Chimney Rock, Clone 4 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District

Sensual nose of chocolate covered cherries, pipe tobacco, potpourri, anise, licorice, bay leaf, blackberry sauce, toast and subtle peppercorn. Fleshy in the mouth with perfectly ripe cherries dominating. Supple but firm tannins. Good acid still, not much in terms of development. In fact, this seemed a bit young with the oak still very present, except for the glycerol feel to the mouthfeel. Powerful finish packed with flavor but with delicacy. Cigar ash and sage and cocoa lingering. Hold for another …

Delicious and drinking well. Quite supple and silky for a Cab franc, likely due to the barrel notes that are prevalent.

Enjoyed with a mildly spicy shrimp salad. First sip revealed slight strawberry with plenty of blackberry as it lingered. Softened up as it opened up to a smooth dark fruit. Very nice

Allowed to decant for around 3-4 hours prior to xmas eve dinner. Needed that. Developed into a balanced, but bold, cab with lush mouthfeel and lots of dark cherry notes.

Opened the Clone 4 and Clone 7 at the same time to compare. Clone 4 is slightly more subdued on the nose than Clone 7, but more complex. Black cherry, red cherry, plum, herbs, wet earth, mushroomy loam, smoke, and a little tobacco. Clone 7 has classic ripe California cab aromas. Cassis, blackberry, plum jam, strawberry, red cherry, menthol, smoke, earth, herbs, and a hint of tobacco. On the palate, Clone 7 is all sweet rich blackberry, cassis, plum, red …

Likely a bit past its prime. Surprised that it needed an hour decant before tannins softened. Worked out well as we drank a 2010 Merryvale Profile beforehand. Not much fruit left, secondary and tertiary flavors predominated. Enjoyable but should have opened it a couple of years ago.

Opened, aerated and decanted about an hour, served with grilled NY strip steak. Nice wine but better with food as other reviews said, still pretty strong tannins, blackberry, a little plum, bitter dark chocolate, a little graphite, medium finish. Seems like it could still use some time to mellow, if you drink now definitely have it with a good cut of beef and not on its own.

Took a sip upon opening and found that the tannins are still quite pronounced and a bit astringent at the start. Served with a grilled steak about an hour after opening. By then, the tannins had softened and the aromatics opened up. As with the other 2011 Napa cabs that I have had, on a stand-alone basis, the wine was austere with no prevailing fruit flavors, with toasty oak and vanilla as the primary notes on the palate. While the …

Still has time. Strong tannins but opens up well.

Starts nice and finishes smooth. Compliments steak well and stays around for conversation to follow.

slipped out of the slot in my cellar and shattered on the ground, bummer.

Excellent, well balanced cab

Delicate and balanced with some nice sweet vanilla and a hint of pepper.

nice finish and spice notes