This is an under $20 bottle of California Cab. Well worth the price in the grand scheme of things. Purple/ruby in color. The nose has some cassis, dust and cedar. On the palate, this is easy drinking. Not complex but tasty and works with food. Probably needs to be drunk in the next few years.
Realm is at the top of their game, making some of the best wines in the world. This is one of my favorites though expensive, it is doable unlike so many of the top luxury wines. Purple in color. The nose is great with cassis, pencil lead, cedar and spice. On the palate a wonderful juicy almost seamless texture. Deep, if tightly packed. It drinks deliciously now but really won't peak for ten or fifteen years (depending on how you like them). Juicy black raspberries, char and slight earth open in the glass. Long finish. Gorgeous wine. Can a wine be worth $125? It depends, but this
This is a wine produced by the now defunct Crushpad from their purchased grapes. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, dark cherries with a fair amount of oak. On the palate, this has firm tannins. There is cassis fruit but also a lot of oak. I wonder if there is enough fruit to outlast the oak. I am not sure and would not take a chance. drink this sooner than later.
Purple in color. The nose is very nice with cassis, cedar, slight leather and graphite. On the palate, this is fruit with some depth. Slight tannins. Some complexity. Nice cassis fruit on the palate. Overall, this is very good and approaching maturity. Probably won't get better but no hurry either. Worked well with food.
Made by Thomas Rivers Brown at his eponymous winery. This is the basic Napa bottling and not the single vineyard wines. It is still a great Napa Cabernet. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, cedar and spice. On the palate, this has a lovely texture. Cassis fruit with some spice. Firm tannins. This will continue to improve for a decade but is delicious now with a long decant. There is some oak but it works deftly with the fruit. Deep. Great finish. At $6, it is well priced for a higher quality Napa Cab.
7% Syrah, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 3% Sangiovese and 2% Viognier. Purple in color. The nose is nice with black raspberries, some black pepper, spice and slight floral notes. On the palate, this has some depth with a nice varietal complexity. Good mouth feel. Works well with or without food. I don't know if this improves but should last a decade or so. It is basically, the "leftovers" for the Jonata single varietal wines. That doesn't mean it is not excellent in its own right. A nice alternative to their expensive bottlings.
Wow. One of the great wines in the world. This was a 100 point wine. And it's still young! Purple in color. The nose has cassis, blueberries, cedar, floral notes, spice and licorice. Intoxicating. On the palate, it is deep and complex. Seamless. Silky tannins. Juicy acidity. Cassis, blueberries, slight leather, dry/burnt earth in layers. Long finish. This easily as a few decades and will no doubt evolve, but will it get better? Perhaps, but it is fantastic right now. This was about $200 on release, but for a wine this good, this is reasonable.
Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has cassis, cedar and a bit of menthol. On the palate, this has nice cassis fruit with spice and slight dry earth. It is ripe enough given the vintage. Not a lot of depth but perhaps that might still develop. Works well with food. Drinks like an old school Napa Cab with nice balance. Good finish.
Purple in color. The nose has dark cherries, saw dust, some plums and cedar. On the palate, this is slightly sweet. Cherries. Woody. This is a simple California Cab available for around $15. It makes not pretense about what it is. Drinkable. Good for a party.
Pop and pour and consumed over two nights. Much better on night 2. I know many people say 2003 was such a warm vintage that the wines are already mature. That might be true, but this one's best days are still to come. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, graphite, cedar, and smoked cigar. On the palate, this is full bodied with medium tannins. Lush cassis and black cherry fruit layered with forest floor, damp earth and tobacco. Tightly layered. Long finish. This is delicious but very much from Bordeaux a
