2014 Robert Keenan Winery Mernet Reserve, USA, California, Napa, Spring Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

This is a 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Purple in color, shimmering bright.  The nose is dusty with black cherries, cassis, and some char.  Full bodied.  Soft texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is tight but complex.  It unwinds slowly.  Black cherry fruit with some spice.  Good finish.  This is drinking well and will work well with many foods.  Certainly, it would be nice with Rotisserie Chicken.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.   

2010 Cain Vineyard & Winery Cain Five, USA, California, Napa, Spring Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

From Magnum.  This is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petite Verdot and 5% Malbec.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dominated by Brettanomyces which comes across as a "ripe" barnyard.  Some people love this while others are averse.  This is a spoilage yeast that will only bloom when the bottle sees warmer temperatures.  In addition, there are plums and cassis with some green bell pepper and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this drinks a bit cleaner.  Very earthy with cassis, bell pepper and black cherries.  Medium tannins.  Long fin

2016 Smith-Madrone Chardonnay, USA, California, Napa, Spring Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

Golden in color.  The nose shows a fair amount of oak (cloves and spice) and also some pineapple.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet but also has nice underlying minerality.  Some grapefruit and peach notes.  A nice texture.  Less oak on the palate.  Warmth on the finish.  Pretty classic Napa Chard in style but within reason.  At peak but should drink well for the next three to five years.  A nice match with heartier sea food and also poultry.  Drinks well on its own too.  For those who like this style, they will love it even more.  

2005 Ridge Petite Sirah Dynamite Hill York Creek Vineyards, USA, California, Spring Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

The cork crumbled on opening and the wine was decanted.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, char, slight ink scent and a bit of blueberries.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, the blueberries are more pronounced and plenty of boysenberries with underlying char.  Still has youthful energy.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now but still young.  No harm opening or letting it age another ten to fifteen years.  It probably won't get much better.  It will work well with pizza, burger but also roasts and grilled foods.  

2013 Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Kaliholmanok Kicu'me, USA, California, Napa, Spring Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$145.00USD

This was interesting.  Pop and pour and there were light notes of what might have been TCA.  Very intermittent.  I decided to let the bottle sit over night (closed with a neutral cork) and check back the next day.  If the bottle was off with TCA, it would be worse the next day.  On the other hand, the next day, this bottle was clean as a whistle and drinking quite well.  Not sure what was going on, but glad I waited and gave it a chance.  Dark purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose had cassis, char, and spice.  Just a hint of pencil lead and slight earthiness.  On the palate, this has

2003 Paloma Merlot, USA, California, Napa, Spring Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

Time has been quite kind to this wine.  On release, this was a bit disappointing after the stellar 2001 and 2002's.  At age 16, however, it has put on weight, aged slowly and is a terrific Merlot.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose has milk chocolate, cherries and just a bit of raspberry.  On the palate, this has nice layering of fruit and earth.  Tannins are all resolved.  Easy drinking.  Good finish.  This won't get better and should be drunk in the next few years.  It will go well with roasts and casseroles of all types.  

2015 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon Tanbark Hill, USA, California, Napa, Spring Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$56.00USD

Phillip Togni's wines often need a long period of cellaring before they are ready.  Not so with this one.  Although still young, it is drinking well and quite enjoyable right now.  Deep ruby with purple swirls in color.  The nose is pretty with cassis, cherries, and dust.  On the palate, this is soft with lighter tannins.  Plenty of black cherry fruit and some cassis.  Good finish.  This will go with a wider variety of foods than most Cabs and probably is helped by serving with food.  It should be enjoyed over the next decade.  

2003 Frias Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Spring Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

From a Magnum.  Pretty etched bottle/label.  Purple in color.  The nose is dusty with cassis and a bit of rosemary.  On the palate, there is cassis with some plums on the finish.  This is deep and concentrated and seems to be drinking at about peak right now.  It starts out with tight layers in the glass and then opens very quickly.  Good finish.  Works well with heartier foods.  No hurry, but no reason to wait to open a bottle.