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Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Yates Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 with Prime Rib

For a quick mid-week lunch/dinner, Linda brought home from Marianno’s kitchen Prime Rib with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans.

I pulled from the cellar a hearty vintage aged Napa Valley Mt Veeder Cabernet for a perfect food wine pairing - Yates Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2006.

We tasted and acquired this wine during a visit to the Yates family estate vineyards and winery, high atop Mount Veeder during our appellation visit back in 2011, which I excerpt here.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Mt Veeder Appellation Trail - Yates Mt Veeder Family Vineyards

Finally after more than a dozen years of wine trips visiting various wine regions, we learned the discipline and organization of focus! When we now visit Napa Valley, we focus on one appellation at a time. Recent Napa Valley trips focused on Howell Mtn, Spring Mtn, and Atlas Peak. This trip we dedicated to Mt Veeder, with a day also so dedicated to Diamond Mountain. We have long known and enjoyed Mt Veeder wines - notably the legendary Mayacamas, the popular Hess, the producer namesake Mt Veeder, and the popular Robert Craig Mt Veeder cabernet, one of his collection of single mountain designated cabs.

If not for simplicity, from a logistical standpoint, we start at the top of the Mountain and work our way down. You can select the metaphor for this strategy. To that end, we started our assault of Mt Veeder at the top at Yates Family Vineyard. Note the designation Vineyard, over Winery, as the Yates family have been farming the property for sixty years producing and selling top quality fruit to producers who bottle under their own label - no doubt popular producers we know, and others. Due to the heritage of the original developers from Europe back in the 1800's, the property was originally planted in German and Alsatian varietals. Over time these have been replaced with the traditional Bordeaux varietals that are now most popular on Mt Veeder - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,and some Cabernet Franc.

Yates Family Mt Veeder Vineyard

In recent years, Proprietor Mike Yates aided by his daughter Whitney Yates Hanes have worked together as Co-Winemakers to produce wines under the Yates label. They estate bottle under a standard varietal designate labels as well as a Reserve. They also produce a St Emilion style blend and a left bank Bordeaux blend Alden Perry Reserve named for family patriarch Mike's grandfather, Perry and father Alden, who shifted to the Bordeaux varietals in the early fifties, (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc). Produced in small quantity of less about 200 cases, we tasted from a 375 as this was SOLD OUT in standard bottles. We also tasted their Viognier 2009.

Yates Family Vineyards historic wine-house.

We were greeted by Mary Yates who otherwise handles the books, and her husband Todd Jones who has taken over sales and marketing duties. On the property still sits the historic ghost winery built back in the 1800’s and operated then as “Castle Rock Vineyard”, which we toured.

Ironically, there is a Chicago connection. Early product was shipped in barrel to Chicago where it was then bottled and sold as Claret from a retail store on Wells Street, although its not known whether that was North or South Wells.

W/ Mary Yates Jones and Todd Jones of Yates Family Winery and Vineyards.

Mike Yates of Mt Veeder Yates Family Vineyards

The Yates Family Wines tasted:

From our tasting at the winery estate:

Yates Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Dark deep inky purple color - complex and full bodied, the black berry and black cherry fruits were accented by dusty rose petals, tones of dark bittersweet chocolate, spice, and a layer of leather on a smooth tannin finish. This should integrate and gain polish over five years and last ten more. RM 91 points.


Tasting Yates Family Wines

Check out Yates Family wines - small production crafted wines that reflect the true terrior of Mt Veeder. We look forward to receiving our Yates wines and trying upcoming vintages and offerings to come.

Our Mt Veeder Tasting Group at historic and picturesque Yates Family Vineyards

Yates Family Mount Veeder Redwoods Estate Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

The winemaker's notes on this release sum it up well. "Deep dark purple ruby in color shows the intensity of this varietal. Bold earthy aromas of eucalyptus, sweet cherry, blackberry, cedar stone, and bittersweet chocolate. Lusciously complex, this wine boasts of high toned fruits, cherries perfectly ripened in the sun, rose, leather, cinnamon, briar, wet stone with a hit of coriander. The finish is smooth and memorable."

Wine Enthusiast gave this release 92 points in their September 2009 issue.

This was aged eighteen months in 35% new French oak.

Producers notes on the 2006 vintage, "2006 started off with heavy rains bringing in the New Year. This wet weather lingered into spring. This caused the vines to grown energetically early, delaying bloom into June. June’s weather started to warm, with dry conditions favoring fruit set. July had some record heat which was followed by a moderate summer. Harvest was delayed due to the wet spring and delayed bloom. Total yield was slightly lower, with small berries that helped concentrate the flavors and enhance the fruit aromas creating intense wines with soft tannins for accessibility early but still possessing age ability for years to come."

Back in 2020, I wrote, “at fourteen years of age, this is likely tasting at the apex of its drinking window.” Five years later, it is showing well with no signs of diminution from aging, but certainly not likely to improve any further, so, drink up and enjoy over the near term.

We still hold three bottles of this label. Each are still in pristine condition - the label, foil and fill level. This cork was still ideal as well - easily extracted with a “ahso”, two pronged cork puller. It probably could’ve been removed with a traditional server’s corkscrew.

As with earlier tastings, tonight, this was consistent with our earlier tasting experience, dark deep inky purple color - complex and full bodied, the black berry and black cherry fruits were accented by dusty rose petals, tones of dark bittersweet chocolate, spice, and a layer of leather on a smooth tannin finish.”

RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1106552

https://www.yatesfamilyvineyard.com/

https://twitter.com/YatesFamilyWine

@YatesFamilyWine

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Robert Craig Affinity Duo with Grilled Beefsteaks

Robert Craig Affinity Duo Mini-Vertical with Grilled Beefsteaks

We were invited to son Alec’s and D-in-law Vivianna’s for midweek dinner of grilled beefsteaks, roasted potatoes and grilled onions - a chance to enjoy family including our grand-daughters.

Prior to dinner, we enjoyed some artisan cheeses with crackers and fresh grapes, and Linda brought a mixed green Ceasar salad.

For pairing with the grilled beefsteaks, I pulled and brought from our home cellar an aged vintage Red Blend - Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007.

This label is the Bordeaux varietal blend from Robert Craig. We have a long history with this producer and their numerous Napa Valley Cabernets dating back to their inaugural release in 1993, and they represent one of the largest and longest holdings in our wine cellar collection.

Notably, Alec had just received a recent release of this same label which allowed the opportunity to do a mini-vertical comparison tasting of the 2007 and 2022 releases. He shared, and I took home a bottle of this release extending my vertical collection to nearly two dozen vintages.

We first tasted the 2007 vintage of this wine from a barrel sample, and acquired this label release during the Robert Craig Harvest Party, at the Winery and Vineyards estate high atop Howell Mountain back in 2009 as featured in this blogpost - Robert Craig Howell Mountain Harvest Party 2009.

Linda, Robert and me
With Bill and Beth C and Rachel,
Robert Craig Hospitality Ambassador

I’ve written about Robert Craig and their Cabernet Sauvignon portfolio and this label numerous times in these pages, which are excerpted here - as last featured March 2, 2025 - Robert Craig Affinity Napa Cabernet 2007, and previously January 25, 2022 Robert Craig Affinity 2007.

We hold more than two decades of this label dating back to the inaugural release in 1993. This is part of a case we acquired of this label at the release party at the winery high atop Howell Mountain, so it is one we know well.

I have written about Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in these pages many times including this detailed blogpost back in 2019, and again in 2021 in this post - Tomahawk Rib-eye Dinner features Robert Craig Affinity Duo, both partially excerpted below.

Robert Craig is one of our favorite Napa Valley producers and represents one of our largest holdings in our cellar. We've held many wine dinners with Robert and Lynn Craig and attended many events at the estate and winery. We have many fond memories of those dinners, lunches and other tasting events, and hearing Robert talk about this label.

We visited Robert Craig's site high atop Howell Mountain several times, as shown here with wine buddy Andy, sister Jan and bro-in-law Bill, and wine buddy Bill and Beth C. One of our memorable trips featured a picnic lunch at the site overlooking the valley below shown below. It was during that trip that Bill discovered and subsequently sourced Howell Mountain Cabernet, Affinity and Robert Craig Zinfandel which they served at daughter Krista's wedding.

With Robert Craig at the estate high atop Howell Mtn
back in 2008.

As mentioned above, we hold as many as two decades of Robert Craig’s portfolio of labels’ vintages dating back to the inaugural vintage release in 1993. This label, Affinity, represents the Robert Craig Cabernet Sauvignon based blend of Cabernet Sauvignons and other Bordeaux varietals sourced from the various Napa Valley appellations.

Robert Craig flight of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons

Affinity is the Bordeaux Blend of the Robert Craig portfolio such that Robert always took immense pride in this label, as the entry level introduction to his 'three mountains and a valley' appellation select Napa Cabernets, referring to his appellation designated premium labels from Mt Veeder, Howell Mtn and Spring Mountain. There were also bottlings from Atlas Peak and Mt George and in later years he would say ‘five mountains and a valley’. He took pride in this providing early gratification quality drinking at an early age, yet as shown tonight, it has some longevity for aging for a decade or more.

I recall many times, Robert speaking fondly of this label and the QPR - quality price ratio it provided, as he strived to hold the price point of this wine to provide excellent value and be a draw to the Robert Craig brand. The appellation designated labels sold for twenty to thirty percent more. I wrote recently about the discontinuation of the Mt Veeder label after two decades of being one of the flagship labels. This was especially poignant as this was Robert's favorite label of the portfolio, having started his career on Mt Veeder.

Sadly, Robert passed away in 2019 and I wrote about him in a Tribute Blog at that time. I opened a 2007 vintage of his favorite label, Robert Craig Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon that evening.

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/09/robert-craig-tribute.html

I wrote back in 2019 about Robert's passing in a Tribute to Robert Craig, when the business turned over to new leadership.

Robert never promoted or played up the fact this label was a carefully crafted Bordeaux Blend comprising all the Bordeaux varietals, rather he focused on it as an introduction to the portfolio of Robert Craig Napa Valley Cabernets.

Robert Craig "Affinity" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2007

This release was awarded 96 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and 92 points Wine Enthusiast.

As noted above, we first tasted this wine from a barrel sample and acquired this release during the Robert Craig Howell Mountain Harvest Party '09 back in 2009.

Robert Parker wrote in 2009, "Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the next 15 or possibly 20 years. This is the best group of wines I have ever tasted from Robert Craig Winery. Not only is there not a single disappointment in this portfolio, but these are all noteworthy wines, with thrilling levels of quality. Moreover, they are moderately priced for Napa Valley as well as ageworthy. I think these are the finest wines that I have ever tasted from Robert Craig Cellars."

Wine Enthusiast wrote of this release, 'Craig has produced his best bottling since the late 1990s'.

This year’s blend is heavier on the petit verdot, with a composition of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec.

Back in 2022 I wrote, “this exceeded my expectations for this label and indeed was one of the best drinking Affinity's in memory. At fifteen years, this seems to reaching the apex of its drinking profile. Tonight, this 2007 release was as good as any Affinity I recall ever having - a perfect accompaniment to the grilled tenderloin beefsteaks. At eighteen years this was at the apex of its drinking window, not likely to improve further with aging, but available for pleasant drinking for several years yet to come.”

Robert Craig "Affinity" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2007 vs 2022

Tonight, at eighteen years, the label, foil and most importantly, the cork and fill level of the 2007 were pristine, ideal for the age. However, the 2007 was starting to show its age, most notably in the color, which has started to take on a slight hazy brownish rust hue, when compared to the bright garnet color of the recent release (as shown 2022 on left, 2007 on right).

Furthermore, while the two vintages showed amazing similarity in the overall tasting profile, the 2007 was starting to take on notes of dusty, earthy leather. The 2007 showed more depth, weight and concentration than the lighter and slightly more austere 2022.

Historic notes for the 2007 release - Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, elegant, polished and smoothly balanced, black berry and black currant fruits with notes of mocha chocolate and spice, hints of cassis, smoke and cedar with smooth silky tannins on a lingering cloying finish.

Tonight, based on these tasting results, I reduced my rating from RM 93 points to RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=802059

I rate the 2022 release at 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=5119384

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Robert Craig Mt Veeder Cab with Tomahawk Ribeye

Back home from our vacation getaway to Destin, FL, we enjoyed a grilled Tomahawk ribeye beefsteak and vintage premium Napa Cabernet for Sunday night dinner.

This steak was one of many Linda acquired for a gala family celebration dinner recently.

I pulled from the cellar this Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from the Mount Veeder estate winery of the late Robin Williams, comedian and actor. I selected this label after seeing the several vintages of the ultra-premium Tesseron Pym Rae on the Premium Limited and Rare wine list at Ravello Restaurant Montgomery the other night, each listed for $750. The Tesseron global beverage empire acquired the Robin Williams estate after his passing, rebranding the wines sourced from this historic vineyard. Previously, the grapes were sold to Robert Craig winery who bottled this single appellation Mt Veeder label for more than two decades.

It should be noted, the Tesseron Pym Rae release is a single vineyard designated select bottling. Notably, we also hold in our cellar two other single vineyard designated select bottling from the Pym-Rae vineyard, one released by Pilcrow, the other by Marco DiGuilio, in addition to the Tesseron label. We’ll look forward to featuring these perhaps in a comparison tasting, in a future review posting.

We visited the Robert Craig estate winery high atop Howell Mountain on several occasions, including the Robert Craig Howell Mountain Harvest Party '09. Robert Craig Napa Valley Cabernets are instantiated in at least six different labels including this vineyard designated select Mt Veeder, and are one of the largest producer holdings in our cellar collection.

The previous time we served this wine at one of our wine dinners, it was poignant tasting and reminiscing over this wine. We recalled tasting this wine with Robert Craig on numerous occasions and he recollecting this is his favorite of the vineyard selections.

We talked of the recent end of the supplier relationship for this fruit source as the legendary Pym Rae Vineyard, previously owned by the late Robin Williams, was sold to a major French producer who acquired the sixteen hundred acre estate and plan to enter the Napa Valley marketplace. We recall Robert's reminiscences of Robin for whom he worked and managed the vineyards back in the nineties, (telling the story how Robin William’s early winery label Toad Hollow, was named such because at an early age, he mis-pronounced his older brother Todd’s name thusly.)

I shared these stories with Ian O’Brian, the Matre’d at Ravello, as backgrounder info on the ultra-premium wines he was featuring on their wine list.

Robert Craig Napa Valley Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

As I mentioned, Robert Craig Napa Valley Cabernets represent one of the largest holdings in our cellar. We hold variations of the portfolio dating back to the inaugural release in 1993.

I pulled this label to commemorate the Mount Veeder estate. I selected this vintage as a ‘Goldilocks’ release, at twenty years of age, not too old, and not too young.

We still hold several bottles of this label release. I selected this particular bottle as it had the lowest fill level, however, at 21 years, it was acceptable, and the foil, label, and most importantly, the cork were still in pristine condition.

Tonight this bottle showed better than earlier tastings of this release as the fruits were more expressive and pronounced, earning an additional two points from my earlier reviews.

This release got 92 points from Connoisseur's Guide and Wine Enthusiast.

Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, nicely integrated and well balanced, bright vibrant black cherry, black currant and black raspberry fruits accented by notes of cassis, smokey oak, dark mocha and hints of cedar with moderate dusty tannins on the lingering finish.

RM 93 points.

This is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, & 2% Cabernet Franc.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=347353

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=857002

https://robertcraigwine.com/

@RobertCraigWine

Sunday, March 2, 2025

Robert Craig Affinity Napa Cabernet 2007

With grilled beef tenderloin I pulled from the cellar this aged vintage Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend.

We visited Robert Craig's site high atop Howell Mountain several times with sister Jan and bro-in-law Bill, and wine buddy Bill and Beth C. One of our memorable trips featured a picnic lunch at the site overlooking the valley below shown below. It was during that trip that Bill discovered and subsequently sourced Howell Mountain Cabernet, Affinity and Robert Craig Zinfandel which they served at daughter Krista's wedding.

With Robert Craig at the estate high atop Howell Mtn
back in 2008.

Robert Craig flight of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons

This is the Bordeaux Blend of the Robert Craig portfolio that Robert always took immense pride in this label, as the entry level introduction to his 'three mountains and a valley' appellation select Napa Cabernets, referring to his appellation designated premium labels from Mt Veeder, Howell Mtn and Spring Mountain. There were also bottlings from Atlas Peak and Mt George and in later years he would say ‘five mountains and a valley’. He also took pride in this providing early gratification quality drinking at an early age, yet as shown tonight, it has some longevity for aging for a decade or more.

He used to speak fondly of this label and the QPR - quality price ratio it provided, as he strived to hold the price point of this wine to provide excellent value and be a draw to the Robert Craig brand. The appellation designated labels sold for twenty to thirty percent more. I wrote recently about the discontinuation of the Mt Veeder label after two decades of being one of the flagship labels, and was Robert's favorite.

I wrote back in 2019 about Robert's passing in a Tribute to Robert Craig, when the business turned over to new leadership.

Robert never promoted or played up the fact this label was a carefully crafted Bordeaux Blend comprising all the Bordeaux varietals rather focus on it as an introduction to the portfolio of Robert Craig Napa Valley Cabernets.

Robert Craig "Affinity" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2007

This release was awarded 96 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and 92 points Wine Enthusiast.
We first tasted this wine from a barrel sample and acquired this release during the Robert Craig Howell Mountain Harvest Party '09 back in 2009.

Wine Enthusiast wrote of this release, 'Craig has produced his best bottling since the late 1990s'.
This year’s blend is heavier on the petit verdot, with a composition of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec.

Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, elegant, polished and smoothly balanced, black berry and black currant fruits with notes of mocha chocolate and spice, hints of cassis, smoke and cedar with smooth silky tannins on a lingering cloying finish.

RM 93 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=802059

Sunday, June 16, 2024

Robert Craig Affinity Bordeaux Blend with grilled tenderloin beefsteak

Vintage aged Robert Craig Affinity Bordeaux Blend for Great QPR - ideal pairing with grilled tenderloin beefsteak and chocolate caramel sundae

Monday night dinner - grilled filets of beef from a section carved full beef tenderloin, with baked potato and grilled asparagus. I pulled from the cellar this aged, twenty year old Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Bordeaux Blend.

It’s been four years and a couple weeks since we last tasted this vintage release of this label. We know this producer and label well and look to this Bordeaux Blend as ideal for pairing with grilled beefsteaks.

Excerpts from that last tasting blogpost …

Robert Craig Napa Valley Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon Bordeaux Blend 2004.

As I have written numerous times in these pages, we've been collecting this wine since its' inaugural vintage in 1993 and we still hold several cases spread across almost two dozen vintages.

Crafted to provide a sophisticated Cabernet Sauvignon at a reasonable price with early gratification, Affinity defies this approach with its age worthiness, as this tasting testifies.

This label was also understated in another way, it is actually a Bordeaux Blend and contains the other Bordeaux varietals. The Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Craig vineyards and contract sources throughout Napa Valley. Robert used to refer to it as "three mountains and a Valley", referring to their vineyards and sources on Howell Mountain, Mt Veeder, Atlas Peak, Mt George, and the valley floor. According to the rear label, this 2004 Affinity release was 'sourced from the Tulocay estate in southern Napa Valley, blended with Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from exceptional vineyards in Napa Valley'. As was often the case, the specifics of blend was not specified.

R & L with Robert Craig
at Harvest Party

We may hold more Robert Craig wine in our cellar than any other producer. We've been fans of Robert Craig since the early nineties. We've been to many events at the winery as well as several private functions with Robert, his wife Lynn, and former hospitality and wine club ambassador, Rachel, and various members of the Craig team.

I remember Robert Craig exclaiming his love for this label and how proud he was to hold it to an affordable pricepoint to introduce consumers to Robert Craig wines. I've written recently that in recent years, as Robert and Lynn turned over the reigns to new management, and the recent passing of Robert, this label has crept up in price significantly and is now priced where their premium labels used to be. Never-the-less, it provides good value and quality (QPR) drinking both early and yet also stands up to aging.

Sadly, Robert passed in 2019 - we posted a Robert Craig Tribute in these pages at that time.

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/09/robert-craig-tribute.html

Tonight showed this label at its absolute best, at twenty years, showing sophistication and elegance and complexity - great QPR - quality price ratio.

Six years ago I wrote, "This ten year old 2004 remains consistent with earlier tasting notes, deep dark purple inky color, the ripe berry fruit aromatics, full body, ripe berry fruit, accented by a undercurrent of caramel are starting to give way to a layer of anise, tobacco, leather and firm full tannins on the long fruit filled finish."

Previously, last tasted at sixteen years of age, this release may be at the apex of its drinking window and is as good as ever. In an earlier tasting when I wrote, "Tasted from a 375 ml split. In this smaller format, it may be starting to show its age," I attribute that to perhaps a combination of bottle variation and the smaller format which ages less gracefully.

Tonight, at twenty years of age, the important fill level and cork were pristine, testament to the provenance of our cellar for long term aging.

This release was a blend of Bordeaux varietals - 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Wine Advocate says this is sourced from the Tulocay estate in southern Napa Valley.

This was delicious, showing exceedingly well, better than expected and than earlier tastings, ideally paired with the grilled beefsteak, still drinking at the apex of its drinking window and showing no signs whatsoever of diminution from aging. It should have a half dozen years yet in its prime drinking.

Winemaker Notes - “Heady perfume of ripe black cherry and currant, with black tea, spice and violet notes. Bright and abundant dark fruit and black currant liqueur are intertwined with sweet spice box, licorice and violets. Opulent black cherry drives the lively, long-lived finish.’

“A rich, multi-layered Cabernet that balances power with finesse. The 2004 vintage Affinity is a Cabernet-driven Bordeaux blend that showcases the power and richness of Napa Valley hillside fruit backed by an underlying band of round, ripe tannins. Luscious fruit flavors of great depth and purity are hallmarks of Affinity along with integrated tannin structure for long-term aging.’

"When ready to blend, we assess the relative strengths and merits of every wine, tasting through barrel samples. The aroma, flavor and texture profile of each wine lot has been influenced by the distinctive soil and weather characteristics of the source vineyard, the dictates of the growing season, and our winemaking regimen. After lengthy discussion and evaluation, we prepare the trial blends. In orchestrating these blends, we not only focuses on the quality and character of each wine, but also its "affinity" with the other blending components. This process is more intuitive than scientific. The ideal balance of flavors, aromas, textures, and concentration gradually emerges to create the master blend for that vintage."

"Consistent excellence from year to year is our ultimate goal for Affinity. The wine is known for its juicy, fruit-forward aromas and flavors, elegance in balance and structure, a silky texture, and approachable tannins." -- Chad Alexander, Winemaker.

To top things off even further, Linda prepared a fabulous sundae dessert of sautéed nuts in butter, with melted chocolate and caramel over vanilla bean ice cream. It was remarkable and spectacular with the remains of the Affinity.

Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, firm, structured, yet ideally harmoniously balanced, nicely integrated black fruits accented by notes of black tea, spice box, hints of creosote, licorice, graphite and oak with firm yet approachable tannins on a lingering finish.

RM 92 points - better than earlier tastings when I gave it 90 points, increased a point from past tastings.

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?323482

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=323482

http://www.robertcraigwine.com/

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/search?q=Robert+Craig+Affinity

https://x.com/unwindwine