Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Joseph Phelps Party and the 83 Insignia from magnum.

The nose reveals; floral liqueur notes, more mid red fruits; strawberries, cherries & dark cherries. Blackberries, black raspberries, rhubarb, soft, volcanic minerals, limestone, steeped fruit tea, cedar, old leather & tobacco, dry crushed rocks, dark spices, dry herbal notes, eucalyptus, dry stems with dry & withering dark, red florals.

The body is medium full with a fair amount of tannins in a wine with this age. The structure, tension, length and balance are still quite sound with harmony. Floral liqueur notes, more mid red fruits, strawberries, cherries & dark cherries. Blackberries, black raspberries, rhubarb, soft, volcanic minerals, limestone, steeped fruit tea, dark spice with some heat, cedar, old leather & tobacco, cedar, dry crushed rocks, dark spices, dry herbal notes, eucalyptus, dry stems with some funkiness. withering dark, red florals. The acidity is nice. The long finish still show ripeness, good balance but, has leaned and shows nice persistence. — 6 years ago

Vinod Peris

9.0

Zins the way I like them. Not too fruity and with a healthy dose of tannins. — 8 years ago

Randy Bubb

9.0

Fruity and smooth. Not too dry. Went well with pasta. — 9 years ago

Jonathan Reimer

9.2

Big, thick and juicy. Mix-a-lots in trouble. — 9 years ago

with Lisa

Andrea Tidwell

9.1

Pretty good!!!! A little dry. Good taste. — 10 years ago

Mitch Ackmann

9.3

This was a gift from my nephews fiancé. I thought it was very smooth with a delightful taste and bouquet. — 11 years ago

Ed Matthews

9.0

Not as good as I was expecting for the price. This wine has plenty of blackcurrant and dark plum flavor with a medium body. A pleasant enough Bordeaux blend, but not a favorite. — 12 years ago

LM Segal

9.0

An eye-opening Riesling with a nice minerally core and a nose full of diesel. — 7 years ago

Ken Venezio

9.0

Coravin'd a glass. Opens with a buttery nose but it's much more acidic than buttery. Nice fruit notes of Key Lime and peach. Somewhat of a longer orangey finish. I liked it better less chilled. — 7 years ago

Michael McConnell

9.2

When you bring your own wine to he Hyatt. Deep in flavor, with a velvet soft finish. — 8 years ago

with Alicia

Myron Hobbs

9.0

A great accompaniment with Lamb Chops, Spicy Chicken and Waffles, Hanger Steak and Conversation. #Enjoy — 9 years ago

Daniel Bloom

9.3

Thanks Steve, you are a hero!
Any CT writers who say this is "dead" can send them my way, please. What a great wine! — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.4

Monkey 47 Dry Distiller Gin. Slightly hazy, water white, colourless. Pronounced intensity of perfume, juniper, lingonberry, violets, lavender, orange and grapefruit zest. With water added, more perfume and citrus notes to the fore. Dry on the palate. Warming alcohol, medium body, pronounced flavour intensity. Long finish. Very complex. Outstanding example of a premium gin. — 10 years ago

R Houle

8.9

Surprisingly light. It starts with a floral overlay - it's there then dissipates into a light finish and then gone. Any easy drink — 12 years ago

Michael Ma

9.0

Balanced but fruit is front and center through to the finish with a soft velvety tongue. The bourbon barrels come through with a deliciously harmonious, and unique surprise. — 7 years ago

Ryan M

9.1

Decanted for 1.5 hours. Paired with cheddar pub burgers. Lots of fruit, oak and deep red color.

Parker gave it a 93 but I’m not quite there:
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 40th Anniversary is a blend of 17 vineyards, with the dominant part from the Rutherford Estate. The final blend was 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot, Malbec and Petit Syrah. This was aged 19 months in about 30% new French oak and bottled unfiltered. A real beauty, and, for a top Napa Cabernet, an excellent price point. The wine has a dense bluish purple color, a sweet kiss of crème de cassis, licorice, camphor and subtle toast. Relatively opulent on the attack and midpalate, the wine is medium to full-bodied with silky tannin, adequate acidity and impressive purity and length. There are 17,000 cases of this wine, and it is definitely worth taking a serious look at. — 8 years ago

with Larissa

John Broilo

9.0

Big Zin flavors- jammy plums and a bit of spice. Nose is especially peppery. Very hot, and goes straight to the head! — 9 years ago

Narun P

9.0

My first Cali Riesling and boy do people at Trefethen knock it out of the park! Dry, completely. A bucket load of petroleum/glycerine character. Weirdly a touch of vanilla ice cream on the note. Still, a great job! — 10 years ago

Nick McAndrew

9.3

Damn that's a delicate, delicious, complex rose. — 10 years ago

Peter Marks

Master of Wine, Educator Constellation Brands

9.8

Smooth as a baby's bottom and lush as most of us drinking this Christmas Eve. — 11 years ago