Michelle Beer

8.9

Zin with a nice spice — 4 years ago

LM Segal

9.5

Sublime. Iron fist, velvet glove and all that. Beyond doubt that this cuvée rocks when Capo not made. Decant briefly and sip away slowly. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Our first bottling from this small production family winery in Calistoga.

My first impressions of this wine, it’s a classic older Calistoga Cabernet. It’s nicely resolved but, not at the end of its life as some have predicted. It is a shade past its prime but, drinking nicely with the exception it’s a touch hot, even after all this time in bottle and when temp’s were not pushing alcohol levels like they can now. However, heat aside, I enjoy wines just the other side of their prime and beyond. Brings out additional complexity-characteristics and are infinitely more interesting.

The nose reveals, stewed & baked fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black cherry extract, black raspberries with some deep blue fruits. Loads of baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Dark spice, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, mocha, caramel, walnut shells, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit teas, mint/eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, leather, tobacco, graphite, used charcoal, dark liqueur and cola, dry herbs with dark, red, blue, purple, fresh & withering flowers accented with lavender.

The body is rich, lush, ruby, statin, velvety and thick. The tannins are rounded & softened but, still speaking loudly. The structure, tension, length and balance are in a very good place. This wine has legs to stand for another 5-10 years depending on how you enjoy them. Stewed, candied & baked fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black cherry extract, black raspberries deep blue fruits, purple fruit blend, haunting raspberries with poached strawberries as it sets. Loads of baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Dark spice with good palate heat, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, mocha, caramel, walnut shells, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit teas, mint/eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, slightly, moist clay, pronounced, fine volcanic minerals, leather, tobacco, graphite, used charcoal, dark liqueur and cola, dry herbs with dark, red, blue, purple, fresh & withering flowers accented with lavender. The acidity is round & exquisite. The long finish is; well balanced fruit & earth, very complexity, rich, delicious and persists endlessly.

Photos of; Stephanie Jones Bailey, Rick and Elaine Jones, Estate view, their Cabernet fruit close to harvest and vineyard staff managing fruit clusters & leafing.

Producer notes...they were founded in 1996. Jones Family Vineyards specializes in estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Thomas Rivers Brown makes their wines, two Cabernet wines...Jones Family Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and The Sisters. TRB also makes an extremely limited production of aged Sauvignon Blanc that is cellared for over 3 years in barrel and bottle.

Jones Family has ten acres of south facing vineyards that lie 600 to 800 feet off the valley floor, resting above the fog line, an ideal altitude for growing Cabernet in the Napa Valley area.

@Paul T- Huntington Beach FYI. — 7 years ago

Kimberly Anderson

9.3

Beyond amazing! With Realm BTK RIDIC — 8 years ago

with Chad

Paul Secombe

9.4

Stunning old classic Penfolds shiraz probably just beyond its best by date at 15 years and tasting a bit “porty”. There were also dusty notes of plum jam, chocolate and of course peppers. — 8 years ago

with Jonathan

Jay Kline

9.4

My notes on this from May of 2017 still apply. Popped and poured. Drank well over two days. Immediately this wine impresses visually. Sure, the color is an expected deep garnet but what's most striking is the fact that it's never completely opaque at the core. You can just barely get the faintest amount of light to see through it. It's quite beautiful, really. The nose is initially a bit reticent but a few minutes of air in the glass does the trick and then it really begins to show off the most lovely perfume of mixed red and dark fruit; so fresh and pure with just a flash of garrigue. No perceptible heat on the nose. On the palate it's a veritable wonder of berries, Rainier cherries, black berry liqueur, and just a touch of fine white pepper. The body is perfectly proportioned and the finish lasts for over 30 seconds. In summary, this is an incredibly balanced 2010 CdP that is already hitting its prime. Personally, I felt it was really at its very best about two hours in which leaves me to believe it should be a great pop and pour for the next couple of years and potentially has the balance to be great for longer. That being said, there is no need to decant, just pull the cork, pour and enjoy the evolution in the glass. The hard part is allowing it to last for two hours and longer. It should be noted that this is dangerously quaffable wine and it wouldn't be hard to take the whole thing to the head. Might as well drink these sooner than later as I'm always a bit wary of CdP much beyond the 10 year mark, where I tend so find many of them fall apart on the palate. Perhaps others with more experience in the long-term ageing of CdP can chime in though. Absurd value at $30.

As a side note, this paired very nicely with pan fried pork savory bacon wrapped filet mignon. — 8 years ago

Angila Hutchinson

9.2

Angila had this 4 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.3

I’ve heard for years about the wildly extroverted and extra-ordinary Sancerre wines from Sebastien Riffault. His wines are an outlier of ripeness in a sea of lean high acid chalky juice. Rich with an amber glow.

He picks his Sauvignon Blanc at the last minute to reach a level of ripeness you’d never expect could come from the tiny cold pocket of the Loire.

Now I like both styles, but this is super fun and something completely new to me.

Think juicy peach, fresh apricot, and bright yellow pineapple. But still with high acid - nothing flabby. — 6 years ago

Tarique Qayumi

9.1

Superb! Beyond my expectations! — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Rated a 10/10 vintage from Moss Wood and this bottle certainly lived up to that. Herbaceous as expected with hints of tobacco but also coupled with cassis and blackberry on the palate. Medium bodied and resolved tannins but still with a future. It will easily see its 20th Birthday and beyond. Last one was in April 2015 and was superlative. Drink the next one in 2021. — 7 years ago

with Georgina

Bill Bender

9.7

My buddy @Mike R and his lovely wife drove all the way out to the sticks to meet me and my daughters on our country vacation and we met at a little diner and brought a few wines to share....I meant to bring the ‘13 Scarecrow but mistakenly grabbed the ‘14 because of the damn tissue wrap. No worries with the vintage mix up—it absolutely shined bright like a diamond as did Mike and Rhonda who immediately make you feel at ease and happy when you see them. The Scarecrow was resplendent in dark chocolate, Jamaican coffee, rich soil, smoke and buoyant sweet purple fruit. Astonishing purity, acceleration through the mid palate and a very lengthy velvet coated finish. Superb performance for such a nascent wine and the company was beyond compare. @Mike R drove me home to my farm afterword and we hit a deer (it and his car are OK) on the way and we ended the evening shooting off fireworks on the back porch. Pure country goodness. — 8 years ago

with Mike

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Had this about 3 years ago. Gorgeous Ruby red with an elegant bouquet of cherries and berries, subtle spice with earthy tones, a traditional Rioja. The palate did not disappoint, the wine was silky smooth with layers of flavors, tobacco, smoky cedar, dark fruit, vanilla spice, very well balanced with firm tannins and a clean structure ending with a nice lingering finish. Delicious! Still great with room to run. This wine shows potential aging well beyond 2020. I have 1 more ‘05 bottle left!!! — 8 years ago

Michael Park

9.3

Hitting it's peak. Nice layers of complexity developing beyond the fruits with earth and gravel. — 9 years ago

Adam Hoogeveen

9.3

Figs, balsamic, and pepper on the nose. Depth and character on the palate that goes beyond the initial impressions. Let it open a bit. — 5 years ago

with Micaela

Raff

9.1

Dark red full ripe plum in colour. Fresh fruit, caramel, a bit of star anise and tobacco on the nose. Candied, with a bit if freshness. Still very ripe, no tannins but a good amount of body. Finishes on the anise again but tempered with a bit on lemongrass. Highly drinkable — 6 years ago

Paul J

9.2

Very nice, but getting up there in price.

The nose was the best part! Very complex, with smoke, earth, and fruit. Wine had good fruit, but wine is beyond its prime. Shortish finish.
— 7 years ago

with Brooke

Nicole Revilo

8.9

Solid blend for the price point. Definitely give it a try. Let it open a little bit for it’s full potential. If I find it for $12 again, I’m buying at least 2. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

A continuation of our anniversary celebration @ Cole’s Steakhouse.

On the nose; cedar, saddle-wood, ripe & ruby; dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum w/ skin, blue fruit hues & strawberries. Limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, dry river stone, anise, graphite, touch of smoke, tobacco with ash, dry stem, the slightest hint of green pepper & dry herbs with blue, red and dark fresh & withering red flowers.

The body is round, ruby and full. Classic Haut-Brion profile flavors. I don’t believe I would miss call this producer blind as its flavor profile & style is so distinct. The tannins are nicely round and soft, 60% resolved. The structure, tension, length and balance are well knitted together. It does lack some wow factor from their truly great vintages. However, there is plenty of life in this bottling and it has not achieved its peak. Probably, another 3-5 years from hitting its peak with another 8 years of good drinking beyond that. Ripe & ruby; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, dry black cherry & cranberries, black plum w/ skin, blue fruit hues & strawberries. Limestone minerals, mint, dry crushed rocks, dry river stone, saddle-wood, cedar, anise, graphite, forest floor, touch of smoke, volcanic ash, tobacco with ash, dry stem, the slightest hint of green pepper & dry herbs with blue, red and dark fresh & withering red flowers. The acidity is just about perfect. The ruby finish is elegant, well polished & balanced and last minutes. It continues to evolve & improve in the glass even after a hour long decant. Just missing a 9.4. Man oh man, I love well made older Bordeaux wines. My true love.

Photos of, Chateau Haut-Brion, field-hands harvesting that magical fruit, barrel room and their library cellar that I would love to raid 😜. — 8 years ago

Vanessa

9.3

Black fruit, oak, and leather, with a heavy mouthfeel, and beyond delicious. #celebrating #firsttimemarathon — 8 years ago

with Deked1

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 8 years ago