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

There’s a certain comfort in knowing that when you open a Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc, regardless of vintage, it will always be excellent. I have had many vintages of this wine and the consistency of its excellence is borderline improbable – and yet they nail it year after year. The ’21 offers that beautiful crisp nose of lemon meringue, lime kefir, honeysuckle, guava and red delicious apple. That follows through on the palate along with light plum, crème brulee, toasted brioche and Asian pear.

Great showing for this wine.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black olives, smoke and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black raspberries, black cherries, slight chocolate, spice and slight underlying forest floor.  Not yet at peak but getting there.  A slight bitter cherry note on the finish is interesting.  This is great on its own and very food friendly for heavier foods.  This would go great with Lamb Chops but also grilled Portobellos.  Drink over the next fifteen years.  

This is a blend of 42% Cabernet Franc, 42% Merlot, and 16% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Impressive showing.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight at first but opens to show black cherries, cherries, chocolate, and brown tobacco.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Wonderful velvety texture.  On the palate, this is delicious with black cherries, iodine, blueberries and crushed leaves.  Complex.  Still not fully mature but getting there.  Long finish.  No harm opening now, but another five to eight years and this might get a 100 score.  Great on its own, it will take big food right

This is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot.  It was given some air prior to serving and double decanted back into the bottle which seemed about right.  Ruby/purple in color, opaque if a bit flat.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cassis, slight cigar box and a bit of spice.  The tannins are all resolved.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, cherries and black cherries.  Some depth.

Tasted blind. This is a blend of 97% To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% To Kalon Cabernet Franc. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is very nice with cassis, coffee and slight bell pepper. Full bodied. Not super ripe but not unripe. Full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, cherries, black cherries, slightly bitter with some underlying char. Moderate depth and complexity. This is drinking well now and should continue for ten to twelve years. It drinks well on its own and will work nicely with roasted meat or fowl.

Promontory is a wine "designed" to be ready on release while waiting on its big brother Promontory Red Wine to mature.  It is a Cabernet based proprietary blend.  A stunning wine.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, chocolate, blueberries, spice and slight char.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, the first sip grabs your palate's attention.  Black raspberries, blueberries, chocolate, and spice.  This sure seems to need more time in the cellar (depending how you like your wine), but it is delicious today.  It should drink well for twenty more years.  Great on its own,

The name is legendary. Mondavi. Therefore you expect something terrific when you open the bottle, and this does not disappoint. The wine opens with mature dark fruit of blackberry, black cherry, huckleberry, boysenberry and plum with tight and dusty tannin and good acidity. This needs some time to open up and accounting for at least 30 minutes would be a good idea. It’s definitely balanced between the oak program and the fruit, something Robert Mondavi no doubt would be proud of.

Soft and supple, there is a lovely viscosity to this Merlot. You’ll find notes of blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry and huckleberry surrounded by light cedar, raspberry compote and violets. The acidity allows for the fruit to shine through while maintaining structure for the wine. The tannins are fairly mild but this goes a long way on the palate. The judicious use of oak also helps to support the darker fruit of this wine. This is a soft, shy wine, not an aggressive over the top in your face Merlot.

Spottswoode is one of the great Napa Cabs.  For years, they were a bit unknown, but no longer.  Often, one can find older, mature vintages for less than the current ones, and these wines age great.  Tony Soter and Mia Klein were working for the winery back then before going on to great things.  This is drinking beautifully, and I think even the most ardent Francophile would have difficulty calling this from Napa at this point.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.

This is a blend of 84% Cab Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot, and 3% Merlot.  It doesn't seem fair to call this a second wine as it stands on its own as an amazing wine.  2017 was a challenging vintage yet this wine is excellent.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, dust, pencil lead, chocolate and floral notes.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this has depth and complexity.  Cassis, black cherries and plums with underlying spice and slight tobacco.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This will still get better but should drink well for the next twelve