Moone-Tsai Vineyards
Hillside Blend Howell Mountain Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California, USA
My first and only Moone-Tsai was a ‘12 Cab. This was my second and was non comparable to the ‘12.
My first and only Moone-Tsai was a ‘12 Cab. This was my second and was non comparable to the ‘12.
Dec 26th, 2020
A blend of about 70% Cab Sauv and 30% Merlot, aged for 26 months in French oak (2/3 new). I'll start off by saying this wine is good now but will be great in another 5-10 years if you have the patience. Ruby with rich aromas of dark fruit, smoke & spice. Flavors of jammy blackberry, current and cherry with notes of licorice, cacao and spice. Fine dusty tannins with a tight rustic edge, well integrated, nice balance, long ending with earthy tones. Small production! Tasting Sample!
A blend of about 70% Cab Sauv and 30% Merlot, aged for 26 months in French oak (2/3 new). I'll start off by saying this wine is good now but will be great in another 5-10 years if you have the patience. Ruby with rich aromas of dark fruit, smoke & spice. Flavors of jammy blackberry, current and cherry with notes of licorice, cacao and spice. Fine dusty tannins with a tight rustic edge, well integrated, nice balance, long ending with earthy tones. Small production! Tasting Sample!
Jul 30th, 2020
Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.
It was my first time trying Moone-Tsai wines aside from their widely distributed Napa Valley Cab, so some of these were totally brand new to me. Melka is the winemaker.
Out of the three cabs we tried, this was my favorite for long term. Howell Mountain is my favorite AVA so the fruit is undeniable fantastic, but Melka has made this very tight and compact and most certainly not a fruit forward cab. The fruit is underripe...blackberries, raspberries, black currant, sage, charcoal and graphite aromatics. It is dusty, herbal and powerful on the palate. Dark cocoa, chalky, baked mixed berry pie, dash of baking spices, and massive structure. Give this some time away and you’ll be rewarded.
Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.
It was my first time trying Moone-Tsai wines aside from their widely distributed Napa Valley Cab, so some of these were totally brand new to me. Melka is the winemaker.
Out of the three cabs we tried, this was my favorite for long term. Howell Mountain is my favorite AVA so the fruit is undeniable fantastic, but Melka has made this very tight and compact and most certainly not a fruit forward cab. The fruit is underripe...blackberries, raspberries, black currant, sage, charcoal and graphite aromatics. It is dusty, herbal and powerful on the palate. Dark cocoa, chalky, baked mixed berry pie, dash of baking spices, and massive structure. Give this some time away and you’ll be rewarded.
Checking in after a couple years since last tasted. I remember thinking it was tight and tannic. Let it open for two hours and it still can use time. It’s showing tho and it’s great. The nose is much more expressive. Red fruit and baking spices. The pallet is charred oak, graphite, coffee, bitter chocolate, black fruit and cherry. Finish is smoky tannins that go on forever. Self - don’t try again for 2-3 years.
Checking in after a couple years since last tasted. I remember thinking it was tight and tannic. Let it open for two hours and it still can use time. It’s showing tho and it’s great. The nose is much more expressive. Red fruit and baking spices. The pallet is charred oak, graphite, coffee, bitter chocolate, black fruit and cherry. Finish is smoky tannins that go on forever. Self - don’t try again for 2-3 years.
Jun 18th, 2023