Dana Estates
Vaso Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
I bought this at K&L recently for $79 to judge their 3rd wine vs the younger Dana & Onda I have. This is made from de-selected fruit from their 3 primary single vineyards.
If you love lush/plush, ripe. bold Napa Cabernets, you will love the 2014 Vaso today. It’s still early but drinking nicely tonight. It took a 3 hr decant. Prior, it was missing a bit of a mid-palate. Not now!
The nose is beautiful. Dark currants-cassis, sandalwood, dry twig, dryish tobacco, mid intensity baking spices, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, black licorice, dark to mid berry cola, steeped black tea, caramel/mocha, dry crushed rocks, candied to withering flowers framed in soft violets & lavender.
The palate is rich, lush, bold & striking. Dark currants-cassis, wild, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, both plums-black dominate to pudding, a buffet of mixed purple fruits, some baked strawberries w/ haunting raspberries. Bold, dark spices, caramel, mocha, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & a touch of vanilla, anise to black licorice, a mix of fresh & herbs, light cedar to sandalwood, dry tobacco with some ash, graphite, dry river stone, limestone marl, dry crush rocks, dry top soil, dark, withering to candied; dark, red flowers with violets, grand acidity, layered finish that is well balanced-structured, still well tensioned, elegant & smartly polished finish that goes on and on. Delicious, especially the longer it sat in the decanter. 3 hours total.
I bought 13 & 15 Vaso for the same price before finishing my comments.
This has 15-20 yrs of good drinking ahead.
@SimplyRedVirtualLiveHamburg
I bought this at K&L recently for $79 to judge their 3rd wine vs the younger Dana & Onda I have. This is made from de-selected fruit from their 3 primary single vineyards.
If you love lush/plush, ripe. bold Napa Cabernets, you will love the 2014 Vaso today. It’s still early but drinking nicely tonight. It took a 3 hr decant. Prior, it was missing a bit of a mid-palate. Not now!
The nose is beautiful. Dark currants-cassis, sandalwood, dry twig, dryish tobacco, mid intensity baking spices, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, black licorice, dark to mid berry cola, steeped black tea, caramel/mocha, dry crushed rocks, candied to withering flowers framed in soft violets & lavender.
The palate is rich, lush, bold & striking. Dark currants-cassis, wild, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, both plums-black dominate to pudding, a buffet of mixed purple fruits, some baked strawberries w/ haunting raspberries. Bold, dark spices, caramel, mocha, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & a touch of vanilla, anise to black licorice, a mix of fresh & herbs, light cedar to sandalwood, dry tobacco with some ash, graphite, dry river stone, limestone marl, dry crush rocks, dry top soil, dark, withering to candied; dark, red flowers with violets, grand acidity, layered finish that is well balanced-structured, still well tensioned, elegant & smartly polished finish that goes on and on. Delicious, especially the longer it sat in the decanter. 3 hours total.
I bought 13 & 15 Vaso for the same price before finishing my comments.
This has 15-20 yrs of good drinking ahead.
@SimplyRedVirtualLiveHamburg
Wild berry and chocolate. Medium- tannin. 2010 vintage. Good to drink wine by itself but not well matched with ribeye steak.
Wild berry and chocolate. Medium- tannin. 2010 vintage. Good to drink wine by itself but not well matched with ribeye steak.
1 person found it helpfulMar 5th, 2013
Ripe solid fruit with good depth and structure
Ripe solid fruit with good depth and structure
Oct 23rd, 2023
Not the strongest vintage for this wine. A bit disjointed and flat finish. More bottle age will not improve this vintage. Other vintages are more structured with layered depth and finish, making it a great everyday drinking cab.
Not the strongest vintage for this wine. A bit disjointed and flat finish. More bottle age will not improve this vintage. Other vintages are more structured with layered depth and finish, making it a great everyday drinking cab.
Aug 16th, 2023Rather disappointing. Even after opening it was too sharp
Rather disappointing. Even after opening it was too sharp
Oct 23rd, 2022
Ok wine.. not great.. expected more given the Dana pedigree! More savory than fruity, still tannic and oaky .. took a while to open up but still underwhelming!
Ok wine.. not great.. expected more given the Dana pedigree! More savory than fruity, still tannic and oaky .. took a while to open up but still underwhelming!
Jun 12th, 2022
Big, bold, and rich. Generous sweet cherries, balanced with nice acidity, and fine tannins that stood up to and paired perfectly with the spicy BBQ at Cote.
Big, bold, and rich. Generous sweet cherries, balanced with nice acidity, and fine tannins that stood up to and paired perfectly with the spicy BBQ at Cote.
Apr 26th, 2022
This wine continues to drink well with filet mignon or without. Bright dark fruit, vanilla oak, some coffee notes, and Rutherford dust!
This wine continues to drink well with filet mignon or without. Bright dark fruit, vanilla oak, some coffee notes, and Rutherford dust!
Feb 19th, 2021Wonderful wine from Dana that is approachable immediately upon opening! Bright fruit, vanilla, and dust combine to present an enjoyable second wine from the Estate.
Wonderful wine from Dana that is approachable immediately upon opening! Bright fruit, vanilla, and dust combine to present an enjoyable second wine from the Estate.
Oct 8th, 2020DANA’s third label cab. This wine gets better with each vintage. Every winery should be so lucky to have their 3rd label be so good (good value too).
DANA’s third label cab. This wine gets better with each vintage. Every winery should be so lucky to have their 3rd label be so good (good value too).
May 21st, 2020