Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This is a similar story as the others with M+ tannins, too much new wood and lacked the benefit of a better growing season as was the case with 2021.

I would also say their bottles are priced a bit beyond their production quality. There are better Napa reds available at lower price points. — 8 hours ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

As Zinfandel’s go, (not a favorite) this was nice, ripe and not overly jammy and showed nice purple flowers. Requires another 3-5 yrs in the cellar. 91-93 with cellaring. — 9 hours ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Good but lean. Would expect more effort from this producer & vintage even w/ a Bourgogne. Not sure if it was from over cropping or something in the fermentation process. As I mentioned, lean and lacked the depth I would have expected. But at $38 a bottle in the wine shop of Compline, worth it. Two glasses on a wine list would likely cost you more. — 9 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Their Cabernet fruit are nice, ripe and pretty. They should be cellared 10 years before opening one.

Again, the M+ tannin profile along with their new wood use is extremely dominant and primary young. This was astringent and felt like I had sucked on a wood plank.

The fruits & florals beautiful. Better things lie ahead for this with cellaring. 93-96 in 10-15 years.

Having had many Napa 21’s at this point, this didn’t live up to the balance & softer styles of others I had young. — 9 hours ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Easy to drink on pop & pour for such a young Syrah.

Reminded me a bit of the Domaine Rostaing’s I’ve enjoyed. Ripe black cherry, crème de cassis, violets, lavender, pepper, stem inclusion, notes of roasted chestnuts, grilled meats, iron pan, spices, dark flowers, nice acidity with good balance and elegant finish. — 8 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Absolutely stunning. The most under known & under appreciated producer of Napa Cabernet…a TRB made wine 08 vintages forward, Heidi Barrett made this 97.

Dark core, anise, dark chocolate to pudding, caramel soft, black licorice, dark spice, fresh tobacco, dull, oak barrel shavings, dry herbs, baking spices, perfumed; dark, red, florals, violets, lavender, excellent round acidity and with a lush, well balanced, nicely tensioned/structured, elegant finish that’s last 90 seconds and lands squarely on full beauty. — 10 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

They make a good Cabernet Franc that requires 7-10 plus yrs in cellar before opening.

The most agitating part of drinking their new vintages young is they use too much new wood. Along with the M+ tannin profile, very had to open early. Young, they drink astringently and bitty on the palate.

They poured me a 2011 Cabernet at the very end, not the best vintage but it was fine, the 11 was made with 20% less new oak. It showed and was preferable. If I were making these wines, I would dial back the new oak and or barrel toast. — 9 hours ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Delicious. Nice viscosity, green apple, yellow stone fruits, lemon, lime, tropical, honey, soft chalkiness, sea fossils, white and yellow flowers, excellent acidity w/ nice balance and full minute finish. — 8 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Still a shade early but excellent w/ my Veal Bolognese last night. — 10 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

So this is not exactly Elizabeth. It is the same fruit that goes into the Elizabeth, but they made it only as a vintage. They did not put the Elizabeth name on it. There reason is, they believed it wouldn’t last two generations.

As a vintage, it is better than their N/V but not up to most Elizabeth’s I’ve had. However, it is about half the price of Elizabeth w/o less than half the quality.

It was a bit better than 93, 93.4 so I rounded down. — 10 days ago