Cabernet Sauvignon

This is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon with 3% Merlot from Washington state.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cedar and dust.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of black cherries, some cassis, spice and cedar.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  At age 18, this is getting close to peak but still packs a punch.  It is a big wine.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  It drinks well on its own and will work well with most (not seafood) dishes.  Roasted Chicken would work nicely.  

This is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Malbec from Argentina.  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is very good with cassis, plums, dust, and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is drinking well with flavors of black cherries, cassis, and spice.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five years.  A great choice with burgers or ribs off the grill.  

2024 marks the 20th vintage for Spottswoode’s Lyndenhurst label. The original goal is still the same: use all five Bordeaux varietals and pull fruit from the estate as well as other exceptional Napa vineyards, all of which are organically grown. In doing so this wine allows for, “a broader expression of Napa Valley, while applying the same philosophy that shapes our Estate Cabernet,” says winemaker Aron Weinkauf.

This is a blend of 76% Cabernet sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Franc from Napa.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is lovely with cassis, cedar, slight cigar box and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is young and delicious.  Flavors of cassis, spice, slight mocha and char.  Long finish.  This drinks great on its own and will work with most food (not seafood).  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  

This is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Syrah from the Powerline Vineyard in Walla Walla.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, graphite and an earthiness.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries and slight black olives with good acidity. Long finish.  This drinks nicely on its own and worked well with Mushroom Burgers.  Still young, this should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  

This is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot.  Inky purple, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but opens a bit with some air.  Cassis, dust, oak and cumin.  Firm tannins.  Lots of energy.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black cherries, cassis and spice with plenty of depth.  Good finish.  This needs time for my tastes.  There is a lot here but it seems a bit shut down.  I would hold for five and then drink for ten to fifteen after that.  If drinking soon, it will need a steak or Prime Rib to stand up to the tannins.  The score should go up a few poi

This venerable old label used to be one of the most talked about wines from Napa.  Today, it seems to barely get a mention yet the quality is still top notch.  Fame is fickle.  This vintage is 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petite Verdot and 3% Malbec.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is classic Napa which is also to say very Bordeaux-like in a ripe year.  Black cherries, some cassis, earthy, cigar box and slight graphite.  Great texture.  Firm tannins.  Full bodied.  On the palate, cassis, earthiness and spice.  Long finish.  This is outstanding.  Great on its own but better with

Another great wine from Fait-Mail.  These wine get some buzz but deserve even more.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, slight graphite, cedar, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is concentrated, intense and delicious.  Flavors of cassis, slight dark chocolate, spice and char.  Long finish.  This is still quite young and won't hit peak for at least a decade.  That said, it provides a lot of pleasure right now.  Drink over the next twenty years.  Fantastic on its own, this would work with big meat