Yountville

Wow.  Talk about a Bordeaux styled wine made in Napa, this is it.  Just a beauty.  87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 1% Petite Verdot.  Ruby/purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is gorgeous, if young.  Cassis, black cherries, blueberries, smoke, tobacco, earthiness, cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is complex and tightly layered.  Cassis and black cherries with earthiness and smoke.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is not a huge fruit bomb at all.  Not yet at peak but well on its way.  This has another twenty to thirty

These are some of the slowest to come around wines in Napa.  They act very similar to a Frist Growth Bordeaux.  It was with some trepidation that we opened this at age 9.  95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is classic.  Cassis, pencil lead, spice, chocolate and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, this took a couple of hours to open and unwind, then it was stunning.  Cassis, some chocolate and underlying char.  Long finish.  This is drinking well but may still earn that 100 point moniker.  Eighte

This is their middle level Cabernet.  Purple in color, some ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, coffee, graphite, dark chocolate and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is seriously good.  Lush cassis, graphite and spice.  This drinking great and should continue for ten to fifteen more years.  Great on its own, it will work great with Prime Rib.  

One of the early wines from Lou Kapcsandy (RIP) back when these were (barely) affordable.  In a great place right now.  This is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, graphite, dark chocolate, slight cigar box and char.  Full bodied.  Deep with layers.  On the palate, cassis and slight black cherry with underlying tobacco and earthiness.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is just about at peak but should be there for ten or fifteen years.  A nice wine on its own but probably

This is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is expressive with cassis, black cherries, dark chocolate and slight coffee.  Full bodied.  Rich texture with great balance.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is complex and layered.  Flavors of cassis, black cherries and chocolate with underlying char.  Long finish.  This is drinking fantastic right now but should still improve over the next five to ten years.  It should drink well for twenty more years after that.  Great on its own, this will nee

Opened to celebrate my 63rd birthday.  Pop and pour and consumed over several hours.  This is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest  made up of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great.  Cassis, slight black cherries, cedar, slight camphor, spice and a hint of leather.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, this is still not at maturity but has started to move in that direction.  No doubt it will improve but certainly enjoyable now.  Cassis, plums, slight sour black cherries with underlying spice and a bit of dried

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with black cherries, char, and spice.  On the palate, this is a bit thinner than the Heritage Selection (but still a big wine).  A bit more complexity if not depth.  On the palate, black cherries continue thru over a smokey (not fire related) base.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This needs five to seven years to peak and should be good for ten to fifteen after that.  It does drink well now on its own and will work well with grilled foods.