Austin Hohnke

9.2

I adore this. Beautifully aromatic and structured, but very silky and only 13% abv.
Aged 18 months in french oak (8% new), this shows rose petal, hibiscus, cherry, cranberry, apple skin, blood orange, rhubarb, black tea, walnut, and spice. Has now had five hours of air and is perfectly in stride. Their website says drink through 2038, and I won’t argue with that. 482 cases made. Biodynamic. — a year ago

Kyle

9.4

Pairs well with Black Walnut brittle from Silver Dollar City. — 5 years ago

David Kline

9.0

Hard pour if you’ve a desire to to see a head of coffee foam in dark cappuccino. It loiters a little with unctuous lacing that stick in place in globules, sporadically spaced. Dark chocolate scented, where brew, and coffee bean mix with toffee and sweet cedar, vanilla bean and nougat. Chocolate-pecan-caramel turtles amp up with mocha and espresso, a tiny pinch of black pepper, dark tobaccos, bakers chocolate, and brown sugar coated malt chocolate. Sweet initially, then revelatory as it sorts its relationships, then bitter, with pine, acanthus, chicory, walnut and pecan shell. Warm, rich, and covered in monster muck. Like a cigar smoke filled station wagon driven by a dark chocolate Santa after an Italian truck stop espresso run being slowly pulled into a tar pit. One for the ages. Happy holidays, ya filthy animals!
. .#foundersbrewing #founderskbs #KBS #beer #birra #bier #biere #stout #flavoredstout #coffeebeer #oakagedseries #oakaged #barrelaged #chocolateale #imperialstout #theamazingkosmickis #kosmickisbourbonstout #barrelagecseries — 7 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.2

Black walnut shells in this recipe. Unique. — 7 years ago

Rachel Kraft

9.5

Really tasty, kind of tangy w moth a clean finish. Got this for Xmas 2018. Notes says high toned in red and black fruit. — 8 years ago

Jason Brater

9.2

Raisins, cinnamon, black walnut?, a touch of spice at finish. Delicious end to mom’s bday. — 8 years ago

with Heather and Gail

Ray Vanderhoff

9.4

Wow! A Bordeaux Blend that is not traditional. Big Fruit! Dark Color! Aromas of dark fruits, cassis with hints of graphite and herbs. Dark berry flavors with a hint of mint and black licorice. Incredibly smooth and balanced. Light and bold at the same time. Incredible wine and I cannot believe it is a 2015. Still a relative baby! Enjoyed at The Irving Inn. — 8 years ago

with John

John Brandau

9.2

Savory, leafy, herby and full bodied. Still hitting all the high notes. Nice! — a year ago

Emily Kresie-Harrington

9.1

2018 vintage. Nice tannic grip and structure. Dark fruit of blackberry, black cherry, black plum, crab apple, black tea, walnut skin, autumn leaves. — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.1

Nose has woody blackberry, crushed black cherry, fresh walnut, clove, black peppercorn, faint ethyl acetate, faint tobacco and dried strawberry

Palate has peppered blackberry mash, bitter chocolate, sweet licorice, violet, dehydrated blackcurrant with faint, sweet vanilla on the medium finish. Decanted 60m, tannins are resolved but could likely hold this vintage another 2-3Y, 2023+.

Satisfied with opening this today; zum zum zummy ❤️ — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Our first bottling from this small production family winery in Calistoga.

My first impressions of this wine, it’s a classic older Calistoga Cabernet. It’s nicely resolved but, not at the end of its life as some have predicted. It is a shade past its prime but, drinking nicely with the exception it’s a touch hot, even after all this time in bottle and when temp’s were not pushing alcohol levels like they can now. However, heat aside, I enjoy wines just the other side of their prime and beyond. Brings out additional complexity-characteristics and are infinitely more interesting.

The nose reveals, stewed & baked fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black cherry extract, black raspberries with some deep blue fruits. Loads of baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Dark spice, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, mocha, caramel, walnut shells, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit teas, mint/eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, leather, tobacco, graphite, used charcoal, dark liqueur and cola, dry herbs with dark, red, blue, purple, fresh & withering flowers accented with lavender.

The body is rich, lush, ruby, statin, velvety and thick. The tannins are rounded & softened but, still speaking loudly. The structure, tension, length and balance are in a very good place. This wine has legs to stand for another 5-10 years depending on how you enjoy them. Stewed, candied & baked fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black cherry extract, black raspberries deep blue fruits, purple fruit blend, haunting raspberries with poached strawberries as it sets. Loads of baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Dark spice with good palate heat, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, mocha, caramel, walnut shells, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit teas, mint/eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, slightly, moist clay, pronounced, fine volcanic minerals, leather, tobacco, graphite, used charcoal, dark liqueur and cola, dry herbs with dark, red, blue, purple, fresh & withering flowers accented with lavender. The acidity is round & exquisite. The long finish is; well balanced fruit & earth, very complexity, rich, delicious and persists endlessly.

Photos of; Stephanie Jones Bailey, Rick and Elaine Jones, Estate view, their Cabernet fruit close to harvest and vineyard staff managing fruit clusters & leafing.

Producer notes...they were founded in 1996. Jones Family Vineyards specializes in estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Thomas Rivers Brown makes their wines, two Cabernet wines...Jones Family Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and The Sisters. TRB also makes an extremely limited production of aged Sauvignon Blanc that is cellared for over 3 years in barrel and bottle.

Jones Family has ten acres of south facing vineyards that lie 600 to 800 feet off the valley floor, resting above the fog line, an ideal altitude for growing Cabernet in the Napa Valley area.

@Paul T- Huntington Beach FYI. — 7 years ago

Chris C

9.4

Dark red/black cherry and blue fruit. Tarragon/liquorice floral character. Cracked black pepper. Whiff of Dr. Pepper. Smokey And smoked meatiness!! Ample but beautifully supple tannins. Complexity on the nose and palate. Medium length finish. Paired this with a bacon burger with cheese and caramelized onions. I want to live in my wine glass. Drank at Walnut Street Café in Philadelphia. — 8 years ago

.

9.2

Dark fruits with velvety tannins and a full body. With extended air, savory notes develop suggestive of black olive and walnut skins. This is likely at peak, but there’s no hurry at all. — 8 years ago

Kevin Howden

9.0

A bit light for a cab, but has good notes of walnut and tart cranberries — 3 years ago

Kevin Arndt

Specialist Grand Vin Colorado

8.9

Black currant! Loads of it. Oak is apparent with clove and cedar and some grippy tannin on the front and back end. Some interesting bitter walnut aromas. Even at a slightly warmer temperature it the wears the 14.2% alcohol well and remains in balance. Acidity is moderate. An overachiever for sure. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Herbal aromas (typically Margaret River) with Geranium Capsicum and a touch of menthol. Some green notes - medium weight. Savoury wins out over Cassis and black fruits. Not in the upper echelon of Margaret River Cabernet. Just a silver medal. We went to the Cellar Door some years ago and the story goes that the Reserve Cab was served at the wedding of Prince Frederick of Denmark to Sydney Real Estate agent Mary Donaldson originally from Tasmania now Crown Princess Mary and one day will become the Queen of Denmark. Fred is a keen sailor who was representing Denmark at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and they met at Sydney hotspot The Slip Inn where Fred was flashing his Black AMEX so the story goes and was captivated by Mary and the rest is history. — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Perfectly in the window of drinking greatness. Poured a tiny touch brown. The nose is kind of an identity crisis. Black cherry, prune, plim, walnut, cassis. Entry shows a perfectly balanced and wonderfully aged wine with dark chocolate, aged raspberry, rhubarb, tobacco and fig notes. Middle is more delicate. "Funeral flowers," dried herb, dried tobacco. Finishes soft with fig and a hint of aged black cherry. Nice. Drink now or hold another 10 to 15 years. — 7 years ago

with Dan and Shay

Emily Kresie-Harrington

9.1

2014 vintage. Very dark-fruited and lots of black tea. Black cherry, crabapple, black plum, dried cranberry, black tea, subtle spice, walnut husk, dried autumn leaves. Reminiscent of a good village level Gevrey-Chambertin. — 8 years ago

Arden Barnett

9.0

Nose of super ripe dark fruit and fresh rubber. Flavors of forrest floor, black licorice, steeped black tea, black currant that are like a punch to the face. Heavy oaky notes and tannins that just linger for quite some time. I get a lot of toasted walnut which is something I haven’t noticed in a Bordeaux before. Slight bitterness on the finish that will fade with time. Got a great deal on a case last year and wanted to see what I had gotten myself into. Excited to see how this guy progresses over the years to come. 71% cab 29% merlot — 8 years ago

Jonathan Udkow

Import & Logistics, CA Sales Manager Pacific Prime WIne

9.4

Black fruit on nose leather and dust. Blackberry and cassis with a hint of mint and walnut. Finish is bright and perfumey with lasting jam with a touch of pyrazines that would love some food. Tannins are soft but prominent — 8 years ago