1996 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow, USA, California, Calistoga, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1996
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$320.00USD

Purple in color with some ruby hues and ruby at the rim.  Mostly opaque if a bit flat.  The nose has some funk on it (more than just bottle age) along with cassis and leather.  Full bodied.  On the palate, sweet cassis fruit with underlying earthiness.  Mature but still offering up a lot.  Nice finish.  This is probably better with some food at this point.  Goulash would work well.  Drink over the next few years.  

Ladera 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$89.00USD

The grapes sourced for the Cabernet is like a who’s who of exceptional areas: Pritchard Hill, Howell Mountain, Calistoga – all definitive Cabernet growing areas. This wine offers rich and deep blackberry, black cherry, boysenberry with back notes of plum, macerated black currant, red raspberry and cocoa powder. Though the oak influence is evident  (aged 22 months in 82% new French oak) it is not overwhelming. This drinks beautifully - the kind of pure enjoyment you want in a Napa Cabernet. 663 cases. ORIGIN: Napa Valley. ALCOHOL: 14.5%

2017 Davis Estates Merlot

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

Forming a little over 10 years ago, Davis Estates turns out excellent wines based in the Napa Valley. Comprised of 100% merlot, this wine offers rich and concentrated fruit, more compote driven with blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, boysenberry, plum, cocoa powder and a heavy toasting of oak. The oak is a little strong, however it is nonetheless balanced within this wine, having been aged 22 months in 40% new French oak. The results are mild tannins and a rich opulent feel making this extremely enjoyable to drink. 796 cases

2016 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia, USA, California, Napa, Calistoga, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$130.00USD

This is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot from the Eisele vineyard in Calistoga.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, cigar box, cloves and dust.  Firm tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this has cassis, cedar with an underlying char.  Long finish.  This is young and will still get better but it is delicious today.  Maybe about five to eight more years until peak.  It will drink well for the next fifteen to twenty years.  Great on its own or with food, lamb chops would be a nice choice.  

2015 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$140.00USD

From the Larkmead Vineyard and made by Thomas Rivers Brown.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar,  blueberries, and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this has juicy cassis fruit with some black cherries and some blueberries over cedar and char.  Still quite young, this should improve over the next eight to ten years and drink well for ten to fifteen after that.  Delicious and complex.  Right now this drinks better on its own and will need big flavors to stand up to it but with time it will settle down.  For now, braised short ribs would be

2018 Mending Wall Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A-

Obviously young, but this is one of the best Petite Sirah's made in Napa.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, char, and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, the boysenberry over char comes thru.  This will need time.  Ideally at least another decade but at least five to seven.  It should drink well for twenty after that.  Delicious.  This will drink well on its own but a nice choice for Indian food or grilled meats off the grill.  

2016 Waypoint Proprietary Red Kenefick Ranch, USA, California, Napa, Calistoga, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is a very nice fruit forward Napa Cab.  Purple/ruby in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, chocolate, and tobacco.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, there is ripe cassis fruit, some oak showing and slight dry earthiness.  Nice finish.  This is easy going and will make nice drinking over the next ten years.  A great choice with a burger off the grill.  

2015 Schramsberg Vineyards Crémant Demi-Sec, USA, California, Calistoga, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$38.00USD

This is an interesting blend.  It is 67% Flora, 19% Chardonnay, and 14% Pinot Noir.  Flora is a crossing of Semillon and Gewürztraminer that was created in 1938 by Harold P. Olmo at the California Agricultural Experiment Station.  Light golden in color.  The nose has seltzer, slight marzipan and peach.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Apples and apricots.  Turns sweeter on the finish.  This is enjoyable on it own but would work with a not too sweet peach/apricot dessert.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

2017 Mending Wall Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Calistoga, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

Palisades is one of the better Petite Sirah vineyards (albeit there are not that many).  This was my first time trying a wine from Mending Wall.  Their facility is where Thomas Rivers Brown makes much of his wine these days.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries, clay, gravel and slight char.  On the palate, this is delicious already.  Medium tannins.  Reserved black raspberry fruit with a soft texture.  Surprisingly accessible at this young age.  It should still improve over the next five to seven years and be good for another ten after that.  This will work great with Indian

Pages