Jay Kline

9.3

Opened a couple hours prior to service and enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 1994 “Estate Reserve” pours a slightly hazy garnet color with a near opaque core and some rim variation; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated dark fruits: cassis, black cherry, green bell pepper, tobacco, potpourri, old leather bound books, beef broth, and organic dusty earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium (integrated) tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with the addition of pomegranates. The finish is long. ABV is 12.5%!! This is about as old school as it gets and I’d be tempted to call this Left Bank Bordeaux if I was blinded. Wow. Drink now…but will probably live for another 10+ years if stored as well as this bottle (perfect). — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened earlier in the day and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1982 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) and slightly green compared to the ’82 Mouton that was poured alongside. Cassis, purple Chewy SweeTarts, green bell pepper, old wood, some earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry and has massive structure still. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly bitter. Drink now with a long decant but there are decades of life left. — 5 months ago

Brad Jensen

9.3

Silky smooth nose, velvety and soft, with forewarned black currants, just a LITTLE pepper, dark cherry and maybe a little pine forest floor? Some sediment and still grippy tannin, but starting to really loosen, with prominent ripe red fruits of dark , brooding plum, cherry and dark fruits, with hints of graphite, wood, and smoke over a still zingy finish. — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Deep Ruby with aromas of blue & black fruits, sweet spice & slight mineral character. A blend of mostly Cab Sauvignon with small amounts of Malbec, Petit Verdot & Cab Franc from their estate-owned Napa Valley vineyards, aged 18 months French (62%) & American oak (38%) (about 50% new). Palate, complex flavors, blackberry, plums & cherry with sweet spice, oak & tobacco notes. Well balanced with good acidity & developing tannins. Full-bodied, long finish ending with pepper & wood spice. Nice! — 2 months ago

Steve Sánchez

9.6

Amazing Napa Cab from St Helena made in a very Bordeaux style. Savory nose. Tomato bisque , dried thyme, and pepper. Cedar wood and leather. Medium acid on the palate. With great tannins for structure. Dark raspberry. Wonderfully balanced and savory. 14.5% , will definitely have to get some more. Highly recommended this is my kid of Napa Cab, not another fruit bomb here. — 3 months ago

"Odedi"

8.9

#AgedWineTuesday

Pretty color of ruby with a wide brick rim.

Nose of red fruits, tobacco leaf, light wood, spices, coffee, black pepper, vegetables and herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with raspberries, fresh cherries, spices, light oak and espresso.

Short finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a nice 11 year old Barolo.
A little tight right out of the bottle, and needed 90 minutes of airtime.

Fruity on the nose and earthy on the palate. Elegant and soft.

Still feels very young and would be nice to revisit it in a few years.

Not as complex as I expected it to be, but showed a beautiful nose once it opened up.

Not balanced at this point, and a little tart for me. Could be this specific bottle though.

100% Nebbiolo grapes were aged in large Slavonian oak barrels for 30 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$50. — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.6

How did this sneak in here? Considering our penchant for the Rhône, it’s almost inevitable that something like this was getting opened. Popped and poured, the 1997 “La Turque” pours a deep ruby/purple color with a slightly hazy, near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe slightly wizened black and ted fruits: black brambles, black cherry, strawberry, smoked and spiced meat, olives, purple flowers, black pepper, dried herbs, rocky earth, fine wood and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. While this may not be my favorite expression of Côte Rôtie, it is undeniably delicious after nearly 30 years. It still has a long life ahead. Drink now through 2042. — 2 months ago

Christian Ramirez Romanini

9.1

Powerful aromas of red and black fruits, there is a touch of wood infuence with some black pepper notes.

On the palate the wine is perfectly balanced and has excellent concentration. It is classic and not overly extracted, with tannins that are pronounced, and is very aproachable because of the perfect acidity.

The complex notes of tobacco, spices, chocolate, and red fruits are complemented by a lengthy, intense finish. — 4 months ago

Jane Nuss

9.3

Plum, oak, vanilla, pepper, cherry. Bold palate with ripe dark fruits. Blackberry, fig, prune. Silky tannins.
— a year ago

Brad Jensen

9.2

Deep florals are pronounced on the nose, with hints of violet, but also blueberry cobbler or some flaky pastry. It doesn’t beat you over the head, but it’s definitely refined. This is a young one, with prominent acidity that clings to the finish, but jammy dark berry notes on the palate are also pronounced, with hints of dry minerality, pomegranate, pepper and ashy, dry wood. Takes a while to open up but definitely another unique and special German pinot. — 2 years ago