Napa Valley

• Atlas Peak
• Best of Napa
• Calistoga
• Conn Valley
• Diamond Mountain
• Howell Mountain
• Mt. Veeder
• Oak Knoll
• Oakville
• Pope Valley
• Rutherford
• Spring Mountain
• St. Helena
• Stags Leap
• Yountville

Rich and bold, this Cabernet is in the vein of “new school” Napa Cabernet; which is to say unashamedly rich, forward fruit, potent oak, and a no holds barred take on a formidable Napa cab. That’s not to say it isn’t well structured, because this certainly is, and Turnbull is well-known for making structured Cabernets. In point of fact they have been doing so for a long time, and I have reviewed many of their wines over the years. This offers very ripe blackberry and blueberry fruit, plum, noticeable oak notes, including vanilla, sandalwood, and slightly sweet charred oak.

A gorgeous wine that may not yet be at peak.  Purple in color, shimmering bright.  The nose has boysenberries, chocolate, slight graphite, char and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Very well balanced.  On the palate, flavors of black raspberries, char and slight chocolate.  Long finish.  This does not seem to be at peak yet but getting there.  If opening soon, a one hour decant would be a good idea.  Drink over the next ten to twenty years.  This drinks well on its own and will work with hearty foods.  This would be nice with Lamb Stew or Quinoa with Roasted Squash.  

A good showing for this wine which seems to be just about at peak.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with black raspberries, chocolate, char and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, flavors of black raspberries with spice and char.  Long finish.  This won't get better but one should still have another five to eight years (based on this bottle) before it starts going downhill.  it is nice on its own but probably better with food.  It would go nicely with Indian cuisine.  

While a step down from the 2004, this bottle showed well, too.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with black raspberries, slight chocolate but also a "tinny" quality.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, flavors of black raspberries with some underlying char.  Long finish.  This is probably a bit past peak but still drinking well.  That said, these should be probably be consumed sooner than later.  It drinks well on its own but would be better with food.  This would go well with a hearty Chili.  

Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with cassis, cedar and graphite.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, this is mature although it will still develop.  Flavors of cassis, slight blueberries with slight oak/cedar.  Long  finish.  This is drinking well now and should have another ten to fifteen years.  It is great on its own and will work well with bigger foods.  It would go well with Prime Rib.