Happy Father's Day 2020 to all; I'm posting pictures of our fur-kids, an independent and somewhat self-interested bunch. Two boys (9) and two girls (3), all rescued from various locations across the East Coast of the US. They generally bring the utmost of joy to my life on a daily basis.
Nose has blackberry jam on moist leather, minor cedar, very light barnyard notes, grilled blackberry,
blueberry compote, brewed dark roasted coffee, wet garden soil, chocolate vines candy and dried orange peel.
Palate has over-ripe blackberry, wet tanned leather, dark chocolate syrup, dehydrated black cherry, chocolate covered blueberry and moist cedar.
Silky smooth, intense finish running +2m, still showing tannins. Expect this bottle to easily hold another 10+ years without concern, in proper storage.
Decanted ~5h. Paired with well salted (in advance), medium-rare, grilled NY strip steaks from my favorite, local farmer in Columbia Co. NY (Kinderhook Farm) and sauted, early season, baby squash in ozro with our garden herbs.
INAUGURAL vintage on this wine, I certainly didn't realize that fact when we bought it in September 2005! This has been in storage for the prior 15 years, just coming back home in January 2020.
Merlot 50% / Cabernet Sauvignon 40% / Petit Verdot 10% — 5 years ago
1996 vintage. 6% Cab Franc but 50+% Cab and remaining % Merlot. Last tasted 9.29.24 (9.5) and 8.2.24 (9.6). This specimen nice fill and halfway saturated cork. Decanted and throwing appropriate sed. Tasted 30 mins post-decant. Light-medium body. Dark cherry and milk chocolate nose. Cocoa powder and chocolate-covered cherry in the flavors. Tannins primarily on the back palate. More than holding up and getting by. This has a few more years afoot. Gonna say it again for those in the back…this is the best wine they’ve ever made-white or red. Get off my lawn. 05.07.25. — a month ago
The somewhat lesser known “second” wine of Screaming Eagle is actually a much different wine than its big brother as it includes a lot more Merlot in the blend. In fact, the 2011 vintage contained more Merlot (54%) than Cabernet Sauvignon (42%) with the balance covered by Cabernet Franc. However, they still spare no expense in making the wine the very best it can be and, despite being known as the second wine, it’s actually more limited in production than Screagle. This particular bottle was shared by a very generous friend and decanted about 30 minutes before service.
The 2011 Second Flight pours a dark garnet with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity. On the nose, medium+ intensity with pronounced pyrazines imparting green bell pepper along with with tobacco, black bramble fruit, black currants, rich earth, crushed rock, semi-sweet chocolate, dried herbs, purple flowers, baking cocoa, and espresso. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with medium+ tannins (which are very rich and very fine) and medium+ acid. The wine finishes forever long with tobacco, dark fruits, earth, nutmeg other baking spices. I have to admit, this was a killer bottle and probably the best 2011’s I’ve yet to enjoy from Napa. Whoa. — 4 years ago
Founded in 1982 by Koerner and Joan Rombauer and sits on a tree covered knoll overlooking the Napa Valley, with caves that extend for over a mile. Pale lemon color with aromas of stone and tropical fruit, sweet oak, spice and floral scents. On the palate flavors of ripe peach, melon and apple, with vanilla spice, creamy texture. Medium+ finish, well balanced with acidity, ending with mineral notes. — 5 months ago
Covered with coffee oak but intensely silvery mineral aroma matches it well. — 4 years ago
Right bank, cab franc forward. Chocolate covered cherry. Mouth drying tannic structure. Great value. — 5 years ago
Roman Ochocki
Another vintage. Still very good. Deep dark with dark fruit (a plum, blackberry), tobacco and leather. — 14 hours ago