Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.1

Excellent high-QPR SV #napa #cabernetsauvignon. It leans “Old Worldish” but still has plenty of big fruit up front, nicely balanced, some coffee and subtle earthy undertones -and velvety tannins to close out. Call this the “Anti-Caymus” 💣 #costcowines — 7 months ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.0

Proper #napa #cabernetsauvignon - fruit forward, but balanced. — a year ago

David Kline

9.1

Grace family st Helena cab 2018
Juicy plum and blackberry, cedar, oak and cherry, violets and smoke.
Firm tannins support black pepper, black cherry and cassis in abundance. Mouth-coating and intense with tertiary flavors of violet and graphite cinnamon and licorice.






#cabernetsauvignon #cab

#napavalley

#sthelena #napa

#napacab #estategrown — a year ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

8.4

While the 2020 vintage looks to be considerably better than previous reviewers - still looking at a budget wine made in a crowd-please style that falls short on quality. Noticeable spice and smoke notes lurk behind jammy bramble fruit on the nose. Taste confirms a heavy hand with new oak. Texture is pleasing but the near-profane oak and unbalanced RS suggest a more cynical, less-serious effort for a #napa #pinotnoir . — 2 years ago

David Kline

9.3

Rim to rim color density. Red and black cherries poke through cedar and sweet tobacco on the nose with dark chocolate chunks, plum, prune and date, toasted sesame, cinnamon, rose petal, and cardamom. Chewy tannins that roll satin-smooth initially, then cassis, black currant and licorice flip the script. Graphite and blackberry frame dark chocolate and mocha-tobacco, oak and black bread.


#dunn #dunnvineyards #howellmountain #howell #napa #angwin #cabernet #cabernetsauvignon #cab #cabsauv #2014 #2014napa — 10 months ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.0

Delightful #napa #cabernetsauvignon ; expected jammy bramble fruit aromas backed by cigar box, leather undertones. Balanced with noticeable bright tartness to offset fruit, dried spices mid palate, grippy tannins on the finish. — a year ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.0

Interesting enterprise to taste a 12 year old #napa #cabernetsauvignon in the value segment of the market likely around $15 - $20 at release. Cork was well soaked and wine tastes of age, but not tired at all. In fact after a day in the fridge it seems to have gained some vim. Typical bramble fruit set on top of stewed plums. Palate is a bit earthier, less fruit-forward - plenty of acidity, chocolate and coffee notes mid-palate and still sturdy tannins on the finish. It must have been stored well at the retailer. — 2 years ago

David Kline

9.2

Big and bold nose shows cedar and espresso and sweet notes of blackberry, violets and cassis. Full bodied and full of muscles. Dark chocolate with espresso aspirations, black cherry and blackberry reductions, black currant and blacker tobacco. Toffee and cedar explode and melt into a lingering, unctuous chocolate ganache.

#elusa #kenefickranchvineyards #cabernetfranc #cabfranc #calistoga #napa #napavalley — 10 months ago

with Courtney

David Kline

9.3

Reliquus 2019 cab St Helena Napa (grace family).
This one shines bright with red cherry and raspberry notes leading a nose of blueberry and cassis as strawberry peeks through. The palate is silky and refined despite grainy tannins which amplify versus detract. Depth and intensity that is a dichotomy considering the fruited nose. Elegant, sinewy and serpentine. Scrumptious.





#gracefamily #napa #sthelena #cabernetsauvignon #cab #reliquus

— a year ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.1

A less well-known varietal from the famous producer in #napa . 100% #sauvignonnlanc echoes a well-balanced #bordeauxblanc but with a notable Napa sun-kissed vitality. Subtle tropical fruit + apricot, citrus aromas - sumptuous palate texture, white/golden fruit balanced by satisfying acidity. Excellent pairing for a lightly-spiced shrimp coconut curry rice bowl though not great QPR. — 2 years ago