Oak Spring
Cain Vineyard & Winery
Cain Five Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2006
Smith Madrone
Estate Bottled Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
PnP. This was great! Drove by the winery on Spring Mountain last week! Dark red color with dark, candied fruit on the nose. Classic Napa cab with nice terroir elements. Great depth and awesome texture. Another excellent Wine Spectator recommendation. — 2 months ago
Philip Togni Vineyard
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
This is a producer that should be more revered than it is. His 90’s were amongst my favorite Napa Cabernets. Especially, the 94, which is exceptional and I’ve had on 3-4 occasions.
2007 is a grand vintage but this one needs more cellaring. It is still in its adolescence. I would like to try this in another 8-10 yrs. Don’t get me wrong, this drinks nicely now but it’s best is still ahead.
I coravined & decanted this in a big Bordeaux glass for an hour and it is still a 1/2 monster.
The nose shows; dark currents/cassis, blackberries, black plum w/ skin, very black cherries, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries with understated raspberries in the glass edges, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, steeped fruit tea, mocha powder, caramel, chocolate baking bar, understated baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, both black & red licorice/cola, moist herbs, tree sap, limestone, dry top soils-river stone and beautiful, withering/candied dark & red florals framed in candied violets.
The M+ tannins are round, velvety, dusty and still meaty. Dark currents/cassis, blackberries, black plum w/ skin, very black cherries, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, liqueur cherries with understated, hovering raspberries. Dark, rich earth with dry leaves, steeped fruit tea, mocha powder, caramel, chocolate baking bar, understated baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, both black & red licorice/cola, moist herbs, tree sap, soft, moist cigar box, leather, anise, rounded very dark spices, moist clays, limestone, dry top soils-river stone and beautiful, withering/candied dark & red florals framed in candied violets, very round, pleasant acidity with balance for days, still pronounced structure/tension, great length and a smartly, polished, ruby two-minute finish that long sets on on deep, dark spice, earthiness & ruby, dark currents.
Right now a Filet steak, not a fatty steak, Ribeye or Ribcap.
Still so youthful! Add a point or two in 7-10 yrs. .
Philip is in his 90’s and still involved in the winemaking. He walks the property daily. — 13 days ago
Spring Mountain Vineyard
Elivette Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2000
Very special 2000 Red blend from Spring Mountain, Napa served with a special Sunday dinner: Pasta a la Zozzona. Completely different wine in the first 30 minutes of drinking than it was after decanting for 30 minutes. Black Cherry, leather, tobacco. Soft round tannins and a LONG finish. But it’s really interesting, I’ve had wine aged half as long that showed its age 10x more than this wine. I feel like it could have aged even longer. — 24 days ago
Spring Mountain Vineyard
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1979
Oldest wine served at “From the Cellar.” Paired with the dish of event.
I met Tim who was pouring initially. He is the main person behind the VC group that bought the property and three others out of BK in 1999. We all know what happened the next yr with the Glass Fires. Very unfortunate coupled w/ bad timing.
The hope to have all the restoration worked completed by 2030. They have already started replanting the vineyards that were consumed in the fire. Priority number one as it is roughly 7 yrs before you get usable fruit for quality wines.
He brought a 3L of the 79. Mags of 90, 96, 97, 05 & 06 to the event.
The “Grilled Sofrito Lamb Ribs” were off the chain. I had three. — 2 days ago
Trefethen Family Vineyards
Oak Knoll District Cabernet Sauvignon
This is the 2022 Block 296 version of this vintage. Truly excellent. Sour cherries and oregano on the nose. Spicy! Sour cherries on the front. Medium to heavy tannic structure. Tangy on the mid palate. Long finish. Not your typical overpowering Napa Cab. — a month ago
Opus One
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022
Inky in color with a reddish rim.
Fruity nose of black currants, plums, licorice, light cedar, earth, cola, herbs, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, black tea and light garigge notes.
Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black plums, currants, oak, light licorice, spices, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, cola, herbs, peppercorn and light vegetables.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This young Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is already drinking beautifully. Rich and fruit forward. Nicely balanced with a smooth mouthfeel. Elegant and complex, spicy and tangy.
Delicious now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.
The alcohol is nicely integrated already, although not as high as typically from this region.
Robert Parker 95 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.
I've had a few vintages of this wine and this is not my favorite, by far.
A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.
A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec.
14% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$450. — 5 days ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
I used to drink this producer in the late 90’s & early 2000’s. I’ve been revisiting older vintages based on recent price points. I think they sold a bunch of their cellar for revenue. It is out of need after the Glass Fires. They were somewhat consumed by it. The winery & part of their vineyards. Unfortunate!!!
Decanted an hour and enjoyed over 2-3 hours.
I was further inspired to acquire the 2006 by @Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego who posted more than respectful thoughts of the 2006 not long ago. So, I acquired some winery stored bottles at $39. A more than fair price point. The cork had a millimeter or less along its side. The bottle neck showed trapped tannins. Extremely solid.
The nose is inviting. Slightly smoky & nicely ripe; dark core of blackberries, dark cherries, poached/baked strawberries, plum, blueberries and pomegranate. Slate, gentle, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, mid & light berry cola/licorice-red vines, soft dry tobacco, used leather, very soft graphite, graceful herbaceous notes, whiff with black & white pepper, dark, rich soils, mix of limestone/sandstone, red florals/roses, dark florals and purple lily blossoms.
The entry is elegant, ripe, slightly rich with nothing bitty. Medium, softened, mushy tannins. It shows nearly perfect elegance at or just and I mean just the other side of its peak. Ripe; dark core of blackberries, dark cherries, poached/baked strawberries, plum, blueberries, raspberries and pomegranate hues. Slate, gentle, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, mid & light berry cola, soft dry, used tobacco w/ ash, used leather, graphite, herbaceous notes, stem inclusion, some black & white pepper, dark spice box with mid intensity palate heat, layered baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & understated vanillin, dark chocolate, caramel, steeped teas, moist to dry volcanic clays, rich, dark, almost sweet soils, mix of limestone/sandstone, red florals/roses, dark florals and purple lily blossoms, very nice acidity, evolved, well-knitted, balanced, structured, tensioned, elegant finish that lasts nearly two-minutes and long sets on spice and beautiful earthiness. This will drink nicely for another 5+ yrs.
A good revisit and perhaps the most elegant Cain Five I’ve had.
Photos of; the Cain Five vineyards, Chris Howell-Winemaker, pressed grapes and the somewhat unglamorous cleaning out of stainless steel tanks after initial fermentation. — 6 days ago