Switchback Ridge, Peterson Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Currant, earth, minerality and nice berry on the long finish

2008 vintage

Similar to my notes of a few weeks ago. Dark fruit on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums, tobacco and a hint of wood leading to a moderately long finish.

2018 vintage

We pnp'd at lunch. Dark fruit on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums, tobacco and a hint of wood leading to a moderately long finish.

2018 vintage

An hour in the decanter did wonders for this, and another hour or three would likely further add to this. Beautiful ripe dark black and red fruit, flower petals, toasted oak and vanilla on the nose. Ripe fruit is well integrated with medium fine-grained tannins mid to back palate.

2018 vintage

So I bought a cellar; 11/12/2022-12/31/2030 : Deep purple in color, cork in perfect condition. This one was good, but not overly memorable. It had the red fruits you would expect in a cab, but I've had much better 2008s - though there was nothing at all wrong. It was not a big cab, which Switchback wines typically are, and the fruit, while prevalent, was mixing with some tertiary flavors. A good wine.

2008 vintage

Purple in color. 15% ABV. Sublime nose of black fruits, Whitman Sampler box and scorched earth. Big, plush and full bodied with impressive concentration. Black cherry, raspberry liqueur, licorice and cocoa on the palate. Medium length on the finish. Delicious Cabernet that is ready to drink. Best over the next several years.

2008 vintage

From a magnum bought on Acker auction in 2015. Still delicious, did not not need a decant just about 10 or 15 minutes of air to open up. Not a typical Cabernet full of tannins, but just a great blend of dark fruits. The bouquet of this wine might be one of my all time famorites.

1999 vintage

Dark fruit, cedar, tilled soil and graphite dance nicely together. Medium weight and balanced. Delicate on the nose. This was a joy to drink, but it is clearly descending now. Drink up.

2008 vintage

Although I probably waited a couple years too long to begin drinking these, this bottle still delivered. No visible signs of age, and there was no mustiness or funkiness on the nose. On the palate, it was extremely rich, with dark cherries, a boatload of chocolate, and hints of tobacco. Best way to describe it is "big", but without any rough edges. Tannins have faded, but it's still well balanced, and the finish was nothing short of spectacular. Probably should …

2010 vintage

Double decanted for sediment -- there was a small amount of sediment in the last two or so ounces. This bottle didn’t quite show its age. Cassis and cherry, a bit of spice. Rich and satisfying without feeling heavy.

1999 vintage

6 of 6 Deep ruby core no visible signs of age. Still full bodied, with oodles of velvety purple fruit. Fine tannins, moderate acidity, long finish. Uncomplicated and quite good with dinner

1999 vintage

Tasted at the Heron House in Yountville. Last vintage made by Bob Foley. Perfumed, typical Cab Sauv with soapy purple flowers and fruits on the nose. Excellent structure. Excellent 93.

2018 vintage

Only reason that I still had this is that I had lost it in my cellar. Was ready to delete from CellarTracker ("lost or stolen") when I stumbled across it while searching for something else. Much to my surprise, while it's way past its peak, it ain't dead yet. In fact, it's still freakin' delicious, albeit with minimal tannins. Nevertheless, it's time...

2008 vintage

Well we got back from the dinner and after drinking the 2017 Aubert, the 2013 Hobbs Hyde and the 2013 Insignia, Andrew and I decided we didn't have enough so we pnp'd this bottle. . The nose is all dark fruit with a hint of chocolate. The palate is dark berries, red meat, tobacco and chocolate. The finish is full and long. Over objections I did manage to put the cork back in after half was consumed so I will …

2010 vintage

Tasted at a Vine Vault tasting in Austin.......one of the good things to be said about this producer is that their '18s were at least 'accessible' for this tasting compared to so many others that weren't. Rose and other florals on the nose, smooth with sweet berry fruit, just maybe more to the lighter weighted side for some big Cali cab people. Pleasant.....

2018 vintage

Two hour slow ox. Very deep magenta color. Rose petals, brownie, blackberry, and cassis on the youthful nose. Smooth, dry palate, with chalky acidity. Firm tannins on the longish finish. This is nice , but a little light at the moment. There’s some good potential here. Another year or two may put some meat on these bones.

2018 vintage

Tannins completely integrated and currently in a beautiful place for pop-and-pour. The 2010 is a little less potent than other vintages but wonderfully balanced and drinking fantastic right now.

2010 vintage

Five months after my last bottle and the 10th of 14 that I bought way back when and it is consistent. Opened for two hours in advance of going to the club for dinner . The nose is all dark fruit with a hint of chocolate. The palate is dark berries, red meat, tobacco and chocolate. The finish is full and long.

2010 vintage

Medium ruby. Strawberries, fruity pebbles, and cinnamon on the nose. Stewed strawberries and blue fruits on the palate. No evident tannins. Slightly sweet. Double blind and guessed 2012 Rasteau-- fail, but it really didn't pass for a Cali Cab. Nice wine though.

2008 vintage

This was better than expected, less over the top, better balanced worked well with slow cooked brisket

1999 vintage

Properly cellared. This was a bit disappointing. Balanced enough but one dimensional to my palate. A bit too fruit forward even though hints of tertiary flavors from maturing are emerging. I'd say drink up near term.

2010 vintage

3-27-21 Home steak wagyu night. Big cab, very good. Both really liked it.

2010 vintage

Opened for an hour and then decanted for an hour. The nose is all dark fruit with a hint of chocolate. The palate is dark berries, red meat, tobacco and chocolate. The finish is full and long. Served with roasted Cornish Hens.

2010 vintage

A rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with captivating aromas of blackberry black cherry and dark currant. These flavors continue onto the palate with just a trace of cocoa vanilla and deliver a mouth-coating explosion of flavor! The tannins are abundant, yet chewy and ripe, and resolve in a long, elegant finish. 689 cases of 750ml, 24 cases of 1.5L. Notes from Switchback Ridge. Will benefit from additional 5-7 years of bottle age also 2-4 hours in a decanter

2018 vintage

Might have held onto this just a bit too long, because the tannins have really, really receded. Nevertheless, it is just f***ing delicious. All kinds of berries, forest floor, etc. Ridiculously rich, with a stellar finish. Needless to say, it's time to drink up.

2008 vintage

Similar to the bottle we drank three months ago. We were with family at dinner there was food left on the table and no wine in the bottle (I just hate when that happens) so we had to pnp. The nose is all dark fruit with a hint of chocolate. The palate is dark berries, red meat, tobacco and chocolate. The finish is full and long. One piece of advice if you are going to pnp use a spout with …

2010 vintage

My second bottle of four and this was an exceptional wine tonight. Much better than my last bottle. I think the time was a big help. I got a pine needle and forest floor on the nose. The palate had some blue and black fruit profiles with spice box, creme de cassis, and nicely integrated tannins with a smooth but lingering finish. I really enjoyed Bob Foley’s work on this tonight. Paired incredibly well with the food. The nose alone …

2008 vintage

Very nice wine. Well structured and well balanced. Lots of cherry, tobacco and eucalyptus notes. Finishes with flavors of mint - reminded me of an Alexander Valley wine. In a good drink window right now.

2010 vintage

A solid balanced and complex Cab. Loads of dark fruit (plum and berry) along with heaps of herb/mint. Finish is long and driven by eucalyptus and mint. Thanks to JeffNY1 for sharing.

2010 vintage

I keep forgetting how good these wines are. My last bottle was on 7/29/2017. I opened the bottle and let it slow ox for about three hours. . Dark berries and mocha on the nose. The palate is dark berries, tobacco, red meat and a touch of mocha. A nice smooth long finish. I am glad I still have a bunch more. Served with chicken that had been baked in a coriander/curry/salt crust (oh yeah) and I am also glad …

2010 vintage

TO Alex

2008 vintage

Decanted for 4 hours. Drinking at peak now. Big aromas and mouthfeel, dark fruit and cedar/leather flavors with fine, sweet tannins. Delightful.

2008 vintage

Decanted 1 hour. Full bodied, blackberry, black currant, spice, black licorice. Recorked and drank half bottle second day. Smooth tannins and just a gorgeous wine.

2010 vintage

Forest floor and granite notes are a nice addition to the dark fruit in this wine. Kind of classic Napa cab meets modern day Napa. Good depth and texture. Aromatically pleasing. Good juice.

2008 vintage

Tied for last place in a five-bottle Xmas tasting, but the ones that outpointed it ranged form "f***ing delicious" to "religious experience". This is good stuff, with just about everything you would want in a California cabernet. In great shape - should hold, and maybe improve, for several years.

2008 vintage

Consumed over 2 days (vacuvined), note from day 2. Nose: Medium expressiveness, menthol, black fruit, dark flowers, and rock candy. Palate: Medium-full bodied, spicy dark fruit attack, smooth edges, good mid-palate persistence, dark earth and menthol notes appear in the back-end and linger through a 30-45 second finish. Showing interesting complexity but lacks just a bit in depth.

2010 vintage

Probably had over two hours of air. Dark and opaque. Average nose. Full bodied but slightly muted dark fruit, does much better with food than on it's own. Pretty complex and nuanced. Good finish.

2008 vintage

Bob Foley wine, an oldy but a goody. Black cherry, blackberry, and plum fruit right up front. A dark chocolate bomb on the mid-palate along with some earth, tobacco, mocha, and mineral notes. Tannins have softened at this point with a very smooth and long finish.

2008 vintage

Enjoying these more with bottle age. Opaque wine with dark red and blue fruit. Alcohol and tannins have pretty much blown off. Paired very well with filet. Pleasant long and smooth finish.

2008 vintage

Notes consistent. Much better price point would be @$50.

2010 vintage

Very prominent aromatics, dark red crimson purple color, med plus mouthfeel, not much acid left, tannins fully integrated and provide some back end structure but this is very smooth. Blue fruit, cherry, sweet vanilla, in good place right now.

2010 vintage

Still gigantic ......try again in 5-10 years?

1999 vintage

Popped and poured...consumed over two hours...dark red fruit that approaches ripeness, though with plenty of room to spare...vanilla...smooth finish...in a great spot and would not hesitate to consume now or perhaps wait just a little longer.

2010 vintage

Wasn't surprised to see this vintage with so much life. Definitely full bodied inky with plenty of fruit. Its starting to show some prune like scents and if you have any I suggest it isn't getting any better. My last. Kudos to Bob Foley.

1999 vintage

Great wine drinking well here. Good to decant but doesn’t need much airtime to be accessible though improves with more.

2010 vintage

Decanter an hour. Pencil vanilla dark red fruit on the nose. Full bodied, ripe pomigranite, vanilla. Long finish full of ripe fruit after notes.

2010 vintage

Nice Cab, and consistent with other notes. Didn't have the anise subtlety that Foley is known for. Had more of a brooding texture and singular dark aged fruit. Drink up.

2010 vintage

Mostly red fruit. Soft tannins. medium to long finish.

2008 vintage

Papa and poor. Right out of the bottle this struck me as weak and only marginally drinkable, but the wine added weight and complexity after an hour. Still mark this as a drink-up wine hut would still be enjoyable with a variety of lighter foods

2008 vintage

These older Switchbacks are mostly quite nice, although I have had a few outliers that were overly evolved. The 2010 version is very pretty. The nose is highly aromatic with spicy cedar, violets and black currant that rise from the glass with an intense perfume. While Switchback often demonstrates dominant fruit and oak in its youth, the 2010 is currently quite balanced with equal influences of all of its component parts, adding a bit of tobacco and leather on the …

2010 vintage

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Switchback Ridge, Peterson Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

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