2003 Robert Foley Charbono - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/23/2026)
And that's what it means to cellar wine! Last had this 19yrs ago, and loved it! Still have two bottles left in the cellar from release...saw it, and decided today is the day! Still black as night...the old classic Oooozzz monster...lots of barnyard leather at first, decanted for an hour, and it has integrated nicely giving out Bordeaux-ish vibes...the wine it totally alive and kickin! No ooozz here, 13.5 abv, and a killer freshness streak of raspberry and plum skin acidity...fruit is all brambly blackberries and plum...little drying and somewhat monolithic...this reminds me of a Petite Sirah and Dolcetto baby...still some sweetness and easy drinking style, yet there is something lurking out yonder in the deep! Wonderful flavors of chocolate covered cherries, tar, licorice, dried wintergreen tobacco...age has brought on a silky sheen to it...still has a spice kick and dusty tannins...I'm kind of in shock how good this is? I think it could go another 20+years...and probably not even change a bit! Wine is crazy... (94 points)
La Posta makes a great single vineyard Bonarda from 50 year old vines and Patriota from Tikal is great as blend too for under $20, we used it as house red for years…if you ever see it there is a magnum only wine from Tikal that is Malbec and Bonarda co-fermented with Torrontes called Locura.
Have a few recent charbono vintages in my stash from Robert Foley. Unfortunately, always drink early in comparison to original poster. Very tasty young but need to keep a few for several years and see how it develops. Robert Foley has other reds that are also quite good. Robert has a great historical view of Napa grape growing and winemaking. He was on a recent Doug Shafer podcast that is fun to listen to. Worth a visit if in the Howell Mtn area.
I used to reuglarly enjoy the Tikal Patriota as weekday wine. But I have not seen any of the Tikal wines at my usual stores for a long time. Never had the Locura, but it’s a great name.
