Classic Napa

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

What a treat to enjoy a perfectly aged Opus One with friends over dinner. The wine was gorgeous, great color, classic nose with black fruit and spice, lovely weight and texture with a long satisfying finish. I wish more people had a chance to taste this wine when it is at this age, outstanding! — 10 hours ago

Ira and Bob liked this

Heitz Cellar

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

David T
9.4

I compare the Heitz Napa to the Joseph Phelps Napa in many ways. I believe the Phelps is slightly less vintage dependent than Heitz. But, this 07 like the vintage in Napa, sensational.

This 2007 is peaking. Perfectly ripe & juicy; brambly blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries/kirsch, blueberries come on late and poached strawberries on the edges. The tannins are still dark and tarry. Rich, sweet, dark soils, mid & dark berry cola, anise, steeped black tea, dry tobacco, used leather, cedar/sandalwood, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon & vanillin, moist, grey volcanic clay, dry crushed rocks, limestone, mid spice, hints of grilled meat, some fresh/dry herds, a tad of eucalyptus, stewy/tumble weed, fresh & withering dark, red, blue florals framed in violets, excellent round acidity, the scope of the finishes encompasses; balance for days, nice structure & tensioned, elegant, polished and lasts two minutes.

Photos all taken around their tasting room on Hwy 29 when their tasting was still the last free tasting in Napa. Still not over the family selling to a corporation that has no wine experience.
— 8 days ago

Shay, Bob and 13 others liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1978

1978 vintage. Okay fill with trashy cork. Decanted and tasted after two hours. Medium body. Fantastic, fresh mint powerhouse with plenty of backup fruit and one helluva tannic rhythm section. This was swinging. If the provenance is/was good, no rush to crush. Absolutely dynamite. 3.5.24. — 13 days ago

Ira, Jan and 11 others liked this
Norman Gennaro

Norman Gennaro Premium Badge

Wowza is right!

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Really nice. Opened a new hour before my imbibing. Classic Cali cab. Dark and brooding with lots of life left. Drinking beautifully with a super-llong finish. — 17 days ago

Steven CohenDavid Stein
with Steven and David
David, LM and 1 other liked this
David Stein

David Stein

How long until the next one?
Bruce Leboff

Bruce Leboff

Summer! It’s at the DYC! But could hold longer.

Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Decant for sediment and pour(decent chunky/fine sediment). A remarkable murky magenta color with bricking. On the nose: beautiful nose of stewed black fruit/currants, floral, herbaceous, burnt embers, spearment. Taste: classic old school Napa, juicy, balanced, savory wine with dark cherry, baking spice, smoke, sweet tobacco and a nice long earthy cocoa finish. YUM! Drinks well at year 20 and glad to have another bottle. — a month ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Paul and 17 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1999

1999 vintage. Decanted and tasted after four hours. Medium/heavy body. Intense, dark color. Earthy, tannic nose. Plenty of grip and fruit and showing beautiful balance now. Not an Insignia fan but this was excellent and has plenty of quality time left. No rush to crush. 71% Cab, 21% Merlot, 6% PV, 1% Cab Franc, 1% Malbec. 3.5.24. — 13 days ago

Ira, Jan and 11 others liked this

Philip Togni Vineyard

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep ruby color with a somewhat translucent (fine sediment), near opaque core fading out to a garnet with a slightly watery rim. Medium+ viscosity with pretty significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of plums, cassis, dark cherries tobacco, some leather, some faint pyrazines, dried purple flowers, clay-like earth and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and luxurious with soft and attractive texture. Initial conclusions is this could be a Merlot, or Bordeaux-based blend from France, USA or Italy but since I seem to get more non-fruit characteristics, I’m calling this a Merlot-based blend from France, Bordeaux, Right-bank, St. Émilion, 2000 vintage. Whoa! 2005 Togni! Dang…this baby has some real Bordeaux sensibilities. Delicious stuff that is drinking very well right now. Apparently, this bottle had been opened the night before so it had plenty of time to breathe. I would expect well cellared examples should drink well through 2035. — 7 days ago

Shay, Douglas and 10 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2001

#AgedWineTuesday

This is a fabulous Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Napa Valley.

Dark ruby in color with a brick rim.

Full bodied and smooth.

Dry and fruity on the palate with medium acidity.

Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, earth, light vegetables, coffee and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 23 year old is elegant and powerful. Rich and extracted, with a nice mouthfeel.

Good by itself as a sipping wine. Well balanced with great complexity. I just love these Napa Bordeaux blends.

Robert Parker 98 points. Wine Enthusiasts 94 points.

A great quality wine that will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.

A blend of of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

96 points.

$400.
— 6 days ago

Stephen, Bob and 24 others liked this
Stephen Redenbaugh

Stephen Redenbaugh Premium Badge

Brilliant owner, wine, vineyard, and wine-making…these wines age so gracefully.
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Wow! Cheers!!

Harlan Estate

Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2004

From magnum, this was a beautiful wine with still many more years of life ahead. Showing black currant, tobacco, dried thyme, squid ink and Chinese 5 spice. Stunner. — 7 days ago

Jay, Bob and 8 others liked this

Continuum

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014

This is a very good wine. Not the 98/100 good and one can certainly question the $200 price tag, but a well made higher end wine for sure. Decanted for 2 hours (which was needed) and drank over 2 days; didn’t notice significant evolution on day 2. High alcohol content. Clear but clean and harmonious tannins. Nice fruit and mineral tartness. 93-94 for me. — 17 days ago

Joel, "Odedi" and 3 others liked this