Jeremiah Diaz

9.4

Deep ruby color; cherries, dried herbs, and smoke on the nose; high acidity; high tannins; tastes just like it smells. Nellie likes it.  Jen says it's ok. Brian likes it. Jason loves it and I do too. — a year ago

with Nellie

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2016 vintage. Nose has waves of ink, dark cherry, mushrooms, incense cedar and earth. Light-medium body. Pretties up on a dry but gilded tobacco, plum and spicy boysenberry finish. Brickish tannins smooth out fairly quickly. Classy and with plenty of staying power. — 3 years ago

David D

9.0

Had the same vintage a year ago and the age has served it well. Not so alcohol-forward as before. Ripe berry, a little ink, pepper, stained leather, raisins. From Amaro Spirits and Wines. — 5 years ago

John Stephens

9.5

Great depth....loves this wine — 5 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

8.9

I like this vintage of SB more than the 18. — a year ago

Matt

9.3

Warm and inviting black/purple berry fruit, woodsmoke, resinous herbs, granite, iron, taffy and apricot pit, ink. The front in is classic CH with the rich and voluptuous fruit character, but the finish departs with a serious edge of minerality and coarse tannin, reminiscent of classic Cornas. The vintage evident in the dry extract and ripening profile. — 2 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.2

Lovely. Just lovely.
This is drinking great right now.
Surprisingly soft and open, beautifully balanced. In the mouth it showed dollops of dark cherry cobbler, forestfloor and clay, graphite and tobacco, ink and autumn leaves.
A very good wine from “the last affordable vintage in Bordeaux”.
— 4 years ago

Kevin C Reimer

8.9

Chocolate is really pronounced in this one, has a fruity sweetness that lingers. Chocolate covered strawberries dipped in wine. — 2 years ago

Mariana Jauregui

10

Vintage 2009, opened in 2022. So rich and powerful. Absolutely amazing example of Tannat! Red fruits, blueberries, Blackberry, liquorice, cassis, spices, thym, herbs, cedar, cigar box, leather, ink. Velvety tannins in huge concentration. Seductive — 3 years ago

Vanessa

9.2

Cimarossa, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rive di Cimarossa. Vintage 2011. ABV 14.20%.

This wine is deep ruby with garnet secondary hues. On the nose this wine has medium(+) intensity of developing aromas. Aromas include blackberry preserves, black cherry, dried prune, fig, also black pepper, molasses, cedar, tobacco, mocha, cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, earth, and wet moss. On the palate this wine is dry. It has medium acidity, a full body, high alcohol, firm (high) tannins, and medium(+) intensity of flavors consistent with the nose but with delicate vegetal notes. The baking spice is also very prominent. The finish is long.

The 2011 vintage in Napa Valley was on the wetter and cooler side, which offered an extended growing season allowing the grapes to ripen and develop slowly. This wine comes from a vineyard located in Howell Mountain, on the Northeastern side of the Vaca Mountains, which afforded it additional exposure to winds that kept the vines dry and sunshine which aided in the ripening process.

Fun fact! Howell Mountain legally became its own appellation in 1983, the year of my birth, making this Howell Mountain Cab a fine choice for a Birthday weekend (there’s always a connection).

In addition to owning this spectacular winery, owners Corry Dekker and Dino Dina both come from an impressive background in medicine and biotechnology and have left, and continue to leave, an indelible impact on the vaccine industry. Cheers to that!! And cheers to Mia Kline for her excellence in winemaking and fruit expression.

This label features an image of the yellow monkeyflower, a wild flower that grows along the edges of the vineyard from which this wine comes.
— 4 years ago

with Deked1