Lail Vineyards

J. Daniel Cuvée Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

9.515 ratings
9.74 pro ratings
Napa Valley, California, USA
Cabernet Sauvignon
Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Pasta, Venison, Tomato-Based, Potato, Pork, Chocolate & Caramel, White Rice, Mushrooms, Beef, Lamb, Chili & Hot Spicy
Top Notes For
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Nose of slightly syrupy and jammy blue fruits of; olallieberries, blueberries, huckleberries, black raspberries, blackberries, spiced plums, dark cherries, dark cherry cola, expresso roast, dried dark flowers, spice, cinnamon & anise, dry stems and leather. On the palate, full bodied, round, juicy with fine powdery tannins and darkly elegant. Fruits, of; blueberries, olallieberries, black raspberries, blackberries, plums, dark cherries, cinnamon, nutmeg. mocha powder, light vanillin, anise, espresso roast, black tea, soft leather, finely dry crushed rock powder, graphite, underbrush, poached strawberries hit the long palate set, dark rich earth, dry red flowers, liquid violets and notes of tarriness. The finish is nice resolved dark tannins, great balance of fruit & earth, solid structure, nice tension, rich, full elegance and perfect acidity that rains over the palate. Lail owns and uses fruit from two estate vineyards; the Totem Vineyard in Yountville; which is part of the original Inglenook vineyard estate. This vineyard is named after a Totem pole that was the founder of Inglenook Winery, Gustav Niebaum. Their Mole Hill vineyard is located high on the slopes of Howell Mountain at about 1600 feet. Still has 8-10 years of good life ahead of it. Photos of the Lail Vineyards and small estate building without a tasting room.

Nose of slightly syrupy and jammy blue fruits of; olallieberries, blueberries, huckleberries, black raspberries, blackberries, spiced plums, dark cherries, dark cherry cola, expresso roast, dried dark flowers, spice, cinnamon & anise, dry stems and leather. On the palate, full bodied, round, juicy with fine powdery tannins and darkly elegant. Fruits, of; blueberries, olallieberries, black raspberries, blackberries, plums, dark cherries, cinnamon, nutmeg. mocha powder, light vanillin, anise, espresso roast, black tea, soft leather, finely dry crushed rock powder, graphite, underbrush, poached strawberries hit the long palate set, dark rich earth, dry red flowers, liquid violets and notes of tarriness. The finish is nice resolved dark tannins, great balance of fruit & earth, solid structure, nice tension, rich, full elegance and perfect acidity that rains over the palate. Lail owns and uses fruit from two estate vineyards; the Totem Vineyard in Yountville; which is part of the original Inglenook vineyard estate. This vineyard is named after a Totem pole that was the founder of Inglenook Winery, Gustav Niebaum. Their Mole Hill vineyard is located high on the slopes of Howell Mountain at about 1600 feet. Still has 8-10 years of good life ahead of it. Photos of the Lail Vineyards and small estate building without a tasting room.

Apr 29th, 2017
Gus Kalaris

Almost perfect

Almost perfect

Mar 31st, 2017
George Staikos

One of my favorites. 02 was drinking beautifully.

One of my favorites. 02 was drinking beautifully.

Dec 27th, 2013
Joe Lucca

Decanted for about 3 hours. Surprisingly, very small amount of fine sediment after all this time. Deep, dark garnet in the glass. A hint of brick at the rim. The nose is complex and heavy with briar berries, smoke, saddle leather, tobacco, camphor, freshly sliced mushrooms, pencil shavings, and a hint of green pepper. Well structured palate giving off nuances of peat, crushed currants, dark fruits, earth, and minerals. The heady finish lingers with wet stones and a slight touch of heat, perhaps white pepper. This wine is firing on all cylinders now but has the stuffing to last another decade. It's like walking into a time machine; as soon as you have a taste, you are transported to the winemaking style of the early 2000s. Excellent quality and precise execution. Dead ringer for top flight Bordeaux.

Decanted for about 3 hours. Surprisingly, very small amount of fine sediment after all this time. Deep, dark garnet in the glass. A hint of brick at the rim. The nose is complex and heavy with briar berries, smoke, saddle leather, tobacco, camphor, freshly sliced mushrooms, pencil shavings, and a hint of green pepper. Well structured palate giving off nuances of peat, crushed currants, dark fruits, earth, and minerals. The heady finish lingers with wet stones and a slight touch of heat, perhaps white pepper. This wine is firing on all cylinders now but has the stuffing to last another decade. It's like walking into a time machine; as soon as you have a taste, you are transported to the winemaking style of the early 2000s. Excellent quality and precise execution. Dead ringer for top flight Bordeaux.

Jun 7th, 2015
Daniel Mahdavian

Consulting Somm-Daniel Mahdavian Ventures

9.8

Daniel had this 9 years ago

Daniel had this 9 years ago

Jul 3rd, 2015
Spencer Dahl

Spencer had this 8 years ago

Spencer had this 8 years ago

May 30th, 2016
Rhonda Mayeda

Rhonda had this 9 years ago

Rhonda had this 9 years ago

Oct 30th, 2015
Rich Duno

Rich had this 9 years ago

Rich had this 9 years ago

Aug 28th, 2015
Dave & Heidi Greenberger

Dave had this 10 years ago

Dave had this 10 years ago

Mar 15th, 2015
Paul Woolls

Paul had this 10 years ago

Paul had this 10 years ago

Feb 2nd, 2015