Napa Valley Excellence

August 6, 2026 1 Comment

I attended an event last night that was a great showcase of what Napa Valley is all about. Six wineries featuring: Checkerboard, Hourglass, Memento Mori, Roy Estate, Slipstone & Vida Valiente.

While these wines are not cheap many delivered and some top 10 wine of the year candidates from this event. Here are the notes.

CellarTracker! Napa Valley Showcase (Checkerboard, Hourglass, Memento, Roy, Skipstone & Vida Valiente)


Checkboard Vineyards

The Kings Row was over oaked and really the only wine at this tasting that was like that. The Coyote Ridge was a top five wine at this event.

  • 2022 Checkerboard Vineyards Kings Row – USA, California, Napa Valley
    Glasvin Kane. This is what happens when new oak overpowers a wine. This wine was hot with oak, vanilla, spices, plum and dark chocolate. Do I think this will improve over time, yes. Would I buy these at $200 a bottle. No. (89 pts.)
  • 2022 Checkerboard Vineyards Aurora Vineyard – USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain
    Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. Far superior to the 22 Kings Row Blend. Excellent showing cassis, wood, blueberries, floral, dust, cherry and baking chocolate. Medium to long finish. Powerful but balanced. Love this wine. 96+ (96 pts.)
  • 2017 Checkerboard Vineyards Coyote Ridge Vineyard – USA, California, Napa Valley
    Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. One of the top wines at this tasting. With some age this is singing. 97% Cabernet/3% Cabernet Franc. A wow wine! Menthol, spices, blueberries, cherry, dust, earth, cigar, rose petals and wood. The small about of CF offer a nice floral element on the medium plus finish. 96.5 Points (96 pts.)

Hourglass

Ok the 36 Blueline tied for the top wine of this event. Wonderful showing. Top 10 wine of the year candidate.

  • 2023 Hourglass 36 Blueline Estate – USA, California, Napa Valley
    Day 1: Glasvin Kane. Tied for top wine tonight with the Vida Graveside. This is rocking and they didn’t decant much on this one. Rich wine with blueberries, spices, earth, minerals, plum, dark chocolate, wood and earth. Super concentrated and balanced wine. Good use of wood on this one. 97 points
    Day 2: Wow is this rocking. Menthol, cherry, wood, dark chocolate, spices, cigar, earth, spices, blueberries, plum, dust and floral notes. Quintessential Napa and love this wine!!! 97+
    Recommendation: Would be only my 4th wine at 98 points or higher but this is a bit young to get there. Give it some time. What a beautiful wine and top 10 of the year for sure. (97 pts.)
  • 2023 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon Blueline – USA, California, Napa Valley
    Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. Very good with dark currants, spices, menthol, chocolate and floral notes. Medium plus finish. Very nice wine.
    77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 5% each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec, aged for 22 months in 80% new French oak.
    Drink 2027 to 2040. (93 pts.)
  • 2023 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon Estate – USA, California, Napa Valley
    Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. Rich wine cherry, plum, spice, earth, rose petals, wood and menthol. Medium plus finish. Very nice wine. (94 pts.)

Memento Mori

Well these were very nice indeed. The 23 flagship improve 2 points on day 2 and got to taste the 24 Estate which was outstanding.

  • 2023 Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon The Flagship – USA, California, Napa Valley
    Day 1: Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. Ok these wines are amazing. Cassis, boysenberries, floral, dark chocolate, earth and mild spice. Nice acidity on this wine and medium plus finish. Excellent. 94 points
    Day 2: Wow is this better on day 2. Nice acidity with cassis, boysenberries, rose petals, baking chocolate, menthol, spices, plum and wood. Super complex wine and long finish. Love it. 96 points
    Recommendation: Highly recommend and will age for 15 plus. (96 pts.)
  • 2022 Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Napa Valley
    Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. Great showing and one point lower than the 23. Wood, menthol, spices, cherry, plum, dust, floral and minerals. Medium plus finish. Very nice. (94 pts.)
  • 2024 Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon The Estate – USA, California, Napa Valley
    Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. Wow wine!!! Cassis, plum, earth, dust, baking chocolate, blueberries and leather. Medium to long finish. Love this wine. Top 3 at the event. 96+ (96 pts.)

Roy

Well my least favorite winery at the event. Very green wines and not sure the appeal of these.

  • 2023 Roy Estate Mr. Evans – USA, California, Napa Valley
    Glasvin Kane. Not sure I will be buying any Roy wines. Had high hopes but their wines are very green even the older ones. Floral, bell pepper, sour cherry, plum, spices and earth. A blend of 70% Cab, 15% Merlot and 11% Petite Verdot. While the 92 is not a bad score for the price not a good QPR. (92 pts.)
  • 2023 Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Napa Valley
    Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. Well a good wine but nothing special. Cherry, spices, menthol, rose petals, leather and dust. Would like to see more fruit showing on this one. 91+ (91 pts.)
  • 2023 Roy Estate Proprietary Red – USA, California, Napa Valley
    Glasvin Kane. Was hoping for more here and easy pass. Green with bell peppers, spices, dried flowers, dust, light currants and a bit thin on the finish. Some at this tasting really liked Roy but I found several that did not. (89 pts.)
  • 2016 Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon La Reveuse – USA, California, Napa Valley
    Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. From a Mag. Green again with bell peppers, spices, dirt, cherry, plum and floral notes. While I like this wine it didn’t wow me and at $1200 for a Mag I would buy a six pack of better wines. (90 pts.)

Skipstone

Great showing of these wines. The Cabernet Franc was the star.

  • 2023 Skipstone Oliver’s Blend – USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
    Glasvin Kane. Good overall with earth, mint, dust, raspberries, sour cherry, baking chocolate and minerals. Very balanced and medium plus finish. Like it. (94 pts.)
  • 2023 Skipstone Cabernet Franc Luka’s Blend – USA, California, Sonoma County
    Day 1: Glasvin Kane. Wow and top 3 wines tonight. Cherry, rose petals, menthol, dust, earth, dried flowers, spices and strawberries. Long finish and flavorful. Outstanding quality on this one. 96.75 points
    Day 2: One of 3 wines I was able to sample on day 2. Wow this is one of the best Cabernet Franc’s I have tasted from the US. Cherry, underbrush, violets, spices, rose petals, earth, strawberries, cherry and dried flowers. So close to 97 points.
    Recommendation: While not cheap this is outstanding quality and will turn some heads on how great Cabernet Franc’s can be from California. (96 pts.)

Vida Valiente

Great wines and the Graveside was co wine of the night. Don’t give out many 97 pointers but this one is legit.

  • 2023 Vida Valiente Cabernet Sauvignon The Movement – USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
    Glasvin Kane. So the group tonight like the 22 better than the 23 and I did as well. The 23 will need to be aged. Rich wine but balanced. Wood, stone, cherry, floral, earth, spices and blueberries. Medium plus finish and will age nicely over 15 plus years. (94 pts.)
  • 2022 Vida Valiente Cabernet Sauvignon The Movement – USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
    Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. Like this slightly better than the 23 at this stage. Dark currants, spices, dark chocolate, rose petals, oak, slight vanilla, stone and dust. Medium plus finish. Love it. (95 pts.)
  • 2023 Vida Valiente Cabernet Sauvignon Graveside – USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
    Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. Ok tied for top wine of the night. Outstanding quality. Cherry, plum, exotic spices, dust, wood, earth and floral. notes. Fruit is the star here and great use of oak. Beautiful wine and while not cheap legit! (97 pts.)

Well for $150 a true bargain and got to meet a lot of wine lovers at this event.

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