Vasanth Balakrishnan

8.7

Charcuterie, toasted oak, vanilla nose in front of backstage black fruit on this #saintmont featuring 70% #tannat, 15% #cabernetsauvignon and 15% #pinenc Gascony red blend. Medium-plus body, good texture but a bit monochromatic on the palate. — 3 months ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

8.9

#stellenbosch #cabernetsauvignon - Black fruit, some toast and spice on the nose. Proportional, medium-bold body and fine tannins on the finish. — 5 months ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

8.8

Pretty pleasing #alexandervalley #cabernetsauvignon from Nice Winery. Cassis, black fruit nose, cocoa, faint dried herbs on palate. Palate is has middling acidity, lush fruit, some bitter chocolate notes and fine tannins on finish. — 5 months ago

David Kline

9.2

Red and black cherry notes, cranberry sauce, roses, cinnamon rye-toast, integrated black currant, touch of leather. Smoky entry with grilled brown sugar, clove, and black olive, grill cedar, powdered black pepper, dried black currant, and bitter cocoa.

#dunn #dunnnapa #napa #howellmountain #cabernetsauvignon #cabernet #cab #cacab #californiacab — 6 months ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.0

Il Fauno 2016 51% #merlot, 31% #cabernetfranc, 17% #cabernetsauvignon and 1% #petitverdot . Delicious, ageworthy #toscanaigt blend. Pretty tight after opening, a day later, black and blue berry notes unfurl alongside tobacco, toasted coconut, tilled earth, and vanilla notes on nose. Bright acidity on palate, rich texture and some chewy tannins on the finish that build and linger on the tongue. Overall I’m digging the balance and richness but a bit too much vanilla / toast notes from new oak. — 3 months ago

David Kline

9.2

Cran-grape-blackberry sensibility with dark roast coffee undertones, milk chocolate, carnation, caramel, dried parsley, carrot purée. Palate is coffee coated black currant, chicory, dried blackberry, bramble, cedar, tight and green oak notes, violet, baseball glove, tart cherry, tart raspberry and raspberry reduction. Rich offering here to satisfy the lofty spirit, but needs time to coalesce.
Pair with warm fires.


#shafer #napa #napavalley #shaferonepointfive #onepointfive #stagsleapdistrict #shafervineyards #shafercabernet #shafercab #cab #cabernetsauvignon #stagsleapnapa — 5 months ago

David Kline

9.0

Blood ruby pushing purple. Black and red licorice wound around a core of dusty oak. Smoky, with smells of cigar boxes and dried violets, roses and a potpourri of others including heather and light lavender. Tight still with a bing cherry middle, red currant, tart blueberry and boysenberry. Baked plum unravels to the aforementioned oak with a cedar-cigar and pronounced oak exposure. Wound tight in some places, and unraveling slowly in others.


#mayacamas #mayacamasvineyards #mayacamascab #mayacamascabernet #cabernet #cabernetsauvignon #napa #napavalley #napacab #mayacamasmountains #mountveeder #mtveeder #californiawines — 6 months ago

David Kline

9.3

1997 and holding up very well. Brisket, prune and baked plum, graphite sparkles, dried red currant, crumbly rose petal, cedar sawdust and baked black currant. Rich and half dried black cherry, similar with black currant, velvety thick robe of tannin, dark chocolate with dried raspberries, violets and cinnamon, fresh raspberry, mild black pepper, coffee splash and long long graphite shine. Amazed at the quality here, and stunned by the longevity.

#chateaumontelena #1997cab #napa #napacab #themontelenaestate #chateaumontelenacab #cabernetsauvignon #estatebottled #bobarrett #newworldcab #newworldfirstgrowth #chateaumontelenaestate — 4 months ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.0

Very amiable #cabernetsauvignon - robust black fruit, cocoa, espresso aromas, nice palate weight and balance on fine tannins, peppery, lip-smacking finish. — 5 months ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

8.9

Admirable QPR #napa #cabernetsauvignon - reasonably lighter 14.3% ABV reveals this is no hot oaky bomb. Cassis, blackberry, sous bois nose, medium-plus body and bright acidity. They get props for the reliable, functional screw top on this drink-now Cab. — 6 months ago