Larkmead, Firebelle, Napa Valley

Larkmead · California › Napa Valley › United States of America

Red · Red Bordeaux Blend
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LWIN 1437690
Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
92 /100
Reviews
19
professional

Vintages

No vintages

No vintage-specific entries have been added for this wine.

NV

Community Reviews

24
24
Reviews
91.8
Avg Score
96
Highest
Taster #0414 · Oct 22, 2022
Ok. Not great. Not terrible. A bit bland.
2006 vintage
Taster #9889 · Jun 26, 2022
94/100
From magnum. I opened this, concerned that it may be headed for decline. Experience was quite the opposite - this was firing on all cylinders. Ripe plum and cassis framed by subtle oak and earth, with overall impeccable balance and delicious factor.
2006 vintage
Taster #8757 · Aug 29, 2020
90/100
Drank over several nights and was singing on night 3. Nose of black cherry, must, coffee and a touch of oak. Well integrated fruit and silky tannins, still feel the alcohol in the long finish. Consistent with prior bottle - not overly complex. Only drawback.
2006 vintage
Taster #2723 · Aug 1, 2020
88/100
Needed an hour + in the decanter. Fruit of black cherries, iron and some earth - very pleasant, soft and integrated. Lack of structure and a bit one dimensional - enjoyable but just okay. drink now for sure (past prime).
2006 vintage
Taster #9304 · May 24, 2019
96/100
Had this wine tonight with rack of lamb. The wine was compared to 2000 Leoville Barton. The Larkmead took an hour more to open up, but developed into a medium to full bodied, silky, wine with strawberry and complex attributes. A thoroughly enjoyable wine, and although it did not have the graphite and pony barn of the Barton wine, the Larkmead held it's own in it's own way, and was truly delicious. It was the perfect comparison of French versus …
2006 vintage
Taster #7526 · Feb 22, 2018
90/100
Opened this bottle table side at restaurant. Definitely open for business tonight. Nice soft red black fruits of front. Pretty nose to compliment. Resolved tannins. Very soft New World cab ready to go.
2006 vintage
Taster #9307 · Jan 3, 2018
93/100
Had for New Years with prime ribeye steaks. Wine needs at least an hour decant. Wine is ready to drink, great fruit a bit of spice, full bodied and some darker fruit overtones. I developed more appreciation for Merlot heavy blends from this wine. Excellent wine, sad it is my one and only bottle.
2006 vintage
Taster #8900 · Dec 31, 2016
93/100
Smooth and delicious.
2006 vintage
Taster #9032 · May 25, 2016
93/100
A plush Merlot-based blend that blends Napa fruit with classic style. Dark purple in color, full in body, and an inviting nose of blackberry and charcoal. Round tastes of sweet cherry, blueberry, licorice, and gravel, with mouth-coating tannins. Blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Malbec. 14.7% alcohol. It takes an hour or two to shed its angles, but it is quite compelling when it does. Drink in next year or two.
2006 vintage
Taster #1249 · Feb 27, 2015
91/100
Nice nose, immediately approachable, soft on the pallet. Lots of berry with a long finish. still have 3 left and will try again in another 6 months or so.
2006 vintage
Taster #7737 · Feb 21, 2015
92/100
Drinking excellent. Good fruit with some earthiness and nice finish.
2006 vintage
Taster #0119 · Nov 20, 2014
91/100
Consistent with 1/7/14 notes. I believe even more strongly now that it's time to drink our last bottle.
2006 vintage
Taster #5085 · Nov 12, 2014
91/100
Decant. Opened two hours before dinner which wasn't enough. Sat on counter overnight in bottle and much better next day
2006 vintage
Taster #3403 · Mar 29, 2014
93/100
Dinner with the Keegan's (Our house) : 3rd bottle with dinner and my number 1. Tied for first with the 08 Oreno. To me this had the most fruit with a nice peppery and spicy finish. A little fuller and less acidic as well especially compared to the bordeaux. Really really good (as always).
2006 vintage
Taster #3526 · Jan 14, 2014
92/100
No formal note, as this was consumed a few days ago. However, it was the best bottle of the 7 I've consumed over the last couple years. I'm looking forward to my '07s.
2006 vintage
Taster #0119 · Jan 7, 2014
91/100
Drinking well right now. Aeration brought out a bit more bouquet but no real change in taste. Classic bordeaux taste and smell. Have to say that I will drink the other two bottles in our cellar soon because I am concerned this wine has flattened, and might start falling off. Still, quite tasty.
2006 vintage
Taster #5227 · Dec 25, 2013
92/100
I served this with our Christmas Day dinner. It is drinking very well.
2006 vintage
Taster #9131 · Nov 17, 2013
Corked, again. That's three out of the nine I've opened.
2006 vintage
Taster #1294 · Nov 2, 2013
94/100
Really nice. 30 minute decant. Classic Larkmead finish. Very bright with lots of cherry and cola notes.
2006 vintage
Taster #9909 · Oct 15, 2013
91/100
Dark color with nice aromatics, viola, dark blue berry and cassiss / Tannins have the slightest edge that holds it together. Drink or hold.
2006 vintage
Taster #9751 · Aug 31, 2013
The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Fast. It smells like Green Olive, Prune, Diacetyl(butter), and Vanilla. It tastes like Alcohol/Hot, Black currant (cassis), Prune, and Medium Toast. The body is Medium. The wine has Leathery texture. The wine finishes Medium.
2006 vintage
Taster #9131 · Aug 13, 2013
Corked. I see a distributing trend.
2006 vintage
Taster #3526 · Aug 5, 2013
90/100
My 6th bottle of this. It's always good, sometimes showing more or less of an herbal/eucalyptus note. No hurry on this; it should drink well for at least another 5 years.
2006 vintage
Taster #9131 · Jun 21, 2013
Fruit forward - picked up a bit of candied fruit on the nose. Very tasty although a bit short on complexity. Overall, a nice experience and happy to have several more. If scoring 90-92.
2006 vintage