Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon

Picked up a couple of these from a local cellar sale at a crazy cheap price and have been happy with each one.

Classically older SLD Cabernet. The fruit spectrum is on the red and black side (as I expect from SLD) with a mocha/cocoa layered sweetness. Some older fig, sweet pipe tobacco, and a core of fruit still in-tact. Soft on the mid-palate but retaining nice structure throughout the finish. Exactly what I expected from 34yr old Napa Cabernet.

Hope to try the Realm X Hartwell wine to see the vision from where this was to what the profile goal is in the future.

Rockstar local market find for a mere $21!! Fruit is still fresh and supple and the tannins well distributed. Incredibly enjoyable through and through!

This surprised me. Made by Celia Welch it started off lean, but in five minutes it blossomed to reveal glorious fruit. Just beautiful.

1999 vintage. This review a bit of a mixed bag. “Inherited” this bottle and had been looking sideways at it for the better part of three years. Fill decent but both the front and back labels pretty trashed. The foil up top a tad crimped in places. Ugly duckling syndrome. See a ton of this at work and occasionally able to resuscitate what appears to be an abused bottle. Cut off the foil and there was some seepage at the top trapped between the cork and the foil. Not good. Extracted the cork in three passes (3!!!) with the Durand. Cork was half saturated and dunzo. Did not decant. Color was on point at least. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.1% ABV. Less than expected sed. Poured out a fifth of a glass and let sit for 2-3 mins. Nose was big white pepper, roasted cashews and white sage…three notes that I don’t come across often over the years with Napa cabbage and flavors were hidden beneath for a spell. Gave it 15 minutes. That initial nose dissipated and a bit of magic unfolded. Light-medium body, cocoa powder, graphite, feminine, sumptuous milk chocolate, a little sweaty, dried legumes, spearmint, supremely resolved tannins. Echoes of Haut-Brion/La Mission Haut-Brion. This old-school, Stags Leap District Napa cab came through in the clutch. Seemed to gather strength the longer it was open. Given that this particular bottle was not exactly mint, more than a bit curious as to how a decently stored example of this wine would perform. Van the Man was right. Wild night is calling. Come on out and dance. 05.16.25. @Shay A

1.5hr decant. Very similar to previous note. Tight and restrained, not sure it ever opens up. Very sweet with candied fruit and dark cherries. Medium plus depth.

1hr+ decant. Dark red color with purple elements. Cherry, medicinal, and subtle graphite on the nose. Medium plus depth with ample Napa sweetness. Unfortunately a very short finish which is odd. I’d drink up very soon!

Unbelievable that after 21 years this wine has held up so beautifully

Smooth and silky. Blackfruit, blueberry, tar, liquorice, spicy, mineral, barnyard, mint, kirsch, cassis, powdery. Sweet core. Tannin smooth out. The cork end show crytalise. Brownish rim. Fried rice war

Yum... had this bottle on 5/3/18. Friends visiting. It Needed to breathe for a while and got better as the night went on. Very good.

A little graphite never hurt anyone. You can feel the tannins but hopefully they will soften over time.