Black Mountain Vineyard

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Decant for sediment (lots of chunky/fine sediment) and pour. A stunning medium ruby red color with little signs of aging. On the nose: big inviting notes of dark fruit/currants, worn leather, herbaceous, smoked meat, funky earth, menthol. Taste: silky, evolved, expressive structure with brambly plum, currants, old leather, dark chocolate, graphite, and a black raspberry-iron-dried herb long finish. YUM! It's what's you want in an aged Napa cab, and glad to have just acquired 3 more bottles. — 4 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Deborah and 17 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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Another tip: I keep a bottle in the fridge to pour decanted sediment dregs into, and use it (except for the muddy bottom part) for cooking. That way my coq au vin or daube is braising in really good stuff from my cellar!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

x Tom C, good notes. Thanks for the tips. Cheers!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

x x I find the sediments can be bitter and usually try to remove them so they don't impact the wine. Hate them all over the side of the glass. Cheers!

Quilceda Creek

Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

2021 opened April 2025. This is a luscious wine, but I can’t help but nitpick. All the individual components are very one-dimensional. That’s not to say they all don’t work together well to make a great wine – but there’s nothing challenging on the palate about this vintage. If you like the monolithic cabs produced by Opus 1, then this wine is for you. However, I’d prefer a little more quirky individualism in my tipples.

The nose is overwhelmingly tobacco. The front is heavy with red fruit. The tannic structure is heavy, smooth, and silky. It has a medium long finish with hints of volcanic minerals. This wine is so perfect that it’s boring. If you like perfect perfection then up my score to 100 points, but I like the little challenges that quirky vintages give me.
— a month ago

Chappellet

Mountain Cuvée Proprietor's Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022

Blend of Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot & Malbec. Deep Ruby, purple edges, youthful aromas of black fruit, spices, floral and flinty notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry and black cherry with some vanilla and tobacco and herbal notes. Vivid acidity, firm tight tannins with long finish ending with a vibrant character, a bit young, should benefit from bottle aging. — 6 days ago

Dave, Paul and 3 others liked this

Spring Mountain Vineyard

Estate Bottled Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Really explosive black flavors of cassis, berry and graphite. Maybe a tad fruit forward and less tannin than I expected and desire. Complimented with mountain rocks, leather and pine needle. But showing great at 9 years. — a month ago

Tom liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2003

So rounded and glossy. High toned with black cherry and some mocha and good acidity. Excellent stuff. — 10 days ago

Rick K
with Rick
Jay, Shay and 10 others liked this

La Jota Vineyard Co.

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

aromas of black currants, violets, loam, smoke, pine and felt tip marker ~ adding cassis, iron filings and graphite to the palate — 24 days ago

Jan, Tom and 5 others liked this

Cade

Estate Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Ron R
9.3

Forgot to post this. My memory is fading. It came across with somewhat grainy tannins and earthy notes.
Bivio Pizzeria, Montclair.
— 13 days ago

Mo Salem
with Mo
Deborah, Bob and 6 others liked this

Barnett Vineyards

Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Raisin sex.
Very dried and extracted. Lush and hot. -but resolved tannins. Grape raisin sweet. Needs 10-12 yr. Yummy.
— 25 days ago

Scott@Mister and Shay liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Dark and brooding. Tangy plum fruit, roses, blood and dried herbs, iodine. Very intense and serious. Blackcurrant and black pepper with plum and black cherry. Long and quality. — 11 days ago

Bex GreenMajor-General Sir William Biddles CurranDavid Schachter
with Bex, Major-General and 1 other
Mario, Shay and 12 others liked this