Jeroen Koenen

10

Just fabulous…..
So beautifully balanced and complete, combining detail, elegance and persistence. Literally jaw-dropping. Such a privilege to enjoy these bottles together with Maya and Naoko Dalla Valle. — 3 days ago

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 ! — 2 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. — a year ago

Turd Ferguson

9.3

13.5%. Magnum. Old school. — 20 days 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 — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

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

The nose shows riper, slightly candied and perfumed floral fruits that are; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, mulberries, dark, candied cherries, strawberries & blueberry hues & raspberries on the glass edge. Black licorice, mid berry cola, red licorice/cola, dark chocolate cake w/ frosting, steeped fruit tea, soft baking spices, fresh tobacco hues, new leather/pleather, limestone marl, river stone, dark, sweet, moist earth, candied florals; dark, blue, red set in liquid violets.

The mouth entry is juicy, lush, round elegance. What mouthfeel. It is already drinking gorgeously. Candied and slightly perfumed floral fruits that are; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, mulberries, dark, candied cherries, strawberries & blueberry hues & raspberries. Mid berry cola, red licorice/cola, dark chocolate cake w/ frosting, steeped fruit tea, soft baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon powder, vanillin, caramel & mocha, dark spice w/ some palate heat, anise to black licorice, mix of fresh & dryish tobacco hues, new leather/pleather, cedar to softens to sandalwood, limestone marl, river stone, dry top soil, just a dash of dry herbs, dark, sweet, moist earth, candied florals; dark, blue, red set in liquid violets. Perfect acidity and another beautifully; balanced, structured, tensioned, elegant finish w/ great length that lands on dry rock powder and lasts minutes.

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 who’s 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. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

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

The nose is somewhat muted. Yet, still beautiful. Dark, lush, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, mulberries, dark cherries with ripe strawberries hues. Dark chocolate, beautiful, soft baking spices, dry herbs, dry top soil, dry volcanic powder, tea leaves, some tarriness, tobacco w/ ash, lead pencil, leather, back licorice, dark, red, withering flowers framed in violets.

This drinks incredibly well now but needs more evolution. Many will find this hard to resist now.

The palate shows; dark, lush, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, mulberries, dark cherries with ripe strawberries hues. Refined but medium plus tannins, dark chocolate, coco powder, beautiful, soft baking spices, dry herbs, dry top soil, dry volcanic powder, tea leaves, some tarriness, rich, dark forest floor w/ dry leaves dark, dry brush, fine, powdery spices, tobacco w/ ash, lead pencil, leather, back licorice, dark, red, withering flowers framed in violets. Perfect acidity and a round, plush, well balanced/knitted, beautiful structure, nicely tensioned finish w/ length that lasts two-minutes falling on to nice earthiness. Las Piedras for minerality always.

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 who’s 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.

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 who’s 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. — a year ago

Hiroshi Tominaga

9.3

Black cherry and powerful. Acquired through JAL. Price about ¥10,000. — a month 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 — a month 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. — a year ago