Brandlin Estate 2022 Estate Cuvee Mt. Veeder Napa Valley CA ($75)

 

 

This young wine might still have a bit of baby fat in terms of fruit and oak that isn't perfectly integrated just yet, but I think this wine has a bright future. Revisiting it the next day only confirmed my initial appraisal. This Bordeaux-style blend has a really nice combination of fresh dark fruit, acidity, and polished tannins. At first blush, I thought it had some unexpected density for Mt. Veeder, which has a reputation for elegant Cabernet. By the next day, it showed just the elegant, Mt. Veeder elegance that I expected, showing bright black cherry, cassis notes, hints of vanilla and licorice, subtle floral notes, and a very smooth finish. Definitely a keeper, and it will reward the patient. (95 Points) 

- Tim Teichgraeber 

Brandlin Estate 2021 'Henry's Keep' Proprietary Red Wine Mount Veeder Napa Valley ($135)

 

 

It took me a while to get to this bottle, but holy hell, this is great! It's a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec, and 4% Petit Verdot that is gushing with flirty Mt. Veeder finesse. It has deep color, aromas of violet, lavender, chapparal, and blackberry jam. It has deep cassis fruit, but isn't really heavy on the palate, which is perfectly characteristic of Mt. Veeder in the southwest, relatively cool, elevated sector of Napa Valley. This red is really hard to put down, and paired with a steak it was heavenly. (96 Points)

- Tim Teichgraeber 

Sky 2017 Zinfandel Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley ($48)

 

It's been a little while since I have tried Sky's wines, but I've always found them to be well made and very reflective of the cool, mountain terroir of Mt. Veeder. It's a little surprising that the current vintage is 2017, which probably says a lot about the state of the wine business (and the market for Zinfandel). That said, the wine is holding up pretty well with notes of black pepper, brambly berry fruit that's just beginning to take on a bit of a baked character. It has a hefty alcohol content at 15.5%, but it also has great natural acidity. Recommended.

- Tim Teichgraeber