Lindsay joly

9.4

Fantastic. Enjoyed our last bottle of a case of 2013 on Christmas Eve. Sad it's gone. — 2 days ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.1

A much more serious take on Merlot than most do in Napa. Graphite, blackberry, cacao. — 7 months ago

Jeffrey Vlasic

9.4

Needs time. — a year ago

with Michael

Gunja Gargeshwari

9.4

Tie for WOTN! Beautiful nose, deep finish and probably WOTN if decanted vs the La Jota 1999. This was one of the best expressions of Oakville fruit I have had in a long time. — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2013 vintage. Decanted with a little sed. Great cork. Tremendous power and on the leaner side of the ledger...think bigg vintage Leoville Las Cases or 80's/early 90's Montelena or *gasp* La Jota before the Helen Turley fruit bomb intervention in the early 90’s. Drinking a little "hot" but only at 14.9% ABV. Definite palate-wrecker with tannins for daze. Will take this wine in their lineup nearly every time vs the pricier and smoother Pritchard Hill shizz. The off the charts QPR is easily tasted vs the rest of their Cab/Cab-based lineup. Awesome now but will consolidate even further into a wolverine wine. Be very afraid. If you're looking for a quiet, placid dinner for two, then a rom-com snugglefest, this is not your beautiful house. This is someone else's beautiful wife. 12.01.24. — a month ago

Charles Mires

9.2

Excellent+. Definite Toro style but leans to medium bodied. Super drinkable — 2 years ago

Riina Nieminen

9.2

Erittäin hyvä ja mehukas viini. Upea marjaisuus ja juoma jota voi hyvin kuvitella Dionysoksen juovan juhlissaan.

w Lauri
@ Venetsia — 2 years ago

Mark

9.4

At Locale in Tucson. Oak with acidity. Not a lot of Howell mountain Chardonnay. All around excellent. Check it out.  — 4 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Many of you that see my posts know I don’t open a Napa Cabernet this young. However, this was selling at my Costco for $69.99. K&L Wine Merchants $99.99. Delectable at $115. So, I had to buy a four. I coravined this bottle for a Somm friend last weekend who likes his Napa reds young. 🤷‍♂️

While this has seen a bit of bottle evolution, it still needs another 6-8 yrs before I open another and has the potential to pick up another point or two then.

Nose shows; brambly blackberries, stewy black plum, black raspberries, darkest cherries, boysenberries and strawberries off the glass edges. Dry tobacco, leather, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon notes, vanilla, anise, dark, rich, turned earth and withering, dark, slightly candied flowers.

The palate expresses some evolution. It is rich, ripe; brambly blackberries, stewy black plum, black raspberries, darkest cherries, boysenberries, hints of blueberries and strawberries off the glass edges. Tarry, dry medium plus tannins. Dry tobacco, leather, dark spice with a touch of heat, mixed darker berry cola, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon notes, vanilla, black tea, anise, mixed fresh & drier herbs, dark, rich, turned earth, barrel shavings/dust, a hint of black pepper, moist, grey clay, dry top soil, dry river stone and withering, dark, red, slightly candied flowers with violets, very round, phat acidity with a well; balanced, big structured, tensioned, lush, elegant and nicely layered & polished finish that lasts a full 90 seconds. Still kind of in its primary stage.

This is made by Chris Carpenter who also makes; Lokoya, Cardinale, La Jota, Hickinbotham (Australia) made at Yangarra. Sofia & I tasted at Yangarra and after tasted his Hickinbotham with him in 2017.

Photos of; staff picking on Mount Veeder, Chris Carpenter in the cellar and scenic shot of Mount Veeder. — 10 months ago

Ron Haber

9.5

2O Years, going strong, beautifully balanced fruit in a 1.5L. No rush to even drink it!!!!! — 5 years ago