2017 Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée Tench Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$166.00USD

This is a 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc blend from the Oakville District in Napa.  The 2017 vintage is proving to be a good vintage if not great.  That said Russell Bevan is a great producer which counts more than vintage.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, black cherries, slight cigar box, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  ON the palate, cassis, black cherries, cedar and chocolate.  Showing a nice complexity but drinking quite well.  Long finish.  This should drink well for another fifteen to twenty years.  Its great on its own and

2021 Nickel & Nickel Cabernet Sauvignon Branding Iron, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Oakville district in Napa.  Tasted blind, this seemed a bit older than a current release.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, slight cedar and char.  Full bodied.  Medium  tannins.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  It is more elegant than a big fruit Cab.  Flavors of cassis with spice and char.  Long finish.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  It would be an excellent choice if fairly priced at a Steakhouse.  

2021 Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Igneous, USA, California, Napa, Calistoga, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$130.00USD

This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from three different vineyard blocks in Calistoga. BA2 | Venge’s Bone Ash Vineyard Block 2, Calistoga, Estate LC9 | Larkmead’s Estate Vineyard Block 9, Calistoga, and CDM | Cavey Vineyard’s Diamond Mountain Estate, Calistoga.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, iodine, iron and chocolate.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is complex.  Young but already accessible.  Flavors of cassis, chocolate with nice minerality.  Good finish.  This is drinking well and should for the next fifteen to twenty years.  It is nice

2019 Realm Cellars The Bard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

Tasted blind with other wines including the 2013 Bard.  It was close and although I think this is the better wine, I found the 2013 a bit better on the evening.  It is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 5% Petite Verdot.  Inky purple in color and shimmering bright.  Opaque.  The nose is big with cassis, graphite, slight earthiness and char.  A bit tight.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is young and tight.  Very ripe, this needs time.  Flavors of cassis, blueberries, spice and cherries.  Long finish.  Hold for five years and drink for thirty after that.  Bett

2018 Opus One, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$340.00USD

Nice to revisit this wine in a blind setting.  It is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black olives, graphite, chocolate and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins. Soft texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is complex and deep.  Tight layers of fruit and starting to show tertiary characteristics.  Cassis, earthiness and char.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and with a bit of air, will work with hearty meat dishes.  This should still improve.

2013 Realm Cellars The Bard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2024
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$1000.00USD

What a fantastic showing for this wine (again)!  It is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is explosive with cassis, graphite, cedar and slight cigar box.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, this is a big wine with cassis, tobacco, spice and char.  At first, the finish was a bit harsh but that smoothed out with just a bit of air.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and will work well with roasted or grilled meats.  At age 11, it is still young and should have twenty years left ahead of it.  

2021 Mending Wall Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$95.00USD

Mending Wall offers some of the "more affordable" Cabernets that Thomas Rivers Brown makes (but prices seem to be rising).  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, crushed gravel, slight cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, there is juicy cassis fruit with some underlying gravel, char and some spice.  Long finish.  Of course, this is very young.  Cellar for a few more years and then drink for ten to fifteen after that.  Great on its own, it will become more food friendly as it ages.  If drinking soon, go with bigger (and fatty) food

2019 Grgich Hills Sauvignon Blanc Fumé Blanc, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$27.00USD

Made with Estate grown fruit.  Light green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with limes, green apples and a touch of lemon.  Medium bodied.  Nicely balanced.  Refreshing.  On the palate, limes are the forefront with a touch of lemons on the finish.  This is easy drinking but has some substance.  It drinks well on its own and will work well with lighter foods.  A nice summer lunch wine.  Drink over the next couple of years although it is a bit past prime already.  

2015 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Howell Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$145.00USD

Another great Thomas Rivers Brown cabernet.  This is their basic Cabernet which has unfortunately gone up in price recently.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, with nice minerality.  Medium to firm tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, this is concentrated with cassis, some black cherries, spice and char.  Long finish.  This is still youthful but drinking well.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this is in a great place to take to a steak house.  

2019 Realm Cellars The Bard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$140.00USD

One of the best vintages yet for this wine and one of the more affordable reds in the Realm portfolio.  It is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 5% Petite Verdot.  Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is great with cassis, blueberries, chocolate, graphite, and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis, blueberries, some dark cherries with spice and slight char.  Long finish.  This is young and would benefit from additional cellaring.  It should drink well for another twenty years.  Great on its own, this would be great

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