2019 vintage. From a 375 ml format. Amongst what passes for the ne plus ultra in Napa cabbage these days. Rich. Overtly sumptuous. Modicum of umami on the finish. Restrained/polite company version of a fruit bomb. Too extracted/manipulated without representative tannins for this old-school Dunn/Diamond Creek/Mayacamas/Montelena guy but still verry nice for this style. Dunno where this settles in twenty years but that's someone else's problem down the road. 7.7.24. — 6 months ago
Rich dark and red fruits, still some evident firm, tannic structure (but I guess cellaring Madiran is like cellaring Dunn Howell Mountain, as life may not be long enough for them to shed their tannins? LOL), long, lingering firm finish, really quite fine!! — 2 years ago
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Trailer is a young wine that has a bit more mid-palate juiciness, texture and sweetness than the Howell Mountain Cabernet. Dark red fruit, blood orange, rose petals, and spice abound. This is a powerful, inky and explosive wine. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 7 months ago
Bought at Dunn&Sons in Cape Cod. Enjoyed on Thanksgiving 2024. Notes of cranberry, wet stone, forest floor and mosses. Exciting and unlike any other Pinot I’ve had. — a month ago
1994 vintage. Nice fill with a slightly shrunken and fully saturated cork. Durand helped plenty in the opening assist. Not decanted and tasted after 1.25 hours open. Hadn’t tasted since the early 2000’s. Definitely dropped all the baby fat. Toffee, coffee and chocolate covered cherries in the nose. Light medium body (thought it would be a touch bigger). Still plenty of focus but slightly less grip than desired. Can it match biggie shizz like Montelena, Dunn, Diamond Creek, BV GDL Reserve, Mondavi Reserve, Araujo, Peter Michael Les Pavots, Mayacamas, etc? No. Is it really really nice? Absolutely. Can hold another 5-6 years at this juncture before boarding the downhill bell curve train. 11.8.24. — 2 months ago
Ron Siegel
Still going strong with a little funkiness when 1st opened that quickly blew off showing red & black fruits, savory, brambly spices, earth, graphite & sweet wet tobacco — 4 days ago