Joe Lyons

9.2

Good fruit, good spice.. not my favorite but a good wine from W.S. — a year ago

with Michelle

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot & 5% Tannat, aged 20 mos French oak. LaJota has deep roots in Napa, in 1888, wine pioneer W.S. Keyes planted the first vines on Howell Mountain, 10 years later LaJota Vineyard established, named for location on Mexican parcel Rancho La Jota. Deep Ruby, rich berry fruit aromas & herb spice. On the palate blackberry & cherry flavors with sweet spice, licorice & cacao notes, rich & tangy. Soft full tannins, long finish ending with oak & earthy herbs. Just starting to drink now, will cellar for a decade. — 3 years ago

Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.3

Great cork for 19 years,
I think the 27% Merlot brings the score down for me. 2002 Jones & 97 ZD reserve are a step above at half the price,

One of the flagship wines of the late Jess Jackson’s Artisans and Estates limited production offerings is the 2001 Cardinale, a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot from some of the finest Jackson-owned vineyards on Mt. Veeder, Keyes on Howell Mountain, Alexander Mountain Estate as well as purchased fruit from the Stagecoach, To-Kalon and Peter Michael vineyards. — 3 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.1

Another wonderful Merlot. Mountain wines are known for beautiful dark color, intense aromatics and full bodied flavors. This Howell Mountain wine does not disappoint. Beautiful ruby red color and great aromas of blue fruit, cedar and a little earthiness. The tannins on this young wine are very apparent but seem to integrate nicely with the intense flavors of blueberries and baking spices while in your mouth. I am sure this wine will improve with age but it drinks very well today. — 6 years ago

with Lisa

Kerri

9.4

Delicious! Earthy aroma and deep fruit, medium tannins, great the next day too. — a year ago

Nicole K

9.6

Bday dinner at KB — 2 years ago

Daniel M.

9.3

Rubbery funk on first sip with a ton of dark fruit. Opened up nicely. — 3 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.1

Pale ruby color. Aromas of dried red strawberries, cigar box and moss. Gorgeous wine! Bright red fruit flavors with a dry cedar finish.

🥇 90 points - W.S. — 4 years ago

Michael Walker

9.8

Note this is Flux red blend (not Rose) and Last Bottle says the winemaker Jon Keyes worked for Mark Herold but this isn’t a MH wine…..ANYWAY it’s a very agreeable blend at an exceptionally agreeable price ($16) at LB - beautiful blackberry tones on the nose, light on the palate but not too fruity - I think some age would work well - reminds me of the FC Siena tho J thinks it’s lighter — 2 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.2

Nose has ripe blackberry, medium roast coffee grounds, tannic black cherry, crushed milk chocolate, sliced red pepper, tanned black leather and ripe plum skin.

Palate has ripe blackberry, plum, milk chocolate chips, mild new oak, black currant and red clay pottery. Mild tannins are becoming integrated. Decanted 6H.

We enjoyed this bottle with mesquite smoked chuck steaks from a local farmer (Kinderhook Farm; Valatie, NY), cooked slow and low. Manage your temperature and you'll never be disappointed, on the grill for almost 25+minutes, but beautifully medium-rare.

FAW is a staple producer in our cellar, but generally I do not touch anything until at least a 10-12Y birthday. A one off bottle purchase from Costco ($40) so that I can check in on bottles we're waiting on.

75.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16.2% Merlot, 4.0% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc.
Sourced from Bosché Vineyard, Keyes Vineyard, Oakville Vineyard, Stagecoach Vineyard & Sycamore Vineyard.

++++++

FYI, new-ish trending algorithm on Delectable only pushes wines to the feed which can be purchased through Delectable/Banquet. Kind of a 'fake news' feed of the actual popularity on wines in the platform, but what do I know?! I figured since this bottle 'trended' with no likes as of this commentary, I'd let everyone know. I generally don't drink wines that are available via Banquet registered purveyors, since most of our wines are unique or older. Same with 'Tasting Notes: Weeky Roundup' so be aware. Enjoy this tidbit of knowledge, community. 🤗 My soapbox. — 3 years ago