Brian S

9.0

A bit too much reduction on this bottle, the fruit was in the mouth but hard on the nose if you are against any reduction. — 6 months ago

Jerry Raphael

8.9

Been drinking this over a few nights and very nice — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Small production. RSV has under 200 acres of vineyards in 5 Carneros locations & a winery in the Stags Leap District. The wines are 100% organic. Ruby with berry, cherry & spice aromas. On the palate flavors of wild strawberry & cherry with complex spice, citrus, oak and balanced acidity. Fine soft tannins, good balance, long finish with an earthy characteristic ending with notes of vanilla spice. Nice! — 4 years ago

Shawn Thompson

8.9

An intoxicating nose of cherry cola, eucalyptus and Ecuadorian chocolate. Juicy palate exudes raspberry, black fruit and sorel with bell pepper. Stunning BC wine. — 5 years ago

K L

9.2

Lovely and aging well. Very smooth and bright with cherry notes but not overly so. Earthly and interesting but still light. — 6 years ago

with Matt

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Only 15 acres planted with grapes grown in Rutherford (warmer with rich ripe fruit) & Oak Knoll (cooler with fresh acidity in grapes). Pale lemon, with fresh & crisp citrus & stone fruit aromas, no malolactic fermentation. Palate shows peach, apple & Asian pear flavors, with lemony & toasty notes, lively acidity & balance with touch of vanilla oak (9 months of French oak aging (25% new & 1-year old, remainder neutral oak). Long finish ending with fruit, spice & biscuit notes. Very Nice! Tasting Sample. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Had another chance to try this wine. Family-owned and operated growing just over ten acres of grapes and producing around 1000 cases per year. Berry, spice and floral aromas explode on the nose. Fresh fruit flavors, raspberry and cherry, citrus notes and hints of vanilla, great balance with acidity. Firm tannins, lingering finish ending with earthy tones and a bit of pepper. An enjoyable Pinot at a reasonable price. Has short term aging benefits, but why wait. Tasting Sample. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.9

77 acres of very old vaso trained Monatrell vines & 29 acres of 30 year old Cab Sauvignon. A blend of 70% Cab Sauvignon & 30% Monastrell aged 2 years. Dark Ruby with dark berry flavors & complex spice. Rich ripe blueberry & blackberry flavors with vanilla spice, tobacco, balanced acidity. Tannins are approachable but the wine is still very young, long finish ending with integrated oak notes. Still needs time, don’t be tempted but if you wait this will be great! Tasting Sample! — 2 years ago

Jason Keefer

9.0

Another great Saxon brown expression of chard. Lively, malo action going on, orange rind and some spice with a few floral hints. — 4 years ago

with Natasha

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Founded 1973 when Joe Phelps purchased former cattle ranch near St. Helena in Napa, the winery now controls and farms nearly 375 acres of vines on 8 estate vineyards. Blend of 87% Cab Sauv, 5% Merlot, & rest Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cab Franc. Aromas of dried berry fruits and cedar spice. Sat in oak for 18 months 45% new, the palate shows blackberry and cherry flavors, cacao and oaky herb tones. Firm tannins, long finish ending smooth with fruit, tobacco and mineral notes. Still has room to age. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Tony and his wife Herta purchased 30 acres of land in the Napa Valley with the magic ingredient - location. With a splash of Malbec added, aromas of dark berry fruit and cigar box spice. On the palate flavors of black cherry and raspberry with cacao, licorice and herb notes. Fine tannins, nice acidity, good balance on long finish ending with fruit and cedar notes. Drinking well now! — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Dates back to the late 1800s, & have been owned by Solari family since 1948. The historic Estate has 145 acres. Deep Ruby with complex aromas of fruit, sweet cacao & spice for this Bordeaux blend of 42% Merlot, 35% Cab Sauv, 13% Malbec. 5% Petit Verdot & 5% Cab Franc. On the palate well structured with big fruit flavors of blackberry, raspberry & sweet cherry with espresso & cacao notes adding a bit of leather. Fine tannins, big finish, pops out of the glass ending with beautiful fruit & a bit of sweet oak. — 6 years ago

Emelia Orke

9.2

Buttery great flavor light oaky — 7 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

8.9

Really young, citrus, Creme brûlée with a bit of butterscotch. We paired with cheese and it was pretty special. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Sourced from 5 parcels spread throughout 95 acres. Vines date back as far as 1962 and soils are primarily clay and limestone. Dark Ruby color with aromas of red fruits and gentle spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and raspberry with herb and peppery spice. Fine tannins, medium+ finish, well balanced, ending with fruit and mineral character. — 3 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.4

Pagodes de Cos is a second wine of Château Cos d’Estournel. 3 hour Decant. Web article, Second Growth Bordeaux according to the Bordeaux classification of 1855. Located in St.-Estephe, the château includes 160 acres of vineyards planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. The average age of the vines is 35 years. Founded in the 18th century by Louis Gaspard d’Estournel, the château’s wines were so admired in the 19th century that they were in demand all over the world. The château was bought and sold many times during the late 19th and 20th centuries, and in 2000 it was acquired by Michel Reybier, under whose direction the château has continued its climb to excellence. Robert M. Parker Jr. has noted that Cos d’Estournel “has been particularly successful in difficult vintages” and “remains impeccably managed.” Some 200,000 bottles of the signature Cos d’Estournel are produced each year. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Tried a new batch. Roederer Estate sparkling wines are crisp & fresh reflecting the cool, fog-shrouded Anderson Valley, home to estate's 600 acres of vineyards. Blend of 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay. Light salmon color, good flow of bubbles, firm mousse, aromas of berry fruits and biscuit notes. On the palate flavors of strawberry, ripe apple and peach with a dash of pepper spice. Long finish, lively acidity ending a tad creamy with toasty yeasty tones. Very Nice! — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This blend is named in honor of the butcher shop that David’s father started in San Francisco. His butcher shop(s) launched them into a 1956 Pritchard Hill land spending spree with the thought of starting a cattle ranch. When they were done buying parcels, they had amassed 984 acres in Pritchard Hill. The third most expensive fruit today at $28,000 a ton. If you sold all of that land today, it would be worth over a billion dollars. I bet they didn’t pay anything close to that in 1956.

This was opened the day before we’d had it. While I enjoyed it, it had leaned out a bit more than I would want it. It was round with softer tannins but may have given a false sense of its ability to cellar.

The fruits are nice, ripe, lush & juicy; blackberries, raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, mid baking spices-nutmeg, cinnamon, light clove, vanillin, light spice, barrel shavings, crushed rocks, savory, grilled meats, dark, red, & purple florals with very nice acidity and a wire to wire finish that was leaner but, clean. The finish was well balanced, elegant, on the leaner side, nicely polished and persisted minutes. — 6 years ago

Ann Kunes

9.3

Excellent, with or without food. Smooth, slightly berry, very drinkable. Definitely repeat — 7 years ago

Adrian Fischer

9.1

Buttery, slight oak, not too sweet, great character develops through the whole pallet and nose — 8 years ago