Cabernet Franc Blend

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2023

Dark ruby/ inky in color with a short purple rim.

Red and black fruits on the nose with cedar, chocolates, spices, tobacco, coffee and black pepper.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, cherries, black currants, black plums, cedar, licorice, chocolates, herbs, coffee, light earth, spices, tobacco leaf and light pencil lead.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is starting to drink beautifully now. Rich and easy drinking.

Fruit forward and complex, soft and smooth. Spicy and entertaining, powerful yet refined. Showing good balance albeit a little hot at the back of the throat, at this point.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 to 20 years and shows good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot.

15% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$250.
— 10 days ago

Dawn, Paul and 14 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers - You’d be surprised how many Napa Cabs have broken the 15 barrier these days.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, I understand with Zinfandel, but my recent experiences with those 14.5%+ inexpensive Bordeaux made me realize I just don’t care for Canernet or Merlot pushing 15%! 🤔🤷
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers - I’m with you. Hard stop at 15 for 95% of wines (exception if I ever get a shot at a Rayas or the like)

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2006

Somm David T
9.5

I recently had a conversation with a few Joseph Phelps Ambassador’s at Pebble Beach Food & Wine in April. I said, I had every vintage of Insignia back to 2006 in storage. They said, “you should really drink up the 2006.” So, I coravined an 06 last weekend, a taste. I agreed then. But tonight not the case, it shows it still has a fair amount of life. Another 5-8 yrs and perhaps plus.

My Ribcap, a definition of Medium Rare Plus.

The nose reveals floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, softly layered baking spices, very underrated graphite, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola.

The palate shows well resolved, rounded, velvety M+ tannins. Nicely ripe fruits that are floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel river, softly layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, warm caramel, dark Asian spices with palate burrowing heat, dry tobacco/ leather, cedar, grilled meats, very underrated graphite, sweet tarriness, black licorice, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola, candied to withering; dark, red, blue florals wrapped in liquid violets, epic rainfall acidity, well balanced-structured-toned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on earth & heated spice.

95-96 peaking.
— 4 days ago

Tom, Jay and 8 others liked this

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia

Le Volte Toscana Sangiovese Blend

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET
9.0

Call me old school I still love #supertuscan wines — a month ago

Daniel, Doug and 3 others liked this

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2000

2000 vintage. Ancient. Otherworldly. Eternal and undying. The ultimate vampire wine. $101 a bottle resto cost. Picked up a 6-pack and we’ll see how it does. You either get it or you don’t. 7.8.26. — a month ago

Ted, Paul and 18 others liked this
Daniel Bloom

Daniel Bloom

I used to sell @ChateauMusar to unsuspecting customers at an airport wine bar with a forward thinking mgr.
Snuck it into flights of three samples and then watched as whole glasses were ordered and minds widened.
Now…I’m taken aback at what these beauties command.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

@Daniel Bloom For the pricing of a 25 year old wine that kicks absolute tuckus and blows minds, it’s ridiculously affordable.

Bieler Père et Fils

Sabine Aix en Provence Rosé Blend 2025

Delicate peach, and a hint of bubble gum and lightly herbaceous on the nose. Nice acidity. Fresh and lovely. — 17 days ago

Marchesi Antinori

Solaia Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2021

In 10 years, this will be a 98-100 pt wine. — 2 days ago

Rick, Tom and 7 others liked this

Harlan Estate

Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2004

Opened and decanted for about 2 hours

Evolved from being tight and Bordeaux like to eventually giving off some red fruits and having a kirsch like flavor

Fairly robust and a lot of depth.
— 16 days ago

Bob, Tom and 4 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a purple rim.

Beautiful nose and medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing red and black fruits with cedar, licorice, chocolates, herbs, light earth, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee and light green vegetables.

Spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This iconic Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Santa Cruz Mountains in California is still very young, but already delicious, even by itself.

Needs a few hours to open up properly, and will continue to age nicely in the next 30 years. Showing good potential to become a 95+ point wine.

A great sipping wine that paired beautifully with my Lamb chops.

A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Aged in American oak barrels for 20 months.

13.8% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$300.
— a month ago

Jay, Tom and 11 others liked this

Château Talbot

Saint-Julien Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2010

16 years old and kicking! This was one of the very first grand cru classés that I bought when I began my wine journey in the early 10's.
The nose shows tar, pine resin, mushrooms, damp autumn forest floor, cedar, old leather, dark cherries, black currant. Some many layers! The palate is complete with fully integrated tannins, a very smooth, silky mouthfeel, nice cherry and black currant notes all along, fully integrated tannins which caress the tongue in the rear, and a long and smooth finish, leaving a nice dusty layer amongst nice cherry and black currant touches. Some cedar, light oaky notes pop up as well as a nice saline touch which adds a layer of complexity. It's in a perfect place right now. Great wine!
— 24 days ago

Dave, Peter and 10 others liked this
Peter van den Besselaar

Peter van den Besselaar Influencer Badge

Good choice when you started, super if such a wine delivers after 16 years 😉
Daniel M

Daniel M

Thanks, Peter. I hoarded Medoc GCCs back then from vintages 09, 10, 11 and 12. It's about time to open some of them now, it seems 😁

Orin Swift

Papillon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Oak, sawdust, coco nibs, tobacco, black currant and blackberries. This is rich, deep and dark. Mostly secondary and tertiary flavors at this point, not a ton of fruit left. — a month ago

Dave and Joel liked this

Château Musar

Hochar Père & Fils Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2021

2021 vintage. Medium body. Compact and muscular. No diversions currently. 7.8.26. — a month ago

Ruud, Ted and 7 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2010

A perfect wine. Balanced and complex. A gorgeous first hit of plum with a hint of cherry. So broad fruit at first but then settles on the tongue with a noise terror of tannin. No bitterness just smooth and lovely. Girgeous wine. 2010 vintage gift bottle from Donna and Anders — 4 days ago

Paul, Dave and 1 other liked this

Realm Cellars

The Bard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2021

Somm David T
9.6

The label I read showed 2019, my host assured me that it was 2021.

The 2021 coming along nicely and showing some beautiful development. Because of its nice integration, I believe this really was 2019. 🤷‍♂️
— 23 days ago

Tom, Rob and 10 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2022

Couldn’t get enough of the 2013 so opened this split of 22. Has years to grow with its floral raspberry & hint of the boldness it will achieve. Just hope Im still around to still taste it in 10 years! — 21 days ago

Letha Phillips
with Letha
Rick, Ted and 14 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Phenomenal wine. Tannins are completely softened with dark fruits. Incredibly enjoyable. The 2009 still going strong 17 years later. This can easily stay in bottle another 5-10 years. — 23 days ago

Marchesi Antinori

Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore Red Bordeaux Blend 2022

This needed lots of air to open. — 16 days ago

Scott@Mister, Jan and 4 others liked this

Château Lafon-Rochet

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2020

vintage 2020 | Totally in balance, a cedarwood charmer, laurel. Roundness. Had the swallow factor when I tasted it. — a month ago

Jay, Tom and 5 others liked this

Château Meyney

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2020

2020 vintage. Last tasted 5.13.26 (9.3). Another bottle picked up at $34.99 USD. Tasted over two days. Plenty of sumptuous, complementary oak in the early going that dissipates with time. Damned tariffs slid this offering from the upper $20's to the mid-$30's but still one helluva BDX bargain and a great introductory BDX for Napa/Brunello converts. Meyney killing it for affordable BDX for years. Get you some. 7.7.26. — a month ago

Ruud, Jeroen and 15 others liked this

Cain Vineyard & Winery

Cain Five Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2015

2015 vintage. Sampled from Coravin. Medium body. The monstrous tannins tamed somewhat...as they meet a decade+. Absolutely, top-notch nose. If you both respect the exuberance of youth and celebrate the wisdom of age, this is for you. A fascinating, case study currently. 6.24.26. — a month ago

Somm, Doug and 6 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Own this $39 recent purchase
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

@Somm David T Picked up a case.. Gotta dig out the invoice but resto cost was in the $30's. Do recall the 1987 vintage being $13.33 a bottle before the brand decided to make this the benchmark it is.