Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown captured the essence of Bordeaux with a California soul in this wine. Starting with big, grippy tannins and a power pack of black currant, cassis, and dried violets, its earthy nature is triggered. As it opens up, the floral essence broadens, with red roses surrounding tobacco, anise, and graphite. The layers
Medium ruby black color. Aromas of chocolate coconut cream, black cherry, vanilla creme de cassis, and blackberry cobbler with a full body and a long blackberry, cassis and dried green herbs, vanilla and chocolate, and baking spice finish. Juicy ripe red and black fruit with vanilla pastries balanced by firm tannins; a tasty crowd pleaser
A true Earth Mother, speaking to soil, graphite, tobacco, and warm sunshine. Rich boysenberry back notes peek through, washed with espresso and walnut. It’s at mid-point that jasmine blooms, black raspberry ripens, and vanilla cedar offers itself up for an elegant finale.
Medium dusty garnet color. Aromas of blackberry and boysenberry, chocolate covered marshmallow, Frango mints, and cigar box with a full body and a long blackberry, vanilla, black cherry, and mint chocolate finish. Beautiful ripe fruit with decadent oak and a hint of minty and herbal freshness; big and bold for a special night now, but
Proud and full bodied, this powerful Cabernet fills the palate with concentrated flavors of sweet plums and spices, tobacco and dark fruits. Full bodied with palate coating tannins that carry a lot of length.
Ruby red in color with powerful perfumes of dark chocolate and cherry cola. Graceful notes of piquant herbs and earth yield to a bevy of baking spices with ripe, dense fruit. There’s heft without the heaviness as layers of complexity unfold.
Awarded a Gold medal.
Awarded a Gold medal.
A very big wine with beautiful fruit and even bolder American oak; give this a lot of decanting or a minimum 10 years in cellar to open up.
92 Points.
The fullness of Cabernet Sauvignon is on display from first sniff, which is redolent with fresh berry coulis and blooming violets. Aged in 80% new French Oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered, the palate is sumptuous and seductive with a lively interplay of all-spice and cherry pie. Firm like an iron-hand in a velvet glove,
Awarded a Gold medal.
Cali Cab at its finest; enjoy now or lay this down for a few or ten years to pleasantly surprise your future self.
Awarded a Gold medal.
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon bursts with intense black and red cherries, boysenberries and warm cassis notes, plus wafts of cedar, pencil lead, wild sage and truffles. The palate is medium to full-bodied with tightly knit, fine-grained tannins and lovely freshness supporting the muscular fruit, finishing long and minerally.
Thomas Rivers Brown is the winemaker responsible for this delightful Napa Cab. Made from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the Diamond Mountain District, it is aged for 20 months in 80 percent new French oak and is bottled unfined and unfiltered. It is garnet-ruby in color with aromas of crushed violets, pencil lead, and
One of my two favorite sub-AVA’s of Napa Valley brings us this Cabernet Sauvignon, one made beautiful through the struggle of growing in the region. There’s a red fruit stamp that often originates from the area, and it’s well displayed here through careful oak selection that serves to accentuate the fruit without burying it. Well
A chocolatey nose with mulberries, plums, vanilla and spice box. Full body with chewy tannins. Rich with plenty of chocolate and black fruit. Creamy texture and a firm finish. Drink from 2024.
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is exceptional. In fact, the 2019 is one of the best editions of this wine in recent memory. A rush of blackberry jam, cloves, licorice, menthol, lavender and espresso hits the palate. Plush and deep, with plenty of structure, the 2019 is a great example of Diamond Mountain Cabernet done in
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Wallis Denali Estate Vineyard reveals alluring scents of fruitcake, baked blackberries and crème de cassis, plus suggestions of eucalyptus, espresso, black olives and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers tons of savory layers and beautiful harmony in the mouth, with a firm, fine-grained texture and refreshing lift
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Denali Estate Vineyard is a potent, St. Helena Cabernet. It offers plenty of impact as well as all the exuberance of St. Helena. Inky red/purplish berry fruit, lavender, spice, rose petal and menthol all hit the palate. This tannic, ample Cabernet has plenty of depth, that much is obvious. All it
A beautiful and elegant Napa Valley Cabernet. Hold for at least 10 years! This wine will age beautifully if held onto. The wine is made with great finesse and showcases some of the best fruit in Napa.
Awarded a Double Gold medal.
Wallis Family’s 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (100%) is intensely aromatic, delivering a rush of fruit and earth notes with a hint of purple flowers that will surely impress. It boasts black cherry, blackberry, plum, cigar box, and subtle savory flavors on the palate. It is incredibly rich in fruit while retaining freshness and a lingering savoriness
Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon features bold notions of creme de cassis, blueberry compote and blackberry pie plus nuances of tar, unsmoked cigars, beef drippings and garrigue with a waft of lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate has a rock-solid structure of firm grainy tannins and lovely freshness lifting the dense, muscular
Coming from the Diamond Mountain District in the northern part of the Valley, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District reveals a dense purple hue as well as a textbook Cabernet nose of ripe blackcurrants, lead pencil, damp earth, and chocolate. Rich, medium to full-bodied, plush, and beautifully textured, this is in the running for
Fresh black cherry, blackberry leaf, iodine and bark on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with powerful, fine-grained tannins. Fresh and structured with focused fruit and spice flavors. Needs a couple of years. Try from 2022.
Deep purple color. Inviting aromas and flavors of chocolate toffee, bubbly berry pie crust, frozen French vanilla yogurt, and hint of dried flowers with a satiny, vibrant, fruity medium-full body and a seamless, charming, medium-long finish imparting shades of dried berries in cream, cedar, and roasted nuts with wellintegrated, dusty tannins and moderate oak flavor.
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon offers a compelling interplay of richness and energy. Bright floral and spice notes add energy to a core of crème de cassis, raspberry jam, chocolate, new leather, spice and lavender. Give this potent Cabernet a year or two to soften.
This is a 100% varietal wine from the burly mountain appellation, boldly conceived and grippy in structure. Dusty plum, tobacco and clove accent a full-bodied grasp of length and breadth, the finish splendid in dark chocolate.
Awarded 98 points and a Double Gold medal.
This is the Wallis Family’s hotrod Cabernet from Diamond Mountain and it definitely has the horsepower for the role. Rich and dense, with impressive depth, this is a darkly fruited Cabernet that has that rare combination of power and elegance. Notes of ripe cassis and black fruits dominate, with a touch of wood spice and
Awarded a Double Gold medal and Best of Class.
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim has a masculine bouquet of black plums, singed cedar, chocolate, and currants, with plenty of spice developing with time in the glass. It’s rich, medium to full-bodied, has good concentration, and just a backward, closed style. Nevertheless, it has terrific purity, a great mid-palate, and is going to benefit from
A dense and layered young red with velvety, chewy tannins and lots of terracotta and blackberry character. Full and juicy. Needs time to soften. Very well done for the vintage. Better after 2021.
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim offers a bit more complete sense of balance than the straight Cabernet bottling. Here the flavors lean more into the red/purplish end of the spectrum. Red cherry jam, pomegranate, cinnamon, cedar and mocha linger on the intense, tannic finish. I would prefer to drink the 2017 sooner rather than later.
Leathery tobacco and an earthy hint of gravel open this full-bodied wine, which follows with a sizable concentration of wild blueberry fruit. Accents of vanilla and coconut highlight the integrated oak, which persists on the long finish.
Awarded 98 points and a Double Gold medal.
Excellent showcase of Diamond Mountain. Over priced but that is what elite winemakers cost. Age this wine for at least 5 years, and decant to showcase the depth and complexity this wine has to offer.
Awarded a Double Gold medal.
The Diamond Mountain District is one of the most coveted sites for Cabernet Sauvignon in California. There is a reason for that, and it is in evidence here. This wine shows extraordinary depth and concentration, and is richly layered and complex, with aromas of blackberry, cassis and spice. The balance is exquisite and the finish
A 100% varietal wine made by Thomas Rivers Brown, this is abundant in baked plum, cassis and dark currant. Firm tannins wrap around the integrated oak and secondary seasonings of black pepper, licorice and pepper, leaving a fresh, floral finish to ponder. Enjoy 2021–2026.
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim opens with cassis, redcurrants, herbs and tilled soil with hints of cigars and hoisin. Medium to full-bodied, it has a good amount of tightly wound, muscular fruit with a firm, chewy frame and savory finish.
Coming from the Diamond Mountain AVA and brought up in 80% new French oak, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim is made by Thomas Rivers Brown and sports a saturated purple color as well as a perfumed, exotic bouquet of blueberries, crème de cassis, crushed violets, blood orange, and spice. It’s ripe, sexy, full-bodied, and beautifully
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim opens with arrestingly beautiful, striking aromatics. Graphite, crème de cassis, lavender, licorice are all backed up by huge, imposing tannins. Readers should plan on being patient with the 2016, when it is bottled and eventually sold.
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim has really come along nicely since I tasted it last year. The tannins have softened considerably, which in turn allows the fruit to come through. This is an unusually rich, jammy style for Diamond Mountain, and while it would be nice to see a greater sense of place, there is
This is a 100% varietal wine made by sought-after winemaking consultant Thomas Rivers Brown. It delivers a powerful package of plum and dark chocolate. Earthy tobacco and sage meld with grippy, youthful tannins to showcase a well-structured offering. Enjoy 2024–2029.
The base cuvée is the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon and it too comes all from the Diamond Mountain AVA, which in is the northwestern part of the valley. Aged in 80% new oak, it gives up beautifully classic notes of red and black fruits, dried earth, spice box, and savory herbs. It’s classic Diamond Mountain on
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous, exotic beauty. Super-ripe red cherry, plum jam, mocha, new leather, licorice and pomegranate abound. Although not exactly a wine of site, the 2016 is flat out delicious and will be impossible to resist, even in its youth. Readers should expect a heady, flamboyant style
Feral aromas of leather and countryside make for a complex backdrop from which to enjoy this well-integrated wine’s succulent black fruit, dried herb and clove. Full bodied, it’s structured to age, dense from the vintage and appellation, yet softly layered in polished tannin.
Awarded a Gold medal.
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim is medium to deep garnet-purple colored with a vibrant red and black currants, kirsch and wild blueberries nose with hints of herbs and cedar. Medium to full-bodied with fine-grained, chewy tannins, it has apparent oak but the stuffing to carry it and fantastic length.
Powerful and deep, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim packs a serious punch. Super-ripe dark cherry, chocolate, mocha and exotic spice are just some of the many notes that run through this super expressive Diamond Mountain Cabernet. I would prefer to cellar the 2015 to allow the new oak to fully integrate. This is another impressive
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim tastes like it was just drained from tank, as the fruit is so primary. Intense and powerful on the palate, with good underlying structure the 2015 offers up a compelling interplay of dark, inky fruit, spice and floral notes.
Broadly structured amidst a wealth of mountain fruit and tannin, this wine impresses in its succulent body of plummy dark cherry, sage and dark chocolate. The dense complex layers are well integrated with toasty oak. Enjoy 2024–2034.
A stunningly structured, layered wine that is just starting to show itself. It’s classic Diamond Mountain, with firm, grippy tannins that carry dense blackberry, currants, dried herbs and spice through a long finish. You’ll want some of this for your trophy cellar — and I’d say hands off for at least five years. Fantastic wine!
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim is deep, powerful and explosive, with plenty of dark cherry, plum, mocha and espresso notes. Dark, sumptuous and layered, the 2014 possesses terrific overall balance. Dark stone fruit, chocolate, torrefaction and spice round out this expressive Diamond Mountain Cabernet.
Translucent and sculpted in the glass, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim is all about weightless energy and nuance. Lavender, crushed rocks and mint are finely etched in this vivid, delineated Cabernet. This is a gorgeous, hugely appealing Cabernet from Wallis.
Campfire smoke and meat rise on the nose of this 100% varietal wine, a nearly rustic experience if it weren’t for the powerful beauty behind the rest of the story. A soft, dry grip of tannin plays against youthfully ripe notions of blackberry jam on toast, with chocolate and cigar lurking in the background. Drink
Awarded Best of Class.
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Diamond Mountain. This is a beauty–deep, rich black/purple in color, with loads of cassis fruit. Few secondary nuances except for graphite and vanillin are present. The wine is full-bodied, powerful and rich. This tips the scales at 14.7% natural alcohol, and seems to have a
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim has come together nicely. A host of graphite, crushed rocks, mint and slate back up a core of dark fruit. This is an especially inky, fruit-driven Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.
This wine is made from 57% Petit Verdot (a variety of increasing interest, it seems) from mountain sites. An additional 29% Cabernet Franc and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon help soften its tastes of black licorice, leather and black currant, dotted by a dash of black olive. Opaque in color, it’s savory and sizable in body without
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon pushes ripeness to the extreme. Jammy black fruit, graphite, chocolate, flowers and copious new French oak nearly cover the Diamond Mountain tannins. If the 2013 settles down and acquires a little more nuance it may very well merit a higher score, but today it comes across as a bit overdone.
The blockbuster 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim reveals finesse and elegance as well as substance and concentration. The dense purple color is followed by blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit, stunning richness and a long finish with well-integrated tannin, wood and acidity. Enjoy this profound Cabernet over the next 15-20 years.
Complex and compelling in dark plum and dusty dark chocolate, this Cabernet has under 3% Petit Verdot and under 3% Cabernet Franc blended in, providing the wine with elegance and concentration. Soft on the palate, it suggests vanilla oak with subtlety, bringing all the components together on the lingering finish.
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Little Sister exhibits attractive crème de cassis notes, impressive purity, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and a nicely textured finish. There is not a hard edge to be found in this luscious, fruit-forward red. Enjoy it over the next 8-10 years.
A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon given two years in French oak, this sanguine, expertly structured and elegant wine offers plenty of bright cassis and blackberry flavor on the palate, seducing with complex layers of dried herb and black tea. Enjoyable now, this wine will also benefit from time; hold through 2022.
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is more backward than the Little Sister, with more tannic structure as well as abundant cremede cassis, blackberry, unsmoked cigar tobacco and forest floor characteristics. This impressive, structured, full-bodied wine will benefit from several years of bottle age and should drink well for 12-15 years thereafter.
Deep, powerful and explosive, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon from Wallis Family Estate saturates the palate with huge fruit and equally imposing mountain tannins. Cedar, tobacco and a host of savory notes develop in the glass, but it is the wine’s sumptuous texture and broad resonant personality that stands out. Over time, the flavors acquire an
Sweet spices, flowers, raspberries, mint and red berries meld together in the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate from Wallis. A beautifully balanced, harmonious wine, the 2012 stands out for its mid-palate pliancy and fabulous depth. Today the 2012 is incredibly primary and intense, but all the elements are in the right place for this to develop
Awarded a Gold medal.
Diamond Mountain, situated at the warmer northern tip of the Napa Valley, is Cabernet Sauvignon country. This expression of the Diamond Mountain Cab terroir from Wallis Family shows earthy minerality, good balance, and the sort of firm structure necessary for longevity. It is rich and darkly fruited and built for the long haul. Platinum award
Forward and delicious, this offers waves of blackberries, cherries, currants, anise and cedar that are wrapped in firm yet supple tannins. Drink now–2016.
Awarded a Gold medal.
Tough and hard, this is a Cabernet that tastes old fashioned with its dry, tannic astringency. It certainly marches to a different beat, even for the Diamond Mountain District that’s known for difficult tannins. Will it age? There’s a solid core of black currant and green olive flavor that suggests it will. Hold until 2018,
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon screams Diamond Mountain in its dark fruit, tar, spices, smoke and incense. Elements of exotic wildness are woven throughout this powerful, intense, tannic wine. A radiant finish supported by firm tannins leaves a lasting impression. The 2010 is likely to require a few years in bottle, but there is little doubt
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate bursts from the glass with loads of blue and black fruits, grilled savory herbs licorice, ash, smoke and new leather. Today the tannins are imposing to the point of making the wine hard to read. The 2010 was also massively tannic when I tasted it from barrel last year, but
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate bursts from the glass with loads of blue and black fruits, grilled savory herbs licorice, ash, smoke and new leather. Today the tannins are imposing to the point of making the wine hard to read. The 2010 was also massively tannic when I tasted it from barrel last year, but
Delicious now, this has waves of blackberries, cherries, currants, dark chocolate, spices and oak. It seems almost sweet, but the finish is a swirl of dry tannins. Might develop over the long haul, and will it certainly last to 2015. Give it a few hours in the decanter.
The 2009 Little Sister is a beautiful, perfumed wine laced with silky red berries, flowers and spices. It is a gracious, supple wine endowed with remarkable textural finesse and exceptional overall balance.
The 2009 Little Sister is a beautiful, perfumed wine laced with silky red berries, flowers and spices. It is a gracious, supple wine endowed with remarkable textural finesse and exceptional overall balance. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. Although Edward and Marilyn Wallis purchased their estate on Diamond Mountain in 1975, the first vines were only planted in
A blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 10% cabernet franc): Medium ruby. Brooding aromas of dark berries and menthol. Then sexy and savory in the mouth, with good verve and nuance to the black raspberry and licorice flavors. Finishes with substantial chewy tannins and good length. Fruit from this Diamond Mountain property previously
A great follow-up to the winery’s 2008, this continues a roll of classy Diamond Mountain-based Cabs from Wallis Family. It’s dry, softly tannic and likeable for its depth of blackberry, cherry, currant and cedar flavors. This straddles the line between immediate drinkability and ageability.
The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon flows with black cherries, plums, spices, tar and licorice. It possesses striking inner perfume and beautifully expressive fruit in a style that brings tons of elegance to Diamond Mountain. Layers of flavor build towards the impressive, textured finish. This is another terrific showing from Wallis Family Estate. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2024. Although
The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is layered with dark red fruit, flowers, mint and licorice. This is a decidedly powerful style endowed with gorgeous focus and textural elegance, but the overall impression is one of relative suppleness for the appellation.
Good ruby-red. Liqueur-like, even exotic, on the nose, but not yet differentiated. Large-scaled, broad and primary, with darker fruit flavors than the 2008 version. This distinctly unformed wine is all baby fat today. A powerful and head-spinning cabernet with chewy, almost granular tannins. Impressive material here, but will this achieve the balance of the 2008?
Dry and smooth as a fine old Scotch, with intricately woven blackberry, black currant, green olive and herb flavors leading to a long, spicy finish. The tannins are significant, but very finely ground. Classy and powerful, this Cabernet should develop over the next eight years.
Rich, elaborate and layered. If this Cab were a fabric, it would be suede. Shows the tannins and minerals of Diamond Mountain, with potent flavors of blackberries, cherries, currants, cola, anise and sweet smoky oak. The finish is wonderfully dry, firm and long. Should develop for at least eight years.
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain reveals a similar, slightly deeper ruby/purple color along with abundant notes of creme de cassis, graphite, crushed rocks and spice. Full-bodied and rich, this outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon is drinking well now yet should age nicely for 12-13 years. A new discovery for me, these two reds are both impressive
Good deep red. Slightly high-toned aromas of cherry liqueur, licorice, tar and loam, along with a cooler minty nuance. Then supple and fresh in the mouth, with floral red fruit flavors enlivened by integrated acidity. The dusty tannins are nicely ripe for Diamond Mountain cabernet. Well-balanced and persistent.
This is a kind of junior Cab to the winery’s regular Diamond Mountain bottling, whose 2006 was spectacular. The Little Sister is similarly rich and oaky, with broad flavors of blackberries and currants. It’s very tannic, and should improve over the next 2-4 years.
With aromas of blackberry, cassis, tobacco spice and smoked meat, this well-balanced wine has ripe fruit flavors of cassis and black fruit, with a firm tannic finish.
A superior Cabernet that shows, first and foremost, Diamond Mountain’s famous tannins. They make the mouthfeel a little hard, but the wine is so rich in blackberries and plums, you hardly notice. Beautiful now, with decanting, and should develop for six years.
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