St. Helena

2011 was a challenging vintage in Napa.  as it nears the ten year mark, however, it appears that like 98 and 2000, those that were able to make more classic styled Cabs produced wines that have caught up with age.  True, these wines are not as good as the top vintages, but they are excellent wines and now is  the time to start checking in on them.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  What a great nose.  Not over blown but nice cassis fruit with some graphite and a hint of char.  On the palate, this is layered and complex.  Nothing under ripe.  Cassis intertwined with dry earthiness and a bit

Spottswoode has been producing some of the top Napa Cabs for quite a long time now.  Year in and year out, they make some of the best Cabs anywhere.  Drink them young and they are bold Napa Cabs, let them age for twenty plus years and its hard to tell them from the finest from Bordeaux.  This one is very young, but it is delicious.  It had been decanted for a short time prior to opening.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, cigar box and pencil lead.  Enticing.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Lots of cassis with some pencil led and nice tobacco.  Thick tannins.  Great balance.  Lon

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 beautiful wine.  This was shut down on opening but within about 30 minutes it opened and kept improving all night long.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, dark chocolate, slight cigar box and baking spices.  On the palate, this has a medium to full body with a lovely texture.  Lots of energy.  Cassis over minerals and char.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This still needs a few more years to reach peak and should be good for ten to fifteen more after that. Plenty of upside on the score.