John Malcolm

9.9

Gave this a 9.7 in 2022. The description still matches, but it’s even better know after a two-hour decant. — a month ago

Tom Garland

9.3

Blankiet Estate tasting...wonderful restrained Napa style wines... Graeme Macdonald (Macdonald vineyards) winemaker since 2016. Julian was a knowledgeable terrific host.

2019 prince of heart rose
2019 prince of heart red wine
2016 Rive Droite Merlot blend
2015 proprietary red cab blend
2018 Mythicvs cab sauvignon
2014 Rive Droite merlot blend
Prince of Hearts port wine#7
Prince of Hearts port wine #5 — 4 years ago

with Brenda

Shay A

9.3

Last week’s virtual comparative lineup of 2016 MacDonald vs 2016 Schrader RBS was so much fun, we decided to do another theme. This time, it was WA/OR Syrahs.

The lineup featured: 2014 Force Majuere Estate Syrah, 2014 KVintners The Hidden Syrah, 2014 Cayuse Cailloux and 2012 Cayuse En Cerise. All wines received about 5hrs of air.

The KVintners was my contribution and was poured second (after the Force Majuere and before the 2012 Cayuse En Cerise) and I think it was the perfect order. The profile of this wine was more elegant and floral than I expected, and certainly less funk driven. Aromatically, it was dominated by potpourri, lavender, herbs de Provence, stemmy blackberries and only a hint of smoked meats. Compared to the others, this gained the most heft as it opened. It continued the floral trait on the palate while adding sweet and dark fruit crusted with black peppercorns, charcoal smoked brisket and good mineral nuances. If opening now, give it a good decant and it will be ready, otherwise, I’d hold another few years. Tannins are still prominent. Great wine representing the region well, and a nice bridge between Paso Syrah (charcoal, big fruit) and WA/OR border Syrah (funky, stemmy, slightly green). — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Opened as part of a 2-day tasting with Alex Macdonald while he was in town. Day two was a small group of us with killer wines (2010 Chave Hermitage, mag of ‘02 Krug, Selosse Substance, 1996 Latour, 2003 Mouton, 1992 Dominus).

Quick one hour double decant to prep this beauty. While La Mouline is my favorite, La Turque still incorporates the co-ferment with Viognier. 93 Syrah/7 Viognier.

Beautiful translucent ruby in the glass. As I get with certain Cote Rotie wines (especially Guigal), barbecue and bacon fat can be overwhelming when young, but this has channeled a really balanced profile. Aromatic notes of smoked meat, cherry liqueur, and espresso. Beautifully rich yet elegant on the palate. Great nerve of acidity with a finish sporting plenty of tannin to carry this a while. Black peppered raspberries, black fruit on the palate with a little bacon and a hint of sweet/tangy barbecue sauce note (delicious). Enjoy now with a short decant or hold another 5yrs. — 2 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

Hey, Delectable— this is the Visions 2018 North Coast Pinot, but the ID wasn’t available.

Unabashedly ripe and warm, but with a distinctive umami flavor (hoisin sauce?) that I’m really digging. Black cherry, black plum and even blue fruit on the nose and palette. Lovely satiny texture. Medium + finish.

Hedonistic in the way you’d expect from a winemaker mentored by the Wagners, but the suppleness and umami notes make this wine stand out in a sea of north coast Pinot Noir, and the absence of new oak lets the fruit do the taking. Perfect with chicken lettuce wraps and haricot verts smothered in Madeira mushroom cream sauce.

Owner/founder, Mac Macdonald, has been making his own California Pinot Noir for more than 25 vintages now and it shows. Side note: he’s also one of the better story tellers in the biz.

Initially sampled as part of a tasting with the #AAAV (Association of African American Vintners) and took the bottle home.
— 5 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.7

Oakville proper. Bang next to Macdonald..... — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.4

I’m at 94-95 here. Upside over the next 5-10yrs.

Purchased during a visit to Melka back in ‘21. This 2017 ended up being the favorite red wine of the tasting (though the ‘16 SB was my overall favorite). Pritchard Hill fruit next to Ovid. 70 cab/20 CabFranc /10 petit Verdot.

Purple in the glass. Sports the entire fruit spectrum (red, blue, black) but trends darker toward the finish. Expensive oak but it’s really pretty (doesn’t come across as too oak driven). For the vintage, this is elegant and integrating nicely. Fruit is very pure (blueberries, blackberries, plum) with baking spices (cinnamon and vanilla) with a vein of mineral/graphite down the middle. Consumed from decanter over 3hrs and left a glass for the next day…improved over time, but this was already starting to open for business.

I opened this alongside two other 2017 Napa cabs with a small group for a check-in on the vintage. MacDonald was the winner, Kinsman Rhadamanthus was the most unique, this Melka fit in-between style wise (more modern than the other two). — 2 years ago

Stephen Osgood

9.5

pure Napa joy. This has some legendary MacDonald To Kalon fruit in it (5-20%). — 5 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.2

This is the sangiovese bianco white wine. Citrus, pear. Very refreshing. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.6

A few wines from last week’s 4th Friday event!

The sheer opulence of this is astounding. Obviously young, this was actually my first Realm BTK courtesy of @Keith Fisher . When thinking back to the last stunning 2016 BTK I had (MacDonald), where the MacDonald is more dusty, slightly more herbal and full of tightly coiled BTK power, this was an embarrassment of rich dark fruits, baking spices and sporting a creme de cassis like profile. Classic To Kalon power, with so much to unpack. Thank you, Keith! — 6 years ago