Mark Herold Wines — Attraction in Yountville

The 2019 Mark Herold Cabernet: A Scoundrel’s Delight

For a wine that practically begged to be overlooked, the 2019 Mark Herold Cabernet delivers a knockout experience that lingers like a whispered secret in the shadows. I found this bottle on one of those routine trips to Wine and More in Bellevue. You know the drill—an evening with low expectations, pizza on the menu, and a mind set on casual indulgence. Tony, ever the conspiratorial gatekeeper of hidden gems, pushed this particular bottle my way with a wink and a promise of more than meets the eye. With a shrug, I figured, "What the hell, right?" Sometimes, the simplest choices open doors to the most unforgettable journeys.

Tasting Notes: A Lesson in Complexity

As soon as the cork was freed and the wine took its first breath, the air became heavy with ripe black cherries, cassis, and a seductive hint of cedar. In the glass, it poured like liquid velvet—deep, dark, and shimmering with possibility. On the nose, the bouquet evolved from lush blackberries to more nuanced layers of mocha, tobacco leaf, and a faint touch of anise, like an old leather-bound book revealing a hidden chapter.

It hits you upfront like an Opus, but the aftertaste of a Dominus. The way it evaporates over the food is like a love affair and like nothing you will ever taste again. No ladies and gent’s, this is no no ordinary Cabernet. Rich waves of blackberry and dark plum cascade across the palate, followed by layers of dark chocolate, espresso, and a teasing note of graphite. The tannins are robust but impeccably refined, leading into a finish that’s both silky and powerful—a perfect blend of strength and finesse. It’s a wine that unfurls like a well-told story, leaving you hanging on every last detail until the very end.

I am getting a case. This is my new go to Cab when I don’t wanna wait for a left...

We are locals who visited this place during the summer, and won't ever be visiting again...

We went because we received a 2-for-1 discount card/referral from another winery, and were in the area getting food at Oxbow so decided to check it out. We normally love Tempranillo, so decided to try the mid-level tasting that had some Tempranillo and Grenache blends. The wines were okay, but the prices were not (tasting fees way too high if you don't use the 2-for-1 promotion, and bottles costly, as well: $60 for a Tempranillo on par, or slightly below, good ones we can get for about $30, like Numanthia Termes)

...and the service was atrocious. As soon as we presented the coupon, we were treated coldly, as well as being given pretty small pours. At the end of the tasting, when they rang us up, they AUTOMATICALLY added a tip to the bill, which we didn't catch (because we didn't expect it -- it is NOT the expected norm to tip at tasting rooms) until after the transaction.

We asked to void the transaction because we did not want to tip a whopping 25% (!!) -- especially not with the small pours and cold, indifferent service we had received -- and when we did so, the man in charge (tall guy with long hair) said "No, we're not going to do that. We're too busy." After arguing with him about it, he yelled "Fine, here's your 7 dollars!" and handed it to us in cash.

There are SO many wineries in Napa Valley that this one simply isn't worth visiting, not even once. The wines are average, and overpriced; the experience itself is BELOW average. If you want another small, funky tasting room with similar "hip" vibe -- but with way better wines -- check out Orin Swift...

A funky, easy spot to drop by and taste wines on a whim. We loved the outdoor space as well as the creative indoor decor. Our hostess was so lovely and accommodating! When there are hundreds of wineries to choose from in the Napa Valley, I find I need to connect with a story behind it. Unfortunately I did not connect with the first story our hostess shared about how he made his riches in oil at the age of 26 and decided he would make wine. In 2025, I just don't connect with the perils of what to do with all the money by our nation's richest. (Which I suppose is the story of most in...