2008 Kapcsándy Family Winery Estate Cuvée State Lane Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cab Franc.  Just a gorgeous wine that while still youthful, is showing some maturity.  We drank this pop and pour but I would recommend a lot more air or decant.  Purple in color.  The nose is great with cassis, black cherries, tobacco, slight leather, and spice.  Wonderful rich texture.  Great balance.  Medium tannins.  Plenty of fruit; cassis and black cherries layered with earth and tobacco.  Long finish.  This wine has a nice complexity that shows itself as it unwinds in the glass.  Its delicious but more than just that.  While it shows

2014 Greer Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

In a tasting, its often the bigger, flashier wine that is the best.  But, at the dinner table, over a couple hours, the opposite is often true.  That was the situation this wine had to deal with, but it came thru just fine.  Despite being 30 years younger than one of the wines, it still managed to strut itself quite impressively.  Purple in color, magenta at the rim.  Bright.  The nose has cassis, some graphite, spice and slight cedar.  Powerful but not over the top.  On the palate, this has a wonderful mouth feel.  Juicy.  Its big but seems light on its feet.  Flavors of cassis, and some p

2012 Carlisle Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

One of the best Zinfandel producers and one of the best Zinfandel vineyards.  What's not to like?  This is a great Zinfandel.  It's always a question when to open Zins.  They drink so well young.  Some of them age great.  This is one that there is no right answer to the question as it seems its always good.  Purple in color.  The nose has raspberries, boysenberries, bramble, black pepper and an interesting iodine note.  On the palate, this has a lush but lively texture.  Great energy to the wine.  Flavors of raspberries and dark cherries intertwines with char and earth.  Great balance.  Lon

2015 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+

Amazing wine.  Maybach is right up there with any winery in California, or the world for that matter.  Just spectacular.  Purple to the rim.  The nose has graphite, cassis powdered sugar (thanks George), blueberries and warm earth.  On the palate, this is ripe without being sweet.  Cassis.  Deep.  Tightly layered, it explodes in the glass.  Seamless.  Long finish.  It will change and morph but can it get better?  I suppose so, but it is 100 points right now.  On a night with a lot of Napa stars, this was the groups WOTN.   Wow.  

2015 Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée Tench Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+

I love Bevan wines and they drink so well young.  No exception here although I am sure it will last for a couple of decades (mine will be long gone by then).  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, some blueberries, cedar and graphite.  Very nice.  On the palate, this has great ripe cassis.  The fruit is a bit sweet if I am to nit pick and that kept this from getting a perfect score.  I wonder if in a year or two as it all comes together it it becomes more seamless and less noticeable.  I suppose that depends on if it is residual sugar or just ripe fruit.  As we drank this

2015 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Houyi Vineyard Pritchard Hill, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+

This was tight and of course young.  It was interesting to compare this to the Nine Suns (2012) to get a glimpse where it might be going.  For my tastes, this was much tighter than the 2015 Realm Moonracer.  Purple in color, magenta at the rim.  The nose has cassis, dust, minerals and spice.  On the palate, it has a beautiful texture.  Rich and lush with plenty of acidity.  Tightly packed, it takes vigorous swirling to open in the glass.  Firm tannins.  Tons of fruit though; cassis, dark cherries along with a nice bit of earth.  Very deep and brooding right now.  Long finish.  Hold on these

2015 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+

Once again, Scarecrow cements itself as possibly the greatest Napa Cabernet being made today.  At least for my tastes it is.  This is young and already it merits a 100 point score.  does that mean it won't improve?  More of a philosophical question as I am sure it will change and mature but better?  Perhaps but this is stunning right now.  Tasted among some of Napa's elite wines, this was my WOTN.  Purple in color, clear at the rim.  The nose has cassis, slight hay notes, blueberries, spice and slight baked earth.  On the palate, this is seamless.  Wonderful balance.  Perfect acidity.  Tann

2015 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Moonracer Realm Estate, USA, California, Napa, Wine review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+

First time trying this wine from one of my favorite California wineries.  Purple in color.  Thin ruby rim.  The nose is awesome; cassis, cedar, graphite and with air and intersting clay note comes out.  Great texture.  Rich yet juicy yet supple yet lush.  On the palate, black cherry fruit and cassis.  A great underlying minerality.  Tight but unwinds in the glass.  Deep and complex.  Almost seamless.  I suspect another year or two and this merits a 100 point score.  Easily has 2 or 3 decades of life in it.  Wow.  

2015 Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+

A wine I had not had before and even though young, wanted to get a handle on it for future buying decisions.  Pop and pour, i did go back after a few hours and revisit this one.  Great wine.  Inky purple in color, magenta at the rim.  The nose has cassis, pepper, spice and a slight celery note which was not over powering and made it interesting.  On the palate, this is rich with kirsch/cassis.  Sort of sweet liqueur from ripe fruit but again in a restrained manner that was very nice.  Lively acidity.  Nice minerality.

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