2018 Dakota Shy Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$98.00USD

This is their non-designated base Cab.  A truly excellent bottle in its own right.  Purple in color, opaque and inky.  The nose has cassis, slight coffee, slight leather, and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Not an over powering wine, but plenty of fruit and backbone.  Notes of cassis, char, slight coffee grounds and spice.  Clean.  Nice balance.  Long finish.  This is obviously young, but very enjoyable.  it should drink well for the next fifteen to twenty years.  Great on its own, this will work well with all but the lightest dishes.  It should wor

1994 Viader, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1994
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$200.00USD

This showed better than the 1998 and at age 29, very nice.  It is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, tobacco, black cherries, spice and slight herbal note.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has juicy acidity.  Black cherries, some cassis, spice, char and slight tobacco.  Complex.  Long finish.  This is probably past peak, but really drinking well.  Drink over the next few years but it might go longer.  It will work well on its own, but will match well with roasted chicken.  

1999 Silverado Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1999
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

What a nice surprise.  Really exceeded expectations on this one.  Purple in color, slight browning, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, dried currants, cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  Still some tannins left.  Well balanced.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Cassis with a Tootsie Roll® (sort of confectionary chocolate), and slight earthiness.  Nice sinewy texture.  Long finish.  This still has a nice freshness to it although it does show some age.  Drink over the next three to five years.  Nice on its own, this would stand up to a steak.  Of course, with bottles this old

1998 Viader, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1998
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Cabernet Franc.  Ruby in color, with slight browning.  The nose has cassis, leather, black cherries, slight tobacco and slight cedar.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this has some complexity.  Nice cassis fruit with a bit of underlying tobacco.  Moderate finish.  This is past prime and should be consumed soon.  That said, it does have something to offer.  Better with food at this stage.  A nice wine with Brisket.  

2018 Antica (Antinori) Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Select, USA, California, Napa, Atlas Peak, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$58.00USD

Antica is the Antinori property in Napa.  It is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.  Ruby in color with purple swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this was tight at first, but kept opening all night.  Cassis, black cherries and slight tobacco notes.

2020 Gentleman Farmer Wines Chardonnay, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$49.00USD

A middle of the road in style, Napa Chardonnay.  14.5% abv.   Yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has lemons and slight vanilla.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, almonds, spices, minerals, and with some air, lemon crème.  A slight bitter almond note on the finish.  This is drinking well on its own and would be a nice wine with seafood, pork or veggies.  Salmon is a great choice.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2018 North Coast Wine Club Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is made from purchased grapes in northeastern Ohio.  For $30, this is certainly competitive or better than most similarly priced Napa Cabernets on our grocery store shelves.  Very impressive.  Purple in color with some ruby hues.  The nose has cassis, plums, baking spices and slight forest floor.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this opens with about 30 minutes of air.

2019 Mending Wall Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

Palisades is one of the best Petite Sirah Vineyards anywhere.  Now, that is somewhat a backhanded compliment as there just aren't that many of those vineyards.  Still, this is one worth checking out.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, char and slight spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, juicy black raspberries with underlying gravel and char.  Long finish.  This is very young and although approachable, it will get better.  It could really use about ten years in the cellar.  Patience will be rewarded.  In any event, this makes good drinking

2019 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$105.00USD

This is the basic Cab from winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown's home winery.  At $75, it is expensive but at the same time, a great value  in high end Napa Cabs.  Purple in color with a thin ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, chocolate, char, slight graphite and slight cedar.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is young but delicious.  Cassis and slight black cherries with underlying char and slight spice.  Long finish.  This could use another five years in the cellar but drinking well now with some air.  This has twenty years of great drinking left and the score sh

2014 Kapcsándy Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon (Grand Vin) State Lane Vineyard, USA, California, Yountville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$312.00USD

These are some of the slowest to come around wines in Napa.  They act very similar to a Frist Growth Bordeaux.  It was with some trepidation that we opened this at age 9.  95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is classic.  Cassis, pencil lead, spice, chocolate and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, this took a couple of hours to open and unwind, then it was stunning.  Cassis, some chocolate and underlying char.  Long finish.  This is drinking well but may still earn that 100 point moniker.  Eighte

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