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

This is always one of the great wines out of Napa.  The blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Petit Verdot, and 3% Malbec. Inky purple in color.  The nose is very nice with cassis and coffee.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  Black cherries, cassis and some char.  It is delicious.  This was consumed over three nights and was best on night three though excellent on all three.  This still needs a few more years until peak and then should be good for another ten to twelve at least.  The score certainly has a point or two more of upside.  There is a depth and complexity to it that really

Always a sound value in Napa Cabernet's.  I am not sure of the exact blend this vintage, but usually, this is mostly Cab with some Merlot, Malbec and Petite Verdot.  Purple in color, ruby swirls.  The nose has cassis, sandalwood, slight mint and slight chocolate.  On the palate, this is soft and accessible.  Cassis and slight chocolate.  Some depth and complexity but that should develop over the next five to seven years.  Light to medium tannins.  Nice finish. Some depth and complexity but that should develop over the next five to seven years.

Dominus is one of the greats.  The same owners as Petrus in Bordeaux, they make what is generally believed to be the most Bordeaux styled wine in Napa.  But it is also something of California with sunshine and ripeness.  This bottle had been decanted for a couple of hours.  Deep purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, cigar box and slight earthiness.  On the palate, this has light tannins.  Cassis is prominent with underlying earthiness.  Tight layers that unwind in the glass.  This needs another five years at least to peak but is enjoyable now.  It should last another twenty

Spottswoode has been producing some of the top Napa Cabs for quite a long time now.  Year in and year out, they make some of the best Cabs anywhere.  Drink them young and they are bold Napa Cabs, let them age for twenty plus years and its hard to tell them from the finest from Bordeaux.  This one is very young, but it is delicious.  It had been decanted for a short time prior to opening.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, cigar box and pencil lead.  Enticing.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Lots of cassis with some pencil led and nice tobacco.  Thick tannins.  Great balance.  Lon

Wow.  What a spectacular wine.  I don't recall ever having this before.  As a general rule, I think the 2012's are drinking very well at age eight if still obviously young.  Inky purple in color, shimmering bright.  The nose is dusty with cassis, plums, pencil lead and blueberries.  Full bodied.  Lush texture.  Concentrated fruit on the palate.  Juicy intensity.  This is a huge wine with big fruit but so much energy and brightness.  Cassis, blueberries and baking spices.  Long finish.  This should get a perfect score in a few years and for some it will now.  It needs about five to seven mor

The cork crumbled on opening and the wine was decanted.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, char, slight ink scent and a bit of blueberries.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, the blueberries are more pronounced and plenty of boysenberries with underlying char.  Still has youthful energy.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now but still young.  No harm opening or letting it age another ten to fifteen years.  It probably won't get much better.  It will work well with pizza, burger but also roasts and grilled foods.  

This is a non-vintage blend.  It was bottled in 2016.  Although it carries a Napa Valley designation, as it is mostly Mt. Veeder grapes, it has grapes from all over California.  A blend of 41% Cabernet Sauvignon,36% Cabernet Franc, and 23% Merlot.  Purple in color.  The nose has a mushroom note to it along with black cherry fruit and baking spices.  Warm.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Nice black cherry fruit.  Some depth.  Easy drinking.  This probably should be consumed in the next five to seven years.  It will work well with stews and casseroles.  

This is from the southern portion of the Hudson Vineyard in Carneros.  98% Syrah and 2% Viognier.  At age 10, this is just starting to open up and will still improve.  Inky purple in color with a thin ruby rim.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, smoke, slight bacon fat and roasted meats.  On the palate, this is medium to full bodied.  Cooler climate in profile.  Black cherries and black raspberries with underlying char and a bit of pepperyness.  Good energy once it opens.  Drinks well now but should be about five years until peak and then be good for ten to fifteen more.  It wil

Nice to revisit this wine.  It is still young but has opened up a bit (as have many 2013's).  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, spice, slight hay note and a bit of toast.  On the palate, this took about an hour or so and then was drinking well.  Cassis with underlying dry earth.  Good balance.  Long finish.  This may still improve a bit more.  It has fifteen to twenty years of great drinking.  Think grilled foods or roasts, but also drinks well on its own.  

This was interesting.  Pop and pour and there were light notes of what might have been TCA.  Very intermittent.  I decided to let the bottle sit over night (closed with a neutral cork) and check back the next day.  If the bottle was off with TCA, it would be worse the next day.  On the other hand, the next day, this bottle was clean as a whistle and drinking quite well.  Not sure what was going on, but glad I waited and gave it a chance.  Dark purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose had cassis, char, and spice.  Just a hint of pencil lead and slight earthiness.  On the palate, this has