Sterling Cabernet

Chateau Montelena

The Montelena Estate Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon 1992

1992 vintage. Very, very close to Japanese auction market quality with fill, cork, capsule and label nearly immaculate. Decanted and tasted immediately and over the course of 3 hours. Expected amount of sed. What a ride! Having tasted this back in the day when first released, recalled an unusual (for this property) amount of richness in the frontal palate. Wasn't there initially but rolled in for a cameo approx 45 mins after decant. Then...vanished at the 1 hour open mark. First whiff of the nose was fresh, clay kitty litter. This morphed into graphite after 15-20 mins. Body was surprisingly light early on, then fattened up after 30-40 mins to medium status. Impressions were of a leaner effort, then things got positively jammy with unexpected fruit hither and yon. This remained for approx 1.25 hours, then the entire performance, body included, thinned out with their old-school, estate-expected, aged leather punch combined with dark-skinned fruit, mountain grip and a little touch of grey sea salt. No food involved during the experience. The 1991 Montelena Estate Cab is nearest and dearest but this following vintage was an absolute, palate-bending acid(ity) trip. Looking forward to the next trip...er...show. 11.25.23. — 7 days ago

Bob, Severn and 17 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

What a story - nice.

Heitz Cellar

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Paul K
9.4

Thanksgiving tradition with 2013 Heitz continues. Now doing every other year instead of every year to stretch it out. Love what time is doing for the complexity of the wine. Happy Turkeyday to you and yours! — 10 days ago

Tom, Severn and 21 others liked this
Ray Vanderhoff

Ray Vanderhoff

Liking your Thanksgiving Traditions, Sir. Enjoy the Holiday!
Paul K

Paul K

Thanks @Ray Vanderhoff !n. Right back at you!
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

Delicious

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2008

Drinking beautifully. Blackberry, strawberry, musky earth, pepper, anise. Should hold just fine — 11 days ago

Lyle, Serge and 6 others liked this

Silver Oak

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish/brick rim.

Very complex nose with cedar, black fruits and vegetables.

Dry on the palate and fruit forward with great complexity.

Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, tobacco leaf, earth, dark coffee, chocolates, black pepper, black tea, bell pepper, Indian spices and vegetables.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 26 year old Cabernet Sauvignon is drinking very nicely now, although might be past its prime.

Feels like an aged Left Bank Bordeaux.

Loved the nose here, but needed an hour of airtime to open up. After 3 hours of airtime, more vegetable and earth notes show up.

Robert Parker 94 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.

A blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

13.9% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$150.
— 5 days ago

Jose, Shay and 16 others liked this

Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Decant for sediment and pour(decent chunky/fine sediment). A remarkable dark purplish magenta with some bricking. On the nose: some plum, currants, herbaceous, baking spice, touch of tobacco and milk chocolate. Taste: creamy, balanced, savory wine with currants, tobacco, green bell pepper, spiced dark cherry, clove. YUM! — 9 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 12 others liked this

Harlan Estate

Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2015

Delectable tells me I had this exact wine 205 weeks ago. I liked it a lot then and even more now. The wine is dialed up on all levels from perfumes, intensity, mouthfeel, texture and freshness. The core has this magical vibrancy that is so hard to desribe. It is a very noble. But it is unfiltered and there is some texture here and a mouth coating feeling that I love and i don’t remember from last time. Overall it is really impressive. One of the great wines of the world. — 9 days ago

Ron, Ericsson and 1 other liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

I agree with your thoughts, it is a special wine. I have a bottle of an older vintage (1999) I think. I hope it’s still enjoyable.
Adam Gäfvert

Adam Gäfvert Premium Badge

@Ron R wow! You should pull the cork and find out 😉

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

2001 vintage (great Napa cab year). Good, upper-shoulder fill. Dryish cork. Decanted with plenty of sed. Lots of color. Tasted immediately. Smoky plummy nose. Still medium-heavy body. Showing well with plenty of front-palate richness evident in the gums. Overt "oakiness" gone with only complimentary, flattering oak framing the composition at this point. A hint of tannins on the finish but you've got to know where to look. Summer-school hedonism. Slightly better than expected. 11.30.23. — 2 days ago

Jan, Bob and 11 others liked this

Stags' Leap Winery

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Very young, but quite approachable for a wine in its youth. Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (84%) with additions of Malbec (4%), Petite Verdot (4%), Tannat (4%), Petite Syrah (2%) and Merlot (2%). Aromas and flavors of black currant/cherry/berry, chocolate, baking spices, black licorice and roasted nuts. Extremely long finish. Full bodied, nice texture and quite plush. Very silky tannins and wonderful mouthfeel. Will only get better with age. Thank you for bringing this bottle, James W. — 8 days ago

Paul, Bob and 2 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2018

John W
9.0

Deep ruby coloration. On the nose, forest floor, plum, cherry, currants, spice and bbq. On the palate, blueberry, blackberry, cherry, plum, and high acidity right out of the bottle. After breathing some, notes of cedar, minerals, tobacco, and spice, carrying through to a longer finish of cherry, vanilla and mint. Tannins strong but balanced. — 11 days ago

Gary liked this

Joel Gott Wines

815 California Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Full bodied, blackberry and plummy notes., with a hint of chocolate. Plenty of velvety tannins too. Great — 14 days ago

Daniel P., Ericsson and 2 others liked this