Bond, Vecina, Napa Valley

What a beautiful wine. It's big and bold, rich and concentrated while amazingly well balanced. Tasting super well at the moment, lush with lots of fruit on the nose and palate.

2009 vintage

Pronounced intensity on the nose and palate. Silky mouthfeel, well balanced, long finish. Notes of blackberry, sweet tobacco, savory, cocoa, violets, wet stone, toast, and cedar. Fine dusty tannins, long finish. Not the most complex wine at this price point, but very luxurious and delicious.

2009 vintage

Perfectly aged, tannins soft and tame, plum, blackberry, currant, cassis. Silky mouthfeel, tons of complexity. No rush to drink but can't imagine it improves much from here.

1999 vintage

stunner and can easily go another 10-15 years if not more, but already drinking well. beautifully done napa cab without the over-ripeness i often encounter in higher end napa (which we sometimes love, but here it was great without that).

2008 vintage

Drank after dinner with friends at the ranch. 1 hour decant. This wine was brilliant tonight, barely showing its age with years to run. Absolutely gorgeous structure with the sweetest, finest mouth-coating tannins I've experienced in a long time. Explosive sweet blue and blackberry fruit is still prominent but followed by a rich mid palate and long finish of rocky soil, cedar and toast. Really doesn't get any better for a nearly 25 year old Napa Cab from the era.

2001 vintage

Corked🙁

2001 vintage

Very good, top three wine of the year so far for me. Elegant, polished, distinct. Just lovely. Drank this side by side with a 1999 Melbury, and this blew the door off the Melbury. Could hold for another five years, still great structure to the wine to compliment the mouth watering fruit. Wish I had more!

1999 vintage

5 hour double decant. Massive bouquet but more restrained wine. Good enough wine but given the pedigree and the price point, I would have hoped for more of a wow factor ala Promontory or Harlan. Perhaps still needs more time?

2009 vintage

While I’d love to give this a high score, I just can’t. For a $500 bottle of 23 year old wine from Harlan, it should be much more interesting to drink than it was. So linear, so predictably California new world style. Lacking soul and personality. While silky smooth and in its maturity window, it was just boring. I cannot belief I ordered this off the list instead of my first instinct which was a 2012 Guigal La Turque for …

2001 vintage

My god this was good. Brought this to a colleague’s house to show appreciation for the relationship. There is no better bottle in this world to accomplish this. PnP, immediately had aromatics of eucalyptus and blue fruits. Still has incredible structure 23 years in, the perfect amount of tannin structure with a typical Harlan 3 minute finish. The conversation around this bottle never stops, it never disappoints. Mission accomplished.

2001 vintage

Muted nose. Very tannic palate, showing fresh blackberry which builds with time. 93-94

2001 vintage

In a great spot . Not improving IMO.

2004 vintage

Excellent. No decant needed. Less dense when compared to 2014 Vecina but outstanding nonetheless. Highly recommend. Could go another several years with ease.

2004 vintage

Stellar.

2001 vintage

This bottle was excellent. Cork crumbled upon opening (use a Durand) and had a bit of funky smell once opened and seemed thin and disjointed. Fortunately it came together in the decanter over about 1.5 hours before sitting down to dinner. This wine has a great mouthfeel, really elegant. It dark fruit was not overly sweet and balanced nicely with mature notes of damp leaves and leather. Paired great with a ribeye. I don't drink much Napa from the late …

1999 vintage

Super mature and ready to drink.

2001 vintage

Not blind Red.

2004 vintage

Dark red towards black; powerful nose, lots of licorice and mocca; quite strong attack, lots of depth, lots of power; Napa cab at full blast; probably taken way too young, said to be able to last for 40-50 years; this one - at 14 years - seem too underdeveloped; wish I had another bottle to try 20 years from now

2008 vintage

Lots of ripe dark berries, some tobacco, tar, licorice and smoky cigar box. Great medium intense acidity. Tannins are integrated nicely. Very precise and clean structure. Great complexity and depth. Good balance but the alcohol is a little too dominant. Amazing long and elegant finish. Drink now until 2028. (IG)

2008 vintage

Very enjoyable. Mild tannins. Ripe dried fruit flavors, heavy on dark cherry. I wish I had more of this! The cork pulled apart, but I was able to easily get it out without it crumbling in to the bottle. I've had several other of Bond's corks from the early 2000s do this. The corks were still nicely sealing the bottle, so no worries there.

2001 vintage

Interesting nose- candy apple oregano Huge tannins still- young and unapproachable but lots of potential under the surface. Long finish, leather and grilled meat. Second day- nose is similar. Tannins are still huge but showing more fruit and leather and grilled meats. Very “masculine”.

2009 vintage

45+ minute decant and could have used a little more. Deep red color with maroon edges. Still youthful. Very big, deep wine. Very complex wine from nose to finish. Has that discernible Napa sweetness. Nose has bramble and cherries. Palate contains earth, subtle herbs, licorice, and plenty of fruit. Insane texture! Finish has Amarone and Port elements with spice, cinnamon and decent alcohol. Seems to have characteristics from every region of the world which is super cool. Very good, but …

2001 vintage

Decanted briefly. Still quite youthful with lots of dense fruit, chocolate, and some eucalyptus initially. Silky tannins, gorgeous mouth feel. Yum.

2004 vintage

Nice California cabernet. Not too grapey, but still bold with some tannic grit. Insanely overpriced. Can have a better bottle of wine at a much lower price.

2009 vintage

Dark crimson, opaque. Ripe, intensely concentrated cassis, black berry. Chocolate notes come through with air. Medium alcohol, full+ body, medium+ acidity. Fine tannins but provides plenty of structure. This is a powerful, concentrated wine but still has restraint. It has the acidity to give it freshness and poise. There’s a balance here often missed in Napa cabs. Excellent!

2009 vintage

Dynamite. Dark fruit, tasty, long finish. Hold/drink to enjoy.

2001 vintage

Cassis, red currant, medley of red fruits with blueberry, concentrated blackberry, mountain laurel, cocoa and light spice. Layers of wonderful fruits and solid structure. Very silky texture and incredibly seamless tannins. This wine is singing and in a peak drinking window. We have been collectors of Bond since day 1 and this wine Never disappoints. p.s. charcoaled porterhouse with steamed broccoli and Ceasar salad.

1999 vintage

Deep garnet. Nose of plums, blueberries, medium age big cab. Taste lasted 1 minute+. Can easily tell it’s in the Harlan family. 96/100

2001 vintage

This bottle was corked, unfortunately. Bought at auction for nearly $300. What a shame. The cork was crumbly, and because there is no foil on the Bond wines, the cork can probably move around more easily than a foil-protected cork. As I inserted the Ah-So, the cork easily slid around, indicating that it was probably dislodged before. The nose of prune juice and oxidation immediately came out. On the palate, it did not taste like wine, but it did not …

1999 vintage

blackberries, black cherry, mocha, tobacco, oak spice, cassis, leather, and forest floor really nice example of 09 waking up from what seems like an eternal slumber. still prefer st eden though

2009 vintage

Kleur: Diep opaak donkerrood. Aroma / bouquet: Weelderig bouquet, enerzijds sterk fruitgedomineerd met tonen van zoetig rood fruit als kersen en bramen, anderzijds stoer met kruidige tonen en aroma's van verfijnd hout. Smaak / Afdronk: Stoere en krachtige Napa-Bordeauxblend die in vele opzichte klassiek aandoet. De combinatie van een gepronunceerde zuurgraad en stevige - eveneens fraai gerijpte en zacht droppige - tannines maakt dat ik deze wijn eerder als Frans dan als Napa-Cabernet zou hebben herkend. Na enige tijd vertoont …

2009 vintage

Fantastic wine for NYE dinner. Loads of red ripe fruits on the nose in the mouth and the finish was longer than a minute. Tannins are very present and the wine opened up after several hours open. Truly a great way to enjoy a special meal to get the evening started. Wish I had more bottles. Great experience.

2009 vintage

30 minute slow ox. Massive wine that needs more time to age. Black currant, smoke and leather on the nose. The palate is concentrated, powerful and pure with flavors of black currant, cigar box and undergrowth coming through. This finishes long and satisfying but it lacks the sophistication of the best Bond’s

2008 vintage

Need at lest two hours in decanter.

2008 vintage

Two hour decant. Color is brilliant ruby red. Lot of fruit on the nose. Black cherry but some red fruit as well. Was excited as I sniffed. More black cherry on the palate, with tar, coffee, cedar. For me finish a bit short, and still dry and tannic. Disappointed, I suppose.

2001 vintage

Even as admittedly my tastes have been moving a bit more to the old world I find that I still love a good aged BOND. This is on the young side and has many more years to go, but it was showing very well. There's lovely fruit and restraint and slightly more earthy side of things. Very well balanced. Bit of a toss-up for many between this and the OVID but this got my vote because of that extra restraint …

2004 vintage

my last bottle and absolutely the best. The longer these are held the better they get. Still multiple flavors of cherry, cassis, hit of blueberry, chocolate, licorice and cinnamon, but as the tannins ever solslightly recede, these wonderful flavors become more prominent. If I had more, I'd wait another 3-5 years for the next bottle.

2001 vintage

Lots of dark berries in the nose. Needs an hour in the decanter to open up. Dark cherries, blackcurrant, tar, salty licorice and blackberries on the palate. Full bodied with a fine acidity in the background. Concentrated, not overdone, very complex. You don’t feel the high alcohol level. Tannins are present but already nicely integrated. Feels quite young, no tertiary notes yet. Great overall balance. Finish is long. Beautiful wine with at least another decade ahead. I’ll try my next …

2008 vintage

Took a while to open up but after 3 hrs became nicer balanced. Delicious dark fruits, well integrated tannin.

2008 vintage

Agreed with the previous not that this is showing little if any signs of age so far. It’s got really dense, pasty dark fruit with tannic scaffolding still well in place. Acid is balanced. There’s a part of me that thinks this could be a 40+ year wine like those great Napa cabs of the 70s

2001 vintage

Double decanted for 2 hrs, deep ruby & showing no signs of its age, dark fruit with mocha, classic CA cab, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding drink or hold (definitely no rush!)

2001 vintage

Needs at least 2 hours in a decanter to open up...

2004 vintage

Fantastic Bottle of wine. Drank at APL Steak House, Hollywood, California. Perfect pairing for a filet!

2008 vintage

Quite tannic. Blackberry and blueberry. Tar and licorice.

2008 vintage

Another example of what I call the California Flatline. This wine could have been 3 or 5 or 7 years old. Blind I would absolutely have never ever guessed 18 years old! Dark, dense, chocolate. Purple fruits. Like a well-made Napa cab a year after release. I just don't understand how these wines can show so little evolution over such a long time.

2001 vintage

This ripe and balanced wine is absolutely stunning right now; with ripe fruit, earthy foundation, savory undertone, round mouthfeel, and bright acidity, it really has it all. At this age, many big Napa Cabernets start to show a bulge a bit at the seams, especially with baked or plummy fruit. Although it is obviously ripe, this wine has taken its age in stride, with energy and class. Dark cherry in color and full in body, the wine offers compelling aromas …

2008 vintage

1 hour decant

2004 vintage

Decanted for 3 hours. Noticeable heat at first. It blew off a bit as the evening progressed but remained in the foreground. The wine has massive legs which stick to the glass like glue. The fruit is intense with nice complex blackberry and tobacco flavors.

2008 vintage

This is very good and in a good drinking window now. 45 min decant. Complex nose of red fruit and spice. Delicious and well balanced body with strong concentration of red and black fruits, tobacco, Earth and touch of cedar. Long finish. Really enjoyed this

2004 vintage

Phenomenal depth of dark blackberry and cassis fruit. Very nice complexity. This has lots of nuance and depth. However, the tannins are quite rough. This was decanted 2 hours before consumption and was initially too gritty to enjoy. Only after 4 hours did the tannins mellow enough to show the underlying quality.

2004 vintage

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Bond, Vecina, Napa Valley

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