Comprised entirely of Cabernet Sauvignon, this differs from many Napa Cabernet in that there is a quiet rusticity to this wine. Rather than bright up front fruit, the fruit here is rather muted, offering blackberry, light blueberry, Rainer cherry, cocoa powder and white pepper. The tannic structure is fairly tight with a dusty, earthy quality. The light oak aging in all French oak provides the vanilla and campfire notes while giving the tannins room to exercise their importance in balancing the wine.

A rich and opulent style of Cabernet, this benefits from decanting, but it is less about tight tannins and more about letting the fruit open up to show its macerated side. This 100% Cabernet is replete with traditional Cabernet notes; blackberry, black cherry, blueberry and boysenberry. The oak aging brings on the vanilla and fine-grained tannic structure. The rest of the wine fills out with green tea leaf, sandalwood, earthy fruit, wild berries and moderate acidity.

If you don't know the Posip grape, it is one you should check out.  The wine is medium gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has peach, hay, wax and salinity.  Medium to full bodied.  Slightly viscous.  Good acidity.  On the palate, nice minerality but also apricots and a slight fig note.  Long finish.  This is still young and should go another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this is food friendly and went well with a pasta with garlic aioli.  

Pop and pour on day 1 and it was a bit disappointing.  Good, not great.  Recorked and tried again on day 2.  So much better.  At eight years from vintage, that is surprising and impressive.  Purple in color with some ruby hues.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black raspberries, gravel/asphalt, some garrique, and slight dried floral notes.  Full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Very lively.  On the palate, this is complex.  Layers of black raspberries, black cherries, spice and char.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is delicious.  Great on its own, this would be great w

This is drinking younger than 24 years.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is very nice with chocolate covered cherries and raisins.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  On the palate, this is showing some complexity.  Good acidity.  Sweet but not overtly.  The chocolate covered cherries and raisins carries thru to the palate.  Long finish.  Tasty.  This is nice on its own and would be nice with a chocolate dessert.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years. 

Always a pleasure to drink d'Yquem.  This vintage is 75% Semillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc.  From a 375ml bottle.

This is a 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc blend from the Oakville District in Napa.  The 2017 vintage is proving to be a good vintage if not great.  That said Russell Bevan is a great producer which counts more than vintage.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, black cherries, slight cigar box, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  ON the palate, cassis, black cherries, cedar and chocolate.  Showing a nice complexity but drinking quite well.  Long finish.  This should drink well for another fifteen to twenty years.  Its great on its own and

This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Oakville district in Napa.  Tasted blind, this seemed a bit older than a current release.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, slight cedar and char.  Full bodied.  Medium  tannins.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  It is more elegant than a big fruit Cab.  Flavors of cassis with spice and char.  Long finish.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  It would be an excellent choice if fairly priced at a Steakhouse.  

This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from three different vineyard blocks in Calistoga. BA2 | Venge’s Bone Ash Vineyard Block 2, Calistoga, Estate LC9 | Larkmead’s Estate Vineyard Block 9, Calistoga, and CDM | Cavey Vineyard’s Diamond Mountain Estate, Calistoga.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, iodine, iron and chocolate.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is complex.  Young but already accessible.  Flavors of cassis, chocolate with nice minerality.  Good finish.  This is drinking well and should for the next fifteen to twenty years.  It is nice

Tasted blind with other wines including the 2013 Bard.  It was close and although I think this is the better wine, I found the 2013 a bit better on the evening.  It is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 5% Petite Verdot.  Inky purple in color and shimmering bright.  Opaque.  The nose is big with cassis, graphite, slight earthiness and char.  A bit tight.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is young and tight.  Very ripe, this needs time.  Flavors of cassis, blueberries, spice and cherries.  Long finish.  Hold for five years and drink for thirty after that.  Bett