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Search Flickinger Wine Inventory
Inventory updated: Sat, Feb 21, 2026 12:48 PM cst
Your search criteria:
Regions: USA Red
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| My Favorite Neighbor |
2016 |
Proprietary Blend  |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (10/2018): The 2016 My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah and 11% Petit Verdot. Very deep purple-black colored, it reveals intense cassis, ripe plums and wild blueberries with touches of licorice, tilled soil and black pepper with a waft of floral notions. Full, rich, chocolaty and oh-so-seductive, it fills the mouth with generous crushed black berries flavors framed by rounded tannins and finishing long and spicy. |
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| 12c |
2016 |
Beckstoffer Georges III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
2 |
|
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2016 |
G3 Reserve Beckstoffer Georges III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
4 |
|
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| 12C |
2015 |
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
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| 21 Grams |
2006 |
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (11/2009): Dark red. Plum, redcurrant, tobacco and strong cedary oak on the nose. Dense and chewy but bright, with very good intensity to the flavors of redcurrant, plum, raspberry and nutty oak. Harmonious acidity gives the fruit a penetrating quality and helps it absorb its strong layer of oak. Finishes supple, smooth and long, with lovely sweetness. Very well done: I note that I rated this wine ahead of the cabernet bottlings from both Waters and Gramercy Cellars. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2007 |
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
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| VM 92 (11/2010): Good full red. Redcurrant, mulberry, plum and caramel on the nose, complemented by sexy oak spices. Broad, lush and sweet, with an almost exotic high-toned quality to the perfumed flavors of red berries and spices. Sound acidity gives the wine shape and balance. Finishes impressively broad and horizontal, with very smooth, ripe tannins and lingering spicy perfume. Sophisticated, glossy wine. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2008 |
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
3 |
|
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2009 |
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
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| VM 91+ (11/2012): Full ruby-red. Brooding, dark aromas of black cherry, raspberry, cola, licorice and brown spices. Lush on entry, then vinous and firm in the middle, with a strong acid spine currently keeping the wine's dark fruit flavors under wraps. The dusty, lightly saline, energetic finish features serious oak-driven tannins that will need bottle aging to harmonize. Lay this one down. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2014 |
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 91 (4/2020): Another late release from the Waters Winery, the 2014 21 Grams offers a sweet nose of macerated cherries and mulled blackberries intermixed with flowery incense and cedar. Nicely balanced on the palate, with medium to full-bodied richness and depth as well as sweet tannin, it's drinking nicely today yet should keep well for a decade. |
|
| Abreu |
2010 |
Howell Mountain Proprietary Blend |
$349 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (11/2013): The 2010 Howell Mountain is simply magnificent. Inky, deep, and full-bodied to the core, the 2010 blasts out of the glass with graphite, pencil shavings, menthol, melted road tar, plum, cassis and licorice notes. The 2010 is an exciting, viscerally thrilling wine that takes hold of the sense and never lets up. Today, it is firing on all cylidners. The Howell Mountain is the only Abreu wine that incorporates Malbec, a variety that seems to work magic here. The 2010 is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot, 8% Malbec and 5% Merlot.
WA 94-97 (10/2013): An absolute blockbuster, the 2010 Howell Mountain includes Malbec and Petit Verdot blended with the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It boasts an inky/blue/purple color as well as a sumptuous perfume of barbecue smoke, lead pencil shavings and wet rocks. This ripe, smoky, intense, full-bodied wine reveals a boatload of tannins, but also richer fruit and a deeper, multidimensional mouthfeel and finish than the 2009, which appears to be more broodingly backward and structured. This appears to be a great success. Consume it over the next 25-30 years. |
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|
2013 |
Las Posadas Howell Mtn. Proprietary Blend |
$450 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 98 (12/2016): The 2013 Las Posadas is superb. Graphite, smoke, lavender, exotic spices and inky crème de cassis fruit power a deeply expressive Howell Mountain wine. Beautifully structured and towering on the palate, the 2013 is showing beautifully today. This is a striking Howell Mountain wine. It is also the most giving and expressive of the Abreu 2013s today, which is surprising given its Howell Mountain origins. This is a superb wine. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Las Posadas Howell Mtn. Proprietary Blend Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$395 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 98 (12/2016): The 2013 Las Posadas is superb. Graphite, smoke, lavender, exotic spices and inky crème de cassis fruit power a deeply expressive Howell Mountain wine. Beautifully structured and towering on the palate, the 2013 is showing beautifully today. This is a striking Howell Mountain wine. It is also the most giving and expressive of the Abreu 2013s today, which is surprising given its Howell Mountain origins. This is a superb wine. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Las Posadas Howell Mtn. Proprietary Blend Bin-Soiled Label |
$450 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 98 (12/2016): The 2013 Las Posadas is superb. Graphite, smoke, lavender, exotic spices and inky crème de cassis fruit power a deeply expressive Howell Mountain wine. Beautifully structured and towering on the palate, the 2013 is showing beautifully today. This is a striking Howell Mountain wine. It is also the most giving and expressive of the Abreu 2013s today, which is surprising given its Howell Mountain origins. This is a superb wine. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2015 |
Las Posadas Howell Mtn. Proprietary Blend |
$300 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 98 (1/2019): The 2015 Los Posadas comes from an estate vineyard on Howell Mountain that lies at 2,000 feet in elevation, above the fog line. This singular effort has a flamboyant, mineral-laced bouquet of black and blue fruits, forest floor, camphor, chocolate, and exotic flowers, and is an incredible expression of this mountain terroir. With great, great intensity, beautiful purity of fruit, and again, this savory, mineral-driven character, it has enough tannins to warrant 2-4 years of bottle age and will keep for 4-5 decades. This cuvée is 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Cabernet Franc, 14% Petit Verdot, and the rest Merlot and Malbec. (Drink between 2021-2061).
VM 97 (12/2018): The 2015 Las Posadas is dark, sensual and totally inviting. Plush fruit and silky tannins push the black plum and blackberry fruit forward. Deep and resonant on the palate, the 2015 exudes class from start to finish. Like the rest of the other Abreu 2015s, the Posadas will drink well upon release. Hints of lavender and spice meld into the pliant, inviting finish. There is so much to like here. (Drink between 2023-2040). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2015 |
Thorevilos Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Scuffed Label |
$475 |
1 |
|
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JD 100 (1/2019): Another perfect wine, the 2015 Thorevilos comes in at 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Cabernet Franc, 15% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec. This riveting wine boasts heavenly notes of blueberries, cassis, camphor, graphite, and forest floor, with more floral nuances developing with time in the glass. With full body, a powerful, stacked, intense profile, shocking elegance and purity, and a massive finish, hide bottles for 4-5 years if you can – count yourself lucky – and enjoy bottles for just about as long as you'd like. (Drink between 2023-2063)
VM 97 (11/2025): The 2015 Thorevilos is another fabulous wine in this flight of 2015s from David Abreu and Brad Grimes. Elegant and sophisticated, the 2015 offers an intriguing mix of power and finesse. Graphite, pencil shavings and blackberry and cloves are some of the many notes that explode from the glass. What a gorgeous wine this is. (Drink between 2025-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2008 |
Thorevilos Proprietary Blend |
$395 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2011): As Outstanding as all the Abreu wines are, if I had to choose one that stands apart from the others it would be Thorevilos. The 2008 Thorevilos is the most complete and deeply satisfying of Abreu’s 2008s because the balance of fruit and structure is so impeccable. The 2008 literally explodes onto the palate with masses of dark fruit, tar, licorice and smoke. There is a fleshiness and depth of the fruit here that separates the Thorevilos from the other 2008s. Layers of fruit build towards the massive, masculine finish. In 2008 Thorevilos is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 15% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038.
VM 96-98 (12/2011): As Outstanding as all the Abreu wines are, if I had to choose one that stands apart from the others it would be Thorevilos. The 2008 Thorevilos is the most complete and deeply satisfying of Abreu's 2008s because the balance of fruit and structure is so impeccable. The 2008 literally explodes onto the palate with masses of dark fruit, tar, licorice and smoke. There is a fleshiness and depth of the fruit here that separates the Thorevilos from the other 2008s. Layers of fruit build towards the massive, masculine finish. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2013 |
Thorevilos Proprietary Blend Bin-Soiled Label |
$739 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (5/2024): The 2013 Thorevilos is a wild, exotic wine. Blueberry jam, crème de cassis, lavender, pencil shavings, cloves, licorice and dark chocolate all run through this potent, deep red. Young and vibrant, as all the 2013s are here, the Thorevilos possesses tremendous energy from start to finish. A whole range of savory and floral notes linger on the huge, tannic finish. This is sculpted and delicious, but it still needs time. Antonio Galloni.
WA 100 (10/2016): Probably one of my favorite vineyards in all of Napa Valley, even though it is not entitled to any particular AVA designation, is the steep hillside vineyard behind the luxury resort of Meadowood in St. Helena called Thorevilos. It is co-owned by David Abreu and Ric Forman. I have now tasted 16 vintages of this wine, and six and possibly seven (the 2015) have merited perfect scores, which is just mind-boggling even to someone who has been doing this for 38+ years. This wine contains a considerable quantity of Cabernet Franc (probably 30% or more, although Abreu and Grimes are never specific) and there may even be a small percentage of Petit Verdot included in the blend. This is always the most floral of the Abreu wines, but it also has what the French call je ne sais quoi, a quality that is hard to pin down. The 2013 defines what Thorevilos is all about, with copious quantities of blueberries, black raspberries, truffles, violets, crushed rock, forest floor notes and oodles of glycerin in its full-bodied, incredibly pure and amazing texture and length. It is a spectacular wine, with the cascade of fruit hiding what must be some considerable tannic clout. It’s not showing through just yet, but I suspect it will come as the wine closes down in bottle once it gets into a cold cellar. This is simply other-worldly and a tribute to all things Napa, California, and in a way, America. Drink it over the next 50+ years. |
|
|
2013 |
Thorevilos Proprietary Blend Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$739 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (5/2024): The 2013 Thorevilos is a wild, exotic wine. Blueberry jam, crème de cassis, lavender, pencil shavings, cloves, licorice and dark chocolate all run through this potent, deep red. Young and vibrant, as all the 2013s are here, the Thorevilos possesses tremendous energy from start to finish. A whole range of savory and floral notes linger on the huge, tannic finish. This is sculpted and delicious, but it still needs time. Antonio Galloni.
WA 100 (10/2016): Probably one of my favorite vineyards in all of Napa Valley, even though it is not entitled to any particular AVA designation, is the steep hillside vineyard behind the luxury resort of Meadowood in St. Helena called Thorevilos. It is co-owned by David Abreu and Ric Forman. I have now tasted 16 vintages of this wine, and six and possibly seven (the 2015) have merited perfect scores, which is just mind-boggling even to someone who has been doing this for 38+ years. This wine contains a considerable quantity of Cabernet Franc (probably 30% or more, although Abreu and Grimes are never specific) and there may even be a small percentage of Petit Verdot included in the blend. This is always the most floral of the Abreu wines, but it also has what the French call je ne sais quoi, a quality that is hard to pin down. The 2013 defines what Thorevilos is all about, with copious quantities of blueberries, black raspberries, truffles, violets, crushed rock, forest floor notes and oodles of glycerin in its full-bodied, incredibly pure and amazing texture and length. It is a spectacular wine, with the cascade of fruit hiding what must be some considerable tannic clout. It’s not showing through just yet, but I suspect it will come as the wine closes down in bottle once it gets into a cold cellar. This is simply other-worldly and a tribute to all things Napa, California, and in a way, America. Drink it over the next 50+ years. |
|
| Accendo Cellars |
2014 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$215 |
2 |
|
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WA 95+ (12/2017): Produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon gives a deep garnet-purple color and leaps from the glass with notes of warm black currants and red currants preserves plus touches of sandalwood, cigar box, spice box, licorice and menthol and the faintest hints of forest floor and potpourri. Medium-bodied with a fantastic intensity of red and black fruits and accented with pepper, spice and earthy notions, it has a firm, chewy backbone and great freshness, finishing with lingering mineral notes.
VM 95 (3/2018): A wine of precision, nuance and tension, Accendo's 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon continues to grow in bottle. There is a sense of translucent vibrancy in the 2014 that is especially admirable. Red and purplish-toned fruit, lavender, mint and crushed rocks are all beautifully delineated, but it is the wine's shape and drive that I find most alluring today. This is a fabulous showing. Antonio Galloni.
JS 92 (5/2018): Very nicely balanced with ultra-fine tannins and a medium to full body. Fresh and very clean. It shows a very pretty flavors of terracotta and dark berries. Polished and refined. Drink after 2020. |
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| Agharta |
2004 |
Black Label Syrah |
$115 |
3 |
|
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WA 98 (2/2010): Proprietors Pam and Pax Mahle have fashioned a 2004 Syrah called Agharta. Aged 58 months (that’s not a typo) in French oak casks (the 2005, 2006, and 2007 vintages will spend 45-48 months in cask), the extraordinary 2004 is a 475-case blend of 92% Syrah, 5% Grenache, and the rest Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussane. Most of the Syrah comes from the Alder Springs Vineyard in Mendocino. This profound wine’s inky/purple color is followed by aromas of smoky barbecue meats, grilled Provencal herbs, and exotic tropical fruits intermixed with blackberry, cassis, blueberry, and graphite. This super-rich effort tastes like the nectar of Syrah, yet it is dry, elegant, and remarkably fresh and precise. In the mouth, the impression is like that of a multilayered cake - everything is there. This is an amazing, very multi-dimensional wine that must be tasted to be believed. It can be drunk now or cellared for two decades.
VM 92 (6/2010): Dark ruby. A complex, expansive bouquet displays smoky herbs, dark berry liqueur, red- and blackcurrant, potpourri and an exotic apricot pit quality. Lush, pungent dark fruit and floral pastille flavors are complemented by smoky herbal and floral qualities and framed by supple tannins. Leaves spice and licorice notes behind on the long, sappy finish. |
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|
2005 |
Black Label Syrah |
$45 |
3 |
|
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| WA 95+ (2/2011): After the mind-blowing 2004 Agharta Syrah, I had high expectations that it would be followed by additional great wines, and those hopes were answered with the 2005 Black Label, a blend of 97% Syrah, 2% Grenache and 1% Viognier. Aged 64 months (which must be a record in California) in 30% new French oak, it is another spectacular effort from winemaker/proprietor Pax Mahle. It boasts a gorgeously dense plum/purple color as well as stunning notes of black raspberries, gun flint, blackberries, licorice and camphor. This complex red builds incrementally on the palate resulting in a full-bodied, concentrated, complex wine that is bursting at the seams and loaded with potential. It should continue to evolve for another 12-15+ years. |
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2007 |
Black Label Syrah |
$65 |
2 |
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| VM 90-92 (7/2013): In the 2007 Agharta Black Label is 90% Syrah, 5% Grenache and 5% Viognier/Roussanne. Mocha, plums, espresso, blackberries, tar and licorice all burst from the glass. A huge, massively constituted wine, the 2007 is loaded with personality and character. A rich, voluptuous finish rounds things out. Mahle planned to give the 2007 a whopping 65 months in oak, but the wine appears to be handling the oak well. Stylistically, this is a wine that reflects the vintage and its long elevage more than varietal character. I can't wait to see how the 2007 shows once it is in bottle. Today, it is impressive. (Drink between 2013-2022). Antonio Galloni. |
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| Alban Vineyards |
2007 |
Alban Estate Grenache |
$115 |
1 |
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| WA 92 (8/2011): The 2007 Grenache opens with a sweet, beguiling nose that leads to exotic blackberry, coconut, plums, asphalt, tar and sweet spices. This is an especially deep, dense style of Grenache (there is 12% Syrah in the blend) yet all of the elements come together beautifully in the glass. Floral notes add lift and complexity on the finish, yet the Grenache remains big and quite powerful. Alban gave the Grenache 36 months in barrel. The Grenache is made from a variety of plots on the property, plus Syrah exclusively from the Reva parcel. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. |
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2008 |
Alban Estate Grenache |
$105 |
2 |
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| WA 94 (8/2012): The 2008 Grenache presents an inward yet expressive core of dark red fruit, flowers and Provencal herbs. There is a gorgeous fleshiness in the glass, but the wine needs time to soften and open up. Today, the 2008 shows quite a bit of promise. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020. |
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2009 |
Alban Estate Grenache |
$120 |
2 |
|
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| VM 94 (12/2012): Opaque purple. Heady aromas of candied blackberry, blueberry and licorice, complicated by pungent notes of vanilla, violet and allspice. Lush, intensely flavored and broad, offering deep dark berry and cherry compote flavors and an exotic floral nuance. Finishes smooth and very long, with resonating spiciness, a hint of licorice and sweet tannins. |
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2000 |
Lorraine Alban Estate Syrah |
$100 |
2 |
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| WA 93 (8/2003): The inky/black/purple 2000 Syrah Lorraine Vineyard is saturated in color. It boasts a knock-out nose of melted licorice, blackberry liqueur, and acacia flowers. Full-bodied, huge, tannic, but ripe, this is a stunningly rich wine that should hit its peak in 2-3 years, and last for 15+. |
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2002 |
Lorraine Alban Estate Syrah Signs of Seepage; Slightly Raised Cork; Very Lightly Nicked Label |
$169.15 |
1 |
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2007 |
Lorraine Alban Estate Syrah |
$229 |
2 |
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JD 97-100 (11/2010): Straight up silky, perfumed, and elegant, the 2007 Alban Vineyards Syrah Lorraine is a gorgeous wine! Displaying sweet raspberry ganache, crème de cassis, spiced meats and toasted bread like aromas on the nose, it continue to wow on the palate, with full bodied power, perfect balance and a seamless, harmonious texture. Where the Reva wows with black fruits and burly structure and impact, this finesses and seduces with red fruits and a seamless, flawless demeanor. A joy to taste and the finish shows fantastic length and superb focus.
WA 96 (8/2011): The 2007 Syrah Lorraine is a large-scaled, dramatic wine bursting with super-intense blue and black fruit, cassis, leather, spices and licorice. The Lorraine shows fabulous balance of aromatics, fruit and structure. Today the Lorraine offers the best potential for longevity. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2032. |
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2007 |
Pandora Proprietary Blend |
$150 |
2 |
|
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| WA 95 (8/2011): The 2007 Pandora is an enormous wine endowed with awesome richness and power. Layers of dark fruit flesh out beautifully in this muscular, large-scaled wine. Dark plums, tar, sweet herbs and anise are some of the notes that wrap around the super-intense finish. The 2007 Pandora is 95% Grenache and 5% Syrah, both from the chalky soils of Seymour-s. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. |
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2008 |
Pandora Proprietary Blend |
$140 |
2 |
|
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WA 95 (8/2012): Layers of silky, polished fruit flow across the palate in the 2008 Pandora (Grenache). As I noted last year, the 2008 is all about textural finesse and pure beauty. Hints of smoke, anise and crushed rocks frame the long finish. This is yet another marvelous wine from Alban. Pandora is 100% Grenache from the chalky, upper hillsides of Seymour’s. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020.
VM 94 (12/2012): (almost all grenache from "a very specific block," according to Alban; 15.9% alcohol): Opaque ruby. A heady, exotically perfumed bouquet evokes candied red fruits, incense and candied flowers, along with a smoky mineral overtone. Juicy and precise, offering intense raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that gain sweetness and weight with air. Closes with impressive energy and cut, leaving mineral and floral notes behind. This wine was aged in French oak casks, two-thirds of them new, for 38 months.
JD 93-96 (12/2011): Tasted out of barrel and a beautifully structured and endowed wine, the 2008 Alban Vineyards Pandora, almost 100% Grenache that spent 36 months in a combination of new and used barrels, was dense and closed at the time of this tasting, yet begrudgingly yielded ripe dark fruits, charcoal, chalk, pepper, and edgy minerality on the nose. Full bodied, yet with notable freshness and acidity, this beauty should be left alone for 2-3 years after release. |
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2016 |
Pandora Proprietary Blend |
$299 |
1 |
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| JD 99 (8/2020): All Grenache, the 2016 Pandora is another stunning wine that will probably merit a triple-digit rating in 3 to 5 years. Its deep purple/plum color is followed by a gorgeous perfume of black raspberries, licorice, ground pepper, spring flowers, and smoked earth. Showing more spice with time in the glass, it delivers full-bodied richness and the magical sense of elegance paired with power that only Grenache can do. Give bottles a few years in the cellar and enjoy over the following 15-20 years. |
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2019 |
Patrina Alban Estate Vyd. Syrah |
$69 |
2 |
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| JD 93 (9/2022): Moving to the reds, the 2019 Patrina offers lots of smoky red and black fruits as well as violets, pepper, and graphite notes. It's forward, charming, textured, and balanced, with plenty of classic Alban character. I'd be happy to drink it. |
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2000 |
Reva Alban Estate Syrah |
$75 |
1 |
|
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| WA 94 (8/2003): The saturated blue/purple-colored 2000 Syrah Reva Vineyard exhibits a slightly reduced nose, but with aeration of 60-90 minutes, glorious notes of blackberries, asphalt, singed leather, and wood emerge. Medium to full-bodied and moderately tannic, this young, unevolved, but promising 2000 will be at its finest between 2004-2015. |
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2006 |
Reva Alban Estate Syrah |
$200 |
2 |
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WA 100 (8/2010): The 2006 Syrah Reva, coming from parcels of dark, volcanic soil, has off-the-chart richness and intensity. This thick, opaque-purple colored wine offers up notes of scorched earth, ground pepper, and blackberry liqueur intermixed with cassis, licorice, camphor, and tar. The wine is spectacular in every sense. Full-bodied and certainly not for wimps, this is a remarkably concentrated yet very nuanced and intense wine that should age for 20 more years.
JD 98 (11/2010): Truly extraordinary, the 2006 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard is a jaw dropping Syrah, sporting rich, full aromatics of smoky dark fruits, steak tartare, tapenade, and licorice. These carry over to the palate where the wine is perfectly built, possessing awesome concentration, solid, almost burly structure, and a phenomenal texture that coats the palate, but at the same time, stays light, fresh, and clean. I’m a huge fan, and while delicious now, I’ve no doubt this will continue to drink well for 15 to 20 years.
VM 94+ (11/2010): Glass-staining purple. Blackberry, boysenberry and licorice pastille on the nose, with mounting spice and floral notes and a strong wallop of cracked pepper. Deeply pitched black and blue fruit flavors expand with air and pick up strong spicecake and candied flower notes, along with velvety tannins. More backward than the Lorraine today, and showing a darker profile. The finish completely stains the palate and lingers with intense floral and spicy persistence. This is still a baby. Josh Raynolds. |
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2008 |
Reva Alban Estate Syrah |
$115 |
2 |
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WA 96+ (8/2012): The 2008 Reva (Syrah) is stunningly beautiful. This is a relatively delicate, feminine Reva that impresses for its length, balance and utter purity of fruit. Dark red cherries, flowers, mint and silky, saline notes wrap around the expressive fruit on the long, polished finish. A hint of truffles adds to the wine’s sensual, totally beguiling personality. In 2008, the Reva is drop-dead gorgeous. Readers should note that, in this vintage, there is no Lorraine or Seymour’s, so the 2008 is a “super-Reva!" Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020.
JS 95-96 (5/2012): Love the spice, game and dark berries, yet reserved and austere. Shows form and firmness. Long and beautiful. Should be in market in November 2012.
VM 94 (12/2012): (raised in French oak, 80% of it new, for 44 months; 15.1% alcohol): Glass-staining purple. Sexy smoke- and spice-accented aromas of candied black and blue fruits and potpourri, with a suggestion of black pepper building with air. Lush and expansive on the palate, offering deeply pitched but lively cassis and blueberry flavors and a suave floral pastille nuance. The spicy note comes back strong on the finish, which shows only a hint of tannins.
JD 93-96 (12/2011): The 2008 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard was the only Syrah produced in '08. Showing a lively, more energetic profile than the more heavy weight '06 and '07, it still doesn't lack for structure, depth, or complexity. Showing loads of tapenade, lavender, blood, and black fruits, medium to full-body, and a beautifully focused, pure texture and finish, this elegant Syrah should still benefit from short term cellaring once released. I love the vibrancy here, and it will be interesting to see how this shows from bottle. |
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2010 |
Reva Alban Estate Syrah |
$125 |
3 |
|
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| WA 95+ (8/2015): Coming from the coolest vintage on record at the time (before 2011), the 2010 Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard still hit 15.2% natural alcohol, of which it doesn't show a trace. Possessing the telltale Iodine and seaweed character this cuvee always shows, it has lots of darker fruits, smoked herbs, black olive and a touch of floral aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, concentrated, firm and structured, it's a serious, age-worthy wine from John that should be forgotten for 4-5 years. |
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2011 |
Reva Alban Estate Syrah |
$95 |
3 |
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| |
WA 94-96 (8/2015): All of the 2011 Syrahs will be in bottle by the time you read this. The 2011 Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard offers a cool-climate, pretty and perfumed style to go with lots of pepper, violets, iodine and dark fruits, with just a hint of vanilla and oak. Full-bodied, fresh and lively, with bright acidity and fine tannin, it's a Northern Rhone look-alike that will have 15-20 years of longevity.
VM 92-94 (9/2015): Bright purple. Energetic black and blue fruit scents, with notes of olive paste and candied violet adding complexity. Shows very good focus and lift to its sweet boysenberry and cherry-cola flavors, gaining weight and sweetness with aeration. Finishes with excellent power and persistence, leaving peppery spice and cola notes behind. Quite Old World in style and structure, showing no excess fat or undue warmth. Josh Raynolds. |
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2017 |
Reva Alban Estate Syrah Corroded Capsule |
$125 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (9/2021): The beautiful 2017 Syrah Reva has a more elegant, streamlined, layered style that's already drinking nicely. Ample red and black fruits, bacon fat, olive, violets, and briny mineral nuances all define this classic Alban Syrah, and it's full-bodied, with a seamless mouthfeel, impeccable balance, and ripe tannins. It's certainly the more discrete, understated red in the lineup, yet this is a wine that builds with time in the glass and has perfect tannins, a terrific sense of freshness, and a great finish. It will keep for 15+ years in cold cellars. |
|
|
2009 |
Seymour’s Vyd. Syrah |
$175 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 94-97 (6/2012): Showing more depth and structure than last year, the 2009 Alban Vineyards Syrah Seymour's Vineyard delivers a meaty, black olive-laced profile, with copious amounts of red and black fruits emerging from the glass. This full-bodied Syrah has fantastic purity, and silky, polished texture, and building structure that will require a handful of years in bottle to fully flesh out. Where the Lorraine and Reva will be approachable on release, I would opt for giving these slightly more cellar time.
WA 96 (8/2013): More angular and edgy, yet still more approachable than normal for this cuvee, the 2009 Syrah Seymour’s Vineyard has serious amounts of mineral-tinged dark fruits, licorice, smoked herbs and chocolate as well a firm, structured, full-bodied profile on the palate. This wine’s big bones, ripe tannin and bright acidity all point to a long life. Give it 3-4 years in the cellar and enjoy though 2024+.
VM 95 (7/2013): The 2009 Syrah Seymour's brings together all the best elements of the Alban house style. Orange peel, iron, smoke and fennel add compelling exoticism as this massive wine opens up in the glass. At once powerful, intense and nuanced, the 2009 is simply superb. Ideally, the 2009 needs at least a few years in bottle for the tannins to soften, but readers are going to have a hard time waiting. This intense, full-throttle Syrah should drink beautifully for another decade, perhaps more. (Drink between 2016-2024). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Alpha Omega |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Proprietary Blend Signed Bottle |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (12/2009): The Outstanding 2006 Proprietary Red Wine (56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc) exhibits sweet plum, black currant, coffee, and chocolate notes intertwined with notions of herbs and new oak. Medium to full-bodied, pure, and impressively textured with good length, it should drink well for 10-12 years. |
|
|
2007 |
Proprietary Blend |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Era Proprietary Blend |
$200 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (12/2009): The 2007 ERA Proprietary Wine exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as cedar, roasted herb, black currant, and camphor notes, Outstanding ripeness, purity, and depth, good richness, sweeter tannin than the 2006, and, like many 2007s, an underlying minerality and precision that make this vintage so special. Give it 2-3 years of bottle age, and enjoy it over the following 15 years. |
|
|
2008 |
Krupp Brothers Vyd. Syrah |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Krupp Brothers Vyd. Syrah |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2014 |
X Cabernet Sauvignon |
$299 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
X Cabernet Sauvignon |
$299 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
X Cabernet Sauvignon |
$299 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Anakota |
2009 |
Helena Dakota Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 95 (1/2020): Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard explodes from the glass with wonderfully profound, expressive notions of baked plums, Black Forest cake, chargrill, molten rocks, tapenade and woodsmoke with nuances of dried flowers, bay leaves, truffles and unsmoked cigars. Full-bodied and firm, with fantastic freshness, the palate is laden with black fruit preserves and savory layers, finishing on a lingering savory note.
VM 93 (7/2019): Bright medium ruby. Musky aromas of blue and black fruits, violet, licorice and minerals, complicated by a liqueur-like suggestion and some sexy oak tones. Densely packed and fine-grained, conveying lovely inner-mouth mineral lift as well as a distinct thickness of texture to its flavors of dark fruits, spices and crushed rock. This wonderfully suave yet penetrating Cabernet offers a terrific combination of sweetness, vibrancy and definition. Finishes tactile and very long. Delicious! (14.5% alcohol) (Drink between 2019-2033). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
Helena Dakota Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (10/2013): The same can be said for the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard. However, it offers sweeter tannins as well as slightly more evolved and complex aromas of unsmoked, high class cigar tobacco, graphite, blackberries, cassis, spring flowers and a distinctive minerality. Although deep, full-bodied and backward, the sweet fruit and tannin provide a more upfront character than the 2009. It, too, is a 30-50-year wine.
VM 93 (5/2020): Bright ruby to the rim. Musky aromas of mountain blackberry and minerals, plus a whiff of leather and a violet high note. Plush, broad and utterly seamless on entry, but with the lively violet element giving definition to the fully ripe, sweet black fruits in the middle palate. A wave of fine tannins dusts the palate and teeth on the sweet but youthfully medicinal back end, which boasts terrific, slow-building length. This beauty delivers wonderfully plush fruit and considerable power without coming across as hot. (from a vineyard planted at 750 feet) (Drink between 2020-2032). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2012 |
Helena Dakota Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (10/2015): The 2012s are the most showy and forward of the three vintages, which is not surprising, since the vintage is flamboyant and they are already three years of age. Even as impressive, but showing more truffles, charcoal, graphite and camphor, along with blackberry and cassis, is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota (1,017 cases). This wine shows even more fruit than its sibling and is bigger, bolder and slightly broader across the palate. All these wine are highly recommended and are brilliant efforts, but will probably need coaxing and patience in the cellar, given their rather bigger-than-life styles and richness.
VM 92 (1/2015): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard has turned out beautifully. Mocha, dark cherries, plums, spices, new leather and tobacco meld together in a large-scaled, voluptuous wine built on intensity, texture and volume. This is one of the more overt Knights Valley Cabernets readers will come across. The vintage has softened some of the contours, which simply adds to the wine's considerable up-front appeal. A sweet, layered finish rounds things out in style. My sense is that the 2012 will be even better once some of the baby fat drops off, but the wine is undeniably delicious today. (Drink between 2017-2027). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
Helena Dakota Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 98 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota (445 cases) is absolutely magnificent. Opaque black/purple in color, it comes across like a Château Montrose from a great vintage – a very earthy St.-Estèphe-inspired wine with the essence of loamy soil and crushed rocks interwoven with blackberry and cassis fruit. Some oak makes an appearance, but it is pushed to the background by the extravagance and enormous body and extract of this wine of phenomenal intensity. This is a classic Pierre Seillan style of wine meant for 25-40 years of cellaring.
VM 90 (2/2016): Anakota's 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota is plush, round and sensual, with plenty of mocha, chocolate, blackberry and crème de cassis. This clay-rich terroir produces rich, sumptuous wines that emphasize depth and mid-palate intensity. Because of that, this is a fairly approachable 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon although it will also develop nicely with time in bottle. Smoke, game, licorice, plum and earthy notes wrap around the dense finish. (Drink between 2017-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2014 |
Helena Dakota Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$100 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92+ (3/2017): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota is a bit darker, richer and bigger than the Helena Montana, with a bit more savory character, but the two wines are not that different in this vintage. Sweeping and ample in feel, the 2014 shows the more virile side of Knights Valley. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2009 |
Helena Montana Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (10/2013): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard comes across as one of the most tannic, backward wines I tasted from any of the four vintages I was looking at during my extensive trip to Napa Valley in late August and early September. Very extracted with high tannins (almost excessive), this 2009 is built like an old style Bordeaux with lots of red and black fruits, graphite and noticeable oak. Forget it for a long, long time. |
|
|
2010 |
Helena Montana Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (10/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard is cut from the same cloth. Its opaque purple color and sweet creme de cassis fruit intermixed with crushed rock and forest floor notes lead to a broad, rich, full-bodied mouthfeel with excruciatingly high tannins and intense power and richness. It should be forgotten for at least a decade.
VM 93+ (5/2020): Saturated ruby to the rim. The nose shows more mineral lift but less fruit expressiveness than the Helena Dakota, offering hints of blackberry, cassis, menthol, flowers and spices. Sweet, dense and fine-grained but quite powerful too, conveying strong rocky minerality and verve. A bit less pliant on the finish than the Helena Dakota but the firm tannins are ripe and suave. Really stains the palate with violet. A higher-pitched wine than the Helena Dakota and a bit more tightly wound, reflecting its vineyard's somewhat higher altitude, but with its lovely floral lift and superb definition, this boasts outstanding potential for further development in bottle. (from a vineyard at 950 feet) (Drink between 2022-2037). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards |
2007 |
Black Label Block 1 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Black Label Block 2 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Black Label Block 3 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Black Label Block 4 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Black Label Block 5 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2005 |
Eloge Proprietary Blend |
$99 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2008): The 2005 Eloge is a staggering wine that is utterly profound. Its extraordinary aromas of incense, cedar wood, creme de cassis, kirsch, spice box, and gamey smokiness as well as forest floor make for one of the most complex wines I smelled over the two weeks I spent in Napa. Full-bodied flavors are followed by a wine with sweet tannins, beautifully deep, concentrated layered fruit flavors, and a long, heady finish. This is gorgeous stuff that should evolve nicely for 15 or more years. |
|
|
2006 |
Eloge Proprietary Blend |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (12/2009): The 2006 Eloge’s dark plum/ruby color is followed by a sweet kiss of plum, black cherry, earth, licorice, and spice box, a medium to full-bodied wine, abundant tannin, and impressive concentration, purity, and overall complexity. Reasonably evolved, and extremely seductive aromatically, with a slightly structured finish, it can be enjoyed now and over the next 15 years. It is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, and 3% Merlot. |
|
|
2007 |
Eloge Proprietary Blend |
$115 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94-96 (12/2009): The 2007 Eloge (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Merlot) possesses a denser, more concentrated style than even the 2006. The tannins are also slightly sweeter, and the wine is more voluminous, layered, and textured. This young, promising, locked and loaded 2007 is somewhat backward because of the levels of concentration and intensity. Forget it for five years, and drink it over the following 25+years. These brilliant 2007s are some of the strongest efforts that have emerged from Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards over the last decade. |
|
|
2010 |
Eloge Proprietary Blend |
$85 |
7 |
|
| |
VM 93+ (11/2013): Grilled herbs, tobacco, menthol, licorice and plums all take shape in the 2010 Eloge. Rich, layered and expressive, the 2010 is resonant and deeply expressive throughout. Gently spiced notes appear on the finish, adding dimensions of complexity and nuance. Today the 2010 is a bit closed in on itself and a touch compact, while the aromatics aren't quite as precise as they could be. Drink between 2016-2030. Antonio Galloni.
WA 88 (10/2013): The Eloge program has always been Anderson’s Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon blend. From a late harvest (through the first week of November), the 2010 Eloge is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot aged 24 months in wood. Its dark plum/ruby color does not possess the saturation of the Cabernet Sauvignon Estate. Plenty of jammy blueberry, black cherry and wild mountain berry fruit set it apart from previous vintages of this cuvee. Medium-bodied and more Euro-centric in style, it is an attractive albeit lower-keyed, down-scaled version of Eloge. It should drink well for 10-12 years. Drink between 2013-2025. |
|
|
2007 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2010): As I indicated last year, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a brilliant effort. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it has begun to shut down slightly, but reveals an opaque purple color along with deep, sweet, cedary, black currant aromas intermixed with hints of tobacco leaf, licorice and graphite. Full-bodied, powerful and rich, this impressive 2007 needs 4-5 years of cellaring and should keep for 25+ years. |
|
|
2006 |
Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2009): The unfined, unfiltered 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve spends two years in French oak and another year in the bottle before being released. This cuvee has a long track record of aging (the 1990 and 1991 are still going strong). The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2006 offers notes of new saddle leather, black currants, autumnal vegetation/forest floor, cassis, and cherries, superb richness, and a full-bodied, powerful finish. Cellar it for 5-6 years, and drink it over the following 25 years. |
|
|
2007 |
Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2010): As I indicated last year, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a brilliant effort. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it has begun to shut down slightly, but reveals an opaque purple color along with deep, sweet, cedary, black currant aromas intermixed with hints of tobacco leaf, licorice and graphite. Full-bodied, powerful and rich, this impressive 2007 needs 4-5 years of cellaring and should keep for 25+ years. |
|
|
2008 |
Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2010): One of the few wineries to make a 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve that eclipsed its 2007 counterpart is Anderson’s Conn Valley. A spectacular effort that is as black as a moonless night, this full-bodied wine boasts abundant aromas of creme de cassis, camphor and subtle oak presented in a voluptuously textured, full-bodied style with terrific richness and depth. Great intensity and opulence as well as a layered mouthfeel make for a remarkable wine that should age for 20-30+ years.
VM 90 (12/2011): The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve comes across as a bit chunky and four-squared. Dark berries, worn-in leather, licorice and spices are some of the notes that flow from this medium bodied Cabernet. This is pleasing despite some elements of rusticity. Sweet herbs, licorice and leather linger on the finish. I especially like the way the wine blossoms in the glass. |
|
|
2009 |
Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (12/2012): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve is rich, sumptuous and totally gorgeous. Plums, black currants, blackberries, menthol, licorice and sweet herbs jump from the glass as this intense, full-bodied wine shows off its considerable personality. Layers of fruit flow effortlessly as the 2009 continues to open up over time. This is a gorgeous 2009. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.
VM 92 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve is quite a bit juicier than the 2008. Layers of dark red fruit, flowers, licorice and oak are some of the notes that flow from the glass. The percentage of new oak (60%) is up a little over previous years, but the wine won't be released until next year, and there is more than enough fruit to think the 2009 will shape up beautifully with more time in bottle. |
|
|
2010 |
Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (11/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve is fabulous. It is also the best of the 2010s at the estate. A rich, powerful Cabernet, the 2010 captures the essence of the vintage. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, spices and tobacco all take shape in the glass. Today, the 2010 is firing on all cylinders. A huge, explosive finish rounds things out in style. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
4 |
|
| |
VM 94 (12/2016): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve is intense, deceptively medium in body and brooding in style. Lavender, sage, menthol, spice and crème de cassis infuse this striking, delineated Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2013 could use another few years in barrel, but it is quite impressive, even at this early stage. This is a great showing from the 2013.
JS 92 (12/2016): Lots of dried-fruit character here that verges on raisins. Chocolate and walnuts, too. Full body, velvety and chewy tannins and a savory finish. Shows tension for such a ripe wine. Needs two or three years to soften. |
|
|
2006 |
Right Bank Proprietary Blend |
$95 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2009): The unfined, unfiltered 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve spends two years in French oak and another year in the bottle before being released. This cuvee has a long track record of aging (the 1990 and 1991 are still going strong). The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2006 offers notes of new saddle leather, black currants, autumnal vegetation/forest floor, cassis, and cherries, superb richness, and a full-bodied, powerful finish. Cellar it for 5-6 years, and drink it over the following 25 years. |
|
|
2010 |
Right Bank Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (11/2013): Mocha, plums, cloves, menthol and licorice all flesh out in the 2010 Right Bank. Rich, layered and expressive, the 2010 stands out for its superb balance and layered personality. The 2010 is 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, with the Merlot playing a leading role in defining the wine's juicy, resonant personality. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2015 |
Signature Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$249 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Anthill |
2006 |
Abbey-Harris Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 93 (5/2008): Deep red. Sexy strawberry, raspberry and blood orange on the nose, along with Asian spices and smoky minerals. Deeper-pitched on the palate, offering supple red and dark berry liqueur flavors, with energetic, spicy minerality adding vivacity. For such richness of fruit this is almost shockingly lithe and precise. Finishes with serious grip, juiciness and persistence. Pretty stunning stuff. Josh Raynolds.
BH 92 (10/2008): The nose immediately serves notice that you're on to something special here with its airy spice infused red and blue pinot fruit aromas that possess real depth as well as a beguiling touch of violets where the latter element can also be found on the rich, focused, sweet and intense flavors that, exactly like the 2005 so amply demonstrated, exude a clear sense of place, all wrapped in a dusty, pure, energetic and impressively long finish. In particular, I really like the mouth feel and it reminds me a bit of the Demuth in this sense as the vinification found the sweet spot between perfect extraction and the supporting elements. Terrific and absolutely recommended. (Drink starting 2012) |
|
|
2007 |
Demuth Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 92 (5/2009): Vivid red. Captivating aromas of redcurrant, raspberry and blood orange are deepened by smoky herbs and dried flowers. Spicy and incisive on the palate, displaying fresh red berry and candied rose flavors, with gentle tannic grip on the back. The blood orange note echoes through the long, seductively spicy finish. Josh Raynolds.
BH 91 (10/2009): A ripe but restrained, cool and elegant nose of ripe cherry and red pinot fruit trimmed in delicate spice notes is followed by rich, delicious, round, supple and relatively supple middle weight flavors that possess a discreet mineral hint and excellent balance on the persistent, sappy and impressively complex finish. This isn't in the same league as the Abbey Harris but there is an understate grace to the mouth feel that is very appealing. (Drink starting 2012). |
|
| Antica Terra |
2008 |
Botanica Pinot Noir |
$150 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 93 (7/2010): Vivid red. Expansive, room-filling bouquet displays red and dark berry preserves, incense and Asian spices, with an intense floral quality and notes of cola and vanilla. Silky in texture and deep in sweet red fruit character, with gentle tannins adding structure but playing second fiddle to the fruit. The spice and floral notes repeat on the juicy finish, which is broad, smooth and impressively persistent. Delicious now but has the depth to repay at least another five years of cellaring. This wine got about two-thirds new oak while the Willamette Valley bottling got about one-third. Both were fermented with about 10% whole clusters. Josh Raynolds.
WA 91 (8/2012): From around 10-12% estate fruit; 40% from Shea Vineyard; and the rest from Cherry Grove, Antica Terra’s 2008 Pinot Noir Botanica mingles toasted almond and pecan with ripe cherry and black raspberry shadowed by their distilled essences but happily free of superficial sweetness. Polished and expansive, this finishes with enough brown spice and fruit pit accents to hold one’s interest, and a persistence of juicy, primary fruit guaranteed to call forth the next sip. It should be worth following for at least the next 6-8 years.
BH 89 (10/2010): A very generously wooded nose requires ample aeration to dissipate the relatively strong reduction. The wood however only seems to become more apparent with air and dominates the fruit. There is good concentration to the textured, round and supple medium-bodied flavors that possess noticeable bitterness on the otherwise reasonably long finish. At present, the '08 Botanica is at a very awkward stage and while there appears to be enough underlying material to assimilate the oak in time, I wouldn't touch a bottle for at least 5 years. My score offers the benefit of the doubt that this will come together. In the meantime, buy the '07. (Drink starting 2015). |
|
|
2011 |
Botanica Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$325 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (7/2013): Vivid ruby-red. A heady, complex bouquet evokes black raspberry, cherry-cola, Asian spices and dried rose. Sweet and penetrating, with impressively pure red and dark berry flavors lifted by zesty acidity and a hint of allspice. Intensely flavored but surprisingly elegant, with strong finishing punch and smooth, even tannins adding shape. This sexy pinot has great upfront appeal, especially for fruit freak, but I'd be stashing mine away for a few more years, at a minimum. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2011 |
Ceras Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$275 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (7/2013): Bright ruby-red. Sexy, floral- and spice-accented aromas of red berry liqueur and potpourri, with a hint of vanilla in the background. Silky and precise, offering energetic raspberry and floral pastille flavors and a touch of dusty minerals. Finishes lively, focused and long, with resonating spiciness, a hint of anise and slow-building tannins. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2012 |
Ceras Pinot Noir |
$150 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (3/2015): The 2012 Pinot Noir Ceras is Maggie Harrison's mineral take of Pinot Noir (she actually uses the word "aerial" in her technical sheet). It does indeed offer an ethereal bouquet that is just so succinct: a carapace of dark cherry and blackcurrant fruit interspersed with cold granite, walnut and smoke scents that are beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, a lot of salinity and superb tension all the way through to the finish. What a wonderful Pinot Noir - the kind of wine I can guarantee you will finish to the final drop. |
|
| Aperture |
2014 |
Oliver’s Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Very Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$159 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (3/2017): Deep garnet purple in color, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Oliver's Vineyard offers intense notes of ripe black currants, warm plums, blackberry preserves and cigar boxes with hints of dark chocolate and licorice. Full-bodied with wonderful concentration in the mouth, the generous blackcurrant and spice flavors are supported by firm ripe tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and layered. Still very useful, give this one another 5 to 7 years in the cellar and enjoy over the next 10 to 15 years. |
|
| Araujo Estate |
2007 |
Eisele Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$495 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 95+ (6/2010): Good full ruby-red. Vibrant aromas of deep black raspberry, licorice and violet; quite expressive considering it was bottled about a month prior to my visit. Then dense, deep and very primary, with powerful yet suave flavors of blackberry, smoke, licorice, minerals, chocolate and earth spreading out to saturate the palate. An infant today but the wine's superb persistence and finishing perfume suggest it will rank among the best vintages of this bottling. If there is ever a classification of Napa Valley cabernet vineyards, the Eisele Vineyard would clearly be a grand cru. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (12/2010): Since last year’s report I have had the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard on three separate occasions, including recently at the winery. It has definitely improved over last year’s report, but it has not lived up to my barrel tasting reviews. There is no explanation for this other than that the Araujos told me that the wine was bottled three months later than normal, which seems like a negligible reason to explain the differences. A beautiful wine by any standards, it is just not one of the great Eiseles. Its deep plum/ruby/purple hue is accompanied by notes of cassis, blueberries and acacia flowers. This medium-bodied effort seems surprisingly reserved and restrained, but it has put on a little weight, revealing sweet tannin as well as a velvety texture. This offering should drink nicely for 12-15 years. |
|
|
2008 |
Eisele Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (375 ML) |
$150 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97+ (12/2011): The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard is breathtaking. Everything is in the right place in this dazzling, superb Cabernet Sauvignon. Layers of dark fruit, plums, camphor, licorice and espresso emerge from this effortless, gracious wine. The integration of fruit, tannin and French oak (100% new) is simply phenomenal. There is a dark, brooding quality to the 2008 that is immensely appealing. This is a stunning wine from Araujo. The 2008 is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2028.
JS 96 (2/2011): This is very aromatic, with mint, bay leaves, laurel, lavender, raspberry, and currants. Fruit at the forefront but restrained. Wonderful fruit with a vanilla bean, floral, and blueberry after taste. This is exciting stuff with loads of energy. A nice combination of the power of 2007 and the complexity of 2006.
VM 94+ (6/2011): (89% cabernet sauvignon, 6.6% cabernet franc and 4.4% petit verdot): Ruby-red. Reticent but pure aromas of black cherry, black tea and flowers. Densely packed and youthfully tight, with juicy, high-pitched flavors of sweet dark fruits, leather and licorice. At once lush and perfumed, showing lovely vibrancy for a wine from this hot site. The long, building finish displays the firm tannic structure for a graceful evolution in bottle. This has turned out very well. |
|
|
2009 |
Eisele Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (375 ML) |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (5/2012): (bottled in September of 2011; 99% cabernet with homeopathic doses of cabernet and petit verdot): Dark red-ruby. Musky, deep nose offers crushed blackberry, cassis, graphite and coffee. Wonderfully sweet and rich, displaying an uncanny combination of textural thickness and verve. Strong crushed rock minerality gives this beauty an extremely youthful quality. The very long, palate-staining finish features big but suave tannins and Outstanding harmoniousness. The pH of 3.73 is "not too high" for this consistently superb wine, says winemaker Nigel Kinsman.
WA 94-97 (12/2010): From a cooler year, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard was completely harvested before the rains arrived. It should be a normal blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. More chocolate aromas appear in the wine’s perfume as well as notes of flowers, cassis and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied with striking purity and a seamless, well-formed style, this beauty is, surprisingly, potentially better than the 2007. Moreover, the 2009 should drink well early on and last for 20-25+ years.
JS 93-94 (7/2011): This is just one component of the final blend. It is a vineyard that was planted in 1964. It is block 3, and it was always i the Eisele Vineyards and it went into the 1971 Ridge and 1974 Conn Creek. Joe used to call it gold. This is full bodied and rich with a beautiful sea shell and olive character. Very fine on the palate with chewy tannins. Complex and beautiful, with loads going on. |
|
|
2011 |
Eisele Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 96+ (11/2013): Araujo has long made some of the more restrained Cabernets in Napa Valley. The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard is one of the more Left Bank inflected wines in the estate's distinguished history. Beautifully layered and expressive, the 2011 graces the palate with exquisite finesse and total harmony. The 2011 isn't a huge, explosive wine like the 2010 or 2009, but it stands out for its exceptional length and vibrancy. Readers should not expect an obvious Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. I imagine the 2011 will still be marvelous at age 30, and I won't be surprised if it is one day regarded as one of the great, iconic wines of the vintage. The 2011 has been truly special since I started tasting the single blocks in the Spring of 2012. The blend is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Antonio Galloni.
WA 92-95 (12/2012): The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard is simply beautiful. It is easily one of the most complete and compelling wines of the vintage. Rich, flashy and open, especially within the context of the vintage, the 2011 impresses for its depth and polish. Layers of blue and black fruit, savory herbs, mint and licorice come together in this complete Cabernet. A model of total class and elegance, the 2011 is simply remarkable for the year. This is one of the few wines of the vintage with real potential not just for the near-term, but also for the future. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2026. |
|
|
2011 |
Eisele Vyd. Syrah |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (11/2013): The 2011 Syrah Eisele Vineyard is rich, dense, textured and also incredibly primary. Smoke, tar, game, black pepper, plum and licorice notes emerge, but only with great reluctance. The 2011 remains intense and resonant in its fruit, but also very young, somber and almost raw. Readers will have to give the 2011 at least a few years in bottle. Once again, Araujo's Eisele Syrah is incredibly distinctive and intense. The 2011 was fermented with 10-15% whole clusters, with a splash of Viognier. According to vineyard manager Caleb Mosley Syrah was the least problematic variety in 2011, as all the fruit came in before the rains. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Archery Summit |
2003 |
Arcus Estate Pinot Noir |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (6/2006): Deep ruby. Oak spice-driven bouquet incorporates creme de cassis, candied blackberry, vanilla, mocha and graphite. Round, supple and fat, with powerful, very sweet dark berry flavors and strong accents of Asian spices and vanilla bean. Firms up on the finish, showing solid but well-knit tannins. Fans of the lush, weighty school of pinot will really go for this. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Arcudi |
2013 |
Black Sears Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (12/2017): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Sears Vineyard, from a site on Howell Mountain aged 20 months in 50% new French oak, is a brilliant example of this terroir, as well as the vintage. A full-bodied, ripe, powerful wine, with awesome notes of smoked meats, currants, licorice, and graphite, it has lots of tannins, a layered mid-palate, and beautiful balance. Winemaker Tony Arcudi commented that if you couldn’t make a good wine in 2013 you should find something else to do. He’s certainly made a sensational wine. These 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvees are made by Tony Arcudi, who was formerly in the Navy before working for Michel Chapoutier in the Rhône and later for Heidi Barrett in Napa. Tony launched his own brand in 2012 and is also the consulting winemaker at Kapcsandy. His Cabernets are gorgeous. (Drink between 2018-2043).
WA 95 (12/2016): Coming from the famed Black Sears Vineyard, better known for its black bear as well as old vine Zinfandel, this is an interesting Cabernet Sauvignon from Tony Arcudi, who worked for Michel Chapoutier and Heidi Barrett before starting his own brand. His 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Sears Vineyard spent 18 months in 50% new French oak. It is a gorgeous, flowery wine with loads of graphite, mulberry and blackberry followed by some spicy oak, a deep, rich, full-bodied mouthfeel, some supple tannins and a heady, lush finish. Drink it over the next 15 or so years.
VM 94 (12/2016): Arcudi's 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Sears Vineyard has really come along nicely. Over the last few years the wine has acquired greater finesse and silkiness while retaining all of the signatures that make this well-known Howell Mountain site so unique. It will be a few years before the aromatics are fully expressive. Today, what comes through is the pure primary intensity of the fruit as expressed in this historic vintage. With time in the glass, attractive scents of rose petal, lavender, sage and menthol gradually make an appearance. (Drink between 2018-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Arietta |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 94 (5/2010): (from Meteor Vineyard fruit) Good full, deep ruby. Sexy, high-pitched aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, licorice, flowers and smoky oak. At once juicy and dense, with a fine-grained texture and superb intensity to the dark fruit and floral flavors. There's nothing overripe or ponderous about this beauty, but its substantial tannins call for at least a few years of patience.
WA 92+ (12/2009): The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is the real deal. Its opaque purple color is accompanied by notes of black currants, camphor, licorice, and spicy oak as well as Outstanding fruit purity, a medium to full-bodied texture, sweet but serious tannins, and a long finish. Accessible now, it should continue to provide plenty of pleasure over the next 15+ years. |
|
|
2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 92+ (5/2012): (Blended with 6% cabernet franc and 2% merlot): Good deep ruby-red. Black cherry, cassis, graphite and pepper on the slightly dusty, loamy nose. Moderately dense, concentrated and supple, with blackcurrant fruit enlivened by violet and bitter chocolate notes from the franc and merlot. Best today on the mounting whiplash of a finish, which features very fine tannins and lingering notes of chocolate, tobacco and spices. The pH of 3.7 is lower than normal for this bottling, notes winemaker Andy Erickson.
WA 92 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is silky, polished and totally refined. Today it comes across as quite young and in need of further bottle age for the aromatics to fully develop. It is a gorgeous, racy wine to drink over the next few years. The 2009 is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot, predominantly from Coombsville. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2019. |
|
|
2010 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 92+ (10/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa from proprietor Fritz Hatton is another winner. Rich and dense with an inky/blue/purple color, plenty of tannin and graphite, a touch of oak, and attractive spice, purity and texture, this young Cabernet should be forgotten for several more years, and drunk over the following 15-20, perhaps longer. |
|
|
2010 |
88 Keys Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (5/2017): Arietta's 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Keys is a deep, concentrated wine, qualities that are further brought out by extended time in barrel. Chocolate, torrefaction, spice and dark shades of fruit are pushed forward. This is an especially creamy, unctuous Cabernet that will appeal most to readers who like flamboyant wines. Andy Erickson gave the 2010 27 months in barrel. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2012 |
88 Keys Cabernet Sauvignon |
$159 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (5/2017): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Keys is one of the finest wines I have tasted from Arietta. The 88 Keys is often dark and plush, but the 2012 has an extra element of aromatic lift that plays off the fruit richness nicely. Raspberry, red cherry, pomegranate and a host of floral/spiced notes give the wine its distinctive lifted, aromatically intense personality. The 2012 handled 32 months in barrel effortlessly. Moreover, the wine shows far better than it did a year previously. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2014 |
88 Keys Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (5/2018): Mocha, chocolate, plum, blackberry jam, black cherry and leather infuse Arietta's 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Keys. Plush and textured, the 2014 exudes depth in a racy, voluptuous style with soft contours and tons of fruit. At times, the 2014 is a touch alcoholic, but the wine has also just been bottled. If experience has taught me anything, it is that the Arietta wines almost always need quite a bit of time post-bottling to show at their best. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
H Block Hudson Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$129 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (5/2024): The 2013 H Block Hudson Vineyards has arrived at a plateau of maturity. Worn-in leather, tobacco, spice, dried herbs and mocha are all nicely delineated. Readers who own the 2013 should be thinking about drinking it, as it certainly is not going to get better from this point. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
H Block Hudson Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$169 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (5/2024): The 2013 H Block Hudson Vineyards has arrived at a plateau of maturity. Worn-in leather, tobacco, spice, dried herbs and mocha are all nicely delineated. Readers who own the 2013 should be thinking about drinking it, as it certainly is not going to get better from this point. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
H Block Hudson Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (5/2024): The 2013 H Block Hudson Vineyards has arrived at a plateau of maturity. Worn-in leather, tobacco, spice, dried herbs and mocha are all nicely delineated. Readers who own the 2013 should be thinking about drinking it, as it certainly is not going to get better from this point. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Variation One Proprietary Blend |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (1/2021): The 2018 Variation One is positively stellar. Deep, inky and explosive, with striking depth, the 2018 is a meaty, powerful wine loaded with character. Black cherry fruit, chocolate, game, licorice and dried wild herbs infuse the 2018 with tremendous density. Co-fermented Syrah and Merlot are magical here. The 2018 opens beautifully with a bit of time in the glass, but its best days clearly lie ahead. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Arkenstone |
2015 |
Estate Proprietary Blend |
$169 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 97 (10/2017): This estate blend from Howell Mountain was formerly known as “Obsidian.” Composed of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot and 4% Malbec, the 2015 Proprietary Red Estate gives a deep garnet-purple color and aromas of spiced blackberries, fruitcake and plum pudding with suggestions of Indian spices, earth and underbrush, plus a touch of violets. Packed with rich, opulent fruit in the full-bodied mouth, it has a solid, fine-grained backbone and plenty of freshness, finishing long and multilayered.
JD 95 (12/2017): A step up, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Estate is more concentrated, yet also has more freshness, purity, and focus. Blackcurrants, Asian spice, licorice, dried earth and even a hint of meatiness all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, balanced, textured beauty that has terrific length. It’s another classic, structured wine that will evolve beautifully for two decades or more. (Drink between 2018-2038). |
|
|
2009 |
Obsidian Proprietary Blend |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 90+ (10/2013): The dark purple 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Obsidian has the smell of pen ink, licorice, blackberry and wet rocks. Full-bodied, muscular, rich and brooding, this big wine requires patience. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030. |
|
|
2013 |
Obsidian Proprietary Blend |
$175 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 98+ (12/2015): The 2013 Obsidian (625 cases) is a similar but slightly different blend than its predecessor (72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, and the rest small portions of Malbec and Merlot). It has an opaque purple color and a stunning nose of acacia flowers, blackberries, licorice, forest floor, mocha/chocolate, and gobs of cassis fruit. Great intensity, a full-bodied, multi-layered mouthfeel, stunning purity, and a length of 45+ seconds make for an exquisite, full-throttle, yet beautifully intense Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that should dink well for 20-30 years. |
|
| Arnot-Roberts |
2007 |
Bugay Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2005 |
Clajeux Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Clajeux Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Clajeux Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Fellom Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Arrow & Branch |
2022 |
Right Bank Bordeaux Blend |
$159.95 |
12 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (3/2025): The 2022 Arrow & Branch Right Bank Blend Napa Valley is gorgeous, offering up a complex bouquet of black cherries, cedar pencil, dried flowers, and chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, this beauty hits the palate with a round, lush, and downright sexy profile that has no hard edges yet still brings impressive density and depth. With ripe, integrated tannins as well as outstanding length, this blend of 63% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 22% Merlot, aged 22 months in French oak (60% new) is going to drink nicely over the coming 15+ years. (Drink between 2025-2040). |
|
| Arrowood Vineyards |
2002 |
Reserve Speciale Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2012): Made from the estate’s finest fruit and aged 23 or more months in a combination of French and American oak, it comes from multiple sources in Sonoma, including the Monte Rosso Vineyard (now owned by Gallo). A wine of great stature and richness, it boasts an inky/ruby/purple color along with a stunning bouquet of loamy, dusty soil, lead pencil shavings, creme de cassis, kirsch liqueur, licorice and barrique smells. Full-bodied and opulent, with some tannin still to be shed, it is a classic, All-American style of northern California Cabernet Sauvignon that is approaching middle adolescence. It has another 20-25 years of life left. Bravo! |
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|
2008 |
Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (5/2012): Deep ruby. Ripe cherry, cassis, tobacco and vanilla on the nose, with a subtle herbal undertone. Fleshy dark fruit flavors are supported by gentle acidity, taking on spiciness with aeration. Finishes sweet and persistent, with the dark berry and tobacco qualities lingering. This nicely balanced cabernet is approachable now. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Arterberry Maresh |
2007 |
Dundee Hills Pinot Noir |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
Old Vines Pinot Noir |
$55 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (6/2019): Bright red. A highly perfumed bouquet displays mineral-laced red berry and floral aromas that are complicated by suggestions of exotic spices, incense and savory herbs. Stains the palate with energetic raspberry preserve, blood orange, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that become sweeter and deeper. Shows superb energy, sharp delineation and solid, mineral thrust on the extremely long finish, which is framed by silky, slow-building tannins. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| David Arthur |
2018 |
Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vine is a huge, dramatic wine. Dark and virile in the glass, the 2018 is endowed with terrific presence. My impression is that the Old Vine, like all of these 2018s, has really gained depth in bottle, which bodes quite well for the future. Black cherry, sage, lavender, menthol and licorice are all finely knit. I would give the 2018 at least a few years in the cellar, as the tannins are pretty incisive at this stage. This is a superb showing. (Drink between 2024-2038). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Aubert |
2023 |
Park Avenue Pinot Noir |
$140 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (12/2024): The 2023 Pinot Noir Park Avenue Estate is a new wine in this range. It emerges from a parcel in Sebastopol planted with Calera cuttings from UV. Black cherry, leather, incense and graphite open first, followed by lifted floral and savory notes that add character. The Park Avenue doesn't have the layers of the other Pinots, but it comes very close. This is a seriously impressive debut. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2005 |
Reuling Vyd. Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$150 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (12/2007): The 2005 Pinot Noir Reuling Vineyard reminds me of a top DRC Richebourg. Of course, this is made from the famed Calera clone of Pinot Noir, which was suitcased in from one of the most renowned vineyards in Burgundy. The wine exhibits that beautiful sweet black currant, flowery nose, with sweet black raspberry and very ripe cherry notes intermixed with spring flowers and some spice from the wood. A wine of considerable opulence, complexity, and tremendously savory, expansive texture, this wine should drink beautifully for at least a decade. Mark Aubert is on the move, leaving Colgin Winery in favor of working for the Bryant Family Vineyard, while at the same time producing some of the world’s greatest Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. He seems to have a plate filled with both potential and stress. The bad news is that one of his suppliers decided his Chardonnays were just too profound for the Quarry Vineyard, and will no longer sell him fruit from that source, and in 2006, there was so little Reuling available, that cuvee was not made either. In short, there are two fewer Chardonnays for the 2006 vintage! Nevertheless, those who got on the mailing list and secured some of his 2005 Chardonnays have some of the finest Chardonnays ever made in California at their beck and call. Of course, these are made from old Wente clones of Chardonnay, given full malolactic, aged on their lees, and bottled with no clarification.
VM 93+ (6/2007): (from a Calera clone) Deep ruby-red. Deeply pitched aromas of blackberry, smoked meat and underbrush. Dense and thick but with lovely energy to its complex, deep, soil-inflected flavors of dark fruits, smoked meat and black tea. This is about much more than just fruit. Finishes with substantial but essentially gentle tannins. Interestingly, the Vosne-Romanee clones used for the UV have produced an essence of California pinot in '05, while these Calera clones have yielded a wine in a more Burgundian style. |
|
|
2006 |
Reuling Vyd. Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 93 (6/2008): Good full, deep red. Deeply pitched aromas of red plum, raspberry, wild strawberry, cola, underbrush and earthy spices, all lifted by a floral element. Sappy, sweet, dense and thick, with impressive extract to the raspberry and underbrush flavors. This is huge without coming across as aggressive, and the tannins are wonderfully fine-grained. As has been his habit in making red wines for years, Aubert uses a spike of heat during the middle of the fermentation to get more sweetness and gras in his wines.
WA 92 (12/2008): The very fine 2006 Pinot Noir Reuling Vineyard reveals more of a pomegranate character than previous vintages. Its superb bouquet exhibits notes of forest floor, raspberries, cherries, and a hint of allspice. Medium-bodied with good acidity and a shorter finish than the 2007 or 2005, this brilliant Pinot requires consumption over the next 4-5 years. |
|
|
2023 |
Russian River Pinot Noir |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2005 |
UV Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$100 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (12/2007): The 2005 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard, another wine made from the Calera clone of Pinot Noir, and named after the superb viticultural manager Ulises Valdez, has a deep ruby/purple-tinged color and an exceptional nose of sweet raspberry, pomegranate, and currants intermixed with some spring flowers, underbrush, and forest floor notes. The wine has dazzling stuffing, expansive texture, sensational purity, and well-integrated acidity and tannin. It is a stunningly complex, grand cru Pinot Noir that should drink nicely for 10-15 or more years. Mark Aubert is on the move, leaving Colgin Winery in favor of working for the Bryant Family Vineyard, while at the same time producing some of the world’s greatest Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. He seems to have a plate filled with both potential and stress. The bad news is that one of his suppliers decided his Chardonnays were just too profound for the Quarry Vineyard, and will no longer sell him fruit from that source, and in 2006, there was so little Reuling available, that cuvee was not made either. In short, there are two fewer Chardonnays for the 2006 vintage! Nevertheless, those who got on the mailing list and secured some of his 2005 Chardonnays have some of the finest Chardonnays ever made in California at their beck and call. Of course, these are made from old Wente clones of Chardonnay, given full malolactic, aged on their lees, and bottled with no clarification.
VM 94 (6/2007): Good deep red-ruby. Knockout nose combines crushed blackberry, black raspberry, licorice and violet. Sappy, densely packed and powerful, with hugely rich, near-confectionery flavors of black fruits, wild strawberry and chocolate. There are complicating soil tones here but this is essentially a wonderfully sweet, creamy California fruit bomb of a pinot. Finishes with superb purity of fruit, fine sweet tannins, and firm balancing acidity. |
|
|
2017 |
UV Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$129 |
12 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (12/2018): Aubert's 2017 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard is pliant, open-knit and super-expressive. Sweet tobacco, cedar, mint, earthiness, dried flowers and cherry fruit are all laced together in this very pretty, nuanced Pinot. Despite its recent bottling, the 2017 UV is bright, lifted and super-expressive. The blend of Calera and Vosne-Romanee clones works beautifully. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2023 |
UV Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$140 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (12/2024): The 2023 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard is dense, heady and explosive. The purity of the fruit is just superb. Bright red/purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender, spice and blood orange all soar from the glass. A wine of depth and textural intensity, the 2023 is just magnificent. So aromatic. Bright acids pull it all together on the finish. The UV is the most delicate and refined of the Pinots from Aubert this year. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2006 |
UV-SL Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
UV-SL Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$115 |
5 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (12/2018): The 2017 Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard is the most backward and tannic of the three Aubert Pinots. Dried herbs, cedar, tobacco and menthol add striking aromatic nuance, but today it is the wine's tannin profile that makes the strongest impression. This hillside site above Occidental yields Pinots of real distinction. I imagine the UV-SL will be the slowest of these wines to reveal itself, but it has plenty to say. Lavender, rose petals, blood orange and spices add an exotic flair to this embryonic Pinot. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
UV-SL Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 94 (1/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard is laced with dark cherry, menthol, spice, dried flowers and blood orange. Medium in body, with terrific depth, the 2022 is another impeccable wine from Mark Aubert. Time in the glass brings out the wine’s breadth. Clones planted here are Vosne-Romanée, Calera and some Swan. This is the highest-elevation site in the Aubert portfolio. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni.
WA 93+ (7/2024): Aubert's 2022 Pinot Noir UV-SL comes from a site in Occidental but a relatively early one, so it was picked prior to the worst of September's heat. It's even a bit floral and herbal, with those pretty notes accenting cherries and cranberries on the nose. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, tight and focused, finishing crisp and silky. Next to the other Pinot offerings, it seems more linear and a bit less complex. |
|
| Auteur |
2010 |
Shea Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Avennia |
2010 |
Sestina (1.5 L) Cracked Wax Capsule; Signed Bottle |
$120 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (6/2013): More toasty, rich and muscular, the 2010 Sestina has more Cabernet in the blend (73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc) and saw 70% new oak for 20 months. Coming from both Bacchus and Red Willow Vineyards, it offers up a serious bouquet of black raspberries, graphite, grilled toast, chocolate and wild herbs that flows to a full-bodied, concentrated and powerful 2010 that has Outstanding purity of fruit and burly back-end structure that will take some time to integrate. Less approachable at present than the Gravura, it needs 3-4 years of bottle age and will have 15+ years or more of total longevity. Drink 2016-2025+.
VM 93 (11/2012): (all from older vines, including a lot of 1972 Bacchus cabernet sauvignon; 73% cabernet, 18% merlot and 9% cabernet franc; aged in 70% new oak): Good full, dark red. Enticing aromas of redcurrant and sandalwood. Generous, pliant and rich, with sweet black raspberry fruit nicely lifted by strong minerality. The sweetest, roundest and fullest of these 2010s, more opulent than the Gravura and impressively broad on the back end. The tannins are serious but sweet on the very broad finish. This was the best set of new wines I tasted in Washington in July, but given their pedigree this should not come as a surprise. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| L' Aventure |
2007 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 96 (7/2018): Made from 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon offers textbook notes of blackcurrants, plums, cedary spice, and violets. Full-bodied and concentrated, like the Côte à Côte , it's seamless on the palate, with perfectly integrated tannins. It's another gorgeous wine from Stephan.
WA 94+ (8/2009): Another long distance runner is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, a wine worth following over the next 15-20 years. With classic aromas of graphite, creme de cassis, spring flowers, and earth, this is a big, broodingly backward, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that is probably too formidably endowed and intense to attack presently, but given 3-4 years of bottle age, this wine should evolve as well as some of the North Coast Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa. Everything is there – crushed rock, creme de cassis, graphite, full-bodied power, fabulous concentration, purity, and a saturated purple color, all suggesting a brilliant wine. By the way, it is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5 % Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2025+.
VM 93 (11/2009): Dark purple. Strongly perfumed bouquet of blackcurrant and cherry pit, with a mounting note of blueberry. Deeply concentrated dark fruit flavors are supported by a suave mineral spine and framed by silky tannins. Impressively pure and vibrant, with strong finishing cut and echoes of smoky minerals and spicecake. As attractive as it is now, this suave wine is built to reward patience. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2007 |
Estate Cuvee Proprietary Blend |
$115 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (11/2009): (49% syrah, 37% cabernet sauvignon and 14% petit verdot) Glass-staining purple. Wild, pungent aromas of dark berry preserves, apricot, violet and incense; reminds me of a high-end northern Rhone wine. Deeply concentrated but graceful, displaying sweet blackberry and boysenberry flavors and a slow-building spiciness. The floral note recurs on the finish, which is spicy, focused and extremely long. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2008 |
Estate Cuvee Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94 (8/2010): The finest 2008 I tasted is the 2008 Estate Cuvee, a blend of 50% Syrah, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 14% Petit Verdot. Mocha, fudge, blackberry, graphite, cassis, and smoky barbecue scents jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored 2008. Full-bodied, rich, textured, and layered, this terrific effort is surprisingly soft and accessible. Drink it over the next decade.
VM 94 (12/2010): (50% syrah, 36% cabernet sauvignon and 14% petit verdot; 15.9% alcohol) Inky purple. Cassis, blueberry and smoky Indian spices on the expansive, heady nose, with a sexy floral quality that gains strength with air. Deep, sappy and palate-coating dark fruit compote flavors show unlikely energy and become spicier with air. Strikingly expressive, potent and compellingly fragrant wine that finishes with remarkable clarity and sweet persistence. This was raised in 100% new French oak, but I'd never have guessed it. |
|
|
2008 |
Estate Cuvee Proprietary Blend Slightly Depressed Cork |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (8/2010): The finest 2008 I tasted is the 2008 Estate Cuvee, a blend of 50% Syrah, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 14% Petit Verdot. Mocha, fudge, blackberry, graphite, cassis, and smoky barbecue scents jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored 2008. Full-bodied, rich, textured, and layered, this terrific effort is surprisingly soft and accessible. Drink it over the next decade.
VM 94 (12/2010): (50% syrah, 36% cabernet sauvignon and 14% petit verdot; 15.9% alcohol) Inky purple. Cassis, blueberry and smoky Indian spices on the expansive, heady nose, with a sexy floral quality that gains strength with air. Deep, sappy and palate-coating dark fruit compote flavors show unlikely energy and become spicier with air. Strikingly expressive, potent and compellingly fragrant wine that finishes with remarkable clarity and sweet persistence. This was raised in 100% new French oak, but I'd never have guessed it. |
|
|
2011 |
Estate Cuvee Proprietary Blend |
$115 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (7/2014): Blackberry jam, cassis, savory herbs, cloves, lavender and new leather are some of the notes that jump from the glass in the 2011 Estate Cuvee. The high percentage of Petit Verdot in this vintage, along with the nature of the cool growing season, gives the 2011 a sense of energy and tannic backbone to balance the opulent, full-throttle fruit. The finish is layered, nuanced and crystalline. The 100% new oak barrels are very nicely balanced. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2014 |
Estate Cuvee Proprietary Blend |
$115 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98 (8/2016): A massive, gorgeously rich and decadent version of this cuvee, the 2014 Estate Cuvee (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah and 15% Petit Verdot) is reminiscent of a 2005 Pomerol with its huge bouquet of cassis, toasted spice, graphite, damp earth and leafy herb aromas and flavors. Thick, full-bodied, unctuous and palate-saturating, yet still with purity and grace, it's an insanely good Bordeaux blend (or close) from Paso Robles that will have two decades of overall longevity.
VM 94 (9/2016): Glass-staining ruby. Assertively perfumed aromas of dark berry preserves, Asian spices and candied rose develop a vibrant mineral quality in the glass. Spicy and sharply focused on the palate, offering concentrated red and black currant, cherry and floral pastille flavors of outstanding clarity and power. Closes sappy, spicy and extremely long, with velvety tannins adding shape and gentle grip. (Drink between 2020-2026). Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2004 |
Optimus Proprietary Blend Scuffed Label |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Optimus Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94 (8/2013): Leading off the 2011s reds, the 2011 Optimus is a rocking value that gives more than a glimpse into the style and quality of this estate. A blend of 50% Syrah, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Petit Verdot and spending 14 months in 70% new French oak, it delivers fantastic black and blue fruits, tobacco, violets and cedar aromas and flavors to go with a full-bodied, supple and beautifully polished mouthfeel that stays fresh and lively. Gorgeous all around, it will drink nicely through 2021, if not longer.
VM 92 (7/2014): Super-ripe black cherries, plums, cassis, smoke and mocha are some of the many notes that meld together in the 2011 Optimus. Deep, rich and fleshy to the core, the 2011 impresses for its depth and pure voluptuousness. Hints of spice, new leather and menthol add nuance on the striking finish. Optimus is 50% Syrah, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Petit Verdot. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| B Cellars |
2014 |
Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon |
$129 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2014 |
Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Signs of Old Seepage |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Beckstoffer Georges III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$195 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 92-94 (10/2019): A barrel sample, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard is very deep garnet-purple in color and has an exuberant nose of baked plums, raisin cake and crème de cassis with underbrush, pencil lead and fertile loam plus bay leaves hints. The palate is full-bodied, concentrated, firm and chewy with just enough freshness and an herb-laced finish. |
|
|
2018 |
Beckstoffer Georges III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Bridgeline Vyd. Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon |
$155 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
Calesa Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$87 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Ehrlich Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$155 |
4 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (1/2021): Moving to the single vineyard releases, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Ehrlich Vineyard comes from a site in Oakville and is 100% varietal that was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Its inky purple color is followed by a gorgeous yet unevolved bouquet of red and blue fruits, graphite, toasted spices, leather, and crushed rock-like minerality. It’s more giving on the palate, offering a full-bodied, expansive texture that carries plenty of ripe, velvety tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. Give this exuberant, plush, impressive Cabernet Sauvignon 3-4 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following two decades. (Drink between 2024-2045). |
|
|
2017 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Babcock Vineyard |
2004 |
Ocean’s Ghost Pinot Noir |
$30 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Baldacci Family Vineyards |
2015 |
Heirloom Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Banshee |
2023 |
Sonoma County Pinot Noir |
$15 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Beau Vigne |
2013 |
Amendment XXI |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
Cult Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2015): Similarly styled is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Cult, which is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. The biggest cuvee of any of these wines (630 cases), the color is blackish/purple as a moonless night. It offers fabulous fruit and incredible density and richness, with lots of camphor, blackberry and cassis fruit, hints of espresso bean and chocolate as well as some background oak. This is a big, full-throttle, savory style of wine that should age effortlessly for 20-25+ years. |
|
|
2005 |
Juliet Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Juliet Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2009): A very good value in top-flight Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is Beau Vigne’s 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Juliet. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it exhibits a dark ruby/purple color in addition to abundant amounts of creme de cassis and floral characteristics, full-bodied power, supple tannins, a layered mouthfeel, and a long, savory finish. It can be enjoyed now and over the next 15+ years. |
|
|
2007 |
Juliet Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2009): A very good value in top-flight Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is Beau Vigne’s 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Juliet. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it exhibits a dark ruby/purple color in addition to abundant amounts of creme de cassis and floral characteristics, full-bodied power, supple tannins, a layered mouthfeel, and a long, savory finish. It can be enjoyed now and over the next 15+ years. |
|
|
2007 |
Juliet Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$165 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2009): A very good value in top-flight Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is Beau Vigne’s 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Juliet. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it exhibits a dark ruby/purple color in addition to abundant amounts of creme de cassis and floral characteristics, full-bodied power, supple tannins, a layered mouthfeel, and a long, savory finish. It can be enjoyed now and over the next 15+ years. |
|
|
2008 |
Juliet Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2010): The less expensive 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Juliet (76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc from the parcel they called Juliet’s Bench) shows off winemaker Dave Phinney’s terrific, sexy, opulent, flamboyant style. Personality-wise, it is more like a 2007 than a 2008. Dense purple to the rim, with glorious notes of graphite and black cherry liqueur intermixed with cassis and blackberry, it possesses a subtle smokiness, a voluptuous texture, and a layered finish that should please both your hedonistic and intellectual senses. It will drink well for 15 or more years. |
|
|
2013 |
Juliet Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2015): A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Juliet has a similar style but seems even more opaque purple, with loads of blueberry and blackberry fruit, some white flowers, licorice, baking spices and a touch of asphalt. It has a long, full-bodied, massively rich mouthfeel and finish, without any heaviness. It’s a beauty to drink over the next quarter century as well. |
|
|
2013 |
Old Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2008): Absolutely profound is the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, which clearly puts Beau Vigne alongside the Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet as one of the stars of Stags Leap. A wine of great intensity, exceptional power, and admirable grace as well as equilibrium, this full-bodied 2006 offers beautifully sweet creme de cassis, licorice, spice box, and toasty oak characteristics. Multidimensional, with a layered mid-palate, and a finish that lasts 45+ seconds, it will benefit from some bottle age, although it is accessible enough to be drunk now. Drink it over the next 20-25 years. This small boutique operation (nine acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and one acre of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) sits on a knoll in the Stags Leap viticultural area. Although somewhat under the radar among the top Napa producers, Beau Vigne’s offerings are very impressive. |
|
|
2007 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (12/2009): More backward and structured, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve possesses copious black fruit, licorice, and forest floor notes as well as a boatload of tannin. While neither as charming nor accessible as the Juliet, it needs 3-4 years of cellaring, and should last for two decades thereafter. |
|
|
2007 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (12/2009): More backward and structured, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve possesses copious black fruit, licorice, and forest floor notes as well as a boatload of tannin. While neither as charming nor accessible as the Juliet, it needs 3-4 years of cellaring, and should last for two decades thereafter. |
|
|
2014 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Tissue-Stained Label |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (12/2016): Probably the most backward of all the wines, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve certainly has its own charm, but it does show more oak tannin. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, and at 213 cases, one of their smallest cuvées. This dense purple wine seems more restrained and muted compared to its siblings. It is impressively concentrated and deep, but more of a long distance runner, at least out of the gate. I would put this one away for 2-4 years and drink it over the following two decades. |
|
|
2013 |
Romeo Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2015): The opaque purple 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Romeo (97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot) displays notes of coffee beans and blackberries as well as some toast and charcoal embers. It is ripe and full-bodied, with a layered mouthfeel, and stunning purity and richness. Drink it over the next 20-25 years. |
|
| Beaulieu Vineyard |
1979 |
Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$129 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
1984 |
Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$159 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 82 (6/1995): This wine has shown better on other occasions. At this tasting (February, 1995) it appeared extremely mushroomy and earthy, with attractive ripe fruit, but annoying, off-putting wet dog aromas. The wine is medium to full-bodied, with adequate acidity. It may be maturing slightly faster than the other B.V. Private Reserves. It is not a stellar effort. |
|
|
1995 |
Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$165 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 90-93 (6/1999): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of raw currant, coffee and smoked meat. Lush yet somewhat stunted flavors of black cherry and cassis. A substantial wine with plenty of fat and structure, but seems a bit pinched, even short today. The tannins build with aeration. Needs time in bottle.
WA 88 (8/1999): In 1995, the renowned Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve is extremely tannic, with noticeable oak, earth, and spice in the closed, unyielding aromatics. The color is a healthy dark ruby. The wine is medium-bodied with copious cassis buttressed by high tannin, generous oak, and sweet black currant fruit, a firm finish, and a closed personality. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2012. |
|
|
2005 |
Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Beaux Freres |
2004 |
The Beaux Freres Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (5/2006): Medium red color. Intense, well-focused aromas of wild strawberry, red plum, fresh rose, sassafras and cola. Sweet and poised, with an impressive delicacy to the red fruit flavors. Offers a silky texture and a sappy, clinging quality. Spicy, elegant and long, displaying seductive floral and spicy tones on the finish. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2005 |
The Beaux Freres Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 90+ (5/2007): Deep red. Pungent red and dark berry aromas are complicated by black cardamom, cinnamon, cola and mocha. Fleshy cassis and black raspberry flavors are firmed by dusty tannins and given a serious mien by hints of dried flowers and graphite. Some unabsorbed CO2 dissipated with aeration. Finishes gently spicy but with impressive energy and focus. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2005 |
The Upper Terrace Pinot Noir |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 90+ (5/2007): Ruby-red. Dark, musky plum, cherry and blackberry and cola on the nose, with complicating notes of underbrush, dried flowers and licorice. Dried dark berry flavors are braced by zesty minerality and gentle tannins, with an exotic twist of sassafras on the back. Alluringly earthy, floral and sweet on the precise, understated finish. |
|
| Becklyn Cellars |
2017 |
Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (1/2020): More tobacco, leafy herbs, chocolate, and obvious minerality emerge from the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper, which has a ripe, sexy, powerful style that you don’t often find in the vintage. With stunning blue fruits, ripe, building tannins, and terrific balance, it’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and cruise for 15+ years. |
|
|
2013 |
Moulds Vyd. Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$106.25 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
Moulds Vyd. Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2014 |
Moulds Vyd. Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2014 |
Moulds Vyd. Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$80.75 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Moulds Vyd. Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Scuffed Label |
$72.25 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
Moulds Vyd. Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$105 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 92 (1/2019): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Moulds Reserve is all Cabernet Sauvignon from a site in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley. It’s a deeply colored Cabernet offering a sweet bouquet of blackberries, cassis, tobacco, and leafy herbs. These carry over to the palate, where the wine is full-bodied, voluptuously styled and sweetly fruited, with outstanding purity and length. Made in a forward, sexy style, it's already impossible to resist, so I see no need to delay gratification. (Drink between 2019-2029).
WA 86 (10/2018): Deep purple-black, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Moulds Reserve is a little closed to begin, opening out to youthful cassis and black cherry scents with touches of cigar box and fragrant soil. Full-bodied with mouth-filling black fruits, the frame is a little chewy and it finishes a little bitter. |
|
|
2013 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$84.15 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (12/2015): No doubt a major sleeper of the vintage, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon has a dense, opaque ruby/purple color, beautiful crème de cassis notes, blackberry fruit in the background, judicious use of oak, a full-bodied mouthfeel with no hard edges, sweet tannin and a long, layered mouthfeel. This is a beauty to drink over the next 15-20 years. |
|
|
2013 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (12/2015): No doubt a major sleeper of the vintage, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon has a dense, opaque ruby/purple color, beautiful crème de cassis notes, blackberry fruit in the background, judicious use of oak, a full-bodied mouthfeel with no hard edges, sweet tannin and a long, layered mouthfeel. This is a beauty to drink over the next 15-20 years. |
|
|
2014 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 89 (12/2016): A delicious, opulent fruit-driven 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon that exhibits notes of roasted coffee, underbrush, blackcurrant, a touch of lead pencil shavings, earth and background oak. It is medium to full-bodied and best drunk over the next 10-12 years. |
|
|
2016 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Beckmen Vineyards |
2004 |
Purisima Mountain Vyd. Grenache |
$20 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 90 (8/2006): I immensely enjoyed the kirsch liqueur, peppery, spicy, Cotes du Rhone-like 2004 Grenache Purisima Mountain. It boasts considerable power, a broad, savory mouthfeel, and a fleshy, heady finish. Low acidity, silky tannin, and fleshy fruit suggest it should be consumed over the next 4-5 years.
VM 88 (9/2006): Slightly reduced aromas of dark raspberry, chocolate and spicecake. Creamy-sweet but with an edge of acidity giving shape to its slightly high-toned red fruit flavors. A bit less firm than the Cuvee Le Bec. Finishes with substantial, slightly drying tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2004 |
Purisima Mountain Vyd. Grenache Wrinkled Label |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 90 (8/2006): I immensely enjoyed the kirsch liqueur, peppery, spicy, Cotes du Rhone-like 2004 Grenache Purisima Mountain. It boasts considerable power, a broad, savory mouthfeel, and a fleshy, heady finish. Low acidity, silky tannin, and fleshy fruit suggest it should be consumed over the next 4-5 years.
VM 88 (9/2006): Slightly reduced aromas of dark raspberry, chocolate and spicecake. Creamy-sweet but with an edge of acidity giving shape to its slightly high-toned red fruit flavors. A bit less firm than the Cuvee Le Bec. Finishes with substantial, slightly drying tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2004 |
Purisima Mountain Vyd. Grenache Lightly Scuffed Label |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 90 (8/2006): I immensely enjoyed the kirsch liqueur, peppery, spicy, Cotes du Rhone-like 2004 Grenache Purisima Mountain. It boasts considerable power, a broad, savory mouthfeel, and a fleshy, heady finish. Low acidity, silky tannin, and fleshy fruit suggest it should be consumed over the next 4-5 years.
VM 88 (9/2006): Slightly reduced aromas of dark raspberry, chocolate and spicecake. Creamy-sweet but with an edge of acidity giving shape to its slightly high-toned red fruit flavors. A bit less firm than the Cuvee Le Bec. Finishes with substantial, slightly drying tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Bedrock Wine Co. |
2012 |
Kamen Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (5/2014): (80% new oak): Inky ruby. Smoky cherry and dark berry aromas, with hints of licorice, tobacco and vanilla in the background. Spicy and focused on entry, then deeper and broader in the middle, offering juicy blueberry and bitter cherry flavors and a touch of succulent herbs. The vanilla note comes back strong on the penetrating finish, which is smooth, smoky and very persistent. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2012 |
Kamen Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Scuffed Label |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (5/2014): (80% new oak): Inky ruby. Smoky cherry and dark berry aromas, with hints of licorice, tobacco and vanilla in the background. Spicy and focused on entry, then deeper and broader in the middle, offering juicy blueberry and bitter cherry flavors and a touch of succulent herbs. The vanilla note comes back strong on the penetrating finish, which is smooth, smoky and very persistent. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2012 |
Kirschenmann Vyd. Zinfandel |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (6/2014): Vivid ruby-red. Intensely perfumed scents of cherry skin, redcurrant, rhubarb, anise and fresh bay, along with a chalky mineral undertone. Dry, nervy and pure, offering vibrant red fruit and floral pastille flavors and complicating spiciness. Gains weight and power with air and finishes with incisive minerality and excellent persistence. There's something intriguingly nebbiolo-like happening here. This dry-farmed vineyard was planted in 1915. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2012 |
Mixed Blacks Weill a Way |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (2/2014): A plump, juicy red, the 2012 Mixed Blacks Weill a Way Vineyard is also one of the more approachable wines in this range. Dark red and black fruit, savory herbs, licorice and tobacco all jump from the glass in a flashy, layered wine to drink now and over the next few years. This is yet another super-impressive effort from Bedrock. Best of all, the Weill Away offers a bit more near term appeal than some other 2012s. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2010 |
Monte Rosso Vyd. Zinfandel |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (5/2012): Bright purple. Black and blue fruits on the highly fragrant, spice-accented nose. Juicy, penetrating blueberry and bitter cherry flavors show excellent clarity and pick up sweetness and a smoky nuance with air. Fine-grained tannins add shape and focus to the very long, seamless, alluringly sweet finish. |
|
|
2011 |
Monte Rosso Vyd. Zinfandel |
$55 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (4/2013): Bedrock’s 2011 Zinfandel Monte Rosso is pure seduction. Plums, mocha, black cherry and menthol notes all make an appearance as this flashy, expressive Zinfandel shows off its considerable personality. Here, too, the wine’s creamy texture and impeccable overall balance shine with uncommon elegance. All the elements are in the right place. This is a surprisingly soft wine for Monte Rosso. As such, it will drink well upon release. Readers who prefer tertiary complexity will want to cellar the 2011 for at least a few years. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2031. |
|
|
2012 |
Papera Ranch Heritage |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (2/2014): The 2012 Papera Ranch Heritage, a Zinfandel-based field blend red, is another drop-dead gorgeous beauty. Dark cherries, plums, tobacco, licorice and new leather all burst from the glass. The style is rich, intense and voluptuous, but all the elements are in the right place. Today, the flavors are really popping. The 2012 is 54% Zinfandel plus an assortment of grapes, including Carignane, Petite Sirah, Valdigue, Cabernet, Trousseau Gris and others from a site planted in 1934. |
|
| Behrens & Hitchcock |
2003 |
Kenefick Ranch Cuvee Torn Label |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93-95 (2/2005): The 2003 Kenefick Ranch Cuvee (a 400-case lot of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot) exhibits an inky/ruby/purple color along with a gorgeous perfume of smoke, blueberry liqueur, creme de cassis, white chocolate, and espresso roast. Dense, opulent, and full-bodied, with a terrific texture as well as palate penetration, and a 40-45 second finish, it is capable of lasting a decade or more.
VM 91+ (6/2005): Medium ruby. Cool, pure aromas of cassis, licorice and violet. Juicy, dry and lively, with excellent flavor intensity and enticing floral lift. I would have guessed this had some cabernet franc. Quite tightly wound after the bottling, and currently showing its tannic side. But this will almost certainly merit a higher rating with four or five years of additional bottle aging. In this vintage, Les Behrens used a mechanical punchdown tank for the Kenefick Ranch cabernet sauvignon-an approach that was used for more wines in 2004. |
|
|
2004 |
Ode To Picasso Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2006): A 265-case blend of 54% Merlot, 25% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah, the impressively concentrated 2004 B and H Ode to Picasso offers hints of charcoal, graphite, black raspberries, blueberries, and cherries. The complex aromatics are followed by a wine with terrific fruit, a lush, opulent attack and mid-palate, and a heady finish. This beautiful red should drink nicely for 5-7 years. |
|
|
2004 |
Ode To Picasso Proprietary Blend Nicked Label |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2006): A 265-case blend of 54% Merlot, 25% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah, the impressively concentrated 2004 B and H Ode to Picasso offers hints of charcoal, graphite, black raspberries, blueberries, and cherries. The complex aromatics are followed by a wine with terrific fruit, a lush, opulent attack and mid-palate, and a heady finish. This beautiful red should drink nicely for 5-7 years. |
|
|
2005 |
Ode To Picasso Proprietary Blend |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (5/2009): (61% cabernet sauvignon and 39% syrah) Red-ruby. Aromas of black fruits, smoked meat and dark chocolate. Sweet and lush, with mouthfilling flavors of black raspberry, wild spices and game. There's decent ripe acidity here to provide shape. Finishes with a fine dusting of sweet tannins. Another 2005 in a distinctly crowd-pleasing style, with a creamy sweetness but also a firm spine. (Incidentally, there will be only one additional 2005 bottling under the Behrens & Hitchcock label.) Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2007 |
Ode To Picasso Proprietary Blend |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (6/2011): (50% cabernet sauvignon, 40% syrah and 10% petit verdot): Bright medium ruby. Wild berries and cherry on the nose, lifted by a floral topnote. At once sweet and juicy, with an intriguing saline quality adding interest to the flavors of dark berries, menthol and spices. Finishes with suave tannins and very good length. The syrah element here brings more flowers than meat. |
|
| Behrens Family (Erna Schein) |
2005 |
Behrens Family Reserve Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
8 |
|
| |
| VM 92-94 (6/2007): Medium ruby. Liqueur-like aromas of cassis, black cherry, smoke and mocha. Large-scaled, thick and sweet, with a distinctly chewy, three-dimensional quality to the black fruit flavors. And yet this big boy is nicely balanced and the tannins are sweet. Very long on the back end. |
|
|
2005 |
Herrick-Moulds Cabernet Sauvignon |
$50 |
14 |
|
| |
| VM 91-94 (6/2007): Medium ruby. Aromatic nose combines currant, iron, mocha and pepper. Sweet, silky and pliant, with a captivating sugar/acid balance. This really vibrates on the palate. Finishes with suave tannins and terrific sappy, peppery length. This has the suavity and balance to age gracefully for a decade or more. |
|
|
2006 |
Homage to Ed Oliveira Alder Springs Vyd. Syrah |
$30 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2008): Another brilliant effort from Lisa and Les Behrens is the 2006 Homage to Ed Oliviera Alder Sp rings Vineyard. This 300-case cuvee of 84% Syrah and 16% Petite Sirah displays black and blue fruits, raspberries, lead pencil shavings, spring flowers, and wet stones. Dense, full-bodied, lush, and succulent, revealing oodles of fruit and glycerin as well as a hedonistic, blockbuster, fruit-driven style, it should age effortlessly for 5-10 years. |
|
| Bella Oaks |
2017 |
Proprietary Red |
$289 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (12/2023): The 2017 Proprietary Red Wine is a wine I tasted from barrel that I then missed from bottle, as the estate chose to release the 2018 first, and this wine fell through the cracks. Several recent bottles of the 2017 have all been sublime. Readers will find a wine that shows the mid-weight, approachable style of the year off to great effect. Silky tannins wrap around dark-toned fruit, mocha, spice, licorice and chocolate. The 2017 is an elegant, beautifully balanced Cabernet Sauvignon to drink now and over the next decade or so. If I have any quibble with the 2017, it is that the oak is a bit evident. I suspect much of that has to do with the mid-weight structure of the wine itself. (Drink between 2023-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Proprietary Red (1.5 L) |
$599 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (1/2021): The 2018 Proprietary Red Wine is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it slips slowly, sensuously out of the glass with expanding notions of blackcurrant pastilles, fresh, ripe blackberries and preserved black cherries with suggestions of iron ore, garrigue and dusty soil plus a waft of black olives. The full-bodied palate is tightly coiled with tons of black fruit and earthy layers supported by firm, finely grained tannins and bags of freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. A highly energetic wine with an amazing array of bright sparks—this is an absolute jaw-dropper!
JD 98 (12/2023): I loved the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, a remarkably complex, elegant wine that has so much to love. Cassis, black cherries, hints of black olive, chocolate, and ripe tobacco all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with a concentrated, multi-dimensional character offering beautiful tannins and a great finish. Coming from a tiny site in Rutherford (east of Staglin) that was made famous by Joe Heitz’s single vineyard releases, this world-class beauty is based on 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that was aged in 70% new oak. It’s approachable today yet I wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve for 30+ years if well stored. Nigel Kinsmen has been the winemaker here starting in 2017. (Drink between 2023-2053).
VM 98 (1/2021): A majestic, totally riveting wine, the 2018 Bella Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon soars out of the glass with breathtaking aromatics. The 2018 reveals layer after layer of complexity with time in the glass in a stunning display that is hard to fully describe. Dark cherry/plum fruit, mocha, dried herb and floral notes build into the sensual, utterly riveting finish. This is a mind-blowing debut from proprietor Suzanne Deal Booth and winemaker Nigel Kinsman. Wow!! (Drink between 2026-2043). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Proprietary Red |
$225 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (6/2025): Despite GM Shae Kinsman's assertion that "it's not a black-fruit expression that comes out of this vineyard," the Bella Oaks 2022 Proprietary Red Wine offers up what I find to be generous amounts of black cherries and cassis, alongside a faint herbal note. A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot—the blenders come from Ecotone for now, while waiting for recent plantings at Bella Oaks to come online—it's a full-bodied wine, rich and somewhere between velvety and silky, with a long, elegant finish. It shows great intensity and length, with no trace of raisining, although I would call it more dark-fruited than red. |
|
| Belle Glos |
2011 |
Clark & Telephone Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$35 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
Dairyman Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Belle Pente |
2012 |
Estate Reserve Pinot Noir |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Beringer |
2009 |
Lampyridae Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (5/2012): (from a 2001 planting; 85% new oak): Good deep ruby. Slightly medicinal aromas of cherry, licorice, minerals, fresh herbs and bitter chocolate. Very good stuffing and sweetness to the medicinal cassis, blackberry and dark chocolate flavors. Finishes with big, broad, dusty tannins. |
|
|
1992 |
Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/1995): The opaque-colored 1992 exhibits a huge, chocolatey, smoky nose crammed with gobs of black fruits, This soft, voluptuously-textured, full-bodied wine boasts remarkable concentration and purity. It is a round, flattering, luscious style of Cabernet Sauvignon that will be hard to resist when young. It should keep for 15+ years. |
|
|
2003 |
Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2013): The best wine of this group is the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve. For statisticians, the composition includes 32% from the St. Helena Home Vineyard, 19% from the Steinhauer Ranch, 12% from Marston Vineyard, 12% from Bancroft Ranch, 8% from the Quarry Vineyard, 6% from Rancho del Oso, 6% from Chabot, 3% from Bancroft, and 2% from Steinhauer Ranch. All these grapes were hand-picked between September 19 and October 28. This is a winner that is seemingly just entering its plateau of full maturity. It boasts a dense ruby/purple color along with a sweet bouquet of black currants, creme de cassis, chocolate fudge, subtle barbecue scents, and hints of lavender, forest floor and tobacco leaf. Full-bodied, rich and dense, it is a classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, as it has been in just about every vintage. The acidity is relatively low, and the 14.1% alcohol is average for a ripe Napa Cabernet. The pH is 3.71, which is just above average. This is a full-bodied, multidimensional red wine that should continue to drink well for at least another 10-15 years. |
|
|
2010 |
Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (10/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is built from completely different sources. Sixty-six percent came from the St. Helena Home Ranch, 18% from the Chabot Vineyard, and the rest from Beringer’s estates in St. Helena, Rutherford and Coombsville. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that came in at 14.6% natural alcohol with a pH of 3.8. Perhaps the greatest Beringer Private Reserve since the 2007, 2005, 2002 and 2001, the 2010 offers up notes of lead pencil shavings, creme de cassis, subtle smoke, wet rocks and background oak. Full-bodied, rich and impressive, it can be drunk now or cellared for two decades. |
|
| Bethel Heights |
2012 |
Aeolioan Estate Pinot Noir |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Casteel Reserve Pinot Noir |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Betz Family Winery |
2009 |
Chapitre 3 Syrah Signed Bottle |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2012): A bottling from selected barrels of Ciel du Cheval, Ranch at the End of the Road, and Boushey vineyards (such as was also rendered in 2005), Betz’s 2009 Syrah Chapitre 3 displays formidable tannins and a tight, almost tense character – flatteringly high glycerol notwithstanding – that easily explains why he didn’t release it until a year later than his other wines of this vintage. If the Cote Patriarche from this year merits my adjective “sinister,” this Chapitre 3 is playing bass notes way below the bar line. Blackberry and cassis mingle with soy, bitter chocolate, and charred roasted red meat. The berry juiciness here is strongly marked by bitterness of pit and invigorating crunch of seeds, contributing to a profound, reverberative finish at once brooding and energetically charged. This is going to be quite something to follow over the next ten or a dozen years. |
|
|
2001 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 90+ (11/2003): Good full red. Currant, black cherry, licorice, meat, graphite and smoky oak on the nose. Sappy on entry, then tight and minerally in the middle, with the wine's acids and oak currently keeping the fruit under wraps. Densely packed but a bit youthfully awkward today. The firm, persistent finish offers a suggestion of green tea. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 90 (8/2004): Sweet red currant liqueur, cassis, and copious spices make up the nose of the outstanding 2001 Clos de Betz. A suave, densely packed, medium to full-bodied wine, it reveals an intense character of red cherries, blackberries, black currants, and notes of brambleberries. A hint of alcohol was detected in the finish. Anticipated maturity: now-2011. |
|
|
2001 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 90+ (11/2003): Good full red. Currant, black cherry, licorice, meat, graphite and smoky oak on the nose. Sappy on entry, then tight and minerally in the middle, with the wine's acids and oak currently keeping the fruit under wraps. Densely packed but a bit youthfully awkward today. The firm, persistent finish offers a suggestion of green tea. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 90 (8/2004): Sweet red currant liqueur, cassis, and copious spices make up the nose of the outstanding 2001 Clos de Betz. A suave, densely packed, medium to full-bodied wine, it reveals an intense character of red cherries, blackberries, black currants, and notes of brambleberries. A hint of alcohol was detected in the finish. Anticipated maturity: now-2011. |
|
|
2006 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
4 |
|
| |
VM 93+ (12/2008): (a blend of 52% merlot; 30% cabernet sauvignon, 13% cabernet franc and 5% malbec) Bright red-ruby color. Subdued but pure and highly complex nose features candied cherry and red berries, brown spices, flowers and sexy dried herbs. Wonderfully silky and subtle on entry, then juicy and sharply delineated but quite closed in the middle, with terrific acidity and a strong spice character contributing to the impression of purity and lift. The note of cherry candy follows through on the palate. I'd give this youthfully tight wine five years in the cellar. Incidentally, winemaker Bob Betz told me that as of 2008 there will be no cabernet franc or malbec in this cuvee.
WA 93 (12/2008): The Bordeaux-styled wines start with the 2006 Clos de Betz, a blend of 61% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Malbec. It was aged for 16 months in 70% new French oak. Purple/black in color, it reveals a fragrant nose of pain grille, pencil lead, scorched earth, black cherry, blackberry, and plum. This leads to a smooth-textured, intense, layered wine with superb depth and concentration and enough stuffing to evolve for 4-6 years. It will reach its peak by 2012 and remain at that level through 2026. |
|
|
2007 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend |
$50 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (10/2009): The 2007 Clos de Betz is a blend of six grape varieties (56% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Mourvedre, and Petit Verdot) sourced from several Columbia Valley AVAs. It was raised in 70% new French oak for 12-14 months. Purple-colored, it reveals an alluring bouquet of spice box, violets, incense, black currant, and blackberry. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it displays an elegant personality along with considerable complexity. Expressive black fruits mingle with earth and spice notes, plenty of ripe, fine-grained tannin, and a lengthy finish. Give this rich, substantial effort 4-6 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2013 to 2027. |
|
|
2008 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2010): The Bordeaux-styled wines begin with the 2008 Clos de Betz, a multi-regional blend from four renowned vineyards, and composed of 66% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Petit Verdot. It was aged for 16 months in 65% new French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it surrenders an expressive nose of pain grille, graphite, Asian spices, a hint of balsamic, black currant, and blackberry. On the palate it admirably combines elegance with power. It has superb concentration, incipient complexity, layers of fruit, and a lengthy finish. Give it 6-8 years of additional cellaring and then drink it through its 25th birthday.
VM 93 (12/2010): Deep, full ruby-red. Dark berries, licorice, bitter chocolate and graphite on the nose and palate. Densely packed but showing superb energy and lift to the flavors of dark berries, cocoa powder and violet. There's nothing rustic about these classy wines. Finishes with terrific clarity and lively minerality. |
|
|
2009 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (8/2011): The wines utilizing Bordeaux grapes begin with the 2009 Clos de Betz which is composed of 65% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot aged for 16 months in 65% new French oak barriques. Opaque purple in color, it offers up a brooding bouquet of toasty oak, exotic spices, herbs, violets, black currant, and blackberry. Opulent on the palate, the wine has Outstanding volume, a laser-like focus, layered fruit, and succulent flavors. This sizable effort will benefit from another 4-5 years of cellaring and drink well through 2028.
VM 92 (10/2011): (65% merlot, 29% cabernet sauvignon and 6% petit verdot; aged in 65% new oak and 35% once-used barrels): Good bright red-ruby. Rather withdrawn nose hints at cassis, licorice and aromatic oak. Broad, sweet and tactile on entry, then plump and sweet in the middle, showing a distinct cocoa powder quality from its very ripe merlot component. Not quite as expressive as the syrahs, but then this was bottled more recently (April of 2011, vs. November of 2010). Finishes with very suave, fine-grained tannins. |
|
|
2010 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$135 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93+ (12/2012): (58% merlot, 35% cabernet sauvignon and 7% petit verdot): Bright, full red. Spicy high notes to the aromas of raspberry, graphite, sandalwood and cocoa powder. Juicy, perfumed and precise; not a fleshy style but elegant, vibrant and extremely young. Today the wine's mid-palate flavors and texture are still a bit suppressed by the bottling, but this long, firm-edged wine has the structure and inherent material to be Outstanding. In fact, I retasted the 2009 next to it, and while that wine was silkier and plusher, it is not likely to match the 2010 for complexity a few years down the road. |
|
|
2011 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 93 (11/2013): (67% merlot, 28% cabernet sauvignon and 5% petit verdot; aged in 65% new oak): Good bright, deep red. Redcurrant, cocoa powder and musky tobacco on the nose. Gentle and creamy in the mouth for 2011, with harmonious ripe acidity framing the sweet red berry, cherry and cocoa powder flavors. This floral merlot-based wine is supported by firm acids and tannins but comes across as quite feminine in style. Betz notes that 2011 was a very good year for merlot. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 91 (6/2014): Moving to the Bordeaux blends, the 2011 Clos de Betz (67% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot) shows the vintage profile with its mid-weight, lively and overall fresh feel. Black currants, spring flowers, mint and hints of lead pencil and cedar flow from the glass and this medium-bodied, lively and balanced red has bright acidity that’s balanced by good concentration and depth. Give it another 2-3 years in the cellar and enjoy bottles through 2023. |
|
|
2011 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$115 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 93 (11/2013): (67% merlot, 28% cabernet sauvignon and 5% petit verdot; aged in 65% new oak): Good bright, deep red. Redcurrant, cocoa powder and musky tobacco on the nose. Gentle and creamy in the mouth for 2011, with harmonious ripe acidity framing the sweet red berry, cherry and cocoa powder flavors. This floral merlot-based wine is supported by firm acids and tannins but comes across as quite feminine in style. Betz notes that 2011 was a very good year for merlot. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 91 (6/2014): Moving to the Bordeaux blends, the 2011 Clos de Betz (67% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot) shows the vintage profile with its mid-weight, lively and overall fresh feel. Black currants, spring flowers, mint and hints of lead pencil and cedar flow from the glass and this medium-bodied, lively and balanced red has bright acidity that’s balanced by good concentration and depth. Give it another 2-3 years in the cellar and enjoy bottles through 2023. |
|
|
2013 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (6/2016): The only other 2013 reviewed on this go around (most were reviewed last year), the 2013 Clos de Betz checks in as a blend of 63% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Petit Verdot, mostly from Red Mountain and Yakima Valley, that spent 19 months in French oak. Sexy, supple, perfumed and beautifully complex, with notes of currants, dried flowers and an almost garrigue like perfume, this full-bodied beauty is already impossible to resist, yet will absolutely cruise for another 10-15 years.
VM 93 (11/2015): Bright medium ruby. Aromas and flavors of kirsch, black raspberry and molten dark chocolate. Plush, round and voluptuous without communicating any undue weight. Comes across as a bit less concentrated than the three 2013 Syrah bottlings--and lower in dry extract than the 2012 Clos de Betz--but boasts lovely energy and finesse. Best today on the subtle, rising finish. (Drink between 2017-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2013 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (6/2016): The only other 2013 reviewed on this go around (most were reviewed last year), the 2013 Clos de Betz checks in as a blend of 63% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Petit Verdot, mostly from Red Mountain and Yakima Valley, that spent 19 months in French oak. Sexy, supple, perfumed and beautifully complex, with notes of currants, dried flowers and an almost garrigue like perfume, this full-bodied beauty is already impossible to resist, yet will absolutely cruise for another 10-15 years.
VM 93 (11/2015): Bright medium ruby. Aromas and flavors of kirsch, black raspberry and molten dark chocolate. Plush, round and voluptuous without communicating any undue weight. Comes across as a bit less concentrated than the three 2013 Syrah bottlings--and lower in dry extract than the 2012 Clos de Betz--but boasts lovely energy and finesse. Best today on the subtle, rising finish. (Drink between 2017-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2014 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2017): Possessing the highest percentage of Merlot ever for the cuvee (at least until the 2015), the 2014 Clos de Betz is 71% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot that’s just under half from Red Mountain fruit and the rest from Columbia Valley sites. Notes of cassis, licorice, damp herbs, chocolate and earth all flow to a medium to full-bodied, supple, elegant and incredibly polished 2014 that needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will keep for 10-15 years.
JD 95 (4/2018): Including the highest percentage of Merlot ever, the 2014 Clos de Betz checks in as 71% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Petit Verdot. It offers a beautiful bouquet of cassis, licorice, violets, and earthy, herbal notes as well as a medium to full-bodied, incredibly elegant style on the palate. It’s tight and closed, yet has remarkable purity and depth. Give bottles 2-3 years of bottle age.
VM 94 (11/2016): Bright, dark red-ruby. Alluring floral lift to the aromas of blackberry, cassis, Bing cherry, sweet spices and anise. Sweet, plush wine with great sex appeal to its intense, pliant flavors of amarena cherry, flint and spicy oak. Really remarkable--and not at all stewed--for Merlot from a hot year; Betz noted that he picked these vines early, "with tension and vitality." Finishes very long and smooth, with suave, perfectly supported tannins dusting the front teeth. A great, velvety Merlot-based wine from Washington. Betz adds some Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot to wine "to provide more structure, nuance and color." (Drink between 2018-2026). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2014 |
Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 97+ (6/2017): My note for the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Heart of the Hill started, and ended, with a big “Wow.” Unfortunately, there’s a scant ten barrels to go around, but it boasts a sensational bouquet of graphite, crushed rocks, black and blue fruits and lead pencil shavings that just scream Red Mountain. With full-bodied richness, building tannin, a stacked mid-palate and blockbuster finish, it needs to be forgotten for at least 5-7 years.
JD 95+ (7/2022): The first vintage for this cuvée, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Heart Of The Hill comes from a mix of Clone 8 and Clone 2 and was vinified in concrete and aged mostly in new barrels. It's a big, blockbuster beauty offering tons of blue fruits as well as spicy, graphite, and chalky mineral-like aromas and flavors. Full-bodied and opulent on the palate, it has lots of tannins, good mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It certainly brings the fruit today, but it needs another couple of years for the tannins to soften and will cruise for another two decades as well. (Drink between 2024-2044).
VM 91+ (11/2016): Aromas of musky red and darker berries, black plum, dark chocolate, smoky minerality and dried herbs. Broad, glossy and sweet but with less early complexity to its dark berry and licorice flavors than the Cuvée Frangin. This more structured, youthful wine finishes with rather chewy, strong, tongue-dusting tannins. (Drink between 2019-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2015 |
Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 97 (7/2022): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Heart Of The Hill shows the riper style of the vintage and brings beautiful richness while staying balanced, pure, and even elegant. Cassis, darker berry fruits, flowery incense, and lead pencil notes all define the bouquet, and it's full-bodied, brings tons of fruit, has sweet tannins, and a great finish.
WA 95+ (6/2018): A chewy, muscular wine with considerable upside, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Heart of the Hill unfurls in the glass with notions of creamy cassis, plums, espresso roast and dark chocolate. On the palate, it's full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with considerable tannin and extract that will require some time to resolve. It's well-balanced and intense, and those tannins are ripe, so I suspect the only missing ingredient is time.
VM 91 (10/2017): Bright, dark red-ruby. Very primary aromas and flavors of cassis, blackberry and licorice. Larger-scaled but less detailed than the Père de Famille, as this wine is made from the robust clones 2 and 8 of Cabernet Sauvignon. Juicy and tightly wound; less sweet and less sensual than the Père de Famille. Still, the substantial dusty tannins are nicely integrated. This wine reminded me a bit of a Napa Valley Cabernet. (Drink between 2020-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2018 |
Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
La Cote Patriarche Syrah |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 93+ (11/2010): (from Red Willow Vineyard) Deep, full bright ruby. Very primary aromas of blackberry and cocoa powder. Dense, thick and very intense, with wonderfully pure fruit-driven flavors of blackberry and loganberry. Offers a superb balance of fruit, acids and tannins. Finishes very long and pure, with lovely aromatic lift and nuance. An Outstanding wine in the making. These 2008 syrahs aged in 50% new oak, but Betz noted he's now using a higher percentage of slightly larger 300-liter barrels, and more Burgundy barrels. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (8/2010): The 2008 Syrah La Cote Patriarche was sourced from the Red Willow Vineyard in Yakima Valley, site of the oldest Syrah planting in Washington dating from 1986. It, too, was aged for 12 months in 50% new French oak. Dense purple in color (like the La Serenne), it sports a nose of brooding black fruits, lavender, Asian spices, smoked meat, blue berry, and plum. This leads to a plush, full-figured Syrah with well-concealed tannins, excellent depth of flavor, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. |
|
|
2009 |
La Cote Patriarche Syrah (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (10/2011): (from Red Willow Vineyard vines planted in 1986): Bright red-ruby. Wild, musky aromas of strawberry, flint, roasted meat, bacon fat, iodine and fresh blood. Lush and sweet in the mouth, with a wonderfully fine-grained texture that almost hides the wine's intensity and complexity today. The long, youthfully imploded finish features sweet tannins and a piquant note of white pepper. |
|
|
2010 |
La Cote Patriarche Syrah (1.5 L) |
$150 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (12/2012): Good full red-ruby. Pungent aromas of black raspberry, flint and licorice, lifted by an exotic white fruit quality. Very dense and pliant but with a light touch to the flavors of dark berries, tar and smoke lifted by minerals, peach and orange peel. Extremely closed and youthful but balanced from the start. Very elegantly styled and impressively intense wine with exotic high notes that remind me of a top Cote-Rotie. |
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2011 |
La Cote Patriarche Syrah (1.5 L) Autographed Bottle |
$145 |
1 |
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| |
VM 94+ (11/2013): Highly nuanced nose combines dark berries, smoke, stony minerality, pepper and flowers. Floral, cool and precise yet silky too; delivers outstanding intensity without weight thanks to ripe, harmonious acidity. Captivating, soil-driven notes of lavender, smoke and garrigue add nuance to the dark berry fruit. Finishes very long, with noble tannins and clear projection of terroir . This can be enjoyed now owing to its utterly seamless texture, but has the depth and energy to enjoy a slow and graceful evolution in bottle. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (6/2014): Coming from the Red Willow Vineyard, on the western side of the Yakima Valley, and from the old Syrah vines planted in the state, the 2011 La Cote Patriarche is more similar to the La Serenne, with its vibrant, lively perfume of blueberry, violets, olive and underbrush. More concentrated on the palate however, it has medium to full-bodied richness that’s cut nicely by juicy acidity and additional minerality that comes through on the finish. Beautifully proportioned, with a rock mid-palate, this lively, elegant and seamless beauty will be better in another 2-3 years, and thrill over the following decade. |
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2012 |
La Cote Patriarche Syrah |
$55 |
2 |
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| WA 96 (6/2014): A cuvee that’s not produced in every vintage, the 2012 Cote Patriarche comes all from the Red Willow vineyard and mostly from the oldest Syrah vines planted in Washington. Inky purple in color, with mineral-laced blackberry, cassis, crushed flowers, smoked earth and licorice, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness and depth, a seamless texture and an overriding sense of elegance that carries through the finish. Knockout stuff, it too will have 15+ years of longevity. |
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2012 |
La Cote Patriarche Syrah (1.5 L) |
$140 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 96 (6/2014): A cuvee that’s not produced in every vintage, the 2012 Cote Patriarche comes all from the Red Willow vineyard and mostly from the oldest Syrah vines planted in Washington. Inky purple in color, with mineral-laced blackberry, cassis, crushed flowers, smoked earth and licorice, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness and depth, a seamless texture and an overriding sense of elegance that carries through the finish. Knockout stuff, it too will have 15+ years of longevity. |
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2015 |
La Cote Patriarche Syrah (1.5 L) |
$125 |
1 |
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| JD 95 (4/2018): The 2015 Syrah La Cote Patriarche is a small step back from the sensational 2014, yet is still an incredible wine. Coming from some of the oldest Syrah vines in the state, planted in the Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley, it offers beautiful blue fruits, spring flowers, licorice, and sappy herb-like aromas and flavors. It’s fresh, elegant, and silky, with fabulous purity of fruit and a medium to full-bodied richness and depth. It’s a beautiful Syrah to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years. |
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2008 |
La Cote Rousse Syrah |
$45 |
2 |
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| WA 94 (8/2010): The 2008 Syrah La Cote Rousse was sourced from the Ciel du Cheval and Kiona Vineyards in the Red Mountain AVA and was aged for 12 months in 50% new French oak. A bit lighter in color but with more mineral and earth notes as well as meaty blue and black fruit aromas, on the palate it is more structured (something for which Red Mountain fruit is noted) but the tannins are nicely integrated behind layers of concentrated, spicy fruit. This lengthy offering will benefit from 5-7 years of additional cellaring and should easily see its 20th birthday in fine form. |
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2009 |
La Cote Rousse Syrah |
$50 |
3 |
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| VM 94 (10/2011): (Aged in 50% new and 50% once-used barrels): Good bright medium ruby. Tight, pure aromas of black raspberry, strawberry, white pepper and flowers, complicated by a sexy apricot quality. Suave on entry, then spicy and aromatic in the middle, with firm acidity and a repeating note of white pepper contributing to the impression of sharp definition. This dense, supple wine is very long on the aftertaste. |
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2009 |
La Cote Rousse Syrah (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$119 |
1 |
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| VM 94 (10/2011): (Aged in 50% new and 50% once-used barrels): Good bright medium ruby. Tight, pure aromas of black raspberry, strawberry, white pepper and flowers, complicated by a sexy apricot quality. Suave on entry, then spicy and aromatic in the middle, with firm acidity and a repeating note of white pepper contributing to the impression of sharp definition. This dense, supple wine is very long on the aftertaste. |
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2010 |
La Cote Rousse Syrah (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$109 |
1 |
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| VM 93+ (12/2012): (from a warmer site than the La Serenne): Bright red-ruby. Black raspberry, flowers, minerals and spices on the nose, plus a hint of black walnut that reminded me of Hermitage. Juicy on entry, then sinewy and penetrating in the middle, and clearly less pliant and sweet today than the La Serenne. The dark fruit and bitter chocolate flavors are supported by obvious Red Mountain structure. For all its power, the minerally, spicy, peppery finish displays very fine-grained tannins and lovely subtle persistence. Actually a bit higher in pH than the La Serenne but this is likely to need at least as much time in the cellar--say five or six years. |
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2011 |
La Cote Rousse Syrah (1.5 L) Autographed Bottle |
$119 |
1 |
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VM 93+ (11/2013): Bright ruby-red. Complex nose melds cranberry, licorice, minerals and smoke. Sappy, smooth and light on its feet, showing terrific lift to its sexy flavors of red berries, flowers, pepper and game. Youthfully sinewy and complex wine with a rising, perfumed finish showing great class. Really high-quality barrels here! Betz noted that he's now working to "take down the overall astringency of the wines through reduced skin contact, generally gentler extraction, and more seed removal." He explained: "Red Mountain fruit does not need any more seed phenolics." Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (6/2014): Darker in color, the opaque-purple 2011 Syrah La Cote Rousse is a richer, fuller Syrah that offers up plenty of chocolaty black fruits, crushed rock, pepper, liquid smoke and iron to go with a medium to full-bodied, balanced, concentrated, yet elegant and classy feel on the palate. Made from 100% Syrah and coming from 65% Ciel du Cheval and 35% Ranch at the End of the Road Vineyards, it has juicy acidity, but also excellent concentration and depth. It should evolve gracefully for 10-12 years. |
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2012 |
La Cote Rousse Syrah |
$59 |
1 |
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| WA 95 (6/2014): More mineral-driven, with savory spices, dried earth and floral notes balanced by a rocking core of fruit, the 2012 Syrah La Cote Rousse is more backwards and reticent than the La Serenne, and will need short-term cellaring to unwind. Possessing full-bodied richness, beautiful concentration, high, yet sweet tannin, and a terrific finish, this awesome Syrah will be at its best from 2017-2027. |
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2012 |
La Cote Rousse Syrah (1.5 L) |
$100 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 95 (6/2014): More mineral-driven, with savory spices, dried earth and floral notes balanced by a rocking core of fruit, the 2012 Syrah La Cote Rousse is more backwards and reticent than the La Serenne, and will need short-term cellaring to unwind. Possessing full-bodied richness, beautiful concentration, high, yet sweet tannin, and a terrific finish, this awesome Syrah will be at its best from 2017-2027. |
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2015 |
La Cote Rousse Syrah (1.5 L) |
$125 |
1 |
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| JD 96 (4/2018): As usual, the 2015 Syrah La Cote Rousse offers a more masculine, structured, mineral-driven style. This cuvee comes all from the warmer Red Mountain AVA and is a power-packed 2015 loaded with notions of black, black fruits, scorched earth, graphite, and charred meats. It’s a big, rich, inky effort, yet like all the wines from this estate has awesome purity of fruit and is impeccably balanced. |
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2008 |
La Serenne Syrah |
$55 |
2 |
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| WA 93 (8/2010): The 2008 Syrah La Serenne is sourced entirely from the Boushey Vineyard in Yakima Valley. It is aged for 12 months in 50% new French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it delivers a brooding bouquet of smoke, Asian spices, incense, lavender, game, blueberry, and plum. Dense, layered, and powerful, it manages to maintain a sense of elegance and balance. It has enough structure to evolve for several years and should drink well through 2023. |
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2009 |
La Serenne Syrah (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$119 |
1 |
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| |
| VM 93 (10/2011): (100% Phelps clone, from Boushey Vineyard; the crop load was low in 2009 due to a poor set): Bright ruby-red. Pungent, musky aromas of blueberry, cocoa powder and flowers. Juicy and light on its feet, with lovely definition and grip to its berry and floral flavors. An intriguing wild streak runs through this wine from start to very long, firmly tannic finish. Not at all a thick style of syrah, but has the backbone to develop more nuance with bottle age. |
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2010 |
La Serenne Syrah (1.5 L) |
$89 |
1 |
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| VM 94 (12/2012): (from Boushey Vineyard fruit): Bright nose features musky black raspberry, smoke, minerals, chocolate and a whiff of tar. Bright, delineated and intense, conveying terrific acidity for syrah. Proprietor Betz describes 2010 as "a return to structure in syrah" and this wine is also extremely primary, with tarry minerality and a cracked pepper quality adding nuance. Finishes with firm but suave tannins, excellent grip and terrific peppery lift. In texture, this wine is midway between Cote-Rotie and Saint-Joseph, and wonderfully fresh. |
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2011 |
La Serenne Syrah (1.5 L) Autographed Bottle |
$89 |
1 |
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VM 93+ (11/2013): Lucid red-ruby color. Aromatic scents of boysenberry and graphite. Lovely spicy, peppery lift and energy to the brooding, primary dark berry flavors. Intense and impeccably balanced wine with a light touch and lovely lingering perfume. This is a moderate 13.8% alcohol, with a relatively low pH (for this wine) of 3.62 and 6.1 grams per liter acidity. Owing to its serious inner-mouth tension, I'd wait a couple years before pulling the cork on this beauty. Incidentally, winemaker Betz cut the percentage of new oak aging from 65% to 45%, and noted that his crop level in 2011 was a good 15% lower than the previous year, partly due to the damaging frost in November of 2010. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (6/2014): Coming from the Boushey Vineyard, which is the highest elevation vineyard of the three Syrahs, the 2011 Syrah La Serenne is 100% Syrah that was aged in a combination of new and neutral barrels. As with the Besoleil, it’s beautifully perfumed and elegant, with Cote-Rotie-like pepper, game and bacon fat to go with notions of blueberry, blackberry and violets. Medium-bodied, juicy, lively and pure, it’s a fabulous and elegant effort to enjoy over the coming decade. |
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2012 |
La Serenne Syrah |
$55 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 96 (6/2014): As for the Syrah-driven wines, they do two main cuvees, one focusing on Boushey Vineyard, the La Serenne, and the other on Red Mountain, the La Cote Rousse. The 2012 Syrah La Serenne is a 100% Syrah that was aged in 50% new French oak prior to bottling. I think the greatest vintage of this cuvee to date, it boasts an incredibly inky purple color to go with notions of creme de cassis, damp earth, graphite, smoke and licorice that flow to a full-bodied, voluptuously textured profile on the palate. Despite all of the richness, it stays thrillingly focused and shows the purity and elegance of the site. Enjoy it anytime over the coming 10-15 years. |
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2012 |
La Serenne Syrah (1.5 L) |
$109 |
2 |
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| WA 96 (6/2014): As for the Syrah-driven wines, they do two main cuvees, one focusing on Boushey Vineyard, the La Serenne, and the other on Red Mountain, the La Cote Rousse. The 2012 Syrah La Serenne is a 100% Syrah that was aged in 50% new French oak prior to bottling. I think the greatest vintage of this cuvee to date, it boasts an incredibly inky purple color to go with notions of creme de cassis, damp earth, graphite, smoke and licorice that flow to a full-bodied, voluptuously textured profile on the palate. Despite all of the richness, it stays thrillingly focused and shows the purity and elegance of the site. Enjoy it anytime over the coming 10-15 years. |
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2012 |
Le Parrain Proprietary Blend |
$119 |
5 |
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WA 99 (5/2015): A wine that flirts with perfection, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon le Parrain consists of 9 barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon, all from Red Mountain (Ciel du Cheval, Kiona and Heart of the Hill vineyards), that spent 20 months in 100% new French oak. Only made twice since 1997, it offers an extraordinary bouquet of cassis, lead pencil shavings, liquid violets and crushed rock. This gives way to a full-bodied, layered, elegant, yet massively concentrated wine that never puts of foot wrong, is always perfectly balanced and has incredible purity of fruit. Tasting like a first growth Bordeaux from a great vintage, it will need a decade of cellaring and keep for a quarter of a century. Hats off to the team here for this stunner!
VM 95 (11/2015): (100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Kiona and Ciel du Cheval vineyards on Red Mountain; aged for 20 months in all new French barriques, mostly from Taransaud and Seguin-Moreau): Deep medium ruby. Very pure, alluring aromas of black cherry, cassis, brown spices, menthol, herbs and black olive. Offers a rare combination of seamless mouth feel, serious weight and Outstanding energy, conveying powerful vinosity to the flavors of dark fruits, spices and dark chocolate. Finishes with big but refined tannins, fully buffered by the wine's very high 30 grams/liter dry extract. Incredibly dense, large-scaled, classic Cabernet with Outstanding palate presence and length. This special bottling was only made previously in vintage 2005, when it was Betz's first-ever 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine. "It's got to be better and different," said Betz. "And we won't bottle this fruit separately if that meant compromising our regular wine." |
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2001 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon Nicked Label |
$65 |
1 |
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WA 92 (8/2004): Smoky oak, freshly laid road tar, and a myriad of dark fruits are found in the nose of the dark-colored 2001 Pere de Famille. A medium to full-bodied wine of wonderful intensity, purity, and great length, it displays a satin-textured core of ripe blackberries, cassis liqueur, and spices. Drink this beauty between 2006 and 2018.
VM 91+ (12/2003): (includes 16% cabernet franc and 14% merlot) Medium red-ruby. Very cabernet on the nose, with currant, graphite, fresh herbs and pepper showing, along with a suggestion of white chocolate. Dense and powerful, with flavors of dark berries, minerals, licorice and herbs. Serious, firmly tannic wine that's not at all overly sweet. Like the Clos de Betz, this was bottled in May and will almost certainly merit a higher score as it harmonizes in bottle. (The fruit component here is even stronger than that of the very suave 2000 bottling.) |
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2007 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
2 |
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WA 95 (10/2009): The 2007 Pere de Famille is made up of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot sourced predominantly from the Red Mountain AVA with small contributions from Horse Heaven Hills and Yakima Valley. Purple/black in color it reveals a brooding aromatic array of wood smoke, scorched earth, pencil lead, violets, black currant and blackberry. Full-bodied on the palate, it is a bit more dense, opulent, and succulent than the Clos de Betz, admirably combining elegance and power. The pure finish lasts for over 60-seconds. It will offer a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2027.
VM 95 (12/2009): Bright, deep ruby-red. Pungent cabernet aromas and flavors of red, black and blue fruits complicated by dried thyme and a floral topnote. The extremely intense yet silky palate offers a stunning wave of sweetness that will take several years to express itself fully. Most impressive today on the rising but wonderfully subtle finish, which is supported by serious tannic spine and goes on and on. These 2007 reds combine the structure of the 2005s with the added juiciness of the 2006s, says Betz, who appears to have made his finest set of wines to date. |
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2009 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$135 |
2 |
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| WA 96 (8/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Pere de Famille is made up of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, and 8% Merlot aged for 16 months in 65% new French oak. Doing a fine impersonation of a classified growth Pauillac, it offers up a nose of sandalwood, Asian spices, incense, herbal notes, violets, black currants, and blackberry. This sets the stage for an already complex, elegant, smooth-textured, structured wine that will evolve for another 5-7 years. This lengthy, impressive effort will offer prime time drinking from 2016 to 2029. |
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2010 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$145 |
3 |
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WA 95+ (6/2013): More firm and structured than the 2011, the Cabernet Sauvignon- dominated 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Pere de Famille is a classic Washington State Bordeaux blend and has notions of black currant, pencil shavings, tobacco and mineral all showing on both the nose and palate. Full-bodied, concentrated and rich, it too leans towards the elegant end of the spectrum with superb purity of fruit, clean acidity and ripe, polished tannin. Give it 2-3 years in the cellar and follow over the subsequent 15 years or more. Drink 2016-2025.
VM 94+ (12/2012): (86% cabernet sauvignon, 6% petit verdot and 8% merlot): Bright red-ruby. High-pitched aromas of blackberry, redcurrant, dried mint and thyme. Densely packed, tactile and sweet but youthfully bound-up, with brisk acidity giving terrific cut and precision to the wine's dark fruit and spearmint flavors. Finishes with strong tannic spine and a terrific structure for aging. As young as this cabernet is, with its inner-mouth perfume it's showier today than the Clos de Betz. I'd wait at least five years on this one. Interestingly, Bob Betz told me that the latest pickers got prunes in 2010 waiting for their pHs to go up and acids to come down. "Still, October saved the vintage," he added. (The 2009 Pere de Famille, which I rated 93(+?) last year, had gained in fullness and pliancy with another year in bottle, and merited 94 points. But the 2010 should show an even more eventful evolution in bottle.) |
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2011 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
2 |
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VM 94+ (11/2013): (blended with 9% petit verdot and 3% merlot): Good bright red-ruby. Musky red berries, licorice, thyme, rosemary and pepper on the scented nose. Creamy-sweet, suave and deep but at the same time precise and youthful, offering lovely perfumed flavors of red berries, cocoa powder (from the Taransaud oak?) and anise. Very intensely flavored cabernet with terrific lift and aromatic persistence and remarkably suave, dusty tannins. Betz describes 2011 as a year with lower total polyphenols, higher acidity and lower pHs than 2010.
WA 92 (6/2014): Made from 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 3% Merlot that comes mostly from Red Mountain, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Pere de Famille is slightly more reserved and backwards, with notions of dried spices, cured meats, black currant, spring flowers and tobacco leaf reluctantly emerging from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, with solid concentration, especially in the vintage, it has ample tannin that emerge on the mid-palate and focus the finish. It also needs another 2-3 years in the cellar and will have 10-12 years of total longevity at a minimum. |
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2011 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$135 |
2 |
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VM 94+ (11/2013): (blended with 9% petit verdot and 3% merlot): Good bright red-ruby. Musky red berries, licorice, thyme, rosemary and pepper on the scented nose. Creamy-sweet, suave and deep but at the same time precise and youthful, offering lovely perfumed flavors of red berries, cocoa powder (from the Taransaud oak?) and anise. Very intensely flavored cabernet with terrific lift and aromatic persistence and remarkably suave, dusty tannins. Betz describes 2011 as a year with lower total polyphenols, higher acidity and lower pHs than 2010.
WA 92 (6/2014): Made from 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 3% Merlot that comes mostly from Red Mountain, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Pere de Famille is slightly more reserved and backwards, with notions of dried spices, cured meats, black currant, spring flowers and tobacco leaf reluctantly emerging from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, with solid concentration, especially in the vintage, it has ample tannin that emerge on the mid-palate and focus the finish. It also needs another 2-3 years in the cellar and will have 10-12 years of total longevity at a minimum. |
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2012 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$135 |
2 |
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WA 95+ (6/2015): Containing the highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon ever, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Pere de Famille is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, with is all from Red Mountain, and saw 19 months in new French oak. It's an inky colored, classic Betz Family wine that's loaded with perfectly ripe black fruits, lead pencil shavings, scorched earth and the searing minerality and dusty earth quality that comes only from Red Mountain. Full-bodied, structured and layered, with rockin' purity and focus, give it 7-8 years of bottle age and drink it over the following two decades.
VM 94+ (12/2014): (14.5% alcohol; includes 2.5% each Merlot and petit verdot; aged in 70% new oak): Bright red-ruby. Ineffable wild aromas of blackberry, espresso, licorice, pepper, mint tea and cinnamon, complicated by a whiff of game. Boasts an utterly aristocratic texture and great lift but shows little obvious sweetness in the early going. Great incipient complexity to the suave, fine-grained flavors of red fruits, spices, flowers and minerals. More taut and backward on the end than the Clos de Betz but not at all hard, this seriously structured cabernet displays a slow-building, inexorable finish, with tannins buried in flavor. (I also tasted a sample of Betz’s 2012 Le Parrain (“the godfather”) Cabernet Sauvignon shortly before bottling. Made entirely from clone 8 and aged in very expensive Taransaud Quintessence barrels, this beauty offers knockout perfume of black raspberry, blackberry, violet and minerals; a supple, savory, sharply delineated palate with pungent pepper and violet high notes lifting the dark berry, saline mineral and sexy oak flavors; and extremely suave tannins that spread out to saturate the palate on the superb rising finish. This special bottling, previously made in 2005, offers an uncanny combination of density and weightlessness. I rated it 94-96 but note that it will not be released until the autumn of 2015.) |
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2013 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
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WA 94 (5/2023): Unpacking layers of complexity, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille offers a gorgeous nose filled with aromas of oak spices, dark cherry and juicy plum as it exudes power and finesse. Full-bodied, this is a delightful wine that continues to gain in complexity as it sits on the palate. Impressive, pleasurable and energetic, the wine somersaults to an elongated finish that brings me back for more. This is a stunning wine that will continue to age with grace and precision.
VM 93+ (11/2015): Dark ruby. Aromas and flavors of blackcurrant, minerals, violet and bitter chocolate. A wine of outstanding finesse, showing great cut and lift but also a wonderfully supple texture. (Bob Betz feels that the effect of the Pulsair treatment is clear in this wine's dimension and weight on the palate.) Finishes with utterly refined, nearly invisible tannins But this wine is still quite backward and will need serious cellaring to fully express itself. (Drink between 2020-2030). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2013 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$135 |
1 |
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WA 94 (5/2023): Unpacking layers of complexity, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille offers a gorgeous nose filled with aromas of oak spices, dark cherry and juicy plum as it exudes power and finesse. Full-bodied, this is a delightful wine that continues to gain in complexity as it sits on the palate. Impressive, pleasurable and energetic, the wine somersaults to an elongated finish that brings me back for more. This is a stunning wine that will continue to age with grace and precision.
VM 93+ (11/2015): Dark ruby. Aromas and flavors of blackcurrant, minerals, violet and bitter chocolate. A wine of outstanding finesse, showing great cut and lift but also a wonderfully supple texture. (Bob Betz feels that the effect of the Pulsair treatment is clear in this wine's dimension and weight on the palate.) Finishes with utterly refined, nearly invisible tannins But this wine is still quite backward and will need serious cellaring to fully express itself. (Drink between 2020-2030). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2014 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
4 |
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JD 97 (4/2018): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille is a cellar selection of top barrels from throughout the Columbia Valley. It’s deeper colored than the Clos de Betz and has sensational notes of crème de cassis, licorice, graphite, and assorted floral notes. With terrific purity, finesse and elegance, this full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon is going to evolve for two decades or more.
VM 95 (11/2016): Bright ruby-red. Discreet, very pure aromas of cassis and black cherry complicated by mineral, spice and floral nuances. Highly concentrated and savory, conveying a 3-D texture as well as terrific definition to its flavors of black cherry, saline minerality and dried herbs. Wonderfully elegant, energetic, flavorful wine with real éclat. Really saturates the palate with flavor without leaving any impression of weight. Finishes with substantial dusty but fine-grained tannins and outstanding lingering fruit. This will need time in bottle to unwind. (Drink between 2019-2029). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (5/2023): Dense and chewy, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille is intense and firm with black-fruited notions that dominate the nose. Aromas of baked earth and blackberry skin present with a firm, tight, almost rugged sensation. Full-bodied, the mouthfeel is broad and expressive with a chewy, tannic edge that will best be paired with food to act as its sparring partner. |
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| Bevan Cellars |
2018 |
Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$360 |
2 |
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JD 100 (1/2021): I always seem to compare great wines from this site with Haut-Brion, and I think the comparison holds here, although it’s a Haut-Brion on steroids! The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard reveals a dense purple color as well as a powerful nose of ripe black fruits, tobacco leaf, earth, coffee beans, and gravelly earth. All of these carry over to the palate, where the wine is full-bodied and has a deep, layered mid-palate, sweet tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. Hats off to the talented Russell Bevans for another brilliant, singular wine that’s going to keep for 20-25 years. (Drink between 2021-2046.)
WA 100 (2/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard was aged for 19 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sashays out of the glass with flamboyant scents of redcurrant jelly, Black Forest cake, blackcurrant pastilles and rose oil with suggestions of cast-iron pan, pencil lead and tilled soil plus a waft of fragrant earth. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated with firm, exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, it delivers an incredible mineral and perfumed red fruit firework display finish. Fans of Dr. Crane are going to LOVE this expression, masterfully crafted by Russell Bevan—an absolute must-try! |
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2018 |
Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$360 |
4 |
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JD 100 (1/2021): I always seem to compare great wines from this site with Haut-Brion, and I think the comparison holds here, although it’s a Haut-Brion on steroids! The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard reveals a dense purple color as well as a powerful nose of ripe black fruits, tobacco leaf, earth, coffee beans, and gravelly earth. All of these carry over to the palate, where the wine is full-bodied and has a deep, layered mid-palate, sweet tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. Hats off to the talented Russell Bevans for another brilliant, singular wine that’s going to keep for 20-25 years. (Drink between 2021-2046.)
WA 100 (2/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard was aged for 19 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sashays out of the glass with flamboyant scents of redcurrant jelly, Black Forest cake, blackcurrant pastilles and rose oil with suggestions of cast-iron pan, pencil lead and tilled soil plus a waft of fragrant earth. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated with firm, exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, it delivers an incredible mineral and perfumed red fruit firework display finish. Fans of Dr. Crane are going to LOVE this expression, masterfully crafted by Russell Bevan—an absolute must-try! |
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2013 |
EE Cuvee Tench Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$159 |
2 |
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| |
WA 96 (10/2015): The 2013 EE Tench Vineyard, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc, is a stunner. This comes from the red, rocky terraces near the Dalla Valle Vineyard on the western Vaca hillsides in Oakville. This wine has great intensity, with notes of scorched earth, jammy blackberry and cassis fruit, some licorice, underbrush and truffle. It is elegant, yet powerful and authoritative, pure and multi-layered, with a phenomenal finish of close to 50 seconds. This wine should drink well for 20-25 years.
VM 96 (10/2015): A wine of superb purity, finesse and richness, the 2013 Red Wine EE Tench Vineyard offers superb balance to match its inviting personality. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the EE is totally alluring from the very first taste. The Franc adds striking floral and savory notes along with a kick of freshness. |
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2014 |
EE Cuvee Tench Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$169 |
2 |
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| |
WA 94-96 (10/2015): Another wine that could easily end up being rated close to perfect is the 2014 Proprietary Red EE Tench Vineyard, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc. This is an amazingly complex wine already, with forest floor, violets, blueberries and blackberries. It is stunningly rich, with a concentrated, opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel.
VM 92 (12/2016): The 2014 Red Wine EE Tench Vineyard is surprisingly seamless and open-knit for such a young wine. Succulent dark cherry, plum, spice, licorice, mocha and chocolate fill out the wine's supple, inviting frame effortlessly. Best of all, the 2014 will drink well with minimal cellaring. Antonio Galloni. |
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2016 |
EE Cuvee Tench Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$349 |
2 |
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| JD 98 (1/2019): The 2016 Tench Vineyard EE Red Wine checks in as a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot, which is the smallest amount of Cabernet Franc to date. Brought up in new barrels, it has gorgeous blue fruits, violets, spring flowers, and damp earth. Medium to full-bodied, elegant, and just about as seamless and silky as it gets, this is a magical wine to drink over the coming 15 years or more. |
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2009 |
EE Napa Valley Red Wine |
$129 |
1 |
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| WA 97 (2/2021): The Showket vineyard is now known as “Au Paradis,” since it was purchased by Peter Michael Winery in late 2009. Composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Cabernet Franc, the 2009 Red Wine Ee Cuvee Showket Vineyard has a deep garnet-brick color. It comes bounding out of the glass with rambunctious notes of plum preserves, fruitcake, blackberry pie and dried roses with touches of cloves and espresso. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with black fruit preserves and loads of savory and earthy nuances, supported by velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long with a minty kick. 294 cases were made. |
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2011 |
EE Napa Valley Red Wine |
$149 |
2 |
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| WA 98 (10/2013): The 2011 EE, which also comes from the Tench and Tin Box vineyards, is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc. It exhibits lots of graphite, charcoal embers, a Pessac-Leognan-like smoky barbecue character, black currant liqueur, licorice and a touch of chocolate. Huge, massive, rich fruit oozes across the palate, but there is a refinement and delicacy to it that is almost impossible to believe in view of this wine’s size. Apparently, this cuvee comes from the rich, red soils on the hillsides of Oakville below the well-known Showket Vineyard. This spectacular 2011 should drink well for 10-15 years. |
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2023 |
EE Napa Valley Red Wine |
$209 |
1 |
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JD 97-99 (1/2025): Darker berries, burning embers, leather, graphite, and assorted tobacco and chocolate notes all define the 2023 EE Red Wine, another absolutely sensational wine from Bevan in 2023 that's going to be legendary. Full-bodied, concentrated, and structured, it stays beautifully pure, focused, and seamless. It's another absolute “wow” wine that readers should snatch up.
WA 96-98 (6/2025): Over the past few years, sourcing for Bevan's EE Red Wine has moved from Tench in Oakville to Sugarloaf in southern Napa. Fortunately, quality continues to rule. The 2023 EE Red Wine—a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot—boasts floral, gently leafy scents alongside hints of violet, folding in mixed red and black cherries and even raspberries. It's full-bodied but also pretty and charming, with a supple, silky mouthfeel and a long finish framed by softly dusty tannins. It's terrific stuff.
VM 95-97 (12/2024): The 2023 Red Blend EE is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Cabernet Franc from Sugarloaf. Deeply pitched spice notes, mocha, espresso and rose petal meld into a core of red cherry/plum fruit. It is one of the most harmonious and well-balanced of the wines in the range this year. (Drink between 2027-2038). Antonio Galloni. |
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2011 |
Harbison Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$179 |
2 |
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2013 |
Harbison Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$269 |
1 |
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| |
WA 98 (10/2015): Bevan’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Harbison Vineyard is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, aged three-fourths in new Taransaud and the rest in Gamba. This wine displays loads of new saddle leather, loamy soil undertones, seductive, sweet, ripe tannin, and luscious, succulent and majestic levels of blackberry and blueberry fruit as well as cassis and Christmas fruitcake. It is an amazing wine to drink over the next 30+ years.
VM 97 (10/2015): An explosive, powerful wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Harbison Vineyard hits the palate with serious depth and intensity. Black cherry jam, mocha, espresso, spice, new leather and menthol are meld into the huge, powerful finish. The Harbison is all about density, power and voluptuousness, all qualities the 2013 has in spades. Mocha, plum and espresso notes reappear to round things out in style. |
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2015 |
Harbison Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
1 |
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| JD 97 (12/2017): There are 1,200 cases of the 2015 Ontogeny and it’s 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot and the balance Cabernet Franc. Its deep purple color is followed by a gorgeously pure bouquet of black and blue fruits, crushed flowers (violets, lilies), lead pencil shavings, and damp earth. Deep, full-bodied, layered and multi-dimensional on the palate, with incredible purity of fruit and a seamlessness that's hard to describe, it's a gorgeous wine that's fabulous today, yet will keep for two decades or more. |
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2013 |
Impetus Proprietary Blend |
$139 |
1 |
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WA 95 (10/2015): The 2013 The Impetus is an equal-part blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 50% new Taransaud, 25% new Darnajou, and 25% new Gamba. It comes from vineyards in both Sonoma and Napa. The Cabernet Franc is accessed from a relatively cool, high-elevation site in Bennett Valley, while the Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Napa. Bevan told me that the phenolics of this wine are off the charts analytically, as the wine offers loads of mulberry, forest floor, violet, sweet oak and some underbrush and earth tones. Rich, full-bodied, opulent and fleshy, this wine is already drinking well and should continue to do so for another 10-15 years.
VM 93 (10/2015): The 2013 The Impetus is a blend of Cabernet Franc from Victoria De Crescenzo's estate vineyard in Bennett Valley and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon from Tench. Rich and explosive to the core, the 2013 exudes depth and concentration. Iron, smoke, white pepper, red cherries, plums and exotic spices meld into the deep, resonant finish. Of all the Bevan 2013s, the Impetus should drink well with minimal cellaring. |
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2013 |
McGah Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$195 |
1 |
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WA 98 (10/2015): A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard is pushing toward perfection. A beautiful nose of spring flowers, blueberries, blackberries, licorice, graphite and camphor all jump from the glass of this wine of majestic intensity, a magnificent, full-bodied mouthfeel, and a super-concentrated and pure finish. It should drink well for another three decades.
VM 95 (10/2015): A big, ripe, opulent wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard races across the palate with layers of blackberry jam, cassis, mocha, plum, cloves and new leather. This is one of the more unctuous, flashy wines in the Bevan range and will appeal most to readers who enjoy the racier side of Cabernet Sauvignon. |
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2010 |
Napa Valley Red Wine |
$109 |
1 |
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2010 |
Ontogeny Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
6 |
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| VM 91 (12/2012): The 2010 Ontogeny is one of the more compact wines in this lineup. It has good depth and presence but not the personality or silkiness of the best wines here. Sweet red berries, crushed flowers and menthol add complexity on the finish. In this vintage the Ontogeny is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petite Verdot and 5% Merlot. (Drink between 2014-2022). Antonio Galloni. |
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2011 |
Ontogeny Proprietary Blend |
$79 |
3 |
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| WA 93+ (10/2013): One of the least expensive wines in this portfolio is the 2011 Ontogeny, a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Bevan calls this the oddity or contrarian in his line-up of wines, probably because of the high percentage of Petit Verdot in the blend. More earthy than some of its siblings, with less exuberant and boisterous fruit, it is another over-sized, opaque purple-colored wine with lots of roasted meat, bouquet garni and charcuterie notes backed up by plenty of power, blackberry and cassis characteristics. The striking aromatics are followed by a wonderfully lush, velvety wine to drink over the next 7-10 years. |
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2013 |
Ontogeny Proprietary Blend |
$139 |
2 |
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| |
WA 95 (10/2015): The 2013 Ontogeny Proprietary Red is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, coming from some of Russell Bevan’s favorite vineyard sources – Sugarloaf Mountain, Two Dogs, Tin Box and Tench. Quite flavorful, it is exhibiting slightly more new oak than some of the other cuvees, but is still sexy and opulent, with voluptuous texture, low acidity, and oodles of juicy, succulent black and red fruits, licorice, underbrush and a touch of vanillin. An already irresistible beauty, it can be drunk over the next 20 years.
VM 93 (10/2015): The 2013 Ontogeny, Bevan's entry-level red, is fabulous, especially for the money. Super-ripe black cherries, mocha, plums, new leather, spices and espresso flesh out. Succulent, open and incredibly forward, the 2013 delivers the goods, big time. This is Russell Bevan's least expensive wine, and it is delicious. |
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2014 |
Ontogeny Proprietary Blend |
$99 |
3 |
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| WA 96 (10/2016): There are 700 cases of the 2014 Ontogeny Proprietary Red, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Totally dry, even though there is a wonderful sucrosity to the fruit. The wine has stunning blackberry and cassis notes, spring flowers, supple tannins and a long, multidimensional mouthfeel. It is a sexy beast for sure and best drunk over the next 15 or so years. |
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2015 |
Ontogeny Proprietary Blend |
$115 |
9 |
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| |
| JD 97 (12/2017): There are 1,200 cases of the 2015 Ontogeny and it’s 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot and the balance Cabernet Franc. Its deep purple color is followed by a gorgeously pure bouquet of black and blue fruits, crushed flowers (violets, lilies), lead pencil shavings, and damp earth. Deep, full-bodied, layered and multi-dimensional on the palate, with incredible purity of fruit and a seamlessness that's hard to describe, it's a gorgeous wine that's fabulous today, yet will keep for two decades or more. |
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2013 |
Sugarloaf Mountain Proprietary Blend |
$175 |
1 |
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| |
WA 99 (10/2015): The last two 2013s I tasted included the 2013 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain. This fabulous and exciting elixir is a equal-part blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot aged in equal parts Gamba and Darnajou, all new French oak. A stunning nose of forest floor, blueberry, blackberry, mulberry and spring flowers soars from the glass of this inky purple wine. Another offering of great intensity, with voluptuous texture and lavish, almost extravagant fruit richness, this pure, rich and incredibly well-made wine is yet more proof that Bevan is a genius on so many levels, as he can produce compelling wines whether they are Bordeaux varietals, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc or even Chardonnay.
VM 96 (10/2015): The last two 2013s I tasted included the 2013 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain. This fabulous and exciting elixir is a equal-part blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot aged in equal parts Gamba and Darnajou, all new French oak. A stunning nose of forest floor, blueberry, blackberry, mulberry and spring flowers soars from the glass of this inky purple wine. Another offering of great intensity, with voluptuous texture and lavish, almost extravagant fruit richness, this pure, rich and incredibly well-made wine is yet more proof that Bevan is a genius on so many levels, as he can produce compelling wines whether they are Bordeaux varietals, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc or even Chardonnay. |
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2016 |
Sugarloaf Mountain Proprietary Blend |
$175 |
8 |
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| JD 97 (1/2019): Based on 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, the 2016 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard was brought up all in new French oak, which has been absorbed beautifully. With terrific intensity in its blue fruits and floral aromatics, this terrific 2016 is full-bodied, powerful, and layered, with ultra-fine tannins that emerge with time in the glass. It has the purity and elegance of the vintage front and center, yet backs it up with both texture and depth. In short, it’s another rock star wine from this estate. |
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2016 |
Sugarloaf Mountain Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$375 |
2 |
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| JD 97 (1/2019): Based on 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, the 2016 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard was brought up all in new French oak, which has been absorbed beautifully. With terrific intensity in its blue fruits and floral aromatics, this terrific 2016 is full-bodied, powerful, and layered, with ultra-fine tannins that emerge with time in the glass. It has the purity and elegance of the vintage front and center, yet backs it up with both texture and depth. In short, it’s another rock star wine from this estate. |
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2015 |
Tench Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$249 |
1 |
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WA 99 (12/2017): Very deep purple-black in color, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard has a crème de cassis, black plums and black cherries-scented nose with touches of garrigue, fragrant earth, espresso and violets with a waft of roses. Full-bodied, rich and ripe with fantastically multilayered, perfumed black fruit flavors, it has a wonderfully velvety yet firm texture with great length and depth defining the finish.
JD 98 (12/2017): From a tiny block in a vineyard in Oakville, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard is a head turner that’s up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. With a deep purple/blue color and killer notes of blueberries, black cherries, chocolate, spice and building minerality, this beauty is full-bodied, concentrated, and pure, with a focused, clean finish that carries ripe tannin and good acidity.
VM 94 (1/2018): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard is the deepest and most flamboyant of Russell Bevan's Oakville wines. Black cherry, plum, new leather, licorice, smoke and spice infuse this rich, boisterous Cabernet. Exotic, racy and wonderfully forward, the 2015 exudes character and personality in a decidedly voluptuous style. Antonio Galloni. |
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2016 |
Tench Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
10 |
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| JD 97 (1/2019): From a steep hillside in Oakville, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard offers a more savory, masculine, layered style as well as a huge nose of red and black fruits, dried herbs, chocolate, and earth. It hits the palate with a full-bodied, mouthfilling style that carries plenty of tannins, a deep, concentrated mid-palate, and a great finish. I like it today, yet it’s going to continue drinking brilliantly for two decades. |
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2019 |
Tench Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$179 |
1 |
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WA 98 (5/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard is a stunning example of eastern Oakville Cabernet. It's loaded with scents of cassis and red plum and tinged with faint hints of thyme and sage, and it's full-bodied, rich and relatively open-knit. Ripe, plush and layered, gently framed by cedar and vanilla, it's lovely stuff that should drink well for up to two decades.
JD 97 (3/2022): I loved the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard. This beauty is a great representation of this terroir, with mineral-drenched aromas and flavors of blueberries, iron, chocolate, graphite, and candied violets. Deep, rich, and full-bodied, it’s another monster of a wine from Bevan that stays beautifully balanced and seamless.
VM 96 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard is packed with inky dark fruit, gravel, smoke, licorice, lavender, chocolate incense and spice. This powerful, virile Cabernet needs a few years to unwind, but it is super-impressive, even in the early going. A whole range of bold, savory accents lend character to the searingly intense finish. This is a very typical wine from Tench in its sheer heft. (Drink between 2024-2034). Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Tench Vyd. The Calixtro Cabernet Sauvignon |
$195 |
1 |
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WA 99 (12/2017): Very deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro conjures notions of lavender, wild thyme, dusty earth and pencil shavings over a core of red and black currants plus a touch of charcuterie. Full-bodied, rich, ripe and oh-so-seductive, the palate features ripe, velvety tannins and fantastic freshness, lifting the incredibly long, fruity finish.
JD 98 (12/2017): Another gem from this site in Oakville is the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro. It gives up complex notes of blackberry jam, tobacco leaf, violets, seaweed and crushed rock, and is stacked on the palate, with full-bodied richness and sweet tannin. It’s a beautifully complete, layered, balanced 2015 that does everything right. Drink it over the coming two decades. (Drink between 2018-2038) |
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2016 |
Tench Vyd. The Calixtro Cabernet Sauvignon |
$239 |
6 |
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JD 99 (1/2019): Flirting with perfection and up with the top handful of wines in the vintage, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro comes from a single block in the Tench Vineyard that always stands out. Similarly colored to the straight Tench release, it has slightly more freshness, structure, and purity, with thrilling notes of plums, purple fruits, crushed violets, and a liquid rock-like minerality. It got more than a few expletives in my notes and is sensational on the palate as well, with full body, ultra-fine tannins, and world-class purity of fruit. It’s another brilliant, brilliant wine from winemaker Russell Bevan. (Drink between 2019-2039.)
VM 98 (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro emerges from Block 1B South, which lies next to Harbison. Not unsurprisingly, the Calixtro shares much with its neighbor, specifically a vertical sense of structure and a profile rich in mineral and savory overtones. Explosive and dense on the palate, the Calixtro hits all the right notes. Graphite, scorched earth, licorice, lavender, crème de cassis and spice fill out the wine's huge, massive frame. This is another rock star wine from Russell Bevan. (Drink between 2022-2036.) Antonio Galloni.
WA 98 (10/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro is deep garnet-purple colored and has a nose of cassis, violets, roses, tea and earth with touches of cast iron pan and camphor. The palate is medium to full-bodied and firm, with very fine-grained tannins, finishing fresh and long. 135 cases produced. |
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2018 |
Tench Vyd. The Calixtro Cabernet Sauvignon |
$275 |
1 |
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JD 100 (1/2021): Pure perfection, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro is a vineyard selection from a great site just beside the winery, on the east side of Oakville. Offering a decadent, full-bodied, concentrated style as well as lots of red and blue fruits, spring flowers, spice, and an almost bloody, iron-like character, it’s a heavenly Cabernet that delivers both intellectual and hedonistic pleasure in spades. It already offers pleasure yet should keep for 20+ years. (Drink between 2021-2043.)
WA 99 (2/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro was aged for 19 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it's a little closed at this youthful stage, revealing glimpses at warm cassis, boysenberries and plum preserves scents with hints of charcoal, espresso, tapenade and violets. Full-bodied and rich, with a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and seamless freshness, it finishes very long and minerally. Only 109 cases were produced. Those lucky enough to secure a few bottles will want to put them away for at least 4-5 years and drink them over the next 25+ years.
VM 97 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro emerges from Block 1B, which is home to some of the best dirt on the site. A stunning range of mineral and savory inflections races out of the glass, adding layers of complexity to the intense dark fruit. This is far from an easygoing 2018. Readers should plan on cellaring it for at least a few years. (Drink between 2023-2033.) |
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2015 |
Tin Box Cabernet Sauvignon |
$159 |
1 |
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WA 97+ (12/2017): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tin Box Vineyard gives a very deep garnet-purple color and nose of dried herbs, red currant jelly and underbrush over a core of plum preserves, crème de cassis and fungi with a waft of mossy bark. Medium-bodied with beautiful elegance and freshness in the mouth, it has a firm backbone of grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long and earthy. Needs time but should age fantastically!
JD 95+ (12/2017): From old Martini Clone Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tin Box Vineyard will be the last vintage from this cuvee. It’s a masculine, full-bodied, structured beauty that possessing lots of ripe black fruits, scorched earth, cedar and licorice aromas, and flavors. It packs serious fruit but has enough tannin to warrant 3-4 years of bottle age.
VM 95 (1/2018): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tin Box Vineyard is distinguished by a bit more energy, freshness and linearity next to the other Oakville Cabernets in this range. The aromatics are quite open and expressive, but the wine is less expressive on the palate. Bright floral notes, espresso and red cherry fruit open up, but only with considerable reluctance. My instincts say the wine's reticence is a good sign for the future. Readers looking for a showy 2015 Cabernet will find that in other wines in this range, but not here. I would cellar the 2015 for at least a few years. Antonio Galloni. |
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2011 |
Tin Box Proprietary Blend |
$395 |
2 |
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WA 100 (10/2013): Meriting a three digit score, the 2011 Tin Box is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot from a hillside vineyard. It boasts a vivid perfume of acacia flowers and blueberry liqueur that bursts from the glass with vibrant purity as well as intensity. A magnificent red wine with unreal richness, full-bodied unctuosity, low acidity, and velvety tannins, this 2011 (aged in 100% new French oak) reveals few wood notes, and because of the vintage characteristics, can be drunk now or cellared for another 10-15 years.
VM 94+ (11/2013): Bevan's 2011 Red Wine Tin Box (Cabernet Sauvignon) emerges from a superb site in Oakville. Deeply spiced and layered, the 2011 impresses for its balance and classy, totally supple personality. Pencil shavings, graphite, spices and plums are some of the many notes that flow through to the stunning finish. Quite frankly, the Tin Box is a revelation. I can hardly wait to see what Russell Bevan comes up with here in a more favorable vintage. |
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2013 |
Two Dog Knoll Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$189 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96+ (10/2015): Another proprietary red wine, in this case a blend of 55% Petit Verdot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, is the 2013 Two Dog Knoll, which comes from the Oakville site. Normally with this much Petit Verdot, I would be worried about rustic tannins, but Bevan has handled it brilliantly. Inky bluish/purple, with notes of blueberry liqueur, brioche, acacia flowers, steak tartare as well as roasted meats and herbs, this is a wine of great intensity. Singular and distinct, it should drink well for 20-25 years as well. |
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2013 |
Two Dog Knoll Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$199 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 96+ (10/2015): Another proprietary red wine, in this case a blend of 55% Petit Verdot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, is the 2013 Two Dog Knoll, which comes from the Oakville site. Normally with this much Petit Verdot, I would be worried about rustic tannins, but Bevan has handled it brilliantly. Inky bluish/purple, with notes of blueberry liqueur, brioche, acacia flowers, steak tartare as well as roasted meats and herbs, this is a wine of great intensity. Singular and distinct, it should drink well for 20-25 years as well. |
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2013 |
Wildfoote Vyd. Vixen Block Cabernet Sauvignon |
$219 |
2 |
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| |
WA 97+ (10/2015): From a vineyard owned by Screaming Eagle’s former proprietress, Jean Phillips, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Vixen Block Wildfoote is all Cabernet Sauvignon from clone 7, aged in equal parts new Taransaud and new Darnajou. An amazing wine, opaque purple in color, with sweet cedar wood, Christmas fruitcake, blackberry and cassis as well as some charcoal and incense, this fabulous wine is super-rich and capable of 30 years of further evolution.
VM 96 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block, from Jeannie Philipps's, Stags Leap property, is fabulous. Inky, deep and mysterious, the 2013 possesses remarkable nuance and detail. Lavender, mint, spice and sage are some of the signatures in a wine endowed with tons of Stags' Leap personality. Sweet lavender, mint and pine meld into the sleek, silky finish. |
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2015 |
Wildfoote Vyd. Vixen Block Cabernet Sauvignon |
$169 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2017): Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Vixen Block Wildfoote Vineyard offers up a very serious nose of cassis, blackberry pie and blueberry compote with hints of dried lavender, underbrush, Chinese five spice and cigar box, plus a waft of dark chocolate. Full-bodied and densely packed with black fruit preserves and earthy layers, it has a firm frame of finely grained tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with epically long exotic spice nuances. Only 125 cases were produced.
JD 96 (12/2017): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block is one of the more refined, elegant wines in the lineup and reveals a perfumed bouquet of white flowers, blue fruits, violets, and spice. It’s seamless and silky on the palate, yet has building underlying tannin and is beautifully balanced. It’s one of those wines that carry loads of intensity and texture yet just glides over the palate. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades. (Drink between 2018-2038) |
|
|
2016 |
Wildfoote Vyd. Vixen Block Cabernet Sauvignon |
$200 |
10 |
|
| |
JD 97 (1/2019): Leading off the Cabernets and from a site in the Stags Leap AVA, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard offers a thrilling bouquet of blueberries and blackcurrants to go with complex white flowers, violets, and hints of chocolate. With no hard edges, full body, and beautiful fruit, this Cabernet shines for its incredible finesse and elegance yet certainly doesn’t lack for power. It’s a brilliant wine. (Drink between 2019-2039).
VM 96 (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block is a rich, exotic wine loaded with Stags Leap character. Black cherry, plum, new leather, spice and menthol all flesh out in this potent, dark wine. Dark red and purplish berry fruit and floral notes add brightness. Today, the Wildfoote comes across as quite closed following its bottling, but there is every reason to think it will blossom in a few years' time, as there is quite a bit of energy and persistence. (Drink between 2021-2031.) Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Robert Biale Vineyards |
2008 |
Black Chicken Zinfandel |
$45 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2010): Speaking of the 2008 Zinfandel Black Chicken, it has a beautiful nose of sweet, jammy black cherries and raspberries, a dark ruby/purple-tinged color, and an expansive, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel as well as lots of heady glycerin. This full-throttle, lusty, delicious, silky-textured wine cascades over the palate with no hard edges. It should be drunk over the next 3-4 years. |
|
|
2009 |
Black Chicken Zinfandel |
$45 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (12/2011): The 2009 Zinfandel Black Chicken shows off gorgeous mid-palate richness in its black cherries, menthol, licorice and sweet spices. There is more than enough vibrancy and depth to allow the wine to drink beautifully for at least a handful of years. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Black Cordon Vineyard |
2007 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Blankiet |
2004 |
Paradise Hills Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 96 (12/2006): There are 1,300 cases of the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Paradise Hills Vineyard. Boasting delicious fudge-like aromas intermixed with blackberry, coffee bean, and pain grille scents, this super-rich, full-bodied effort displays a Graves-like, volcanic, scorched earth/hot stone element in its flavors. With moderately high tannin, it will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age, and should drink well over the following two decades.
VM 94 (6/2007): Deep ruby. Vibrant, pure aromas of black raspberry and violet. Sweet, primary and sophisticated, with a lovely lightness of touch for a 2004. Very fresh cabernet with a building finish featuring suave, rich tannins and Outstanding length. From fruit picked under more moderate conditions than the merlot, which came in during the heat spike at the beginning of September. |
|
|
2005 |
Paradise Hills Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (12/2007): The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Paradise Hills Vineyard (1,200 cases) reveals a chocolatey espresso roast note with mocha, blackberry and cassis, high tannins, but full body, superb concentration, purity, and an almost Graves-like scorched earth character. This wine needs 3-4 years of bottle age, and should last 25-30 years.
VM 92+ (6/2008): Good deep, saturated ruby. Aromas of currant, bitter chocolate, violet and tobacco. Juicy and penetrating, with firm-edged, slightly green acidity that has not yet harmonized with the wine's fruit. This very young wine will need extended time in bottle to come together. Claude Blankiet noted that the substantial spring rain in 2005 caused the vines "to go crazy," producing a big crop that required a lot of work to control the ultimate yields. A good bit of 2005 wine was ultimately declassified (the equivalent of about 600 cases), he told me, and when Michel Rolland helped out with the final blends, he added some cabernet sauvignon to the Rive Droite cuvee "to give it more middle." The 3.68 pH of this wine is unusually low. |
|
|
2009 |
Paradise Hills Vyd. Proprietary Blend Signed Bottle |
$165 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 96 (5/2015): (82% Cabernet Sauvignon): Good deep red-ruby. Captivating aromas of cassis, plum, mocha, smoke and wild herbs. Plush and seamless on the palate, with an element of soil-driven salinity complicating the rich fruit flavors of red and blackcurrant, mulberry and plum. In a warmer style at 14.9% alcohol but with so much mid-palate stuffing that it does not come off as alcoholic. The building tannins are sweet and even, allowing the wine's fruit to linger. A spectacular result for 2009: wonderfully harmonious, ripe and long. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 95 (10/2013): The 2009 Proprietary Red Paradise Hills Vineyard (81.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16.7% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that achieved 14.9% alcohol) exhibits a beautiful perfume of scorched earth, chocolate, espresso beans, creme de cassis, plums and Asian spices. Full-bodied, deep and just beginning to strut its stuff, with formidable tannins in the finish, it has 20-25 years of upside potential. |
|
|
2019 |
Paradise Hills Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$228.65 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2005 |
Prince of Hearts Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Prince of Hearts Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 93 (10/2013): Composed of 70.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24.9% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the impressive 2009 Prince of Hearths Paradise Hills Vineyard reveals a deep ruby/purple color, an evolved personality and lots of black currant, cherry and pen ink characteristics. This dark, medium to full-bodied, supple textured wine should drink well for 12-15 years.
VM 91 (12/2012): The 2009 Prince of Hearts Paradise Hills Vineyard jumps from the glass with an immediacy and juiciness that is impossible not to love. The extroverted, racy fruit is perfectly suited for an entry-level bottling. Raspberry jam, flowers, tobacco and sweet spices wrap around the palate as this flashy wine shows off its pedigree. The French oak is just a bit dominant, but that is a relatively small critique for a wine that delivers so much sheer pleasure at this price point. The 2009 is 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2010 |
Prince of Hearts Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
5 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (5/2013): (a blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 3% cab franc and 1% petit verdot; aged in 50% new and 50% once-used barrels): Good deep ruby-red. Captivating mineral and floral lift to the aromas of raspberry and red licorice. Suave and perfumed in the mouth; not a monster of density but live acidity gives shape and lift to the juicy raspberry and spice flavors. This is too easy to drink! Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2013 |
Prince of Hearts Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (10/2015): A real overachiever, the 2013 Prince of Hearts Paradise Hills Vineyard is deep and wonderfully expressive. Black cherry, plum, violets, cloves, leather and licorice meld together in a sumptuous, intense wine that overdelivers on so many levels, one of them being price. The Prince of Hearts is a model of finesse and understatement. Readers who can find it should not hesitate. There are only a handful of wines that can match Prince of Hearts for value and pure pleasure. The blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2014 |
Prince of Hearts Proprietary Blend |
$80.75 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (12/2016): The 2014 Prince of Hearts is fabulous. Soft, open-knit and expressive, the Prince of Hearts is one of the more gracious wines readers will find in this vintage. Expressive floral and red-toned fruit notes give the 2014 its feminine, sensual personality. This is one of the finest Napa Valley wines readers will find in its price range. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2016 |
Prince of Hearts Proprietary Blend |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (1/2019): Lastly, the 2016 Prince of Hearts Red is based on 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot, all aged 18 months in 50% new French oak. It’s another seamless, elegant wine from the estate that has remarkable complexity in its sandalwood, spice box, chocolate, and cassis and blueberry-like fruits. Hitting the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless texture, and ultra-fine tannins, it can be drunk today or cellared for 15+ years. It’s another beautiful wine from this team that has both power and finesse. |
|
|
2019 |
Prince of Hearts Rose |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2005 |
Rive Droite Proprietary Blend |
$159 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (12/2007): The 2005 Merlot, which is now called Rive Droite (and this is the last one), is an 800-case blend with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc added. An elegant, dark ruby/purple-colored wine with a sweet nose of espresso roast, dark black cherries, licorice, underbrush, and truffle in an elegant, full-bodied, rich, concentrated style, this wine should drink nicely for 12-15+ years.
VM 89+ (6/2008): Full medium ruby. Smoky, lower-toned aromas of black raspberry, mocha, earth and tobacco, lifted by a pungent minty quality and a whiff of resin. Here, too, the acidity is quite pronounced today, and with moderate mid-palate flesh and sweetness the current impression is a bit ungenerous. Finishes quite tight, with a slight sharpness to the acidity. These 2005s may well be in an awkward stage today, and my scores may come to look overly conservative, but in any event they should not be opened anytime soon. |
|
|
2011 |
Rive Droite Proprietary Blend |
$103.20 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (6/2014): (92.4% merlot and 7.6% cabernet franc): Good deep red-ruby. Tight, pure, highly perfumed nose combines cassis, lead pencil, licorice and sexy spices, plus a balsamic cedary note. Supple, silky and uncompromisingly dry, showing inviting flavors of cassis, graphite, milk chocolate and cedar. Doesn't have the richness of the best vintages here but there's no shortage of aromatic complexity. |
|
|
2015 |
Rive Droite Proprietary Blend |
$195 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 97+ (3/2018): The 2015 Rive Droite is the most reticent of these 2015s today. In 2015, the Rive Droite has more structure and power than is typically the case, which may be a result of the higher percentage of Cabernet Franc in the blend. I imagine the 2015 is going to need at least a number of years in bottle to be at its best. There is plenty of intrigue, with myriad savory notes that emerge over time. Even so, patience will be rewarded. The 2015 Rive Droite is a fabulous wine by any measure. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Boars' View (Schrader) |
2014 |
The Coast Pinot Noir |
$100 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Bond Estates (Harlan) |
2019 |
Matriarch Proprietary Blend |
$225 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 94 (2/2023): I loved the 2019 Matriarch, and this full-bodied, round, seamless beauty hits all the right spots. Cassis, graphite, toasted spice, and beautifully integrated oak all define the aromatics, and it has wonderful tannins, a pure, silky, elegant mouthfeel, and a great finish. It’s going to evolve for 15+ years.
WA 94 (3/2023): Assembled from barrels that don't make it into Bond's single-vineyard offerings, the 2019 Matriarch is an excellent wine in its own right. Perhaps a bit more cedary than the other Bond wines, it deftly marries piney, herbal notes with ripe cherries on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is intense but supple, with a slightly grainy texture on the lingering finish.
VM 93 (2/2023): The 2019 Matriarch is gorgeous. Dark red cherry, plum, mocha, licorice and leather infuse the 2019 with striking depth. Medium in body and resonant, the 2019 is so wonderfully expressive today. All the elements meld together nicely here. Best of all, the 2019 will drink well upon release. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2021 |
Pluribus Proprietary Blend |
$550 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 98 (12/2024): The 2021 Pluribus is just as exceptional as it was from barrel. Complex, dynamic and ever-changing in the glass, the 2021 coveys tons of mountain structure. Graphite, crushed rocks, mint, spice, licorice and lavender are all laced together in a dramatic, dense wine endowed with tremendous pedigree. This site on Spring Mountain yields Cabernets loaded with character. (Drink between 2028-2041). Antonio Galloni.
JD 96+ (1/2025): Usually one of the most structured wines in the lineup, the 2021 Pluribus is more medium to full-bodied and elegant, with a terrific perfume of black and blue fruits intermixed with exotic flowers, violets, and graphite nuances. It has a certain exotic edge, is beautifully balanced, has fine tannins, and a great finish. It's another seamless, elegant, very classically built Cabernet Sauvignon from this team that deserves 4-6 years of bottle age and will be long-lived. (Drink starting 2029). |
|
|
2015 |
St. Eden Proprietary Blend |
$569 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2019): Moving to the 2015s tasted from bottle, this is an incredible vintage for this estate and there are two perfect wines in the lineup. First up, the 2015 St. Eden, from a hillside of red volcanic soils near Oakville, boasts a saturated purple color and heavenly notes of blackcurrants, scorched earth, lead pencil shavings, and huge crushed rock-like minerality. It’s full-bodied, deep, and layered on the palate, with incredible concentration, yet it stays seamless, pure, and perfectly balanced. It’s a magical wine to drink over the coming 2-3 decades. (Drink between 2019-2049).
WA 99 (10/2018): Bottled in early 2018, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 St. Eden springs from the glass with exuberant blueberry pie, potpourri and spice cake scents followed by a black raspberry, cassis and preserved plums core plus a touch of wild sage. Full-bodied, plush and decadently fruited, it completely packs the palate with layer upon layer of black fruit preserves, finishing very long with those spices coming through.
VM 96 (12/2018): The 2015 St. Eden is another wine in this lineup that is not quite as expressive as it can be. Firm tannins dominate over softer contours that so often make St. Eden such an alluring wine. Time in the glass brings out an attractive set of dark cherry, plum, leather and tobacco notes. Even so, the 2015 is going to need a number of years to be at its very best. (Drink between 2022-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Booker Vineyard |
2009 |
Tempranillo |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (8/2011): The 2009 Tempranillo is impressive. Dark red fruit, flowers and spices come to life in this rich, textured red. The aromas and flavors caress the palate with considerable richness and depth. The finish is long and striking for its purity. The Tempranillo was aged in 80% new barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021.
VM 91 (10/2011): Deep ruby. Candied cherry, flowers, woodsmoke and cured tobacco on the assertively perfumed nose. Deep, broad and velvety, with impressive depth and sweetness to its cherry and cassis flavors. Picks up spiciness and notes of vanilla and bitter chocolate with air and finishes with excellent clarity and lingering spiciness. I like this wine's balance. |
|
|
2010 |
Tempranillo |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (8/2012): There is no shortage of depth, power or richness in the 2010 Tempranillo. The 2010 boasts extraordinary purity and complexity, even if it doesn’t quite have the personality of the wines made from Rhone varieties. The 80% new oak has been absorbed masterfully. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. |
|
|
2013 |
Tempranillo |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (8/2015): Competing with Epoch's top-notch Tempranillo as the best example of the variety in California, Jensen's 2013 Tempranillo is a blockbuster that's not made in every vintage. Black cherries, currants, leather, dried herbs and savory spices all emerge from this full-bodied, thick and unctuously textured beauty. It has the classic tannic grip of the variety, yet that's paired with the hallmark texture and purity of the estate. This is an awesome wine any way you look at it.
VM 92 (9/2015): Opaque ruby. The nose displays an array of dark fruit and floral scents, along with suggestions of pipe tobacco and woodsmoke. Sweet and generous in style, offering broad, edge-free flavors of blackberry and bitter cherry. Closes smooth and very long, with gentle tannins providing shape. This hefty, seamless example of Tempranillo will be delicious in its youth but also has the depth to age. (Drink between 2019-2026). Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2014 |
Tempranillo |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 97-99 (8/2016): Possibly one of the greatest expressions of this variety yet from the US, the inky colored 2014 Tempranillo offers classic notes of smoked black plums, cedary spice, charred meats and chalky minerality, with more and more floral notes emerging with time in the glass. Big, full-bodied and tannic, forget it for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following decade or more. |
|
|
2010 |
Alchemist 22 Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94-96 (8/2012): In my view, the 2010 Alchemist 22 is the wine that seems to gain the most through the extended time in barrel, as the tannins have an element of polish that isn’t found in the regular bottling. Perfumed aromatics are woven throughout an expressive core of dark red fruit, licorice, tar and mint. The overall impression is one of seamless beauty and tons of promise. This is a fabulous showing from Booker and proprietor Eric Jensen. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2014 |
Estate 24 Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94-96 (8/2016): The 2014 Estate Ext 24 is the, you guessed it, the extended aged version of the Estate cuvee. This was previously called the Alchemist and in 2014 is made from 51% Tempranillo, 28% Syrah, 13% Petit Verdot and 8% Grenache. Getting a few expletives in my rough notes, this beauty sports a deep purple color as well as thrilling aromatics, full-bodied richness, building, firm tannin and straight up awesome purity. The Tempranillo structure is front and center, so I suspect short term cellaring will be the name of the game. |
|
|
2013 |
Estate Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (8/2015): Formerly labeled as the Alchemist, the 2013 Booker Estate is 84% Syrah, 11% Tempranillo and the rest a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Inky colored, deep, savory and spicy, with the Tempranillo front and center at the moment, it offers lots of dark fruits, truffle, dried spice and meaty aromatics, full-bodied richness and enough tannic grip to warrant another year or two in bottle.
VM 94 (9/2015): Bright purple. Deeply perfumed, complex bouquet of dried cherry, licorice, potpourri and smoky minerals, with a subtle note of raw meat. Very sweet and creamy on the palate, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors that gain depth and spiciness with air. Picks up notes of candied flowers and vanilla on the back end, finishing with superb energy, suave tannins and lingering sweetness. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2014 |
Estate Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2016): Tasted out of bottle and a blend of 51% Tempranillo, 28% Syrah, 13% Petit Verdot and 8% Grenache, the 2014 Booker Estate is about as silky and seamless as they get. Sporting a vibrant purple/ruby color and vibrant notes of creme de cassis, jammy blackberries, melted licorice, spice and toasty oak, this full-bodied red glides across the palate with no weight, beautiful purity and shows building, chalky tannin on the palate. Drink this impeccably made Paso Robles beauty anytime over the coming 7-8 years. |
|
|
2015 |
Fracture 22 Syrah |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2012 |
Fracture 24 Syrah |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96-99 (8/2014): The 2012 Fracture 24 shows similar cassis, vanilla bean and licorice-styled aromas, but has a slightly more savory undercurrent, with smoked meats and wild herbs as well. It too is full-bodied, deeply concentrated and layered, with incredible depth and richness that stays classy and pure. This beauty flirts with perfection and will have a decade or more of longevity.
VM 93 (7/2014): The 2012 Fracture is gorgeous. Silky, layered and impeccable on the palate, the 2012 is a wine of pure textural balance. The flavors are bright, floral and much more lifted than is often the case. Sweet rose petals, mint and cinnamon are some of the many notes that flesh out on the racy, silky finish. The 2012 is nicely layered in the glass, but also fairly laid back by Paso standards. |
|
|
2010 |
Fracture Syrah |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 95-97 (8/2012): The 2010 Fracture (Syrah) shows off gorgeous purity and finesse in its rich dark fruit. This is a decidedly overt, flashy wine, yet it also possesses stunning aromatics and impeccable, world-class balance. Layers of fruit built to the huge, opulent finish. I can hardly wait to taste this from bottle. In 2010, 100% of the fruit was de stemmed. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94-97 (6/2012): Not yet bottled and tasted out of barrel, the 2010 Booker Vineyard Syrah Fracture is possibly the most impressive vintage of this to date. A blend of 100% Syrah that’s aged all in French oak, it delivers a stunning bouquet of smoked black fruits, toast, chocolate, roasted meats, and crushed flowers that gives way to a full-bodied, structured, and elegantly put together palate. Chewy, ripe tannin frames the finish beautifully, and this is impressive. It should benefit from short term cellaring on release, and have a fairly broad drink window. |
|
|
2011 |
Fracture Syrah |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (8/2013): Up there with the best of the vintage, the 2011 The Fracture is ethereal stuff that’s made with the goal to be the most ready to drink of the lineup. I’m not sure if that goal is met or not, but I can say the wine is utterly brilliant. Seeing only 5-10% stem inclusion, it delivers rocking aromas of cassis, black raspberry, hints of roasted herbs, licorice and chocolate that give way to a medium to full-bodied, seamless and textured effort that has both elegance and deep, layered fruit and richness. Hard to resist and a joy to drink, it nevertheless has the balance and depth to evolve gracefully through 2021. Drink 2015-2021.
VM 95 (7/2013): The 2011 Fracture, 100% Syrah, is one of the deepest and richest of these 2011s. A plush, highly expressive mid-palate opens to reveal layers of dark fruit, leather, licorice and melted road tar. The 2011 is endowed with considerable aromatic depth and pure richness. Eric Jensen aged the 2011 in Hermitage and Francois Freres barrels, 50% new.
JS 94 (11/2011): Gorgeous aromas of dark berries with blackberry and blueberry; hints of flowers too. Full and rich with wonderful cocoa, coffee and blackberries. Intensely long. So much going on here. Seductive. One or two years more before striking.
VM 94 (12/2013): (100% syrah and 15% alcohol, the highest in the Booker set this vintage): Inky purple. Pungent, smoke-accented aromas of black raspberry, olive tapenade and floral oils. Very syrah. Lush and complex on the palate, offering potent flavors of cherry-cola, blackberry, violet pastille and star anise. Rich but surprisingly lively syrah, with powerful closing punch and gently chewy, harmonious tannins. |
|
|
2012 |
Fracture Syrah |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (8/2014): There are roughly 293 cases of the 2012 Fracture to go around, and it checks in as a blend of 100% Syrah that was aged 18 months in French oak. A big, rich and decadent effort, it’s another spectacular effort from this estate that does everything right. Creme de cassis, chocolate, spice-box, graphite and ground pepper all come together beautifully here, and this beauty has a forward, supple and full-bodied style that’s hard to resist. More elegant and open than past vintages, I’d drink bottles over the coming 4-5 years, but it will evolve for longer. |
|
|
2013 |
Fracture Syrah |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 99 (8/2015): The 2013 Fracture is an utterly sensational blend of 100% Syrah, all from the estate Booker Vineyard, that exhibits off-the-chart notes of creme de cassis, crushed flowers, licorice, vanilla bean and toasted spice. Possessing perfect integration of its fruit, alcohol, tannin and acidity, it's full-bodied and incredibly seamless, with terrific concentration, a full, layered mid-palate and a blockbuster finish. Paso Robles Syrah at its finest, this incredible wine will benefit from a year or two in the cellar, yet thrill through 2025. Hats off to Eric Jensen for this absolutely killer effort and readers who doubt the quality of wine coming from these rolling hills west of Paso Robles need to try this wine.
VM 93 (9/2015): Brilliant purple. Sexy, focused mineral- and smoke-accented dark fruit liqueur and potpourri scents are complemented by suggestions of anise and cola. Sweet, seamless and spicy on the palate, with intense boysenberry and cherry-cola flavors becoming livelier with aeration. Really stains the palate and finishes sappy and very long, with smooth tannins. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2014 |
Fracture Syrah |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (9/2016): Dark purple. A heady, assertively perfumed bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, sandalwood, Indian spices and smoky minerals, and a suave floral pastille topnote builds in the glass. Deeply concentrated yet lively blackberry and boysenberry flavors unfold slowly, picking up allspice, black cardamom and cola nuances on the back half. Shows Outstanding clarity and power on the sweet, supple finish, which is given shape by smooth, steadily building tannins. I've no doubt that this wine will reward patience, but it's awfully delicious right now. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2015 |
Fracture Syrah |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (9/2017): “I want my softest, most textured, rounded Syrah with density and gentle tannins to go into this label,” winemaker Eric Jensen informed me. Produced from 100% Syrah, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Fracture has a vibrant nose of crushed red currants and black cherries with hints of bay leaves, cloves, aniseed and forest floor, plus a touch of roses. Full-bodied and beautifully structured, it has a lively backbone supporting the dynamic fruit, finishing with a beautiful herbal lift.
JD 96 (8/2017): Leading off the 2015s, the 2015 Fracture is 100% Syrah that was brought up mostly in new barrels. It’s a classic, elegant Paso Syrah that delivers loads of black raspberries, cassis, toasted spices and crushed flower-like aromas and flavors. A more elegant, streamlined example of this cuvee, it shows the freshness of the vintage, supple tannin and a charming, elegant style that’s a dream to drink. It is already approachable, yet will still be better with another year or two in bottle. |
|
|
2016 |
Fracture Syrah |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (11/2018): The base 2016 Fracture is another flat-out awesome wine from Jenson that has everything you could want from a Syrah grown on limestone soils on the west side of Paso Robles. Made from 100% Syrah aged in 70% new French oak, it offers a huge nose of blackcurrants, toasty oak, espresso, smoke tobacco, and crushed flowers. Deep, massively concentrated, and textured, it still glides across the palate with thrilling purity of fruit and has a great, great finish. Eric Jensen’s Booker Vineyards continues to make a ripe, sexy, pedal-to-the-metal syle of wine and these latest 2016s don’t disappoint. |
|
|
2013 |
Fulldraw Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 93-95 (8/2014): A new cuvee, the 2013 Fulldraw is a GSM blend of 48% Syrah, 35% Grenache and 17% Mourvedre. While it’s from young vines, you wouldn’t know it by tasting it, and it has a serious, mineral-laced profile to go with full-bodied, richness, incredible purity and lots of finely polished tannin. It should easily be an Outstanding wine and thrill for 5-8 years. |
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2014 |
Fulldraw Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
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| |
WA 95 (8/2016): First made last year, the 2014 Fulldraw checks in as a mix of 46% Syrah, 33% Grenache and 21% Mourvedre that was raised mostly in barrel. Its inky purple color is followed by a rockin', sweet, layered bouquet of creme de cassis, black plums, vanilla bean, licorice and cured meats. A classic Paso Robles GSM blend, with full-bodied richness, no hard edges, tons of sweet fruit and beautiful purity, it benefits from a decant and will shine for upwards of a decade.
VM 94 (9/2016): Bright violet. Ripe red and blue fruits, candied lavender, incense and a hint of spicecake on the highly fragrant nose. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering intense black currant and bitter cherry flavors that deepen and become sweeter with air. Shows impressive depth and vivacity, with no rough edges. The spice and floral notes come back strong on the strikingly persistent, seamless finish, which features smooth, harmonious tannins and a lingering suggestion of sappy red fruit. Josh Raynolds. |
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2015 |
Fulldraw Proprietary Blend |
$79 |
1 |
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| |
JD 96 (8/2017): The 2015 Fulldraw comes from a site located just beside Jensen’s estate Booker Vineyard and is 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 20% Syrah. It has a gorgeous, Châteauneuf du Pape-like (it reminds me of Domaine de Marcoux’s Vieilles Vignes cuvée) perfume of red and black fruits, spice-box, incense, fennel and cured meats. Ethereally textured and elegant, yet also ripe, powerful and concentrated, it has ripe tannin, it’s an incredible wine that builds with time in the glass. While beautiful today, it will be even better with short term cellaring and keep through 2027.
WA 95 (9/2017): A blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 20% Syrah, the 2015 Fulldraw has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and opens with black and blue fruit notes of blackberries and blueberries with suggestions of licorice, tree bark and black soil, plus a waft of lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate has bags of elegance, with restrained, understated beauty and wonderful freshness, finishing long with velvety tannins supporting the perfumed fruit. |
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2016 |
Fulldraw Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
2 |
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| JD 93+ (11/2018): The last vintage of this cuvée as these grapes will be moved into the Oublie cuvée, the 2016 Fulldraw Vineyard offers serious Syrah notes (I don’t know the blend) in its chocolate, jammy blackberry, licorice, and crushed rock aromas and flavors. This is a big, rich, brooding red that packs serious amounts of fruit and texture without ever going over the top. Eric Jensen’s Booker Vineyards continues to make a ripe, sexy, pedal-to-the-metal syle of wine and these latest 2016s don’t disappoint. |
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2015 |
Jada Vyd. Rhone Blend |
$69 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 94-96 (8/2016): From a hillside vineyard just off of Vineyard Drive road (near Denner) that has lots of clay soils (so more water retention and better canopy development, which is very different from Booker Vineyard), the 2015 Jada Vineyard checks in as a mix of 55% Syrah and 45% Grenache that saw 25% stems and aging all in barrel. Full-bodied, rich, unctuous and downright sexy, with lots of jammy blackberry, cassis, roasted herbs and melted licorice (there are some floral notes hiding in there as well), it's another stacked red from Jensen that readers shouldn't miss. |
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2010 |
My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
1 |
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| |
WA 94-96 (8/2012): Booker’s 2010 My Favorite Neighbor bursts from the glass with a heady array of blueberries, dark cherries, spices, violets, mint and licorice. The 2010 stands out for its huge fruit and impeccable balance. Proprietor Eric Jensen planned to give the wine a full 24 months in oak. This is another compelling wine full of promise. The blend is 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Petit Verdot and 23% Syrah. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018.
VM 92 (12/2012): (made from 44% cabernet sauvignon, 33% petit verdot and 23% syrah): Bright purple. Spicy cherry, cassis and blueberry aromas are brightened by cracked pepper and rose, with a slow-building vanilla note adding sweetness. Pliant, deeply concentrated dark berry flavors show very good precision and energy, with an exotic building floral pastille note adding vibrancy. Shows impressive power on the finish, which offers a bitter cherry pit character and noteworthy persistence. |
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2011 |
My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend |
$53 |
1 |
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| |
WA 95 (8/2013): Holding things slightly closer to the vest, the 2011 My Favorite Neighbor (46% Syrah, 40% Petit Verdot and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon) has full-bodied richness and power to go with classic aromas and flavors of cassis, wild herbs, tobacco and cedar. The Cabernet and Petit Verdot really show here, with the Syrah component adding more plushness on the palate. Firming up nicely on the finish, with ripe, yet notable tannin, this serious 2011 should be given another 2-3 years in the cellar. While it will be hard to resist in its youth, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this drinking nicely at age 15 and beyond. Drink 2015-2026.
VM 95 (7/2013): The 2011 My Favorite Neighbor is one of the many highlights at Booker this year. Explosive, full-bodied and opulent, the 2011 captures the generous, resonant warmth that is so typical of Paso Robles while at the same time retaining gorgeous balance and proportion. There is so much to like here. What a gorgeous wine! The blend is 46% Syrah, 40% Petit Verdot, and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon.
VM 91+ (12/2013): (46% syrah, 40% petit verdot and 14% cabernet sauvignon): Inky purple. Deeply pitched black and blue fruit scents are lifted by zesty Asian spice and floral nuances. Ripe and fleshy, offering expansive cassis, blueberry and bitter chocolate flavors and a touch of candied licorice. Closes with firm, youthful tannins, lingering smokiness and a hint of black pepper. The most brooding wine in the Booker lineup this year and the only one that I'd insist on stashing away for another few years. |
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2013 |
My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend |
$169 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 99 (8/2015): A candidate for the wine of the vintage, the inky colored 2013 My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend is a heavenly blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Petit Verdot and 29% Syrah that spent 18 months in French oak. Thrillingly pure, layered, unctuous and massively concentrated, it exhibits classic notes of blueberries, violets, black raspberries, spice and graphite. These give way to a full-bodied, seamless and layered 2013 that has building tannin, incredible purity of fruit and a blockbuster finish. Give it a year or two and enjoy bottles through 2025. |
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2014 |
My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 97-99 (8/2016): Hold onto your hats with this one, the 2014 My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend will see 24 months in barrel, and there will only be a single cuvee in 2014. This insanely good barrel sample gives up serious, inky, yet pure notes of violets, licorice, black raspberries, creme de cassis and graphite to go with building tannin, a stacked mid-palate and blockbuster length. I'd like to have a case of it in the cellar. |
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2012 |
Oublie 24 Proprietary Blend Cracked Wax Capsule |
$99 |
1 |
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| |
WA 93-95 (8/2014): Slightly more savory and rich than the straight Oublie release, the 2012 Oublie 24 gives up more bouquet garni, black fruits and ground herbs to go with a full-bodied, fabulously concentrated feel on the palate. It too has a southern Rhone-like feel and should drink nicely on release and evolve gracefully for 7-8 years.
VM 92-94 (7/2014): Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, mint, tobacco and cedar are some of the many notes that blossom in the 2012 Oublie 24. Pliant, expressive and nuanced, the 2012 is above all else a wine of pure silkiness. There is a lot to like here. Next to the straight Oublie, the 24 is a bit more seamless, vibrant and perfumed. |
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2013 |
Oublie 24 Proprietary Blend |
$99 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 94 (8/2016): Checking in as a blend of 46% Grenache, 34% Mourvèdre and 20% Counoise that spent 24 months in barrel, the 2013 Oublie 24 offers an open, sexy style in its mulled red fruits, dried flowers, spice and dried soil aromas and flavors. Sporting a semi translucent ruby color, this full-bodied beauty has no hard edges, a beautiful core of sweet fruit, and an endearing hard to resist personality that will drink well for 5-7 years. |
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2009 |
Oublie Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
2 |
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| |
JD 93 (12/2011): Possibly the most restrained of the lineup, the 2009 Booker Vineyard Oublie ("The Forgotten One") is a blend of 34% Grenache, 33% Counoise, and 33% Mourvedre that shows deep, earthy aromas of brambly black and blue fruits, toasted spice, asphalt, and licorice on the nose. Beautifully complex, with an almost Zinfandel like spice and bramble streak, this full-bodied, pure, and decadently textured red has beautiful freshness and focus, and a long, clean finish. There's solid ripeness here, but this grows on you and keeps you coming back for another glass. It will continue to shine for another 5-8 years easily.
VM 92 (11/2011): Vivid ruby. Red and dark berry aromas show impressive clarity, with notes of licorice, lavender and rose contributing complexity. Big and densely packed but light on its feet, offering intense raspberry, boysenberry and spice flavors. Juicy and precise on the finish, which clings with excellent tenacity. This wine's marriage of power and vivacity is impressive. Josh Raynolds.
WA 92 (8/2011): The 2009 Oublie is an unusual blend of equal parts Counoise, Grenache and Mourvedre. It is a gorgeous, sensual wine laced with ripe red fruit, dried herbs, flowers and spices. The layered, refined finish is especially beautiful. To be released in 2012. |
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2010 |
Oublie Proprietary Blend |
$62 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 94 (8/2012): The 2010 Oublie opens with exquisite aromatics. Dark cherries, incense, exotic spices, flowers and mint are beautifully layered in this delineated, striking wine. A gorgeous, totally refined finish elevates the Oublie to a rarified level. The blend is 43% Syrah, 26% Mourvedre, 16% Counoise and 15% Grenache, with about 30% whole clusters used in vinification. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. |
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2011 |
Oublie Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 94 (8/2103): Also more finesse oriented than normal, the 2011 Oublie is a great blend of 38% Syrah, 23% Counoise, 20% Mourvedre and the balance Grenache. Spending 16 months in barrel, it gives up big bing cherry, licorice, pepper and complex underbrush-like qualities to go with a medium to full-bodied, seamless mouthfeel that stays remarkably well- focused and precise. Beautiful stuff that offers both richness and freshness, it will age gracefully for over a decade. Drink 2014-2021. |
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2012 |
Oublie Proprietary Blend |
$85 |
2 |
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| |
| WA 96 (8/2014): There are roughly 293 cases of the 2012 Fracture to go around, and it checks in as a blend of 100% Syrah that was aged 18 months in French oak. A big, rich and decadent effort, it’s another spectacular effort from this estate that does everything right. Creme de cassis, chocolate, spice-box, graphite and ground pepper all come together beautifully here, and this beauty has a forward, supple and full-bodied style that’s hard to resist. More elegant and open than past vintages, I’d drink bottles over the coming 4-5 years, but it will evolve for longer. |
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2013 |
Oublie Proprietary Blend |
$74 |
1 |
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| |
WA 94 (8/2015): The ruby/semi-opaque colored 2013 Oublie is a sensational blend of 46% Grenache, 34% Mourvedre and 20% Counoise that offers a seamless, layered and complex array of blueberry, black raspberry, dried flowers, vanilla bean and spice on the nose. Pure silk on the palate, with full-bodied richness and no hard edges, this impeccably balanced red has a full, layered mid-palate, sweet tannin and a terrific finish. One of those wines where the bottle's empty before you know it, drink this beauty over the coming 5-8 years.
VM 92 (9/2015): Opaque ruby. Highly perfumed red and dark berry scents, along with a smoky mineral quality and a hint of lavender. Spicy black raspberry and cherry-cola flavors become fleshier with air, picking up an exotic touch of floral pastille. Maintains good focus and energy through a long, gently tannic finish, with the floral note echoing. Josh Raynolds. |
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2014 |
Oublie Proprietary Blend |
$74 |
1 |
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| |
| VM 93 (9/2016): Deep ruby. Intensely perfumed cherry compote, licorice and spicecake aromas open up with air and pick up suggestions of floral pastilles and smoky minerals. Stains the palate with lively, spice-tinged black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors lifted by a vibrant mineral element. At once concentrated and lithe, finishing with powerful thrust, youthful tannins and very persistent spice and mineral qualities. Josh Raynolds. |
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2015 |
Oublie Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
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| |
WA 94 (9/2017): Composed of 38% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 23% Syrah and 9% Counoise, the 2015 Oublie has a medium garnet-purple color and earth-scented nose of tar, sautéed herbs and fertile loam with a core of red currants, cranberry sauce and warm blackberries, plus a touch of bay leaves. Full-bodied and beautifully poised in the mouth, the muscular fruit is nicely matched by a firm, chewy backbone and it finishes with persistent earth and herbal layers.
JD 94 (8/2017): The 2015 Oublie checks in as a Mourvèdre heavy blend of 38% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 23% Syrah and 9% Counoise. Its deep ruby, yet translucent color is followed by an exotic bouquet of spiced plums, white pepper, menthol and pepper meat. The Mourvèdre really shines here, and it’s full-bodied, rich and concentrated, with savory tannin and powerful, yet light texture. This wine shows the more forward, supple style of the vintage, yet will have a broad drink window given its overall balance. |
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2016 |
Oublie Proprietary Blend |
$79 |
1 |
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| |
| JD 96 (11/2018): The 2016 Oublie offers exotic notes of ripe blueberries, crushed violets, peppery spice, and blood orange in its full-bodied, beautifully pure, elegant profile. It has ripe tannins, good acidity, and is an undeniably beautiful wine. A blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre that saw plenty of stems, drink this sexy red any time over the coming 7-8 years. Eric Jensen’s Booker Vineyards continues to make a ripe, sexy, pedal-to-the-metal syle of wine and these latest 2016s don’t disappoint. |
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2020 |
Perl Syrah |
$59 |
1 |
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JD 92 (8/2023): Bottled late, the 2020 Perl is based on 91% Syrah and 9% Grenache that spent 24 months in 50% new oak. Coming from sourced fruit on the west side of Paso, it has a richer, medium to full-bodied style that brings plenty of darker berry fruits, some graphite and iron notes, some firmer, chalky tannins, and a good finish. It's well done and enjoyable.
VM 90 (5/2023): Dark and brooding in the glass, the 2020 Perl opens with savory herbs, ashen stone and black currants. It's soft-textured with crisp minerality and soothingly ripe dark fruits. The 2020 finishes with tension, lightly tannic and a salted licorice note. This is the first vintage of Perl, a blend of 91% Syrah and 9% Grenache from mostly sourced fruit. Eric Guido. |
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2012 |
Remnant 24 Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 94-96 (8/2014): Still in barrel, the 2012 Remnant 24 (identical blend to the regular release) will see 24 months in oak before bottling. It’s also worth noting that since there was no My Favorite Neighbor produced in 2012, this cuvee received all of the grapes that would normally go into that cuvee. While billed as a catch-all blend, it tastes like anyone else’s top wine and offers loads of sweet black fruits, damp underbrush, chocolate and roasted herbs to go with a full-bodied, rich, layered and downright sexy profile. There’s no shortage of tannin here either, so a year of cellaring is recommended. It will have 10-15 years of longevity, but bottles wouldn’t last that long at my house. |
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2010 |
Remnant Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
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| |
WA 96 (8/2012): The 2010 Remnant is gorgeous and utterly refined from the very first taste. Dark red cherries plums, licorice, incense, mint and spices are some of the many notes that jump from the glass in this delineated, fragrant red. The appropriately named Remnant is 60% Syrah, 20% Tempranillo, 11% Mourvèdre, 5% Grenache and 4% Counoise, all what Jensen calls 'super-press juice,' which is the part of the press many winemakers don't even use in their final blends. In other words, Remnant is essentially a wine made from leftovers. Frankly, this a bit of a miracle in the glass, but everything works together beautifully. That can only mean that Booker is a great site, and Eric Jensen knows how to coax the very best from his vines.
VM 93 (11/2012): Dark purple. Powerful aromas of candied dark berries, licorice and mocha, with smoke and allspice nuances that build with air. Lush and expansive, offering ripe black and blue fruit flavors lifted by gentle acidity. Closes sweet, supple and very long, with pliant tannins and resonating spiciness. Josh Raynolds.
JD 93 (6/2012): Even more structured and firm, the 2010 Booker Vineyard Remnant is a blend of 60% Syrah, 20% Tempranillo, 11% Mourvedre, 5% Grenache, and 4% Counoise that contains a touch of press wine, and was fermented with 50% whole cluster and aged all in neutral oak for 16 months. Very masculine and edgy, with aromas of blackberry and currant fruit intermixed with dark chocolate, pan drippings, and bloody meat, this full-bodied blend is savory, chewy, and concentrated on the palate. The edgy quality of the Tempranillo really shows in the tannin structure and this will benefit from 1-2 years (or more) of bottle age, and have an interesting evolution. |
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2011 |
Remnant Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
2 |
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WA 94 (8/2013): Also superb, the 2011 Remnant (formerly known as the Alchemist) is a kitchen sink blend of 55% Syrah, 14% Tempranillo, 11% Petit Verdot, 10% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre that saw 20% new French oak, 40% once-used barrels and the balance neutral oak. It’s a savory, complex 2011 that offers up plenty of spice, toast and cedar that’s balanced by a core of sweet black raspberry fruit that emerges with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, balanced and beautifully textured, this totally compelling red has fine tannin, serious richness and depth, and an overall classy profile. It will have upwards of a decade of longevity. Drink 2014-2021.
VM 94 (7/2013): The 2011 Remnant is gorgeous. Pomegranate, orange peel, cloves, menthol and licorice all add shades of exotic complexity as this full-bodied, explosive wine opens up in the glass. The style is surprisingly soft and voluptuous for the year. Many producers in California eschew press juice in their blends. Eric Jensen, on he other hand, decided to bottle all of that juice, giving birth to the appropriately and colorfully named Remnant. In 2011, Remnant is 55% Syrah, 14% Tempranillo, 11% Petit Verdot, 10% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre. Antonio Galloni. |
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2010 |
Ripper Grenache |
$99 |
1 |
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| WA 97+ (8/2012): I was blown away by the 2010 Ripper, a 100% Grenache done in concrete for the first time. It boasts captivating aromatic complexity, layers of sweet, refined fruit and fabulous overall balance. Vivid red fruit, flowers, mint and spices linger on the sublime finish. The Ripper boasts extraordinary varietal expression. Making pure Grenache in Paso Robles is not easy, but this is a model of what can be achieved here. Although impeccably restrained, the sheer glycerin and richness are pure California. The 2010 Ripper is a modern-day classic from Booker and proprietor Eric Jensen. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. |
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2011 |
Ripper Grenache |
$89 |
1 |
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WA 96+ (8/2013): Starting out the tasting and absolutely rocking, the 2011 The Ripper checks in as a blend of 100% Grenache that was brought up in equal parts concrete and neutral barrel. Offering up layers of kirsch, dried underbrush, white pepper and hints of spring flowers, it flows onto the palate with a medium to full-bodied, vibrant profile that gains richness and depth with air. Leaning towards the more focused, elegant side of the spectrum, this beauty doesn’t lack for texture or length. Give it a year or three and enjoy through 2023. It’s superb and well worth the effort to track down. Drink 2015-2023.
VM 94 (7/2013): Eric Jensen has done a fabulous job with the 2011 Ripper, no easy feat after the iconic 2010. Expressive floral notes, mint, spices and kirsch all lift out of the glass. The freshness and crystalline purity of the year come through in spades. Jensen aged the 2011 70% in cement and 30% in neutral oak, an approach that worked beautifully. Over the last few years, Ripper has established itself as one of the most distinctive Grenaches in California.
VM 93 (12/2013): (100% grenache and 14.6% alcohol): Deep ruby. Spicy black raspberry and cherry compote on the highly perfumed nose, with zesty mineral and spice notes adding vibrancy. Deeply pitched but lively red fruit flavors show excellent clarity and sweetness, with a jolt of tangy acidity adding spine. The sappy, broad finish is shaped by smooth and harmonious tannins. This wine was raised entirely in used demi-muids. |
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2012 |
Ripper Grenache |
$79 |
1 |
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WA 96 (8/2014): The 2012 The Ripper (always 100% Grenache), which checks in at 13.6% alcohol, is a fabulous effort that was brought up all in neutral 500-liter French oak barrels. Loaded with notions of kirsch, dried flowers, rose petal and underbrush, it’s about as seamless and elegant as this cuvee gets, yet it’s still no lightweight and has full-bodied richness and depth. Showing plenty of fine tannin on the finish, it is hard to resist now, but should have a solid 10-12 year drink window.
VM 94 (7/2014): A dark, voluptuous wine, the 2012 Ripper bursts from the glass with dark red and black stone fruits, spices, new leather and menthol flesh out in the glass. In 2012, the Ripper is much darker and riper than normal, with less varietal character than has been the case of late. In 2012, Eric Jensen managed the canopies to get as much hang time as possible, which resulted in extended hang time and a harvest that was about three weeks later than normal. Personally, I have enjoyed Booker's Ripper most when the Grenache characteristics are emphasized to a greater degree. The 2012 was done entirely in neutral 500 liter barrels. |
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2012 |
Ripper Grenache |
$79.20 |
1 |
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WA 96 (8/2014): The 2012 The Ripper (always 100% Grenache), which checks in at 13.6% alcohol, is a fabulous effort that was brought up all in neutral 500-liter French oak barrels. Loaded with notions of kirsch, dried flowers, rose petal and underbrush, it’s about as seamless and elegant as this cuvee gets, yet it’s still no lightweight and has full-bodied richness and depth. Showing plenty of fine tannin on the finish, it is hard to resist now, but should have a solid 10-12 year drink window.
VM 94 (7/2014): A dark, voluptuous wine, the 2012 Ripper bursts from the glass with dark red and black stone fruits, spices, new leather and menthol flesh out in the glass. In 2012, the Ripper is much darker and riper than normal, with less varietal character than has been the case of late. In 2012, Eric Jensen managed the canopies to get as much hang time as possible, which resulted in extended hang time and a harvest that was about three weeks later than normal. Personally, I have enjoyed Booker's Ripper most when the Grenache characteristics are emphasized to a greater degree. The 2012 was done entirely in neutral 500 liter barrels. |
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2014 |
Ripper Grenache |
$89 |
1 |
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| |
| VM 94 (9/2016): Saturated ruby. High-pitched, mineral-tinged aromas of fresh red berries and candied flowers show Outstanding clarity. Smooth, sweet and energetic in style, offering juicy black raspberry and lavender pastille flavors complicated by an exotic Asian spice nuance. The sappy, focused finish is given shape by supple, harmonious tannins that build slowly. Josh Raynolds. |
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2015 |
Ripper Grenache |
$67 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 96+ (9/2017): Made from 100% Grenache, the 2015 The Ripper (Grenache) has a pale to medium garnet-purple color and charges out of the gate with vibrant raspberry, black cherry and wild strawberries with hints of dried flowers, cinnamon stick and Sichuan pepper. Full-bodied, rich and seductive, the palate is packed with spicy red berry coulis flavors, paved with plush tannins and finishes with loads of layers. |
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2016 |
Ripper Grenache |
$59 |
2 |
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| |
| JD 97 (11/2018): The 2016 Ripper reminds me of a top vintage of Marcoux Vieilles Vignes cuvée from Châteauneuf du Pape with its huge nose of kirsch, blackberries, ground herbs, blueberries, graphite, and melted licorice. This beauty is full-bodied and powerful, yet also elegant, seamless, and graceful on the palate, with fine tannins and a huge finish. It’s an incredible Grenache. Eric Jensen’s Booker Vineyards continues to make a ripe, sexy, pedal-to-the-metal syle of wine and these latest 2016s don’t disappoint. (Drink between 2018-2030). |
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2017 |
Ripper Grenache |
$79 |
1 |
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| |
| JD 96 (10/2019): Bottled in February of this year, the 100% Grenache 2017 Ripper has a beautiful perfume of black raspberries, white flowers, licorice, and subtle background oak. Rich and medium to full-bodied, it has wonderful purity, fine tannins, and a great finish. |
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2014 |
RLF Pinot Noir |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (9/2016): Brilliant ruby-red. Bright, intensely perfumed aromas of red berry preserves, Asian spices and potpourri are energized by a vibrant mineral flourish. Fresh and incisive, displaying deeply concentrated raspberry and bitter cherry flavors along with suggestions of candied rose and star anise. The floral and mineral qualities return on the long, penetrating finish, which features silky tannins and a hint of cola. Josh Raynolds. |
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2012 |
RLF Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 94 (8/2014): A new cuvee for me, the 2012 RLF (which is named after Eric’s father-in-law, Randy Lee Fannin, who died in a tragic incident in 2011) is a blend of 71% Grenache and 29% Syrah that was aged in a combination of used and new barrels. Tasting like a high-quality Chateauneuf du Pape, it offers perfumed black raspberry, framboise, crushed flowers, lavender and herbs de Provence aromas and flavors. This flows to full-bodied, silky and sexy wine that has impeccable balance, a rounded, supple texture and a great finish. It’s hard to resist now, and I see no reason to delay gratification either. |
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2009 |
The Alchemist Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
2 |
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| |
WA 94 (8/2011): The 2009 Alchemist comes across as powerful, tightly coiled and quite inward. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot add considerable structure as layers of blue and black fruit saturate the palate. This is another powerful, long wine endowed with exceptional definition and a dark, brooding personality. In 2009 the blend is 65% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 10% Grenache. The wine saw 55% new barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024.
VM 92 (10/2011): (65% syrah, 15% cabernet sauvignon and 10% each of petit verdot and grenache): Deep, glass-staining ruby. A sexy, intensely perfumed bouquet evokes dark berry preserves, cherry-cola, Asian spices and violet. No way I'd have guessed that syrah was the dominant variety in this lively wine, and I mean that in a positive way. Lithe and precise, given its size, with pure black raspberry and floral pastille flavors that stain the palate. A pure and focused blend with seductive finishing florality and superb length. |
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2010 |
The Alchemist Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 94+ (6/2012): The 2010 Booker Vineyard The Alchemist (80% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Petit Sirah and in 50% new French oak) is much more in the typical Booker Spectrum and is a classic, textbook Paso Robles blend. Offering up chocolate-laced aromas of blackberry, raspberry, spice, smoke, and tar, this full-bodied, powerful blend is voluptuous and gorgeously textured, while still showing the focused profile of the 2010 vintage. Beautifully pure, layered, and rich, this beauty will age gracefully for a decade or more. |
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|
2010 |
Vertigo 22 Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93-95 (8/2012): Booker's 2010 Vertigo 22 wraps around the palate with dark red fruit, flowers, mint and spices. The extra time in barrel has given the Vertigo 22 a dimension of seamlessness and total integration the regular bottling doesn't have. At the same time, some of the vibrancy and pure energy of the regular Vertigo has been dampened ever so slightly. Readers will find much to admire in both. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2016 |
Vertigo 22 Proprietary Blend |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (11/2018): The same blend as the straight Vertigo (52% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 18% Mourvèdre), the 2016 Vertigo 22 offers a similar profile of deep, decadent notes of blueberries, graphite, smoked earth, and asphalt. More closed, backward, and dense than the classic cuvée, this full-bodied, incredibly layered, multi-dimensional effort needs 2-3 years or bottle age and will cruise in cold cellars over the following 10-15 years. Eric Jensen’s Booker Vineyards continues to make a ripe, sexy, pedal-to-the-metal syle of wine and these latest 2016s don’t disappoint. (Drink between 2018-2046). |
|
|
2012 |
Vertigo 24 Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95-97 (8/2014): Still in barrel, the 2012 Vertigo 24 release shows a similar level of purity to go with killer aromatics (black raspberry, bouquet garni and licorice), full-bodied richness and a layered, decadent style on the palate. It has a tad more richness and depth than the straight bottling, and is an incredible red.
VM 91-93 (7/2014): The 2012 Vertigo 24 has a little more tannic spine than the straight Vertigo. Dark red stone fruits, spices, mint and new leather are all very much alive. Although quite supple and expressive, the 2012 also has plenty of drive and energy. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
Vertigo 24 Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93-96 (8/2015): The extended barrel-aged release of the Vertigo cuvee, the 2013 GSM Vertigo EXT was still in barrel at the time of this tasting. Similar in style, with full-bodied depth and richness, it has more toasted bread, meaty, bloody notes and spice as well as a sexy, voluptuous and seamless style on the palate. I actually prefer the earlier bottling release at present, but this is still and knockout wine. |
|
|
2014 |
Vertigo 24 Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95-97 (8/2016): Another blockbuster barrel sample is the 2014 GSM Vertigo EXT, which is 68% Syrah, 26% Mourvedre and the rest Grenache (there's less Grenache than normal in the 2014). Violets, cassis, licorice and black raspberries all flow to a rich, concentrated blend that's much more supple, rounded and forward than the 2015, while still showing plenty of grip and focus. |
|
|
2009 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (8/2011): The 2009 Vertigo is another impeccable wine graced with exquisite silky red fruit, flowers and spices, all of which meld together seamlessly in this round, harmonious wine. The balance, length and elegance on the palate are first class from start to finish. In 2009 the blend is 48% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 17% Mourvedre, aged in 60% new French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.
VM 92 (10/2011): (48% grenache, 35% syrah and 17% mourvedre): Deep ruby. Sexy, palate-coating raspberry and blackberry flavors are complicated by Asian spices, smoke and cola. Broad, silky and alluringly sweet, with striking intensity to its deep red and dark fruit and candied rose flavors. Shows Outstanding energy and focus on the long, seamless, resoundingly spicy finish. |
|
|
2010 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (6/2012): A big, classic Booker Syrah, the 2010 Booker Vineyard Vertigo (63% Syrah, 25% Grenache, and 12% Mourvedre aged for 16 months in 70% new French oak) is loaded with juicy red and black fruits, dark chocolate, licorice, and subtle floral qualities to flow to a full-bodied, gorgeously textured wine. While there’s loads of texture and fruit here, this is far from soft, and possesses integrated acidity, notable balance, and a clean, focused finish. It should drink nicely for 5-8 years or more. |
|
|
2011 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (7/2013): The 2011 Vertigo is one of the clear highlights of the year in Paso Robles. A rich, resonant wine, the 2011 boasts gorgeous depth and power, especially for the year. The brightness of the vintage comes through on the finish laced with expressive dark Syrah fruit. Floral and spice notes add vibrancy as well as complexity. The 2011 is 69% Syrah, 24% Mourvedre and 7% Grenache. I very much like the sense of purity here.
WA 94 (8/2013): More Syrah heavy, with 62% Syrah, 24% Mourvedre and a splash of Grenache, fermented with 30% stems and aged in 20% new French oak, the 2011 Vertigo is red fruit-driven, with plenty of raspberry, licorice and floral notes flowing to a medium to full-bodied, balanced and lively palate. Gaining more minerality and spice in the glass, it, too, is a knockout effort from Eric. Enjoy it over the coming 7-8 years. Drink now-2021.
VM 94 (12/2013): (69% syrah, 24% mourvedre and 7% grenache): Inky ruby. Suave, vanilla-accented blackberry, blueberry and floral pastille aromas show impressive energy and thrust. Surprisingly elegant, even graceful on the palate, with vibrant, violet-tinged dark berry and bitter cherry flavors complicated by slow-building spicecake and cracked pepper nuances. Silky tannins add structure to the long, alluringly sweet finish, with its lasting floral note. Wine lovers familiar with Eric Jensen's past work will be surprised (pleasantly, I hope) by this wine's finesse. |
|
|
2012 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (8/2014): The 2012 Vertigo is a blend of 57% Syrah, 32% Mourvedre and 11% Grenache that spent 18 months in French oak. It has fabulous purity to go with notions of sweet red and black berries, crushed flowers, licorice and rose petal on the nose. This flows to a medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless red that has no hard edges, building richness, and a graceful, lightly textured feel that never seems heavy or cumbersome. It will thrill for upward of a decade. |
|
|
2013 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94-96 (8/2014): The 2013 Vertigo (45% Syrah, 29% Mourvedre and 26% Grenache) has an almost Cornas-like purple fruit, liquid violets and caramelized meat profile that gives way to a layered, seamless and vibrant wine that has excellent concentration and a big finish. Despite being a big, rich wine, it has a pretty, elegant style that should allow it to shine on release. |
|
|
2014 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (8/2016): A big, rich, structured effort, the 2014 GSM Vertigo is 68% Syrah, 26% Mourvedre and 6% Grenache. Sporting a saturated purple color, it offers fabulous notes of cassis, blackberries, crushed rock, licorice and dried Provencal herbs (lavender, thyme) in a full-bodied, rich package. One of the more tannic wines from Eric, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will have a decade or more of longevity. |
|
|
2015 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (8/2017): A blend of 48% Syrah, 35% Grenache and 37% Mourvèdre, the 2015 Vertigo is another blockbuster 2015 from Jensen. It’s deep ruby color is followed by a sweet bouquet of crème de cassis, black raspberries, strawberries, violets, and chocolaty oak. It’s a round, supple, incredibly sexy GSM that has full-bodied richness, loads of power and depth, yet also shows the more charming, forward style of the 2015 vintage in Paso Robles. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.
WA 95 (9/2017): Comprised of 48% Syrah, 35% Grenache and 17% Mourvèdre, the 2015 GSM Vertigo has a medium garnet-purple color and nose of crème de cassis, blackberry pie and licorice with touches of dried Provence herbs, chocolate box and black pepper. Full-bodied and nicely played with firm, ripe, rounded tannins and a lively backbone supporting the generous, bright fruit, it finishes long and spicy. |
|
|
2016 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 99 (11/2018): I suspect the finest vintage to date, the 2016 Vertigo is a rock star effort and one of the top wines to ever come out of Paso Robles. Just loaded with notions of blueberries, incense, ground pepper, and crushed flowers, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a multi-dimensional, layered texture, no hard edges, and incredible purity of fruit. A blend of 52% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 18% Mourvèdre brought up in 50% new French oak, it’s a monumental wine from Paso Robles to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years. Eric Jensen’s Booker Vineyards continues to make a ripe, sexy, pedal-to-the-metal syle of wine and these latest 2016s don’t disappoint. |
|
|
2017 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$74.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (10/2019): I loved the 2017 Vertigo from barrel, and it didn’t disappoint from bottle. A blend of 63% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre, and the rest Grenache and Petite Sirah, brought up in 65% new French oak, this full-bodied, massively endowed 2017 has complex notes of blue fruits, blood orange, violets, and exotic spices. As with all Eric’s 2017s, it’s rich and concentrated yet has remarkable purity and elegance at the same time. It’s one of the finest GSM blends out there and will shine for at least 8-10 years. (Drink between 2019-2029).
VM 96 (2/2020): Brilliant purple. Blackberry, blueberry, cola, exotic spices, vanilla and pungent flowers on the deeply perfumed, mineral-accented nose. Compellingly sweet, lush and broad in the mouth, showing hefty dark berry preserve, candied violet and fruitcake flavors that pick up mocha, vanilla and star anise nuances on the back half. Finishes extremely long and smooth, with velvety tannins, lingering florality and outstanding clarity. 60% new French oak. (Drink between 2024-2034).
WA 93 (2/2020): The 2017 Vertigo is a blend of 65% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre and 5% Grenache aged in 65% new French oak. Deep ruby-purple in color, the nose opens with tar, chargrill and loamy earth scents, slowly offering up game meats, black currants, dried violets and dried black cherries with a chocolatey undercurrent. Full-bodied, rich and slowly blossoming in the mouth, it has a firm, grainy frame and just enough freshness, finishing long and still youthfully coiled. |
|
| J. Bookwalter |
2007 |
Chapter 3 Red Wine |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2012 |
Chapter 5 Red Wine |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2012 |
Conflict Conner-Lee Vyd. Red Wine |
$25 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (6/2015): In the same ballpark quality-wise as the Protagonist release, with probably a longer drink window, the 2012 Conner Lee Vineyard Conflict is made from 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 5% Syrah. Finishing malo in barrel and aged 20 months in 70% new French oak, it has classic plum, black raspberry, chocolate, lead pencil and spice-laced aromatics. This give way to a full-bodied, nicely concentrated, gorgeously pure 2012 that still has oak to integrate, yet will have over a decade of longevity. |
|
| Chateau Boswell |
2012 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Boudreaux Cellars |
2005 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (10/2022): Dark, extracted and dense, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is lush yet slightly closed down on the nose. It is full-bodied, with hints of volatility in the mouth, flavors of blackberry liqueur and hints of herbs. It ends with a somersaulting finish that should remain food-friendly for the next seven to eight years. |
|
|
2006 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (12/2012): The Boudreaux 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon - sourced from nine disparate and prestigious vineyards all mentioned in small print on the front label - was wisely moved to wooden tank after its second year in barrique lest the tannins of this high-heat vintage become too drying. As it is, a faint drying spot does creep into the finish, but as with a number of Boudreaux wines I tasted, the positive flavors outlast that; and there is sappy primary fruit retention by way of classic dark cherry and cassis. Alkali, smoky black tea, peat and red licorice complement that fruit character on the nose as well as on a surprisingly polished, expansive palate. A note of tar or asphalt in the finish makes me think "Syrah?" I would plan on enjoying this rather unusual wine over the next year or two, notwithstanding how well the corresponding 2003 - from a vintage Newsome calls "along similar lines" - shows when tasted alongside. |
|
|
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (10/2011): The opaque purple-colored 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (92%) is an 8 vineyard blend containing small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. It was aged for 32 months in French oak. Enticing aromas of Asian spices, rose petal, incense, pencil lead, and assorted black fruits lead to a medium-bodied, densely packed, layered Cabernet with Outstanding volume and concentration. It mandates 5-6 years of cellaring and will be at its best from 2016 to 2027. |
|
|
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon Signs of Old Seepage |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (10/2011): The opaque purple-colored 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (92%) is an 8 vineyard blend containing small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. It was aged for 32 months in French oak. Enticing aromas of Asian spices, rose petal, incense, pencil lead, and assorted black fruits lead to a medium-bodied, densely packed, layered Cabernet with Outstanding volume and concentration. It mandates 5-6 years of cellaring and will be at its best from 2016 to 2027. |
|
|
2005 |
Merlot |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 87 (6/2008): The red wines begin with the 2005 Merlot (100% varietal) which is purple-colored with a fragrant perfume of spice box, toasty oak, red currants, and kirsch. Firm and structured on the palate, the wine leans out in the finish. |
|
|
2005 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (10/2022): Rich, round and generous, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is focused, dark-fruited and layered with oak spices. Full-bodied and tannic, the palate reveals a full-throttle wine with an incredibly complex flavor profile layered with blackberry essence, dark plum and roasted cherry skins that unwind across the blockbuster finish. Drink over the next decade. Bravo! |
|
|
2005 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Wrinkled Label |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (10/2022): Rich, round and generous, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is focused, dark-fruited and layered with oak spices. Full-bodied and tannic, the palate reveals a full-throttle wine with an incredibly complex flavor profile layered with blackberry essence, dark plum and roasted cherry skins that unwind across the blockbuster finish. Drink over the next decade. Bravo! |
|
|
2008 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (10/2022): The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is immaculate, with a lush and focused nose that is still compact and primary. Full-bodied, the wine expands on the palate, revealing focus, precision and power with a still-tight frame and firm tannic edge. The Cabernet concludes with long, lingering flavors of black plum essence, oak spices and notions of crème de cassis. Even though it’s a 2008, it has plenty of life left; so be patient, and reward your future self. |
|
| Bovet (Round Pond) |
2007 |
Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$80 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Mt. Brave |
2018 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Brewer Clifton |
2005 |
Cargasacchi Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (11/2013): From a high yielding year, the 2005 is evolved and fully mature. Stunning aromatics of pomegranate, black cherries, porcini mushrooms and jus de viande are enticing and evolved. In the mouth, the wine is medium to full-bodied (15.5% alcohol) with sweet, velvety tannins. Drink this round, delicious 2005 Pinot Noir now and over the next 5-7 years.
VM 92 (11/2007): Pale red. Exotic head shop aromas suggest red fruits, bayberry, cinnamon and patchouli, with a suave blood orange character building with air. Spicy redcurrant and strawberry flavors are seductively perfumed and pure, with dusty minerality contributing grip and focus. Reminds me of a top Dujac wine with its heady bouquet, sharply focused red berry flavors and silky texture. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Brick House |
2002 |
Le Dijonnais Pinot Noir |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94 (10/2004): The concentration, depth, power, and elegance of the 2002 Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais is stunning, all the more so when one realizes it was produced from 7-year-old fruit (conventional wisdom is that vines can make great fruit in the first two years of production then the quality diminishes for a few years before coming back when they’re older). Its black cherry, spice, and violet aromas lead to a penetrating personality awash in red fruits, mostly cherries and raspberries, that harmoniously conquer the palate and linger for 45 seconds or more. Sappy, fleshy, and complex, it is a medium to full-bodied wine of tremendous beauty and charm. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2013. Bravo!
BH 91 (12/2004): This is an elegant, pure and delineated wine from start to finish with gorgeously spicy aromas of plum, raspberry and subtle earth hints that merge into sweet, delicious and impressively precise flavors displaying outstanding length. This is less obviously ripe than many '02s reviewed here with impeccable balance and sufficient underlying structure to suggest at least 10 years of potential. Highly recommended. Drink 2009+. |
|
| Brittan Vineyards |
2011 |
Basalt Block Pinot Noir |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 91+ (6/2016): The 2011 Pinot Noir Basalt Block has a pretty bouquet with red berry fruit, cranberry and wild strawberry, a touch of flint and gravel developing with time. The palate is medium-bodied, taut and linear in the mouth, quite masculine and austere. It has a coolness to it, yet well balanced with decent depth on the finish, though I find more energy and delineation on the 2013. I suspect this might repay a couple more years in bottle, hence my plus sign. |
|
| Bryant Family Vineyard |
2009 |
DB4 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$145 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2011): The 2009 DB 4 flows across the palate with heady notes of rose petals, sweet red berries and truffles. It is a gorgeous, totally sexy wine that captures the essence of the Bryant house style at a price that is affordable for mere mortals. Finessed, silky tannins grace the exceptional, polished finish. This is a terrific showing from Don Bryant and his team. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2021. |
|
|
2010 |
DB4 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$165 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2012): The 2010 DB4 is insanely beautiful. Crushed rocks, plums, cinnamon and licorice jump from the glass from this striking, delineated wine. In 2010, the DB4 has a level of pure energy and vibrancy that is missing in the 2009, most likely because it also includes declassified lots from the Bettina. This is a great showing from Don Bryant and his team. In most cellars, the DB4 would be the top wine, but here it is the second label. Top flight Napa Cabernet is seldom inexpensive, but this is just about as good as it gets for the money. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. |
|
| Buccella |
2008 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (12/2010): The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, which comes from multiple fruit sources in Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville, Coombsville, Oak Knoll and Carneros, was aged in 100% new French oak. A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it exhibits an opaque purple color, great intensity and a sweet nose of blue and black fruits intermixed with toasty oak, lead pencil shavings and forest floor. Rich, layered and full-bodied with silky tannins, this broad, savory 2008 should drink well for 15 or more years.
VM 93 (5/2011): (15.1% alcohol; includes 2% each cabernet franc and merlot and 1% petit verdot): Dark ruby. Fascinating nose melds dark berries, licorice pastille, violet, coriander, cumin and mint. Fat and sweet for the year, with palate-saturating flavors of crushed black fruits and minerals. The broad, dusty tannins arrive late and build, but there's more than enough mid-palate sweetness to support them. This is riper and deeper in the bottle than a barrel sample I tried a year ago. Rebekah Wineburg makes this wine, with Celia Welch serving in a consulting role. |
|
|
2011 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$148.75 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 93 (10/2014): A blend of 90-95% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance tiny quantities of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, the dense purple-colored 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon possesses sweet blackberry and cassis fruit, a deep, full-bodied, opulent, precocious, showy style, and 10 years of evolution ahead of it.
VM 91 (12/2014): Buccella's 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon has turned out beautifully. Dark red cherry, plum, spice, new leather and licorice meld together in a surprisingly plump, juicy wine for the year. Naturally, the 2011 is a bit lighter than most recent vintages, but the overall balance here is terrific. Winemaker Rebekah Weinburg and consultant winemaker Celia Welch have done a terrific job with their 2011. |
|
|
2005 |
Merlot |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Merlot |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2014 |
Cuvee Katrina Eileen Cabernet Sauvignon |
$191.25 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Bunnell Family Cellars |
2009 |
Lia Columbia Valley Proprietary Blend |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 88 (6/2014): A blend of 28% Mourvedre, 28% Cinsault, 14% Syrah and the balance Petite Sirah, the 2009 Lia gives up loads of briar and bramble to go with notions of mulberry, cooked red and blackberry fruit, licorice and cedar. This medium to full-bodied, rounded, textured and delicious effort should be consumed over the coming couple of years. |
|
|
2010 |
Red Mtn. Syrah |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Snipes Mtn. Fete Proprietary Blend |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Wine O’Clock Boushey Vyd. Sangiovese |
$15 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Butler Nephew and Co. |
2003 |
Port |
$48 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Buty |
2002 |
Columbia Valley 10% Cabernet Franc, 90% Merlot |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 88 (11/2004): Medium ruby. Very primary aromas of black raspberry, chocolate and smoky oak, with whiffs of earth and menthol; rather Napa-like. Sweet and fat, with an edge of acidity giving shape and grip to the concentrated cherry and raspberry flavors. Slightly tough tannins call for a few years of cellaring. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 88 (8/2004): A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2002 Merlot is an oak spice, black cherry, cassis and sweet blackberry-scented wine. Medium to full-bodied, broad, and expansive, it coats the palate with sweet creamy red as well as black fruits with notes of mocha and hints of roasting spices. Its finish is slightly compressed and reveals some firm, dry tannin. Anticipated maturity: now-2011. |
|
|
2002 |
Columbia Valley 10% Cabernet Franc, 90% Merlot Nicked Label; Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 88 (11/2004): Medium ruby. Very primary aromas of black raspberry, chocolate and smoky oak, with whiffs of earth and menthol; rather Napa-like. Sweet and fat, with an edge of acidity giving shape and grip to the concentrated cherry and raspberry flavors. Slightly tough tannins call for a few years of cellaring. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 88 (8/2004): A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2002 Merlot is an oak spice, black cherry, cassis and sweet blackberry-scented wine. Medium to full-bodied, broad, and expansive, it coats the palate with sweet creamy red as well as black fruits with notes of mocha and hints of roasting spices. Its finish is slightly compressed and reveals some firm, dry tannin. Anticipated maturity: now-2011. |
|
|
2002 |
Columbia Valley 10% Cabernet Franc, 90% Merlot Lightly Nicked Label; Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$20 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 88 (11/2004): Medium ruby. Very primary aromas of black raspberry, chocolate and smoky oak, with whiffs of earth and menthol; rather Napa-like. Sweet and fat, with an edge of acidity giving shape and grip to the concentrated cherry and raspberry flavors. Slightly tough tannins call for a few years of cellaring. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 88 (8/2004): A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2002 Merlot is an oak spice, black cherry, cassis and sweet blackberry-scented wine. Medium to full-bodied, broad, and expansive, it coats the palate with sweet creamy red as well as black fruits with notes of mocha and hints of roasting spices. Its finish is slightly compressed and reveals some firm, dry tannin. Anticipated maturity: now-2011. |
|
| Cabaud |
2010 |
Mon Hommage Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Cadence |
2006 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$51 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$51 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (12/2009): (62% cabernet franc, 31% merlot and 7% petit verdot) Good full red with ruby highlights. Knockout nose combines sappy black cherry, redcurrant, black tea, mocha and rose petal. Wonderfully intense but light on its feet, with enticing floral lift and outstanding verve to the red berry and brown spice flavors. Quite horizontal on the back but without any impression of weight. Finishes with very refined tannins and lovely lavender lift and persistence. A great showing-and all the more remarkable considering that Ben Smith and Gaye McNutt's vineyard on Red Mountain was only planted in 2004. There are any number of powerhouse Bordeaux blends being made in Washington today, but very few wines with this degree of class. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2008 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$100 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2012): The 2008 Cara Mia Vineyard Bel Canto – with 25% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot blended into its Cabernet Franc – features mint chocolate, cassis, and an alluring amalgam of Chenin-like quince and flowers on a silken palate, finishing with soothing persistence if not quite the complexity or mineral dimension of the couple of best Cadence releases I tasted. Still, this is very pure-fruited; lovely in its gentle way; yet possessed of subtly vibratory energy, and might well acquire additional complexity over the next half dozen or so years. |
|
|
2009 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$100 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (12/2011): (80% cabernet franc, 10% merlot and 10% petit verdot): Bright ruby-red. Highly aromatic nose offers black fruits, licorice, bitter chocolate and Christmas spices. Then almost shockingly velvety on the palate, with an insinuating sweetness to the deep black fruit and violet flavors. Finishes spicy, violety and very long, with broad, building tannins that saturate the entire mouth. These wines are awfully impressive in the context of the vintage and seem set for a slow and graceful evolution in bottle. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (12/2012): (77% cabernet franc, 15% merlot and 8% petit verdot): Good medium red. Stunning high-pitched perfume of strawberry, cherry, rose petal and pepper. Then dense, round, thick and seamless, with highly concentrated flavors of red berries, flowers and spices. Manages to be wonderfully silky and taut at the same time, thick yet weightless from start to very long finish. This wonderfully perfumed wine displays even sweeter tannins than the Ciel du Cheval bottling. It may not be quite as velvety as the outstanding 2009 version but it offers great aromatic character and energy and is a superb reflection of its cooler year. I look forward to revisiting this beauty in six or seven years. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$100 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (12/2012): (77% cabernet franc, 15% merlot and 8% petit verdot): Good medium red. Stunning high-pitched perfume of strawberry, cherry, rose petal and pepper. Then dense, round, thick and seamless, with highly concentrated flavors of red berries, flowers and spices. Manages to be wonderfully silky and taut at the same time, thick yet weightless from start to very long finish. This wonderfully perfumed wine displays even sweeter tannins than the Ciel du Cheval bottling. It may not be quite as velvety as the outstanding 2009 version but it offers great aromatic character and energy and is a superb reflection of its cooler year. I look forward to revisiting this beauty in six or seven years. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$100 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (12/2014): (84% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 8% petit verdot; this and the Camerata were aged in 50% new French oak): Bright ruby-red. Exhilarating floral lift to the aromas of redcurrant and nutty oak; very Cabernet Franc. Perfectly integrated acidity energizes this somewhat muscular yet ultimately very suave wine, with the redcurrant and cherry flavors complicated by flowers, dusty dried herbs and minerals. Great subtle density here. Finishes with outstanding length and lift, harmonious smooth tannins, and a building sweetness to its floral perfume. This remarkably classy cab franc-based wine should evolve gracefully over the next 10 to 15 years. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2012 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2015): I think the most approachable in the lineup, the 2012 Bel Canto has a complex, perfumed style in its dried flowers, dried spices, vanilla and black cherry and black raspberry-like fruit profile. A blend of 84% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot that spent 20 months in 50% new French oak, it’s full-bodied, concentrated and structured on the palate, yet has perfect balance and a great texture. Few in the US are doing Cabernet Franc better this, and I suspect it will hold nicely for 15-20 years. |
|
|
2013 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93+ (6/2016): One of the reserve wines from Ben Smith, the 2013 Bel Canto is a fabulous blend of 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Merlot that saw just under two years in 50% new French oak. It shows the lengthy elevage on the bouquet with a spicy, ripe, incense, dried flowers and currants driven style that shows a hint of evolution at first, yet continues to gain freshness and purity with time in the glass. This gives way to a complex, layered red that has fabulous mid-palate depth, building, ripe tannin and a big finish. Even with the slightly evolved style, this beauty will age gracefully. Give bottles 3-4 years and plan on drinking through 2030. |
|
|
2014 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$40 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2018): The 2014 Bel Canto is also showing very well indeed with a few years of bottle age, opening in the decanter and glass with notes of cassis, cigar wrapper, loamy soil, pencil shavings and black truffle. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and deep, with beautifully suave structuring tannins and a deep core of concentrated fruit. The finish is long, complex and finely delineated. While this elegant, Bordelais-styled blend is already drinking well, I suspect it still has two decades of life and evolution ahead of it. |
|
|
2014 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2018): The 2014 Bel Canto is also showing very well indeed with a few years of bottle age, opening in the decanter and glass with notes of cassis, cigar wrapper, loamy soil, pencil shavings and black truffle. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and deep, with beautifully suave structuring tannins and a deep core of concentrated fruit. The finish is long, complex and finely delineated. While this elegant, Bordelais-styled blend is already drinking well, I suspect it still has two decades of life and evolution ahead of it. |
|
|
2006 |
Camerata Cara Mia Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (12/2008): (94% cabernet sauvignon and 6% cabernet franc) Initially withdrawn nose reveals musky plum, dark cherry and herbs with aeration. Lush in texture, with a silky sweetness; boasts good juicy acidity yet comes off as a tad chunky today. Perhaps best today on the rising finish, which shows a penetrating quality. Entirely from the three-year-old Cara Mia estate vineyard and not showing the depth or complexity of a wine from older vines. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2007 |
Camerata Cara Mia Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92+ (12/2009): (85% cabernet sauvignon with 5% each cab franc, merlot and petit verdot; aged in 50% new barriques, mostly Taransaud) Good deep red-ruby color. Cassis, black cherry, licorice and mint on the nose, with a lavender topnote. Plush, layered and sweet, with dense but vibrant flavors of brambly berries and graphite and attractive floral lift. Very cabernet, and in need of at least a couple of years to absorb its slightly dusty, serious tannins. The crop level here was below 2.2 tons per acre, according to winemaker/co-owner Ben Smith. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2008 |
Camerata Cara Mia Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$110 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (3/2023): The 2008 Camerata Cara Mia Vineyard lifts from the glass with an intense burst of medicinal cherry and cloves balanced to a hint of animal musk and a lifting whiff of mint. It's seamlessly silky and refined, casting notes of dried cherries and plums across the palate while taking on pleasant inner earth tones toward the close. The 2008 leaves adolescent tannins to linger, along with blackberries and mentholated herbal tones that keep the style wildly fresh. What a beauty this is today, and still slowly climbing to maturity. (Drink between 2023-2030) Eric Guido. |
|
|
2009 |
Camerata Cara Mia Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$110 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92+ (12/2011): (73% cabernet sauvignon and 9% each cabernet franc, merlot and petit verdot): Bright ruby-red. Claret-like aromas of currant, red cherry, flowers, minerals, licorice, cola and menthol. Juicy, spicy and pliant, with a silky texture and a medicinal reserve to the crushed cassis and spicecake flavors. Finishes with serious but sweet tannins and a wave of fruit. I might have guessed Saint-Julien in a blind tasting. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
Camerata Cara Mia Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (6/2023): Ben’s Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend from his estate vineyard, the 2010 Camerata Cara Mia Vineyard, checks in at 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and then equal parts Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Perfumed and complex aromatically, with plenty of blackberry, blueberry, violets and resinous herb qualities on the nose, it is beautifully constructed on the palate with a layered, rich texture, juicy acidity and ripe tannin that emerges on the finish. While the most structured and firm of Ben’s 2010s, it still dishes out plenty of pleasure even now. Enjoy bottles over the coming decade. Drink now-2024. |
|
|
2012 |
Camerata Cara Mia Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2015): Sensational stuff, the 2012 Camerata (91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc) is big, burly effort that offers classic Red Mountain structure and depth. Giving up lots of black cherry, crushed rocks, dried violets and graphite, it is savory, powerful and concentrated on the palate. It needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will hold for two decades after that. |
|
|
2012 |
Camerata Cara Mia Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$110 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2015): Sensational stuff, the 2012 Camerata (91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc) is big, burly effort that offers classic Red Mountain structure and depth. Giving up lots of black cherry, crushed rocks, dried violets and graphite, it is savory, powerful and concentrated on the palate. It needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will hold for two decades after that. |
|
|
2013 |
Camerata Cara Mia Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2016): A significantly different blend from the 2012, which was over 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2013 Camerata checks in as 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot, which like the Bel Canto spent 23 months in 50% new French oak. Possessing a fabulous bouquet of black currants, toasted spice, licorice and wild herbs, this full-bodied 2013 is concentrated, incredibly elegant and textured, with ripe tannin and a balanced, layered style that will evolve gracefully. It should be at its best from 2020-2033. |
|
|
2014 |
Camerata Cara Mia Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2017): I loved the 2014 Camerata, and this Red Mountain blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc is a blockbuster that readers should snatch up. Mulled currants, baking spice, dried earth and dried flower notes all emerge from this full-bodied, gorgeously pure and seamless red that has building tannin and a great, great finish. Give bottles 2-3 years of cellaring and enjoy over the following two decades. |
|
|
2008 |
Ciel du Cheval Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$80 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93+ (12/2010): (38% cabernet franc, 33% cabernet sauvignon, 17% petit verdot and 12% merlot) Bright medium-deep red. Cherry, raspberry, licorice and flowers on the nose, plus a hint of tobacco leaf; lightly medicinal in a Cheval Blanc way. Then juicy, pure and tightly wound, with superb depth of bright red berry and floral flavors supported by firm acidity and solid tannic structure. Plenty of density and sweetness here but also energetic and light on its feet. Spreads out impressively on the back end, with the tannins reaching the incisors. Seems tighter than the 2007 version at a similar stage and really calls for five years of cellaring, even if it could be enjoyed today with food. Proprietor/winemaker Ben Smith describes 2008 as "a compressed harvest and a structured vintage for us." He normally picks on the early side (the pH here is 3.68) but notes that this wine is just over 14% alcohol. These are some of Washington's most Bordeaux-like wines, and Cadence is now firmly in the top tier of the state's producers: recent vintages have brought sweeter fruit and greater density of material without any loss of structure or verve. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2014 |
Ciel du Cheval Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2018): The 2014 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard offers up attractive aromas of cigar box, cassis fruit, loamy soil and espresso roast. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, with a juicy core of fruit and powdery structuring tannins that still need some time in the cellar to resolve. Beautifully balanced and incipiently complex, this should evolve for a long time to come. It's a blend of 33% Cabernet Franc, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot. |
|
|
2008 |
Tapteil Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$80 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92+ (12/2010): (50% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 20% cabernet franc) Good bright deep red. Wild, soil-driven aromas of cinnamon spice, fresh herbs, red licorice, iodine and sage. Then quite backward and firm in the mouth owing to its strong acid/tannin spine. The 2007 Tapteil was sweeter and silkier at the same stage, but this wine's subtle intensity, complexity and claret-like structure suggest it will ultimately merit an even higher score. Today the finish is a bit less sweet and the tannins less refined than the 2007 Ciel du Cheval. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
Tapteil Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$80 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93+ (12/2012): (64% cabernet sauvignon, 22% cabernet franc and 14% merlot): Saturated, bright full red. A bit redder on the nose than the Ciel du Cheval bottling, with notes of raspberry and strawberry syrup accented by dusty minerality. Then fatter, richer and more powerful in the mouth, showing more breadth and texture than the Ciel but not quite the same floral cut. Concentrated red fruit and spice flavors are joined by earth tones on the long finish, which features strong, building tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Tapteil Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$80 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2014): More ripe, layered and textured, the 2011 Tapteil Vineyard is knockout stuff. Showing impressive black and blue fruits, wild herbs, underbrush and hints of flowers, it is full-bodied, concentrated and has plenty of sweet tannin and integrated acidity. Enjoy this beauty anytime over the coming decade or more. |
|
|
2012 |
Tapteil Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$80 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93+ (11/2015): Bright ruby-red. Red berries, cocoa powder and licorice on the nose. Tightly wound and youthfully imploded, conveying an impression of density without weight. Dark fruit and mineral flavors show terrific lift but are extremely backward in the early going. "Drink this with a big steak or hold it for four years," suggests Ben Smith, adding that the 1999 Tapteil is great right now. Finishes with a firm tannic spine and outstanding subtle length and lift. This wine was aged in 40% new oak and was racked a total of just three times. Incidentally, I also got an early look at the 2013 Tapteil, and that impressively intense wine may need even longer aging than the '12, due in part to its higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. (Drink between 2019-2029) Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2014 |
Tapteil Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$80 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2018): The 2014 Tapteil Vineyard is showing well, wafting from the glass with classy and complex aromas of cassis, loamy soil, pencil shavings and cigar box. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and elegant, with a lovely core of earth-inflected fruit and fine-grained structuring tannins. It's a beautifully balanced blend with a decidedly Bordelais aesthetic. |
|
| Cadence Winery |
2004 |
Bel Canto Red |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 93 (11/2006): 50% cabernet franc, 40% merlot and 10% petit verdot, from a blend of vineyards) Good bright red with ruby highlights. Expressive aromas of blackberry, raspberry, rose petal, licorice, mocha and spices. Sweet, broad and concentrated, with lush, primary dark berry flavors lifted by floral notes of lilac and lavender; this offers lovely mid-palate texture and the definition and verve that come from healthy, well-integrated acidity. The seamless finish features substantial broad, dusty tannins, lovely floral lift and a lingering chocolately sweetness. Very impressive. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 90 (8/2007): The 2004 Red Wine “Bel Canto” is a barrel selection of the best lots from the single vineyard cuvees. It is composed of 50% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot. Purple-colored, it has a smoky nose with aromas of herbs, clove, cassis, and black currants. Supple-textured, the wine cuts a broad path on the palate with layers of flavor, excellent depth, and a long, pure finish. Cellar this classy wine for 3-5 years and drink it through 2027. |
|
|
2004 |
Tapteil Vyd. Red |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 90 (12/2006): (a blend of 63% cabernet sauvignon, 31% merlot and 6% cabernet franc) Good bright, deep red. Currant, tobacco, minerals, brown spices and a whiff of iodine on the reticent nose. Sweet but firm and youthfully tight, with distinctly wild black fruit and fresh herbal flavors and no excess weight. This, too, is a bit clenched today but the firm tannins are ripe and the finish builds impressively. (A second bottle, decanted for 12 hours, showed a bigger middle palate, with impressive ripeness and silky texture, and rated 91.)
WA 86 (8/2007): The 2004 Red Wine “Tapteil Vineyard" is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. Dark ruby-colored, it delivers a very good perfume of toasty oak, spice box, cassis, and black currants. This is followed by a moderately intense wine with ample ripe fruit, soft tannin, and a medium long finish. Give this solid effort 2-3 years to fill out, and drink it through 2022. |
|
| Cakebread Cellars |
2003 |
Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (6/2013): The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Benchland Select (100% Cabernet Sauvignon; 14.3% alcohol) was aged 22 months in French oak (40% new). All of the fruit comes from the western side of Napa Valley, three-fourths from Oakville and the rest from Rutherford. Complex aromas of black currants, plums, Asian duck sauce and spice jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored wine. Gorgeously proportioned with loads of pure black currant fruit and licorice intermixed with subtle wood notes, this is a classic Napa Cabernet with a full-bodied texture, impressive purity and well-balanced acidity, tannin, alcohol, wood and extract. This beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon should age well for 15-20 more years. |
|
|
2012 |
Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2005 |
Carneros Syrah |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2012 |
Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Napa Valley Carneros Syrah |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Caldwell |
2013 |
Carmenere |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Clone 181 Merlot |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Clone 400 Caldwell Vyd. Petit Verdot |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Clone 595 Malbec |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Estate Grown Block 15 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Rocket Science Red Wine |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2012 |
Rocket Science Red Wine |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Calera |
2004 |
Jensen Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2007): This venerable winery, which has thirty years of history (long by California standards), has turned out a bevy of new releases. The dark ruby/purple-tinged, spicy, full-bodied 2004 Pinot Noir Jensen Vineyard reveals a stunningly complex nose of roasted meat, sweet red and black currants, cherries, earth, and spice. With excellent structure, acidity, and length, it should be another terrific example of this vineyard. Exceptionally long and rich, it should be cellared for 2-3 years and enjoyed over the following 15. |
|
|
2004 |
Mills Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (8/2007): This venerable winery, which has thirty years of history (long by California standards), has turned out a bevy of new releases. The 2004 Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard boasts a deep ruby/purple color along with seductive, sweet aromas of black raspberries, black cherries, spring flowers, and spice. It possesses beautiful red and black fruits, good acidity, full body, and more tannin, but less spice than the Reed cuvee. This complex, fruit-driven Pinot Noir will benefit from 1-3 years of cellaring, and should drink well for 10-15 years. |
|
| Camaraderie Cellars |
2004 |
Cabernet Franc |
$20 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2003 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$20 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2003 |
Merlot |
$20 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2004 |
Grace Proprietary Blend |
$30 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Cardinale |
2005 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$219 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2008): (no note given) |
|
|
2014 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$219 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (12/2017): The 2015 Cardinale is heavenly juice made from 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot that’s from a number of AVAs in Napa Valley. It offers a beautiful perfume of crème de cassis, black raspberry jam, graphite, and scorched earth. This gives way to a full-bodied, elegant, impressively concentrated 2015 that has the deep, concentrated fruit of the vintage, yet stays fresh, lively and graceful on the palate. This is high-class stuff that can be drunk anytime over the coming 20-25 years. These sensational wines come from winemaker Chris Carpenter, with the estate falling under the Kendall-Jackson Family umbrella. (Drink between 2018-2043) |
|
|
2016 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 99 (1/2019): Just about as close to perfection as a wine can get, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker Chris Carpenter comes mostly from mountain vineyards and is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Merlot. This full-bodied, rounded, thrillingly textured beauty boasts a saturated purple color as well as a huge nose of crème de cassis, new saddle leather, barbecue smoke, and scorched earth. It has perfect integration of its fruit, tannins, acidity, and oak, carries remarkable power and intensity, yet still glides over the palate with no heaviness or sensation of weight. It’s going to be a legendary Napa Valley Cabernet and will have 3 decades or more of longevity. (Drink between 2019-2049) |
|
|
2018 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$269 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$235 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 98+ (12/2021): Pure, classic California notes of crème de cassis, spicy oak, chalky minerality, graphite, and spring flowers emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot that's sourced from multiple mountain AVAs in the valley. Full-bodied and powerful on the palate, it has a deep, rich mid-palate, beautiful tannins, notable acidity, and a great, great finish. It's another brilliant wine from Carpenter that can offer pleasure today yet also evolve for 20-25 years or more.
VM 97+ (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most finessed wines I have ever tasted here. That seems to be the direction Chris Carpenter is pursuing of late. So more than a vintage or place (Cardinale is a blend of hillside and valley floor sites) what comes through is the wine's finesse. Floral overtones lift a core of red cherry fruit, pomegranate and blood orange. I imagine the 2019 will enjoy a long life based on its spectacular balance. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (3/2025): Sourced from 14 different vineyards, the Cardinale Cabernet Sauvignon reveals alluring aromas of cassis, black fruits, new leather, and baking spices. Full-bodied and powerful, with remarkable richness and focus, it offers ripe, well-integrated tannins and a pleasure-bent yet sophisticated personality. Based on 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot, aged 22 months in 81% new French oak, this classy wine will drink beautifully for two decades. (Drink between 2025-2045) |
|
|
1990 |
Proprietary Blend Bin-Soiled Label |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Carlisle |
2012 |
James Berry Vineyard Syrah |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (6/2014): (20% whole clusters, 27% new oak and 15.9% alcohol): Inky purple. Sexy aromas of cassis, cherry compote, roasted coffee and incense. Supple, pliant and deep in black and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors. Becomes spicier and more energetic with air and picks up a smoky nuance that lingers on the long, sweet, intensely spicy finish. I was shocked to see that alcohol number as the wine doesn't betray it at all. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| JK Carriere |
2004 |
Anderson Family Pinot Noir |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (10/2007): The 2004 Pinot Noir “Anderson Family” seems to fit Jim Prosser’s profile of what he is attempting to achieve. Medium ruby-colored, the wine has a lovely bouquet of rose petal, toast, spice box, cherry, and black raspberry. On the palate the wine is elegant with uplifting acidity and a solid core of racy, sweet fruit. This harmonious effort is beautifully balanced and long. Give it 3-4 years in the cellar and drink it through 2024. It is one of the stars of the vintage. |
|
| Carte Blanche (Nicholas Allen) |
2009 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon caresses the palate with deep layers of dark red fruit, rose petals, smoke and espresso. It is a bit more voluptuous and sexy than the 2008 in its sleek, polished personality. All of the elements flow gracefully to the huge, textured finish. The 2009 is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot.
VM 91+ (5/2012): Dark ruby-red. Reticent but pure aromas of blackberry and mint. Densely packed and sweet--almost liqueur-like--with just enough Oakville fleshiness to give texture to the dark berry and mineral flavors. Rather painfully shy today, but the strong tannins are quite fine. Finishes with enticing dusty spices and plenty of spine for aging. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (12/2012): Another powerful, young wine, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon is incredibly dense and virtually impenetrable. Blue and black fruit, grilled herbs, licorice, new leather, menthol and tobacco flow through to an incisive finish layered with graphite and crushed rocks. Today, the 2010 is cool and implosive, suggesting it needs at least another few years to come together. The addition of 10% Petit Verdot seems to give the wine some of its brooding personality. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2016 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
1 |
|
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JD 97 (1/2019): A different beast, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is more backward and reticent, and while it needs 4-5 years of bottle age, is packed with potential. Both black and blue fruits, earth, tobacco, and freshly crushed rock notes all flow to a full-bodied 2016 that has plenty of fine tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and beautiful intensity and length. Do your best to give this some bottle age, and you’ll be rewarded with a phenomenal Napa Valley Cabernet that will keep for 2-3 decades. These Carte Blanche releases are made by superstar winemaker Helen Keplinger. (Drink between 2019-2039).
WA 95+ (10/2018): One-hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon aged 22 months in 100% French oak, the very deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon gives quite a meaty nose of chargrilled meats, charcuterie and beef drippings over a core of cassis, preserved plums and black cherries plus touches of cedar, unsmoked cigars and underbrush. Full, rich and seductive in the mouth, it has a soft, super ripe and finely grained texture with layer upon layer of black fruits, finishing long with a spicy kick.
VM 95 (12/2018): Inky black cherry, plum, chocolate, menthol and licorice are some of the many notes that run through Carte Blanche's 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon. Plush and flamboyant, the 2016 retains terrific balance as well as persistence, with layers of flavor that continue to build in the glass. (Drink between 2021-2031). Antonio Galloni. |
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| Carter Cellars |
2018 |
Carter Cabernet Sauvignon |
$160 |
2 |
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JD 99 (6/2020): A killer effort, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Carter offers that rare, magical mix of opulence, power, elegant, and freshness that you rarely come across, offering a kaleidoscope-like array of crème de cassis, toasted spice, dried violets, blackberries, smoked tobacco, and a distinct sense of minerality.
VM 96 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Carter is a selection of the best barrels in the cellar. Powerful and yet effusive, the 2018 offers a striking interplay of fruit and soaring floral/spiced aromatics. Raspberry jam, mint, spice, new leather and mocha come together in this sumptuous Cabernet Sauvignon from Mark Carter and winemaker Mike Smith. (Drink between 2024-2038). Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (11/2020): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Carter delivers beguiling scents of black raspberries, redcurrant jelly, fresh blackcurrants and Morello cherries with touches of sautéed herbs, cloves, tobacco leaf and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a firm, grainy texture and lots of savory nuances intermingled with the crunchy black fruits, finishing with an herbal lift. |
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2018 |
La Bam Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$200 |
1 |
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JD 98 (5/2023): Another killer wine, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard La BAM sports a dense purple hue as well as mineral-driven aromatics of black fruits, graphite, liquid violets, and crushed stone. It's full-bodied and has flawless balance, fine-grained tannins, and a stunning finish. This has closed up slightly since release, and while it clearly offers pleasure today, it's going to benefit from another 3-5 years of bottle age. (Drink starting 2026).
VM 95 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard La Bam marries the natural power of this site with rich, dense fruit that nearly buries the tannins. Macerated red cherry, cinnamon, leather, spice and rose petal build in a bold, sumptuous Cabernet endowed with terrific persistence and tons of underlying structure. La Bam shows the more sensual, curvy side of the year. (Drink between 2024-2038). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95 (11/2020): The deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard La Bam is a little closed and broody to begin, slowly opening to offer glimpses at earthy notes of tar, tilled soil and black truffles over a core of crème de cassis, cast-iron pan, baked blackberries, sautéed herbs and fruitcake plus a touch of espresso. Full-bodied, the palate has a rugged frame of grainy tannins and just enough freshness supporting the concentrated, muscular fruit, finishing long and savory. |
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2018 |
La Verdad Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$200 |
1 |
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JD 97+ (5/2023): Similar to when it was released, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard La Verdad is loaded with ripe blue fruits, chocolate, violets, spice, and camphor notes, and it picks up a bloody, iron-like nuance with time in the glass. With full-bodied richness and a ripe, powerful, yet structured mouthfeel, it shows the purity, focus, and precision of the 2018 vintage while still bringing gorgeous depth and richness. As always, this is slightly more structured and inward compared to the more extroverted La BAM release. Give it 3-4 years, and it will evolve for 30 years or more. (Drink between 2026-2057).
WA 96+ (11/2020): Sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard La Verdad gives up compelling notes of fresh black and red currants, ripe black plums, wild blueberries and cedar chest with wafts of oolong tea, charcoal and Indian spices plus a fragrant suggestion of lavender. The densely laden, full-bodied palate is jam-packed with black and blue fruit preserves, featuring a firm, grainy-textured backbone and just enough freshness, finishing long and perfumed.
VM 94+ (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard La Verdad is a powerhouse. Huge tannins wrap around a core of blackberry jam, spice, chocolate, espresso, menthol and licorice in a brooding, dark wine endowed with tremendous concentration and intensity and the searing tannins to match. (Drink between 2024-2038). Antonio Galloni. |
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2012 |
The O.G. Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
1 |
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WA 94 (10/2014): The sensational 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard The O.G. boasts classic notes of crème de cassis, licorice, incense and a whiff of new oak. Full-bodied with ripe tannin, adequate acidity and beautiful exuberance and personality, it should be drunk over the next 10-15 years.
VM 93 (12/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard The O.G. is the most delicate, layered and silky of Mark Carter's three Cabernets from Andy Beckstoffer's To-Kalon vineyard. Floral, lifted and precise, the O.G. captures the essence of Clone 337 in its silky fruit and open, caressing personality. All the elements are very nicely balanced. Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
The O.G. Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$235 |
1 |
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| WA 95-98 (12/2015): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard The O.G. is another killer for Carter in this vintage. It might be just below the profound concentration and depth of the 2013, but this is certainly going to be an upper-90-point wine when released. Amazing cassis, blackberry and floral notes followed by a full-bodied, velvety textured, super-rich and concentrated wine that is a stunner. This is first-growth quality that is unreal. It should drink well for 20 years, even in a more precocious vintage like 2014. |
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2012 |
Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$199 |
1 |
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| VM 92 (12/2014): Super-ripe dark fruit, menthol, smoke, spices and leather are all laced together in the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon The Three Kings. Rich, succulent and perfumed to the core, the 2012 possesses gorgeous depth, persistence and voluptuousness. The Three Kings is pure Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon, so not surprisingly this is an ample, broad-shouldered wine. Antonio Galloni. |
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2004 |
Weitz Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
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| Caterwaul |
2014 |
Regusci Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
1 |
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| Cavus |
2005 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
3 |
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| Caymus |
2012 |
40th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon |
$155 |
1 |
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WA 96 (10/2014): They appear to be immune to some of winedom’s less than intelligent trends and fads that we see from time to time, and the result is a spectacular 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary offering. Its dense purple/black color is followed by copious quantities of crème de cassis and blackberry fruit, silky tannins, a voluptuous texture and stunning purity as well as length. This full-bodied effort is a fabulous example of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a tribute to this amazing family. It is so good now, why wait? However, I’m sure that like most vintages of Caymus, it will last for 20-25 years. Amazing!
VM 85 (12/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary from Caymus hits the palate with a rush of dark cherry, plum, Coke, chocolate, brandy, spices and sweet new oak. There is good texture, viscosity and immediacy to the fruit at first, but the sickly sweet new oak and vanillin become overpowering soon after, totally covering the fruit and attenuating the mid-palate and finish. Thankfully, the finish is short. Even by today's standards in Napa Valley, this is a decidedly sweet style of Cabernet Sauvignon quite unlike pretty much anything else I tasted this year. Antonio Galloni. |
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2012 |
40th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon (1.0 L) one-liter bottle |
$180 |
1 |
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WA 96 (10/2014): They appear to be immune to some of winedom’s less than intelligent trends and fads that we see from time to time, and the result is a spectacular 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary offering. Its dense purple/black color is followed by copious quantities of crème de cassis and blackberry fruit, silky tannins, a voluptuous texture and stunning purity as well as length. This full-bodied effort is a fabulous example of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a tribute to this amazing family. It is so good now, why wait? However, I’m sure that like most vintages of Caymus, it will last for 20-25 years. Amazing!
VM 85 (12/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary from Caymus hits the palate with a rush of dark cherry, plum, Coke, chocolate, brandy, spices and sweet new oak. There is good texture, viscosity and immediacy to the fruit at first, but the sickly sweet new oak and vanillin become overpowering soon after, totally covering the fruit and attenuating the mid-palate and finish. Thankfully, the finish is short. Even by today's standards in Napa Valley, this is a decidedly sweet style of Cabernet Sauvignon quite unlike pretty much anything else I tasted this year. Antonio Galloni. |
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2012 |
40th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon (1.0 L) Lightly Scuffed Label |
$249 |
2 |
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WA 96 (10/2014): They appear to be immune to some of winedom’s less than intelligent trends and fads that we see from time to time, and the result is a spectacular 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary offering. Its dense purple/black color is followed by copious quantities of crème de cassis and blackberry fruit, silky tannins, a voluptuous texture and stunning purity as well as length. This full-bodied effort is a fabulous example of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a tribute to this amazing family. It is so good now, why wait? However, I’m sure that like most vintages of Caymus, it will last for 20-25 years. Amazing!
VM 85 (12/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary from Caymus hits the palate with a rush of dark cherry, plum, Coke, chocolate, brandy, spices and sweet new oak. There is good texture, viscosity and immediacy to the fruit at first, but the sickly sweet new oak and vanillin become overpowering soon after, totally covering the fruit and attenuating the mid-palate and finish. Thankfully, the finish is short. Even by today's standards in Napa Valley, this is a decidedly sweet style of Cabernet Sauvignon quite unlike pretty much anything else I tasted this year. Antonio Galloni. |
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1999 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Wine-Stained Label |
$109 |
1 |
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WA 87 (8/2002): The 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon offers a deep ruby/purple color, lavish toasty oak, and attractive sweet black currant fruit mixed with smoke, earth, and herb characteristics. Although the finish is angular, the wood too noticeable, and the wine lacks concentration, it is a solidly made effort, but preposterously over-priced. This Cabernet hardly represents cutting edge winemaking, but it remains immensely popular with most consumers.
VM 87 (6/2002): Bright red-ruby. Aromas of redcurrant, bitter cherry, tarry oak and bitter chocolate. Juicy flavors of blackberry, redcurrant and spicy oak, with a slightly dusty note of coffee grounds. Nicely balanced wine with good texture and decent concentration. |
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2006 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$129 |
3 |
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2007 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
2 |
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2009 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
5 |
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2010 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$115 |
2 |
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| WA 94 (10/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa is a beauty. Dense ruby/purple-colored, it is filled with creme de cassis fruit, supple tannins and an opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel. The family believes in delivering exceptional pleasure and intensity to their wines, but they also have remarkable aging potential as the 1975 and 1976 Special Selections in my cellar bear witness. |
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2012 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (1.0 L) Signs of Old Seepage; Torn Label |
$135 |
1 |
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WA 96 (10/2014): They appear to be immune to some of winedom’s less than intelligent trends and fads that we see from time to time, and the result is a spectacular 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary offering. Its dense purple/black color is followed by copious quantities of crème de cassis and blackberry fruit, silky tannins, a voluptuous texture and stunning purity as well as length. This full-bodied effort is a fabulous example of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a tribute to this amazing family. It is so good now, why wait? However, I’m sure that like most vintages of Caymus, it will last for 20-25 years. Amazing!
VM 85 (10/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary from Caymus hits the palate with a rush of dark cherry, plum, Coke, chocolate, brandy, spices and sweet new oak. There is good texture, viscosity and immediacy to the fruit at first, but the sickly sweet new oak and vanillin become overpowering soon after, totally covering the fruit and attenuating the mid-palate and finish. Thankfully, the finish is short. Even by today's standards in Napa Valley, this is a decidedly sweet style of Cabernet Sauvignon quite unlike pretty much anything else I tasted this year. (Drink between 2014-2020). Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (1.0 L) |
$135 |
1 |
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WA 94 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley has a dense opaque purple color, a kiss of blackberry and cassis fruit, a full-bodied mouthfeel with ripe tannin and a long finish. It is very Caymus in its immediate accessibility, but has plenty of staying power and depth. This is lush, full, intense and pure. Drink it over the next 15 or so years.
JS 88 (5/2017): Lots of raisin character with berry and vanilla flavors. Full-bodied, slightly fluid and a fruity and off-dry on the finish. Not my style but some may like it. Drink now. |
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2015 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (1.0 L) |
$129 |
5 |
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JD 95 (1/2020): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from Caymus is a stunner that offers ample balance and class paired with serious hedonistic fireworks. Revealing a saturated purple color and blockbuster notes of blackcurrants, cassis, chocolate, cedary spice, and hints of espresso, it’s velvety textured, full-bodied, concentrated, and flawlessly balanced. It opens up with time in the glass and is straight-up loaded with fruit and texture, yet it has the balance, depth, and pedigree to evolve for two decades or more if you’re so inclined. (Drink between 2020-2040).
WA 94+ (10/2017): Deep purple-black in color, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon springs from the glass with lifted crème de cassis, violets and chocolate box notes plus hints of lilacs, raspberry leaves, anise and cardamom. The perfumed black fruit preserves and chocolate-laced notes completely pack the full-bodied palate, with soft, velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing very long and very spicy. Definitely one for hedonists seeking immediate gratification. |
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2016 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
1 |
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2021 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
1 |
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1995 |
Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (6X750ML) OWC |
$1,135 |
1 |
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| WA 90 (8/1999): While it is fashionable to criticize this wine because of its price, and the secrecy surrounding the amount produced (who really cares?), the wine is unquestionably Outstanding. The 1995 boasts a dark ruby/purple color as well as an attractive bouquet with lavish quantities of toasty new oak and black currants. There is moderate tannin, good purity, and an open-knit, sexy style. If the wine had not fallen a bit short on the mid-palate, it would have merited an even higher score. It should drink well for 10-15 years. |
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1997 |
Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (6X750ML) OWC |
$1,200 |
1 |
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| VM 93 (12/2000): Bright ruby. Cassis, violet and lightly tarry, spicy oak. Ripe, dense and very concentrated; thick and deep. Not at all overly sweet or dominated by the wood. Has superb material and verve. Finishes very long, with thoroughly ripe tannins. The finest vintage for this wine in a long time, and one that avoids the excesses of (American) oak that have plagued so many recent vintages. |
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2001 |
Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
1 |
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| WA 96 (6/2011): Caymus has been around for so long there is a tendency to under-estimate their wines. However, they have a brilliant track record as evidenced by the decade old 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Vintage Selection. Abundant chocolaty, black currant, licorice and coffee aromas soar from the glass of this perfumed wine. It exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color, wonderful opulence, a deep, full-bodied mouthfeel, fabulous depth and not a hard edge to be found. While seemingly fully mature, the supple tannins, expansive fruit and glycerin, depth and overall balance suggest it will keep for another 15+ years. |
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2005 |
Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (6X750ML) OWC |
$1,195 |
1 |
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WA 96 (6/2015): The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection is made in the classic Caymus style that Chuck Wagner has perfected, seemingly so easily. It’s a big, ripe Napa Cabernet Sauvignon (as it should be) coming in at 15.2% natural alcohol. This has gorgeous notes of fig, plum, blackberry, cassis, with no real oak showing through, at least at age ten. Low in acidity, opulent, sexy and fresh, it is indeed a beverage of pleasure, and Chuck Wagner certainly knows how to deliver it in spades. This full-bodied, juicy Cabernet Sauvignon will age easily for another 10-15 years, but why wait? It is that stunning at present.
VM 93 (5/2016): (15.2% alcohol): Bright ruby. Sexy violet lift to the aromas of cassis, blackberry and minerals, plus a suggestion of iron. Supple, fine-grained and deep, with lovely integrated acidity framing and extending the dark berry and dark chocolate flavors. The floral element repeats in the mouth, giving it lift. Strong, fleshy, consistent wine, fruit-driven and long, with tannins supported by mid-palate stuffing. Nothing exotic or overbearing about the oak here. A superb vintage for this wine, with nothing exotic about the oak element. With its sweet, rich fruit and firm, fine-grained tannins, this wine is accessible 2016 but is still evolving. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2006 |
Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon |
$169 |
1 |
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