Tom Garland

9.4

Inspire Napa...Best of Oakville wine tasting
Moderated by Antonio Galloni, founder Vinous

WINES
2023 Favia cabernet
2016 Dalla Valle Maya
2013 Opus One
2023 Gamble estates cab
2023 Vine Hill Ranch cab
2023 Keplinger cab franc Detert vineyard

PANEL
Tom Gamble...Gamble estates
Ray Isle...wine editor,  Food and Wine
Bruce Phillips...owner Vine Hill Ranch
Michael Silacca...winemaker, Opus One
Maya  Dalla Valle...winemaker Dalla Valle — a month ago

with Brenda

Daniel Jara

9.5

Vinazo! Acompaño con un New York steak , un vino excelente en nariz , con carácter, intenso , pero elegante en el paladar y de mediana acidez . Vinazo , se debe de comprar más seguido ! — 8 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I was given this tasting kit they sometimes send to customers on their list at this year’s Pebble Beach Food & Wine.

All their reds show beautiful noses that are ripe & nicely candied fruits; creamy blackberries & black raspberries, dark plum, mulberries, sweet dark cherries, juicy strawberries. Chocolate cake & pudding, mid berry cola/licorice, black licorice, dry earth, beautifully soft, baking spices, caramel, mocha, sandalwood, soft, fresh tobacco, restrained leather with brilliantly candied & florals that are; dark, red and framed in lavender & violets.

I sound like a broken record on this sixth wine, elegant, fresh, plush, velvety, round, soft supple tannins on this well balanced elegant entry. They are simple gorgeous and easy to drink young. Yet, I still can’t stress showing restraint on these 21’s and waiting 7 or more years. Wow…haven’t been this impressed in a Napa tasting in some time. Ripe & nicely candied fruits; creamy blackberries & black raspberries, dark plum, mulberries, sweet dark cherries, juicy strawberries. Chocolate cake & pudding, mid berry cola/licorice, black licorice, soy dry earth, beautifully soft, baking spices, caramel, mocha, dark spice, dry herbs, dry top soil/brush, sandalwood, wet clay, sandstone, soft, fresh tobacco, restrained leather, right amount of lead pencil with brilliantly candied & florals that are; dark, red and framed in lavender & violets. Wire to wire great length & straight up consistency from entry to long finish. Perfect, round, rain shower acidity and amazingly balanced, structured, tensioned, elegant, plush, finish that is without end.

I really like this barrel selection & toast for their wines. Outstanding!

There are a host of people involved in making Lithology wines; on the ground, Winemaker/Geologist, Matt Sands. Assistant Winemaker is Mark Pittman. Consulting; the world’s largest Wine Consultant-Michel Rolland, Philippe Melka & Maayan Koschitzky whose resume includes, vineyards in Israel to Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle.

Photos of; my tasting kit, one of their single Vineyard Cabernet garage, facility and on the ground Winemaker, Matt Sands. — 2 years ago

Tom Garland

9.5

Inspire Napa welcome dinner
at Gamble Estates

VINTNER co-hosts
Dalla Valle ...2012 Maya
Harlan...2019 Harlan estate
Futo...2022 estate cab
Opus...2018 Opus
Screaming Eagle...2023 The Flight
Tench Vineyards...2023 estate cab franc
Vine Hill Ranch...2023 cab
Gamble estates...2022 reserve cab

FOOD
Hog Island oysters
Spring salad
Flannery beef striploin
Mustards Grill Alaskin Halibut
Sugar snap peas
Yukon potato hash browns
Mt Shasta porcini mushrooms
Burnt Basque cheesecake — a month ago

with Brenda

Howard Greenfield

9.7

From a 3 liter — 5 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The nose has a dark core. Dark currants, blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, baked strawberries, baked strawberries, mix of purple fruits, raspberries, dark chocolate cake to mousse, dark spice, dry tobacco, oak barrel powder, anise to black licorice, some dry herbs, baking spices, black tea, withering & candies, dark, red flowers framed in violets & lavender.

The palate still has a bit of astringency to it. The very M+ tannins are round and meaty. Very dark currants, wild blackberries, both plum, black raspberries, baked strawberries, mix of purple fruits, raspberries, dark chocolate cake to mousse, dark spice, dry tobacco, oak barrel powder to cedar tones, anise to black licorice, mid berry cola. Sweet tarriness, some dry herbs, mix of Asian & Indian spices, baking spices-leads with strong clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanilla, caramel tones, just a touch of ground black pepper, black tea, dry tree bark, black rich earth w/ leaves, dry top soil, withering & candies, dark, red flowers framed in violets & lavender, beautiful acidity, well; structured/tensioned, coming into full balance, showing an elegant near two-minute finish that lands on fruit and earthy minerals.

20 plus yrs here.

Its about the journey and not just the destination on EK226 — 8 months ago

Nathan Renfro

9.4

Quite enjoyable. Great find while on vaca at grocery store in Houston. — 2 months ago

John Van Trijp

9.8

Weekend with Friends and average wines…😎 — 4 months ago

Tom Garland

9.4

A winemaker dinner with Andy Erickson(Favia). Has made wine in the past for Screaming Eagle, Ovid, Dalla Valle, etc.

WINE:
2024 Favia Linea sav blanc
2017 Favia Linea sav blanc from 3L
2021 Favia Cerro Sur red wine
2021 Favia cab sav, Coombsville
2022 Favia cab sav, Oakville
2006 Favia Quarzo Syrah

FOOD:
Pacific lobster cannoli
Pork belly arancini
Elk carpaccio
Venison New York strip
Chocolate souffle cake — 7 months ago

with Brenda

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I was given this tasting kit they sometimes send to customers on their list at this year’s Pebble Beach Food & Wine.

Gorgeous nose that shows ruby, plush, slightly candied-gummy, floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, mulberries, gooseberries, black plum, slightly pan chard dark cherries, ripe strawberries & raspberries on the edge of the glass. Chocolate cake, plum pudding, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, some black pepper, mix of soft, dry, moist tobacco, barrel shavings to sandalwood, soft baking spices: light clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, moist volcanics & grey, wet clay, dry river stone, light dry herbs, dry crushed rock & brush with dry, perfumed florals that are; dark red, blue framed in a field of lavender & violets.

Gorgeous, seductive entry and mouthfeel. Buyers are going struggle not to open and drink these 21’s early. They are that good now and people that read this nonsense that I post almost never reads as such! But, I’d still hold to get full price of admission. Lithography craft & wine prices necessitate it. Floral, ripe, juicy fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, mulberries, gooseberries, black plum, slightly pan chard dark cherries, ripe strawberries & raspberries on the edge of the glass. Chocolate cake, plum pudding, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, dark spice with heat that cools as it sets, some black pepper, mix of soft, dry, moist tobacco, some black pepper, barrel shavings to sandalwood, soft baking spices: light clove & nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, most volcanics & grey, wet clay, dry river stone, dry herbs, dry crushed rock & brush with dry, perfumed florals that are; dark red, blue framed in a field of lavender & violets. Grand round acidity with a plush, rich, balanced, elegant finish’s that seems not to end, but falls on dry earth spice.

I really like this barrel selection & toast for their wines. Outstanding!

There are a host of people involved in making Lithology wines; on the ground, Winemaker/Geologist, Matt Sands. Assistant Winemaker is Mark Pittman. Consulting; the world’s largest Wine Consultant-Michel Rolland, Philippe Melka & Maayan Koschitzky whose resume includes, vineyards in Israel to Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle.

Photos of; my tasting kit, one of their single Vineyard Cabernet garage, facility and on the ground Winemaker, Matt Sands. — 2 years ago