Tom Garland

9.5

Inspire Napa welcome dinner
at Gamble Estates

VINTNER co-hosts
Dalla Valle ...2012 Maya
Harlan...2019 Harlan estate
Futo...2022 estate cab
Opus...2018 Opus
Screaming Eagle...2023 The Flight
Tench Vineyards...2023 estate cab franc
Vine Hill Ranch...2023 cab
Gamble estates...2022 reserve cab

FOOD
Hog Island oysters
Spring salad
Flannery beef striploin
Mustards Grill Alaskin Halibut
Sugar snap peas
Yukon potato hash browns
Mt Shasta porcini mushrooms
Burnt Basque cheesecake — 14 days ago

with Brenda

Tom Garland

9.3

12 person winemaker dinner with Jeremy Nickel of The Vineyard House winery.  Interesting stories about growing up at Far Niente winery, involvement in Nickel & Nickel winery with his father Gil, and starting The Vineyard House in Oakville next to Harlan and Futo.

WINES:
2017 TVH Blanc De Blancs, Oakville
2019 TVH Chardonnay, Oakville
2018 TVH block 5 cab franc
2018 TVH estate cab
2018 TVH block 8 "the boss" Cab

FOOD:
Foie Gras, toasted brioche
Lobster roll, toasted focaccia
Venison Chop, roasted yams
Lamb lollipops, braised mustard greens
Wagyu Ribeye, truffled potato
Apple Panna cotta — 3 years ago

with Brenda

Shay A

9.6

Last week was a combo of 4th Friday and Open That Bottle Night on back to back nights. Needless to say, the lineup between both days was full of heavy hitters, so I’m only posting standout bottles.

If you want decadent and powerful, this is your huckleberry. This was so good! Where the Futo was high toned and lifted in profile, this was more dense and all encompassing. The glass smelled of fondue dipped black cherries, blueberries, fresh squeezed blackberries, baking spices like cinnamon and vanilla, with some savory graphite just at the end. It’s a total flavor bomb (in a good way) on the palate because of how focused it is. Nothing stewed, overripe or flabby. Creme de cassis, dark chocolate, cedar, cascading dark fruits toward the finish. Big structure but so nimble. This reminds me of Shafer HSS. Nice bottle @Weston Eidson . — 6 years ago

with Weston

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

Needs at least 4 hours in the decanter.
96 point review from Wine Advocate @Ron R


The impossible to pronounce 2013 He-Li-An-Thus, coming from purchased grapes, is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 18% Petit Verdot and the rest Cabernet Franc, bottled unfined and unfiltered. Aged in Darnajou oak, this is an elegant wine, but it has serious intensity, a blue/purple color, sweet black raspberry and blueberry fruit, some forest floor and spring flowers. It is my favorite of the three vintages to date … — 7 months ago

Mark

9.3

At RH member guest. — 5 years ago

Thomas Sorbo

9.1

Crisp and bright! — 6 years ago

with Paul and Jack

leon egozi

9.7

happy bday @Ira Shapiro WOTN - This was young but awesome — a year ago

Kevin Dale

9.4

Handcrafted with the assistance of Lloyd Matthews (of Nine Suns and formerly Futo), the 2021 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and defined by black fruit, blue eucalyptus, graphite, licorice, smoldering earth, and leather. — a year ago

Leslie Bartos

9.3

Very nice after a 2 hour decant which allowed alcohol heat to blow off and everything to come together. Continued to evolve in glass. Dark fruits, cedar, gravel, nice brightness. Dinner with Blanches at Il Barone. 11/28/20 — 5 years ago

with Tony

Steve Belmonte

9.2

I am in love. Smooth and made my eyes shine — 6 years ago