Wine Reviews

Loganberry and black currant puree flavors stretch out nicely over this red’s sleek iron spine, with hints of tar and apple wood. This is accessible now for its polish and fruit.

From the winery’s estate vineyard on Howell Mountain, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, all aged 22 months in 59% new French oak. Scents of mocha, tree bark, black cherries, raspberries and cherries mark the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is supple, lush and long, with ample concentration and some nicely ripe, softly dusty tannins on the lingering finish.

Ripe dark-fruited character with hazelnuts, pine wood, chocolate and ground cloves. Medium- to full-bodied, refined and polished, with dusty tannins and succulent fruit. Long finish.

Lastly, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch comes from a stunning estate vineyard on Howell Mountain with the plantings dating back to 1999. A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, and a splash of Cabernet Franc, aged in 59% new oak, this beauty reminds me of a great Saint-Julien (Leoville Barton?) with its incredible purity and regal, structured style. Crème de cassis, lead pencil, violets, chalky minerality, and chocolaty oak all emerge on the nose, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, ripe yet perfectly integrated tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It needs air if drinking any time soon and will ideally be given 4-6 years in the cellar. This beauty will have three decades of overall longevity.

Toasted oak and graphite aromas meet dark chocolate, black pepper and tar flavors in this robust, full-bodied and lavishly oaked wine. Firm tannins support ripe black fruits and an array of char, pencil shavings and clove accents.