These are recalled impressions, not contemporaneous notes, from two nights ago, when the family council of elders met for a steak/wine pairing event at my brother Angelo’s house.
Another consensus favorite, the ‘16 version is stellar. So deep, but with that elusive (for Zin) old-world sense of balance, structure, and restraint. Paired beautifully with both kinds of steaks — 6 months ago
Dark fruit, iodine, red candy and espresso. — 9 months ago
Shockingly great. Only Malbec I drink — 7 months ago
I have a lot of these and most have been ok but this one was further along in its development. Knew I needed to drink these. Faster is the word of the day. — 5 months ago
Well, here we are two years later, back at the same BYOB for New Year’s Eve with the same wine. I figured 35 years was enough—it was time to drink it.
Same treatment as in 2024: opened and decanted, then poured about two hours later. This time the nose offered noticeably more—cedar, a touch of vegetal character, and dark berries. On the palate, dark berries again took the lead. The finish was good, but at the very end it seemed to stop just a bit short but still giving it a 95. At Anthony’s — 6 months ago
Kniss 2021 cab modern few not too heavy well balanced very enjoyable will have another  — 6 months ago
Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim.
Fruity nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, mint, vanilla, cedar, cola, licorice, eucalyptus and peppercorn.
Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate and fruit forward with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, licorice, spices, graphite, peppercorn and black tea
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a gorgeous 12 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain in Washington State. Complex and fruit forward. Rich and elegant.
I had a more recent vintage not too long ago, and it’s definitely better with age.
This Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is absolutely fantastic now. Drinking at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 7 years.
Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel and a gorgeous nose. Loved smelling on it. The high alcohol is well integrated by now.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, and paired beautifully with the delicious Wagyu Steak.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in all new French oak barrels for 20 months.
15.2% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$180. — 7 months ago
Great balanced full fruit low tannin Napa cab. $130? — 5 months ago

A little jammy - needs air and time — 6 months ago
Superb. New Year’s Eve 2025.  — 6 months ago

12/20/25 - Steak dinner with spinach nookie & bread roll. — 6 months ago

1979 vintage. Last tasted 8.15.25 (9.4) and 7.15.25 (9.4). Decanted and tasted after 15 minutes. Still giving and surprisingly filled with life. Forced, begrudging retirement but still über-active and outpacing every senior member in your zip code...er...cellar. Just won the yearly Pickleball tourney-again. Suck it, neighbor. 12.10.25. — 6 months ago
One of the greats!!! @Paul T HB @Shay A @John Van Trijp — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Fairly consistent throughout. The 2004 pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and slightly desiccated, black and red fruits: black currants, blackberries, black cherry, tobacco, Poblano pepper, pencil shavings, purple flowers, dry rocky earth, a touch of leather, and a combination of cool and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (that is well integrated), and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly savory. Showing really well and squarely in the zone. Drink now through 2034. — 5 months ago