Ed Chin

9.0

Not sure why there is so much love for this at this point. The bitterness on the finish was a real turnoff. I did enjoy the aromatics and texture — 4 days ago

leon egozi

9.7

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

Tom Garland

9.4

Inspire Napa Walk Around Wine Tasting with:
Bryant Estates
Chappellet
Continuum Estate
Cliff Lede Vineyard
Eisele Vineyard
Favia Wines
Ferren Wines
Futo Wines
Harlan Estates
Keplinger Wines
Morley Family Vineyards
Rudd Estates
Staglin Family Vineyards
Vine Hill Ranch — 4 years ago

with Brenda

Thomas Sorbo

9.1

Crisp and bright! — 6 years ago

with Paul and Jack

Ryan Mayes

9.1

This is the first vintage of Helianthus, a new wine from the daughter of Tom Futo. Very interesting Cab-dominant blend from Oakville. Deeply concentrated with obvious purity of fruit (a cherished Futo trademark). Alcohol, tea leaves, dry cedar, cooling ember and dark fruits with some tropical undertones dominate the olfaction. These aromas sort of conflate in a way that make it somewhat difficult to discern each component, but the resulting nose is welcoming and intoxicating. Palette is consistent with rich dark fruit and a vibrant mouthfeel indicating a structured wine with ample tannin and acidity. Enjoyed this even more tonight than we did at the property back in February! Avoid spilling this inky wine on furniture (as we did tonight...) — 10 years ago

David Devan

9.4

Now known as Futo. 1995 by Heidi Peterson Barrett — 11 years ago

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.1

Very youthful for its age. The brand no longer exists. Land currently owned by Futo. — 13 years ago

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 — 2 months ago

with Brenda

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

Mark

9.3

At RH member guest. — 5 years ago

Steve Belmonte

9.2

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

Janet Ross

10

This is a bottle of the inaugural release of He-li-an-thus, a second label of sorts from Futo. Winemakers are Jason Exposito and Jessica Futo. It is a phenomenal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cab Franc. WOW this is one spectacular wine with flavors of black cherry, blackberry jam and mocha. Smooth as silk. Totally drinkable now. — 10 years ago

Simon Haidamous

9.6

Futo second label. Picked this up after our tour with the founder's daughter. Easily a top 10 wine. — 12 years ago

Bruce Evans

10

06 futo , 01 hundred acre kayli , 09 coupe de foudre lightning bolt , 07 vieux telegraphe — 13 years ago

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 … — 9 months ago

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

B

10

1997 Tenuta dell Ornellaia Masseto Merlot. Drank w B&K K at Aliemento. First wine of the night. Fantastic! Drank amazingly. Super smooth, long finish, balanced fruit and minerals. Loved this wine the most of the evening- compared to the 1989 Vega Sicilia Unico Ribera Del Duero or the 2006 Futo. — 10 years ago

Steven Foster

Wine buyer Belmont Wine Exchange

10

Such deep quality. Needed time but on par with Futo. Pritchard hill fruit with blackberry and smokey spice box notes. Beauty. — 12 years ago