Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon

92 is rounding up a bit.

A couple things before notes. I have had other Heidi wines but not hers & Bo’s. Just wasn’t feeling retail-ish on the B&B, nor had anyone open one for me. This surfaced at just under half price. So, time to check this Heidi box.

This is a 2017; which many shied away from. Hence, the buy at half price. I would have said in my two coravined previous tastings on different nights, the fruit was nice and it still is nice. However, in getting to the bottom 1/3 of the bottle, it has taken on some additional depth & character. I imagine still not as much depth & character as their better vintages.

The nose shows some nice candied florals and mid fruits with a dark core. Some smoke (it is not smoke taint as they finished harvesting on 10/3 and the Tubbs & Atlas fires started 10/8) dry tobacco, new leather, oak, dry herbs, darker cola, moist volcanics & clay, withering dark & red flowers.

The palate is definitely one of the drier Napa Cabernets I’ve had lately. Feels like it leaves dry oak powder all over your mouth. M+ dry tannins. The fruits are bright & ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, some purple fruits, lean strawberries & cherries. Smoke, dry tobacco, new leather, oak, dark spice, leaner baking spices profile, a bit of dark chocolate baking bar, dry herbs, darker cola, moist volcanics & clay, dry topsoil, dry limestone powder, black tea, dry tree bark w/ a touch of sap, withering dark & red flowers, acidity is sound-ish, it just ticks the box of balanced, tension & structure is solid, finishes short-under a minute and a little thin in the mid palate, some elegance and lands on oak, earthiness & spice.

It’s still early on this and there is room for improvement with some more evolution & integration but don’t believe this 2017 will ever live up to its winery price point.

Very high tannins for age, red and blue fruits, lots of green and a bit of funk on the nose.

Big and bold, black soil, dark ground coffee, blue fruits, well structured, red and blue flowers, medium plus tannins, medium minus acidity.

Tertiary on the nose, black soil, coffee, chocolate, charred barrel, a touch hot, red and predominantly blue fruit in mouth, chalky mouthfeel.

Dull, mute at first. Raisins, prunes. Blossomed in the glass. Nice perfume emerges. Berries
OK acidity. Thick. Surprisingly fresh. Very astringent

First vintage. Very nice extraction, big hillside cab structure, full mouthfeel, finish is surprisingly brief.

First, this wine needs a lot of time to open up, as in 3+ hours. At first the tannins prevailed, then integrated well. Nose of straight blueberry, no question. Tight structure that is built for the ages. Dried currant, loamy earth and dark berry. Incense and charcoal round out the finish.

This Is the first vintage of Bo and Heidi Barretts first collaboration together as Co-Winemakers. Fitting we had in honor of them during the horrific fires in our valley. #napastrong #sonomastrong #onevalley

I broke my face smiling so hard and could not leave a post last night because

THIS WAS BIG BOLD and BEAUTIFUL and thus was SO DAMN GOOD

Bring with me to FL

I am in love with the name Barrett - color hypnotizes me with dark insane luscious purplish red - the smell jumps at me with ninja like moves that look like artist performing Kung Fu - the taste reminds me Sade singing - just really makes me relax and feel - and the finish is all smiles

Bravo Barrett family

Juicy and jammy dark fruits. Nice tannins will age for a long time but drinkable now.