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

David Kline

9.1

Began as black olives for miles but betrayed its fruit roots quickly enough, with baked black cherry, and a black plum mash; black currant and gingerbread-mocha notes sparkling on its grainy veneer. Torn violet petals. Lots of sediment, or pigmented tartaric crystals. Super elegant and fleshy mouthfeel is perhaps its most compelling nuance. Black currant, soft leather, smoke, a scribble of pencil, snuffed wick, teak, and black tea. Bittersweet chocolate remains like a cloud, suspended while most aspects fade. Leather friction.
#cabernetsauvignon #cab #Walton #Egelhoff #StHelena #sthelenacab #napacabs #napa #cabsauv #newworld — 7 years ago

with Courtney

Elizabeth Smith

9.4

The 2013 Ehlers Estate Cabernet Franc, Saint Helena ($60), is one of those wines that tastes so darn good, you know that the written word won’t do it justice. It’s crafted from 100% organic, 100% estate cabernet franc from our loamy soils. It’s powerful, yet retains a sense of balance and elegance from Old World, hands-on production techniques, from vineyard, to tank, to barrel, to bottle. Black fruits, vanilla, and spices envelope the palate. The finish goes on forever and frankly, I don’t want to stop sipping it. This wine is the result of outstanding terroir, vineyard management, and winemaking that I am blessed to witness on a daily basis. Who's in for some cabernet franc pleasure? Mark my words, it would be even better if we were drinking it together. #napavalley #sthelena #napavalleywines #ehlerslove — 8 years 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

David Kline

9.2

I know now this needs more time to integrate, but it’s down-soft in the background, so difficult to see a balanced future. Warm plum and black berry-currant, cranberry stuffing, rich chocolate, sherry trifle, all loosely sprinkled with fine graphite. Steamy jungle flora notes merge with hemp stem and black cherry skins. Hard chocolate entry bringing dried blackberry and even drier black cherry stripped naked in a sauna of chamomile and phantom eucalyptus outlines describing a swarthy shadow through steam. A recent denizen of the cedar benches, puffing sweet tobaccos? There is subtle power at play despite the fruit-forward leanings. I was initially on the fence with this. This one is enigmatic with a nod to Napa in the 1970s. #Napa #Walton #cab #cabernet #cabsauv4life #cabsav #california #egelhoff #EgelhoffWalton #Bobegelhoff #egelhoffwines #StHelena #sthelenacab — 6 years ago

with Courtney

Paul H

9.1

I had a 2014 and I had barely poured the glass when the aroma graced my nose. It had a floral blossom and maybe a hint of pear but it also could have been something like a honeydew as well. The first sip was a totally different experience, which was smooth with the acids perfectly in check. I tasted minerality and star fruit which is a topical delight in the region where I live. There is a hint of peach as well that lingered on my palate. This is a very inviting wine that would pare well with summer salads or a nice fish dish. #crockerstarr #napa #sauvignonblac #sthelena #oakknoll — 10 years ago

David Kline

9.2

Dark rye toast, blackest of currant, raisin and dried plum complement a nose of toasted sesame and maduro tobacco. Palate shows grill char, burnt brittle, toffee and resin knit into a rich and comforting blanket of espresso, bakers chocolate, black and red currant, blackberry, violet extract, cinnamon and Madagascar vanilla. At once a treat and a depth charge!

#cainfive #springmountain #napavalley #bordeauxblend #redblend #springmountaindistrict #estategrown #estatebottled #cainvineyardandwinery #sthelena — 2 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.5

Radiant and transparent Cabernet showing excellent purity and very good typicity and acidity. Spottswoode is always so consistent for me and always so impeccably pure. The 2008 is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc that shows beautiful Cabernet traits, something the best Napa wines excel at. What many wines in Napa do not necessarily excel at is revealing the terroir of site, this vintage of Spottswoode shows terroir in spades. Cassis and currants, a dash of mocha, a touch of graphite and rock, with white floral and violet aromatics in the background. A nice streak of minerality shows up on the mid-palate and finish. The tannin are ripe, full bodied, but fine and supple. The acidity here is key, it elevates the aromas, as well as adds lift and energy to the palate, while refreshing the finish.
@spottswoodewinery makes some of the most consistent and honest wines from #cabernetsauvignon not just in Napa but the world. #spottswoode #cabernetsauvignon #sthelena #napa #spoton — 8 years ago

Karina Cisneros

10

#sthelena yes please!!
— 10 years ago

Saad Kieso

9.0

Cracking out the limited edition stuff @bromancellars #napa #stHelena #wino #winesnob — 10 years ago