Most of the fruit for this is estate fruit from Spring Mountain.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, iron, iodine and spice.  Softer texture than expected.  Flavors of cassis, cedar and chocolate.  Some heat on the finish.  Overall a nice Cab but it needs a bit more time to come together.  Hold for a few years and drink for ten to fifteen after that.  A nice wine to pair with Braised Lamb Shanks.

Dow has a long history with Port wines, but over the last few decades they have been making great strides with still red and white wines. They have consistently produced quality still wines that I have reviewed for several vintages. Their “everyday” red and white wines from Vale do Bomfim - line priced at a mere $15 - are terrific quality for the price. This red, a blend of traditional Port grapes not made into a sweet wine, includes Touriga Nacional (40%), Tina Roriz (30%) and smaller amounts of Tinta Franca and Tinta Barroca.

A new winery for me, but this is excellent.  In a recent tasting of Mountain cabs it finished first.   It is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet France, 7% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis cedar and spice.  Full bodied.

Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight at first but opens to shows cedar, cassis, graphite and slight chocolate.  Soft texture.  On the palate, dark cherries and cassis with some chocolate and char.  Some black licorice on the finish. This is drinking well right now.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  A nice with a chunky stew.  

Sadly an off bottle.  This was pretty well oxidized.  Likely a faulty cork.  Other bottles in the case had shown much better.  

A new producer for me, this was very good.  Silvery gold in color, clear and bright.  A nice mousse with tiny bubbles.  On the palate, this is clean.  Lemons with a bit of toast and some minerality.  Medium bodied.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, lemons and red apples with underlying minerality.  Lively.  Long finish.  This is youthful and drinking well.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Very food friendly.  It would be nice with popcorn while watching television. 

This is bottled only in 375ml.  It is a barrel selection blend.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, char and spice.  With air, some licorice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has depth.  Great cherry fruit with some char.  Good finish.  Nice on its own, this would work well with Pork Chops.  Drink over the next ten years.  

Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has grapefruits with white pepper.  Light bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, the grapefruit comes thru along with a touch of white pepper.  Good finish.  Refreshing.  This is probably better with food.  Lighter foods but also fried chicken would work well.  Drink now.  

This is their base Pinot Noir which is a combination of what was not bottled as a single vineyard.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, cranberries and some rhubarb along with a touch of spice.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is deep and tasty.  Flavors of cherries, sour  cherries and cranberries.  Good finish.  Nice on its own, this is better with food.  It would be great with stuffed Portobellos.  This is a great value in Pinot Noir.  Drink over the then next eight to twelve years.  

One of our favorite wines!  This vintage gets dismissed, but it really is a great vintage (Bordeaux would love to have a vintage like this).  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, tobacco, spice, graphite and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is open and delicious.  Deep.  It is still young but is open and showing well.  It will still improve.  Flavors of lush cassis, with spice and leathery earth.  Long finish.  This is great on its own, but would work well with fatty foods (not seafood).  drink over the next fifteen t