Shay A

9.4

I’m at 94-95 here. Upside over the next 5-10yrs.

Purchased during a visit to Melka back in ‘21. This 2017 ended up being the favorite red wine of the tasting (though the ‘16 SB was my overall favorite). Pritchard Hill fruit next to Ovid. 70 cab/20 CabFranc /10 petit Verdot.

Purple in the glass. Sports the entire fruit spectrum (red, blue, black) but trends darker toward the finish. Expensive oak but it’s really pretty (doesn’t come across as too oak driven). For the vintage, this is elegant and integrating nicely. Fruit is very pure (blueberries, blackberries, plum) with baking spices (cinnamon and vanilla) with a vein of mineral/graphite down the middle. Consumed from decanter over 3hrs and left a glass for the next day…improved over time, but this was already starting to open for business.

I opened this alongside two other 2017 Napa cabs with a small group for a check-in on the vintage. MacDonald was the winner, Kinsman Rhadamanthus was the most unique, this Melka fit in-between style wise (more modern than the other two). — 2 months ago

Jason and Jennie

9.2

This is the sangiovese bianco white wine. Citrus, pear. Very refreshing. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Smoky Peaty and spirity aromas Also Iodine and Briny notes showing its maritime location. A single malt matured in charred oak casks. There is some conjecture as to whether Talisker is classified as Island or Islay but suffice to say it is the only Distillery on the Isle of Skye. Had a tour of Talisker many years ago after going to the HQ of the MacDonald Clan on Skye. I bought this 1 Litre bottle at Gatwick Airport about 2 months ago before we headed up to Inverness and the Highlands. — 4 years ago

Alexander Goya

8.9

Tannins grapefruit. More subttle fruit flavors. Boyle loved it — 4 years ago

Tom Garland

9.3

Blankiet Estate tasting...wonderful restrained Napa style wines... Graeme Macdonald (Macdonald vineyards) winemaker since 2016. Julian was a knowledgeable terrific host.

2019 prince of heart rose
2019 prince of heart red wine
2016 Rive Droite Merlot blend
2015 proprietary red cab blend
2018 Mythicvs cab sauvignon
2014 Rive Droite merlot blend
Prince of Hearts port wine#7
Prince of Hearts port wine #5 — 2 years ago

with Brenda

Rob Brobst III

9.7

Oakville proper. Bang next to Macdonald..... — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Heck of a hosting by @Weston Eidson last night for the City Club wine group. All wines were tasted blind.

When tasting next to the MacDonald, it was incredible how much more ripe fruit was present here. I mean, straight up oozing blackberries and blueberries. I pondered if there could even be Malbec in this based on how inky and juicy it was at the core. I went back and forth between calling this Australian Cabernet or Howell Mountain Zinfandel. There was Andes mint and fig with a rich finish. I had the ‘16 during my visit earlier this year and found it to have a touch more savory notes. — 4 years ago

with joe, Dan and 2 others

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

Hey, Delectable— this is the Visions 2018 North Coast Pinot, but the ID wasn’t available.

Unabashedly ripe and warm, but with a distinctive umami flavor (hoisin sauce?) that I’m really digging. Black cherry, black plum and even blue fruit on the nose and palette. Lovely satiny texture. Medium + finish.

Hedonistic in the way you’d expect from a winemaker mentored by the Wagners, but the suppleness and umami notes make this wine stand out in a sea of north coast Pinot Noir, and the absence of new oak lets the fruit do the taking. Perfect with chicken lettuce wraps and haricot verts smothered in Madeira mushroom cream sauce.

Owner/founder, Mac Macdonald, has been making his own California Pinot Noir for more than 25 vintages now and it shows. Side note: he’s also one of the better story tellers in the biz.

Initially sampled as part of a tasting with the #AAAV (Association of African American Vintners) and took the bottle home.
— 3 years ago

Stephen Osgood

9.5

pure Napa joy. This has some legendary MacDonald To Kalon fruit in it (5-20%). — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.6

A few wines from last week’s 4th Friday event!

The sheer opulence of this is astounding. Obviously young, this was actually my first Realm BTK courtesy of @Keith Fisher . When thinking back to the last stunning 2016 BTK I had (MacDonald), where the MacDonald is more dusty, slightly more herbal and full of tightly coiled BTK power, this was an embarrassment of rich dark fruits, baking spices and sporting a creme de cassis like profile. Classic To Kalon power, with so much to unpack. Thank you, Keith! — 4 years ago