Paul J

9.6

1hr+ decant. Maroon color on the pour but darkish red in the glass. Aged Bordeaux on the nose with cedar and floral elements. Palate reflects the same with dark cherries, tobacco, and anise. Medium plus depth and medium finish. Right in my wheelhouse! — 4 months ago

with Brooke

Mark Flesher

9.4

Playing a little catch up.... Terrific Cab from David Arthur. Opened for dinner tonight. Served pop and pour. The nose on this wine is nice -- roasted black fruits, sweet youthful blackberries and blueberries, spicy. Entry is youthful, powerful full bodied blackberry cassis, allspice, cinnamon, toasted tannin but is actually rather soft not only on the front but all throughout. There was a dried wildflower and herbal character to this one in the middle. Finished with roasted tannins, still quite youthful, loads of black pepper on the finish and a bit punchy yet the wine maintains this elegance about it all at the same time. Diggin' this wine, and it's right in the wheelhouse right now. I think this wine will do well for the next 5 years or so and will probably start the decline. But I don't think this one is going to get much better in the bottle right now, so bottoms up! — 5 years ago

Chris Loretta

9.1

2013 is in its wheelhouse! — 6 years ago

Jon Huang

9.1

Peppery on nose, dark berry jam taste, balanced tannins, very good — 4 years ago

Billy L.

9.1

Brother-in-law likes Limoux Cremant! This was right in his wheelhouse! Lot’s of Fruit! Cheers 🍾🥂 — 4 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Always willing to take a sip of these when they are opened! Nose of young blackberry and black licorice. A little bit of pepper. Very youthful. The entry still has an overt sweetness about it, black fruits, fig, black cherry, licorice and spice. Finishes with a lot of roasted black fruit and tannic quality. For Napa floor fruit, this is right in my wheelhouse for a younger wine. these usually drink a lot better with 10 to 15 years of age, and I would say that is no different in this scenario in such a powerful year. I would give this one at least five years before opening again. — 5 years ago

with Dan and Bradley

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

Few wines fit perfectly into my wheelhouse. This is one of a few. I picked this up at Seavey last weekend. 1997 is such a historic Napa vintage and this wine lives up to every inch of it. It’s a wine that you want to slowly sip all night.

On the nose; very, ripe; blackberries, sweet & sour dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, huckleberries with slightly baked strawberries haunt the background. Mixed berry cola, vanilla, cherry liqueur notes, some black licorice, limestone minerals, very light clove, soft subtle dark spices, dry crushed rock powder, sweet tarry notes, saddle-wood, very soft leather, forest floor, blue flowers and dark fresh & withering flowers.

The body is gloriously soft, round and beyond elegant. Still has plenty of soft, round, slightly tarry tannins. The structure, tension, length and balance have hit its sweet spot with another 7-10 years of really good drinking left. It’s harmony on the palate. Ripe; blackberries, sweet & sour dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, huckleberries with slightly baked strawberries haunt the background. Mixed berry cola, vanilla, notes of caramel, cherry liqueur notes, steeped fruit tea, some black licorice, just a hint of herbaceous, limestone minerals, very light clove, soft subtle dark spices, dusty tannins, dry crushed rock powder, gritty volcanic minerals, dry clay, sweet tarry notes, saddle-wood, chewy soft leather, forest floor, blue flowers and dark fresh & withering flowers. The acidity is about as perfect as I’ve had. The finish is nothing short of astounding. It’s long, elegant, ripe, well balanced and doesn’t end. One of the more exceptional wines I’ve had in some time.

Photos of, Seavey Winery & tasting room, the stairs the lead up to Williams office and show that late 18th century architecture, Williams desk in his old office and their Estate vines with the hillside painting the background. — 6 years ago

Adam Beasley

9.3

Stellar bottle right here. Deep stewed black and red fruit, violets, campfire, rosemary & thyme, with plenty of barnyard funk, and river rocks. Great structure with grippy tannins on the mid-palate and sturdy acidity that keeps you coming back. Long pure finish. This kind of wine is firmly in my wheelhouse, and really came alive with turmeric baked chicken thighs. — 4 years ago

David Nicewicz

9.4

Tapas and Montrachet - is there anything else to say? Lovely full-bodied white burgundy with a nose of stone fruit and citrus. The palate is luscious and full-bodied and a long finish with notes of honey and lemon. Low acidity may deter some people, but I love marsanne so this is definitely in my wheelhouse. — 5 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.6

A fitting wine for my 3000th (CT) review. This wine is in the wheelhouse. Nose of black cherry, brambleberry, cola. Entry is full, mature, ripe sweet black cherry and Cherry Coke. The middle has a bit of a smoky character, tobacco leaf, mint, grilled mushroom. The finish showed great acidity and moderate tannins. With hummus, more of the savory side of this wine came out. With a spicy turkey and brie, more of the sweeter side. Full bodied wine from Dyer, and probably one of the best balanced and integrated Diamond Mtn wines I have had in a LONG time. — 5 years ago