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

Mike Smith is the winemaker here and produces some of the top wines in the world.  This is an interesting vintage.  Initially, it looked like it would be amazing, but many of the wines seemed to get almost to that point and just stopped.  Still outstanding, but not quite the overall quality of say 2013 or 2014.  I think that is true for this wine although that is clearly nit-picking and most wineries only dream of getting to this level of quality.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, spices and char.  A really great, plush texture.  Tannins are mostly resolved but

Rusell Bevan is a superstar winemaker who has many projects going.  The EE Cuvee is consistently one of my favorites.  This vintage is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet France from the Tench and Tin Box vineyards.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, blueberries, spice, tobacco and char.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a great texture; lush with firm tannins.  This is a big wine that is still drinking young.  It will take another ten to fifteen years to reach maturity.  Once there it should last for another twenty.  That said, it

This is a blend of  41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Franc made by Thomas Rivers Brown.  Pop and pour, this took about twenty minutes to start opening and then drink very well.  Purple in color with a ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, black cherries, baking spice, slight chocolate, a hint of iron and roasted herbs.   Full bodied although certainly not over the top.  Rich texture.  On the palate, this has firm tannins that integrate somewhat with air.  Nots of cherries and black cherries with some underlying tobacco and a bit of chocolate.  Som

Nice to re-visit this wine.  This is a nice value in Napa Cabs although still not a cheap bottle by any means.  Made by the people who make Fait-Main wines.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, chocolate, and some spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, lots of cassis and black cherries and also some chocolate.  Good finish.  Served blind, I thought Merlot but it seems this is 100% Cab from various Napa vineyards.  It drinks great on its own and will continue to do so for another decade.  It will work well with roasted meat or fowl.  

Hard to believe this wine has been made for twenty years now.  It is a proprietary blend of red grapes that has thrilled its audience consistently and the 2019 is no exception.  Inky purple in color, garnet at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, figs, baking spices and slight bramble notes.  Full bodied.  Juicy acidity. Medium tannins.

Surprisingly open and drinking well with just a bit of air.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, some blueberries, slight char and a bit of black pepper.  Full bodied.  Juicy texture.  On the palate, this is deep with some complexity.  Certainly, it will gain complexity with more ageing.  Delicious black raspberry fruit with some boysenberries and underlying char.  Light tannins.  Long finish.  This will likely get better but no harm drinking now with a couple hours of air first.  It should drink well for another twelve to fifteen years.  This drink

This is a 100% Malbec from the Napa Valley.  The term Ghost Winery refers to the fact that the grapes come from an old 19th century winery that is no longer in use as a winery.  The building is now a residence but there are still vines growing.  These Malbec vines are on that property.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose took about an hour to open and then showed plums, black cherries, figs, baking spice and some milk chocolate.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this took a couple of hours to really hit first gear.  Give it some air if opening now.  Flavors of plums,

What a great bottle for Halloween!  Cool label front and back and really good wine.  This is 100% Cabernet Franc from Rutherford.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose takes about 30 minutes to open then shows nice ripe Cab Franc, that is to say, black cherries, some black raspberries, coffee, dark chocolate, just a bit of cigar tobacco.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, lots of black cherry and black raspberry fruit with underlying coffee and tobacco.  Long finish.  Gives this some air if opening this Halloween, it really got going after being

Opened to celebrate my 63rd birthday.  Pop and pour and consumed over several hours.  This is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest  made up of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great.  Cassis, slight black cherries, cedar, slight camphor, spice and a hint of leather.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, this is still not at maturity but has started to move in that direction.  No doubt it will improve but certainly enjoyable now.  Cassis, plums, slight sour black cherries with underlying spice and a bit of dried

This is their regular (not single vineyard) Cabernet.  The better barrels typically go to the single vineyard releases, but the blends seem to have more complexity (if less depth) but cost less.  This is an excellent wine.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great.  Cassis, slight blueberries, black licorice, spice and slight leather. There is a juicy texture. Full bodied.  Cassis and black licorice along with a bit spice. Moderate tannins but they are silky. Good balance.