Decanted 90 minutes and drank over the next 2 hours. I can see how some rate this 93-95 because it is a very well made wine with lots of extraction. For me, it still has too much sweetness and ripeness which I’m not a fan of. Drank along side a 2007 Viñedos de Paganos El Puntido Gran Reserva Rioja which I liked better. The wives liked the Quivet better which isn’t wrong. Pellet seems to be not as over ripe as Kenefick which I like even less. I’m in the minority of those not fans of Mike Smith wines and that’s Ok too. If you like this style it’s excellent. Just not for me.
Night one: an hourlong decant, explosion of red and blue fruits accompanied by a syrah-like splash of pepper. Long finish. So much fruit but enrobed by lovely tannins and comfortable backbone. Absolutely luxe and delicious.
Night two, about 7 ounces reserved in a smaller bottle, the pepper is gone and has been replaced by a very nice pruniness with the red and black fruits in backup.
Two different experiences, both Outstanding. Thank you, Mike Smith!
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Well I have done a 180 on my view of this wine. The glass I coravined a week or so ago seemed thin, simple, alcoholic. Maybe the micro-ox of the coravin invasion helped this one along because it was a really nice wine tonight. On PnP a nice nose of big napa fruit (that is a lazy descriptor, but for me there is that aroma that just tells you it is a big Napa cab) some licorice and baking spices. More muted on the palate, probably because it was still quite chilled from the upstairs wine fridge which has been on a cooler than usual setting. Left in the decanter for 3 hours and then WOW. I can understand now why this could have been WOTN for Mark and Jaime a few weeks ago. A mix of red and dark fruit with the dark fruit more prominent at this time, but also tertiary notes like tobacco (which I have never picked up in a Mike Smith wine). Great acid, didn’t notice the alcohol which is a good sign. Long finish. A few hours later fruit seemed to be swinging redder but still very very good. There is a lot evolving here. Contrary to popular belief, I actually think this one has some aging potential. I have one more bottle and will see what happens in 5+ years.
Wonderful.....chilled and enjoyed with minimal decant by 3 of us after dinner, back at the hotel....Carol missed out! 94-95 to me, sweet, smooth texture and fruit, this may be the best bottle of any Pellet vineyard wine I've ever had. Dark fruit, it's soft and smooth, no edges at all. Mod to heavy weight, integrated tannins, just really nice.
2nd day after........one glass, left in the bottle overnight under cork only....maybe it improved half a point? No dropoff, same goodness as the nigth before and Carol finally got to taste it, proclaiming it her fav wine of the trip, (outside of our VV tasting). Wish I had more of this one.
Thirty minute decant. Very deep dark magenta color. Almond and orange madeleines, blueberry, blackberry, cola, styrofoam, and subtle bubble gum on the nose. Very smooth, dry palate. Firm tannins on the longish finish.
Longer decant may have added a point. Very nice wine nonetheless. The styrofoam note disappeared on day two (cork was placed back in bottle for 24 hours). Thank you Mark1NPT for sharing this guy!
this was one of the more balanced Mike Smith wines I have had recently. purchased on release and stored at cellar temp. black and blue fruits, cassis, hint of lavender, smooth, medium body. fruit balanced with the tannins. It just lacked enough acidity to carry it through. I am confused why this vineyard is typically referred to as the next door neighbor of Dr. Crane Vineyard. from what I see, it is much closer to Bourne and Las Piedras
While a solid effort, it hits many standard Napa cab flavors but never Delves into the complex side of things.... Definitely enjoyable but not one you are going to remember... Price point wasn’t bad....
This one starts out at about 90-91 points, but it’s probably not fair to judge it completely right now because this was a pop and pour and there’s still half a bottle remaining. This 2016 opens up with a compelling blue purplish black color with a nice nose. On the palate and shows big yet elegant with good extraction and finesse. Nice dark black and blueberry fruit, the plum notes have toned down a bit at this point. The wind has developed acidity at this point, and will require decanting. Good wine that should improve with bottle she. 92+ points now and pretty solid at this point. If I detect improvement, I’ll update my notes.
Day 2: No improvement, this wine is in transition, going through a phase in it's development. It will be awhile before I open another bottle of this vintage.
14.8% abv. Magnenta plum color, clear. Great nose of sweet black cherry fruit, oak, vanilla, incense and black tea. Med weight in mouth, some minerality, berries, dark cocoa, licorice root. Very smooth, negligible tannin, slightly sweet finish. Enjoyable, different than many other cabs out there.
Purity of cabernet varietal character. This vineyard gives out LOTS of pyrazines that present in the form of green herbs (sage, mint, eucalyptus), and green olive. This is not to be confused with fruit that is underripe, as this wine has a wild blackberry component that punches you straight in the face. Lush texture, and a long life ahead. Great effort.
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Great mike Smith cab. I agree with other posters that this needs a good decant to shine. Dark fruit, concentrated, long. Lovers of big Napa cabs will not be disappointed. good value for a cab.
I took the advice of decanting, as it was tight upon opening. I decanted it over 3 hours, and it was totally singing! I love Mike Smith cabs, and this certainly has the purity of fruit, concentration, and smooth mid palate that his wines are known for. Where this cab excels, is the balance of fruit, terroir, and structure. I am getting minerality, underbrush, herbs, and more acid than other cabs from Quivet/Myriad/etc. Very pleasurable wine, and will likely integrate more fully over the next year or three, and may merit a higher score. Thanks for all the insightful tasting notes on this wine from those on Cellar Tracker!
Decanted and had a glass - would have rated 90-91. Was tight, had a bitterness, unripe fruit; not very generous at all. Let glass sit and opened another wine. Started to come around two hours later and by hour 4 this stuff was just so huge and complex with fruit and licorice and minerality and even a beastly note expected more from Syrah. Give this a nice long decant and you will be rewarded!
Early Christmas at my parents. Dark ruby fruit - currants, dark cherry, dark raspberry, blueberry, and plum. Smooth mid-palate with decent depth/concentration and a nice purity especially for the price point. Nice rich/vibrant flavors of dark berries, some spice box, and plum. Fairly long finish. Popped/poured as we were waiting for some higher-end cabs to decant but drank out of a decanter over a couple hours. Improved a little with time but more or less drinking quite well right away. Really enjoyable and approachable at this youthful stage, however, the winemaker recommends giving his entry level cabs at least six to twelve months from release which I can’t argue - I believe it should add some weight with a little more time. Another nice vintage of this wine - the 89 rating from Lisa Perrotti-Brown of WA is a big miss in my opinion. 100% cab.
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Lisa Perrotti-Brown of the Wine Advocate must be on crack to give this brewing masterpiece the dismal rating she indelibly stamped. This wine has beautiful color, a has fanatic and robust nose with dark fruits on the palate, with a stellar 60 second finish. Although young, it is extremley difficult to resist this beauty. I find no way to reconcile her paltry rating. The wine is deliriously delicious. Viva Quivet!
Nice wine provided by HowellMountainCru with steaks at dinner. Big fruit on opening but if you give this wine 1-2 hours of air you will be rewarded. It loses some sweet fat fruit and seems much better integrated over time. A nice wine, very well made. A very pleasant drinker.
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Dark ruby/purple fruit - dark currants, blueberry, dark raspberry, and a little dark plum. Like Mike's other 2016 cabs, really smooth with a nice purity, however, the fruit came across a little lighter than most of the other cabs. Like previous vintages, I believe the Pellet fruit needs more time than most of the other single vineyard cabs to fill-out. Nice vibrant flavors of dark berries and some spice box. Fairly long finish. The bottles were apparently open for a couple hours in light of a prior tasting. Approachable and enjoyable at this stage, however, I believe another year or so will benefit the Pellet fruit to let it open-up and fill-out a little more. Nonetheless, a nice vintage of this wine and as Mike also notes on the Quivet website I believe this vineyard has matured tremendously with the last two vintages. 100% cab.
This wine opens with a really fragrant nose and on the palate really tasty, it shows big yet elegant with really nice extraction and finesse. Nice dark black and blueberry fruit, some plum notes, really clean and youthful expressions that will definitely amp up with bottle time. 93-95 points now, but this wine is special that has a solid future.
7/29/2023 - AlyssaRock12 wrote: 88 Points
Nose: dark fruit, blackberry
Palate: blackberry, cedar, flint tart, high acid; full body, velvety smooth;
Overall: fruity and pretty primary, nice body but a bit too acidic/tart (possibly too warm?)
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12/30/2022 - WineGuyDelMar Does not like this wine: 90 Points
Decanted one hour. Nice extraction but just not my style with the fruit bomb sweetness. I quit buying Mike Smith wines as they are just not for me.
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11/24/2022 - WineGuyDelMar wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 90 minutes and drank over the next 2 hours. I can see how some rate this 93-95 because it is a very well made wine with lots of extraction. For me, it still has too much sweetness and ripeness which I’m not a fan of. Drank along side a 2007 Viñedos de Paganos El Puntido Gran Reserva Rioja which I liked better. The wives liked the Quivet better which isn’t wrong. Pellet seems to be not as over ripe as Kenefick which I like even less. I’m in the minority of those not fans of Mike Smith wines and that’s Ok too. If you like this style it’s excellent. Just not for me.
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1/16/2022 - Chip Merlot Likes this wine: 95 Points
Night one: an hourlong decant, explosion of red and blue fruits accompanied by a syrah-like splash of pepper. Long finish. So much fruit but enrobed by lovely tannins and comfortable backbone. Absolutely luxe and delicious.
Night two, about 7 ounces reserved in a smaller bottle, the pepper is gone and has been replaced by a very nice pruniness with the red and black fruits in backup.
Two different experiences, both Outstanding. Thank you, Mike Smith!
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11/1/2021 - TastesGoodToMe Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark purple with some burgundy color at the rim. Nice fruit. Finish is short to medium. Very nice wine - but not outstanding to me.
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9/25/2021 - YankeeRobio Likes this wine: 94 Points
Needs two hours, deep blue fruit, licorice
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8/27/2021 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 93 Points
Well I have done a 180 on my view of this wine. The glass I coravined a week or so ago seemed thin, simple, alcoholic.
Maybe the micro-ox of the coravin invasion helped this one along because it was a really nice wine tonight. On PnP a nice nose of big napa fruit (that is a lazy descriptor, but for me there is that aroma that just tells you it is a big Napa cab) some licorice and baking spices. More muted on the palate, probably because it was still quite chilled from the upstairs wine fridge which has been on a cooler than usual setting.
Left in the decanter for 3 hours and then WOW. I can understand now why this could have been WOTN for Mark and Jaime a few weeks ago. A mix of red and dark fruit with the dark fruit more prominent at this time, but also tertiary notes like tobacco (which I have never picked up in a Mike Smith wine). Great acid, didn’t notice the alcohol which is a good sign. Long finish.
A few hours later fruit seemed to be swinging redder but still very very good. There is a lot evolving here.
Contrary to popular belief, I actually think this one has some aging potential. I have one more bottle and will see what happens in 5+ years.
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8/14/2021 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wonderful.....chilled and enjoyed with minimal decant by 3 of us after dinner, back at the hotel....Carol missed out! 94-95 to me, sweet, smooth texture and fruit, this may be the best bottle of any Pellet vineyard wine I've ever had. Dark fruit, it's soft and smooth, no edges at all. Mod to heavy weight, integrated tannins, just really nice.
2nd day after........one glass, left in the bottle overnight under cork only....maybe it improved half a point? No dropoff, same goodness as the nigth before and Carol finally got to taste it, proclaiming it her fav wine of the trip, (outside of our VV tasting). Wish I had more of this one.
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8/12/2021 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 94 Points
Thirty minute decant. Very deep dark magenta color. Almond and orange madeleines, blueberry, blackberry, cola, styrofoam, and subtle bubble gum on the nose. Very smooth, dry palate. Firm tannins on the longish finish.
Longer decant may have added a point. Very nice wine nonetheless. The styrofoam note disappeared on day two (cork was placed back in bottle for 24 hours). Thank you Mark1NPT for sharing this guy!
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6/2/2021 - YankeeRobio Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice wine, needs two hours. Plum, licorice, cocoa
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2/2/2021 - Franken Berry Likes this wine: 92 Points
this was one of the more balanced Mike Smith wines I have had recently. purchased on release and stored at cellar temp. black and blue fruits, cassis, hint of lavender, smooth, medium body. fruit balanced with the tannins. It just lacked enough acidity to carry it through.
I am confused why this vineyard is typically referred to as the next door neighbor of Dr. Crane Vineyard. from what I see, it is much closer to Bourne and Las Piedras
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8/30/2020 - mikeparker Likes this wine: 96 Points
excellent wine. Covers all the bases. My wife really liked it.
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7/19/2020 - KJD45$ wrote: 91 Points
While a solid effort, it hits many standard Napa cab flavors but never
Delves into the complex side of things....
Definitely enjoyable but not one you are going to remember...
Price point wasn’t bad....
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5/22/2020 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 92 Points
This one starts out at about 90-91 points, but it’s probably not fair to judge it completely right now because this was a pop and pour and there’s still half a bottle remaining. This 2016 opens up with a compelling blue purplish black color with a nice nose. On the palate and shows big yet elegant with good extraction and finesse. Nice dark black and blueberry fruit, the plum notes have toned down a bit at this point. The wind has developed acidity at this point, and will require decanting. Good wine that should improve with bottle she. 92+ points now and pretty solid at this point. If I detect improvement, I’ll update my notes.
Day 2: No improvement, this wine is in transition, going through a phase in it's development. It will be awhile before I open another bottle of this vintage.
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4/20/2020 - TastesGoodToMe Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent wine. But definitely nothing outstanding about it. Very pleasant but unremarkable.
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4/10/2020 - dclaggett Likes this wine: 93 Points
14.8% abv. Magnenta plum color, clear. Great nose of sweet black cherry fruit, oak, vanilla, incense and black tea. Med weight in mouth, some minerality, berries, dark cocoa, licorice root. Very smooth, negligible tannin, slightly sweet finish. Enjoyable, different than many other cabs out there.
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7/10/2019 - billynorris wrote: 95 Points
Purity of cabernet varietal character. This vineyard gives out LOTS of pyrazines that present in the form of green herbs (sage, mint, eucalyptus), and green olive. This is not to be confused with fruit that is underripe, as this wine has a wild blackberry component that punches you straight in the face. Lush texture, and a long life ahead. Great effort.
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4/10/2019 - jaxpaj wrote:
give it some time
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3/31/2019 - michigan dogs Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great mike Smith cab. I agree with other posters that this needs a good decant to shine. Dark fruit, concentrated, long. Lovers of big Napa cabs will not be disappointed. good value for a cab.
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2/17/2019 - Jazz Nut wrote: 93 Points
I took the advice of decanting, as it was tight upon opening. I decanted it over 3 hours, and it was totally singing! I love Mike Smith cabs, and this certainly has the purity of fruit, concentration, and smooth mid palate that his wines are known for. Where this cab excels, is the balance of fruit, terroir, and structure. I am getting minerality, underbrush, herbs, and more acid than other cabs from Quivet/Myriad/etc. Very pleasurable wine, and will likely integrate more fully over the next year or three, and may merit a higher score. Thanks for all the insightful tasting notes on this wine from those on Cellar Tracker!
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1/10/2019 - Babik Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted and had a glass - would have rated 90-91. Was tight, had a bitterness, unripe fruit; not very generous at all. Let glass sit and opened another wine. Started to come around two hours later and by hour 4 this stuff was just so huge and complex with fruit and licorice and minerality and even a beastly note expected more from Syrah. Give this a nice long decant and you will be rewarded!
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12/24/2018 - Badmonkey wrote: 93 Points
Early Christmas at my parents. Dark ruby fruit - currants, dark cherry, dark raspberry, blueberry, and plum. Smooth mid-palate with decent depth/concentration and a nice purity especially for the price point. Nice rich/vibrant flavors of dark berries, some spice box, and plum. Fairly long finish. Popped/poured as we were waiting for some higher-end cabs to decant but drank out of a decanter over a couple hours. Improved a little with time but more or less drinking quite well right away. Really enjoyable and approachable at this youthful stage, however, the winemaker recommends giving his entry level cabs at least six to twelve months from release which I can’t argue - I believe it should add some weight with a little more time. Another nice vintage of this wine - the 89 rating from Lisa Perrotti-Brown of WA is a big miss in my opinion. 100% cab.
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12/19/2018 - fastcar888 wrote: 95 Points
Lisa Perrotti-Brown of the Wine Advocate must be on crack to give this brewing masterpiece the dismal rating she indelibly stamped. This wine has beautiful color, a has fanatic and robust nose with dark fruits on the palate, with a stellar 60 second finish. Although young, it is extremley difficult to resist this beauty. I find no way to reconcile her paltry rating. The wine is deliriously delicious. Viva Quivet!
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12/15/2018 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nice wine provided by HowellMountainCru with steaks at dinner. Big fruit on opening but if you give this wine 1-2 hours of air you will be rewarded. It loses some sweet fat fruit and seems much better integrated over time. A nice wine, very well made. A very pleasant drinker.
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7/21/2018 - Badmonkey wrote: 93 Points
Dark ruby/purple fruit - dark currants, blueberry, dark raspberry, and a little dark plum. Like Mike's other 2016 cabs, really smooth with a nice purity, however, the fruit came across a little lighter than most of the other cabs. Like previous vintages, I believe the Pellet fruit needs more time than most of the other single vineyard cabs to fill-out. Nice vibrant flavors of dark berries and some spice box. Fairly long finish. The bottles were apparently open for a couple hours in light of a prior tasting. Approachable and enjoyable at this stage, however, I believe another year or so will benefit the Pellet fruit to let it open-up and fill-out a little more. Nonetheless, a nice vintage of this wine and as Mike also notes on the Quivet website I believe this vineyard has matured tremendously with the last two vintages. 100% cab.
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7/13/2018 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine opens with a really fragrant nose and on the palate really tasty, it shows big yet elegant with really nice extraction and finesse. Nice dark black and blueberry fruit, some plum notes, really clean and youthful expressions that will definitely amp up with bottle time. 93-95 points now, but this wine is special that has a solid future.
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