David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

The 2021 Napa Cabernets I’ve had so far have been outstanding. It is still early, but I think it could be in the conversation for vintage of the century for Cabernets.

The 21 Onda as with all the Onda Cabernets are a blend of all three of their holdings (Lotus, Helms, Hershey. They also source Sauvignon Blanc from Crystal Springs) and this one is very well made. Excellent; structure, fruit and showing some of the Rutherford dust on the finish with 20% of the blend coming from Rutherford.

Give this one 10 years plus.

Photos of Dana Estates 9/14/24 Onda release party. Akaushi New York Yorkshire Pudding. — 2 months ago

Mike R

9.2

Love this wine - amazing for the money - melka made and Dana Estate 2nd label - first time trying the ‘16 vintage - needs a good decant or a few years of rest - try again in two years — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.4

VASO cellars is essentially Dana Estate’s third label. However, what makes VASO unique is that while it’s a third label, the fruit that is used is the same fruit that goes in to Dana. No young vines or anything like that here. The main difference is the way it is oak aged. This SB comes from Dana’s Hershey Vineyard on Howell Mountain.

This is good. Like really good. Would love to try next to Dana’s own SB. 8yrs young and drinking wonderfully...almost shockingly so. This is like a combo of high end Bordeaux Blanc with Aesthete Sauv Blanc. Aromatically, it leaps from the glass with honeyed sea salt, grapefruit, lemongrass and white peach. On the palate, it is so textured and rich, almost creamy. More peach, poached pear, lemon oil, creamsicle, and wet rock. There is good acidity here (still at 8yrs for a Napa SB!), and while the profile is rounded, it’s certainly not flabby. One of the best Napa SBs I’ve tasted and still has a couple years of cruising at peak. I’m going to open my ‘13 soon, but I’m going to hold my ‘15 for a while! Best around cellar temp, don’t get it too cold or it will mute some of the flavors. I owe you for this one, @Mike R ! — 5 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.9

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Hershey Vineyard is fabulous. At age ten, it remains quite youthful. Black cherry, gravel, menthol, licorice and spices all run through this potent Howell Mountain Cabernet. All the elements are so well balanced. The 2012 is a seriously beautiful wine, as it always has been. What a knockout! It is the clear standout in this tasting, but it is definitely a wine for readers who appreciate mountain structure and intensity. What a wine! (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 6 months ago

Scott Kahn

9.1

This wine continues to drink well with filet mignon or without. Bright dark fruit, vanilla oak, some coffee notes, and Rutherford dust! — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.3

VASO cellars is essentially Dana Estate’s third label. However, what makes VASO unique is that while it’s a third label, the fruit that is used is the same fruit that goes in to Dana. No young vines or anything like that here. The main difference is the way it is oak aged.

Enjoyed during the WNH virtual tasting with a theme of 2014 Napa cab, chosen by Carl.

Similar to the ‘12 Sauv Blanc I popped, this is also from Dana’s Hershey Vineyard on Howell Mountain. Due to the ‘14 vintage being one that is drinking fairly well now, I assumed this would be close to pop and pour...wrong. Very tightly coiled on day one. Very crunchy and underripe fruits with herbs and baking spice. Re-corked and gave an hour decant on day two and it was immensely better. Sweet toasted oak, violets, charred plum, baked mixed berry pie with some added herbal flair on the nose. More plush on day two but still flexing those powerful mountain tannins. On the palate it is full of rich dark fruits, dark chocolate, mocha, nutmeg, licorice and quite a bit of graphite. It’s dusty, herbal with a good amount of ripe fruit with nice lift. I’d hold for a few more years. @Mike R , these are very nice wines. Thanks buddy! — 5 years ago

AEL

9.0

This is great, except for the part where I opened it 5 years too early. After 2 hours, classy floral nose, with rose petals, something else, and a dusty note. Bottle #2 from the case of half bottles Dana got me. — 3 years ago

AEL

9.0

This is a great Brunello, at a not-crazy price. Heavy, interesting nose w dark fruit and a oregano/basil kind of note. Some chocolate too. Substantial, spicier in palate, long finish. First bottle of half-bottle mixed case from Lower Falls - birthday present from Dana. — 3 years ago

Anna Sangiacomo

9.3

Delicious. Needs a bit of time to open up in the glass. Weekly zoom happy hour with the Ducks ♥️ — 5 years ago

Dmitry Muzychak

9.0

Выпито 01.04.19 в Dana complex . Безумный, нежный и очень минеральный совиное блан из долины Марльборо. — 6 years ago