Blackbird Vineyards ‘Arise’ Red Blend 2018 Named in dedication to the Paul McCartney/Beatles song. Unmistakable Napa on the nose with rich dark fruits and floral notes rising from the glass. A delightful richness on the palate will assuredly put a smile on your face. There is an abundance of black fruits and chocolate with secondaryContinue reading “A Red Wine for All Seasons- a Beckstoffer, a Rutherford and a Blackbird Arises.”
Tag Archives: Napa
An Oakville Gem with a Bordeaux influence- Patria ‘Avoyelles’ Red Blend 2018
This is an impressive wine from the start, but it does need some time to open. I suggest 4 – 6 hours but then: spectacular. Big bold rich fruits hit the nose and the palate with elegance and finesse. This is a Bordeaux blend of 48% Cabernet Franc, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit VerdotContinue reading “An Oakville Gem with a Bordeaux influence- Patria ‘Avoyelles’ Red Blend 2018”
From the Cellar … Coquerel Cabernet Franc Napa Valley 2013
January is a quiet month in the wine business so I’ve taken the opportunity to have some time off work, hence some ‘From the Cellar’ articles reflecting on the longevity/cellar ability of some wines. WOOOW, this is holding up and drinking so well! If anyone has bottles in their cellar, I’d crack one open now,Continue reading “From the Cellar … Coquerel Cabernet Franc Napa Valley 2013”
Exceptional Cabernet from a Difficult Vintage.
The Vintage. 2017 was a difficult vintage and, as we all know the year finished with devastating fires. Putting all that aside, those that got it right, got some spectacular results. In retrospect, the biggest problem the 2017 vintage faced was being flanked by 2015, 2016 and 2018 vintages that produced some exceptional wines. 2017Continue reading “Exceptional Cabernet from a Difficult Vintage.”
Taub Family/Heritance Wines- an unknown Napa Gem.
Heritance has been described as the cornerstone Napa Valley brand of the Taub Family Vineyards but its history goes back further than when the Taub Family bought them. The name Heritance was derived from combining the words ‘heritage’ and ‘inheritance’- two important concepts signifying a new tradition and the continuation of an enduring legacy championedContinue reading “Taub Family/Heritance Wines- an unknown Napa Gem. “
Robert Craig Winery- A Piece of History and the End of a Great Beginning.
It was 16 years ago on my first job here and I got to taste their Cabernet for the first time. One sip of Robert Craig’s Cabernet and I was convinced that this was not only a great producer but Napa did, indeed produce awesome Cabernet. Let’s fast forward to today and celebrate the releaseContinue reading “Robert Craig Winery- A Piece of History and the End of a Great Beginning.”
Spring Mountain Cabernet 2018- some altitude with some attitude.
“The 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet vintage belongs in an echelon with the finest of the past two decades”. – Decanter Magazine. Originally three separate vineyards established in 1873, the Draper Vineyards (La Perla) consisting of 435 acres was the first site of Cabernet plantings on Spring Mountain. Interesting side note: part of the La PerlaContinue reading “Spring Mountain Cabernet 2018- some altitude with some attitude.”
Thomas Rivers Brown & Schrader have done it again! Extraordinary release.
Double Diamond Cabernet 2018- Schrader Cellars. Allow me to digress for a minute and introduce you to Schrader Cellars, Oakville, California. A winery that has gained almost mythical status and spoken about in hushed tones of reverence in just 20 years as well as commanding prices out of most people’s reach. Next, we add renownedContinue reading “Thomas Rivers Brown & Schrader have done it again! Extraordinary release.”
Gibbs Winery- known by few but enjoyed by all that have tasted.
Gibbs – Napa Valley The history of this family stretches all the way back to the 1950’s when Lewis Gibb Carpenter Jr settles in Saint Helena and planted nuts and fruit crops adding grapes in the mid 1960’s, specifically Cabernet, Cab Franc, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. Over the years many well known wineries in theContinue reading “Gibbs Winery- known by few but enjoyed by all that have tasted.”
Napanook Proprietary Red Wine 2016. – A ‘second wine’ from Dominus.
The name may not ring any bells for the uninitiated but this wonderful Red Blend is the ‘second’ wine from none other than Dominus Vineyards. A winery long considered by many to be one of the finest in Napa, the vineyard was the basis for a partnership in 1981 and eventually purchased outright by ChristianContinue reading “Napanook Proprietary Red Wine 2016. – A ‘second wine’ from Dominus.”
Vine to Table 