BRAND Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Very nice as expected. I suspect that this would still drink well in 10 years.

2009 vintage

Showed lots of deep blackberry, dark chocolate, and graphite. Creamy very ripe extracted density with good structure. A broad sense of monolithic style which was somewhat less nuanced and detailed overall. A bold wine likely near peak enjoyment, but many years of life.

2009 vintage

Similar to prior notes after a 2 hour double decant; outstanding, drink or hold

2009 vintage

Wet forest floor red fruit blood iron gunpowder on the nose Palate was good but nothing specific stood out. Nose was 95, palate was 93. 94!

2009 vintage

Similar to prior note after a 2 hour double decant; outstanding, drink or hold

2009 vintage

Double decanted for 2 hrs, deep ruby, black cherry, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding, drink or hold. It was outshone by the 09 Schrader BTK

2009 vintage

This bottle was nowhere near the level of a bottle consumed almost exactly a year ago. I suspect it saw improper storage or transport at some point (I picked it up on the secondary market). Tasted more muddled and showed more age than my previous bottle, which was one of the finest wines I had all of last year. This bottle was good, but nothing more, and not up to the level of a typical bottle of ACV Reserve Cabernet, …

2009 vintage

Little acidity there, ripe black fruit with some baking chocolate and vanilla spice. Blackberry dominant with medium++ body and density. Hint of truffle to the finish. Showing a slight hint of age but that's not a bad thing here. Still with some stiff oak tannin on the finish. Thought this one would have been a little more grippy. Showing fairly decent, but for the price I think this one is a little poor on the QPR.

2009 vintage

Decant first but lots of dark plum, currant with coffee and minerality and deep rich finish

2009 vintage

Probably the best bottle of Cabernet I’ve had this year. Just fantastic. Roses and wet earth on the nose lead to black cherries and subtle cassis on the palate. The tannins are well-behaved and provide a sense of structure before gliding to a long, dusty finish. So good.

2009 vintage

From mag (JP's): decanted for 2 hrs then back in the bottle to take to La Cigale for dinner, deep ruby, black cherry, med. tannins, long finish; delicious, drink or preferably hold

2009 vintage

What a wonderful bottle of wine to go with a ribeye over oak coals, hickory chips and finished with truffle oil.... Great way to end the week...

2009 vintage

From the insert: "This was a third year in a row with below average rainfall. Deep dark red in appearance. Cherry, red currant, dark plum, sage, smoke and graphite emerging out of the glass. Full and fleshy entry followed by layers of ripe fruit, dark cocoa, truffle and well integrated oak.Anticipated maturity 2019-2034."

2009 vintage

2 hr decant. Expected more. This was good, but nothing special. Really disappointed.

2009 vintage

Rich sweet fruit with currant, berry, coffee and very smooth tannins and a great long finish

2009 vintage

Decanted for an hour and drank with filet. Disapointed in the wine as very red fruit forward, thin and unbalanced with a average finish.

2009 vintage

Still has time to mature. full-bodied wine without an overwhelming presence. Very nice balance.

2009 vintage

- Brick color.

2009 vintage

- Aromas of blackberry, black currant and violet and has flavours of black pepper and cloves with a medium/full body with a medium finish.

2009 vintage

Drank in a flight of '97, '03, and '09 at a private dinner at the Reserve. Realize I have not much to say about this one. Not my favorite, but didn't have the herbal notes that marred the '03. Good black fruit, seemed high alcohol; tannins not in the way, but present. I'd wait.

2009 vintage

D-lish-ous, if you can get past the initial yumminess to analyze this its a complex beast.

2009 vintage

First of my six pack. Decanted for three hours and drank over a two hour period. This young wine has make some remarkable integration in the last year, from my tasting at the Brand Estate. This wine displays a wonderful balance between fruit and earth with prominent, but smooth tannins. This is a wine that will seemingly age in an integrated manner that should lead to some wonderful comparative notes when all six bottles are finished in the years ahead.

2009 vintage

Air is exactly what this wine needs and so, I'm confident that those who gave it a lowish score, didn't give it enough of the same. Initially tight and disjointed; devoid of any complexity, given time...even sans decanter, it quickly blossomed. I'd have to say that Rich achieved his goal of making a wine that is both enjoyable and affordable. With each glass, the layers are unfolding and it gets more and more compelling. Good stuff!

2009 vintage

ANV 13'. Deep purple color in the glass. The nose is deep and seductive. Dark purgent fruit and a touch of vanilla. The palate is intense and brooding. Coffee, chocolate, and blackberry cobbler. Silky deep tannins. Good juice.

2009 vintage

We tasted barrel samples of this 100% Cabernet several years ago at the winery. This is the first bottle I have opened since receiving a six pack over a year ago. It lives up the my memory: Dark purple with a garnet rim. Nose of cassis, blackberry, graphite, and cedar. Full palate of ripe, delicious Cabernet fruit. Wonderful length. Vibrant acidity. Youthful tannins. Mostly integrated oak. This exquisite wine will be even better with another year or three in the …

2009 vintage

Concentrated, sweet and fruit forward.

2009 vintage

Had a private tasting at Bond. Barrel tasted a bunch of Melka's upcoming masterpieces! They decanted this wine for six hours before we tasted this wine. For young vine grapes, this first release was remarkable. A powerhouse of a wine that had a wonderful integration of soft tannins with rich, dark fruit, while being able to discern the volcanic soil from which these grapes were grown in. Mr. Melka's true genius, is his ability to allow the earth to shine …

2009 vintage

At a PNV dinner hosted by Brand on Pritchard Hill at the estate. Fantastic setting and wines for the evening. This is the first release of this wine. It is still a little reticent, suspect it will keep evolving. My guess is it needs 5 more years to fully form. Dark red fruits, spice, some eucalyptus/mint. Medium finish. Complex and layered, give it time.

2009 vintage

Decanted for 4 hours, nice pour & nose , very young yet, nice wine but not great , first time with this wine for the price ($225.) very disappointed.

2009 vintage

The debut vintage for this new property located on the famous Pritchard Hill in Napa offers a nose packed with licorice, olives, blackberry and herbs. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and consulted by Philippe Melka, this delicious, ripe, polished, plush, supple textured wine is a winner!

2009 vintage

Black pepper, dark fruit. Very tight after 1 hour decant. Little disappointed on the finish but should improve with age.

2009 vintage

Grapey and plummy with a little alcohol showing. Inferior to the excellent 2008.

2009 vintage

Tasted at 750 wines release party. Purple color but not totally opaque. The nose gives off some oak which could be expected for 32(!) months in oak. Nice mocha and dark berries. The palate is rich with a lot of heft in the mid palate from the fruit and the tannins, the latter component being nice and silky. Nice wine.

2009 vintage

This is a powerful Cab. Tannins are soft which makes it approachable now. Years of aging will only improve. Tasting this wine with Philippe Melka—Winemaker, the owners and staff at their inaugural tasting at 750 Wines in St. Helena, made this wine even more special!

2009 vintage

A solid red wine. We popped and poured this but maybe a session in a decanter would help. Lots of woodsy aromas, black fruit, dusty earth, and savory herb. On the palate it's a bit clunky, with tannin that needs to integrate. The balance is ok, but I wished for more fruit to help with the tannin and acid. I have one more bottle, and will open that in maybe 3-5 years.

2009 vintage

A flabby oak bomb that lives up to all the bad New World stereotypes.

2009 vintage

A decent drinker for a weeknight but as others have mentioned this wine lacks complexity. Heck I forgot we even drank this bottle until a few days later... not really memorable.

2009 vintage

Color: Deep Garnet Nose: Jammy with a touch of tobacco Taste: Blast of oak upfront, with cherry and blackberry. This is not a complex wine - a simple sipper, great for a party with non-wine geeks that stand around drinking "red wine." Far better than many other $13 bottles of Cabernet Savignon - this is quite quaffable, just not a very "deep" wine.

2009 vintage

Great color, nose has moderate oak and some fruit, tobacco overtones. Palette has good fruit, on the dark side but lacking in brightness and complexity. Definitely a flabby, low acid wine, fine if you like that.

2009 vintage

Enticing nose. Cassis, blackberry, earth, leather. There is a bit of a hole on the palate, but overall it is quite pleasant, and the nose gives it the air of a much more expensive wine.

2009 vintage

This bottle was dead and flat. It tasted like grape juice and play-dough.

2009 vintage

A bright and cheerful wine with plenty of red cherry fruit. Not complex, but very nice for under $13.

2009 vintage

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BRAND Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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