Cabernet Sauvignon

Spottswoode is one of the great Napa Cabs.  For years, they were a bit unknown, but no longer.  Often, one can find older, mature vintages for less than the current ones, and these wines age great.  Tony Soter and Mia Klein were working for the winery back then before going on to great things.  This is drinking beautifully, and I think even the most ardent Francophile would have difficulty calling this from Napa at this point.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.

This is a blend of 84% Cab Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot, and 3% Merlot.  It doesn't seem fair to call this a second wine as it stands on its own as an amazing wine.  2017 was a challenging vintage yet this wine is excellent.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, dust, pencil lead, chocolate and floral notes.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this has depth and complexity.  Cassis, black cherries and plums with underlying spice and slight tobacco.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This will still get better but should drink well for the next twelve

Yes, this is very young, but what a great opportunity to try a limited wine so soon.  This is one of the great cult wines of Napa!  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but opens to show cassis, pencil lead, blueberries, chocolate, spice, smoke and minerality.  Firm tannins.  An impressive velvety texture.  On the palate, this is ripe.  Slightly sweet but not residual sugar.  Cassis, blueberries, coffee and spice with underlying minerality.  Enough acidity to cut through and keep the palate from being tired.  Ideally, this gets another ten to twenty years in the cella

This is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Merlot from the excellent 2009 vintage.  That vintage has always been accessible and one that may be long lived but the wines developed quickly.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, pencil lead, spice, black cherries and tobacco.  Full bodied.  Great texture.  Medium tannins.  This is well balanced.  On the palate, cassis with leathery notes and underlying char.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to for another twelve to fifteen years.

Shafer Hillside is a First Growth of American wines.  It has a long track record and always outstanding.  And, made in quantities that the average wine lover can find.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, graphite, spice, leather and chocolate.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great, rich texture.  This is still drinking young but also it is delicious.  Flavors of cassis, blueberries, and slight chocolate with underlying spice and tea leaves.  Long finish.  This will improve with more cellar time.  Either way, it should drink well for another twenty years.  This woul

The regular Caymus tends to be a love/hate wine, but the Special Select is a different wine completely and one that just about everyone loves.  It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, blueberries, tobacco and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Dense texture.  On the palate, this is deep with cassis and spice.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is still showing young and while drinking well now, another five years in the cellar would help it out.  Either way, drink over the next fifteen to twenty years.  

This is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc from the excellent 1996 vintage. Great showing.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, tobacco, black cherries, spice and some mint on the end.  Full bodied.  Great velvety texture.  Medium tannins.  Perfect balance.  On the palate, this is complex and deep yet still seemingly youthful.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This drinks great on its own and would work well with all but the lightest foods.  Deck breast would work very well.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

Great showing for this wine from the northwest.  It is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc from the Champoux vineyard in the Horse Haven Hills.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, dust, slight black olive, and slight bacon fat notes.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black cherries, cassis with underlying char.  Depth and complexity.  Medium tannins.  Long finish with some heat on it.  This drinks great on its own and will work with bigger foods.  Hard to go wrong matching it with a filet.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.  

I was skeptical about this being alive, but that is why you pull the cork.  At age 39, this has life and fruit left.  Ruby in color, lighter at the rim, mostly opaque and modestly bright.  The nose shows cassis, earthiness and slight bell pepper.  With air, a slight "twiggy" note comes out.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black cherries.  Slightly sweet.  Some complexity.  While certainly past peak, an impressive showing nevertheless.  Still, this should be consumed sooner than later.  

There’s a belief I have that if you mess up any fruit from Howell Mountain there’s something wrong with you. Duckhorn has consistently produced an extraordinary Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2017 is no exception. Comprised of all Cabernet with 10% Merlot, this is a softer version than in years past, these tannins are a little more mild, the acidity a little brighter, and the fruit opulent and rich. Black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, and boysenberry, lead off and the fruit is a tad more expressive than in years past. It was aged 24 months, 18 of which were new French oak.