Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I was inspired to open this 2016 Carter Weitz after tasting the 2024 Fait-Main Weitz at the Taste of Oakville. I thought it was the best wine I tasted at the event.

While this 16 Carter was very nice, it was still much bigger than I expected it to be with 8 yrs in bottle. It showed beauty and elegance but still has its brawn. I will wait another 5 yr + to try it again. Believe it’s best will show then. Mike Smith made. — 5 days ago

Raul Puga

9.7

Another gem from Mike Smith. Young but oh so amazing — 5 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.4

What a fantastic syrah. I lean towards the whole cluster while Jennie prefers the regular bottling. She did a blind tasting for me and I knew it was a whole cluster mike smith just from the nose. — 6 years ago

Cory Bolton

9.2

Dug deep in the cellar to find this one. Letting it age for 5 years, really improved the quality of this Mike Smith product. It was in 2013 (the 2011 vintages) that we discovered his Myriad and Quivet labels and have never been disappointed with his output. While 2011 wasn’t a great year overall for the industry, this was still high class, but no comparison to his 2013-2015 vintages. — 7 years ago

Eric L.

9.3

Mike Smith makes a lovely Chardonnay. Nice balance of lemon curd, cream, and a hint of vanilla. — 8 years ago

.

9.3

This has become more velvety since my last bottle, about a year ago. Lush purple fruits, a sleek core of minerality that I don’t recall previously, and flecks of black pepper in the finish. Opened in anticipation of the upcoming Myriad Cab release, and it reminded me why the Three Twins bottling just might be my favorite sub-$100 Mike Smith cab. — 8 years ago

Rob Corrao

9.4

Rewarded by patience. This was amazing, well balanced, dark, and silky. @Mike Smith you are the grape whisperer! — 9 years ago

Duane Mason

9.8

Absolutely great California Cab. Wonderful wine with fruit and tannin in perfect balance . Great job Mike Smith — 6 months ago

Brian Nickerson

9.2

Mike Smith should be knighted. — 4 years ago

Billy L.

9.7

Magnum, Easter Party wine...Fabulous after brief “airing” the aromatic profile once mentioned to be one of the “profound in memory” for at least one Party member! Great To-Kalon performance here, Awesome Wine! @Mike Smith makes great wine! Kudos Sir! Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 — 5 years ago

with Laura

Billy L.

9.6

Thanksgiving & Weekend Wines...
Great wine! Kudos @Mike Smith ;
Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 — 7 years ago

John A

9.3

Who can go wrong with a pour from a Mike Smith wine after 5 night shifts? — 7 years ago

Joe Lucca

9.3

@Mike R just being a plain old STUD. No better way to step off the plane than to be poured a glass and lots of SMILES. Honeyed apricot, Cara Cara orange, hyacinth. A big boy that needs time. — 8 years ago

with Diana and Mike

Mike R

9.7

While this is so good and what a way to reintroduce myself back to red wines - amazing - we had to fight off wine zombies at our local high end burger joint as they saw our faces and knew the wine was speaking no screaming to us “I don’t like it, I LOVE it” as my friend @David L says but we escaped with our lives and enjoyed our wine

We kept drinking listening to Bon Jovi Wanted Dead or Alive while our horses got hydrated (well 500 horses in HP) as we did as well drinking this brilliant example of Cabernet Sauvignon from my new great friends @Mike Smith and Leah Smith - thank you so much - I praise you as I love this as much as one of top fives which is Quivet LPV 2013 which we discussed as well when we were together - this is different and Rhonda says it has a strong hint of vanilla beans that makes the scent unique and pleasant - I doubt she is right

The music changes to Dave Matthews and we taste to wine and man does the palette get pleased and finessed like a sexy women talking to me which I am lucky as that is my wife

The length of the taste is like watching your breathe on a cold day as Stone Temple Pilots plays on the speaker and really enjoying this masterpiece of wine craftsmanship / bravo Mike

By the way hope the family is great and Rob our son is doing good in first job after college and he is happy so we are blessed — 8 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.8

Mike coleman — 7 months ago

Brandon T

9.6

In a great spot after an hour of air. A fantastic complement to lamb chops. Bravo, @Mike Smith! — 4 years ago

Billy L.

9.7

1 hr. decant, Excellent Classic ToKalon Cabernet Sauvignon @Mike Smith Kills this 2015 Carter Kudos & Respect! Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.4

VASO cellars is essentially Dana Estate’s third label. However, what makes VASO unique is that while it’s a third label, the fruit that is used is the same fruit that goes in to Dana. No young vines or anything like that here. The main difference is the way it is oak aged. This SB comes from Dana’s Hershey Vineyard on Howell Mountain.

This is good. Like really good. Would love to try next to Dana’s own SB. 8yrs young and drinking wonderfully...almost shockingly so. This is like a combo of high end Bordeaux Blanc with Aesthete Sauv Blanc. Aromatically, it leaps from the glass with honeyed sea salt, grapefruit, lemongrass and white peach. On the palate, it is so textured and rich, almost creamy. More peach, poached pear, lemon oil, creamsicle, and wet rock. There is good acidity here (still at 8yrs for a Napa SB!), and while the profile is rounded, it’s certainly not flabby. One of the best Napa SBs I’ve tasted and still has a couple years of cruising at peak. I’m going to open my ‘13 soon, but I’m going to hold my ‘15 for a while! Best around cellar temp, don’t get it too cold or it will mute some of the flavors. I owe you for this one, @Mike R ! — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Saw an ‘06 on a wine list and grabbed this 12 year-old beauty. Mike Grgich 1st gained international recognition at the celebrated "Paris Tasting" of '76 where a panel of eminent French judges were shocked they chose Mike’s '73 Montelena Chard as the finest white wine in the world! Elegant, rich berry fruit aromas, licorice notes. On the palate blackberry & cherry, bits of cacao and cinnamon, soft fine tannins. Lingering finish ending with soft oaky notes. Opened quickly and drank beautifully. — 8 years ago

Jake Rubash

9.3

@Mike Smith + 2015 = 🔥🔥🔥 — 8 years ago