Barry Shailes

10

Full bodies. Excellent with cheeses. Smooth. — 4 years ago

Conrad Green

8.9

Dark color. Hints of marmalade and toffee. Not much fizz. A slightly tired bottle but fascinating still with good intensity and depth and a balancing acidity. — 4 years ago

with Aaron, Walker and 1 other

Matthew Cohen

9.2

Amazing qpr burg. Great controlled fruit. Balancing minerals. Almost a hint of lime zest. So balanced and clean. Amazing with food. Finish is clean and refreshing and mineral. Almost crunchy pebbles. bought from fass selections. — 5 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.2

Beautiful, silky Syrah unfolding with the brilliant record Dark Bird has flown by The Tallest Man on Earth. The songs here are short stories and reflections while the wine is a connector with pretty bright fruit & balancing structure. I love when acidity emerges in Syrah and it comes in spades here. — 5 years ago

Erik Nordman

9.0

Dig these Koehler-Ruprecht trocken prädikatswein bottlings; they smell like they’re going to be sweet but then surprise the palate with their relative dryness. This Kallstadter kabinett trocken pours a medium (-) intensity straw-gold hue. Moderate concentration of aromatics of underripe stone fruit, shiso, wet stone minerality, a bit of petrol-y TDN character, a leesy aged cheese rind character, and a very slight honeyed spice that might signal a very small percentage of botrytized grapes might have gone into this wine (but I’m not 100% sure it is botrytis; it’s very faint if it is). On the palate, the wine is simultaneously soft and focused, with more slightly underripe stone fruit, wet stone minerality, slightly underripe mango, a savory, aged cheese rind leesiness, and some very subtle floral tones. Medium (+)/high acid, oily, softly textured light/medium (-) body, medium in-balance alcohol, and it’s dry-ish? Wouldn’t quite say off dry but definitely has a slight bit of balancing RS. Overall, pretty good stuff; haven’t yet been disappointed by Koehler-Ruprecht. — 7 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

On the flight from Dubai to Singapore . Ch Cos d'Estournel, 2004. Deeper core than the Quintet tasted alongside , less bright rim bordering on garnet , but young I suppose for the age , viscous legs . Classic cigar box , truffle and blackcurrant, cassis notes . Serious , cool vintage character. Lovely fruit on the palate , nice balancing acidity , cassis and darker fruits predominating. Tannins slightly drying , though this seems to be entering mid life they still may resolve . There is a nice quantity of fruit , but this does come across as an 'off vintage' , though I don't particularly like that term. Again elegant and reasonably long finish . An interesting pair of wines , this and the Mount Mary Quintet as it happens . — 7 years ago

Bobby Gilbane

10

1968...forget tasting notes. This was an epic time capsule that was so much more than just wine. Take a sip and think....
January 14: Green Packers Win Super Bowl II
January 23: North Korea captures the USS Pueblo
January 30: North Vietnam launches the Tet Offensive
April 2: Premier of 2001: A Space Odyssey
April 4: Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated in Memphis
April 11: President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1968
June 5: Robert F. Kennedy
assassinated in Los Angeles
July 18: The semiconductor company Intel is founded.
September 30: Boeing introduces the first 747 "Jumbo Jet"
October 16: U.S. athletes Black Power Salute at the Summer Olympics
December 24: Apollo 8 is the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

More fruit driven and powerful than the Bindi Original. Ripe fleshy cherry notes. Silky mouthfeel. Through the waves of fruit there is also a reasonable level of tannin and acid which will carry it into the future. A class act. — 8 years ago

Trish Barry

9.0

I just love everything about this rose! The 2015 vintage tasting superb! Just enjoy! — 9 years ago

Aaron Rubin

9.6

Just wonderful. Still has good acid and structure after 15 years, soft citrus and pear flavors balancing the honey, with a little lingering minerality — 10 years ago

TA

9.0

A great dinner party red - not too easy to drink that you drink without really registering anything except “red wine” but not one you have to dry to decide whether you like or not. — 4 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.4

@Dominik SonaYou're the best! Walks off into the cellar, comes out carrying a massive bottle in a sleeve that could barely cover the label. I just love how ridiculous magnum riesling bottles look! I mean, we could see that it's a Koehler-Ruprecht for sure and the table shot straight to a warm vintage on the first sip (warm finish). Didn't take long for Franzi to identify the vintage and the rest of the pieces fell together subsequently (the body = spatlese, forget identifying the "R"). Guess making wines at the winery itself helps 😂

What to say about this wine? It's pretty intense, but the acidity and minerals kept it in check. Finely strung with pitch-perfect tension. This is the kind of wine that needs very little to push it over the edge into the hedonistic territory. Begs for time (like other 09's), as it's true elegance only revealed itself with air (bring on the crushed rocks and chamomile!). The nose is deep, with exotic fruit aromas, flint, toasted almond, florals, and that classic KR funk. Immense palate with lots of lychee and grapefruit, plus superb minerality with air. Creamy and long finish. Yes, the wine finishes a little warm and could be touch more focus, but it's a real class act for 09'! Power without weight, if you ask me. — 5 years ago

L Bram

10

Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Velvety smooth, beautiful rounded fruity flavour balancing the earth but subtle smokey flavour. I would drink this ever single week if I could. The most beautiful Rioja I will probably ever have. Served it NYE with Lamb. — 5 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.2

Very good B.B. nice richness. Balancing acidity. A touch of minerality. — 6 years ago

Conrad Green

9.7

A broad sexy nose with a whiff of band aid. Sweet red fruit but great balancing acidity. Lovely animal, iron, tobacco, gnarly blue depth, iodine. Really lush and spectacular. And long. — 7 years ago

with Matt

Dan Hess

9.0

Thanks Steve! — 7 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.2

Dark pepper-y cdp. Good structure, balancing fruit & a sincere take on the Southern Rhone. — 8 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Tough act to follow after the Masseto — 8 years ago

Mark Maruszak

9.4

Such a baby yet, huge aromatics of apricot, lemon zest, stone fruit. Bright crisp acidity balancing a luscious sweetness. Power and finesse in one. Tons of age left. — 9 years ago

Lyle Coffield

Sommelier Kokkari, Evvia Estatorios

9.2

Under the radar California class act. But BEWARE!!! She's a bug'un! Like a female bodybuilder muscle and grace. — 9 years ago

Nhan Huynh

9.1

Very good nose with intense aroma of ripe fruit and cassis. Its dark ruby red color does not deceive ones sense. The density of the wine with well balancing between tannin and acidity. This will get even better in the next 5-10 years. — 11 years ago

Eric Guido

9.4

The 2009 Donnhoff Hermannshohle is rich and ample in the glass, showing sweet peaches and pear, with hints of kiwi, honeysuckle, and white smoke.  It races across the palate with precision and poise, delivering mineral-tinged orchard fruits, perfectly balancing weighty textures and ripeness with an acid-mineral thrust. The finish is long and floral, complemented by lingering flavors of lime and green apple with cheek puckering tension. Wow! — 4 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.3

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, the youths (mostly college)! Our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading one operatic work from WAGNER (Die Walküre, Act I). This is our WAGNER weekend with the BSO, Acts II & III will be performed tomorrow afternoon and evening.

On the nose we have light cedar box, black pepper, ripe blackberries/strawberries and voilet blossom. On the palate we have chalky Pinot fruits, sweet spice notes, earthy/loamy minerals, ripe cherry and blackberry. In a very nice place tonight! — 5 years ago

Bee Pasawongse

9.5

a hint of blackcurrant & good balancing acidity. — 5 years ago

with Pond

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

The nose reveals; dark currants, blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries. Black tea, expresso roast, anise, crushed dry rocks, big vanilla, clove, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, woody notes with dark fresh & withering flower bouquet.

The body is big and lush. The tannins are big, meaty and tarry. Very dark currants. Blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries & strawberries as they open up. Black tea, expresso roast, steeped fruit tea, anise, crushed dry rocks, dry clay, big graphite, big vanilla, dark spice, clove, light dry herbs, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, cedar with violets dark fresh & withering flower bouquet. The acidity is round, fresh and beautiful. The big, long, well balanced finish is excellent and look forward to having this in 15-20 years. This one will be a stunner!

Photos of, the barn where they make wine and hosts tastings, our private tasting area inside William’s old office. William desk and their outside terrace area.

Producer history & notes...Seavey Vineyard is located along Conn Valley Road in the eastern hills of Napa Valley, about 15 minutes from the valley floor.

This historical property was originally a cattle ranch. However, records indicate grapes were planted on some of the hillsides as early as the 1870’s. The stone dairy barn, still in existence, was built in 1881.

William & Mary Seavey purchased this property in 1979. The estate was originally founded by the Franco-Swiss Farming Company in 1881 which, closed down when Phylloxera destroyed their grape vines and the Volstead Act (Prohibition) went into effect. At the time of their purchase, they were a horse and cattle ranch. They quickly planted the slopes with grapes and initially sold their fruit to Raymond Vineyards. They have never purchased grapes, all their wine is made from estate grapes. Their vineyards are separated into 20 plus individual blocks.

Today, the property is about 200 total acres of which, 40 acres are planted to vine. Their hillside vineyards produce low yields of rich concentrated fruit. A small block of Chardonnay grows in a cooler lower part of their property. Besides grapes, they also raise cattle which are used to graze the hillsides. They feed the vineyard with the cattle cuttings. In 2003, they were one of the first Napa wineries to install solar.

Mary passed away in 2008 and William died in 2016. There daughter Dorie returned to the family business and now oversees the winery operations. Her brother Arthur also handles national and some small international sales, primarily to restaurants. However, most of their wine is sold direct to consumers.

Seavey’s first commercial vintage was released in 1990 a year after they renovated the stone dairy barn into a working winery. Today this stone building is the centerpiece of the property and is where tastings are hosted.

Since 2011, Jim Duane has been their day to day Winemaker. He’s worked at Robert Mondavi and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. It should also be noted that Philippe Melka Winemaker/Consultant has been with Seavey since 1995...one of Philippe’s two initial wine making jobs in the Napa Valley were with Seavey and Lail Vineyards.

Seavy makes about 3,200 cases annually depending on what mother nature brings. They make around two hundred cases of Chardonnay, slightly more Merlot and the rest is of the production is comprised of their Caravina and Estate Cabernets.
— 6 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.0

Floral in a very cool way with peach flavors, fine tuned acidity balancing its rich sweetness. Great and individually made sticky. — 8 years ago

Bryant Bickel

9.0

Great value — 8 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.1

Massive, super-ripe, block-buster nose revealing acacia honey, partly dried tropical fruits and spice elements. Exotic on the palate with acidity balancing the RS, in this off-dry and powerful version. — 9 years ago

Kondo Yoshifumi

9.0

Australia 旨い白だ！ — 9 years ago

John Kemper

9.6

Drinking beautifully tonight was the opaque inky purple '00 Ojai Syrah 'Melville Vineyards'. Zippy aromas of black fruit, burnt rubber, herbes de Provence and lavender lifted from the decanter. Great intensity of ripe spicy fruit flavors on the palate with precise balancing acidity. Still a young tasting wine with many years of drinkability left. — 10 years ago