Black List Tasting Notes

Pretty and precocious: Expressive but refined on the nose, suggestions of black fruit, pomegranate and spice invite further attention. Beyond this introduction, the wine stands and delivers. Dense and juicy, the attack is marked by blackberry, cassis, black coffee, and cocoa nib.

Pretty and precocious: Dense, and direct with dark fruit; the wine’s attack and mid-palate offer ample helpings of black plum, berries, and morello cherries, with nods to sweet baking spices, oak, and graphite.

Pretty and precocious: The nose is expressive, offering notes of red, blue, and black fruits with a graceful ebullience. Ripe raspberry, juniper and blueberry mark the attack, as do suggestions of fennel and dry herbs.

Pretty and precocious: Fragrant with aromas of red and black fruit, baking spices and shaved cedar, the wine shows off what can happen when sultry Petite Sirah (71%) is combined with refined Cabernet Sauvignon (29%) from noble origins on the valley floor. Rich and expressive, the wine generously offers suggestions of black cherry, boysenberry, plum, further accented by hints of tamarind and graphite.

Fragrant with blissful hints of black fruit, lavender, and sandalwood shavings; the wine greets the palate with lightly textured layers of blackberry, dark cherry, along with hints of espresso, and ripe tamarind. Aged 18 months in 60% NFO, the wine’s silky tannins and bright acidity create a pleasing texture leading to a satisfying finish. Dark, deep, with an alluring concentration.

The wine’s nose beckons to reveal aromas of black fruits and delicate spice. Any further hesitation however, is cast aside at the attack, where the wine exposes a pleasingly full mouth, and softly layered mid-palate, replete with suggestive notes of blackberry cassis, and sweet oak; further accented by hints of shaved cocoa nib and baking spices.

The attack eagerly displays an intention to beguile and deliver. Rich and luxuriously concentrated, the wine expresses purpose and vigor, replete with offerings of blackberry, boysenberry, and plum, along with hints of clove and sweet oak. Silky tannins, and a delicate acidity add lovely texture to the full mouth that characterizes this wine.

Arouses the olfactory with wafts of black fruit, cherry, and a nod to marzipan. More follows in the wine’s attack, as notes of ripe blackberry, dark cherry, cola, spice, and earth bring it on. Aged eighteen months in 50% new French Oak, the wine’s refined structure is marked by a pleasing acidity and just enough grip to remind us of how well lower Napa cabernets can play with Petite Sirah secured from the acclaimed confines of the acclaimed upper valley.

Heady aromas of black fruits, violets and underbrush. Attack is marked by crushed blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry, and sone with earthy ferrous accents. Firm, grainy tannins and an underlying freshness, handsome layering and a grand finish! Consensus among collectors as one of our most memorable BL wine selections.

Talk about a brilliant disguise - On the nose; Bing Cherry, sweet almond, sandalwood and soft clay, lead to a rush on the attack of blackberry, boysenberry, with teases of violet, earth and mineral. Pleaseing volume and structure marked by fresh acidity, grainy tannins and handsome layering.

Ascending: A veritable wolf disguised in sheep's clothing! Focused, frontal attack: blackberry, plum cedar shavings, cardamom and graphite. Chalky tannins and fresh acidity enliven an assertive wine that is brawny and muscular and borderline unruly a la NY Giants HOF/LB-great #56, Lawrence Taylor...

Ascending: Yet another fine single-vineyard showcase. Hints of black fruit, cedar and baking spices create anticipation that is rewarded by a fulsome attack led by ripe blackberry, black cherry, with notes of anise, tamarind and dried herbs. Demonstrating purposeful focus, the mid-palate is grippy and concentrated, while revealing refined layering and complexity.

Ascending: Shows off hallmark vintage hailing from single-vineyard Caldwell Block-15. Vibrant with aromas of black fruit, rose petal, pipe tobacco, and cherry cola. Exuberant and expressive on the attack, the wine’s volume and density are notable, revealing nuanced flavors of blackberry, cassis, along with hints of wild raspberry, sweet oak, graphite, and baking spices.

THE inaugural 100% cab from the rancho's "home" vintage. Smatterings of cassis layered with notes of black plum, licorice, sweet oak, and spice create a rich rendition of flavor, complexity, texture. When framed by the grainy tannins emblematic of this noble appellation, the ride to the finish issues a satisfying deliverance.

Invites inspection with a salutation of flavors marked by blackberry, plum, earth and cherry cola. Alluring, but focused, the wine’s underlying vigor reveals a pleasing acidity, and structure defined by finely grained tannins that affirm a satisfying and lengthy finish. At the top of MaryAnn's "Hit Parade".

Flavors of cassis, and dark Bing cherry, the wine reveals an alluring complexity, layered with touches of dark chocolate, anise and clove. Testimonial to winemaker's expertise showing in cooler vintage.

Offers ripe black cherry, blackberry notes, accented by tea, bramble and spice. Reveals a pleasing acidity and finely grained tannins, and mid-palate marked by a supple texture and freshness. True to Philippe Melka's Right Bank predilections.

Killer vineyard blocks! - Forward and precise upon entry, the wine reveals a balanced freshness and acidity, giving way to a nuanced complexity offering notes of blackberry, cassis, black tea, pomegranate and tamarind. Among LT's top-five BL's.

Dense flavors of blackberry, cassis, baking spices, and hints of cracked black pepper, and toasted cumin. Silky tannins speak to the wine’s delicate oak framing, while allowing notes of black cherry, sweet oak, and stone to emerge in a weighty wine of delicate complexity and structure. A Philippe Melka-favorite.

Tasty(!): Black cherry, and hints of black tea, dry herbs, washed stone and soft tannins help reveal a balanced, delicately structured wine, with a sinewy smoothness that leads to a graceful, lingering finish. True to Philippe Melka's Right Bank predilections.

The excitement builds: Hints of cedar box, dry herbs and a cherry candy-like sweetness. Notes of black cherry, lingonberry, clove, coffee, and bergamot also emerge, counterpointed by a pleasing acidity on the palate. At the top of MaryAnn's "Hit Parade".

Approaching APEX. Flavors of ripe, blackberry and black cherry assert themselves with hints of cedar, cocoa nib, and toasted coriander beckoning. With a lightly chiseled muscularity, the wine’s grainy tannins provide pleasing grip and structure in a manner that is assertive, yet alluring, while being both coy and teasingly vampy. True to Philippe Melka's Right Bank predilections.

Approaching APEX. Notes of roasted sage and fennel, while exhibiting both freshness and meatiness …thanks to the barrel ferments. With chalky tannins lingering in the mouth, the wine is lightly muscled, and speaks expressively with both complexity and vigor. Among LT's top-five BL's.

Classic SE Napa duo: Opens teasingly with notes of black cherry, plum, dark chocolate, hints of anise, raspberry and graphite. The finely grained tannins, and light acidity reveal a wine that is showing its splendor now!

Approaching Apex. Black currant flavors entice, giving way to an opulent mid-palate that conjures up ripe black cherries, black tea, and cacao nibs. Creamy tannins, delicate oak and a light acidity provide for a balanced, plush ride and satisfying finish. Among LT's top-five BL's.

Brilliant combination from notable blocks: Juicy, but restrained, while presenting an intriguingly tasty combination of ripe dark fruits, complemented with hints of cumin and other earthy spices. Among LT's top-five BL's.

Showing-off splendidly: Offers ripe blackberry, cassis flavors, hints of leather, roasted espresso beans. The rarest of collectibles!

Opens with ripe dark cherries, black tea and earthiness, revealing a chiseled muscularity. Bold, but beguiling, brawny, yet feminine; the wine breathlessly pads from its aromatic invitation… to display directness and conviction. LT's top-five BL's.

Black cherry/kirsch flavors are accented by hints of black tea, black olive and sage. Sweet oak lifts the wine through a notable mid-palate, the wine shows lovely length and satisfying finish.

Tantalizingly fresh combination of red cherry and delicate pipe tobacco give way to vibrant cassis, accented by white pepper, eucalyptus, and cocoa. The rarest of collectibles!

Notes of Bing cherry, dried cranberry, and hints of clove, graphite and minerality. Delicately framed by oak and with its understated tannins, the wine’s bearing is subtle, and closes with a gentle, pleasing finish. The rarest of collectibles!

Pleasing palate weight, light acidity and refined tannins, the wine is both juicy and big, while delivering notable length and a powerful finish. The rarest of collectibles!