Scarecrow
Jones Family Vineyard
The Sisters Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend 2003
I would invite you to find a bottle like this older & well stored 03, “The Sisters. “I would enjoy tasting this blind w/ Napa Cult wines & lovers. Then, watch their eyes open wide when I pulled off the brown bag. Many would call Colgin, Scarecrow, Harlan, Bond & the like etc.. I recently paid $50 for this 2003 at auction. That includes tax & auction fees. For vintage, they would call 10, 13 or 14. This is still youthful. Beautiful M+ somewhat rounded tannins, fruit buffet w/ dark pronounced spice. This has ten years plus left.
The palate is round, plush, phat fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, strawberries, purple fruits with blueberries. Dark, well pronounced spice, soft baking spices, sweet graphite, soft, fresh, tobacco notes, used leather warm, gray clay, river-stone, mocha, caramel notes, dry crushed rock, limestone marl, some dry top soil, dark, purple red fresh & withering florals, excellent, round acidity and a well made, balanced, beautifully structured and elegant finish that lasts minutes falling on elegant earth & spice.
TRB made wine. Stunning!!!! — a year ago
James Cole
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
This wine is in a perfect place. 2008 is not as regarded as 2007, but this 2008 made by Charles Hendricks is saying differently & absolutely one of his very best. I would say, James & Coleen made a mistake in letting him get away.
It is sort of a Mother Mary of God wine. Not to be religious, just the phrase fits.
Our eyes & ears perk up when we hear Napa names like; Harlan, Scarecrow, Hundred Acre, Bond & Colgin. I’d like to put this in blind and watch the shock & awe in everyone eyes when the wines were revealed.
The palate entry is perfect in every way. It is rich, lush, extremely balanced with well rounded, velvety M+ tannins. The core is dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, black cherries, baked strawberries framed in raspberry edges. Some of the most amazing, dark spices with palate heat, melted, dark chocolate to pudding, black licorice to anise, mocha, malt balls, caramel, mid baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, fresh & used tobacco, leathery, graphite, crushed rocks & limestone, sage brush, slightly, candied, dark & withering flowers set in understated violet’s & lavender, warm, summer, rainfall acidity, balance for days, excellent structure/tension with elegance and smart polish that lasts minutes and settles on beautiful spices.
This wine is at its precipice and will hold a few more years with good drinking for 8-10 years. — 23 days ago
Turley
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Might be the best cab I’ve ever had. Why doesn’t Turley make more cab? Only one I’ve ever seen and been hanging on to it for ~8yrs. Flawless in every way. Blew the Scarecrow that came up next out of the water. — a year ago
Sami-Odi
Little Wine #10 Syrah
Broken record, I know, but there is no wine on this planet that smells as good as these (IMO). I feel like one of those old-school cartoons where the aromas lift you off the ground and bring you in. Fraser is a wizard.
Decanted two hours before consumption. 2020 (51%), 2019 (31%), 2018 (3%), 2017 (8%), 2016 (5%) & 2015 (2%).
As expected, the aromatics are like fireworks going off…they are bright, enthralling, sensory overload. Dark floral bouquet, boysenberry, sweet cassis, sandalwood. Purple in the glass and as you expect a monster to hit your palate, it’s fairly elegant but extremely layered. Gorgeously fresh. These always have a weightless depth and gravitas to them, similar to what I find in Scarecrow. Mesmerizing notes of dark cocoa, dark plum, freshly squeezed blue and black fruits, hint of candied bacon, and a flair of herbal spice. Finish is lengthy, juicy, delicious.
I’ve been fortunate to have quite a bit SamiOdi, and this undoubtedly is the best LittleWine I’ve had. I probably underscored this. 95+ — 2 years ago
Scarecrow
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Strong, full, dark, acidic, at least 10 more years of aging, delicious now. — 5 months ago
Bruno Giacosa
Asili Di Barbaresco Nebbiolo 1997
Every time I have this wine it gets better and better. Had this after a scarecrow 2003 and this was way more interesting! — 2 years ago
Brand
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Closed and disjointed at opening but came together nicely after a 4 hr decant. Well balanced density and acidity - notable lift. Secondaries showing nicely, tertiaries developing well, perfectly integrated tannin. This is a great time to drink. Aging further may benefit tertiary flavor development and there’s certainly sufficient acid to carry it through, but may have notable textural decline. Of the four wines tasted (Scarecrow 12, Promontory 14, Continuum 13) it was second favorite and most closely aligned stylistically with Scarecrow. — 2 years ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
I’m a bit early opening this but have three and was curious. It will be a while before opening another.
After a double decant, it started to blossom after four hours decanted. Smooth and elegant with just the right kind of spice and soft earths on the long, elegant finish.
Better things in another 5 yrs and beyond.
Enjoyed the 2011 James Cole Malbec afterwards more. Charles Hendricks still crafts my favorite new world Malbecs. — 9 days ago