Cain Vineyard & Winery
Cain Five Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California, USA
Blend 51% Cab Sauv, 22% Merlot, 14% Cab Franc, 8% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot, very deep Ruby red color, slight brown edges. Opened in 2026. Interesting wine, at first open, encountered aromas of leather, barnyard & earthy funk, after 30 minutes, started to note aromas of dried black fruits, spice & cigar box, slight forest floor, continued to get better after 60 min. Palate showed black cherry, blackberry, choc flavors with tobacco, cedar & spice. Firm drying tannins, persistent acidity, long finish ending with fruit, cedar, spice, & earthy character. Nice!
Blend 51% Cab Sauv, 22% Merlot, 14% Cab Franc, 8% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot, very deep Ruby red color, slight brown edges. Opened in 2026. Interesting wine, at first open, encountered aromas of leather, barnyard & earthy funk, after 30 minutes, started to note aromas of dried black fruits, spice & cigar box, slight forest floor, continued to get better after 60 min. Palate showed black cherry, blackberry, choc flavors with tobacco, cedar & spice. Firm drying tannins, persistent acidity, long finish ending with fruit, cedar, spice, & earthy character. Nice!
Sep 12th, 2026
Most of the wines I open tell me a story w/ each sip. Most tied to my late wife Sofia. My memories of this producer precedes her.
This is a producer that flashed early in my wine journey. Generally, one you have moved on from today. That’s until, their 2013 is offered at $39 recently. A grand vintage. For me, I wanted to see the wineries progression and experience earlier memories that flood back w/ each sip. It has done that.
I have a Napa history infatuation. This one is kinda of a pleasure-pain thing. While I enjoyed this producer many years ago, the 2020 Glass Fires destroyed 90% of their vineyards, almost all their structures & their 19 & 20 vintages. I can’t express enough what a gut punch that is for its owners & staff. It is an insurance nightmare and let’s not forget that after all the time it takes to re-plant vines, it takes at least 7 years before you get useable fruit to make wine. So…a ten yr plus setback w/ nearly no revenue stream.
The wine tonight w/o a ribeye, showed excellent fruits that the 13 growing season brought. But what followed was a lean mid plate and finish. With the steak, not so.
The palate shows M+ velvety, dry tannins. Ripe, rich, lush, ruby fruits of: blackberries, black plum, baked plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, poached & fresh strawberries & an understated array of purple fruits. Moist, grey, volcanic clays, moist tobacco w/ ash, used leather, graphite, dry, crushed rocks/limestone-sandstone, dry brush, dark cola, black licorice to anise, dry herbs-bay leaf, sage, dark, mid spice with some palate heat, sweet tarriness, dark, fresh, candied & withering red roses, lavender & dry violets, excellent acidity with a well balanced-knitted, nicely structured & tensioned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and long sets on dry earth & spice.
This is nice on its own but so much better with a ribeye. 92 on its own with a hour decant. 92-93+ with an hour decant plus a juicy, well seasoned MR ribeye.
Most of the wines I open tell me a story w/ each sip. Most tied to my late wife Sofia. My memories of this producer precedes her.
This is a producer that flashed early in my wine journey. Generally, one you have moved on from today. That’s until, their 2013 is offered at $39 recently. A grand vintage. For me, I wanted to see the wineries progression and experience earlier memories that flood back w/ each sip. It has done that.
I have a Napa history infatuation. This one is kinda of a pleasure-pain thing. While I enjoyed this producer many years ago, the 2020 Glass Fires destroyed 90% of their vineyards, almost all their structures & their 19 & 20 vintages. I can’t express enough what a gut punch that is for its owners & staff. It is an insurance nightmare and let’s not forget that after all the time it takes to re-plant vines, it takes at least 7 years before you get useable fruit to make wine. So…a ten yr plus setback w/ nearly no revenue stream.
The wine tonight w/o a ribeye, showed excellent fruits that the 13 growing season brought. But what followed was a lean mid plate and finish. With the steak, not so.
The palate shows M+ velvety, dry tannins. Ripe, rich, lush, ruby fruits of: blackberries, black plum, baked plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, poached & fresh strawberries & an understated array of purple fruits. Moist, grey, volcanic clays, moist tobacco w/ ash, used leather, graphite, dry, crushed rocks/limestone-sandstone, dry brush, dark cola, black licorice to anise, dry herbs-bay leaf, sage, dark, mid spice with some palate heat, sweet tarriness, dark, fresh, candied & withering red roses, lavender & dry violets, excellent acidity with a well balanced-knitted, nicely structured & tensioned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and long sets on dry earth & spice.
This is nice on its own but so much better with a ribeye. 92 on its own with a hour decant. 92-93+ with an hour decant plus a juicy, well seasoned MR ribeye.
As good as it was it will only get better with a few more years.
As good as it was it will only get better with a few more years.
1 person found it helpfulNov 5th, 2017
2013 vintage. Full body. Better with time in the glass. Balanced dark fruits. Hint of mint on finish.
2013 vintage. Full body. Better with time in the glass. Balanced dark fruits. Hint of mint on finish.
Apr 11th, 2026
Disappointing for the price. Tight, not enough fruit
Disappointing for the price. Tight, not enough fruit
Mar 22nd, 2026
Cain Five and Waygu strip steak(from Snake River Farms) zoom tasting with Chris Howell(owner of Cain) and Chef Hiro Sone (owner/chef of the former Terra in St. Helena). 2008 vintage and 2013 vintage.
Prior notes apply for the 2008 vintage.
2013 vintage: 1 hour decant (some cloudy sediment). A dark garnet color with a little bricking. On the nose: certain vintages of Cain embrace the Brett on the property, and this is one of em. Some funky barnyard (luv it), plum, pine, tobacco, smoked meat, forest floor, orange peel. Taste: smooth medium plus body wine with plum, pine, currant, coffee, and a bitter chocolate dry medium plus finish. Some tannins still kicking wanting a few more years in the bottle.
Cain Five and Waygu strip steak(from Snake River Farms) zoom tasting with Chris Howell(owner of Cain) and Chef Hiro Sone (owner/chef of the former Terra in St. Helena). 2008 vintage and 2013 vintage.
Prior notes apply for the 2008 vintage.
2013 vintage: 1 hour decant (some cloudy sediment). A dark garnet color with a little bricking. On the nose: certain vintages of Cain embrace the Brett on the property, and this is one of em. Some funky barnyard (luv it), plum, pine, tobacco, smoked meat, forest floor, orange peel. Taste: smooth medium plus body wine with plum, pine, currant, coffee, and a bitter chocolate dry medium plus finish. Some tannins still kicking wanting a few more years in the bottle.
