Delightful. For a 20 year old wine this certainly surprised with its freshness. Velvety smooth at this point and just a rich treat of dark fruit and soft tannins, some primary fruit remaining amongst a tapestry of secondaries. Really doing well for what was a cheap wine at the time. — 2 years ago
2013 Kelham Vineyards “Sons” Proprietary Red – Oakville, Napa Valley
Crafted by Rawson Kelham and inspired by his wife Susanna’s love for balanced reds, “The Sons” is a masterful blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 10% Sangiovese. Lovingly bottled by Rawson’s stepsons—who’ve been at the helm of this line for over 20 years—this 2013 vintage was cellared until 2016, with just 300+ cases produced.
Now, over a decade since harvest, this wine is a revelation. The blend unfolds seamlessly-structured, layered, and impossibly harmonious. Aromatically, it’s a mature tapestry of dark cherries, dried herbs, cedar, and hints of worn leather. On the palate, it’s intense yet controlled: lush black fruit, plum, a whisper of tobacco, and an echo of sweet balsamic reduction that brings complexity without weight.
What’s most striking is its youthful acidity—this bottle feels alive, still pulsing with energy as if it’s just waking up. That freshness paired with age-built depth makes it one of the most compelling wines I’ve had from Kelham (and I’ve had many—see my past notes!).
This is Oakville at its best. Bold, nuanced, timeless.
Speechless after the first glass. Crazy delicious.
Cheers! — 5 days ago
Effortless, silky, seductive, and quietly powerful. The nose gives off strong tapenade/black olive to start, then settles into deep dark fruit, tar, and provencale herbs. Smoky, complex, and very long. The silky tannins weave in and out of the tapestry of dark fruit. The fruit is so pure and complex - you can taste the vine age. Outstanding wine that will kick on for another 20+ yrs. — 3 years ago
Explosive, super expressive nose. Burgundian. Nutty, mushroomy, savoury notes on the nose. Powerful dark fruited spicy core. But slinks across the palate with Burgundian weight. delicate and filigree. Tapestry. Yes!. — 3 years ago
With a boneless ribeye. — 2 months ago
God these are such beautiful wines. Floral beyond belief, with such a precise, finely woven tapestry of a bouquet. Settles and spreads on the tongue like molten taffy, ever so subtle rs cloaked in vigorous minerality and a great swath of satsuma mandarin and yellow peach acids. — 3 years ago
A tapestry of luscious dried fruit: figs, apricots, raisins, and prunes, all wrapped up in a soft yet very thick velvety mouthfeel. There are hints of cloves, caramel and even tobacco on that linger on the pállate. Well worth waiting for 58 years!! — 4 years ago
Haylee Gardiner
Wow. I absolutely love this wine and cannot wait to have it again! It’s a balanced blend that’s easy on the palate but flavorful! — 15 days ago