It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Inky in color with a short purple rim.
Fruit nose of black fruits with light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates, black pepper, spices and peppercorn.
Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate and very fruity with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, figs, spices, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, peppercorn, espresso, chocolates, light earth and herbs.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This 5 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is already drinking beautifully.
Still young and very approachable already. Rich and extracted. Fruit forward and elegant. Very complex and entertaining.
Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel, and a beautiful nose. Juicy and chewy, with a teeth staining color.
Needs 4 hours in the decanter to open up properly, so be patient. Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.
Delicious by itself as a sipping wine, or with food like a big piece of steak.
A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak barrels for 20 months. A small production of less than 1,500 bottles.
14.9% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$235. — 2 months ago
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose of black fruits, cedar, spices, chocolates, coffee, licorice, cola, light pencil lead, tobacco leaf, herbs and black pepper.
Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate and very fruity with black currants, blackberries, plums, cola, cooked cherries, cedar, licorice, chocolates, vanilla, coffee and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This 13 year old Napa Cabernet is drinking beautifully now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.
Showing nice complexity with a soft mouthfeel. Elegant, rich and in your face kind of wine.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.
A gorgeous Cabernet, but I prefer the 2010 vintage.
Wine Spectator 91 points. Wine Enthusiasts 94 points.
Extracted, and good by itself as a sipping wine.
A blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec.
15.2% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$150. — 6 months ago
Inky in color with short purple rim.
Strong nose of black currants, plums, oak, tar, licorice, spices, charcoal and light blood notes.
Full-bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, dark chocolates, oak, spices, licorice, tobacco and peppercorn.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Syrah from Red Mountain in Washington State. Rich and extracted, yet not in your face kind of wine.
This Single Vineyard Syrah is well balanced with nice complexity. Fruit forward and spicy.
I had the 2022 not too long ago, and it definitely gets better with age. Will continue to age nicely in the next 7 years.
Good by itself as a sipping wine. A New world Syrah on the nose and palate.
100% Syrah grapes were aged for 18 months in 50% new oak barrels. 80% french and 20% American oak barrels. A small production of only 3,000 bottles. Unfiltered.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$40. — 7 months ago
Blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Counoise, Mourvèdre and Syrah, medium Ruby color, purple hues, with aromas of black/red fruits, currants, cloves and floral spice. On the palate flavors of cherry, plums and red berries with herb, licorice, floral and pepper spice. Full soft tannins with a long finish ending with fruit, floral and earthy spice notes. — 8 months ago
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Very fruity on the nose and full bodied with medium minus acidity.
Dry to off dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black currants, blackberries, cooked plums, oak, vanilla, dried fruits, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, light herbs and peppercorn.
Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 8 year old Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County is still drinking very nicely, but will not get better from this point.
Complex and easy drinking. Fruit forward with a touch of RS. Rich and extracted with a mouth coating feel.
A nice sipping wine.
14.6% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$50. — 10 months ago
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Deep inky in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose with black plums, black currants, blackberries, cedar, licorice, cassis, light vanilla, spices, tobacco leaf, herbs, light vegetables and chocolates.
Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruit forward on the palate with plums, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, peppercorn, light earth, dark coffee and light black tea.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Merlot-based blend from Bordeaux. Complex and interesting. Fruit forward and elegant.
This 6 year old Merlot will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. I had this vintage two years ago, and it would be nice to revisit it again in 5 years.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour in the decanter.
Easy drinking and well-balanced.
The high alcohol is nicely integrated now, so watch out.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will also pair nicely with barbecue meats.
A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Kosher and not Mevushal.
15% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$50. — 2 years ago
Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.
Fruity nose of blackberries, black currants, fresh cherries, light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates, black pepper and mediterranean spices.
Full-bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, light vanilla, cedar, licorice, light cola, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, coffee, light earth, herbs, spices and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville in Napa Valley. Nicely balanced, elegant and complex. Fruit forward and luxurious. Alcohol is nicely integrated already.
Needs a few hours to open up properly, so be patient.
Still very young, but already drinking beautifully. Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.
I've had an older vintage before, and it ages beautifully.
Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.
A blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Aged in (50% new) French Oak barrels.
14.7% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$100. — a month ago
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Strong nose of black fruits with cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, earth, chocolates and black pepper.
Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, cooked cherries, light green vegetables, spices, pencil lead and peppercorn.
Long finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.
This 10 year old red blend from California is still drinking beautifully. Complex and interesting. Nice to see that it aged nicely.
Showing slight RS on the palate, but I can live with that.
Easy drinking and good by itself as a sipping wine.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Charbono.
15.2% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$60. — 5 months ago
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Deep inky in color with a short purple rim.
Very complex nose with blackberries, black currants, cooked plums, cedar, tobacco, chocolates, vanilla, licorice, eacaliptus, Indian spices and black pepper.
Full bodied and soft, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with black plums, cooked cherries, spices, cedar, licorice, vanilla, milk chocolates, dried fruits and peppercorn.
Very long finish with fine grained tannins, spices and cherries.
This 3 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is already drinking gorgeously. Rich and extracted, yet elegant. Soft and smooth with a great mouthfeel.
Still young, but already so delicious, and will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 10 years and see how it evolves.
I've had many different vintages of this wine and it is very consistent.
Fruity, good right out of the bottle, and much better after 4 hours in the decanter.
Powerful with subtle elegance. Spicy and entertaining. A gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. A small production of only 300 cases.
14.9% alcohol by volume.
95 points.
$200. — 7 months ago
I’ve had better Napa Cabernets, but not many. From magnum.
This is elegance refined.
Black currants, black berries, black raspberries, both plums into pudding, black cherries, strawberries, raspberry hues, mid berry cola/licorice, mocha powder, dark chocolate brownies, layered baking spices, soft spices w/ a bit of a punch, caramel, anise to black licorice, dry tobacco & used leather, dry crushed rocks, cedar, dry herbs, touch of eucalyptus, dark withering to candied flowers, grand, round acidity, lush, round, balanced, knitted, elegant, smartly polished finish that last minutes and falls on malt ball, softened earth & spice.
Minus a point for a hint of bandaid on the nose that didn’t affect the palate. — 8 months ago
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Fruity nose and full in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with cherries, raspberries, cooked plums, chocolates, light wood, herbs, earth and peppercorn.
Long finish with grippy tannins and tart cherries.
This is a very tasty Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from Walla Walla Valley. Rich and in your face kind of wine. Fruit forward and extracted.
This Single Vineyard Bordeaux blend is complex, tangy and interesting. Feels very young, and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly.
I had the 2015 vintage not too long ago, and it was drinking beautifully. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years, and showing good potential to become a 94 point wine.
A good sipping wine, that would also pair nicely with food.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Aged in (57% new) French Oak barrels for 22 months.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$120. — 8 months ago
Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.
Nose of blueberries, black plums, black currants, coffee, licorice, spices, dark coffee, pencil lead, earth and herbs.
Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cherries, blood notes, light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates, barnyard, light vegetables, light tar and black pepper.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Syrah from the Rocks District in Walla Walla Valley. In your face kind of wine. Rich, extracted and complex. Nicely balanced and elegant. Interesting stuff.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after a couple of hours of airtime.
This 6 year old Syrah is drinking beautifully now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years and see how it evolves.
A great sipping wine that also paired nicely with a big piece of steak.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$350. — a year ago
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Beautiful nose of black fruits with cedar and chocolate notes.
Full-bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, light earth, herbs, mediterranean spices, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Complex and nicely balanced, fruit forward and elegant. Spicy and entertaining.
This Single Vineyard Cabernet is still young, but already enjoyable even by itself. Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 to 20 years. Showing good potential to become a 96+ point wine.
A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were dry farmed and aged in (80% new) French oak barrels for 24 months.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$140. — a month ago
Perhaps, the best 2007 Napa Cabernet I’ve had or can remember. From the first sip, it was a shut the front door moment.
The nose showed; dark cassis, blackberries, black, raspberries, dark cherries, and both plums. Dark chocolate to pudding, flowers that were dark, red, blue, wrapped in violets, caramel, softly, layered baking, spices, soft, cedar, leather, tobacco with ash, dark, cola and a circling sense of baking powder.
The palate showed me just how beautiful Cabernet fruits can be. A true example of perfectly ripe fruit, picked at exactly the right time. Beautiful, gorgeous blackberries, black, raspberries, dark cherries and black plums. An excellent barrel toast that created perfectly soft and layered baking spices, clays, wood shavings, leather cigar box with ash, perfect tannins that are M+ and sticky, soft, dry herbs, hints of mint, steep tea, withering, red blue florals w/violets, perfect acidity, excellently, knitted, softly structured, tension, balance for days and an amazing finish that goes on endlessly.
If there is one thing I learned tasting 6 Harlan’s is Bob Levy is one of the very best, if not thee best at managing Cabernet/Bordeaux blend tannins.
Tasting with Winemaker- Bob Levy & Managing Director-Don Weaver. — 3 months ago
#AgedWineTuesday
Ruby in color with a reddish rim. Not showing it's age.
Pretty nose with black currants, black plums, blackberries, licorice, cedar, herbs, tobacco leaf, chocolates, dark coffee, pencil lead, light earth and peppercorn.
Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with black currants, blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, cedar, spices, toast, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, earth, light alcohol, peppercorn, green tea and herbs.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Showing a great nose right out of the bottle.
Rich and extracted, yet elegant. Very complex and spicy. Smooth, yet powerful. Does not feel like it's 18 year old at all.
This Cabernet Sauvignon from the great 2007 vintage in Napa Valley is showing beautifully now. Fully matured, but has enough energy to last it much longer. Drinking at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 7 years.
I love these aged Napa Bordeaux blends. Easy drinking and good by itself as a sipping wine.
A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. Aged for 18 months in (79% new) French oak barrels.
15.2% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$175. — 6 months ago
Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim.
Fruity nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, mint, vanilla, cedar, cola, licorice, eucalyptus and peppercorn.
Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate and fruit forward with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, licorice, spices, graphite, peppercorn and black tea
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a gorgeous 12 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain in Washington State. Complex and fruit forward. Rich and elegant.
I had a more recent vintage not too long ago, and it’s definitely better with age.
This Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is absolutely fantastic now. Drinking at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 7 years.
Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel and a gorgeous nose. Loved smelling on it. The high alcohol is well integrated by now.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, and paired beautifully with the delicious Wagyu Steak.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in all new French oak barrels for 20 months.
15.2% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$180. — 8 months ago
#KosherWineSunday
Inky in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose of blue and black fruits with mediterranean spices, light cedar, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, light earth and black pepper.
Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruit forward on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, light earth, chocolates, coffee and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This 6 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Israel is drinking wonderfully now. Rich and elegant. Fruit forward and easy drinking. Nicely balanced and soft.
Good right out of the bottle and better after 2 hours of airtime.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.
Complex and engaging. Tangy and spicy.
Interesting, and good by itself as a sipping wine.
Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Kosher.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$50. — 9 months ago
Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.
Beautiful nose of blackberries, black currants, plums, tobacco, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, herbs, earth, Mediterranean spices and peppercorn.
Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black plums, cooked cherries, currants, light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates, peppercorn, tobacco leaf and black tea.
This Second Growth Margaux is delicious. Nicely balanced and elegant. Fruit forward and complex. Rich, but not extracted.
This 7 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based blend is starting to drink beautifully right now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 20 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.
Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. Loved the complexity on the nose.
A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$110. — a year ago
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark ruby/purple in color with a wide reddish rim.
Beautiful nose of blueberries, black plums, black cherries, cedar, licorice, light earth, chocolates, black pepper and black tea.
Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate and very fruity with cooked plums, currants, cherries, light earth, cola, chocolates, licorice, cedar, spices, light bitter herbs and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 7-year-old Napa Merlot is drinking beautifully now. Spicy and entertaining. Elegant and easy drinking. Fruit forward and very chocolatey.
Needed some time to open up. I gave it 90 minutes in a decanter, and really enjoyed the nose, once it opened up.
Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.
Nicely balanced, rich and extracted. Smooth and plush. Well balanced and complex. Good by itself as a sipping wine.
A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
14.4% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$65. — 2 years ago
Jeremiah Diaz
Clear, deep ruby in color; on the nose, it's clean with pronounced primary and secondary aromas of plums, blueberries, and camphor; on the palate, it's dry with high acidity, high tannins, high alcohol, full body, and pronounced intensity primary and secondary flavors of blackberries, ground coffee, cocoa, and menthol with a long finish. This wine is intense and complex. Overall, I rate this wine as very good. — 19 days ago