As a wine professional, there are few greater pleasures than a bottle that surprises. All too often, our prejudices influence the experience which is why it’s so important to taste wines in double-blind fashion, and often. This bottle of 2005 Terlato Family Vineyards, “Cardinal’s Peak” blew me away. I don’t know anything about the wine making or fruit source but what was in the glass was simply beautiful.
Poured into a decanter about 90 minutes prior to service and then enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2005 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some light signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of mostly ripe, but also some dried black and red fruits: blackberries, black cherry, black plum, raspberry, pipe tobacco, the purple Now and Laters®️, oiled leather, purple flowers, dark chocolate, coffee, dried forest floor, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and overwhelmingly satisfying. A somewhat, no scratch that, remarkable wine. End stop. Drinking so well right now and absolutely in its prime. Don’t think twice to drink now to enjoy at its very best, but this will continue to drink well through 2030 if you must. 13.8% ABV. — 3 months ago
We had the 2016 Vintage on 5/12-13/24. Simply an excellent PN. Darker tones than other Sonoma PN. Dark cherry, cinnamon oak, maybe leather. A velvety mouthfeel. Full bodied. — 6 months ago
OH SO good. And for a very reasonable price in the 20’s. A spicy rendition, showing clove, white pepper and black tea on the nose (on top of to-be-expected-but-not-unwanted) of ripe red cherry. The palate brings in more green notes, contrasting the ripe fruit and fruitcake spices, but the acid is vibrant, and the tannins are scarcely there—this is a smooth, smooth glass of goodness. — 3 months ago
A tribute to the crest called Rattlesnake Hill, highest point of Monte Rosso Vineyard, famous for rattlesnakes living among the vines, seeking sunshine by day and coiling around the vines at night. Dark Ruby with aromas of berry fruits, tangy herb, pepper and sweet spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and ripe cherry with black pepper spice, vanilla and earthy sweet herbs. Soft chewy tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, spice and earthy oak. Nice! — 4 months ago
Appropriate accompaniment to ham and rosemary white bean, onion, tomato dish. ($22) — 5 months ago
We had the 2018 Vintage on 9/14-15/24. A real good PN from CA. The two wines I had from Gaps Crown had a wonderful mouthfeel. Fruit forward with tastes of black cherry, black raspberry, cinnamon and cassis. I did not the earthy notes others commented on. A real good CA PN. Darker tones compared to other Sonoma wines. — 2 months ago
Really pleasantly surprised at how good this was especially given the year! — 4 months ago
Light forward pepper flavors with flavorful dark berries and fun spices that carry through to the finish! — 7 months ago
Neil Valenzuela
Medium ruby color. Aromas of cherry cola, lavender, caramel and cocoa. Ridiculously amazing! Soft delicate flavors or cherry and black tea finish. — 11 days ago