One of the many formerly-great Cali producers that now produce budget mass-market stuff. I bought this bottle on a flier a few years ago and it’s been collecting dust at the back of the cellar ever since. Decided to have an adventure tonight. Pulled off the capsule and I could see through the glass that the wine was likely in good shape. It was. Here’s my TN:
I knew this was a winner from the moment I pulled the cork, which was in perfect shape- still tough, pliable, and soaked less than than inch.
Pours clear translucent garnet, and while the core is not the vibrant purple of a young wine, the rim is amazingly youthful appearing. Very little browning/bricking on the rim.
Aromas are clearly moving into the tertiary zone, but aren’t fully there. Sweet black cherries, kirsch, raspberry preserves, graphite, cedar wood, pipe tobacco, turned earth. This has all the aromas you want in a nice cab- but it’s all gentle. The word suave comes to mind.
Red fruits, sweet black cherries in the mouth at first. Then come the aged notes of graphite and cedar, tobacco, leather, and a freshly plowed field. The body has lightened with age, I’d say medium to medium minus, tannins are sanded down to powder, The finish is long, complex, so pleasant.
Exactly what you look for in an aged Napa cab; gentle, suave, Bordeaux-esque in all the best ways but still retaining fresh sunny fruit. Some may find it a little lacking in weight and body, and I could see that; this isn’t a wine to go with a tomahawk steak. Better with roasted chicken or mushrooms. Perhaps this wine was at its very best a few years ago, but damn it’s so pleasant now…
