Cain Vineyards
Cain Vineyard & Winery
Cain Cuvée NV14 Napa Valley Red Blend
Strong body, fruity in a good way, dry spice and earthy. From Christmas party at the mill. — 3 months ago
Cain Vineyard & Winery
Cain Five Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013
Most of the wines I open tell me a story w/ each sip. Most tied to my late wife Sofia. My memories of this producer precedes her.
This is a producer that flashed early in my wine journey. Generally, one you have moved on from today. That’s until, their 2013 is offered at $39 recently. A grand vintage. For me, I wanted to see the wineries progression and experience earlier memories that flood back w/ each sip. It has done that.
I have a Napa history infatuation. This one is kinda of a pleasure-pain thing. While I enjoyed this producer many years ago, the 2020 Glass Fires destroyed 90% of their vineyards, almost all their structures & their 19 & 20 vintages. I can’t express enough what a gut punch that is for its owners & staff. It is an insurance nightmare and let’s not forget that after all the time it takes to re-plant vines, it takes at least 7 years before you get useable fruit to make wine. So…a ten yr plus setback w/ nearly no revenue stream.
The wine tonight w/o a ribeye, showed excellent fruits that the 13 growing season brought. But what followed was a lean mid plate and finish. With the steak, not so.
The palate shows M+ velvety, dry tannins. Ripe, rich, lush, ruby fruits of: blackberries, black plum, baked plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, poached & fresh strawberries & an understated array of purple fruits. Moist, grey, volcanic clays, moist tobacco w/ ash, used leather, graphite, dry, crushed rocks/limestone-sandstone, dry brush, dark cola, black licorice to anise, dry herbs-bay leaf, sage, dark, mid spice with some palate heat, sweet tarriness, dark, fresh, candied & withering red roses, lavender & dry violets, excellent acidity with a well balanced-knitted, nicely structured & tensioned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and long sets on dry earth & spice.
This is nice on its own but so much better with a ribeye. 92 on its own with a hour decant. 92-93+ with an hour decant plus a juicy, well seasoned MR ribeye. — 23 days ago
Cain Vineyards
NV15 Cain Cuvée Red Blend
Nose: hint of Brett. Lilacs.
Palate: lilacs. Elegant. Fantastic. Licorice
2tt 18 — 2 months ago
Cain Vineyards
NV12 Cain Cuvée Red Blend 2012
Very enjoyable. Stood the test of time. These were great when we got them and are nice now. Didn’t seem overly aged at all. Earthy and balanced. Lighter than a cab but still solid. — 3 months ago
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
2006 vintage. Medium/medium-heavy body. Tannins pretty well-integrated at this point. If it is not at the top of its’ particular bell curve, darn near close. 3.20.26. — 2 days ago