Jlc Family Estate Grown

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

2002 vintage. Nice fill, good cork. Decanted with a respectable amount of powdery sed. Smelled great during decanting. Tasted 1.5 hours after opening/decanting. Expected light body with delicate tendrils. Medium body with a light palate footprint. Holy shazzbaat. This was absolutely firing. Like top of the pops, straight up to number one. Exceptional knitting and in a perfect spot now. Go all the way back to the inaugural 1982 vintage with this winery’s cabernet…thought my all-time fave was the 1991 altho the 1986 and 1987 were special. The 2020, picked early, thus avoiding the fires, is phenomenal as well. This was on another level and have had approx 150 bottles of Spottswoode Cab in the last three + decades. It was probably the best out of all of them. Difficult to imagine Napa Cab better than this. Power and finesse on display. Not improving but can hold this intensity for another 4-5 years. 12.24.24. — 10 days ago

Shay, Jan and 13 others liked this

The Eyrie Vineyards

Estate Grown Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2022

Very likely the finest Willamette chardonnay we have had. Stands up to any premium chardonnay out there. — a month ago

Rochioli

Estate Grown Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2021

Silky smooth, soft fruits. Hint of leather, cherries - maybe strawberries. Beautiful. — 2 months ago

Tom liked this

Bryant Family Vineyard

Proprietor Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

2005 vintage. Tasted after being open for approx two hours. Emperor's semi-new clothes. I get that people dig this fruit bomb style but the lack of tannins/acidity leave it rather one-dimensional. The single dimension is really nice, yet not enuff to overcome needed Napa Cab balance. Ditching structure and attempting to reinvent the wheel has obviously pulled plenty of people into this producer's orbit. To each their own-orbit. 12.27.24. — 7 days ago

Shay, Andrew and 6 others liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Nice notes. I wonder how much the winemaker tried to disguise the 05 vintage fault-lines (and there were several). Personally, I avoid 98, 03 and 05’s from Cali.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

@Ron R If you ever come across a bottle of the 1998 Chateau Montelena Estate Cab, you might amend your statement. Montelena's '98 Cab was better than nearly every other Napa Cab '97. Reverified this year. Of course, it, along with the Dunn Howell Mtn, are probably the two exceptions that prove your 1998 rule.
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego, I do accept your point as there are always issues with imprecise generalizations. With so many better vintages available, without prior tasting, I wouldn’t choose the vintages that I mentioned.

Kamen Estate Wines

Estate Grown Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

I was hoping for more here. Subdued is my new word. — 2 months ago

Paul, Shay and 2 others liked this

Stolpman Vineyards

Estate Grown Ballard Canyon Syrah 2015

Really rich, deep, dark fruit. — 2 months ago

Tom liked this

St. Supéry Estate Vineyards

Estate Grown Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Loads of citrus; lemon, lime, and peach. Fennel, honeydew, floral, limestone, and spice on the finish. Delicious 😋 — a month ago

Michael, Tom and 9 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1985

Why Not tasting, Celebrating life! — a month ago

Jan, Dick and 10 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Red Wine 2013

Double decanted two nights before service. The 2013 Insignia pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing but still quite youthful with notes of tart and ripe dark fruit: dense brambles, purple flowers, tobacco, vanilla and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. At 11 years of age, this remains tightly coiled and needs more time to open up and tell more of its story. All that being said, this is very good now…but to my palate, better after 2027 and through 2043. — 2 months ago

Ely, Jan and 12 others liked this

Brandlin

Estate Grown Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Enjoyed at Bourbon Steak Sky Bar at the JW Marriott in Nashville on 10/13/2024. — 3 months ago