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

Consumed over three nights, I much preferred it on night 3.  On opening this showed a lot of oak and some heat.  By night three, the oak had integrated, the heat mellowed and it was a delicious Napa Cabernet.  This is made from a combination of Howell Mountain fruit and Rutherford Dust Vineyard Cabernet.  Purple in color with some ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is initially cedar and spice, but by night 3 there is cassis, cocoa powder, some cedar and a slight saddle leather note.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, by night 3, the tannins had integ

What a beautiful take on Vermentino.  Decidedly California in style, but the wine bears some resemblance to the classic Italian versions.  Light golden in color with some green hues.  Medium bodied.  The nose has a bit of citrus (tangerine) along with slight guava notes.  Slightly viscous.  Excellent cut.  On the palate, more lemon than tangerine with nice underlying minerality.  Lively acidity but no sharp edges makes this very easy to drink.  The acidity and minerality set this apart from so many Napa whites.  Nice finish.  Consumed over two nights, this was even better on night 2.  This

What a beautiful wine.  Inky purple in color, ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is very concentrated with cassis, baking spice, slight chocolate and a hint of char.  Full bodied with a lush texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is concentrated as well.  It took a couple of hours to open up.  Once it did, lots of cassis with coffee, spice and chocolate.  Lots of energy.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now but should continue to for another ten to fifteen years.  It drinks great on its own and will work well with roasted meats and veggies.  

This was the first vintage of what has been a consistently great wine since.  Purple in color, some ruby, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, spice, slight coffee grounds and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is quite concentrated.  Not over blown but plenty of cassis fruit with underlying char and spice.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is drinking well but no hurry.  It will easily last another ten to fifteen more years.  It drinks well on its own and is a great choice for a roast or even a burger.  

This is a classic wine from a good if not great vintage.  The nice thing about that is the pricing may be better and the wine is drinking well earlier.  Purple in color with garnet swirls.  The nose is pretty with cassis, graphite, spices and slight roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Lovely texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Deep with lots of cassis and spice.  Long finish.  This is drinking great now, but perhaps will still improve a bit.  It has a Bordeaux-ish personality but with California fruit (and sunshine).  Drink over the next fifteen to twenty years.  It will

Classic Napa Cabernet.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Nice complexity.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is still young, but drinking well.  Plenty of cassis with underlying char and spice.  Nice finish.  This is more old world in style but has a nice Napa ripeness.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  A classic steakhouse wine.

Due to a heavy amount of Brettanomyces, this is a love it or hate it wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has a ton of barnyard along with boysenberries and char.  Full bodied.  Mature.  On the palate, a few people that tasted this called it "chunky".  Not sure what that means but it is very earthy with some black raspberry fruit.  Good balance.  Having had three bottles now, the cleaner the bottle the better the wine, but I enjoyed them all.  Complex.  Deep.  Drink over the next five to ten years maybe longer for well stored bottles.  It does work well with heavier dishes s

Beautiful wine!  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is expressive with cassis, slight coffee, plums, spice and a slight floral note.  Full bodied.  Silky but firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Drinking great.  Loads of plums and cassis with underlying spice and some chocolate.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and will work well with roasted vegetables or meats.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

Very nice vintage for this perennial favorite.  Purple in color with some Ruby swirls.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cassis, spice and slight chocolate.  Full bodied.  On the palate, there is plenty of depth.  Lots of cassis and some black cherry fruit.  Good finish.  This is a delicious wine.  Light tannins.  It drinks great on its own and will work well with food.  Raosted turkey would be a nice match.  Drink over the next ten years.  

This is a rich California Cabernet but given that, more middle of the road in styling.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, baking spice and slight graphite.  Full bodied.  Lush texture. Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Lots of cassis, some black cherry with underlying char and spice.  Nice finish.  This needs about ten more years until peak, but no harm drinking now.  Drink over the next twenty years.  Great on its own, this needs but food if opening now.  Brisket would work well.