Vaso
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
Welcome Holiday Season ⛄️❄️🎄🎅 🎁 Cheers🥂
I posted their 2014 a few weeks ago. As I mentioned then, I bought the 13 & 15 before completing my 14 notes. While this has a yr on the 14, this is not as big as 14. Even with another yr in bottle, I expected this to have bigger teeth and it doesn’t entirely. 3 hrs in the decanter before beginning my notes. The 13 & 14 to me were not completely different. The 13’s I’ve had generally have bigger-brawnier tannins, but not significantly and not the case here with this 2013 tonight. I bought the 13 & 15 to do this comparison. The fruits on the 14 were more lush & ruby. Mildly surprising. This has more spice/earthiness and doesn’t lack a mid palate like the 14 did early on and eventually filled in.
The advantage of writing realtime notes is you can understand the changes with food. In this case a Ribcap. This was a far more lush with steak.
Now with a nearly 5 hour decant, the wine has added more lush Fruits.
Ruby & somewhat lush & juicy; dark currants, dry blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, poached strawberries, notes of pomegranate, raspberries & hues of blueberries. Deep, dark, spice w/ palate heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick and vanilla, dark chocolate, caramel hues, cocoa powder, dry tobacco w/ ash, graphite, leather, cedar, steeped black tea, dark, rich, slightly, sweet forest floor w/ dry leaves, dry top soil, dry brush, limestone & volcanic minerals, pepper, dry river stone & crushed rocks, dark, red, blue flowers, red roses with nice acidity and a well knitted-balanced, nicely toned- structured, elegant finish that lands on moist volcanic clays.
Definitely put on some weight, complexity & elegance the longer it was in the decanter.
Welcome Holiday Season ⛄️❄️🎄🎅 🎁 Cheers🥂
I posted their 2014 a few weeks ago. As I mentioned then, I bought the 13 & 15 before completing my 14 notes. While this has a yr on the 14, this is not as big as 14. Even with another yr in bottle, I expected this to have bigger teeth and it doesn’t entirely. 3 hrs in the decanter before beginning my notes. The 13 & 14 to me were not completely different. The 13’s I’ve had generally have bigger-brawnier tannins, but not significantly and not the case here with this 2013 tonight. I bought the 13 & 15 to do this comparison. The fruits on the 14 were more lush & ruby. Mildly surprising. This has more spice/earthiness and doesn’t lack a mid palate like the 14 did early on and eventually filled in.
The advantage of writing realtime notes is you can understand the changes with food. In this case a Ribcap. This was a far more lush with steak.
Now with a nearly 5 hour decant, the wine has added more lush Fruits.
Ruby & somewhat lush & juicy; dark currants, dry blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, poached strawberries, notes of pomegranate, raspberries & hues of blueberries. Deep, dark, spice w/ palate heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick and vanilla, dark chocolate, caramel hues, cocoa powder, dry tobacco w/ ash, graphite, leather, cedar, steeped black tea, dark, rich, slightly, sweet forest floor w/ dry leaves, dry top soil, dry brush, limestone & volcanic minerals, pepper, dry river stone & crushed rocks, dark, red, blue flowers, red roses with nice acidity and a well knitted-balanced, nicely toned- structured, elegant finish that lands on moist volcanic clays.
Definitely put on some weight, complexity & elegance the longer it was in the decanter.
This cab from DANA is mostly from their Hershey vineyard on Howell Mtn.
I know 2013s are powerful and tightly coiled, and DANA’s style is along those same lines, but I have to admit...this was incredibly coiled and almost unforgiving. I gave this a 4hr decant (which I followed from the beginning), and then another 3hrs out of the bottle later in the evening...and didn’t experience much of an awakening. Fragrant and floral with potpourri, violets, black currant and oak. The front palate here is quite nice in texture with notes of dark fruits, cocoa powder, espresso, extremely dusty with an herbal streak to its core. It’s very Howell Mtn in style. Good acidity and an absolute wall of tannin on the finish. This got marginally better at the end of the evening and revealed a sweeter/baking spice type finish. If opening now, I’d double decant at least 4-6hrs before enjoying.
This cab from DANA is mostly from their Hershey vineyard on Howell Mtn.
I know 2013s are powerful and tightly coiled, and DANA’s style is along those same lines, but I have to admit...this was incredibly coiled and almost unforgiving. I gave this a 4hr decant (which I followed from the beginning), and then another 3hrs out of the bottle later in the evening...and didn’t experience much of an awakening. Fragrant and floral with potpourri, violets, black currant and oak. The front palate here is quite nice in texture with notes of dark fruits, cocoa powder, espresso, extremely dusty with an herbal streak to its core. It’s very Howell Mtn in style. Good acidity and an absolute wall of tannin on the finish. This got marginally better at the end of the evening and revealed a sweeter/baking spice type finish. If opening now, I’d double decant at least 4-6hrs before enjoying.
Lovely gift from our besty. @Mike R - thank you so much!
We love Dana, so tasting this was a treat with our sushi. It has lots of texture, with slight underripe tannins. Campfire notes on the nose and palate, give way to ripe plums, hints of charcoal and cedar. More cellaring will do this no harm. Finishes with moderate sweetness. Very enjoyable.
Lovely gift from our besty. @Mike R - thank you so much!
We love Dana, so tasting this was a treat with our sushi. It has lots of texture, with slight underripe tannins. Campfire notes on the nose and palate, give way to ripe plums, hints of charcoal and cedar. More cellaring will do this no harm. Finishes with moderate sweetness. Very enjoyable.
I was expecting this sauv blanc to be way past prime after 6 years. Could not have been further from reality! Very fresh with bright citrus notes popping on the nose and palate. Yay!
I was expecting this sauv blanc to be way past prime after 6 years. Could not have been further from reality! Very fresh with bright citrus notes popping on the nose and palate. Yay!
May 24th, 2020
Not perfect, but good nose, decent depth and nice finish. Very drinkable.
Not perfect, but good nose, decent depth and nice finish. Very drinkable.
Oct 31st, 2018