Blend of mostly Merlot with a splash of Malbec, aged for 19 months in French oak (35% new), deep Ruby with aromas of ripe black fruits, spice and sweet notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, black cherry and currants with cinnamon spice, oak and cacao notes. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, herb, cinnamon and oak. Tasting well now, good for another 5+ years in cellar. — 7 days ago
Solid California effort — 13 days ago
2021 vintage. So tasted alongside sister property Cade (and Plumpjack) Howell Mountain Cab. If I weren't so familiar with the Cade HM, woulda sworn this was mountain fruit. This is the leanest, dirtiest SLD effort I've ever had spanning a multiplicity of SLD producers since the 1986 vintage. It's got the underlying structure of Stags Leap District but none of the top layer of richness. It all got scraped off and you are just left with the steak-no sizzle. Comes courtesy of the old old Steltzer property (hadn't heard that winery name in decades and it was the durtiest in SLD!) and the new powers that be turbo-charged it and turned shizz up to 11. Fascinating and phenomenal. Light-medium body and has the color but packs an unexpected Barolo-styled punch. Not your average SLD bear. Watch out for Mr. Ringer...err...Ranger. 10.30.24. — 2 months ago
Elegant and savory2020, this Old World styled Merlot has ample fruit, juicy acidity and soft, refined tannins at the finish. A delicious user friendly Merlot. — 15 days ago
2002 vintage. Last tasted 10.06.22 (9.4). Similar "gliding along" impressions with feminine characteristics. This bottle (nice fill, cork and decent sed) was a goody. Decanted and tasted after 5 mins, 30 mins and 2 hours. Bit more structure evident after two hours open as to be a different, yet fantastic, wine. Funny how some of these underwhelming, less than aggro wines can take on another life of their own, on their terms, by gently removing all doubt. Still another 5-7 years-easy. 11.21.24. — a month ago
Agree with others’ comments including “chewy” and “lots of tannins left” yet fruit-forward. Kind of reminded me of a Meritage. Very nice with filet. Held up well; needed a little time to open. — a month ago
Deep purple in color.
Fruity and easy drinking right out of the bottle
Rich and extracted. Smooth and elegant. Showing nice complexity and balance. Spicy and entertaining.
Still young, but already enjoyable, even by itself. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.
Robert Parker 92 points. Wine Spectator 94 points.
A delicious Napa Cabernet, and better with airtime. I've had many different vintages of this wine and it is very consistent.
A blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot and a touch of Petit Verdot and Malbec.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$100. — a month ago
Big flavor, solid cab. Very oaky, but was 6 yrs old. Would buy again — 19 days ago
Excellent 12 y.o. find!! Muted dark fruits, tar, aged cedar, traces of vanilla bean. — a month ago
AEL
Love this stuff, clocking in at a modest 13.8% ABV. Restrained and classy old school CA cab. — 6 days ago