Farella Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Opulent, ornate. A deep ruby with thick viscous legs: 15.5 ABV. The nose is a bit dominated by new oak, leaning towards cedar. Otherwise, blueberry and blackberry are quite present, as are floral (rose) notes. On the palate it's quite delicious, big juicy fruit with a slight acidic bite. Medium plus bodied, quite hot on the alcohol. Nice subtle tannins, and a super long finish.

This is very very good now, especially stacked up against massive fat (e.g., ribeye). Over time it will be a competition between the high alcohol and the soft tannins. I say hold for 2-3 years for maximum benefit.

P.S. This is my first exposure to this winery. I have a case and will update notes over time. So far I really like it... But not enough to do housework for @Ron R

93 points

The way to a woman’s heart is with a husband who becomes her bitch. I slaved over this Sunday dinner. I feel so used! Sniff.
Beef tenderloin with Rudius cab. 2014 was a strong vintage in Cali. Prior notes apply.

Excellent wine. Prior notes apply.
Varnished the stairs myself - I feel so used 😔

Our last bottle must have been an outlier. Normal Rudius service has been resumed.
The has the typical Napa signature on the nose and palate. Coffee notes mesh with new oak on the nose. Overripe cherries greet the mid-palate, chased by slightly underripe tannins - I love this type of presentation. Finishes with depth and opulence. Tuck these away for a little while, and allow the tannins to unfurl.

Surprisingly for this producer, we are not in love with this.
Nice aromatics on the nose, but the palate is angular and disjointed. Slightly tart, and finishing dry. It’s extremely backward, with a very shy fruit profile. Odd on so many levels...

I'll take the Rudius over the Chalk hill, but it is almost twice the price so you get what you pay for,

All the excitement of last weekend has caught up with me. Now suffering from "man flu."
This has a lovely, opulent nose of brown sugar and rich black fruits. Palette is precise and rich. Lovely tannic structure, which presents perfectly now. Finishes with maple syrup and a touch of cardamom. Can be cellared, but frankly, why wait?

Distinctly different nose of blackcurrants and mineral driven.
Not as dense as the Oakville on the palette, but what it lacks in mouthfeel, it compensates with much stronger flavors of caramel, coconut and sweet tobacco. This has a huge aging potential.
Another excellent showing from Rudius.

Birthday red for the birthday girl 🍷 all made possible by the people’s champ, @Ron R 🙌🏻 thanks for sending this our way, sir - it’s some seriously delicious juice. I gave it one smell and thought to myself, “This is a 94/100 wine.” Glad to see my initial (and final) assessment was on par with most of yours.

Intoxicating notes of mulled plums, blackberries and blueberries, all baked together with anise, melted Mexican chocolate, and dried vanilla bean. Beautiful, luscious mouthfeel with a velvety finish. This is a winner.

This is the perfect wine. So rich and velvety. Big!!