Decanted 5 hours ahead of surf and turf - seared filet and steelhead - with grilled asparagus and roasted potatoes. Brooding dark purple-crimson color. The nose brought a nice mix cherry blossoms, eucalyptus, mint, pencil lead, sweet tobacco, and green pepper. The palate is large, square, and compact, bringing a hard core of Cab Franc notes (bright cherries, blackberries, tomato leaf) interleaved with milk chocolate, espresso bean, blackcurrant, and hints of blueberries into a refined yet tannic finish that lasted over 2 min. No surprise, this is still on the early side and will be best 2025-2035. Technical score: 93. Enjoyment score: 93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Return to Napa; 3/6/2022-3/13/2022 (Wineries and various restaurants): Just popped and we were running late for our next visit so this was a very quick taste. It's darker fruits. There's almost a bit of fritz to it which surprised me. This is the blend wine where they use all of the varieties and can use them in wildly different levels depending on the year. This one is CF dominant (high 30% vs. low 30% for the CS). Rest is Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great steak wine with lots of fruit that I tend to find in Spring Mountain wines. However, the oak and tannin work with it nicely here and this wine is now ready to go. Really enjoyed it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another Year, Another Napa (aka Winter in Wineland IV); 1/5/2020-1/11/2020 (Napa/Sonoma California): Amazing how much a year can do for a wine plus I think this bottle might have been open for a bit so the wine had more time to express itself. Basically a right bank blend which was interesting. 46% CF, 21% Merlot, 33% CS. Darker and more berry driven than the 2015 standard CS. This had just a touch of sweet to it. Lots of cassis. A nice plushy style. Built to age. There's a great balancing herbalness towards the mid-back of the palate. Also quite enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.
10/22/2023 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 5 hours ahead of surf and turf - seared filet and steelhead - with grilled asparagus and roasted potatoes. Brooding dark purple-crimson color. The nose brought a nice mix cherry blossoms, eucalyptus, mint, pencil lead, sweet tobacco, and green pepper. The palate is large, square, and compact, bringing a hard core of Cab Franc notes (bright cherries, blackberries, tomato leaf) interleaved with milk chocolate, espresso bean, blackcurrant, and hints of blueberries into a refined yet tannic finish that lasted over 2 min. No surprise, this is still on the early side and will be best 2025-2035. Technical score: 93. Enjoyment score: 93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2022 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Return to Napa; 3/6/2022-3/13/2022 (Wineries and various restaurants): Just popped and we were running late for our next visit so this was a very quick taste. It's darker fruits. There's almost a bit of fritz to it which surprised me. This is the blend wine where they use all of the varieties and can use them in wildly different levels depending on the year. This one is CF dominant (high 30% vs. low 30% for the CS). Rest is Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2022 - Lawino7 wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding! Nose of cedar, pencil shavings and dark berries. Full bodied, smoothly rich, Dynamic. Gotta get some more of this baby!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2021 - Bryanb2002 wrote: 96 Points
Great steak wine with lots of fruit that I tend to find in Spring Mountain wines. However, the oak and tannin work with it nicely here and this wine is now ready to go. Really enjoyed it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2020 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Another Year, Another Napa (aka Winter in Wineland IV); 1/5/2020-1/11/2020 (Napa/Sonoma California): Amazing how much a year can do for a wine plus I think this bottle might have been open for a bit so the wine had more time to express itself. Basically a right bank blend which was interesting. 46% CF, 21% Merlot, 33% CS. Darker and more berry driven than the 2015 standard CS. This had just a touch of sweet to it. Lots of cassis. A nice plushy style. Built to age. There's a great balancing herbalness towards the mid-back of the palate. Also quite enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment