Nougatine is out Cheryl and Chris and Melissa — 18 days ago
2021 vintage. So tasted alongside sister property Cade (and Plumpjack) Howell Mountain Cab. If I weren't so familiar with the Cade HM, woulda sworn this was mountain fruit. This is the leanest, dirtiest SLD effort I've ever had spanning a multiplicity of SLD producers since the 1986 vintage. It's got the underlying structure of Stags Leap District but none of the top layer of richness. It all got scraped off and you are just left with the steak-no sizzle. Comes courtesy of the old old Steltzer property (hadn't heard that winery name in decades and it was the durtiest in SLD!) and the new powers that be turbo-charged it and turned shizz up to 11. Fascinating and phenomenal. Light-medium body and has the color but packs an unexpected Barolo-styled punch. Not your average SLD bear. Watch out for Mr. Ringer...err...Ranger. 10.30.24. — 2 months ago
Thought this was going to have more punch to it. Might have kept it too long but it wasn’t browning or any lightness in color. Just a bit flat. — 2 days ago
2002 vintage. Last tasted 10.06.22 (9.4). Similar "gliding along" impressions with feminine characteristics. This bottle (nice fill, cork and decent sed) was a goody. Decanted and tasted after 5 mins, 30 mins and 2 hours. Bit more structure evident after two hours open as to be a different, yet fantastic, wine. Funny how some of these underwhelming, less than aggro wines can take on another life of their own, on their terms, by gently removing all doubt. Still another 5-7 years-easy. 11.21.24. — a month ago
An absolutely alluring nose with cloves, spice, dried meat and a trace of pepper. Barely medium weight on the palate. Barb loved it for that. Very different to Barossa or McLaren Vale Shiraz. Without a doubt the best Shiraz Viognier blend in Australia although Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 2 (with a few other Rhone varieties in the blend) would give it a run for its money. Really very good with a few years to go but pretty much at its peak. — 2 months ago
Deep purple in color.
Fruity and easy drinking right out of the bottle
Rich and extracted. Smooth and elegant. Showing nice complexity and balance. Spicy and entertaining.
Still young, but already enjoyable, even by itself. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.
Robert Parker 92 points. Wine Spectator 94 points.
A delicious Napa Cabernet, and better with airtime. I've had many different vintages of this wine and it is very consistent.
A blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot and a touch of Petit Verdot and Malbec.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$100. — 23 days ago
Well balanced. Peppery and nearly perfect. Thoroughly enjoyed it. — 4 days ago
Good acidity, on the fuller side of riesling tastes a little off dry. Tropical fruit, petrol notes, a touch of honey. — 22 days ago
"Odedi"
Deep ruby in color, almost inky, with a reddish rim.
Nose of blueberries, black currants, black plums, light oak, earth, dark chocolates and black pepper.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.
Very dry on the palate with black currants, plums, stewed cherries, spices, oak, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, light earth and peppercorn.
Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and sour raspberries.
This young Cabernet Sauvignon from Spring Mountain District in Napa Valley is still very young, and needs a few years in the bottle to mature.
Fruity and interesting. Spicy and entertaining. Showing nice complexity and mouthfeel.
Feels like a Left Bank Bordeaux at this point. Very Interesting.
A good quality wine that will continue to age nicely in the next 25 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years. Showing good potential to become a 94+ point wine.
Needed 3 hours in the decanter to open up properly.
I've had a few vintages of this wine, and it definitely needs time to show its capabilities.
A good food wine that will pair nicely with BBQ Meats.
A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc and a touch of Merlot. Aged for 18 months in (65% new) French Oak barrels.
14.3% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$60. — 17 days ago