Flora Springs
Reserve Rutherford Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon
Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, USA
Smoke. Black cherries, blackberries/boysenberry
Smoke. Black cherries, blackberries/boysenberry
Jun 13th, 2023
I bought this bottle about a year ago from K&L. The bottle was in pristine shape. Like the 1985 last weekend, the neck fill today was as high as the day they filled it.
I purchased two bottles. The first, I didn’t post. It had waned. Tonight’s bottle is giving me everything thing I expected when I purchased it.
The nose reveals a little barnyard (v/a) that blew off fairly quickly, slightly baked, stewed & ripe fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, blackberries, black plum, strawberries, dry cranberries, boysenberries & blueberries. Steeped, black tea, dark berry cola, sage, bay leaf, dry, crushed rocks, limestone, anise, some black licorice, soft; cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, caramel & liquid mocha, vanilla, dry twigs, understated, mid dark spice, peppery notes, tree bark/sap, mint, rich, dark, slightly sweet earth, dry tobacco & leather with bright, fresh & withering; dark, red, some purple & blue flowers weaved into late blooming violets.
The body is just full, fresh & lush. There is still a decent, tarry, slightly chewy tannin structure even after a little over 22 years in bottle. For me, the length, tension and balance are perfect. This bottle has another 5 and perhaps 7 years of good drinking ahead. It’s really delicious tonight. Slightly baked, stewed & ripe fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, blackberries that pop on the palate, black plum, strawberries, dry cranberries, boysenberries & blueberries. Steeped, black tea, dark berry cola, sage, bay leaf, dry, crushed rocks, limestone, sandstone/dry top soil, anise, some black licorice, soft; cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, melted, salted caramel, dark baking chocolate & liquid mocha, vanilla, dry twigs, understated, mid dark spice with perfect palate heat, tree bark/sap, mint, savory meats, peppercorns, rich, dark, slightly sweet earth, dry tobacco & leather, French oak barrel shavings, with bright, fresh & withering; dark, red, some purple & blue flowers weaved into late blooming violets. The acidity is round, phat & perfect. The long finish is delicious, an elegant lady, well balanced settling into some of the nicest, dark spices I can remember in sometime.
In terms of pleasure, I would give this wine a 94 but, in technical terms, just misses it.
Once again, I really love the 13% ABV. I wish Napa Cabernets had never risen above that level.
Photos of; the Estate of Flora Springs, long view of their beautiful barrel cellar, happy dog running through their vines and their very modern tasting room on Hwy 29.
I bought this bottle about a year ago from K&L. The bottle was in pristine shape. Like the 1985 last weekend, the neck fill today was as high as the day they filled it.
I purchased two bottles. The first, I didn’t post. It had waned. Tonight’s bottle is giving me everything thing I expected when I purchased it.
The nose reveals a little barnyard (v/a) that blew off fairly quickly, slightly baked, stewed & ripe fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, blackberries, black plum, strawberries, dry cranberries, boysenberries & blueberries. Steeped, black tea, dark berry cola, sage, bay leaf, dry, crushed rocks, limestone, anise, some black licorice, soft; cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, caramel & liquid mocha, vanilla, dry twigs, understated, mid dark spice, peppery notes, tree bark/sap, mint, rich, dark, slightly sweet earth, dry tobacco & leather with bright, fresh & withering; dark, red, some purple & blue flowers weaved into late blooming violets.
The body is just full, fresh & lush. There is still a decent, tarry, slightly chewy tannin structure even after a little over 22 years in bottle. For me, the length, tension and balance are perfect. This bottle has another 5 and perhaps 7 years of good drinking ahead. It’s really delicious tonight. Slightly baked, stewed & ripe fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, blackberries that pop on the palate, black plum, strawberries, dry cranberries, boysenberries & blueberries. Steeped, black tea, dark berry cola, sage, bay leaf, dry, crushed rocks, limestone, sandstone/dry top soil, anise, some black licorice, soft; cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, melted, salted caramel, dark baking chocolate & liquid mocha, vanilla, dry twigs, understated, mid dark spice with perfect palate heat, tree bark/sap, mint, savory meats, peppercorns, rich, dark, slightly sweet earth, dry tobacco & leather, French oak barrel shavings, with bright, fresh & withering; dark, red, some purple & blue flowers weaved into late blooming violets. The acidity is round, phat & perfect. The long finish is delicious, an elegant lady, well balanced settling into some of the nicest, dark spices I can remember in sometime.
In terms of pleasure, I would give this wine a 94 but, in technical terms, just misses it.
Once again, I really love the 13% ABV. I wish Napa Cabernets had never risen above that level.
Photos of; the Estate of Flora Springs, long view of their beautiful barrel cellar, happy dog running through their vines and their very modern tasting room on Hwy 29.
Annual guys WTF Christmas party with spouses. Lots of great wine. I’ll post my highlights with pics I got.
Undoubtedly the best Flora Springs wine I’ve had to date. Always a special place in my heart for FS as their Trilogy wine was the wine that opened my eyes to the world of wine (and we trek out to Napa every year for the Trilogy Release party...6 weeks from today!). This offering, along with Rennie’s Reserve, are my favorites out of their single vineyard offerings. With 7yrs of age, this has really gotten compact and structured. So much sweet and dense fruit here...very dark fruit profile, along with creme de cassis, sandalwood and dust. Fig, nutmeg, with mixed berry pie toward the finish. Pop and pour! Thanks @Benjamin Keator .
Annual guys WTF Christmas party with spouses. Lots of great wine. I’ll post my highlights with pics I got.
Undoubtedly the best Flora Springs wine I’ve had to date. Always a special place in my heart for FS as their Trilogy wine was the wine that opened my eyes to the world of wine (and we trek out to Napa every year for the Trilogy Release party...6 weeks from today!). This offering, along with Rennie’s Reserve, are my favorites out of their single vineyard offerings. With 7yrs of age, this has really gotten compact and structured. So much sweet and dense fruit here...very dark fruit profile, along with creme de cassis, sandalwood and dust. Fig, nutmeg, with mixed berry pie toward the finish. Pop and pour! Thanks @Benjamin Keator .
Third blind red for my father’s 53rd birthday. We tried four 2014s, two were Cabernet Sauvignons and two were Bordeaux Blends.
Purplish ruby red. Layered nose with anise, cinnamon, earthiness, black fruits and even a little plums. Heavy tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Well rounded with a nice amount of complexity on the palate. Notes of black fruits, solid backbone, cinnamon, vanilla and dark rocks. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2030. (93+)
Third blind red for my father’s 53rd birthday. We tried four 2014s, two were Cabernet Sauvignons and two were Bordeaux Blends.
Purplish ruby red. Layered nose with anise, cinnamon, earthiness, black fruits and even a little plums. Heavy tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Well rounded with a nice amount of complexity on the palate. Notes of black fruits, solid backbone, cinnamon, vanilla and dark rocks. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2030. (93+)
Sixth blind wine for this weekend's tasting.
Deep ruby red with deep garnet edges. A touch dirty in the attack on the nose with some dark berries, and layered sweet spices. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and medium plus to full bodied. Dark fruit profile on the palate with black and blue fruits. Lots of sweet and dark spices as well. Dark gravel undertones and a touch dry in the long finish. Still a baby and needs some more bottle age. Drink from 2018 till 2030. (93+)
Sixth blind wine for this weekend's tasting.
Deep ruby red with deep garnet edges. A touch dirty in the attack on the nose with some dark berries, and layered sweet spices. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and medium plus to full bodied. Dark fruit profile on the palate with black and blue fruits. Lots of sweet and dark spices as well. Dark gravel undertones and a touch dry in the long finish. Still a baby and needs some more bottle age. Drink from 2018 till 2030. (93+)
08' Rutherford Estate Hillside Reserve. Loved the early & mid 90s of this wine. Very average Rutherford Cabernet.
08' Rutherford Estate Hillside Reserve. Loved the early & mid 90s of this wine. Very average Rutherford Cabernet.
Aug 12th, 2017Super dark purplish ruby red. Dark nose with dark cocoa, dark cinnamon, nutmeg, black and blue berries with some air. Thick and plush on the palate. Moderate plus tannins (7.5/10), and full bodied. Lots of depth in the palate with dark cocoa, dark berries and a bit of twigs. Great structure and backbone. Rounded out on day two. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2034.
Super dark purplish ruby red. Dark nose with dark cocoa, dark cinnamon, nutmeg, black and blue berries with some air. Thick and plush on the palate. Moderate plus tannins (7.5/10), and full bodied. Lots of depth in the palate with dark cocoa, dark berries and a bit of twigs. Great structure and backbone. Rounded out on day two. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2034.
Feb 5th, 2017Too bad we can't always drink Napa can with some age on it!
Too bad we can't always drink Napa can with some age on it!
Jun 10th, 2016Updating some tasting notes from my recent trip to Napa.
Probably in my top 5 of favorite wines. Ruby red fruits. May very well be peaking, but still some time ahead of it. Drink now.
Updating some tasting notes from my recent trip to Napa.
Probably in my top 5 of favorite wines. Ruby red fruits. May very well be peaking, but still some time ahead of it. Drink now.
Tragically oxidized and corked! Poor abused bottle?
Tragically oxidized and corked! Poor abused bottle?
Nov 9th, 2015