Tasted at Favia alongside the 2012 and 2011 Favia Cerro Sur. I found the Napa Valley to be the best of the three in terms of complexity and current accessibility.
This wine did not exist on CT, so I had to create it after a number of new tastings at Mark Herold's tasting room in Napa. In 2012, there is just one Brown Label; in 2013 there is a standard Brown…
This wine did not exist on CT, so I had to create it after a barrage of fascinating tastings at Mark Herold's tasting room in Napa. In 2012, there is just one Brown Label; in 2013 there is a standard…
The 2012 White Label kicks off with notes of dark red and black berry fruits, licorice, cassis, chocolate, and hints of coffee, vanilla, and baking spice. The upper echelon cooperage (Taransaud)…
Notes of red and black berry fruit, with some chocolate and black licorice. Had a little time in the glass for some air, which allowed it to open up slightly, but still seemed to be holding back a…
A great effort. Tasted alongside the 2012 Mending Wall Cabernet (see my CT notes on the 2012). Has all of the crowd-pleasing stuffing of the 2012, but the 2013 also gains points for a more layered…
A definite crowd pleaser and a QPR that is worth seeking out. Tasted at Mending Wall via a Coravin; tasted alongside the 2013 Mending Wall Cabernet (see my CT notes on the 2013). Tightly wrapped dark…
Tasted at Mending Wall from a Coravin. Electric purple and black fruits. The Palisades Vineyard comes out in spades. A vibrantly youthful PS, but carrying its weight in a great way
PnP with notes of coiled-up black, purple, and dark red berry fruits, currant, blackberry, and plum. Initially a little hot on the finish, with some alcohol and a high-toned zing of tight red currant…
Day 1: PnP with high-pitched red fruit; notes of pomegranate, cranberry, unripe plum, black cherry, and sour blackberry. Acidic and surprisingly tart for a 2010 (especially when compared to the 2010…
Purple and black fruit notes of plum, black currant, and black cherry, with a chalky, talc-like minerality that clips the finish. No green notes, but a little thin.
Definitely a young Cabernet, with vibrant fruit all wrapped up in a tightly-knit ball of verve and energy. Notes of red and black currant, red licorice, red and black cherry, pomegranate, and cedar.…
Definitely a young Cabernet, with vibrant fruit all wrapped up in a tightly-knit ball of verve and energy. Notes of red and black currant, red licorice, red and black cherry, pomegranate, and cedar.…
The 2013 Outpost Howell Mountain Cabernet immediately opens up with black and purple fruit flavors; blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry, dark plum, black licorice, asphalt, and inviting vanilla…
Pleasant notes of dark plum and black currant, but with a short, chalky finish that clamps down on the fruit flavors. Additional notes of cedar and stone made for some interest as well.
PnP with tightly coiled but layered notes of electric and lively purple, black, and ripe red berries, blackberry, dark plum, dark raspberry, asphalt, charcoal, and cool, wet granite. Some nuances of…
Tightly coiled notes of cool, dark purple and dark berry, black licorice, chalk, graphite, and wet slate. Offered a nice zing of red fruit notes, with currant and ripe raspberry darting across the…
Drinking very well right now. On initial entry, chalky (but not aggressive) tannins dominated the palate, with black and purple berry fruits, asphalt, graphite, and slate peeking through. After a…
Started off with chalky, slate-driven tannins that initially cloaked some of the fruit and spice nuances. After a total of two hours+ in the decanter, this really came out of its shell, with black…
Double decanted for an hour. Notes of black licorice and dark black fruits dominated. Started off with some prominent, chalky tannins, throwing off a lot of sentiment as well. Mellowed out after an…
Similar notes as 09/12/15. This bottle was a little more coiled up, leading me to believe this will last a little longer than I had originally anticipated. Drinking well after a slow O2 over two…
A very open and accessible 2012 Cabernet blend. The quality and purity of the fruit is evident, with plush dark berry notes, currant, and mocha. Tannins were extremely tame, with not a hard edge to…
PnP with not much of a nose; some saline, alcohol, and muted red and blue fruits. On the palate, medium red and purple berry and plum notes, with olive, sea salt, and blood orange.
