Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a wine made by the late Dennis Malbec who left way too young.  The wine is purple in color, slight ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, spice, leather, char and slight black cherries.  full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, lots of cassis with underlying spice and char.  This is drinking well now but should continue to mature and drink well over the next twelve to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this will need some big fatty food such as a steak or roast.  

Bottle #5041.  In contrast to the regular 2018, this one is drinking great.  Such is the nature of the vintage.  While perhaps not a top vintage, it was better than many people say and the wines are so much more accessible young while still being delicious and complex.  That seems to be even more true with mountain fruit that is typically more concentrated than valley floor fruit.  The label lists 14.5%abv.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, spice, clay and chocolate.  Firm tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is very drinkable.  Cassis, chocolate and some sp

Consumed over three nights, I much preferred it on night 3.  On opening this showed a lot of oak and some heat.  By night three, the oak had integrated, the heat mellowed and it was a delicious Napa Cabernet.  This is made from a combination of Howell Mountain fruit and Rutherford Dust Vineyard Cabernet.  Purple in color with some ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is initially cedar and spice, but by night 3 there is cassis, cocoa powder, some cedar and a slight saddle leather note.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, by night 3, the tannins had integ

What a beautiful wine.  Inky purple in color, ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is very concentrated with cassis, baking spice, slight chocolate and a hint of char.  Full bodied with a lush texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is concentrated as well.  It took a couple of hours to open up.  Once it did, lots of cassis with coffee, spice and chocolate.  Lots of energy.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now but should continue to for another ten to fifteen years.  It drinks great on its own and will work well with roasted meats and veggies.  

This was the first vintage of what has been a consistently great wine since.  Purple in color, some ruby, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, spice, slight coffee grounds and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is quite concentrated.  Not over blown but plenty of cassis fruit with underlying char and spice.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is drinking well but no hurry.  It will easily last another ten to fifteen more years.  It drinks well on its own and is a great choice for a roast or even a burger.  

This is a classic wine from a good if not great vintage.  The nice thing about that is the pricing may be better and the wine is drinking well earlier.  Purple in color with garnet swirls.  The nose is pretty with cassis, graphite, spices and slight roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Lovely texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Deep with lots of cassis and spice.  Long finish.  This is drinking great now, but perhaps will still improve a bit.  It has a Bordeaux-ish personality but with California fruit (and sunshine).  Drink over the next fifteen to twenty years.  It will

Friends brought this over.  This winery is one a few that are generating lots of buzz for Cabernet Sauvignon in Paso Robles.  This is fruit forward in style but by no means a simple wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, tobacco, black cherry and spices.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, lush cassis and black cherry fruit.  Depth.  Long finish.  This drinks well now but probably should improve with a few more years of cellaring. Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  This would go great with a roast or a steak.  

Classic Napa Cabernet.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Nice complexity.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is still young, but drinking well.  Plenty of cassis with underlying char and spice.  Nice finish.  This is more old world in style but has a nice Napa ripeness.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  A classic steakhouse wine.

Beautiful wine!  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is expressive with cassis, slight coffee, plums, spice and a slight floral note.  Full bodied.  Silky but firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Drinking great.  Loads of plums and cassis with underlying spice and some chocolate.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and will work well with roasted vegetables or meats.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

Very nice vintage for this perennial favorite.  Purple in color with some Ruby swirls.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cassis, spice and slight chocolate.  Full bodied.  On the palate, there is plenty of depth.  Lots of cassis and some black cherry fruit.  Good finish.  This is a delicious wine.  Light tannins.  It drinks great on its own and will work well with food.  Raosted turkey would be a nice match.  Drink over the next ten years.