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Search Flickinger Wine Inventory
Inventory updated: Fri, Jan 30, 2026 04:02 PM cst
Your search criteria:
Regions: USA Red
Vintages: Between 2009 and 2009
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| 21 Grams |
2009 |
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon  |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| 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. |
|
| Alban Vineyards |
2009 |
Alban Estate Grenache |
$120 |
2 |
|
| |
| 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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2009 |
Lorraine Alban Estate Syrah |
$125 |
3 |
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| WA 97 (8/2013): Also totally brilliant, the 2009 Syrah Lorraine’s Vineyard possesses incredible purity and focus with its creme de cassis, black raspberry, vanilla, spice box and licorice-styled bouquet flowing to a full-bodied, seamless wine that has no hard edges, building tannin and an overall perfect blend of richness and elegance. It’s approachable now, but given the overall density, will also age effortlessly for 15+ years. Drink 2015-2024. |
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2009 |
Seymour’s Vyd. Syrah |
$175 |
1 |
|
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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 |
2009 |
Krupp Brothers Vyd. Syrah |
$75 |
2 |
|
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| 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. |
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|
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. |
|
| Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards |
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. |
|
| Araujo Estate |
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.
WS 92 (11/2012): A firm, rustic red, tight and dense, with extracted tannins wrapped around a core of dark berry, currant, cedar and crushed rock. Best from 2014 through 2028. 1,600 cases made. |
|
| Arietta |
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.
WS 92 (10/2012): Marked by dry, loamy earth and espresso notes, this well-built red unfolds to dark berry and cedar flavors, with firm, fine-grained tannins. Ends with a distinctive game meat and herbal edge. Best from 2013 through 2023. 270 cases made. |
|
| Arkenstone |
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. |
|
| 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. |
|
| 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. |
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2009 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$125 |
3 |
|
| |
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.
WS 91 (9/2012): Firm in texture, with chewy tannins around a core of vibrant, black olive-tinged black cherry and guava flavors, lingering with delicacy. An expressive wine, but needs time to soften. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best after 2014. 900 cases made. |
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2009 |
La Cote Patriarche Syrah (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$119 |
1 |
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| 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. |
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2009 |
La Cote Rousse Syrah |
$50 |
3 |
|
| |
| 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 |
|
| |
| 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 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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2009 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$135 |
2 |
|
| |
| 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. |
|
| Robert Biale Vineyards |
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. |
|
| Blankiet |
2009 |
Paradise Hills Vyd. Proprietary Blend Signed Bottle |
$165 |
2 |
|
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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.
WS 92 (2/2013): Rich and unctuous, with layers of ripe currant, blackberry, espresso and cedar flavors. Offers a mix of power and precision, unfolding to dried herb, cedar and melted black licorice. Not shy about tannins, but the ripe fruit flavors push through nicely. Best from 2014 through 2024. 500 cases made. |
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2009 |
Prince of Hearts Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
2 |
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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. |
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| Booker Vineyard |
2009 |
Tempranillo |
$65 |
1 |
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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. |
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2009 |
Fracture Syrah |
$59 |
1 |
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JD 96 (12/2011): One of the more structured vintages for this cuvee, the 100% Syrah, 2009 Booker Vineyard Syrah Fracture boasts smoking good aromatics of blackberry liqueur, smoked meats, solid minerality, and complex underbrush and floral nuances the show more with air. Full-bodied and seriously fruited and textured, yet with awesome focus, notable purity, and solid underlying tannin and structure, this knockout Paso Syrah needs a year or two of bottle age, and should drink brilliantly for upwards of a decade. I followed this bottle for 2 days and while it is certainly a big wine, it is no fruit bomb and has real depth and structure.
WA 94 (8/2011): The 2009 Fracture (Syrah) is super-ripe and boisterous in its blackberries, blueberries, creme de cassis and sweet spices. It shows striking inner perfume, layers of radiant fruit and a positively explosive finish punctuated with tar, smoke and a host of dark aromas and flavors. Simply put, this is a striking wine. The 2009 Fracture saw 80% new barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2019.
VM 94 (8/2011): The 2009 Fracture (Syrah) is super-ripe and boisterous in its blackberries, blueberries, creme de cassis and sweet spices. It shows striking inner perfume, layers of radiant fruit and a positively explosive finish punctuated with tar, smoke and a host of dark aromas and flavors. Simply put, this is a striking wine. Antonio Galloni.
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.
WS 93 (2/2012): Dense and intense, this is marked by a complex range of flavors accented by a minty edge. A muscle-bound youngster, with vivid blackberry, wild berry, spice and tobacco notes, remaining tightly wound yet holding onto a tight focus. Best from 2013 through 2023. 375 cases made. |
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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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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.
WS 93 (2/2012): Both intense and firm, this Syrah-driven red is more open-knit than the other Booker 2009s, yet it tightens the noose on the finish. A berry soup of reds. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Grenache. Best from 2012 through 2022. 545 cases made.
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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2009 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
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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.
WS 93 (2/2012): Presents a rustic, rough-hewn personality, this is firm, dense and chewy, with ripe dark berry, road tar, graphite, spice and fig paste flavors that add to its grainy, detailed texture. Well-balanced for all its size and strength. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2023. 425 cases made.
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. |
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| Bryant Family Vineyard |
2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$375 |
1 |
|
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JS 97 (4/2011): Insane nose of pure cassis, minerals, and gorgeous flowers. This is stunning. Full and juicy, with amazing layers of fruit, from cassis to blueberries and hints of vanilla on the great finish. 1100 cases.
WA 96+ (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with rich, dark red fruit, smoke, licorice and incense. The aromas and flavors are a touch ripe, exotic and totally seductive. Polished, silky tannins frame the fruit beautifully through to the finish, where floral notes add the lift and brightness. The 2009 isn’t a huge wine, but it is immensely appealing. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.
VM 93-96 (6/2011): Deep ruby. Knockout nose combines ripe black raspberry, blueberry, wild strawberry, dark chocolate and incense. A creamy-sweet fruit bomb in the mouth, with a strong cocoa powder quality complicating the black raspberry and blueberry flavors. A subtle hint of smoky minerality emerged as the sample opened in the glass. Finishes with dusty tannins and excellent length. A second sample introduced a pronounced element of liquid rock along with hints of wild herbs and wet earth, and finished even longer, with more obvious structure. |
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2009 |
Bettina Proprietary Blend |
$275 |
2 |
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| WA 97 (12/2011): The 2009 Bettina Bryant is a striking wine graced with exquisite aromatics and beautifully delineated fruit. It is a bit darker, firmer and more inward than the Bryant Cabernet Sauvignon. Espresso, spices, black cherries, tobacco, leather and red berries are woven together beautifully in this fabulous Bordeaux-style blend. This is a drop-dead gorgeous wine. The only problem is that it might very well challenge the Bryant Cabernet! In 2009 the blend is 55.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23.8% Cabernet Franc, 16.9% Merlot and 3.7% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2029. |
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2009 |
DB4 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$145 |
1 |
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| 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. |
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| Bunnell Family Cellars |
2009 |
Lia Columbia Valley Proprietary Blend |
$20 |
1 |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Caymus |
2009 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
5 |
|
| |
| WS 91 (11/2011): Supple and creamy-textured, with mocha, ripe plum and cherry flavors that show touches of tobacco, espresso and underbrush. Full-bodied, gaining tannic traction on the finish, elegant and readily approachable. Drink now through 2018. 71,690 cases made. |
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2009 |
Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon |
$235 |
1 |
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| |
| WS 93 (11/2011): Temptingly rich and layered, with complex mocha, plum and wild berry fruit that's spicy and aromatic. Full-bodied, gaining depth and turning ever more elegant and detailed, with tannins that give this traction. Drink now through 2019. 29,820 cases made. |
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| Chappellet |
2009 |
Signature Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
3 |
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| Cobb |
2009 |
Jack Hill Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$50.15 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (7/2013): The 2009 Pinot Noir Jack Hill Vineyard, from a site south of Occidental, is arguably the most immediate of the 2009 Pinots in this range. Dark red cherries, exotic spices, licorice and cloves all flesh out in a radiant, expressive Pinot that impresses for its accessibility. Even though the Jack Hill is quite open today, there is plenty of underlying structure to support years of positive development in bottle. A creamy, expressive finish rounds things out in style. The Jack Hill was made from fully de-stemmed fruit. (Drink between 2015-2025.) Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2009 |
Rice-Spivak Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$50.15 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Col Solare |
2009 |
Proprietary Red |
$65 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 93+ (6/2013): The most structured and tannic of the lineup and a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and a splash of Malbec that was harvested during the second week of September, the 2009 Col Solare obviously comes from a warm vintage. Offering up ripe, decadently styled aromas of blackberry, kirsch, licorice and classic Red Mountain crushed stone-like minerality (42% of the blend is from Red Mountain) on the nose, it is a big rich 2009 that has solid mid-palate depth and layers of fruit that only partially cover full-throttle tannin. Needing time to round into shape, it will benefit from another 2-3 years of bottle- age and have a solid 15+ years of overall longevity.
VM 92 (10/2025): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon wafts up with mentholated freshness, mixing balsamic-laced black cherries, clove and minty herbs. It's round and cooling on the palate, with tart red berry fruits and a subtle citrus tinge. This tapers off with a gentle tug of residual tannins and medium length, leaving a slight sour twang to resonate. (Drink between 2025-2030). Eric Guido. |
|
| Continuum |
2009 |
Proprietary Blend |
$169 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 95+ (11/2013): The 2009 Continuum is still in that part of its life where fruit and texture dominate, while the more aromatic qualities are yet to fully emerge. A rich, explosive wine, the 2009 can be enjoyed young for its exuberance, but the best is yet to come. Personally, I would wait a bit on the 2009. The finish is rich, layered and sumptuous.
VM 93+ (5/2012): (as of this vintage, 70% of the fruit is from Tim Mondavi's property on Pritchard Hill, up from just 20% in 2007): Medium ruby-red. Deep, brooding aromas of cassis, licorice, dark chocolate and warm spices. Sweet and round on entry, then rather powerful in the middle, showing lovely floral lift to its medicinal black fruit flavors. Plenty of mouthfilling texture here but shapely too. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins. Comes across as a bit less sweet and pliant now than the 2008, but this is in a rather brooding phase today and needs time. |
|
| Culler |
2009 |
Syrah |
$40 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Syrah Scuffed Label |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dancing Hares |
2009 |
Proprietary Blend |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 94 (11/2013): The 2009 Dancing Hares Red Wine is deep, plush and inviting. Dark red berries, plums, smoke, tobacco, licorice and menthol all flesh out in the glass. Sensual and beautifully layered throughout, the 2009 is impeccable in its balance. It should be even better in another few years. The 2009 is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon 20% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (10/2013): The 2009 Dancing Hares is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot that spent 22 months in 90% new French oak. It exhibits a dark ruby/purple color, supple, sensual tannins and notes of incense, red and black currants, licorice, and hints of wet pebbles as well as baking spices. This attractive, medium to full-bodied red suggests a hypothetical blend of a top Bordeaux with the fruit intensity and purity of a high end Napa proprietary red. This beauty can be enjoyed now and over the next 15 years.
WS 92 (6/2012): A gutsy effort that's very rich, deep and expansive, with tiers of ripe cherry, plum and blackberry that are robust and chewy, underscoring the extraction. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2013 through 2025. 604 cases made. |
|
| Den Hoed |
2009 |
Andreas Wallula Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2013): My favorite of these new releases, and possessing a fantastic mix of richness and structure, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Andreas is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 30 months in 90% new French oak. Featuring knockout richness and depth, this massively fruited, yet elegant effort offers up aromas of black currants, licorice, tobacco leaf, mint and mulled spices to go with an unctuous, chewy texture on the palate. Count me a fan of this big, rich, butremarkably balanced and fresh wine. There’s certainly some tannin present on the palate, but the overall impression here is one of polish and richness. Enjoy it over the coming decade or so. Drink now-2024+.
VM 90 (11/2013): Good full, bright ruby. Very ripe, savory aromas of dark cherry and bitter chocolate. Mellow and deep on the palate, showing an inviting nutty quality to the raspberry, redcurrant and plum fruit flavors. Finishes with broad, ripe tannins and noteworthy persistence. Offers a lovely balance between its body and its acid/tannin structure. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Dominus |
2009 |
Napanook Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
4 |
|
| |
VM 93 (12/2012): The 2009 Napanook is simply glorious. Sweet dark cherries, mint, tobacco, wild flowers and licorice all jump from the glass. The 2009 is a juicy, extroverted Napanook that impresses for its sheer pleasure and total harmony. Layers of fruit continue to build to the huge, creamy finish. As good as the 2009 is today, I have a hard time thinking it won't be better in another few years. If anything, this is too serious a wine for an entry-level offering. The 2009 is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (10/2013): The 2009 Napanook, which Moueix claims to be one of his favorite wines of the last decade, is among the finest they have made. A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it exhibits a dark plum/purple color along with a big, sweet bouquet of licorice, incense, roasted herbs, loamy soil, kirsch, black currants and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied with silky tannins and a round, opulent mouthfeel, this beauty can be drunk now and over the next 12-15 years. |
|
| Donum |
2009 |
East Slope Pinot Noir |
$85 |
3 |
|
| |
| WS 96 (10/2011): This stunning red boasts plenty of both power and finesse. Aromatic, offering plumeria, rose petal, fennel seed and nutmeg notes, which give way to extremely luscious flavors of juicy plum, raspberry, cherry and strawberry. Despite all the focus and concentration, this retains an air of sophistication, with elegant, soft tannins. Drink now through 2018. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 109 cases made. |
|
|
2009 |
Russian River Reserve Pinot Noir |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
| WS 96 (10/2011): Luscious, with ripe, juicy strawberry, raspberry and cherry compote flavors. Plenty of grace notes of brown sugar, allspice, mineral and tobacco leaf give this added complexity, on a smooth and lush frame. Long finish. Drink now through 2025. 100 cases made. |
|
| Doubleback |
2009 |
Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (12/2012): Only around 30% of Bledsoe’s and Figgins’ 2009 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon – which incorporates 10% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot – is estate-grown, but that percentage is expected to double over the next three years, and eventually Bledsoe envisions an estate wine. Creme de cassis and jellied elderberry dominate the proceedings here, with a lovely but not overdone sense of sweetness, and inflected by hints of dried green herbs, cedar, and a welcome, soy-like saline savor that ensures a mouthwatering finish. While quite evident, the abundant tannins here are fine-grained and in no way disturb the impression of seamlessly pristine fruit. I suspect this will be worth following for at least the better part of a decade. |
|
| Duckhorn |
2009 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Franc |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Efeste |
2009 |
Big Papa Cabernet Sauvignon Slightly Depressed Cork |
$60 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Ehlers Estate |
2009 |
Merlot |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Petit Verdot |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
1886 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
One Twenty Over Eighty Cabernet Sauvignon |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Epoch Estate Wines |
2009 |
Authenticity Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Paderewski Vyd. Block B Syrah |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Paderewski Vyd. Veracity Proprietary Blend |
$60 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (11/2011): (36% grenache, 32% mourvedre and 32% syrah, aged in 38% new French barrels and the rest in puncheons; 15.7% alcohol): Bright purple. Intensely perfumed aromas of blackberry, blueberry, anise and violet, with a touch of cinnamon in the background. Juicy, palate-staining red and dark berry flavors show excellent clarity and depth, with a suave floral pastille quality on the back half. The red fruit element carries through on the smooth, very long finish. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Etude |
2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 91 (7/2019): Saturated medium ruby. Attractive violet lift to the aromas of cassis, black cherry, espresso, menthol, minerals and fruity dark chocolate. Plush and pliant Cabernet, but with a strong spine of acidity and a distinctly herbal element giving definition and lift to the dark fruit and chocolate flavors. A bit porty on the back end but the fresh side of port, not the oxidative aspect. In fact, this juicy wine is still quite youthfully unevolved and is likely to gain in nuance and shape with more cellaring. (Drink between 2021-2033). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 90 (12/2012): Etude's 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley bursts from the glass with juicy dark berries, grilled herbs, menthol, tar, tobacco and licorice. Firm tannins provide the backbone as this powerful, muscular Cabernet opens up in the glass. Raspberry jam, flowers and spices add lift on the finish. Slightly wild notes detract a touch from the wine's overall balance. Otherwise, this is a fine effort. The 2009 needs a few years to settle down, after which it should drink beautifully for another decade. The blend is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029. |
|
|
2009 |
Estate Carneros Pinot Noir |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (5/2012): Slightly musky, brambly aromas of blueberry, cherry, strawberry and spices, complicated by a hint of dark chocolate. Supple and smooth but firmly built, with the dark fruit flavors joined by an intriguing earthy nuance. Finishes with tongue-dusting tannins and good structure. The cool 2009 growing season brought low yields here due to windy conditions during the flowering. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Far Niente |
2009 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Figgins Estate |
2009 |
Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
5 |
|
| |
WA 96 (12/2012): Bottled in July of last year and comprising a roughly 60-40 Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend (Petit Verdot didn’t make the cut this year due to the late frost), Figgins’ 2009 Estate Red is stunningly scented with perfumed essence of iris and violet as well as ripe dark berries and high-toned, resinous green herbs and geranium. The effect is like Merlot contributing Chartreuse liqueur! (Is this a sweet spot to plant that grape or what?) The palate combination of seamless high ripeness and satiny polish with levity, billowing inner-mouth florality and sheer energy is utterly uncanny, and the finish is so juicy you’ll need a napkin. If you’ve visited the site, it’s hard not to imagine its airy openness reflected here in liquid form. And this is a libation you’re likely to desire following for at least the next dozen years. (And perhaps its tannins will become more evident in the mid term.)
VM 93 (11/2012): (65% cabernet sauvignon and 35% merlot): Good deep red-ruby. Aromas of dark berries, cocoa powder and licorice. Dense, silky and rich, with a lovely creamy sweetness to the slightly high-toned black raspberry fruit. A compellingly sweet blend with suave, fully ripe tannins and Outstanding black raspberry persistence.
WS 92 (11/2012): Fresh and vibrant, this is juicy with blackberry, currant and rose petal flavors on a lively, focused frame. This has density without extra weight, finishing with refined tannins, lingering enticingly. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Drink now through 2016. 1,630 cases made. |
|
| Force Majeure |
2009 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series I Proprietary Blend |
$60 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2012): The Force Majeure 2009 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Collaboration Series I is a blend of two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon with, notes McBride a bit oddly, “healthy doses of P(etit) V(erdot) and Cabernet Franc for our take on ‘Left Bank’.” (That said, there is also a bit of Merlot.) In any case, it’s vinified by Ben Smith of Cadence, for more on whose attraction to Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot consult my notes on recent offerings from that winery. The herbaceous side of these cepages dominates in the nose, though in a pleasantly pungent and reasonably complex way. Mint, arbor vitae, and cassis take on a chocolate coating on the glycerol-rich palate, and this finishes with an admirable counterpoint – somehow avoiding too bifurcated a sense – between bittersweetly herbal and torrefied, confitured character. I wouldn’t have guessed that the barrels were 70% new, and there is what I like to think of as a Washington-typical energetic finishing ping. This ought to be worth following for at least the next half dozen years. |
|
|
2009 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series III Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2012): The Force Majeure 2009 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Collaboration Series III employs four clones of Syrah and was vinified by Mark McNeilly (with his assistant Mike Macmorran) of the Mark Ryan winery, who chose to utilize just one-third new barriques, in which the wine finished its primary fermentation. Vanilla and marzipan lend a surprisingly confectionary cast on a glycerol-rich palate to an amalgam of cherry preserves and creme de cassis, happily underlain by suggestions of roasted red meats that lend saliva inducement and savory counterpoint in a lingering, luscious finish. I was surprised at the extent to which this reflected its oak component given the stated percentage of new wood; but it was on this occasion that I made the following important discovery: in Washington, when vintners speak of “neutral” barrels, they may well – as in this instance – be referring to barrels that have been used only once previously! My intuition suggests that this will be worth following for at least 5-7 years. |
|
|
2009 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series IV Proprietary Blend |
$70 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 88 (12/2012): Force Majeure’s 2009 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Collaboration Series IV is dominated by Merlot (supported by 23% Cabernet Sauvignon plus smaller amounts of other Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) and vinified by Carolyn Lakewold of Donedei Wines, whose background and inspiration – accordingly to McBride and Johnson – is with Northern Italian wine (though I can’t say I would have detected this). At 13.8% alcohol this is intentionally significantly lighter than its Collaboration Series siblings, and the absence of press wine was evidently intended to enhance textural refinement and relative levity. The nose here, though, is exceedingly spirituous as well as torrefied, for an impression that resembles dried cherries macerated in cognac, kirsch, and chocolate syrup, characteristics that combine for an almost liqueur-like though texturally not notably alluring palate impression. Toasted praline, cocoa powder, and caramelized wood resin (from half-new French and American oak) combine with the desiccated manifestation of cherry for a finish that’s slightly drying despite its superficial sense of sweetness. I wouldn’t want to speculate on this wine’s aging potential except to say that – admittedly in lieu of any directly relevant experience – I am somewhat skeptical on that count. Certainly, though, this is striking stuff, and I’ve no doubt there will be those who find its personality more enticing than do I. |
|
|
2009 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series Sangiovese |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Collaboration Series V Proprietary Blend |
$70 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Frank Family |
2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$39 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (12/2012): Juicy red berries, crushed flowers, cloves and a hint of French oak all come together nicely in the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon. A gracious, mid-weight wine, the 2009 should drink well pretty much upon release. Sweet floral notes reappear to frame the feminine, expressive finish. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2009 |
Zinfandel |
$25 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (5/2012): Opaque purple. A complex, heady bouquet evokes candied dark berries, vanilla and mocha, with a spicy topnote. Lush and expansive, offering gently sweet, oak-spiced cassis and blueberry flavors that gain energy in the glass. In a plush, polished style, finishing with smooth tannins and lingering spiciness. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2009 |
Carneros Pinot Noir |
$30 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 88 (12/2011): The 2009 Pinot Noir is an attractive wine laced with a typical Carneros expression of perfumed red fruit, spices and flowers. This fleshy, stylish Pinot will drink nicely for the next few years. (Drink between 2013-2016). Antonio Galloni.
BH 88 (5/2011): Dark ruby. Smoky, oak-spiced cherry and dark berries on the nose, with complicating notes of licorice and dried rose. Sappy and sweet, with slightly warm black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of smoked meat. Shows good depth and power but I'm not sure that I'd have guessed that this was pinot. Finishes broad and smooth, leaving a note of bitter chocolate behind. |
|
|
2009 |
Reserve Petite Sirah |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (12/2011): The 2009 Petite Sirah Reserve virtually oozes from the bottle with massive dark fruit, licorice, new leather and spices. It is a fairly domesticated Petite Sirah, but much of the richness has been achieved with a loss of varietal expression. This ripe, opulent wine should continue to drink well for at least a handful of years. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2009 |
Reserve Pinot Noir |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (12/2011): The 2009 Pinot Noir Reserve isn't appreciably better or more complex than the straight Pinot bottling, it's just bigger, richer and smokier. Personally I like the regular bottling more. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2009 |
Reserve Zinfandel |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (5/2012): Inky purple. Expressive, spice-accented aromas of black raspberry, cherry and sassafras, with smoke and cracked pepper nuances adding complexity. Juicy, open-knit and emphatically fruity, offering intense red and dark berry compote flavors sharpened and lifted by juicy acidity. Closes with good power and focus, leaving sappy blackberry and cherry notes behind. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Futo |
2009 |
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon |
$209 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Gallica |
2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is a big, plush wine. Despite its initial richness, there is plenty of underlying tannin. Sweet floral notes are woven throughout. The 2009 bursts with energy, precision and sheer class. It is a dazzling effort. Far from an easygoing 2009, the wine shows the more structured side of the vintage. It is likely to require at least a few years in bottle. The 2009 is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, aged in French oak barrels, 81% new. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.
WS 94 (6/2012): A powerful wine, dense and concentrated, weaving a mix of cedary oak, loamy earth, dried berry and black licorice, with a dash of mocha powder and crushed rock, ending with rich, chewy tannins. Best from 2013 through 2025. 407 cases made.
VM 92+ (5/2012): Good full ruby. Subdued aromas of cassis, violet and licorice, plus a whiff of sweet butter. Then dense, juicy and vibrant in the mouth, with lovely definition and floral lift to the youthfully medicinal flavors of black cherry, tar and dark chocolate. Finishes with a serious spine of dusty tannins and lingering notes of truffle and spices. Lay this one down. |
|
| Gorman |
2009 |
The Bully Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (12/2012): Blended with a manifestly potent 10-15% of Petit Verdot (the stats he handed me differed from those on his web site), Gorman’s Red Mountain 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon The Bully was, like most of his reds, aged for 21 months in 100% new barriques, and you certainly can’t claim that there is too little vinous stuff here to have stood up to that regimen! Stewed and confitured black fruits are mingled with roasted beet, toasted walnut, vanilla, and pencil lead. Massive and tannic even as it is extremely sweetly fruited, this finishes with a lick of mouthwatering salinity and a Washington-typical twang to its amped-up guitar. There being no wine-sensing equivalent of ear plugs, some tasters are forewarned and others – I trust you’ll know who you are – will be more profoundly moved than this one. I really hope I can revisit this in a few years but I’m not able to predict the direction it’s headed. |
|
| Gramercy Cellars |
2009 |
Lagniappe Syrah |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Grgich Hills |
2009 |
Estate Grown Zinfandel |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Miljenko’s Old Vine Zinfandel |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Hayfork |
2009 |
Lewelling Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Lewelling Ranch is a bold, juicy wine bursting with blackberries, blueberries, flowers and mint. It shows gorgeous balance in an overt, forward style best suited for drinking over the near and mid term. Layers of flavor build to the effortless, textured finish. The 2009 is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot that spent 19 months in French oak barrels, 70% new. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2019. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Hidden Ridge |
2009 |
55% Slope Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (12/2013): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon 55% Slope (14.9% alcohol) displays notes of licorice, camphor, charcoal, truffles, graphite and cassis. Rich, full-bodied, deeper, longer and more intense than the 2008, this stunning 2009 is one of the finest Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignons ever produced. Drink it over the next 15+ years. |
|
|
2009 |
Impassable Mountain Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$150 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Paul Hobbs |
2009 |
Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$249 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (7/2019): Saturated red-ruby. Licorice, black cherry, red- and blackcurrant, sexy soil tones and violet on the nose; conveys a strong impression of site character. Densely packed, full and youthful, conveying strong inner-mouth lift but still a bit monolithic and in need of patience. The wine's inky dark fruit, spice and graphite flavors are firm but not at all hard or spiky. Made from vines picked on the late side, this big boy may not be as graceful as the 2010 but its firm tannic structure should ensure a long, slow evolution. And this classically dry Cabernet boasts excellent definition and inner-mouth tension. Give this wine some time in a decanter if you plan to open a bottle anytime soon. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2009 |
Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$499 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (7/2019): Saturated red-ruby. Licorice, black cherry, red- and blackcurrant, sexy soil tones and violet on the nose; conveys a strong impression of site character. Densely packed, full and youthful, conveying strong inner-mouth lift but still a bit monolithic and in need of patience. The wine's inky dark fruit, spice and graphite flavors are firm but not at all hard or spiky. Made from vines picked on the late side, this big boy may not be as graceful as the 2010 but its firm tannic structure should ensure a long, slow evolution. And this classically dry Cabernet boasts excellent definition and inner-mouth tension. Give this wine some time in a decanter if you plan to open a bottle anytime soon. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Hobel Wine Works |
2009 |
Engelhard Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Inglenook |
2009 |
Rubicon Rutherford Red Wine |
$109 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2012): A big, imposing wine, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon is going to need some time to shed its tannin and baby fat. There is plenty of weight and gravitas in the glass. Smoke, tar, chocolate, licorice and dark red raspberries are all woven into the virile, authoritative finish. In 2009 the blend is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc. (Drink between 2017-2029) |
|
| Januik |
2009 |
Reserve Red Wine (1.5 L) |
$125 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (11/2012): Good bright ruby-red. Subdued but pure nose hints at black cherry. Very silky on entry, then concentrated, serious and suave in the middle, with supple flavors of dark plum and cassis complicated by cocoa powder and sexy chocolatey oak. Finishes with ripe, pliant tannins and lovely lingering sweetness. Attractive already but has the structure to age. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| James Johnson Vineyard |
2009 |
Bisou Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (12/2011): Ripe, silky tannins frame an expressive core of dark red fruit, flowers, mint and sweet spices in the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Bisou. The 2009 shows the typical flavor profile of this site, but with more volume and depth than has often been the case. All of the aromas and flavors build effortlessly to the rich, creamy finish. (Drink between 2013-2021). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Juslyn |
2009 |
Perry’s Blend Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (10/2013): A sexy, upfront, lush, opulently-styled effort, the 2009 Perry’s Blend Estate is a 440-case blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. This crowd-pleaser boasts medium to full body, a dense plum/purple color, and sweet black raspberry and blueberry fruit intermixed with notions of flowers, espresso and white chocolate. Enjoy this stunning red wine over the next 10-15 years.
VM 92 (12/2012): The 2009 Red Blend Perry's Blend impresses for its silky fruit and sensual, totally inviting personality. Freshly cut flowers, spices and raspberries all meld together in this graceful, medium-bodied wine. All the elements are very nicely balanced, while the Spring Mountain tannins are largely tamed. The 2009 is 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. (Drink between 2014-2024). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| K Vintners |
2009 |
The Hidden Syrah |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| KaDieM |
2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Kenefick Ranch |
2009 |
Pickett Road Red Wine |
$59 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Keplinger |
2009 |
Caldera Proprietary Blend |
$20 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 92 (12/2011): The 2009 Caldera bursts from the glass with an exciting melange of dark red fruit, spices, new leather and licorice. This plump, juicy red boasts striking inner perfume and gorgeous vibrancy. It is a beautiful wine to drink now and over the next 8-10 years. The 2009 is 65% Mourvedre, 29% Grenache and 6% Counoise. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.
VM 92 (5/2012): Good full red. Captivating nose melds flinty, smoky minerality, rose petal and wild herbs, plus a note of rust. Intensely flavored and vibrant, with noteworthy precision to the flavors of redcurrant, hot brick, green olive and flowers. The counoise component lifts the wine's fruit and adds the floral element, says winemaker Helen Keplinger. This lovely approachable blend is ripe and long.
WS 92 (3/2012): This muscle-bound effort is firm and intense, with a smoky, meaty edge to the dried berry, sage and underbrush flavors. Full-bodied and tannic, this begs for cellaring. Mourvèdre, Grenache and Counoise. Best from 2014 through 2024. 90 cases made. |
|
| Larkmead Vineyards |
2009 |
LMV Salon Proprietary Blend |
$145 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (12/2012): Larkmead’s 2009 Proprietary Red Wine LMV Salon is distinguished for its centeredness, focus and minerality. Graphite, smoke, plums, red cherries and tobacco are all woven together beautifully here. The 2009 is rich, layered and sensual, but with more than enough structure to support aging. Sweet floral notes and a burst of juicy red berries add complexity on the finish. The 2009 is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 16% Malbec and 5% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.
VM 94 (5/2012): (63% cabernet sauvignon, 16% each cabernet franc and malbec, and 5% merlot; aged in 77% new oak): Bright ruby-red. Minerally, gravelly aromas of blackcurrant, graphite, licorice and sexy toasty oak. Sweet, suave and utterly seamless on the palate but at the same time juicy and well-delineated. Very long, building, chocolatey finish shows powerful but well-integrated dusty tannins. Both this wine and the 2009 Solari were made from crop levels in the range of two tons per acre, according to winemaker Andy Smith. Stephen Tanzer.
WS 94 (5/2013): Features bold, rich flavors that are dense and layered, with dark berry, mocha, subtle herb, black licorice and crushed rock, firming and gripping on the strong and persistent finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot. Drink now through 2024. 736 cases made. |
|
| Lillian Winery |
2009 |
Syrah |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Magie Rouge |
2009 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Maybach |
2009 |
Materium Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Materium is a gorgeous, polished wine graced with exquisite detail, clarity and focus. Tobacco, cedar and sweet spices add complexity to the fruit in this powerful, expressive 2009. Layers of dark red fruit, mocha and mint wrap around the striking, seamless finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2019.
VM 92-95 (6/2011): Full ruby-red. Reticent, subtle nose hints at cassis, tar, licorice pastille and smoke; conveys a darker quality than the 2008. Dense, backward and deep, with black fruit and licorice flavors showing an almost grapey primary character today. Focused, structured and tannic wine, extremely unevolved today. Seems less sweet than the 2008. Hard to taste now but this is likely to be long-lived. Winemaker Thomas Brown told me that the wine has been racked just twice to this point and will be bottled in June. |
|
| Maze |
2009 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Ste. Michelle |
2009 |
Austral Wahluke Slope Red Wine |
$15 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Cold Creek Vyd. Red Wine |
$15 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Ethos Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$25 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (12/2012): For thoughts on Chateau Ste Michelle’s uniqueness and recent evolution, consult my extensive April, 2013 text designed to introduce recent tasting notes. Representing the latest in a series of bottlings that offers a barrel selection, nearly always overwhelmingly from Canoe Ridge and/or Cold Creek (though lots from contract growers always remain in the running) the Ste. Michelle 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Ethos displays forward, confitured cherry reinforced by nougat and chocolate, in keeping with Bertheau’s description of this project as “intended to make more of a New World Statement” when compared with the similarly barrel-selected Meritage. (The barrels were all new.) This is flatteringly polished, plush and expansive, the trade-off for the aforementioned virtues – at least in this vintage – being slightly less complexity and less primary juiciness or savor to the nevertheless long finish. Still, this holds lots of appeal – more or less, depending on one’s preferred style – and should perform well for several years. |
|
|
2009 |
Ethos Reserve Syrah |
$25 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (11/2012): Saturated dark ruby. Port-like ripeness to the aromas of black cherry, licorice, clove and violet. Suave on entry, then quite savory in the middle, with lightly saline flavors of black fruits, licorice and chocolate lifted by slightly elevated acidity. This seamless, concentrated syrah finishes with dusty, ripe, chocolatey tannins that call for a year or two of patience. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2009 |
Horse Heaven Hills Malbec |
$15 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Morlet Family Vineyards |
2009 |
Passionnement Cabernet Sauvignon |
$179 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (7/2019): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, black cherry, violet and licorice, with an emerging note of black pepper; lovely perfume. Plush, fine-grained and sweet, with flavors of black fruits, violet and graphite minerality dominating. Not quite as pliant or harmonious as the Coeur de Vallee but very long and firm on the rising aftertaste, with firm but noble tannins ensuring a continued slow evolution in bottle. This very concentrated, densely packed wine possesses very good energy but still conveys an element of medicinal reserve and needs patience. No, this boasts terrific energy and precision. (15.2% alcohol) Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Mount Eden Vineyards |
2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$145 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (11/2013): Deep ruby. Powerful, smoke-accented cherry and blackcurrant aromas are energized by zesty minerals, picking up pipe tobacco, cedar and dried rose nuances with air. Fleshy and broad but focused too, offering intense dark berry flavors and a suggestion of bitter chocolate. A sweet vanilla quality rounds out the impressively persistent finish, which shows superb clarity and solid but well-knit tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Notre Vin |
2009 |
Howell Mountain Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| O'Shaughnessy |
2009 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$100 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 94+ (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is all minerals, graphite and pure Howell Mountain. Layers of dark red fruit come to life in this articulate, pedigreed Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2009 needs another few years in the bottle, but it is already quite striking, especially with some time in the glass. Saline notes frame the long finish. The 2009 is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% St. Macaire and 2% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.
VM 92+ (5/2012): (aged in about 75% new oak; includes 7% malbec, 5% merlot, 5% petit verdot, 5% St. Macaire and 2% cabernet franc): Good deep bright ruby. Expressive but cool nose offers cassis, violet and mint. Suave, concentrated and spicy, with licorice, mineral and oak flavors currently holding the upper hand over the wine's fruit flavors. The first tannins show some youthful toughness and will require at least five years of patience. |
|
|
2009 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 94+ (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is all minerals, graphite and pure Howell Mountain. Layers of dark red fruit come to life in this articulate, pedigreed Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2009 needs another few years in the bottle, but it is already quite striking, especially with some time in the glass. Saline notes frame the long finish. The 2009 is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% St. Macaire and 2% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.
VM 92+ (5/2012): (aged in about 75% new oak; includes 7% malbec, 5% merlot, 5% petit verdot, 5% St. Macaire and 2% cabernet franc): Good deep bright ruby. Expressive but cool nose offers cassis, violet and mint. Suave, concentrated and spicy, with licorice, mineral and oak flavors currently holding the upper hand over the wine's fruit flavors. The first tannins show some youthful toughness and will require at least five years of patience. |
|
|
2009 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 94 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder is impeccable from start to finish. It shows marvelous detail and completeness in its perfumed red berries, mint, flowers and licorice. Tar, ash and a host of other darker nuances add considerable complexity. This is a marvelous showing. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.
VM 93+ (5/2012): (100% cabernet sauvignon): Good bright ruby-red. Slightly higher-toned on the nose than the Howell Mountain offering, with sexy oak spices lifting aromas of blackberry, black cherry, licorice and bitter chocolate. Offers noteworthy intensity to its dusty spice and blackberry flavors. Fatter and sweeter than the Howell Mountain bottling. Finishes with lovely ripe tannins and building length. The tannins here make those of the Howell Mountain come off as a bit clenched. This is excellent. |
|
| Ovid |
2009 |
Proprietary Blend |
$229 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Experiment P4.9 Proprietary Blend |
$175 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Pahlmeyer |
2009 |
Proprietary Blend |
$150 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (1/2020): The 2009 Pahlmeyer is made up of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. Deep garnet colored, the nose gives up provocative notes of candied violets, dark chocolate-covered cherries, licorice, dried lavender and dried Provence herbs over a core of warm cassis, prunes and blueberry compote plus a waft of cedar. Full-bodied, the big, rich, juicy palate has a well-played frame of fine-grained, plush tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long and fruity. |
|
| Peirson Meyer |
2009 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Signed Bottle |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 95+ (12/2012): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is typical of the year in this part of Napa Valley, where the wines are rich, broad and voluminous. Less floral and refined today than the 2008, the 2009 is built on a serious core of deep, expressive fruit. Juicy dark raspberries, flowers, spices and mint are layered into the generous finish. The 2009 could use another year in bottle to shed some baby fat, but it is exceptionally beautiful and polished, even today. There is so much hidden potential here.
WA 88 (10/2013): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits the vintage’s chunky, monolithic, tannic style with notes of dark fruits, white chocolate and earthy undertones. It will be even better with a few more years of bottle age, and should keep for 12-15 years. |
|
| Joseph Phelps |
2009 |
Larry Hyde and Sons Vyd. Carneros Syrah |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 89 (12/2011): The 2009 Syrah Hyde Vineyard needs quite a bit of air to show its true personality. It is a dark, powerful wine loaded with dark fruit, smoke, licorice and tobacco. Today the tannins are quite firm, so this needs another 6-12 months in bottle. It comes across as tight, compact and unyielding, especially next to the straight Syrah. It shows good focus, but neither a ton of richness nor varietal character. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017. |
|
|
2009 |
Napa Valley Syrah |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 91 (2/2012): Well-structured, intense and minerally, tightly wound, with dried berry, sage, roasted herb and cedar; a classy effort that is best cellared or given a long decant, as it is just beginning to ease into approachability. Drink now through 2022. 1,200 cases made. |
|
| Quivet Cellars |
2009 |
Hulda Block Las Madres Vyd. Syrah |
$36 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Realm |
2009 |
Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (5/2012): Ruby-red. The most perfumed of these 2009s to this point, offering scents of cassis, violet, bitter chocolate and spicecake. Layered, deep and utterly seamless, with ripe acidity giving shape to the plush flavors of blackberry, cassis, cola and chocolate. Dense and smooth but not at all heavy. The rising, very long finish features noble tannins. A very classy 2009 cabernet. |
|
|
2009 |
Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
2 |
|
| |
| WS 94 (8/2012): Deliciously rich blackberry, mocha, black licorice and spicy floral scents lead to a ripe, fleshy and full-bodied palate. Pure and persistent, this is long and elegant on the finish. Drink now through 2025. |
|
|
2009 |
The Bard Proprietary Blend |
$100 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (12/2011): The 2009 The Bard is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with a dash (7%) of Petit Verdot. It possesses striking inner perfume and dazzling richness in its fruit, with layers of flavor that build effortlessly to the textured, vivid finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. |
|
|
2009 |
The Falstaff Proprietary Blend |
$109 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 90+ (5/2012): (55% cabernet franc, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot and 5% petit verdot): Full red-ruby. Cassis, licorice, tobacco and tarry oak on the nose and palate, complicated by pepper and herbs. Quite dry and light on its feet, showing more herbal lift and definition but less flamboyance today than the Bard. Finishes with suave tannins and good spicy persistence. Seemed to grow firmer in the glass. I'd hold this for a couple years before pulling the cork. |
|
|
2009 |
The Tempest Proprietary Blend |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (5/2012): (53% merlot, 42% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot): Good full ruby-red. Aromas of black fruits, minerals, licorice and spicy oak. Dense, bright and concentrated, with a slightly high-toned character to the rather plush flavors of cassis and bitter chocolate. A bit youthfully medicinal today, not particularly sweet but structured to age. A step up in depth and structure from the Bard and the Falstaff bottlings, combining the texture of merlot with the firm spine of cabernet. |
|
| Rhys |
2009 |
Family Farm Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
8 |
|
| |
WA 94 (8/2011): The 2009 Pinot Noir Family Farm is one of the more delicate, ethereal wines in the lineup. Fermentation with 100% whole clusters gives the Family Farm a distinctly floral bouquet and graceful fruit. It is an impeccably elegant wine from start to finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2019.
VM 93 (6/2011): Bright red. Perfumed aromas of raspberry preserves, Asian spices and rose oil, along with a hint of mocha. Sappy, penetrating and fresh, with juicy red berry and cherry flavors, silky texture and a late kick of spices. Open-knit and very easy to drink, finishing with impressive clarity and lingering red fruit notes.
BH 91 (10/2011): (from San Mateo County fruit; 13.4%). Distinct floral and spice notes add nuance to the elegant and airy red berry fruit aromas that lead to rich, supple and forward middle weight flavors that possess fine detail and purity to the delicious and beautifully long finish. Among the Rhys wines, the Family Farm and Skyline Vineyards are those which are built more along the lines of finesse than power. Drink 2015+. Outstanding! |
|
| Round Pond |
2009 |
Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$35 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (5/2013): Thomas Brown is the consulting winemaker here): Good deep ruby-red. Cherry, redcurrant, mocha, tobacco, menthol and loam on the nose. Chewy and rich, with a slightly medicinal cast but good fat to the mid-palate fruit. Finishes with broad, youthfully aggressive tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Rudius |
2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$49 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (5/2012): Good dark red. Vibrant nose offers cassis, blueberry, licorice, coffee and cocoa powder lifted by a violet topnote. Supple, pliant and fruit-driven, with enticing sweetness to the pure flavors of dark berries and chocolatey oak. At once livelier and more generous than the 2008 version, offering considerable early appeal. This seamless cabernet finishes with dusty tannins and lovely chocolatey persistence. |
|
|
2009 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
WS 93 (11/2013): Pure and rich, featuring vivid dark berry, mocha, dried herb, cedar, black licorice and subtle mint notes. Firms nicely, offering a deep and supple texture, with a long, lingering finish. Drink now through 2026. 190 cases made.
VM 91+ (5/2012): Deep red with ruby highlights. Very dark aromas of cassis, licorice, licorice and violet complicated by a saline nuance and notes of herbs and tobacco leaf. Higher-pitched and less evolved than the Napa cabernet, showing less early sex appeal and pliancy. But this fresh, firm wine has the concentration and structure to reward several years of cellaring. Jeff Ames, who is also winemaker for Kenward Family Wines, has taken his own cabernets to a higher level with these 2009s.
WA 89+ (10/2013): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard comes from rocky alluvial soils just north of St. Helena. It is a richer, fuller Cabernet displaying a brooding inky/purple color, abundant acidity, moderate tannin and a firm, Bordeaux-like structure. Impressively pure, rich and medium to full-bodied, it will benefit from more time in the bottle, and should keep for 12-15 years. |
|
| Mark Ryan |
2009 |
Dead Horse Red Wine |
$51 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2012): The Mark Ryan 2009 Dead Horse blends with its Cabernet Sauvignon 15% Cabernet Franc, 11% Malbec, 8% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, enlisting four-year-old vines in as yet little-known but superbly-situated Obelisco Vineyard to supplement fruit from its tongue-in-cheek namesake (Ciel du Cheval) and Klipsun. Cassis, cedar, and dark tobacco inform the nose as well as a palpably dense, subtly chewy and vivaciously juicy palate. A briny, mineral and at the same time sweetly savory suggestion of anchovy paste adds irresistibly saliva-inducing savor to the long finish of this impeccably balanced bottling that ought to be worth following for at least ten or a dozen years. |
|
|
2009 |
Lonely Heart Cabernet Sauvignon |
$51 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92+ (12/2012): (with 13% petit verdot): Good bright ruby. Cassis, black raspberry, menthol and licorice on the nose. Dense, sweet and lightly saline, with sexy oak tones adding interest to the ripe, cabernet-accurate flavors of sweet currant, dark chocolate and violet. This very long, suave wine shows excellent balance from the start but it's already very nicely balanced. From a selection of "our favorite barrels," noted Mark McNeilly, who told me that any acidification in 2009 took place prior to fermentation. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2009 |
Long Haul Red Wine |
$51 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2012): Mark Ryan’s 2009 Long Haul – sourced from Klipsun and Ciel du Cheval with some Stillwater Creek in a supporting role – blends 27% Cabernet Franc, 8% Malbec, and a jot of Petit Verdot with its Merlot. Profuse bittersweet floral perfume and black fruits make for an alluring aromatic display and are beautifully-integrated with mint, black tea, and bitter-edged resinous herbs on an expansive and polished palate, leading to the long, subtle interplay of a memorably complex finish. This ought to be worth following for at least a decade. |
|
| Scarecrow |
2009 |
M. Etain Cohn Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$199 |
2 |
|
| |
WS 94 (4/2012): Amazingly complex, firm, dense and concentrated, with a vivid, lively, structured mix of dried currant, mineral, cedar, sage and tobacco notes. Fills out nicely on the finish and holds its focus, ending with a satisfyingly chewy, rich bundle of dark berry fruit. Best from 2013 through 2024. 1,000 cases made.
WA 93 (12/2012): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon M. Etain is dark, rich, sumptuous and highly expressive. A totally voluptuous wine, the 2009 flows across the palate with layers of dark fruit. Stylistically, the M. Etain is very close to the Scarecrow Cabernet in this vintage, although it has less aromatic complexity and depth. Hints of smoke, tobacco, incense and licorice are layered into the juicy, mid-weight finish. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2021. |
|
| Scherrer Winery |
2009 |
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir |
$35 |
6 |
|
| |
BH 90 (10/2013): An exuberantly spicy, ripe and fresh nose offers up notes of plum and black cherry along with menthol and anise hints. The plush and dense medium-bodied flavors possess fine volume and good detail before culminating in a powerful and palate coating finish. Like the Platt, this is a big pinot with plenty of muscle and tannin-buffering dry extract. Drink 2017+. Outstanding!
VM 91 (5/2012): Bright violet color. Spicy, mineral-accented redcurrant and strawberry aromas, with a hint of fresh rose. Clean and vibrant, showing sappy red fruit character and a strong note of spicecake. Finishes quite long, with vibrant red berry and floral pastille flavors and lingering minerality. |
|
| School House |
2009 |
Spring Mountain District Pinot Noir |
$50 |
9 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Spring Mountain District Pinot Noir Lightly Scuffed Label |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Spring Mountain District Pinot Noir Heavily Scuffed Label |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Seavey |
2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (7/2019): Bright, full ruby. Aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice pastille and tropical dark chocolate are lifted by a violet topnote. Dense, fresh and fine-grained if still a bit youthfully stunted; even more primary than the bottle that was part of my vertical tasting at the winery last year. Very black fruit in character, but leavened by an inviting candied note and complicated by hints of tobacco and earth. The rising finish features well-buffered tannins and lingering soil notes. A superb bottle--and still short of its peak. (Drink between 2022-2035). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2009 |
Caravina Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 92 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Caravina flows across the palate with gorgeous dark red fruit, smoke, licorice and tobacco. It shows gorgeous mid-palate pliancy and generosity through to a finish laced with flowers, mint and spices. The 2009 impresses for its depth, power and overall sense of harmony. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
VM 90 (5/2012): Bright, deep red-ruby. Expressive aromas and flavors of black cherry, currant, licorice, chocolate and a whiff of game. Plush and voluminous, with a creamy mid-palate texture given shape by subtle minerality. This rather easygoing, round wine already makes a delicious drink. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Seven Stones |
2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$200 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is a huge wine bursting with dark fruit, licorice, scorched earth, tar and grilled herbs. This is an especially big, hulking 2009 that is likely to require a measure of patience. Massive tannins frame the fruit through to the virile finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.
WS 95 (5/2012): This striking Cabernet weaves together an impressive array of black licorice, gravel, dried berry, currant, cedar and wild flowers. Dense, concentrated, tight yet persistent, with a long, focused finish that keeps the flavors on point. Best from 2013 through 2024. 307 cases made. |
|
|
2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Scuffed Label |
$200 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is a huge wine bursting with dark fruit, licorice, scorched earth, tar and grilled herbs. This is an especially big, hulking 2009 that is likely to require a measure of patience. Massive tannins frame the fruit through to the virile finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.
WS 95 (5/2012): This striking Cabernet weaves together an impressive array of black licorice, gravel, dried berry, currant, cedar and wild flowers. Dense, concentrated, tight yet persistent, with a long, focused finish that keeps the flavors on point. Best from 2013 through 2024. 307 cases made. |
|
| Sharecropper's Wine Company |
2009 |
Pinot Noir |
$8.50 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Sleight of Hand |
2009 |
The Archimage Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Charles Smith |
2009 |
Royal City Syrah |
$99 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (12/2012): Representing the fourth installment of a wine designed to showcase what he treats as his Cinderella vineyard (though it's not actually his), with whose Syrah vines as he puts it "we hit it out of the ballpark already with the first vintage," Smith's 2009 Syrah Stoneridge Vineyard Royal City combines amazing density of sappy cassis, cherry concentrate, bitter huckleberry, licorice and road tar with vibratory impingement of brown spices, citrus rind, brined anchovy, and some je ne sais quoi that, as with numerous other Washington behemoths, it manages to pull from an environmental stock of energy. All of that said, you'll have to really like the particular flavors on exhibit here to want to imbibe them at this level of near-overwhelming concentration; overnight the only change I noted was the emergence of a faintly caramelized and rancid note from oak; and whether the strong tannins that lurk beneath this wine's sweet, viscous, tarry surface will remain well-blanketed as it evolves in bottle only time can tell. (I'll hope to taste one of the four previous vintages of Royal City next year, but even so, wine built to this scale must count as very young still at only age six or less.) Naturally it hasn't escaped me that most of my fellow critics have praised these Royal City wines as if they represented the proverbial Shining City on the Hill of Syrah, and some friends I especially respect have written eloquently of their virtues. I guess I have to part ways with them in the degree of excitement I find myself able to muster for an, as yet at least, rather amorphous syrup of Syrah, even one so startlingly shot through with virtual lightning bolts of energy. But, as already suggested, I'll hope to find out what precipitates from this big, dark vinous storm cloud over the years. |
|
|
2009 |
Stoneridge Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Soos Creek |
2009 |
Champoux Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
12 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Ciel du Cheval Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Spring Mountain Vineyard |
2009 |
Elivette Proprietary Blend |
$110 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (5/2013): (55% cabernet sauvignon, 22% cabernet franc, 12% petit verdot, 10% merlot and 1% malbec): Bright dark red. Musky currant, dark cherry and smoky oak on the nose; less exotic than the 2008. Then riper and sweeter in the mouth, with currant and salty mineral flavors complicated by nuances of chocolate, cedar, mint and mocha. Finishes dry in an Old World way, with a solid spine of dusty tannins. Still quite oaky but this has a fresh minerality and a silkiness that I didn't find in the 2008 release. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2009 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 89+ (5/2013): Good red-ruby. Black- and redcurrant, licorice, mocha, chocolate mint and herbs on the nose. Juicy, spicy, bright and light on its feet, offering an attractive balance of dark fruit, oak and mineral components. Nicely delineated, youthfully medicinal cabernet, finishing with firm but suave tannins and slowly mounting persistence. Potentially outstanding. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Stags' Leap Winery |
2009 |
Block 20 Merlot |
$40 |
2 |
|
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2009 |
Napa Valley Petite Sirah |
$30 |
1 |
|
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2009 |
The Leap Cabernet Sauvignon |
$70 |
1 |
|
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| Tenor Wines |
2009 |
1:1 Proprietary Blend |
$70 |
4 |
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WA 90 (6/2013): Looking at the Bordeaux-blend efforts, the 2009 1:1 is the estate’s flagship wine and is comprised of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 12% Malbec and 6% Merlot that spent 20 months in 100% new French oak. Revealing classic Bordeaux-like aromas of creme de cassis, lead pencil shavings, spring flowers and hints of spice box, this full-bodied effort has a concentrated, firm feel on the palate with bright, if not racy, acidity that gives a slight metallic edge to the substantial tannin. I’d like to see more overall integration on the palate; nevertheless, there’s lot to like here and it’s certainly impressive for the sheer wealth of material and overall high drinkability. I would give bottles another year or two before checking in to see how it is developing; it should have at least a decade of longevity after that (and hopefully warrant a higher score).
VM 90 (11/2013): Saturated, bright medium ruby. Blackberry, cassis, licorice, spicecake and bitter chocolate on the slightly medicinal nose. Plush, creamy and sweet on the palate; a silkier, creamier, more open-knit version of the 2010, for drinking earlier. Plum and chocolate flavors pick up currant and menthol notes on the very ripe, seamless finish. Nothing a bit dry about these tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Terlato Vineyards |
2009 |
Episode Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$169.15 |
1 |
|
| |
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| The Vineyardist |
2009 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
1 |
|
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WA 96 (10/2013): The spectacular 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% new French oak for 20 months that finished at 14.8% alcohol. It displays a classic mountain profile of lead pencil shavings, charcoal embers, creme de cassis, blackberries, licorice and a meaty, truffle-like character. Full-bodied and rich as well as exceptionally well-delineated with polished tannins and a savory, intense mouthfeel, this stunning debut Cabernet exudes enormous potential.
VM 95 (2/2012): Dirk Fulton and Becky Kukkola purchased the estate, which traces its lineage back to the late 19th century, in 2000. Jim Barbour replanted the vineyards and Mark Herold is in charge of winemaking. The 2009 is the first wine to be released from this steep, hillside site on Diamond Mountain. I also tasted the 2010, but it was too reduced to evaluate. The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is a huge, hulking mountain Cabernet bursting with black fruit, crème de cassis, licorice, smoke, tar and spices. The 2009 shows dazzling richness and tons of power, not to mention tons of personality and character. Mark Herold used 85% new oak barrels for the 2009. With a little less new oak, the wine's signature aromatic and flavor profile might come through with even more clarity. Still, the 2009 is pretty striking just as it is. (Drink between 2014-2024). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2009 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$150 |
2 |
|
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WA 96 (10/2013): The spectacular 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% new French oak for 20 months that finished at 14.8% alcohol. It displays a classic mountain profile of lead pencil shavings, charcoal embers, creme de cassis, blackberries, licorice and a meaty, truffle-like character. Full-bodied and rich as well as exceptionally well-delineated with polished tannins and a savory, intense mouthfeel, this stunning debut Cabernet exudes enormous potential.
VM 95 (2/2012): Dirk Fulton and Becky Kukkola purchased the estate, which traces its lineage back to the late 19th century, in 2000. Jim Barbour replanted the vineyards and Mark Herold is in charge of winemaking. The 2009 is the first wine to be released from this steep, hillside site on Diamond Mountain. I also tasted the 2010, but it was too reduced to evaluate. The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is a huge, hulking mountain Cabernet bursting with black fruit, crème de cassis, licorice, smoke, tar and spices. The 2009 shows dazzling richness and tons of power, not to mention tons of personality and character. Mark Herold used 85% new oak barrels for the 2009. With a little less new oak, the wine's signature aromatic and flavor profile might come through with even more clarity. Still, the 2009 is pretty striking just as it is. (Drink between 2014-2024). Antonio Galloni. |
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| Twomey Cellars (Silver Oak) |
2009 |
Merlot |
$30 |
2 |
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| Venge |
2009 |
Scout’s Honor Napa Valley Proprietary Blend |
$39 |
1 |
|
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| VM 88 (12/2011): The 2009 Zinfandel Scout's Honor is a big, super ripe wine loaded with sweet, jammy fruit. It shows good textural elegance and depth, although admittedly, this is not a style I am crazy about. The blend is 55% Zinfandel, 22% Petite Syrah, 14% Charbono and 9% Syrah. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Vineyard 7 & 8 |
2009 |
7 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
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2009 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
1 |
|
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WA 94 (10/2018): The deep garnet-purple colored 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate opens with explosive preserved plums, blueberry compote and Black Forest cake with Chinese five spice, chocolate box and licorice hints. The palate is big, rich, full, fruity and gregarious with tons of exotic spices, blue and black fruit flavors and a velvety texture, finishing long and lively.
VM 91+ (7/2019): Bright, dark red. A slight medicinal cast to the aromas of blackcurrant, licorice, wild sage and dark chocolate. Briary blueberry and blackcurrant fruit and torrefaction flavors are complicated by licorice and menthol and lifted by a repeating note of wild herbs. At once thick and juicy, this chewy, mountain-style Cabernet finishes with a hint of warmth and some acidity yet to be absorbed. I suspect this wine is passing through an awkward stage, so I'd hold it for another couple of years before pulling the cork. (14.8% alcohol) (Drink between 2021-2034). Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Andrew Will |
2009 |
Sorella Proprietary Blend |
$79 |
3 |
|
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WA 94 (6/2013): With slightly less Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend compared to the 2010, the 2009 Sorella checks in with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Very aromatic, if not a touch exotic, with floral, lavender and wild herb qualities giving way to a beautiful core of fruit, it flows onto the palate with a silky, polished texture, integrated acidity and dusty tannin that frames the finish. Still in need of another handful of years in the cellar, it will shine for 10-12 years.
VM 94 (11/2012): Good bright red-ruby. Superripe aromas of cassis, cocoa powder, sandalwood and nutty oak. Supple, creamy, full and deep, with lush flavors of red fruits, spices and sandalwood given shape by underlying minerality. The big, ripe tannins coat the palate and front teeth on the very long, rich finish. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Winter Estate |
2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
6 |
|
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