The 2000 vintage was not well received on release. Indeed, in Napa terms, it was one of the rare vintages that was not at least very good or better. Yet, many of those wines have aged just beautifully. At age twenty many are a bit past prime but still offering wonderful enjoyment. Of course, that depends on how you like your wines. Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.
This is a blend of 75% Merlots and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep ruby in color. The nose is very tight but shows some black cherry. Much more open on the palate. Black cherry fruit with slight black raspberries. Medium to light tannins. Reasonably balanced. A bit bitter on the finish. This drinks quite easily on its own but would be better with a burger or other grilled food.
This is an excellent value in Cabernet Sauvignon. There is some Cabernet Franc in the blend. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has black cherries, slight coffee and slight cigar box. On the palate, this is medium bodied with good acidity. Black cherries over a bit of char and some dark chocolate. Nice finish. This drinks well right now on its own. It will go well with a steak or burger. It should be good for another five to seven years if well stored.
Deep purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is great. Very Bordeaux-like in a Californian way. Cassis, cherries, baking spices with a slight black licorice. On the palate, this is young but showing some maturity. Light to medium tannins. On the palate, the fruit is more black cherry than cassis. Some oak still showing. Some minerals and dry earthiness underneath. Nice finish. This is a beautiful wine that is probably at the start of peak. It will mature more over the next ten years and be good for another ten to fifteen after that.
A really great wine. Inky purple in color. The nose has cassis, chocolate, char, slight camphor note and coffee. This is a rich, big wine. Delicious. Flavors of cassis, blueberries with slight chocolate over spice and char. Juicy acidity. Medium tannins. Long finish. This needs about 5 to seven more years until peak and then should be great for ten to twenty more years. It will work with big foods like steak or roasts.
Wow. This wine was decanted for 10 hours in a Magnum size decanter prior to serving. It needed every bit of that. Inky purple in color. What an awesome nose. Cassis, moist earth, baking spice and slight cigar box. On the palate, this has firm tannins. Loads of cassis, some black cherries over a rich earthiness with some cedar. Great balance. This is a powerful wine but not a monster in that sense. Lots of fruit but with pin point attack. Long finish. This needs at least ten years to get close to peak but if you can't resist, a decant of at least 12 and even 24 hours is needed.
A wow red blend to be sure. This has 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot, 8% Malbec and 5% Merlot. Still young, this was pop and pour and rocking from the get-go. Purple in color. The nose is great with cassis, plums, cigar box, graphite, baking spice and slight cedar. On the palate, this is full bodied yet very concentrated. Powerful and intense. Lots of cassis, some blueberries, plums wound with tobacco, chocolate and slight char. Medium tannins. Long finish. This kept evolving in the glass. It probably won't peak for another five years or so and should
Wow. This is in a great place right now (and has been for a while). Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is classic, Californian, and amazing. Cassis, blueberries, pencil lead, spice and slight chocolate. Amazing texture. Full bodied. Racy yet, powerful. There are light to medium tannins. At age 12, this is still not yet at full maturity. Flavors of cassis, blueberries, slight chocolate and char. Great balance. Long finish. One of the great wines of the world.
Russell Bevan's wines are outstanding but they can get expensive. This is expensive too, but half the price of his single vineyard releases. Purple in color with some ruby swirls. The nose has cassis, cedar, slight tobacco and spice. Young, of course with firm tannins. Wonderful lush texture. Lots of juicy cassis fruit with some graphite and char. Long finish. This is delicious now but will continue to improve for the next five to ten years and be good for ten to twenty after that. It will go well with roasts or heavier dishes.
This is the home vineyard of winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. His single vineyard wines Cabs are (for now) some of the most attractively priced top wines from Napa. This wine has really improved since release and it was excellent back then. Deep purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has cassis, blueberries, cloves and a slight menthol note. On the palate, this has light to medium tannins. Layers of cassis and blueberries with slight tobacco and cigar box. A slight menthol note on the long finish. This is drinking great but will continue to mature. Maybe another 7 to ten years un
