Mt. Veeder

Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is pretty with peaches and honeydew along with a touch of spice.  Lovely full bodied rich texture.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is a big wine but with pin point precision if that makes sense.  The peaches and honey dew come thru.  Nice finish.  Drinking youthfully but ready to go.  Drink over the next ten years.  This is great on its own and will work well with heavier foods such as Roast Duck.  It might even go nicely with a steak if that's what you like.  

Located on Mount Veeder, Brandlin is the sister winery of Cuvaison. In the very capable hands of winemaker Steve Rogstad, his 2021 offers classic notes of light kiwi, lemon-lime zest, gooseberry, light resin, tart green apple and a whisper of butterscotch. This expresses what people want in Sauvignon Blanc – something light, crisp, and fresh. But Brandlin adds a bit of texture to the wine due to fermenting in large French oak barrels, then aging 11 months in oak (just half the barrels were new) to add a noticeable viscosity.

This winery recently sold.  While the former owners, Napa legends Carole Meredith and Steve Lagier, are entitled to work a bit less, the wines will be missed.  Quality Syrah (and others) at very fair pricing.  This one is no exception.  2009 was a good vintage provided the grapes were harvested before the early fall rains.  It would appear these were.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black pepper, slight gamey meats.  Medium to full bodied.  Very concentrated.  On the palate, light tannins.  Plenty of black raspberry fruit with some black pepper

Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is very tight, but with air it shows cassis, blueberries, spice and slight mocha notes.  full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Very concentrated.  On the palate, black cherries, cassis, blueberries and mocha.  A bit of menthol on the finish.  Long finish.  This needs time or a few hours in a decanter but it is quite good.  Maybe another three to five years of cellaring and drink for fifteen to twenty after that.  Great on its own, it will need big, fatty foods such as prime rib. 

Excellent showing.  At age 14, this is just about at peak and showing nice maturity with some youth as well.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Opaque and mostly bright.  The nose has boysenberries, slight black cherry, black pepper and char.  Full bodied.  The firm tannins of it's youth are mostly resolved at this point but present.

These usually take time but given the vintage, this is drinking well already.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberry fruit, black pepper, and a touch of black olive.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  The wine is tight but opens with a couple of hours of air.  Black raspberry fruit over a char/dry earthy base.  Great acidity and energy.  Long finish.  This should continue to get better for the next five to seven years and drink well for seven to ten more after that.  It will work well with meats, a lamb stew would b

Beautiful showing for this stalwart of Napa.  What a great vintage.  Consumed over two nights, it was even better on night 2.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is classic with cassis, black cherries, cedar, leather and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, lots of cassis and black cherry fruit with an underlying dry earthiness.  Still a fair amount of oak and tannins - it is young.  This should get better over the next five years and drink well for ten to twelve after that.  That said, it is delicious today.  Given the price of Napa Cabs, at MSRP of $48, this is priced attractiv

Classic Napa Cabernet from a very good vintage.  This is a Cab that takes a while to mature and at age 15, it is just hitting that sweet spot.  Purple in color. The nose is great with cassis, cedar, a bit of funk, leather and camphor.  Complex and enticing.  Full bodied but not a bomb at all.  The palate is complex and deep without being over done.  Cassis layered with earth and leather.  Energy and balance.  Long finish.  Drink this over the next ten to fifteen years.  It drinks well on its own but is probably better with food.  From a steak to a roast, this would work great.  

Another quality wine from this venerable Napa winery.  Sometimes in the rush to try something new, we forget about the old stalwarts.  And, sometimes, that means, the consumer can find some value.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis and baking spices.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has firm tannins.  Nice depth and complexity as it unwinds in the glass.   Plenty of cassis fruit with an underlying char.  Long finish.  This should continue to develop and improve for another five to seven years and be good for another seven to ten years after that.  It will g

The wines from Lagier Meredith are some of the best Syrahs from anywhere.  The fruit is grown on their vineyard way up on Mt.