Fable Mountain Vineyards

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

Hedges Family Estate

Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Medium body, warm, chocolate/espresso — 23 days ago

Lena
with Lena

Pride Mountain Vineyards

Napa County Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Still holding strong after a decade — 10 days ago

Thomas liked this

Spring Mountain Vineyard

Elivette Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011

Paul K
9.4

Drinking window wide open! Black cherry, black plum, licorice, and tobacco with currant covered tannins. Everything comes together so well with minute long finish of crème de cassis. Knocked out by this. — 4 days ago

Shay, Ray and 16 others liked this

La Jota Vineyard Co.

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

2011 vintage. Not the best vintage nor the longest-lived. Drinking pretty decently currently. Would I want to slide-tackle this in a decade? No. In the next 5 years? Yes. Plenty of love aboard the ship now. 2.28.24. — 20 days ago

Ira, Shay and 6 others liked this

Benziger Family Winery

Tribute Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2017

Deep and delightful. Blackberry, blueberry, and black currant. Big and brambly. Great with steak and dark chocolate. — a month ago

Serge liked this

Quilceda Creek

Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

2020 opened March 2024. I previously reviewed the 2018 — which was a fantastic wine which I gave a 9.8! Unfortunately the 2020 is not nearly as interesting. After decanting, it opened up quickly and faded. Still, it’s not a bad wine. It’s just not as great as its predecessor was. Mint and licorice on the nose. Candied cherries and sage on the front of the pallet. It has a medium body, but the tannic structure is kind of wooly — Feels like I’m tasting a cotton ball. But it has a long finish with strong mineral notes that remind me of volcanics soils. There’s a faint, creosote aftertaste on the finish , though. don’t get me wrong, it’s very drinkable — but it would need a big rare juicy steak to cover up that annoying creosote finish, and I don’t have one available at the moment. — a day ago

Serge and Shay liked this

Bodega Catena Zapata

High Mountain Vines Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

dark plum/ deep reddish brown, sulfites, berry and complex full body wine with a little sharpness towards the end. fruit forward in the beginning, very nice — 16 days ago

Pride Mountain Vineyards

Reserve Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Beautiful dark fruits & spice that is just reaching its peak drinking window showing good balance with a silky mouthfeel — a month ago

Juan, Severn and 5 others liked this