First time tasting the ‘19 vintage, and the Produttori edged out one of my fave under the radar barolistas this early on. Maybe because it released sooner? Both red fruited with sour cherries and elegant tamed tannin/acid, but the Produttori had another gear of sweet incense and hard candy. The vintage does remind me of a more approachable’13 from a tannin perspective. — 9 months ago
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim and medium intensity.
Pretty nose of red fruits with light wood, chocolates, sweet tobacco, and Indian spices.
Medium-plus in body and elegant with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, cherries, plums, light oak, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, peppercorn and light earth.
Nice length on the finish with fine-grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 8-year-old Napa Cabernet is drinking very nicely now. Soft and smooth.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours in the decanter.
Complex with good structure and mouthfeel. Spicy and fruit-forward. Delicious and interesting.
Wine Advocate 93 points.
I've had a few vintages of this wine, and it is always tasty.
Easy drinking and good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.
A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot. Aged in (60% new) French oak barrels for 24 months.
14.6% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$110 (at release). — 19 days ago
Medium deep ruby , quite wide ruby rim . Bit more wood spice on the nose , touch of herbal cassis , blackberry. On the palate quite rigid dark fruits , with a touch of vanilla , blackcurrant and blackberry . Quite grippy tannins with quite good acidity. Decent length with a bit more grafite and tobacco . This probably needs a little time to round out the rather grippy tannins , so better in 5 years and will last well a further 10-15 — 8 months ago
Inky in color with a very short reddish/ brick rim.
Full bodied with medium acidity
Showing black fruits with earth, bell pepper, tobacco, oak, dark coffee, pencil lead, bitter herbs, earth, light roasted bell pepper and forest floor.
Soft tannins on the tangy finish.
This 10 year old Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is probably on its way out. Still very drinkable, but a little unbalanced and showing lots of earth notes.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after two hours of air time.
Showing nice complexity at this point, but a little bitter for my taste.
Although still good, I expected more from this second wine from this producer and this vintage.
90 points.
$80 (current vintage). — 2 years ago
It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark Inky in color with a reddish/ purplish rim.
Fruity nose of black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, light dried fruits, cedar, light vanilla, herbs, licorice, spices, dark chocolates and light cola notes.
Full bodied and elegant, with medium acidity.
Dry and fruity on the palate with plums, black cherries, black currants, bitter herbs, earth, chocolates, cedar, eucalyptus, tobacco leaf, peppercorn and light vegetables.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a wonderful Merlot from Columbia Valley. Soft and fruit forward. Rich and nicely balanced.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of air time.
This 8 year old Merlot is complex and spicy. Really enjoyed the nose at this point, and the high alcohol is well integrated by now.
Easy drinking and a good sipping wine. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.
I had this vintage a few times before, and it is always delicious. I just love Michel Rolland wines.
A blend of 75% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in French oak barrels (85% new).
14.9% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$75. — 2 months ago
What a treat. Showing its age. Darker than you’d expect given it’s a war vintage. Tea colored at the edges. Soft, faded fruit. Orange rind, some dried herbs, mushroom, black tea, cured meat. Some dried wood, dried roses. A slight tart tang. Softening out and adding done delicate sherry notes with time in the glass. An amazing wine given the age. Certainly not a powerhouse but really special- a taste of history — 2 years ago
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
2017 vintage. Lemon zest and saline nose with toasty oak hovering about. Medium body with striking, brilliant yellow Chartreuse color. Initially and throughout, the wine was as taut as piano wire. Decanted 5 minutes after opening and tasted 30 mins after the decant. That toasty oak char came to play along with plenty of acidity. Quite the mouthful of wine currently. A tad tempestuous and in definite need of a mandatory, half-decade time out before being allowed to participate at recess again. 12.09.24. — 16 days ago