Two hour decant. Very deep dark electric magenta color. Tart black cherry, pound cake (lightly coated with powdered sugar), jasmine, and subtle sage. Smooth, dry palate. Firm, full, softer tannins on the medium long+ finish.
This is good, but needs more back end structure. Hopefully another year will bring some improvement. We shall see…
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Saturday. Completed muted and shutdown. So waited 24 hours after opening and still had not opened up.
Sunday Waited 24 hours still shut
Thursday. Gave it one more shot. Not as closed as it was Saturday and Sunday. At least there was some fruit. I upgraded my score from 87 to 89 just because it had some flavor and structure rather than complete density. Probably need to lay down for another 10 years
Wonderful ripe cab that can only be Napa. Flamboyant ripe fruits with blue berry and black currants. Quite poised, as there no over ripeness here. Just the right amount of (coarse) tannin and rather bright acidity. Finishes long and mouth coating. Definitely scratches the ripe Napa cab itch.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My first tasting of the Napa Valley version of this label's cab -- very nice! It is exceedingly smooth and balanced throughout the night. Picks up a touch more energy with air, which is a good thing. Inky but redder in fruit profile than the appearance had me expecting. Lighter bodied mouthfeel than expected too. Some spice and cedar. A very nice appellation cab.
This needs some time to show it’s stuff, it was mute on the nose initially but after agitated aeration and an hour or two in a wide base decanter it opened up, red fruit dominant, cherry, cassis, raspberry, dried roses, cigar box, sweet baking spices, great texture and balance. Reminds me a little of Greer.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has closed down quite a bit. Has lost a good deal of the candied fruit and needs a lot of coaxing or time in the glass. Pretty authentic cabernet flavors and textures here; this wine comes off as a lot more serious than when I last had it.
Very good, but agree with consensus below that this needs more time. We let it slow ox open in the cellar all day, but it was still very tightly wound 8+ hours later. Would have benefitted from a 2-3 hour decant or a few more years on its side.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
90 minute decant. Tried over course of 3 hours. Intoxicating nose. Fruit is bright. Not jammy. Still wound tight through the night. Tannins were solid but not overpowering. Great wine now. Likely would’ve been better to let sit for 2 or more years prior to opening. Nicely done!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
8 hr slow ox. Its a very nice wine, excellent dark red and blue fruits. 14.5% abv is mildly noticeable on the finish. Good acidity, youthful tannins that are subtle and enjoyable, not overwhelming whatsoever. Nice finish, lasting 30+ seconds. Comes across more modern in style but not overly extracted. Very enjoyable.
Still drinking great in its youth. As Will recommended, opened in the morning and let it slow ox until that evening. IMO this is one of the greatest Napa cab QPRs out there.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was super young, ripe and grapey! It would be unmistakable for anything but a young Napa Cabernet. Oozing purple fruit with some vanilla and softened wood tannins. Ample balancing acidity to ensure this will age well. I agree with the wait 5 year comments...
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP. BIG mistake. This wine needs at least 5 years or a 2 hour + decant. Black cherry, blackberry, cassis, cedar, anise aromas after a while. Black fruit dominates with anise, cedar and spice flavors. HUGE tannins in a long finish. My real concern is whether the fruit or tannins win over time. If the fruit can hold out, it could be amazing, but the tannins are so over whelming at this point that I'm not convinced the fruit can win. Won't touch my other bottles for a few years and hope for the best.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I know the 2018s should not be opened for a few years however I figured a second label might be more open for business. Yes and no- it seems more open but for sure needs more time.
Great QPR- first sip was the best 15 minutes in (did not decant simply followed time in the glass 1hr - 1hr 30min. Dark cherries, dark chocolate, mineral spine to keep things honest with good structure, solid tannins and medium acidity. The wine doesn’t necessarily fully shutdown but does not open up as one would expect and closes just a little. One slight downside, although not expected, is a medium lite finish. Curious if that will change with time and if it does back the truck up. If this had a touch longer finish it would sell for 2x+ the price.
Pop and pour and tasted with food (roasted stuffed mushrooms and chicken/meatball mushrooms, in case you were wondering). Dark purple color - shows its youth. Nose of black cherry, cassis and some oak. Wonderful, rich full-bodied wine showing that black cherry note, with cassis and a hint of cedar. Good acidity that carries the richness of the fruit. Delicious.
Day Two update: Still going strong after refrigerating the remaining 1/4 bottle. The fruit and dusty tannins and acidity all balanced and remaining vibrant and fresh.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured, enjoyed a bottle over 2 days. Rich cabernet, very primary at this young age. Cherry, red fruits, some pepper, some tartness, oak. Tannins grip on the finish. Smoothed out a bit on day 2, but overall impressions are remarkably similar. Well structured but needs more time to develop!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Texturally dense with silky tannins (though still grippy) and really nice length for entry level. Loads of dense/jammy dark fruit, milk chocolate and cassis. Less precise and more noticeable oak than the Shifflett but no complaints here as this delivers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
To say that this one needs some air is an understatement. I coravined 2 glasses at lunchtime on day 1 and it was dark and unyielding. No aromas whatsoever and very tannic. Left it until dinner and some fruit was beginning to emerge but still locked down. I would say pleasantly drinkable, but you had to work for it. Dinner time day 2 some improvement, but not as much as I had expected. Certainly more open but seemed too early to be drinking. I was ready to give up but I put the last glass in a 4oz bottle and put it in the fridge. Day 3 dinner time was magic. Much more intensity. Beautiful aromas of blackberry compote, almost sweet aromas but not jammy. Tannins still had some grip but in a way that gave this a lovely texture. Good acidity and alcohol in balance. This wine clearly needs some time but it will be worth the wait.
Splash decanted. This is really solid for the price. Tightly woven but still showing some flamboyant dark fruit. Nicely balanced with fine tannins and acidity. Showing nice notes of flint and coffee mixed with the dark fruit notes. Definitely needs some air as this was all coconut upon opening. This integrated with air quite quickly. Decanted and followed 4+ hours.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cherry, strawberry, rhubarb, cinnamon, red tea, cedar, cream, very smooth there is a lot of oak currently but well balanced with the fruit. Not a massively intense wine but well drinking well out of the gate with a great smoothness rarely found so soon. First try from this producer and I'm not disappointed.
Quick AM taste with Will at Rivers Marie. Caught the label out of the corner of my eye and thought he pulled out a Scarlett! Chicken scratch notes, one off wine. Dark fruited up valley feel, black and purple with just a hint of bell pepper. Medium bodied long very grippy finish, should open and show more on day 2. Good value @$75.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/27/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious. Still has some high quality oak to integrate. Dark fruit profile with coconut and vanilla notes. Just delicious. Fine tannins.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2023 - leadpencil wrote: 94 Points
Medium to full bodied. Black cherry liqueur, Lamont, eucalyptus
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2023 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 92 Points
Two hour decant. Very deep dark electric magenta color. Tart black cherry, pound cake (lightly coated with powdered sugar), jasmine, and subtle sage. Smooth, dry palate. Firm, full, softer tannins on the medium long+ finish.
This is good, but needs more back end structure. Hopefully another year will bring some improvement. We shall see…
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2023 - NYCRye Does not like this wine: 89 Points
Saturday. Completed muted and shutdown. So waited 24 hours after opening and still had not opened up.
Sunday Waited 24 hours still shut
Thursday. Gave it one more shot. Not as closed as it was Saturday and Sunday. At least there was some fruit. I upgraded my score from 87 to 89 just because it had some flavor and structure rather than complete density. Probably need to lay down for another 10 years
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
1/29/2023 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful ripe cab that can only be Napa. Flamboyant ripe fruits with blue berry and black currants. Quite poised, as there no over ripeness here. Just the right amount of (coarse) tannin and rather bright acidity. Finishes long and mouth coating. Definitely scratches the ripe Napa cab itch.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2023 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 92 Points
My first tasting of the Napa Valley version of this label's cab -- very nice! It is exceedingly smooth and balanced throughout the night. Picks up a touch more energy with air, which is a good thing. Inky but redder in fruit profile than the appearance had me expecting. Lighter bodied mouthfeel than expected too. Some spice and cedar. A very nice appellation cab.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
9/15/2022 - gsiokis Likes this wine: 93 Points
Edged up from my previous note. The additional bottle time has helped but still recommend a 30-45 min decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2022 - pakabear Likes this wine: 94 Points
This needs some time to show it’s stuff, it was mute on the nose initially but after agitated aeration and an hour or two in a wide base decanter it opened up, red fruit dominant, cherry, cassis, raspberry, dried roses, cigar box, sweet baking spices, great texture and balance. Reminds me a little of Greer.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2022 - jviz Likes this wine: 91 Points
This has closed down quite a bit. Has lost a good deal of the candied fruit and needs a lot of coaxing or time in the glass. Pretty authentic cabernet flavors and textures here; this wine comes off as a lot more serious than when I last had it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
2/28/2022 - chrischap01 wrote:
Very good, but agree with consensus below that this needs more time. We let it slow ox open in the cellar all day, but it was still very tightly wound 8+ hours later. Would have benefitted from a 2-3 hour decant or a few more years on its side.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2021 - gsiokis Likes this wine: 91 Points
Christmas Dinner; Slow-ox'd and decanted for about 3 / 1 hours. Needs more time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2021 - thescrod wrote:
Laudien
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2021 - SanCarlosRunner Likes this wine: 93 Points
90 minute decant. Tried over course of 3 hours. Intoxicating nose. Fruit is bright. Not jammy. Still wound tight through the night. Tannins were solid but not overpowering. Great wine now. Likely would’ve been better to let sit for 2 or more years prior to opening. Nicely done!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2021 - jonboy74 Likes this wine: 91 Points
8 hr slow ox. Its a very nice wine, excellent dark red and blue fruits. 14.5% abv is mildly noticeable on the finish. Good acidity, youthful tannins that are subtle and enjoyable, not overwhelming whatsoever. Nice finish, lasting 30+ seconds. Comes across more modern in style but not overly extracted. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)
7/14/2021 - winefloat Likes this wine:
Still drinking great in its youth. As Will recommended, opened in the morning and let it slow ox until that evening. IMO this is one of the greatest Napa cab QPRs out there.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2021 - Michael_D Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted for one hour. Still tight and needs more cellar time. Very slight fruit and dirt on the nose. Very smooth tannins. Slight butter feel.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2021 - jviz wrote: 92 Points
This was super young, ripe and grapey! It would be unmistakable for anything but a young Napa Cabernet. Oozing purple fruit with some vanilla and softened wood tannins. Ample balancing acidity to ensure this will age well. I agree with the wait 5 year comments...
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2021 - gharter Likes this wine: 89 Points
PnP. BIG mistake. This wine needs at least 5 years or a 2 hour + decant. Black cherry, blackberry, cassis, cedar, anise aromas after a while. Black fruit dominates with anise, cedar and spice flavors. HUGE tannins in a long finish. My real concern is whether the fruit or tannins win over time. If the fruit can hold out, it could be amazing, but the tannins are so over whelming at this point that I'm not convinced the fruit can win. Won't touch my other bottles for a few years and hope for the best.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2021 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 90 Points
I know the 2018s should not be opened for a few years however I figured a second label might be more open for business. Yes and no- it seems more open but for sure needs more time.
Great QPR- first sip was the best 15 minutes in (did not decant simply followed time in the glass 1hr - 1hr 30min. Dark cherries, dark chocolate, mineral spine to keep things honest with good structure, solid tannins and medium acidity. The wine doesn’t necessarily fully shutdown but does not open up as one would expect and closes just a little. One slight downside, although not expected, is a medium lite finish. Curious if that will change with time and if it does back the truck up. If this had a touch longer finish it would sell for 2x+ the price.
I would hold for 1-2 years before opening.
Yes I will buy more.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (9)
12/20/2020 - t_moderne wrote: 94 Points
Pop and pour and tasted with food (roasted stuffed mushrooms and chicken/meatball mushrooms, in case you were wondering).
Dark purple color - shows its youth.
Nose of black cherry, cassis and some oak.
Wonderful, rich full-bodied wine showing that black cherry note, with cassis and a hint of cedar. Good acidity that carries the richness of the fruit. Delicious.
Day Two update: Still going strong after refrigerating the remaining 1/4 bottle. The fruit and dusty tannins and acidity all balanced and remaining vibrant and fresh.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2020 - andolini wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured, enjoyed a bottle over 2 days. Rich cabernet, very primary at this young age. Cherry, red fruits, some pepper, some tartness, oak. Tannins grip on the finish. Smoothed out a bit on day 2, but overall impressions are remarkably similar. Well structured but needs more time to develop!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2020 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 93 Points
Texturally dense with silky tannins (though still grippy) and really nice length for entry level. Loads of dense/jammy dark fruit, milk chocolate and cassis. Less precise and more noticeable oak than the Shifflett but no complaints here as this delivers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2020 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 95 Points
To say that this one needs some air is an understatement. I coravined 2 glasses at lunchtime on day 1 and it was dark and unyielding. No aromas whatsoever and very tannic. Left it until dinner and some fruit was beginning to emerge but still locked down. I would say pleasantly drinkable, but you had to work for it.
Dinner time day 2 some improvement, but not as much as I had expected. Certainly more open but seemed too early to be drinking. I was ready to give up but I put the last glass in a 4oz bottle and put it in the fridge.
Day 3 dinner time was magic. Much more intensity. Beautiful aromas of blackberry compote, almost sweet aromas but not jammy. Tannins still had some grip but in a way that gave this a lovely texture. Good acidity and alcohol in balance.
This wine clearly needs some time but it will be worth the wait.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (19)
12/5/2020 - Disgustaeer Likes this wine: 96 Points
Excellent now, will only get better
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
11/22/2020 - Nutty08 wrote: 94 Points
Splash decanted. This is really solid for the price. Tightly woven but still showing some flamboyant dark fruit. Nicely balanced with fine tannins and acidity. Showing nice notes of flint and coffee mixed with the dark fruit notes. Definitely needs some air as this was all coconut upon opening. This integrated with air quite quickly.
Decanted and followed 4+ hours.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2020 - pakabear Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cherry, strawberry, rhubarb, cinnamon, red tea, cedar, cream, very smooth there is a lot of oak currently but well balanced with the fruit. Not a massively intense wine but well drinking well out of the gate with a great smoothness rarely found so soon. First try from this producer and I'm not disappointed.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
9/17/2020 - River Rat Likes this wine:
Quick AM taste with Will at Rivers Marie. Caught the label out of the corner of my eye and thought he pulled out a Scarlett! Chicken scratch notes, one off wine. Dark fruited up valley feel, black and purple with just a hint of bell pepper. Medium bodied long very grippy finish, should open and show more on day 2. Good value @$75.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment