The Mascot
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
All the puzzle pieces were there, Royal DNA would come through blind. Even after a 45 min decant this was a bit closed, was wishing I waited longer on this one… Will score way higher in 4+ years.
All the puzzle pieces were there, Royal DNA would come through blind. Even after a 45 min decant this was a bit closed, was wishing I waited longer on this one… Will score way higher in 4+ years.
Jan 14th, 2023
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious one.
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Full-bodied, yet elegant, with nice complexity and mouthfeel.
Dry and very fruity on the palate.
Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, light herbs, earth, chocolates, coffee, tobacco leaf and peppercorn.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
What a great Cabernet Sauvignon from the great 2014 vintage. Smooth, soft and rich with a nice nose. Tangy and interesting.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.
This 8 year old is drinking wonderfully right out of the bottle, but better with some air time.
I had the 2013 vintage a year or so ago, and it was even better than the 2014.
Good by itself or with food. A great sipping wine by the porch.
A blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon grapes with some Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
14.8% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$170.
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious one.
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Full-bodied, yet elegant, with nice complexity and mouthfeel.
Dry and very fruity on the palate.
Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, light herbs, earth, chocolates, coffee, tobacco leaf and peppercorn.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
What a great Cabernet Sauvignon from the great 2014 vintage. Smooth, soft and rich with a nice nose. Tangy and interesting.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.
This 8 year old is drinking wonderfully right out of the bottle, but better with some air time.
I had the 2013 vintage a year or so ago, and it was even better than the 2014.
Good by itself or with food. A great sipping wine by the porch.
A blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon grapes with some Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
14.8% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$170.
Big earthy aromas; leather, mushrooms, baked fruit. Balanced minerality — iron, dark cherry, a touch of clove and enjoyable tannins with homemade enchiladas.
Big earthy aromas; leather, mushrooms, baked fruit. Balanced minerality — iron, dark cherry, a touch of clove and enjoyable tannins with homemade enchiladas.
Nov 25th, 2021#Memorialday
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from a great vintage in Napa Valley.
Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.
Showing black fruits with chocolates, earth, cedar, spices, peppercorn, pencil lead, dark coffee, vanilla, licorice and light vegetables.
Dry on the palate with a long finish and fine grained tannins.
Good right out of the bottle, but really needs a few hours to open up properly and show the tannins, which we did not have this time, as it finished way too quickly.
This 8 year old is still young, and would age nicely in the next 15 years.
Showing great complexity with a smooth, soft and delicate mouthfeel. Rich yet elegant, with a spicy finish.
Grapes come from the younger vines of BOND, Harlan Estate and Promontory.
I paired it with a nice piece of steak and baked potatoe.
94 points.
$170.
#Memorialday
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from a great vintage in Napa Valley.
Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.
Showing black fruits with chocolates, earth, cedar, spices, peppercorn, pencil lead, dark coffee, vanilla, licorice and light vegetables.
Dry on the palate with a long finish and fine grained tannins.
Good right out of the bottle, but really needs a few hours to open up properly and show the tannins, which we did not have this time, as it finished way too quickly.
This 8 year old is still young, and would age nicely in the next 15 years.
Showing great complexity with a smooth, soft and delicate mouthfeel. Rich yet elegant, with a spicy finish.
Grapes come from the younger vines of BOND, Harlan Estate and Promontory.
I paired it with a nice piece of steak and baked potatoe.
94 points.
$170.
This was a solid bottle, red and blue fruits, medium plus tannins, medium acidity, well structured and a delight to drink.
This was a solid bottle, red and blue fruits, medium plus tannins, medium acidity, well structured and a delight to drink.
Mar 28th, 2021
In 2008 bud break began very early. There were initial threats of frost but our vineyards, situated on hillsides above the floor of the valley, were fortunately unaffected. The growing season was quite temperate until August when a few stretches of warmer days accelerated ripening, resulting in one of the earliest harvests to date.
The wine in its youth is charming: juicy, with soft tannins and hints of spice. The nose is enveloped by ripe black cherries with hints of graphite and baked clay. On the palate the wine is lavish: acidity takes on a background role, while fruit carries the day within a structure of precocious tannin. This vintage of The Mascot is not remembered for density per se, but more for its harmony, proportion, and long, generous finish.
In 2008 bud break began very early. There were initial threats of frost but our vineyards, situated on hillsides above the floor of the valley, were fortunately unaffected. The growing season was quite temperate until August when a few stretches of warmer days accelerated ripening, resulting in one of the earliest harvests to date.
The wine in its youth is charming: juicy, with soft tannins and hints of spice. The nose is enveloped by ripe black cherries with hints of graphite and baked clay. On the palate the wine is lavish: acidity takes on a background role, while fruit carries the day within a structure of precocious tannin. This vintage of The Mascot is not remembered for density per se, but more for its harmony, proportion, and long, generous finish.
10, Mascot - Bill Harlan
10 is the third release of the Mascot, Bill Harlan's wine produced with grapes from the younger vines at Harlan Estate, Bond, Promontory. If you’re able to afford these three wines. This would be considered your everyday drinking Cali Cab🙂
90% Cab & the rest is PV & CF
Pulled the cork an hour before we went to dinner. Even better after a further hour of decanting when we arrived.
This bottle is firing on all cylinders. Deep ruby color in the glass. All the black fruit you can squeeze into a bottle, with some earthiness. Additional notes of a syrup/tobacco taste to it, dark chocolate. The tannins & acidity 6/10. The finished lingers for a good 30+ seconds.
Four - five years ago this wasn’t near as approachable as it is today. Enjoy them now or over the next decade. Cheers
10, Mascot - Bill Harlan
10 is the third release of the Mascot, Bill Harlan's wine produced with grapes from the younger vines at Harlan Estate, Bond, Promontory. If you’re able to afford these three wines. This would be considered your everyday drinking Cali Cab🙂
90% Cab & the rest is PV & CF
Pulled the cork an hour before we went to dinner. Even better after a further hour of decanting when we arrived.
This bottle is firing on all cylinders. Deep ruby color in the glass. All the black fruit you can squeeze into a bottle, with some earthiness. Additional notes of a syrup/tobacco taste to it, dark chocolate. The tannins & acidity 6/10. The finished lingers for a good 30+ seconds.
Four - five years ago this wasn’t near as approachable as it is today. Enjoy them now or over the next decade. Cheers
Young vines of the Harlan Estate. I was intrigued by this wine. Deep concentration of violets and explosion of flower vibes. I found the lilac and deep blue fruit to be striking on the palate and leans more “Bordeaux’ish” and reminds me of a sexy merlot. Sinus clearing on the mid palate with laser focus. Mouth coating finish, shows black pepper and mocha.
Young vines of the Harlan Estate. I was intrigued by this wine. Deep concentration of violets and explosion of flower vibes. I found the lilac and deep blue fruit to be striking on the palate and leans more “Bordeaux’ish” and reminds me of a sexy merlot. Sinus clearing on the mid palate with laser focus. Mouth coating finish, shows black pepper and mocha.
Jun 20th, 2020