Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

The “King of Chardonnay” Mike Grgich farms w/o pesticides and certified organic. Aged 10 months, no MLF. Medium lemon color with aromas of stone & citrus fruits. On the palate flavors of apple, pear & lemon citrus flavors, with honeysuckle, vanilla & toasty oak notes. Nice balance with acidity on long finish with a toasty mineral ending. Not your typical CA Chard, very nice! Consistent. — 7 months ago

Billy L.

9.7

Magnum, Easter Party wine...Fabulous after brief “airing” the aromatic profile once mentioned to be one of the “profound in memory” for at least one Party member! Great To-Kalon performance here, Awesome Wine! @Mike Smith makes great wine! Kudos Sir! Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 — 4 years ago

with Laura

Billy L.

9.4

Magnum, drinking really well now. Integrated tannins & goes down easy!
@Mike Smith - Another Beauty! Cheers
🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 — 5 years ago

Nick H

9.9

Does it get better from @Mike Smith? Decanted 12 hours ahead of dinner and this baby was still wound for sound. I missed the boat on the 2012, and (sadly) only ordered one 2013 on release. Big, earthy nose gave way to beautiful dark fruit, espresso, and spice. A pinnacle expression of the site, and I certainly look forward to babying the bottles I have from subsequent vintages. — 5 years ago

Brian Nickerson

9.2

Mike Smith should be knighted. — 3 years ago

Raul Puga

9.7

Another gem from Mike Smith. Young but oh so amazing — 3 years ago

Billy L.

9.7

1 hr. decant, Excellent Classic ToKalon Cabernet Sauvignon @Mike Smith Kills this 2015 Carter Kudos & Respect! Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 — 4 years ago

Billy L.

9.6

Thanksgiving & Weekend Wines...
Great wine! Kudos @Mike Smith ;
Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.3

This was one of the red wines I served for my annual WWC hosting, alongside a 2016 Pellegrin Gamay, 2017 Chacra CyC, and 2015 Force Majeure estate Syrah.

As all wines are tasted blind, I totally get the guesses of Cayuse-like Syrah. The 100% whole cluster use here is undeniably distinct. For the most part, it seems to be a love it or hate it style (I love it). By the time we all got to this, it had been in the glass 1-2hrs. Deep purple, with massive stemmy/green aromatics that hit you in the face. Wintergreen notes, too. On the palate, it’s funky, herbal, spice driven notes wrapped around underripe blackberries and rhubarb. This is a floral, savory, spicy Syrah at 8yrs that seems crazy youthful. Likely hangs in this window for a while. Bravo, Mike Smith. — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.4

VASO cellars is essentially Dana Estate’s third label. However, what makes VASO unique is that while it’s a third label, the fruit that is used is the same fruit that goes in to Dana. No young vines or anything like that here. The main difference is the way it is oak aged. This SB comes from Dana’s Hershey Vineyard on Howell Mountain.

This is good. Like really good. Would love to try next to Dana’s own SB. 8yrs young and drinking wonderfully...almost shockingly so. This is like a combo of high end Bordeaux Blanc with Aesthete Sauv Blanc. Aromatically, it leaps from the glass with honeyed sea salt, grapefruit, lemongrass and white peach. On the palate, it is so textured and rich, almost creamy. More peach, poached pear, lemon oil, creamsicle, and wet rock. There is good acidity here (still at 8yrs for a Napa SB!), and while the profile is rounded, it’s certainly not flabby. One of the best Napa SBs I’ve tasted and still has a couple years of cruising at peak. I’m going to open my ‘13 soon, but I’m going to hold my ‘15 for a while! Best around cellar temp, don’t get it too cold or it will mute some of the flavors. I owe you for this one, @Mike R ! — 5 years ago