Conn Creek
Cuvée Collins Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
2021 vintage. This was wild. Bigg nose. Monster dark fruit (blackberry/dark plum) along with noticeably decent, not demanding, structure. Some earth casually tossed in for giggles. You could taste the lack of overpriced "consultants," Land Rovers, corporate influence and millions upon millions of visitors to the Napa region. This harfled into the time machine and gonked back to 1985. Wish I couldn't write this note with actual farf but will since I can. Oopsiedoodles. A primer as to how Napa cab used to boogie before all the bullsh*t (please pardon my language) hit. Truly authentic (so sorry sub-30's) af. 05.07.25. — 2 days ago
Rosa dell'Olmo
Langhe Nebbiolo 2022
Cornerstone Cellars
Oakville Station Merlot Blend 2019
2019 vintage. Acidity/tannins evident and über-present from start to finish. Tasted through the first few vintages in the early ‘90’s but haven’t come across this producer since early 2000’s. Stylistically, (thankfully) still the same. Plenty of earthiness, grip and punch evident with sustained, old Zeppelin feedback on the finish. Really nice. 05.07.25. — 2 days ago
Araujo Estate
Eisele Vineyard Syrah 2013
2013 vintage. Medium-medium heavy body. Sage and anise on the nose. In that perfect spot between youth and maturity where the spring is partially unwound, yet still measurably coiled. Dropped the baby fat and aggressive fruit overtures but toned. Ain't no rush to crush. What I would do to roll through a vertical tasting of Araujo Eisele Vineyard Syrah might end up on the police blotter. There are more demonstrative Syrahs in California such as SQN, Saxum and Kongsgaard (and they are all top-notch phenomenal in their own way) but this deserves to be in the conversation amongst the best the region has to offer. 05.05.25. — 4 days ago
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
1996 vintage. 6% Cab Franc but 50+% Cab and remaining % Merlot. Last tasted 9.29.24 (9.5) and 8.2.24 (9.6). This specimen nice fill and halfway saturated cork. Decanted and throwing appropriate sed. Tasted 30 mins post-decant. Light-medium body. Dark cherry and milk chocolate nose. Cocoa powder and chocolate-covered cherry in the flavors. Tannins primarily on the back palate. More than holding up and getting by. This has a few more years afoot. Gonna say it again for those in the back…this is the best wine they’ve ever made-white or red. Get off my lawn. 05.07.25. — 2 days ago