2006 Hoopes Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville (USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville)

PnP but best after about an hour. Dark and brooding. Nose of black raspberries and cassis. Palate has all black fruits with a slight lean toward over-ripeness. Balance very admirable. Tannins are large and somewhat clumsy; I can see what some think this properties potential is limitless. It's all pure Cabernet with not much elegance but tons of character. Finish holds the dark fruits true. I would like to try this in another few years. 90 pts

2006 Dain Wines Syrah The Smart Set White Hawk Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County)

pop & pour.

Great nose of blueberry, black raspberries and river stones. Palate has all that and a bag of chips. Not really. All that and more: Soy, red cassis and cedar with some cooled bacon fat. This is lively and playful with a perfectly 'slightly' elevated acidity level with nearly resolved tannins that are aligned and polished. A very elegant and pure Syrah, this is such an enjoyable food friendly wine.
In my humble estimation, If ever there was a non deserving victim of the 'non-appreciation' of American Syrahs, I will always point to David Dain and this bottling in particular as my number one example. I wish he still made this. 93 pts

2006 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Some Days Are Diamonds (USA, California, Napa Valley)

If you have these in your cellar, and if you paid what I think you paid, consider yourself very lucky.
For a wine to be so dark, so pure and so black fruited all while being focused and precise and costing $18 you have hit a grand slam.
My 7th or 8th time with this wine in the last 18 months and all I can say is wow.

...and glad to have 8 more.........
I will buy deep on the '08s when they come around, again. 93 pts

2006 Jones Family The Sisters - USA, California, Napa Valley (3/27/2011)

Pop and pour.
Having been a fan of these for a while (since the 03 vintage), I can tell you that there is no better feeling than reassurance of ones feelings and opinion, something that I have never been short of. This 2006 remains such an incredible staple in my cellar, as I get down to my last 7, I start feeling a bit melancholy; I know the 2008s are upon us now, and I know it's pretty great in its own right, but does it know that the shoes it need to fit into, lets call it the 'Sisters high water mark' has been set, all I can do is wish it luck. Them's some big shoes.

Today, I walk through a field of violets. The darkness we have all come to expect from these is still in play; the nose is spring violets, black currant and black cherry. The palate shows super breed and structure with tons of deep layers. An incredible array of black fruits with some red tinged fruits lying in the background. Spring flowers dominated by a very intense violet note really makes this love at first sight, but wait, there's more: Black cassis with Kirsch, black-cherries, cola, Kirsch, some soft vanilla notes, some cigar box, and hints of soy sauce. Initially on pop and pour you really need to pay attention as thing enter and exit quicker than Lindsay stays at rehab, but if you do, you are rewarded because now as I write, maybe 15 minutes after starting, the violets have subsided and more black fruits have emerged. The balance is deft and the finish is long. This really remains one of the best deals in the Valley. (95 pts.)

2006 Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley)

A very interesting wine. Deeply colored and opaque. The nose is a very quietly refined black cherry and black berry. The palate shows a superfine and luxurious cab with some depth and elegance. Actually, a lot of elegance. There is some fine woven tannins with just a hint of heat that dissipated with some decant time. This starts out an all black fruited cab with a very refined attitude that in time takes on some red fruits of red currant, tart red raspberries and plum; enter some camphor, some linseed oil, some lead pencil and some dried spices. Balance it deft and finish is long. This needs 3-4 hour minimal decant time to show itself.
91 pts

2006 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley)

3 hour decant. Consistent with my last note. This is opaque. The nose is a refined creme de cassis and blackberry. A beautiful refined and classy cabernet that just screams 'drink me'. Initially quite closed, but the decant time gave it dimension and depth. Black fruit ruled this bottle. Some cedar box, some leather, a hint of vanilla and some graphite in a medium bodied wine, this went long and stayed black fruit laden. I am thrilled to have 4 more in the cellar. No need to run to though, as these are built for some more distance. 93 pts

2006 Drew Family Cellars Syrah Broken Leg Vineyard (USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley)

This wines is just a fantastic rendition of a Cali Syah that I am still learning I seem to really enjoy. It has a vibrancy and level of fruits that catch your attention early and hold it long, but in a seemingly delicate and profound way. Blue fruited with some underlying blacks, this glides across the palate with an almost lush and velvety texture that I associate with some Cali Cults more than Cali Syrahs. Elegance and purity rules the roost. Some worn leather, hints of soy sauce, river rocks and white pepper. A long finish tops it all off.Its pretty and joyful. The hit Syrah (3 total) on the table with wine-os and non wine-os alike. 94 pts

2006 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select (USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District)

Dark and opaque. The nose has a refined cassis and black cherry with some sweet undertones that are very nice indeed. The first thing you spot on the nose is the purity and class. This has some plush creme de cassis, Kirsch Royal, black cherry & cola. A very lilty balance with a lush under-body and velvety feel that really makes it shine. Long and precise, this is focused and full of Grandeur. 93 pts

2006 Arnot-Roberts Syrah "North Block" Hudson Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros)

This wine is all about fragrance and the 'berry'. On sight its dark and ominous. The nose has all fresh cut flowers, small black berries, blueberry compote. Palate shows an amazing breed and structure--Hudson in the house. Its purity and precision is uncanny. Its tannins complicated but behaving. Balance is deft. A long berry filled finish brings this into the barn nicely. If I to find complaint, it's that this closed about an hour after opened. It went from big and showy to refined and quiet. Initially it was all nose. I think this still needs some time in bottle to show its fullest. Just a hair behind the 2005 overall. I do love this wine. 92 pts

2006 Rockledge Cabernet Sauvignon The Rocks (USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)

This has loads of stuffing; It just needs the patience to treat it right. 4 hour minimum decant on this. It is a tightly structured cab with tradition soaked into the molecules. Black cassis, black cherry, tar, soy, leather, cedar box, exotic tea. its all here; it just need coaxing. When it shows itself you will know what a classically cab is like if you never had one before. It's a medium to full bodied style with masculine tannins, nice balance, and it's all brawn. Not for the faint hearted. A long finish with all the black fruits remaining in play. If you are a Napa Cab lover you owe it to yourself to try this wine. It's everything many 2007 Napa cabs I have sampled are not. If you don't have the time to decant, don't bother. I can see this going for the long term. 93 pts

2006 Audelssa Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (12/12/2010)

100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 1 hour decant. Pretty ruby red with neon edges. Nose of black cherry, sassafras & red plums. Palate shows those fruits with an intensity that is pretty great. A very focused and vibrant Cabernet that shows a cool cab profile. Its floral and fragrant with cherries on top. There is a cherry Herring liquor quality that I find fascinating. It could be dangerous if over-done, but for the moment it stays pleasing. A medium weight mouth-feel with firm structure. Tannins are refined but ever-present. A near perfect balance. The dark fruits style on the tongue long after the wine has gone down. There is the ever so smallest hint of cool menthol on the tail end as well. What a great QPR. I might have to go back for more. (91 pts.)

TN: 2006 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley)

“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” This Realm is dark as night. The nose is a pure precise focus of black and red fruits and of cassis driven earth with blackest cherry cola. Slightly holding back itself, but I see into it all too well. The palate is one of purity and class. Dark fruits once again with mutliple layer of Napa Cabernet goodness: there is the Creme de cassis that I really love; some lead pencil; a hint of pomegranate; and enough black cherry one could ever want. This has so much balance to bring smileth to thou face. No need to ask "When shall we three meet again, In thunder, lightning, or in rain?" for the time is now. Plush with class, this has a medium weighted mouthfeel; it's tannins are still working, and acidity of the lilty type. Long finish that goes on and on. Make no tragedy hereth, as one not be deserved. This Realm is the schnizzle, or as Bill said: "This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this Napa."

Thou did not liketh the 06s when first released nearly as mucheth as I do-eth now. (93 pts.)

Stolen from Winebid for $50 per!

2006 Audelssa Estate Winery Summit (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley)

Consistent. Ruby red-garnet. Nose: Both black and some reddish currants are here as well as some sharp black cherry and lead pencil. A very dignified and classy wine. The palate has mouth coating glycerin with a medium to light weight feel. There is the currants and black cherry, but also some blackberries, black ripe raspberries, as a matter of fc, he profile changes to all black toward the mid-palate. Very cool. Tannins are big and slightly bruiser-ish, never really getting a blow to your face, this has some wonderful lilty balance and a very lively acidity that work both with food, and nicely without. Th finish has very much 'gained weight' from my last showing. It's long, precise and pure. Minutes later you still sense the first moments of the taste. More Napa-ish this time around, this is deep and well structured. There is lots of character in this character.(94 points)

2006 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red (USA, California, Napa Valley)

1 hour decant. Dense reddish color, light edges. Almost 'murky'. Almost.
Nose of sassafras, macerated black cherry, red raspberry and wild flowers highlighting violets. Very pretty indeedy. The palate displays some amazing soft reddish black fruits of bing cherry, red currant, ripe pomegranate, and a wee hint of tart gooseberries; very interesting. Mouth-feel is medium and plushy with some softness. Very elegant and floral, this is just shooting from the lass as I write. Wow. Tannins are big but under control and overall balance very precise and focused. A hint of Framboise lingers very long. This really is an incredible bottle of red wine. Hold or enjoy now. I am.

81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot & 1% Malbec

2006 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley

45 minute double decant.The color is deep black with bright purple tinged edges. The nose is cardamom and black cherry/sassafras. The palate attacks, and I do mean attack with plushy black and blue fruits that are just gushing with flair. A very different road for Ric Forman indeed. There is much to pay attention to with this: black currants, black plum, forest floor, some menthol, some soy, some lead pencil, some creme de cassis, and a noticeable dollop of Kirsch Royal. A medium to heavy weight mouth feel, this has a real great sense of balance and structure, but some elegance is hiding amongst the rogue elements. Wonderful intertwined tannins with a lilty acidic base, this is a real stunner. Black and ominous, this is very Californian in its style. Grabbed a few on a deal last month. Well worth $35, hell, well worth $65. Glad I have a few more. Good to go for the next half dozen years or so-- but what the hell do I know? 92 points

Jones Family Vineyards Retrospective

Last evening I had the pleasure of meeting with Daniel Bailey from Jones Family Vineyards & winery. He brought east with him 6 vintages of his flagship estate Cabernet, as well as 2 vintages of his second wine, The Sisters. Daniel Posner of grapes the Wine Company played host.

I have been a fan of Jones family for some time now, always capitalizing on locating older back vintages whenever possible. The Sisters is a perennial favorite of mine, one I buy by the case every year. It represents what I believe to be the single best deal in the whole valley, year in and out. Daniel Bailey was informative and friendly. Great wines, great time, wonderful people.

Jones Family Vineyards

2000 Jones Family Estate Cabernet: The first thing you notice upon bringing the glass to your face is vegetalness. The second thing upon entering the mouth—same. Disjointed, weedy, sweet, and undrinkable. Possibly an off bottle?

2001 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Deep blackish color with red edges. The nose is pure kirsch and framboise. Some great black currant. All carries to the palate with some amazing precision. There is some black cherry, crème de cassis, cola, tat, leather and cedar. Really shows off a classic styling. The tannins got a bit dusty/gritty as this sat in my glass, not distracting though. This is long and elegant. 93

2003 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: This had some admirable qualities for the vintage. It had a sweet fabricated red fruit profile with some red cherries and ripe red plum notes. Seemed a bit tired. Drink up! 89

2004 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Slightly fatter than the previous. Good structure. Deep red black fruit profile encroaching into the black zone. Soft tannins, nice balance. Some Kirsch and black raspberries in a creamy plush mouthfeel. Decent finish, this is very pretty and delicate. 92

2005 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Loud and boisterous, this is firmly structured with deep red & black fruits of macerated currant, blackberries, pomegranate, and black plum. More delineated than all that came before it, save for the 2001, this is pure and focused with some tightly knitted tannins. 93

2005 Jones Family The Sisters: This seemed a bit more restrained than all my past experiences with it. It still retains some great dark fruit, but the plush mouthfeel has quieted down some. It seems more in line with the 04 than the 05 estates. I always believed this to be one to enjoy young(er). A decent black fruit profile with black cherry reigning. I still have 6, and it will be interesting to see where this goes in the next few years. 91

2006 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Now we’re talking: sweet red fruits profile with a creamy texture, this has the purity and elegance I want, all supported by the structure and backbone, the strength of the 06 vintage in general, at least in my mind. Cardamom, framboise, kirsch, blackberry, black and red cassis, plums, and so much in here to mention, this is real joy. A hint of black pepper? Maybe. It has super-structured tannins with such a tight-rope act of acidity. A very long pure finish that goes minutes, its palatial omnipresence is just difficult to ignore, this is really a wonderful bottle of Napa Cab. Wow 95

2006 Jones Family The Sisters: Not unlike its older sibling, this really packs it in, save for maybe a bit of elegance and structure, but make no mistake, this is one schnizzle of a $50 cab. Pure, clean, and lively, this has much to offer, and all at $50. Black fruits, plush mouthfeel, elegance, purity, structure and more.The best Sisters I have had, continues to be so. 94

2006 Holdredge Syrah - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

Great vibrant see-through color. The nose is a bit closed at first. After about an hour this really sings: There is warm bluberry pie, blood orange, wild flowers & black cherry. This really showed well/better with food. (Wild Boar sausages, wild mushroom couscous, black berry reduction). Fragrant and pretty beautiful, this belied its price-point by 2x. Palate has all the goodness and then some: Blueberry, white pepper, some bacon fat, soy and river stones. Great medium to light weight mouthfeel, it almost reminded me of Pinot early on, but by hour 1, there was no mistake. Great long finish. What really sellls this wine is the fragrance of the blood orange, blueberry & wild flowers. Very Northern Rhone-like indeed. What a great QPR. (91 pts.)

2006 Bacio Divino Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Napa Valley - USA, California, Napa Valley

Color is dark amber with purple tinged edges. he nose reveals very little. After 2 hours:A quiet but confident reddish black fruit profile of black cherry, cassis, and black berry. Some Cola comes through as well. The palate initially shows a slight hollowness and alcohol. After 2 hours: This really has come together nicely. The hole has been filled: Deep dark cassis driven. This has some sassafras, creme de kirsch, leather, pencil shavings, a hint of cocoa powder and cedar. Very medium weight with a plush silky mouthfeel. It's amazing how this has evolved in the glass. Its now balanced with some finely aligned tannins. Very pretty & very promising, I might open another in 2 years. Surely not before. The finish is long and elegant. Well worth the $29 I paid from WTSO, but I might not have thought so 2 hours ago, Miraculous recovery! (92 pts.)

2006 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Some Days Are Diamonds - USA, California, Napa Valley (4/23/2010)

Having had all three available Two Hands Charlie's Patch Cabernets withing the last 6 weeks or so, I was very curious to try this which is ostensibly the 'second wine' of the Charlie's patch. Vinified and cellared/bottled at Outpost winery under the umbrella of Thomas Rivers Brown, how could I not be interested? Especially when I was offered it for $17.91 earlier this week.

Super deep and dark brooding color. The nose has much black cherry, currant, and creme de kirsch. The palate is all black fruits clumsily arranged in the cornucopia. Its somewhat reminiscent of its older brother, but lacks the class and elegance. Keeping in mind the price point: this is burly and big boned with some back end oak and a hint of heat, but with a grilled steak, it sang. It was round and full bodied with much 'oomph'. So there you go: save the 'Charlies Patch' for company but open that 'Some Days' before you hit the deck with your grilling tools, and for $18 per, its gonna be a good summer. Warning: Not for the faint of heart-- or the 'haters' :) (90 pts.)

2006 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red - USA, California, Napa Valley (4/16/2010)

Intense Reddish ruby color, almost opaque. The nose is all camphor and sassafras with cola and black cherry. The palate shows an intensity and plushness I truly enjoy. A red and black fruit medley of red and black currants, plums, black cherries, and more. Pure and clean , this is a showy and juicy wine with a medium weight mouthfeel and a deft structure. A multi-layered and expressive wine that has so much joy to give. The tannins are elegantly aligned and the acidic perfectly balanced as if on a high wire. The finish is super long as in minutes, not just seconds. A very complete and enjoyable '06 -- a vintage I have been very in love with in the last bunch of months to a year.

Grabbed a half dozen 375s from the RueLaLa sale last month. $38 per and I am very glad for it. (94 pts.)