Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I was inspired to open this 2016 Carter Weitz after tasting the 2024 Fait-Main Weitz at the Taste of Oakville. I thought it was the best wine I tasted at the event.

While this 16 Carter was very nice, it was still much bigger than I expected it to be with 8 yrs in bottle. It showed beauty and elegance but still has its brawn. I will wait another 5 yr + to try it again. Believe it’s best will show then. Mike Smith made. — 4 days ago

Brian Nickerson

9.2

Mike Smith should be knighted. — 4 years ago

Brendan Devine

9.2

Whoa! This was a surprise. Tart apple, Brie cheese. Slightly effervescent. In that ABv sweet spot as well. Drink with impunity. — 5 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.4

What a fantastic syrah. I lean towards the whole cluster while Jennie prefers the regular bottling. She did a blind tasting for me and I knew it was a whole cluster mike smith just from the nose. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Beautiful, dark red, perfume fruits. Black currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, boysenberries, lots of blue fruits, expresso, anise, leather, some graphite, sweet dark moist soils, medium intensity volcanic minerals, limestone with blue and dark red floral bouquet.

The body is full. The tannins are round and nicely soften. The structure, length, tension and balance have hit harmony with plenty of life left ahead. Dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, boysenberries, loads of blue fruits, expresso roast, anise, dark chocolate, a little caramel, leather, some graphite, leather, dry tobacco, touch of dry herbs, sweet dark moist soils, medium intensity volcanic minerals, limestone and blue and dark red floral bouquet. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is long, very well balanced, elegant, polished and lasts minutes.

Photos of; The barn used for winemaking and to host tastings. The first harvested Cabernet grapes of the season, an old school basket press that decorates their grounds, Estate vines and a giant fan to dry the vines if needed amongst the hilltop mountains that surround the Estate. — 8 years ago

Jake Rubash

9.3

@Mike Smith + 2015 = 🔥🔥🔥 — 8 years ago

Duane Mason

9.8

Absolutely great California Cab. Wonderful wine with fruit and tannin in perfect balance . Great job Mike Smith — 5 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Interesting “Vin de France” that is the brainchild of the great Louis Barruol. Primarily made with Grenache that is a blending of several vintages, all vinified in concrete tanks. This one was bottled in 2019. Deep ruby/garnet/purple color. Aromas of ripe red berry fruit, dried purple flowers and dusty earth. Flavors of strawberries, red and black cherries, blackberries, red and black licorice and baking spices. Touch of black pepper spice on the medium-plus and slightly earthy/musty/peaty finish. Medium-plus acidity. Light and well integrated tannins. Pleasant texture and purity. Interesting concept that has led to an interesting wine. Excellent QPR. — 9 months ago

Billy L.

9.7

1 hr. decant, Excellent Classic ToKalon Cabernet Sauvignon @Mike Smith Kills this 2015 Carter Kudos & Respect! Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 — 5 years ago

Dani Jensen-DeNofa

9.7

Medium yellow color. Tropical and vanilla on nose. Oak With something I can’t distinguish.. maybe some salinity? Bright pineapple. Then rich buttery creaminess. Slight vanilla into an oak finish. Slightly dry — 6 years ago

Cory Bolton

9.2

Dug deep in the cellar to find this one. Letting it age for 5 years, really improved the quality of this Mike Smith product. It was in 2013 (the 2011 vintages) that we discovered his Myriad and Quivet labels and have never been disappointed with his output. While 2011 wasn’t a great year overall for the industry, this was still high class, but no comparison to his 2013-2015 vintages. — 7 years ago

Jeff Thornhill

9.2

Very good. Great bouquet, flavor and finish. Worth the $16. Definitely a repeat purchase. — 8 years ago

Rob Corrao

9.4

Rewarded by patience. This was amazing, well balanced, dark, and silky. @Mike Smith you are the grape whisperer! — 9 years ago

Ross Bathgate

9.3

Opened after Xmas lunch as we needed a follow up to the Black Shiraz. Did not disappoint. Mature and soft with all the lovely spice and dark fruit of the basket pressed. Lovely. — 6 months ago

Brandon T

9.6

In a great spot after an hour of air. A fantastic complement to lamb chops. Bravo, @Mike Smith! — 4 years 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 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 — 5 years ago

with Laura

Billy L.

9.6

Thanksgiving & Weekend Wines...
Great wine! Kudos @Mike Smith ;
Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 — 7 years ago

Lindsay Corrigan

8.9

Full Strawberry nose with white pepper. Taste juicy red berry front settles down to a wash blueberry. Then at back of mouth intensity starts with flavour of roasted red peppers done over oak coals and finish cleanse of eucalyptus.🍷 — 7 years ago

.

9.3

This has become more velvety since my last bottle, about a year ago. Lush purple fruits, a sleek core of minerality that I don’t recall previously, and flecks of black pepper in the finish. Opened in anticipation of the upcoming Myriad Cab release, and it reminded me why the Three Twins bottling just might be my favorite sub-$100 Mike Smith cab. — 8 years ago

Nicole

8.9

I snuck aboard the space station and made my way to the holding cell where I was told the princess was being held. Upon breaking down the door, I was confronted by a short person in a diaper and odd headdress who said "I'm sorry, but the princess is in another death star".

About that time all the alarms in the space station started going off.

After some brief firefights I found myself cornered, my only escape to done down a shoot into a garbage compactor. So I did. Once in the trash compactor I met a friendly monster called a Dianoga. We shared a lovely bottle of Slow Press while the walls of the compactor slowly closed in on us.

Fortunately for me, I'm the hero of this tale and, as such, made a timely escape, rescued the princess (eventually), and managed to do it all without realizing I had spilled wine on myself. — 9 years ago