Daniel P. Drake

9.3

It is Friday night and I have opened the 2016 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley. The Hall Cabernet Sauvignons I first tasted several years ago in Palm Springs, CA with close friends. Ever since that first tasting I have become a fan of the Hall brand. Thank you Jim for bring them to our wonderful gathering.

On the nose there is blackberry, black cherry, black currant, chocolate, mint, violet, pencil lead and an earthy note.

On the palate there is black cherry, blackberry, green bell pepper, black currant, milk chocolate, fine integrated oak and dark soil.

This wine is full bodied with supple mouthfeel, medium+ acidity and medium+ sandy tannins that leads you right into a long dark fruit finish. Have a great weekend, rest, rejuvenate and be close with family and friends. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 4 days ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.5

This wine is a lodestone... lovers and haters abound. 17 years old and still dark pure purple in the glass. Instant black cherry and cassis notes...along with saddle leather and tobacco from the oak. Round, oily, almost viscous on the tongue...alcohol still slightly noticeable, but much more integrated than when last tasted. The wine is intense..powerful, rich with a purity that keeps my interest...simply blown away this day by the ‘94 Dominus. I keep my vertical going, but sometimes I wonder why. — 8 days ago

Hanibal

9.4

Drank it blind .... before knowing the producer I thought it was a 1st or 2nd cru left bank in the 2012 vintage. I also thought briefly that it could be a Cheval Blanc. Wow good juice with silky tannins a very very pure fruit on blackcurrant and on the nose the cab franc stands out a lot. At the unveiling very surprised but the price becomes a big problem. Glad to have tried it anyway and it removes a prejudice I had for Chinese wines. — 19 hours ago

Shay A

9.6

Got to pop some special bottles when my good friend Shawn came in to town!

Finally getting to try this wine! A wonderful winemaker (Julien Fayard) meets killer fruit (Mt Veeder). A perfect marriage for these two as I think JFayard has an incredible skill set at working with quality Cabernet fruit. Inky purple in the glass with sexy aromas of fresh squeezed blue and black fruits, boysenberry jam, baking spices, dark chocolate shavings, and sweet smoke. Rich and decadent on the palate with a very “cool” type profile, like an Andes mint. There is an American oak type note like coconut, but this seems too rich and full of baking spices (French oak) to have American oak used. Velvet and plush with fine grained tannins. A touch of red fruit added to the palate compared to the dark profile aromatics. Little bit of licorice here too, so maybe a touch of malbec is added. Such a lengthy finish! This is a stunning bottle of cab. Thank you so much for bringing it @Shawn R . — 8 days ago

with Shawn

Lisa Marie Aka “Beachin Wino”

9.0

I have a dear friend and artist who freely admits she makes a lot of her wine choices based on labels, bottles, and cool stories. She brought this wine to a New Year celebratory dinner where it was paired with prime rib. Aged in Bourbon barrels I was truly afraid I would not enjoy this wine at all. (History: The family bourbon gene skipped me). It was actually pretty good. Went nicely with the prime rib and offered great balance. Happy ending! — 25 days ago

with Fred

"Odedi"

9.1

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a nice one from Napa Valley.


Dark ruby in color with a brick rim.

Fruity on the nose with blackberries, cooked cherries, dried figs, licorice, cedar, heavy vanilla, tobacco, peppercorn, espresso, chocolates, spices and mocha.

Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, figs, raisins, vanilla, sweet oak, spices, chocolates, peppercorn, dark coffee and tobacco.

Long finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a very nice Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Showing mild complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Fruit forward with a tangy finish.

Good right out of the bottle and will be better in the next few years with proper care.

Good by itself or with food. Delicious and yummy.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats, cheeses and light appetizers.

Aged for 16 months in 50% new French oak barrels.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$33. — 12 days ago

Vanessa D

9.1

Deep ruby, almost purple, hue with pink rim variation. Subtle color extraction on the glass. Nose offers fig jam, raspberry preserves, and blackberry bramble with sweet tobacco, oak, cedar, nutmeg, vanilla, roasted green bell pepper, oregano, and peat notes. Palate is dry and consistent with the nose. More noticeable oak on the palate and soft tannins. Love this Chilean Cab! Vintage 2015. ABV 14.5%.
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#gravasrojas #puentealto #altomaipo #maipovalley #maipo #maipovalley #maipovalleychile #southamericanwine #newworld — 4 days ago

with Deked1

Frank Kuo

9.2

Color of saturated ruby with a mix of purple shades. Nose of vanilla, dried strawberries, hickory, dark ripe fruits in general, and a bit oak. Nose is round and refined. Taste of smoke acidity, ripe dark skin grape, cherry tobacco, mineral, sweetness from fruits and vanilla, a bit minty and zesty. Quite chewy and mouthful, very Syrah like. Aftertaste is medium long with sweet and zest note and backbone of tannins. I think she is pretty decent. — 17 hours ago

Vanessa D

8.9

Purple hue with extraction on the glass. Clean nose with fresh blackberry, plum sauce, cassis, graphite, black and red peppercorns, jalapeño, espresso, vanilla, and cedar box notes. A dry and full-bodied wine, that’s fruit and oak forward that can stand on its own or as a culinary complement. 15% ABV.
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#knightsvalleyreserve #knightsvalley #sonomacounty #northcoastava #beringerwinery #beringer #classiccalicab #cabernetsauvignon #cabernetday #newworldwide — 3 days ago

with Deked1

"Odedi"

9.2

This is a delicious Napa Cabernet.
Showing black fruits, cedar, earth, vanilla, leather, tobacco and spices.

Full-bodied, big, bold, spicy and extracted.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens (two hours).

Fruit forward and tasty, but needs 5 years to mature properly. Very yummy already, though.

15.1% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$53. — 3 days ago