Rutherford

Tasted from a Magnum.  This old guard of Napa is doing just fine thank you.  Delicious at age 12.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, mushrooms, and dust.  With a bit of air, it wakens up showing some chocolate and black cherry notes as well.  Full bodied.  On the palate, sweet cassis fruit with some dark chocolate and slight spice.  It has a nice depth to it.  Medium tannins.  Nice acidity.  This got better all night long.  This should continue to drink well for ten to twelve years.  It works on its own and went very well with a veggie pizza.  

Copper/golden in color.  The nose shows a fair amount of grapefruit but also some spice/oak.  On the palate, this has a very nice texture.  Notes of lemon peel and slight peach.  Good finish.  Tasted blind, it was easy to guess Napa Chardonnay.  This is drinking well now and should be for the next five to seven years.  Nice on its own or with some cheeses it may over power lighter foods but will work with heavier fish dishes or pasta with a cream sauce.  

This is a nice white from Mike Smith at Myriad.  Light golden in color.  The nose is a bit waxy with lemon (a slight furniture polish note) and nice minerality.  slightly viscous and slightly oily in texture.  On the palate there is a nice lemony note along with underlying minerality.  Crisp.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now.  it probably should be consumed in the next few years to enjoy its vibrancy but no doubt it can last longer.  It will go well with chicken salad or other lighter foods and sea foods.  

This is "cellared and bottled" by Precision Wine Co., but that is really all I could find out about the wine.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis and a grapey quality.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  One dimensional.  Drinks easy.  Black raspberry fruit.  Clipped finish.  Lacks much acidity or energy.  The kind of wine that, for the right price, it fine to serve at large events.  

From the eponymous winery of Thomas Rivers Brown.  They make some stunning Cabs and this one is always one of my favorites.  The 2017 version is no exception.  The only real question is just how good it will get.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, blueberries, slight floral notes, sandalwood and a roasted wood quality.  This is one wine where the descriptor of sexy will work.  The palate is tight but in the glass opens with cassis, slight blueberries over a a nice hard, dry earthiness with gravel and graphite.  Some sandalwood on the finish.  Medium to full tannins.  This should c

I believe this is a new wine for Hobel.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, chocolate, some earthiness.  On the palate, this was a wonderful rich texture.  Lots of cassis fruit over a dry earthiness/dust.  Firm tannins.  This is ripe but not over done and no signs of being too ripe.  Long finish.  This seems like it is close to drinking well with a bit of air.  It will still improve over the next five to seven years.  It drinks well on its own and should work well with roasts and grilled foods.  

We shared this bottle with Rob Greer over a recent lunch in Napa and then finished it up at dinner giving it a lot more time to breathe.  For those on the mailing list, this is the current release.  The vineyard is in a spectacular location across the street and down the hill a bit from Scarecrow.  A very pretty property.  The wine itself is quite young but might be the best Greer yet, and that is truly saying something.  This is one of the best wines that Napa has to offer.  It is made by Aaron Pott.  Purple in color with a ruby rim.  The nose has cassis, slight sandalwood, spice and with

Wow.  This is a wine that is rarely reviewed but just excellent.  Right up there with anything Napa produces.  Opened for my birthday dinner because it also goes great with food.  Deep purple in color.  Opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, spice, slight cedar and plums.  With air, a bit of iodine.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Deep and complex.  Young with firm tannins.  Lots of cassis fruit with underlying spice and slight char.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This will no doubt continue to evolve over the next decade and closer to two.  It reminds me of St.

Another gorgeous California Cabernet.  They are blessed in Napa.  This one is drinking very well right now.  Cassis, pencil lead and cedar on the nose.  With air a slight cigar box emerges.  On the palate, this is ripe but not over ripe.  A classic example of Napa without being too far to the extreme.  Cassis with some tobacco and fresh turned earth.  Nice balance.  The layers unwind in the glass; cassis, tobacco and cedar.  Medium tannins still.  This will certainly mature more over the next five years.  Not sure it gets better.  No hurry though, this has a decade left and likely more.  It

This was the last vintage for this wine.  Rob Greer now makes his own eponymous label wines which are also excellent.  Purple in color.  The nose is wonderful with cassis, coffee, mocha and slight floral notes.  With air a bit of cedar comes out.  On the palate, this has a wonderful full bodied texture.  Lots of cassis with and underlying coffee grounds and earthiness.  Long finish.  This will still develop and may improve a bit.  it is drinking very well now as well.  Drinks great on its own but will work with a steak or roasted meats and veggies.