PRIOR VINTAGE Tasting Notes & award archive

2019 Cabernet sauvignon - Oak Canyon Ranch, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley (blue label)
This wine greets you with aromas of nutmeg and clove from the glass then envelops your whole palate with well-mannered tannins and flavors of dark, juicy plum, and sweet pipe tobacco. The long finish pairs well with wood fired grilled steaks or an Angus burger with grilled onions. While delicious now, this wine is made to last having spent 30 months in small American oak barrels and will develop beautifully up to 20 years in your cellar. Sadly, this is our last vintage from this vineyard. 48 cases produced $80 btl/$960 case SOLD OUT
DOUBLE GOLD/93pts: American Fine WIne Invitational Gold: Harvest Challenge International Gold/90 pts: Sunset Magazine’s Int’l Wine Comp. and Silver Int’l Women’s Wine Comp.

2019 Cabernet sauvignon, Flying J’s Vineyard, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley (green label)
This vintage offers lovely aromatics with hints of violet, blueberry pie and allspice. The palate is sophisticated with silky tannins that dance across your tongue with flavors of spiced, red fruits and dried herbs.  The finish lingers, inviting a meal of slow roasted pork and herbs, grilled Portabellas drizzled in garlic butter or hard cheeses.  The wine aged 30 months in small French Oak barrels and has great cellar potential up to 19 years. 48 cases produced $95 btl/$1140 case SOLD OUT
THREE DOUBLE GOLDS/97pts Sunset Magazine’s Int’l Wine Comp. American Fine WIne Invitational and Int’l Women’s Wine Competition. Gold: Harvest Challenge International

2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Canyon Ranch, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley

There is an up-front, delectable quality here that is a little addictive. Rich American oak, coconut crème, black cherry, Chambord, chewy black licorice, and toasted anise seed. A substantial wine with red and purple plums fruit and an enticing texture of suede-like tannins. The finish is rich with dark chocolate, bouquet garni and cassis liqueur. A wonderful wine for aging. Right now, I’m craving braised short ribs of beef, or an enormous tomahawk steak grilled black and blue over a wood fired grill.  45 cases produced $80 btl/ $960 case SOLD OUT DOUBLE GOLD/98 pts: Int’l East Meets West Wine Challenge plus THREE GOLDS: Sunset Magazine Int’l Wine Comp, Int’l Women’s Wine Comp, and American Fine Wine Invitational

2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Flying j’s Vineyard, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley

Fragrant with true vanilla bean, and burnt white sage, this wine is a seducer. Heady cherry blossom, apple pie spice and berry basket fruits, with a mouthfeel like crushed velvet. Artfully integrated fruit and spice notes on the palate with mocha and black olives on the finish. Perhaps a bit of forest floor and untamed brush. An opulent wine that will age well. Makes me think of grilled lamb, Mediterranean flavors – dried tomatoes, fresh bay leaf, Moroccan spices and salty cheeses. 45 cases produced $95 btl/ $1140 case SOLD OUT BEST OF CLASS & TWO DOUBLE GOLDS plus TWO GOLDS/99 pts: Int’l East Meets West Wine Challenge, American Fine Wine Invitational, Sunset Int’l Wine Comp, and Int’l Women’s Wine Comp.

2018 Ben’s Blend Cabernet Sauvignon, COOMBSVILLE AVA, Napa Valley

I am immediately attracted to this wine with it’s generous red fruit aromas, fresh cigar, cherry wood smoke and plush tannins. As you swirl, warm cinnamon and toasted spices with a little crushed black pepper draw you in. The palate is abundant with vivid, perfectly ripe red currant and cranberry relish and a silky texture that is exactly as expected for Coombsville. Delicious-making flavors linger: woody thyme sprigs, dried mint and mushroom powder. While built in a way to make it age worthy, the refined character and elegant structure make it too approachable to resist. (I want beef stew, roasted pork with rosemary and hard cheeses.) 45 cases produced $90 btl/ $1080 case SOLD OUT TWO DOUBLE GOLDS plus TWO GOLDS/98 pts: American Fine Wine Invitational, Sunset Int’l Wine Comp, Int’l East Meets West Wine Challenge, and Int’l Women’s Wine Comp.

2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Flying J’s Vineyard (formerly E & S Vineyard), Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley

Opens with dark chocolate truffles and cassis with hints of vanilla & espresso. The palate is decadent and complex with notes of cherry cordial, mocha along with candied cherry, caramel, vanilla and oak spice. Beautiful now but will gain complexity over the coming years. Aged 28 months in once-filled Quintessence French barrels. 49 cases produced.  $85/btl;$1020/cs FOUR GOLDS/92 Points, Harvest “Terroir” Challenge, Sunset Magazine’s Int’l Wine Comp, Int’l Women’s Wine Comp, San Francisco Int’l Wine Comp

2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Canyon Ranch, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley

Opens up in the glass with dried berries and black olive, followed by complex notes of oak spice, cherry, black pepper, and dried boysenberry. The palate continues the complex aromatics adding ripe blackberry, cola spices, and vanilla bean. Soft tannins persist as the wine continues to become more complex over the next 24 years. Aged 28 months in 50% new Quintessence French barrels. 56 cases produced.  $95/btl;$1140/cs DOUBLE Gold/96 pts. Harvest “Terroir” Challenge THREE GOLDS Int’l Women’s Wine Comp, Sunset Int’l Wine Comp & Gold SF International

2017 Ben’s Blend Cabernet Sauvignon, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley

For this special Napa Valley red, I held back a barrel of the 2016 and one barrel of the 2017 Cabernet sauvignon from the same vineyard to blend together. Capturing a mini vertical of barreled wines. This wine is silky on the palate with rich fruit and well integrated tannins. It opens with perfumed notes of boysenberry, raspberry, leading to cherry pie, spiced pipe tobacco and caramel. The palate reveals chocolate covered espresso beans, blackberry, caramel and vanilla with a silky finish. Dedicated to my husband, Ben for his patience and unrelenting support for my wine adventure. The original artwork for the label was created by Jeannine Luke. Aged 28 & 40 months in 50% new Quintessence French barrels.  48 cases produced.  $65/btl;$780/cs SOLD OUT Two Silver medals, Int’l Women’s Wine Com & Harvest “Terroir” Challenge

2000 Ash Kickin’ Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon, Flying J’s Vineyard Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley

With an inviting peach color, the wine opens with bright aromas of fresh summer fruits – nectarine & cantaloupe, leading to hints of cotton candy and strawberry Jolly Ranchers. The palate unfolds with crisp fruit-forward notes of ripe red apple and peach, with hints of candied lemon and tangerine followed by a long juicy finish. This dry rosé wine was aged five months in neutral oak. 40 cases $35/btl; SOLD OUT
THREE Silver medals: Int’l Women’s Wine Comp, Sunset Magazine Wine Comp and American Fine Wine Invitational Rosé Challenge.

2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Flying J’s Vineyard (formerly E & S Vineyard), Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley

Opens with pronounced notes of black pepper and cedar, followed by classic Cabernet aromas of cassis, black licorice, dried cherry and blackberry, and spicy sarsaparilla. The palate unfolds with maple tinged cedar, cassis, dried currants, pomegranate, spiced plum cake with sweet round tannins, and a long finish. Young and tasty now, should age nicely for the next 8-20 years. Aged 28 months in once-filled Quintessence French barrels. 47 cases. $85/btl; SOLD OUT

BEST of CLASS & TWO DOUBLE GOLD medals: American Fine Wine Invitational, Harvest Challenge Int’l PLUS GOLD Sunset Magazine Int’l, SILVER Int’l Women’s Wine Competition

2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Canyon Ranch, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley

Pops open with notes of boysenberry jam, black currant, dark chocolate, with hints of cassis and rootbeer spices. The palate is very expressive with notes of cassis, blackberry, cedar tobacco box, hints at maple vanilla, chocolate covered espresso beans, and ... soft yet structured tannins, built to last, up to 22 years. Aged 28 months in 50% new Quintessence French barrels. 47 cases. $150/btl; SOLD OUT

DOUBLE GOLD/98 POINTS American Fine Wine Invitational, PLUS TWO GOLDS Int’l Women’s Wine Comp & Harvest Challenge, SILVER Sunset Magazine Int’l Wine Comp

2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, E & S Vineyard, (now Flying J’s Vineyard) Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley

This boutique vineyard was planted in 2002, in what would become Napa Valley’s newest AVA - Coombsville. The 2015 grapes were harvested at 26.6° Brix and aged 28 months in small French oak barrels. The wine opens with pronounced notes of cassis, cranberry, and sweet black licorice, along with hints of black pepper, cherry preserves, sweet cedar, and black tea. The palate unfolds with notes of creamy cherry cordial, blackberry, vanilla, and continues to unfold with touches of maple syrup, dark chocolate, and graphite. Finely balanced with elegant tannins the E & S Cabernet should develop beautifully over the next 8-15 years. 44 cases. $155/btl; SOLD OUT

International Women's Wine Competition 2018 GOLD, 92 Points
Harvest Challenge Int'l 2018 SILVER,
American Fine Wine Invitational 2019, SILVER
Orange County Fair's Commercial Wine Comp 2018 BRONZE

2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Canyon Ranch, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley

This naturally farmed hillside vineyard never even sees a tractor! We picked the grapes at 26° Brix and aged in small French oak barrels, (50% new) for 28 months. The wine opens with aromatic notes of candied licorice, anise, chai tea, and vanilla caramel. On the palate, it unfolds with chewy mouth filling tannins, creamy cherry cola, toasted brioche, toasty oak, black cherry, hints of cedar, and tobacco box. Ample tannins, a taught frame, and nice balance, Oak Canyon Ranch’s Cabernet will age gracefully over the coming 5-18 years. 21 cases $150/btl; SOLD OUT
American Fine Wine Invitational 2019, DOUBLE GOLD
Harvest Challenge Int'l 2018 GOLD, 90 Points
International Women's Wine Competition 2018 SILVER,
Orange County Fair's Commercial Wine Comp 2018 BRONZE

2018 Verdelho, Shenandoah Valley, Amador County
The color is light yellow with green hues. The wine pops in the glass with fresh aromas of green pineapple, ripe quince, vanilla custard, and almost hints of banana. The balanced palate follows the aromas plus creamy lemon custard pie, juicy apple, pineapple, plus hints of vanilla spice and a long finish. This white wine is as beautiful with 5 o'clock as it is dinner! Delicious now, it should age nicely over the next 2-5 years. 24 cases produced. *Liquid Art Club members are invited to ADD this wine to annual May or October shipments! $28/btl; SOLD OUT
TWO DOUBLE GOLD/BEST OF CLASS Sunset Magazine’s Int’l Wine Competition, 2019 AND Int’l Women’s Wine Comp

2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Sam's Pick* Napa Valley
This one-time harvest of this St. Helena vineyard offered only enough grapes to fill little over half a barrel! The rest of the fruit came from Oakville, adding Merlot and Cabernet Franc.  The wine offers aromas of cedar spice, pipe tobacco, cherry pie, with hints of dried sage and toffee. The palate unfolds with molasses and spiced oak, hints of vanilla, coconut, steak sauce and dark espresso. While tasting nice now, the chewy tannins indicate it should age nicely for 5-12 years. 22 cases $150/btl; SOLD OUT Harvest Challenge International, GOLD, 91 Points

2017 Verdelho, Shenandoah Valley, Amador County

The color is medium yellow with green hues. The wine opens with fresh aromas of Fuji apple, lemon zest, and kiwi. With time in the glass, a second wave of aromas appears: melon, pear, apricot and tropical notes of guava and mango. Flavors parallel the aromas. In the mouth, the texture is round and silky, and delicate. The wine finishes very crisp and racy, a multi-faceted wine for warm spring/summer afternoons and evenings. Food Pairings: Our Verdelho excels when paired with delicate white fish like trout & Petrale sole, niçoise salad and ripe, freshly sliced fruits. Mild white cheeses, both creamy and hard, along with goat cheese pair particularly well with this wine. 19 cases. SOLD OUT
Harvest Challenge Int'l 2018 GOLD

2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Canyon Ranch, Napa Valley, Coombsville AVA
Opens with pure and concentrated notes of cassis and blackberry, licorice spice, with hints of cherry cordial, graphite, vanilla, and pipe tobacco. The rich textured palate unfolds with notes of dried blackberry, cassis, black licorice, and vanilla cream coupled with velvety tannins that linger through a pleasingly long finish. 67 cases produced.  $125/btl; SOLD OUT
FOUR GOLD MEDALS: Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Comp, Harvest Challenge International & Int’l Women’s Wine Comp. & American Fine Wine Invitational 2018

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Canyon Ranch, Napa Valley, Coombsville AVA

Opens with blackberry, grilled toast, deep cassis, dried figs, cedar tones with notes of Turkish Bay, fall leaves, vanilla, and licorice. The palate unfolds with blackberry and cranberry, cola spice, cassis, and hints of caramel espresso, vanilla, and a pleasingly long finish. Nice tannins with some grip make this is a lovely wine now, and will soften, becoming more complex over the next few decades. 75 cases produced.  $125/btl; SOLD OUT

DOUBLE GOLD, San Francisco Int’l Wine Comp  3 GOLDS: American Fine Wine Invitational,  Int’l Women’s Wine Comp, 2016 Harvest Challenge Int’l

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, David Fulton Vineyard, Napa Valley, St. Helena AVA
The wine opens with a complexity of aromas such as blueberry, graphite, cedar, buttered toast, maple syrup and black licorice which all lead to chewy tannins and nuances of cedar, black berry, light cassis and tobacco on the palate. It has a pleasingly long finish and will cellar beautifully for a couple of decades. 47 cases produced. $125/btl; SOLD OUT  A FIVE-time medal winner! GOLDS, American Fine Wine Invitational Competition and Grand Harvest Awards, Nov 2015 SILVERS, Int’l Women’s Wine Comp. 2015 plus two more medals from Sunset International Wine Competition & San Francisco Int'l Wine Comp

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, David Fulton Vineyard, Napa Valley, St. Helena AVA
This ‘old-world’ style Cabernet offers classic aromas of cassis, along with notes of spice bread, cedar, mocha, and pipe tobacco. The palate is silky with flavors of blackberry pie, fig syrup, molasses, vanilla, and cassis with a pleasing finish. With some grippy and fine grain tannins, the wine is softening …and will develop gracefully for up 15 years. 48 Cases $125/btl; SOLD OUT
FIVE-Time Medal Winner including DOUBLE GOLD from American Fine Wine Competition