tournahu cab. I thought the Mending Wall was clearly better which was a little surprising. Once again, dark black fruit with a touch of red - blackberry, dark currants, and a little dark cherry. Smooth mid-palate but the fruit came across a little lighter than previous bottles. Nice flavors of dark berries and a little mineral/graphite component. Fairly long finish but not overly deep. Decanted for one hour and drank over another two. Not much improvement with time. In my opinion, still enjoyable but like a lot of other 2014 cabs that I've had recently this cab appears to be in some kind of transition phase and needs some time to come back around.
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11/3/2017 - ageverett Likes this wine: 97 Points
Took a peek shortly after opening. Then decanted for 2.5 hours and drank over an hour.
Also had a 2014 Kata open with same treatment.
This wine had more power and overall intrigue for me. Just another fabulous showing; this is great juice. Dark purple and black fruit and a massive finish.
The Kata got some votes as the preferred wine, but I thought the Quivet was a blockbuster, with more edge and a bigger finish. Great with the steaks too. I wish I had much more of this laying around (especially at the price point). Something special.
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9/14/2017 - #1Winelover Likes this wine: 96 Points
I haven't had Quivet's Las Piedras in around 6 months and this wine has come into its own and is drinking really nicely now. The biggest change for me is that it has lost its baby fat and has all of the Las Piedras hallmark characteristics.
I decanted this for 2 hours and it needed 2 additional hours and I'm positive that the 1/3 left over will be better tonight. Purple color with a little red around the rim. Mostly blackberry fruit - there was more, but the mineral, earth, charcoal and graphite notes were more pronounced, IMHO. The wine is velvety smooth and not overly extracted. Obviously, it will continue to get better.
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6/30/2017 - City Squirrel wrote:
Brought this along to a steakhouse dinner with friends. Decanted for 3 hours prior to consumption and drank over an additional 2 hours. No question on the potential upside of this wine given its pedigree, but I prefer a little more integration / balance. Given its youth, the level of alcohol and tannins on this youngster were taking center stage. I'll sit on these for several years before another go.
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6/4/2017 - Yack Man wrote: 97 Points
Nice improvement from my last experience. This is a big, full-bodied (but not brooding) Cab with beautiful intensity, focus and is quite delicious. This 2014 has a pretty nose of fresh, fragrant violets. The color, dark Purple and blue black fruit consisting of blueberries, ripe blackberries, black licorice, blackberry liquor and showing some alcohol but not too bad. I detect chalky tannis and minerality that weren’t present the last time I tasted this wine which causes me think that this will wine should hold up nicely with bottle age. Nice and ample extraction, this wine shows great purity, power of presence and a nice, lingering finish. This 2014 is a real beauty. 97 points and counting!
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4/28/2017 - Jdwinedrinker Likes this wine:
This wine is very good. Rich, deep fruit and long complex finish. I am not sure this gets better with age? But its excellent now - delicious
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4/1/2017 - FlyPig Likes this wine: 97 Points
Outrageous. Decanted 4 hours, drunk over the next 3, just kept getting better. If you can wait 7-10 years you will be rewarded but it's soooooo good now.
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3/19/2017 - Badmonkey wrote: 97 Points
Get together with my parents for the NCAA basketball tournament and he agreed to bring a bottle of the Carter Grand Daddy (although I thought he was going to bring a bottle of the 2014 vintage but instead brought the 2013 vintage) and I agreed to open a bottle of the 2014 Quivet Las Piedras. Once again, purple fruit- blueberry, blackberry, currants, and a little dark cherry. Smooth mid-palate with really nice depth. A different profile from what I've experienced with Mike's wines so far with this vintage - not as much fruit forward and rich but more of a soft/mineral component mid-palate and with the finish. Fairly long/deep finish. Decanted for three hours and drank over another three. Improved with time but drinking well after the decant. However, laying this vintage down for another year or so as recommended by the winemaker makes sense to let the fruit soften and integrate a little more. I expect another point or two higher with a little more time. Just tremendous.
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2/15/2017 - ageverett Likes this wine: 97 Points
Pop and pour. Yet another incredible performance by this wine. Was a touch outshone by the Carter OG on this night, but in fairness we didn't really let this breathe at all. Packs a firm punch. Love this right now, but probably going to be patient with further bottles.
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2/7/2017 - csimm wrote: 96 Points
Not surprisingly, PnP was indeed a little jammy and primary. Purple and red berry notes, alcohol, and some asphalt.
It took a good three hours in a wide bottomed decanter to bring this wine into a notable place. And what a nice place it ended up landing! The final sips were the best, filled with additional flavors of black licorice, pumice, slate, wet granite, and hints of clove, all framing out the massive core fruit beautifully. This really had some drive and push. Finish was 45+ seconds.
This hasn't developed its seamlessness yet, but I'm confident time in bottle will remedy that. The concentration and intensity are there for sure. I look forward to trying this in a year (ideally, probably two years).
The best Quivet I've had thus far. Mike Smith continuing to show his talents in spades. It is indeed modern and unabashedly forward, so old world disciples beware. 95-96++ points at the moment. This may very well reach into the far upper 90s by the end of the day. A year or two in bottle will do it well.
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2/6/2017 - #1Winelover Likes this wine: 97 Points
Similar notes as before. This wine does need 6 - 12 months of time as it was much better on day 2. On day 1, it was a little jammy and in your face. On day 2, it was just great. Dark purple and red color and fruits of plum, blackberry, currant. From LPV, it has burnt charcoal, stones and milk chocolate. For 2014, this is my favorite Mike Smith wine.
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1/28/2017 - Badmonkey wrote: 97 Points
Decided to pop a bottle young in light of the positive reviews and the fact that I was able to pick-up some more in the secondary market. Really impressive. No surprise Mike wasn't overly excited with Parker's barrel tasting rating of this cab at 92 to 94 especially in comparison to the 2014 Carter Beckstoffer Las Piedras which Parker rated 95 to 97 - he thought the quality of fruit was comparable. Purple fruit - blueberry, blackberry, currants, and a little dark cherry. Smooth mid-palate with really nice depth. Nice full flavors of wild berries and a little spice. Long/deep finish. Decanted for three hours and drank over another three. Improved with time but drinking well after the decant. However, laying this vintage down for another year or so as recommended by the winemaker makes sense to let the fruit soften and integrate a little more. I expect another point or two higher with some more time. Just tremendous.
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1/16/2017 - #1Winelover Likes this wine: 97 Points
Really interesting wine. This is typical Mike Smith with a lot going on. Smooth, creamy, tons of purple fruit. I had 1/2 of the bottle on night 1 and the 2nd 1/2 the next night and day 2 was much better. The wine settled down and was just delicious. Very powerful. IMHO, most LPV wines have a certain taste from this site but this did not. This had a "Mike Smith" taste. Nonetheless, great job.
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1/11/2017 - jaxpaj wrote: 98 Points
By far the best effort from Las Piedras. Until this bottle I had been underwhelmed by the vineyard. Excellent.
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12/26/2016 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Nose of jam, flowers, graphite, charcoal and chocolate. A really interesting but gorgeous compilation of scents. First sip - there's a lot going on here. Many different components needing time to come together. Very full bodied, rich and huge. A bit harsh right off the bat. Dark flavor profile, combing lots of earthy elements with a bit of fruit. Over time and with air, it opened up to a pallet enveloping lushness revealing more and more of the underlying dark fruit. By the end, all I kept thinking was "man, this gets GOOD."
This LPV is something quite different from other Mike Smith wines IMO. Adds the mineral driven, smoked meat and charcoal flavor to the very high quality and pure blue/black fruit. You should really lay this bottle down for a couple years, as it clearly needs some time. But boy, it's good and likely will continue to get much better.
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12/25/2016 - ageverett Likes this wine: 98 Points
Slow ox for 4 hours. Tasted alongside LPV's from Schrader and Carter.
This was the most powerful of the three. More earthy on the nose. But overall a similar profile to the Carter, just cranked up another notch. Thundering, powerful finish.
This is 98 now, with upside.
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8/10/2016 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 96 Points
Attractive nose, dark fruit, blackberry, cassis and blueberry, excellent character, depth, and refinement. A very nicely constructed, beautiful, sleek, yet powerful Cab. Unlike its 2013 brother, this Las Piedras will benefit with bottle age but can be enjoyed now with an nice decant. Two Thumbs up Mike. 96+ Points.
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6/25/2016 - ageverett Likes this wine: 98 Points
Tasting with Mike Smith at Envy. This was a head turner. Incredible depth on the palate and a singing, lingering finish. My notes were pretty much limited to "wow" and "this is the best one" because I sort of got lost in just enjoying this wine. Was a tick better for me than the 2014 Myriad Elysian as well as the 2013 Fait Main from LPV that we had the prior day.
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