Ken Z

9.3

Drank 12 /7/23.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

Scents of plum, blackberry, currant, and chocolate. Flavors are similar, with blackberry, plum sauce, and soil. Tannins are still firm, but, well integrated and mix with black fruits on the long finish. This one goes on for over a minute. Drinking well now, but showing no signs of slowing down. This should last another 10 plus years, but is in a nice place now.

4/22/8/4/5 +50 = 93 pts.

Great with a NY strip, but even better with the balsamic glaze that complimented it. This pairs wonderfully with sweet dark fruit flavors. — 3 days ago

Andy Hall

9.7

Sorry to say I turned 60 a couple of weeks ago. My daughters came in to celebrate this past weekend and we wanted to drink some good wine. What a trio: ‘12 Cade Reserve, ‘13 Cardinale, and ‘05 Leoville Las Cases. Ironically, I am going to score all 3 of these as 97+. They were really a treat. The Las Cases was decanted for 5 hours and it was clear that we were about 7 years too early. It’s a terrific wine and at at age ~25 it will be absolutely stunning. Already has balance and harmony. Can’t wait until I am about 67 so that I can revisit the remaking 11 bottles! — 3 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Brought by a friend. Dark tawny and opaque. High pitched fruit forward nose, dominated by black cherries and some dry brush. Tannins still present. Complex and refined. Reminded me of a young Bordeaux that needs more age to gain more secondary/tertiary notes. Good juice. — 4 years ago

Vianey

9.0

Super duper sweet for an 11.5!!! This reminds me of the Grand Canyon one. Great for my mom — a month ago

Andy Hall

9.7

There is magic in this Cabernet (with a touch of merlot). The key theme here is harmony! The relationship and balance between fruit, acid and tannins is very special. This wine sings with depth, nuance, layers and a long soft finish. An amazing effort with mountain fruit from Veeder, Spring, Howell and Diamond Mountains. — 3 years ago

Dario Scimeca

9.6

Nectar. One of the single vineyard Merlot components of Cardinale. — 4 years ago

with Heather

Shaun McGregor

9.0

Nice earthy aroma. Cherry on the fruits. Good tannins. I like it. — 4 years ago

with Elaine

Aaron Tan

8.9

Big fruit. Paired pretty well with some Mimolette. — a year ago

Randy Fuller

9.4

It is a medium dark wine with a savory nose, showing violets, licorice, forest floor and a touch of cardamom. The palate is spicy, with black pepper and herbs joining the black berry profile. The tannins are quite firm and the acidity is fresh. It is a youthful wine which will pair nicely with a pork roast. — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.5

This was my contribution for a 10-yr retrospective of Napa cab with a local group. All wines (16 of them) were tasted blind. Others of note were Cardinale, Larkmead, Bryant Family, Vineyard 29, Corra and Jacquelyn To-Kalon.

My first experience with this wine, and when I acquired it, I wasn’t aware it was a 100 pointer. I’ve had many Hall wines but this is definitely their most structured wine. It’s fruit forward but in no way close to their other offerings. At 100% cab, it drinks like it. I let this breathe from bottle for about 2hrs before it was thrown in a decanter for another 2-3hrs and consumed. I had a splash at pop and it was crazy coiled, underripe and dusty. When I came back to it later (albeit blind, so I’m looking at my notes), it sported dark fruit on both the nose and the palate. Dark cocoa dipped black cherries, ripe blueberries and blackberries, as well as cassis and espresso aromatically. There was also a bit of a lavender/floral note that gave it a unique quality. On the palate, it eventually smoothed out beautifully, but was powerful the entire time. Dense and rich with added notes of fig, baking spices, and cocoa dusted fruits. One of those wines that makes you think overpowering, but then dials it down to silk on the finish. I think this is just entering a prime drinking window. Bummer I don’t have more. — 3 years ago