Napa Valley Red
Pine Ridge - Malbec 2017 Napa Valley
The nose offers power and a fine concentration. It reveals notes of cassis, wild blackberry and small notes of small berries associated with fine touches of liquorice, cardamom as well as small berries and a hint of Cuben pepper. The mouth is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/finely acidulous frame, precision and tension. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy blackberry, fleshy cassis and small notes of black cherry associated with fine touches of violet, small berries as well as hints of Cuben pepper and discreet hint of varietal/spices. Tannins are elegant, fine and structuring.
Score : 15.25+/20 (90-91/100)
Pine Ridge - Merlot 2016 Napa Valley
The nose offers a fine power and a fine richness. It reveals notes of wild blackberry, wild cassis and small notes of wild strawberry associated with fine touches of violet as well as very discreet hints of Cuben pepper and spices. The mouth is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy frame, tension and a small power/concentration. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy cassis, fleshy blackberry and small notes of raspberry associated with fine touches of small red berries as well as fine hints of violet, tobacco leaf and a subtle hint of cardamom. Tannins are well-built. Good length and very fine hints of caramelization on the persistence.
Score : 15.75/20 (91-92/100)
Provenance - Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 - Howell Mountain
Napa Valley
(Regional Exclusive) The nose is fruity, gourmand and offers a small richness and a fine deepness. It reveals notes of ripe cassis, very ripe Boysen berry, small notes of plum associated with small touches of cornflower, liquorice stick as well as fine hints of lily/cornflower, caramelization and tonka bean. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers juicy/ finely acidulous frame, a good definition and minerality. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy/juicy blackberry, small notes of crushed blackcurrant as well as touches of ripe raspberry, cornflower, violet as well as very fine hints of tonka bean and toasted almond. Tannins are wellbuilt. Good length and persistence.
Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)
Provenance - Fortitude 2015, Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
The nose is elegant, aromatic and offers richness and deepness. It reveals notes of Boysen berry, cassis and small notes of blue fruits associated with touches of strawberry, cornflower as well as fine hints of iris, chocolate, nutmeg as well as hints of iris and an imperceptible hint of bourbon vanilla. The mouth is fruity, well-balanced and offers a beautiful finesse of the grain, suavity and deepness. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy blackberry, fleshy cassis and small notes of small blue fruits associated with touches of plum, dark chocolate, nutmeg and cardamom as well as very fine hints of bourbon vanilla and allspices. A very discreet hint of caramelization in the finish/persistence. Tannins are elegant, fine and structuring.
Score : 17.5+/20 (95-96/100)
Provenance - Sleeping LadyVineyard 2016, Cabernet Sauvignon
Yountville, Napa Valley
The nose offers freshness, a small power as well as a fine richness and deepness. It reveals notes of cassis, ripe strawberry and small notes of violet associated with small touches of blackberry, ripe cherry as well as hints of cornflower, cardamom, mild tobacco leaves and an imperceptible hint of Cuben pepper. The mouth is fruity, fresh, mineral, well-balanced and offers a good definition, a fine juiciness as well as an acidulous frame and gourmandize. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy blackberry, fleshy cassis and small notes of crushed raspberry associated with small touches of violet plum as well as subtle hint of cornflower, graphite and violet plum. Tannins are precise, structuring and elegant.
Score : 16.75/20 (93-94/100)
Quintessa 2013 Rutherford, Napa Valley
The nose is powerful, elegant and offers a fine unctuosity. It reveals notes of very ripe cassis, black plum and small notes of crushed cassis associated with touches of ripe strawberry, very ripe red berries as well as hints of violet, graphite and subtle hints of Cuben pepper. The mouth is fruity, juicy, well-balanced and offers a beautiful definition, concentration, richness, a very fine acidulous frame as well as unctuosity. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of crushed cassis, very ripe wild blackberry and small notes of very ripe strawberry associated with touches of raspberry, small red berries as well as hints of violet, Cuben pepper and Bourbon vanilla. Good length.
Score : 17.75+/20 (96/100)
Quintessa 2014 Rutherford, Napa Valley
The nose is elegant, powerful and offers richness but full of finesse and deepness. It reveals notes of wild cassis, Boysen berry and small notes of black plum associated with touches of green pepper, raspberry as well as hints of liquorice stick, tobacco and fine hints of Cuben pepper. The mouth is beautifully mineral/juicy and offers tension, precision, a fine acidulous frame and richness. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy blackberry, crushed cassis and small notes of fleshy/juicy black cherry associated with touches of raspberry, cornflower, blueberry, fine hints of fresh flowers, mocha/ cocoa as well as discreet hints of sugared mild tobacco and cloves. Tannins are elegant and well-built. Good length and persistence.
Score : 18.25/20 (96-97/100)
Quintessa 2016 Rutherford, Napa Valley
The nose is fruity, elegant and offers a beautiful finesse of the grain, intensity and precision. It reveals notes of ripe cassis, black blackberry and small notes of black plum associated with small touches of wild strawberry, ripe/crushed redcurrant as well as hints of racy minerality, Cuben pepper and cornflower. The mouth is fruity, fresh, well-balanced and offers a good definition, precision, gourmandize, tension, an acidulous frame as well as deepness. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of black cherry, cassis and small notes of blackberry associated with small touches of raspberry, cherry as well as hints of black plum, violet and fine hints of iris. Tannins are elegant and well-built. Good length and persistence.
Score : 17.75/20 (95-96/100)
Robert Mondavi - Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Reserve, To KalonVineyard
Oakville, Napa Valley
The nose is fruity, well-balanced and offers power. It reveals notes of ripe blackberry, fleshy/ripe Boysen berry and small notes of rope raspberry associated with small touches of violet as well as fine hints of nutmeg and sweet spices. The mouth is fruity, well-balanced and offers an acidulous/juicy frame, gourmandize as well as a fine fat. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy blackberry, fleshy cassis and small notes of violet associated with small touches of wild strawberry, small wild berries as well as discreet hints of cedar and mild tobacco. Good length and persistence. Tannins are structuring.
Score : 17+/20 (94-95/100)
Robert Mondavi - Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Spotlight Collection
Stags Leap District, NapaValley
The nose is elegant, fine and offers a fine freshness and a racy minerality. It reveals notes of ripe cassis, ripe wild strawberry and small notes of violet associated with fine touches of ripe/fresh blueberry, cornflower as well as