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There are some great wines, and great notes in the thread! I've been on my wine journey in earnest for 3 years, so as much as I'd like some of these wines, some are hard to find and/or out of my price range. Here are some of my favorites from 2019 (in no particular order) with some short tasting not...

Picked up from the storage unit this afternoon. Please share any recommendations for decanting the reds. 2010 Stony Hill Chardonnay (Btw, popped one last weekend, it's singing!!) 2012 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Russian River 2007 Guigal Cote Rotie 2006 Il Poggione Brunello Riserva 2013 Bevan Pinot Noi...

I accidentally opened a 2016 Myriad Steltzner Cab instead of the 2016 Napa Valley bottling. Oh well, it was for a birthday party, and I didn't check the bottle very closely until it was already in the decanter... Delicious wine, and one that I would have waited on a year or two, but a good lesson in...

It is drinking SO well right now. I've been through 3 bottles already, so need to slow down. I've tried other 2018 Zins/Field Blends, and none are ready to drink as much as the OVZ! One, if not the best, I've tried since 2013, I'd say. I will need to find more. Great tasting note, Brian!

I really liked the 2014 vintage and bought a case for weeknight dinners, and parties--how does the 2016 compare, to the 2014--if you've had it?

Sounds like a good review for a $30 Napa Cab.

I have no space but still took some Riesling, Dolinsek and California and Bien Nacido syrahs. Just joined the list in the summer and am trying to get a feel for everything. Curious: What typically are the spring-release highlights? The Ode to Lulu Rose, Chardonnay, and Cabernets are my highlights. ...

Boy your all’s reading comprehension sucks. If you reach into your cellar in the dark what would be the first bottle your hand touches not what bottle is your most prized. And David Baum, we packed all of our essentials long before we left. Pictures, important documents, animals, everything else is...

Thanks! I didn't even consider beer, but that is a good point.

Hi All, Several friends are hosting a casual dinner tonight, with Beef Pho being the main dish. I am wondering if anyone would have successful wine pairings for this dish. I was thinking a medium bodied Pinot Noir (Rhys Anderson Valley, or Rivers-Marie Sonoma Coast), or Merlot? Also was thinking abo...

Thanks for the note, I've been coravining a 2018 Bedrock Old Vine Zin this week, and it is outstanding. It clobbered a Bedrock Old Hill Ranch, and Bedrock Heritage, from a drinkability now perspective. Certainly the single vineyard wines should eclipse the OVZ in time, but for right now, it's a tast...

I mostly have a hard time aging Myriad (and other Mike Smith wines) because they usually drink so well young. With that said, I had a 2014 Myriad Dr. Crane over the 4th of July this year, and it could go for many years, it was enjoyable but certainly had the structure to continue improving. A month ...

Had a 2016 Becklyn Napa Valley last night, in a really good place now, and really enjoyable. Perhaps my favorite $65 bottle of Napa Cab!

Opened the 2018 gewurztraminer from shipment last week. Had it with smoked pork chops, pan fried mushroom pierogies, and sauerkraut. Wonderful!20191014_192027.jpg Thanks for the note!!! I just received my shipment, and was tempted to open one! Since Old Hill Ranch is a new bottling, I decided to co...

Against my better judgement and out of pure curiosity, I coravined a few glasses of the recently arrived 2018 Old Hill Ranch Zinfandel, and greatly enjoyed it. Granted, it will improve over many years (I am still trying to save some 2014 Bedrock Vineyard Zins, as they are fairly young). I decanted f...

Great notes!! I always reading these type of posts, how did the Heitz Cellars drink?

I thought the ‘17 was slightly less complex than the ‘16, but we’re really splitting hairs at this point because the ‘16 had a year of age and 5 hrs of air. Not sure how much air Will gave the ‘17. I gave both wines fairly high scores. For those with doubts, don’t buy and regret it later. Great, th...

MICHAEL C R O M W E L L wrote: ↑
September 24th, 2019, 3:45 pm
I tasted the ‘17s in July and am definitely a buyer. Buy with confidence, no reservation here!

How does the 2017 compare with the 2016 Cabernet? I really enjoyed the 2016, and have had issues keeping my hands off of them!!!

Really informative and thoughtful post Roy, I appreciate it!

6x 2016 Enfield Waterhorse Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, I am excited to see what this wine will be like, and am considering adding a few Chards to fill out the case.

I have not been able to keep my hands of the 2016, and am down to 5 left, so I'll have to ration from here on out. It's drinking so well right now, I don't think anyone would regret popping a cork if you have a few back ups. A great tasting note Mike!! I have high hopes for 2017, and also am hopeful...

The 2016 Rivers-Marie Napa Cab (base bottling) is drinking very well at the moment, as well! So much so, that I've drunk through my allocation and had to seek out more on the secondary market. The 2016 Lore was very good too, but built for the long haul (and over $100).

Good call on the Bevan Ontogeny ($95), and really tasty right now!

I'd also add O’Shaughnessy Napa bottling, exceptional for $75.

Are you looking for more old school traditional Napa, or fruit forward, lush, but quality Napa cabs? A few options more old school: Corison Napa Valley (around $100), can order from the winery if there aren't local options Chappellet Signature (around $60 in my area) Frog's Leap (around $60 in my ar...

I try to start the day out at A. Rafanelli (need to call ahead a reserve a time, but a favorite of mine going back years), then just down the road is Quivera, nice zins and whites. I'd also suggest Ridge, fun tasting, and many options, including a Monte Bello flight (last year it was 2006, 2007, 201...

Rough guess, at about 64. This is spread out between: Carlisle, Bedrock, Myriad, Quivet, Becklyn, Rivers-Marie, and Carter. October will be a busy (and fun) month!

C Simmons wrote: ↑
August 1st, 2019, 8:15 am
Steltzner and Twins are the standouts in 2017 hands down in my opinion. Tasting notes posted in Cellar Tracker.

Thanks! I'll go check your notes on Cellar Tracker, I always enjoy reading them.

This release looks awesome, and so it was difficult to choose, and limit to a case. There are just too many releases coming out in the Jul-Aug time frame, and to maintain a semblance of a budget tough decisions had to be made :-) This year I went with: 3 Bedrock Heritage 2 Limerick Lane 3 Old Hill R...

I opened up a bottle of 2016 Evangelho while I debate what I'll order for the Bedrock offering. So many options!

I finally got around to ordering, 3 Napa, and 3 Panek. Wish I could have gotten a few Lore, but oh well. I really enjoyed popping a bottle of the 2016 Lore a few months ago. The 2016 Napa Cab has been showing fantastically over the last few months.

Terribly sorry to hear this news, I always enjoyed his posts, and polls. RIP, and deepest condolences to his friends and family.

Alan Newman wrote: ↑
July 20th, 2019, 10:01 am
Morgan- any chance we can get the release notes early? I personally enjoy planning my purchases.

Seconded!!

Michael Francis wrote: ↑
July 16th, 2019, 12:37 pm
Just logged on. Will, is the Lore completely gone? If so, I think I am out this year.

I just logged on as well, and it looks like Lore is gone? Bummer, I was planning on maxing that out (even considering it may only be a few bottles).

I'll likely order a few Napa's.

Great notes!! Much appreciated.

I’ve opened one 2016 Lore and I felt it was amazing but very young. I cannot wait to see how it shows with more bottle age. The 2016 Napa Valley bottling has been great, and similar to the Becklyn Napa, such is to say very good.

I checked my allocation this morning, and again after meetings this afternoon, and it looks like my quantity of wines has gone down, must be selling nicely already. I am in for a mixed case after quite a bit of back and forth between various combinations.

(And also get a few bottles of the 2017!)

Thanks for the note, I'll have to dig out a 2015 and see what's happening!

Quivet wines are supposedly made in a slightly more "lean" style but I've never really found this to be the case. That said, if you're into Myriad you'll definitely dig Quivet - fantastic wines, Syrah from the latter might even be better than the former (which is truly saying a lot). I would agree....

I'll probably be in for a mixed case, plus a few extra. I am not concerned about the 2017 vintage fears (though maybe in my case, it's ignorance is bliss). I had a few 2011 Myriad Dr. Crane's and they were pretty good, from a maligned vintage. I usually don't let Quivet or Myriad get much bottle age...

Not sure if Heitz still offers the free tasting, but a few years ago we did the tasting, and they poured a nice selection of the Napa Cab, Trailside Vineyard, Martha's Vineyard, along with their Zin, and a few others. Not very personal, but it was zero cost, and pretty fun to taste the Trailside and...

Thanks for the note. I've just started buying the Old Vines Summa with the 2017 vintage, is there a drinking window I should look at for this bottling? I found even the 2017 Sonoma Coast in need of bottle time.

Thanks for the review. I am a member of the Monte Bello futures club but didn't receive my 1st shipment until the 2016 vintage this past fall. Over the past few years I have sought out older MBs and have built a nice vertical. However, I didn't have the 2011 in my collection. After reading this pos...

Thanks for the descriptive tasting note! I opened a 2011 Ridge Monte Bello and a 2013 Ridge Monte Bello (Chardonnay) for the 4th of July, and found the 2011 to be fantastic! I should have watched it evolve over 6 hours, but it was gone with and after dinner quite quickly. I think it's drinking bette...

Perhaps not the dumbest, but the most recent, was at a party I hosted, after dinner (and several bottles of wine, and cocktails with my friends), I decided to open up another bottle of wine. I was thinking, let's check in on the 2016 Myriad Napa Valley Cab, nothing crazy expensive, but quality. Afte...

Have the 17 Chuy Chard for tonight, what should i expect ? Cali butter/oak bomb or more Chablis style It’s not a butter bomb, but it’s definitely Oaked and it’s definitely CA chard. Perhaps my least favorite Bedrock. I found that a little bottle age has brought things together, I opened a bottle of...

Checking it out now, thanks for the heads up!

I just picked up 3 OGs, and 1 La Verdad. After several years of buying Mike Smith wines (primarily Quivet, Myriad, Scarlett, and Becklyn), I decided to try a few of the Carter Cellars bottlings. Based on the talk here, it sounds like some special wine, and a tick above the others that he makes.

Started the evening with a small pour of Russell's Reserve Single Barrel, while grilling baby back ribs and NY Strips. Decanted a 2015 Quivet Cellars Kenefick Ranch, it was very good, and still pumping out dark fruits, and spice. As it opened up some tannin and acid become apparent, but this is stil...

I finally got around to ordering, and bought 6 Napa Valley (with an additional 4 wish listed), and 2 Missouri Hopper (never had it). The Pangkarra looks to be sold out. I like the Becklyn Reserve, but have 4 of the 2014 still aging away, so didn't order.. I really like the Napa Valley bottling, and ...

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