David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I know I’ve posted a number of Kerr’s lately as I tasted there two-weeks ago. They didn’t pour this 2019 regular Cabernet at my tasting. But as fate would have it, this was at my Costco the following week for $58 and the winery sells it at $80.

I believe this is a blend of sites. Fermented in 85% new French oak for 22 months.

This is 92 which is stretching to 93. I brought this and coravined the bottle last weekend to try with friends and am finishing it with a 16oz Allen Brothers Ribeye. Bought three more to cellar today.

Looking forward to trying in again in 6-8 years…thinking it squeezes out another 1-2 points then.

I’m glad I found this as I’m looking for a Napa Phelps replacement. Since LVMH bought Phelps, it is now a $100 from the winery and you don’t see it in Costco anymore where I last bought the 2019 for $59 or $65. That is what corporations do. Especially, LVMH. They buy wineries and squeeze everything they can after purchasing them. They renamed & relabeled the Phelps Pinots that sold for $65-$80 and now are $225. I am not aware of any fruit source change.

After decanting an hour and half, the nose comes alive. It is a bit funky and dull immediately after pouring out of bottle. The fruits grow darker, some tarriness builds. It’s round and lush; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, plum, dark cherries, hues of purple & blue fruits. Tar, anise, bramble, dark melted chocolate, faint caramel, black licorice, baking soda again, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, wood shavings, dry tobacco & leather, withering; dark, red flowers set in violets & lavender.

The palate loads, thick, lush & rich. Good viscosity. The tannins are, round, supple, soft but meaty. It has stuffing unlike their higher end wines which are more feminine. The fruits are perfectly ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, plum, dark cherries, purple & blue fruits. Tar, anise, bramble, dark melted chocolate, caramel notes, black licorice, baking soda, dark spice that lifts and then presses into the palate w/ a fair amount of heat, dry herbaceous notes-Sage/Thyme, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, wood shavings, dry tobacco & leather, crushed volcanic rock powder w/ dry top soil, withering; dark, red flowers set in violets & lavender. Excellent round acidity, well structured, tensioned, balanced with a long finish that lasts minutes falling onto soft earth & minerality, dark spice with heat.

Be interesting to compare this 19 with a 19 Napa Phelps in fifteen years. See how the evolution measures up.

Happy SuperBowl weekend. 🏈 GO NINERS! — 10 months ago

Alton Komori

9.4

2004 - Luscious, dark fruit, cassis bouquet; medium body with complex, medium long, white pepper finish; $170 retail, paid $130 in 2015
; excellent with rib eye; worth the wait. — 4 years ago

Adam Kincaid

9.0

Really intense dark reddish purple hues with equally powerful aromatics of plums, black currant, and lots of baking spice. Some cherry tang too, if that’s a thing. Aromatic pipe tobacco notes. Stony and dusty. Yum! Huge body and mouthfeel to match. Long and satisfying finish. 14.5% alcohol!

Really unique wine making style in that some of it is aged in tuff “tanks” carved into the ground. Kocabağ is the only one of the three commercial wineries in Cappadocia to use such tanks, and they may very easily be the only winery in the world to do so. — a year ago

with Jillian

Skip Smyser

9.2

Howell Mountain Zinfandel. Lovely winery In Sonoma making Napa Valley Wine. Interesting!!! — 4 years ago

Kristen Frascatore Pettola

10

Smooth, slightly sweet. Can taste the bourbon but not overpowering — 4 years ago

Doug Brown

9.5

One of my favorite Estate Wineries. Enjiyed this white a lot — 4 years ago

Carlo Maria Rossotto

9.3

Lovely gin from Lebanon. Had it with Jerome and Marolla — 2 years ago

Roger Custer

9.2

Excellent Virginia white from one of our favorite wineries. Fruity, smoky, and woody all at the same time but not too much of any of those three. — 3 years ago

Raymond Pettola

10

Love this wine so smooth and you can also taste the bourbon. So good!! — 4 years ago

Marla Forgues-Kostis

9.3

I quite like this one — 4 years ago