This bottle is best served after extended time exposed to some air. My notes are based on a 24hr slow-ox with the cork simply pressed back in after a small glass was poured. The nose is hardly red fruited at all! Instead, it’s a mix of stone fruits and orange citrus with some wet stone. On the palate, indeed, red fruits are here...leaning more towards the lingonberry/pomegranate side of the spectrum and accompanied by bitter orange pith and minerals. More of a welterweight but it’s the ideal structure for a wine like this. The tannins are showing themselves more today than yesterday but overall, it’s a more complete package. A positively charming accompaniment with a wide variety of meals I’m certain I’ve said this before but it’s worth saying again; I wish more wines were made this way. — 15 days ago
First time with this wine coming from Bald Mountain Vineyard, aged 14 months 40% new French Oak. Local grocery wine department was giving these away at $10 per bottle; given the age and 13.5 alc. I decided to try it!
Not disappointed; presents with golden apples, pear, guava, honey, toasted almonds, chamomile tea, cheese rind, lemon balm and very soft oak.
I imagine in its youth this wine might have been more buttery but with a few years it has evolved nicely! Consider QPR I would pick up a few more of these....just for fun! — 15 days ago
My first time trying the 2017 Estate, the latest release from this tiny yet remarkable producer way up on Bonny Doon Road. The wines from McHenry vineyard typically show their best with 5-10 years of age but I love to try them in their youth, you know...for science. I opened this bottle about three hours before dinner and allowed it to slow-ox in the cellar. At first, the aromas were predominately red fruited in profile; strawberries and spices…almost like a Christmas fruitcake. However, the profile evolved in the glass and with more air, this began to take on a darker fruit profile that I find to be more characteristic of McHenry’s wines. This is a beautifully perfumed wine. On the palate, this is very bright and full of precocious energy. Plums and red berries with baking spices and minerals. Tannins are medium at best but there is no shortage of acid, which is a hallmark for this estate, ensuring that the 2017’s will in all likelihood enjoy a long life. Excellent now and likely to be a stunner down the road. Only 100 cases were made. — 17 days ago
Label is a bit on the nose/cliche, but it works. Dark and stormy color. Serious tobacco and tomato leaves on the nose. Bit of bourbon too. This is a funky town and tanninic city type Cab. Flavors are big but with structure and juicy-ness. Label says lightly structured. Not really unless you are comparing to a big boy Petite Sirah perhaps. There’s a nice mocha thing and a bit of orange peel. This is robust and punchy CA Cab Sauv made for the long haul. It’d probably age awhile quite nicely. — 12 days ago
Brian Hearty
Bottled 3/23/2017. One of the best beer/wine sours that I’ve had. Mild brett aromas, tingly tartness and full body, then a peppery fruity white wine finish that went on for minutes! — 3 days ago