Oakville

This is mostly (97%) To Kalon fruit that is a blend of 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% each Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 1% Merlot.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is classic (and great) with cassis, graphite, spice, tobacco, black cherries and plums.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, this is still young but delicious.  Tight.  It unwinds in the glass a bit to show some complexity.  Flavors of cassis, black cherries, plums and some earthiness and char.  Long finish.  This still could use some cellaring or air.  Dri

This was my personal favorite in the excellent Boich collection of Cabernets. Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has cassis, coffee, black cherries, tobacco and spice. Good acidity and balance. Wonderful plush texture. Firm tannins. On the palate, this is deep and complex despite being so young. Lots of cassis and black cherries with some spice and slight char and just a hint of menthol on the finish. Delicious. This needs another five years minimum in the cellar but should drink well for twenty years after that.

Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is lovely and a bit concentrated.  Cassis, chocolate, fresh tobacco, and just a hint of fresh herbs (Marjoram?).  Silky, almost chalky texture which is very nice.  Firm tannins.  Good energy.  On the palate, cassis and very concentrated.  It's not that its not a big wine, but at the moment it is very tight.  If drinking soon, give it plenty of air.  It is delicious.  Long finish.  This needs another five years (or more) of cellaring and should drink well for another fifteen to twenty after that.  It is better on its own right now but with s

This is a 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc blend from the Oakville District in Napa.  The 2017 vintage is proving to be a good vintage if not great.  That said Russell Bevan is a great producer which counts more than vintage.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, black cherries, slight cigar box, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  ON the palate, cassis, black cherries, cedar and chocolate.  Showing a nice complexity but drinking quite well.  Long finish.  This should drink well for another fifteen to twenty years.  Its great on its own and

This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Oakville district in Napa.  Tasted blind, this seemed a bit older than a current release.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, slight cedar and char.  Full bodied.  Medium  tannins.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  It is more elegant than a big fruit Cab.  Flavors of cassis with spice and char.  Long finish.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  It would be an excellent choice if fairly priced at a Steakhouse.  

Nice to revisit this wine in a blind setting.  It is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black olives, graphite, chocolate and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins. Soft texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is complex and deep.  Tight layers of fruit and starting to show tertiary characteristics.  Cassis, earthiness and char.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and with a bit of air, will work with hearty meat dishes.  This should still improve.

Gorgeous wine.  Tench vineyard shares a border with Screaming Eagle (a bit of name dropping).  This wine was huge on release and while still fruit forward, at age 10, it is drinking wonderfully.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is deep and complex with cassis, blueberries, sandalwood, slight soy sauce with earthiness and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Lush texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of cassis, blueberries, black cherries, spice and char.  Deep and complex.  Long finish.  This will drink beautifully for another twenty years.  Great on its own, t

Another amazing Materium.  This is arguably the best Cabernet made in Napa (and yes, there are other contenders).  Inky purple in color, shimmering bright and opaque.  The nose is great with cassis, tobacco, sandalwood, baking spice and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Lush, lovely texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Every sip gets better.  It is deep but still young and tight.  Flavors of cassis, with some earthy tobacco notes.  Long finish.  This will get better but it is virtually all one could want in a young Cab.  Give it a bit of a decant if drinking soon.  Great on its ow

One of our favorite wines!  This vintage gets dismissed, but it really is a great vintage (Bordeaux would love to have a vintage like this).  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, tobacco, spice, graphite and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is open and delicious.  Deep.  It is still young but is open and showing well.  It will still improve.  Flavors of lush cassis, with spice and leathery earth.  Long finish.  This is great on its own, but would work well with fatty foods (not seafood).  drink over the next fifteen t

Surprisingly open, Maya used to be a wine that needed serious time before opening but this vintage/bottle was drinking well.  It is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Cabernet Franc.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, blueberries, black cherries, cigar tobacco, spice, slight cocoa and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black cherries, cassis, spice, tobacco and char.  Lovely texture.  Long finish.  No doubt this gets a perfect score as it matures but its close now.  Drink over the next twenty to thirty years.