Howell Mountain

This is a blend of  41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Franc made by Thomas Rivers Brown.  Pop and pour, this took about twenty minutes to start opening and then drink very well.  Purple in color with a ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, black cherries, baking spice, slight chocolate, a hint of iron and roasted herbs.   Full bodied although certainly not over the top.  Rich texture.  On the palate, this has firm tannins that integrate somewhat with air.  Nots of cherries and black cherries with some underlying tobacco and a bit of chocolate.  Som

This is a brooding wine that is just starting to open up.  It improved with air.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is concentrated with cassis, iodine, graphite and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  The palate is also concentrated with cassis and spice.  Deep but stubborn.  Give it a decant.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years. This will work well with grilled lamb chops or grilled portabellas.  

It is always a pleasure to drink an older Napa Cabernet.  This one is drinking beautifully today.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, spice, some tobacco, cherries and slight chocolate.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is a bit past prime but offering up a lot.  Some fresh fruit (cassis and cherries) along with tobacco and slight funk.  Nice finish.  Good complexity.  This should be consumed sooner than later but all bottles will be unique.  It drank great on its own and worked with some soft cheeses.  

This is yet another wine made by Thomas Rivers Brown.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is intense with cassis, blueberries, floral (violets?) notes and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is concentrated and needs some time/air to unwind.  Lots of cassis and some blueberries with some underlying char and spice.  Long finish.  This will undoubtedly improve over the next five to seven years.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen after that.  Drinks great on its own, this will require a big flavors to work with.  Roasts or grilled meats or veg

This is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Merlot.  Purple in color, slight ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, some very smooth oak and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, there is a nice depth and complexity her.  Good acidity.  This is a really elegant wine that is just delicious.  It should continue to mature and perhaps improve over the next seven to ten years and drink well for fifteen more.  This would be a great steakhouse wine but will work well with a burger, too.  

One of my favorite Zinfandels.  This is a robust Zin, but not over the top.  It is quite concentrated and delicious.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls.  The nose has black raspberries, bramble, and slight pepper.  Full bodied.  Great, almost silky texture.  On the palate, juicy black raspberries, black cherries over a slight gravel base.  A bit candied but very concentrated.  Long finish.  This is so good now, but will continue to evolve a bit.  It depends on what you like in Zins as to how long to hold.  This should drink well for at least fifteen years, but that energy and robust qua

Another gorgeous wine from Thomas Rivers Brown.  This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot that were co-fermented .  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, chocolate and baking spices.  Lush and rich texture on a medium to full bodied frame.  Very concentrated.  Black cherry fruit with cassis with underlying minerality.  Long finish.  Drinking youthfully but very well.  This should continue to mature for another five to seven years and be good for another ten to twelve more after that.  It will go well with roasts of all kinds.  

A wow red blend to be sure.  This has 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot, 8% Malbec and 5% Merlot.  Still young, this was pop and pour and rocking from the get-go.  Purple in color.  The nose is great with cassis, plums, cigar box, graphite, baking spice and slight cedar.  On the palate, this is full bodied yet very concentrated.  Powerful and intense.  Lots of cassis, some blueberries, plums wound with tobacco, chocolate and slight char.  Medium tannins.  Long finish.  This kept evolving in the glass.  It probably won't peak for another five years or so and should

This is another new wine for me that is made by Thomas Rivers Brown.  The winery is owned by Joe and LeeAnn Blanton up on Howell Mountain in Napa.  Purple in color.  The nose is a bit dusty with cassis, black cherries, an interesting orange peel note, and mint.  With air, the fruit seems a bit darker on the nose.  The palate has firm tannins.  Plenty of depth although concentrated.  Cassis with underlying tea and leather.  Good balance.  Long finish.  I think this will still need another four to six years to really open.  It should be good for another ten to fifteen after that.  This will g

This is consistently one of my favorite Zinfandels.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is nice with cherries, slight wintergreen, and sandalwood.  On the palate, this seems a bit lighter than prior years.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  Nice cherries and raspberries with some underlying bramble.  Good finish.  Drinking well right now, it probably should be consumed in the next eight to ten years.  It will be interesting to see if it develops more or puts on body.  It is actually very food friendly and will work with a wide variety of medium and heavier foods.