Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Most of the wines I open tell me a story w/ each sip. Most tied to my late wife Sofia. My memories of this producer precedes her.

This is a producer that flashed early in my wine journey. Generally, one you have moved on from today. That’s until, their 2013 is offered at $39 recently. A grand vintage. For me, I wanted to see the wineries progression and experience earlier memories that flood back w/ each sip. It has done that.

I have a Napa history infatuation. This one is kinda of a pleasure-pain thing. While I enjoyed this producer many years ago, the 2020 Glass Fires destroyed 90% of their vineyards, almost all their structures & their 19 & 20 vintages. I can’t express enough what a gut punch that is for its owners & staff. It is an insurance nightmare and let’s not forget that after all the time it takes to re-plant vines, it takes at least 7 years before you get useable fruit to make wine. So…a ten yr plus setback w/ nearly no revenue stream.

The wine tonight w/o a ribeye, showed excellent fruits that the 13 growing season brought. But what followed was a lean mid plate and finish. With the steak, not so.

The palate shows M+ velvety, dry tannins. Ripe, rich, lush, ruby fruits of: blackberries, black plum, baked plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, poached & fresh strawberries & an understated array of purple fruits. Moist, grey, volcanic clays, moist tobacco w/ ash, used leather, graphite, dry, crushed rocks/limestone-sandstone, dry brush, dark cola, black licorice to anise, dry herbs-bay leaf, sage, dark, mid spice with some palate heat, sweet tarriness, dark, fresh, candied & withering red roses, lavender & dry violets, excellent acidity with a well balanced-knitted, nicely structured & tensioned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and long sets on dry earth & spice.

This is nice on its own but so much better with a ribeye. 92 on its own with a hour decant. 92-93+ with an hour decant plus a juicy, well seasoned MR ribeye. — 3 days ago

Marc Melser

9.2

We had the 2017 Vintage on 1/12-13/26. A full bodied red blend. Fruit forward and well balanced. Tastes of blackberry, plum, mocha and lavender. A good one from Juslyn — 2 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

This had aged into something quite elegant. Only 13.3%, it’s got some fruit still but is quite “claret” like. I love how old school this is. — 15 days ago

with Dan and Angelo

Norman

9.0

Found… perhaps a bit late. It was fine but I recall it being better younger. — 22 days ago

Turd Ferguson

9.4

Inky beast. I’m probably in the Epstein files now. 2030+ for next bottle — a month ago

Jerry Raphael

9.5

Well, here we are two years later, back at the same BYOB for New Year’s Eve with the same wine. I figured 35 years was enough—it was time to drink it.
Same treatment as in 2024: opened and decanted, then poured about two hours later. This time the nose offered noticeably more—cedar, a touch of vegetal character, and dark berries. On the palate, dark berries again took the lead. The finish was good, but at the very end it seemed to stop just a bit short but still giving it a 95. At Anthony’s — 2 months ago

James K

9.4

Drinking great right now — 14 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2005 vintage. Nice fill. Opened with a Durand. Perfect cork. Decanted and tasted after one hour and 2 hours. Respectable amount of sed. Barely medium body. Magical. That twenty-year spell that Spring Mountain casts found this casually tossing out espresso crema, grilled dark plum, cassis and sandalwood. Can't see this improving but can it hold steady for a gauntlet of 7-10 years? Hell yes. Contribution to the FLB (Friday Lunch Bunch). 2.13.26. — 17 days ago

Scott Rapacki

9.3

Happy Valentine’s Day!! — 16 days ago

with Adrienne

Ming L

9.4

The petrol note is pronounced, yet beautifully integrated. Citrus and tropical tones emerge on the nose, joined by a faint wisp of smoke. The palate has Viognier-like texture, lending weight and shape, while bright, clean-cut acidity is balanced by just a touch of residual sweetness.

It’s puzzling that Napa Valley can produce Riesling of this caliber! — 2 months ago